Color Trends for Fall/Winter 2008

Fall 2008 was described as the "season of change" defined by rich, elegant and vibrant hues. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute states that "fall is traditionally a time for subdued, quiet colors, but this season we are seeing a shift toward cool hues with bright, exciting undertones". Gill Hart summarized the 10 colors:

• Blue Iris - This is Pantone’s color of the year for 2008, according to their report. A rich beautiful blue with purple undertones which has been a firm favorite amongst such designers as Leger, Costello Tagliapetra, Diana Von Furstenberg and Oscar De La Renta. Combining the regal richness of purple with cool and calming aspects of blue.
• Royal Lilac - Dramatic Royal Lilac is a combination of bluish purples and cheerful red undertones. undertones.
• Shady Glade -It provides a willing companion to shady glade, a mossy green base color which is a departure from the more traditional greens of the past.
• Caribbean Blue -Evokes memories of tropical vacations which adds intensity to its color companions.
• Twilight Blue - Twilight Blue is a twist on a classic navy, a strong, powerful steady color.
• Aurora Red - Reds and purples are a keynote combination for Fall 2008. Given its dash of energy and vitality to the palette Aurora red is not exception.
• Withered Rose - Moving on to dusky brownish pinks, Withered Rose blends with almost any shade.
• Burnt Orange - Powerful and robust, Burnt Orange is subtle enough to be worn by most skin tones, but steady enough to be a backdrop and strong enough to be at the fore front of an outfit.
• Ochre - Adding a touch of lightness traditional autumnal color is Ochre with a hint of mustard against mellow yellow.
• Shitake - "The color of a Japanese mushroom, this complex yet modest shade is intriguingly understated," states the Pantone report, "especially when teamed with the robust colors of fall" '08.

Other important colors were:
black (especially as base color)
grays - charcoal, medium gray, light gray
gold
purples - magenta, royal purple, dark purple
scarlet red
fuchsia
black & white
olive
cowboy brown
camel
royal blue
raspberry
orange


Source: Pantone, Fashion Colors for Fall 2008, Pantone Fashion Color Reports, Fall Winter 2008 Fashion Trends