The Pebble Blue Design Company

Keeping an Eye on the Key Trends and Colours for Spring/Summer 2008 ........

Within this section, we have collated together a quick summary of some of the current information available on key trends and colourways to look out for in fashion and jewellery as we move into Spring/Summer 2008.  We also provide some information here on birthstones, gemstones - their meanings and properties, and some tips on caring for your jewellery.  We hope you find this section a useful quick reference guide.

Vogue Fashion Summary for Spring/Summer 2008.......

"There is a soft, light-as-air feeling to spring. Sheer silk dresses are so delicate they might fly off at a hint of summer breeze; florals burst into bloom, while sweet violet in all its sugared shades is the new spotlight colour. Feminine, flared and flirty, the dirndl skirt suits the season's free-spirited mood, and even denim turns soft, in faded blue washes and wispy frayed seams. The ultimate indulgence? Hand-painted fabrics. The emblem you must have? Stars, stars and stars".

Source: www.vogue.com

Vogue's Pick of the Key Looks .........

Artistic Licence - fashion and art collide in an explosion of painterly prints.  Dramatic abstract daubs and romantic watercolour washes adorn daytime frocks and evening gowns - everyone a masterpiece;

Swishy Skirts - Spring's skirts come cinched at the waist and cut high at the hem, and the dirndl shape reigns supreme. Decorative extras - sunray pleats, prints and pockets - add extra oomph ;

On Safari - Journey into luxury with a refined take on the colonialist's costume. Belted jackets, crisp shorts and tan limbs are the style-hunter's quarry ;

Ultra Violet - Designers sweetened the collections with silks and chiffons in sugary shades of purple - from subtle lilac to sumptuous jacaranda ;

Lighten Up - Put darkest indigo on hold - the news in denim is pale and soft. Ripped jeans and frayed jean jackets have a youthful flair ;

The All-in-One - Fashion's fast friend, the all-in-one, returns in myriad guises - from cute cropped playsuits in girlish cotton to high-octane jumpsuits in sexy silk jersey ;

Mixed Bouquet - Floral prints burst into bloom once again. From simple sketched sprigs to delicate tea roses, girlish daises, vibrant azaleas and lush, exotic hibiscus ;

The New Tailoring - Spring suiting follows a softly structured line. Great cut is all-important: note the sharp shoulders, natty waistcoats and slim tapered trousers;

Going Global - Native-American embroidery, African prints, Japanese kimonos, Indian saris... Designers have travelled far and wide this season, bringing home decorative looks with world-class style;

Spots, Stars and Stripes - Join the fashion parade: spring style has a celebratory air, as designers fly the flag for classic prints. Polka dots, five-pointed stars and graphic stripes have a new grown-up glamour ;

Sheer Bliss - Sheaths of barely-there chiffon and feather-light organza create a look that's as light as air. Too wispy? Graphic cuts and splashes of colour keep the mood contemporary ;

Striptease - Get undressed: lingerie looks peppered the collections, creating a boudoir style that's built for seduction ;

Warrior Queen - Tough gladiator dresses are a fierce foil to the season's soft mood. Body harnesses, heavy belts and strappy shoes are the battle-ready extras ;

Deluxe Details - Breeze-caught feathers, couture folds, extravagant ruffles, elaborate decorative additions... Creativity reached new heights this season with these exquisite adornments ;

The Clutch - If you invest in one special bag this spring, make it a clutch: it's the new season's star buy;

The Shoes - ensure feet are fanciful. Extreme wedges, gladiator boots and peep-toes lead the way;

Hats, Belts, Sunglasses and Bangles - Picture hats and uptown turbans, quirky belts (cinch high), eyewear that ranges from supersized to super-small, and bundles of bangles.

Pantone Colour Fashion Report for Spring 2008

The colour forecast from Pantone for Spring has neutrals dominating the forecast and few bright colors, namely bright yellow, thrown into the mix. The one thing all the colors do have in common is that they're definitely softer than the cherry red, black black, and stark whites of the past few seasons.

