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      Colorful Closet: Why I'll Be Wearing Lots Of Colorful Dresses This Summer

      Colorful Closet: Why I'll Be Wearing Lots Of Colorful Dresses This Summer

      I'll be wearing lots of dresses this Summer. It's not a fashion statement or a trend alert, my dear friends.

      Let me explain.

      One unseasonably warm day a couple of months ago, I was inspired to get a head start on changing over my thick, loungy, Lou & Gray sweatpant set-heavy wardrobe to my lighter, J. Crew t-shirt, shorts and Old Navy swing dress outfits. I went deep into my closet abyss and what I found was unsettling.

      image above: Juliet in J. Crew Brocade Sheath Dress (no longer available but adore this similar one) Shoes: vintage Nine West (only available in Tan in very limited sizes)

      Way in the back on a long forgotten rack were tons of brightly colored dresses. From dressy to casual, it was all there. Dresses I'd bought years ago, some dated back to 2010. And there was one thing they all had in common.

      The price tags were still attached.

      Juliet's Spring Dresses with Price Tags

      Finding one or two items each season may be acceptable but the haul I found could fill a small boutique. These "vintage" (my definition = items older than 10 years) finds were still in fantastic shape - no fading or moth holes. They were all in the same condition they were when I bought them.

      I toyed with the idea of actually opening a virtual dress shop (Atelier Juliet?) but what I quickly realized is that I still loved almost every dress I found, they were all quite wearable and remarkably, most were still in very much in style.

      Since we seem to be headed in the direction of our lives returning to some sort of normalcy, as vaccines for COVID become more available and some restrictions are being eased, my hope is that as the weather gets warmer, I will be more comfortable getting back to doing the types of activities that used to mean dressing up for the occasion. Or just dressing.

      Juliet in vintage Spring dresses from her closet

      (left) Juliet in Polka Dot Tunic Dress by Ann Taylor (no longer available but here's a style I LOVE, Bag: Gifted (similar style here), Shoes: vintage Nine West (no longer sold), (right) Sweater Dress by Ann Taylor (no longer being sold but I love with the print on this one), Shoes: vintage Nine West (only available in Tan in very limited sizes)

      So while I won't be shopping for new clothes anytime soon, perhaps you will be. Maybe you already have weddings to attend, in-person meetings or dinner parties on your calendar. Or perhaps you'll be like me and take any opportunity I can find to put on something other than the wide leg pants I've come to adore and the long sleeve stretch t-shirts that have become my daily uniform.

       

      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!

       

      Elizabeth Arden Free 6 Piece Gift with any $37.50 Arden Purchase! $91 Value! Valid 6/16-7/6

       

      I've collected some of the prettiest, brightly colored dresses (available in lots of sizes and price points) in vibrant solids and fabulous prints that I could find to give you some options for whatever chance you may have, casual or formal, to show a little or a lot leg! Shop my finds below!

       

       

       

       

      1.  Kobi Halperin Sophie Printed A Line Dress

      2.  Johnny Was Cabot Mixed Print Silk Dress - out of stock but this one and this one are lovely as well

      3.  MICHAEL Michael Kors Chain-Print Fit & Flare Dress - sold out but here's a cute one.

      4.  Lauren Ralph Laren Ruffled Georgette Dress

      5.  Ramy Brook Olsen Rainbow Cable Knit Maxi Dress

      6.  Tadashi Shoji Cap Sleeve Lace Gown

      7.  Tommy Hilfiger Cotton Polo Dress - almost sold out of most sizes. Here's an alternative.

      8.  Kasper Sleeveless Sheath Dress - sold out but this one's a goodie! 

      9.  Calvin Klein Cotton Chambray Maxi Dress - no longer available but I love this one too.

      10.  A.L.C. Mischa Cotton Printed Midi Dress

       

      I hope you have fun shopping for Summer looks this year and until next time....

      May your life be filled with COLOR!

       

      Love, Juliet

       

       

        

       

        

       

      Hanes.com

      Colorful Closet: Seasonless Slip Dresses

      Color Craze: Seasonless Slip Dresses - JulRe Designs LLC

      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!

      Cushnie x Target Slip Dress | The Color Lab Blog

      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)

       

      The MET

       

      Cushnie x Target Slip Dress | The Color Lab Blog

      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 

       

      Lou and Gray Slip Dress, Uniqlo Cropped Hoodie, Nine West Booties | The Color Lab Blog

      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

       

      Mother's Day Sale! Extra 25% Off With Code MOM! Shop now at Macys.com! Valid 5/4 through 5/9

       

       

      Here are a few more slip dresses I adore:

      TED BAKER Printed Midi Slip Dress

       

      TED BAKER Printed Midi Slip Dress

       

       

      TORY BURCH Embroidered Sheath Midi Dress 

      TORY BURCH Embroidered Sheath Midi Dress

       

      VINCE Satin Midi Slip Dress 

      VINCE Satin Midi Slip Dress - Nordstrom

       

      BCBGMAXAZRIA Asymmetrical Slip Dress - Macy's

       

      BCBGMAXAZRIA Asymmetrical Slip Dress 

       

      MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS Tie-Dyed Maxi Slip Dress - Macy's

       

      MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS Tie-Dyed Maxi Slip Dress

       

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

      Love, Juliet

       

       

      Bloomingdale's

      Color Collective: 10 Links to News & Hues, Vol. 9

      Color Collective: 10 Links to News & Hues, Vol. 9

      I missed posting your links last week but I'm trying to make up for it with this week's really special ones. Enjoy!

