Neon rose in window at Louis Vuitton

Look out fashionistas–80s Dayglo colors are lighting up the rainy January sidewalks of the Champs-Elysee in Paris. The most famous Louis Vuitton store on the planet has gone psychedelic with splashes of hot pink, electric orange, citrus green and graphic black.

For those who lived through the 80s the first time, many of us can thank the requisite black t-shirts and jeans to Stephen Sprouse. He was an iconic designer and artist who pioneered glam punk fashion from the NY music scene . His high-end designs typically featured neon colors and graffiti scrawl typography.

The LV store features not only the famous hand-bags with Sprouse inspired designs, but t-shirts, swimsuits, jeans, and sneakers.

www.welovesprouse.com

www.louisvuitton.com

Designer Guild's luxurious emerald green and magenta patterns inspired by textiles from Buckingham Palace.

The Maison & Objet show in Paris, France last weekend (Jan. 22-26) went beyond my expectations. Six enormous exhibition pavillions were packed to the hilt with newly released decorative accessories, furniture, textiles, bedding, linens, wallcoverings and tabletop items. In addition, two adjunct tents (Building 7A,7B) housed commercial furnishings and new inventions. Based on all the product, the number of people attending, and various foreign languages being spoken, it did not feel like the recession has struck Europe the same way it has in the U.S. The housing market difficulties in the U.S. has brought many changes for our deco market. I saw very few design exhibitors from the States, and even fewer attendees with an American accent. However, most Europeans I met had an optimistic view for the U.S. as a results of last year’s presidential election.

Thematically, the recession was the #1 topic of discussion. In uneasy times, home is a still a refuge, a place of sanctuary and relaxation. The Green Movement was firmly placed #2 in the desire for healthy and eco-friendly products.

Stylistically, Chinese inspired motifs has slipped from its top-shelf position. What appeared as new were modern African, South American and Middle Eastern design.

High end luxe was rendered quite often in dazzling sparkle–whether it was furniture, wallpaper, textiles, or even bath tubs!

Wood still pushs a rough, unfinished, what I call “wild” look. We’ve seen rustic treatments such as bark, knots and cracks featured for the past two years. Tangled and root-like elements are continuing the trend. Weathered and reused woods (actually showing lichen or moss still growing) could be found on outdoor chairs and tables. Gray was a popular finish color for wood.

The popular colorful metallics made a play for the limelight in red, orange and lime green. New metallics felt earthy–less bright silver, copper and gold appeared. Look for upcoming dark mossy greens and muted bronze-browns.

From bedding to sofas, the overwhelming feature color at Maison was purple. This color family has been enjoying an unprecedented rule since it appeared in fashion two years ago. It was almost difficult to find a booth at the show that didn’t feature some form of purple.

Regal and whimsical, variations on Iris, Violet, Grape and Plum all made strong statements. Most often they were paired with deep beet-root magenta or youthful berry pink. A more masculine combo was purple with silver, gray and black. New purples for 2009 and 2010 will be bluer in hue, grayed out in tone. Mauve thrown into the mix for monochromatic combinations was interesting. Light pastels such as cosmetic coral and peach injected dusty gray-purples with a fresh look.

I anticipated a bigger showing for blue. Denim is hot on the trend list for fashion apparel. Other than a few places in bedding, denim blue is not yet rushing to cross over. Navy, China blue and warm sky blue

Emerging greens are moving away from fresh apple, grass, shamrock and peacock. Darker versions are making inroads: Forest, Fern, Emerald and Nori. Greens with a matte finish appear stately and subdued (as in wall-covering or ceramic finishes), while glossy versions lend an elegant or modern appeal, depending on the material–high-sheen silk textiles or plastic.

Yellow felt sharp and acidic. Green-washed hues were most often seen, although mustard and marigolds were there as well.

