COLOR FORECAST: S/S 2011

At New York Fall Fashion Week (September 9-16, 2010), Pantone’s color forecast was revealed for Spring 2011. There were 20 it-colors in total-10 for women’s fashion and 10 for men’s. The theme of the season is exotic lands, where there’s “an interesting marriage of unexpected warm and cool tones,” says Pantone Color Institute’s executive director.

South American, South Asian, and African Color Inspirations
The colors reflect vibrant cultures and colors found in Peru, Africa, Turkey, India, and other far off lands. For women we have:

•Honeysuckle- a warm reddish pink
•Coral Rose- a dark orange with pink undertones
•Beeswax- a honey colored yellow
•Regatta- a bright turquoise blue
•Lavender- a pale purple with pink undertones
•Blue Caracao- a technicolor aqua
•Peapod- a pale green with yellow undertones
•Silver Peony- a nude, beige color with silver undertones
•Russet- a deep brown with dark orange undertones

Men's Colors Include Rich Earth Tones
The men’s spring 2011 list shares five of the women’s colors- Honeysuckle, Beeswax, Regatta, Lavender, Blue Caracao, and Russet. The remaining five colors are:

•Barberry- a deep pink, purple color
•Firecracker- a medium orange with fiery, red tones
•Turf Green- dark green with blue undertones
•Linen- a nude color with pink and beige undertones
•Flint Gray- a light gray

Pantone also asked fashion designers, ranging from Betsey Johnson and Badgley Mischka to Charlotte Ronson and Monique Lhuillier what places these colors reminded the designers of. Responses ranged from Istanbul, Spain, the Mediterranean Sea, Brazil, Southern France, to Lima, Peru with emphasis on “gem tones,” “vibrant mosaics” and “a mix of Old World meets New World” found in all of these exotic and gorgeous locations across the globe.

Consumers take heed, this spring your wardrobe is going to need an update to keep up with Spring 2011’s jetsetter hues.