Pantone 2016 Spring Colors

Hello Monday Morning!

I scooped up this casual gray striped dress from The Gap this weekend and was so excited when I saw Lilac Gray was on Pantone’s 2016 Spring Colors list!  What on earth is Pantone you ask?  The Pantone Color Matching System is largely a standardized color reproduction system. By standardizing the colors, different manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colors match without direct contact with one another.  Annually, Pantone declares a particular color “Color of the Year”. Twice a year the company hosts, in a European capital, a secret meeting of representatives from various nations’ color standards groups. After two days of presentations and debate, they choose a color for the following year; for example, the color for summer 2013 was chosen in London in the spring of 2012.^[17] The color purportedly connects with the spirit of the time; for example, the press release declaring Honeysuckle the color of 2011 said “In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues.”^[18] The results of the meeting are published in Pantone View ($750), which fashion designers, florists, and many other consumer-oriented companies purchase to help guide their designs and planning for future products.^[17]

So, on another note, raise your hand if you don’t know what to wear in January, or you are tired of your clothes at this point?  The stores are all purging their post Christmas ensembles and spring clothes aren’t quite out yet because, for most, there is still a solid foot of snow on the ground. However, the weather here in Houston has been AH-Mazing the past 3-4 days, and it has felt like spring. I know how the weather likes to play mind games though,  so I am just waiting for our next day of freezing temps.

I have been really trying to pull the oldies but goodies out from the back of my closet and remix them and match them with some newer pieces. I usually shy away from horizontal stripes because they can make you look wider than you are. But here is a little trick, add a jacket, vest or long necklace to break up the stripes.

I kept this look simple and popped on a classic J.Crew crystal necklace and my cream faux fur vest because I had some errands to run with both of the kiddos. The vest kept me warm and broke up the wide stripes of the dress, so it made a great combo.

Check out the Pantone 2016 Spring color palette for some inspiration when you shop. My favorite picks are Rose Quartz, Serenity, Snorkel Blue and Lilac Gray.

Pantone 2016 Spring Color Trends

Picture from Pantone

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