PPB November 2021

subordinate. An earlier version of this same scene was written about plaid, but that’s another color story for another day. Color is also one of the most obvious details that designers often experiment with. Prominent colors in high-fashion wear have come to represent some of the brands themselves, such as Chanel black, Hermès orange, Cartier red, Burberry beige, Dior grey, Fendi yellow and Tiffany blue. This is also the case with companies outside the fashion industry, which use colors in their branding that are easily recognized by everyday people. Some of the signature colors and color combinations that have been trademarked include UPS brown, T-Mobile magenta, Barbie pink, Wiffle Ball bat yellow, 3M canary yellow (for Post-It®), John Deere yellow and green, DeWalt yellow and black, Home Depot orange and Cadbury purple. This fall and winter, the most popular colors to appear in runway and street fashion, as well as in home décor—as chosen by Pantone LLC, the global provider of professional color standards for the design industry and drawn from New York Fashion Week—are described as “enduring” and “exuberant;” a purposeful contrast to a rather difficult 2020. Color is influenced by the times, Regina Blaszczyk, design historian and author of The Colour Revolution , told The Guardian in 2018. “There is good historical evidence showing that industry and consumers tend to prefer colors that reflect the tenor of the times,” Blaszyck says. The shades, which were chosen to collectively inspire “creativity and reinvention” are Ultimate Grey and Illuminating, both named Pantone’s 2021 Color of the Year. Although Pantone’s 2022 Color of the Year is yet to be announced, there is some chatter about the top color trends to come in 2022. Jewel and rich, earthy tones describe the shades that you’re most likely to see throughout the duration of this year and into the winter. However, designers are also leading the way in the unexpected usage and pairing of color for colder months, with the fall 2021/winter 2022 collections by Prada, Versace, Gucci, Moschino, Marc Jacobs and Chanel featuring lemon yellow, scarlet orange and/or bubblegum pink; colors normally associated with spring and summer. When we pivot into the spring of 2022, expect to see a resurgence of playful, adventurous and bold shades. Pantone, named the following 15 colors as its 2022 New York Fashion Week Color Palette, predicting they’ll also be hot in retail fashion. Coupled with fabulous names, many of these shades draw inspiration from the brilliance of nature. PANTONE 13-1513 Gossamer Pink PANTONE 18-2042 Innuendo PANTONE 18-1564 Poinciana PANTONE 14-0850 Daffodil PANTONE 13-0003 Perfectly Pale PANTONE 18-1019 Coca Mocha PANTONE 11-0602 Snow White PANTONE 14-4104 Northern Droplet PANTONE 18-4004 Poppy Seed PANTONE 12-4401 Spun Sugar PANTONE 16-4118 Galcier Lake PANTONE 19-4151 Skydiver PANTONE 18-4728 Harbor Blue PANTONE 16-6216 Basil PANTONE 18-3324 Dahlia Co l o r Tr ends “Our color palette for 2022, especially spring, reflects our need for both familiarity and spontaneity during the uncertain times we live in now. We crave the calm that’s found inmarine blues and greens, but are also drawn towards something punchy and exciting, like vibrant fuchsia or sunshine yellow (a classic harbinger of spring!)."  Stephanie Bennett, senior marketing manager, Charles River Apparel 18 | NOVEMBER 2021 | INNOVATE