Category Archives: dressing your best

Determining Your Color Palate Part 1

Posted in beauty, dressing your best, how to, know what color to wear by

Determining your “season,” or the color palate that is the most complimentary for your skin, is time well spent. You can have mastered the latest trends and how to wear them, but if you wear the wrong colors, you will still not look your best. I covered this topic briefly in my Closet Cleanout Challenge Step Three. I received a lot of questions that let me know there is a lot of confusion on this topic, so I decided to do a deep dive. Thus, I have chosen to do a four part blog and video series this month for my Wednesday Night Wardrobing Live Videos that will go into detail about this topic. I encourage you to join me live tonight at 6 p.m. MST. My vision for this series is that we can all help each other work through this process. Here is the schedule:

Wednesday, March 1: Are You Warm Or Cool?

Wednesday, March 8th: What Season Are You?

Wednesday, March 15: What Are Your Best Makeup Colors?

Wednesday, March 22: How Do I Make Wardrobe and Jewelry Choices Based On My Season?

I need to give credit to JoAnne Richmond and Color Me Beautiful, which I am using as a resource for this series. I will also be using other websites as well and will reference them as we go.

STEP ONE: DETERMINE IF YOU ARE WARM OR COOL

Warm or cool refers to the undertones in your skin and whether they are more blue based or yellow based. You can see this distinction demonstrated in the two color palates above. Cool tones should remind you of someplace cold and snowy, while warm tones resemble a desert. To determine your palate, focus first on your hair, eyes and skin.

HAIR:

COOL: Platinum blonde, jet black, ash brown and ash blonde. If you have gone grey, you will have silver or pearl grey hair. A cool hair tone will have no red or gold highlights.

WARM: Golden blonde, red tones like strawberry blonde and copper, and dark red-brown. A warm hair is characterized by golden and red highlights.

EYES:

COOL: Very dark or almost black eyes, dark brown, blue and grey, turquoise, and green without golden flecks.

WARM: Golden brown, red brown, olive green, blue green or clear green. Warm eye tones are characterized by golden flecks.

SKIN:

COOL: Porcelain (often associated with an Irish heritage), Olive (often associated with Asian, Latin and Mediterranean heritage), beige (common among Caucasians), rosy toned skin.

WARM: Ivory (often associated with Danish, Sweedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Icelandic peoples). Peach skin (often associated with Northern Europe). Golden beige or caramel colors that are characterized by gold undertones as well as coppery and maple colors (this skin can come from many heritages including African, Asian, Mediterranean, Latino and Native Americans.

http://www.hungrywardrobe.com/discover-your-colours

If you are still struggling, there are a couple of other tests you can perform. Find a piece of clothing from the warm palate and one from the cool palate. Remove all of your makeup, and stand in front of a mirror. Drape each color around your face. When you have the correct warm or cool tone for your skin:

  1. The whites of your eyes look white and bright.
  2. Your skin should also look bright and not dull.
  3. Your teeth will appear whiter
  4. The lines around your eyes as well as dark circles will appear less apparent.

Join me next Wednesday to determine whether you are cool and deep; cool and light; warm and deep; or warm and light.

Cozy Picks For Christmas Day

Posted in clothing, dressing for your age, dressing your best, how to, personal style, tips and tricks, travel, What to wear by
Grab these looks in our Kyleen’s Picks Collection.

Whether your Christmas morning has you in jammies, a comfy sweat suit or jeans and a sweater, I think we can all agree that Christmas Eve is for dressing up, and Christmas Day is for being comfortable. In my Kyleen’s Picks Collection this week, I have chosen several items that fall into each of these categories to give you some Christmas Day outfit inspiration.

Benefits of wearing jeans and a sweater: If you have to drive to a relative’s house for Christmas Day, choosing stretchy and comfy jeans, can feel like you are wearing sweat pants but look a little less athleisure. Pairing a sweater (several holiday-ish items above) with those jeans allows you to layer and also adjust to different temperatures from outside to inside. As I write this blog, it is snowing and very, very cold (-14 degrees). With those kind of temperatures, your friends and family might have a fire in the fireplace and a sweater may be too warm for inside. You are most definitely going to want it outside, however, so layering makes sense. Jeans are also easy to pair with snow boots and are usually warmer than sweat pants.

