How to Wear Neon – At Every Age

I am not one to believe that fashion should be within the confines of age or “misses” and “juniors”.  I tend to believe, “If it fits you, and you don’t look ridiculous or like you are trying too hard, then wear it.”  Neon is one I am having a hard time with.  I remember neon clothes the first time they came around (and the baggy clothes).  I am trying to keep an open mind…but I’ll go ahead and tattle on myself.  About a year ago, my hubs and I were at the mall killing time (yes, I know he’s likely the only straight man who will wander around the mall…I love him for it!!), when I noticed a gaggle of teens wearing their cute skinny jeans, and one of them had levered glasses.  Before I could stop myself, “The 80′s called, they want their glasses back,” was out of my mouth.  The kid with the glasses glared at me (perhaps it was a sneer), but there was an element of shock (horror?), that I would question her choice to wear lever glasses.  Inside.  At night.  Then I was chided by my sweet hubs, “That was NOT nice.”  Sorry.  I bite my tongue a lot.  This one just slipped out!

I think we can agree that 20 year olds can pull off neon effortlessly.  But what about the rest of us?  Someone, quick grab a piece of paper, because I’m nearly certain I’ll eat my words later, but I can’t foresee that neon is going to be a here to stay trend.  Except electric blue (is there a new name for this now??).  The blue rage is vibrant, and I don’t see that going anywhere soon.  But I will not be rushing out to get hot pink pants.  But in keeping with my general philosophy, neon CAN be sprinkled into your wardrobe.  Tastefully.

These are the rules of thumb I will use.
1.  If you can remember neon, then you need to sprinkle in vibrant colors.
- accessories are the least expensive way to achieve this!
2.  If you can’t, then go for it!

Let’s start with the 30 somethings. Chances are you barely remember or REALLY remember neon.  If you’ve gotten this far, you are likely ok with testing the waters   It is also likely that you have established yourself and your likes and your style.  So, take a minute to think about where you would sprinkle.  I would start with my shoes, purse or jewelry.  You can wear your classic couture, and add a pop of neon yellow in the trim of your shoes.  I would consider this safe!  Some will notice, others will not.
If you are more bold, you can tote a neon (slightly neon) purse, or wear a neon necklace for a punch of color.  I would pick one.  It may look like you are trying too hard if you do too much.

Neon in your 40′s. In late 80′s, fashionistas who are now 40, were in college.  If you are touching this trend with a ten foot pole, I suggest toning it down.  Not to say skip it, but tone it down, sister!  Those who are older, will remember dressing their peanuts in neon, and you’ll want to do the same.  This is not to say don’t participate!
I recommend selecting brighter greens and blues, that are similar to neons, but nooooooot quite.  These tend to be safer colors for women, and in this case will not elude that you are trying to fit in.  Instead of starting with shoes, I’d pack a punch of color with your purse, and go neutral on everything else (stay neutral on your jewelry).  Rather than sprinkling it, go for one punch.  My ONLY big however: you can sling a hot pink purse in the same shade as dot earrings, this way it looks like you did it on purpose!  Neutral colors for the remainder of your wardrobe.

Older fashionistas:  Sorry to lump you in the same group, but for this trend, keep it minimal.  This is where jewelry accessories come in!  I’ll start with my however: a well known brand, Fresh Produce, has an amazing line of toned down neons.  When you look at neon, and wash it out, you get muted tangerine instead of electric orange, coral instead of shocking pink, turquoise instead of electric blue, and a pale yellow instead of bright yellow.  These colors have made the Fresh Produce brand.  If you shop at this store, or something like it, pull out brilliant jewelry.  This is a brand that has catered, for lack of a better word, to the neons when they weren’t “in”.  And there is a generation of women who will be thrilled with the neon trend – they are trendy again!!!  (Won’t my mom be thrilled!) If you aren’t going to rock the muted neons, use bold neons sparingly.  Refer to the 40′s image.

