Color + Design Blog by COLOURlovers / Feed http://www.colourlovers.com/blog Color + Design Blog by COLOURlovers / Feed Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:00:33 -0600 http://www.colourlovers.com/blog en Colourlovershttp://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with Pageflakes Colorful Answers by Leatrice Eiseman to Questions from Our COLOURlovers Scholarship Winners http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Colourlovers/~3/cYJ4sJXxNIs/colorful-answers-by-leatrice-eiseman-to-questions-from-our-colourlovers-scholarship-winners http://www.colourlovers.com/business/blog/2012/01/26/colorful-answers-by-leatrice-eiseman-to-questions-from-our-colourlovers-scholarship-winners#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:36:32 -0600 mollybermea http://www.colourlovers.com/business/blog/2012/01/26/colorful-answers-by-leatrice-eiseman-to-questions-from-our-colourlovers-scholarship-winners

For those of you following Leatrice Eisemen's training schedule, her 4-Day Color Training Program is off to a start this very morning in Burbank, CA. LindaHolt and ModernMuse (aka Michelle Stroescu), the two COLOURlovers who won full and half scholarship for the class back in November are excitedly enjoying their first day of learning and meeting Leatrice.

To tide you all over until we get to do a followup with both Linda and Michelle about the class experience, Leatrice kindly took the time to answer the intriguing questions each winner had asked at the time of receiving the announcement that they had won.

Q & A From LindaHolt

Linda: I would love to know what the process is and what goes into choosing the Color of The Year? 

Leatrice: I literally travel the world looking for clues.  If I see a color that I think is ascending in importance, I make special note of it and then look for evidence in it gaining momentum.  Fashion is always a good indicator, but it is not the only design area that must be examined.  There are so much creative design areas that must be considered including graphics, the world of art, product design, home furnishings and so on .  Another very important part of the choice is tapping into the “zeitgeist ‘ of the world around us and the emotional message that the color imparts.  For example, with the that big gray elephant  (the economy) still looming large and the concern that is being felt internationally, we would not want to choose a color that could be a “downer’.  Instead we listen to people’s aspirations and try to give them a color that, at least symbolically, satisfies and encourages their needs and hopes.

Linda:  I would like to know if you have had a life long love of color and what was your path to becoming the color guru you are today?

Leatrice: Yes, I was destined to do something with color.  Even as a child, I was super-aware of the presence of color and was always fascinated by it.  I learned early on that wearing separates was the way to go because you could contrive so many more color combinations that way.  I also had a mother who let me have full reign in color choices—even in painting my room.  And I came up with some pretty dramatic combinations.  The proviso was that if and when I got tired of it, it as my job to purchase the paint and make the changes myself!  I started to take design classes very early and then realized that color was not just about fashion and home, but the psychology of color was equally important.  So my degrees are in psychology, but I combined that with design and color was a natural part of that. And for a shortened version of what happened next, I taught color, consulted with various industries, wrote the first of eight books in color, was invited to become the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, while at the same time teaching color programs through the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training.

Q & A: Michelle Stroescu (ModernMuse)

Michelle:  How does Pantone take into account the current social/ political environment when deciding on future color palettes - or do they at all?

Leatrice:  Yes, those factors considered, as they are a vital part of color trends.

Michelle: I tend to believe our economical, political, and social situations by country affect color trends... 

Leatrice:  Again, yes they are.  For example, one of the important areas to look at, especially in this age of mass communication so readily available, are the colors  that are indigenous to a certain country in which a large sporting  event such as the Olympics is going to be held, as most of the  world is anticipating and then watching those events.  Another example: When there is war in any country, or some traumatic event, like 9/11,  in the U.S., it is  quite characteristic of a particular country to turn to the colors of their flag as they are symbolic of patriotism.

source

Michelle: Did Michelle Obama by chance choose a yellow inauguration suit when that was the same color of the year?

Leatrice:  I truly don’t know for certain why she chose that color--  It could be that she had a stylist who was very savvy about those things and made that suggestion to her or that she inherently understood that the color was symbolic of the hope and optimism that had been do much a part of the Obama campaign.

Michelle: Are there really and truly color meanings related to a person’s personality and characteristics? In color consulting is this taken into account and are they analyzed personally and in business branding solutions...regarding color choices in branding?

Leatrice:  To respond to the first part of the question, yes there are color characteristics that people can relate to their own personalities.  Faber Birren was the first credible resource on this aspect of color and many of his books are still available, although some relating to color in business are somewhat out-dated.  But those relating to the psychology of color are still quite relevant. I have also written about this aspect of color in several of my books, including More Alive With Color and the Color Answer Book.

Michelle:  Of all of the Pantone company's "Color of The Year," which color and what year had the most impact on businesses and sales? Is this something that is tracked by business sector? Fashion, home, retailing, advertising, etc?

Leatrice: This question cannot be answered without doing extensive research that would involve tracking each area mentioned. And many companies will not divulge their sales figures, but keep it internal.  Pantone  provides the tools for assigning a color to a product, interior or apparel but does not track how every one of their 2000 plus colors sells in every industry.  That would be a mammoth undertaking. What I have done in the past  (and continue to do) is to track consumers’ responses to specific colors based on color word association studies and I will be discussing those in the class you will be attending...

Michelle:  In my past business "blue" was always the dominant sales color within my customer base. That may be due to the fact that I dealt primarily in young mens and mens businesses...

Leatrice:  And that might have been a very viable reason for using blue—you instincts were correct.  I don’t think I have ever done a line that did not include some shade of blue, as it is still a highly preferred color.

Michelle:  One more question for you that I didn't give Molly, but it would be really helpful if you could advise in your opinion what would be the most important inclusive, informative text to use in teaching COLOR THEORY to fashion design/marketing students? Currently we use the book COLOR by Zelanski/Fisher.

Leatrice:  That is an excellent resource, but in addition there is a wonderful book by Enid Verity called Colour Observed.  The publisher is MacMillan Press and it was published in 1980 in England. Surprisingly, there aren’t many color photos, but the information is excellent and succinct. You will get a booklist as part of your hand-outs when you attend the class.

Thanks for answering these questions in such detail Leatrice, we can't wait to hear from Linda and Michelle, post class and full of tons of color knowledge! 

]]> For those of you following Leatrice Eisemen's training schedule, her 4-Day Color Training Program is off to a start this very morning in Burbank, CA. LindaHolt and ModernMuse (aka Michelle Stroescu), the two COLOURlovers who won full and half scholarship for the class back in November are excitedly enjoying their first day of learning and meeting Leatrice.

To tide you all over until we get to do a followup with both Linda and Michelle about the class experience, Leatrice kindly took the time to answer the intriguing questions each winner had asked at the time of receiving the announcement that they had won.

Q & A From LindaHolt

Linda: I would love to know what the process is and what goes into choosing the Color of The Year? 

Leatrice: I literally travel the world looking for clues.  If I see a color that I think is ascending in importance, I make special note of it and then look for evidence in it gaining momentum.  Fashion is always a good indicator, but it is not the only design area that must be examined.  There are so much creative design areas that must be considered including graphics, the world of art, product design, home furnishings and so on .  Another very important part of the choice is tapping into the “zeitgeist ‘ of the world around us and the emotional message that the color imparts.  For example, with the that big gray elephant  (the economy) still looming large and the concern that is being felt internationally, we would not want to choose a color that could be a “downer’.  Instead we listen to people’s aspirations and try to give them a color that, at least symbolically, satisfies and encourages their needs and hopes.

Linda:  I would like to know if you have had a life long love of color and what was your path to becoming the color guru you are today?

Leatrice: Yes, I was destined to do something with color.  Even as a child, I was super-aware of the presence of color and was always fascinated by it.  I learned early on that wearing separates was the way to go because you could contrive so many more color combinations that way.  I also had a mother who let me have full reign in color choices—even in painting my room.  And I came up with some pretty dramatic combinations.  The proviso was that if and when I got tired of it, it as my job to purchase the paint and make the changes myself!  I started to take design classes very early and then realized that color was not just about fashion and home, but the psychology of color was equally important.  So my degrees are in psychology, but I combined that with design and color was a natural part of that. And for a shortened version of what happened next, I taught color, consulted with various industries, wrote the first of eight books in color, was invited to become the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, while at the same time teaching color programs through the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training.

Q & A: Michelle Stroescu (ModernMuse)

Michelle:  How does Pantone take into account the current social/ political environment when deciding on future color palettes - or do they at all?

Leatrice:  Yes, those factors considered, as they are a vital part of color trends.

Michelle: I tend to believe our economical, political, and social situations by country affect color trends... 

Leatrice:  Again, yes they are.  For example, one of the important areas to look at, especially in this age of mass communication so readily available, are the colors  that are indigenous to a certain country in which a large sporting  event such as the Olympics is going to be held, as most of the  world is anticipating and then watching those events.  Another example: When there is war in any country, or some traumatic event, like 9/11,  in the U.S., it is  quite characteristic of a particular country to turn to the colors of their flag as they are symbolic of patriotism.

source

Michelle: Did Michelle Obama by chance choose a yellow inauguration suit when that was the same color of the year?

Leatrice:  I truly don’t know for certain why she chose that color--  It could be that she had a stylist who was very savvy about those things and made that suggestion to her or that she inherently understood that the color was symbolic of the hope and optimism that had been do much a part of the Obama campaign.

Michelle: Are there really and truly color meanings related to a person’s personality and characteristics? In color consulting is this taken into account and are they analyzed personally and in business branding solutions...regarding color choices in branding?

