Thursday, January 25, 2018

What's on Your Color Palette for Prom 2018?

One of the fun aspects of the formal wear business when prom season rolls around is to see what colors the girls are searching for in their dream dress.
We might have some indications based on what colors were big the previous year and what seemed to be starting to catch fire. For instance, two years ago, burgundy dresses caught a few girls' eyes, and last year burgundy and wine were big winners.
Given what we are seeing from our providers this year, that trend is going to get even stronger. Navy has been a big up-and-comer the past three years and still seems to be gaining traction over the once-popular royal blue.
However, if we listen to the experts from Pantone who analyzed the colors passing down the runway last fall during New York Fashion Week, a whole new set of colors could be on girls' minds when they head out prom dress shopping.

The Pantone Palette

Let's look at that Pantone is predicting:
Meadowlark: This bright yellow is more likely to appear in highlight colors in florals and prints rather than as a dress color.
Cherry Tomato: A slight orangey red certainly could find its place in our runway as reds never seem to go out of style.
Little Boy Blue: The sky shades of blue have been finding a small niche in the market so it will be interesting to see if it reaches new heights this year.
Chili Oil: Burgundy will be a likely substitute for this earthy brown red.
Pink Lavender: We're in a college town where purple reigns supreme but the lilac and lavender shades started to draw their admirers last year.
Blooming Dahlia: This orangish-pinkish blend is unlikely to find a home here as the coral craze a few years back never caught on with the Kansas girls.
Arcadia: This green with a hint of blue buys into the peek into a trend we are seeing with requests for the darker green shades like hunter green, jade and even emerald.
Ultra Violet: We already mentioned we are in a purple town, so this darker shade could find its way into the prom lineup – and even some mother of the bride styles.
Emperador: This rich chocolate has not shown up in our dress lines, but it's close cousin mocha is making a play.
Almost Mauve: This vintagey pale purple with a hint of gray could attract attention for the retro girls.
Spring Crocus: Only the special girl who wants to stand out at her prom will opt for the bright magenta tone.
Lime Punch: The neon yellow-green tone again could appear in some wild prints.
Pantone also offered up a Classic Color Palette for spring that looks a little more traditional with Sailor Blue (nearly navy), Harbor Mist (medium gray), Warm Sand (neutral beige) and Coconut Milk (off white) that would more closely define our tuxedo customers.
Whether you want to play along with Pantone or strike out on your own daring color adventure, ETC will help you find a unique dress to fit your style and personality.