When Pantone announces its Color of the Year it’s like Christmas for bloggers. Well, they typically announce it smack in the middle of Christmas shopping season, so it’s like Christmas within Christmas – a fabulous topic for oodles of gift guides and other visual inspiration graphics. It’s also Pantone’s fantastic way of branding while introducing itself to people who aren’t interior decorators or graphic designers. And, without fail, it produces knee-jerk reactions that far outweigh the seriousness of a designate annual color. No Color of The Year since Tangerine Tango has produced such vehement disagreement on Twitter and Pinterest. Radiant Orchid, according to Pantone:
“blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple—one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health.”
Dayum! Those are adjectives I’d typically associate with a USDA certified organic CC cream, a kale/beet/chia seed smoothie or a Celine sample sale. Not a sneaky way to resurrect fuchsia (I see you Pantone.) So why all the hate for the 90′s darling and your third grade trapper keeper color? I’m okay with it. I’m okay with any jewel tone, for obvious reasons. But there’s something special about a bright purple gemstone. From royal tanzanite to rich, sweet amethyst (to say nothing of perfect purple sapphires) a Radiant Orchid gemstone never fails to impress. Add a pair of high gloss Hunter boots (my favorite all-year slush and rain gear!) and a cute Tory Burch cell phone case and you might start coming around.
Dayum! Those are adjectives I’d typically associate with a USDA certified organic CC cream, a kale/beet/chia seed smoothie or a Celine sample sale. Not a sneaky way to resurrect fuchsia (I see you Pantone.) So why all the hate for the 90′s darling and your third grade trapper keeper color? I’m okay with it. I’m okay with any jewel tone, for obvious reasons. But there’s something special about a bright purple gemstone. From royal tanzanite to rich, sweet amethyst (to say nothing of perfect purple sapphires) a Radiant Orchid gemstone never fails to impress. Like these oval cut amethyst studs – they’re original, fun and add a pop of color in a small way. Add a pair of high gloss Hunter boots (my favorite all-year slush and rain gear!) and a cute Tory Burch cell phone case and you might start coming around. A diamond studded amethyst cocktail ring keeps things fancy, while the daring might try to rock this neon Bobbi Brown gloss. For the more traditional (and those who open a bottle of wine and don’t finish it), a gorgeous bottle stopper with rough amethyst crystals infuses your home with radiant orchid. And a Louis Vuitton vernis bag never did anyone any harm, nor did the illustrious David Yurman cable bracelet. You really have no excuse not to try some Radiant Orchid.
