The Pantone color palettes for fall/winter 2012 and 2013 are in, and the winners are ... many. Expect to see these hues in clothes, interior design, home products and perhaps even makeup.
The color authority has nine palettes to share for an array of choices. It seems that almost all the palettes are muted a bit. Each palette has a name that reflects the colors within.
The first, Nonchalance, features soft colors.
Blue Fog is a soft blue with some gray showing through. Next comes Grapemist, but don';t be swayed by the name. It is more of a blue than a grape. Pink Nectar is soft, showing a little gray. Grape Compote also has a hint of gray in it. Plaza taupe is next, looking more gray than taupe. Then there is Deep Taupe, which shows more brown than gray. Silver Gray is a clean, soft gray and Egret is almost white ---- but, yes, a little gray shows in this one, too.
Next on the palette list is a group called Subtleties. These are muted in appearance, allowing color without too much splash. Leek Green is green with yellow in it. Fair Green is a soft, comfortable green. Stonewash is a blue that is easy to look at. Brick Red is a little on the maroon side. Beryl Green shows up looking a bit teal, as it has blue in it. Lead is a gray-blue. All of the colors in this palette are earthy in appearance.
Resilience is next on the palette list. These colors have a sturdy look to them, and some have interesting names. Oil Yellow does look like an oily yellow. Flamingo is a bit peachy. Dachshund is brown. Chanterelle is gray with a hint of brown. Oasis is green, with just a touch of yellow. Shitake is a dark gray, with hints of brown. Black Coffee is black, and Fog is a clean gray.
Then there';s Indigo Effects. Quarry is a gray blue. Indigo is a purple, but muted, and not at all bright. Celestial is a good blue, while Woodrose is almost back to mauve (remember?). There is a depth to each of the colors in this palette.
The next group is Transcending Time, which has a feeling of continuity. Think heirlooms. The only one that comes across as having gray in it is Frosted Almond. Ruby Wine, Grape Royale and Canyon Rose have an old-world look to them, rich and comfortable.
Back to the Fuchsia is just what it says. This group is bold and bright and jewel-tone in appearance: Fuchsia Rose, Fuchsia Pink, Amaranth Purple and Festive Fuchsia.
The Reflections group is glossy finished colors. All have a metallic look. They include Blue Moon, Turkish Sea, Cloud Dancer, Silver and Gold.
Nouveau Neon colors are, well, neon. These are vibrant and bold and include Vibrant Yellow, Orange Popsicle, Dewberry and Raspberry.
For more information, visit www.Pantone.com.
Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in Naples, Fla., is author of "Mystery of Color." For design inquiries, write to Rosemary at DsgnQuest@aol.com.
