Spring 2011 Colour Palettes

It's almost that time of year again; the best, cheeriest, brightest time of year: spring. Recently it's been warmer, the sun shining brighter & the days have been getting noticeably longer. It's almost still light out at 6PM!

With spring comes a new wardrobe: t-shirts, skirts, shoes & light jackets. Our colour palettes also adjust with the changing seasons. In the fall, we lean toward the darks: black, navy, burgundy, brown. But the spring is all about the lights: pastels & vibrant shades spanning the entire rainbow.

As with past seasons, I've put together a couple of colour palettes for Spring 2011. This time, I've done a bit of research first, checking out some online trends before choosing my colours. I focused on versatility, infusing my own style & tastes into my collections.

Here is the soft palette:

And the bold palette:

As I mentioned, I wanted a versatile collection of hues that would combine well with each other. As a demonstration, here are a few combinations that I found particularly appealing:

This first combination is striking & chic. Pair a buttery blouse with a navy skirt or suit for an outfit that radiates confidence & class.

Honeysuckle, this bright pink, was rated the colour of the year by Pantone. I think it pairs nicely with the fawn shades that are so popular this season. I also liked how the two pinks play off each other.

Yellow & orange make another winning combination paired with nude. As you can see in the original palettes, blue is also a perfect partner for these lovely shades of tan. Stocking your wardrobe with a few key items - trousers, a blazer, shoes, a purse - in versatile neutrals can go a long way, combining to create a variety of different looks with seasonal brights.

Lastly, these cool tones would be perfect for a bathroom or kid's room, don't you think?

What's your favourite spring shade or colour combo?