Color Changes Everything

Firstly, welcome new readers! Many of y'all have come over from Church Hill People's News, and I welcome you with open arms and a filthy mouth! Secondly, yes, two posts in two days; I can tell you're shocked. No, Hell has not frozen over. You'd know if it had because I wouldn't be here, would I? Anyway, we'll not discuss how and when I'll be going into the great fiery beyond at this juncture. For now, let us proceed on to the real purpose of this post.

Previously I discussed Tangerine Tango (the Color of the Year,) as per Pantone, The Prophetic Institute of Color. Pantone doesn't just pick one color and stick with it as the sole color to use for anything new and hip (how boring!) They do designate one color as being the Color of the Year, but in addition to this, they create a color palette for each gender for all things fashion and design, per season.



The colors this year seem to be a mix of retro-feeling POP! colors and rich, comfortable neutrals. There's some overlap between the men and women, including the ever present Tangerine Tango.

Men's Palette

Women's Palette

My personal favorite is definitely the Olympian Blue, but I may well have to give the Pink Flambé a try this summer.


Take a good look at those palettes. Try to memorize those colors for the next 30 seconds, then watch this:





It's like the whole Pantone color palette threw up all over set. While it's a little trite to use nearly every God damn color on the two palettes, it's still very fashion forward and playful.


It's also a great way to indicate that Target is here, now, current, and conscious of trends. Let's consider this from an subconscious level: Think about Target's biggest competitor, Walmart. Does Walmart scream trendy to you? No. It screams in the voices of dozens of cranky children and their equally cranky parents who just want to buy stretch pants, sod, dog food, and boxed wine under one roof, at a decent price, and go the hell home. Now think of that commercial again—it's the world we know made better through trendiness and color! So hip! So now! At least that's what they're hoping you'll think.


Like I said in my previous post—Pantone's colors influence EVERYTHING, including advertising.


Oh, and that commercial? It's called "Color Changes Everything."

Tangerine Tango: Deal with It.

We need to talk about Tangerine Tango, because it's not going to go away.

First of all, you're probably asking, "What is Tangerine Tango, and why is it a threat to my wardrobe and interior décor?" These are reasonable questions. Tangerine Tango is The Color for 2012, so sayeth the Great Prophet, Pantone. Pantone came down from on high in New Jersey and proclaimed that we shall wear an offensively orangey-red color and we shall God damn well like it. *sigh*

Pantone essentially dictates what colors are going to be trendy. Everyone pays attention to them; everyone, from fashion designers to advertisers, from interior decorators to the good people at the Today Show. (Note: Al only participated because he thought Tangerine Tango was a dessert.)

The Color is chosen in the latter quarter of the preceding year. A lot goes into choosing The Color. It could be as simple as the tides of consumer preference changing. Then again an emerging, influential culture may have a color palette closely associated with it, and this can prompt a trend. Sometimes what shades have been slowly trickling into the market as a "long shot sale" item (as in, "It's a long shot Bob, but maybe someone will buy this hideously orange thing,") can have a bearing on Pantone's choice. More often than not though, Pantone will generally call The Color based on what the general mood is of the population, ("You know what Ed? I'm feeling really tangerine-y today and I think I'm going to break into a Latin dance any minute.") Or similarly, they'll choose The Color based on what the consuming population needs emotionally.

 

Even Barney is getting in on the trend with his new orange-red friend.

Tangerine Tango—okay you know what? I'm not typing that again, TT, we're calling it TT from here on out—is a challenging color. It's not a red, it's not an orange, it's not even a tomato. It's just this bright, BRIGHT color that is supposed to illustrate the warmth and optimism we're all supposed to be feeling. It's the color of fire—fire being symbolic of passion and change. No, I'm not blowing smoke up your asses, look what Pantone said: "Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward. “Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.” (Pantone press release, Pantone.com)."

Like I said, you're supposed to feel energetically open to change.

 

 
MObama encourages you to CHANGE…into TT.

Like I said, it's a challenging color and we're going to get through this together. How can you incorporate this into your life?

Interior décor:
You can go with one of two directions: Subtle or statement pieces.

Or you can go for the SNICK couch.

 

If you go for subtle, small touches can be incorporated to add a punch of color to the room—it will come off as playful and youthful.


Here are some examples of a few great subtle pieces:

I love how the figurines add a touch of kitsch while playing off the sham pillow. And of course I love the baby blue headboard, but we're not talking about baby blue, because Pantone didn't choose baby blue as their color, did they? No. If you're looking to do knickknacks, you can easily take any figurine you find and spray paint it. This is really easy and cheap. Flea markets, yard sales, even the Dollar Tree have items that you could transform.

I generally don't decorate with books. I prefer books to be functional, rather than aesthetic, but if you're someone who doesn't really care what the books called, as long as it looks cool on the shelf, you could hit up a yard sale, antique store, or even the library (during book sales,) and pick up a few books with coordinating colors. Side note: Loving the insulator as a bookend!

These pillows are adorable and available on Etsy. While we're on the subject of Etsy, you can search for items based on color palette—it's a great tool if you're looking to add a color to your life and aren't sure how.

Speaking of Etsy, check out this adorable vintage cream and sugar set! It's really inexpensive too. I found it using the palette search option.

