There was color and style, both good, bad and inspiring- here’s a few I noted:

Best Use Of An Umbrella

Diane Kruger’s eye catching color was hard not to notice (love the ombre)- but I have to admit her dress wasn’t completely wooing me until I saw it in this context. With debonair Joshua Jackson (looking very Cary Grant-ish to me) trying to keep her dry, I’m thinking the rain soaked duo played out the weather hurdle in true glamorous spirit.

Doesn’t this image look like a movie poster for a classic Lomabard/Gable movie from the 30’s. Love it! Well done you two for making the bad weather and one ginormous umbrella work to your advantage!

The One Color Trend I Wish Hadn’t Been Taken So Literally

I know, I know- I read Vogue, too. Statement, black shoes are very RIGHT NOW.  I feel though, that they must be worn with great care. There must be some cohesion with the ensemble with which they are paired – especially to a red carpet event.

Don’t get me wrong, I think all three of these women are super duper GORGEOUS, but the dark shoes paired with these gowns-I’m not feeling it.

OH, No!  Et Tu Anna?!

You know when you’re in a fitting room trying on a dress and in order to check out if the length is o.k. you have to put on the shoes that you wore into the store- that’s what all four are reminding me of.

Case in point.  Whether or not you agree with the fashion critic that Julia was dressed too casually for the evening, you have to at least give her props for actually pulling this one shoe trend off -like a seasoned pro.

Oh and by the way, on a complete side note:I thought that Mickey Rourke’s date played “Cameron Diaz walking a red carpet” better then Cameron actually did this go around-

The Difference Between Good Shoes And Bad- They Make You “OOH” Not “OoowwW”

“oooohhh”

OMG- “OoooWWWww”  There is only one place that I would think white platforms are appropriate and unless Kate is researching a role- she should stay far away from there!

Black is Back (Though I Suppose It Never Officially Left)

Lea Michelle’s black tulle gown was 100% old school beauty, but since Lea is actually young enough to play a girl still in school I would have rather seen her wear a bit of color…though as someone who wore black to my own prom, I should perhaps not judge.

Now with Penelope, I fear as if black has become too much of her uniform lately.  Show us some of that Spanish flair, Pen.  Tomato Red is said to be hot for spring and I can’t think of anyone who would have looked more caliente wearing it!

I actually love January Jone’s dress and that she’s wearing  black.  Two slight changes I would have made.  1. Lose the headband, it’s distracting and not necessary and 2. I would have loved if either the dress was a tad shorter or her heels were a bit higher.  I always feel that when a column gown skims the ground, it makes the person wearing it appear shorter than they really are.

Or in some cases- bustier…wow that’s a whole lot of spray tan!

Most Likely To Be Voted Color Twins

This morning when my husband breezed through the room and told me that “pink and lavender were the colors everyone is talking about”, I felt as if I had perhaps woken up in an episode of the Twilight Zone.

If I hadn’t been in so much shock, I probably would have been quicker on the draw and ready to reply- ‘oh yeah, well how about gray with purple undertones- did they mention that by any chance smarty pants.”

I mention it, because I found it very interesting that two very different style stars choose to wear this ‘complex neutral’ as color junkies like my sister Kate call it.  But in very different ways.

This can be a tricky color, because the wrong move can make this exciting color go from grand entrance to ‘grey gardens’ in a NY minute.

So who did it right?  I think Jennifer Garner.  The added sparkle, the body hugging cut and the easy smile are total screen star-ilicious.

Sadly, I applaud Chloe for her fashion-forward loving self, but the fabric and the flounce, the severe hair and the pucker were lack luster in my book. The dress actually reminded me of something Shirley Maclaine’s character might wear if they made Terms Of Endearment Part 3.

Candy Colors Were Very Popular (a.k.a my husband was right)

Do you suppose these two shopped in the same store?

Fergie was quite pretty in this pale lavender “bodice ripper” number. I’m guessing in person the color made her eyes look spectacular! Perhaps she went with the hair down, to help cover up her lady lumps-just a bit.  I’m guessing the idea was for a soft look to match the soft dress-but I’m wishing she had worn it pulled back in a loose low chignon- it would have served her overall style better.

