My Interview In The New York Times
January 5th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
January 5, 2012
Bare with me as I toot my own horn. It is always a wonderful treat to be interviewed for the New York Times. I am especially pleased with this one article and thought that it would be nice to share. I really enjoyed speaking with Penelope Green, I love her last name and she doesn’t miss a beat.
Here is an excerpt from the Q & A and a link to the full article.
The color of the year is a bit of an assist to the fashion, cosmetics and home furnishings industries, and product and graphic design, all of which can use it as an organizing principle and marketing tool.
Kevin P. Casey for The New York Times
Will orange become ubiquitous? Probably not, Ms. Eiseman said. “What we’re trying to do is get the feeling of the zeitgeist, to use an overused word,” she said, speaking by phone from her home on Bainbridge Island in Washington. “What are people talking about they feel they need, that color can help to answer? For us, the color of the year is not necessarily the hot fashion color, but an expression of a mood, an attitude, on the part of the consumers.”
Q&A — Leatrice Eiseman of the Pantone Color Institute – NYTimes.com.
Like this:
Red: The Emblem Of Social Responsibility
November 2nd, 2011 § Leave a Comment
November 2, 2011
I was asked to speak at a conference on the color Red. I think you might enjoy this event— there are quite a few speakers each bringing their own perspective to the color. In my presentation Keith Recker and I will be sharing excerpts and images of the color RED throughout the 20th Century from the new book Pantone® The 20th Century in Color. I hope to see you there.
From Dior to Valentino, from Yves Saint Laurent to Lanvin, red is an expression of joy, of jubilation, of passion. In the hands of others it is—among many other things—the color of authority, of courage, and of liturgy. It is also a pre-eminent color of body ornament: red lipstick and nail polish are never out of style.
The 13th Annual New York Fashion Conference, RED, will explore the innumerable facets of this color without peer. We will consider the history of this color, and that of the materials from which it has been derived, as well as its symbolism, both as a color in and of itself and integral to patterns such as paisley and tartan. Vintage is a lens through we study this vibrant hue and the important roles it has played at all times and in all cultures; we trace these roles as well as their evolution over time. Not least, we explore the legacies of Diana Vreeland and others, for whom red was not just a color, but a signature.
The Human Eye Is Notoriously Fickle
September 15th, 2011 § 4 Comments
September 14, 2011
I was interviewed for the following article that appeared in Women’s Wear Daily Beauty Inc. and edited by Belisa Silva.
The article included some of the outstanding summer colors that are showing staying power for the fall. 
What colors were your favorites this summer and what colors will you transition into fall?
Marimekko Inked
August 23rd, 2011 § Leave a Comment
August 23, 2011
In September’s issue of Dwell, Katja Lindroos takes an inside look at the Marimekko factory in Finland and we get a peek at the color process and steps they take in creating their signature fabrics.
The writer states ”A visit to Marimekko’s 43,000-square-foot factory in Helsinki reveals that its printing process and emphasis on big, bold patterns—which continue to bring the company great success—have changed little over the years.”
Read more: http://www.dwell.com/articles/helsinki-ink.html#ixzz1Vs1YbznU
Sharen Davis Colorful Stylist On The Help
August 16th, 2011 § 2 Comments
August 16, 2011
Kathryn Stockett’s novel The Help is an honest dialogue of what it meant to be the “help” for well-to-do families in rural Mississippi in the 60s. This film is rich both in character and in color.
From a recent article in the Hollywood Reporter comes some color insight from Sharen Davis, costume designer for the film.
“It was tricky because everyone thinks of Mad Men. But that’s about an upper-class Manhattan lifestyle, and this focuses on young women in the South-most of them getting married and having babies…
…I looked at copies of Vogue from the 1960s for inspiration, but it was too sophisticated, so I ended up getting my ideas from Seventeen magazine. It still had that innocent girlie look and lollipop color.”
Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan played by Emma Stone, in “straight skirts and subtle prints” is career oriented and her look is a bit different from the other women.
