This week You! takes a look at the Pantone colour of the year ‘Classic Blue’ and how you can incorporate it in your wardrobe and makeup...
beauty
Every year there is a hue that rules the fashion scene. Fashion enthusiasts’ and beauty gurus eagerly look forward to what ‘global colour authority’ Pantone will dub the ‘Colour of the Year’, as it will majorly influence a lot of trends in the industry. For 2020, we have the shade ‘Classic Blue’. Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.
According to Pantone Color Institute, “Classic Blue is a poised and self-assured blue hue, elegant in its simplicity. Emblematic of heritage but at the same time highly contemporary, versatile ‘Classic Blue’ takes on distinct appearances through application to different materials, finishes, and textures from shimmering metallics, lustrous sheens, and high-tech materials to hand crafted mixes and more fragile fabrics.” Unlike last year’s vibrant ‘Living Coral’, this year’s refreshing colour can be easily included in your closet and makeup in many unique ways...
Makeup galore
With tons of vivacious makeup options everywhere, what better way to explore the hue than through makeup? Although, you may think that this shade might not be for everyone. That’s not the case. If you are into eye makeup, this year’s shade is just begging to be in eye looks everywhere. And honestly, it’s really easy to work with if you know the right techniques. Classic Blue has a neutral undertone, but we can still make it work for every skin tone. Just make sure that you have concealed the undereye area perfectly and eliminated any blueness there. Otherwise, you will look more tired when wearing blue!
Blue Smokey: The beauty of blue is you can make it bold and bright, smudged and smokey, or use it to add a subtle hint of colour. For a bold makeup look, apply a darker blue underneath the eyes and on top of the eyelid right, and left of the iris. In the middle of the eyelid, place a lighter blue for a beautiful halo effect. For a blue take on your classic smokey, smudge a dark blue eye pencil inside and around your eyes and set with a dark blue eyeshadow. Add a lighter metallic blue into the inner corners of your eyes to make the look more refined.
Some of the products that you can use include the Blue Blood palette by Jeffree Star Cosmetics, Huda Beauty’s Precious Stones Obsessions Palette in Sapphire, Jaclyn HillxMorphe Dark Magic Eyeshadow Palette and NARS Single Eyeshadow in Outremer.
Line with the hue: This blue is the most beautiful colour to pair with non-colours like black, white, or beige. For a subtle look, you can start by putting beige or a cream shade on your lid and create a blue wing. Or, you could also smudge a tiny bit of black as a liner and apply blue mascara. It makes a statement while keeping your makeup minimal. You can get a Maybelline Great Lash Washable Mascara in Royal Blue or Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Vinyl Couture in I’m The Trouble.
Pout & Mani: A blue pout might look intimidating, but a juicy, moisturising formula will make you think again. Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Juicy Satin Lipstick in Go Deep will make you look badass and it seriously pairs well with every skin tone. For a liquid lipstick, opt for Blue Velvet by Jeffree Star Cosmetics. As for your nails, darker tones are already a popular choice for manicures. You can try O.P.I in shades Eurso..Euro, Chopstix and Stones or Bumpy Road Ahead. Essie offers hues in Wild Card and Butler Please. Revlon Nail Enamel in Urban which will be on-trend this season.
This year we are channelling oceanic vibes through our wardrobe and countering calming fiery hues to create a perfect fusion. Pantone believes that “this foundational anchor shade enables colour mixes throughout the spectrum, yet at the same time, makes a strong statement on its own.” So, even if you prefer warmer tones, there is still something to look forward to. For a cool toned look, you can layer shades of greens, depending on what you like. For vibrancy, opt for a lighter green and pair with something floral and colourful. This will really perk up your attire. For warmer tones, an orange complements blue extremely well. For a sultry look, a red or rust will be your best choice.
For a business formal, dark blue pants paired with lighter shades make up for a great choice as showcased by Zuria Dor in her collection ‘Centre of Gravity’. Since we are still in the midst of wedding season, bedazzle your blues with a touch of gold like Yasmin Zaman does in her recent collection ‘Zéke’ and Huma Adnan pairs the classic blue with red in her ‘The Monsoon Bride’ collection.
If you are not willing to full-on embrace this hue, try incorporating some accessories, like shoes, bag or sunglasses into a casual, everyday look. All you have to do is find the right pieces and voila, you can sneak the trendy colour into your overall ensemble.
Because it is still winter, you can rock the darker shades. Pair some light and vibrant colours and then top it off with some amazing shawls and knit items like scarves and cardigans to add some oomph to your attire. It can lend some elegance to an even casual dress.
For some pretty trinkets, grab a pendant or a beaded necklace, if you’re feeling extra. You’ll find a variety of gorgeous jewellery from neck pieces to earrings which will add subtle touches of the colour trend to your neutral ensemble. Another great way to embrace this shade is with a handbag. This hue remains timeless and will persevere through many trends.
