Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! 2014 is slowly beginning to appear. It always amazes me when I think that it's already 2014 on the other side of the earth. With each new year comes a new set of colors for the world to live by. When I was a child, I often wondered why all clothing companies used the same colors at the same time. As I entered college, a teacher jokingly referred to the color selection as coming from 'the mysterious powers that be'. I now understand that the colors are actually chosen by Pantone (a corporation known entirely for their color coding system). So it only makes since that they are THE people to go to about color. Without further ado, here are the 2014 Pantone colors:
1. Violet Tulip
This tint reminds me of the Wisteria plant. I could see this being really popular around Easter time.
“A romantic, vintage purple, evokes wistful nostalgia”
2. Radiant Orchid
The second color is also in the violet family but it's much bolder and a little more on the red side. I have to admit, I'm excited about this one. It's surprising how little it's used because it's such a versatile color - not too bright or too dark. For an unexpected pop, I'd probably pair it with #5 Cayenne
“A bold counterpart to Violet Tulip”
3. Placid Blue
This one is my favorite purely because my entire wedding was organized around it. This color blue is so muted and lovely that I don't see how anyone could dislike it. It reminds me of antiques, hanging cotton laundry and the sky.
“A picture-perfect, tranquil and reassuring sky, induces a sense of peaceful calmness”
4. Dazzling Blue
While I'm a huge fan of blue, this color kind of puzzles me. It's not really a Royal Blue, but it's not a Navy either. I'm curious to see how it will be used this year.
“A scintillating, polar opposite to Placid Blue”
5. Cayenne
Now here's where we get some hot fire. Cayenne is the 'red' of the group but it's much more of a mango or clay brick to me. I love this variation and I can definitely see it in a restaurant setting.
“A high-pitched red, adds a dash of spicy heat to neutrals”
6. Celosia Orange
Keeping with the fiery and exotic feel of Cayenne, the Celosia orange really brings that 'Bird of Paradise' flower feel. Carefully keep it subtle to avoid following the path of Halloween.
“An optimistic, spontaneous hue”
7. Hemlock
Hemlock stands alone as the only green hue in the bunch. It reminds me of the pastel sugar mints that my grandmother used to keep stored around the house. Hemlock's cool, minty color could easily be used as a neutral if paired with #5 Cayenne and #6 Celosia.
“A summery, ornamental green, provides a decorative touch that’s very different from the greens of recent seasons”
8. Paloma
Paloma is a medium warm grey. I have to admit, it took me a while to convert from Black to Grey as my chosen secondary color. From clothes to type, black had always been the easiest choice. Grey, however, has finally knocked black out of its throne and replaced it. Subtle and modern, grey is here to stay and Paloma is a wonderful shade of it.
“Paloma serves as a quintessential neutral, interesting enough to be worn alone or combined with any color for sophisticated poise”
9. Sand
Sand is exactly what it sounds like... sand. It's that creamy, tan-ish color that we've seen paired with everything every year. Although, this one is a little more warm tinted (much like #8 Paloma). I suppose it only makes since due to all of the warm colors in the mix this year.
“A lightly toasted and amiable neutral, conjures images of the beach and the carefree days of summer”
10. Freesia
Freesia is another vibrant and tropical color in the lineup this year. I'm sure we'll see a lot of Freesia around the summertime (possibly on beach-bound bikinis everywhere). Pair this color with a light wood texture in your home for something minimal, modern, and energetic.
“A blazing yellow that is sure to illuminate wardrobes this season”