If  you are shopping in the juniors section, and are 50, the clothes are going to fit differently.  There are women who can pull it off, and they look amazing…but there are others who just quite don’t rock it.  Whatever you decide, own it!  You are showing off your personality, and your God-given identity.  Sitting out on a trend or joining in doesn’t define you.  Sometimes it is fun to just experiment…see if it’s “you”!!

PS – if Hammer Pants come back in style, don’t expect a blog post on those.  I’ll sit out on that.

Make Summer Sizzle with These HOT Looks!

When you think of summer, you think of????  Sun…sand…ocean (even this mountain girl thinks of ocean with summer!!)  Those crisp, cool tones are the propeller to the 2012 summer jewelry trend.

I can’t think of another time that we have has such huge shifts in fashion trending.  Last year we had rocker, which has morphed into the classic 80′s neon and lever sunglasses.  (which I refuse to pinch and roll my jeans).  With it has brought a renewal of vintage inspired clothes (be nice to your mother’s fashion, little ladies.  One day it will come back and you will want that “wretched” shirt you made her throw out!).  I have never been more convinced that fashion changes on a whim.
The jewelry and accessories, have one a whole, remained consistent.  If you can remember back to 2010, turquoise was the color of the year.  Have you noticed a plethora of mint?!  Not the julep kind, but pants, bracelets, shoes! The fresh turquoise inspiration has continued!  She has partnered with 2011′s color of the year, honeysuckle (a fancy name for coral), and they look AMAZING together!  Have you tried them together?  But in all seriousness, you cannot go wrong with blue of any shade.

In keeping with our albeit cliche summer image, you will notice, if you haven’t already: sea inspired.  Sea stars (aka: starfish), colors (think of all the beautiful colors in the ocean), nautical, ropes, knots, etc.  A really easy way to incorporate this into your existing wardrobe, is through Mother of Pearl.  It is extremely white and beachy.  Sea star rings and bracelets that “hug” the arm or finger are also in line.

Multi-layer and gemstones (one or both), are also going to be trending.  I call the multi-layer “insta-layer”.  However, you can achieve this look by looping a very long necklace several times, and stacking a few together.  Please don’t worry that this is overkill.  We are not in a fashion recession.  Gone are the days that light, barely there necklaces were the rage.  If you have been leery of the multiple necklace look, check out Vogue – the more the better!  Gemstones, in my humblest of opinions, NEVER goes away.  There may be tweaks, but really, nothing says “fashionable” more than a genuine chunk of gemstone.  It doesn’t have to be faceted, raw, polished, beaded…it’s all in.  If you don’t have gems, now is a great time to invest.  Gems are absolutely timeless!

It is not every day that I am ahead of the fashion curve, let’s set the record straight right now.  But this?! HECK YES!  Where are my Ann Taylor peeps?!  When I was working for Ann Taylor, I would suggest a tee shirt with a cardigan, which would be my one way ticket out of the sale.  That was 6 years ago.  Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when I was suggesting a bib necklace that a gal wear with a tee shirt, and I got the “one way ticket” look again.  Watch the runways friends!  Watch fashionistas when you are out people watching!

So what’s different today? Styling. While the 2009 vintage were often featured against bare skin, under a crisp button-down or to perk up a scoop neck dress, today we’re seeing these necklaces layered over a tee, or even other necklaces for a fresh, maximalist take. What do you think? Will you be layering your bibs over a heather gray tee this summer? via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2012/04/pattern-pulp-summer-jewelry-trends.html#ixzz1wOVWtz4v

The large statement necklaces are still in.  Keep buying them, and wearing them!  But now you can wear them with your tees!!

Chandelier earrings have stayed hot, hot, hot for nearly 10 years.  Though they have gotten bigger almost every year.  This season, we are looking at shoulder dusters.  They are literally that.  If you have a shorter neck, you can still wear shoulder dusters, they will have more impact than us long necked fashionistas!  Tip: when you are hunting for the right pair of shoulder dusting chandeliers (or the regular chandelier earrings), try a few pairs on.  Find some that will really fit you.  I found that I don’t like heavy earrings, regardless of how amazing I look.  They make me feel clausterphobic.  So you might have to try a few to get a pair or two that feel right to you.  While we are on the topic of earrings, not all face shapes look amazing in chandeliers. (Be sure to click through the pictures).

