Just in time to shoo away post-holiday blues and winter doldrums- we’re sharing our first favorite trend of the year…BRIGHT, BOLD COLOR!

Colors with names like pixie green, citrus yellow, berry crush and blueberry fizz are showing up on everything from designer bags to king size beds.

Super bright hues lit up the spring runways of 3.1 Phillip Lim, Diane Von Furstenburg, Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton

Similar to the neon-inspired pieces that grabbed attention last year, these brights pack a punch whether combined with neutrals, whites or fellow brights ( but in our opinion are much easier to live with!)

Splurge on a bright pair of shoes or a coat and suddenly the long, gray days of winter feel a little warmer! Pick up a few accessories or one new piece of furniture in a bright, bold hue and instantly change your home’s mood.

The fun really begins when you dare to mix two or more of these brights together. For easy inspiration take color cues directly from brightly colored floral fabric, which are also a big trend this spring.

Bazaar magazine looked at the trend of Hollywood starlets wearing brights in their December issue… how do those savvy fashionistas always seem to stay one step ahead?

Ads for resort collections always bring hope to my winters… this year both Gucci’s and Chanel’s Resort campaigns feature brightly dressed models.

I was happily surprised to discover that J.Crew paired bright dresses with equally bright shoes in their latest catalog

The newest campaign from The Gap says “it’s all about the blue”…. but for me this yellow coat and the bright colored accessories around the store are what caught my eye on a recent visit.

Signature handbags from Louis Vuitton and Coach get a splash of bold color for Spring.

From Micheal Kors to Manolo Blahnik to Tory Burch…. even the faintest of “color heart” can appreciate the dare devil spirit of a bright pair of shoes.

Adding a bright piece of furniture to your home has never been easier. The Cleo chair from Anthropologie, the Jacqui tea table from Eboniste.com or even an aqua blue felt bed frame from Bludot.com are all places to start.

Marimekko bedding from Crate and Barrel, a Dwell Studio pillow from Target and this awesome chandelier by Thomas and Vine that I found through Domino Magazine show that…

…a little extra color in your home is one only bright accessory away.
  

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I expected a snowy wonderland…very Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in Narnia. So I packed furry hats and boots and warm wooly sweaters. I should have packed short sleeves and another bathing suit. The weather in Iceland is known for its unpredictability; unfortunately, I didn’t know it.

Read all about my colorful adventures in Iceland…   

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If you are lucky enough this year to be going on a winter escape vacation to a warmer climate, it’s best to start planning for it a few weeks early. Chances are your bikini and favorite flip-flops have been stored away since the end of summer, your bottle of SPF 30 is nearing empty, and your tootsies are less than beach perfect. So save yourself last minute travel stress and think ahead.
Make a plan of what you will pack, what you need to buy and what you need to schedule to have done before you leave.

If you are going to a new destination, familiarize yourself with the dress code of the resort and it’s clients. A concierge can typically help in this department. Even in the most casual of settings- i.e. living in your swimsuit all day, it’s best to plan on being properly dressed for dinner. So pack accordingly.

Which shoes to pack should also be taken into consideration, as much as you don’t want to give up valuable luggage real estate to your sneakers or comfy walking shoes… bring them. Most activities ( tennis, horseback riding, hiking, boating) at vacation spots require the right footwear, and you would hate to be left out of any vacation adventure. I learned this lesson when I was the only one in my party left out of a deep sea fishing adventure in the Bahamas a few years back… the boat’s captain didn’t seem to agree with my choice of platform sandals as proper boating shoes!

Get double use out of your vacation- by using your upcoming trip as a motivation for a healthier you. If you live in a cold winter climate, like me… your body has probably been hiding itself behind plenty of layers for the last few months. Make changes in diet, exercise, and skin care now… then when it’s time to walk out on the beach for the first time- you’ll be ready to relax and take advantage of your time away from the stresses of everyday life.

As far as clothing budget goes, buy yourself at least one new piece to bring on vacation just for fun then set some cash aside to buy yourself something once you’re away. A local sarong or beach bag can be used right away and will bring back warm memories once you return home to colder weather.   

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Last week I took a look at the trend of the color gold being used in holiday advertising… this week in honor of the countdown to the new year…. I can’t help but notice gold is having it’s moment-so to speak- in the spotlight of women’s fashion, as well.

