the color lab blog — colors

Images (top left, clockwise): Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park, Texas, 2020 by David Benjamin Sherry, Orange Handbags, Spooky Blooms from Bia Blooms, Healthy, Colorful Smoothies

• The renowned US edition of the annual art exhibition, Art Basel Miami Beach, concluded last Sunday. In the age of Covid, the online viewing rooms were a welcome sign that creativity will never be thwarted.

• 'Orange' you excited about the holidays? This color in a handbag is the perfect accessory gift with a built in uplift! (Amazon)

• Recipe of the Week: My Energy Blast Smoothie will give the boost you need to not only stay healthy but to level up your daily vitality. 

• Throwing it back to tie-dye with these comfy crew neck sweatshirts. (Champion)

• DIY Color: The Art of Gift Wrap - Recyclable Edition (nytimes.com)

• Florists are the world's greatest purveyors of color, IMHO. One of my favorites is the LA-based, uber talented @biablooms. When you're in need of some 'happy', stop by her Instagram page.

• And speaking of all things floral, the botanical design competition, Full Bloom on HBO Max is fabulous and totally binge-worthy.

• Can I just say that this color mixing game is so soothing that it's the one rabbit hole you won't mind going down? (Apple)

• This gorgeous book was created to help children explore color and its relationship to art from ancient times to present. (The MET Store)

• We're about to say 'so long' to Pantone's Color of the Year 2020 but I would be remiss if I didn't give a fitting farewell to deep, rich Classic Blue this Holiday season.

You can call me "old school" when it comes to my sneaker collection. Though I prefer the term "classic". I love lace up low tops with minimal soles in luscious suedes or textured walkabouts in brilliant prints and palettes.

And yes, I may be on the borderline of having an intense obsession (these images show about 40% of my entire sneaker cache) but the reason I'm in so deep is because this comfy shoe trend and I go way back and I'm nothing if I'm not loyal.

In the 80's, I wore sneakers as my commuter shoes for work. Thick soles and huge white laces were part of the corporate uniform for getting to the office comfortably. Then in the 90's I moved away from the somewhat orthopedic styling many sneakers had to what the cool kids were wearing - athletic shoe styling with brand identifying features like trademark swishes or a large felines.

Today, the comfort of the 80's shoes meshed with the sleek styling of the 90's sneakers is where I'm happiest. But as with everything else in my life, there must be color involved!

I hope you love the products I recommend! While this blog post was not sponsored, it 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!

PUMA Womens Suede Embroidered Floral Sneaker

There's nothing like a cute pair of sneakers to contrast with a pretty sundress or flowy, wide leg pants. My favorite way to wear sneakers is with t-shirt dresses for working in my studio and I'll slide them on with cropped pants and a tube top for cocktails on my porch (the new  "dinner club").  But more important than their trendiness, they must be COMFORTABLE. 

The brands I've worn for years have eliminated the need for me to make the choice between style and fit. I am particularly fond of Keds, adidas and Puma sneakers for their vast array of styles and colors. The adidas Originals Women's Campus and the Puma Suede Classic sneakers are fashionable throwbacks that come in major colorways. They're your go to shoes when you want to keep it casual. 

My best-in-sneakers award in the category of prints and colorful palettes that will put a smile on your face goes to the Keds x Rifle Paper Co. collaboration - it's a color and sneaker lover's dream come true. There's so much detail and artisanship with each collection, you won't be sure if you should actually wear them or display them. 

Keds x Rifle Paper Co. Anchor Happy Stripe Sneakers

Sneakers aren't typically thought of when looking to make a statement but I'd like to change that. If you haven't connected with these versatile accessories other than the pair you wear to the gym, give them a fashionable chance! I've rounded up a few more of my faves in cool colorways for you to shop below:

 This style is SOLD OUT. These are as equally as cute.

 Color combo is SOLD OUT but lots of colors here.

SOLD OUT - similar style here.

Until next time, may your life be filled with joy and color!

I hope you love the products I recommend! While this blog post was not sponsored, it 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!

Candles could be the most underrated items in the world of home decor. Not only do they create a certain ambiance when lit (THINK:  romantic, relaxing, refreshing), their scents, if desired, can evoke passion, a sense of calm or high energy. The same with using color in candles.

JulRe Designs Studio, South Orange, NJ

While white candles will always be readily available at all price points and will remain the standard because of their ease of placement within your home and their obvious versatility, there is something to be said about bringing them into full effect with the addition of color.

The Holidays seem to come earlier and earlier each year. I know it's not actually possible for that to actually happen but the busier I get, the more pressure I feel to pack as much as possible into a 24 hour day. I've managed to squeeze in a bit of time to knock a few gifts off my shopping list and my last color-themed gift guide was a great help! How far have you gotten on your gift list? Perhaps my latest gift guide can offer you some assistance.

Apricot Brandy and Fig are the colors I've selected colors for the 2nd part of my Color Craze Gift Guide series. They are two of the warmest colors you'll want to wrap yourself in and share with those you love! Not only are they what I call delectable comfort colors, they are season-less classics. Think of them for places in your home that may need a touch of cosiness. They work well together in your wardrobe as well whenever your mood is mellow - at that candlelight date night dinner or lounging in front of the fireplace on a frigid Winter night.

