Color Block Challenge: Day 4

Joy Sewing from Houston Chronicle

Today is day four of the color-block fashion challenge, created by Houston Chronicle's fashion and beauty editor Joy Sewing. I'm super thrilled to announce that my blog and I have been featured on her Chron.com Shop Girl blog! As a local fashion journalist, Sewing is a huge inspiration! I still remember the first time I met her at Fashion Group International's Career Day Houston years ago. She was the only fashion journalist at the event I attended, and the only person I could relate to really. Years later, I happened to meet her younger brother through a mutual "fashion designer" friend, and he was a super nice guy as well. Charm must run in their family.

Anyways, I'm super proud of myself for taking part in this challenge, mostly because I tend to be lazy at times and steer towards "comfort" clothes, or stick to the black-white-gray combination. I love colors, but I don't always think about what to wear properly versus what I can get my hands on. So I really loved thinking up new ways to play up color combinations with the clothes I currently have in my closet. Fashion isn't hard, it's all about having fun, but sometimes people over-think it with excessive "rules."

The look below is something I'm ultimately thrilled about, just because whenever I wear this BCBG Max Azria cream-colored skirt, I almost always pair it with a black top. Due to the color-block challenge, I got myself out of a "fashion rut" and into some fresh colors.

Tomorrow's post is the finale to the five-day, fashion color-block challenge.

Afterward, I'll be having a reader giveaway for Skindinavia's "No More Shine" makeup setting spray. Stay tuned for details!

Please "like" the Facebook page and follow via Twit-land for updates.

Color Block Challenge: Day 3

It is day three of the fashion color block challenge, created by Houston Chronicle's fashion and beauty editor Joy Sewing. Only two more days to go!

Today, Sewing chronicled "color blocking" for men on her Shop Girl blog. Her other blog, which is separate from the Chron.com blog yet definitely ties in as well, is called "Dress Like You Are In Love." Both are interesting reads!

What is your take on the "color block" trend? Like it, don't like, and why? I would love to know and learn!

Color Block Challenge: Day 2

So it's day two of the fashion color-block challenge, created by Houston Chronicle's fashion and beauty editor Joy Sewing, and I've decided to don various hues of blue [my favorite color].

Houston Community College's fashion professor, Rita Bass was color blocking today as well. She wore an of-the-season yellow top and sweater, paired with dark brown pants and sandals. Her accessories included yellow-toned circular drop earrings and a ring-shaped necklace. 

Note: please forgive me for the quality of the image, since it's taken with my phone.

Houston Community College's fashion professor, Rita Bass

Putting color together in different ways is a challenge, and also a test in thinking outside the box!

--


Here are four easy ways to incorporate color blocking:

• Mix solid pieces. It’s easier to pair a red jacket with an orange skirt, than trying to work prints together. 

• Stick with two colors. Anything more than that and you risk looking a bit "cartoonish," according to Joy Sewing. I, personally, believe three is the maximum number of colors one can wear in an outfit. Of course, be mindful of the tone of colors—do not pair a bunch of neon colors together; that just screams "headache." 

• Instead of black—pick khaki, beige, or white to mix with colors.

• If you are a guy, mix a darker blue shirt with a purple or orange tie.

Color Block Challenge: Day 1

Houston Chronicle's fashion journalist, Joy Sewing challenges the fashion savvy once again.

A few years ago, Sewing challenged women to wear one dress for five days in five different ways. Though I hadn't participated, I did feel a strong desire to as it seemed like a fun, creative exercise in shopping in one's own closet.

Employees at the Chronicle's bureau in Washington, DC.

This time Sewing's fashion challenge involves "color blocking." To those unaware of the terminology, color blocking involves wearing two or more solid blocks of color in a single outfit. But, color blocking doesn't just apply to clothing/apparel, it can also be applied to accessories. For example, Kenneth Jay Lane's "Jade Link" necklace, Marc Jacobs' color-block heart-shaped earrings, and Giuseppe Zanotti's patent color-block sandals (all of which can be found on ShopBop.com) are an excellent example.

Sewing's color-block contest runs from Monday, March 26, 2012 through Friday, March 30, 2012.

Rules:

• Wear 1-2 bright pieces of clothing each day. You can change the colors daily or use the same pieces, but they must be worn in different ways. You can mix brights with prints.

