Color My Closet soon to release our 1st ever Makeover Video

Friends,

I apologize for not blogging more often. My intentions were good in the beginning and I cranked out almost 100 posts here. Unfortunately, my time has been limited due to some special projects we've been working on.

We are set to unveil the first ever Color My Closet makeover video. I am proud of this collaboration because it demonstrates precisely how we go about transforming a woman's look from head to toe with color.

Our style team is featured above: Heather Hughes (makeup artist), myself (color & wardrobe stylist) & Chris Do AKA Rockstylist (hair stylist). We had a fantastic time on this project and will be posting behind-the-scenes photos very soon.

In the meantime, please accept my apology for not blogging more. I hope to get back on board here soon.

Live in color,
Lauren

Rethink pink!

Here is our latest blog contribution to the uber cool site, Work Chic. www.workchic.com.

Check it out....all about fall's hot color pink!

Live in color,

Lauren

Our latest TV appearance on the Live Well Network

Check out how to visually slenderize your look by 10-15 pounds....all without diets! Yeah.....live in color, Lauren

http://livewellhd.com/video?id=7039118

Fashion personality TV segment you won't want to miss!

Color My Closet was featured on ABC's Mirror Mirror, a syndicated daily show that is part of the LiveWell HD network. Beginning on August 3, 2009, you can view our segment online at www.livewellhd.com, then you click on Mirror Mirror on the left hand side of the screen.

Here is a rundown of what the models wore for the segment. I've broken it down by trend and fashion personality.

Many thanks to MACY'S for providing all of the clothing for this segment! They are the best!!!!!

THE TRIBAL TREND

Natural: Jones New York Baja collection- sandstone top and pant
Kenneth Cole coral wooden necklace and natural wooden bracelet
Nine West shoes, Calvin Klein Metallic Canvas handbag in Orchid

Classic: INC brand In Tropic Ikat dot top
Ralph Lauren Voyage brown pant
Kenneth Cole coral wooden bracelet
INC brand shoes in Qualabrn

Frilly/Girly: Kensie brand dress
Liz Claiborne turquoise earrings & Macy's brand multicolored bangles
Marc Fisher heels

Bohemian: Style & Co brand Animal Ikat dress
Macy’s coral and brown bead necklace
Macy’s multi colored glass bead bracelets
BCBGirls heels in BG Damara
Lucky brand handbag

Dramatic: Fresh Brewed yellow top, American Rag dark earth cardigan
Grane low rise skinny jeans
Macy's beaded bracelets and Macy’s woven earrings
Steve Madden shoes and Jessica Simpson handbag

FLORAL PATTERNS

Natural: Jones New York Tivoli collection--top, cardigan, pant
Macy’s silver flower earrings
BCBGirls shoes BGFreud, Calvin Klein Metallic Canvas Orchid handbag

Classic: Alfani galleria pink top and Jones New York: Tivoli collection mist pant
Etienne Monet gold hoop earrings
Jessica Simpson shoes, Calvin Klein Chino Beige handbag

Frilly/Girly : Adrianna Papell floral print ruffle neck dress
Liz Claiborne white flower necklace and earring
BCBGirls Ariel watermelon wood patent heel
Cole Hann Poppy clutch

Bohemian: Ya-da brand grey/pink/red top
Style & Co white bootcut denim
Kenneth Cole oval ring, silver dangle earrings, chain bracelet and necklaces
BCBGirls BG Damara heels and Lucky brand handbag

Dramatic: Sky orange maxi dress, Fresh Brewed yellow scarf
Macy’s coral bracelet and coral hoop earrings
Michael Kors spring orange summer wedge

THE SHEATH DRESS

Natural: Calvin Klein sheath dress and Jessica Simpson white scarf
Macy’s gold hoops and Ralph Lauren gold bangles
BCBGirls BGFreud heel
Calvin Klein Metallic Canvas Orchid handbag
Classic: Nine West Color me Chic ivory and brown dress
Nine West NWBarbe heels and Calvin Klein Chino Beige handbag

Frilly/Girly: Tahari Nick collection ivory and silver sheath dress
Monet flower earrings and Guess starburst ring
Alfani Randi Gold heels and Calvin Klein Silver Argent clutch

Bohemian: Maggie London ivory and violet sheath dress
Lucky maroon necklace and chain bracelet
Jessica Simpson Delanco shoes

Dramatic: XOXO Black Party sheath dress in jungle green
Kenneth Cole black square ring, Alfani black bracelet and Nine West square earrings
Carlos Santana Decadent Black heels

Live in color!
Lauren

Color for me as easy as 1-2-3

Today Color My Closet was featured on Houston's daily TV show Great Day Houston. We discussed how adding color to your wardrobe really makes a 10 pound, 10 year difference.See video link below:

http://www.khou.com/greatday/video/?nvid=384509&shu=1

What we forgot to mention were the top 3 tips for adding color to your closet. Please see below for our easy, breezy top 3 tips:

1) Reconsider your neutrals. Black and white are not your only choices. Some women look better in soft whites or creams, greys and taupes, and deep brown, navy or charcoal.

2) Begin by adding only 2 to 3 colors to your wardrobe. That way you won't feel overwhelmed. What colors will you choose? It is best to look to colors that you've always been complimented on.

3) Follow our 2-1 rule: use 2 colors & 1 neutral together, or 2 neutrals & 1 color.

Live in color!

Lauren

The jumpsuit: too trendy or just right?

The above image is one of yours truly---yes, it is I! After loving the black jumpsuits I saw in magazines, I decided to buy one for myself. It is touted as the latest trend, but I see it as something with staying power.

For me, here's how I made the jumpsuit work:

1) Resist temptation to overaccessorize--I adore tons of accessories, but the jumpsuit is statement enough. I kept earrings very small, put on a fedora for some sass, and used two long necklaces to break up the solid line of the jumpsuit.

