eady for a read on the hues the fashion world’s excited about? We’re taking a look at the color of the year, along with 15 additional wearable shades for Spring/Summer 2023. There’s something for everyone, with flamboyant colors, natural neutrals and functional statement tones for your clients’ branding needs and events.
We’ve selected 16 colors that are already making waves on the runways – so you don’t have to think twice about which ones to pick – for your client presentations.
Viva Magenta is ‘Color of the Year'
Although "Digital Lavender" was highly predicted to be the Color of the Year, Pantone has officially announced that "Viva Magenta" is their choice for the top color in 2023. “We chose this color because we felt that it was an unconventional shade for an unconventional time, something that could present us with a new vision,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone institute, told TIME.
Viva Magenta is supposed to signify strength in an assertive but not aggressive way, while also promoting a sense of optimism and joy. Pantone believes this is a color that this attention grabbing color will appeal to a wide audience, especially those with a "rebellious spirit," so it might be the perfect color to use for clients who want to make an impactful statement with their decorated apparel.
The Exciting Spring/Summer Color Palette
Along with the same spirit that Viva Magenta brings, the Spring/Summer 2023 color palettes look to represent people taking a fearless approach to style, with a wide range of colors that celebrate freedom and trying something new. The individual hues and color combos allow for unique color experiments and contrasts allowing people to express their individuality.
“Colors for Spring/Summer 2023 are recalibrated for the new era we are entering. Blending escapism with reality, wholesomeness and joy, we embrace the exploration of extreme contrast in mood and color," said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. “There’s a utility and basic-ness to this season’s color story, while at the same time, there’s an uplifting vital sense of play that comes through.” Based on Pantone’s forecast, experts are grouping the top shades into three categories: Escapism, Quiet Presence and Utility.
The 'Escapism' Palette
We’re loving the fun, energetic colors that play to our sense of “escapism,” or creating our own world, vibe or mood. As Eiseman notes, these vibrant Pantone shades have an “uplifting, vital sense of play that comes through,” promoting freedom of expression.
You’ll see a lot of escapism, fantasy and joy on the runways. Intense-hued tulle dresses paired with casual shirts in contrasting hues of pink and orange, as well as green and purple – illustrating the season’s theme of outspoken individualism. Milan Fashion Week included many references to the late 1990s and Y2K, with leather and color schemes of vivid red, green and pink. Versace even called on Paris Hilton to close their show wearing a chainmail dress in Barbie Pink.
The 'Quiet' Presence Palette
Then there's spring/summer shades that are more of the core classics or neutrals – they’re calm and create a feeling “quiet presence”.
These neutrals read as chic and easy to pair with flashier shades or even blinged-out fabrications. Lots of designers have included Macchiato, Vanilla Cream and Leek Green in various looks at their runway shows. Skylight and Leek Green also appeared all over the catwalks as unique takes on nature-inspired neutrals.
The Utility Palette
To balance out the escapism and play, the spring/summer 2023 color story includes shades that offer a “utility and basic-ness.”
Fashion shows previewed silhouettes inspired by 80s rockers, oversized trenches and monochrome dressing, which had juxtaposed muted shades of green, purple, blue camel, and taupe, paired flashier colors like gold. That speaks to this utilitarian group of shades: You can envision these hues in a unisex trench, or a head-to-toe hoodie and jogger set, as colors that are both functional and make an understated statement.
Get Ready to Mix and Match
You’ve got three categories made up of 15 memorable shades you can show your clients – even before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. Wear the shades alone, or pair them together in the same apparel piece or outfit, to try something new and different. When you venture out to introduce “play” and “contrast” into apparel and accessories, you can help your clients’ brands to express themselves in new and unexpected ways. Share and tag your final “colorized” products with us at @ssactivewear on Instagram!
