the color lab blog — accessories

Spring is here (insert happy face emoji) and I'm reminded that the season truly and completely owns one whole color in the spectrum. That color is GREEN. Inevitably, when the season rolls in, I see everything in those fresh shades as it’s a signal in nature that warmer weather is here.

I love the color so much because it signifies an abundant life in harmony, and supremely good health - all ways that I try to live my life every day. My adoration of the hue extends into my business with our company's foundational logo of four ombre green leaves, each representing a part of the foundation of our organization's core values: a passion for color, a love of design, respect for our community and a commitment to service to others.



I hope you love the products I recommend! This blog post contains affiliate links and I participate in the Amazon Associate program, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to bring you color commentary like this. You can find more about our site, privacy, and disclosure policies here. Thank you for your continued support!

Shop My Sunglasses: top row, middle row, bottom row

Of course, my obsession with green wouldn't be a real thing if it didn't carry over to my wardrobe. I think it’s an incorrect assumption that this lively color can only be worn by a few. There’s a shade for everyone! It’s such a fun and energizing color for me that when I put it on, it's hard not to smile! And colorful accessories, like the 10 pairs of sunglasses I found are an easy way to wear the color to make a dynamic impact with any outfit. And adding almost any shade of green will take your OOTD to certainly not-at-all-boring levels. Find all of my fabulous eyewear finds below and happy shopping!

1.  Haskell Sunglasses in Aloe Crystal - Warby Parker

2.  EMPORIO ARMANI Women's Sunglasses, EA4162 55 - Macy's

3.  GloFX Color Therapy Glasses - Amazon

4.  Ada Sunglasses in Forest Green - Warby Parker

5.  Beale Sunglasses in Rosemary Crystal - Warby Parker

6.  BOTTEGA VENETA Women's Square Sunglasses - Bloomingdales

7.  OLIVER PEOPLES Melery Square Sunglasses, 54mm - Bloomingdales (out of stock but love these as well.)

8.  LifeArt Oversize Polarized Sunglasses - Amazon

9.  FEISEDY Classic Women Sunglasses - Amazon

10.  VERSACE Sunglasses, VE4361 53 - Macy's

Until next time, may you live a life filled with color!

I live in sweatshirts. Even before the pandemic, I'd perfected my work at home style and included a vast array of joggers and wide leg sweatpants plus coordinating sweatshirts in ALL the colors.

But as we have begun to come out from hiding a bit more, I figured I had to find some way to utilize the comfort and ease of sweatshirts for even the dressiest of occasions.

I hope you love the products I recommend! This blog post contains affiliate links and I participate in the Amazon Associate program, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to bring you color commentary like this. You can find more about our site, privacy, and disclosure policies here. Thank you for your continued support!

Since I'm still on my hiatus from purchasing new clothes (it's so hard!), I've had to become a bit creative with what I do with what already exists in my closet. I've found that styling my sweatshirts is actually very easy!

If you look at these versatile tops just like you would any other blouse, sweater or cardigan, it makes putting together unique looks quite simple. I'll admit, you do have to change your view of what a sweatshirt actually is but since they now come in so many styles, prints and colors, it should be a smooth transitional shift to your fashion sensibilities.

For instance, here's a daytime look I styled using a very simple sweatshirt:

SHOP THE LOOK

1.  AMAZON ESSENTIALS Crewneck Sweatshirt

2.  JULRE DESIGNS STUDIO Color Drop Earrings in Toffee Chalcedony and Carnelian

3.  PRADA Round Sunglasses - Bloomingdales

4.  COACH Soft Tabby Shoulder Bag - Bloomingdales

5.  LYSSE Textured Faux Leather Leggings - Bloomingdales

6.  TORY BURCH Jessa Loafer Flats

7.  JULRE DESIGNS STUDIO Color Drop Choker Necklace in Tiger Eye and Sunset Yellow Chalcedony

Using the same sweatshirt in a different color, this is an outfit you might try for a not-so-dressy-not-too-casual Holiday party or date night look:

 SHOP THE LOOK

1.  JULRE DESIGNS STUDIO Vishuddha Earrings

2.  AMAZON ESSENTIALS Crewneck Sweatshirt

3.  SAINT LAURENT Tweed Cap Toe Pumps - Bloomingdales

4.  THE DROP Maya Silky Slip Skirt - Amazon

5.  ETIENNE AIGNER Ella Small Woven Satchel - Bloomingdales

6.  JULRE DESIGNS STUDIO Ella Cuff Bracelet in Black Smoke

I suggest pushing the sleeves up to elbow length and perhaps a casual tuck in to the waist of either of these looks gives them a fresh appeal.

You can also interject a little fun into your sweatshirt collection! Tie-dye, embroidery, blouson sleeves and fun quotes or sayings are all ways of expressing your individuality with this versatile top.