• Black doesn’t count as a color. But beige, gray and other earth tones do, and can be matched with bright hues. 

• Accessorizing with bright colors gets you extra points. This includes jewelry, handbags, and shoes. 

• Take a photo of yourself in your outfit each day. It can be with a digital camera or even a camera phone. They just need to see the outfits and how you mixed the colors.

• Have fun and be creative. That’s the overall goal of this challenge; it shouldn’t be stressful.

Prizes: Gift cards to Macy’s and Dillard’s. Gift bags of goodies from Charming Charlie. The photos will be judged by reps from the retailers and the winner will be announced the following week. The photos of the winner may be featured in a story in the Houston Chronicle as well.

Sadly, I don't have as many colors in my closet as I would like to. However, in the name of fun and creativity, I am willing to try my hand at this fashion challenge and I urge others to as well. Do it for yourself; to challenge yourself to be more creative with your wardrobe! Challenges like these are splendid, especially if you're feeling like you're in a fashion rut.

--

Ten color combos that work well together:

1. Cobalt blue + yellow + orange 
2. Chocolate brown + pink + peach 
3. Purple + bright blue + teal 
4. Deep blue + fuchsia + white 
5. Coral + gray + ivory 
6. Grey + red 
7. Fuchsia + orange 
8. Yellow + gray 
9. Green + purple 
10. Green + khaki

One-Time-Only Sale: The Limited

Tuesday, March 20, 2012, The Limited is offering 50% off an outfit (top and bottom) from 11am-2pm!

Offer valid in-store only for 50% off an outfit. An outfit consists of a top, sweater, or jacket AND pant, skirt, short, crop, or dress. This promotion is not to be combined with any other coupons or promotions. Also, not valid on markdowns or previous purchases. No coupon necessary.

For those unfamiliar with The Limited, it's a mall-based specialty retail store that emphasizes on the modern career-orientated women. They sell modern suits and business separates, as well as event dresses and casual wear. They're essentially like Ann Taylor and LOFT by Ann Taylor, combined into one store, with a budget cut.

The Limited's Drew Slim-Leg pant ($74.90) in a blush tone is an excellent budget-friendly choice. It reminds me of BCBG's "Piper" Cropped pant (on sale for $79) and "Deanna" Relaxed Trousers (on sale for $79). If you're willing to splurge, the BCBG "Carrie" Straight-Flare pant ($158) is a suggestion.

The Modern Love Forenza collection at The Limited is definitely worth checking out! I really love the mixed-print dress and the bold color choices. It's a collection for those who "resist conformity."

"Au Revoir": Stefano Pilati pour YSL

On Monday, March 5, 2012, Stefano Pilati is leaving the house of Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), after showing the Fall/Winter 2012 collection in Paris.

Pilati has been the creative director of YSL since 2004, after working for Tom Ford (when Gucci Group acquired the house of YSL in 1993).

The company hasn't announced a successor yet, but will in the upcoming weeks.

Sources, ranging from Women's Wear Daily to The Wall Street Journal's "Heard On The Runway", predict that Hedi Slimane may return to YSL. Slimane designed the men's ready-to-wear (RTW) for the YSL brand in 1993, when Saint Laurent wanted to devote himself entirely to the haute couture line. After working for YSL, Slimane had reinvigorated the look of Dior Homme to an androgynous, modernist men's wear. After Slimane left Dior Homme in 2007, he has focused mainly on his photography.

*EDIT:

The last collection of YSL designed by Stefano Pilati (Women's Fall/Winter 2012 RTW) is available for view online on Style.com. The collection's summary/review, written by (fashion journalist & editor-at-large of Style.com) Tim Blanks, can be found on the site, as well as images of the new collection.

Also, Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 7am, Style.com confirmed the rumors that Hedi Slimane is returning to design for YSL!

According to Style.com, Slimane will have "total creative responsibility for the brand image and all its collections," while he continues his work in photography.

François-Henri Pinault, chairman and chief executive officer of YSL parent-company PPR, said, "As one of the most important French fashion houses, [YSL] today possesses formidable potential, which I am confident will be successfully harnessed and revealed through the vision of Hedi Slimane."

According to Fashionista, Slimane is expected to show a resort collection for the house of YSL in June 2012.

FYI: This will be Slimane's first time designing a women's-wear collection!

--

Images from Style.com