The Pantone Company originally began as a printing company in New York City in the 1950’s. Its claim to fame was the Pantone Color Matching System, which was exemplified by the Pantone Guides’ cardboard color swatch system that allowed designer to perfectly color match in their creations.
Since 2000, Pantone has released the Pantone Color of the Year, which inspires the fashion industry to create new items for the year in these tones. I can already see some hints of those colors in some brands’ collections, like the above House of Fraser T-Shirts or even their Polo Shirts! This year is the first time ever that Pantone has chosen two different colors to blend for the up and coming seasons. They chose “Rose Quartz”, which has a soft warmness in the blush-pink tone and “Serenity”, which gives off a feeling of cool calmness in the blue family. You can see the inspiration for this color combination in the nature all around us like the evening sky, the petals of flowers, and the delicate butterfly.
For men, you have already been seeing the Pantone colors of 2016 on the runway. The powdery blue of “Serenity” fits perfectly into spring in this airy zip jacket and matching trousers that is paired with a deeper blue print shirt and black leather accessories. It is an easy color for men to incorporate into their wardrobe. The “Rose Quartz” is a warmer tone that is displayed in the runway look with a pull-over, short-sleeve collared shirt, slim pants, and matching accessories. This rosy tone may not be wearable head to toe for some men, but mixing it with items in charcoal grey, navy blue, and taupe will add a new dimension to the look.
In looking at Pantone colors in woman’s fashions this year, you will see the fabulous blush-pink tone in items like make-up and nail polish, footwear, and handbags like this one from Yves Saint Laurent. You will also see the chosen colors mixed together in clothing accessories like scarves, which can be added to many different outfits to spruce up your look. Don’t forget that you can add a little fashion splash to your home decor by incorporating these tones with a few small changes like new bathroom towels, a crisp pair of sheets, or toss pillows for the couch.