Benefits of wearing a sweat suit: Whether you have to go to someone’s house or you are staying at yours, a sweat suit is a bridge between jeans and jammies. It is comfy and warm without being as casual as your pjs. Our FDJ sweatsuit in Teal (pictured above) is a matched hoodie and jogger that are made from Egyptian Cotton, some of the softest Cotton on the planet. I also like this sweatsuit because you don’t feel bulky in it at all. You can easily pair some fuzzy socks and slippers to keep your feet warm and cozy and add a cute puffy vest over the top for an added layer.

Benefits of wearing your pjs: My family always got up and headed straight to the tree to open presents, maybe stopping at the coffee pot on the way. As a result, Christmas mornings were spent in our pajamas. We usually changed into sweat suits after the packages were unwrapped. I love pjs for Christmas, but you want to be sure they are suitable to wear in front of others. I think you will love our Hello Mello pajamas because of the tees and comfy pants that are loose fitting, very comfy, and cute as a button. You can also add one of their cozy cardigans over the top to add an extra layer of warmth. I also love our Hello Mello pajamas because if you are travelling or having to spend the night somewhere, they pack into small little bags for easy transport.

No matter which casual look you choose or even if you like to dress up for Christmas, feeling confident in what you are wearing will help you enjoy the day more. For this reason, it is a good idea to lay out your outfit before Christmas day (only 4 more days!) to be sure you have everything you need. Every item pictured above is available on our online store. Should you need us, we are open from now until Christmas Eve at 3 p.m. (FCO) and 4 p.m. (FCR). We also have free shipping from now until 12/23, so you can have it delivered to your house in time for Christmas if you are here in Casper. You can also watch my Wednesday Wardrobing live video tonight to see these options in person. Watch that video here.

From all of us here at Fashion Crossroads and FC Outlet, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

5 Tips For Choosing Your Christmas Eve Outfit

Posted in dressing your best, how to, How to wear the trends when you are over 40, personal style, tips and tricks, Trendy at any age, women's clothing tips by

Well, it is official….Christmas Eve is just 10 days away!! Have you picked your holiday look yet?

Whether your Christmas Eve festivities are casual or dressy, it is important to feel great and be comfortable, so you can enjoy your family and friends during this important holiday. As you consider what to wear, here are my 5 tips for making the most of your holiday look:

Choose clothing that can transition between events easily: Christmas Eve often means travelling between venues. Whether it is church and home or friends and family member’s houses, you will likely be in and out and maybe even transitioning between dressy (church) and casual (home) events. Layers are your friend in this situation. Choose comfy bottoms and then dress them up by layering sweaters and vests, tunics or blouses and cardigans, or blouses and blazers. Keep your outer most layer dressy so you can remove it when the casual part of your evening arrives.

Consider the weather and your accessories and outerwear: Heels and snow don’t mix very well unless you enjoy cold feet! If you are in a cold weather climate, like here in Wyoming, you are likely not going to choose a dress unless it is with tights and boots. It is just too cold and messy outside. Comfy clothes like tunics and leggings, blazers and jeans, cardigans and stretchy pants are a great choice. Shoe boots and tall boots are a savior this time of year because you just never know when you are going to run into a un-shoveled sidewalk or icy walkway. Sensible shoes will keep you dry, warm and safe.

Likewise, if you are heading to a party, you may want to get some air and take a break outside. Make sure you think through your outer wear accordingly, and for goodness sake, don’t ruin your outfit with the wrong kind of coat!! If you’ve dressed up, don’t put a puffy coat over the top of your look unless it is a dressy version.

Don’t limit yourself to certain colors: There are a lot of looks that can work for Christmas Eve, and you don’t need to be wearing red or green to look festive. White and black are always classic, and you can dress up a simple outfit with some sparkly jewelry to make it look very appropriate for a holiday look. Gold and cream are also a classic combo that can work very well. Having just a splash of red or a print that includes red and green are also good options. I even like raspberry and pink for holiday looks. I’ll be featuring some I have chosen in my weekly Wednesday Wardrobing video tonight at 6 p.m. MST. Watch for some other ideas besides what I have pictured here.