      • Which major fashion brand do you think is at the forefront of using plant-based materials for some of its products? The answer may surprise you. (DesignTaxi)
      • These exercises DO help strengthen your core and if a flatter tummy is a side benefit, I'll take it! (Prime Women)
      • I recently did some Spring dress shopping - in my closet! I'm just a bit embarrassed by what I found. (The Color Lab Blog)
      • As a Marvel fan, this interview with the creator and showrunner for the newest Avengers action series on Disney+, was revealing and very relevant in our current times. (Polygon)
      • Reading glasses are a necessity for many of us and the search for colorful and fashionable ones is over. I'm head-over-heels in LOVE with these. (CADDIS)
      • A toast to these 10 Black women who are successfully distilling spirits in the male dominated industry. (Thrillist)
      • Get 20% OFF my favorite glow-inducing body oil with code 'GLOWROSE' until 3/21/2021! (Gem Luxe Beauty)

       

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

       

      Love, Juliet

       

       

       

       FROM OUR PARTNERS

      CADDIS: Reading glasses that don't suck. For people who own their age. FREE U.S. shipping. Get older. Own it. See stuff. caddislife.com

       

       

      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!

       

       

      Tomato and Jasmine Green

      Tomato and Jasmine Green - JulRe Designs LLC

      Color Craze: Tomato and Jasmine Green

       

      On the color wheel, red and green are direct opposites, but opposites can attract and come together in a fierce partnership. That’s what my latest Color Craze, Tomato and Jasmine Green have done dramatically.

      when it rains, it pours | Tumblr

      Image:  Tumblr

      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!

       

      This color combo is a natural pairing for a pleasing lunch or dinner plate. Who doesn't love a crisp, green salad sprinkled with freshly sliced vine-ripened tomatoes? OK, maybe you're not a fan of the veggies but seeing these eye-catching colors at a meal are aptly appetizing. And of course I found an easy recipe for a scrumptious tomato salad (below) that can be put together in 10 minutes and served the next day! You can find the details here.

      Cherry Tomato Salad

      image: EatWell101

      Black Friday in July | Macys

      I've been making fearless color choices with my personal style for years thanks to my amazing Mom who used to sew brightly colored jumper dresses for me in bright hues when I was younger. So wearing such strong colors as Tomato and Jasmine Green is natural for me.  Shop what I'm wearing below.

      Color Craze: Tomato and Jasmine Green - Juliet Look 2

      Dress: This Lauren Ralph Lauren dress is no longer available but you can find a similar style here
      Shoes: Shop them here.
      Earrings: My own design. Similar styles can be found here or try this.

       

      You'll make a fearless fashion statement too when you unite the spirit of Tomato and Jasmine Green with my 8 fab finds (including an eye-popping nail polish!). Shop my Style Board below:


      Tomato and Jasmine Green - Style Board | The Color Lab Blog

      1.  Alphratti Fit and Flare Dress

      2.  LadyBro Straw Sun Visor

      3.  Eagle Eyes CELESTE Sunglasses

      4.  Lancome L’Absolu Lip Lacquer in Be Brilliant

      5.  China Glaze Nail Polish in I'm With The Lifeguard (WOW!)

      6.  Madewell Austin Crossbody Bag

      7.  David Tate Myrna Wedge Sandal

      8.  JulRe Designs Chloe Bangle Bracelet

       

      And just in case you haven't gotten enough Tomato and Jasmine Green magic, I've curated a Color Craze board dedicated to these brilliant colors on Pinterest. Follow me there too!

      Until next time, keep living a color filled-life!

      Juliet's signature

       

      Need Now: Block Heels | Nordstrom

      Spring/Summer 2019 Color Trends Report

      Spring/Summer 2019 Color Trends Report - JulRe Designs LLC

      Spring/Summer 2019 Color Trends Report

      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. 

      Spring/Summer 2019 Color Trends Palette

      JulRe Designs Disclaimers

      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 - Vegan, Cruelty-Free, Non-Toxic Formula Cirque Colors Creme Nail Polish on Amazon: (top left, clockwise): Fire Island, Sartorial, Midnight Cowboy, Key to Gramercy, Uptown Girl

      Wedding Guest Outfits at Nordstrom

      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!):

      Spring/Summer 2019 Color Trends - Dresses from Nordstrom

      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,

      Juliet