Pantone, Inc., an authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, has declared Blue Iris the color of 2008. It's a balanced blue-purple shade that they say "combines the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical and spiritual qualities of purple."

Many shades of blue turned up on the spring runways, so we can expect to see plenty of blue dresses, skirts, pants, tops and accessories hitting the stores shortly. If blue's your favorite color, this will be the year to stock up.

LEIANA FOUNDER ON O'AHU

Leana Hosken, founder of LeiAna, a line of Los Angeles-based skin care products, will make her first public appearances here on Sunday at two Don Quijote stores: from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Honolulu store and from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Kailua. It's a homecoming of sorts, as Hosken was born and raised on the Windward side. Hosken will be offering free samples of her products.

MAC LAUNCHES ORIGINALS COLLECTION

It's happened to all of us: Our favorite shade of lipstick or formula of eye shadow is discontinued and we have to begin all over again our search for the perfect one. MAC Cosmetics understands our pain.

In a nod to the new year, MAC pays tribute to some of its own classics with the launch of the new Originals Collection. It's an homage to popular product shades, both discontinued and existing, that their customers crave. A collaboration of the old and new, the collection introduces new textures and modified formulations of must-have lipsticks, Lipglasses, eye shadows and pigments. Available now at MAC stores and the MAC counters at Macy's.

Reach Paula Rath at paularath@aol.com.

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