Leatrice:  To respond to the first part of the question, yes there are color characteristics that people can relate to their own personalities.  Faber Birren was the first credible resource on this aspect of color and many of his books are still available, although some relating to color in business are somewhat out-dated.  But those relating to the psychology of color are still quite relevant. I have also written about this aspect of color in several of my books, including More Alive With Color and the Color Answer Book.

Michelle:  Of all of the Pantone company's "Color of The Year," which color and what year had the most impact on businesses and sales? Is this something that is tracked by business sector? Fashion, home, retailing, advertising, etc?

Leatrice: This question cannot be answered without doing extensive research that would involve tracking each area mentioned. And many companies will not divulge their sales figures, but keep it internal.  Pantone  provides the tools for assigning a color to a product, interior or apparel but does not track how every one of their 2000 plus colors sells in every industry.  That would be a mammoth undertaking. What I have done in the past  (and continue to do) is to track consumers’ responses to specific colors based on color word association studies and I will be discussing those in the class you will be attending...

Michelle:  In my past business "blue" was always the dominant sales color within my customer base. That may be due to the fact that I dealt primarily in young mens and mens businesses...

Leatrice:  And that might have been a very viable reason for using blue—you instincts were correct.  I don’t think I have ever done a line that did not include some shade of blue, as it is still a highly preferred color.

Michelle:  One more question for you that I didn't give Molly, but it would be really helpful if you could advise in your opinion what would be the most important inclusive, informative text to use in teaching COLOR THEORY to fashion design/marketing students? Currently we use the book COLOR by Zelanski/Fisher.

Leatrice:  That is an excellent resource, but in addition there is a wonderful book by Enid Verity called Colour Observed.  The publisher is MacMillan Press and it was published in 1980 in England. Surprisingly, there aren’t many color photos, but the information is excellent and succinct. You will get a booklist as part of your hand-outs when you attend the class.

Thanks for answering these questions in such detail Leatrice, we can't wait to hear from Linda and Michelle, post class and full of tons of color knowledge! 

]]> http://www.colourlovers.com/business/blog/2012/01/26/colorful-answers-by-leatrice-eiseman-to-questions-from-our-colourlovers-scholarship-winners/feed http://www.colourlovers.com/business/blog/2012/01/26/colorful-answers-by-leatrice-eiseman-to-questions-from-our-colourlovers-scholarship-winners Winter Wedding Trends & Inspiration http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Colourlovers/~3/-qcPQxCcb0k/winter-wedding-trends-inspiration http://www.colourlovers.com/wedding/blog/2012/01/24/winter-wedding-trends-inspiration#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:48:51 -0600 allisonsilber http://www.colourlovers.com/wedding/blog/2012/01/24/winter-wedding-trends-inspiration

Winter weddings are fabulous in their own right, and seeing as we are now in the thick of these winter months, you brides are some of the luckiest there are. Sure you don't get sunshine and hot days, but you get the chance of snow and creating a darn right cozy spot.

Sparkles, snow, candles and blankets adorn these weddings to create a romantic space during these cold months. Oh and the color palettes, I can't get enough of these color palettes.


Source: Bridge, Pears

For ceremony spaces, a cozy fireplace is the perfect backdrop to tie the knot. Details such as cotton and candles are perfect details to add to this space. Sparkly accessories are a fun way to add a little festive decor to any spot. And you can't go wrong with a little bit of sparkle every now and again.


Source: Ceremony Spot, Cotton

Even after the holidays are over, this is still a great guest book idea. Have guests write their favorite piece of advice, story of the two of you, or a nice note on an ornament. You can hang these on your tree the coming year.


Source: Ornaments


Source: Hot Cocoa, Flower, Invite, Snowball

There are a variety of details to add including hanging snowballs, white flower boutonnieres or sweet drinks. Kraft paper and a light blue compliment white details quite well, creating an overall fabulous palette to work from.


Source: Tassle, Hot Cocoa

A hot cocoa bar is definitely the highlight of winter weddings. This is something unique to winter months that make a cozy treat for guests. Adding a small tassel stir stick and a great sign to the drink bar is one detail I think should be incorporated in all these festive winter affairs.


Source: Cupcake Bar

Similarly, your dessert bar options can create such a romantic and warm feeling. Be it the use of sparkles, candles, ornaments as well as your selection of cookies and other treats you add. Guests will definitely remember this adorable dessert station.


Source: Cotton + Wood

Wood and cotton details kind of come with the woodsie category, no matter the month. For events in log cabins or barns, these additions are a great way to tie the whole event together and bring the outside, in. Other natural elements make the perfect addition for bud vases, cake tables and a variety of other spots.


Source: Bride

For the bride, it is important to stay warm, but after spending all that money on a dress, you are going to want to show it off as well. Find the perfect cover-up to compliment your attire and it will be a great addition to your closet, well after your wedding day.


Source: Burlap

There are a variety of winter elements that can make the perfect winter wedding. Creating a romantic and warm place for guests to feel comfortable in will make your wedding one they will never forget. Wood, burlap and other organic details are a great addition to candle lit nights and a variety of white details. But this doesn't mean you feel like you can't add any bright colors into the mix. This palette is pretty simple, so anything else you add is just as great of an addition to make the night your very own.

]]> Winter weddings are fabulous in their own right, and seeing as we are now in the thick of these winter months, you brides are some of the luckiest there are. Sure you don't get sunshine and hot days, but you get the chance of snow and creating a darn right cozy spot.

Sparkles, snow, candles and blankets adorn these weddings to create a romantic space during these cold months. Oh and the color palettes, I can't get enough of these color palettes.


Source: Bridge, Pears

For ceremony spaces, a cozy fireplace is the perfect backdrop to tie the knot. Details such as cotton and candles are perfect details to add to this space. Sparkly accessories are a fun way to add a little festive decor to any spot. And you can't go wrong with a little bit of sparkle every now and again.


Source: Ceremony Spot, Cotton

Even after the holidays are over, this is still a great guest book idea. Have guests write their favorite piece of advice, story of the two of you, or a nice note on an ornament. You can hang these on your tree the coming year.


Source: Ornaments


Source: Hot Cocoa, Flower, Invite, Snowball

There are a variety of details to add including hanging snowballs, white flower boutonnieres or sweet drinks. Kraft paper and a light blue compliment white details quite well, creating an overall fabulous palette to work from.


Source: Tassle, Hot Cocoa

A hot cocoa bar is definitely the highlight of winter weddings. This is something unique to winter months that make a cozy treat for guests. Adding a small tassel stir stick and a great sign to the drink bar is one detail I think should be incorporated in all these festive winter affairs.


Source: Cupcake Bar

Similarly, your dessert bar options can create such a romantic and warm feeling. Be it the use of sparkles, candles, ornaments as well as your selection of cookies and other treats you add. Guests will definitely remember this adorable dessert station.


Source: Cotton + Wood

Wood and cotton details kind of come with the woodsie category, no matter the month. For events in log cabins or barns, these additions are a great way to tie the whole event together and bring the outside, in. Other natural elements make the perfect addition for bud vases, cake tables and a variety of other spots.


Source: Bride

For the bride, it is important to stay warm, but after spending all that money on a dress, you are going to want to show it off as well. Find the perfect cover-up to compliment your attire and it will be a great addition to your closet, well after your wedding day.


Source: Burlap

There are a variety of winter elements that can make the perfect winter wedding. Creating a romantic and warm place for guests to feel comfortable in will make your wedding one they will never forget. Wood, burlap and other organic details are a great addition to candle lit nights and a variety of white details. But this doesn't mean you feel like you can't add any bright colors into the mix. This palette is pretty simple, so anything else you add is just as great of an addition to make the night your very own.

]]> http://www.colourlovers.com/wedding/blog/2012/01/24/winter-wedding-trends-inspiration/feed http://www.colourlovers.com/wedding/blog/2012/01/24/winter-wedding-trends-inspiration COLOURlovers Interview with Erin of Design For Mankind http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Colourlovers/~3/bsKo5mBW5cE/colourlovers-interview-with-erin-of-design-for-mankind http://www.colourlovers.com/fashion/blog/2012/01/23/colourlovers-interview-with-erin-of-design-for-mankind#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:08:07 -0600 allisonsilber http://www.colourlovers.com/fashion/blog/2012/01/23/colourlovers-interview-with-erin-of-design-for-mankind

Erin Loechner is a writer, stylist and designer. She is a quirky girl with lots of style and a great swagger about her. Everything she publishes on her site, Design For Mankind, pushes the envelope just enough to keep you interested and excited about trends and styles. She has graced the pages of many magazines all the while keeping up with trends and colors on her HGTV.com segment.


First up, why don't you tell the community a bit about who you are, what you do, how long you have been doing it, and your background. 

I'm Erin Loechner, a 28-year-old freelance design writer and blogger (DesignForMankind.com). I dabble into styling, consulting and rearranging the furniture of any willing party! I'm also an online personality for HGTV.com.

What past experiences do you think have contributed the most to where you are now?  
I tend to think of life (and age, for that matter) as little more than a collection of experiences and encounters that continually shape you as a person. So many moments have led me to where I am today, but the catalyst was probably the foundation of my art/design blog, Design for Mankind, in 2006. So many opportunities have stemmed from that tiny little website! The Internet is an amazing thing.What colors do you think we will see a lot of in 2012? 

I don't know if it's the wintery months or the beginning of a new trend, but I've been noticing a resurgence of muted tones as an alternative to the bright, cheery hues of seasons past. Candy-colored hues in muted tones are all over my radar this year!


Source

What patterns and trends do you think will be big in 2012?

I'm seeing a huge trend in art-inspired patterns (and am so excited!) in the past few months, so I'm predicting everything from landscape art clothing (like this collection! below) to watercolor housewares (like this rug! below).


