Life is too Short to do Without: Easy Does It: Black & White

Friday, January 27, 2012

Easy Does It: Black & White

Black & White Ensemble

Lately, my wardrobe has seen a huge transformation from loud hues of purple and orange (two of my favorite colors) to a rather simple combination of black and white. I refuse to conform to the common belief that understated colors such as black and white are boring, drab and forgettable. They can be so much fun!

Each season, designers release a boatload of fantastic b&w items that can absolutely smash that boring/drab/forgettable theory of the naysayers. I am of the belief that, while beautiful things are beautiful alone, their beauty is even more apparent when they are paired with other equally beautiful things. Would you not agree? By the way, it is not necessary that beautiful things be loud. Sure, they can be loud, but they do not have to be loud. Just a friendly reminder.

My inspiration for fantastic pairings usually starts with a single accessory- a scarf, a brooch, a bow tie, a beautiful pair of shoes, or a pair of LOUD happy socks. I like to allow one key accessory to be the DIVA while the other pieces of my ensemble sing backup. We all know that a stage full of divas is an accident waiting to happen.

Problem:

From my people watching experiences in some of the swankiest zip codes, I've noticed that all too often, people with more disposable income can "overdo it" - and at no fault of their own. You've seen the lady with too many diamonds or the man who just needs to take something off. You can't identify exactly what he needs to take off, but he just has too much going on for one day.

Solution:

I can imagine that it must be difficult to choose a single outfit from a closet full of wonderful items. It must also be difficult to choose one watch and one bracelet from a collection of many. However, it helps to remember that "easy does it". Showcase your accessories one at a time- allow them all to have their day in the spotlight without competing with other pieces from your fabulous collection. Okay? You will be surprised how much more those diamonds will shine when they don't have to compete with sapphires, pearls and rubies.

Easy Does It!