Sep 16, 2013
The 2014 Color Crystal Ball is Out By Tim Hodson

The color experts at Pantone are at it again they have released their latest report on fashion colors for 2014. The report, Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2014, is a comprehensive overview of designers’ use of color in their upcoming collections and was released to coincide with New York Fashion Week.

According to Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone’s executive director, in 2014 “consumers are looking for a state of thoughtful, emotional and artistic equilibrium. While this need for stability is reflected in the composition of the palette, the inherent versatility of the individual colors allows for experimentation with new looks and color combinations.”

The Top 10 fashion colors for women and men in 2014 are (drum roll please):

For women:

Placid Blue
Violet Tulip
Hemlock
Paloma
Sand
Freesia
Cayenne
Celosia Orange
Radiant Orchid
Dazzling Blue

For men, the Top 10 colors are:

Placid Blue
Purple Haze
Comfrey
Paloma
Sand
Freesia
Cayenne
Celosia Orange
Magenta Purple
Dazzling Blue

Commenting on the women’s color palette, Pantone says three “very adaptable pastels” made the list because “we are so accustomed to seeing them as nature’s background, [and] they can be creatively combined with many other colors.” Placid Blue “induces a sense of peaceful calmness,” while Violet Tulip “evokes wistful nostalgia” and Hemlock “provides a decorative touch that’s very different from the greens of recent seasons.” Sand is a lightly toasted and amiable neutral color reminiscent of the carefree days of summer, while Paloma serves as a “quintessential neutral.”

Cayenne provides a “dash of spicy heat” to neutrals, Freesia, a blazing yellow, creates a feeling of warmth and energy, and Celosia Orange is “an optimistic, spontaneous hue.” Rounding out the women’s list, Pantone says Radiant Orchid is “a bold counterpart to Violet Tulip, and Dazzling Blue, a scintillating, polar opposite to Placid Blue.”

As you can tell by their vibrant and thought-provoking descriptions, these color experts have put a lot of thought into their selections.

Do you think these colors will impact consumers when they make their plant and flower selections next spring? How will they influence their decorating decisions in 2014? I guess we will find out in about six months or so.

You can learn more about why these colors were selected and the Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2014 at www.pantone.com/spring2014.