A: 
UILabel * itemLabel = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:rectArea];
itemLabel.text = @"Item";   
itemLabel.textColor = [UIColor whiteColor];
itemLabel.font = [UIFont boldSystemFontOfSize:22.0];
CodingWithoutComments
+3  A: 

You might also want to add a shadow?

itemLabel.shadowColor = [UIColor colorWithRed:0 green:0 blue:0 alpha:0.5];
itemLabel.shadowOffset = CGSizeMake(0, -1.0);
Alex Reynolds
+1  A: 

This other post might help you here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/599405/iphone-navigation-bar-title-text-color

dieselmcfadden