I love color. So, I love looking at clothing in the newest colors from Pantone. Not all of the latest spring / summer 2012 hues will look good on me, but they might be absolutely fabulous on you. Here are examples of fashions that will trip-out your wardrobe.
1. Tangerine Tango: This hot color is not good next to my Haole-white skin, but I like this ripe, tart, orangey hue after I’ve been in the sun for a few days. If you have winter coloring, you will sparkle in this hue. However, if you were born with pale coloring, you will need to add a flattering blouse or scarf near your face to tone down this beast. But, anyone can wear Tangerine Tango as an accent to perk up dark denim. (I bought a hobo bag in a similar color years ago in Paris. After wearing that red-orange bag everywhere with every color, I gave it to my youngest daughter. Now, she loves it.)
2. Solar Power: When I look at this yellow, I feel like I’ve fallen into the 70s or into the movie, Yellow Submarine. If you have black or red hair, this hue might give you a nice pop; however, most of you should keep this unripe orange away from your face. If you want to be hip or you love this color, get a cheap handbag or bangle in this animated yellow because it may feel dated in another year.
3. Pantone Bellflower: Of all the colors, this is one of my favorites. Bellflower is a pretty, grayed-out lavender. And, even though I look better in jewel-tones, I can wear this. So, if I can wear this color, almost anyone can. And, if you want to update your look, try a blouse, scarf, or hat in Bellflower, because this hue will add elegance to any outfit.
4. Pantone Cabaret: When I was about sixteen, I refused to wear pink because it felt too “Barbie” for my sullen teenage angst. However, as I’ve aged, I’ve discovered that pink is one of the only colors that keeps me from looking like a ghoul. And, the color Cabaret is not too sharp, not too muted, and it’s just right. Goldilocks would wear Cabaret everywhere. (Tip: If Cabaret is too strong for you, get a print with Cabaret and white.)
5. Sodalite Blue: This deep blue is not as dead as navy, but it’s not as glaring as cobalt, either. It’s hip. It’s beautiful. And, you could get anything in this color, even an expensive coat that you plan to wear for years. One of the best things about Pantone color forecasting is that you can get a Sodalite Blue jacket from one manufacturer, and then you can go to another manufacturer to find a scarf with the same shade of blue. I’m not anal about matching, because I outgrew that phase in the mid-sixties, but blues (and reds) can be tricky. You should either find a true match or you should wear two shades that are far enough apart on the color wheel that they won’t look “off” when next to each other.
6. Pantone Margarita: Every season, Pantone has some shade of green, but I think that Margarita might be a difficult color for some women to wear. Well, I might give it a try, although this green may have too much yellow in it for my complexion. So, I suggest that before you tear the tags off your Margarita-colored blouse, go outside, hold the garment up to your clean-scrubbed, “au naturel” face, and look in the mirror. If the color doesn’t make your skin glow and your wrinkles fade, send your Margarita blouse back to the store. (In the photo, the sweater and the beads are closer to the real Margarita color.)
7. Sweet Lilac: I’m not sure what it is about some of these colors, but I’m having a hard time getting into this muted, pale shade of lavender. (Note: I have to tell the truth, even if I might tick off the manufacturers. You want someone you can trust, don’t you?) Well, I admit that Sweet Lilac blends with all the other colors in the spring-summer palette, and it does a great job of cutting down any overdose of baby-puke green, but this color reminds me of a flowered dress with a Peter-Pan collar in a dusty thrift store. It’s a granny color. My advice is that you wear your Sweet Lilac with a tart color like Cockatoo (turquoise) or a substantial color like Sodalite Blue or Starfish (brown) for a little kick. Too much Sweet Lilac and you will float away.
8. Pantone Driftwood: Driftwood is a fabulous background color on which to place brighter or lighter hues. I think it would be amazing as a backdrop for Sweet Lilac.
9. Pantone Cockatoo: Cockatoo is a perfect color for perking up your winter wardrobe and leading your soul into spring. I really love this color, although it is difficult to show on a monitor. If you have the blahs, try a purse, blouse, T-shirt, or dress in cockatoo, a beautiful, bluish-green turquoise.
10. Pantone Starfish: Some people call this a smoky gray, but I would call Starfish a muted light brown. Well, whatever you call this hue, it is definitely a neutral. If you don’t look good in Driftwood (a gray neutral with cooler undertones), you will look good in Starfish (a brown neutral with warmer undertones).
I think the same can be said of the entire 2012 spring palette: If one of the colors doesn’t suit your complexion, you can rest assured that one of the other colors will. So, although the entire 2012 array has been selected so that every color will go with every other color, you will want to make sure that a flattering hue is nearest your face. For me, that would be Cabaret, Bellflower, or Cockatoo. However, you might look best with Tangerine Tango, Sodalite Blue, Sweet Lilac, Margarita, or Solar Power.
Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
