White is being spotted everywhere, and it makes a great summer fashion statement.
I especially love the white bermuda shorts being shown by several designers, including Ralph Lauren and Stella McCartney.
This updated classic is a must-have summer item, so I thought it would be a good time to give you a few tips to keep in mind when adding white to your wardrobe.
- If you have fair skin, wear bright white, since off-white is not as flattering.
- You can also wear bright white if you have dark skin, because it is a wonderful contrast.
- Our eyes see pure white as a very bright color, making it an attention-grabber.
- When worn with dark colors, such as black or navy, bright white looks crisp and polished.
- Pure whites often have a cool or blue undertone and may not work well with other pieces that have warm or yellow undertones. A creamy white would blend better with warm colors.
- Keep in mind that white is a color that seems to expand and makes things appear larger, so be prepared for that possibility - especially if you wear white from head to toe.
- Off-white is more versatile that pure white, if you are looking for a neutral white that goes with anything.
White bermudas can be found just about everywhere, so have fun finding the perfect pair in the right white for you.
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Black and white with a dash of red has long been a wardrobe favorite, and the eye-catching combination is now also a favorite for the home.
The combination of black, white, and red is clean and contemporary, yet appeals to our desire for glamor. This color trend emerged in Europe in the last two years and this year, the trend has truly taken hold here.
Recently, House & Garden magazine featured Jade Jagger’s (daughter of Mick Jagger and wife Bianca) home in London with her comfortable white furniture that sports a red and black pillow set against a red carpet. Jade is quoted as saying it is “my favorite color combination.”
Their are many reds to choose from; all shades are a beautiful complement to black and white. So whether you favor a bright apple red, a deep claret, or a muted burgundy, the hue will work with black and white.
For the rich and sophisticated look shown in the picture above, try using Burnt Tile 150F-7 for the walls and White 1852 for the trim from Behr.
Best of all, this combination is available from many sources - from rustic wood-stained black cabinets to luxurious red upholstered chairs, so this sophisticated trio can fit any decorating style.
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Bene is a new fashion magazine that celebrates Italy with an American flair.
In their own words, this magazine was “created for anyone who adores eating divine Italian food, dressing in exquisite Italian clothes and accessories, and traveling anywhere in the magnificent country, Bene will capture the intoxicating essence of Italy from new and interesting perspectives.”
Set to launch in June, the debut issue reveals how Italians play the fashion game by their own rules.
Here’s a preview of The Elements of (Italian) Style:
- Wear what you love
- Don’t be afraid of color
- Men can and should wear white
- Mixing prints means depth, not disaster
- Do one thing beautifully
- Choose natural adornments
- When it comes to jewelry, more is more
- Socks matter
Create a bit of Italian style yourself with a little help from Bene by subscribing or picking up a copy at one of these locations.
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I love fine leather bags, but sometimes even I want something a bit different. Here is one company with a unique perspective that just might fit the bill with their colorful line of bags.
Freddy & Ma sells handbags, but not just plain, old, off-the-shelf ones. They have created bags that contain the essence of what’s hot right now, yet have a little flair that identifies the bag as yours.
Check out the many great styles and colors. Of course, I thought I would create my own, but after seeing the fresh, ready-to-buy designs they offer, I decided that they could do the designing and I’d just stick to what I do best - selecting one in a fabulous color!
Design A One-Of-A-Kind Bag
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In the debate about which sunglasses protect better - expensive or cheap - the answer is…neither, unless you choose the right lens color.
If the lenses, even the cheap ones, have dark enough gray tints, they can provide just as much protection from harmful UV rays as their more expensive counterparts. The problem is that if the lenses are not gray or not dark enough, you will be doing more harm to your pupils than you would by not wearing sunglasses.
Lenses that are yellow or blue can intensify the sun reflected through them, and green and brown lenses offer little added protection. So while they may look great, be aware that you may not be getting the protection you desire.
And for those that spend their time in the sun on or around water, polarized lenses are worth a few extra bucks.