When you live in Minnesota with its famously cold winters, you either embrace the subzero temps, or you hibernate until spring. I fall into the category of the former with the “If you can’t beat it, join it” philosophy. Snowmobiling, skiing, snow-shoeing make the long winter months pass quickly. I also look at cold weather as somewhat of a fashion challenge: How many layers can I wear to stay warm and still be recognized as a woman? I needed that mind set heading out to Medicine Lake to view the sixth annual installation of the Art Shanty project. There was no escaping the bitter winds!

Ice fishing is a traditional winter sport in the upper Midwest. I’ve long been an admirer of the creative ways people decorate their shacks. The Art Shanty project has given venue to showcase just how extreme a building can be to shelter a hole in the ice. This temporary ice fishing village provides a non-gallery like format for artists to interact with their audience and patrons. It was intriguing to see the creative materials used for construction. The shacks do not interfere with the environment and are positioned not to disrupt the community of other fisher-people using the lake.

The installation runs from January 17-February 14. It is open to the public and family friendly. Even though shanty’s are warmed with a variety of heating appliances, I would recommend wearing the proper cold weather gear for standing on wind-blown ice!

www.artshantyprojects.org

Bubble wrap walls

Colorful exterior wall covering

The shanty and the silo

A colorful diet is important to a healthy life!

Artist Tattfoo Tan developed the Natural Matching System to remind people to consume a regular amount of colorful fruits and vegetables. This large scale installation can be seen in NYC at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

http://www.tattfoo.com/projects.html

Squares of color represent fresh fruits and vegetables we need to stay healthy.

If you’re a chocolate lover, this is something you don’t want to miss…

Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, from 3-6 PM, a divine chocolate buffet is available at Shanghai’s magnificent Shangri La Hotel. Each colorful confection is created by hand, using chocolate from a different part of the world. The presentation and taste will take your breath away.

It is impossible not to eat just one.

I'll take the whole plate, please.

Eat your heart out presentation

Bite-size heaven.

Today is Election Day in the US, and everyone I know has gone to the polls. Minneapolis is full of anticipation (or tension?) and the evidence is everywhere. In the few moments I’ve been outside today, I’ve heard people talking about The Vote on the sidewalks, in the skyway, in the parking ramp, at the gym. Signage along Nicollett Mall shop windows urge people to get out and cast a ballot. News stands show pictures of the candidates. Headlines speculate the outcome. If you don’t know today is Election Day, you must have just arrived from another planet.

We all wonder what the future holds. There are big questions to ask. What will a new president mean for the nation and the world? How will he impact the economy, health care, the war in Iraq, global warming, oil prices and energy efficiency? Only time will tell.

For those of us in design and marketing, we ask “How does a new president effect future color and design?” There is no immediate answer. The direction hasn’t been set yet for the next four years. People go into “Let’s wait and see” mode. From New York to Los Angeles, the trend for color is to typically go conservative. The same holds true for the rest of the world. Lots of cautious neutrals appear on show room floors for many different markets. We’ve been in a strong neutral cycle that has lasted at least two years. I’ve documented it in Shanghai, Tokyo, Stockholm, Brussels, Los Angeles and Chicago (to name a few) through the entire year. With the economy in turmoil, consumer spending at an all time low, and the housing market expected to slump even further into Phase 2 and Phase 3 scenarios, neutrals could easily continue until the storm subsides.

If neutrals reign, does this mean color and design trend is no longer relevant? Certainly not. There are consumers out there who still have disposable income, they are just spending more judiciously. People are still tuned in to what is new, unique and can stand the test of time. Color and design must be trend-right or it will not sell. Marketers must be more creative than ever to capture attention.

This weekend several colleagues and myself will attend the Fall 2008 Color Marketing Group meeting in Phoenix, AZ. Because the results of The 2008 Vote will be in by then, conversations will undoubtedly be directed toward the outcome. Stay tuned!

The first annual Color Revolution seminar was held in Tokyo, Japan from October 10-13. Chiemi Akiyama hosted the three-day color and design trend event. It is the first of its kind in Japan.

