2011 kicks off with verve and vigor, thanks to vibrant lipstick-pink honeysuckle. It's the color of the year, according to the Pantone Color Institute, the research branch of Pantone, which sets the trends and color standards for fashion and home decor.
The energetic, feel-good color shows up in everything from dresses and men's ties to wallpaper and sofa pillows. Designers including Cynthia Steffe, Badgley Mischka and Peter Som have incorporated the color into their spring runway shows. The hue also translates into cosmetics, such as Bobbi Brown's limited-edition Pretty Face collection.
Houston designer and Project Runway winner Chloe Dao featured the color in her spring collection, "Me, I Play." More than half of her collection is crafted from a fabric designed with birds fluttering in six shades of pink, including honeysuckle.
"When you think of pink, you think of baby showers and little girls," Dao said. "But honeysuckle is definitely more sophisticated and romantic. It's a color that older and younger women can wear. It makes me happy."
Unlike 2010's color of the year, turquoise, which served as an escape (think beach vacation and ocean views), honeysuckle is about energizing us, says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.
"In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going, perfect to ward off the blues," she said in Pantone's announcement.
Eiseman also said the color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle scent can bring a wave of nostalgia for its association with the carefree days of spring and summer.
Wearing the color can make you look and feel happier, she said.
Honeysuckle pairs well with black, charcoal or other grays. Green tones can add an interesting touch with honeysuckle. Look for decorative pillows with honeysuckle in the pattern to give a pop of color to a room.
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