String Theory: Taste the Rainbow

by Beth Hammarlund

It’s Pride Week, the most Rainbow-tastic of all weeks. So in the spirit of the season, it’s time to break out the best brights of summer. Instead of your everyday reds, greens and blues, try color-of-the-moment shades of poppy, cobalt, jade, chartreuse and canary.

Poppy Red: Poppy, tomato – whatever you want to call it, a splash of orange makes even the most grown-up red take itself less seriously. It’s both youthful and sophisticated. There are plenty of poppy-hued dresses gracing the racks at Urban Outfitters, J.Crew and Forever 21, as well as local boutiques, so there’s a wealth of styles to choose from. But don’t rule out a light blazer or cropped trousers. This outfit that Ashley Greene wore on David Letterman is my favorite incarnation of the color in years.

Canary Yellow: Yellow often falls out of fashion, then returns with a vengeance. It was a major player on the red carpet at the Costume Institute Gala at the Met this May, and Versace’s been having a love affair with bright bright yellow. Whatever your complexion, whether you’re Michelle Williams or Solange Knowles, the color can work for you. But there’s no need to wear it from head-to-toe. A pair of bright yellow skinny jeans look chic and casual when paired with a relaxed gray heather tee, and slightly distressed denim makes this Crayola bright feel understated.

Chartreuse: It’s no secret that I love this bright springy yellow-green. When designer Emma Berg created my wedding dress a year and a half ago, one of the only things I was sure of is that I wanted it to be chartreuse. This color won’t ever be exceptionally popular, but every few years, it has a major showing at New York Fashion Week. It’s cheery, it stands out in a crowd, and though it can be a difficult color to wear, it’s a great bet for redheads and strawberry blondes. (Which is awesome, because if you fall into that category, you’ve probably gotten sick of everyone telling you all the colors that gingers just can’t wear.)

Jade: Like canary yellow, jade is a color that works for so many people. It’s cool enough for blue-toned complexions, but the green warms it up enough that it’s flattering for anyone with yellow or olive undertones as well. A simple sundress or a flowing maxi dress would both stop traffic in this color. Try pairing it with bright orange lipstick or gold and silver metallic accessories.

Cobalt Blue: Any fans of the artwork of Yves Klein knows that there are few shades more classic and contemporary than cobalt blue. And when black, gray and navy feel too dull or heavy for summer, it’s a great alternative for cocktail dresses and suits. Blake Lively wore this stunning cobalt Elie Saab suit last November, but it would still be perfect for an evening event in the heavily air-conditioned Walker Art Center.