Fall, Already?

Well, I blinked and missed it but Pantone's fall 2011 colors are out. You can see them at http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20835&ca=4

I gotta say, I'm mostly digging the palette. I know, it's not even the Fourth of July yet. But for those of you already planning wardrobe purchases for fall, whether it's just a new shirt or an entire closet, let me pass on what image experts are recommending:

- Use the neutrals as your foundation pieces. They all tend to have a cool undertone, so if you've got warmer tones in your skin and hair, you'll need to brighten them up with accent pieces or accessories in the brighter shades. "The" neutral for fall is Cadet (for men), which is the blue gray of a dark cloudy sky. Coffee Liqueúr, a soft dark taupe, is a new take on traditional brown and can be warmed up with Emberglow (basically the coral red-pink we've seen since early spring) or cooled with Deep Teal. Women may appreciate Orchid Hush, a barely lavender silver, for an elegant background for the brighter purple Phlox or warm pink Honeysuckle. Nougat is the lighter version of Coffee, suitable for men or women, but bland without something to liven it up. Somewhat surprisingly, there is absolutely no black or even charcoal.

- Ladies, Bamboo is a golden yellow that's a bit brighter than mustard, thanks to a subtle green undertone. Expect to see this as a solid. Not a good color for you? Cedar, a mid-tone neutral green in the sage family, is an excellent alternative. Gents, the colors you'll probably be seeing a lot of are Burnt Sienna, rather a soft orangey-brown, and Raspberry Wine, a more violet red and masculine alternative to the ladies' softer Honeysuckle pink. But unless you're a gambler, don't spend the bulk of your budget on the these shades; they may not be in favor much past the holiday season.

- Fall shades that you can safely wear next year? Cadet, Orchid Hush, Coffee Liqueúr, Nougat, Phlox, Honeysuckle or Raspberry Wine. But don't ditch good wardrobe staples in this year's spring/summer colors - most of them will be back next summer, and some are projected to be popular well into 2013! Think Regatta, Curacao, and Russet, as well as Lavender and Silver Cloud.