Nailed! The Hottest Color Trends This Spring

By Emily Hsieh
April 22, 2010

“Playful mixes of candy-coated pastels are huge this season,” declares Stacy Simmons, who’s an expert on the subject by way of her profession. Officially known as the Product Development/R&D Lead Manager for nail polish purveyor Orly, Simmons is responsible for dictating seasonal color palettes for the company. She describes the assortment of soft shades of turquoise, lilac, coral, and butter yellow in the brand's spring lineup as “girlish but confident.” As to where she found her inspiration, Simmons cites delectable sweets “like mini candy dots and sugar-flecked gumdrops.” Here, the color specialist expounds on the latest crop of must-have hues, which we matched with a range of clothing and accessories to round out each look.

Turquoise Pastel:

“This will be one of the hottest colors this spring. Reminiscent of one of your favorite Goody Goody gumdrops, this turquoise is very versatile and sweet, yet poppy. It’s great for adding a pop of color to your spring wardrobe.

Orly Color: Gumdrop From The Sweet Spring 2010 Collection, New Calypso St Barths Emerson Silk Dress (current bid, $44.99), 1960’s Jomaz Turquoise Cabochon Diamante R.S. Brooch (buy it now price, $149)

Purple Pastel:

“This sweet and simple shade is a grape pastel that’s charming and romantic. It’s sophisticated, easy to wear and great for warming up any skin tone.”

Orly Color: Lollipop From The Sweet Spring 2010 Collection, New Smythson Wallet/Notebook With Pen (buy it now price, $406.85), Kookai Empire Waist Dress (startind bid, $19.99)

Coral Pastel:

“Packed with punch, this sugary coral pastel is gorgeous and bold. This shade looks great with the turquoise pastel or with metallics such as golds and bronzes.”

Orly Color: Pixy Stix From The Sweet Spring 2010 Collection, Vintage Coral Cabochon Clip Earrings (sold for $21.99), New Tod’s Zeppa Coral Sandals (buy it now price, $99.99)

Yellow Pastel:

“A creamy, lemony yellow is a tangy, sweet addition to spring’s hottest shades. This yellow gives a fancy appeal to naïve and simple themes.”

Orly color: Lemonade From The Sweet Spring 2010 Collection, St. John Collection Knit Skirt (buy it now price, $134.95), New Marc Bower Glamit Silk Chiffon Evening Dress (buy it now price, $510)

Metallics:

“They’ve been shimmering across the runways and add an abstract sparkle to the playful pastels. They give women a feeling of glitz and glamour within a time of recession, and especially when paired with the perky pastels, the combination makes women feel rich with happiness.

Orly Colors: Rage, Luxe, and Shine From The FoilFX Collection, New Gryphon Silver Jacket (buy it now price, $299), New Coach Amanda Darcy Silver Metallic Straw Clutch (buy it now price, $139.99)

Emily Hsieh is a freelance writer and editor in New York City who has contributed to publications including Lucky, Allure, InStyle, and People.

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