Against the gray green painted brick this palette of pinks, yellows, peaches and oranges just glowed in the early morning light.

These colors are a naturally harmonious, analogous palette.

The colors ranged from a pale flesh that was as soft as a newborns bottom to a vibrant coral that could easily be paired with a bold blue and lots of yellows, oranges and pinks in between.

Ten of the many hues that I found in these roses all growing on the same bush.

Even though it was barely 7am when I was snapping these pictures the owner happened to walk out the front door.  I complimented him on the spectacular colors and ask him if he could tell me what type of roses they were exactly.

He smiled and simply said, “I agree they are lovely but have no idea what they are.  My wife is the one that knows about plants and deserves all of the credit for these roses that are almost as beautiful as she is.”

Enough said.  I didn’t need to know any more.

The windows of Lord and Taylor in New York City capture the fantasy with a scheme of yummy gingerbread and confectionery colors.

At Macy’s the colors are reminiscent of the most fabulous toys from my childhood technicolor dreamworld and even if you can’t see the windows in person you can visit macysbelieve.com for a bit of holiday magic online.

In a palette of blue and white the Saks straight-faced snowflakes are just waiting to break into a show-stopping smile.

For more on the holiday windows in NYC visit a Guide to the Holiday Windows.

But , the warriors I know , that have fought (and won) the battle against this disease, are anything but demure. These women deserve a color as bold as their spirits..I dedicate this article to my cousin Vicki , who has bravely survived this attack. Bravo ladies.

There are many companies that donate partial proceeds (of your purchase) this month to both awareness and research. Please search the internet for such deals. One I particularly like is sending an arrangement of flowers to your survivor . The card can read “Congratulations on your battle victory”.

Another powerful pink purchase is this unbelievable “Botanist” pink end table from Orange 22, which donates $25 per purchase for breast cancer awareness. This table is also eco-friendly and eco gorgeous.

Hot pink is finding its way into our living rooms and kitchens. I adore Karim Rashid’s plushpod couch and Caple’s magenta glass door refrigerator.  Apple has heard our cries for a brighter palette for Ipods…guess what color I’m choosing.  All these elements have me in the mood for throwing a pink party..with pink cosmos , of course.

Wearing magenta is even better than listening to it. My favorite option for color is always accessories, especially jewelry. Why not celebrate anything with hot pink sapphires and diamonds? This pink diamond engagement ring will “wow ” the office crowd and make your mother cry. Not feeling the commitment bug? Then dazzle your earlobes with these cheeky pink sapphire lips…make your boyfriend wonder who gave them to you.

Sapphires not in the budget , right now? IF you’re saving for a rainy day, then shine through the clouds with this Marc Jacobs magenta umbrella. Or buy this decadent satin bag from Newport News , for just pennies a day.

How about a magenta purse …we always have purse money. Coach has an offering of many hot pink satchels and is celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness month. Go to www.coach.com for all details.

IF money is no object then try this Prada clutch or YSL tote… I would be thrilled to see someone toting  these cheery colors.

This season magenta played a starring roll in fashion week . For London’s Summer 2009 , Luella featured some ravishing pink outfits.

For the Paris show, Balmian featured very sexy magenta dresses. Pink is the color of passion though!

Christian Dior dazzled the Paris runway with this cheery pink frock. Grab a bottle of fine pink champagne and PRESTO…instant party.

No worries, you don’t need to wear couture gowns in order to sport this hot trend. This “wear anywhere” silk top from BCBG and flowy dress from Max Azria will have you starring as the belle of the ball in all fashion situations.

Confidently go from day to evening in Moschino’s ruffled front dress or Phillip Lim’s turtleneck sweater. Feel bold and beautiful in Chole’s shift dress, my personal fave. Top it all of with Versace’s bright and beautiful coat. And just think…you’ll be easier to spot in a crowd.

So take some time in October to be Pretty in Pink. And support Breast Cancer Awareness month by shopping responsibly at many retailers, that donate profits to the cause.

Some favorite sites that donate part of what you spend: www.greatergood.com, www.teleflora.com, www.thebreastcancersite.com, www.target.com, www.hsn.com, www.sephora.com, www.coach.com

According to all the self help experts… you must love yourself before you can truly love another…right?

Sounds to me like a great excuse to show yourself the love- treat yourself to a little something special that says “I won’t wear my heart on my sleeve…but I will wear it on my shoes and bags!”

You’ll be stylishly feeling the amore all season long!

