It will be a blue, blue new year as Pantone picks the colour of 2008

Pantone Inc., which last year chose a "hot" red as the colour of the year for 2007, for the coming year has chosen a cool, deep blue called Blue Iris (Pantone 18-3943) as the colour for 2008. This is expected to show up in part in fashion, home decor and cosmetics, according to a story in Design Edge Canada magazine.

Pantone cited the colour's calming and mystical qualities, combining blue and purple character that is both mysterious and exciting.

Blue Iris follows on the heels of last year’s Pantone colour of choice, a bold red hue named Chili Pepper (Pantone 19-1557).

“From a colour forecasting perspective, we have chosen Blue Iris as the color of the year, as it best represents colour direction in 2008 for fashion, cosmetics and home products,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

“As a reflection of the times, Blue Iris brings together the dependable aspect of blue, underscored by a strong, soul-searching purple cast,” continues Eiseman. “Emotionally, it is anchoring and meditative with a touch of magic. Look for it artfully combined with deeper plums, red-brown, yellow-greens, grapes and grays.”