Clear Spring: Navy, grey, charcoal, black, light grey, turquoise, yellow, marigold yellow, mint, green, dark green, clear teal, hot turquoise, true blue, purple, purple-gray, peach, salmon, true red, warm pastel pink, hot pink.
Uni Watch’s Friday Flashback: Laughing in the purple rain
The uni-verse has had a bit of a blast from the chromatic past lately. First, the San Jose Sharks announced that they’d be wearing teal at home during this season’s NHL playoffs — a change from their previous four postseason appearances, when they wore black. Then the sports world was awash in purple as a memorial tribute to Prince. And just a few days ago, the Sacramento Kings unveiled a set of logos featuring a new, deeper shade of purple.
If all this left you feeling a bit of déjà vu, it’s probably because those two hues — purple and teal — evoke a very specific time period in sports design. Simply put, they were the signature trendy colors of the 1990s. How trendy were they? By Uni Watch’s count, there were 22 teams in the four major pro leagues that either came into existence or were reborn with a new team name in the 1990s (including the Sharks, who hit the ice in 1991). Of those 22 teams, half of them — 11 — used purple and/or teal in their inaugural color schemes:
And that’s not counting several established teams that adopted purple or teal during the 1990s. We’ll get to them in a minute.
Although this was largely a ’90s phenomenon, the purple-and-teal revolution really began in the previous decade, when the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets were born in 1988. Their uniforms, designed by the menswear magnate Alexander Julian, featured purple and teal. The newfangled color palette turned out to be tremendously popular with fans, and sports bigwigs took notice. By the turn of the decade, all the pieces were in place to make purple and teal the colors of the ’90s.
That turned out better in some cases than in others, because while some of those 1990s designs have held up pretty well, others look hopelessly dated. To get a sense of what I mean, let’s take a look at how the teal-and-purple reign unfolded on a sport-by-sport basis. We’ll start with MLB, which had four new expansion franchises in the 1990s. All four of them used at least one of the trendy colors, and one existing MLB team got on board the teal bandwagon as well:
The NFL had two expansion teams in the 1990s, plus two franchises that changed their identities. Of those four, one used purple and one used teal:
(Some of you may be thinking, “What about the Carolina Panthers?” Their primary team color is officially known as “Panther Blue,” and it does appear to be more of a blue than a teal. But it’s definitely a close cousin.)
Over in the NBA, there were two expansion teams in the 1990s, and they wore what might be considered the decade’s definitive purple-and-teal uniforms. In addition, several established NBA teams adopted purple or teal in the 1990s, and the colors were also prominently featured on the league’s 1995 and ’96 All-Star Game uniforms:
That brings us to the NHL, which had the most franchise activity of any league in the 1990s, with a whopping 11 new or renamed teams. Of those, only three used purple and/or teal, but the league gets bonus points for its mid-1990s conference logos and for the Islanders’ short-lived “Fisherman” design:
And it could have been worse (or better, depending on your point of view). Before the Quebec Nordiques moved to Colorado and became the Avalanche in 1995, they were planning on a redesign that would have included — well, see for yourself:
How did purple and teal become so popular? There were a number of factors, the most important of which is probably that the sale of licensed jerseys, caps and other apparel really took off in the 1990s. In previous years, owners didn’t have to care very much about whether their team colors were in step with contemporary trends and tastes because the team colors were primarily seen on the field (or court, or ice) and that was that. But as merchandise sales began producing a larger revenue stream, color choices became a larger priority.
And make no mistake, purple and teal were extremely popular colors in the 1990s, in ways that went far beyond the realm of sports. In fact, the most quintessentially ’90s design of any kind might be “Jazz,” an abstract purple and teal squiggle pattern that became ubiquitous on paper cups and plates for much of the decade (for additional info, look here):
Eventually, though, the purple-and-teal fad subsided. Many of the teams that wore the colors in the 1990s no longer do so. But it’s kind of heartening to see that the team that started the trend — the Charlotte Hornets — is still embracing its chromatic heritage. Granted, the current Hornets aren’t the same franchise as the original incarnation (that team moved to New Orleans and eventually became the Pelicans), but the current Hornets are making prominent use of purple and teal, and check out the T-shirts they were giving away for a playoff game earlier this week:
Ah, it’s like the 1990s all over again. You can decide for yourself whether that’s a good thing, a bad thing or — like so many of those 1990s uniforms — somewhere in between.