Now Sandra, whom I love!!!!, makes me sad.  Because though I love this color on her and do agree that it would have been a color to be remembered for, I think because of the fabric- the dress itself looks like something you would find in a little girls dress up box. And when you actually take home one of the awards, that’s probably not a description you would want attached to your outfit.  I heard her joking on the red carpet that her dress was made out of plastic…Sandra-

We must all  learn from Angelina’s Oscar mistake- if there is even a slight chance you might win…don’t pick it as the night you take a big fashion police risk!

Speaking of learning from others’ mistakes- I’m talking to you Marion Cotillard…your walking a thin line, mon cherie

THAT WE MUST NEVER DARE CROSS AGAIN!!!!

Okay I have to get back to color now.

Best use of  accessory color goes to:

Amy Adams.  Amy, I’ve been there and I know how hard it is to rock that early belly bump- when you realize your favorite jeans may never button up again and suddenly nothing fits and you no longer know how to dress your body….  but your pairing of your blue/green dress with orange shoes and bag made you my clever fashion hero of the night.  Let the others have their slinky little numbers, your color pairing took your matronly situation into total modern grounds!

Best Color Goes To Texture

That sounds a bit strange, but since no one color was knocking me dead I felt that the most interesting style statement of the night was the gowns busy with ruffles, bows and layers.  It can be a hard style to wear, but I thought all three of these ladies wore the look with total ease.

Others though, were lost a bit in translation:

I probably would love Drew’s dress if the ruffle at the hip had been just a tad smaller.  I read somewhere this morning that her dress looked as if she was “growing fungus”.

Oh and just a quick quote to the men-

You’re Men- Use It To Your Advantage And Wear A Tux

How fantastically dapper are these two!

As much as I love fashion, if there was a classic uniform for women to wear to these things I would be all over it!  Leave the weird outfits for Mickey Rourke!  Even David Arquette has come around:

though he still needs to have his tailored.

Okay by this point in the broadcast I started to get bored because I started pairing up random couples because of the colors and styles they were wearing.

Perhaps Harrison should ditch Calista’s

and if these too haven’t met yet- they should…

And then I think I began hallucinating….

So I flipped the channel.

all images from Getty via TMZ, Eonline and Moviefone.  Dick Van Dyke as the beloved Bert from IMD

]]> http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/the-colors-and-styles-of-the-2010-golden-globes/feed/ 5 http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/raving-about-these-roses/ http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/raving-about-these-roses/#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:14:06 +0000 Kate Smith http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/?p=4390 I was driving through a neighborhood in Georgetown last weekend when the sight of these roses caused me to come to a complete stop in the middle of the road…luckily no one was tailgating or it would have been ugly. I quickly came back to my senses and found a place to park so I could get out a closer look and snap a few pictures.

Against the gray green painted brick this palette of pinks, yellows, peaches and oranges just glowed in the early morning light.

These colors are a naturally harmonious, analogous palette.

The colors ranged from a pale flesh that was as soft as a newborns bottom to a vibrant coral that could easily be paired with a bold blue and lots of yellows, oranges and pinks in between.

Ten of the many hues that I found in these roses all growing on the same bush.

Even though it was barely 7am when I was snapping these pictures the owner happened to walk out the front door.  I complimented him on the spectacular colors and ask him if he could tell me what type of roses they were exactly.

He smiled and simply said, “I agree they are lovely but have no idea what they are.  My wife is the one that knows about plants and deserves all of the credit for these roses that are almost as beautiful as she is.”

Enough said.  I didn’t need to know any more.

source

Color theory tells us that when we see a hot color  ( like orange ) our eye naturally seeks out it’s cooler- across the color wheel compliment color ( in this case blue ).  The colors live as equals next to each other, balancing out and intensifying each other’s hues.

The Met’s shades of blue and orange are indeed intense next to each other- almost hard to look at.  Luckily the team’s uniforms are tempered by white ( home games) and black ( away ) backgrounds.  I’m pretty sure If the team hit the field in head -to- toe equal values of orange and blue I would have trouble focusing on David Wright as he hit a homerun or Jose Reyes run towards 2nd to steal a base.

