Okay friends. I really try my best to hide the design geek and keep things snappy and fresh around these parts, but every so often I can’t resist the urge to give a little history lesson. This might seem a little dry to you, but at least this lesson comes with pictures.
As usual, this lesson starts with a thrift. I thrifted a Lane Bryant blouse on Friday. It’s nearly-new, and full of hot pinks, bright oranges, and warm yellows. Basically, I’m decreeing it my official summer 2012 palette, as long as it’s accompanied by my most favourite sea-foam nail polish. After I braced some seriously insane winds to snap a few pics in my blouse, I reviewed them, and defined my 2012 palette.
Nice, huh? Well, not long after I pulled all four colours, I noticed something oddly familiar about this collection of hues. But before I reveal what that is, I need to tell you about Pantones. What is a Pantone? To put it in almost-offensively over-simplified terms, a Pantone is a swatch of colour from the world’s largest swatch collection. The Pantone colour matching system is the definitive voice on colour when it comes to product and graphic design. Every brand you encounter on a daily basis has a specific Pantone colour that ensures that colour looks exactly the way it should no matter where it appears. McDonald’s red is PANTONE 485C. Barbie’s pink is PANTONE 219C (and holy geek alert, you can buy a Pantone Barbie!) These colours are always a carefully selected, meticulously calculated choice. (are you asleep yet? I’m almost done, promise!)
How does this pertain to my colour-explosion outfit? I’m getting there! You see, every year, Pantone declares one colour as the “Colour of the Year”. They choose a colour that captures the essence of what people are loving, wearing, or using. Sometimes they are prophetic – predicting what’s next, and sometime’s they’re observant – expanding on what they already see.
Well, in a honest-to-goodness unplanned coincidence, I just so happened to be rocking every “Pantone Colour of Year” from the last four years. In 2009, they chose Mimosa (PANTONE 14-0848). In 2010, they chose Turquoise (PANTONE 15-5519). In 2011, they chose Honey Suckle (PANTONE 18-2120). And not two months ago, they chose Tangerine Tango (PANTONE 18-2120) for 2012.
I realize this may not be of any interest to anyone but me, but I totally dorked out over the coincidence. I suppose it pleased me so because it just reaffirmed what I already know – that all of my passions overlap in all sorts of unexpected ways. Graphic design trends spill into fashion trends, fashion trends leak into interior design trends, interior design trends influence graphic design trends, and so goes the cycle. To bring it back to the weekend winds we experienced, life is one creative, colourful tornado, and designers like me just stand in the middle of it. Hats off to Pantone for four years of solid colour choices, and hats off to me because, well, it’s still really windy.
wow! Pantone, who knew?! not me! and the blouse is lovely, great summer find!
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Thank you! I just need some summer temperatures to accompany it.
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I really appreciate the explanation! I’ve seen the term, but never understood it. It’s nice to be in the loop now. 🙂
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Happy to educate!
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I just ADORE that blouse!!! I just recently found you and am sooooo glad I did!! ~Serene
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Thank you! I love new followers! They make my day.
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hi julie! i just discovered your blog via my edit and i’m SO happy that i did. i love following other thrifters- in june, i took a year-long thrift “contract” and i think it’s awesome that you did the same (but with much more dedication!). plus- my mom’s also the one who taught me all about thrifting 🙂 good stuff! thrilled to be reading you. ally @ fever thrift
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Oh thank you! Jentine is just the best. And I’m happy to have found your blog as well! I look forward to exploring it!
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Oh my! I didn’t find that boring at all, in fact I found that super interesting. I love that you are rocking the past 4 years Patone colors. Love that top. 🙂
Laura
http://lauraisthriftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/
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Haha awesome! I aim to inform 😉
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It’s funny you mention all of that, just this last weekend, I was exploring colors and I discovered all that Pantone stuff you were talking about. (Not so geeky) 🙂 Love the outfit BTW! The colors look great on you!
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Thank you! Funny how that works isn’t it?
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Don’t be shy to share fun information like that on a fashion blog because a.) it makes your blog different, b.) I think the inspiration or the feelings behind an outfit are just as important as how the outfit looks and c.) some of us out there are nerdy too and love learning factoids like that.
Thanks! 🙂
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Thanks! I love that my audience digs the same stuff I do 🙂 More factoids to come!
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I love the colors…and I love learning something new every day–which I have from your post. Wow…you are an educator too!! : )
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Thanks! Hopefully I can keep this thing informative AND fun 🙂
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From one geek to another….I actually already know all about Pantone colors (I work in newspaper advertising 🙂 ) I enjoy your posts very much…you have a wonderful writing style. Keep up the great work!
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Thanks! Geek love all around!
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Love this. The tangerine and honeysuckle is a great combination! I don’t wear yellow very well, at least not near my face, so I may have to think about some yellow shoes or other accessories. Those shoes are cute. I’m coming, Goodwill!
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Oh hello! I am thinking of stealing that blouse if I can get my hands on it, i love the colour combo!
I was excited to learn something new as well! Sweet stuff.
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p.s. I spelled my own name wrong. That’s what happens when you have 14 cups of coffee.
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This is pure amazingball-erness.
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