Add some sparkle: Adding a sequin tank or top can totally change your style from everyday to holiday. Consider the cream cardigan and gold sequin top pictured above, as a great example of this. A dressier handbag like the snakeskin printed leather crossbody in the first picture or the dressy clutches in several of the other pictures also add an element of class and sparkle. And, of course, sparkly jewelry is a must! This is the time to pull out your Swarovski crystals and wear them with pride!

Focus on the reason for the season: While looking and feeling beautiful is a worthy endeavor, how you look is not the ultimate point of the season. Connecting with your loved ones, celebrating life and the joy of the season, being grateful for your blessings and remembering the gift of God this season are the true things that will make your night sparkle. Set an intention to feel great in how you look and then be present as you go though your evening. Notice the lights, the tastes and smells, and enjoy!

Any of these looks can be found in my Kyleen’s Picks Collection for this week on http://www.fashioncrossroadsinc.com or in our brick and mortar store, Fashion Crossroads, in downtown Casper, Wyoming.

5 Looks For A Christmas Party

Posted in dressing for your age, dressing your best, fashion, fashion trends, how to, personal style, Trendy at any age, women's clothing tips by

Recently, I asked my staff members to choose a Christmas look to feature in my Wednesday Wardrobing Live Video series. I didn’t give them any direction other than they could choose the items from either of my stores (Fashion Crossroads or FC Outlet) and that I wanted them to accessorize their outfit choice.

When I came into work today, I saw all of their cute and stylish looks hanging in the back room and waiting for me. What surprised me the most is that, despite having no direction to do so, they all chose black and white or black and gold combinations. There wasn’t a single red or green look in the bunch!!

I think this just goes to show you that we really can think outside the box when it comes to holiday party looks. Let me talk about what each staff member chose.

Debbie: This Baby Boomer knocked it out of the park trend wise with her choice of black vegan leather leggings paired with a sheer and feminine, ruffled white blouse. She then added styled a cropped cardigan trimmed with silver lurex thread. She finished her look with a silver heart necklace, white snowflake earrings and a pearlized white leather clutch from HOBO.

Shop this look here: https://fashioncrossroadsinc.com/products/molly-bracken-knitted-cardigan

Christie M: This Generation Xer went classic 80’s with her choice of a vegan leather blazer in black paired over a classic collared white button up blouse. The blouse is tunic length, so it shows about an inch below the hemline of the blazer. On the bottom, she picked black leggings in a dressy and heavy weight ponte knit with a seam up the center of the leg. To finish the look, she chose a red tassel necklace with two tassels and natural beads. Last, she choose large red earrings trimmed in gold.

Liz R: Our youngest staff member stayed totally on trend with a black velvet big shirt, worn open and paired over a gold sequined, short sleeved top. On the bottom, she chose black vegan leather leggings. For accessories, Liz picked a long lava bead necklace and coordinated it with a black bracelet and earrings. She added a black leather clutch from HOBO with gold metal accents on the strap to accent the gold sequins on the top.

Chris S: Another baby boomer, this red headed staff member chose an all white look with black accents. On the top, she chose a faux velvet turtle neck top paired under a white vegan leather jacket. The leather jacket has fun zipper details highlighting the moto trend. On the bottom, she picked a lined, white dress slack. For accessories, she chose a black multi leather strap necklace with a glitter pendant and sparkly earrings.

Shop this look here: https://fashioncrossroadsinc.com/products/love-tree-faux-leather-zip-biker-jacket-in-white

Chris E: Our newest staff member and another baby boomer, Chris went classy and simple with her choice. On the top, she picked a solid black travel knit tunic with a cut out in the back. The style is an A-line cut which pairs well over the skinny legged bottoms she picked. For that bottom, Chris chose a black ankle jean with a slit in the back and an embellished, white pearl bow. Additionally, the hemline of the jean is lined in pearls and crystals. She accented the pearls on the jean with a pearl necklace with a clear crystal pendant and pearl earrings.

You can see all of these looks and vote on your favorite when you watch my live video.

