Best In Color: June Week 4

‘FREE’ is a very popular color these days: No I did not make up that great tag line- it’s just one of many on Glidden Paints habit-forming ( love that the last nun is in white heels) website. The paint company is doing a little revamping these days, all with the intent on inspiring consumers to ‘get going’ on their summer color projects. They’re introducing an improved paint formula (available at The Home Depot starting July 1), and a whole slough of helpful color tools aimed at taking the fear out of choosing the perfect colors -including a reduced 282 color palette with coordinating ready-to-go tester bottles with built in brushes for just $2.97.  But the piece de resistance has to be that they are so hyped on inspiring they are actually giving away free quarts of Glidden Paint to get you started- register from June 25 through July 2 through their website and the Glidden color of your choice will arrive probably around the same time it actually starts feeling like summer here in the North East of the United States ( which at this rainy rate-I’m guessing will be sometime around late July).

Apparently ‘brights’ were popular in ancient times too:  It’s hard to imagine the Greek Parthenon bathed in a wash of blue or the soldiers that line the ancient Roman column accessorized with eye popping colors… but according to new scientific studies in both London and Rome (video), the history of color trends just got a little more exiting. Discovery Channel reports on two new studies that use light to detect traces of the original pigments faded over the wear of time.  Hmmm…will Egyptian Blue become next season’s Cobalt?

Wow- color theorist weren’t joking:  if you’re a color enthusiast you are probably well aware that when you take one color and place another color next to it, together they will affect how you see each color.  Confused yet…don’t be, this optical illusion ( which is almost too much for my brain to take this early in the morning) depicts exactly that.  Green and Blue spirals, right?- well, believe it or not the spirals are actually the same color.  Discover’s Bad Astromomy blog explains how color combining really can trick the brain.

Muse’s favorite color as muse: I love to look at the resort collections each June because I think they are a good clue as to what’s coming next Spring ( plus it’s a good indicator as to whether some of this year’s biggest trends will last the test of fashion time – so far it’s looking like strappy gladiators are still a go).  And I especially love when I spot color playing a role in inspiring.  In true Dior tradition ( he was all about color after all), John Galliano’s Resort 2010 collection pays hommage to one of Dior’s favorite muses the pattern maker- turned- atelier power broker Mitzah Bricard.  A stylista who was as famous for her leopard prints and signature shade of ultra feminine lilac as she was for her business smarts.  Style.com has all the glamorous pix.