Love hue too
Bright dressing ahead with Living Coral
When we get dressed or decorate our homes this year, what kind of mood will we be setting? If Pantone has anything to say about it, it will be bright and optimistic, a vibe embodied by its new color of the year, Living Coral.
“Vibrant yet mellow Pantone 16-1546 Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment,” says Pantone.
“Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity,” it adds. “Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, Pantone 16-1546 Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.”
That all sounds pretty good, right? And it doesn’t hurt that the color itself is just downright attractive to wear. (Though thanks to its brightness, it’s tough to see it being used in big swaths in home decorating. Unless you’re decking out a condo in Miami, small accents seem a lot more realistic.)
But what do they mean by “Living” Coral? None other than Vogue has shed some light on that, saying it’s “a nod to the importance of coral reefs in our environment, and in the color name, the denotation of coral as ‘living’ (a hope) instead of ‘dying’ (the facts).” Hence the aforementioned optimism.
So how do you wear such unbridled upbeat spirit? Brands like Marc Jacobs (in a fluffy, rose-punctuated coat), Prada, Stella and Prabal Gurung tackled it in numerous ways in their spring/ summer 2019 shows. But so have countless other, less pricey brands.
The tricky part is the electric hue doesn’t always play well with others. It tends to look best paired with true neutrals like white, black or gray. Or with different shades of itself. Note: It does almost always look fantastic as athletic wear — Under Armour makes a killer Fly By Running Short ($15 at neimanmarcus.com) — and on just about any bathing suit.
Also try splashes here and there, as accessories — a la Athletic Propulsion Labs’ TechLoom Phantom Sneakers ($115.50 at saksfifthavenue.com). If you just can’t give up on the patterns, do it in big, bold shapes, like Equipment’s Gowin Silk Dress ($215.10 at equipmentfr.com), which nails just the right effect with simple white floral blossoms.
Wearing Living Coral as one solid color works, too, as long as you keep the rest of the outfit simple — as with Vince Camuto’s Tie Front Wide Leg Jumpsuit ($99 at nordstrom.com). Its flattering crepe material and tie at the waist keep its shape — and you — well defined.
And if all else fails, go for it in small but high-impact dashes — in nails. Dior’s 445 Coral Crush ($28 at dior.com) is a welcome antidote to all those dreary days waiting for winter to turn into spring.