2) Nip in the waist with a belt

3) Create some height with my 4 1/2 inch platform sandals

4) Walk like I own the world

5) Resist my obvious urge to add lots of color to the look (it's rare for me, the Color Ambassador, to walk out of the house without color)

6) Smile a lot because I'm right on trend!

Moving into the fall I will continue to use my jumpsuit by pairing it with a jacket of some sort, or a cardiwrap. This is a versatile piece, and I like that it can be dressed up or down.

Live in color!

Lauren

Color for the New Millennium

Color My Closet is honored to have been selected as a guest blogger for the ever popular WorkChic folks. WorkChic provides day-to-night wardrobe and workwear solutions for the busy woman on the go...that's not their official tagline, but that's in essence what they do. They simplify shopping for the busy woman, that's for sure!

Check out my guest blog post below:

http://workchic.com/blog/2009/07/25/lauren-battistini-on-color-for-the-new-millennium/

Live in color!
Lauren

Choosing the Right White TV segment on ABC's Mirror Mirror

Here is a link to the TV segment Color My Closet was recently featured.

http://www.livewellhd.com/mirrormirror/channel?id=6848680

Please do check it out and ask me any questions you have about wearing your right white.

Live in color!
Lauren

Calling all fashionistas to online bargains!

This blog post has been written by my intern, Cassandra Latawiec. Check it out!

A few months back, Lauren introduced you to Shop It To Me and it’s fabulous to know that such fine labels can now come at more affordable prices! Now, as one of Lauren’s new interns I would like to share with you a few shopping secrets of my own.

For about a year now I have been a devoted member of Gilt.com and personally have been able to enjoy clothes by Marc Jacobs for a reasonable price. Now ladies, that’s impressive in itself for I am living on a college student’s budget! Yes, you have to sign up to get access to the wonderful deals, but it only takes a few moments of your time to create an account.

What is nice about Gilt is that it offers designer clothes, accessories and home furnishings for men, women and children. A new sale begins everyday at 12 eastern and 11 central, but beware, often times I have seen merchandise sell out within minutes on the floor. Be ready to click and seal the deal by planning out designer sales in advance! Just so you can get a better idea of what this site has to offer, this week Gilt is offering sales with Seven For All Man Kind, Chloe, and Tory Burch.

There are a few other sites like Gilt that my girlfriends are members of, and they have kindly shared their little secrets with me to share to you all as well! There are also Hautelook.com and Billiondollarbabes.com. Both sites follow the same concept as Gilt.

So please, go out and spread the word to all of your girls and enjoy a Marc Jacobs special. I know I have!

-Cassandra Latawiec

Live in color, ladies!! Lauren

Let's go tribal!

One of this spring's greatest trends has been the tribal, or global theme. How women interpret a trend, though, is based largely on their fashion personalities. Here we will show some examples of how 4 fashion personalities would interpret this tribal theme.

The Classic below---Classics will embrace a trend but keep the fit very tailored and not so trendy as to never wear the garment past a season or two. Classics are known for taking trends and incorporating them strategically. Here below you'll see that the silhouette of the dress is very classic, and the print is not overtly 'tribal.' It's just a touch of the trend. This dress can be worn for years to come!



Our next fashion personality demonstrated below is the Dramatic. Bold in her trend choices, she will take a trend and rock it from head to toe. The Dramatic is often accused of getting carried away and overaccessorizing, but no matter....she looks great doing it. It takes lots of confidence and attitude to pull off the avante-garde looks of a Dramatic. If this Dramatic were to wear a tribal print along with the bracelets, she'd be sure that the pattern were very colorful and graphic.



See below for our Natural fashion personality. The Natural woman prefers to keep everything simplified and comfortable. She shys away from most trends and will only take the look so far. This safari look below is about as 'global' as the Natural is willing to go. This is fine, as she prefers a more subtle, laid back approach to her fashion choices. About the only thing we'd get the Natural to add here would a small necklace with wooden (very tribal) beading.



The last fashion personality is our Romantic below. There are actually two types of Romantics, the Bohemian/Eclectic and the Feminine/Frilly. Their signature look is one that is windswept, flowing, ethereal, one-of-a-kind, and always feminine. We have selected a photo of the Bohemian/Eclectic fashion personality. Note the gypsy like quality of the dress, as well as its flowiness. It looks like something that could have been found from a vintage shop. Both types of Romantics embrace trends on their own terms, putting a unique spin on each and every outfit they wear.



Live in color!
Lauren

How to Color Your Closet

How to Color Your Closet

Posted using ShareThis

Well, I was going to L.A.

Ladies,

I had a trip planned today to Los Angeles for an advanced, three-day course on professional color mixing & matching. Yes, the class is right up my alley, and I was soooooooooo looking forward to it!

Normally I am not an alarmist, but I just couldn't bring myself to get on that plane filled w/ germ infested, recirculated thousands of times over air during this potential swine flu moment.

I have a family to think about and cannot run the risk of getting anyone in my home exposed to nasty viruses.

So all of that wisdom I was hoping to share about color mixing and matching will have to wait a bit...regretfully!

We are currently exploring more blog topics and will be posting some other cool stuff very soon. Thank you for your patience!

Live in color,
Lauren

Shop It To Me Mister!!!!

Girls,

I've discovered a magical resource that I'd like to share....it's called Shop It To Me. Every day I receive a dedicated email from them, complete with my preferred clothing, lingerie, accessories and shoe designers' SALE ALERTS.

It's like having my own style spy, ready at a moment's notice to tell me about Diane Von Furstenberg's 70% off sale, or when Victoria's Secret has fab jammies on special.

