I like the chaos of the composition #streetart #Williamsburg

In a surprise move last Friday, I bought some pretty bright green pants from the Gap for my birthday (coming up on the 19th). And then I bought the matching green and white striped long sleeve tee, because it matched exactly. I mean exactly! How could I not, I thought. And I had mega-coupons, so I basically paid only $6 for both pieces. I figured I could tone it all down by wearing the ensemble with a black suit jacket and a black beaded necklace. I hemmed the pants Friday after work and immediately wore them out with a black sweater. The color was pretty bold for me, but pretty excellent. I wore it again on Sunday and then Monday to work. Strangely by today, I am totally used to the pants and am plotting other outfits that aren't so toned down. I have a metallic green skinny belt that oddly matches yet clashes. I have a navy and white striped tee that I want to wear with a t-shirt necklace in bright light blue. I hope I found the right color here. I can't believe I am saying this. Bright color is so much fun!

I love this color combo -- wouldn't mind owning the shoes either. Hey wait! The pillows I made last night have this same color combo. Different shades, but same color combo. It must have been in my head. [image via Anthropologie]

I think I have all these elements in my closet, albeit in different colors and textures. Close enough. I like shopping in my closet best. I feel like that last sentence should have been a hashtag. [images via JCrew]

I'm wearing brand new red pants! And sandals. And no coat! The lunchtime sun is glorious!

Watching the Gilmore Girls last night, I had to capture this frame.

Confession: Lorelai Gilmore is one of my fashion idols. And when I saw her in this particular shade of lipstick on a fine Spring day, I thought, hey! I could wear that. And so, off I went to the MAC store, digital camera in hand, to find the shade.

Success! FYI, the matching shade is "Dare You" Cremesheen, #A11. $14.50. Next, to figure out how to wear an outfit that doesn't include black.

MAC "Dare You" Cremesheen lipstick [image via the Internet]


MAC "Dare You" Cremesheen lipstick [image via the Internet]

In my opinion, you have to have good basics.
These Express tanks fit so well. Body hugging. Long. Beautiful shades.
I am deaccessioning some older tanks to make room for these.
Buy one, get one half off at $19.50 per tank. I got these 4 yesterday.

Since it suddenly became SUMMER! with temps in the eighties in NYC, I have been studying colorful outfits walking down the street. And making notes on Twitter with the hashtag, #colorpalette. I will do this everyday, because there are so many great ideas to be noted and remembered.

I think all this noting has paid off. I have shed my black. Well not totally. Let's be real here. I mean I do rely heavily on black and silver. But I have actually purchased color! And plan to wear actual color-on-color with no black to set it off. Can I do it? Or is this all lip service? Who can tell. I will let you know when I do it.

Express, as I noted in the previous post has the kind of jewel tones that I love. I don't really like off-shades as it turns out. But then again, I did buy some olive-colored cargos from Esprit yesterday (not pictured on their site, too bad). Olive counts as an off-shade. I have plans to wear the olive with magenta and royal blue. Yum. I am even going to try to work in some tan with blue and magenta. Crazy. Well if you know me, it's crazy. My mom would be shocked, I'll tell you that much.

I have so many colored shoes (that I have been stockpiling, don't ask why, it's just what I do), and I can't wait to wear the perfect shoe with these outfits. At last, all my random purchases are coming together. In my defense, if I may, they are not random. I shop by item, just as I design. If an item is ideal in itself, I buy it. Or if it is totally versatile and will set off my other pieces in a new and exciting way, I buy it. Sometimes it takes a year for these items to be tied together, and yes, I feel like a nut owning all these great items that don't come together. I console myself with the thought that someday soon I am going to have a bunch of amazing outfits with all the details coordinated in a creative mix-match way. Yes I do get disgusted with myself at times for owning too much, and then I promote the values of minimalism to myself, hoping I will hear it. Please read this post from February if you want to learn more.

Now the weather is warm, and I'm feeling expansive. And colorful. And hopeful. Tomorrow I am planning a color-on-color ensemble with no black for miles. I think it's going to rain though. I might just wear it anyway. We shall see!


P.S.
Do you write your outfit combos on index cards? (like every piece -- top, tank, pants, tights, barette, bangle, shoe, etc.) I do! Saves time in the AM. I am thinking of switching to photos. Just photographing the good outfit combos (elements arranged on a white background). I might judge myself too harshly as a nut half way through the project and abandon it. But really, it's a good time-saving idea. It would force me to wear more of my wardrobe, rather than going to default black-with-black.

[image from Design Wonderland]

I came across this image on Design Wonderland. I love the idea of serving your guests in I Love NY style. That gives me a good idea.

[image: Grzywinski+Pons]

Grzywinski+Pons also designed the Hotel on Rivington that inhabits the neighborhood in a rather intrusive way, if you will pardon my judgment here. I guess I could say that I am a fan of their aesthetic, but not of their buildings' relationships with the surrounding spaces and with the idioms of the neighborhoods.

Once inside their spaces, the experience is quite different. Inside one of the rooms at this Lower East Side hotel, the city is your oyster (pearl included). The grey, white, and yellow color palette, pictured above, is minimalist and luxurious at the same time. And definitely on-trend this season. Have you visited a Kenneth Cole store this Spring, for example?

