2015 Fashion Color Forecast

April 12, 2015

"Soft" and "cool" are the buzzwords for this year’s spring/summer season. Colors are running more subdued than in previous warm weather seasons and there is no neon in sight. From Pantone (fashion’s color authority), Women’s Wear Daily, Style.com and the pages of Vogue, let’s learn what colors fit this description so you can prep for your summer clothing shopping spree. Hint: you’ll see a whole lot of earth tones and a ton of dresses.

HIPPIE HIPPIE SHAKE

If you’ve always wanted to experience the late "˜60s, now’s your chance. Straight from the days of Woodstock via Africa are upscale versions of the bohemian clothing worn in the early days of The Rolling Stones and the unisex hippie movement, although you’ll want to leave your unwashed feet and bellbottoms in the closet. Browns of all shades, plus PANTONE Toasted Almond are the perfect matches for the billowing long skirts and gypsy-inspired mix n’ match prints seen at Etro, Pucci and Alberta Ferretti.

AM I BLUE?

Not one, but three blues are taking center stage this summer: dusky Aquamarine, Classic Blue and a just-this-side-of-turquoise that fashionistas are calling Scuba Blue. The calm latter tone is perfect for floaty summer gowns, as seen at Tadashi Shoji and DEGEN. Classic Blue is surfacing via the nautical look, seen at Chloe and Marc Jacobs, with an eye towards sailor’s uniforms. In the Aquamarine camp are BCB- GMaxAzria and Banjanan that have applied the color to this season’s loose-fitting dresses.

WHITER SHADE OF PALE

Stock up on bleach and spot remover because white is big for summer, from Valentino and Louis Vuitton’s fragile shirts and dresses to Celine’s modern, lengthy "˜70s-inspired tops and Chloe’s crochet-look dresses. More flattering on the top than the bottom, you can’t go wrong with a sheer white shirt over a white tank. White also serves as counterpoint to one of the season’s other trends: polka dots, which are back again and seen on everything from miniskirts to sashes, always paired with black.

GOLD STANDARD

The "˜70s surface again in nightclub wear, most notably in the metallic mini dresses and top-to-bottom dance floor looks seen at Tom Ford and Hedi Slimane, where gold is fused into everything from fitted sleeves to animal prints. This is the only flashy color in this season’s summer shades, and it even stays on the cool side with its shifting glimmer. Dolce & Gabbana combined a muted version of gold with lace to craft their Lurex Macrame Lace Espadrilles, sure to be a hit on beaches everywhere.

THE COLORS OF MAN

Finally, let’s not leave men out of these colorful predictions. They’ve got a palette all their own and, while it’s similar to women’s wear in many respects, the shades of men shift a bit to better suit their gender. The menswear colors for spring/summer 2015 have been repeatedly termed "nostalgic," with shades like Dusk Blue and Classic Blue, Sandstone and Marsala (a raisin-toned burgundy). Maison Kitsune has already made good use of the darker blue tones with their men’s short jackets for spring, while Greg Lauren’s collection added a dusty, worn army green for everything from drawstring pants to suspenders.

More daring men might try adding a dash of muted Cayenne or Celosia Orange to their summer wardrobe, but overall, men’s closets should look just as subdued as their female counterparts do this season.