Color Forecast for 2009

Colors can create a world of difference in our lives. Brighten your mood on a gloomy day by adding a splash of yellow to your wardrobe. Wearing aquatic blue can make you feel like you’re poolside on a beautiful summer day. Wearing red can make you feel sultry or bold. Basically, color is a great way to convey whatever mood you may feel.

Many of us look to the fashion show runways to get inspiration for our wardrobes. But have you ever wondered how designers choose the colors they want to use for their collections? Some designers may turn to the Pantone Color Forecast for inspiration.

In 1963, Lawrence Herbert, Pantone's founder, created an innovative system of identifying, matching and communicating colors to solve the problems associated with producing accurate color matches in the graphic arts community*. Since then, Pantone has rolled out its color matching system to other industries to include digital technology, textiles, plastics, architecture and paint.

So what are some of the hottest colors for 2009?

Pantone’s Spring Color Forecast balances vibrant and neutral colors. Colors that appear in this forecast are Fuchsia Red, an elegant red with blue undertones; Salmon Rose, a soft and subtle orange; Super Lemon, a bright and sunny yellow; and Palace Blue, a sparkling navy-like blue. Other colors which appear in the spring forecast are Lavender, Slate Gray and Rose Dust**.

For Fall, Pantone selected American Beauty, a patriotic, true red; Purple Heart, a refined and sumptuous purple; Iron, dubbed “the new black”, this color falls between gray and brown; and Crème Brulee, a grayish beige. Other hot colors for Fall are Warm Olive, Honey Yellow and Burnt Sienna***.

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* http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=19306&ca=10
** http://www.pantone.com/downloads/articles/pdfs/PANTONE-FCR-sp2009.pdf
*** http://www.pantone.com/downloads/articles/pdfs/PANTONE_FCR_FALL09.pdf