Here's some info on the company, taken straight from their website, www.shopittome.com

Shop It To Me began after one too many frustrating trips to on-line retailers. We were tired of finding out about on-line sales too late. We were too busy to spend hours each day searching the web for the latest deals. Why couldn't we just give someone our preferences and have them search for us?

So we decided to create a different way to shop.

Our first service, Shop It To Me Apparel, proactively sends you clothing that matches your size and brand preferences as soon as it goes on sale. Shop It To Me Running allows you to find out when your favorite running shoe models and running gear go on sale. It's so easy that you will never shop the same way again.

Shop It To Me has been featured in publications like Daily Candy Deals, Glamour, and The Washington Post and is described as "a pick-me-up in the morning", "addictive" and "dangerous" with the caveat "boyfriends and husbands beware!"

Why add color?

Color is everywhere. It evokes an immediate response, be it positive or negative, from all who view it. The colors we adorn ourselves with matter, and here are my top 10 reasons why you should incorporate more of it in your wardrobe:


1) Color makes up to 90% of that vital first impression for us
2) Color adds interest and character to the neutrals in our wardrobe
3) Color makes us feel better and more confident
4) The right colors make us appear well rested and healthy
5) Our skintone appears more even and luminous, while flaws and imperfections are minimized
6) We appear 10 pounds slimmer when wearing the right colors
7) The right colors visually brighten our teeth and eyes
8) Fine lines and wrinkles are minimized when we wear the right colors
9) Others are more attracted to us when we wear color
10) We appear more 'put together' in color

Live in color!
Lauren

New twitter friends at WorkChic

Ladies, I am on twitter now....for business purposes. Truly I am trying to establish more camaraderie with other people in the worlds of color, fashion, and beauty. It's a good tool, though all this technology overwhelms me at times, and I've 'met' some interesting tweeps (people who twitter) out there.

One such group is WorkChic. I highly encourage you working ladies to check out their website. It is packed with actual advice...everything from putting together professional yet stylish ensembles to how to tie a scarf to breaking out of a color rut. They also feature sections on business casual, that often ambiguous area that leaves room for lots of mistakes! You will also find merchandise there at great deals. All has been hand picked with the working gal in mind.

I am so impressed with the site that I'm recommending it to you. You will be pleasantly surprised with their fab content. You can find them at www.workchic.com

Live in color!
Lauren

Why can't I match colors and fabrics?

Have you ever tried to match fabrics, especially different black materials? Have you noticed how incredibly difficult it is to do? There are 2 main reasons why color matching is a frustrating experience, even for color analysts like myself.

First of all, matching fabric to fabric is virtually impossible because of the sheen on fabric. As you touch fabric and work with it you'll note that its color seems to shift as the light reflects off of different parts of it. This is why at Color My Closet we use personal color palettes, which are painted on archival canvas. The color doesn't shift; therefore, fabrics can be compared more easily to this constant, the personal color palette.

Secondly, have you ever tried to find the right lipstick color at the makeup counter? It looks pretty in the department store, but as you leave and walk out into the sunlight, you notice that the color is all wrong for you. Store lighting is notoriously poor and renders color matching nearly impossible. The only way to accurately match color is to do so in natural daylight.

Next month I'm going to take a 3-day course called Color Mixing & Matching. I look forward to learning more and shedding some light on this topic for all of you faithful readers out there. In the meantime, know that it's not your imagination that matching colors can be quite confusing...

Live in color!
Lauren

The top 5 ways color affects you and others

Color always evokes a response from us and others. It is inevitable. Color is emotional, powerful, and it communicates messages about us to others. We labor over what paint colors to use in our homes, and we should do the same when considering our clothing color palettes.

Here I have assembled my list of the top 5 ways color affects you and others.

1) The right color palette communicates health and vitality. When you are wearing your best colors, your skin, eyes, teeth and hair all look more healthy. You appear to be up to 10 years younger and 10 pounds more slenderized.

2) Wearing your best colors can give you a competitive edge in the workplace because you look more polished. Wearing your colors from head to toe creates a put together, uniform appearance that is visually appealing to your work superiors. You inevitably communicate that you are up to the task at hand, and that you are one step ahead of many coworkers.

3) Do you want to make a good impression on a first date? Wear your best colors to look your most attractive. Not only will you look more attractive to your date, but you yourself will feel more confident. We all know that confidence is always attractive!

4) Are you feeling blue (pardon the pun)? Do you feel exasperated or worn down? Color is one way to revitalize yourself. Colors can shift your mood significantly. If you want to cheer yourself up, then I recommend yellows and oranges. To feel calm and serene, I like blues and greens.

5) Are you frustrated every day as you try to find something to wear in your closet? One reason is because you keep buying the wrong things over and over again, and there those pieces sit cluttering up your closet. We are all guilty of this. In fact, it is estimated that women wear 20% of their clothing 80% of the time. So where does color factor into this? Well, when you know your best colors, you'll discover that the colors within your palette mix and match seamlessly. This makes wardrobe planning a cinch, as you can get more mileage out of just a few key pieces in the right colors.

Live in color!
Lauren

I feel like a Brazilian swimsuit model...again, in my own mind!

Ladies, I've been talking about getting a Mystic Tan for quite some time now, but this week I finally took the plunge. Here's the deal: I have olive toned skin anyway and don't ever look pale, but EVERYONE looks better with a tan.

So in the name of beauty I went and got my bod spray tanned by arguably the BEST spray tanner in all of Houston. I say this not just because Danielle works down the hall from me, but because women from all over Houston traverse to see her. Many a Houstonian has made the trek to Danielle, selecting her over some uber posh places smack dab in the middle of the Loop.

Well, I found out from Danielle that she customizes her colors and has 6 different formulas based on one's natural complexion. She spray tans the fairest of women, even those with albino complexions. Apart from standing almost naked in front of her and feeling a bit embarrassed (because I'm very modest), the experience wasn't bad at all.

