I love colour and all the infinite ways they can be mixed together. This is absolutely correct:
“Nature is the best teacher, flowers have the most daring color combinations to beautiful effect.”
Whenever I think about putting a couple of colours together, I try to remember seeing it in nature first. I don’t shop online so I am at the mercy of the Thrift Gawds, but I prefer saturated shades. When I’m building an outfit in my closet, I have to hold things up to each other- sometimes this results in unexpected combinations, like yellow and turquoise!
I love Almodovar and his recurring saturated colours, especially red. What an inspiring edit Jolain, I love how you always find a way to make art and clothing meet
Thanks, Giulia, Almodóvar has a spectacular color sense. Watching his latest movie solidified what I've been thinking about the need for more color in fashion. Looking online for strong colors proved difficult, I really had to hunt! Hopefully, that will change. As always I appreciate your input!
Your post about wearing colour put me in mind of Jenny Joseph's poem ' Warning'. The voice in the poem talks about wearing purple when she's old, though being a teenager in the late '60s purple was very much the colour to wear. There was lots of vibrant blues in the late 1980s and I've seen that popping up. I love colour. I think it's a shame that so few younger folk wear colour. I certainly don't see much evidence of it where I live in an ordinary town in England, UK. You were talking saturated colour but even a pop of colour on shoes, jewellery, scarves can elevate an outfit to eye catching heights. Here's the poem in case it's new to you. https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/warning/
Hi Jan, Thanks so much for the poem, I’ll read it now. We’ve become a very neutral society. When I’m on a crowded street in NY in winter I can’t help but notice the sea of black puffers. Color is so uplifting, especially during the grey days of winter. I’m betting that will gradually change even if it’s just through accessories.
That movie was a feast of color and clearly well thought out. He is a master of his art. The use of color is also the focus in the interior design world; gone are the grey and beige that has been prominent for so many years! Thank God.
These combinations are beautiful. Although I’m very attached to neutrals I also like small pops of muted colour. Perhaps over time I’ll make these bigger or experiment with more intense hues. Either way thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you for such an interesting post and the ideas for putting things together. I find this so helpful. When I open my closet it is just a blur to me and I really appreciate the ideas down to accessories. The blue sapphire ring is gorgeous! Doe the 18k coated less expensive look authentic and of good quality?
Hi Gayna. I’m so happy you found this post helpful, that is my goal, to inspire and give practical styling advice and ideas. I love the sapphire ring. 18K gold plating is real gold it’s just not solid gold. If it were the ring would cost thousands. This ring gives a lot of bang for the buck and looks great.
As well as colour I wonder what your predictions might be for shapes? Looking back over the decades there does always seem to be a defining shape. The '50s were definitely hour glass; cinched waists and sticky out skirts and bodices. The '60s were dominated by A shapes. Narrow shoulders and A line skirts and dresses with A line bell bottom trousers. Waistlines just below the waist. The '70s felt more flowing and fluid and the '80s went back to high and tight waists with huge shoulders that looked as if you'd left the hanger in. Did the rise of the '90s leisure wear trend have more to do with people's growing size? Waisted styles all but disappeared but bias cut skirts and dresses were all the rage. There might have been 24 years of the 21st century but I'm not sure I could define it by shape or colour, certainly not in the UK. Lots of derivative trends that feel like a mash-up of what's gone before. If we're in for a summer of saturated colour I wonder what shapes we'll be seeing.
I love colour and all the infinite ways they can be mixed together. This is absolutely correct:
“Nature is the best teacher, flowers have the most daring color combinations to beautiful effect.”
Whenever I think about putting a couple of colours together, I try to remember seeing it in nature first. I don’t shop online so I am at the mercy of the Thrift Gawds, but I prefer saturated shades. When I’m building an outfit in my closet, I have to hold things up to each other- sometimes this results in unexpected combinations, like yellow and turquoise!
So true Sheila, you have to just trust your eye! I love that; Thrift Gawds!!!