Would you like to nominate a uniform to be showcased in a future Friday Flashback installment? Send your suggestions here.
Paul Lukas managed to get through this entire column without mentioning that he really, really hates purple. If you liked this column, you’ll probably like his Uni Watch Blog, plus you can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Want to learn about his Uni Watch Membership Program, be added to his mailing list so you’ll always know when a new column has been posted or just ask him a question? Contact him here.
What is “Color Analysis”?
Color Analysis, also called “Skin Tone Color Matching” or “Color Seasons”, is the process of determining the colors that best suit an individuals natural coloring. There are several ways of analyzing personal coloring. The most well-known is “seasonal” color analysis, which places individual coloring into four general categories: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.
According to a British study, there is evidence that suggests that the colors worn by a person can affect how they are perceived by others. For example: red and pink are thought to signal sexual attractiveness, particularly when worn by women, while dark colors like black or navy may convey the impression of authority – in turn making the wearer seem less approachable. The theories of color analysis also teach that certain colors are capable of emphasizing or, conversely, de-emphasizing an individuals attractiveness to others. Unflattering colors may make a person look pale, for instance, or draw attention to such “flaws” as wrinkles or uneven skin tone. Flattering colors are thought to have the opposite effect.
1. To determine which “Season” you fall into consult the diagram below. 2. Double Check:
In general what looks better on you: Blue, Green, and Violet? Or Red, Orange, and Yellow?
If you choose the cooler Blue, Green, and Violet hues then you are most likely a “Winter” or a “Summer”.
If you choose the warmer Red, Orange, and Yellow hues then you are most likely a “Spring” or an “Autumn”.
3. Click on the Season below that best suits you to see examples and learn more:
Summer
The colors of the Summer season have blue undertones, and most are virtually pastel versions of the Winter palette, (think of looking at the scenery through a summer haze) Pink roses, blue sea, white beaches are seen everywhere. Baby blue, slate blue, powder pink, seafoam green and slate grey are typical Summer colors.
People with “Summer” coloring are usually natural blondes, although extremely pale-skinned brunettes with pale blue eyes are also sometimes considered Summer’s. Usually a Summers skin tone is very fair; either porcelain white, or pale with pink cheeks. Darker blonde Summer’s with slightly darker skin may be able to pull of slightly darker colors than a regular Summer. A darker Summer may want to try burgundy, deep royal purple, and some of the colors that overlap with the other winter colors.
Typically people who have a Summer profile have a low level of contrast between their hair color, eye color and skin tone with, cool undertones of pink or blue. For you to look your best, choose soft, muted colors with cool undertones. You should strive for blended shades like heather gray and slate blue. Avoid intense, clear colors because they will drown you out. Rather than harsh black, try subdued navy blue hues, softer grays, blue-grays, charcoals, and rose browns. Your image will be complimented by these dusty colors instead of being overpowered.
Soft Summer: Medium grey, light grey, taupe, cocoa, rose, raspberry, rose pink, deep rose, baby pink, soft fuchsia, burgundy, light lemon yellow, light green, turquoise, jade, green, forest green, navy, periwinkle, lavender, dusty purple, teal.
Light Summer: Light grey, grey blue, cocoa, taupe, powder pink, rose pink, rose, coral pink, clear salmon, clear red, light lemon yellow, light aqua, blue green, spruce, light navy, sky blue, medium blue, lavender, violet.
Cool Summer: Light grey, grey blue, cocoa, buff, light brown, taupe, icy pink, soft fuchsia, deep rose, burgundy, turquoise, jade, green, aqua, light aqua, true aqua, lavender, dusty purple, warm dusty purple, periwinkle, navy.
Winter
The colors from this season are clear and icy, not unlike a winter’s day; always with subtle blue undertones. To name a few: cherry red, emerald green, royal blue, magenta and violet. The grass and trees have no trace of yellow. The sky is bright cold blue, white snow and icy sea come to mind in Winter.
People with “Winter” coloring are usually brunette’s, although natural white-blondes may also be Winter’s. Winters often have porcelain white or very pale skin, or olive skin (with a yellowish tinge). the latter often look good in the deepest winter colors. People of color may also be winter.
