August 16, 2006

Pantone Report Fall 06

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!(nb)/images/archives/293.png! While the “web 2.0 buzz dies down](http://warpspire.com/journal/ia-usability/the-state-of-the-web-august-2006/, and “fashion is becoming more conservative](http://www.newyorkmetro.com/fashion/blog/2006/02/08/luca-luca-from-sexy-to-conservative/, we are beginning to see a more conservative set of colors coming for Fall. In fact, Pantone has just released their “Fashion Color Report](http://pantone.com/products/products.asp?idArticle=834&idArea=14 for the coming season, which boasts some rich neutrals like taupe, khaki, and mahogany.

Personally, I’ve been happily awaiting this change. I’m a neutral lover by design and I’ve always thought the whole web 2.0 buzz that brought those florescent mixes of puke and pastel were just dying to die. Of course, that’s not to say those colors haven’t served their purpose in appealing to the buzz kids but if trends make any sense at all, it seems the time is right for change. And I’m positive the change won’t last and some other trend will take its place, but for now I’m enjoying the turn that color is taking.

Color Schemer version of Pantone’s picks

!(nb)/images/archives/291.png! “Download this scheme](http://www.colorschemer.com/schemes/download.php?id=1994 “Download others](http://www.colorschemer.com/schemes/index.php?id=4596

What prompted this color shift?

According to fashionista Candy Pratts Price, “Consumers are familiar with the word ‘organic’ in their food, so they trust skincare products and textiles in the same way - healthier for you and your body.” It would seem true as well, that ‘healthier for your body’ can carry over to the eyes as well. Although I base this completely on personal preference, I believe it is quite possibly healthier for the eyes to take in softer, more natural colors, rather than bright obtrusive ones.

Along with the healthy crowd, it seems like more and more people are looking more closely at texture just as much if not more than the actual color of an item of clothing, or a website. In general, people are buying hand-crafted items and are shying away from metallic modernist goods. There seems to be an overall trend of going back to our roots, back in history, and embracing those things which were here long before our neon computer age. People want things to be calmer. Even Nina Garcia, Fashion Director for Elle magazine, is quoted in Pantone’s brochure as saying:

“Colors have been influenced by the increased use of natural fabrics: rafia, wood, crochet, wicker, linens and burlap, and all man-made fabrics have accented both clothing and accessories. The colors tend to be sober and less saturated.”

Now I’m not so sure sober is the term I would have used, but then again, it plays on the idea that some people must have been drunk when designing some of the wacky things we’ve seen this year. Some pinks have come a little too close to a fuschia nightmare, while some others have found a richer color that could hardly even be called pink but more of a ’sober’ Sangria.