by Melissa Miles McCarter

Created on: November 17, 2009

Traditionally, winters colors tend to be darker and more holiday-oriented than other times of the year. As a result, many clothes in the winter season come in black, red and brown. This season, 2010, winter colors trends tend to reflect the different and cheaper materials used by designers as a result of the economic downturn. Here are some key color trends that you can see this winter season 2010:

One trend we can clearly see in the fashion made available this coming season is a departure from strong statement colors which helps the clothes last longer and age at a slower rate and involves a safer design choice allowing you to mix and match with more of your wardrobe during these times of economic instability. The color options are similar to those offered in the past few years, highlighting nature inspired shades, while still departing from the Spring's richer color tones. Such colors that transcend seasons include American beauty, the shade of true red that is flattering to all skin tones and neutral Ivory pairs with everything.

As Oprah recently announced on a recent episode looking at the new winter fashions of 2010, gray is now the new black. There are many options in the stores now when it comes to the color gray. One way to wear gray is in monochrome, even head to toe, mixing different tips of gray textures in a sleek look. One of the benefits of gray in fashion is that it can be a serious color like black, while still seeming light and bright. Gray can be perfect office wear while when accessorized with jewelry, a great color choice for a night out. Grey doesn't wash out the skin tone like black can, and doesn't show wrinkles or dirt as much.

Monochrome is a trend in pairing colors, with different shades of the same color, like charcoal and black, being worn all together. Monochrome colors can be mixed up by having different pieces are in different types of material and textures. Winter is great for layering and the monochrome scheme pulls together a layered outfit excellently. Monochrome color schemes also make the figure look slimmer, with eye being able to pass over an outfit without any distractions. This season monochrome doesn't necessarily mean all black, with browns, metallics, burnt sienna, indigo blues being presented in a monochrome scheme. Monochrome presentations of color can be easily jazzed up with a pop of color, and is easily transferable into next season.

Keeping in mind that what you buy today in fashion might be in your wardrobe for longer than a season, the color choices for Winter 2010 gives you lots of options for having a versatile and stylish look. Whether it is for the office, home or out on the town, you can have fun with color without breaking the bank this season.

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