En plein air; designers move toward the cooler and softer side of the color spectrum this season
Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today unveiled the PANTONE® Fashion Color Report Spring 2015, a comprehensive overview of designers' use of color in their upcoming collections. Released to coincide with New York Fashion Week, the PANTONE Fashion Color Report features the top 10 colors for women's and men's fashion for spring 2015, along with designer sketches, quotes and headshots.
"Many feel compelled to be connected around the clock because we are afraid we'll miss something important. There is a growing movement to step out and create 'quiet zones' to disconnect from technology and unwind, giving ourselves time to stop and be still," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "Color choices follow the same minimalistic, 'en plein air' theme, taking a cue from nature rather than being reinvented or mechanically manipulated. Soft, cool hues blend with subtle warm tones to create a soothing escape from the everyday hustle and bustle."
The top colors for women's fashion for spring 2015 are:
PANTONE 14-4313 Aquamarine
PANTONE 16-4725 Scuba Blue
PANTONE 14-5714 Lucite Green
PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue
PANTONE 14-1213 Toasted Almond
PANTONE 16-1720 Strawberry Ice
PANTONE 15-1247 Tangerine
PANTONE 13-0720 Custard
PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala
PANTONE 14-4102 Glacier Gray
The top colors for men's fashion for spring 2015 are:
PANTONE 16-4120 Dusk Blue
PANTONE 14-4102 Glacier Gray
PANTONE 18-0135 Treetop
PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue
PANTONE 14-1213 Toasted Almond
PANTONE 18-0538 Woodbine
PANTONE 16-1328 Sandstone
PANTONE 17-4014 Titanium
PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala
PANTONE 16-3310 Lavender Herb
Women's Color Palette
On one end of the women's palette sits Aquamarine, an airy, ethereal blue with a cool, dreamy feel that mixes well with the other blues and greens in the Top 10. Evoking thoughts of soothing, tropical waters, Scuba Blue restores our sense of carefree playfulness, while invigorating the body and mind, and Lucite Green, a soft, serene green offers a fresh sense of clarity.
Pair Lucite Green with bold Classic Blue for a balanced and refreshed look. As the name implies, Classic Blue is a strong and reliable anchor and, with its waterborne qualities, is perceived as thoughtful and introspective. Bringing balance to the coolness of the spring/summer color range, Toasted Almond, a suntanned neutral, offers timeless, comforting warmth.
Reminiscent of the sun on our skin in the spring and summer months, Toasted Almond pairs well with both Strawberry Ice, a light, nurturing coral tone, and Tangerine, an energizing, non-jarring take on orange that adds a pop of color for spring. Combine all three for a delicious, almost retro-inspired look.
Emanating warmth and happiness, Custard serves as an all-encompassing yellow for the spring palette, which can be combined with Classic Blue for a maritime look. Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this compelling and cordial hue incorporates the satisfying richness of a tastefully fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots point to a sophisticated, natural earthiness. Marsala works well with Glacier Gray, a timeless and unobtrusive gray that adds a sense of graceful relaxation as another practical neutral. Bring Marsala and Glacier Gray together with Aquamarine for an unexpected and exciting pairing that is perfect for spring.
Men's Color Palette
For spring 2015, the men's palette takes a surprising turn, deviating from the women's palette more than we have seen in recent seasons. The menswear colors emphasize the need for uncontrived hues, where natural tones are interspersed with deep, foundational colors for an unassuming and sophisticated Top 10.
A perennial favorite for men, dependable Dusk Blue offers a cool, calm serenity, representative of the sky. Juxtapose it with Glacier Gray, a masculine and practical neutral, or Treetop, nature's healthy, harmonious green for a happy marriage of adaptable cool, warm and neutral tones.
Classic Blue remains a core anchoring hue that is powerful in tailored suits or casual sportswear, while Toasted Almond continues to serve as another essential neutral. With its yellow-green tint, Woodbine is a tropical green best described as nature's neutral that pairs well the earthy and rugged associations of Sandstone.
Masculine and solid, Titanium is a gray that speaks to timelessness and exudes strength, while Marsala offers a robust and rich contrast to the other colors in the palette and combines dramatically with other deep tones like Classic Blue, as well as neutral Sandstone.
Create a charming melange with Woodbine, Titanium and Lavender Herb, the palette's most fashion-forward and spirited color. As purple hues continue to gain popularity in men's fashion, Lavender Herb's mid-tone offers a retro and almost nostalgic element to the men's palette.
The colors featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report are culled from the PANTONE FASHION + HOME Color System, the most widely used and recognized color standards system for fashion, textile, home and interior design. Each season, Pantone surveys the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to collect feedback on prominent collection colors, color inspiration and color philosophy. This information is used to create the PANTONE Fashion Color Report, which serves as a reference tool throughout the year for fashion enthusiasts, reporters and retailers.