Here’s a Summer Must-Have’s recap:
- Sea Inspired (blues, yellow, white, crisp tones, Mother of Pearl and other pearls, sea stars, knots, etc)
- Blue (any shade)
- Gems and “insta-layer” necklaces
- Bib necklaces with tees
- Chandelier earrings
Ready?  Set?  Go!!  Be sure you contact me for the jewelry in the images.  I’ll give you the deal of the century, or at the very least, the summer!

And in case you don’t know, or you’d like to refresh your memory on pegging jeans, here is a nice little “how-to”.

Keep Your Word

This post started out as a facebook discussion, and it may need more room than just a status update.

It is disrespectful to your hostess (and friend), if you say you are going to come to an event at her house and not come. It is also disrespectful to not RSVP. If you don’t want to go, just say so. Honor your friends

I have noticed a horrible trend in my generation, and the area I live in, and with people in general.  Whether it is un-knowingly or not, they are disrespecting their friends.  Can we be candid for a moment?  By waiting until the last minute to RSVP to an event is incredibly disrespectful, horrifically rude, and distasteful.  It’s right up there with a guest going to a home party and saying she don’t like the product, or how cheap it looks, or it’s too expensive, etc.  If you don’t want to go, then say, “Thank you for inviting me, but I won’t be able to attend.”

Waiting until the last minute.  You wouldn’t believe the amount of times I have heard (in 6 months), “This is a last minute valley.”  How about we change that.  I know people move to our gorgeous area to play, and they might not know what they are doing that day, but how about planning ahead?  How about valuing their friends, who have made an effort to host a fundraiser, or a birthday party?  Respecting them, and their time, and their family’s time.
We have become so much of a last minute society, that it is digging away at our friends.  Our friends can’t plan for anything because we have become sooooooooo lazy and selfish!  Yes! You read that.  Lazy and selfish.  I don’t want to be remembered as either lazy or selfish, do you?

I notice a lot of talk about respect and tolerance.  It’s not respectful or tolerant if it only goes one direction, my friends.   It’s not being loving, or generous, or friendly if we can’t care for our friend.

Waiting for better offers/saying yes and when a better offer comes changing plans.  I used to be guilty of this.  Until I had someone do it to me.  I cried.  My heart hurt so deeply; I was wounded.  Recently I had a friend cancel on coming to something I had at my house.  We hadn’t seen each other in a long time, and I was really looking forward to seeing her, and catching up.  She emailed me telling me that she wasn’t able to come because she had to work early the next morning.  Bummer, but I understand.  After my event, I was on facebook, and saw she went to a concert   So much for having to go to bed early.  I was livid.  Have you experienced the same thing?  I would have preferred if she would have said the truth, instead of lying.
Early in our family’s existence, we made the decision that we’d take the first offer that came up instead of waiting until the last minute or changing our minds.  Sure we have missed out on events, but we apply the same rule across the board.  It has served us well.

Can I suggest that we make a change in our culture?  I would love to be known as a generation that truly honored each other.  How about for the next 30 days we RSVP right away to every invitation that comes our way.  Yes or no.  No maybes.  Maybe is a ridiculous way of saying no.  I promise you won’t be hated for saying no, you will be revered.
What are your suggestions/ideas for changing our culture?

Wedding planning is a blast!  It is one of the most joyful occasions.  It can be challengingfor the bride to narrow down her wedding style, on top of the other tasks!  You may have an idea (I’m certain you do!) in your head about what your ideal wedding will look like.  Where everyone will stand.  What your groom will be wearing.  How many bridesmaids you will have.  What they will be wearing.  What flowers you’ll carry.  Where it will be.  The list is endless.  Where do you start?  I started with wedding planner book.  It was such a godsend to have it.  All my bits and baubles were in there.

