Women’s business clothing can be pumped up with items that include great color trends. Here are several Pantone colors. Use them for accent pieces with basic-black women’s suits and other work-wear neutrals. The following items are all under $200. Some are very inexpensive.
Color Trends
What are the color trends? There are several cool trends but one of the easiest ways to look hip and pulled together is to incorporate the current Pantone colors.
Pantone
Here are some of the trendy colors and a brief description of each from the Pantone Fashion Color Report.
- American Beauty: A true red, which is “perfect for all skin tones”.
- Purple Heart: This color “connotes a sense of refinement”.
- Rapture Rose: This pinky color has the feel of “fuchsia and the softness of pink.” It’s a great color for cosmetics, as well.
- Warm Olive: This is “a rich yellow-green”.
- Majolica Blue: This blue is “a deep mysterious teal”.
These trendy colors will all work together. It can be fun to mix them up.
Basic Black and Neutrals
The Pantone colors can be added to a woman’s basic black suit pieces and will add sophistication to other trendy neutrals like:
- Chocolate Brown
- Camel
- Navy
- Gray Flannel
- Dove Gray
Work Wear
Many items of online clothing will be the same or similar to the Pantone colors even though each specific brand gives their colors a different name. Some of the following pieces will be better for business casual or for layering, and all are under $200. Many are quite a bit lower, making them very affordable. Check out these online goodies:
Red:
- DKNY Ruffle Trim Silk & Cashmere Cardigan
- Lola & Sophie Sleeveless Modal Turtleneck Top at MyShape.com
- Italian merino mock-neck sweater at BananaRepublic.com
- Ralph Lauren Anijio Pinned Silk Cardigan
Anything in American Beauty red will go well with navy, black, gray, and just about anything except another red. Women who love American Beauty should stock up on some items in this color. Whenever a gal finds something great, it’s sure to be replaced by some awful color later on.
Purple:
- Worthington Long Sleeve Cardigan at JCPenney.com
- Jones New York Long-Sleeve Cardigan and Shell
- Banana Republic Shirred Knit Top (a lighter version of this purple) or the Cotton / Silk Long Sleeve Sweater
- Ralph Lauren: Xenia Silk-Cashmere Crewneck (a lighter version of this purple) or the Anijio Pinned Silk Cardigan
- Ann Taylor Loft Petite Pima Cotton V-Neck Cardigan
This royal purple, called Purple Heart, can be worn with the American Beauty red to get an edgy fashion-forward look. It will go well beyond the work day. Boomer Chicks may remember a great purple, like this, from the Carnaby Street 60s and get a happy lift from wearing this color.
Rose:
- Newport News Pleated Peplum Cotton-Modal Jersey Top and Farinaz Italian Mercerized-Cotton Blouse at MyShape.com
- Ann Taylor Ballet Neck Blouse
- Ann Taylor Loft Petite Pima Cotton V-Neck Cardigan or the Ruched Sleeve Cardigan
This rose is fabulous. It’s good with so many complexions. Use it to pop against gray or blue, or get a cheap trendy look from cosmetics in this new shade.
Olive:
- Mac & Jac Dot Print Top at Nordstrom.com and MyShape.com
- Kiyonna Stretch Poplin Blouse or the Sisters Pucker-Neck Viscose-Modal Cardigan in green at MyShape.com
- Ann Taylor Loft Pima Cotton V-Neck Cardigan
Imagine this luscious Warm Olive green against Rapture Rose or Majolica Blue. The combination will make an outfit into a work of art. This hip color keeps the other Pantone shades from becoming cutesy cute.
Blue:
- Ann Taylor Textured Wool Jacket or the Silk Poet Blouse
- Press Stretch-Cotton Knit V-Neck Cardi or Jingle Bell Viscose Sweater (in a lighter shade of this blue) at MyShape.com
- Jones New York Signature Wool Blend Coat
- Banana Republic Italian merino mock-neck sweater
This rich Majolica Blue can be paired with black, though it will work well with all other neutrals except some shades of navy. Majolica is subtly different from navy, but this blue is exceptionally beautiful.
Under $100
Here are some accessories in Pantone friendly colors:
- Nordstrom Cashmere Lined Leather Gloves in green or iris, or the Fringed Crinkle Scarf in lime
- JCpenney.com Paisley Scarf in eggplant or the Crinkle Plaid Wrap in Burnt Rust.
- Ann Taylor Loft Peacock Scarf (several trendy colors come together) or the Skinny Belt in Majestic Plum
- Village Hat Shop has several berets in the rose shade and one in a lighter version of Majolica blue.
Most women know that money is tight. However, it’s nice to pick up one or two things to nudge average neutral business clothing into the trendy and hip zone.
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Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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