I have no splotchy marks, I don't look like Malibu Barbie, and the tan will last up to 10 days. Truth be told, I feel like a Brazilian swimsuit model :)....I mean it, I do!

If you want to get in touch with Danielle, and she's very reasonably priced by the way, please send me an email at lauren@colormyclose.com. I'll put you in touch!

Live in color!
Lauren

How I became a shoe department expert....at least in my own mind

Many of you know about my recent guest appearances at two Macy's/Jones New York events. During the last two weeks I have become a shoe department expert...or at least in my own mind I have. First of all, the stockroom of Macy's shoe department is a numerically organized labyrinth (is that an oxymoron?), understandable only to a select few :). Now I have figured out why it can take several minutes for the shoe salespeople to find your right size and style in the back.

Did you know that there are dozens upon dozens of rows of shoes back there? And these rows go sky high it seems. I had the privilege of going to fetch some shoes for several models at my last two events. As a complete shoe addict, I felt like I had reached shoe heaven back there. The smell of leather and cardboard boxes was intoxicating, but folks, I only had 15 minutes to find some numerically coded shoes! And I was on my own because it was 7:00 a.m. and the Macy's shoe team had not yet arrived.

So there I was literally running through the stock room trying to make sure I could find each classification code, and not get in trouble with any shoe department people who might have arrived early. Well, first I was looking at the wrong code...the department code. Well, all shoes have the same department code....duh! After taking 5 minutes to figure that one out, I proceeded to use the style code as my guide. Yeah, that's the ticket!

I might very well have set a retail speed record last week when I successfully found 4 pairs of shoes within 5 minutes back in that shoe labyrinth. You had to have been there to fully appreciate the moment---it was a sight to see---me running around in the back with several pairs of shoe boxes stacked in my arms.

Too bad I didn't get to stay long enough...there's always next time! The things I do in the name of fashion.....

Live in color!
Lauren

Houston, we have fun FASHION FRIDAY!

To all my ladies in Houston,

Color My Closet has been invited back to host a spring fashion event tomorrow with Jones New York at Macy's Galleria (@ Hidalgo).

I'd love for you to join us as we:
*talk about adding the right color to your wardrobe
*interpret spring's trends based on 4 different fashion personalities
*hold a drawing for a free 1-hour shopping consultation with me
*give you lots of exclusive incentives, gift bags, AND breakfast bites
*have fun celebrating FASHION together

Macy's Galleria @ Hidalgo--enter at 2nd level Macy's/Nordstrom garage (off McCue)
DATE: Friday, April 3, 2009
TIME: 9:00 AM but please arrive by 8:30
RSVP: email lauren@colormycloset.com by midnight tonight

Live in color!
Lauren

Where have I been?

Ladies,

I must apologize for not blogging in the last 2 weeks. Color My Closet has seen a spike in business with 4 events held over the last 4 weeks!

In an effort to provide interesting, fresh info about color, beauty and wardrobe, I plan to blog every other day. It's so difficult to keep up with daily blogging, as I was trying to do, and blogging daily lowers the quality of content I'm able to provide.

Stay tuned for more information from Color My Closet. We haven't left...we've just been extra busy.

Live in color!
Lauren

If you like my blog, pass it on!

Ladies!

I have a favor to ask. As a business owner and blogger, my mission here is to start a color revolution even bigger than what was begun in the 1980s. This means that I need some help.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please send your e-friends my link http://colormycloset.blogspot.com.

Color My Closet works in Houston right now but plans to expand throughout the country in the future. All the exposure we can get is greatly appreciated.I promise that we will continue to deliver content-rich, yet concise color, fashion and beauty info.

Thank you very much. You can even subscribe to this blog and "follow" me. See the link!

Live in color!
Lauren

Do you know about Aging Backwards?

Through my media research and constant efforts to stay abreast of what's new in the color, beauty, and fashion industries, I ran across an interesting site called Aging Backwards.

Jackie Silver is the owner and face of Aging Backwards, and her mission is really quite simple: to show women (and men I presume) how to turn back the hands of time by taking care of themselves with the right combination of healthy life choices, exercise, nutrition, mind activities, and anti-aging products. She herself is 50 years old and still gets carded for wine at the stores!

I encourage you to take a look at her site, because Jackie is all about giving helpful, well-researched and tested advice to all of us out there. You can visit her at www.agingbackwards.com.

Live in color!
Lauren

Top 10 ways to guarantee a precise color analysis

Top 10 Ways to Guarantee a Precise Color Analysis
Guaranteeing that color analysis is done properly is determined by the tools and surroundings used, as well as the analyst's skillful eye. Follow these tips before choosing your method of color analysis.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1484040/top_10_ways_to_guarantee_a_precise.html

Have you ever tried false eyelashes?

About a year ago I met a lady who struck me as being so classy and put together. As I conversed with her, I took note of her eyes, but specifically her lashes. She had these Bambi-like outer lashes that looked tremendous. Now, it was obvious that she had false eyelashes, but she placed them strategically so that they gave her that uplifted, cateye effect. It was subtely dramatic if that makes any sense at all.

I decided that I'd try my hand at applying some false lashes today. Ladies, they are AWESOME!!! So I bought the individual lashes that can be applied to different sections of the eye. Experts say that it's easiest to dip the lashes in a bit of lash adhesive (which should be placed on foil first), then use tweezers to apply the lashes.

I wholeheartedly agree with the tweezers part. Using my fingers was just too obtrusive to work in that small space around the eye. I let the glue set then applied a coat of mascara. These lashes look beautiful!

If you would like to try your hand at this, then you can find very inexpensive individual or whole sections of lashes at any drugstore. The brand I picked up is at Walgreens--it's called Andrea.

