So as a part of exploring colour and learning about the ways in which to make colours work when styling and selecting colour themes for an event, I have learnt all about Pantone Inc. Pantone Inc is a company who has primarily developed a colour matching system suitable for developing and mixing colours for painting initially, but has extended and now develops and names colours for many materials such as paint, plastics and fabrics, and is used to reference important colours across many major industries. For example, the names of the colours for the fabrics used at New York Fashion Week... derived from the Pantone Colour Matching System, your colours for the season or year, be it in fashion, interior design or event planning, are once again, based on the colours from Pantone!
Pantone also select the trending colours for each year and season! You know how one summer we see fluros, the next it is bohemian coloured festival wear... it all starts with Pantone deciding and justifying the colours of the season, and experts around the world understanding and interpreting the trend!
Colour of the year for 2015 is Marsala!
Source: Pantone / Colour of the Year Pantone Color Institute
The Pantone Color Institute also goes on to describe the colour of the year as 'A naturally robust and earthy wine red, Marsala enriches our minds, bodies and souls. The impactful, full-bodied qualities of Marsala make for an elegant, grounded statement color when used on its own or as a strong accent to many other colors. Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness. '
'Marsala is a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us in to its embracing warmth.' Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute.
The Pantone Color Institution chose Marsala for the 2015 colour of the year for a variety of reasons! They believe it is a colour which appeals to both males and females and has become a favourite shade for clothing and accessories with both sexes, while being a colour that is flattering against all skin tones, and the use of it in fashion, as well as strong featured make up, creates a style that is sultry and subtle. In interior design and styling, the colour marsala translates well into interior furnishings such as couches, linens, wall colours and little accents, simply because the colour encompasses warmth and makes homes feel comfortable.
What do you think? Do you like Marsala? Or now upon reflection, have you seen this colour used more across the period of this year? I really love it! I have become a big fan of the bohemian style, both in fashion and interior design (also I made a Sim a total boho chick, she only wears flowers and paisley on on her clothes and lives in a small house where many of her furnishings are in marsala coincidently!) I think the colour is beautiful when used on its own, but really stands out when you use it as a feature accent against other colours. If you want to get a better idea of how to use Marsala, check out my Pinterest Board, Marsala Pantone 2015 Colour of the Year over on my Pinspiration tab, or just have a little look at the Inspiration Board below that I have created using pictures I've found across my study of Marsala that really inspired me! This inspiration board is primarily for a wedding where the feature colour for styling is Marsala, but check out my pinterest for how beautifully it translates into interior design and fashion!
Marsala Inspiration Board; © Bonnie O'Brien, AAWEP Student, 2015.
So has Marsala really caught your attention? Check out the colour palate recommendations below that Pantone Inc suggests for Marsala this year. You can see that some of the combinations would also translate better between seasons!
Source: Pantone / Colour of the Year Pantone Color Institute
I hope you have loved the colour Marsala and feel as inspired by it as I do!
xoxoxox