Have you ever wondered why certain colours are touted as the hottest tones for the season?
Or how it is that you’d never think of wearing a particular colour until it seems to be popping up everywhere, in unexpected combinations with other shades, and it just suddenly looks right? It might surprise you to know that colour trends – like fashions – are decided up to two years in advance by colour forecasting organisations. Yes, there are actually organisations dedicated to telling fashion brands, manufacturers, furniture companies and so on what colours will be in fashion in 24 months’ time so that they can design their products in on-trend tones.
Perhaps the best known of these is Pantone, or The Pantone Color Institute. This colour service provider is well known for its colour chips with numbered (and named) shades that allow everyone across various industries (graphic design, fashion, interiors and so on) to call a certain shade by the same name.
Living coral
Rather than telling your interior decorator that you’re wanting to paint the walls a soft, warm pink, for example, you might ask them to use PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral, which was the colour of the year in 2019. This system allows those in the design industry to avoid the inevitable misinterpretations that could happen around colours otherwise – if you’ve ever tried to choose the right white for your walls, you’ll know it’s impossible trying to explain the desired effect in words alone.
According to Pantone, the colour of the year is “a color that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude on the part of consumers, a color that will resonate around the world, a color that reflects what people are looking for, a color that can hope to answer what people feel they need”.
Going by this rationale, what did we feel we needed for 2024? Apparently, it was Peach Fuzz, another pink shade, but different from Living Coral. You’ve probably seen it this year in the form of denim jackets, shirts, towels, lampshades, plates – anything you can wear or use might be in this easy-on-the-eye hue.
It’s a light, optimistic colour that could easily be worn in place of a neutral especially in the warmer months, but as it’s already had nearly a year in the spotlight, let’s take a look at the colours that are specifically on-trend for spring.
Keep calm and carry on
Given that Peach Fuzz is a soft pastel, it’s not surprising that the palette for this spring is based around paler, calming tones. The palest of all – white, in its various forms – features strongly. In fact, you wouldn’t go far wrong if you chose to base your spring/summer wardrobe around white the way that autumn/winter wardrobes tend to be built around black and darker tones. From jeans and T-shirts to more tailored items such as linen suits, white is a safe bet for the warmer months.
Lighter shades of blue – titled variously Arctic blue, sky blue or ocean blue – are also trending, as are pale lilac hues. If you like pastels, these will likely already feature in your wardrobe as they repeatedly show up on catwalks and don’t seem to fall out of favour. For those wanting to give this trend a try, choose a shirt, jacket or even longline vest. This allows you to wear these pastel shades next to your face but gives you the option of layering the item over a T-shirt or singlet in a different colour if you want to create a slightly different look.
In contrast to the softer, pale shades, the accent colour for this spring is a strong, deep red – think oxblood or a dark cherry. A challenging colour for some, it nonetheless can look spectacular worn as lipstick or as an accessory such as a necklace, bangle or handbag, or even sandals. When teamed with the pale blue and pastel lilac shades, it instantly creates a contemporary statement.
Timeless choice
Rounding out the palette is soft gold – a timeless choice that, again, might be challenging to wear as an outfit colour day to day but that is easy to work into your wardrobe in smaller doses and on special occasions. Apart from the obvious choices of jewellery, bags and shoes, you might like to try gold in the form of a silky blouse or shirt, or if you’re feeling bold, a slinky bias-cut skirt or palazzo pants. Whatever colours you choose this spring, enjoy playing with the palette – that’s half the fun of fashion!
But as we’re getting to the end of the year, maybe it’s time to look at the other trend colours that will carry on into 2025.
What’s your favourite colour? Why not share your opinion in the comments section below?
Also read: Why you should learn to love linen
