Color Forecast

Color Directions for
Fall/Winter 2010/2011

By Roseann Forde, owner, Fordecasting

Tradition Revisited
The season is steeped in the classics, but with a definite lean to the quirky.  Although these hues are familiar, understandable and wearable, they are put together with a certain panache and kitsch to update and refresh.
 



(Contemporary) 

Mother Nature works her magic, but with an off-beat sensibility.  Cool tonalities of blue are inspired by the wide expanse of moody skies and the seven seas.  Exotic shades of green and deep purple are indigenous to tropical rain forests.  The deepest (almost black) gray casts a long mysterious shadow. 




(Investment Dressing)

Tonalities of taupes and grays won't go away.  They will continue as the "go to" neutrals (as we are not willing to give them up).  They serve to anchor vibrant colors very effectively as an alternative to the sharpness of black.  In addition, multiple shades of brown, inspired by our myriad skin tones, will serve to warm bleak winter days.  The surprise of soft, neutralized yellow lends a modern graphic sensibility.


 

(Ultra-Feminine, Youthful)

We just can't seem to get over the post hippy chic of the '70's.  Flattering hues in the red family go hand-in-hand with this movement, which flaunts the freedom and flamboyance of the era.  Vintage and ethnic influences are creatively combined, but the decisive eye of the 21st Century is now in play and therein lies the newness.




(Practical, Cozy and Colorful)

The captivating hues of falling leaves of mid-October are softened and refreshed.  Clay and russet tones are key, pairing effortlessly with variations of green and bold gold.  Pastel blue and peach are unexpected intruders that lend a newness to the range.

 

 

  

As the global fashion director of women´s and men´s apparel for Invista (formerly DuPont), Roseann Forde researched trends at the retail level and attended runway shows and fabric fairs on both sides of the Atlantic. Every Spring and Fall, major color, fabric and silhouette forecasts were developed and presented by Roseann to the apparel, home and retail trades throughout the U.S. and Canada. She has worked with textile mills to assist them in the development of new fabrics and color palettes. Roseann’s colors are the official palette of the Direction show, held in New York three times a year. Roseann has acted in an advisory capacity to the National Football League, the automotive industry and to major retailers and apparel manufacturers throughout the country. Contact her via email at Roseannforde@aol.com.