“The spring ‘08 color palette perfectly reflects the cheerfulness of the season,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Stabilizing neutrals combined with pops of brighter colors to create unique, distinctive looks are the basis for a great spring and summer wardrobe.”

The one color I'm seeing alot of on the runways is Cantaloupe- the soft muted orange- which you often see paired with chocolate brown or it's complementary color, navy blue, which also has a strong presence on the runway. I also see quite a bit of Freesia, a brighter, more intense version of this fall's mustard yellow, that is really popular this fall, olive green, and the usual khaki and cream.

However, my FAVORITE color for spring 2008 is snorkel blue".

Read the full PANTONE® Fashion Color Report for Spring 2008 at www.pantone.com/downloads/articles/pdfs/PANTONE%20Fashion%20Color%20Report%20Spring%2008.pdf

Months and their Signs and Birthstones ................

January (Capricorn)

Garnet is the modern and traditional birthstone with Emerald being the mystical birthstone;

February (Aquarius)

Amethyst is the modern and traditional birthstone with Bloodstone as the mystical birthstone;

March (Pisces)

Aquamarine is the modern birthstone, Bloodstone is the traditional birthstone and Jade is the mystical birthstone;

April (Aries)

Crystal is the modern birthstone, Diamond is the traditional birthstone and Opal is the mystical birthstone;

May (Taurus)

Emerald is the modern and traditional birthstone and Sapphire is the mystical birthstone;

June (Gemini)

Pearl or moonstone is the modern birthstone, Alexandrite is the traditiona birthstone and Moonstone is the mystical birthstone;

July (Cancer)

Ruby is the modern, traditional and mystical birthstone for this month;

August (Leo)

Peridot is the modern birthstone, Sardonyx is the traditional birthstone and Diamond is the mystical birthstone;

September (Virgo)

Sapphire is the modern and traditional birthstone with Agate being the mystical birthstone;

October (Libra)

Pink Opal and Tourmaline are the modern birthstones, Citrine is the traditional birthstone with Jasper being the mystical birthstone;

November (Scorpio)

Yellow Topaz and Citrine are the modern birthstones, Citrine is the traditional birthstone with Pearl being the mystical birthstone;

December (Sagittarius)

Blue Topaz or Turquoise is the modern birthstone, Blue Zircon, Turquoise and Lapiz Lazuli are the traditional birthstones with Onyx being the mystical birthstone.

Crystals/Gemstones and associated Properties .........

Agate - abundance, good luck, harmony, courage.  Set in gold, said to speed up the metabolism

Amber - romantic love, purification, wisdom; said to enhance psychic abilities and to be excellent in meditation;

Amethyst - said to soothe and protect and enhance feelings of contentment and a connection to one's spirituality.  A stone of peace and strength.

Aquamarine - calming, soothing, alleviates fears and phobias.

Amazonite - said to be a soothing stone - it is said to be able to absorb microwaves and cell phone emanations and relieves stress. It is also said to help the wearer to see both sides of a problem.

Aventurine - creativity, motivation, leadership, imagination, prosperity and abundance.

Black Obsidian - change, transformation, purification, protection.

Carnelian - said to help with energy flow and vitality, creativity, past life recall, emotional warmth, courage, happiness, self-esteem, vitality.

Citrine - said to be an energiser and associated with prosperity, generosity, creativity, motivation and clearing congestion from internal organs;

Emerald - associated with love, cleansing clairvoyance, strengthening memory, fertility and protection.

Flourite - is associated with flouride and may strengthen the teeth and bones as well as said to help with unblocking energy, balancing and protection;

Garnet - associated with love and passion, sensual energy, self-confidence, social popularity, joy and expressions of desire.

Jade - said to channel passions in constructive ways, it is a symbol of purity and serenity and said to help heal disfunctional relationships. Psychologically, Jade is said to be a stablising stone - stablising the personality and integrating the mind with the body.

Jasper - said to intensity primal awareness, protection, energises root chakra.

