Color Me Black: Kia and Autotrader Show Off At New York Fashion Week

New York Fashion Week
The Kia Optima at New York Fashion Week in Autorader’s 2015 color of the year, metallic black. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

Autotrader announces car color of the year: metallic black.

New York Fashion Week is where designers enlist models to strut their stuff, much like the way car companies put their hot new cars on pedestals at annual car shows. And this year, Autotrader get in on the action, declaring metallic black the  2015 Car Color of the Year.

Autotrader, an online marketplace for new and used cars, analyzed searches and found that one in four car buyers put car color in for the first thing when they search for a car.

Cars are our accessories

New York Fashion Week
The quilted seats in the 2016 Kia Optima are right on trend. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars

Brian Moody, executive editor at Autotrader, said what we at AGirlsGuidetoCars have long known: many people consider their cars accessories, and look for iconic, timeless colors when car shopping. He pointed out elements in the 2016 Kia Optima, like quilted seats that mimic a quilted coat or handbag, as capitalizing on this trend.

Classic black: best resale value

Brian also said that choosing a black car can help its resale value. He noted that the copper color that seemed on trend just a few years ago can now make a car look dated, and that an older black car seems more contemporary.

New York Fashion Week
Just in case you forgot, the steering wheel makes your car choice clear. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars

Nichole Mrasek Autotrader’s public relations manager, cautioned that black cars can feel hotter and take longer to cool down, especially in warm climates, and they show every spot of dirt. But as Scotty Reiss writes, a cream interior against a black exterior looks sharp and the cream inside can make you feel cool and look better.

 


After black, the second most popular car colors are white and silver, not the red that many of us dream of.

Though black cars and little black dresses may be the most popular and a safe choice, Autotrader released a limited edition mail polish for only the boldest of fashionistas, in its car color of the year, metallic black.

Judy Antell
Judy Antell

Judy Antell, who is TravelingMom.com's Free in 50 States editor, lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her husband and three daughters. Between road trips to visit colleges, travel sports and seeing East Coast sights, she spends a lot of time on the road for a city girl.

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