(from top to bottom) handbag from DKNY, Oscar de la Renta heart and ikat flats, lips hair comb from Azzaro, broken heart slippers from Stubbs and Wooten, sunglasses by Cutler and Gross, Flirtatious perfume from Flirt!, Geri gold and diamond lip necklace, Moschino heart bag, YSL flip flops and lip shoes by Christian Loubitin

all photos from Elle.com

Nevertheless the red roses, candies and cards inevitably show up on store shelves almost immediately after the Christmas and Hanukah decorations are put on clearance and shortly after our New Year’s resolutions are on their way out…

We always hear about the love stories, the cards and even the heartbreak, but what about the hue that has forever been tied to February 14th? Why red? Why not blue or green or purple?

According to Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and author of “Color: Messages and Meanings,” red is the most viscerally alive hue. It is the symbolic color of the heart, strong-willed and expresses emotion. Red is linked to love and passion, and is the most physical color in the spectrum. Physiologically, red is the call to the adrenaline glands to get the body and senses activated.

Word association studies invariably show red to be perceived as the most sensual of all the colors – a perfect hue for a day traditionally set aside for people to express their love for one another.

So whether you dread Single Awareness Day or embrace that certain someone on the national day of love, you can at least dress the part and know why.

Sweater set from JCrew

Viola…Rose gold!

The metallic trend is holding strong well into Spring but the gears are switching to put the emphasis on one hue in particular. Rose gold is the trend setting alloy and the metal of the moment.

The blushing beauty of the group can be found from bijoux to bags, bangles and baubles, down to ballet flats.

Homecoming Ring by Rebecca Taylor & Family Values Ring by Tracy Reese

A couple of my favorite jewelry choices that mix the color of the moment with the floral trend are shown above. Floral patterns are feminine, delicate and have an heirloom feel. Note the names the designers gave to their pieces.

Ted Muehling’s earrings are simple, yet so sophisticated

Another great designer to take on metal mania is Jessie Randall of the luxury line- Loeffler Randall. Her coveted handbags played with metallics in a unique way. Instead of the “black hole” of interior linings, she used cheerful pale gold – a private treat for the wearer alone.

When asked to design a line for Target, she boldly turned it inside out. Metallics are the focus of the collection.

These affordable gems are currently available at Target until March

Besides accessories there is a whole bouquet of beautiful dresses to choose from. My two faves are worlds apart but equally chic.

Camilla Belle wears Christian Lacroix beautifully

Caution – add a few more ruffles to this dress and the 80’s are back. Keep it subtle when wearing the “new” hue.

Wouldn’t bright pink toe nails look great slipping into these sandals? Preferably after a day at the beach.

If just a hint of this color is what you are looking for – Stila has the perfect powder.

Stephen Sondheim said it best–
“Things look swell, things look great. Gonna have the whole world on a plate. Starting here, starting now Honey, everything’s coming up roses”

Resources:

• Ted Muehling Rose Gold Earrings at Tribeca’s Closet
  
• Loeffler Randall Rosette Rose Gold Ballet Flats at Target
• Loeffler Randall Rosette Rose Gold Clutch at Target
• Jay Godfrey Rose Gold Metallic Halter Dress at Neiman Marcus
• Rose Gold Single Dress Silk Jacquard Babydoll Minidress at Nordstrom
• Camilla Belle Wearing Rose Gold found on V-style
• Stilla Illuminating Finish Powder in Rose Gold
• Giuseppe Zanotti Rose Gold Sandals at CricketShoes.com
  
• Rose Gold “Homecoming” and “Family Values” Rings at Modern Jewelers
  

Well if color can become an obsession, then this fall for me it has to be a color I thought could best be described as violet.

It all started simply enough- I was savoring one of those rare perfect summer days in July when I first spotted the color in the form of a simple sun-dress on a women across the lawn at my local beach club. She was standing next to a perfectly weathered white Adirondack chair on a lush green lawn, with the deep blue sea behind her.

Spring House View by Daniel Pollera shows a similar setting

When I first saw the color the word violet came immediately came to mind. The warm purple-pink of the dress “popped” out amongst the surroundings, the color virtually sang out to me and an color obsession was sparked. Whatever the reason, since that day I been on a quest to possess this color.

Quickly though I discovered finding this perfect shade was not going to be as easy as I thought. Upon both my physical and virtual shopping journey I discovered that not everyone agrees on calling this hue that I desire” violet”.

Some designer’s versions of “violet” are way too pink, some too blue, and some that I think are absolutely perfect are called by another name such as tuberge or magenta.

Suddenly I found myself in a real color conondrum. The color violet was the first word that came to mind when I saw the dress- but could I have been wrong to label it so? Did I need to rethink my fantasy hue’s moniker?

