the color lab blog

No gold glitters like that which is our own. - Eliza Cook

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!

As a jewelry designer, I have the privilege of working with many wonderful brides, helping them to create unique earrings and necklaces for their bridesmaids, mothers and of course, themselves. I'm always honored when I receive an invitation to their extra special day but due to my schedule, I'm often unable to attend. I hope to change that in 2020. I currently have 3 invitations and more may come but my super ambitious commitment is to attend every wedding. Once I made that decision, the heart-pounding panic set in. What am I going to wear? And since I'm not a "one dress for every event" type and I'm all in on any excuse to shop, I decided that the easiest solution would be to invest in a monochromatic capsule wardrobe that I could systematically create new looks from by starting with a few amazing dresses as a base and interchange accessories for each occasion. But color. What color would be right for almost every wedding whether it's during the day or at night, semi-formal or formal? I chose Metallic Gold for its ease and versatility. Shimmery colors the "glam neutrals" of the color spectrum. Gone is the time when shimmer was relegated for after dark affairs. Metallics, including Bronze, Silver and the ever-popular Rose Gold are easy to wear, can be found in almost every clothing store for every budget and in all sizes. 

Here is my capsule wardrobe, starting with 3 amazing dresses, all from Nordstrom:

dresses from left to right: 

GLITZY:  FRENCH CONNECTION Emille Sparkle Long Sleeve Sequin Sheath Dress

SEXY:  LULUS Love & Luxury Metallic Plissé Cocktail Dress

GLAMOROUS:  ELIZA J Ruched Evening Gown

A great handbag with exquisite detailing is a must for me but it must be functional as well. These 3 clutches from Bloomingdale's get my sparkly thumbs up!:

clutch handbags from left to right:

ROMANTIC:  Marc Jacobs Metallic Leather Clutch

SOPHISTICATED:  MICHAEL Michael Kors LouLou Envelope Clutch

CHIC:  From St Xavier Chevy Beaded Clutch

Finally, a comfortable pair of shoes complete the looks - HEAVY emphasis on COMFORT. Since lots of mingling and dancing are the 2nd best parts of any wedding (the nuptials are the 1st!), selecting the right footwear is so important. I don't normally associate comfort with a high heel. Frankly, I rarely find any that I can honestly say are a pleasure to wear but all 3 of the shoes I found at Macy's are well made and after considerable testing, I can say will get you through several hours of socializing without killing your feet. And they're gorgeous too!:

shoes from left to right:

STYLISH:  Vince Camuto Reesera Dress Sandals

CLASSIC:  kate spade new york Sterling Dress Shoes

POSH:  Katy Perry Rayann Ballet Flats

Don't be afraid to mix different shades and textures of whatever Metallic Gold or whatever metallic you choose. There are no rules! Gold on gold just works for almost any formal-leaning event! 

Until next time, here's to living a color-filled life!

P.S. Follow me on Instagram for a look at how I wear this looks at each wedding plus more color commentary!

2019 was an incredible year of color for me. I started this blog to share my lifelong love of vivid hues and palettes and to show how the power of color impacts our everyday lives in ways we may not realize. My Color Craze year began with Living Coral, an energetic, alive hue that was Pantone's Color of the Year and a reminder that despite the refreshing chill of customary winter hues, classic spring and summer colors reign supreme.

left to right: Bella Vita Sylvie II Espadrille Wedge Sandal, MCM Essential Boston Monogram Leather Satchel, Pared Eyewear Up and At Em Sunglasses

The year also included enjoyable visits to the colorful places featured in my ColorStory series here and on Instagram.

left to right: Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC), Hudson Yards (NYC), Georgetown Waterfront (DC), Color Factory (NYC), Love Park (Philly)

For Spring/Summer 2019, my first Color Trends Report was a palette I felt was fresh, invigorating, and bold enough to command attention in a statement making year. And it just so happens that my favorite non-toxic nail polish brand has a color selection so huge that I was able to find a matching polish for every color!

left to right: Cirque Colors Creme Nail Polish in Fire Island, Sartorial, Midnight Cowboy, Key to Gramercy, Uptown Girl

With the high level energy of those Spring and Summer colors, I wanted assure that the volume remained cranked up with a dynamic palette for Fall and Winter. 

left to right: BulbHead 10 PC Copper-Infused Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware Set, OK Lighting Kapila Table Lamp, SimplyFernished Decorative Trivets, Pinzon Egyptian Cotton Bath Towel Set 

left to right: Nordstrom Cashmere & Silk Wrap, Timberland Premium Waterproof Boot, Stella McCartney Jacquard Horse Blouse, Chloe Tess Croc Embossed Calfskin Shoulder Bag

Now we are beginning a new decade and I predict that the colors that will impact us most will be those that elicit a feeling of comfort and best express our desire for an overall sense of ease. Concurrently, in these times of a heightened need to protect our individuality, we will be drawn to palettes that highlight our creativity with energy and optimism.

