Wisconsin’s Jewel (and mine too)

A New Chapter Begins

When I sat down this morning to write my next post, it was taking me far too long to decide which fabulous spring trend to highlight this week.  Finally, I realized it was because my heart wasn’t in it today. 

This morning, I helped my very dear friend Sara pack up the last bit of belongings in her car and gave her the biggest hug ever as she began her trek home to Wisconsin.  I’m filled with happiness for her new beginning, but I admit that I will miss her terribly.     

In honor of Sara, I couldn’t think of a better topic to write about then friendship.  There are few relationships in life as rewarding as true, loving friendships.  Family, of course, is our core and we all are blessed to be given those blood ties with dads, moms, sisters, brothers and cousins.  But best friends are those that come into our lives and enrich us so greatly as human beings that we choose to make them a part of our family.  Our core. 

Sara is one of those friends for me.  She came into my life a little over six years ago when she met and married my husband’s best friend, Ben.  We found ourselves spending a lot of time together over the years with trips to the great North - hunting, fishing (ok…I may have stayed inside scrapbooking for that stuff), vacations, holidays and ringing in every New Year together. 

She really has become like a sister to me.

I also admire and respect her more than words can say.  Life sometimes forces change upon us that we don’t wish, expect or want, and that really understates what she has been through this last year.  She is stronger, wiser and more inspiring than she can possibly know. 

When we said our tearful goodbye this morning, it wasn’t because we were really saying goodbye.  It was because of the cherished friendship we have been so lucky to have and an expression of our gratefulness for it.  I’m thankful that only distance will separate that bond. 

Love you and miss you lots already.  XOXO  

Bold and Bright

 Spring into Color

There is a reason brights find themselves on the top spring trends list nearly every year.  After months of treading through the winter doldrums, we’re ready to break out and wear COLOR!  This season is no exception and brights are considered the top must-have. 

That said, as much as people love seeing brights when spring rolls in, they often are afraid of actually wearing them.  The key to pulling off brights is knowing your colors and selecting the right shade for your skin tone.  Lean toward colors that typically look best on you and try them on in natural light to be sure the bright version compliments you in the same way.

 

Pink

I have very pale skin with pink undertones, so vibrant pinks tend to work best on me (while the pale versions wash me out).

If you’re mixing bright shades, pinks and corals look great with oranges and reds. 

Rachel Bilson turned heads last fall in this delicate pink Christian Dior frock.  With its ladylike, feminine design and perfect vibrant shade, what girl wouldn’t dream of wearing this dress?

Following are a few dreamy pink and coral dresses I fell for while researching this post:

 

  

                                                                                                                                                              Orange

Perhaps the most vibrant of the bright shades, orange is a fantastic color – but also not an easy one to wear.  Fear not though, you just need to know your shade.  From tangerine to vivid melon tones, this color will really warm up your wardrobe.

I’d recommend going tonal with orange and mixing it with neutral accessories like Gwyneth Paltrow did with this sleek Calvin Klein sheath - a great fresh, clean look. 

But, if you’ve got the coloring and confidence of Camilla Belle – the color looks pretty fabulous mixed with several brights all at once (see her in Gucci above). 

Loving these pretties too:

 

 

 

Yellow

Who doesn’t love yellow?  The color emotes sunshine and happiness and epitomizes the season.

BUT, it’s also a tough one to wear for certain skin tones….like mine. 

Over the years, I’ve discovered a way to wear it though – by simply keeping it away from my face.  I just bought the little dress from Anthropologie below, which has a delightful yellow patterned skirt with a bright white top.  Perfect solution.  I’ll also wear bold yellow accessories like belts or handbags so I can still get the happy feel of the color. 

You golden haired, olive skinned gals are so lucky to be free with this color!

      

 

Green

I’ve always been drawn to any shade of green.  Emerald, hunter, kelly – you name it, this color is flattering on almost everyone. 

Heidi Klum looks amazing in this form fitting, classic dress by Victoria Beckham. 

Following are a few other eye-catching green dresses and an example of fantastic color mixing.  I love bright green and blue together for a fun pop. 

Don’t forget green accessories if you don’t want to go all out.  Mixing a great green handbag or shoe with a neutral beige dress is unexpected cool. 

 

 

Blue

No matter the shade, blue is my favorite color and makes up the breadth of my wardrobe.

Blue is a really easy color to wear for most people, so if you’re on the fence about going bright this season, blue is a great place to start.  Choose a bold, vibrant cobalt to be on the safe side and a cool turquoise or aqua if you want to be a little more daring.  

Either way, vibrant blue is as unexpected as it is eye catching. 

Demi Moore is stunning in this cobalt Vivienne Westwood gown....no need for competing accessories here.

I’m also loving these blue pieces for the season:

 

 

Purple

Purple is a new color for me and I’m not sure why I’ve not tried it before.  It’s pretty close to the blue family, so its a good fit for me and it has a very feminine tone to it that I really like.  Sordof a hybrid of pink and blue, I think.

I love how young, fresh and sexy Selena Gomez looks in this purple mini by Reem Acra.  The neutral shoe really elongates the legs and allows the dress to stand out. 

When wearing purple – or any bright shade really – you know you will command attention.  So wear it with confidence and be ready to own the room.  Don’t be afraid to mix brights with other brights for extra intensity and interest (like the Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti dress below).  

If you’re looking to add color and brights to your wardrobe this season, I recommend starting with sites like Shop Bop and ASOS.  Not only do they have a tremendous selection, but their navigation tools allow you to easily search by color.  This makes the process less overwhelming, while also allowing you to narrow your search to the colors that best suit you.

Note: If you like any of the dresses featured in this post, simply click on the photos and you’ll be directed to their web location for more information.