fall's hues elegant

This season brings some surprising but refreshing changes to the traditional autumn color palette

by Tara Rosenzweig

All illustrations courtesy of Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2008. Sketches, left: Temperley London; right: Douglas Hannant

Those with a penchant for jewel tones will love this fall's fashions and accessories. Gone are the traditional muted colors of autumn; this season, rich hues take center stage.

New York's fashion designers are focusing on cool blues, greens, and purples for the top five colors in their collections, with warm shades of red, orange, and yellow rounding out the top 10.

A SEASON OF CHANGE

"Fall is traditionally a time for subdued, quiet colors, but this season we are seeing a shift toward cool hues with bright, exciting undertones," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

That's not to say traditional fall shades don't have a place in this season's fashions. "Conventional tones such as warm autumn hues, chocolate browns, and steel grays are also among the fall color choices," says Eiseman.

EYEWEAR IMPLICATIONS

What impact will the new fall colors have on eyewear? "I believe that there is an even greater opportunity to use interesting trend colors in eyewear than ever before," Eiseman says.

"When there are classic fashions being shown, people know that their fashion-forward glasses can be their primary accessory," she notes. "And for those who love ‘funkier’ or fun looks, colorful eyeglasses are a vital part of their look. Fall 2008 colors will add an extra touch of intriguing selections for all accessories."

HUES OF BLUE

"Blue and purple tones have become staples," Eiseman says. In fact, three shades of blue made the list of top 10 colors, including Blue Iris, a "balanced" blue with a purple undertone, which is one of the most popular colors used by designers this season, and is also Pantone's Color of the Year for 2008. This beautiful shade is described as combining the calmness of blue with the mystery of purple.

Other popular blue shades are Caribbean Sea, a perfectly named lush, serene turquoise (especially popular in accessories) and deep, dark Twilight Blue, which is described as traditional navy with a twist.

Sketches, far left: Elie Tahari; top: Tia Cibani for Ports 1961; bottom, clockwise from left: Peter Som, Kimora Lee Simmons for Baby Phat, Lela Rose, Reem Acra, Zac Posen

fall's TOP 10
Here are the hottest colors for fall, according to Pantone:*

^*Pantone colors displayed here may not match Pantone-identified solid color standards. Consult current Pantone for fashion and home color system® publications for accurate color. Pantone® and other Pantone, Inc., trademarks are the property of Pantone, Inc.

CLASSY BRIGHTS

Blue isn't the only bright color you'll see this fall. Rich shades of purple and green are also in the mix. Royal Lilac, a jewel-toned purple with red undertones, adds a classy punch of color to fall fashions. Shady Glade, a robust, sophisticated green, takes the color in a new direction compared to the popular yellowish greens of past seasons.

WARM ACCENTS

Red is a perennial fall favorite, and this season's pick is Aurora Red, a true red—not too bright, not too dark—that is versatile and offers wide appeal.

Gaining steadily in popularity is orange. Once relegated to the background, this season's Burnt Orange is a "notice me" shade that brings the color to the forefront.

VERSATILE NEUTRALS

Shitake, an understated, chocolatey brown, works perfectly when paired with this fall's other rich colors. Withered Rose, a subdued pink with brown undertones, also blends well with many of this season's more robust hues.

With so many beautiful colors to choose from, this season promises to be a great one for fashion, including eyewear. EB