What I Think About--Wearing Colors

Are you guilty of wearing one dominant color?  Is black your thing?  Maybe you are like me and you tend to lean towards "earthy tones" (which is fancy talk for "I wear a lot of browns").  Go look in your closet right now.  Is there one color that dominates (and is it really a color or, as I suspect, a neutral)?

Anyone else think it's time we break out some color? Be bold--be daring!  It's easy to do if you know some color tricks!

Look at the color wheel below.

Okay, so hopefully we all remember that the primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.  Secondary colors (which are made my mixing primary colors) are purple, green, and orange.  Color basics.  Check.

Now, how can you wear color?

1. Go with a monochromatic look.  Monochromatic means "one color."  On the color wheel above, find one color--say blue-green. There are roughly 9 levels of blue green. You can mix ANY of these levels and look good.  They go. Trust me.
2. Wear complimentary colors.  Complementary colors are directly across the wheel from each other: Red/Green, Blue/Orange, Yellow/Purple.  Mix and match complimentary colors.  They go.  If you don't want to be too bold (like if you want to wear blue and orange but don't want to look like a Denver Broncos fan, move in on the color wheel.  Wear peach and cornmeal blue.  It works.)
3. Wear color wheel neighbors.  Yep, if you wear colors next to each other on the wheel you'll look great.  They harmonize.  
4. Wear primary colors.  These are bold and look great together.  However, make sure you wear only 1-2 of the colors dominantly and one of the colors as a highlight or else you'll look like a clown.  For example, wear blue-jean shorts with a red top and a yellow belt or bracelet or a yellow dress with navy shoes and a red bag.  Another option is to wear softer versions of these colors: blue jeans, light blue top, maroon jewelry ...
5. Make your neutrals pop!  Brown, gray, black and white are generally regarded as neutrals (though really gray is the "real" neutral).  You can pretty much make anything look hot with neutrals.  If you must wear a brown tank top and khaki capris, make it pop with an eggplant purple woven scarf and yellow shoes.  

What rules am I following here?  #3 and #5.  Blues and Greens are color wheel neighbors and I'm making my neutral brown pop. You can't see it by my necklace is has brown, jade, and turquoise beads!

Some color warnings:

• Figure out if you are a Winter, Summer, Autumn, or Spring complexion and dress accordingly.
• Know what colors you look good in and wear a lot of them.  If you have a "summer/winter" complexion (pale skin and dark hair or dark hair with light eyes) you can probably pull of bright reds and pinks (not so great for "fall/spring" complexions like me!).
• If you are a summer/winter gal you can also wear black really well.  If you are a fall/spring gal (dark eyes, mousy hair) stay away from black--it makes you look sallow and those circles under your eyes just look darker. Sorry.  (P.S.  Summer/winter gals, it really ticks me off that you get black.  Oh well, at least I can have brown.)
• Fall/Spring girls think "jewel" tones.  Jade, peridot, amethyst, deep turquoise, garnet--these are great colors on us! (In the photo above I'm rocking a jade shirt and a turquoise bracelet).  
• Summer/Winter gals think icy and bold--fuschia, mint, navy.

A basic understanding of the color wheel=color wearing success!

Fashion: Resolution

Are you a Resolver?  Or Resolutioner?  Or whatever the word is that means you are a person who makes New Year's resolutions?  Well if so, stay tuned this week as I suggest 5 resolutions that I make (and keep) every year (with a twist, of course).

********************

I resolve to wear color.

Are you guilty of wearing one dominant color?  Is black your thing?  Maybe you are like me and you tend to lean towards "earthy tones" (which is fancy talk for "I wear a lot of browns").  Go look in your closet right now.  Is there one color that dominates (and is it really a color or, as I suspect, a neutral)?

Anyone else think it's time we break out some color? Be bold--be daring!  It's easy to do if you know some color tricks!

Look at the color wheel below.

Okay, so hopefully we all remember that the primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.  Secondary colors (which are made my mixing primary colors) are purple, green, and orange.  Color basics.  Check.

Now, how can you wear color? Here are 5 Easy Tips to wear color.

1. MONOCHROMATIC (A BIG WORD FOR "SAME")

Go with a monochromatic look.  Monochromatic means "one color."  On the color wheel above, find one color--say blue-green. There are roughly 9 levels of blue green. You can mix ANY of these levels and look good.  They go. Trust me.

Rocking a monochromatic look.  Photo Source.

2.  IT'S COMPLIMENTARY 
Wear complimentary colors.  Complementary colors are directly across the wheel from each other: Red/Green, Blue/Orange, Yellow/Purple.  Mix and match complimentary colors.  They go.  If you don't want to be too bold (like if you want to wear blue and orange but don't want to look like a Denver Broncos fan, move in on the color wheel.  Wear peach and cornmeal blue.  It works.)