Typically people who have a Winter color profile have depth to their coloring and a lot of contrast between their hair color, eye color and skin tone. You will look best in intense deep, rich colors accented with jewel tones, or contrasted with bright white or icy pastels. Look for a dark suit with cool undertones like dark navy, charcoal and even black. Your coloring will be complimented by these deep, powerful colors. Never dress in earth tones, muted or powdery colors; they will make you look faded and sallow. Accents should be vibrant, and intense jewel tones. Be bold! Try wearing emerald green, ruby red, fuchsia, and royal blues.
Deep Winter: Black, charcoal, black-brown, red-brown, icy grey, grey, hot pink, true red, rust, aubergine, blue red, mint, lemon yellow, light green, emerald green, olive, purple, clear teal, bright periwinkle, blue, navy, chinese blue.
Clear Winter: Medium gray, charcoal, black, dark taupe, icy grey, taupe, icy blue, icy lavender, lavender, icy pink, clear red, raspberry, raspberry pink, aubergine, icy yellow, bright golden yellow, hot turquoise, emerald turquoise, purple, dark purple, royal blue, navy.
Cool Winter: Medium gray, charcoal, black, dark taupe, icy grey, taupe, icy blue, icy lavender, lavender, icy pink, clear red, raspberry, raspberry pink, aubergine, icy yellow, bright golden yellow, hot turquoise, emerald turquoise, purple, dark purple, royal blue, navy.
Color Inspiration – Purple, Green and Teal
Lately, I’ve been doing quite a bit of daydreaming about how I’d decorate the house that Matt and I hope to purchase in the near future. One thing I know for sure is that I want to use more neutrals in my decorating, but I can’t go with a completely neutral palette. That’s just not me. I love color way too much to live in a neutral home.
So I’ve just been waiting…waiting for inspiration to hit. Waiting to see that perfect color combo that, without hesitation and without contemplation, would make me say, “That’s IT!! That’s what I want!”
And I think I may have found it right on the cover of the latest issue of House Beautiful.
As soon as I pulled that magazine out of my mailbox and I saw those colors, I fell in love with them! The colors may not be clear in the photo above, but the purple is a beautiful grayed purple, along with teal and bright green.
But purple? I’ve never thought of myself as a “purple” kind of person. In fact, in our very first house, Matt and I decided to paint our upstairs living room purple. Let’s just say that those days were way before I honed my decorating skills, and my misuse of purple in that huge room just ruined any love I ever had for any shade of purple. Since then, any time I hear the word “purple” in regards to decorating, I kind of have this involuntary disgusted-face-scrunch response.
But perhaps that’s wearing off, because as soon as I saw that magazine cover, I had no thoughts of my misguided attempt to decorate with purple nine years ago. Instead, I just wanted to see more of this color combo.
Here are a few inspiration pictures that I found…
This photo from Amoroso Design via Houzz definitely captures the green and deep purple colors beautifully. Just add a bit of teal, and it would be perfect!!
And of course, if it’s color inspiration you’re looking for, Design Seeds is a perfect place to look. These colors are definitely on the right track, but I would make some modifications. I’d like to see the dark purple be a little deeper, lose the lilac color on the far left, and replace the dark greenish gray color with a light and bright neutral, like a natural linen color.
This living room from Lovehome is a bit too purple for my taste, but I do love the purple and green combo. But again, I’m thinking more of a deep purple, like the rug, rather than the light purple on the walls. And I want the dark, saturated colors set against a backdrop of light and bright neutrals with lots of natural textures. Grasscloth, perhaps?
This living room by Rachel Reider Interiors via Houzz is definitely getting closer to the mark…minus the baby blues, and with a lighter, brighter wall color.
I absolutely love the colors used in this dining room by Katie Riddler. The deep purple, dark teal, and green are amazing! But imagine them used more sparingly, and set against a neutral background. Yep…I love it!
And finally, this bedroom from Amanda Nisbet Design is pretty close to perfect for my taste. Lots of texture and neutrals, deep purple, green. Just take out the lilac (or is that pink?) items, substitute teal, and it would be just what I envision!
So what do you think of my color inspiration? I know the teal and green are similar to what I have now (although now I’m using more of an apple green), so it’s not too much of a stretch for me. But the purple is definitely out of my comfort zone. I really like it, though. And in a crazy way, I almost think that if I do decide to stick with these colors, this will be my chance to redeem myself after my gross misuse of purple in our first house. I want a re-do. And this time, I want to do it right!
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
