the color lab blog — summer colors

It’s all about the throwback with this craze!  

Image:  Flickr

Golden Rod and Bronze Brown brings us back to the groovy 70s, when bold color combos were so fly. The warm Golden Rod pairs so well with the smooth Bronze Brown for a far out combo. Can you dig it?

The Food Charlatan’s brown sugar yellow cake with chocolate frosting is the perfect companion to this smooth craze.  It’s sweet, warm and gooey with a rich and decadent finish.  I know I will be serving this cake for a rich summer dessert soon.  Find the recipe here!

I will be using this craze to create a simple look that hearkens back to simpler times. Here are some of my favorite Golden Rod and Bronze Brown finds:

1. Milumia Women's Lantern Sleeve Pleated Detail Button Down Blouse Shirt

2. Lawliet Linen Summer Womens Kentucky Derby Wide Brim Sun Hat 

3. Need Sunglasses? By OPI Polish  

4. Lady Backpack Casual Rucksack for Women

5. PRETTYGARDEN Women’s Fashion High Elastic Waist Polka Dot Printed Pleated Midi Vintage Skirts with Pockets

6. Jim Halo Retro Round Mirrored Sunglasses

7. Vince Camuto Fretzia Perforated Boot

8. INC International Concepts ID Card case

I can’t wait to use this color duo to add a throwback kick to my style this summer.  Will you be joining me? If you’d like to share your Golden Rod and Bronze Brown-inspired fashion, food or home decor with me, be sure to tag @JulReDesigns on Instagram and use the hashtag #colorfilledlife.  Your photo could be featured on our Instagram, Facebook or even in our INsider newsletter!

For even more Golden Rod and Bronze Brown inspiration, find this week's Color Craze combo on our board of curated images on Pinterest.

As always, keep living a color-filled life!

With a gracious nod to Pantone, the Gods of Color and keepers of all things sacred to hues and palettes, I'm striking out on my own and presenting my first commentary on the colors I'm loving for the rest of this Spring and into the Summer season. I must admit, the colors I have selected are already on heavy rotation in my own life but I'm now seeing them on other colorful women too, in their wardrobe, makeup as well as in their home decor. This collection of colors makes a striking fashion statement and ranges from the energetic orange, Bird of Paradise, to the soft-spoken pink, Rose Shadow. Squarely in the middle is the sophisticated Moroccan Blue with the pristine lilac, Orchid and my absolute favorite minty fresh, Opal completing the group. I'm drawn to them, well, because they are all exciting and fresh and yet distinctly independent enough to hold their own without a complementary partner to give them a boost. 

I couldn't believe my luck when I discovered the nail polish brand, Cirque Colors a few months back. I started using their vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic (no formaldehyde!) colors (I live for their pinkish-brown "Fast Fashion" shade) after doing some personal research on cosmetics and first highlighted the brand in my Spectra Yellow and Flame post. The color range for this line is so extensive, that I found a coordinating polish for each of the hues in this palette. Your nails will be so on trend!

Cirque Colors Creme Nail Polish on Amazon: (top left, clockwise): Fire Island, Sartorial, Midnight Cowboy, Key to Gramercy, Uptown Girl

I'm a huge proponent of tone-on-tone dressing. I make it a regular practice to put some of my daily outfits together based on one color family not only because it gives a sleek, rich, pulled together look but because it's easy! I'm not proposing that you carry that fashion theory all the way through to matching eyeshadow and lipstick but pairing a great dress like the ones from Nordstrom that I'm featuring in my style board below, with a contrasting pair of shoes and handbag and completing the look with nail polish in the same color family is so, so chic!

Shop these versatile, right-for-many-occasion dresses in my Spring/Summer Color Trends palette from Nordstrom (the MaxMara is in my closet!):

1.  Leith Chic Midi Dress

2.  Lewit Kimono Sleeve Stretch Silk Dress

3.  BB Dakota Cara Lace Cocktail Dress

4.  MaxMara Cordoba Sheath Dress

5.  NSR Grace One-Shoulder Lace Sheath Dress

Until next time, live a color-filled life,

Cheery, springy, pastels-a-poppin'!

Placid Blue and Yellow Pear together make me smile. The pleasant print you see above in these happy colors makes me almost love the idea of wallpaper. (gasp!) But alas, the thought has now been pushed from my decorative consciousness. It says a lot about this color duo if its prettiness invited me to have a brief visit to the mystical land of wall coverings. No offense to those who can appreciate the wonders of latex, vinyl and adhesive. I personally have more of an aesthetic connection to paint, brushes and rollers. Nevertheless, these hues are a perfectly refreshing pairing for any room in your home, no matter how the colors are applied.

images: top: Blue and Yellow Bedroom on bhg.com, bottom: Yellow and Blue Dining Room on decoist.com

For more inspiration take a look at our COLOR CRAZE: Placid Blue and Yellow Pear on Pinterest!

If your passion is fashion then you'll love how these pretty pastel colors work into your already existing wardrobe or how you can create great Spring and Summer looks for that daytime wedding and reception without looking too precious by adding few new pieces that I've recently uncovered on Amazon Fashion, all at incredible prices. Check out my Style Board picks in Placid Yellow and Yellow Pear color palette below for shopping details!

1.  Dress (Dresspic)

2.  Labradorite and Lapis Earrings (Custom by JulRe Designs)

3.  Dress (Bbonlinedress)

4.  Pumps (J. Renee)

5.  Clutch (Hobo Glory)

6.  Wallet (Michael Kors)

7.  Topaz, Citrine and Agate Necklace (Custom by JulRe Designs)

8.  Sandals (Allegra K)

Until next time, live a color-filled life!

vibrant. energetic. alive. Pantone's Color of the Year for 2019 is a reminder that despite the refreshing chill of winter hues, spring and summer colors reign vibrantly supreme.

shopping guide (top left to right, clockwise): KitchenAid® Artisan Stand Mixer, Madhouse by Michael Aram Opaque Disposable Flatware, Deanery Glaze Melamine Dinner Plate, Curacao Coral Electric Kettle, Platinum Series Range from BlueStar

While we are enamored with Living Coral, we would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge that the name of the color reminds us that coral reefs around the world are suffering. Why care about reefs? Here's what we found on coral.org: 

Coral reefs are an important food source for the people who live near reefs, and, as nurseries, are vital to the world’s fisheries. Many of the compounds now being used in human medicines, including some that treat cancer, are found on coral reefs, with probably many more yet to be discovered. Coral reefs help humans in many other ways too: generating tourist dollars for communities, and—especially important in our changing climate—acting as natural barriers against storm events like hurricanes, typhoons, and even tsunamis.

These are compelling reasons and why we are donating 50% of the proceeds from the sale of the coral colored enamel bangle bracelets on eBay to the Coral Reef Alliance. 

image: coral.org

on the style board: your warm-weather looks get a vivid boost with accessories in shades of this brilliant coral. go for a complete tone on tone outfit, if you dare or spice up an ensemble in navy, beige or cream with your favorite coral handbag. use lips and nails as canvasses to paint on the glow!

where to buy (top left to right, clockwise): Pared Eyewear Women's Up & At Em Oversized Round Sunglasses, ERES Les Essentiels Cesar cotton-jersey mini dress, SCALA Big Brim Cotton Sun Hat, Senreve Mini Maestra Satchel, Gentle Souls by Kenneth Cole Colleen Espadrille, Apple iPhone XR, OPI Nail Polish, Burt Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Liquid Lipstick

*This post DOES NOT contain affiliate links.