Yellow Is The New Black

The word is that cheerful and sunny yellow will be the influential color of 2009. Then again, it's coming from the master of color standards, so is it a prediction or a proclamation?

Pantone, which provides color standards to design industries, specifically cites "mimosa," a vibrant shade of yellow illustrated by the flowers of some mimosa trees as well as the brunch-favorite cocktail, as its top shade of the new year. In general, Pantone expects the public to embrace many tones of optimistic yellow...because they're backing it.

"I think it's just the most wonderful symbolic color of the future," says their executive director. "It's invariably connected to warmth, sunshine and cheer — all the good things we're in dire need of right now."

Not surprisingly, the spring fashion collections previewed earlier in the fall for retailers and editors, popped with yellow. The fashion world first embraced orange a few years ago and that has evolved into yellow. Home-goods companies based in Paris and Milan have already been leaning heavily towards a yellow influence.

"It helps that it looks good in florals and has a close association with nature, a driving force in the marketplace right now, and it complements current favorites green and purple."

Cool. Now I have extra reason to wear my Zankou, Metropolitan Cardiac Authority, and El Oso tee shirts.