Berry good!

Eggplant, wine, burgundy, plum, beet, raisin and raspberry: Is your mouth watering? These fruity shades are just what your wardrobe is hungering for this season.

There's a good chance that you've already been building purples into your wardrobe. It has been a hot color on the runways since last fall and it is still gaining momentum -- popping up in menswear, children's clothing and even interior design.

There's a reason for the hue's current popularity: "Purple is having its moment because we're living in a time that's very complex." said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Institute and author of "Colors for Your Every Mood." "In a color like purple, you have the complexity and creativity that you don't have in a straight primary color."

What differentiates the current purple trend from last fall's iteration is the exploration of the full range of its many shades and combining them in fresh ways.

"Berry tones look terrific when they're worn together. There's a real modernity when you bring all of those colors together," said Ken Downing, fashion director of Neiman Marcus, who identified "berries" as one of fall's top seven trends. One of his favorite runway shows, Proenza Schouler, incorporated bright tights in rich wines and plums.

Wearing multiple berry shades isn't as difficult as it seems. "Think of a bowl of mixed berries and that's how you need to think of your wardrobe," Downing advised, suggesting a cranberry dress with magenta tights and purple shoes and clutch. You could also add a totally different color into the mix such as a green dress with purple tights and magenta shoes.

Walk through any boutique or big-box store right now and you'll find evidence of purple's prominence. That's the case at the Local Motion boutique in Uptown Minneapolis, where you'll find mauve baby-doll tops and magenta scarves. "Shoppers gravitate toward berries because they look great with most people's coloring, unlike yellow," said owner Barb Heinrich. You might recall that yellow has enjoyed recent popularity, as well. In fact, you can still wear gold tones and even mix them with berry colors. (Those Vikings and Gophers might be on to something, but in Minnesota, you probably want to avoid glaring interpretations.)

With retail clothing sales straggling, it's not practical for most fashionistas and recessionistas to invest in a whole new berry-color wardrobe. "When the economy is dicey, people go back to using neutral colors in big-ticket items. However, when you've done all the black you need to do, you want to have fun and wear berry-colored pumps and sparkling jewels," said Eiseman. An accessory or even those aforementioned tights can provide enough color to boost your neutrals and look on-trend.

Luckily, purple purchasers won't have to worry about looking last-season come spring 2009. "Berry pinks will go into spring and floral patterns for fall will also translate. Designers are using many transitional fabrics, so it's all much more seasonless," said Downing. "I like to think fashion thinks ahead, so you're not leaving orphans in the closet."

Sara Glassman • 612-673-7310