an excert from STIR eEXTRA, January 2009

Dress your recession in purple.

This past fall, when Michelle Obama made an appearance in St. Paul, Minn., during the 2008 election season in a purple dress, she almost single-handedly assured us that this popular color, called a "new neutral" by some because of its versatility, would not be considered played out anytime soon. And for her President-elect husband, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and virtually every news anchor and talking head, purple has usurped red as the color of the power tie.

The color of royalty and enchantment is the "it" color this winter. Its many shades and hues are showing up in fashion apparel, accessories, cosmetics and personal-care products. Its hues range from deepest amethyst, grape and plum to delicate lilac, wisteria, orchid and pansy. Depending upon the shade, purple can be formal (eggplant), feminine (lavender), or warm and cozy (violet). And purple’s popularity doesn’t end there: The royal hue is popping up on walls, textiles, tabletops and even home furnishings.

"Purples, especially red-cast purples, are going to be important in 2009," said forecaster Michelle Lamb, editorial director for The Trend Curve. "I’m seeing dark, passionate plums, used along with black, and layered purples. It’s a feeling of luxe. Think purple velvet."

Why? Because purple symbolizes both luxury and fun — both things that people feel they can use more of these days.