Neon Brights

You're totally feeling it too, aren't you? JCrew, Madewell, Urban, and Rachel Zoe are all on the same wavelength right now with the blinding neons in their collections.

I thank the 80s for these bright hues, but I'll gladly leave the rest of the 80s in the past and try to wear these shades in a more classic way...a simple cardigan, a sassy shoe, a necklace or two...

Do you love or hate?

Back

To say that I was running late today is a bit of an understatement, gov'na! (best line from Easy A). Our travels back from Capetown were challenging to say the least, and I spent yesterday un-burrying myself from emails and phone calls.

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of Spring and totally hooked on these bold and bright colors!!

right so this image is not bright, but it is BOLD for sure. That corset looking top? Oh it's a dress...unbuttoned and worn as a top. I love it.

images via JCrew new arrivals and Madewell.

inspired by a look.

Emma Stone is completely inspiring lately. She has grown up and transformed into this gorgeous blond goddess...

I love the geometric shapes and neutral colors in her outfit below. She's bringing back the 2010 color Endive in the skirt and channeling Pantone's 2011 Spring colors in the soft blush of her cheeks.

Really.......I think I'm just ready for Spring. I'll get a taste of Summer in a few weeks when I head to South Africa and I can hardly wait!!!

In need of chocolate

preferably in this form today.

in an effort to distract myself, I focus in on Pantone's Fall colors again. Let's take a look at...oh what sounds good today...chocolate truffle? I agree!!!

channelling anything: feminine, rich, attitude, moody deep hues.

My mind is still thinking of chocolate (that I can eat).

she looks like she could use some too (and I like the chocolate brown poof on her head!)

How Tuesday: How to Wear Your Colors

I know, it's Wednesday, you say. Well quit pointing out the obvious!!! I had to leave work early to get my air conditioning units checked out (the news was not good...) and ran out of time to post this. Being that high electric bills are on my brain, I almost posted about how to save money off your electric bill. Maybe next week.

Now, my mother would be shocked to find out that I am an Autumn (remember my post two weeks ago?), so whenever I wanted to wear mustard and pumpkin and cream, she always took great care to be sure that the color closest to my face did not wash me out. Some days (especially now when I feel like Casper the ghost and need a tan desperately..) you just can't wear some colors. Makes you look a little under the weather, or like you've seen a ghost. I do have some tricks I thought I'd share.

1. If you're not sure that something is your color, wear another piece over or under it that definitely is your color. Often I wear a tank over a long sleeve tee, the long sleeve tee being the one I'm sure is my color, or I wear a cardigan over the tank.

2. If you are determined to wear a top but know you look washed out, put on some bronzer/blush to brighten your cheeks.

3. In an effort to avoid ever putting on something that isn't your color or just flat out won't work, print out your color chart, take it to your closet, and see if what you have fits the chart. You may be able to pass on some things to another color chart in your family!

4. If you are not satisfied with your color chart, dye your hair or get color contacts in an effort to fit into a different bracket. I think this tip is a little far fetched, but did you see how great Nicole Balch looked after dying her hair red?? It is on her 30 before 30 list!

5. If there's a color you really want to wear but just can't make it work, wear it a different way! On the bottom (skirt, pants), around your neck (necklace), in a pair of earrings, or on your nails! Today I have purple-y fuchsia nails and would never wear this color in clothing.

Any other tips from you?

How Tuesday: How to Color Coordinate Part I

Ok, so not so much about coordinating colors as about matching colors, but it was a catchy title :)

I love to mix patterns, prints, textures and colors. I love to layer, to pile it all on. I'll have a tank, a tee, a vest, and a belt on all in one day and not blink an eye. I thought as Part I, I'd share the color combinations I never make, because they remind me of something else...

The steps (mostly mental steps):

1. Avoid dressing like a bumblebee. This means no yellow and black. Lately, with yellow populating my closet more, this almost happens! I'll throw on a yellow tank and a black and white striped cardigan and black pants and voila! The walking bumble bee. No thanks...

