fashion tetris & professional denim

cobalt blue blouse :: H&M (love the cut outs on this one) | green denim pencil skirt :: H&M (similar here) | bright pink skinny belt :: H&M | hot pink purse :: nila anthony via lulus.com (similar) | hot pink heels :: bonnebell via lulus.com (similar) | sunglasses :: charlotte russe | earrings :: forever 21 | pocket watch necklace :: nine via urban wear (love this one) | gold chain & ribbon bracelet :: my sister (find more like it @ 2bravegirls)
check out more photos in my previous post, professional heartbreak.

Finally, a promise I'm able to keep - the notes on my brilliantly color blocked ensemble from Wednesday (posted yesterday).

While brightly dubbed and playfully printed skinny jeans may be too casual for most of us to wear to the office, and denim in general is considered taboo for more conservative environments such as law firms and banks, colored and patterned denim in the form of pencil skirts are the perfect compromise for the rest of us. The classic silhouette lends a professional appeal to the laid back fabric, while a bright hue or interesting print pulls attention away from the fact that you're wearing denim. Pair a brilliant color with a button up blouse in a contrasting or complementary shade for a color blocked look, or opt for a mixed print for a more avant guarde version.

At the office, add pumps (nude matches everything, but points for another bright color), ladylike jewelry (think gold chain link bracelets), a fun skinny belt (in a hot hue with a simple shape) and a structured bag (match your shoes and belt to bring everything together); then swap them out for statement sandals, chunky jewelry and a snazzy clutch for evenings out.

tips, tricks & things to avoid

• Keep your hemline short - definitely no longer than the top of your knee. Anything below that risks looking frumpy.
• Look for a slim silhouette; frills and ruffles lend a little girl air that grown women should always avoid.
• Balance the curve hugging form on bottom with a loose blouse on top to avoid appearing too scandalous for the workplace. A chunky heel will also help to even things out.
• Opt for a vibrant hue or playful pattern, not a faded wash, which will detract from the professional air of the pencil shape.

Cobalt blue and kelley green lean towards the darker end of the bright color spectrum, so the trick to maintaining the electrified vibe is in selecting pieces with an underlying vibrance to them. They should radiate their hue, as though it's literally leaking out of them into the surrounding air. Such is the case with these pieces I recently snagged for dirt cheap at H&M - the colors may not be neon, but they are so thoroughly saturated in their respective shades that the colors seem vivid without being too stark against my extremely pale skin. They're perfect when tetris'd together into contrasting colorblocks, particularly when held together with hot pink accessories and chunky sandals.

When originally putting this look together, I worried that the masculine color scheme would make me look somewhat boyish with my new pixie hair cut; fortunately, the curve hugging form of the skirt and feminizing effect of the hot pink accessories seem to have been enough to nullify any boy-like undertones.

Dressing around my new pixie cut has been one of the most challenging prospects of my fashion career, but I think I've finally made peace with my new look - look for photos + how-to tips on achieving my elf-like pixie look later this week.

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trend analysis: black and white color blocks

black asymmetrical tunic top :: zara (dying for this a. wang tank) | white jeans :: city streets (love this skinny moto pair) | leopard pumps :: express (sold out but similar here) | black feathered fedora :: maurice's | blue & gold beaded cuff :: pacsun | gold cuff :: charlotte russe (dig this set) | gold collar necklace :: forever 21 | black satchel :: ebay (in love with this one) | beagle :: Annie

This look might seem like a relatively simple take on color blocking, but the spark is in the details: the asymmetrical hem of the long tunic, the flashes of gold and teal in the bracelets, the feather in the fedora and the leopard print and red lining of the pumps make a seemingly basic look into something subtly chic.

Graphic black and white combos are something I suspect we'll be seeing more of throughout the remainder of the year, particularly as the months grow colder. The novelty of winter whites having not yet worn off, combined with the traditional winter black, this combo provides a starkly contrasted yet understatedly simple palette upon which one can layer anything from neon jewelry and textured scarves to wildly printed shoes and boldly colored coats. Zebra connotations aside, one can combat the animalistic implications through layers and accessories, or embrace it wholeheartedly as part of the overall trend. Whichever way you go, just remember that poaching is illegal - avoid overkill and always aim for depth and elegance, not shallow flash.

