Leave a Comment | Posted by CeCe Taylor on March 12, 2010
Get the Blues!
Posted in: Beauty Products
All brides wear white, right? Except for in China or Vietnam, where they usually wear red. In ancient Rome, a man’s class was signified by the border color on his toga, and only nobility wore purple. Lucille Ball was known for her fiery red hair, and Marilyn Monroe was just Norma Jeane Baker until she swapped her brunet locks for platinum blond.
Some women are bold with color, others more tentative, but most agree that there’s nothing more chic or slimming than basic black. However, unrelenting black can get boring and drain your complexion of any color — especially during those long winter months.
Though we frequently hear that gray/brown/navy is the new black, it would seem that most women still embrace black as the perennial, practical and flattering favorite. Pantone Color Institute’s resident color expert, Leatrice Eiseman, says that while black will never go out of style, the challenge is making it look fresh and new. If you usually pair black pants with a black sweater, try adding a pop of color in the form of a fun scarf, several vintage brooches or even a sweater with bright detailing at the neck. If you’re stuck someplace snowy, liven up your winter coat with a punchy pair of colorful snow boots.
The color to watch for this year, according to the Pantone Institute, is turquoise. This soothing mix between blue and green symbolizes serenity, hope and optimism. In many cultures, turquoise is also seen as a protective color. In Greece and many countries in the Middle East, a bright blue eye worn as a charm is thought to protect one from the evil eye.
Turquoise is flattering to most hair colors and complexions, so if you have pieces of Native American-inspired jewelry with turquoise stones, now is the time to bring them back into heavy rotation. Or, to update basic blue jeans, try a bold cuff, a dangling pair of earrings or even layering several necklaces with varying sizes of turquoise beads.
You don’t have to make over your entire wardrobe, but adding key shots of color can make you look and feel less frumpy and more fashionable. Slowly adding color to your wardrobe can update even your most basic key pieces.
How do you know which colors flatter you most? Eiseman says that most people have a sense of what works for them. “If you try something on and your first reaction is negative, pay attention. Your comfort level is what matters — you need to feel good in it.” Eiseman also advises looking at other dark colors to make you appear slimmer. “Dark compresses size, so even purple, plums, aubergine or very dark brown still does the same thing for you that black does.”
Just in case you’re feeling a little insecure about adding some color, Eiseman reminds us that while it’s good to have style advice from experts, the bottom line is that you have to “balance it by how color makes you feel. Color is emotion.”
Madonna’s rep has blasted a report claiming the singer got into a bit of a tizzy while at Elton John’s pre-Oscars party at Soho House In L.A. An insider told the U.K.’s Mirror that Madge flipped out after realizing that the Grey Goose-sponsored party didn’t serve her favorite Vodka choice, Belvedere. But Madonna’s rep told 
Carrie Underwood will make her sitcom debut tonight (March 1st) on CBS’ comedy, How I Met Your Mother. She plays a pharmaceutical sales rep named “Tiffany” and a love interest for “Ted,” portrayed by Josh Radnor. Not too much is known about her appearance, but Underwood’s character does kiss a teacup pig in the episode.