Source, Source

Which colors, patterns & trends are you personally most excited about?

Oh, definitely art-inspired patterns. If I could watercolor everything in my home, I would!

What is your favorite website or app right now?

My favorite app is Instagram; I'm a total sucker for documenting my day visually, but will never find the time to hone my photography skills. Instant problem solver!

When decorating your home, what are the top three colors you turn to for the space? What is your favorite paint color?

Oh, I'm very much of a believer of a neutral home (exhibit A = my dining room! below). I've found in the past that my job can be so stimulating, it's important for me to come home to a clean, natural color palette. Every wall in my house is Architectural White (Olympic Paint), and I often layer each room with blacks, grays and natural wood tones. I'm very monochromatic these days!


Source

What's the best home design-related advice you've ever received?

If you love a piece, there's room for it. Alternatively, if you're not 100% in love with a piece, ditch it.

When you are feeling stumped, where do you turn for inspiration?

I'm rarely at a loss for inspiration, but I've found that when I am, it's usually due to too much research, rather than not enough. This usually means I've been spending too much time behind the computer screen, so I'll get out of the house, grab a coffee, take a walk or head out for a bite with my husband. I'm usually back to square one in no time!

For someone that is just beginning down the road to create a better home, what resources or advice would you give to them?

Find a general direction you'd like to go in, and make the rest up in your head. Start collecting images from online or your favorite magazines, and really study what each image makes you feel, rather than what you see. This will give you a great starting point for the sort of space you want to create, whether it's cozy, modern, chic, glamorous, or all of the above. Most importantly, enjoy yourself and continually surround yourself with things you love. It makes a world of difference!

]]> Erin Loechner is a writer, stylist and designer. She is a quirky girl with lots of style and a great swagger about her. Everything she publishes on her site, Design For Mankind, pushes the envelope just enough to keep you interested and excited about trends and styles. She has graced the pages of many magazines all the while keeping up with trends and colors on her HGTV.com segment.


First up, why don't you tell the community a bit about who you are, what you do, how long you have been doing it, and your background. 

I'm Erin Loechner, a 28-year-old freelance design writer and blogger (DesignForMankind.com). I dabble into styling, consulting and rearranging the furniture of any willing party! I'm also an online personality for HGTV.com.

What past experiences do you think have contributed the most to where you are now?  
I tend to think of life (and age, for that matter) as little more than a collection of experiences and encounters that continually shape you as a person. So many moments have led me to where I am today, but the catalyst was probably the foundation of my art/design blog, Design for Mankind, in 2006. So many opportunities have stemmed from that tiny little website! The Internet is an amazing thing.What colors do you think we will see a lot of in 2012? 

I don't know if it's the wintery months or the beginning of a new trend, but I've been noticing a resurgence of muted tones as an alternative to the bright, cheery hues of seasons past. Candy-colored hues in muted tones are all over my radar this year!


Source

What patterns and trends do you think will be big in 2012?

I'm seeing a huge trend in art-inspired patterns (and am so excited!) in the past few months, so I'm predicting everything from landscape art clothing (like this collection! below) to watercolor housewares (like this rug! below).


Source, Source

Which colors, patterns & trends are you personally most excited about?

Oh, definitely art-inspired patterns. If I could watercolor everything in my home, I would!

What is your favorite website or app right now?

My favorite app is Instagram; I'm a total sucker for documenting my day visually, but will never find the time to hone my photography skills. Instant problem solver!

When decorating your home, what are the top three colors you turn to for the space? What is your favorite paint color?

Oh, I'm very much of a believer of a neutral home (exhibit A = my dining room! below). I've found in the past that my job can be so stimulating, it's important for me to come home to a clean, natural color palette. Every wall in my house is Architectural White (Olympic Paint), and I often layer each room with blacks, grays and natural wood tones. I'm very monochromatic these days!


Source

What's the best home design-related advice you've ever received?

If you love a piece, there's room for it. Alternatively, if you're not 100% in love with a piece, ditch it.

When you are feeling stumped, where do you turn for inspiration?

I'm rarely at a loss for inspiration, but I've found that when I am, it's usually due to too much research, rather than not enough. This usually means I've been spending too much time behind the computer screen, so I'll get out of the house, grab a coffee, take a walk or head out for a bite with my husband. I'm usually back to square one in no time!

For someone that is just beginning down the road to create a better home, what resources or advice would you give to them?

Find a general direction you'd like to go in, and make the rest up in your head. Start collecting images from online or your favorite magazines, and really study what each image makes you feel, rather than what you see. This will give you a great starting point for the sort of space you want to create, whether it's cozy, modern, chic, glamorous, or all of the above. Most importantly, enjoy yourself and continually surround yourself with things you love. It makes a world of difference!

]]> http://www.colourlovers.com/fashion/blog/2012/01/23/colourlovers-interview-with-erin-of-design-for-mankind/feed http://www.colourlovers.com/fashion/blog/2012/01/23/colourlovers-interview-with-erin-of-design-for-mankind Interior Paint Palettes We Love http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Colourlovers/~3/9DqhPlcg7is/interior-paint-palettes-we-love http://www.colourlovers.com/home/blog/2012/01/20/interior-paint-palettes-we-love#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:29:16 -0600 mollybermea http://www.colourlovers.com/home/blog/2012/01/20/interior-paint-palettes-we-love

Recently, we spent some time reflecting over some beautiful home decor images in order to curate these ten beautiful palettes from the Martha Stewart paint line in a collaborative project titled, "Paint Palettes We Love."

Peruse these lovely combinations and fancy what your space might become, reinvented with fantastically bold or mellow combinations that might pull your imagination strings. One thing I adore about Martha's paint line is that her and Kevin Sharkey dig in to their memories and whims when building a collection of color around them. You can literally see these things in the names of the paints themselves.

Inspiration: A Sunny & Sweet Flower Arrangement


source

This sunny flower arrangement was procured from the sweet tooth of Kevin Sharkey. A few of his favorite sweets happen to be lemon drops and raspberry rock candy.

"Consider things that never fail to make you happy -- a box of pastel crayons, macaroons from Paris, a beloved artist's paintings -- and make note of their colors. Then bring the palette to life by plucking it from nature: Arrange flowers, leaves, branches, fruits, or vegetables in the shades of your passions." - how kevin creates

We took this arrangement and furthered its use by adding a wonderful palette drawing from the strongest points, which could be a great base for an entire room.

Kevin Sharkey's Bedroom


source

A very strong and masculine space, Kevin's room is quite impressive, very minimal yet not feeling empty. Obviously the massive graphic painting is a striking visual element that helps keep the furniture grounded in such a large space. Kevin said,"I wanted the bed to look like a bento box."

These heavy colors definitely work in such a large space using the Sharkey Gray as a base, not to light and not too dark of a hue to wrap it all up nicely.

Skylands Guesthouse: A Bedroom Built Around A Lamp

source

Martha had this entire room designed around the Italian alabaster reading lamp pulling from ruffled edges, fluted top and ivory lamp base. A very serene feeling pulls from the room to create a very innocent palette.

Functionality: American Colonial Kitchen

source

Clean, white and steel-accented kitchen is brought down to earth with its mahogany countertops. Painted wood paneling and earthy sentiments keep this space from becoming too chilly.

Staying Grounded: Colonial Bedroom

source

A very earthy palette describes this Colonial bedroom. The centerpiece being the heavy baroque Swedish desk comfortably pulling the colors together.

Colonial: Synchronizing A Pink Room

source

Pink rooms are becoming more and more popular, but to pull it off right, without it screaming "girly" or "princess" - the right palette should share the same space. Here the grays and browns within similar hues really bring the "pinkness" down a few notches to simply create a beautiful, classical space.

Turquoise Trend: Cool & Collected Office Space

source

Who doesn't want some energy thriving in their office? But use too much and your brain won't be able to function. Balancing out your visual energy colors with grays and other muted contrasts can definitely bring a room like your office in to a focused, enjoyable space.

Balancing Act: Soft & Striking Living Room

source

Who doesn't love some sunshine and rain at once? The trick is getting the right balance to get a beautiful, non-amature space. You wouldn't want your finished living space to look like a kids room. Toning it down and bringing the colors together with some neutrals can help these two striking contrasts coexist nicely.

Manhattan Loft

source

Collaborative wood accents definitely help ground this high-patterned space and light, warm neutrals give the darker hues balance.

Green Living Room

source

Green can be a very serene and focus intensive hue. The right green combined with earthy darker hues give off quite a bit of richness. Adding balancing neutrals and you've brought it all together in a meditative, relaxing space to spend time in.

Have you put together a space-palette for your own spaces? Are you dreaming of of a palette for your spaces? I know I am! Maybe some of these COLOURlovers curations will jumpstart your ideas.

If you want to locate the paint colors from each project, each curated palette in this post includes the colors made through the Martha Stewart paint line. 

Palettes used in this post:

Colorful_Flowers_MSKevins_Bedroom_MSSkylands_GuesthouseColonial_Kitchen_MSColonial_Bedroom_MSPink_Colonial_RoomTurquoise_Office_MSLiving_Room_MSManhattan_Loft_MSGreen_Living_Room_MS

]]> Recently, we spent some time reflecting over some beautiful home decor images in order to curate these ten beautiful palettes from the Martha Stewart paint line in a collaborative project titled, "Paint Palettes We Love."

Peruse these lovely combinations and fancy what your space might become, reinvented with fantastically bold or mellow combinations that might pull your imagination strings. One thing I adore about Martha's paint line is that her and Kevin Sharkey dig in to their memories and whims when building a collection of color around them. You can literally see these things in the names of the paints themselves.

