Be Green, Even If It's Silver

Color gurus, Coloring Marketing Group, a non-profit organization based out of Alexandria, VA, are interested in all things colorful. Individuals pay up to $715 a year to become members of the organization that meets bi-annually to discuss what the hot new colors of the year will be. Non-members can then pay $3,500 to get the reports of the convention and plan their new up-coming products. Craziness.
Here is what they say for 2008.

1. Looking "Green" -- People want things they wear and things they use now to look "green," no matter what color they are. In 2008, looking stylish means looking natural. Materials will look hand-made, un-dyed and unbleached. Products will look more like what they're actually made of, with lots of texture and all the natural imperfections proudly showing through. Off-whites, sandy and linen-y colors, rock and soil colors, brownish-greens – the colors of nature are seriously fashionable now.

2. There’s News in Blues in 2008 -- The "trust me" color will continue to show up on candidates' ties this election year. But in all areas of decor, blues that remind us of sky and water -- inspired by environmentalism -- remain prominent, even in the kitchen. New next year will be the emergence of a much blacker blue inspired by technology -- a deep, vibrant navy so dark you'll swear it's black.

3. Specialized Finishes, Warmer Metallics -- Advances in technology have made shimmery, specialized finishes really hot. But in 2008, metallics will go warmer. After so many years of brushed chrome and nickel, look for warmer shades -- coppery, bronze-y tones -- to prevail.

4. More Ethnic Accents -- Globalism continues to inspire our love for ethnic accent colors. They’re coming to us from India, China and Latin America. To Moroccan reds and glowing oranges, add rosy pinks, sunny golden yellows and lots of turquoise. Already here in fashion and home design, these ethnic accents will show up as "punch" colors in hotels, restaurants and retail environments, too – often paired with rich browns as neutrals.