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For years, there has been a myth that green M&M’s are an aphrodisiac. M&M’s played up on this myth in several of their commercials, including one where a mother is speaking to her husband about her concern for a poster hanging in her son’s room that we, as the audience, are assuming is a scantily-clad young babe.
The father replies, “Relax dear. It’s what boys do!” The camera then pans to reveal that their son’s object of desire is Ms. Green M&M, posing in all her glory. To add to the humor, the commercial ends with mom opening the bedside table, where she discovers a drawer full of green M&Ms.
Fortunately, M&M’s now have an entire palette of colors that you can mix to match whatever message you want to communicate. You can see all of the colors and some color suggestions at the M&M’s store, but below are a few tongue-in-cheek recommendations of my own.
Kate’s M&M Color Guide
Sensual: Purple, Dark Pink & Red
Serene: Aqua Green, Light Blue & Blue
Mystical: Purple, Maroon, Gray & Light Purple
Romantic: Pink, Light Purple & Cream
Power: Combinations of Black/Purple or Black/Red or Black/Gold
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For our first holiday celebration, David surprised me with a Hermès scarf, and every year since, he has presented me with an impeccably wrapped box that holds the gorgeous silk masterpiece that won him over after much thoughtful deliberation.
The hand-screened silk squares have sumptuous colors, and every scarf has a theme that makes a statement, ranging from heartfelt to frivolous. Over the years, these scarves have been worn by many fashion mavens, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Grace Kelly.
For some, they may be status symbols, but for me, they are the signature accessory that adds a perfect pop of color to whatever I’m wearing.
So you can imagine how thrilled I was when Hermes opened their completely renovated store near where we live in Northern Virginia on Thursday evening and that we were among the honored guests. The event was perfectly orchestrated and the remodeled store is exquisite.
I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting their CEO and President Robert Chavez and having him personally show me the special edition Christopher Columbus scarf. He’s absolutely charming and, of course, once I saw the elaborate design done in warm browns and sea glass green draped around my neck, I knew it I had to have it.
What a luxurious way to express my obsession with color!
Visit the Hermes website
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Superb colors, livable designs, great quality, and interesting graphics.
Need I say more?
Visit Unison Home for Quailty Home Textiles
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Like most of us, meteorologists recognize that hovering, slate gray clouds are a sure sign that rainy weather is approaching and that white, puffy clouds signal a clear and pleasant day ahead. What the local weatherman knows that most of us may not is why some clouds are light and others dark, and what the color of a cloud indicates.
Clouds are composed of tiny droplets of water that have condensed on particles present in our atmosphere. Though water droplets are basically transparent, they scatter sunlight which produces the pearly white cloud color we see most often in the sky.
As clouds accumulate more moisture, the space between droplets becomes larger and larger, permitting more light to penetrate deeper into the cloud. This causes light to be absorbed rather than reflected, making the cloud appear darker. The amount of light absorbed versus light reflected is what produces clouds that range from bright white to almost black.
Clouds often take on a blue-gray hue when light is scattered by rain droplets. They can turn an ominous green when light is scattered through ice, and greenish clouds often signal heavy rain and hail, as well as a potential tornado. Large quantities of smoke in the air produce yellowish clouds and are often the result of a forest fire.
Although clouds may appear pink, red, or orange at sunrise or sunset, they don’t actually change color. They simply reflect the long, reddish rays of sunlight that are predominant at those times of day and thus produce a beautiful backdrop for the beginning or ending of our day.
Photos courtesy of Cloudman
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I know summer is almost upon us when the hydrangeas begin to bloom.
Those massive domed clusters of florets that range in color from the most delicate pink to a deep blue make me happy simply by being in view.
Studying a hydrangea bloom can be very calming as you contemplate the subtle changes in hue. The interplay of color has been inspirational to me in developing color palettes, creating pastel drawings, and dyeing fabrics.
The play between the colors and light has moved artists to paint these gorgeous blossoms in every medium. I especially appreciate the way artist Cathy Schaefer has captured the beauty and essence of this plant in her painting titled Hydrangea III, shown above.
View the Art of Cathy Schaefer
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