Inspiration: A Sunny & Sweet Flower Arrangement


source

This sunny flower arrangement was procured from the sweet tooth of Kevin Sharkey. A few of his favorite sweets happen to be lemon drops and raspberry rock candy.

"Consider things that never fail to make you happy -- a box of pastel crayons, macaroons from Paris, a beloved artist's paintings -- and make note of their colors. Then bring the palette to life by plucking it from nature: Arrange flowers, leaves, branches, fruits, or vegetables in the shades of your passions." - how kevin creates

We took this arrangement and furthered its use by adding a wonderful palette drawing from the strongest points, which could be a great base for an entire room.

Kevin Sharkey's Bedroom


source

A very strong and masculine space, Kevin's room is quite impressive, very minimal yet not feeling empty. Obviously the massive graphic painting is a striking visual element that helps keep the furniture grounded in such a large space. Kevin said,"I wanted the bed to look like a bento box."

These heavy colors definitely work in such a large space using the Sharkey Gray as a base, not to light and not too dark of a hue to wrap it all up nicely.

Skylands Guesthouse: A Bedroom Built Around A Lamp

source

Martha had this entire room designed around the Italian alabaster reading lamp pulling from ruffled edges, fluted top and ivory lamp base. A very serene feeling pulls from the room to create a very innocent palette.

Functionality: American Colonial Kitchen

source

Clean, white and steel-accented kitchen is brought down to earth with its mahogany countertops. Painted wood paneling and earthy sentiments keep this space from becoming too chilly.

Staying Grounded: Colonial Bedroom

source

A very earthy palette describes this Colonial bedroom. The centerpiece being the heavy baroque Swedish desk comfortably pulling the colors together.

Colonial: Synchronizing A Pink Room

source

Pink rooms are becoming more and more popular, but to pull it off right, without it screaming "girly" or "princess" - the right palette should share the same space. Here the grays and browns within similar hues really bring the "pinkness" down a few notches to simply create a beautiful, classical space.

Turquoise Trend: Cool & Collected Office Space

source

Who doesn't want some energy thriving in their office? But use too much and your brain won't be able to function. Balancing out your visual energy colors with grays and other muted contrasts can definitely bring a room like your office in to a focused, enjoyable space.

Balancing Act: Soft & Striking Living Room

source

Who doesn't love some sunshine and rain at once? The trick is getting the right balance to get a beautiful, non-amature space. You wouldn't want your finished living space to look like a kids room. Toning it down and bringing the colors together with some neutrals can help these two striking contrasts coexist nicely.

Manhattan Loft

source

Collaborative wood accents definitely help ground this high-patterned space and light, warm neutrals give the darker hues balance.

Green Living Room

source

Green can be a very serene and focus intensive hue. The right green combined with earthy darker hues give off quite a bit of richness. Adding balancing neutrals and you've brought it all together in a meditative, relaxing space to spend time in.

Have you put together a space-palette for your own spaces? Are you dreaming of of a palette for your spaces? I know I am! Maybe some of these COLOURlovers curations will jumpstart your ideas.

If you want to locate the paint colors from each project, each curated palette in this post includes the colors made through the Martha Stewart paint line. 

Palettes used in this post:

Colorful_Flowers_MSKevins_Bedroom_MSSkylands_GuesthouseColonial_Kitchen_MSColonial_Bedroom_MSPink_Colonial_RoomTurquoise_Office_MSLiving_Room_MSManhattan_Loft_MSGreen_Living_Room_MS

]]> http://www.colourlovers.com/home/blog/2012/01/20/interior-paint-palettes-we-love/feed http://www.colourlovers.com/home/blog/2012/01/20/interior-paint-palettes-we-love Brightening Up Your Spaces with the Latest in Lighting Trends http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Colourlovers/~3/lMx69Jye1dA/brightening-up-your-spaces-with-the-latest-in-lighting-trends http://www.colourlovers.com/home/blog/2012/01/19/brightening-up-your-spaces-with-the-latest-in-lighting-trends#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:15:00 -0600 mollybermea http://www.colourlovers.com/home/blog/2012/01/19/brightening-up-your-spaces-with-the-latest-in-lighting-trends

Lighting a space can make a significant impact on the emotional palette. From the design of a lighting fixture to how it radiates in a space can make or break the entire theme.

This article is presented by LBC Lighting offering you the easiest and most convenient way to purchase contemporary lighting including Juno Lighting for your home or business.

There are a myriad concepts being done with lighting, from astonishing buys and extraordinary DIYs, everyone’s got a bug to be the most unique.

Beaded Chandeliers

Beaded chandeliers are becoming quite a popular trend. This style can encompass beads or discs made from many different types of materials such as glass, shell or metal and of course plastic or ceramic.

turquoise beaded | black metal discs | bone-colored beaded |  green DIY beaded

It seems that while manufacturers came out with these gorgeous pieces more prominently in early 2011, the DIY crowd is just starting to pick up on producing them in a variety of fashion. If you'll notice, the bottom row in the image above are similar lighting fixtures. On the left is the Malibu Chandelier by manufacturer Serena & Lily while on the right, the DIY blog, SimplySalvage.com decided to make their own version of it. I think they pulled it off pretty well.

Industrial & Farmhouse Lighting

The look of rugged, raw metal and thick glass I think sums this trend up nicely. From wire caging to mason jars, it's hot hot hot right now.

wench hook | 3 tier upside down mason jar

Definitely a category more akin to the DIY crowd because of the non-complexity it entails. Not to say that some of these haven't had some hard work put toward them. But you'll definitely find this styele in both formal and informal circles.

hanging glass bottle | mason jar hanging light | green & gold glass hanging lights | multi-color mason jar chandelier | jars in canning wire chandelier | blue mason jar wall light | mason jar desk lamp 

As mentioned, all types of repurposed jars and bottles are currently the bee's knees. In the DIY crowd, I find that this category is pretty intriguing because you're bound to come across the men who create, which can lead to finding other treasures in their handmade troves you may have been missing out on.

turquoise ceiling lamp & interior

I really enjoyed this entire white room where touches of turquoise bring the eye full circle with the centerpiece being this rustic ceiling lamp.

wire chandelier |  hanging wooden slat lights (green room) | stir-stick lampshade DIY | wooden box light

 The Lamp

I wish I had more areas in my house for this type of beautiful light feature. If  you are re-doing an old lamp or buying something new, the possibilities are literally endless.

 

white and burlap rosette lamp DIY | green and bone lamp | aqua and white lamp base makeover | honeycomb table lamp | caged desk lamp DIY | metal circles hanging lamp 

Being a DIYer myself, I am partial to some of these that take a quite out of date, trifted brass lamp and give it a new pop. Both lamp shades and lamp bases, there is so much you can do with each to seriously reinvent the original piece. Ceiling lamps in the drum shape are also a must and an endless list of styles and mediums.

Impressive Design

O-Space Suspension lamp  | deep magenta Supernova XL Suspension lamp |  magenta & white swirl pendant | rocketship mini pendant |  umbrella suspension lights | globe light | pumpkin-globe suspension light | chromatic room & sparkly ceiling lighting

Lighting fixtures are great ways to add a final glowing touch to a room. Keep in mind that the type of lighting you choose can enhance or completely change a spaces color scheme, so don't wait last minute to decide on the fixture and lighting type when building or re-doing an interior space. As a centerpiece, accent piece or just plain usefulness there are so many brilliant designs and ideas to dress up our spaces.

Do you own or have made any type of unique lighting? Do you have anything you've been eyeballing on Pinterest for a someday piece? How about colorful lighting? Let's see it!

...and if anyone is interested, here is the rest of my lighting roundup on my personal Pinterest.

]]> Lighting a space can make a significant impact on the emotional palette. From the design of a lighting fixture to how it radiates in a space can make or break the entire theme.

This article is presented by LBC Lighting offering you the easiest and most convenient way to purchase contemporary lighting including Juno Lighting for your home or business.

There are a myriad concepts being done with lighting, from astonishing buys and extraordinary DIYs, everyone’s got a bug to be the most unique.

Beaded Chandeliers

Beaded chandeliers are becoming quite a popular trend. This style can encompass beads or discs made from many different types of materials such as glass, shell or metal and of course plastic or ceramic.

turquoise beaded | black metal discs | bone-colored beaded |  green DIY beaded

It seems that while manufacturers came out with these gorgeous pieces more prominently in early 2011, the DIY crowd is just starting to pick up on producing them in a variety of fashion. If you'll notice, the bottom row in the image above are similar lighting fixtures. On the left is the Malibu Chandelier by manufacturer Serena & Lily while on the right, the DIY blog, SimplySalvage.com decided to make their own version of it. I think they pulled it off pretty well.

Industrial & Farmhouse Lighting

The look of rugged, raw metal and thick glass I think sums this trend up nicely. From wire caging to mason jars, it's hot hot hot right now.

wench hook | 3 tier upside down mason jar

Definitely a category more akin to the DIY crowd because of the non-complexity it entails. Not to say that some of these haven't had some hard work put toward them. But you'll definitely find this styele in both formal and informal circles.

hanging glass bottle | mason jar hanging light | green & gold glass hanging lights | multi-color mason jar chandelier | jars in canning wire chandelier | blue mason jar wall light | mason jar desk lamp 

As mentioned, all types of repurposed jars and bottles are currently the bee's knees. In the DIY crowd, I find that this category is pretty intriguing because you're bound to come across the men who create, which can lead to finding other treasures in their handmade troves you may have been missing out on.

turquoise ceiling lamp & interior

I really enjoyed this entire white room where touches of turquoise bring the eye full circle with the centerpiece being this rustic ceiling lamp.

wire chandelier |  hanging wooden slat lights (green room) | stir-stick lampshade DIY | wooden box light

 The Lamp

I wish I had more areas in my house for this type of beautiful light feature. If  you are re-doing an old lamp or buying something new, the possibilities are literally endless.

