I see a very hot Spring - how about you?

Well, I had my tickets in hand for NY Fashion Week shows but never made it over due to other more pressing and unexpected matters. So instead, I only watch from afar. I have seen photos of huge hats, romantic and goth makeup, graphic patterns and color combos with fall fashions trending toward a more subtle palette than Spring. What some people wore - click here to see - my favs, in beautiful blues, are Zoe Saldana and Hanneli Mustaparta; the rest - not so much.

Well, that is what is to come.

What is happening now...with the Pantone color of the year being a feisty tangerine, we can all get in the mood for lots of sunset colors and intense fashions. (Of course you can find desert/dune back drops of color  playing nicely off of the hot hues.) The Pantone spring color report on fashion colors is here.  Happy energy with a kick.

And, today, with the mild winter at hand on the east coast, jacket-less children (they are never cold anyway!) and spring fashions on display, I thought I would share my favorite current spring trends: intense color, color blocking, animal print pants (leopard is and has been my go to print) and ladylike and romantic florals. A sampling...

Carven dress
photo  Zoe Online

Nothing to say but Jimmy Choo
photo Saks.com

Not so much a fan of one shoulder but love these silk pants from
Alice and Olivia
photo Saks.com

Love this look from Malene Birger, so wearable!
photo Saks.com

Bought similar jeans for my daughter - Citizens of Humanity
 photo Saks.com

Dreamy lemon palette from Oscar de La Renta
 photo Saks.com

Can't find these in my size anywhere - help! J Brand jeans
photo Saks.com

Going for a similar pattern in blue - Current/Elliott jeans,
photo Saks.com

For the nails, while I always like the fashion forward looks from Butter London (and their good for you ingredients),  I am really loving  Chanel's Spring/Summer colors, aptly named April May and June.

My personal wish list for Spring: A lace hot pink dress, an orange top to go with... anything... and a pair of turquoise animal print jeans to wear with some towering black shoes. Expect to see my nails in Chanel's May or maybe June. I am also thinking of adding a pop of color to my husband's closet.

Robert Rodriguez dress
photo Saks.com

Robert Graham
photo neimanmarcus.com

Prada
photo neimanmarcus.com

And, of course, for spring stationery  - how about some tangerine ink and or paper? Floral and animal print liners? Yes, to all of it! Just some ideas and recent projects:

Custom stationery on tangerine paper with printed orange liner
Checkerboard collection

Custom letterpress stationery with rounded corners, tangerine ink
Smock 

An oldie but goodie from Luscious Verde

I have this liner - with my Arzberger Stationery

The liner papers we get from papermojo.com  - great selection.
Also, gotta give photo credit to Chloe T for the orange mirror above and thanking Carol again for giving it to me.

There is so much to look forward to!

Nailing Blue

 Blue Rebel from Chanel

It's officially fall and that means a new nail color has captured my attention - Blue Rebel from Chanel. Go get it ladies - it's fabulous! Men - stick to NO polish please. Warning, the color is addicting and will replace your previous darker shades in the months to come.
Love, love, love!

And, while we are in the midst of blue, take a look below at the nautical theme of a recent Orrganics invitation. The invitation suite and the event were branded with a ship's wheel and lots of blue. Another love.

Invite done with Luscious Verde

Goodies using the ship's wheel done by Kim of Kim Rosen Events.

And, as an added piece today,

Come Sail Away - back to the 70s with Styx. I think the pant silhouette is now back in style. Enjoy!

Are You Feeling Blue?

Turquoise is the color of the year and it is popping up not only on stationery but also in nail polish for summer. Chanel has Nouvelle Vague - a beautiful sea blue, Essie has Mint Candy Apple (see below on me) - more like a Tiffany blue and there are others. It is fun and different. Warning: can run the risk of looking tacky in the day light and I think by week's end you may just want to keep it down below on your toes.


Orrganics' custom design stationery above, Smock letterpress on bamboo paper.


A sheet from Smock's letter writing set. Ready to go loveliness. This sheet is from the Isle collection.


(Okay, so I might also be a little blue because LOST has ended)

In Search of Color - It's a Wrap

So, I have a new favorite color for my nails this fall. It is yummy like dark cherries and it has a glimmer of gold in it. I just love it! But, I had a problem. It was sold out everywhere I went. I even tried to get the girls at Blue Mercury to sell me the tester. Of course they couldn't - but they did let me test it on ALL my nails - just in time for a Friday night dinner on the town. Then they let me "test" the top coat too. So nice.

So, what is this black amethyst infused with a bit of gold nail lacquer? Well, it is made by NARS and it is called Tokaïdo Express (named for a Japanese bullet train so I've heard). It came out a few months ago. However, it is new to me.

4 stores later, I am a happy girl with my own bottle. My manicurist says the brush is fabulous. The other great news is that it is toluene, formaldehyde and DBP free - bad things for you. And, with all the talk about health care lately, with this polish, I feel like I am doing my part -- however indulgent and ridiculous that might sound!

Of course, at Orrganics I have some yummy velvet "couture bracelets" from Twig & Fig to wrap your special invitation with - one of which reminds me of Tokaïdo Express. See above photo - they call this color wrap "bing cherry slushy". Yum, yum.