Friday Color Combo of the WEEK!!!!

Ok so this week in honor of Halloween I am choosing Burnt Orange and Sky Blue. These colors just really flatter each other, mainly because they are complimentary. I just really love these colors for fall because of the balance between the autumn colors and the pastel color of blue. The contrast of the brownish blue next to the pale, light blue is beautiful. You can wear these colors anywhere. I love wearing opposites and these colors work well as opposites so I love to wear them together!!!

 

Ruffles everywhere!!!

 

I really love Ruffles on everything: skirts, blouses, shoes, purses, dresses, undies, etc. They are just super feminine mainly due to the added frills and volume. I am all about added volume and illusions. Ruffles create added volume that distracts the eye from your body's unflattering volume. Lets just say it hides that little extra weight in a really pretty way.

Ruffles also allude to luxury due to the added fabric in the design. Ruffles have been around for forever, well since the 1400s when they appeared as little details on women's and men's chemises. They then grew and grew to be more and more elaborate to show status. Ruffles now don't denote a status in society but they are on trend.

I love wearing ruffles near my face to create a frame that enhances my jawline. I have an oval face so I like to wear more v necks and scoop necks that mirror my chin. My favorite shirt with ruffles is bright red and the shirt is a perfect body pleaser!!! The color radiates onto my cheeks while hiding my problem areas, and at the same time it looks so girly.

I think that in the work place a ruffled blouse is the perfect way to bring a womanly touch into the corporate world. When everyone else is wearing black suits and white button downs it is your time to shine with a suit and stone grey ruffled shirt peeking out from under your jacket.

Fun fact, for those of you who are looking to learn some fashion trivia, there is a difference between a flounce and a ruffle. To create a ruffle collar is created using gathers and there is extra bulk at the neckline. A Flounce is creating by cutting a circle with some of the grain being on the bias which create the volume but this can be sewn flat with less bulk. These last three are flounces... can you see the difference?

Here Kitty Kitty

Ok I don't know if I am on board with this trend or if this is another trend being dictated by the industry. Kitten heels are under 2 inches and sometimes don't seem worth it to me. I do however see a positive in this shoe... well other than it is a shoe and I love shoes. I think that Kitten heels give the balls of my feet a break while still giving my calves a subtle lift. They also allow for my achilles to be in a more natural lengthened state. These shoes also are such a cinch to walk in.

Kitten heels have a very unique heel placement; the heel is curved inward from the back edge. They are also interestingly enough categorized as a stiletto due to its heel. The first made their debut in the 50s for adolescents to have a shot at wearing more grown up shoes, though now I frequently see older women wearing these and not too many adolescents.

I was so happy to see these flatter shoes on the runways for spring whether they were flats of kitten heels it was nice to see more normal shoes available. Kitten heels are the perfect dressed up shoe with the comfort of flats. When looking for the perfect kitten heel I suggest opting for a pointed toe because it will elongate your leg.

Make sure to be careful about how you wear this trend though. It can make you look frumpy is not worn with caution. I know they are perfect for me due to my boyfriend being only a few inches taller than me I want him to stick around and not feel overshadowed by me. Sadly though I don't really see this trend sticking around like the yellow gold jewelry. This might truly be a trend. I do think this is a great option for work becuase it allows for much walking and standing.

Gilded with Gaudiness

I am recently really loving over sized gold jewelry!!! This is a really odd turn for me since I usually really like and prefer silver. Gaudy refers to obvious, and attention grabbing usually in a tasteless manner but provides entertainment. History alert!!! Gaudy originated as a term to describe anything bright from being translated from Middle English. Another possible origination is the term comes from the English word "guad" which means joke which is translated from the latin word guadere meaning "delight in". 

 Ok now back to GOLD jewelry!!! There are so many varieties of flashy gold jewelry which I attribute to the cyclical patterns of fashion. Silver had fully saturated the market, so much so that designers sought a change that would spark consumerism (yes it is that simple). I expect gold jewelry will be around for a few years at the least. So go out and get you some great key pieces and a bunch of fun costume pieces. Oh and historic fun fact: Ms. Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel created costume jewelry because she enjoyed wearing flashy pieces but couldn't afford the real stuff early in her life.

Gold Jewelry can seriously be worn everywhere like work, play, dinner, class, to sporting events, etc. I like to wear only one style of flashy gold at a time. If I am piling up the gold bangles then I go without a flashy necklace. When wearing a gaudy cocktail I keep my other jewelry simple. I am fully convinced any person can pull off any accessory when showing some restraint at the same time. Balance is key to wearing attention grabbing jewelry. 

Gold jewelry really enhances olive skin tones because it picks up the yellows in the skin and creates a pretty glow. I suggest trying one of those amazing chunky Michael Kors watches to make your wrists look dainty and also to bring out your natural glow. This is also a really easy way to add a bit of flash when you aren't able to get away with more. If you are able to wear more flashy items then go for a big, bold gold necklace that will frame your face and reflect a glow onto your complexion. A person is described as gaudy when the colors she wears are too bright to the eyes, or are too bright that everyone can see her stand out among the crowd. 

Well this fall I totally approve anyone who wears attention grabbing gold jewelry. This season you wear your gold proudly plus if you want to be original grab some gold and pile it on... most people are still wearing silver.

I just had to post this quote and the nails that went with it:

"Take this scenario, for example. You are out in the mall, and there are a lot of people. All of a sudden, something bright catches your eyes. Out of all the people out there, you zero in on one person: a lady with bright hair and large bright jewelries. You’re not the only one who notices. Majority of the people around you turn as she passes by." -Nilon Nails



Tweed it up right

Now that it is becoming fall this is a fabric you really can not afford to avoid!!! Tweed is a really interesting fabric to me... mainly because I am a textiles nerd. Tweed has been around since 1846 and has gone through many cycles in popularity. For those of you who really pride your self in being British then pat yourself on the back because British Tweed is the most popular!!! Tweed originated as a functional fabric used for working the fields or riding bikes in :), as opposed to silk charmuese which was made for lingerie and fancier dresses.

As if you didn't love Ms. Coco already you should now!!! She is one of the first designers who used menswear for women's clothing. This translation included suits and viola TWEED!!! Tweed is made mostly using unfinished wool (one reason why it can be itchy). Tweed is classified as fiber dyed because well the individual fibers are dyed first then spun into thread and then woven together; this is how the heathered look is accomplished. Because of the fabrication of tweed it can easily be matched with a large variety of clothing.

Fortunately for us living right now tweed is everywhere on everything like shoes, headbands, pencil skirts, jackets, purses... the list goes on and on. Another awesome thing about tweed is the multitude of available colors J Crew alone has 31 different articles of clothing with tweed fabric in it. Anthro also has several tweed garments. Almost everywhere you will look will have this cozy fall fabric

Ok so you are probably wondering well how do I wear this heavy fabric? Well my answer is by pairing it with something unexpected like a tweed jacket over a flowing sheer blouse with trouser cut jeans. Or by pairing a tweed skirt with a plaid button down with a cardi over it. And if you are super bold try a sequin blouse (or tank) with tweed paper bag waist pants. It is so easy to contrast tweed with any silky garment to balance out the rough texture. I also suggest buying a neutral tweed along with a feminine color tweed... that way you can wear your tweed with anything!!!

Thank you Ralph Lauren and co for showing us so many tweed pairings like velvet, chiffon and suede with tweed!!! Of course we always can depend on Karl to bring us some lovely tweed as well