Then of course if you're willing to spend a little money, Brooks Bros has this great lamp:

It's whimsical and practical—you can always change the lampshade when you get tired of the color.

Dare to dream of the day when you can be like Sandra Lee and color coordinate expensive kitchen appliances on a weekly basis.


Statement pieces are a bigger commitment, but they can bring a dramatic and beautiful change to a room—even I was shocked by what I found (and liked!)

This is not the SNICK couch. The use of wood and tufting, it's just gorgeous. Teal pillows would have looked really nice with this, but the neutral shams look nice as well.

My best friend has an orange room. It's really a Dreamcicle orange, not a TT, and it makes a huge statement, just like this room. I think if the designer had not included the breakup of the color with the tree decal, the color would be overpowering. Still, there's the potential for it to feel like Halloween ALL THE TIME.

As I said before, teal and TT: They are bffs. Note the subtle touches throughout the room as well.

This chair is an example of how you could create a statement piece for cheap. Take any piece of wooden furniture, strip it, and paint it. You get the pop of color for a fraction of the investment, not to mention you can change the color easily over a reasonably warm weekend.




Fashion:


I think it's a lot easier to incorporate TT into your physical appearance.


Be it through make up…

Through nail color…

Or hair!

 

Kidding. Please don't dye your hair TT.

When it comes to incorporating TT into your wardrobe, the truth is we can't all look as stunning in TT as JHud.

 

Most skin tones just don't look good with this color all over—although you would be safe while hunting or as a pedestrian at night. That's why I like smaller touches for this color.

The only larger piece that I found and liked is from Old Navy. They're very much about unusually colored trenches, though admittedly their fit is often a challenge for anyone with a chest or broader in the shoulders.

If you've got the skin tone for it, you could opt for a TT ensemble. Redheads and warmly toned people can pull it off, at least that's what the internet tells me. I pulled this image from Glamour--they seem to know what they're talking about.

 

Now Dear Kate, my dearest, dearest Kate Spade has gone and used TT on me, and I feel very conflicted—can't she just overlook this color just this once?? *sigh*

I'll just have to trust her on this. Admittedly after researching this color I became a little more open to it. I think with my own copper highlights and hazel eyes I maybe be able to incorporate the color into my appearance or even add a couple of knickknacks (like I need more,) to the house.


Are you going to add a little Tangerine Tango to your life?

Purple & Turquoise: The Colors of Fall

Often times I select a color to be my “signature” for the season, both in fashion and decorating.  Usually it has nothing to do with current trends, but rather based on my mood.  However one of my season’s colors happens to coincide with one of two colors I feel will be especially trendy this fall.  This season I'll be using more purple tones, and I think if you look carefully, you'll see both purple and turquoise playing a major role in the colors used this fall.


Questions always arise as to the whys and hows color trends come about.  What follows are my thoughts and analysis on such questions.  Additionally, I will provide suggestions as to how you can use these colors yourself.

Purple

Plum always makes an appearance in the fall, but I feel that plum, indigo, grape, and possibly even in deep violet will be heavily utilized this coming season.  Why purple?  Purple offers a feeling of relaxation and comfort.  With ties to fruits like grapes, plums, black currants, and pomegranates, purple offers a feeling of abundance and recalls the images of a good harvest.  Purple is popularly associated with wealth and luxury.  In a time when luxury is imprudent, the simple use of purple can give the impression of wealth without the investment.

Turquoise

I’m not a fan of this color, yet I feel it may make a comeback this fall.  Jewel tones frequently show up around this time of year, but jewels have the obvious association with spending, and as thrift is an ongoing trend, I think jewel tones may not be at the forefront this year.  But turquoise isn’t so much a jewel.  It’s more of a gemstone, and gemstones have done quite well in the jewelry market due to their affordability, yet still make a splash and sparkle despite their lower cost.  Turquoise, as a member of the blue family, offers a calming effect, while still giving a pop of color.  It also has ties to the 1950s to early 1960s, imparting an air of sophistication and optimism.

There is a relationship between the colors that trend and the major events society goes through.  In this case continued economic turmoil influences the colors we choose to use in fashion, accessories, home furnishings, decor, and even advertising.

So how can you use these colors?  There are a variety of ways to use each.  While keeping financial constraints in mind, the more cost effective options include wall paint, small accessories, smaller home accents, and the occasional “basic piece” for fashion.  Your best bet is to pair these trendy colors with larger, neutrally toned items you may otherwise own.

Consider a purple vase or a turquoise lamp instead of a couch or chair. 

Perhaps plum colored gloves or a turquoise head band instead of a major investment piece like a dress or coat?  

Painting your walls is a great way to refresh a room with minimal costs.

All that said, occasionally a splurge is necessary a nice treat… Perhaps on Kate Spade?

In summary, purple and turquoise are so easy to use, you have no excuse not to be seen using purple and turquoise this fall.  Besides, MObama thinks you should.

       


I hope this helps you when you're planning on your fall colors!  Consider yourself informed and trend-ready!


As a quick side note, though slightly related, I did an interview for GayRVA.com with Project Runway: Season 4's Johnathan Kayne as a precursor to the American Cancer Society's Cure By Design event that took place this past Friday.  For more information on trends, fashion, the fashion industry, design, and of course Kayne, please check it out!