Labradorite - said to be a highly mystical and protective stone and a bringer of light.  It is said to raise consciousness and deflect unwanted energies and prevent energy becoming drained.

Lapiz Lazuli - said to aid with depression, sadness, grief and aid tranquility, increase the pyschic senses.

Malachite - they say this stone must be cleaned after wearing as it absorbs negativity very easily.  Associated however with sympathy and compassion for others, purfiication and releasing negativity.

Moonstone - a very feminine stone, moonstone is said to be excellent for menstrual cramps, bringing good luck, aiding hypnotherapy, and releasing feminine energies.  It is also the stone of new beginnings.

Quartz - is said to amplify and strengthen the whole auric field, bring calm and clarity and amplify the energies of other stones placed by it.  Felt to be a wonderful stone for meditation and healing.

Rose Quartz - associated with compassion, it is said to be the stone of unconditional love and peace and is the most loving of all gemstones - helping to heal emotional issues and imbalances of the heart.  It is also said to help with childhood issues, fostering a love of humanity the lover, children and self.

Rutilated Quartz - said to discipline and structure our approach to life.  It is also said to help stabilise marriages and relationships.

Smokey Quartz - said to neutralise harmful influences and provide protection.

Tiger's Eye - said to provide protection, enhance courage, balance and willpower.

Turquoise - said to be an all purpose stone which has an emphasis on balancing and healing the physical organs of the body and providing strength energy and wisdom.  It is also said to strengthen the auric field and help to neutralise and repel environmental negativity.

Some Tips on Caring for your Jewellery ...........

To keep jewelry sparkling at home, remember the following tips:

- Use a soft cloth to wipe away dirt after each wearing.

- Apply lotion, perfume and hairspray before putting on jewelry and  ideally do not spray perfume or put anything alcohol based on your skin whilst wearing jewellery.

- Acrylic and Resin jewellery can be easily damaged by contact with alcohol based products especially if not cleaned after wearing as the the alcohol is left on the jewellery and acts as a corrosive.  If accidental contact with these products occurs, wash your jewellery with cold water and a mild, unscented, non deodorant soap and dry carefully with a clean cloth or kitchen towel.

- Coloured acrylic and resins can fade in bright sunlight so avoid leaving these pieces on window ledges.

- Never soak pearls. Clean them gently after every wearing with a soft, damp cloth.   Due to their organic nature, pearls are both soft and porous.

- Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and a mild, unscented, nondeodorant soap to gently clean fine jewelry.

- Clean diamonds with vodka. Spray or pour over the stones and pat dry for a brilliant shine.

- If you have costume jewelry that doesn't have glue holding the setting in place, you can clean the pieces easily by dropping them in a bowl of warm water and two denture-cleaning tablets. Let them soak for five minutes or so, then dry carefully. For more intricate pieces, dry them with a hair dryer on a cool setting.

- Storing silver jewellery in sealed plastic bags can help prevent silver oxidising and tarnishing.

- When using strong silver dip - do make sure the instructions are followed and the jewellery is immersed only for a few seconds to remove any tarnish.  Overdipping can cause silver to turn brown.  It is also important to wash your hands as some of the stronger dips have carcinogenic properties and warnings on the labels to this effect.

- Store each piece of gemstone jewellery separately to avoid harder stones scratching softer ones.

- Think twice before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds and rubies and sapphires may be fine but many other gems many not be, in particular emerald, opal, pearls, peridot: when in doubt, leave it out.

- Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite, require special care because they are rocks, not crystals of a single mineral like ransparent gems. There gem materials should just be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and discolor it. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner and never use ammonia or any chemical solution.

- Opals require special care - wipe after use with a soft dry or slightly damp cloth.  Never wash or scrub your opals.

- Have a jeweller restring your pearl or bead necklaces every two years (or annually if you wear them frequently).

- It is essential that you not allow your diamond to come into contact with Chlorine bleach when doing household chores.

- Always check for loose gems and clasps before wearing your jewelry.

We hope this is helpful.