Trend watch: Ombre bluesFall takes the classic color to a new, stylish place
by June Beach
Published: October 5, 2012 |
Editor's note: This is the second installment of our trend-spotting column by designer June Beach. Watch the Bead Room for new "Trend Watch" columns about the newest and coolest directions in jewelry making.
We all have our favorite color. Mine for example is pink, pretty much pink in any shade I love. Others in my family love yellow or a specific pattern. One of my mother’s favorites was blue. Navy blue, royal blue, baby blue, sapphire, light sapphire, aqua, turquoise, you name it, I grew up being surrounded by the color blue. Of course being a September baby (like my mother) with sapphire as your birthstone doesn’t hurt with it comes to the love of everything blue. When my oldest daughter was born in September, another lover of everything blue (and sparkling) was born. These days her favorite shade of blue is turquoise.
Whether or not they're your personal favorite, blues are a great wardrobe staple — think blue jeans or the classic navy suit or blazer. Yet, as with everything, blues trend prominence comes in comes and goes. This fall, we are seeing not just one shade of blue but a spectrum. When mixed together, these colors have a stunning effect.
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As a designer, I am loving that the color blue is showing up in a
variety of styles and trends. They open up so many possibilities. There
are cool vintage touches and styles that have a retro 1930s and '40s,
very contemporary open cut designs with large fancy-stone crystals and
ombre shading on clothing, handbags, shoes, and of course jewelry!
Mixing
materials — like beautiful silk ribbons that I found at the Bead &
Button show this year has added touches of shading and more depth to
some my designs. I have been experimenting with colored wire as well and
letting it become much more of a focal in in some of my designs than
ever before.
I was delighted when Swarovski Elements expanded the
crystal pearls with some fabulous opaque colors. I am hooked on the
various shades of the blue pearls in particular! They look great color
blocked in necklaces, crocheted, wire wrapped or just as an accent to
other multimedia designs. Mixing the opaque colors with crystals add
sparkle, depth and great color saturation to your designs. If you
haven’t tried it yet, give it a blue-inspired whirl!
The
possibilities are endless when you start mixing materials available in a
variety of colors, shapes, sizes and materials — semi-precious stones,
glass, ceramic, crystal, wire, leather, and silk. The possibilities are
endless. Don’t be afraid to mix it up and create your own blue
masterpiece!
Sparkles!
June
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