Seeing Red

We find our creative inspiration from the world around us whether it is nature, art or architecture, but nothing seems to impact pop culture color trends more than from our celebrities walking the red carpet. With the writer's strike complicating many of this year's award shows, there was a shortage of celebrity couture. We were all expecting the stars to shine on the red carpet for the 80th Annual Academy Awards Show, but it seems that many of the celebs played it safe and left us seeing red.

Images courtesy of wireimage.com

The pairing of red and black is nothing new. We had predicted the color combination as a strong player for the holiday season last year. The celebrity showing at the Oscar's just confirms that red, black and white will continue to play a strong role in the upcoming season as well.

Red, Black and Silver trees by Gloria Duchin, Inc.

Metallics also glittered the red carpet at the Oscar's with Jessica Alba bringing gold back as a metallic hue and Renee Zellweger sparkling in a silver gown. We feel that both metallics will continue to shine into the 2008 holiday season, but since the price of gold continues to rise, it will be thought of as the more exclusive and upscale metal accent this year.

Images courtesy of wireimage.com

Jessica's gold earrings were paired with a deep plum, plumage topped dress. Penelope Cruz was also wearing a feather lined gown this year. We think that feathers will be appearing more frequently throughout the year as both fashion and home decor accents.

Design Directions

Last week in our local paper, the Providence Journal, the home section devoted an entire feature to upcoming design and color trends. One article in particular, taken from the Wall Street Journal News Service, covered the latest from Paris, featured at the Maison et Objet homefurnishings trade show.

What's New In Paris? Honesty, fantasy and Everything Shiny

The highlights of the Maison et Objet show reiterate much of what we have found in our trend research. The prevallence of metallics in fashion, accessories and home accents have expanded into upholstery and complete furninshings. Metallics are also warming with copper and brass taking the place of silver and stainless steel in the home.

Some other growing color combinations include purples and lavenders, especially paired with gray. A medium blue with a touch of iris is toted as Pantone's color of the year. Brighter yellows and whites were also featured at the show, as well as a pairing of fuscia and lime green which we have been using as a color combination for our packaging since last year.