Hat, Glove And Scarf Trends for Winter 2022

Posted in dressing your best, fall fashion trends, Fashion, fashion, fashion trends, how to, How to wear the trends when you are over 40, personal style, tips and tricks, trends, Trendy at any age, women's clothing tips by

Old Man Winter is fully in swing here in Wyoming, and that cold wind does blow. It is most definitely hat, glove, and scarf weather. Just like you can ruin a stylish outfit with the wrong shoes or handbag, you can also ruin a stylish coat with outdated winter accessories. That’s why you’ll want to know the latest hat, glove and scarf trends so you can keep up to date.

Hat Trends:

  1. Beanies: By far the most popular hat trend is the beanie, but there are multiple types of beanies that you can choose from. Right now, you will find Pom Beanies like the one pictured above on the right that are distinguished by some type of pom on the top, slouchy beanies that have an oversized look that hangs off the top of your head, and pony tail beanies that have holes and allow for you to wear a hat with a pony tail. Whatever type you choose, make sure it coordinates with your coat, scarf and gloves. I really recommend buying your winter accessories at the same time to keep everything matched.
  2. Other popular styles of hats right now are bucket hats, wool berets, and fedoras. Bucket hats look like you are wearing a bucket upside down on your head. Berets are classically French and are usually worn to the side of your head, and fedoras are structured hats like the one pictured at the top on the left. You will also see newspaper boy hats this season which are characterized by a bill and usually a rounded top.

Glove Trends:

  1. Vegan Leather: just like the abundance of vegan leather jackets and vests that are popular this season, gloves are following suit with faux leather and suede verities. These are great because they are usually solid colors that are easy to pair with printed scarves and hats.
  2. Plaid: Similarly, the strength of plaid this season, especially in blouses and shackets, has carried over to gloves. You’ll find a variety of gloves adorned with plaid prints. Be careful, however, not to overdo the plaid as you can end up with a plaid hat, scarf and glove which might be too much unless they are designed to go together.
  3. Knits: Gloves are really following the sweater trends this season. The strongest knits in sweaters are hombre yarns, variegated yarns and cable knit styles. You’ll find knit gloves with these same elements that are essentially mini sweaters on your hands!

Scarf Trends:

  1. Cowl neck scarves: Half the sweaters in my store right now have Cowl Necks, and some even have removeable Cowl Necks, so it is no surprise that this type of a neck can also double as a great “scarf.” The best part is you don’t have to add a scarf because your sweater will do it for you.
  2. Cashmere: This style never goes out, but this season, you will see extra long cashmere scarves that you can wrap multiple times. Watch my Wednesday Wardrobing Live Video 11/30/22 to see some examples.
  3. Fringe Edged: Scarves with fringe on the edges is also popular. These can be large, oversized scarves, or smaller wool scarves.
  4. Plaid: As with gloves, plaids are very popular in scarves this season. Just remember to match a plaid to the color of your coat and don’t over do it with too many plaid elements.

That’s it…so many options to choose from. Being truly stylish means you pay attention to how everything works together not only in your outfit but in your accessories as well. Don’t ruin a great look with out of date or mismatched outerwear accessories, and don’t ruin a great coat with a hat, some gloves and a scarf that don’t look like they coordinate.

Stay warm and stylish my friends!

3 Tips To Rock Your Style For Thanksgiving

Posted in clothing, dressing your best, fall fashion trends, fashion trends, how to, How to wear the trends when you are over 40, personal style, tips and tricks by
Whether you are dressing up or keeping it casual this season, being comfortable is the name of the game!

Everybody does Thanksgiving a little differently. Some eat early in the day, some eat mid day and some wait for dinner time. No matter how your family does it, chances are, you are going to be in your Thanksgiving day outfit for several hours at the minimum and, in some cases, all day. You want to look nice but also be comfortable. We all know the miserable feeling of having eaten a Thanksgiving meal in clothes that felt just fine before you ate and that you could hardly wait to get out of after you were finished!! It is sheer torture and really hinders your ability to enjoy your family and friends. As a result, carefully considering your outfit choice for Thanksgiving is a must. In this blog post, I will share three tips to making great outfit choice and, hopefully, give you some ideas for choosing the perfect look.