So NOT a Bronco fan look!  Photo Source

3.  OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE
Wear primary colors.  These are bold and look great together.  However, make sure you wear only 1-2 of the colors dominantly and one of the colors as a highlight or else you'll look like a clown.  For example, wear blue-jean shorts with a red top and a yellow belt or bracelet or a yellow dress with navy shoes and a red bag.  Another option is to wear softer versions of these colors: blue jeans, light blue top, maroon jewelry ...

A fellow 30/30er rocking the primaries.  Photo Source

4.  ONE BOLD MOVE
If you must wear neutrals, make your neutrals pop!  Brown, gray, black and white are generally regarded as neutrals (though really gray is the "real" neutral).  You can pretty much make anything look hot with neutrals.  If you must wear a brown tank top and khaki capris, make it pop with an eggplant purple woven scarf and yellow shoes.  Add a dash of color with an accessory--it'll add some flare.  (Click this link to The Joy of Fashion for a brief tutorial on how to wear a pop of color!)

Photo Source

5.  MIXED BAG


Really mixing patterns has nothing to do with wearing color but I threw it in here because if you really want to wear neutrals, a nice way to do it is to mix patterns.  Mixing patterns within the same color family really makes an outfit stand out.  Just make sure you read "the rules" so you don't end up looking like a sad 70's sitcom neighbor.

Mixing patterns adds so much drama here you might not even notice the solid neutral color scheme.  Photo Source

Days of Play: Sharpie Tie Dye

Are you on Pinterest?

Okay, I just hacked a line from You've Got Mail. You know when Kathleen Kelly's bookstore employee girl ask employee guy "are on online?" Don't remember it.  I swear some days I feel like the only person in the world who has watched that movie over a million times. Sheesh, people. You're making me look bad.

 I'm on Pinterest (you can follow me here). Sometimes I feel like I need a Pintervention. But I don't really want one because I generally find some brilliant ideas I can try and share (or laugh about if I ruin).

Anyhow, under my PLAY WITH THIS board there is a tutorial for Sharpie tie dye. It looks cute, though I must admit I missed the Sharpie craze. $16 for markers that don't smell like fruit?  You've got to be kidding.  All this anti-Sharpieness aside, I decided to give this project a go.

I got this idea off of Art and Craft Tutorials but I'm pretty sure she didn't invent the idea.

What you will need:

• a pre-washed white t-shirt
• Sharpies in a variety of colors
• small cups (we opted for Dixie cups)
• rubber bands
• rubbing alcohol (mine was 70%)
• piece of cardboard 
• old medicine dropper

What to do:

1. Slide a piece of cardboard between your shirt from and back (so it doesn't bleed through to the back).
2. Figure out your design.  Or, if you are like me and you are gonna go random or go home, just start putting little cups under the shirt and then put a rubber band around the top.
3. Now, draw small designs in the middle of the cup.  SMALL.  Do not fill up the white space.  Just 10-15 little dots and designs (we tried peace signs, hearts, smiley faces, and suns).  ***WARNING*** In each area do NOT use complimentary colors.  When complimentary colors run together they equal brown.  Brown is not a fun tie dye color.  
4. With your medicine dropper, slowly (and yes, I mean slowly.  Drip.  Drip.  Drip) drip 8-10 drops of rubbing alcohol into the center of each cup.  Watch the colors bleed out.  ***NOTICE*** if you do NOT want really defined edges, go ahead and put a bit of alcohol on the edges of the cup to help facilitate bleeding.
5. Let dry.
6. Remove cardboard.
7. Throw in dryer for 20 minutes to "set" colors.
8. Wear.

FAQ:

• What are complimentary colors? Complimentary colors are across from one another on the color wheel. Red and green, orange and blue, purple and yellow.  Avoid mixing these.  I had great luck mixing greens/blues/yellows, yellows/oranges/pinks, pinks/purples/blues, etc.
• Can you wash this shirt?  Yes.  I would never encourage you to make something you can't use/wear.  Wash, dry, wear.  It's all good.
• Can I use other alcohol?  If by this you mean 90% rubbing alcohol, then yes.  If you mean "can I substitute vodka or tequila?" Then no.  Although this is easy enough to make you could probably drink and still come up with something amazing.

My daughter and I did this activity.  I made a shirt for her and she made one for a friend's birthday.  She is 6 and found it fascinating.  I'm 30ish and was too afraid to let the 3 year old try this craft.  If you want to try with your 3 year old, go ahead (but I'm not accountable if Sharpie gets everywhere).