Also, if you are scared to do these lashes yourself, I have been told that the ladies at MAC cosmetic counters are trained in this area. They have different sets of lashes to choose from, as well.

Live in color!
Lauren

Fashion word of the day--What is an obi?

What do you think of when you hear the word 'obi'? I think of Obi-Wan Kenobe from Star Wars, but I got it all wrong. For years I've been inspired by Asian fashion, so naturally I was excited to see the new obi sashes or belts on the fashion runways. Obis are the ultimate waist cinchers, and they are as versatile as the pashmina wrap with the various ways they can be tied.

Obi is simply the Japanese word for sash. It is made traditionally of a soft material like silk, is very wide, and is wrapped around the body twice then tied in a variety of ways. Give the obi a try and let me know how you like it!

Live in color!
Lauren

Color My Closet invited to 'guest host' Jones New York Style Miles event in Houston

Ladies,

My very sweet contacts at Macy's (I love them!) recommended me to their area contact (also so sweet!) at Jones New York, and I have now been invited to 'guest host' for two of their local Jones New York Style Miles breakfasts.

If you live in Houston, then I highly encourage you to be there. We will discuss Spring colors, strategically stretching your wardrobe, and there will be shopping incentives and other perks-----like a one-hour shopping consultation with me on the spot!

Click on the picture above to enlarge it...there is date/time/RSVP info there!

Please RSVP for this or email me with any questions. I feel very blessed to have been given this opportunity to work with both Macy's and Jones New York!

Live in color!
Lauren

Beauty find of the day--L'Oreal True Match

You've heard me get on my soapbox and talk about how 2/3 of women out there are neither cool nor warm in undertone, right? Most of you are neutral. Well, the good news is that cosmetic companies are realizing that, as well.

If you don't already know about L'Oreal's True Match foundations and mineral powders, then let me introduce you. They are magically priced, can be found at Wal Mart and drugstores, and they are all coordinated with letters and numbers that are easy to use.

They all start with either C for cool, N for neutral, or W for warm. They follow with a number from (1) lightest to (9 I think) darkest. Best of all, L'Oreal's foundations are lightweight and offer buildable coverage. I have personally used these foundations on Caucasian clients with ivory and beige skin tones, Hispanic clients of caramel and bronze coloring, and on African-American clients of deep bronze and mahogany tones. These shades blend well into the skin and are very natural looking.

Now, please come and see me first for your color consultation, so that we can determine if you are C, N, or W. Won't you?

Live in color!
Lauren

Can we really rock the jumpsuit look?

Ladies, can we really rock the new look of the jumpsuit? I asked myself this question then saw my dream jumpsuit the next day at Macy's. BCBG has a beautiful wide leg, silk sash tie jumpsuit that I believe can work on just about anyone!

I cannot find the picture of it online, so the one you see isn't right. The BCBG wide leg version is generous through the hip and leg areas, and it features that sash that can be tied in a variety of ways. The material is both elegant and lightweight, and it can be worn in so many ways for so many occasions.

For a business look, it can be paired with a button down white shirt with a funky belt, or with a blazer. For evening, it can be worn with a fur or metallic shrug and evening heels. It can be worn with some simple hoop earrings, bangle bracelets and strappy sandals. It truly is an alternative to the little black dress!

This is one trend that I think has some real staying power.

Live in color!
Lauren

Fun facts about color

Here are some fun facts about color:

Color is not seen in an object. No, that object merely serves as a reflector of light, light that filters through your eyes to the brain, where that light is interpreted by your brain as color.

The color pink is used in prisons to subdue inmates. When an inmate is being particularly violent or unruly, he can be placed in a room that is painted a very soft pink. His pulse immediately slows, and he will immediately calm down.

Red is a power color and one universally favored by men to be worn on women. When men see a woman dressed in red, she becomes 30% or so more attractive to them. I read this stat somewhere recently...take my word on it, okay?

People size us up within 90 seconds, and their first impression of us is based predominantly upon the colors we are wearing. In fact, color alone accounts for between 62 and 90% of that vital first impression.

Some argue that black is not a color, that it is absence of color. I disagree, especially when we try to match different black garments in the store. Look at all the shades that exist.

Yellow and orange are not recommended as great paint colors for home kitchens, as they reportedly stimulate our appetites. Hmmmmmm....my kitchen is painted in yellow....oops!

Blue is the most universally preferred color by all adults around the world.

Live in color!
Lauren

How to calculate your fashion common denominators

No, I am not a mathematician but I do have an accounting degree. Isn't that crazy? Here I am in this very creative, free thinking field of color and fashion with an accounting degree. Frankly, I enjoying employing both skills in my work, because I always seek to create logical ways for women to take image into their own hands.

Here's my latest logical tip for cultivating your signature style: find your fashion common denominators. What is a fashion common denominator? It is simply the characteristics that your clothing and accessories have in common. In my case, my common denominators are color, strong patterns, geometric or sharp lines, and florals.

Here's how to find your common denominators. Take 2-3 fashion magazines and cut out as many pictures as you can--pictures that catch your eye. There doesn't have to be any logic to it at this point. Simply cut out the pictures that inspire you....be they jewelry ads or models wearing Chanel.

Once you've done the cutting, paste those pictures onto some posterboard, collage style. Next to each photo, describe what specifically you like about it. Focus on why you like the piece.

Once you've labeled each picture, go around looking for words you've used consistently. Those words will help you determine your style patterns and tastes. They are your fashion common denominators, the constants that you should continue to shop for.

Try this experiment and let me know what you think.

Live in color!
Lauren

Why nobody looks right in clothes

Here is statistic that I'll bet you did not know: Less than 1% of women look good in store bought clothing. Do you know why this is?

Store bought clothing, or ready-to-wear apparel, is manufactured to a perfectly proportioned standard of a women who is 8 equal head lengths in height. In other words, her bone structure is perfectly proportioned. Nothing needs to be altered on her. Her legs are the perfect length in proportion to her torso and so forth.