Layer It Up: There are several reasons why wearing layers for Thanksgiving makes a whole lot of sense. First, if you are going to someone else’s house, layers let you adjust your temperature accordingly – too cold, keep your layer on or too hot, take it off. Similarly, a vest or jacket can be very effective in hiding an expanded stomach after the meal is finished and help you feel more comfortable. Whether you choose a vest, a longer sweater cardigan or a jacket, layering adds dimension to your look that naturally dresses it up and has many practical applications as well.

Consider the looks above. In each outfit, (with the exception of the unlayered blouse and pant), the added layer levels up the style. Imagine the sweater without the vest of the tunic without the sweater cardigan, as an example, the outfit would seem less dressy and trendy. It may be that you spend some time outside having a drink expanding the space in the home, having the extra layer is perfect for moving from indoors to outdoors easily.

Wear Holiday Colors: Whether you choose holiday reds and greens or browns and rusts, wearing colors that go with the season is a great way to make your look feel special for this special day. Because rust is such a strong color this season, you should be able to find ample options out there that will match the traditional golds, browns, and orange in Thanksgiving decorations.

Take a look at the outfits I have highlighted at the top for examples. In the top row, starting from the left, the first look combines trendy rust denim pants with a lovely cable knit sweater and copper puffy vest. The second and third look, on the other hand, focuses more on Christmas colors with a lovely Christmas red blouse and a tunic with Christmas greens. On the bottom row, the look to the left combines vintage wash jeans with a white blouse that is layered with a faux suede vest. The next is the classic dressy blouse paired with a black slack, but I have chosen a rust blouse that coordinates perfectly with Thanksgiving colors. The last look combines a trendy plaid blouse with a faux wool jacket and distressed jeans. Each look offers differing levels of dressiness but all are great examples of perfect looks for the holiday.

Wear Comfy Pants: We’ve all seen the memes about getting your “fat pants” ready or setting your scales back 10 lbs. Make no mistake, Thanksgiving is a day for over-eating. More than any other part of your outfit, the pants you choose for the day are of utmost importance. Make sure they are stretchy and comfy and will expand as necessary!

I love leggings for Thanksgiving because I sell several brands that have tummy shapers in them, and if there is ever a day where I want some extra “shaping,” that is the day! Most of our jeans also have tummy panels in them as well to help, and in both bottoms, the fabric will stretch so you are comfortable sitting or standing.

Wearing the wrong outfit to your holiday dinner can ruin the event. When you are uncomfortable, it is hard to enjoy the delicious food or the company. Being in a hurry to leave because you can’t wait to get out of your clothes robs you off precious time with your loved ones. Taking some time to think through your outfit and the requirements of your day is well worth your time an energy. Watch my live Wednesday Wardrobing video tonight at 6 p.m. MST for more outfit ideas and discussion on this topic.

Also, if you see a look you like, you can find all of these items on our online store at www.fashioncrossroadsinc.com.

3 Ways To Style A Plaid Shirt

Posted in clothing, dressing your best, fall fashion trends, how to, How to wear the trends when you are over 40, personal style, tips and tricks, trends, Trendy at any age, women's clothing tips by
HyFve Flannel Shirt In Brown: https://fashioncrossroadsinc.com/products/hyfve-plaid-flannel-shirt-in-brown
New York Collection Plaid Blouse: https://fashioncrossroadsinc.com/products/new-york-collection-plaid-blouse
Be Cool Plaid Blouse: https://fashioncrossroadsinc.com/products/copy-of-be-cool-long-sleeve-shirt-in-mint
Be Cool Jacket: https://fashioncrossroadsinc.com/products/copy-of-be-cool-cropped-jacket-in-oatmeal

Continuing my “3 Ways To Style” series, this week’s blog post is focused on new ways to style a plaid blouse. The great thing about blouses is that they are so versatile. At a bare minimum, you can always style a basic button up blouse left out, tucked in, or tied in the front. The full style potential of a blouse is not realized, however, until you begin layering. Here are my top 3 ways to layer a plaid blouse.

