Fall Color Week 2: Sangria

Today is an exciting day - this is my 500th post, AND I just found out that I am an official nominee for the St. Louis Fashion Blog Awards in three categories - Best Budget Blog, Best Shopping Content, and Blog of the Year!!!  Please cast your vote here. 

I hope you've been enjoying my series on fall colors.  If you missed my posts on blues and greens, you can check them out here and here, respectively.

Today, I am featuring another Pantone 2014 color for fall - sangria!!

Skirt:  The Limited (Available here)

This gorgeous deep red looks great on a variety of skin tones, and it looks amazing with EVERY neutral.

Top:  The Limited (old)
Blazer:  Forever 21+ (old)

Bracelet:  The Limited (Available here)

I paired a pleated skater skirt with a leopard print top and my favorite black blazer.  Leopard print is always great for fall, and I love leopard print with any shade of red!

Earrings:  The Limited

Boots:  Target (Available here)

Do you like wearing red?  Are you a fan of leopard print with red?

For this top in other looks, see here and here.
For this blazer in other looks, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Blossom in 2014: Radiant Orchid Named Pantone's Color of the Year

With a new year here, it's time to introduce Pantone's 2014 color of the year - Radiant Orchid!

Pants:  The Limited
Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)
Satchel:  The Limited

Source (and more info. on this color choice):  NYDailyNews.com

This purple-pink is a great year-round color that looks amazing with navy, bright golden yellow, turquoise green, chocolate brown, and many other colors.

Pantone's choice is great news if you're a fan of this color as you can expect to see more fashion and home decor in this shade over the course of the year.

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)
Heels:  Target (old)

While I think the color is pretty and have these pants in a similar shade, you won't see me running out and getting more pieces in this color.  It's not one of my favorites, and I don't believe in wearing anything just because it's a trend. 

When it comes to color trends, I tend to consider several factors before I decide to partake:

1)  Do I like the color and how much?
2)  Does the color complement my skin tone?
3)  Does the color fit with other items already in my wardrobe?

The first question must be answered affirmatively before the other factors are even considered - no sense wearing anything you don't like!

Tank:  Old Navy Petites (Similar here)
Bracelets:  LOFT (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)

Color trends are great for stocking up on your favorite colors.  I was excited last year when emerald green was named Pantone's color of the year because I love the color.  I was able to stock up on a few pieces that very likely won't be available in stores for the next year or two.  

Do you like radiant orchid?  How important is trendiness in determining your color choices?

See more on the meaning and reasoning behind Pantone's decision here.

For these pants in other outfits, see here and here.

Spearmint and Orange

Hope you're all having a great Saturday!

Blouse:  LOFT (Available here)
Jacket:  LOFT Petites (Available here)

Today, I feature a recent work outfit.  I paired an orange-tipped blouse with a spearmint green blazer and navy skinny pants.

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)
Shoes:  Target (Available here)

Necklace:  The Limited (Available here)
Earrings:  The Limited (Available here)

I love the mix of green and orange.  The navy pants keep the look subtle enough for work, while being a softer choice than black. 

A straw bag with orange trim and a fun alligator ring finish the look (close-up of ring here).

Purse:  The Limited (Available here)

Ring:  Target (Similar here)

Do you like mixing orange and green?

For this blazer in other looks, see here and here.

Spring 2013 Fashion Preview: Color-palooza!

The mercury may be in the teens, but I am having a major case of spring fever, so today, I mixed last spring's bubblegum pink blazer with a mint top.

Jacket:  The Limited (Similar here and here)
Top:  New York & Company (Available here)

Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)
Heels:  Target (old)

Color is always popular on Spring runways, and this spring is no exception.

Emerald is the color of the year, but spring's major color trends include all of the following:

Spring 2013 Color Trends,
Source:  www.pantone.com

I'm particularly loving the primary shades of poppy, lemon, and blue.

One of the big color trends for spring was a monochromatic color statement:

Gucci Spring 2013 look
Source:  www.harpersbazaar.com

I don't see myself in quite so much of one color, but I would definitely rock a dress with a matching jacket such as the look below.

I'm in LOVE with this seafoam green look from Donna Karan!  I love the soft muted color and the floaty feel.

Donna Karan Spring 2013 look
Source:  www.fashionista.com

More of my favorite colorful looks from the Spring runways:

Diane Von Furstenburg Spring 2013 look
Source:  www.dvf.com

Diane Von Furstenburg Spring 2013 look
Source:  www.dvf.com

Do you like to wear a lot of color in the Spring?  Would you wear a colorful monochromatic look?

Touch of Color

Hope you all had a great Hump Day!!

Cardigan:  LOFT Petites (Similar here)
Blouse:  Gap (old)

Tank:  Target (Available here)
Pants:  The Limited (Available here) 

Today, I paired neutral pieces with green color blocked heels and a jade ring for a few pops of color.

Shoes:  Target (Available here)
Bracelets:  Target, World Market

Purse:  The Limited (Sold out on-line)

Ring: Vintage (gift) (Similar here)
Earrings:  Express 

To see this blouse styled differently, see here.

Do you like adding small doses of color to neutral looks?