Red

At the risk of looking like a huge stop sign I wore this blazer. I had fussed over what to wear it with and thought that since it’s such a powerful color that it could stand on its own. I wore these plain gray cargo pants and black top because they offer a casual look. The red blazer gives them oomph and makes for an exciting outfit.   Red is such a statement color.  Lately I’ve seen blazers of different colors, textures and patterns. I think moving forward in 2012 that we will see more of this trend.

(Jacket: Vintage Ralph Lauren, Pants and Top: Marshalls, Boots: Steve Madden)

Jewel Tones

I’m loving suede in jewel tone colors. The texture is already lavish and when you add lush and juicy hues it elevates the material to another level of fabulousness. I incorporated two shades of suede-like items into my look. The color of this jumper is the reason it ended up on my radar. I haven’t worn this shirt in a while but I thought that it suited my retro vibe quite well. I went for booties instead of knee boots which I initially considered. I wanted to add some length to my appearance. I think the knee boots would’ve made me seem shorter.   

I’m a visual person and when I look at something, color is  the first thing that jumps out at me. Color moves me. It can inspire and change my mood. Color makes the world vivid and full of wonder. I’m now on a mission to find a saffron shaded suede mini. Wouldn’t that be an amazing garment?

(Jumper: Thrifted, Shirt; Marshalls, Booties: H&M, Necklace: DIY)

Here’s a quick DIY jewelry job. I was in the fabric store and saw all these cool metal chains. I bought 2 feet of metal (that I’m wearing as a necklace in these photos). I put the chain around my neck and let the ends loose. I took one end of the chain and fed it through one of the loops on the opposite end. I fed enough through so that some of the chain would hang. And voilà! You have your necklace. What’s great about this is that you can adjust it to make the chain tighter or loser. It’s your prerogative!

Feeling Blue

Who knew that dressing in the same hue could be hip? Monochromatic style can update your look and also inspire you to put together outfits you haven’t considered wearing in the past. Be sure to look for contrast within the same tone. You can pair charcoal with heather gray or navy with sky blue. It might take some time to get the look just right but experiment to see what works.  Another possibility is incorporating different textures to. This can also help to break up the monotony of the monochromatic look so that your appearance doesn’t’ fall flat.

(Shirt: Vintage,  Similar Jumper, Boots: Timberland)

Neutral Ground

I love neutral colors. I think these colors are complimentary to my skin tone. Neutral tones are classic and will forever be in style. Another plus to wearing neutral and light colors is that it lifts my spirits. There’s something about the light colors that make me feel light and free. Pairing neutral colors with bright colors is a nice contrast too. This can energize an outfit. I usually like neutral colored bottoms (pants and skirts) and add color on top (shirts and sweaters). I don’t like to wear too many neutrals in one outfit to avoid looking washed out or dull.

Try assembling a neutral colored outfit using pieces from your wardrobe. You can add color to your outfit with accessories and/or shoes. Pair khaki or light neutral colored shorts and a bright blue, red, or even a shimmery top. You can even go bold with your makeup by using a punchy lip color or bright shadow. Be cautious to not go overboard with the bright makeup. Choose one feature to go bold with your look.

 

 

(Dress: Anne Klein, Vest: Eliott Lauren, Shoes: Bucco)