I hope you love the products I recommend! While this blog post was not sponsored, it 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!

image: myrecipes.com

Before we start shopping, I just had to share this great recipe I found while searching for appetizer ideas for an upcoming Holiday party. You'll find some of the ingredients quite apropos for this post: apricots, brandy and figs! I taste tested this dish  and it will be one of the standouts on the buffet table for sure! You can find the recipe for quick and easy Brie with Jeweled Fruit Compote here.

Now, let's SHOP in color! Here are my top 9 gifts in Apricot Brandy and Fig:

1.  For the Fashionable Hipster - Herschel Supply Co. Seventeen Hip Pack - Amazon

2.  For the Eternal Sunshine Seeker - D'BLANC Beach Vida 53mm Square Cat Eye Sunglasses - Nordstrom

3.  For the Colorful Kiddies - OLIVER & RAIN Fawn & Fern Kids Gift Set - Nordstrom

4.  For the Comfort Seeking Man - Champion Life Men's Stretch Woven Sleep Pants - Champion

5.  For the Motorcycle Mama - BB Dakota Teagan Reversible Faux Leather Drape Front Jacket - Nordstrom

6.  For the Well-Heeled Lady - ECCO Shape Motion 75 Booties - Nordstrom

7.  For the Man Who Hates Dress Shirts - AGAVE Box Canyon Men's T-Shirt

8.  For Those Who Love to Snuggle - Vellux Faux Sheared Mink Blanket - Bloomingdales

9.  For the Hostess with the Mostest - Divina Fig Spread - Amazon

I'd love to know how you feel about these colors and how your Holiday shopping is progressing. Follow The Color Lab Blog on Facebook or Instagram and leave your comments!

Until next time, live a color-filled life!

We have a tendency to limit ourselves to colors that so-called "authorities" have deemed appropriate for a specific season. And when we do, we deprive ourselves of the joy of having all of the beautiful hues that we can visualize available to us all year round. That's not living a truly color-filled life and seems rather boring. While it's true that we are on the cusp of Fall and Orange is well known for being a traditional color for the season, few people wear it as freely as they may in warmer months when it is a bright, cheery, citrus-y symbol of the carefree life. Well, don't you want to be carefree in November too? I know that wearing Orange head-to-toe may be, uh...aggressive for some but when you add a rich blue in a light to dark shade to the mix, you get a wearable combination that can be mixed and matched regardless of the time of year.

For this week's Color Craze, I chose Persimmon because it is on the subtler side of the Orange spectrum and avoids smacking you in the face with it's vibrancy. I've coupled it with the deep, smooth Majolica Blue for a little softening of the slight edge that Persimmon may evoke. I feel it's a special pairing for everyday looks. Ask the New York Mets or the Syracuse University Orange!

COLORFUL ENLIGHTENMENT: Persimmons are a fruit that is often compared to apples nutritionally. Majolica is tin-glazed pottery made in England and decorated in colors, like this blue, on a white background. 

COLORFUL SIDEBAR: Kindly indulge my ongoing obsession with Smoothies and allow me to share my first Fall recipe find with you. The Spiced Persimmon Smoothie is at the top of my list for Fall breakfasts. This fruit wasn't on my Top 10 list of ingredients until I discovered the recipe below from one of my favorite food bloggers, Lisa of Downshiftology. It meets all of my smoothie standards: easy to make, filled with flavor and of course, stacked with healthy goodness. Click here for the tasty recipe!

BLOG DISCLAIMER: This blog post was not sponsored but 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!

I've put together a Persimmon Orange and Majolica Blue style board with 14 of my fave fab fashion and beauty finds to give you a few options for consideration as you shop for the upcoming season. But if you just want to add a small touch of this color combo to your existing daily look options, the Thea Earrings from my new Handmade Luxe Collection are the perfect way to do it. Shop fashion and accessories in these great colors below!

1.  EQUIPMENT Harmon Shirtdress

2.  Christian Wisnants Karwat V-Neck Sweater 

3.  JulRe Designs Jewelry Thea Earrings

4.  Space.NK.apothecary Lipstick Queen Reign Shine Lip Gloss

5.  Briane Bracelet from our exclusive Bangle Bar for JulRe Designs INsiders only. For access, click here to join us!

6.  Sammitop Stiletto Heel Pumps 

7.  JAGGAR Solace Slingback Pump

8.  Tods Gommini Driving Moccasin  *STAFF FAVORITE*

9.  Hugo Hatine Zip Detail Slim Trousers

10.  Tory Burch Perry Bombe Crossbody Bag

11.  Botkier Trigger Pebbled Leather Hobo

12.  Naturalizer Tiana Platform Boot

13.  Cole Haan Lesli Block Heel Pump

14.  Sam Edelman Lior Loafer

IT'S A PINTEREST PARTY! You can also shop my curated board dedicated to Persimmon Orange and Majolica Blue on Pinterest!

Until next time, live a color-filled life!