The Color You Need Now ... Camel

Its timeless appeal, patrician good looks, and fresh attitude have long made camel a favorite for fashion designers, from Ralph Lauren and the late Bill Blass to Derek Lam.

• Spice it up with red. We like it covering a camelback sofa in a red room.

• Keep the color classic with shades of white and blue. Paint your walls camel and create some subtle contrasts with periwinkle velvets and white linens.

• Make it edgy with black. A black-lacquer table stands out surrounded by ebony chairs upholstered in a camel-colored leather the same way a black turtleneck looks great under a camel hair coat.

• Strike a balance with colors that pop. Tone down a bright orange or electric turquoise with subdued camel mohair.