 

white and burlap rosette lamp DIY | green and bone lamp | aqua and white lamp base makeover | honeycomb table lamp | caged desk lamp DIY | metal circles hanging lamp 

Being a DIYer myself, I am partial to some of these that take a quite out of date, trifted brass lamp and give it a new pop. Both lamp shades and lamp bases, there is so much you can do with each to seriously reinvent the original piece. Ceiling lamps in the drum shape are also a must and an endless list of styles and mediums.

Impressive Design

O-Space Suspension lamp  | deep magenta Supernova XL Suspension lamp |  magenta & white swirl pendant | rocketship mini pendant |  umbrella suspension lights | globe light | pumpkin-globe suspension light | chromatic room & sparkly ceiling lighting

Lighting fixtures are great ways to add a final glowing touch to a room. Keep in mind that the type of lighting you choose can enhance or completely change a spaces color scheme, so don't wait last minute to decide on the fixture and lighting type when building or re-doing an interior space. As a centerpiece, accent piece or just plain usefulness there are so many brilliant designs and ideas to dress up our spaces.

Do you own or have made any type of unique lighting? Do you have anything you've been eyeballing on Pinterest for a someday piece? How about colorful lighting? Let's see it!

...and if anyone is interested, here is the rest of my lighting roundup on my personal Pinterest.

]]> http://www.colourlovers.com/home/blog/2012/01/19/brightening-up-your-spaces-with-the-latest-in-lighting-trends/feed http://www.colourlovers.com/home/blog/2012/01/19/brightening-up-your-spaces-with-the-latest-in-lighting-trends Wedding Trends 2011 - 2012 :: A Look Back & A Look Forward http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Colourlovers/~3/uOqV8J4WKWU/wedding-trends-2011-2012-a-look-back-a-look-forward http://www.colourlovers.com/wedding/blog/2012/01/17/wedding-trends-2011-2012-a-look-back-a-look-forward#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:50:45 -0600 allisonsilber http://www.colourlovers.com/wedding/blog/2012/01/17/wedding-trends-2011-2012-a-look-back-a-look-forward

At the beginning of every year I often wonder that the next big things are going to be in the wedding industry. It always excites me what crafty people can put together and bring to life. And every year I am more and more excited with where trends have taken us and where we are now.

I wanted to share a look back at some of the biggest trends of 2011 as well as some of the up-and-comers for 2012.

2011: Ombre


Source: Cake, Dress, Flowers, Napkin, Escort Card

Ombre hit big in 2011! It seemed like all of the sudden these monochromatic details were just the thing needed to create a romantic and elegant look. Of course, this trend will continue to hit weddings for years to come, but the gorgeousness that is ombre will definitely be remembered as the up-and-comer detail to have of 2011.

2012: Color Blocking


Source: Dress, Invite, Table, Wedding Shot

Color blocking became popular right before the close of 2011. Every designer, especially Kate Spade, was embracing pairing one bold color to another until you created a well-executed look that made you pop. This trend is something that hasn't hit the wedding industry too hard just yet, but come 2012, we will see it in both subtle and obvious ways.

2011: Vintage + Shabby Chic


Source: Brandon Kidd, Hotess Blog

This trend can't necessarily be confined to just one year. We saw the evolution of rustic weddings turn into it's lighter partner, shabby chic, while still remaining within the vintage category. And I don't think any trend is as large or has lasted as long as this one has.

2012: Vintage/Modern


Source: Kissing, Table, Dessert Station, Flowers, Chandelier, Invites

I don't see vintage going anywhere in 2012, but brides are starting to curb it into an entirely new trend. What was a totally shabby chic inspired affair, will now have some oppositely modern details paired with it. Adding soda crates to tablescapes with bright colors and modern geometric patterns. I think the marriage of vintage and modern is going to make it big in 2012.

2011: Book details

Source: Books

2012: Textures + Patterns


Source: Cake, Invite, Table, Dresses

2011: Statement Necklaces


Source: Necklace, Wedding, Wedding, Necklace

Oh boy were statement necklaces big in 2011. One thing you could pretty much count on was that every bride you saw was going to have her own version of an over-the-top statement necklace.

2012: Statement Bracelets

Source: Bracelet, Bracelet, Bracelet, Bracelets

In fashion we have already seen the attention turn from statement necklaces to stacking bracelets. Though it isn't much cheaper, it is a more practical trend for people on a daily basis. Similarly, in weddings, statement bracelet pieces will pick up momentum in 2012.

Of course, 2011 trends will spill into 2012. So, if you haven't tied the knot just yet, you won't be considered "last season" for doing something that feels personal and unique to you. Trends become highly unimportant when you find those things that you feel really fit your style and look as a couple. That is the most important part of any big day!

These are just a few of the many past and upcoming trends, what are some you have been seeing? Which are you most excited to see in 2012? 

]]> At the beginning of every year I often wonder that the next big things are going to be in the wedding industry. It always excites me what crafty people can put together and bring to life. And every year I am more and more excited with where trends have taken us and where we are now.

I wanted to share a look back at some of the biggest trends of 2011 as well as some of the up-and-comers for 2012.

2011: Ombre


Source: Cake, Dress, Flowers, Napkin, Escort Card

Ombre hit big in 2011! It seemed like all of the sudden these monochromatic details were just the thing needed to create a romantic and elegant look. Of course, this trend will continue to hit weddings for years to come, but the gorgeousness that is ombre will definitely be remembered as the up-and-comer detail to have of 2011.

2012: Color Blocking


Source: Dress, Invite, Table, Wedding Shot

Color blocking became popular right before the close of 2011. Every designer, especially Kate Spade, was embracing pairing one bold color to another until you created a well-executed look that made you pop. This trend is something that hasn't hit the wedding industry too hard just yet, but come 2012, we will see it in both subtle and obvious ways.

2011: Vintage + Shabby Chic


Source: Brandon Kidd, Hotess Blog

This trend can't necessarily be confined to just one year. We saw the evolution of rustic weddings turn into it's lighter partner, shabby chic, while still remaining within the vintage category. And I don't think any trend is as large or has lasted as long as this one has.

2012: Vintage/Modern


Source: Kissing, Table, Dessert Station, Flowers, Chandelier, Invites

I don't see vintage going anywhere in 2012, but brides are starting to curb it into an entirely new trend. What was a totally shabby chic inspired affair, will now have some oppositely modern details paired with it. Adding soda crates to tablescapes with bright colors and modern geometric patterns. I think the marriage of vintage and modern is going to make it big in 2012.

2011: Book details

Source: Books

2012: Textures + Patterns


Source: Cake, Invite, Table, Dresses

2011: Statement Necklaces


Source: Necklace, Wedding, Wedding, Necklace

Oh boy were statement necklaces big in 2011. One thing you could pretty much count on was that every bride you saw was going to have her own version of an over-the-top statement necklace.

2012: Statement Bracelets

Source: Bracelet, Bracelet, Bracelet, Bracelets

In fashion we have already seen the attention turn from statement necklaces to stacking bracelets. Though it isn't much cheaper, it is a more practical trend for people on a daily basis. Similarly, in weddings, statement bracelet pieces will pick up momentum in 2012.

Of course, 2011 trends will spill into 2012. So, if you haven't tied the knot just yet, you won't be considered "last season" for doing something that feels personal and unique to you. Trends become highly unimportant when you find those things that you feel really fit your style and look as a couple. That is the most important part of any big day!

These are just a few of the many past and upcoming trends, what are some you have been seeing? Which are you most excited to see in 2012? 

]]> http://www.colourlovers.com/wedding/blog/2012/01/17/wedding-trends-2011-2012-a-look-back-a-look-forward/feed http://www.colourlovers.com/wedding/blog/2012/01/17/wedding-trends-2011-2012-a-look-back-a-look-forward Colorful 2012 Non-Profit Calendar Awareness :: COLOURlovers Member Interview, Showcase & Giveaway http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Colourlovers/~3/sPyIadNqIE0/colorful-2012-non-profit-calendar-awareness-colourlovers-member-interview-showcase-giveaway http://www.colourlovers.com/print/blog/2012/01/16/colorful-2012-non-profit-calendar-awareness-colourlovers-member-interview-showcase-giveaway#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:03:54 -0600 mollybermea http://www.colourlovers.com/print/blog/2012/01/16/colorful-2012-non-profit-calendar-awareness-colourlovers-member-interview-showcase-giveaway

We bring you a great interview with Jason Allen, of Haft2.com, an intriguing firm that focuses on, yeah, you guessed it, color! The focal point today is to showcase their 2012 Haft2COLOUR Calendar Project, and absolutely amazing piece of quality!


It's not too late for 2012 calendar printing projects, visit Next Day Flyers for good prices and fast turnaround.

I was highly impressed with the presentation of the calendar. It was delivered in a nice silver tin with a branded paper wrap and a wonderful opening letter about the project and the Haft2 mission - I felt like I had just received a very nice gift!

Haft2 is giving away three calendars to some lucky winners on a fun challenge (see bottom of post). I would like to add that I just so happened to come across this project originally from the comments on our previous post about 2012 Calendar Print Trends. I just had to know more about it, see the real deal and get to know what Haft2 and Jason were all about. I'm sure glad I did.

Jason manages the COLOURlovers Haft2 account and he had posted their calendar in the comments. I simply couldn't pass it up, so let's get started!

 

Jason, tell us a bit about Haft2...

Haft2 is a branding and communications firm that specializes in colour strategy as it relates to branding. Our clients come from a variety of categories, with a focus on non-profit organizations.

