Honeysuckle Named Pantone's Color Of 2011

So it has been named, the Color of the Year, an honor indeed for the color Honeysuckle, "Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world." Honeysuckle might you think something a little more yellowish but this color actually takes after the Honeysuckle Rose.  The color was chosen by Pantone Color Institute, the research arm of Pantone Inc., the company that largely sets color standards for the fashion and home industries.  Honeysuckle is in good company with Turquoise, 2010's color of the year.

So while it may be cold and dreary as we move into winter, this bright reddish, pinkish, coralish color will be in high fashion come spring.  Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute says, "The color says we need to be hopeful and think of things that satisfy as many senses as we can." She goes on to mention, " For some, honeysuckle will evoke a sweet taste, a happy childhood memory or the sound of hummingbirds, offering a hint of nostalgia within the otherwise energetic color."

When I was a child, we had a honeysuckle bush in the back of our yard in Oklahoma City and even all these years later, I remember the smell, the taste of honeysuckle buds - you break off the flower and suck out the honey, the buzz of the bees. There is definitely something to nostalgia.

As designer James Mischka, half of the Badgley Mischka duo and originally in the "honeysuckle-is-yellow"camp says, "It's a positive, strong, affirmative color, and I think that's what hopefully everyone's attitude is going into next year."

With that said, here are a few images from the Badgley Mischka spring 2011 collection show.

Information and photos from article by SAMANTHA CRITCHELL, Associated Press, featured on Huffington Post