2017 Fashion Color of the Year
Green is the New Neutral
It’s not just the favorite color of the holiday season, it’s the color of the new year. Pantone, the color authority of the fashion and interior design world has just announced the new “it” color of 2017—“Greenery.”
“While ‘Serenity Blue’ and ‘Rose Quartz,’ the Pantone colors of 2016, expressed the need for harmony in a chaotic world,” says Lea Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, “’Greenery’ bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the hope we collectively yearn for amid a complex social and political landscape. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate, revitalize and unite, ‘Greenery’ symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.”
Look for the darker, bluer greens to merge with tangy, yellow greens in the coming year to give us a lot of options. Make green a new neutral in your closet and take some time to breathe in this invigorating color palette. See and be seen in green. Here’s how to deck out your wardrobe with one of nature’s favorite hues.
Start with accessories. This is the easy way to go for green. A satiny green clutch. A huge tote bag. A pair of green velvet boots. A cashmere blanket scarf. A sparkly peridot ring. Or even better... emerald earrings. Team these green gems up with other neutrals to inject a lush accent that will give everything you wear instant energy.
Dress with drama. If you really want to amp up the wow factor of green, go head-to-toe in a gorgeous green gown. Stand out from the crowd at your next charity ball in a sweeping strapless maxi dress. Or go for dinner in a glam green cocktail dress. The lace sheath is Mother Nature’s stylish pick. Top off these glam green dresses with a fluffy green fur bomber jacket.
Bloom and blossom. If you really want to break out of the winter doldrums, then this green fashion trend is for you. Think lush flora and fauna thriving in tropical prints and patterns that pop up in clothes for men, women and children this spring. Botanical themes give green a new vibrancy that works best in warmer months when worn with solids in complementary colors like corals and hot pinks.
Work it. If you want to save the hothouse florals for a summer vacation, you can opt for a more sophisticated version of green that’s perfect for the office. Just mix monochromatic tones of green in shades from deep to light in a jacket/blouse/skirt combination.
Say I do. Planning a wedding this spring or summer? Don’t be afraid to consider green for bridesmaids’ dresses, mother of the bride attire or even as a wedding guest. White is a wonderful neutral to pair with greens of all shades, and makes a beautiful backdrop for floral bouquets. Watch for prom goers to go gaga over green this year, too.
Get artistic. Paint on the greens any time of the year with colorful eyeshadows and creams that turn up the vivid volume. Or nail the trend in a green polish that gets attention with a minimum amount of effort. And if you have problems with redness on your face, check out green tinted foundations. But one green to definitely avoid? Green lips...unless you’re the Geico Gecko, of course!
Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.