Dishing Out Color

When I was in my early 20's, I had some extra money and wanted to make an investment in China tableware. So I marched myself to the local Macy's and stayed there for what seemed like hours, trying to decide on my first set of fine china.

Of course I was looking at all the pretty patterns and colors. Do I want a solid plate, one with a pattern, bright color, dark color? I had no idea.

Macy's

Let me also tell you that back when I was 20, it was the 80's and most of us know what colors were popular than. See what I mean?

Everyone likes flowers right? 

Maybe a floral plate would be nice?

Black and white goes it everything - maybe this?

Wow - classic Lenox with gold banding - how boring! 

Who'd want a plain old white plate?

Well my friends, think back when you were 20. I keep saying to myself if I only knew then what I know now … you've said it too right? So anyway. This is what I did.

I chose the Mikasa Purple Crocus pattern. Why? Because I love flowers, crocus's symbolize the beginning of spring and even back then I thought purple in any shade was a pretty color. Well, unbeknownst to me the best choice would have been to go with the “boring” white Lenox.

Is it a pretty plate? I think so but do you know how gross food looks beside purple? It's very distracting when food is on this plate because I always see the flowers poking through the food - it's almost like a game. Try to eat all the food on my plate so I can uncover the flowers. Not a good game to play by the way.

Another disadvantage of this plate is that's is very seasonal. Crocus's are symbolic of new beginnings, much like Spring. I tried using this plate at Thanksgiving and it was just so very wrong.

So ladies, gentlemen, brides to be, whoever is thinking about purchasing fine china, definitely consider a white or soft white plate with a little bit of gold or platinum banding on it. It's timeless and will go with any table setting you have, any meal will look good on it and you can use it year round. 

Worried that it's too boring? Not at all! You can always bring color onto your table with napkins, tablecloths, flowers - just about anything. 

So if I had to do it again, yes I would probably choose a classic soft white plate but also still choose something a little whimsical too - just to make the Color Specialist part of me happy too!