Color Me On Schedule

I just came across the schedule for this year’s New York Fashion Week. If I could be anyone in the world for one day, I would be a fashion journalist in the second row at every show on Wednesday (Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexandre Herchovitch, Anna Sui, Doo.Ri). Daydream about the upcoming shows yourself: grab a copy of the schedule.

While on the topic of schedules, I just made my outfit schedule for the first two weeks of school, roughly. I don’t know if anyone else does this- I have to, in order to remember what’s current in my closet. Sure, it merits odd reactions from people who inquire (“You plan your outfits?”), but really, it can’t be that uncommon! How many of you make some sort of list, mental or otherwise, of how things will look together?

I don’t always keep to it- spontaneous outfits happen, too- but I am a list-maker. Thus, another peek into how my personal style works…

Color Me Sartorial

Once as I was scrolling through pictures from the Sartorialist, it occurred to me that I had no idea what a “sartorialist” was. Being the knowledge-hungry word nerd that I am, I opened a new tab in my browser and looked it up.

Sartorial:

1. Of or relating to tailors or tailoring  (American Heritage Dictionary)

2.  Of or pertaining to clothing or style or manner of dress: sartorial splendor (Dictionary.com)

3. Anatomy.Pertaining to the Sartorius.  (Dictionary.com)

Of course, then I had to look up what a sartorius is, and for those of you who are curious how any of this is relevant it is a muscle in the leg that is you use when crossing your legs like a tailor, apparently.  Anyway, now that you know what the definition of sartorial is, hopefully those of you in the dark can read the Sartorialist minus the confusions.

The Sartorialist is a globe-trotting fashion blogger who photographs natural people in their own clothes as he passes them on the street. Read more about him and his work and see his inspiring subjects here.

Color Me A Thrilled Tourist-Shopper

I discovered quite a few new favorite stores while in Spain! Most of them I had never heard of before (seeing as they are either Euro chains or just not in the US) which made shopping quite a treat. And a few I was already familiar with, and so are you (probably).  

My absolute new favorite shop is the Spanish chain Bershka, of which there were three on my street (Gran Via)  in Madrid alone, giving you a slight idea of how popular Bershka is with the Spaniards. I resisted until the last night of my two week trip, and treated myself to a frenzied half hour in the little Bershka on the side alley sporting questionable women hanging out in the shop windows, if you know what I mean. I came away with a small armful of fashion fabulousness!  (pictures of which will be posted when my digital is returned to me.)

 

I never made it into a  (Sfera) but they looked very chic and swank. Regardless, I would recommend it to my readership based on the (Sfera) window shopping I did for two weeks!

 June is sales month in Spain, and I struck high-waisted gold at Mango! I found a lovely pair or charcoal super high waist wide-leg pants on deep sale, and in my size, too…pictures to follow.

Stradivarius: not just violins!

Of course, I’m sure a lot of you are familiar with Zara, seeing as they are pretty global. The clothing was fabulous, but instead of taking the blue suede gladiator stilettos that were crying out to me I drifted over to the perfume shelves and came away with two new lovely scents: a sugar (“SweetME”) and a strong floral (Zara Agua Perfumada en Flor de Azahar). I feel like Spain whenever I wear them.

Lastly, I feel like Topshop should receive some recognition, but seeing as we now have one in America (and my severe lack of time whilst in Madrid) I never made it into the many I saw in Madrid. On one hand, I don’t mind as much because Topshop is more Euro than uniquely Spanish, but on the other hand, I kindof cringe inside knowing there was one a stone’s throw from my hotel in the Puerta Del Sol that I never stepped foot in…

Oh snap, guess that just means I have to go back someday!

