Orchid, a radiant shade for 2014

Purple will reign in the new year, at least according to the design industry’s global color experts at Pantone, who recently proclaimed that Radiant Orchid will be 2014’s official color.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Catherine, duchess of Cambridge, have worn dresses in the pinky-purple hue, which Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, links to creativity, confidence, joy, love and health.

A mix of warm and cool tones, Radiant Orchid is universally flattering and mixes with almost any other color, whether khaki, gray, forest green, turquoise or electric yellow. But all you need is one dash of the vibrant shade -- think lipstick, heels or a jacket -- to wake up your look and stay au courant in 2014. -- Ingrid Schmidt