Need a daily dose of cheerful color to help you get in the mood for Spring? Have you checked out the Hostess with the Mostess yet? I can't get over how gorgeous and colorful her blog is each and every day. A feast for the eyes.

Falcoin in green, Nine West, 59.99 on sale!

[image from pillowsandthrows.com by way of decor 8]

It is a snowy day, best for staying under the covers. I need a soothing interior and some muted colors on which to meditate. Blissliving Home's Ashley Citron collection is just what I need today. I think I like the colors so much because they match the blog. gee

Blissliving Home also makes some sexy throw pillows. Check out this pillow. And this one.

I am in love with these shoes by Navid O Nadia, which is really saying something for a girl who only wears square toe or pointy toe. I've never seen a round toe so lovely. I love all three colors together. I actually have a grey shirt, turquoise cardigan and brown pants. I never thought of putting these three colors together. Now if I only had 3 feet...

Psst, these Navid O Nadia shoes are currently on sale for $49.99 at Shoegasm on 23rd!

This pleasingly sunny room decor features the very functional-looking galvanized steel 'A Chair' or Chaise A, created in 1934 by French designer Xavier Pauchard. The Burgundy-based company, Tolix, still manufactures the chairs to this day. You can find them online on Graham and Green.

Room-wise, I like the harmony of the colors: yellow, white and 'brass' which is not really a color but you know what I mean, and the outlined woodwork in the corner. Very pleasing shapes. I could be inspired to make a clothing collection based on this room.

As I pursued this Blake Pocket Bag by Marc Jacobs, accessorized nicely with a scarf,* I wanted to capture her whole outfit for you. I wanted to take note of how she combined her colors. Brown shoes, navy pants, tan jacket, warmer tan bag (which MJ calls 'cocoa'), scarf with tan, yellow, orange, lavender, brown. I would have never thought to put brown shoes with navy pants, but with this ensemble, it really worked. It was hard to capture the true colors in the mid-morning Midtown sun, particularly of the pants and shoes, but you can get a rough idea.


*This past week, I saw 8 different bags accessorized with scarves. I do like this look, but I am surprised to see it back. It became so trendy after that first Legally Blonde movie a few years ago. Actually, I don't mind if they bring it back. It is a nice Spring look.

I thought I'd add a little color at this point, and ask just what are these bouquets of plastic pompom flowers and why am I strangely fascinated by them? I am sure that they will soon be picked over by the visual merchandisers of the city. Perhaps I should grab a few bouquets for myself.


Photos snapped at a bodega on 14th street in Alphabet City. Around Avenue B as I recall.

This Spring, the print's the thing. From bold geometric (we like this best) to swirling Pucci-inspired retro to polkadot, highly patterned looks are in style this season. Keep your ensembles balanced by combining bold prints with saturated bright solids in green, hot pink, orange, yellow or red. And don't forget to accessorize! Try an over-sized necklace or some chunky bangle bracelets. And don't forget the sandals. Three inch heel espadrilles are hot this season.

Pictured:

1. TORY BURCH SEQUIN TUNIC at Bloomingdales
2. POLKA DOT SKIRT at Alloy
3. CHARLES GREY JACKET at Nordstrom
4. JEAN-MICHEL KAZABAT ESPADRILLE at Barneys
5. PHILLIP LIM BLOUSE at Net-a-Porter**
6. DIANE VON FURSTENBURG DRESS at Net-a-Porter

**Does this fabric look familiar? It should. It's my HANDKERCHIEF HALTER!

Karim Rashid, master designer of all things plastic, shiny, rounded, smooth and brightly-colored, is a leading figure in the fields of product, interior design, fashion, furniture, lighting and art. As I too have a penchant for plastic, I am naturally drawn to his designs. Take a look at his Website. The interiors he designed are as colorful as a marketplace in India. Or plan a field trip to one of the restaurants he designed and explore all the colorful curves in person.

Pictured above: Orgo plastic hangers, set of 2, available here.
Pictured below: Scent-infused vinyl heels designed for Brazilian shoe company, Melissa, available here.

As you may know if you have been reading the blog, I have become inspired by grassy green as the It Color for this season. To the point of seeking it out in objects and interior design where ever I can find it (here, here and here), growing my own mini lawn, sampled here, writing about it a lot, and making clothes to match.

I made this new index page for elaineperlov.com to coordinate with the Lace Pinstripe Tank featured in our ad running on Spree Dallas. I wanted to show the new pieces for Spring/Summer nestled in the new grass. I especially like the repeat of the "pattern," particularly the water droplets. I decided with this composition that less was more. Click on all the new pieces, and check out our ad to shop with a special discount. We'll have all these new pieces this weekend at The Market NYC too for you to touch and try and take home!

I know I am going to love this exhibit today: Fashion in Colors, at the Cooper-Hewitt (through March 26). Here is the separate website for the show. And then off to an undisclosed location to eat tofu for dinner! What could be better?

By the way, yesterday on the way to buy more fabric for the Geisha Top, I happened to pass by the Tents at Bryant Park, and I actually got the chills walking by. Color me excited.