  1. Layer over a graphic tee and under a vest: This is a fun style and is perfect for a cold day because this style adds the extra layer of a vest for warmth that can be worn by itself or under a coat. When you are matching a tee and a plaid shirt, just be sure the colors in the tee are also in the top. For example, if your plaid shirt has black, white and pink, choose a graphic tee that is in one of those colors.
  2. Layer over a striped tee and under a jacket: Mixing stripes and plaids is a fun way to pair patterns. The same principle applies as what I described with layering with a graphic tee. Match your stripes to the colors in your plaid shirt. In my example above, a black and white striped top would be a great choice. Then, choose a coordinating jacket in a solid color to go over the top. This style can be dressed up also and made to work with your work slacks when you choose a dressier jacket or even a blazer.
  3. Layer a plaid blouse under a sweater: Showing the plaid shirt collar and tail under a coordinating solid or printed sweater is another great way to layer your top. It adds dimension and character to the sweater and also an extra layer of warmth. Layering a vest or jacket over the sweater is also a great option.

In my weekly Wednesday Wardrobing Video this week, I demonstrated each of these ideas. Watch that video here: 3 Ways To Style A Plaid Shirt

5 Ways To Wear The Oversized Top Trend

Posted in clothing, dressing for work and dressing for an interview, dressing for your age, dressing your best, dressing your figure, fashion trends, how to, How to wear the trends when you are over 40, personal style, Trendy at any age by
Half tucked sweater and joggers
Styled with the Half Tuck
Oversized blouse with a skirt
Styled with a skirt
Oversized knit top with a vest
Styled with a Vest
Sweater layered over a blouse
Styled Over a Blouse
Oversized blouse with leggings
Styled With Faux Leather Leggings

A lot of my customers try oversized tops, blouses and sweaters on and just assume they are too big. If we are not there to help them understand the trend, they usually just size down or skip it all together, missing out completely on the trend and style. I get it; most of my customers are over forty and in the thick of their careers and raising kids. Who has time not only to stay up on the trends but also to figure out how to wear them? Most of the professional women I know are just trying to keep their heads above water, balancing family and work. They need their clothing to be simple, not complicated. And then there is the intimidation caused by not having an answer to the dreaded question, “Am I too old to wear this?” Having a few years under our belts, we know that wearing a trend that is too young for us OR wearing it wrong are both equally cringe worthy.

But, have no fear, the oversized top trend is completely doable for this age group, and it is surprisingly easy and comfortable to wear, when you know how. Here are five ways to wear oversized tops, blouses and sweaters.

  1. Pair and oversized sweater with dressy joggers and use the “half-tuck” (tucked in the front and left out in the back) to minimize the bulk of the sweater and show off your waist and hips. This is by far the easiest way to style an oversized top, and it can be worn this way not only with the dressy joggers we have pictued at the top, but also with your jeans. Finish your look with shoe boots, and you are good to go. Easy-peasy.
  2. Pair an oversized top with a skirt. Choose a straight skirt, as shown at the top of the page, when you want to leave your oversized top out. If you have a full skirt that has an a-line cut, you can use the half tuck method to minimize the extra bulk and keep you from looking like a box. Finish your look with heels or shoe boots.
  3. Wear and oversized top with leggings and layer with a vest. This is a great dressed up casual look for your day off or for going to your kid’s after school activities like games. Don’t worry about the top hanging out from under the vest. This is part of the look. If the top has too much fabric for you, you can also knot it at the hem and to one side. This will pull our the bulk of the fabric so it fits your body better. Finish your look with fun tennis shoes.
  4. Layer an oversized sweater over a blouse. This classic look works with regularly sized sweaters and oversized sweaters equally well. You can leave your blouse untucked so the hem shows below the sweater and then wear it with your skinny jeans or leggings. Finish your look with some shoe boots.
  5. Pair and oversized blouse with faux leather leggings. Polyurethane leggings are the rage right now, and they are a great way to wear the oversized trend. You can style them with and oversized white blouse and let it hang out, as pictured above. You can also style them with an oversized sweater worn loose and out. Finish your look with shoe boots.

I hope these 5 ways of wearing an oversized top, blouse or sweater have helped you see that this trend is totally accessible for those of us over 40. Leave the knee high boots and short skirts to the twenty-somethings, us middle aged gals can still rock this trend!! To see more examples of these five ways, watch my Wednesday Night Wardrobing Live Video Wednesday night at 6 p.m. MST. I will be dedicating this video to the oversized trend. You can watch live here: Wednesday Night Wardrobing Live Video: 5 Ways To Wear The Oversized Top Trend.

