Champagne Yellow

The association between Champagne Yellow and champagne began in the 19th century. Wineries in the Champagne region of France discovered that in a good vintage, the wine in a flute glass presented a brighter, paler yellow than ordinary white wine—a yellow like diluted sunlight. The cellar master of Moët & Chandon called this color 'the wine's laughter.'

In the 1890s, the Art Nouveau movement used Champagne Yellow in poster design. Czech painter Alfons Mucha used Champagne Yellow as the main tone in his advertising posters for Moët & Chandon. The long hair and skirt of the goddess in the painting shimmered with the pale golden luster of champagne foam. This poster permanently linked Champagne Yellow with high-class celebration.

The cocktail culture of the 1920s Art Deco movement brought Champagne Yellow into the limelight. In the Hemingway Bar at the Paris Ritz, Champagne Yellow sofas were paired with black lacquered furniture. Amidst the clinking glasses, Champagne Yellow became a color footnote of the Jazz Age. F. Scott Fitzgerald repeatedly described crowds under champagne-colored lights in 'The Great Gatsby.'

In the mid-20th century, Champagne Yellow entered the wedding industry. The post-war baby boom spurred mass wedding consumption, and Champagne Yellow replaced pure white as a softer, more romantic wedding color. Bridal bouquets incorporated champagne roses, and banquet tablecloths were changed to champagne satin. Photographers found this color offered richer layers in black-and-white photos.

Modern Champagne Yellow has stepped down from the champagne flute into everyday life. IKEA has used Champagne Yellow as a limited color for its spring collections; champagne-colored plastic trays and storage boxes enter small apartments rented by young people. As morning sunlight filters through champagne-colored curtains onto the milk heated in the microwave, an ordinary day can also have a tiny celebration.