Spring 2011's Top Color Trends

Bright colors with a unique "pop" take the lead this Spring accompanied by a few neutral and warm pastels to create an eye pleasing balancing act. The authority on color trends, Pantone, has dubbed the hue Honeysuckle as Spring 2011's must-have color. Sources at Pantone confirm that selecting the must-have color for a season is a process that entails considering elements beyond runway trends. With a great number of people wrestling the unemployment monster and the economy still navigating quicksand, people need to be surrounded by something inspiring and Pantone believes the hue Honeysuckle has just the right amount of magic.

The key to a fashionable wardrobe is thoughtfulness. So much of fashion is free to be interpreted by the individual, but in any case all efforts should involve a thought process that assists in defining the statement the wearer seeks to make. Careless fashion choices is how wardrobe mishaps occur and Pantone's color guidance is a key resource in helping plan out your spring wardrobe. Color is either the first or second aspect to be considered when styling yourself as color combinations are as important, if not more important than the cut, style, and shape of your garments. Checkout my Fave Five Spring 2011 colors and stay tuned for the post on how to colorize your wardrobe.

1. Honeysuckle: This season's new red is a poppy inspired pink with a taint of magenta giving this shade strong and bold undertones with girlish swag. Honeysuckle is a rich color that brings a bold feel to an array of complementary colors without overpowering the palette. Perfect for romantically feminine days or draining schedules that require bursts of energy from your wardrobe to get you through. This hue can be paired with more strikingly bold turqouises or warmer colors such as khaki.



2. Coral Rose: a delicate orange blend with hints of red in the undertone brings a citrus-like pop to your outfit and is sure to do wonders for your energy level. Shades of orange maintain their stay in Indian, African, and Asian cultures due to the harmony they can create in an atmosphere. To bring a bohemian vibe to this color pair it with dark shades of brown such as Russett, for a romantic aura try pastel pinks such as Silver Peony, and for a City Chic vibe try mixing this hue with white.

3. Peapod: this pastel green is a call to return to nature that induces a feeling of connection to the rejuvenation of plant life occuring around us in Spring. An earthy tone capable of being much more than bohemian with a calming vibration and sleek aspirations. This hue has just enough depth to avoid a washed-out effect often experienced with lighter shades of green.  Pair this color with Honeysuckle if you are truly in a "Springy" mood, but for more classy days black and white make wonderful complementary options.

4. Silvercloud: a shimmer winner, as always, is the color silver. This shade is a perfect accent to your wardrobe as it lightens the air with it's delicate tone and blends perfectly with many Spring hues. Whereever there was gold, try replacing it with silver. While there are some shades silver doesn't serve as well as gold, it still manages to work well with a plethora of color combinations. I love the balance this shade creates within a wardrobe without compromising the return to vibrance that is the hallmark of Spring. Try mixing this color with a combination of three or more shades such as: black, peapod, and silvercloud.

5. Regatta: just as African and Indian cultures define their style with shades of orange, Americans live and die by blue. If we have been successful at branding anything as a country, the color blue would certainly make the list. The Regatta shade is an updated version of navy blue, one not quite as dark as what we've been accustomed to. However, the shade still manages to bring the sophisticated touch to the garment. Regatta is a must for the corporate woman who wants to explore Spring's colors without too much risk. It's also the color of our beloved denim....an absolute necessity. No need to explain the things that blue can do because if Americans don't understand anything else, we understand the workings of the color blue.