Her longtime friend Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard) is the Southern belle who wears “bright colors and bold prints because she always has to be seen,” while the outsider of the group is Celia Foote (Jessica Chastain) the bombshell. “Celia’s clothes are more fitted and feminine. She does her best to look like Marilyn Monroe.”
Style For Hire
August 12th, 2011 § 1 Comment
August 12, 2011
I just got back from a wonderful weekend in New York City where I participated in the Style For Hire workshop with Stacy London where I spoke about color theory based on my More Alive With Color concept.
Style for Hire is a group of fashion stylists who are trained and certified by Stacy, her partner Cindy and their team. Stacy is best known as the “honest-beacuse-she-loves-ya TV stylist” of the What Not To Wear duo.
Style For Hire stylists are “helping people with unique bodies, tastes, and budgets develop their own sense of style; learn how to dress their body-type; and maximize the investment they make in their wardrobe.”
Graphic Design USA Gives Love To Pantone
July 15th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
July 15, 2011
“Color is among the most powerful ways for creative professionals to communicate on behalf of their clients. At stake is nothing less than the success of products, services, ideas and causes. And color forecasts are the place where theory and practice come together, as experts – sometimes through hard-headed analysis and other times through flights of imagination – attempt to discern broad evolutionary directions for major industries and the design disciplines that serve them. Color forecasting may look like fun and fantasy but be warned: do not try this at home or without expert supervision.”
Embrace These Colors, Change Your Mood
February 25th, 2011 § 1 Comment
February 24, 2011
I really like the way Chrissy Lorenzo has given suggestions on how to wear the spring colors from Pantone’s 2011 fashion report. If you are looking to add some color to your life whether in the home or in your closet take a moment to look at Chrissy’s suggestions by clicking the link below.
Come over and “Like” More Alive With Color on Facebook and share your color picks for spring.
Spring 2011 Color Trends: Embrace These Colors, Change Your Mood.
Fall 2011 Fashion Report Now For Him Too
February 18th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
February 18, 2011
My friends it is time for Pantone’s fall 2011 fashion color report. This time Pantone has included the men’s fall colors too.
I put together a little teaser of a few of the illustrations from the report for you. In doing so I started to wonder how you, the readers of this blog use the fashion report? Does it influence your color choices from season to season? Are these colors likely to end up on you or in your home?
There are a few colors from this report that are universally flattering to all skin tones.
Can you guess which ones they are?
Suit Up and Finish with Coats of Many Colors (for Men)
January 28th, 2011 § 1 Comment
January 28, 2011
Today I dedicate this post to the men in our lives. Often we women are talking about what colors we should be wearing or how we can look our best and I wondered if the men felt left out. In the event that they do feel left out, I offer up this little gem for the man who wants to make a statement with his wardrobe.
The Hollywood Reporter gives the man some tips on How to Dress The Part White Collar.
“From his fedora to footwear choices, Neal Caffrey-the dashing con atist-turned-FBI consultant on the USA Network drama White Collar-can probably claim the mantle of best-dressed man on television. “Neal’s look is Rat Pack-meets-Harry Belafonte-meets Thomas Crown with a little bit of Alain Delon in Le Samourai,” says the show’s star, Matt Bomer. In the series, Neal is rarely seen in anything but impeccably tailored suits (John Varvatos and Simon Spurr are favorites) with slim-fit, French cuff dress shirts. Sharp men’s accessories including bold-patterened ties with sterling tie bars, pocket squares and cuff links refine his style…”
“The focus is classic pieces with unexpected pairings like a textured pink shirt with a lavender tie.”
Do you want to know how you can recreate Neal’s look?
1. Find a reputable tailer. “A good tailer can make a $150 suit look like $1000, but a $1000 suit that isn’t properly tailored can look like it only cost you $150.”
2. Invest in the basics. “Every guy should own a couple of sharp dress shirts in simple colors like white and blue that are versatile.”
3. Suit up. “You need black, navy and, for those warmer-eather moments, maybe gray or a light-tan suit.”
4. Remember that the accessories make the man. “Your cuff links, ties and tie bars should reflect your character.”
For those of you men out there who prefer to make more of an impact and who may think outside of the box, consider adding a flashy jacket to finish your ensemble.
