TRENDS FROM THE RUNWAY: Fall 2014 Color Report

Each year, Pantone, the world-renowned authority on color, keeps us fashion aficionados in the know on the trending colors for Fall & Spring.  How do they do it? The team at Pantone observes the collections at New York Fashion Week and obtain insight from fashion designers & fashion influencers. Some of the designers are Kenneth Cole, Jay Godfrey, Monique Lhuillier,  Nicole Miller, and more, while influencers such as jewelry designer Kendra Scott & Fashion Illustrator Dallas Shaw are also on the list.  Pantone’s Fall 2014 Color Report is as follows: Radiant Orchid, Royal Blue, Aluminum, Aurora Red, Misted Yellow, Sangria, Mauve Mist, Cognac, Bright Cobalt, & Cypress.   When the color reports come out, I love to go back and review the runway collections and pick out looks that represent the trending colors! Check out these pictures from our Fashion Mingle photographers who were on the scene at New York Fashion Week this past February.

RADIANT ORCHID
Not only does radiant orchid make the Fall 2014 Color Report, but it’s also Pantone’s 2014 Color of the Year! I admit, when I first heard radiant orchid was picked as the color of the year, I wasn’t sure why? Yes it’s a great color, but after viewing the Spring 2014 NYFW collections while I was in New York, I didn’t see a lot of radiant orchid…if any at all! However, the Fall 2014 collections were teaming with this radiant shade. It’s a fabulous pastel that can literally transcend your look from plain jane to ethereal.  Kati Stern at Venexiana uses the hue, along with a milkmaid braid to create an ethereal look for her collection. 

ROYAL BLUE
Who doesn’t enjoy a deep hue of blue? I know I do! Maybe it’s because the color is called ROYAL blue, but something about this color just screams rich! It’s definitely eye-popping and if you were to wear either one of these dresses you would be the center of attention. 

ALUMINUM
It’s about time designers took the standard grey to the next level! While grey is a great neutral, Aluminum is the next level you need to add a bit of edge to your look.  Nothing wrong with some heavy metal in fashion!

AURORA RED
In my opinion, red should ALWAYS be included on the fall color report and it usually shows up with the only change being the shade.  From oxblood to aurora to sangria, red is here to stay. To me, Aurora red has a vibrant orange undertone, which makes it extra fun!  Vivienne Tam knows how to take advantage of a fun hue with this unique look from her Fall 2014 Collection.    

MISTED YELLOW
Welcome back pastels! Pastels have been so in demand this year, it was almost obligatory that designers continue to use them throughout their Fall collections.  Misted yellow is a great change to neon yellow. It’s soft and romantic, and works for a wide variety of skin tones. I especially love how the ladies of Noon by Noor, Shaikha Noor Al Khalifa and Shaikha Haya Al Khalifa, worked misted yellow into this look! It’s a great color block with the gray blazer and navy blue pants. 

SANGRIA
While my first instinct is to look around for a fruity beverage when I think of Sangria, I would opt for clothes in this shade over the drink! Sangria is also in the red family, and really is the lighter cousin to oxblood.  There’s more red in sangria than oxblood, which can tend to be more purple than red. 

MAUVE MIST
If radiant orchid is the color of the year, than mauve mist is it’s cousin.  Mauve mist takes the radiant orchid shade to a deeper pastel level.  

COGNAC
Again…I’m not sure what’s up with these names that make me think of nights out on the town, but cognac is more than just a drink! It’s a fun shade of brown! I love how Marc Jacobs incorporated this hue into his collection.

BRIGHT COBALT
A few seasons ago, cobalt was that color of choice for fall, and it’s returning in bolder and brighter fashion. 

CYPRESS
I automatically think of a tree when I think of Cypress! Of course that’s because of the hue’s name, but it really does resemble the leaves of a Cypress tree. It’s a rich shade of green, and in this look created by J. Mendel, it’s perfect. 

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p style=”text-align: justify;”>What are your thoughts on Pantone’s Fall 2014 Color Report? Do you like the picks? Any favorites? If you want more NYFW reports like this one for your own site, sign up for our NYFW Media Packages here: http://www.fashionmingle.net/nyfwmediapackages/