I received this email a few days ago from a young lady named Toni. Here’s what she had to say:
Okay, I’m working on my fall wardrobe and looking ahead to spring for next year and it’s a bit awkward because I have a fear of colors. What I mean is that for the longest time I’ve only warn certain colors. My closet right now is rather sadly lacking in many colors. It’s mostly black, grey browns. The occasional red or purple appears, but I’m aware that the “rainbow” is missing. I feel like I need a bit more UNF and to be more adventurous and get to be comfortable wearing a wider range of colors.
I’m petrified of greens (I only own one olive green top) and oranges, which I know is silly because logically I think that the right color could look good on me. I guess I’m not confident in determining what colors go best with my skin tone.
I’d really appreciate any advice you can offer for someone looking to expand the color range in their wardrobe and figuring out what colors work for you. Sorry if this seems a bit silly, but I’ve been working on this for awhile now and it only JUST occurred to me to ask you. ^^’
After receiving this email and having many requests along the same line from many women of color and white women, I have decided to make this a two part series. I will breaking it up into skin tones and putting together four outfits with cool undertones (yellow) and warm undertones (red) in mind.
Remember the rules I gave to you about makeup? They also apply with your clothing. As Toni has yellow undertones, she is representing the cool family of shades, therefore in order to warm up her skin tones and to compliment her fabulous hue, she must stick to colors in the warm family. This means she can wear any color as long as it is on the warm (read red or orange) spectrum of the color.
Deep teals, red-purples, burnt-oranges, fuchsias and burgundy are a must for this fabulous girl. Here’s what I put together.
Casual wear—Colored Denim:
If you are afraid of wearing color, I would suggest wearing color on the bottom half of your bottom where you can’t see it to close to your face, making you feel more out of place. Often, people who are terrified of color are terrified of seeing it near their face. It feels strange, so I would suggest by adding color on the bottom half of your body and accessories, to get used to seeing yourself in color.
Colored denim is a big staple at the moment and are even more in this Fall. Mixing a colored denim like this electric blue brings a pop of color to your wardrobe and combining it with this cute black and white polkadot top allows you to be in your comfort zone without having the same old same old.
Careerwear-Fuchsia
Spice up your wardrobe with this cute camel colored skirt and blazer. If you have yellow undertones, stay away from beige, however camel is the warmer toned sister of beige and perfect for your skin tones. Combining a pop of fuchsia near the face will your complexion a lovely flush. Teal booties or patterned kitten heels is perfect for spicing up your professional wear.
Add a bit of sex appeal with a garter and stockings and you never know, you may get a raise!
Go Graphic with a little Flair
So you work in a more artistic and creative environment? Try this graphic skirt with this crisp winter white sweater and belted waist and you will make some waves, well at least be the talk of the office, in a good way. Again, we are placing the color on the lower half of the body but the skirt speaks for herself. The warmer blues and greens is a great way to spruce up the white and black in your wardrobe.
Toughen Up—For the Rocker Chic in you
Tangerine is the color of the hour and not that yellowy tangerine either. Instead the vibrant, warm, tangerine almost blond orange color is hot hot hot and goes very well with yellow undertones. This warm color combined with a steel gray and black and is must for the Fall, early Winter. Its a tough but elegant way to make a statement and I am sure you already have some black pants in the closet. Give them an update with this cute top, jacket and platform boots. If you are against high heels there are plenty of flat over-the-knee boots out there that will go perfect. Check out Baker’s Shoes, you’d be amazed at what you will find. Adding purple accessories—the complimentary color f yellow—will truly turns some heads.
Toni, I hope this helps you some. Even if the outfits are not your style, you can take some of the ideas and make them your own. Remember, warm colors only. Stay away from colors with cool (yellow or olive green) tones and I promise you will look more fresh and new this upcoming Fall season.
Adapted from Joy the Baker:
I usually use red apples for the recipe but being in Korea makes it hard to come by some ingredients so I used green apples instead. It was WAYYYYY more yummy…
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small yellow onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated
2 small green apples, peeled and sliced
4 to 5 cups sliced, peeled carrots (about 1 1/2 pounds)
4 cups vegetable broth (optional, I didn’t use any broth)
pinch of nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and cook for one minute, until fragrant. Add sliced apples and diced carrots and cook for 3 minutes more.
