diff --git a/src/format.rs b/src/format.rs
index 3a6ff1c..62cf57e 100644
--- a/src/format.rs
+++ b/src/format.rs
@@ -1,63 +1,80 @@
 use std::io::{Error, Result};
 
+
+#[allow(dead_code)]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Format {
-    // reset both style and color
-    reset_all: String,
+    /// escape character to start a sequence
+    pub escape: String,
 
-    // text style
-    style: Styles,
+    /// prefix = escape + '['
+    pub prefix: String,
 
-    // text color
-    color: Colors,
+    /// reset both style and color
+    pub reset_all: String,
+
+    /// text style
+    pub style: Styles,
+
+    /// text color
+    pub color: Colors,
 }
 
+#[allow(dead_code)]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Styles {
-    // set style
-    set: StyleCodes,
+    /// set style
+    pub set: StyleCodes,
 
-    // reset style
-    reset: StyleCodes,
+    /// reset style
+    pub reset: StyleCodes,
 }
 
+#[allow(dead_code)]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct StyleCodes {
-    bold: String,
-    dim: String,
-    italic: String,
-    underline: String,
-    blink: String,
-    reverse: String,
-    invisible: String,
-    strikethrough: String,
+    pub bold: String,
+    pub dim: String,
+    pub italic: String,
+    pub underline: String,
+    pub blink: String,
+    pub reverse: String,
+    pub invisible: String,
+    pub strikethrough: String,
 }
 
+#[allow(dead_code)]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Colors {
-    foreground: ColorCodes,
-    background: ColorCodes,
+    pub foreground: ColorCodes,
+    pub background: ColorCodes,
 }
 
+#[allow(dead_code)]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct ColorCodes {
-    black: String,
-    red: String,
-    green: String,
-    yellow: String,
-    blue: String,
-    magenta: String,
-    cyan: String,
-    white: String,
-    default: String,
+    pub black: String,
+    pub red: String,
+    pub green: String,
+    pub yellow: String,
+    pub blue: String,
+    pub magenta: String,
+    pub cyan: String,
+    pub white: String,
+    pub default: String,
 }
 
+#[allow(dead_code)]
 impl Format {
-    const ESC: &str = "\x1B";
-    const PREFIX: &str = "\x1B[";
+    pub const ESC: &str = "\x1B";
+    pub const PREFIX: &str = "\x1B[";
+    pub const TERMINATION: &str = "m";
+    pub const RESET_STYLE: &str = "\x1B[0m";
 
     pub fn new() -> Format {
         Format {
+            escape: String::from(Self::ESC),
+            prefix: String::from(Self::PREFIX),
             reset_all: String::from("0"),
             style: Styles {
                 set: StyleCodes {
@@ -108,4 +125,38 @@ impl Format {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn generate_style_sequence(
+        &self,
+        style: Option<&Vec<String>>,
+        foreground: Option<&String>,
+        background: Option<&String>,
+    ) -> Result<String> {
+        if style.is_none() && foreground.is_none() && background.is_none() {
+            return Err(Error::other("-- generate_style_sequence called without arguments"));
+        }
+
+        // assemble sequence if called with arguments
+        let mut sequence = Vec::<String>::new();
+        if let Some(item) = style {
+            sequence.push_str(item);
+            sequence.push(';');
+        }
+        if let Some(item) = foreground {
+            sequence.push_str(item);
+            sequence.push(';');
+        }
+        if let Some(item) = background {
+            sequence.push_str(item);
+            sequence.push(';');
+        }
+        sequence.pop(); // remove final semicolon
+        sequence.push_str(Self::TERMINATION); // terminate sequence
+
+        sequence
+    }
+
+    pub fn generate_rgb_sequence(&self, ) -> String {
+
+        String::from("hi")
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index a607b5a..7b8a73d 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 mod arguments;
 mod config;
-mod stack;
 mod format;
+mod stack;
 
 use arguments::*;
 use clap::Parser;
 use config::Config;
+use format::Format;
 use stack::Stack;
 use std::env::{current_dir, var};
 use std::io::{Error, Result};
@@ -13,10 +14,14 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::str::FromStr;
 
 fn main() -> Result<()> {
+    let format: Format = format::Format::new();
     let args = match Arguments::try_parse() {
         Ok(a) => a,
         Err(e) => {
-            print!("echo '{}'", e);
+            print!(
+                "echo '{}{}m{}{}{}m'",
+                format.prefix, format.color.foreground.red, e, format.prefix, format.reset_all
+            );
             return Ok(());
         }
     };
@@ -35,7 +40,14 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
     };
 
     if res.is_err() {
-        print!("echo '{}'", res.unwrap_err());
+        print!(
+            "echo '{}{}m{}{}{}m'",
+            format.prefix,
+            format.color.foreground.red,
+            res.unwrap_err(),
+            format.prefix,
+            format.reset_all
+        );
     }
     Ok(())
 }
@@ -95,16 +107,15 @@ fn handle_bookmark(args: &BookmarkArgs, stack: &mut Stack) -> Result<()> {
             BookmarkAction::remove(args) => remove_bookmarks(&args, &mut config)?,
         };
     } else if args.name.is_some() {
-        let path = match config
-            .get_bookmarks()
-            .get(args.name.as_ref().unwrap())
-        {
+        let path = match config.get_bookmarks().get(args.name.as_ref().unwrap()) {
             Some(value) => value,
             None => return Err(Error::other("requested bookmark does not exist")),
         };
         push_path(path, stack)?;
     } else {
-        return Err(Error::other("-- provide either a `subcommand` or a `bookmark name`"));
+        return Err(Error::other(
+            "-- provide either a `subcommand` or a `bookmark name`",
+        ));
     }
     Ok(())
 }