Yet if attention is what you seek without clashing… than by all means nothing will achieve it quite like mixing together equal valued complimentary colors,  Funny enough as I sat at the game and looked over the crowd I realized how the Met’s team colors were so fashionable ‘in’ for summer 09.

Totes with a twist of color from Tory Burch and DKNY, polka dot dress by Monkee’s of Irving Park, blouse from Viktor & Rolf, shoes by Siergio Rossi

Notice how the gray, black, brown and white balance out the intense blues and oranges on the totes and shoe, while adding a lighter shade of blue and and introducing pink into the color mix have the orange and blue battling it out for your attention on the blouse.  Meanwhile the dress’s slightly lighter shade of blue allows the brighter orange dots and belt to take center stage.

The colors remain intense even though Dries Van Noten breaks up the pairing with neutral gray, golden tones and black, as does Marc Jacobs ( shown above)

Cameron Diaz hits the red carpet this spring in her own versions of the blue and orange trend. This time keeping the orange bright and the blue faded- black and white again balance out the scheme.

If bright orange and blue is too intense for you… than the classic pairing of a greener/blue with a reddish orange ( like the oh-so popular turquoise and coral ) may be more up your colorway this year.

greenish blues and orange are a knockout together when paired with brighter blues, paler oranges and gold

Runway looks from Jonathan Saunders and Pucci… bracelet from Intermix.com

source

Drew Barrymore , always a fan of trendy colors, hits the red carpet last week in a white gown with accents of turquoise blue and coral beading

A current ad for Target uses a similar color scheme

And if you are in the market to go really bold this season, then pair the complement of blue and orange in an all new direction-

There really are some amazing color palettes with blue and orange happening out there, this runway look from Marni and a bench from Antropologie are two of my favorite schemes- I just love them paired with the unexpected shades of violet and green!

Hmmm, I wonder if the Met’s would ever consider adding just a little dash of purple to update their look?

Images Elle.com

]]> http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/color-trend-cheering-for-team-blue-and-orange/feed/ 3 http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/color-trend-coral-yes-still/ http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/color-trend-coral-yes-still/#comments Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:30:48 +0000 juliehoylen http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/?p=2971 Ah… coral motifs.  I have to admit I just can’t get enough of them. When their vibrant colored silhouettes first began popping up a few years back…my red/orange loving self was thrilled.  Their color was the perfect foil for the greens and jewel tones through out my house… slowly but surely tiny pops of their mysterious shapes and shades made it into my home.

Coral Melamine dinner plate from William Sonoma Home

But with all things that become popular in our fast moving society I feared that coral ( though a classic motif for sure ) would perhaps become overexposed and fizzle away…. but this is the case of a trend that just keeps getting stronger.

And funny…. it also is perhaps a color trend that first got hot for home and then moved into fashion and beauty ( usually it tends to be the other way around)… the trickle down effect of trends, fascinating- right!

Embroidered Coral Pillow from William Sonoma home and DVF dress from Intermix.com-  separated at birth?

So why are these bright colors of the underwater world gaining even more strength as we move into summer 2009?  I’m guessing that 1. with the economy still down people are drawn to colors that have an ‘uplifting’ effect , much like why citrus tones are also very popular right now.  And since the color and motif of coral has proven itself to have staying power- for some that may lead to it’s appeal as a good classic bright color to invest in.

And 2. with a growing awareness of the destruction of coral reefs worldwide ( caused by not only the harvesting of it to sell… but also by the residue of sunscreens coming off of swimmers in the water ) their importance in the eco system has been in the forefront of news as of late.  So this summer make sure that you surround yourself with faux-coral only and always wear an organic based sunscreen when on the beach!

A bevy of coral delights from William Somoma ( who is calling Coral the ‘Color of the Season’) and Pottery Barn ( keeping the motif fresh by pairing it as a splash of color alongside neutrals.)

For fashion I’m loving coral even more! One key piece can be used so many different ways throughout your wardrobe.  It can give neutrals like gray and khaki a ‘little kick’, put a fresh spin on the classic combo of black, white and red ( or better yet navy, cream and red ) or look super chic paired with unexpected colors like bright aqua blue and violet.