A Valentino runway stunner - Fall 2007 couture from Style.com

In fact I would say it’s been the month- and perhaps even the holiday weekend- of the LGD ( little gold dress ). From starlets to fashion spreads to fashion opinions, the little gold dress it seems, is the trendiest sheath of the season.

So if your looking to add a little timely sparkle to your year end/beginning traditions, perhaps a little gold number is all you need…

In Style’s website suggest two different LGDs as the perfect party dress for the holidays.

Vogue gave gold dresses an entire spread in it’s December issue.

Baazar spotlighted gold sequined and embellished dresses in their December and January issues.

Both December covers of Lucky and Bazaar feature starlets in a LGDs.

Elle.com choose a photo of Kate Moss in a one of a kind Top Shop LGD for their look at the 25 best dressed of 2007.

Coincidentally Style.com choose the same pix of Kate Moss for there look at what to wear this New Year’s Eve. Wow, fashionistas sure love Miss Moss in this dress!

Today’s “Fashion Faceoff” on People.com just happens to feature Carrie Underwood and Kim Kardashian wearing the same Jovani gold sequin dress.

While Us magazine picked this metallic gold Alexander Wang Dress to as their “Who Wore It Best?“ for this holiday weekend.

People.com takes a look at the trend with images of Eve, Hilary Duff and Vanessa Hudgens all wearing LGDs on the red carpet.

And what will I be wearing this New Year’s Eve?… Will I partake in this trend…

Well- no doubt I’d love to show up wearing this 3.1 Phillip Lim dress on Monday night, but with a $625 price tag ( and a very tired post-holiday credit card ), this little gold number from Forever 21 is more of a reality!…. I love the idea of pairing it with dark grayish/blue tights…. I may just try this look at home ( minus the hair crimping, of course.)   

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Wishing each of you a very happy holiday. Thank you for your encouragement this year and allowing us to add a bit of color to your world. We truly appreciate the support you have shown through your regular visits, comments, and emails. We look to getting to know you better during a very colorful 2008.

In celebration of the holiday I thought I would share a few of the holiday decorations I viewed recently.

Holiday Glamour Tree designed by Jamie Drake

Glamorous gold adds a warm glow to the holidays and shines beautifully as it adorns the Holiday Glamour themed tree that greets guest at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Georgetown section of Washington, DC.

The decorated tree is the creation of master designer Jamie Drake of Drake Design Associates in NYC and was one of the trees up for auction at the Georgetown Jingle charity event held to benefit the wonderful Pediatric programs at Georgetown University Hospital.

Jamie has created some of the country’s most dynamic, distinctive, and livable interiors for everyone from Madonna to New York City Mayor Bloomberg. He recently completed the renovation of Gracie Mansion, the ceremonial residence of the Mayor of New York.

In addition to having a phenomenal ability to work his magic in both traditional and contemporary interiors, he uses color boldly, fearlessly, and with great flair. What a talent! I’m a big fan of his and enjoyed seeing him while he was in DC.

Jamie Drake with Kate at the Georgetown Jingle

The beautiful suzani fabric from Donghia seen in my photo with Jamie Drake above and the one below was the inspiration for this festive tabletop designed by David Herchik of JDS Designs.

A suzani is delicate needlework on cloth and has been part of Central Asia’s folk art history for centuries. Donghia has updated the suzani with unexpected colors while capturing this time-honored art in its true form.

One Thousand and One Nights of Hope designed by David Herchik

The jewel tones celebrate the mysticism of far away lands and set the mood for a modern holiday dining experience. David’s delightful wit shows up in his designs as he mixes fine china and crystal with bright acrylic flatware.

The design and decoration of the tree created by Robert Pahnke and Susan Pilchard reflects the style, color, simplicity and rhythm of the artist of the Washington Color School.

In the style of the Washington Color School artists

The bold color, scale, design particularly pay homage to Gene Davis a key painter of the movement. The bright white tree illuminated with white lights create a backdrop reminiscent of the walls in Jefferson Place Gallery and show off the painting of fabric that twist around the branches from bottom to top.

This tree is a beautiful reminder of a time when Washington, DC was in the forefront as the United States developed their own movements in the arts.   

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