I See Your True Colors!

Although colors are often a seasonal choice, jewel tones are particularly exciting in the Fall season.

Every woman can wear jewel tones and combining these pigment rich colors with others is fun and exciting.





Bright yellow or gold are a great basic to start with but be sure to pick the shade that suits your complexion best.


Then add another pigment....cobalt blue, fuschia, orange, emerald green, tomato red, royal purple.




If you're not comfortable combining colors, a beautifully saturated color is still a wonderful choice; whether it is in a dress, a scarf, a coat or sweater, or bag or shoes.






You have to love the richness of the colors and the reckless abandon of mixing colors, as well as prints. Remember the new guidelines of fashion is that leopard print, tweeds and stripes are considered "neutrals" and can be worn with rich jewel tone pieces.




Fabrics can be lightweight, heavy, textured or simple blends. The thicker the fabric, the richer the pigment. Some pieces are temporary buys that you might wear for one season, and some pieces are keepsakes for forever.



Start simply and build as you get more confidence into color blends. For example, begin with a coat and black accessories. Over time, and with the many compliments you will get, you will be able to wear jewel tones with panache and style.

Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz

Caveat Emptor!

If you know me, you know that I do temp work for "pin money" or "mad money" -- two old phrases about excess cash for fun purchases. 

I keep a list of items I might buy with this extra cash and very often buy those items and write about them in this blog. Several of these possible purchases warranted some research prior to my investing. Here is why this blog posting is titled as such...Let the buyer beware.

The internet is a great research tool and I recommend you use it before you spend significant dollars on your purchase items.

For example, I was thinking of buying a very expensive face cream made out of seaweed extract and loved by so many celebrities. Until I read online reviews of it. For every positive review of this product, there were two negative ones and several of the issues are the same ones I would have had with it (too heavy, too oily, causes breakouts -- yes, even at my age!). Then I discovered there is a drugstore equivalent that is better and cheaper.  Thank you, internet!

Not long ago, I was thinking of buying a high-end serum that is supposed to correct age spots (unless I can convince everyone that they are freckles on the backs of my hands!) Again, I checked with the internet and discovered it was expensive garbage ...so said the many dissatisfied users.

And this includes clothing or shoes purchases, because the internet can provide you various places with a variety of price differences...or better, coupons to use to buy at discount.

I also subscribe to magazines, websites and e-newsletters to learn what is a good buy and what are temporary trends and what to buy and what not to buy.

So I recommend you, too, do your homework before you buy. You work (or save) too hard to throw it away on something wasteful and over hyped.

Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz

Gray Is In Your Future!

Every year there is a new color that is predicted to supersede that ultimate basic...black. So I'm here to let you know that this Fall/Winter's new color trend is gray.

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Futuristic impacts are a huge influence. Some influences are space, other influences are high tech equipment.

There are a variety of shades of gray and marketing them means clever names:  Pewter, charcoal, platinum, granite, ash, silver, smoke, mouse, manatee, slate...and those are just the most common ones.

The great thing about gray (also known as grey) is it can stand alone as a clothing color but it is really easy to accentuate with prints and colors. Jewel tones are beautiful colors to wear with gray.

But there is an important rule:  wear the right shade of gray that flatters your complexion and hair. Some shades of gray will wash out your coloring, some look severe and several are perfect. You really must try them on in great lighting or with a friend who will honestly tell you the truth ("Yes, buy that!" or "No! Take that off immediately!").

If this shade is daunting, try it in slacks or a skirt or even shoes. In fact, gray nail polish is popular as a beautiful neutral to wear.

Wearing jewelry with gray clothing is easy...silver tone sets it off nicely and gem stones pop perfectly.And pearls!...pearls look fabulous with gray.

So if you don't own anything gray, now is the time. Go buy something pretty and wear it knowing you're in front of a trend that you'll be able to wear forever.

Here's a good quote on the topic:

Make your days full, your wardrobe stylish and your ideas colorful.

Until next week, I remain, 

Stylistically yours,

Sooz