What do the other 99% of us women do? Do we cry, throw a tantrum in the fitting rooms, or write vicious letters to clothing manufacturers? No, ladies, we are above all of that.

Here's what we do. We give thanks to the good Lord for making us unique, with bone structure that is all our own. We give thanks that clothing manufacturers are now able to give us millions upon millions of clothing options due to this universal standard of a fit model.

We recognize that if a garment fits our coloring, style and overall body type requirements, then we can simply have it altered to our unique bone structure. This is after all what women in past generations did. Everything they wore was tailored to their specifications.

I always tell clients to factor alterations in as a portion of their clothing budgets. The right tailoring can visually slenderize you by 10-15 pounds in an instant....with no dieting!

So there is NOTHING wrong with you ladies if the pants or sleeves fall too long or too short on you. It's not you.....it's the clothing! Make the clothing work for you, not the other way around.

Live in color!
Lauren

Why should we all love turquoise?

Turquoise is such a beautiful color, not only because everyone has a shade of it that she can wear, but because it is both a calming and balanced color. We feel better in turquoise. Turquoise coordinates with everything from black to grey to brown, and from pink to yellow to purple. It is such an incredible 'go to' color because it's universally appealing and non-controversial. It grabs attention without seeming obnoxious.

It looks fresh and bright against the tanned skin of spring and summer, and bold and rich against the darker clothing selections of winter. If you are looking to add just a little bit of color to a predominantly neutral wardrobe, then turquoise is a safe bet for you. Best of all, you can find turquoise year round since it is always 'in style.'

Live in color!
Lauren

Spring clean your wardrobe

We have officially sprung forward, ladies, so it's time to spring clean those wardrobes! Here are some things to do not only to preserve your fall/winter wardrobes, but to get ready for the colorful spring and summer ahead.

1) Set aside the heavier winter fabrics and darker colors.
2) Get rid of those winter garments that are worn or tattered. They don't deserve you anymore!
3) Be sure to dry clean and properly store the other winter garments. They will be fresh and ready for you next fall.
4) Evaluate your lighter weight and seasonless fabrics. If there is anything there that is worn, tattered or out of date, toss it...and you know why!
5) Be sure that you have the basic spring and summer neutrals like: white denim, linen pants, white lightweight Ts and gauzy shirts, and other neutral colors like khaki, grey or taupe. Navy is a great alternative to black for the spring and summer.
6) Pick 3-4 new colors you'd like to add in for spring. I suggest finding your best red, turquoise, pink or coral, and green. Buy a few tops and accessories in those colors.
7) Go out and find yourself a pretty dress in one of the colors. While you could certainly go and buy up a cute print, a solid color is far more versatile.
8) Check out your makeup bag. Set aside the rich, darker hues in favor of the lighter, more lively colors.
9) Buy yourself one statement piece of jewelry in a stone like turquoise.
10) This has nothing to do with wardrobe, but get yourself some new highlights to coordinate better with your lighter, fresher wardrobe.

Live in color!
Lauren

How to get the flawless face without tons of makeup

Three days a week I'm in full glam mode, but the other four days I don't feel like putting on makeup. Instead of going out totally bare faced, I choose to do the 'non makeup' look. Here are my tricks for looking totally fresh and natural:

1) Cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize, protect with high SPF, hydrate like crazy...that's a given!

2) Illuminate. I use a skin illuminator that can be worn alone or mixed with foundations and tinted moisturizers. This creates that bronzy glow. My favorite illuminating product is by Senegence www.mylonglastingbeauty.com.

3) Brighten. I use a facial highlighting pen by Mary Kay. This product is applied to forehead lines, the inside and outside corners below the eyes, and on any deep, recessed areas of the face. This products visually lifts those darkened, shadowy areas and acts to visually rejuvenate the face. Its does for the face what teeth whiteners do for the teeth.

4) Hint of tint. I use a tinted moisturizer by Mary Kay, though the best on the market is by Laura Mercier. I only apply the tint to areas of my face that have blemishes, like the nose and chin.

5) Powder up. There are so many great mineral makeups on the market today. You can buy high or low end, and they create a very natural, non-makeup look for the skin.

6) Conceal. I use concealer in one shade lighter than my natural skin tone. Both Mary Kay and Laura Mercier make nice, creamy concealers that don't settle into fine lines.

7) Lashify! I love to put one coat of mascara on upper lashes only. It really does wake up the eye.

8) Glossify! Dabbing some clear or slightly tinted gloss brings the rest of the face to life.

9) Colorize! I always....always....always use color around my face with a scarf, piece of jewelry or t-shirt. It instantly lifts the face, minimizes fine lines, wrinkles, and imperfections, and brightens your whole look.

In effect, you walk out of the house looking put together but not all glammed out.

Live in color!
Lauren

Fashion word of the day

I've been asked by my clients to define certain fashion terms that I use. There are so many out there, after all, that even I don't know all of them. Since one of the big deals for Spring is the maxi dress, let's define the word and show some examples here. This begins the first of many blogs entitled: Fashion word of the day.

Maxi dress-- a dress that is ankle or even floor length. Though typically seen this season in the form of a sundress, a maxi dress is any dress of full length. We are seeing maxi dresses in various ethnic or floral prints, and in bold solids. They are made in gauzy, lightweight, or silky fabrics. This makes them perfect for beachwear, vacationing, date night with the hubby, or out to lunch with the girlfriends. To accessorize, I recommend bold hoops or dangling earrings, and bangle bracelets. Also, sandals or espadrilles work for footwear.

