Kids' color trends
A rundown of the hues enlivening the children's market
By Erinn Morgan
Today's fast-paced, information-age kids are more fashion-focused than ever before. This trend includes their consumption of new color options. “The American market has really evolved its color direction in the kids' market, which is bringing some newness to the category,” says Rita Nakouzi, director of Promostyl Americas, the U.S. arm of Promostyl, the international styling and trend forecasting agency.
Colors for kids are fun and sophisticated. Above image: Eyes Cream Shades style Strawberry Ice
GRAPHIC EXPANSION
What influences the children's color trend market today? Kids' access to information, via everything from the Internet and television to their own or their parents' iPads and smartphones, has had a huge effect on their color choices. They may be inspired by a cartoon, a runway show, a movie, or their favorite website.
More specifically, Nakouzi says, “There are always iconic graphic characters that are an important influencer in the kids' market, which affects the way we see color. There's also the trickling of certain colors from runway that make their influence on the kids market.”
The adult and children's market has become color obsessed as a comfort factor. “Color is dominating the season right now because the world is quite harsh at the moment,” says Nakouzi. “We are looking for some optimism, a sense of hope and renewal. Colors inject a needed dose of fun and energy to the everyday.”
Here, we outline the key kids' color trends for apparel and accessories (including eyewear) for both the current Spring/Summer season and the upcoming Fall/Winter season.
HOT HUES: SPRING/SUMMER 2011
THE TREND: ULTRA BRIGHTS. This spring/summer season is all about blending standout ultra-brights with calming half-tones.
According to Nakouzi, “The brights are a mix of matte ‘gouache' colors. Yellow is a key color of the season and even into next spring. The orange family is also important. Plus, there's an exuberant morning glory tone that's between pink and purple.”
Bursts of color bring some positive energy into an insecure world. Shown Top to bottom: Baby Banz style Black Tattoo; Jublo style Looping, and Lafont eyewear styles Gigi, Gabie, and Charivari
She also notes that blue is a key color, including a mix of light blue, aqua blue, and teal blue.
THE TREND: NEON. The popularity of hot, neon colors turns up the volume a notch or two on the Ultra Brights color trend. These wild colors are typically combined with black or a neutral color for balance.
“Current and future kids' trends include an explosion of brights combined with neutrals or black that we are seeing in adult trends,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, color psychologist, trend forecaster, and author of seven books on color.
Pantone has dubbed this color trend “Nouveau Neon” and Eiseman explains that these colors are not the phosphorescent neons of yesterday.
“They are instead a collection of exuberant shades that bring a fresh new perspective to combinations. Asian-inspired bamboo yellow-green plays with orange Popsicle and berry purples, while citrus colors toy with pink and raspberry,” she says. “A flavorful butter-rum tan is the unexpected accompaniment to all of the vibrant colors in the palette.”
HOT HUES: FALL/WINTER 2011
THE TREND: RETRO. This fall will debutvintage-inspired hues for the kids' market. “There's a real '70s mood in the air, so tones like purple dahlia, pumpkin orange, and the continuation of the blues and teals will be key,” says Nakouzi.
THE TREND: FUNNY PAPERS. Keeping it light and fun is what kids do best and this important color trend follows their lead with hues inspired by comic strips. Pantone has named this trend “The Comics.” It is packed with an effervescent palette.
“Funny paper hues pop off the page in whimsical ways that bring a smile and create the need to take some time to play,” says Eiseman. “Ominous phantom black provides the backdrop for sulphuric yellow and fiery red. A flash of green provokes a strong blue, while an inky cyan plays up to honeysuckle and primrose. It's quirky joy and spontaneity.” EB
| Eye on Color |
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| Color experts say that trends in the kids' eyewear and sunwear markets follow those in the children's clothing and accessories markets, with a bit of variation. “We see color so important right now that it lends itself to giving the eyewear and sunwear category a new exuberance in the kids' market,” says says Rita Nakouzi, director of Promostyl Americas, the U.S. arm of Promostyl, the international styling and trend forecasting agency. “We're seeing kids' accessories focused on high brights and neons and see the trend making its way into the sunwear category. In addition, a retro-future aesthetic is perfect for the eyewear category with clear frames and retro shapes.” THE CORE“Generally, the eyewear and sunwear market trends for kids focus on traditional hues and primary tones,” Nakouzi says.BOYS — Blues GIRLS — Pinks THE TRENDColor layering is a key trend in kids' eyewear right now. Today's kids enjoy dressing in layers—in patterns, colors, and materials—and this focus is making its way into eyewear.BOYS — Brown and navy mixed with blue and green GIRLS — Tortoise brown combined with pink, purple or light blue |
| Little people, Big Style |
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| The bottom line is that kids' color trends are no longer vastly different from adult color trends. “The trend has been to dress kids like small adults and that is continuing,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, color psychologist, trend forecaster, and author of seven books on color. “The designer's influence has been increasingly important and with that comes more sophisticated styling,” she notes. “Kids have always been into color and the adult market's current infatuation with color has spilled over to kids, making it even more important.” “Children's color trends used to be vastly different than adult trends but it's been exciting to see the category evolve and the colors in kids get closer in line with general color trends,” says Rita Nakouzi, director of Promostyl Americas, the U.S. arm of Promostyl, the international styling and trend forecasting agency. |
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