I've collected a few of my lively faves below for you to shop and get creative with to style your own looks:

SHOP THE STYLEBOARD

1.  POLO RALPH LAUREN Printed Sweatshirt - Bloomingdales

2.  WHISTLES Joie Graphic Sweatshirt - Bloomingdales

3.  BILLY T Stardust Embroidered Sweatshirt - Bloomingdales

4.  SANDRO Sun Graphic Sweatshirt - Bloomingdales

5.  STYLE & CO Animal Print Sweatshirt - Macy’s

6.  INC INTERNATIONAL CONCEPTS Printed Off-The-Shoulder Sweatshirt - Macy’s

7.  ADIDAS ORIGINALS Essentials Fleece Sweatshirt - Macy’s

8.  RBX Fleece Pullover Sweatshirt - Amazon

9.  EYTINO Color-block Tie Dye Sweatshirt - Amazon

So there you have it - sweatshirt style that's fun, easy and ready for your action-packed life or the one where lounging is the primary activity!

Until next time, may your life be filled with COLOR!

After the tumultuous times the fashion and accessories industries have endured, it's time to celebrate the return of the biggest runway show ever, New York Fashion Week!

Unfortunately, many designers and creators were not able to sustain the heavy financial losses that have been the industry's regrettable fallout from the pandemic.

The stories of the struggles of designers to keep their doors open has been heartwrenching. Non-profit organizations like ICON360 were created to help support established and emerging designers during these times however so many have been unable to reinvent or recreate themselves and their companies in economically sustainable ways.

I hope you love the products I recommend! This blog post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to bring you color commentary like this. You can find more about our site, privacy, and disclosure policies here. Thank you for your continued support!

So the fact that New York Fashion Week has returned at all, albeit at a smaller scale and much more virtual, is reason to celebrate that the art of fashion is not dead and the tenacity of the many talented professionals in the field remains intact. The high levels of passion and creativity are inspiring to me as a designer who has experienced my own challenges to keep my dreams alive.

So.... a celebration is definitely in order! I've collaborated with my jewelry designer alter ego to create a GIVEAWAY for you that's all about fashion AND color!

GET THE DETAILS AND ENTER BELOW!

I love a good slip dress. Whenever I see a really special one, I grab it. They are so easy to wear, figure flattering and widely size inclusive. Almost every womenswear brand has at least 1 or 2 in their offerings because they have become a classic fashion staple. I think designer Carly Cushnie did them the best so when I was late to the budget-priced and hyper colorful Cushnie x Target collab last Summer, I panicked. Fortunately, I was able to snag 2 lovely slip dresses, that have now become my absolute favorites, before they sold out. I wear both all year-long so instead of packing them away until the next warm weather season like you may be inclined to do, I work them into my wardrobe planning year-round. Scroll down to see all of the ways I make them work for almost every season!

I hope you love the products I recommend! This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to bring you color commentary like this. You can find more about our site, privacy, and disclosure policies here. Thank you for your continued support!

left: Dress: Cushnie x Target (no longer being sold but a similar dress here) | Earrings: JulRe Designs Studio | Necklace: JulRe Designs Studio | Shoes: Nine West | Hair: Shakeria at NJnaturalstyles Hair Studio

right: Sweater: Lou & Grey (from a few years ago) | Boots: Nine West (available in black only, limited sizes)

left: Dress: Cushnie x Target (no longer available but lots of great styles available here) | Earrings: JulRe Designs Studio

right: Sweater: Lou & Grey (no longer available) | Earrings: JulRe Designs Studio 

left: Dress: Lou & Grey (gone but here's a goodie!) | Earrings: JulRe Designs Studio | Shoes: Nine West

right: Hoodie: Uniqlo (currently not available but this one is fabulous!) | Earrings: JulRe Designs Studio | Booties: Nine West

Here are a few more slip dresses I adore:

TED BAKER Printed Midi Slip Dress

TORY BURCH Embroidered Sheath Midi Dress

VINCE Satin Midi Slip Dress - Nordstrom

BCBGMAXAZRIA Asymmetrical Slip Dress 

MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS Tie-Dyed Maxi Slip Dress

Until next time, may your life be filled with an endless stream of COLOR!

 Your colorful links for this week are below:

• I was asked a couple of times about the colorful serving platter shown in last week's spicy recipe that I shared. Here it is. (Amazon)

• Miss Broadway? These streaming theatrical celebrations in honor of Black History Month should not be missed. (TheatreMania)

• This may be the perfect date night movie. (Vulture)

• My home color consulting clients are overwhelmingly loving this soothing color for their renovations. (Benjamin Moore)

• Last Summer, I got the bright idea to experiment with spirits, mixers and garnishes. My spin on a traditional Valentine's Day cocktail is certainly timely. (The Color Lab Blog)

• As if the color selection for these bed sheets wasn't enough, they are the softest I've ever owned that don't squeeze the life out of your wallet. (Amazon)

• I love these fun reading glasses in a retro shape. And they come with matching cases! (Amazon)

• What the legendary actress, Cicely Tyson (who passed away last month) had to say in this Master Class back in 2014 about ending racism is poignant. (Oprah.com)

• Here's some funny with James Corden (host of The Late, Late Show on CBS) and singer The Weeknd from the Super Bowl. (YouTube)

• Celebrate love with this classic book of poetry and passion. (Amazon)

Wishing you and yours a Happy Valentine's Day! Until next time, live life in love and color!

CLICK HERE to read the entire Color Collective series!

I hope you love the products I recommend! This blog post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to bring you color commentary like this. You can find more about our site, privacy, and disclosure policies here. Thank you for your continued support!