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I've always liked following the annual Pantone Color of the Year announcement. While it may sound a bit like some sort of hollow publicity-generating event, like the worst-dressed list or whether the groundhog saw his shadow, the truth is Pantone's declaration has great influence on fashion and design for the year.
Just look at 2010's Pantone color of the year: Turquoise. Every shade of it was seeminglhy everywhere, from linens and home furnishings to the fingers and earlobes of the rich and famous.
When I first got wind that this year's Pantone color of the year is honeysuckle (that's 18-2120 to all you art director types), I got nervous. I look terrible in yellows. But, silly me, turns out honeysuckle isn't the color of honeysuckles at all, but a bold, reddish-pink that I actually think is kind of swanky.
The way Pantone describes it:
Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.
Man, I love those kinds of overzealous statements from the fashion and design world, don't you? It makes me think of Marie Antoinette, declaring Let them wear honeysuckle!
Pantone is collaborating with partners to offer the hue in everything from bridesmaids dresses to jewelry to Visa cards. After all, imagine the fashion faux pas you would be making should you pull out your plastic in last year's color of the year. Quelle horreur! If you're not ready to trade in your gold card for a pink one, here are a few ways to get your pink on.
I think honeysuckle looks great as an accent color, like this Nordstrom scarf which gives neutrals a poppy burst of optimistic color -- you know, to help you meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.
Regina Yunghans at Apartment Therapy likes it as an accent color in the home, as in Arne Jacobson's Arnt Chair. Not sure my sigOth would go for it, but in my girls' room (in moderation) it's pretty cool.
The design blog Rhonna Designs showcases how luscious honeysuckle can look in a floral arrangement. Although not actual Honeysuckles. Those are yellow. Ahem.
Outblush tracked down some great fashion and beauty picks in the pink hue, including this OPI Party in my Cabana nailpolish which I actually look forward to trying on my toes come spring, when my skin tone is slightly less undead.
So what do you think? Is honeysuckle a color you can get behind? Does it make you you feel positive and happy? Will it elevate your psyche beyond escape? Who knows -- maybe OPI nailpolish could be a super cheap alternative to therapy.
Liz Gumbinner is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the design and trend blog for parents, Cool Mom Picks. She's also the author of the personal blog Mom-101 and a Blogher Style contributing editor. She ocassionally wears pink, at risk of banishment from New York City.
