Alone Together

Technologically, we're more connected than ever, thanks to laptops, cell phones and Blackberries that go with us everywhere. The paradox is that while we are multitasking and interfacing and up-and-downloading and teleconferencing like mad, the people with whom we're working are as likely to be in another time zone, on the other side of the world, as they are to be in an office on the other side of the building. We're in contact but out of touch, physically. This represents a massive lifestyle shift that is being reflected in colour trends. Neutrals are growing in importance, with a greater use of white, off white, beige and especially grey. Moss greens are being seen in combination with grey or brown, which creates a more updated look for them all. Navy is the emerging blue and is being seen now in high-end applications that will soon be trickling down to the mass market. Denim is coming back. Greens are shifting to cooler tones and gold and amber are the popular picks in the yellow family.

What we're seeing in colour trends reflects both the physical distancing we're experiencing in our lives - hence the cooler, more neutral tones - and our need to balance that with warmer, earth tones, individually and in combination. Colour has such an impact on our emotions, so it's not surprising that new research shows it can also have an affect on our health:

White produce is good for your heart. Eat whites, such as banana, cauliflower and garlic, and you'll lower your risk for heart disease, according to www.menshealth.com

In fact, each of the five colour categories targets different ailments:

Blues and purples: Keep memory sharp and reduce the risk of several kinds of cancer, including prostate, for example: plums, eggplant, blueberries and blackberries, purple grapes and raisins.

Greens: Protect bones, teeth and eyesight. Kiwi, spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, Brussel sprouts, cabbage and honeydew melon.

Whites: Lower LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Mushrooms, pears, bananas, cauliflower, onions and garlic.

Reds: Help prevent Alzheimer's disease and improve blood flow to the heart. Watermelons, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, cherries, tomatoes, radishes and red apples.

Yellows and oranges: Boost immune system and help prevent eye disease. Oranges, grapefruit, peaches, cantaloupe, mangoes, pineapple, squash, carrots, corn.

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution, published by News Service 11/22/06