| Every year, professional forecasters predict the | | | | as housewares with personal-care appliances and its |
| colors that will dominate everything from appliances | | | | concept of hygiene and cleanliness. This is also |
| to fashion to window treatments. By trying to | | | | reflected in the stage musical, 'The Woman in White,' |
| accurately read the "mood" of the country, | | | | and the films 'The White Countess' and 'The |
| forecasters note behavioral trends and associated | | | | Chronicles of Narnia' with its White Witch. White is a |
| color preferences. | | | | total tranquillizer for a tumultuous world." |
| According to Margaret Walch, director of the Color | | | | • Mélange: "This is flavored by melon, |
| Association of the U.S. "Color is a highly subjective, | | | | apricot, strawberry and orange. The orange |
| intuitive, irrational kind of choice. So if you have all the | | | | phenomenon is not going away for 2007, but there |
| world rushing toward pink, including men, that would | | | | will be an infusion of blues, a toasty tan, a vibrant |
| be highly indicative of something, such as a wish to | | | | poppy red-all well grounded by a rustic khaki." |
| return to more secure times. The economy is on | | | | • Aux Naturale: "These are basic neutral |
| people's minds, and you're seeing men wearing that | | | | colors, beiges and taupes, denim-like blues and |
| pink Brooks Brothers buttoned-down look from the | | | | chocolate browns. The kids' market reflect the |
| '50s. Similarly, a current passion for purple, "the color | | | | natural look with browns in the movies, 'Charlie and |
| of the mind," reflects the cyberworld of the new | | | | the Chocolate Factory,' 'Curious George' (who is |
| millennium." | | | | brown), 'Wallace and Gromit' and 'Cars,' in which a |
| What's ahead? Top color expert, Leatrice Eiseman | | | | brown car is the star. There are also browns in |
| reveals what her picks are for the colors you'll see | | | | children's clothing and the toy market." |
| everywhere in 2007. Eiseman is executive director of | | | | • Grass Roots: "This starts with a variation |
| the Pantone Color Institute and director of the | | | | on a green theme, moving on to mineral blue and |
| Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training | | | | various wood tones enhanced by unexpected mixes |
| and has been selected by Fortune magazine as one | | | | including grape, rose and terra cotta." |
| of America's top eight decision-makers. | | | | • Fresh Air: "The dictionary defines |
| • Simply Elegant: "This is a prime example of | | | | something fresh as that which is 'refreshingly |
| the marriage of traditional and modern-day looks, | | | | different from what has been done previously.' |
| with the unexpected blends of mahogany and | | | | These colors are real eye-catchers-vibrant yellow and |
| silvered mink, silvery blues, elegant purples and deep | | | | yellow-greens, purples and violets, sky blues and |
| bronzed tones set off by the glint of pale gold, | | | | snowy whites." |
| frosty almond and copper." | | | | • Light Touch: "These are soft colors that |
| • Classic Chic: "Tasteful tones are always in | | | | many people want in their homes for a 'quieter' look |
| style. Here are glittery looks, a kind of glitz. Gray | | | | in an increasingly noisy world. Modernizing a pastel |
| flannel is the fabric of the year-particularly soft gray. | | | | palette can be easily done by re-inventing colors and |
| The year 2007 will be going into more grays in | | | | combinations such as foamy aquas and greens, pinks |
| housewares and elsewhere. Plus, there's a little ripple | | | | and lavenders, powdery blues, and infusing them with |
| of excitement provided by mineralized yellow. A | | | | a touch of champagne or a silvery gray." |
| classic palette would not be complete without black | | | | Thus, color trends for 2007 emphasize a combination |
| and white, often used with cappuccino brown." | | | | of change, transformation, and shift. According to |
| • Lumens: "Here are luminous finishes | | | | color experts, the calming trend of color over the |
| interspersed with multi-faceted hues. In addition, I | | | | last few seasons will continue in 2007. The search for |
| can't say strongly enough that bright white is a | | | | the perfect balance between fun and escapism, along |
| leading trend for 2007. People say white isn't a color, | | | | with simplicity and moderation, is always a challenge, |
| but the human eye perceives it as such. It's a very | | | | but the colors of 2007 promise to provide the |
| strong trend in fashion and the bridal industry as well | | | | perfect compromise between the two. |