The plumb club -top 10 colors for spring 2014

1. News From The Plumb Club --Top 10 Colors for Spring 2014
Top 10 colors for spring 2014 embrace a mix of soft pastels with vivid brights for a
colorful, natural balance. Popular on the season’s runways and recent red carpets, the
palette promoted by the color authority, Pantone sets the stage for exciting, new
combinations.
Pantone’s palette includes Dazzling Blue and Radiant Orchid, proclaimed the 2014
Color of the Year; Placid Blue, Violet Tulip and Hemlock; Cayenne, Freesia, and
Celosia Orange; and Sand and Paloma. “The range recognizes our genetic
predisposition to colors found in nature,” describes Todd Wolleman for the New York
City based Color Craft.
The inherent versatility of the colors for the season encourages
experimentation, describes Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the
Pantone Color Institute, noting great synergy across the palette. She
also proclaims jewelry the best way to add color to a wardrobe. “With
the plethora of elements used in jewelry, all of the colors are available
in gemstones, metals, and other materials.”
Holiday 2013 results reflect this wardrobe strategy. According to MasterCard Advisors
SpendingPulse, jewelry was a winning category for the season, with sales up in the high
single digits, while women’s apparel showed a decline. Sarah Quinlan, a senior vice
president at MasterCard Advisors, told WWD: “Consumers aren’t replacing their apparel
as often as they used to. Apparel’s performance came partially as a result of people
buying things they saw as more of an investment. Consumers got a bonus when gas
prices dropped 10%. They spent on jewelry first. That started in October and went
through November and December, which tells you they weren’t just buying jewelry as a
gift. If you didn’t buy a house or new car, you bought jewelry, and you did it as an
investment.”
Color Talk
Michael O’Connor, jewelry stylist and Reelz Channel host of MovieStyle with Michael
O’Connor hails Pantone an important harbinger for en vogue colors in fashion and
accessories. With jewelry the ultimate accessory, it must work with and be a part of
what’s happening in fashion. He notes that gemstones come in a range of colors and
prices that jewelers can capitalize on to satisfy top hues.
Amanda Gizzi, spokesperson for the Jewelry Information Center
(JIC), expects that Radiant Orchid will have consumers seeing
shades of purple with every turn. “That means amethyst, particularly

2. cabochon cut, will be hot for the early part of 2014. Milky, purples like chalcedony share
some of the spotlight. Don’t overlook purple sapphire, pink sapphire and pink
tourmaline.”
The top colors for spring 2014 can be divided into three categories: soothing pastels,
neutrals and bold colors. “Placid Blue, a calming pastel, shares the hue of aquamarine,
which should gain in popularity,” says Gizzi. “Sand and Paloma serve as neutrals that
are stunning backdrops like brushed gold and platinum. Freesia, Cayenne, Celosia
Orange, and Dazzling Blue are the bold colors in the palette, which translate to equally
bold gems like fire opal and sapphire.
Other runway trends translated in jewelry include sheer touches, inspiring the continued
popularity of translucent stones like diamond and gem slices. “Logos, monogrammed
and personalized jewelry will remain big, too, due in part to the 1990’s inspired branding
trend seen on the runways,” says Gizzi. “The lower price of gold will have consumers
wanting to replenish the gold jewelry they sold during the most recent gold rush.
Popular styles will be more detailed and have more karat weight.” Moreover, she cites
black and yellow jewelry trending: yellow gold with black gems or yellow gold with
blackened sterling silver.
Satisfying consumers’ cravings for quality jewelry that’s timeless
but stylish, Gizzi cites updated basics like hoops, diamond
pendants and bands, in gold and platinum among the favorites—
adding that halo designs will be important in earrings and pendants,
and bracelets, especially bangles remain popular.
O’Connor advises that jewelers take the looks and colors seen on the runways and red
carpets and translate them to their inventory and what works for their market. He urges
jewelers pay special attention to the trends on the red carpet, as it is the first opportunity
consumers have to see the latest fashions working in tandem with jewelry to create a
cohesive style statement.
Gearing up for the 2014 awards show season beginning with the Golden Globes,
O’Connor sees an overall fascination with more edgy, statement styles featuring color
gemstones or sparking white diamonds. Most notable, designers are reinterpreting
traditional chandelier earrings by adding bold gems, mixing metals, and creating unique
shapes. And even though emerald was the Pantone color last year, he says Hollywood
stars are still drawn to the beauty of this gem. He also cites black hues popular in
jewelry design featuring blackened metal or deep black gems that create a dramatic
effect on the red carpet.

3. Capitalizing on the enormous media exposure events
like Fashion Week and the Oscars is just a hashtag
away. Gizzi advises jewelers be active on social
media, especially Twitter, promoting the use of
hashtags. “Be ready with images to post of styles in
your inventory that speak to trends like statement
necklaces, bold cocktail rings, dramatic earrings, and
cuff and stackable bracelets.” Wilda Martin, marketing
director A. Jaffe, New York City, also advocates jewelers repost information their
brands put out about red carpet and runway placements and trends, as well as
new product launches.
Retail marketing consultant Kate Peterson, president of Performance Concepts,
Montgomery Village, Maryland notes that because no one jeweler can stock
everything, those who know themselves well and their customers even better are
best suited to translate broader trends. “For today’s consumer what’s important is
value, which encompasses style and individuality, not a specific product or price.”
Wolleman reminds jewelers that they’re in the accessories business, so it
behooves them to stay on top of fashion and color trends. “A woman doesn’t need
another black dress, but she can update her style wearing jewelry of the moment.”
The fact that your sales associates know that Radiant Orchid is the
Pantone Color of the Year speaks to their style aptitude says Liz
Chatelain of MVI Marketing and the Jewelry Consumer Opinion
Council, San Luis Obispo, California. “It’s not that consumers walk
in asking what’s the Pantone color of the year, and they may not
even like Radiant Orchid color gems, but to include this information
in the conversation makes the sales person look on top of it.”
All posts in series Putting on the Glitz: Trends for Spring 2014
[1] A Colorful Balance: Spring 2014
[2] Red Carpet Effect
[3] Connecting Catwalk to Sidewalk
[4] Top Trends Translated