Live in color!
Lauren

Edgy hair, the new accessory

Since chopping off my very long, very curly, very crazy (think Diana Ross) hair two years ago, I've discovered that hair in and of itself can be the ultimate accessory. Now with shorter hair, I can wear some cool hats, use different earrings, and easily flat iron my hair and spike it up for fun!

Here is a tribute to cool, funky hair. I want to encourage each of you to experiment with a hairstyle that is a bit more daring than you're accustomed to. You WILL get compliments...enjoy the pics!

Affordable couture

At the top of my wardrobe basics list is a great 3 to 5 piece suit. The problem is that many of my clients struggle with finding their right color, fit and/or suit combination. It is rare to find a 5-piece suit (blazer, vest, pant, skirt and bermuda short combination), much less to find one in your ideal color.

I, too, have struggled to find just the right suit. Suits feel too stuffy to me, and I want mine to look more funky than most. Enter Mary Denney, clothing designer and owner of MLD Limited, right here in Houston, Texas. Mary has been in the apparel business for decades, and she specializes in what she calls affordable couture. Working with both brides and women like me wanting wardrobe basics, Mary believes that if you can dream it, she can create it.

I have my first appointment with Mary this week to have a 3-piece white suit made. I simply couldn't find my right white anywhere, or anything with the fit I want. Anyway, who wants to look generic? Several of my clients want to see my results so I'll keep you posted with some pics..... as soon as my suit is done!

Live in color!
Lauren

What if this Spring's bold hues don't suit you?

What do you do this Spring if the bold and vivid colors aren't in synch with your personal coloring? As a professional color and wardrobe consultant, I can tell you that there are ways to work around this dilemma. Here are some helpful tips:

1) Hold off on buying up a bunch of pieces just because they are 'in style.' It is far better to wait until your colors come back into season than to buy colors that are wrong. Wrong colors will age you by visually dragging your face down and accentuating fine lines and wrinkles. They also visually add 10-15 pounds to your frame!

2) Take this time to buy up those neutral wardrobe investment pieces. Everyone has a good light, medium and dark neutral that works for her. For me as a Bright Winter, it's pure white, medium silvery grey and ebony. Get your colors done for sure to determine your best neutrals.

3) If pastels and other muted tones look best on you, but you cannot find your colors, then infuse color with accessories. Stone jewelry is a good choice because you'll find it in various hues. Take turquoise for example--you can find it in very light colors, as well as vivid and dark hues.

4) Invest in your cosmetics. You can immediately add vibrancy to your look with new blush and lipstick, as well as by experimenting with different eyeshadow and liner colors.

5) Update your denim and buy some high quality in several styles that are figure flattering.

6) If you must buy the new 'it' color, then buy it cheap in the form of accessories or a top. Always wear your best colors surrounding it, though, and make sure that your wrong color is not the focal point of the outfit.

Live in color!
Lauren

What color is your fragrance?

I conducted a very informal survey last week among some of the moms and dads at my son's swim practice. I asked them to smell different fragrances, describe them to me, and then assign a color to them. Every participant described the smell with a noun like water, flowers, sunshine, or a funeral! They then associated those nouns with a particular emotion, and then assigned the fragrance its own color.

One fragrance reminded several of my participants of a flower. Well, what color do we think of when we think of a flower? One partipant said lavender (because it seemed light), another hibiscus (because the fragrance was bold), and another white (because it was a pure scent).

The same fragrance reminded all of them of flowers, but they each had a certain color in mind. What a varied response! Our perception of color is based in large part on experience and emotion. For example, my participant who said that the fragrance reminded her a flower, a hibiscus, attached an emotion to that by saying that it was a 'bold' fragrance. Once she attached an emotion to the fragrance, she could create its color, which was red.

My subjects had difficulty attaching a color to the fragrance until they were able to attach an emotion to it. One participant identified a fragrance as being yellow, because it opened him/her up and created awareness. I really had fun with this experiment and concluded that colors, scents and emotions have a real connection.

Live in color!
Lauren

Children and their love of color

When I was first studying color back in the 1980s, I was told that people naturally gravitate toward the colors that look well on them. This is particularly true with children. Children have an inate ability to pick their 'right' colors. I see this in my own home. One of my daughters is raven haired with olive skin and hazel eyes, while my other daughter has blonde hair, fair skin and blue eyes. When I ask them to pick out clothing or crayon colors, they always choose differently. The clothing that my brunette daughter selects is always bold or rich, in red, fuschia, purple, royal blue and black. My blonde daughter prefers the softer pastels in pink, mint, robin's egg blue, and light yellow. Their artwork reflects their color preferences, as well, and I observe the same color combinations used there. This leads me to my other point. Children understand how to mix and match colors----for the most part :)!They pick colors with the same look and feel. My blonde wouldn't mix bold fuchsia with her delicate pastels, for example.

Live in color!
Lauren

The sublime yet shockingly powerful effect of fashion ads

I experienced something so interesting last night, something that really surprised me. I always thought that I was relatively unaffected by the quantity....and it is large....of fashion and beauty ads I come across daily.

Yet yesterday I found myself doing something extremely out of character. As I was experimenting with all the ways I could wear my new yellow scarf, I found myself making a head scarf out of it, knotting it in the back, and pulling on some hoop earrings. Never in my life have I worn a head scarf, and this look I suddenly created was brilliant. It looked like some exotic African princess! I decided then and there that I was going to rock this look over the spring and summer.

All day I kept trying to figure out why I stumbled upon that idea in the first place. After all, I was merely working with a large scarf around my neck. It dawned on me as I was re-reading the latest edition of my Vanity Fair magazine.

Smack dab in one of the ads for Banana Republic was this beautiful woman of color, a musician I believe, wearing a gorgeous silky looking head scarf. Somehow I was captivated by it and didn't even realize it until I recreated the look all on my own.

Fashion ads really do guide behavior, much more than I realized.

Live in color!

Lauren

What is alluring?