Our President and Chief Colour Officer is Paul Haft. I've been with the company now for almost five years, and as Director of Brand Colour Intelligence, I oversee our own brand. We have an in-house design studio and are also fortunate to have a network of talented professionals in design, writing, digital, research etc., from whom to draw when needed.

Let's hear about this calendar project and how Haft2 puts up such a big effort to help bring awareness to these not-for-profit organizations...

We appreciate our clients and friends, and throughout the calendar year, send out a number of promotions to them, to celebrate special days and holidays. We customize each printed promotion with the recipient's name and send out anywhere between 80 and 300 pieces, depending on our client list, on the time of year, and on the promotion itself.

We've wanted to produce a colour calendar for years, and I'm so happy to say that this year, we were able to make it happen. We're always looking for ways to raise our non-profit clients' awareness and increase their fundraising.

We decided this year to create our first colour calendar, and make it a new kind of fundraising movement to highlight initiatives from across our past and present client base. We have given the program a name and a word mark which you'll see on the calendar itself. We have called it The Haft2COLOUR Calendar Project.

 

Each of the initiatives that you see highlighted in the calendar received a donation from us at the beginning of this year.

For the talent, we approached the designers in our studio and network, whom we are so happy to know, and feel privileged to work with. Each designer was asked to do either one or two (and sometimes three) months of the calendar. We only gave them a colour, and then assigned a month (or colours / months) to them, and asked them to come back with their own interpretation of that colour and time of year, however they saw it, through graphics and illustration. Everyone really came through, and did so entirely on a volunteer basis. We love the designs separately, but simply adore them collectively.

We printed an additional number of calendars which we've been selling at $30 CAD, (with shipping and handling extra), and all proceeds are divided among and given directly to the 11 initiatives highlighted in the calendar.

We look forward to continuing The Haft2COLOUR Calendar Project on a yearly basis. We're always looking to work with talented designers and writers, and would be open to speaking with anyone who'd like to volunteer their talent to be part of the 2013 project.

I'd like to add that on the back of each calendar is a portion dedicated to letting the artist explain their design direction as well as an area highlighting the artist, where to find them and their accomplishments, in so many words.

Of course, there is also the information about each non-profit. This year, that list included: UNICEF, Walk of Hope (ovarian cancer), Canadian Breast Cancer Association, iNavigait, CAMH Foundation, Herbie Fund, Plan Because I am a Girl, EHM (Evangel Hall Mission), CIFAR and December 2012 is a Select your own way of giving offering ways to do your own good deed.

I know that Jason (aka Haft2) spends a lot of time on COLOURlovers, so I asked him how they might use COLOURlovers and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they actually place a palette on their site.

On our own corporate site, haft2.com, we have what we call a "trend palette", at the far left of our homepage. I update the code every week to pick up our latest COLOURlovers palette. Clicking on the palette takes you to that page on COLOURlovers - Jason 

I was even further intrigued at how their portfolio displays, check it out (it's contains many more palettes on the site):

Calendar Giveaway & Contest Details

Haft2 would love to know what color you visualize the months of the year in. All you have to do:

  • Submit at least one color and assign it to at least one month of the year.
  • Describe why you visualize this color for this month.

If you need putting a color badge in the comments, see: How to share a creation.

Contest runs until Tuesday, this Friday, January 20th, 2012 (11:00 pm PST). Judging will be done by Haft2 and myself. There will be THREE winners. Winners will be announced in the comments and contacted via Love Notes to claim your Calendar prize.

I have really enjoyed getting to know Jason and learning more about Haft2.

Calendars are $30 CAD (plus shipping and handling) and can be ordered by emailing us at hello@haft2.com.

Connect with Haft2: Facebook | Twitter | Haft2 (on COLOURlovers)

Also an awesome blog, HAFT2KNOW is the official colour, brand and trend blog of Haft2. There is an English and French version of the blog. Good to know!

]]> We bring you a great interview with Jason Allen, of Haft2.com, an intriguing firm that focuses on, yeah, you guessed it, color! The focal point today is to showcase their 2012 Haft2COLOUR Calendar Project, and absolutely amazing piece of quality!


It's not too late for 2012 calendar printing projects, visit Next Day Flyers for good prices and fast turnaround.

I was highly impressed with the presentation of the calendar. It was delivered in a nice silver tin with a branded paper wrap and a wonderful opening letter about the project and the Haft2 mission - I felt like I had just received a very nice gift!

Haft2 is giving away three calendars to some lucky winners on a fun challenge (see bottom of post). I would like to add that I just so happened to come across this project originally from the comments on our previous post about 2012 Calendar Print Trends. I just had to know more about it, see the real deal and get to know what Haft2 and Jason were all about. I'm sure glad I did.

Jason manages the COLOURlovers Haft2 account and he had posted their calendar in the comments. I simply couldn't pass it up, so let's get started!

 

Jason, tell us a bit about Haft2...

Haft2 is a branding and communications firm that specializes in colour strategy as it relates to branding. Our clients come from a variety of categories, with a focus on non-profit organizations.

Our President and Chief Colour Officer is Paul Haft. I've been with the company now for almost five years, and as Director of Brand Colour Intelligence, I oversee our own brand. We have an in-house design studio and are also fortunate to have a network of talented professionals in design, writing, digital, research etc., from whom to draw when needed.

Let's hear about this calendar project and how Haft2 puts up such a big effort to help bring awareness to these not-for-profit organizations...

We appreciate our clients and friends, and throughout the calendar year, send out a number of promotions to them, to celebrate special days and holidays. We customize each printed promotion with the recipient's name and send out anywhere between 80 and 300 pieces, depending on our client list, on the time of year, and on the promotion itself.

We've wanted to produce a colour calendar for years, and I'm so happy to say that this year, we were able to make it happen. We're always looking for ways to raise our non-profit clients' awareness and increase their fundraising.

We decided this year to create our first colour calendar, and make it a new kind of fundraising movement to highlight initiatives from across our past and present client base. We have given the program a name and a word mark which you'll see on the calendar itself. We have called it The Haft2COLOUR Calendar Project.

 

Each of the initiatives that you see highlighted in the calendar received a donation from us at the beginning of this year.

For the talent, we approached the designers in our studio and network, whom we are so happy to know, and feel privileged to work with. Each designer was asked to do either one or two (and sometimes three) months of the calendar. We only gave them a colour, and then assigned a month (or colours / months) to them, and asked them to come back with their own interpretation of that colour and time of year, however they saw it, through graphics and illustration. Everyone really came through, and did so entirely on a volunteer basis. We love the designs separately, but simply adore them collectively.

We printed an additional number of calendars which we've been selling at $30 CAD, (with shipping and handling extra), and all proceeds are divided among and given directly to the 11 initiatives highlighted in the calendar.

We look forward to continuing The Haft2COLOUR Calendar Project on a yearly basis. We're always looking to work with talented designers and writers, and would be open to speaking with anyone who'd like to volunteer their talent to be part of the 2013 project.

I'd like to add that on the back of each calendar is a portion dedicated to letting the artist explain their design direction as well as an area highlighting the artist, where to find them and their accomplishments, in so many words.

Of course, there is also the information about each non-profit. This year, that list included: UNICEF, Walk of Hope (ovarian cancer), Canadian Breast Cancer Association, iNavigait, CAMH Foundation, Herbie Fund, Plan Because I am a Girl, EHM (Evangel Hall Mission), CIFAR and December 2012 is a Select your own way of giving offering ways to do your own good deed.

I know that Jason (aka Haft2) spends a lot of time on COLOURlovers, so I asked him how they might use COLOURlovers and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they actually place a palette on their site.

On our own corporate site, haft2.com, we have what we call a "trend palette", at the far left of our homepage. I update the code every week to pick up our latest COLOURlovers palette. Clicking on the palette takes you to that page on COLOURlovers - Jason 

I was even further intrigued at how their portfolio displays, check it out (it's contains many more palettes on the site):

Calendar Giveaway & Contest Details

Haft2 would love to know what color you visualize the months of the year in. All you have to do:

  • Submit at least one color and assign it to at least one month of the year.
  • Describe why you visualize this color for this month.

If you need putting a color badge in the comments, see: How to share a creation.

Contest runs until Tuesday, this Friday, January 20th, 2012 (11:00 pm PST). Judging will be done by Haft2 and myself. There will be THREE winners. Winners will be announced in the comments and contacted via Love Notes to claim your Calendar prize.

I have really enjoyed getting to know Jason and learning more about Haft2.

Calendars are $30 CAD (plus shipping and handling) and can be ordered by emailing us at hello@haft2.com.

Connect with Haft2: Facebook | Twitter | Haft2 (on COLOURlovers)

Also an awesome blog, HAFT2KNOW is the official colour, brand and trend blog of Haft2. There is an English and French version of the blog. Good to know!

]]> http://www.colourlovers.com/print/blog/2012/01/16/colorful-2012-non-profit-calendar-awareness-colourlovers-member-interview-showcase-giveaway/feed http://www.colourlovers.com/print/blog/2012/01/16/colorful-2012-non-profit-calendar-awareness-colourlovers-member-interview-showcase-giveaway COLOURlovers Interview with Zach Holman of GitHub & Good-Tutorials http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Colourlovers/~3/_IfXZiy32W4/colourlovers-interview-with-zach-holman-of-github-good-tutorials http://www.colourlovers.com/web/blog/2012/01/13/colourlovers-interview-with-zach-holman-of-github-good-tutorials#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:09:55 -0600 allisonsilber http://www.colourlovers.com/web/blog/2012/01/13/colourlovers-interview-with-zach-holman-of-github-good-tutorials
We are pretty excited to have had the chance to catch up with Zach Holman. Aside from being a developer at GitHub, he is also the founder of Good-Tutorials and does some writing on the side.