 

**Pictures to follow separately. My camera is currently being loaned to somebody…in South Korea.

Color Me A FredFlare Fan

Ladies and Gentlemen, I’d like to present you with a visual list of some of the reasons why I love FredFlare.com:

 

Connect The Dots Dress/ Unlock My Heart Pendant

Navy Optimal Dress/Forget Me Knot Ring

Black Nefertiti Dress/Tiny Treat Necklaces

Librarian Pin

 

Purple Haze Smocked Dress

Bowtie Wallet

Paddington Flats

 

While somewhat pricy, the clothing is always adorable with a retro-fresh air, and the accesories are cheap and tres cute. Let me also use this post as an example of how to put together an outfit (a question that I’m frequently asked but hardly ever answer sufficiently). I usually start by picking out one item I want to wear on any given day- could be clothes, jewelry, scarves, anything- then build around it by adding complimentary colors. While monochrome dressing can be a lot of fun, I personally aim for two to three colors in any given outfit: either bring  out the colors in a patterned piece, or supplement a solid garment with lots of matchy-matchy extras. For balance, try to have some color on top (hairthings/earrings/necklaces/scarves), in the middle (belt/bracelets) and one on the bottom (shoes). I like alternating: say, yellow hairscarf, teal necklace, brown shift, yellow belt, teal bracelet, yellow shoes. Maybe that formula is a bit contrived; really, the most important thing to think about while putting together an outfit is using pieces that you like and letting your own unique style shine through.

Here’s some FredFlare examples, all built around the same pair of flats and wallet (minus the balancing of colors, since I’m only using these ten products):

1:

2:

3:

4: 

 

Color Me Motivated

I stopped blogging for a few reasons: slight fashion apathy as my creative interests began manifesting themselves in new fields, time shortage, too much to write, and some sore memories interwoven with the blog’s original goals. Ultimately, I missed the blog (because I still love fashion) but had become discouraged and uncertain of the blog’s quality and whether or not I should just delete the whole thing and start over somewhere new.

But I’m no quitter.

I’ve been writing posts and keeping up with fashion, just not on the interwebz. As the year has progressed  the blogging itch has been returning, but it wasn’t until I found an old email from my extremely tough journalism teacher, whom I respect greatly, that I decided to move forward with ColorMe again.

I’m actually quite impressed.  Simple clean design and the writing is actually interesting.  I don’t know if there is a person who is concerned less about style and fashion than me and I actually was drawn in to your blog. 
 
If it sucked, I’d tell you.  But it doesn’t.
 
v

Hmm. To be told by V that ColorMe doesn’t suck is quite a compliment, though I still think I can make it better. That’s my new goal: to bring the blog to a higher standard, a higher quality.

Color Me Un-Official Fashion Consultant

Generally I get the impression that when fashion bloggers ask for opinions in their posts, the questions are posed literally as opposed to rhetorically. Therefore, I dedicate this post to the fashionista behind Made by Girl.

In response to her question about whether or not NastyGal’s Brigitte Lace Tunic is a “need” or  “want” situation…

…well, I like it. A LOT. Which is unusual, considering that I normally have a strict anti-lace policy, especially where dresses are concerned. However I think the Brigitte Tunic is beautiful in line and construct, in addition to being simple without being dull. It’s lacy without being tacky or overt. I love the folds and the asymmetrical cut. It reminds me of a lot of Korean clothing: they usually are very plain in palette (solid color garments prevail) but extremely interesting in visual regard-cut, draping, etc.  Besides, this would be so fun to wear! I really dig the styling on the website, but think of all the other options… it could be really tough with skinny jeans and gladiator heels or dainty with skinnies and flats. Make it fancy-jewelry maybe? A shorter A-Line? Or, be casual… the possibilities are endless.

My vote is definitely for the tunic.

Color Me Inspired

As my style changes, so does my list of favorite blogs. Right now, I am enjoying dressing with minimal fuss but with attention on the details. To keep dressing ideas fresh, I am reading/following the style of:

Karla….

Jane…

Rene…

Some Girls Wander…

Strawberry Kitten…

And some old favorites, Jessica and Susie.

May you be flooded with all sorts of style inspiration too, loves!

Color Me Fried

Consumers get caught up on the most random joke trends. You know… sassy tween sayings on things, or “Team Insert-Celebrity-of-Choice-Here”, and now: bacon.

Bacon?

Yes. Bacon. Stock up on bacon goods here, because fred flare only has bacon wallets. But that’s okay: I know the shortage of stylish “BACON IS MEAT CANDY” shirts is heartbreaking, so I got you a bacon bandage to put on it.