Coral loving fashion by Chris Benz, Herve Leger and Carolina Herrera from Style.com

Coral hues are also making a splash in beauty as a sunny alternative to dark red…

Nars blush in Cactus Flower, In Style picks coral lips paired with golden eyeshadow their summer fav( here Shiseido lipstick in Day Lily and Nars eyeshadow in Night Sun ) and Rescue Beauty Lounge polish in Coral

Told Kate I was posting about Coral today ( she is quite aware of my obsessive color behaviors ) so I asked her to throw in her 2 cents about her favorite combos of this intriguing hue for home.

Kate’s Picks for Coral in home interiors

Julie has always loved coral for home decor and I became a huge fan of this color when I chose a muted coral for my kitchen.  I have loved this color from the minute the painters started putting it up and plan to use even more of this color in my next home (more on that later).

When Julie asked me to add a couple of examples of how this color works in the home it was easy. All I had to do was open my design idea file that includes several pictures I had saved from my favorite shelter magazine, House Beautiful.

Here’s a few different color schemes that include coral.

The two-color scheme of coral and golden yellow really bring this sunroom to life.  It’s sunny scheme has year-round appeal because as designer Ashley Whittaker shared with Frances Schultz of House Beautiful, “A colorful cashmere throw over the back of a sofa or on the arm of a chair adds instant warmth to an otherwise summery room.”

I can just imagine sitting in this room writing in my journal every morning.   I bet it would be filled with nothing but happy thoughts.

From the same home, this dining room caught my eye when I first spotted it in House Beautiful and I still love it.  The drapes and wallcovering are in one of the colors I love to have around me…cool, watery blue-green and the lush, coral fabric invites you into the room.  I have always liked this complementary color scheme.  Add to that the table includes hydrangeas…one of my favorite flowers and you’ve got a room I where could easily feel at home enjoying any meal.

One of my favorite coral color schemes is the diad harmony of red-orange/yellow-green/blue-violet and in this room by John Willey that was featured in House Beautiful this palette is perfectly executed.  In the magazine he says, “This is a guesthouse, and it’s meant to be fun, to be a bright, cheery departure from the usual Nantucket blue and white interior. The invitation was to let go.”

Thanks Kate! Love the rooms and the color wheels!

What’s your favorite use for this lively color- Coral?

Look who else is talking Coral trends this week- one of my favorite blogs Franki Durbin’s Life In A Venti Cup!

The windows of Lord and Taylor in New York City capture the fantasy with a scheme of yummy gingerbread and confectionery colors.

At Macy’s the colors are reminiscent of the most fabulous toys from my childhood technicolor dreamworld and even if you can’t see the windows in person you can visit macysbelieve.com for a bit of holiday magic online.

In a palette of blue and white the Saks straight-faced snowflakes are just waiting to break into a show-stopping smile.

For more on the holiday windows in NYC visit a Guide to the Holiday Windows.

1.Henna Pillow $59.95 2.Moroccan Oranment $6.95 3.Lacquer Tray $29.95 4.Fu Dog Bookends $49.95 5.Script Desk Lamp $59.95 6.Burst Rug $299 7. Folio Storage $16.95-$49.95 8.Tessuto Throw $39.95

I think any of these would be a great way to add a little ‘pop’ of color to a room and help to brighten up what is looking to be a very early and bitter cold winter season!

The bias stripe binding is gorgeous in the lining seam and the two tone purple detail at the waistline is just perfect. It makes it hard to decide if I like it better on or off.

What brilliant color inspiration!

But the fact is I’ve spied my favorite color on so many runways already that I’m selfishly prepared to jump the gun a little this time around and joyfully exclaim, “All Orange lovers rejoice! Come next Fall, all shades of this energetic hue from citrus to pomegranate to pumpkin to blood orange and all the juicy shades in between are sure to be in style.

Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera

Monique Lhuillier, Marciso Rodriguez, Ports 1961, 3.1 Phillip Lim

Benjamin Cho, Zero Maria Cornejo

Richard Chai, Y & Kei, Carlos Miele, TSE

Koi Suwannagate, Karen Walker

Next week I’ll be taking a look at the other color and style trends emerging from the tents of Bryant Park… in the meantime let me know-

“Will you have a taste for Orange next Fall?”

all photos from style.com

Question:

“What’s wearing black and white and spray tan all over?”