Turn flame to medium-high and add vegetable broth or water. Bring to a boil. Reduce flame to low and simmer, uncovered, until carrots and apples are softened, about 30 minutes. Remove pan from the flame and let rest for 10 minutes.
Blend the soup in batches in a blender. Be sure not to fill the blender more than halfway full or hot soup will explode everywhere-> I have had this happen to me and it is a bugger to clean up.
Once all of the soup is blended, return to the pot. You may decide that you want your soup a bit thinner in consistency. Add more vegetable broth or water if you’d like.
#Carrot #Apple #Ginger #soup. #vegan (Taken with Instagram)
Ever since I stumbled upon Simoni’s blog, Fashionable Rose, I fell in love with her designs and her love for creating beautiful things. She was gracious enough to take time from her busy schedule to share with us what makes her tick:
Also check out a preview of her Fall 2012 Collection and our picks from the Spring 2012 Collection.
Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup
Adapted from Joy the Baker
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups raw cashews, soaked in water for 1 hour then drained
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 heads of broccoli, chopped into bite-size florets
1 tsp of lemon pepper salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper to taste
3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (optional)
about 4 cups of water
Directions:
Soak raw cashews in water for 1 hour. They’ll soften slightly. Drain.
Steam (boil) broccoli with onions and garlic until tender. A fork should be able to easily pierce the flesh of the broccoli. Remove from steamer and set aside.
and cook for about 30 seconds. Add cooked broccoli florets, and remove from heat.
In a blender, add half of the softened cashews, about 1/2 of the broccoli mixture, and 2 cups of water (from the boiled broccoli mixture). Add cumin, lemon pepper salt, and black pepper Blend until smooth. Blend the remaining cashews, broccoli, and 2 more cups of water. Blend until smooth. Pour into pan. Heat over low heat. Taste and season as necessary. Add more water for a thinner consistency.
Serve warm. Soup will last, in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days
#vegan #CreamOfBroccoliSoup (Taken with Instagram)
Stay tuned for the recipe!
“Violence against women is the most pervasive violation of human rights in the world today.”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlpMeYBbdlE]
In honor of the launch of Lattes and Lipstick’s website, I am spotlighting the independent film “Virginity” written by: Saeed Khoze.
L.A. Independent Film & Entertainment, or L.I.F.E, is a turnkey production company that aims to shed light on the darkness of the world with its humanitarian projects.
You can make contributions on the IndieGoGo site for Virginity to ensure that the film is seen all over the world. Remember, maybe you weren’t born in such society where women are seen as less than cattle, but you could have been.
Girl meets Boy
Inspiration: Menswear
There is something quite sexy about a feminine woman dressed in menswear. Thanks to Coco Chanel, this trend has been a mainstay since the 1920s when Coco was seen dressed in her boyfriend’s clothes.
Here are ten must have menswear items that every girl needs in her closet this Fall.
#nail #art #contrasting #colors #blueorange (Taken with Instagram)
Song: I’m Kissing You
Artist: Des’ree
Heard on: Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack
Supermodel: Carmen Dell’Orefice
Claim to Fame: Oldest Supermodel in the world at the age of 81 and Fashion Icon
2012: Celebrated 65 years in fashion by walking in the Adrienne Vittadini Fall 2012 Fashion Show
Cappuccino at Velvet Gallery (Taken with Instagram at 영도다움)
Despite the horrible hair color—orangutan— Foxy Roxy pulled it together and rocked that shoot! Rock on!!
Roxanne, BINTM, Cycle 8, Episode 4, courtesy of Sky Living
Cauliflower fritters and organic apple jam (Taken with Instagram)
Kerry Washington’s Editorial—Vogue Italia
The source of my current pain was poor judgment made by my misguided immature self over 10 years ago, and I have to live with those skeletons forever.
I talked to Michaela DePrince on the subway yesterday. I recognized her but couldn’t remember her name (awkward), so I basically justed asked her if she was a ballerina and chatted a little from there.
She’s incredible. She was orphaned in Africa, was adopted by Americans, and is on her way to becoming and elite ballet dancer. Michaela’s one of the kids profiled in First Position, a new documentary I’ve heard great things about.
It’s a sign. I need more ballet in my life, stat.
Josephine Baker in 1947 married French orchestra leader Jo Bouillon in Les Mirandes, Charente, southwestern France. During the ceremony Jo Bouillon puts the ring on her finger.