Orange Nails

Matchbook magazine (if you haven't subscribed yet, I highly recommend it) features the most gorgeous orange nail polish in their recent issue.

The color is Orange Fizz, and you can purchase it here. I like that it's bright, but not garish. The slight pink undertones keep it from overwhelming the rest of your beauty routine. Definitely a perfect spring color.

This or That: Creamsicle

Creamsicles were among my favorite treats as a kid. The sweet refreshment is the epitome of summer. Not only do they taste delicious and cool you down on a warm day, but the distinctive orange and white color combination is so aesthetically pleasing.

 

This tantalizing melting Creamsicle...

... meets its carry on counterpart in this J.Crew overnight bag.

Images via Weheartit and J.Crew

Bright Blooms

Yellow is one of my favorite colors. And orange is quickly making a case for the second spot. Combined with pink, these three colors have always been one of my favorite warm color palettes.

Now that spring has arrived and flowers are blooming, I've been thinking more about  my favorite flowers, gerbera daisies. And what did I realize? Why, they're yellow, orange, and pink! Hard to tell which I loved first, so we'll just say I've been drawn to both all along.

Image via Amazonia Flowers

Pops of Pink

While I enjoy feminine things, I often shy away from pink for fear of appearing too "girly". I've recently come across pink shoes in a number of iterations, and a bright pop of color in footwear is something I can always get behind.

 

(Kartell, $135)

 

(Bloch, $119)

(Adidas, $70)

(Keds, $35)

Color blocking is a huge trend for this spring, so why not let your feet get in on the action?

A Bright New Look

New Look approaches the color blocking trend in three short words: "BRIGHT. BOLD. BLOCK." Simple enough. I love these three vibrant and versatile pieces for the spring.

A loose, airy t-shirt tunic in a shocking fuschia (New Look, £15).

A skinny belt in a bright cobalt shade, perfect for cinching over cardigans and sundresses (New Look, £3).

A functional coral cross body bag with turn lock detailing (New Look, £11).

Color Blocking and Brights, Oh My!

I can't get enough of Zara's lookbook styling. The iterations on the color blocking trend are so effortless, yet eye-catching. I love the bright, citrus colors and the warm, sunny feeling they bring to the outfit. The jumper balances out the short hem of the skirt, but the loose knit keeps it from looking too stuffy.

(Zara)

Unrelated to color blocking, but to its credit still bright, how neat is this necklace? It's handcrafted in Ghana as part of the Bluma Project. I like the playfulness of the beads and fun tie, but it's not juvenile. It's the sort of necklace that can dress up or down an outfit, and unique to boot.

(Shopbop, $75)

Thank goodness for bright colors. Good bye dull outfits!

Hoop the Loop

Like most other aspects of my life, when it comes to interior design I'm all about color and bright prints. Despite this, I've always viewed wallpaper as too fussy, and love finding alternative ways to bring a bit of cheer to a room.

While you could frame rectangular fabric swatches, I love this playful take using wooden embroidery hoops. The circular shapes remind me of fanciful bubbles floating up the wall, exploding in a rainbow of colors and patterns.

Embroidery hoops are available at most craft stores and are relatively inexpensive. Best of all, they're lightweight and a breeze to hang (no searching for studs!).

Happy decorating!

Images via Polli

This or That: Bright Orange

Orange has officially become my spring color. After a visit to Zara and two H&M's on Sunday, I'm now the proud owner of a pair of skinny orange trousers. It was quite the exhilarating shopping experience, darting into stores and trying to spot a single vibrant hue. In celebration of all things orange:

This delicious orange rock candy...

... to go with that bright Milly shift.

Image via here

Hot Pants

When I first saw Zara's latest collection of trousers, the phrase that came to mind was "hot pants". No, not the tiny shorts that really could bear an extra inch or two of fabric. When I see the vibrant hues of these pants, well, "hot" is exactly the word that comes to mind.

I love the variety of fits and colors and the casual styling. Bright pants are a loud addition to any outfit, so I'd suggest pairing them with a neutral top and solid shoes to balance the overall effect. Add a fun bag, a pair of sunglasses, and some bangles and you're set for spring!

 (Zara, $40)

Remixed Raspberry

While ruminating over yesterday's ode to raspberries, I came across this lovely top. While the bold stripes and flowing construction scream summer, the rich color of the stripes makes this a perfectly versatile top now through the fall. First, the top:

 

 (Topshop, $70)

This time of year, I'd pair the top with a pair of dark wash skinny jeans and a thin black belt. I'd keep the shoes simple, with a pair of basic black flats or pumps, and focus on accessorizing with a statement necklace. I love geometric patterns of this necklace, as well as the way it subtly pulls a rainbow of colors into the outfit. Unique necklaces can drastically alter the overall look, so a blouse looks fresh with repeated wearings.

(American Eagle, $35)

 

(Ann Taylor, $38)

(Jessica Simpson, $47)

 

(Fallon, $550 - There are plenty of cheaper versions to be found, I just really loved the look of this piece for demonstrative purposes)

In the summer, I'd balance the breeziness of the top with crisp white shorts. The gold zipper detailing lends an element of toughness to the look, and also ties in gold jewelry. Also, an added bonus: because of the decorative front of the shorts, a belt isn't necessary (though you could tie on a thin brown leather belt if it suited your fancy). The brown wedges elongate the leg, and while a bit dressier than flip flops, are still comfortable enough to wear all day. Of course, wearing your finest jewelry at the beach or pool isn't advised, so accessorize with an inexpensive set of mixed bangles that ties together the raspberry and gold notes of the outfit.

