The Hue: Pantone’s Marsala is Color of the Year for 2015

The Gentlemen’s Daily…The Hue: Pantone’s Marsala is Color of the Year for 2015 by Tyrus Rochell Townsend

With 2015 only weeks away, Pantone has named Marsala (Pantone 18-1438) as Color of the Year 2015. Following such notable colors as Emerald in 2013 and 2014’s Radiant Orchid, the New Jersey company touts the rich, invigorated Marsala as “a naturally robust and earthy wine red” with “impactful” and “full-bodied qualities” that makes it not only a strong accent color, but also a vibrant color that makes a statement all its own.

Similar in hue to last year’s heavy hitters, oxblood and burgundy, Marsala offers a dose of hearty luxury and depth without being overpowering or overwhelming. The wine-inspired dénouement of 2013 gave us luxe leather designer offerings from the likes of Balmain and Burberry, whose slick Metal Plate Vinyl Oxblood Trench Coat was featured in Beyonce’s “Jealous” video. The robust tones even found themselves reinvigorating the men’s dress shoe arena, coloring everything from traditional brogues to velvet slippers.

As we navigate through the current holiday season into the New Year, don’t be surprised if you start seeing the Marsala shade popping up as a major trend in winter wear and traditional dress accessories before translating to outerwear and possibly even footwear pieces as a new neutral for 2015 and beyond. Most recently, Canadian designer Mikael Derderian featured notable uses of a Marsala-tinged red in eye-catching womenswear pieces from his Pre-Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 collections from his private MIKAEL D label.

With a color this rich to help kick off 2015, designers, sartorial gentlemen, fashionistas, and color mavens alike will be sure to drink this one in.

Image Source: Pantone and Google