All of the looks at the top on the page are available in store or online at Fashion Crossroads Inc . We ship fast and free from our storefront in Casper, Wyoming where we cater to professional women looking for clothing for work and dressed up casual for the weekends.

Spring 2022 Color Palate

Posted in clothing, color trends, dressing your best, fashion trends, how to, personal style, tips and tricks, trends, women's clothing tips by

I always find it fascinating how the color palate for the season is a reflection of what is happening around us and how we are feeling about it emotionally. Keep in mind, that these spring colors were chosen by designers over a year ago when fabric teams and design teams began to imagine this season’s colors and styles.

Join me for a minute and think back to January of 2021. Do you remember what you were feeling? We had just finished 2020, and I remember hoping we were leaving Covid behind us, having just come out of a very difficult fall and winter with Covid infections and deaths. I felt shell shocked and yet hopeful, the way you leave a bad year behind and look forward to better times as the new year comes.

So it is out of this diverse state of needing comfort, familiarity and stability while at the same time needing to find hope and joy again that this season’s color palate and styles were born. This is how Leatrice Eisemen, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, defines the season, “Colors for Spring 2022 bring together our competing desires for comforting familiarity and joyful adventure through a range of soothing and timeless colors, along with joyous hues that celebrate playfulness. As we enter this new landscape, one where fashion rules no longer apply, hues for Spring 2022 allow us to mix and marry as we please, encouraging the exploration of new chromatic realities, opening the door for personalized style and spontaneous color statements.” (https://www.pantone.com/articles/fashion-color-trend-report/new-york-fashion-week-spring-summer-2022)

Spring/Summer 2022 Color Palate, Pantone

As you look at this palate of colors, what feels familiar? Are there colors that you have seen before in previous seasons? What feels comforting or reminds you of a peaceful place? What feels playful? What brings you joy?

We all might answer these questions differently, but as for me, I’ve seen soft blues like Spun Sugar and pinks like Gossamer Pink for several seasons now, even in winter. Bright sunshine yellows life Daffodill as well as deeper mustards have also been consistent over the past several seasons. Denim blue is always foundational, so the Skydiver color feels familiar to me and grounding. Harbor Blue and Glacier Lake remind me of the ocean and a summer sky, so they make me feel comforted. Coca Mocha reminds me of my favorite latte and brings up images of holding a steaming cup of goodness. Dahlia, Innuendo and Poinciana are bright and playful colors, suggesting adventure and joy.

My pairing suggestions are to keep the softer, more pastel colors together as well as the bright colors together. The navy blue is your neutral, and every color in the palate besides the Cocoa Mocha will match well with it. Pair Cocoa Mocha with Gossamer Pink.

Spring/Summer Core Classic Colors for 2022, Pantone

This next grouping of colors are what we consider neutrals and foundational colors for the season. You can see that they are all easy to wear shades in soft flesh tones and greys. And then there is Basil. Does it seem out of place to you? Consider what green connotes – Pantone mentiones health and wellness, but green also symbolizes growth, newness, life, vitality, and change. Is it any wonder, coming out of 2020, that this color was included as a core color for the season? Pair Basil with any of these other neutrals for a delightful pop of color. The Poppy Seed will be a great grounding color for the brighter colors in the previous palate and the Northern Droplet will look beautiful for the softer, more pastel colors.

As you begin to shop for new items to add to your spring and summer wardrobe, you will likely be seeing these colors and versions of these colors in your favorite clothing lines. Pay attention to the emotional feeling they evoke for you. As a repesentation of our greatest hopes and desires, they are also a means to find healing. Look for colors that bring you comfort as well as those that inspire you to seek new adventure and find joy.

Watch my live video teaching series called Wednesday Wardrobing each Wednesday at 6 p.m. MST. I will be beginning my Seasonal Trends series tomorrow night and showing you examples of these colors and also how to pair them. Find out more about this series here and join to get messaged reminders of the videos. These classes are only broadcast in our VIP Facebook Group. You can join and watch live here: Fashion Crossroads Fashionistas.