Group pic of color seminar attendees

The seminar was attended by 30 individuals from all over Japan. Background experience was varied and included designers, marketers, students, textile designers, kimono stylists, visual merchandisers and even one psychologist. In addition to hands-on workshops, attendees listened to color experts to learn more about the business of color marketing. On the last day, workshop groups presented color palette and theme boards. This review session revealed color trends that are currently in fashion throughout Japan.

As you can see from the pics below, attendees were dressed in the latest Japanese fashion. I especially enjoyed all the layering of texture, color and pattern. This influence is in part passed down from the traditional kimono culture. Young women in Japan still occasionally wear kimonos, adding modern jewelry or accessories to update the look.

The latest styles from Tokyo

Michiko and Chiemi Akiyama (in purple fringed poncho)

Palette board represents color direction for Japan 2009

Style board in progress

Final presentation boards

My last afternoon in Stockholm was spent doing a retail detail, exploring the streets, shops and cafes for all things color.

I set out past the Armemuseum where a parade of horses were being shown in full military regalia in the front courtyard. Of course I stopped here to take pictures! Across the street was the Musikmeet, and at the end of the street was the Dramatiska Theater. These landmarks made it easy to follow the breadcrumbs back to my neighborhood later.

If anyone wants a serious fashion experience outside the biggest style capitals of the world—I invite them to take on Stockholm. The downtown is a fashion bonanza so make sure your credit cards are freshly primed!

Interior architecture at Sturegallerian

On foot I went north on Jarlsgatan to the famed Sturegallerian. This is considered one of the liveliest fashion places in Stockholm. Fashion, food, literary delights can all be found here. It is an excellent meeting place to begin or wind down the day. The list of shops at Sturegallerian is endless– the famed cosmetics store Face Stockholm is here, as well as Bjorn Borg’s sport shop, and CC Skor shoes and sandals. Kriss is a store of classic clothing fashioned in Sweden, while Boutique Monroe offers French fashions for discerning women of style. Saker Och Ting is no ordinary vintage boutique, and the Ajas Shop is full of clothes for glamorous sin! There was something to capture the eye and imagination at every turn. You couldn’t have imagined a more well-planned shop-till-you-drop venue anywhere else in the world.

Muted mid-tone colors for homeware at Duka

A hike west on Kungsgatan puts you in Norrmalm. Here you will find the PUB shopping center, with more terrific stores and an extraordinary lighting design by Kai Piippo on the ceiling of the main hall.

A walk south on the Drotininggatan will take you past many shops, boutiques and cafes. I was especially impressed with the merchandising in Indska, a store that features styles with a distinctively Indian feel. Embroidered textures, bold colors, lots of sheen and chunky knitted scarves for fall. Colors in the window were magenta, orange and ivory. I was especially intrigued with a collection of clothes showing dark reddish brown stretch pants, and muted mustard tops in plaid or solid colors. The yellow had shifted more towards green than to gold. This was interesting to me because the gold had definitely departed from the orange hue family. Paired beside this collection were tops in a forest green, a bright peacock, a washed out blue-gray, and ivory. It was a very muted collection on the whole, but appropriate for the upcoming Fall season. Still seeing olive green, turquoise and black being used.

The bright colors of the Lagerhuas (www.lagerhaus.se) window display enticed me inside. Part office supply, part party supply, part decorative accessory, this shop felt a bit to me like a condensed Ikea. The merchandising in the soft goods department was terrific. I bought a sample pillow case featuring a sky blue, red, black and white floral print.

Crossing over the bridge at Riksgatan, I took some excellent shots of the downtown on the waterfront, just before sunset. This brought me into Gamla Stan, where I wandered (lost) for nearly two hours in the kitschy souvenier shops surrounding the royal palace. I did get some terrific pictures in the cosy milieu of the narrow passages, charming squares and tiny side street shops that felt as ancient as the antique wares they often displayed!

