WINTER GREENS

Spring is officially here although Punxsutawny Phil should be arrested for lying. But before we start pulling out our warm weather clothes I wanted to share some final pictures of women in green for the cooler weather. Sometimes it takes just a pop of color to make a statement.

Chioma Nnadi of London, England

Corinna Williams of New York City

Danielle Prescod of  Pelham, NY

Jennifer Battmore of Brooklyn, NY

Karen Blanchard of London, England

Michelle Swittenberg of New Jersey

Millen Umoh of New York City

Chioma Nnadi of London, England

(all pics provided by essence.com)

GOODBYE HONEYSUCKLE

As 2011 comes to an end, we say goodbye to the Pantone color of the year, Honeysuckle.

But don't fret, 2012 welcomes Tangerine Tango as Pantone's 2013 color of the year. The reddish-orange color will be featured in abundance.

pictures provided by pantone.com

JADE AND TEAL ARE NOT EMERALD!

I'm in love with most shades of green, but the the bluish greens are the ones that get most of my attention. The yellowish greens aren't a good color for me but when looking into the color green, you can't leave them out. When I decided to start focusing on the color green, I found out there are so many shades. First you have your nature shades: asparagus, dark, fern, forest, hooker, jungle, laural, light, mantis, moss, myrtle, pale, pine, sap, tea and teal (there are probably bunches more). Then you have the other greens: Army, bottle, bright, Brunswick, Cal Poly Pomona, celadon, Dartmouth, emerald, feldgrau (field grey) , green-yellow, Harlequin, hunter, India, Islamic, jade, kelly, midnight, MSU, neon, North Texas, office, Pakistan, Paris, Persian, rifle, Sacramento State, sea, UP Forest. (Again, I'm sure there are more)

Before I became aware of anything honoring the month of my birth with the gemstone, emerald, I knew about the Emerald City in the movie The Wizard of Oz. I must admit I never read the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank  Baum. In the book, everything in the city is emerald green. In reality, everything in the city is a normal color but glasses worn by the residents are tinted with emerald green. Thanks Wikipedia because I never knew that! Now I feel like I've cheated my kids out of the full story of The Wizard of Oz! The first recorded use of the word emerald as the name of a color in English was in 1598.

Now I knew Ireland was referred to as the Emerald Isle but I didn't know Seattle Washington is sometimes called the Emerald City because the rain keeps the vegetation lush. I never heard of the Emerald Buddha which is okay because the figurine is actually jade. Speaking of jade (jade green), in the Chinese culture, you give something made of jade to express love. Jade unlike emerald is usually found in the opaque color. The color teal is a medium blue green that was used as the background color in the post-2004 redesigned version of the United States $100.00 bill.

While I'm at it, the green used as the green light of a stop light is made up of a blue lens on a yellow light for the benefit of people who have red-green color blindness. Bet you didn't know that!

I hope I didn't bore you with my newly acquired knowledge of the color green but there are just some things we need to know!!! I'm off now to buy my kids a copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz for Christmas. They need to know the truth about the Emerald City!  Have a generously green week!

pic provided by wikipedia



Fall Colors Lift Your Mood

I got up this morning almost feeling like I needed to turn the heat on! I know it's September and fall is upon us but 58 degrees is cold! Don't allow yourself to be depressed or sad that summer is ending just find the good things that fall will bring. I read a great tip in this week's Woman's World: pick up an inexpensive bouquet of fall flowers to feel happier. Gazing upon gold, orange and red mums or other fall flowers slash anxiety levels and instantly lift your mood. (I paraphrased it, but you get the drift).

Just think, now you can pull out your sweaters and your ankle boots. Think about a football game, think hot apple cider, a drive through a state park to see the changing colors of the leaves. Fall colors automatically make me happy. I got married in the fall and am seriously thinking about planning a vow renewal ceremony just to decorate using those colors!

We may be sad that the hot days of summer are taking their leave, but let's embrace the cooler romantic days of fall and the opportunity for the colors that go with it!



Orange: My New Black

As the owner of an Atomic Orange Corvette, you just know this Bentley is on my radar! 

Welcome to The Emerald Obsessive!

Welcome to The Emerald Obsessive! This is a place where we can discuss fashion and fashionable colors. I've been obsessed with the color green since I was a little girl. It started with a kelly green coat my aunt bought me at The Cinderella Shoppe in Indiana. While other kindergartners were wearing tan, black or blue, I was wearing brighter colors, I think I had a need to stand out. When I think about the clothing that did the most to lift my mood and/or my spirits they were green. One in particular was a 2 piece suit featuring a white pencil skirt (before they were called pencil skirts) and a waist length kelly green jacket with white buttons to match purchased from J. C. Penneys. I wore matching green pumps and you couldn't tell me I wasn't the hottest thing at the meeting I was attending! But even before then when I was probably in middle school, another outfit from Penneys was a kelly green sheath dress with a pink and green coat. Even then I wore green pumps that were probably not age appropriate.

My green clothing have varied through the years from kelly to olive and every shade of green in between. I have other favorite colors but it always come back to green. At this moment I don't have a thing in my closet that resembles green but receiving this month's Harper Bazaar and Instyle magazines, green, especially emerald green, is the color de jour. Now that I've learned to appreciate my birthstone color I plan to fill my closet full of everything green and everything that goes well with it.

Most skin tones can wear greens well, just find the shade that matches best. You don't have to wear green from head to toe; perhaps green eye shadow with something navy or purple, a pair of green pumps, a green purse, or even an emerald piece of jewelry.

There is a Ralph Lauren purse I am determined to purchase this season and once bought I will carry it until it falls apart! What current fashion trend do you plan to make part of your fall wardrobe?