Kaleidoscopic Color
Spring 2004 fashion promises a bounty of delicious hues certain to elevate the mood
By Erinn Morgan

Pretty in this spring's powerful pink--a dress by Carmen Marc Valvo, left, and a peachskin and cayenne ensemble, right, from Carolina Herrera, whose eyewear line is licensed through Viva International Group

The message for spring is a mix of warmth, energy, freedom, and excitement. Gone is the dour blackout of style days gone by. Designers are imparting this new feel-good mood through vibrant color.

Mother Nature is partly to thank for this much-needed attitude adjustment--designers found their inspirations in the garden, in the desert, and on the beach. They came away with a palette that is at once feminine, passionate, rejuvenating, and energizing. While not for the faint of color, this season does, however, offer more demure options.

THE PALETTE

The star of the show is undeniably pink--incarnated as innocent peachskin, bold fandango, and combined with cayenne. It is sexy, soft, and feminine. Some have even dubbed this powerful hue the "new black."

Shades evoking pure sunshine, such as cadmium yellow, reflect off cooler tones such as vista blue and dusted peri. Lush colors such as lavendula and tigerlily evoke not only their namesake flowers, but also the magic of the desert.

Complementing all this flora, as well as the other fanciful hues, is leaf green. A grounding force for the rest of the palette, fashion lets this unusual hue take a spotlight. Organic and optimistic, green creates a fresh and youthful look when paired with other bright tones. "Add a hot color to natural greens for a modern look this spring," says fashion designer Ellen Tracy.

As spring's new neutral, plaza taupe mixes seamlessly with the punched-up palette for a look that is crisp and modern. The new colors will even mix well with last year's favorite pieces. "Add a splash of intense color to liven up a monochromatic color scheme," says designer Carolina Herrera.

There are many ways to show off spring's true colors. The beauty is in the bountiful array of options for personal choice. "Color mixing is more obvious and dramatic than ever," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director, Pantone Color Institute^®. "Evoking feelings of freedom, energy, and excitement, it is an affirmation that there are better things to come. Spring 2004's color matching is playful, surprising, and above all, fun!"

Designer Vision

	A gown from Ralph Lauren is set for spring. Sàfilo Group licenses eyewear under the designer's name

A few of the top designers speak out about spring color in runway fashions and their inclinations toward this direction.

Carolina Herrera

"Our colors exude the aura of elegance and vitality

synonymous with carefree days on the French Riviera

in the 1930s."

Prominent colors: Touches of terra-cotta and tea rose mixed with ivory and black. Delicate apricot is accented by rich terra-cotta.

Color philosophy: We revitalized the classic combination of black and white by adding touches of intense and rich fruit colors--apricot, bitter lemon, and guava.

Carmen Marc Valvo

"With cool pinks and blues inspired from my garden, this season's colors convey a feeling of youth and vitality."

Prominent colors: Cool blues to cool pinks--the colors of a cool spring perennial garden.

Signature color: Any shade of pink, whether it be peony pink or fuschia.

Anne Klein

"For Spring 2004, I chose all the shades of the sun and combined them with earthly neutrals."

Prominent colors: Soft cream to golden yellow and bronze, combined with earthy neutrals and a paradox of a modern "synthetic" yellow.

Signature color: All shades of the sun.

Color philosophy: Warmth and brightness.

Ellen Tracy

"Spring is inspired by the tremendous range of flora and fauna. Nature gives us a profusion of color combinations to choose from."

Prominent colors: Hot, colorful florals grounded by sophisticated greens; splashy tigerlily and sunflower combined with sophisticated olive and avocado; mellow sage and thyme splashed with poppy.

Signature color: The range of greens.

Ellen Tracy's jacket, shirt, and pants, left, and Anne Klein's yellow jacket, right, offer sophisticated looks for spring. Anne Klein eyewear is licensed by Luxottica Group and Ellen Tracy eyewear is licensed by Viva International Group