the color lab blog — jewelry

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!

When it comes to color, I haven't written the book but I sure have READ the books. One thing I know for sure, color is so much more than what can be gleaned by the naked eye. Color influences our perceptions, touches our deepest emotions, and moves our decisions.

We have always existed in a color-filled world but we are rarely aware of the impact color has in our daily lives. Through books we can take a deep dive into the ways in which color has influenced our understanding of our global community, our differences and our commonalities.

From the sun-drenched beaches of the Mediterranean to the works of Impressionist artists, these books are both tools for expanded knowledge and simply yummy reads.

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!

Curl up with these books for a little trip down colorful highways and byways or display them on a coffee table to entice your guests. Here are 9 favorites from my personal library:

1. Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay - The author is a genius at expanding our knowledge of color through the ages.
2. Pantone: The 20th Century in Color by Leatrice Eiseman - The quintessential book on how color has expanded our horizons from the "house that color built".
3. The Rainbow Atlas: A Guide to the World’s 500 Most Colorful Places by Taylor Fuller - Travel takes on a renewed importance when you take in the beautiful bucket list places profiled.
4. Black Is A Rainbow Color by Angela Joy - Not necessarily a book on traditional colors, per se, but one of the best children's books on skin color, race and culture written from a child's perspective.  
5. Interaction of Color by Josef Alber - The literal bible of color theory, this book has helped shape my color career and continues to be a guide for my jewelry designs.
6. The Colorful Kitchen by Ilene Godofsky Moreno - Plant-based foods never looked (or tasted) so good! A vibrant book of vegan recipes from a fellow New Jersey native (and somewhat of a neighbor).
7. The Color Scheme Bible by Anna Starmer - A must-have book for a map to bringing new life to any room through color and other home decor inspiration.
8. Bisa Butler: Portraits by Erica Warren - Artists who use color in a manner that evoke strong emotional responses are my jam! Bisa's work not only speaks, it shouts loudly and with passion.
9. Flower Color Theory by Darroch Putnam - Ever wonder how floral artists create such seamlessly elegant flower arrangements? This book will have you heading to the nearest farmer's market or flower stand to grab a few bouquets to play with.

You can depend on this color combo to bring the summertime sizzle. Limelight and Sulphur Spring bring new meaning to brightness! They're eye-catching but never gaudy. Always current and filled with the promise of life at its most vivid. 

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!

We've been seeing variations of this color duo in fashion for years. Glowy neon yellow-greens have become a staple in activewear and accessories. I designed these Lemon Tree Earrings using these vibrant shades and will always have this palette somewhere within my jewelry collections. But I'm seeing it pop up more for home interiors lately and I love the trend!

I'll admit, I'm not brave enough to incorporate it into my home in a substantial way but I will use it to accent in an area that craves energy. The kitchen below has a proportionate balance that refreshes the senses and doesn't overwhelm. This highly functional room is a natural fit for such "health-conscious" colors.

image: Better Homes & Gardens

Bathrooms are unsurprisingly another perfect space for colors that pop. I adore the floor-to-ceiling tiles as a bright focal point. Green and clean!

image: Elle Decor

The color palette is so appealing that I've used it in our company branding and incorporated shades of Limelight and Sulphur Spring into my design studio. Although the slippers chairs you see below are no longer available, this one is a new favorite!

image: JulRe Designs Studio, South Orange, NJ

If you're not filled with the audaciousness that the tones of Limelight and Sulphur Spring require, then I've selected 6 fab, fun home decor items that will let you dabble with these high volume shades without a huge, long-lasting commitment. Have fun shopping below!

For more color and home decor inspiration, check out my Color Craze: Limelight and Sulphur Spring board on Pinterest!

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

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!

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)

• Here's fresh green jewelry to wear yourself or to give in honor of Spring! (JulRe Designs Studio)

• DIY Project: These gorgeous Paper Flowers are so simple to make for a Mother's Day brunch place setting.

• Museums have started to reopen. Hooray! This artist's inspiring and colorful outdoor exhibit is one of the many I'm looking forward to seeing. (MOMA)

• 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!

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