You can follow him on GitHub + Twitter

Okay, an interview!

First up, why don't you tell the community a bit about who you are, what you do, how long you have been doing it. 

I'm Zach Holman. I'm actually a developer, although mostly I just like working on all aspects of making a product. I do a lot of writing and screencasts at zachholman.com, and like to give talks at conferences until they all slowly realize that I may just be insane.

I'm currently employed by GitHub here in sunny San Francisco. Okay, so maybe it's not always sunny. It's the thought that counts.

What past experiences do you think have contributed the most to where you are now?

About a decade ago — when I was in high school — I started Good-Tutorials.com, which has been the largest Photoshop tutorial site for years. It started as a small hobby site and grew to be a business. I love thinking on how much Good-Tutorials has impacted me. It taught me programming and design, it helped me get into a good school, it helped me find a job right out of school, and it ultimately helped land me my dream job today.

I find the concept of the "side project" to be incredibly important to me. Having a concrete outlet to try new things, gain recognition, meet people outside of your comfort zone… all of these things make you a good designer. Or developer. Or businesswoman.

What patterns and design trends do you think will be big in 2012?

I do dig the subtle textures we're seeing on some websites, and particularly a number of mobile apps. You know, those light greys with just a hint of texture to them. It adds.


Credit: Shaun Moynihan

If you look at OS X, apps overall have become colder, more metal, and less colorful. I don't really think that's a bad thing… it's just a thing. I suspect you'll see that trend continue to happen in mobile apps as well.

Which colors, patterns & trends are you personally most excited about?

I've been digging pink a little more than usual lately. It just seems like a traditionally "limited" color choice, so when I stumble on someone using it in a clever (read: "non-gendered") way, I swoon a little bit.

In terms of design, what is your favorite website or app right now?

In terms of UI on the desktop, my favorite app trend right now is the Twitter for Mac sidebar, with the vertically-aligned icons on a darker blue backdrop. It's spread to other apps like Sparrow and our own GitHub for Mac, and I just find it a crafty, gorgeous way to display data.


Source

Mobile-wise? Tweetbot. It's my most-used app, and it's my most gorgeous app, in my opinion.


Source: Tweetbot

It's hard to come up with a favorite for the web, so I'll mention how continually impressed I am with Heroku's design language. They carry that through to everything they print or hand out at conferences, too.


Source: Heroku

What colors do you think we will see a lot of in 2012?

Probably a bunch of the usual. You'll see your standard greys and whites and blues for corporate logos, your alternative "trendy" companies rocking the red or yellow. Mobile and OS apps will become more desaturated and sad. I think colors trend per decade (or longer!) rather than per year.

What are your go-to fonts? 

I've suddenly become known for my usage of Yanone Kaffeesatz after my blog post on "Slide Design for Developers".


Source

I've heard a number of people mention that they can't get through a technical conference anymore without seeing someone using it (and my slide design) during their talk. Not bad, I suppose — it's certainly a step up from normal developer slides look like — but it means I need to find a new look for myself soon!


Source

What are your top go-to colors?

Color wise I almost always find myself using #eeeeee in things, particularly combined with our trusty #ffffff. The colors I layer on top of them may change from project to project, but I just like that subtle white/grey mix.

What do you do to continue learning and to continue improving in your craft?

Keep building things. That's really the only way I know how to learn something. Reading books doesn't really do anything for me. I have to see something applied in practice, on my own, before I can really internalize something and grow. So, as I mentioned before, there's almost always a side project I'm hacking on (even if I don't plan to ever release it to the general public).

When you are feeling stumped, where do you turn for inspiration?

I use GitHub a lot to see what other cool projects are being written. I also browse Hacker News frequently- it's a good way to keep on top of new startups that have launched, new features that just shipped, how people are writing their launch posts, and so on. I'm much more interested in the broader picture of the product itself rather than studying individual components. I think you can learn a lot by studying the trend rather than the details.

]]> We are pretty excited to have had the chance to catch up with Zach Holman. Aside from being a developer at GitHub, he is also the founder of Good-Tutorials and does some writing on the side.

You can follow him on GitHub + Twitter

Okay, an interview!

First up, why don't you tell the community a bit about who you are, what you do, how long you have been doing it. 

I'm Zach Holman. I'm actually a developer, although mostly I just like working on all aspects of making a product. I do a lot of writing and screencasts at zachholman.com, and like to give talks at conferences until they all slowly realize that I may just be insane.

I'm currently employed by GitHub here in sunny San Francisco. Okay, so maybe it's not always sunny. It's the thought that counts.

What past experiences do you think have contributed the most to where you are now?

About a decade ago — when I was in high school — I started Good-Tutorials.com, which has been the largest Photoshop tutorial site for years. It started as a small hobby site and grew to be a business. I love thinking on how much Good-Tutorials has impacted me. It taught me programming and design, it helped me get into a good school, it helped me find a job right out of school, and it ultimately helped land me my dream job today.

I find the concept of the "side project" to be incredibly important to me. Having a concrete outlet to try new things, gain recognition, meet people outside of your comfort zone… all of these things make you a good designer. Or developer. Or businesswoman.

What patterns and design trends do you think will be big in 2012?

I do dig the subtle textures we're seeing on some websites, and particularly a number of mobile apps. You know, those light greys with just a hint of texture to them. It adds.


Credit: Shaun Moynihan

If you look at OS X, apps overall have become colder, more metal, and less colorful. I don't really think that's a bad thing… it's just a thing. I suspect you'll see that trend continue to happen in mobile apps as well.

Which colors, patterns & trends are you personally most excited about?

I've been digging pink a little more than usual lately. It just seems like a traditionally "limited" color choice, so when I stumble on someone using it in a clever (read: "non-gendered") way, I swoon a little bit.

In terms of design, what is your favorite website or app right now?

In terms of UI on the desktop, my favorite app trend right now is the Twitter for Mac sidebar, with the vertically-aligned icons on a darker blue backdrop. It's spread to other apps like Sparrow and our own GitHub for Mac, and I just find it a crafty, gorgeous way to display data.


Source

Mobile-wise? Tweetbot. It's my most-used app, and it's my most gorgeous app, in my opinion.


Source: Tweetbot

It's hard to come up with a favorite for the web, so I'll mention how continually impressed I am with Heroku's design language. They carry that through to everything they print or hand out at conferences, too.


Source: Heroku

What colors do you think we will see a lot of in 2012?

Probably a bunch of the usual. You'll see your standard greys and whites and blues for corporate logos, your alternative "trendy" companies rocking the red or yellow. Mobile and OS apps will become more desaturated and sad. I think colors trend per decade (or longer!) rather than per year.

What are your go-to fonts? 

I've suddenly become known for my usage of Yanone Kaffeesatz after my blog post on "Slide Design for Developers".


Source

I've heard a number of people mention that they can't get through a technical conference anymore without seeing someone using it (and my slide design) during their talk. Not bad, I suppose — it's certainly a step up from normal developer slides look like — but it means I need to find a new look for myself soon!


Source

What are your top go-to colors?

Color wise I almost always find myself using #eeeeee in things, particularly combined with our trusty #ffffff. The colors I layer on top of them may change from project to project, but I just like that subtle white/grey mix.

What do you do to continue learning and to continue improving in your craft?

Keep building things. That's really the only way I know how to learn something. Reading books doesn't really do anything for me. I have to see something applied in practice, on my own, before I can really internalize something and grow. So, as I mentioned before, there's almost always a side project I'm hacking on (even if I don't plan to ever release it to the general public).

When you are feeling stumped, where do you turn for inspiration?

I use GitHub a lot to see what other cool projects are being written. I also browse Hacker News frequently- it's a good way to keep on top of new startups that have launched, new features that just shipped, how people are writing their launch posts, and so on. I'm much more interested in the broader picture of the product itself rather than studying individual components. I think you can learn a lot by studying the trend rather than the details.

]]> http://www.colourlovers.com/web/blog/2012/01/13/colourlovers-interview-with-zach-holman-of-github-good-tutorials/feed http://www.colourlovers.com/web/blog/2012/01/13/colourlovers-interview-with-zach-holman-of-github-good-tutorials Vibrant Shrink Plastic Earrings & Book Feature Wired Beautiful http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Colourlovers/~3/BvSHNluVOnc/vibrant-shrink-plastic-earrings-book-feature-wired-beautiful http://www.colourlovers.com/craft/blog/2012/01/12/vibrant-shrink-plastic-earrings-book-feature-wired-beautiful#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:56:28 -0600 ToniaDavenport http://www.colourlovers.com/craft/blog/2012/01/12/vibrant-shrink-plastic-earrings-book-feature-wired-beautiful

Do you like making jewelry? Do you like playing with shrink plastic? Perfect—me too! Shrink plastic offers endless possibilities when it comes to creating personalized jewelry.

When it’s in its final shrunken state, this plastic is incredibly durable and it can be sanded or drilled into just like wood, Plexiglas or metal. So, when you’re creating pendants, charms, or, in the example I’ll share with you here, “beads,” even if you forget to punch holes in it before you shrink it, you can always drill holes afterward.

Start with clear shrink plastic. It comes semi-clear or in several solid colors, but for this particular technique, clear works best. Drop alcohol ink (my favorites are Ranger Ink’s Adirondacks) onto scraps of the plastic, or, full sheets if you prefer. It’s fun to watch the ink blend and redistribute itself. This ink comes in a large assortment of colors, so it’s easy to find and use your favorite palette!