The hotel where I stayed was the Clarion Collection Hotel Wellington at Storgatan 6, 114 51 Stockholm. Telephone: +46 (8) 667 09 10. Website: www.wellington.se. It is a boutique hotel located in the Ostermalm district. Each floor is appointed with the color scheme of a different Scottish clan and tartan. Mine was the MacLeod floor, and my room was themed in dark green and a warm golden tan. The view was a wonderful panorama of the rooftops of Stockholm.

NCS color class, homework review

The NCS Colour School ran from August 18^th to August 23^rd. The program was held at the Red Cross conference center outside of Stockholm near the village of Mariefred. The Swedish countryside at this time of year is perfect. The morning air was fresh with sunshine, lifting fog and the lazy humming of bees. Gardens were alive with color and fresh produce. Apple orchards marched down to the shores of Lake Malaren, while the imposing towers of ancient Gripsholms Castle rose above the tree line in the distance. Falu red barns and dappled herds of royal deer easily gave the impression of what life must have looked like in this place centuries ago.

Attendees of the NCS colour school came from all parts of Europe and the world. Each of us brought our own experiences for working and relating to color. The entire week was spent sharing philosophies and ideals, so we not only learned from the instructors, but from each other. Color practice and guest lectures made each day pass very quickly—by the end of the day we were usually pleasantly exhausted! It was inspirational to learn the NCS semantics of working with color. The process for it is both technical and intuitive. It felt comfortable employing it with the methods I currently use for establishing collections and palettes.

Gripsholms Castle in Mariefred, Sweden

One rainy afternoon we took a tour of the imposing Gripsholms Castle. Built over 450 years ago, it was once the home to the Vasa kings of old. Now the castle houses the National Portrait Gallery and is open May through July to the public. Along with the fantastic portraits of kings, queens, princes and princesses, are some wonderfully restored Gustavian interiors. I loved the story about the mirror tax, and the fact that many of the portraits were originally shown without frames (too expensive!).

At the end of the week, my classmates and I turned in our final projects and said our good-byes. We exchanged the glistening waters and charming meadows of Gripsholms for the ochre yellow and black rooftops of Stockholm.

]]> http://trendwarriors.com/2008/08/30/ncs-colour-school/feed/ 0 trendwarriors NCS color class, homework review Gripsholms Castle in Mariefred, Sweden http://trendwarriors.com/2008/08/11/color-appropriate/ http://trendwarriors.com/2008/08/11/color-appropriate/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:29:43 +0000 Erika http://trendwarriors.wordpress.com/?p=281 ]]>

These days, trend driven design and color has never been more important. In tight economic times, people want assurance that what they buy will have lasting power.

Color trends remind me a bit of celebrities. Some glitteratti are obnoxious in the limelight. They wear out their welcome with drama and tirades. Others we accept in any form they come. The same is true for color: some are an overnight sensation, while others endure for a long time. Its a bit like comparing Brittney Spears to Princess Diana.

I think this staying power holds true for green. It can be quirky and high maintenance, but it also has the depth to be pleasantly satisfying.

This historic train depot in San Francisco was made of heavy brownstone, much like the buildings you see in Chicago. The architectural trim detail was restored to a lovely coordinating scheme of olive, light creamy avocado with clay red accents. It is a traditional study on turn-of-the-century Victorian color. The scheme is appropriate for not only the style period, but the use of the building as a public attraction. It stands warmly inviting and infinitely charming in the bright California sunlight.

About a week later in a different city, the bug-like appearance of this green scooter caught my attention. As gas prices increase, so does the population of these vehicles! Brigades of them now brighten city streets everywhere in their bold candy colors. I hadn’t seen a combo this subtle on a electric vehicle, so I snapped a photo for future reference.

As I downloaded pics later, it struck me that these two vastly different applications of the same color made a similar statement: one of non-offensive overtures. Classic, not baudy. One historic, the other modern. Restrained but inviting enough for a sec. Oh how colors cycle through their seasons!

No matter how it is used or where it is applied–a good color never overstays its welcome and never goes out of style!

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