Location or Date
First things first.  You need to set a date, or you need to set a location.  If you are dead set on either, it will make the next part either easy or challenging.  We chose our wedding date around when we knew family would be in town, then chose the location.  But I know that there are some locations that are booked several years in advance.  If this is the case, think outside the box.  For a smaller wedding, you can rent a mountain top ski resort.  One would even provide the platform!  If you want a larger wedding, how about reserving National Forest?  Have it catered for a wedding that is all you!  A mountain top wedding was our original plan, but ended up going with using the church my dad pastored at as it was FREE!
Do you know someone who has a large yard?  We had friends who had agorgeous wedding with the Flatirons (a stunning rock formation in Boulder, CO) in the distance.  It was absolutely breathtaking.

Food
Think outside the box on catering.  Please do not cut corners by cutting food.  It is not in good taste (pardon the pun).  You do not necessarily have to have a 5 course meal with 2 wines, unless you want to.  What is your style?  If you are more laid back, consider a barbeque (you could make it very elegant), or consider 6 foot sandwiches.  Check with friends to see who they know who owns a catering business, or who has a chef at home business.  These are other ways to cut costs with out cutting corners.
On the note of food.  Cake.  This is probably one of the most expensive costs to a wedding.  Again, talk to those around you, rather than going with the most expensive in the phone book.  There are many bakers who operate out of their homes, and will give you a great price on a cake.
Sheet cakes are less expensive than tiered cakes.  Consider a sheet cake for the guests, and a smaller tiered cake to cut.  Your guests will never know the difference!

Photography
This is one area I think it’s best to spend, but not over spend.  Look for seniors year art students who need to build their portfolio.  Often times you’ll get professional prints for a fraction of the cost.  Also, talk to your local Target or JCPenny studio photographer.  We had one of the managers take our pictures on her day off.  Her style outside the studio was very artistic and photo journalistic, which we adored.  She gave us quite a bargain!  Regardless of who you chose, you want to interview them, and get an idea of who they are and what their style is like.  Don’t expect them to be something different the day of your wedding.  Also print out a list of the pictures you expect them to take, and take examples of work you like.  If they say, “YES!  I love this style!” you’ll know they are the right one for you.  If they are hesitant, don’t expect the pictures you have in your mind.

What is your style?
The above list can be daunting.  Where do you even start?  Like I said earlier, start with the location and the date.  Then start with your style.  Breathe, everything will fall into place.  Sometimes you have to be creative!  When it comes to jewelry, let me help.  I understand first hand how stressful it can be.  But it doesn’t have to be!  I can alleviate the bridal party jewelry for a fraction of what you think it might cost.  Look through the pictures below to get ‘the wheels spinning’, and contact me for more information!

Spring is Here Bringing Red and Purple!

Sassy Salsa, and Lilac (an “insta-layer” necklace). Red and pink, and red and purple are hot colors. Go ahead, wear white after Labor day! Be bold and outrageous in your color combination! This looks amazing with a black or a bright purple tee. Avoid a red, or pink shirt.

Ahhh….it is SPRING here…finally!  As odd as it may seem, we did not have winter.  Well…we did, in that it was cold and bitter cold, but hardly any snow.
I have been busy planning my garden (my first garden in 3 years), and first in the high country.  I hope, hope, hope, there is not a huge learning curve.
We have also been taking advantage of the lovely weather to go on hikes.  On one we saw bears! YES!  BEARS!  eek!  Luckily, they were about .25 miles away, but I did not want to tempt Mama Bear.  Yesterday, we saw lizards (of some sort), sunning themselves on rocks.  I am really not looking forward to seeing snakes.  They are lowest on my list of species in the animal kingdom I adore.  I’d really make the worst vet for this reason!

In the mean time…I have more style file images.  I find myself drawn to certain necklaces, bracelets and earrings, and I wear the heck out of them.  Do you do the same thing?  What are on your “most worn” list?