Answer:

“The star-studded audience at the debut of Chanel’s Resort Line 2008.”

—

Karl Lagerfeld brought high fashion to Los Angeles last Friday night when he debuted Chanel’s Resort Line 2008 in, of all places, a Santa Monica airplane hanger.

Leave it to Lagerfeld, the same man who showed his last resort collection in NYC’s Grand Central Station, to come up with yet another extreme, dramatic location to showcase his art.

“Cruise collections are about dreams of freedom” Mr. Lagerfeld told Vogue magazine just prior to the show, and “L..A. is about the dreams of private jets and beautiful cars and glamor.”

Well, there is no denying that the night was packed with all of the above mentioned…the stars were out in droves, and Style.com reports that the collection received a standing ovation before even the first model stepped a peep-toed boot onto the runway. Now that’s a loyal fan-base!

Mr. Lagerfeld has found extreme success since taking over the Chanel label in 1983, and I’ve always admired his ability to keep a finger on the pulse of how a modern day woman dreams of dressing, all while keeping his design feet planted firmly in the stylish past of the Chanel Label.

In the case of his resort collection, I think Mr. Lagerfeld used color to speak to the adventurous hearts of women. While the designs are beautifully modern and sexy, it was the salmon pink, blood orange, army green, soft gray, and flesh-toned fabrics that caught my eye and I believe captured the modern spirit of the evening. Some looks were monochromatic, others had the color palettes deliciously combined together.

All in all, his use of color was edgy and exciting.

Even the evening looks, though predominantly black, allowed splashes of white, gold, and even a pair of red coquettish stilettos to act as a breath of fresh air for an otherwise classic color silhouette.

Now, to get back to my little quip at the top of the page about the audience…

Well, I can’t help but mention that the the famous crowd were mostly bathed in black. I have to give them some slack – it was an evening show – and Mr. Lagerfeld himself was wearing black head to toe. Besides, black and white have been the colors most associated with Chanel throughout the ages. So when you think about it, wearing black was a pretty safe bet.

Yet, it will be really interesting to see if this show’s use of color has at least a slight trickle-down effect on how the stars dress for future Chanel and other high profile events. Perhaps they will find a little stylish “freedom” and add some color.

To view the entire collection, visit Style.com

All photos from Style.com

]]> http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/chanel-resort-2008/feed/ 0 http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/color-is-still-an-issue/ http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/color-is-still-an-issue/#comments Fri, 16 Mar 2007 08:20:06 +0000 Kate Smith http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/color-is-still-an-issue/ Color can be fun and sometimes even funny. This “interview,” posted on the Popular World News blog, pokes fun at orange. Personally, I think orange shouldn’t be feeling so sorry for itself. Orange, did you forget how much Apple loves you or that AT&T kept orange even when they booted Cingular? What about Renault? They proudly unveiled Orange at this year’s Geneva auto show. Come on, Orange! I think you need to get over your inferiority complex.

From the PWN blog:

In a revealing interview with Anderson Cooper this past Thursday, the color Orange sought out to “cleanse the palette” on today’s issues involving color. The underlying purpose of this interview was to raise awareness of a new bill that is in the works; that proposes to add the color Orange to the Equal Opportunity roster.

“For too long, I have been discriminated against, unjustly represented and have not been given the same amount of opportunities that other colors have,” stated Orange. “I like trees, I voted for Gore, I want to put a stop to Global Warming, but Corporate America has made it clear that only the color Green can be used in these efforts.

I want to save the children of Africa from dying of hunger and AIDS, I used to listen to U2, but I am not Red, and that part of society does not accept me.”

Aside from the more recent examples, Orange described issues that have stemmed over the past few hundred years. “Blue for instance, there are over 20 variations of blue…Baby Blue, Sky Blue, Navy Blue, Midnight Blue, Powder Blue, Light Blue, and Dark Blue. I have zero variations…I am Orange. There is no Dark Orange and do you know what Light Orange is?… Yellow. I understand that I am not what you would consider a primary color, but Green has over 30 variations: Pine, Emerald, Grass, Bright, Dark, Forest…let me tell you a little secret about Green… it wouldn’t even be a color if it weren’t for Yellow and Blue.”

Continue reading the blog post…