Pattern Profile: English Morn, Pacifica, Pastel Bouquet,
Shadow Iris, Veranda (1986)  

Over a 12 month period in the mid-1980s, Corning sought to revitalize Corelle's overall brand image with new product lines, new shapes and dozens of new patterns.  These were segmented into a three-tiered pricing strategy of Good, Better, Best.  The re-staging was complete mid-1986 with the launch of the Occasions line which sold at the highest price point.  All five patterns use the standard rimmed plate shape with a white background.

Veranda, Pacifica, Pastel Bouquet, English Morn, Shadow Iris.  Image from 1986 catalogue.

Pacifica, Shadow Iris and Veranda were the first to employ a brand new decorating technology able to place a contiguous design across the entire surface of the plate.  For English Morn and Pastel Bouquet, their designs are confined to the centre of the plate, with two coloured bands on the rim and edge.  Pacifica and Shadow Iris have one coloured band just on the edge. 

The ability to run a coloured band around the very edge of the plate also was an innovation, and this method seems to have improved over time.  The coloured bands on newer pieces are right on the edge, while bands on older pieces are a bit further in, leaving a white margin.

Porcelain cups, Pastel Bouquet.
  
Bowls and saucers were decorated only with matching coloured bands.  With this product line a new rimmed shape for the soup/cereal bowl was introduced.  It is one inch wider than the coupe bowl style, but with the same capacity.  Dessert bowls and serving bowls remained in the usual coupe shape. 

(Photo: English Morn close-up.)

Initially the sets included porcelain cups in the new 'Occasions' style: tall, narrow and elegantly tapered.  This cup style would evolve to Suprema, Corning Ware and then stoneware, so for the longest-lived patterns, cups of differing materials exist.  

Cream & sugar sets for the Occasions line were also a distinctive new shape and made of porcelain.  Many came with a Made in Japan label, as the original cups did.  Once this tapered style was discontinued, the newer rounded stoneware type from the Corelle Coordinates line would be offered in Shadow Iris.

Pacifica side plate, saucer and porcelain cup.

Pastel Bouquet Corning Ware debuted in 1985, before the Corelle version appeared.  A wide selection of matching Corning Ware was available in Pastel Bouquet & Shadow Iris.  Regular square Corning Ware shapes were made in sizes ranging from 2¾ cup Petite Pans to 5 Qt casseroles.  Other pieces include teapots and roasters.  For Shadow Iris, Menu-ette sets and larger long-handled saucepans also exist.

Of these initial Occasions patterns, Shadow Iris is by far the most popular, and is still in production now.  Veranda was last available in 1992.  English Morn was dropped quickly in late 1986 or early 1987.  Pacifica and Pastel Bouquet disappeared sometime between 1987 & 1992, and it seems that Pacifica was available longer than Pastel Bouquet.

Veranda: Bowl, Cup & Saucer, Cream & Sugar.  The cup is made of Suprema glass-ceramic, the sugar bowl and creamer are porcelain.

A different selection of Shadow Iris is decorated overseas for other markets and it is possible to find many non-standard pieces with a full decoration, and no coloured band at all.  These include: divided plates, 28/12/6 oz deep bowls, rimmed 4 oz bowl, shallow 6¾" bowl, flat-rim soup plate, among others.  On the domestic market, this pattern became available on square Corelle shapes in 2009.

Pastel Bouquet is also a current pattern overseas and these pieces are decorated quite differently from the original version.  Plates and bowls are coupe, and the pattern circles the rim, leaving the centre bare, with no coloured band on the edge.  It is also made in the square style for that market.

Shadow Iris 2¾ cup Petite Pan and Pastel Bouquet 6 cup Teapot.

Corelle Dinnerware:

Rimmed Plates:
Dinner Plate (10¼")
Luncheon Plate (9")
Side Plate (7¼")
Pie Plate, Multi-Dish (10¼") - Shadow Iris

Saucer (6¼") ‡

Porcelain Occasions Cup (8 oz)
Suprema Occasions Cup  (8 oz) - Shadow Iris, Veranda
Corning Ware Occasions Cup (8 oz) - Shadow Iris
Stoneware Occasions Cup (8 oz) - Shadow Iris

Occasions Cream & Sugar (tapered, porcelain)
Coordinates Cream & Sugar (rounded, stoneware) - Shadow Iris

Dessert Bowl (10 oz, 5-3/8") ‡
Rimmed Soup/Cereal Bowl (18 oz, 7¼") ‡
Soup Bowl (8½", coupe, shallow) ‡ - Shadow Iris
Deep Bowl (28 oz, 6¼") ‡ - Shadow Iris

1 Qt Serving Bowl (8½") ‡
Oval Platter (12½")

‡ - coloured bands:
English Morn = 2 grey bands;  Pacifica = taupe;  Pastel Bouquet = light green & light blue;  Shadow Iris = light green;  Veranda = light grey-blue.

Corning Ware A-10.  Some Pastel Bouquet items have a wrap-around decoration. 

Others:
Gemco produced tabletop accessories with an official version of Shadow Iris under the brand name 'Corning Coordinates for Corelle'.  These pieces are clear glass with a pattern on a white plastic lid.
 
 
Related Articles:
Plate Styles: Standard Rimmed
Corning Ware Teapots
Corning Ware Petite Pans
Pattern List: Occasions Cups
What is Suprema?

NEXT Occasions Profile.