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