Using Color Trending without Compromising Personal Style

So, it is probably no surprise here, but I am not a very trendy person. I cut my own hair--mostly just pull it back into a pony tail-like structure and then snip off the ends with scissors (apologies to any stylists reading this). My work wardrobe consists of lounge pants and yoga pants because I spend most of the work day alone in my home working out of my studio. Not very fashion aware.

Trends aside, I am fascinated by color and the Pantone color forecast is no exception. These are specific shades of colors put out once a year or once a season--the colors designers have deemed will be 'in' that season. As artists and crafters we cannot ignore the colors that shape the design industry.

This is the forecast for Fall 2011 and Winter 2012--I combined the colors from Pantone's website and from the color assistance documents found on Fire Mountain Gem's website. I actually made this image into my desktop wall paper as a reminder of the times ;]. Feel free to nab it--give it a click to make it full size.

Lots of rosy hues, neutrals and a few bright pops of color. Many of these colors kind of remind me of lipstick. The current color of the year, Honeysuckle might have something to do with that.

I am very set in the colors I like to use--grays, browns, cream, greens, peach, orange, yellow--mostly colors in variations of those shades. So how does a stubborn palette limited person (like me) follow color fashion trends? By being picky and choosy ;].

Go through your fabric, your beads and art and selected colors that seem to fit the forecast well. Concentrate on making additional art in those shades or rebranding existing art as fitting those colors--all on your own terms.

There might only be a few colors in this color set you use for your main body of work. That is okay! You can use a dash of another color to accent or detail your work without losing your sense of you. For example, you can make a pair of earrings in shades of nougat and then add 2-3 beads in bamboo or emberglow to add pops of color.

Additionally, if you look over fashion designers' inspiration for these colors, you will see many of them use variations of the colors or pair them with colors outside of the forecast. There are no hard set rules.

Here is a new line of Lati Yellow dresses I have created using color trends without compromising personal style. See if you can spot some of the colors. You can see more new dresses in my etsy Destash shop.


Comments

[abi monroe]

Fascinating! didn't even realise this colour network thing existed! I stole the chart :O) Funnily enough, I have used several of the colours whilst decorating the house.. what a coincidence - I'm 'in fashion' and didn't even know it :O) LOL

[Jessica Hamilton]

Thank you Abi! I am glad this helped. Hehe--good to know you are in vogue. Wouldn't want to be out of fashion! ;]