Ladies, ladies, I know you’ve been waiting with baited breath for this follow up to my last post on trends for 2008 - colors. As much as we hate to admit it, we already know that handbag trends follow fashion trends – the area of color is no exception.

Gone are the basic ‘safe’ colors for fashion accessories. Fashion is constantly evolving in a rich kaleidoscope of colors and shades that previously may never even have been in our wardrobes. And that’s exactly what makes the world of color so exciting!

Keeping in line with the concepts and trends for the upcoming season, the color spectrum reaches from sensible simplicity to feminine playfulness; from futuristic frenzy to organic calm. In this way, color trends have become a true representation of our globalized world, resplendent with its multitude of personalities, cultures and lifestyles. If there ever was a time to live, breathe and wear – yes, wear – your identity, it is now.

After many years, the color palette for the first season of 2008 truly reflects Spring, awash with vibrant color punctuating a backdrop of soothing neutrals. Use this trend as license to play with new and creative color combinations and variations for a look that’s as unique and distinctive as you are.


Feminine Grace

The Trend: Think Chantilly lace, powder puffs and pearls. This trend is all about bringing your feminine side front and center. A tribute to the modern woman, the palette is soft and yet, strong. The art deco movement and the cinema of the forties form the perfect visual illustration, where seductive frivolity and machismo combine into an alluring, sensual cocktail. Elegance, refinement, sophistication and finesse are the adjectives to strive for.

The Colors: Combine classic delicate undertones of taupe, beige or apricot with subtle-yet-strong deep colors. Bring the whole spectrum of pink into play to enhance your femininity with whisper soft pinks and roses to mysterious purples. Of the purples, try this season’s whimsical Spring Crocus. Blues also play a starring role with pale heather blue and a smoky navy taking center stage.


Richness and Warmth

The Trend: Indulge in that which makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. In an ultra modern world, return to stunning simplicity and a gentler time. Imagine yourself wrapped safely in a protective cocoon. Think of home, warmth, solidarity and tradition. Look to the richness of leather, wood and the fallen leaves of autumn for direction.

The Colors: warm browns and golden shades, camel, rust, mustard, walnut, pumpkin, vibrant prune, cherry oak, cognac, flesh-colored tones, rich cranberry red, revitalizing cantaloupe, chocolate, coffee and croissant. With those last few colors, we could almost be describing a perfect breakfast for a Parisian morning!


Preservation and Awareness

The Trend: Blame it on Al Gore’s incredible work An Inconvenient Truth, heightened understanding of the destruction caused by past misdeeds, or the erratic weather that has been sweeping the world, the fact is we’re all awaking to a time of eco-consciousness and social responsibility. In this uncharacteristically selfless trend, fashion has done an about-face from ego-centric to eco-centric, mirroring mankind’s longing for unspoiled nature.

This organic color trend takes us back-to-nature, conjuring images of breathtakingly fresh Nordic panoramas to diversely rich South American rainforests. Here, fashion mimics life with green evolving into the latest neutral color as an authentic complement to the diverse colors of nature.

The Colors: Draw your inspiration from the colors of moss, rocks, leaves and bodies of water. Think botanical shades: olive green, fern, palm, pine, safe, khaki and this season’s refreshing Daiquiri Green and Golden Olive. Complement the rich green hues with tones of icy blue, aqua, and sky. And for a finale, employ earthy undertones like sand, tan, mud and clay.


Modern Movement

The Trend: Keep the focus on modern city living and all of its inherent aspects; from architecture to new technologies, from dramatically stylistic to monochromatic hues. Invoke a feeling of futuristic innovations mixed with stark contrasts and you’ll have this trend covered. Think urban, modern and the concept of ‘less is more’.

The Colors: This striking palette is more about how colors are used in combination than on their own. Use stark contrast when pairing colors; the black-and-white mix is always classically stylish. Add further depth with intensive colors – red, violet, green – to infuse a surprise element and you’ll have a winner. For drama queens, metal is the buzz word – the coming season will bring glitz to any accessory with metallics and high sheen finishes.

This trend embraces color in the traditional sense (i.e. the color of the bag) as well as the accents. Look for light-reflecting metallic finishes and hardware, mirror-work mimicking curtain-wall skyscrapers and rich, solid fabrics.


So where did these color combos come from? No, I’m not psychically blessed, but I do have a crystal ball of sorts that allows me to look into the future! No joke, the recently released PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2008 makes me feel like I am indeed clairvoyant. Pair that with my own keen observation (read: obsession) with handbag trends at the recent Global Sources Fashion Accessories and the APLF Fashion Access Tradeshows in Hong Kong, and you’ve got insight into what the fashion world is painting its palette with, from North America to the fashion-forward countries of Asia.

And what makes the Pantone Report such an influential informer of fashion colors? As everyone worth the change in their ultra-stylish purses knows, Pantone, Inc. is the king of color and dictates color standards for the design industries. But wait, it gets better: each season, Pantone surveys designers from the New York Fashion Week (and we all know the weight of that!) to determine their collection colors, inspiration and color philosophy. The report is culled from this insider insight and is a reference tool for the media, fashionistas like us and the stores where we indulge in our desires. The report, which provides actual pantone colors for the season, is available for free at www.pantone.com.

And for those too lazy to actually go to their site, we’ve uploaded the Pantone colors for the season right here. Enjoy your own little rainbow in Spring 2008!


Author: Natasha Shamdasani (Want to become a Handbag Correspondent?)