As we move into spring and emerge from winter, and another year of Covid funk, the fashion world isn’t holding back. Spring and summer trends are showing bold colors to brighten our spirits and lift our moods. At the top of the fashion food chain, lies Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2022 - Very Peri.

This bold hue reminds me of a garden full of lavender. While that is THE color of the year, it’s not THE ONLY color that will fill the racks in the months to come. Depending on whether you follow New York or London fashion week, the colors vary just a bit, but are nonetheless bold and energizing. Even so, bold colors are always balanced with a soft, neutral palette to form perfect pairings.

If you follow New York Fashion Week, the following colors are slated for spring and summer:

Top row left to right: Coco Mocha, Daffodil, Dahlia, Glacier Lake, Innuendo.

Bottom row left to right: Poinciana, Harbor Blue, Skydiver, Spun Sugar, Gossamer Pink.

Though it may not seem like it, these Spring/Summer colors aren’t too far from left field in relation to those put forth for Fall/Winter 2021. Thought last season’s hues were a bit more pragmatic, according to the Pantone website, this season’s colors were chosen to reflect optimism, a need for balance, and most of all joy.

Since wearing a head-to-toe outfit in a dramatic red like Poinciana might be tough for most folks to pull off, pairing it with something a bit more subdued can be the key to a successful outfit. Let’s face it, all colors need a yin to their yang. Therefore, to balance the boldness of some of the above, the following classic neutrals have been named for the season.

From left to right: Snow White, Perfectly Pale, Northern Droplet, Poppy Seed, Basil.

For a more comprehensive description of each, you can go onto the Pantone website and read about them.

There are many ways to incorporate these trendy tones into your wardrobe. I dug into my closet and found I have a few items already that are on trend with a few of these hues, including Daffodil, Poinciana.

I even found a Brooks Brothers sweater from eons ago that lo and behold is a perfect match for THE color of the year itself, Veri Peri. It’s a great transitional item that I can wear for pretty much three out of four seasons. Here I styled it with a pair of cropped vegan leather pants from Zara for a simple, yet chic and comfortable look.

If the colors are too dramatic for you, then consider an accessory. A scarf is a great idea, a shoe, or even a purse, can add a touch of vibrancy to an outfit, without screaming too loudly. Either way, let’s hope that as we move into warmer days, better times will follow, allowing us to put on something bright and fabulous. Besides, from the looks of things, bold colors will continue into the fall and winter. Now is the time to get used to them and find ways to incorporate them into your wardrobe. Let’s face it, it’s nice to be able to enter the world with vigor once again.