Closet Clean Out Challenge Step Four: Organize Those Accessories

Posted in closet clean out, dressing your best, fashion, fashion trends, how to, organization tips, tips and tricks, women's clothing tips by
Chilling in Downtown Casper

In this last step to creating an organized closet, I am tackling organizational strategies for your accessories. A true Fashionista’s style is never complete without the finishing touches, and dis-organized accessories can be as frustrating as disorganized clothing. Let’s jump in.

  1. For shoes I recommend trying to group shoes by their category: tall boots, shoe boots, heels, casual/sporty, and flats. I like to separate my summer shoes from my winter shoes, so I have a cubby organizer for my summer shoes and shelves for my winter boots. I have friends that also use shoe boxes with labels or clear plastic shoe boxes to organize their shoes. You can still find the over the door shoe holders as well if you are limited on space. Perhaps you can use a bin to store your summer shoes when it is winter and vice versa. While you are organizing, make sure you are also examining your shoes. How is the tread? Are the toes scuffed? Do they look worn and outdated? When was the last time you wore them? Get rid of shoes that are outdated, worn out or so uncomfortable you never wear them. Create a trash pile and a donate pile. As you eliminate a style, write it down on your shopping list if you need to replace it. When you are all done, take stock of what you have. Are you over stocked in a certain style like shoe boots but don’t have a single tall boot? Additionally, with your colored shoes, consider if they are in your best colors. If you are an autumn and have bright cherry red heels, you are probably not going to find much in your closet to go with those. Wine colored heels would be a much better choice.
  2. For necklaces, I think organizing them by length and color makes the most sense. I have a multi-pronged hanger in my closet that I have my necklaces hanging on. They are organized from shortest to longest. I have grouped similar colors together as well. When I go through my annual closet clean out, I consider which necklaces I haven’t worn and analyze why. I have my earrings in a jewelry box with several small, earring sized boxes. I also keep my dressy jewelry separate from my more casual pieces.
  3. For handbags, I have them sitting on shelves and organized by color. I tend to stick to neutral handbags so mine are black, brown, tan and grey. I keep my wallets and smaller bags lined up in small baskets and these can sit underneath your clothing if you don’t have shelves in your closet. I highly recommend that you apply the principles of your best colors to get rid of handbags that are not in your palate. When you build your wardrobe around your best colors and buy those colors in your accessories, handbags and coats, you end up with a very put together look that always matches. You avoid the hot pink purse with a red coat and olive pants debacle.
  4. For scarves, I recommend a drawer. I have mine in small circles lined up in a dresser drawer. A slim basket that you can slide under your bed also works if you are short on space. Having them piled so high that you have to dig through them isn’t very efficient, especially at 6 a.m. Organize them by color and type. Keep your outdoor scarves separate from your outfit scarves and your wraps separate from those. I put my wraps with my sweaters which are folded on the top shelf of my closet.

I have posted before and after pics of my accessories in my own closet in our discussion for my Closet Clean Out Challenge: Step Four Live Video which will air tonight. You can see those pictures of how I have organized things there or join us tonight at 6 p.m. MST to watch the video live and ask questions!

At the end of the day, an organized closet will save you time getting ready in the morning. And, while we are on that subject, a well thought out outfit rarely happens with sleep in your eyes. Choose what you will wear at the end of your day before you go to bed. Get everything ready, including what jewelry and shoes you will wear. Take the time to change your handbag, if needed. Consider what coat will look the best so you don’t pair your puffer jacket with a dress, as an example. When you feel put together, your confidence will go up exponentially. It is worth the extra few minutes to do this before bed.

Well, that is it!! You made it!! Congratulations on your newly organized closet. I know you will enjoy getting ready ever so much more now! Tune into next month’s blog and live video series where I will be talking Spring 2023 fashion trends, including color, style and fabric trends. I am also headed to market next month, so you will want to join our VIP Facebook group so you can follow along with my market journey and have a good laugh at the best and worst things I see each day. I will also be posting “Be The Buyer” posts so you can help me decide when I am unsure! You can get all of that on Fashion Crossroads Fashionistas.