Let the ink dry completely (it dries relatively fast) and then cut it into simple shapes and punch 1/8” (3mm) holes in each. (I varied how far I put the holes from the short ends of my rectangle shapes, but I kept them centered side-to-side.

Using a heat gun, and working on a Teflon craft mat or heat-resistant surface, shrink the plastic shapes. I like to use a wooden skewer to keep the pieces from flying around. If your pieces curl a tiny bit here and there, don’t worry—it will provide interest when they are stacked together.

I used the shrunken pieces in place of beads and made earrings from a project in Heidi Boyd’s gorgeous book, Wired Beautiful. Heidi’s version—Suspended Coral Earrings—is just one of so many really cool wire jewelry projects and if you are interested in learning how to make the earrings as well as other jewelry items like pendants, bracelets and rings, you owe it to yourself to get this book. Even if you’re new to wire jewelry, Heidi makes it super easy and approachable.

Fused_Glass

The great thing about colored inks on clear shrink plastic is that the finished product ends up looking like high-end fused glass, and yet it’s incredibly light and you can barely tell you’re wearing it. These plastic pieces also look great as smaller charms on a charm bracelet, alternated with small beads on a necklace and so many other possibilities. Are the wheels turning?

]]> Do you like making jewelry? Do you like playing with shrink plastic? Perfect—me too! Shrink plastic offers endless possibilities when it comes to creating personalized jewelry.

When it’s in its final shrunken state, this plastic is incredibly durable and it can be sanded or drilled into just like wood, Plexiglas or metal. So, when you’re creating pendants, charms, or, in the example I’ll share with you here, “beads,” even if you forget to punch holes in it before you shrink it, you can always drill holes afterward.

Start with clear shrink plastic. It comes semi-clear or in several solid colors, but for this particular technique, clear works best. Drop alcohol ink (my favorites are Ranger Ink’s Adirondacks) onto scraps of the plastic, or, full sheets if you prefer. It’s fun to watch the ink blend and redistribute itself. This ink comes in a large assortment of colors, so it’s easy to find and use your favorite palette!

Let the ink dry completely (it dries relatively fast) and then cut it into simple shapes and punch 1/8” (3mm) holes in each. (I varied how far I put the holes from the short ends of my rectangle shapes, but I kept them centered side-to-side.

Using a heat gun, and working on a Teflon craft mat or heat-resistant surface, shrink the plastic shapes. I like to use a wooden skewer to keep the pieces from flying around. If your pieces curl a tiny bit here and there, don’t worry—it will provide interest when they are stacked together.

I used the shrunken pieces in place of beads and made earrings from a project in Heidi Boyd’s gorgeous book, Wired Beautiful. Heidi’s version—Suspended Coral Earrings—is just one of so many really cool wire jewelry projects and if you are interested in learning how to make the earrings as well as other jewelry items like pendants, bracelets and rings, you owe it to yourself to get this book. Even if you’re new to wire jewelry, Heidi makes it super easy and approachable.

Fused_Glass

The great thing about colored inks on clear shrink plastic is that the finished product ends up looking like high-end fused glass, and yet it’s incredibly light and you can barely tell you’re wearing it. These plastic pieces also look great as smaller charms on a charm bracelet, alternated with small beads on a necklace and so many other possibilities. Are the wheels turning?

]]> http://www.colourlovers.com/craft/blog/2012/01/12/vibrant-shrink-plastic-earrings-book-feature-wired-beautiful/feed http://www.colourlovers.com/craft/blog/2012/01/12/vibrant-shrink-plastic-earrings-book-feature-wired-beautiful A Burst of Color :: Fashion Trends of 2011 Looking Forward to 2012 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Colourlovers/~3/_N4XC4JlZNI/a-burst-of-color-fashion-trends-of-2011-looking-forward-to-2012 http://www.colourlovers.com/fashion/blog/2012/01/11/a-burst-of-color-fashion-trends-of-2011-looking-forward-to-2012#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:47:48 -0600 allisonsilber http://www.colourlovers.com/fashion/blog/2012/01/11/a-burst-of-color-fashion-trends-of-2011-looking-forward-to-2012

Fashion trends generally change by the season as opposed to by the year, but here we will highlight some of the top trends of this past year along with what we can expect to see this coming year. And we have some good news on the color front.

Things are brightening up in the fashion world this year! For the past few years we have seen a growing trend in brighter colors hitting the market and becoming fast trends. Spring 2011 we saw lots of orange hitting the runways, such as these orange pieces below.


Source: Refinery 29, 

2011 was also a great year for the bowtie. This trend hit fast and heavy in 2011, and we can definitely expect to see a lot more of this trend in 2012. And as far as colors? No color or bright pattern is too awesome to match with your outfit.


Source

One 2011 trend that took the fashion world by storm was, wait for it, lace. A few years ago no one would have considered a modern day lace to come back in style, but low and behold, the idea of adding this gorgeous texture to your outfit just became too good to pass up. As for 2012, textures will continue to hit the mainstream with everything from ruffles, to layers and beyond. Gone are the days when simple, one dimension outfits are all the rage.


Source: Lace, Lace


Source: Ruffles, Ruffles

Glasses, oh glasses. This trend is coming back for both men and women and all are embracing this trend by adding something interesting to your face and your entire look.


Source: Glasses, Glasses

We have said before that men don't necessarily have as many fashion options as women do, so the ones they do have, they like to embrace heavily. And interestingly enough, socks have become a major trend for guys. And this one will continue with awesome patterns, color palettes and beyond.


Source: Socks, Socks

Pink and Red tones have made quite the comeback in 2011. And seeing as the Pantone color of the year is the bright and bold Tangerine Tango, I think we will be seeing a lot more of it through 2012. In terms of creating a statement with your given outfit, these bold colors will definitely pull off that look you are trying to create.

Source

Sparkles have become less tacky and a little more awesome these days. Everything from dresses, to skirts to shoes have embraced the good old sparkle and turned something mundane into something just under the bar of over-the-top. And this look isn't just for new years people! Embrace the sparkle in good way, without overdoing your entire look.


Source: Sparkle, Shoes, Sterling Style, Oh Joy 

Color blocking is something we have started to see a lot of as well. And in winter fashion! This is completely different from past seasons where colors become dull and simple during the cooler months. These trends will continue through 2012 and beyond.


Source

Source: Refinery 29, 

As far as winter fashion goes, the year the sock/boot trend is really going to hit home during the cooler months. This is a warm trend that is both functional and totally awesome for any winter look.


Source: Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

No matter how you plan to embrace the trends of 2012 is up to you. There are of course a lot more that will be popping up as Fashion Week hits in February 2012 to release the newest trends from spring. In the meantime, these simple accessories will tide us over with a wee bit more color than we are used to during the winter. So embrace it, and create a personal style you can be proud of.

 

]]> Fashion trends generally change by the season as opposed to by the year, but here we will highlight some of the top trends of this past year along with what we can expect to see this coming year. And we have some good news on the color front.

Things are brightening up in the fashion world this year! For the past few years we have seen a growing trend in brighter colors hitting the market and becoming fast trends. Spring 2011 we saw lots of orange hitting the runways, such as these orange pieces below.


Source: Refinery 29, 

2011 was also a great year for the bowtie. This trend hit fast and heavy in 2011, and we can definitely expect to see a lot more of this trend in 2012. And as far as colors? No color or bright pattern is too awesome to match with your outfit.


Source

One 2011 trend that took the fashion world by storm was, wait for it, lace. A few years ago no one would have considered a modern day lace to come back in style, but low and behold, the idea of adding this gorgeous texture to your outfit just became too good to pass up. As for 2012, textures will continue to hit the mainstream with everything from ruffles, to layers and beyond. Gone are the days when simple, one dimension outfits are all the rage.


Source: Lace, Lace


Source: Ruffles, Ruffles

Glasses, oh glasses. This trend is coming back for both men and women and all are embracing this trend by adding something interesting to your face and your entire look.


Source: Glasses, Glasses

We have said before that men don't necessarily have as many fashion options as women do, so the ones they do have, they like to embrace heavily. And interestingly enough, socks have become a major trend for guys. And this one will continue with awesome patterns, color palettes and beyond.


Source: Socks, Socks

Pink and Red tones have made quite the comeback in 2011. And seeing as the Pantone color of the year is the bright and bold Tangerine Tango, I think we will be seeing a lot more of it through 2012. In terms of creating a statement with your given outfit, these bold colors will definitely pull off that look you are trying to create.

Source

Sparkles have become less tacky and a little more awesome these days. Everything from dresses, to skirts to shoes have embraced the good old sparkle and turned something mundane into something just under the bar of over-the-top. And this look isn't just for new years people! Embrace the sparkle in good way, without overdoing your entire look.


Source: Sparkle, Shoes, Sterling Style, Oh Joy 

Color blocking is something we have started to see a lot of as well. And in winter fashion! This is completely different from past seasons where colors become dull and simple during the cooler months. These trends will continue through 2012 and beyond.


Source

Source: Refinery 29, 

As far as winter fashion goes, the year the sock/boot trend is really going to hit home during the cooler months. This is a warm trend that is both functional and totally awesome for any winter look.


Source: Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

No matter how you plan to embrace the trends of 2012 is up to you. There are of course a lot more that will be popping up as Fashion Week hits in February 2012 to release the newest trends from spring. In the meantime, these simple accessories will tide us over with a wee bit more color than we are used to during the winter. So embrace it, and create a personal style you can be proud of.

 

]]> http://www.colourlovers.com/fashion/blog/2012/01/11/a-burst-of-color-fashion-trends-of-2011-looking-forward-to-2012/feed http://www.colourlovers.com/fashion/blog/2012/01/11/a-burst-of-color-fashion-trends-of-2011-looking-forward-to-2012