how to style it :: black & white

now...
Variations on my outfit pictured above abound for the last remnants of summer; think sleeveless tops with distressed skinny jeans or shorts with pockets protruding from the legs, combined with leg lengthening platform sandals for weekends, and rolled sleeve blouses atop white palazzo trousers for the office. A white pencil skirt with black buttoned blouse is always profesh, while a summery white crochet dress becomes oddly office approps when a black blazer and pumps are added. Nights out call for white tuxedo jackets over your most trusted LBD, with snazzy shoes and a neon clutch for a bit of spunk.

later...
Come winter, a few added layers will become necessary, but this understated palette provides a canvas upon which we can transport our favorite summer trends through the darker half of the year: neons, pastels and wild prints can all be added in the form of jewelry, bags, scarves and other accessories. I would advise caution, however, when attempting to add red into the mix: a bright, cherry red over white can lend a decidedly Mrs. Claus affect. When opting for red, think deep. Aside from that, keep your whites slightly off and your textures winter appropriate for a fashion forward look that doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.

research notes:

• Alexander McQueen
• Rick Owens
• Valentino
• Pinterest: In Black & White

Where do you stand on mixing black and white? And on winter whites in general? Share your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to leave a link to your fave black and white ensemble or inspiration.

Are you a fashion, beauty or lifestyle blogger in Utah? Interested in meeting your colleagues? Join the Stylish Beehive for drinks at the Coffee Connection next Saturday - get the deets  & RSVP here.

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trend analysis: fall 2012 color palette

rainbow maxi dress :: heart/soul (love this ROYGBIV version) | cobalt blue kimono sweater :: maurice's (love this button up dress as a kimono-cardigan) | gold cuff :: charlotte russe | blue and gold beaded cuff :: pacsun | hot pink satchel :: nila anthony (lusting after this one) | taupe braided sandals :: forever 21 (sold out but similar here) | sunglasses :: charlotte russe

My boss told me today that I have quite the "eclectic wardrobe." Apparently, I dress "like a different city every day." Today, he said, was Portland, though I usually lean towards New York (meaning black and other dark colors). I've never put it in terms of cities, but I do enjoy exploring myself in a sartorial sense. My outfit defines my outlook for the day, and this dress allows me to pretend I'm at the beach when the humidity is so oppressive I feel as though I'm swimming through the air. I'm convinced there is no better way to survive the sweltering summer heat than in a maxi dress; add a light cardigan to ward off the office AC and some flat sandals, and you've got a look that can go from the office to the beach in the amount of time it takes for you to remove the aforementioned cardigan.

Portland apparently translates into an outfit that takes advantage of the remainder of summer by wearing as many bright, offensive colors at once as possible. Despite having railed against it since its inception, this summer has finally wormed its way into my heart and my closet, and I find myself oddly regretful to let it go. I realize that it's only mid-July, so it may seem a bit early yet to eulogize summer, but fall collections are already flooding the racks, and the beginning of school only a month away marks the unofficial beginning of autumn. The forthcoming onset of cooler weather promises to bring both a turn of the color wheel and a shift in the way we view fall hues in the years to come.

Traditional fall and winter palettes combine jewel tones with dark neutrals to create a panorama of deep colors, but as fashion progresses out from beneath the rules of yore, I think fashion lovers will be hard pressed to give up their brights so easily, at the mere whim of some archaic fashion law.

Instead, though the general hues of jewels will remain the fall/winter standard, the colors will lighten to more vibrant shades of amethyst, emerald and teal as opposed to traditionally deeper shades of each. We'll also see the muted influence of the neons and pastels from earlier in the year through an influx of not-so-basic primary colors like canary, cobalt and blood red alongside the fall classics of mustard, navy and brick. Be prepared for a continued mermaid influx in the form of gold flecks and deep sea blues, and pastels will remain evident, though with a slightly grayer hue (think lavender gray, dusty mauve and a stoney mint).

There also seemed to be an unspoken consensus among many of the designers - with one or two pops of bold neons making a statement in many of the collections, it appears that a dash of hot hues (generally covered in black brocade or crochet) is just the right amount of daring. Think of it not as coloring outside the lines, but as coloring your Santa hot pink instead of jolly red.

A few suggestions, via highfashionmagazine.com

You may notice a decisive lack of discussion regarding winter whites in this analysis of fall and winter 2012 color schematics; that is a conversation wholly its own and will be covered as such in an upcoming post as part of an ongoing series on trend analysis and prediction. What do you think so far? Am I spot on, or color blind? Leave your thoughts (and your own predictions) in the comments, and check out my Pinterest board, Fall 2012 Coloring Book, for inspiration straight from the runways and hot off the streets.

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