Pantone Color of The Year : Marsala

It’s official, with Pantone Marsala 18-1438 is their newly announced

color for Spring 2015. I find this mildly odd for a spring color and a little unsettling

to be honest. I think of Spring colors as pastels or brights. This color seems more like a fall color not a spring color. Pantone’s “Marsala” is slightly reddish-brown, rather than the oxblood tones we have seen in the fashion world, which I much prefer.

I predict anything in the wine or burgundy color family could be considered an “on trend” color, but this washed out version of reddish-brown, not so much. The color chip Pantone chose looks like burnt sienna with a touch of mauve to me or a watered down wine.

I predict “Marsala” will be as short of a trend as last year’s radiant orchid.

I have chuckled while reading comments about the announcement of Marsala on social media from my designer friends. I see I am not alone in my quandary. The best description I have read was my friend Amanda Eck’s description which was “the color of refried beans”.

Will I paint a client’s den or a study in Marsala? The jury is still out on that one, because I never say never when it comes to projects. Will Marsala be a “go to” color for most clients? No! I definitely would not suggest for anyone to buy a Marsala washer and dryer combo, or a car for that matter! Big ticket items don’t belong in the “favor of the month” color tones. Egads as my friend Jason Oliver Nixon would retort!

Oddly enough, when I searched the internet for items in the Marsala family I didn’t find much. Most items fell into the burnt sienna, whiskey, burgunday or wine family and

almost all of them were already on sale! What does that tell you?

Oh well, I decided to play along anyway. I have included a few items that

fall into a category I would consider “Marsala-ish”.

Fashion:

Dining Room by Michael Coorengel/ Credits Via Elle Decor

I do adore the pop of “Marsala-esque” leather on this beautiful french chair
and the same color reflected in the mural. I think it is safe to say that a good place for “Marsala-esque” tones are in leather?Very handsome! But wait, this really isn’t the Marsala color Pantone introduced is it? Of course, I think I am pulling color tones that are more vibrant than the Pantone color, but color is left up to interpretation through the eyes of the beholder and our computer screen, ne est-ce pas?

Benjamin Moore 2172-40

Ok, so not my fave….I say go deeper or gone home Pantone! I think we are all
confused? If it looks burnt sienna mauve-ish why is it called Marsala? I think they
should have called it Sedonna Sky. Ok, so I realize that there are varying colors being
shown as Marsala, will the “real” Marsala please stand up?

In closing, I reserve the right to change my mind but currently the only place I can
see Marsala being used is for leather goods, nail polish, possibly an accent color or
on a long stretch possibly for tee shirts or sweaters. Do I see it as a statement color
for interiors, no! Do I see it as a color for big ticket items, no! What do you think?

My prediction is this color will last about as long as a glass of wine,

with friends, during the holidays and that’s a “New York MInute” friends!

(BTW, this color looks more like cider than wine!)

Enjoy your Friday!