Our supplies

One of our shirts.  I forgot photos of the other one.  

To Do Tuesday--Make Your Butt Look Smaller

There are seven words that make men shrivel up into raisins.

You are guilty of saying them.  Admit it.

Say it with me.

Does this make my butt look fat?

If you've said this to your husband, lately or ever, take a few minutes today to rid yourself of FOUR of the issues that make your butt look bigger.  Of course if you actually want your butt to be smaller, and not just appear smaller, I suggest diet and exercise.  Doctors have been recommending it for years!

Get rid of high waisted pants.

• High waists cling to the width of your bum while accentuating the length. All this means is high waistbands make your arse look like a football field.  (P.S.  Those high pants don't cover up tummy flab either. They just make you look like you have a front butt.  Not awesome.  Don't pull up to cover up!)
• If you have a pair (or many pairs) of these jeans, it's time to say adios! 
• Replace your mom-jeans with some hipsters to half the size of your bum in no time. (Something 1 inch below your belly button will suffice but if you can go a bit lower, do it!).  
• Remember not to go too low or all you'll do is switch mom butt for muffin top.

Friends don't let friends have mom butt (or mom jeans).

Get rid of pants that have words on the derrière.

• Here's a news flash but if you don't want to draw attention to your backside, it's probably best not to advertise on it.
• Even if it is Juicy, do you really want everyone to notice it?
• This goes double for other cute "look at my butt" words like: PINK, Sexy, and Baby (because sweetie, if that thing looks like there's a baby under there you shouldn't brag about it!).
• If you have pants with words on the butt, wear them when you are sick.  Wear them to bed.  Wear them to mop the floor.  Don't wear them out in public and then wonder if they make your butt look big.  They do. (There.  I said it!  Now leave your husband alone).

Did people miss Clinton Kelly's diatribe on the casualization of America?  

Pajamas are for bedtime, people!

 

Stay away from skinny jeans.

• Alas, one more trend that celebrates anorexia.  If you have a large bum, it is best to steer clear of skinny jeans because the lack of volume at your feet makes your tush look tremendous.
• Love the look? Then you'll love this caveat.  If you have bigger bum just even out your skinny jean proportions by tucking them into chunky, high-heeled boots.

Not that these gals need help, but you see how the boots even out the bum?

Avoid excess bulk below the belt.

• Layers are hot.  Cardigans are hot.  Purposely wearing thirteen shirts in hopes of hiding your butt is not hot.
• Adding more layers to your bum region just makes it look thicker.  Thick does not equal small.
• Choosing tops that cover your waistband is smart.  Stay away from short shirts.
• If you want to wear a longer shirt, make it well-fitted and a thin fabric.  
• Repeat after me.  The less bulk the better.

Is this look on or off?

Know what you can wear to make your butt look like a million bucks!

• Dark colors on bottom are key.  
• Don't wear jeans that are distressed on your butt.  It draws attention there.  This goes for  "look at me" pockets, too.
• For jeans, get a great pair of wide-legged jeans or boot cut jeans.  Both help with proportions.
• Wear low slung belts to make your bum look smaller and higher.
• Have clothing hug your body--not cling to it.  
• Wear A-Line skirts (it's all about proportions!).
• Accentuate another part of your body to take the focus off your tush.  Wear a bold statement necklace, a top with interest, a low-cut top if the girls are worth showing off a bit ...

Go!  

What I Saw in Vegas {5 Spring Must-Haves}

To finalize my week of Las Vegas inspired fashion, I'm going to leave you with the top 5 trends I foresee for Spring.  Sometimes scouring thrift stores for "retro" items work like a charm.  So enjoy these "inspirational" snippets and see what you can put together on a dime! (And then e-mail me a photo so I can enjoy you!).

5.  Gingham and Stripes
Fun patterns will be all around this Spring/Summer.  Classic stripes and gingham will be popular.  Wear a yellow gingham top with denim capris, neutral flip flops, and red jewelry.  Or wear white pants with a green top and a purple gingham scarf.  Or simple add a boldly colored striped canvas to an already fabulous outfit!

Tanks by Old Navy
Totes by Mossimo

#4 Denim and Navy
Denim (chambray) shirts and dresses were summer staples last year and the trend continues.  Whether it's a skirt, capris, shorts, or a jacket, denim is easy to wear.  If you don't want to wear denim, consider navy--a classic, timeless color.  Perhaps pair a navy top with white pants, a red gingham bag, red sandals, and a jean jacket.

As you go shopping or look in second hand stores, look for items or accessories in navy or denim!