(Express, $60)

(Kelly&Katie, $45)

 

(Pacsun, $10)

This or That: Raspberry Sorbet

When it comes to desserts, I've yet to meet a dish I didn't immediately like. I'm especially partial to ice creams and their cousin, sorbet. And if that sorbet happens to be raspberry, well... what's not to love? The smooth texture, brilliant color, and refreshingly sweet taste make for a spoon-worthy dessert.

 

 The gorgeous hue of this tantalizing dish of raspberry sorbet...

 ... reworked as an adorable Burberry cardigan.

Image via Lakeland (Bonus: a recipe's included!)

Orange Occasions: Tangerine Cheesecake Ice Cream

After yesterday's post, I think I should just declare orange week. One of my favorite food blogs, Modern Comfort Food, coincidentally wrote about a dreamy tangerine cheesecake ice cream. This recipe touches upon two of my current obsessions: bright colors and warm weather. At the same time, I'm not the type to turn down ice cream, even in winter. It is citrus season after all...

Tangerine Cheesecake Ice Cream (Modern Comfort Food)

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups tangerine (or, if you prefer, orange) juice
2 cups milk
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons corn starch
2 egg yolks
6 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon or orange zest
(Optional) 1 teaspoon citrus-flavored liqueur (such as Grand Marnier)

Preparation

1. In a large sauce pan, bring the tangerine juice to a boil on high heat and cook until it has reduced in volume to 1 1/2 cups. Lower the heat to medium-low, stir in the milk, and heat the mixture until it just reaches the simmer point.
2. While the juice and milk are heating and in a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, corn starch, cheese, and egg yolks until very well blended. Whisking continuously, gradually add two cups of the hot juice/milk mixture to the sugar mixture until well blended. Drizzle this mixture into the juice/milk in the saucepan, whisking continuously, and heat on medium-low for approximately five minutes or until the mixture thickens. Remove from burner and stir in the zest and the optional liqueur, if the latter is used.
3. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator until very cold, preferably overnight.
4. When fully chilled, pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Makes approximately 8 one-cup servings.

Images via Modern Comfort Food

Orange Crush: Sass & Bide Fall 2011

Bright orange is predicted to be a popular shade this spring, and I'm excited to see notes of the hue carrying over into fall collections. Normally orange emerges in the colder months coupled with brown and sage greens. I was pleased to see Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke designed a very orange fall 2011 collection for their label Sass & Bide. They paired bright orange with pops of magenta, lemon, gray, and brown, without an overt citrus effect. While the collection struck me as more summer than fall, I could see the individual pieces broken up and incorporated into a more cool weather ensemble. Some of my favorite looks:

Here, bright orange looks gorgeous as both the bodice and skirt of dresses when paired with a range of pink hues.

I love the petal detail as both a blouse and skirt. Again, orange is paired with pink, but shades of brown and pale peach also break up the bold color.

While orange only appears as an accessory, I love the silhouette and print of this dress. Perfect for summer and fall.

Images via Style.com

A Touch of Turquoise

I know I've posted a lot about color recently, but I've been drawing so much inspiration from vibrant clothes and accessories. While I could never stand, let alone walk, in these heels, I'm drawn to their brightness.

I love this turquoise shade in clothing, such as this simple Diesel dress.

(Diesel, $48)

I'm also fixated on the number of gorgeous turquoise earrings I've stumbled across. A few of my favorites:

(Amrita Singh, $50)

 (Ippolita, $1,095 - totally unobtainable, but so pretty!)

(Coralia Leets, $170)

First image via Weheartit

Peachy Keen

I love the inspiration that comes from an unexpected pop of color. I'm presently fixated on the color peach; it's both warm and fresh. Of course, nothing says spring like a bright skirt. I'd love to celebrate the upcoming season in any of these skirts.

Herve Leger

Miu Miu

Naven

Riva

Chanel's 2011 Resort collect set the fashion and beauty worlds into a frenzy with the pale blue lacquer adorning the model's fingernails.

The color, dubbed Riva, is a limited edition released December 1st. While the polish fit seamlessly into the Resort collection, it is perfectly suited for winter's bitter temperatures as well.

 

The color reminds me of a frozen pond dotted with graceful skaters as glittering snowflakes swirl down. Overly romantic? Surely. But that's the world of Chanel.

And for those who don't want to spend over $30 on a nail polish, Nylon magazine has a DIY beauty recipe for mixing your own.

Images via here and here.

Color of the Year

Pantone released 2011's Color of the Year: Honeysuckle.

"In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone.

The Pantone website goes on to suggest ways the color's "bold spirit" might crop up in your everyday life. There's the expected: fashion, home interiors, and wedding accessories. And the less apparent: packaging and a Visa Card.

I love the compilation of designer sketches. Looks like honeysuckle dresses are the thing to wear to spring weddings!

Images via here and here.