What does it mean to be alluring to you? Is it an attitude, the swagger of your walk, the perfume you wear, the confidence you display, or the clothes you wear? Is it based only on physical beauty, or do other things factor into the mix of what makes a person alluring? Look to the left. The model is covered up but certainly exudes sexiness. Look to the right. This model is very scantily clad...does that necessarily make her more alluring? I don't think so. I am extremely curious to receive feedback here, so please post comments. My opinion is that, as an old college friend once said, "Sexy is an attitude." Interestingly, it's not automatically the most physically beautiful woman in the room who is deemed to be the most alluring. I'm researching this subject out of sheer curiosity.

The gig is up with me, of course, because I am happily married to a very alluring man myself. I'm just curious about the role that internal and external factors have on this concept of being alluring. What do you think?

Live in color!

Lauren

First of its kind style workshop sponsored by Color My Closet

First of its kind Color My Closet brings you the best, most interactive workshop to date!ng into style workshop
p details
Dear Houston ladies.....or those of you who want to fly in,

Do you remember playing dress-up as a little girl and loving what you saw in the mirror? We are here to help you bring back that lovin' feeling when you get dressed every day for any occasion.

Color My Closet is now holding style workshops at Macy's of the Galleria at Sage Road, centrally located for your convenience. We will keep the small group setting while putting into practice the wardrobe concepts we discuss in the workshop....using Macy's clothing and accessories.

Please read on for more info and don't miss out on this unique style experience!

Workshop details: Spring into style workshop

Color My Closet is pleased to offer this 3-hour, interactive workshop to you. The first of its kind, this workshop will cover the following (and much more):

*Use 20 pieces to build a whole wardrobe
*Build the right shoe and accessory collections
*See how this Spring's trends can work for you at any age
*Take your fashion personality quiz
*Dress for your age and body type

Date: Saturday, March 7th or Saturday, March 21st
RSVP:Please reply to this email with your choice of date
Time: 2:00-5:00 p.m. The time flies because we have FUN, ladies!
Location: Macy's Galleria @ Sage, 2727 Sage Road, Houston TX 77056
Fee: $99 payable in advance via secure PayPal link or $125 at the door

Win a 1-hour shopping consultation on the spot!
Names will be drawn at the end, and one participant will win a 1-hour shopping consultation with me in Macy's following the workshop.

Does shopping in large department stores frustrate or overwhelm you? Do you wander aimlessly through the malls only to come home with the wrong clothes....or nothing at all?

Do you question your look and clothing choices, wondering if they are really "you"? Do you return much of what you purchase, or leave it hanging in the closet with tags still attached?

If so, then this is definitely the workshop for you. I cannot wait to help you take image into your own hands.

Visit my website at www.colormycloset.com to contact me please!

Almost forgot! You will receive a style workbook as part of our workshop. This workbook can be used in the future to refine your style and recreate your image any time you want........

The color orange

It is said that the color orange is huge for Spring. You will see it everywhere, on product packaging, home accessories, paint colors and fashion. What is so great about the color orange, though? Surprisingly, few people are drawn to orange in its purest form or hue. It is orange in its various tints and shades that attracts people. Tints such as peach, coral, salmon and melon are most appealing, and translate well into fashion. The color orange is associated with freedom, independence, optimism and exuberance towards life. No wonder the color works well for people during all this tough recession talk!

What other colors can be combined with orange? Here are some combos I really like: Orange and pink, orange and royal blue, orange and turquoise, orange and white, orange and tan, orange and red, or orange and magenta.

Live in color!

Lauren

That one piece of jewelry

Do you have that one piece of jewelry that you are known for? For me, it's the hoop earring. I've been wearing them faithfully ever since my college days. I use hoops to add width and definition to the center of my narrow face. They are timeless yet trendy, casual yet polished and elegant. They come in so many forms, from exotic rounded disks to basic silver to decorative with a bit of hardware. These earrings to the left are classic with a 70s Halston feel. They are certainly an investment piece. I found them on www.macys.com under the description: 14K gold polish oval hoop earrings. $550

The neon pink hoops I found at www.forever21.com. Forever 21 is a very youth-oriented retailer, but I shop them consistently for trendy tops, handbags, and jewelry. Most earrings are priced below $10.

Also found these fun Grecian looking gold earrings and hammered silver hoops at Forever 21.

Live in color!

Lauren

Wardrobe ideas for Amy

Part of my duties as a color and wardrobe consultant are to give my clients inspiration and ideas, so that we can plan their wardrobe together. I am posting several items here for one of my clients who lives out of state. She is planning a trip to Mexico in a month and is looking to pull a mini-wardrobe together. Understanding her fashion personality and body type, I have selected some preliminary clothing for her to consider. Once I get feedback on my wardrobe ideas for Amy, we can fine tune the list and set a shopping plan. How exciting!! I want to go to Mexico, too! For Amy, I'm going to recommend the following colors: bright white, vivid turquoise, cobalt blue, purple, bright teal green, her True Winter bright yellow, and bright purple.

The pieces I recommend are:

1 patterned maxidress to do double duty, worn over swimwear or for excursions

1 solid colored dress (see the sweater dress above)

1-2 pairs white jeans (bootleg and/or wide leg trousers, or even a linen baggy pant)

1 pair of white or denim Bermuda shorts

1 denim pencil skirt

1 peasant top in a bright solid or a pattern

1 exotic looking tunic

1 shoulder baring top in a solid color

2-3 layering tanks to be worn solo with baggy pants or under some of the tops selected

1 gauzy white button down shirt that is easy and flowing to go over tanks

1 pair of metallic sandals

1 pair of neutral colored espadrilles

1 swimsuit

1 fabulous belt that can be used with dresses and some of the shirts

We'll see what my client thinks :) Stay tuned!

Live in color!

Lauren