2. Avoid dressing like a watermelon. I had this great pair of JCrew green chinos. The same day I bought (on sale) a bright pinky-melon colored henley. I put them on together, went out into the world, and got "oh cute! It's like watermelon colors!" Hmmm...I'm pretty sure you never want to be compared to a watermelon.

3. Avoid dressing like the American flag unless it is July 4th. I'm all about pride for your country, but keep it on the holiday. Red, navy, white...pairing just those together makes for an old LL Bean catalog or a parade outfit. I do wear navy and white stripes a lot, but I make sure to pair them with grey or khaki instead of adding any red. (Truth be told I have very little red in my entire closet!)

4. Avoid looking like an Easter egg. This one is sometimes difficult to spot before it's too late. It's Spring, you want to wear all the pastels in your closet and then BOOM! You have on 3 different pastels and you might as well be a zig-zag patterned Easter egg.

5. Avoid dressing like a pumpkin. Honestly what have we learned? Avoid dressing like a holiday when it is not that holiday! I think that's a simple rule to hold onto. In this case, orange and black together often create the Halloween effect, which can lead to you being compared to a pumpkin (another round object you should avoid being compared to).

Next we'll talk about some favorite color combinations (ahem, Julie, orange and grey??), how to wear them, and how to create them yourself.

How Tuesday on Thursday! How to determine your colors

I apologize. First I had work training and then I came down with a virus that took my normal 5'1", petite voice and turned it into a 295 pound man voice and made my head feel like a hot air balloon...

Nevertheless, I am determined to get to this post...

I was thinking that before we talk about color matching, you all must first determine what color you are, based on the seasons. My mom was the one who introduced this to me as a kid and some girlfriends of mine were discussing the color charts over the weekend while enjoying some wine (and chocolate for those who didn't

give it up for lent) at Chocolate Secrets.

This is actually the easiest How To because the steps are quite easy to follow. If you do not know the answers to these questions, I am concerned...

1. Determine your hair color.

2. Determine your skin tone.

3. Determine your eye color.

Wasn't that easy??! If only all of life's trials were that easy to solve.

Ok. Next? I'll tell you which category your answers put you into.

Spring: the colors of Spring reflect vigor and fresh new growth drawing from strong splashes of colors with distinct yellow undertones.

Hair	Skin	Eyes
Dark Brown	Golden Beige	Blue
Chestnut	Pink Beige	Green
Light Chestnut	Peach	Aqua
Red Blonde	Ivory	Golden Brown
Golden Blonde	Porcelain	Amber

And here is your color chart:

Summer: has soft colors and all the pastels for you to choose from; its dark colors are more muted than those of Winter. Black is not a flattering color close to the face for a Summer.

Hair	Skin	Eyes
Dark Chestnut	Pink beige	Grey
Mousy Brown	Ivory	Blue

And here is your color chart:

Autumn: This palette has rich, warm, golden colors, light and dark in tones both muted and vivid. Strong Autumns look good in black. And here is your color chart:

Hair	Skin	Eyes
Brown	Dark Brown	Dark Brown
Dark Brown	Olive	Golden Brown
Chestnut	Golden Brown	Amber
Red	Warm Beige	Hazel
Copper	Ivory	Green

And here is your color chart:

Winter: this palette has the range of all dark, vivid, and bright colors. Winter also has all those light, icy colors.

Hair	Skin	Eyes
Black	Cold Brown	Brown Black
Dark chestnut	Olive	Chestnut
Ash Chestnut	Neutral Beige	Hazel
Salt & Pepper	Sallow Beige	Gray
White	Pink Beige	Blue

And this is your color chart:

What did you end up with? I have Dark Brown hair, Olive skin, and Hazel/Green eyes. That puts me in the Autumn/Winter categories. I am going to study this more and decide which I better fit..