The Pantone Color Institute™ (“PCI”), the world's authority on color hues, has defined the 2015 Color of the Year as Marsala, a deep shade of red with brown undertones.
For the last 15 years, the Institute has been defining a Color of the Year. In PCI’s words, the designated color is meant to “express in color what is taking place in the global zeitgeist. A color that will resonate around the world, the PANTONE®®® Color of the Year is a reflection of what people are looking for, what they feel they need that color can help to answer. Not necessarily the hot fashion color of the moment, but a color crossing all areas of design which is an expression of a mood, an attitude, on the part of the consumers.”
After multiple seasons of beautiful burgundy colors gracing the New York Fashion Week runways, PCI’s nomination of Marsala as the 2015 Color of the Year is well-timed. Designers from Proenza Schouler to Alexander Wang have used this deep red/brown hue on the runways for the last few seasons. Marsala tones have shown up in warm leather jackets, wide-leg pants and graceful evening gowns. Marsala is named after an Italian wine made in the eponymous city in Sicily. The color is described by PCI as a “grounding red-brown” which “emanates a sophisticated, natural earthiness.” Similar to an oxblood, or dark red-purple, this color can be easily incorporated into home decor, personal fashion, or beauty accents. Here we round up some of the best that Berks County retailers have to offer in this new trend-right hue.
Home
For the home, incorporate marsala into your surroundings through procuring a vast wine collection stocked with the finest reds. The best-suited marsala-toned wine is from Vynecrest, a family-owned winery based in Breinigsville with a tasting room location in Berks’ own Kutztown. The grapes used in this No. 36 Vynecrest wine were planted in the spring of 1974, making Vynecrest one of the oldest vineyards in Lehigh County. Vynecrest describes No. 36 as “a celebration of Vynecrest’s 36th harvest,” and it will be “an ongoing series of producing a full-bodied dry red blend from the best of the best.” An added bonus? The No. 36 has a deep red wine label, which will complement all of the additional burgundy-hued décor you’re sure to accumulate over the course of 2015 home interior shopping trips.
After bolstering your wine collection with marsala-toned shades, the kitchen is another ideal place to add hints of the marsala color in your home. Tea towels are an inexpensive, fresh way to add a pop of color, or purchase decorative plate chargers to go underneath standard dinner plates. Additionally, flowers in all shapes and sizes come in this rich red wine hue, including Purple Prince lilies, delicate winter-flowering hellebore, hearty peonies, radiant dahlias and ruffled ranunculus. Bouquets of fresh flowers are always beautiful and can prominently represent this deep hue on a kitchen counter, a subtle reminder that spring is on its way. Alternatively, pots of indoor houseplants like charmed wine oxtails can add a fresh take on the marsala trend by creating a show of rich red foliage on a coffee table or windowsill.
To add marsala accents around other areas of the home, pillowcases can easily and inexpensively be swapped out to give living rooms and bedrooms a “new year, new look” update. Also, carefully chosen antique pieces can add warmth to home décor, and GRQ in Kutztown has excellent options at affordable prices. This vintage chest in a deep red/brown palette is perfectly in sync with PCI’s 2015 Color of the Year.
Fashion
Small accents of marsala will add a pop of PCI’s 2015 color trend to wardrobe staples that can be worn year after year. VF Outlet in Reading has lots of trend-right items, like this multi-print geometric scarf with a pompom edging. Pair an accent item like this oversized scarf with jeans, boots and a camel sweater for a casual take on the 2015 Color of the Year.
Marsala-themed fashion isn’t just for outer layers; pick up this Free People lace bra from Bell Tower in Wyomissing to incorporate some of the 2015 hue into your lingerie repertoire. A mix of fashion and function, the racer-back shape and adjustable straps add functionality and sportiness to a flirty, delicate mix of velvet and embellished lace.
Incorporating marsala into the wardrobe can be quite effortless, really. The Mystree brand marbled two-tone sweater from Bella Jules is a great layering piece which can be worn with jeans for a weekend look or dressed up with navy pants and a blazer for work. Bella Jules also carries “cherry wine” leggings by Cookie Johnson. Worn with a long black tunic-style sweater and black over-the-knee boots, these leggings add a bold jewel tone shade in a classic, fitted silhouette. Lastly, a faux leather and pleated skirt dress from brand Ivy & Blu, also available at Bella Jules, is a graceful and trendy dress option that will bring the marsala hue into your wardrobe affordably.
Beauty
Bell Tower Salon and Spa in Wyomissing has an expansive and current collection of designer makeup, including the NARS line, which features beautiful products in the red/brown color range described above. A beloved, yet simple, way to incorporate the recently announced 2015 hue into your wardrobe is by applying a strong red-wine lip. NARS’ Audacious lipstick in “Charlotte” is a perfect marsala match. Pair your strong lip color with a more subtle blush like “Oasis,” a peachy hue, flattering on many different skin tones. The NARS Duo eye shadow in “Kuala Lumpur” features two complementary shades that will accentuate your colored pout.
A swipe of color on the nails is another easy, low-maintenance way to incorporate this year’s color trend into your personal style. A manicure or pedicure from any local salon is a great way to effortlessly incorporate the marsala trend into your beauty routine.
Whether you incorporate this 2015 hue into your home, wardrobe, or beauty regimen, marsala is a versatile color with warmth and depth. These five stores are just a sampling of the amazing boutiques peppered throughout Berks. We hope you’ll take some time to explore all that our local businesses have to offer throughout 2015.
SOURCES
Vynecrest 277 Main St., Kutztown 484.641.5149 vynecrest.com Bella Jules 700 Penn Ave., West Reading 610.208.0600 bellajulesboutique.com Bell Tower Salon & Spa 18 State Hill Rd., Wyomissing 610.372.6379 Belltowersalonspa.com Jackie and Daughter Flower Shop 271 W. Main St, Kutztown 610.683.7070 Jackieanddaughterflowershop.com GRQ 145 Highland Avenue, Kutztown 484.646.9099 grqusedfurniture.com VF OUTLET 801 Hill Avenue, Reading 610.378.0408 vfoutletcenter.com
By Lily Oswald | Photos by Mark Nester