Salsa and Fountain Blue necklaces. I used to think that red and blue looked really patriotic, but when you partner a bright red with turquoise, it gives it a fresh and modern look!!

The lighting in this image really makes Salsa look pink, but in the following pictures, Salsa is more red, would you agree? The purple necklace she is with is the chain for “Rock-On”. I slipped off the pendant, and layered these two hot ladies together. Salsa brings out the pink undertones of Rock-On, rather than enhancing the purples. Would you agree that they are an unlikely combination?

This post is absolutely, positively not directed at any one person, but mainly our society (GenXers).  I had 2 encounters with “older” women, practically begging me, or the other story teller, to “Take care of yourself.  Wear the jewelry you have.”

The first woman came to my booth, on the hottest of all days.  She was oohing and aahing at the various lovelies.  She stumbled upon the pearls.  “There use to be a time that stay at home moms dressed up everyday, and wore their pearls.  They didn’t even go anywhere of any importance.  They just wore them.  They took pride in taking care of themselves…will you promise me you’ll dress up everyday?”  I thought it was mildly hysterical….at the time.

The second incident was a story that was told to me by a friend.  She had an older friend who implored her to take care of herself – dress up for her man, go to the spa, etc.  The older woman’s husband had left her because she just didn’t care about herself.  She was wearing sweats, and though she was taking care of her house, and the kids, she wasn’t taking care of the person her husband loved most – herself.

Now, this is not a scare tactic at all!  But I notice that women are more likely to buy something for someone else, than they are for themselves.  We are so busy taking care of those around us, than taking care of ourselves.  I’m not suggesting that you have to layer 5 necklaces, stack 3 bracelets, and have the coordinating ring on to look like you care.  But we get trapped in the “uniform” rut.  I asked this on my facebook page a few weeks ago.  We all have the uniform – those are the things that are comfortable to us.  But changing up the uniform to something new, will allow people to see a new perspective of you…perhaps take you more seriously.  Just by changing your necklace can have more impact than by getting new clothes.

A friend of mine hosted a few years ago.  She picked out some really nice pieces of jewelry.  She wore a new necklace, and people asked if she got a new shirt, they asked what was new about her.  By just changing something to her uniform she was telling people she cared about herself!
I notice when I wear jewelry, I stand taller, and more proud.  I take confidence in who I am.  I notice that we encourage our daughters to play with jewelry, but we stop at some age playing with our own jewelry.  It’s ok, you can wear that big huge necklace to the grocery store.  NO ONE will ask you where you are going. They may compliment you on your new pretty though!  I have a huge, sparkly necklace I love wearing with jeans.  It is HUGE.  I have never been asked what function I’m going to.  I never get funny stares.  Go ahead.  You can do it!  If you need me to, I’ll hold your hand.

GORGEOUS day in Glenwood

Boy, oh boy!  What a lovely day it was driving into Glenwood Springs today!  We live about a thousand feet higher and spring is only starting to commence here.  When we visited my folks about 2 weeks ago, spring was breaking out EVERYWHERE!  I was so jealous!  Well, it is starting up here, and it’s positively breathtaking!  I neglected to take a picture, and now the clouds are moving in, but I do think I detected itty bitty green leaves on the aspens in the back yard! (In true Colorado fashion, we are likely getting snow tonight.  I won’t be wearing sandals tomorrow!)

Someone must have let the kind lady at Lowe’s know about my rant yesterday.  My kids ADORE doing the Lowe’s Build and Grow projects, and since they are free, I am all too happy to oblige.  Not to mention that they teach great problem solving and fine motor skills!  Shortly after we started building, she brought 2 unfinished projects from the last Build and Grow (because we were visiting my parents, we missed it) so my kids could do it.  “I saw your names on the list, but you didn’t come so I saved them,” she said.  HOW KIND!!!  You wouldn’t find THAT in a big metropolis!  I was so blessed!!  Thank you Lowe’s!!! (And Judy!)  Totally made my day!

I am off to Blingo tonight with some fabulous new friends!!