I wore yellow and teal this past week, in my most recent post.💕
I love Almodovar and his recurring saturated colours, especially red. What an inspiring edit Jolain, I love how you always find a way to make art and clothing meet
Thanks, Giulia, Almodóvar has a spectacular color sense. Watching his latest movie solidified what I've been thinking about the need for more color in fashion. Looking online for strong colors proved difficult, I really had to hunt! Hopefully, that will change. As always I appreciate your input!
Your post about wearing colour put me in mind of Jenny Joseph's poem ' Warning'. The voice in the poem talks about wearing purple when she's old, though being a teenager in the late '60s purple was very much the colour to wear. There was lots of vibrant blues in the late 1980s and I've seen that popping up. I love colour. I think it's a shame that so few younger folk wear colour. I certainly don't see much evidence of it where I live in an ordinary town in England, UK. You were talking saturated colour but even a pop of colour on shoes, jewellery, scarves can elevate an outfit to eye catching heights. Here's the poem in case it's new to you. https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/warning/
Hi Jan, Thanks so much for the poem, I’ll read it now. We’ve become a very neutral society. When I’m on a crowded street in NY in winter I can’t help but notice the sea of black puffers. Color is so uplifting, especially during the grey days of winter. I’m betting that will gradually change even if it’s just through accessories.
That movie was a feast of color and clearly well thought out. He is a master of his art. The use of color is also the focus in the interior design world; gone are the grey and beige that has been prominent for so many years! Thank God.
Yes!!!! My thoughts exactly. So glad you loved it! Fun fact; the Upstate NY house was actually in Spain.
These colors individually and in combination are sublime!!!! You hit this one out of the park!!! I’m with you. Time for a blast of color/colors!!! ❤️
Thanks, Eric. The color combinations of the clothes and the interiors are brilliant! You have to see it!
These combinations are beautiful. Although I’m very attached to neutrals I also like small pops of muted colour. Perhaps over time I’ll make these bigger or experiment with more intense hues. Either way thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Jennie, There’s nothing at all wrong with a pop of strong color played off neutrals. Go for it!
Gorgeous edit Jolain x
Thanks Camilla! Have you seen the movie? The sets and clothes are amazing. I think you would like it. The rich colors are really speaking to me. 🥰
I haven’t but now it’s on my to-do screen! I love Almodovar films! ♥️
I do too. He's one of the few male directors to consistently feature strong women characters.
I love this all so much!!!! Especially the Pleats Please Pants. Inspiring!
Hi Tara, Thanks so much! The Pleats Please pants are great and the perfect traveling pant great for all but the hottest weather.
Thank you for such an interesting post and the ideas for putting things together. I find this so helpful. When I open my closet it is just a blur to me and I really appreciate the ideas down to accessories. The blue sapphire ring is gorgeous! Doe the 18k coated less expensive look authentic and of good quality?
Hi Gayna. I’m so happy you found this post helpful, that is my goal, to inspire and give practical styling advice and ideas. I love the sapphire ring. 18K gold plating is real gold it’s just not solid gold. If it were the ring would cost thousands. This ring gives a lot of bang for the buck and looks great.
As well as colour I wonder what your predictions might be for shapes? Looking back over the decades there does always seem to be a defining shape. The '50s were definitely hour glass; cinched waists and sticky out skirts and bodices. The '60s were dominated by A shapes. Narrow shoulders and A line skirts and dresses with A line bell bottom trousers. Waistlines just below the waist. The '70s felt more flowing and fluid and the '80s went back to high and tight waists with huge shoulders that looked as if you'd left the hanger in. Did the rise of the '90s leisure wear trend have more to do with people's growing size? Waisted styles all but disappeared but bias cut skirts and dresses were all the rage. There might have been 24 years of the 21st century but I'm not sure I could define it by shape or colour, certainly not in the UK. Lots of derivative trends that feel like a mash-up of what's gone before. If we're in for a summer of saturated colour I wonder what shapes we'll be seeing.