What’s on Tap: Fall/Winter 2009 Colorcast

In addition to running  luxury nail care brand Perfect Formula, Shari Gottesman’s other post is at the helm Perfect Formula’s parent company, Cosmetic Coatings Corporation, a global industry leader that has been creating nail color collections for some of the most well known beauty companies for nearly two decades. While it’s just spring, Shari and her clients have already determined the key trends for Fall/Winter 2009.  Read on for the scoop!

“If there has been an overall theme for Fall/ Winter 09, I would say it has been something like ‘anti-color.’” says Shari.

“The direction our clients have given us has been varied as ever, but one predominant theme has been for colors that I would call dark, dirty, gritty, strong and even industrial. We are seeing very few of the bright, whimsical colors we saw last year.”

The top three trends for Fall/Winter, according to Shari, are:

Nude… to neutral taupe… to light gray. These creamy shades come off more as “anti-color” than soft, natural or overly feminine, as traditional nudes usually do. There is a harshness about these cool, minimal pigments.

Medium to dark violet and blackberry. These are deep plummy black shades, some of which have a chunky violet shimmer. They stand right on the cusp between classic sophistication and avant-garde high fashion.

Dark, dull metallics. These metallic, yet almost matte, blues, greens and grays are very gritty and post-modern in feel and make strong, deliberate statements. These are very “car like” colors.

“Some people think that the prolonged period of uncertainty has sparked this dark beauty mood, while others I know say that the trend signifies irreverence, strength and a refusal to go down quietly,” says Shari. “I don’t think anyone can say with certainly how a particular trend in fashion or beauty develops, but I don’t think there’s any doubt that the overall national mood is one obvious ingredient. For me, the cultural influence on fashion and beauty is one of the most fascinating aspects of this business.”

Will you be rocking any of these hues come Fall?