We’ve called them hippies, then yuppies, and now boomers, but one thing that hasn’t changed is that there has rarely been a dull moment for the members of a generation that continues to reinvent themselves as they move into the second half of their lives.
Their energy for changing the world often waned as they climbed the corporate ladder, but maturity has seemed to open their eyes to just how hollow success can feel if it doesn’t add value to the world or support the greater good.
For many aging boomers, the desire to recapture the magic they felt as teens, when they believed that anything was possible and that they could change the world, is influencing how they design their homes and the world around them today.
When it comes to color, boomers are recapturing their love of color. Remember the patched bell bottoms, brightly colored bandannas, and love beads of the 60’s? The colors this crowd loves now are just as varied. No matching sets, no selecting conservative colors for resale value, and no more plain vanilla.
Is this a revival of their technicolor dream? Well, not quite. For boomers that prefer to reinvent rather than redo, simply copying the rainbow brights of the 60’s would never cross their mind. While they still desire a full spectrum palette, the colors of today are more refined, complex, and personal.
This is a generation that wants to rewire rather than retire and for many, that means de-cluttering, simplifying, and downsizing into smaller but no less luxurious surroundings. They still want to have it all on their own terms. Should we have expected anything else?
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From November 11, 2006 to May 9, 2007, the Fashion Institute of Technology presented the “She’s Like a Rainbow: Colors in Fashion” exhibition in the Fashion and Textile History Gallery of the FIT museum in New York City. It explores the historical, psychological and symbolic meaning behind why certain colors were used in various garments throughout the past 250 years of fashion’s history.
The following You Tube video takes you on a tour by Dr. Valerie Steele, the museum director and exhibition coordinator.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwxTf6gOd90]
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I am including information from The American Floral Forecast on my soon-to-be-launched website and thought I’d give you a preview of one of the trends.
PROFUSION
Beyond infusion we find profusion. It’s become cliché to deliberate on how chaotic our world has become. Yet in the realm of nature, chaos is the wellspring of inspiration and great beauty. Ongoing in ornamental horticulture is the desire to redefine the ways in which we express ourselves with flowers. Growers continue cultivate new varieties while designers continue their remix, and in the process of this, beauty is redefined.
This trend information and photo are courtesy of the California Cut Flower Commission. To learn more, visit www.ccfc.org
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Havaianas
sandals have tropical appeal everywhere - from the beach to the fashion runway
These flexible, durable, and bouncy flip flops, often referred to as the “best rubber sandal in the world,” have been worn since 1962 by Brazilain citizens, dignitaries, and celebrities.
Three years ago, Havaianas sandals were introduced to the United States and had an almost instant following. While flip flops have traditionally been reserved for casual and beach wear, designers latched on to Havaianas and showed them on the runway and in photo shoots for the trendiest fashion and sports magazines.
After that, it wasn’t long before celebrities were wearing them on the red carpet and stylish Americans were scooping them up in every color available.
And in case you aren’t sure how to say “Havaianas” - it is pronounced ah-vai-YAH-nas, Portuguese for “Hawaiians” and a tribute to America’s glamorous holiday destination.
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Think “color + footwear” and Crocs instantly pop into mind.
Relatively unknown to most of us just a year ago, these colorful
clogs now seem to be everywhere. Originally designed as a boating or
outdoor shoe, this footwear phenomenon is now worn for work or for play,
for comfort or for fashion, and by young and old alike.
Made of a two rivets and petroleum based foam, they weigh next to
nothing and Croc fans can’t seem to stop raving about how comfortable
they are.
Celebrity chef Mario Batali is rarely seen without his orange Crocs and the Crocs site includes testimonials of many, many fans, including medical professions, doctors, teachers, teens, and on and on… One woman even testified to wearing white Crocs under her wedding gown.
Their modest price and multitude of color choices make it easy to own a pair in any color that strikes your fancy.
If the bright colors alone aren’t enough of a fashion statement, Croc wearers can buy Jibbitz to add bits of bling to their funky footwear.
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It’s exciting to decorate, and once you decide on a color for the walls, it is natural to want to get it done right away. Just keep in mind that there can be a big difference between how a color looks on a 2″ x
2″ square and how it looks on an entire wall.
If you’ve read my “Sample Your Way to Paint Color Success” report, you know that I advocate painting a sample board of the color you select for any room prior to buying all of your paint. Painting a
sample board allows you to get a much better idea of how your color will look in a room and you will be able to see how it is affected by the light at different times of the day.
The problem with taking the time to do this is taking the time to do this and making a mess before you’re ready to start painting the entire room. So regardless of how much sense it makes, when it comes time to paint, some people get impatient and skip this step.
One company that recognized this problem and offers a great solution is C2 Paint Company. In addition to the small paint chips we are all used to, they offer an 18″ x 24″ poster-sized paint chip - perfect for trying that new color without opening a paint jar.
The C2 Collection Ultimate Paint Chips are only $6.00 each, which is about comparable to the cost of the sample jars of paint offered by other companies. These chips offer no mess and no waiting! Wouldn’t it be great if all paint companies made it this easy?
Click here to receive a copy of my report: “Sample Your Way to Paint Color Success”
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When it comes to naming colors, sometimes a perfect descriptor comes to mind almost instantaneously and sometimes I ponder possibilities for hours or days. Either way, my thought is always on how well the name conveys the character of the color and how successfully it will link the color to something positive in the minds of the customer. So you can image me raising an eyebrow when I saw a well respected paint company like Farrow & Ball using names like Dead Salmon, Arsenic, Monkey Puzzle, and Clunch. This inquiring mind had to know why.
Read more…
Photo from Farrow-Ball.com
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The Gap launches (PRODUCT) RED tomorrow (October 13th) and will be donating 100 percent of profits from the sale of the book titled “Individuals” and half of Gap’s profits from the sale of other Gap (PRODUCT) RED products to the Global Fund to finance programs that help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver, (PRODUCT) RED is an initiative launching in the U.S. this fall that is designed to get companies around the world involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Earlier this year, the initiative launched in the UK with a (PRODUCT) RED American Express Card, Armani Sunglasses, MotoSlvr cell phone, and Converse mudcloth high tops. MySpace.com is the first media sponsor.
(PRODUCT) RED
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It’s not just about pink and blue anymore. Parents today want to announce the arrival of their new baby with colors that reflect their personal style.
Buttercup Kids, a company specializing in extraordinary stationery for an extraordinary life event, suggests the following trendy color combinations:
For Girls:
Pink and Chocolate Brown
Pink and Apple Green
Pink and Bright Green
Tangerine Orange and Magenta
Pink and Pale Yellow
Lavender and Pale Yellow
For Boys:
Baby Blue and Apple Green
Baby Blue and Pale Yellow
Navy Blue and Hunter Green
Navy Blue and Red
Baby Blue and Lime Green
For those who still choose pink or
blue, a popular way to do something fresh and new is to use two
different shades of that color.
All announcements pictured are from Buttercup Kids
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