Day Dresses by Forever 21
Totes by Lands' End Canvas

#3 Florals
If you just went "Ewwwww" I don't blame you.  I'm not a floral girl.  However, this spring florals will be all the rave.  You can find dainty feminine floral tops to pair with skinny cargo pants or find a bold, eclectic floral pattern to wear with denim capris.  If all else fails, a floral accessory-like a purse or scarf--might add a lot to a denim dress!

Shortsleeve Tops by Old Navy
Flats by Mossimo

#2 Polka Dots
Not just for your itsy bitsy teeney weenie bikinis!  You're gonna see polka dots on dresses, shoes, shirts, and accessories.  Polka dots are a cute pattern that can be overdone.  If you wear a large polka dot piece (say a dress or shirt), keep you accessories small and simple.  However, if you are using small polka dot pieces (purse or scarf), don't be afraid to mix patterns (click here for some mixed-pattern examples).  For instance, to white capris and a navy tank top, try mixing a red polka dot scarf and yellow striped bag.

Shortsleeve Tops by Joie
Athletic Shoes by Converse

#1 Coral
The color coral was in every shop I browsed through in Vegas--from Gap to Pucci!  Look for coral to be the "IT" color for Spring.  Lucky for us, coral was also HOT in the early 90s so second hand stores are likely to have a top or accessory!  If not, I found an awesome coral sweater at Gap for $8! (happy dance!).  Coral looks great with white, denim, teal, turquoise, navy and especially "pops" with gold jewelry!

Day Dresses by Delia's
Flats by Eddie Bauer

And a bonus!
To come full circle on this week o' Vegas fashion, let me remind you to wear BOLD colors.   

Day Dresses by Forever 21
Flats by Delia's

SEE IT. CLICK IT. FIND IT. BUY IT.
Did you know that you can click on ANY of the products featured on this site and it will give you buying information? And just so we are clear, I do NOT get kickbacks!

What I Saw in Vegas {Military Infusion}

If you want to know why I'm referring to Vegas, click here.

Since I'm a gal who tends to love neutrals, I'm a shoe in for drab olive greens and khakis.  I've even been known to wear camouflage in a non-goose killing kind of way.

So hip, hip hooray for continued military infused fashion!

Bags, pants, dresses ... you name it I saw it "militarized!"

Here are some of the best ways I saw military dress rocked in Vegas!

CARGO PANTS
When you think cargo pants if you think "frumpy" think again!  This season cargo pants are S.K.I.N.N.Y!  

Whether in camo, khaki, brown, or white, pair them with a feminine top and bold accessories.  Oh ya, and you can wear them with ballet flats, wedges, or sandals.

Skinny Pants by Gap
Bracelets by Forever 21

GIRLY MILITARY GEAR
It might seem counterintuitive but the HOT way to wear military now is to make it feminine and girly.  Pair cargo skinnies with a sequin top.  Wear a military jacket with a floral dress.  However you wear it, make the military v. girl glam contrast stark! 

Sandals by Forever 21
Shoulder Bags by Forever 21

FITTED MILITARY DRESS
Military dresses are gonna be hot this spring/summer.  They'll come in sleeved and tank style and in a gamut of military infused colors.  Wear them with heels, sandals, or wedges.  Pair with feminine scarf, colored belt, and a great bag!

Cocktail Dresses by Banana Republic
Wedges by Forever 21

MILITARY JACKET
Coats this season will have buckles and pockets galore.  Try to find a fitted trench coat or a slimming blazer.  Pair it with skinny jeans, a flowy tank top, great shoes, and a bold bracelet for a classic "I didn't even try this morning" look.
 

Skinny Denim by Gap
Flats by Forever 21

MILITARY ACCESSORIES
The sky is the limit when it comes to military inspired accessories (kind of ironic if you think of it).  If you don't want "big" military items then consider a fun bag or hat to add a bit of flair to your spring/summer wear!

Boots by Danner
Shoulder Bags by Mossimo

Military style--Like it? Love it? Hate it?

Frugal Fashion Friday: Wearing Black and Brown

There are many fashion rules that should be disregarded:

• No white after Labor Day (in case you haven't noticed white pants are hot!)
• Bags and shoes have to match (no, they should go but they don't have to match)
• You can't wear black and brown together (oh really?)

A few weeks ago I talked about wearing colors and posted a photo of an outfit and an anonymous reader asked if I was wearing black shoes.  In fact I was wearing dark chocolate brown shoes but that's besides the point.  The point is, the reader assumed black and brown can never be worn together.  In fact some fashion gurus might die at the mention though most of it have done it before (those khaki pants you wear with your black t-shirt proves it. Khaki is a brown tone!)