Thank you for joining me on my journey in color this past year. I hope you'll continue to follow my journey as I bring you new and exciting ways to incorporate color into your life for maximum impact and influence.

Live life in color!

My modus operandi is to always honor the Gods of Color, Pantone, the OGs of divine hues and palettes. I pay homage to them with the very existence of this blog. When the annual selection of their Color of the Year rolls around, it's THE event for those of us who live and die by the palette. And this year was no exception. While I was not able to attend the live event in held in New York City, I did wait in anticipation with others via Instagram. The game of "guess what the color will be" was fierce and in the end, my wish for a vibrant blue was granted. So, in honor of the selection of Classic Blue as the shade for 2020, I'm ending my Holiday Gift Guide series with 10 great home decor items to give in a color Pantone calls "a timeless and enduring blue hue elegant in its simplicity."

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!

First, Pantone offers several accessories for the well decorated desk that I adore. Every year you can find the Color of the Year notebook and coffee cup on my own desk in my studio (see above). Shop Pantone's Lifestyle Shop here.

Color Craze Holiday Gift Guide Product Board

1.  Design Art Oversized Modern Wall Clock 

2.  POKETO Project Planner 

3.  MyArton Abstract Wall Art

4.  JONATHAN ADLER - Sorrento Backgammon Set

5.  XOOPAR Yoyo Finger Bluetooth Speaker

6.  MOMA Design Store Wire Mesh Basket

7.  AB HOME Modern Chic Trays

8.  kate spade new york Charlotte Street Glassware Collection

Fellow color lovers, I wish you a happy, color-filled Holiday season! I'll be back in January 2020 with more color commentary!

Until next time,

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!

Because color is so much a part of my life, I tend to do a lot of things in groupings based on color combinations that strike me as unusual, energetic, peaceful or powerful. My mood guides me and I see everything in shades and hues and palette possibilities. Shopping for gifts is one activity that I sometimes do in color duos, trios or families. Call it quirky, but since I'm far from a traditionalist when it comes to color, it's much more fun for me to connect to a palette I adore and search for gifts in those colors for the people I love and care for. I do take their likes and desires into consideration so as you can imagine, shopping this way can also be very challenging and time-consuming. I'll bet you're saying "I won't be doing this. The last thing I need is more things to take up my limited time during the Holiday season!" I get it. Well, I've done the shopping for you! Over the next few weeks, I will be presenting my Color Craze Holiday Gift Guide Series! I've selected colors that I hope you and your giftees will like as much as I do and I've hunted down gifts for everyone on your list!

I've started the series off with a Gift Guide in 2 major colors that I've been coveting all season. I selected Raspberry Sorbet as part of my Fall/Winter 2019 Color Trends Report because it's a cool, but keenly unreserved pink that everyone can wear. Purple Rose was a strong finalist for the report because it's a shade that is on-trend now and a color that I find very versatile. For your home or wardrobe, it's a nice touch of classic sophistication. 

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!

Have some colorful fun and shop my top 10 gifts in Raspberry Sorbet and Purple Rose on the Gift Guide below:

1.  For the Vegan with a Sweet Tooth:  POPETTE OF PENDULUM Assorted Fruit Lollipops 

2.  For the Fearless Fashion Femme Fatale:  AMALFI BY RANGONI Patrizio Slingback Pump

3.  For the World Wide Traveler:  SAMSONITE Wheeled Underseater Luggage

4.  For the Home Cook Extraordinaire:  LE CREUSET 4-Quart Heritage Rectangular Covered Baking Dish

5.  For the Busy Bather:  philosophy Raspberry Sorbet Ultra Rich 3-in-1 Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath

6.  For the New Mom Influencer:  NOOK SLEEP SYSTEMS Niche Feeding Pillow

7.  For the Stylish Student:  TUMI Varek Hudson Backpack

8.  For the Color Conscious Man:  TED BAKER LONDON Jay Trim Fit Plaid Wool Sport Coat

9.  For the Kid with Everything:  HUNTER First Classic Kids Waterproof Rain Boot

10. For the Super Safe Skier:  SMITH Vantage Snow Helmet with MIPS

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

Until next time, live a color-filled life!