April 18, 2013

By now you may have heard that Brooks Brothers has put together a Great Gatsby inspired collection of suits just in time for the movie release. I am especially excited about these two occasions as I discuss The Great Gatsby and the Gatsby look in my presentations.

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There is a “Gatsby look” that has strong influence in both fashion and home. Typical deco is black, gold, silver and white as seen in Pantone The 20th Century in Color/1920s. Silver and Jet Black form the sleek contrast essential to the Art Deco aesthetic.

I am especially excited about those two influences as I discuss the “Gatsby look” in my trend presentations as it has historically had a strong influence on both fashion and home. A typical palette of the 20s, as depicted in my book, Pantone: The 20th Century in Color would have consisted of Silver and Jet Black forming the sleek contrast essential to the Art Deco aesthetic of the era. In addition, colors such as Carnelian, Champagne Beige and Turtledove were important accents, while Lavender Violet “beckons with a cool allure”.

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Art Deco got its name from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, held in Paris in 1925 and attended by exhibitors from twenty countries and sixteen million viewers. The modern language of luxury promoted by the fair began, for the most part, in the ateliers of the designers and craftsmen of France.

The 1930s saw the rise of Deco Architecture. Art Deco cathedrals of commerce and entertainment radiated glamour into the economic gloom of the 1930s.

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The Deco palette of the 1930s fulfilled its mission as an antidote to the Great Depression with luscious tones. The silver of 1920s Deco remains, but the obvious luxury of gold becomes more important as precious metals are layered against smooth chocolate, misty jade and mauve.

The Art Deco movement has had such influence aesthetically from color palettes to design elements. Deco is certain to have another moment of glory even if it is 90 years later. The newest approach to Deco, as shown in the Pantone View Home forecast for 2013 that we create every year, is a palette of far more color, consisting of Silver and Champagne Beige, Monaco Blue, Jasper (a deep bluish green), Rio Red, Tap Shoe black (an homage to the flappers), Chinchilla and Moon Mist (a dreamy gray).

Are you inspired by Art Deco? What are some of your favorite Deco things or places?

Brooks Brothers’ Great Gatsby-Inspired Collection Puts On The Ritz | Read all the latest in fashion gossip, fashion industry news, and fashion trends | Daily Front Row.