The truth is you CAN mix your browns and blacks. Just keep a few pointers in mind:

Find hues that compliment each other. If you choose chocolate brown and black, keep it at that.  Don't mix chocolate with camel with black or it might look a bit confusing.

Notice that one shade rich brown suit paired with black accessories.  FYI, I'd never wear that hat.

Mix the colors throughout the outfit.  If you wear black head to toe and then toss on a brown scarf it might "appear" to others as a mistake.  Correct this by having a brown bag, belt, or shoes to go with the scarf.

Leave it to the celebs to pull of this look.  I'm sorry but how great is Anne Hathaway's get up?

Consider accessories that pull your browns and blacks together.  Never underestimate the power of an accessory to pull together a whole outfit.  Animal print (minimal) is a great way to pull together brown and black.

 Um, yes please!

Finally, remember trends ebb and flow in the river of public opinion.  Personal style is all your own.  So if you want to rock brown and black, I encourage you to move in your own way! 

5 invisible cool points for anyone who starts singing the song I alluded to there!

Black and brown--have I made a convert of you?

Fashion Friday: Color Block

Spring fashion is majoring in BOLD colors.  Alone this looks like bright yellow jeans paired with navy striped tops and hot pink jewelry.  But one new trend is to put these bold colors together a la 1960s.

Called "COLOR BLOCKS" these combos are shocking yet chic.

Orange, pink, and white

Source: iamkhatu.blogspot.com via melissa on Pinterest

Classic Black, white and red

Source: whatiwore.tumblr.com via Jackie on Pinterest

Blue, red, and yellow

Source: atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com via Christine on Pinterest

If you don't want to buy a signature "color block" piece, DON'T! Look in your closet and pair whatever colors you've got!

 Red pants + Blue top

Source: peoplestylewatch.com via Coral on Pinterest

White shorts+red long sleeved T + blue and white stripes

Source: jcrew.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Denim capris + yellow sweater + orange coat

Source: girlbygibson.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Of course you could always do something subtle with your lipstick.

Source: lover-of-makeup.tumblr.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Maybe not.

However you do it, enjoy the colors! These bright, bold colors will leave us soon so wear them while you can!

Frugal Fashion Friday

Welcome to the first installment of Frugal Fashion Friday (look for similar posts 1-2 times a month)!  Here I hope to share some bargain outfit ideas from stores that aren't bank breakers (Old Navy v. Saks 5th Avenue).

Can't buy the stuff new?  Look in your closet and see if you can duplicate ideas with what you already have OR hit second hand stores like Plato's Closet or Goodwill.

Before we get into this I had to share one of my outfits.  Remember when I talked about wearing colors (if not you can read it here) and I said you could wear primary colors?  Well here's an example!

Gap yellow striped henley-$9.99
Levi Jeans--$30.00
Royal blue bangle--$.25 at Goodwill
Blue charm necklace--$0 (a gift from Uruguay)
Red Mary Janes--$14.99 from TJ Maxx (but free to me because they were a gift from my mom).

I should mention that these jeans are 8 years old and when I bought them, they didn't have that "destroyed denim" look.  Years of wearing them gives them the destroyed flair!

I should also mention that the shoes are my "signature" wardrobe piece.  I wear them as often and with as many outfits as possible!

Okay, now for some outfit inspiration for you!

When I look in magazine at Spring gear I'm always reminded that the clothes are meant for places that have 70 degree spring weather (as opposed to WY's 50 degree spring weather).  That in mind, I created some outfits that have great layers OR use some awesome spring sweaters.

PARK DAY
The first idea combines a spring sweater, cargo capris, and gladiator sandals for a look that chic enough to wear to lunch with friends but causal enough to chase kids around in.

Crewnecks & Scoopnecks by Gap
Sandals by Gap

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY
This look throws together layers--a great classic T and a trendy cardi paired with your favorite jeans and rain boots looks pulled together and practical.

Longsleeve Tops by Charlotte Russe
Boots by Charlotte Russe

SIMPLE BRUNCH
A classic look for church and brunch afterwards. I know what you're thinking--"white pants?? I have kids!" If you can't commit to white, this will work with trouser jeans or even khaki pants. Is anyone else thrilled that gladiator sandals and gold jewelry are making a comeback?

Button Front Tops by Charlotte Russe
Sandals by Forever 21

Hope these outfits inspire you as you create your new spring wardrobe!

Do you have a "look" you'd like me to create for you?  Let me know.

(P.S.  I did two posts today so if you need a date idea, scroll down.  Body paint anyone?).