(IMO) The American Museum of Natural History

I spent yesterday afternoon at the American Museum of Natural History doing research for a fashion color palette inspired by the 1.2% of the earth known as the coral reefs. After spending several hours exploring the Oceanic Hall it became clear that color inspiration derived from the coral reefs essentially means you are able to employ every color under the sun.

taken (by me) at the American Museum of Natural History

That said, I am now inspired to design using a pastel base with neon accents (or maybe the other way around)... It will be like combining FW09 Balenciaga with Marc Jacobs in some sort of sensational twist of fashion. So I guess the assignment has achieved its goal.

Balenciaga RTW FW09, Marc Jacobs RTW FW09
courtesy of Style.com

In addition to my exploration on color, I did learn some very cool things while at the Museum...

1. Mangrove trees take the salt out of salt water to create their own fresh water supply. As a result they could become essential should you ever be stranded on a deserted island à la Lost
2. It is truly amazing how many ocean creatures glow... thousands upon thousands. The world would be so much more interesting if humans emitted a neon glow!
3. A coral reef holds more varieties of color per square foot than almost any other environment on earth...it's also a living creature!
4. I then jaunted over to the African Mammals exhibit - because they are just too cool to resist. It was there I discovered, much to my horror, that I have in fact been closer to a buffalo in real life than I can get at the Natural History Museum... Brush with death; shudder...

UPDATE: The images below are the fruits of my labour! My own illustration is very much influenced by the talented Charlotte Ronson - I admit, I do not posses great talents as an illustrator - merci beaucoup for the inspiration.