One quick google search for images of real violets and I had my answer…

Two different species of violets- two very different petal color

So, which plant blooms a true shade of violet?

Will opposing opinions of the answer lead to a feud campaign between designers?

Will we spot Valentino sporting a “Team Clive Groves” t-shirt while John Galliano wears one that reads “Team Baronne Alice de Rothschild” in the same vain as a fan pledging their alegiance to “Team Aniston” or “Team Jolie”?

I doubt it. But still, it’s sort of fun to see what side of the debate labels would be on if one actually existed.

I’d would most definitely be wearing a “Team Clive Groves” t-shirt to support my vision of violet. My fellow teammates would include Marc Jacobs, Carolina Herrera, Valentino, Prada and Manola Blahnik

While the designers from Kenneth Jay, Christan Dior, J.Crew, Target, Nars and OPI would proudly be showing support for”Team Baronne Alice de Rothschild” .

So, which is your vision of violet?

Pink has been seen this year in both ready-to-wear and couture collections. I especially like how Valentino graced the Fall 2007 runway with pink as an elegant counterpoint to the palette chosen for the season: black, brown, ivory, sage, plum, and the designer’s signature red.

Pantone showed a soft pink called Strawberry Ice as one of the top fashion colors for Spring and featured it on the cover of their fashion forecast.

In February, I was interviewed by CBS Sunday Morning about…you guessed it…PINK!

The interview was taped in one of my favorite retail stores, Thomas Pink, where shirts in this hue are a favorite of both men and women. UK retailer Moss reported that pink now surpasses blue as the number one fashion color shirt for men.

Pink has also found its way into the home, and it’s not just women that are going pink.

This month, in an article titled “Colors That Men Love,” House Beautiful included two hues of pink: Colonial Rose from Fine Paints of Europe and Coral Gables 2010-40 from Benjamin Moore.

ICI paint (makers of Ralph Lauren, Glidden, Fuller O’brien, Devoe Paints, and Dulux) named pink their color of the year for 2007.

The Pantone 2007 Interior Color Forecast developed by my colleague and friend, Leatrice Eiseman, included pink in six of the eight color palettes for Interiors 2007.

Home diva Martha Stewart showed her passion for pink when she bathed her Maine country home from floor to ceiling in pink.

The pink color-mania, which began to hit its stride at about the same time Motorola released their Pink RAZR cell phone early last year, came on even stronger this year with everything from couture fashion to home decor to motorbikes sporting this once-but-no-longer strictly feminine color.

While there are many factors influencing this trend, one that can’t be overlooked is the rise in the popularity of pink as a show of support for breast cancer awareness and support groups.

Pink products continue to explode into the retail scene as retailers and manufactures come together for this cause. KitchenAid has a line of limited edition pink counter-top appliances that were developed to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through a campaign called Cook For The Cure®.

Campbell’s soup and M&M’s are two of the many, many food and beverage products promoting pink.

Even Ford Motors is offering the 2008 Mustang with a “pink package” in support of breast cancer awareness.

Interest in pink continues and we’ll be seeing pink through the holidays and into 2008.

With so much attention, is it any wonder that this hue continues to blush so beautifully?

Blush is the perfect neutral with a hint of color. This calming hue is the ideal color for various interiors, including Feng Shui settings.

Blush, created from infusing pink (a color universally known for love) with beige (a hue associated with balance), makes this shade a harmonious neutral that inspires serene decor.

Across the globe in Africa, the walls of the Majorelle Gardens (known as the Yves St. Laurent Gardens) are washed with this soft hue, as is the entire city of Marrakech in Morocco. They intentionally surrounded the city in blush to reflect the natural sands of the desert and landscaping.

Of course, the concept of using blush in cosmetics is to subtly enhance one’s natural beauty and to provide a healthy glow.

Whether used to enrich the skin tone, architecture, or interiors, this new neutral demands attention…so don’t be shy, blush a little and bring natural beauty to your home.

The wall design Frut a di Mare, above right, was designed from a 19th century watercolor and pencil sketch and is featured in the Damask Collection. The photo of the Bougainvilia and blush wall is from my recent trip to the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech, Morocco.

Before computers, ipods, and 400 channels on television, seeing who could blow the biggest bubble provided entertainment while hanging outside with the neighborhood gang. Do kids still compete to see who can inflate the largest pink bubble gum bubble?

Even if they don’t, I think “Double Bubble” is a wonderful name for an art exhibit that explores the color pink and its embodiment of the lighthearted side of summer. Don’t you agree?

Corey Drieth
Untitled #3, 2006
Gouache on poplar
9 x 9 inch