Some normality

2020 has been nothing like normal. So it is almost reassuring to have some familiarity appear in the calendar this week, with the fashion weeks starting and the announcement of colours for the forthcoming seasons.

In light of new government laws, it seems that things are going to tighten again and we should strap ourselves in for a rocky winter time. So thinking forward to next Spring (when experts suggest we may start to hopefully emerge on the other side) is not only apt but a ray of sunlight to yearn for.

Spring normally brings new hope and the start of the growing season. And next year also brings new promise and a chance for us to finally breathe again (please forgive the unintentional pun) after, what we pray, is the worst of Covid-19. By Spring 2021, I’m hopeful that we will be able to hit refresh and the mood can finally be lightened. 

The latest Pantone® announcement predicts that the colours that will dominate the scene for next year’s Spring and Summer are light, bright, fresh and soothing. Just what we’ll need after a dark few months.

Spring 2021

So with the fashion weeks kicking off, Pantone® have revealed the Spring/Summer colours to look out for in 2021. And it’ll be great to see the colours appearing in (possibly postponed) weddings next year. 

I’m not usually a massive fan of pastel colours, but this set of colours seems so calming. To me, they paint a wonderful picture of being by the seaside with bright colours of the sun, calming colours of the sea and sky, along with pale ice cream colours, cheerful beach hut bunting colours, plus some grounding sand colours. 

There is the chance to have fun with these colours and create some beautiful and unique combinations. The Pantone® Color Institute’s executive director Leatrice Eiseman said “What it’s playing to is this whole idea of more choices for people. The idea is that they have had so little choice in so many other areas of their lives in the last several months, let’s try to have some fun again. That’s what we’re looking for and fashion gives us that opportunity.”

Seaside

It’s no secret that I love being by the seaside. In fact, I also dreamed of living by the sea which has bubbled up more to the surface during lockdown. We live in probably one of the parts of the UK that is frustratingly furthest away from the seaside. During lockdown we longed to be more remote and get away from the same four walls.

Thankfully over the summer we had a couple of day trips to a wonderful secluded beach and it felt like complete escapism. It was great to be by the wild sea, where the kids could run free on the beach, and we could feel energised by the sun. The change of scene gave the opportunity to relax and forget. 

So I’m pleased to see that blues (of Cerulean, Colour of the Year in 2000, and French Blue) will continue to feature in the colours for next year. Creating a great seascape of the sky and sea. 

Sunny colours

Despite the current autumnal mornings and evening becoming a bit chillier, there’s some more sunny weather on the way next week. Hopefully this will keep us going until the longer days return in the spring.

In the meantime, the page lights up with the sunny shades of Marigold and Illuminating leading the way in the Spring 2021 colours (which are my hot tip for Colour of the Year 2021).

Beach huts 

The glorious shades of Green Ash, Burnt Coral and Amethyst Orchid (not a million miles away from Radiant Orchid the Colour of the Year in 2014 and one of my favourite colours) could easily be the frontage of beach huts, all butted up next to each other on the sea front. Or perhaps adorning bunting blowing in the sea breeze.

They are beautifully unique and make a statement which is exactly the personalised way weddings will be next year.

Ice cream 

Even the names of some of the colours conjure up mouth watering fantasies of dripping ice creams, ate in deckchairs on the beach. Delicious Raspberry Sorbet or palette cleansing Mint could easily be scooped in to a cone and enjoyed watching the waves crash in.

Or perhaps you’d prefer some sugary candyfloss that is evoked by one of the pastel colours. 

Sand

Nothing quite beats taking off your shoes and getting the sand between your toes and walking along the beach with the sea lapping around your ankles, avoiding seaweed and tidal driftwood. It is grounding and feels likes getting back to nature.

A number of the Spring 2021 colours such as Rust (along with the neutral colours like Buttercream, Desert Mist and Willow) are natural, subtle and far from over powering.

Spring 2021 colours

• Marigold 14-1050
• Cerulean 15-4020
• Rust 18-1248
• Illuminating 13-0647
• French Blue 18-4140
• Green Ash 13-0117
• Burnt Coral 16-1529
• Mint 16-5938
• Amethyst Orchid 17-3628
• Raspberry Sorbet 18-2043 

Spring 2021 extra colours from LFW

Plus a few additional colours from London Fashion Week round off the colours for Spring 2021; paler variations of pink and green (in Piroutte and Pickled Pepper), and a brighter orange and turquoise (with Orange Ochre and Blue Atoll).

Neutral classics

Pantone® have also updated the Classic Colour Palette. These are a group of neutrals that are core basics in the form of a black, grey, cream, taupe and khaki green. Perfect grounding colours. 

• Inkwell 19-4016
• Ultimate Gray 17-5104
• Buttercream 11-0110
• Desert Mist 14-1127
• Willow 16-0632

Colour themes

It’ll be great to see how couples incorporate these colours in to their weddings next year. Especially as there could be some couples having to rearrange their weddings in 2021 and perhaps in a different season than they first planned. 

I can see how the classic neutrals will play a big part in coupling up with some of the brighter choices. Plus, there’s plenty of scope for unique colour combinations and personalisation. 

Pantone® is the world-renowned authority on colour and the Pantone® Color of the Year is always really influential in any popular colour themes in fashion, interior design and weddings.

Look out for my report when the 2021 Colour of the Year is released later in the year. 

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