"It" Color

You may already know that Pantone Inc., world-renowned authority on color and the professional color palette, named Pantone 18-3943, or Blue Iris, the color of the year. This blue hue is to dominate fashion and décor this year as the "it" color for 2008. And it's true--this shade is popping up around town, and at the recent Ferragamo fall/winter show, albeit being hidden behind fellow media with larger camera lenses than my own, I could still note the prominence of blues and purples. Prominent also were sweaters worn OVER suit jackets for the guys, but I digress.

Pantone also partnered up with author Michele Bernhardt on a book, Colorstrology, which matches up, you guessed it, your birth date to the perfect color for your personality. My good friend in Singapore sent me a copy as a birthday gift, and while I'm not one to take astrology to heart, it's a start to battling those design woes. (And those of you who "peek" at this book while I'm away from my desk--I know who you are, Cameo Green and Brandied Apricot!) If you're not yet brave enough to splash, oh, vermillion orange or seafoam on your walls, start small. Visit the art supplies stores on Fuzhou Lu, pick up some cheap canvases and release your inner artist or paint over some older items for renewed panache as accents. Hang the canvases on the wall to experience the effect. I have color blocks hung up all over the place, just waiting for the one to scream "you'll be able to live with me..."

I'm wondering how I can add splashes of Garden Green (apparently fit for the Taurus that I am) into my working hub. Plants won't do--just ask the one who oh-so-kindly gave me potted cactus that died the very next day (yes, Emily can kill even cacti)--but that's a whole other blog in itself.