Style Stories: Color and Dress Up
Style Story: What’s Your Favorite Colour?
I am and have always been in a quandary over that question. My answer has been the same since as far back as I can remember, “I don’t have a favorite colour, I love combinations of colour”. Some months back, I purchased this tie-dye tulle dress, Zara, because I loved the colour combo and the camouflage-like pattern. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to wear it a lot because it’s such a statement item but it was inexpensive and I loved it. Today, I’m wearing my dress layered under a bright orange turtleneck, H&M, and side tied a fuchsia cardigan, Tocca, around my neck. Neither sweater is a perfect match to the tie-dye nor do they need to be because they’re within range. For that reason alone I’ll always choose a good tie-dye over an actual print…they’re much more versatile.
As we know, tulle is flat so just layering it under and oversized sweater to look like a skirt would be too, on the nose, and would break the vertical line I so desperately need especially when dividing my body in half with a print and solid. I’ve built subtle dimension with my ribbed turtleneck that lays flat over the dress and the cardigan in a contrasting pop colour. The placement around my neck with the side tie is what makes this, a look. I’m bringing in even more colour with my olive green strappy sandals, Schutz, and contrasting red satin handbag, vintage. Because I’m only pulling colour from my dress and wearing relatively simple items I’m able to keep my look from being, over-the-top,
style-tip: a cohesive look requires a bit of geometry and an understanding of where a why to place your items
Style Story: Playing Dress Up
A simple tweak can elevate our basic pieces into a chic and effortless evening look. Tonight, I’ve taken a black bias cut matte jersey skirt, Bisou Bisou, and paired it with an off-white satin blouse, Zara, that I’m wearing unbuttoned with the help of boob tape, Nueboo. For cohesion, I’m leaving the large cuffs on my blouse, unbuttoned and long to reenforce my effortless, I don’t care, look. With a large scarf, Vercase, folded into a modified cummerbund, I’m able to infuse some unexpected placement colours that completely change a very basic blouse and skirt into something unique.
My black high open sandals, Sam Edelman, fringe matte jersey wrap, made by my Mom, and small woven evening bag, Barneys NY, merchandise perfectly with their shape texture and movement. My jewelry is subdued, simple and pulls only from my colour story so as not to distract. On the other hand, I’m wearing my hair natural, curly and wild to reinforce that effortlessness my whole look is based upon.
style-tip: rather than walking into our packed closets and thinking we have nothing to wear and have to buy something new we can perhaps think about how to elevate what we have for a look that’s truly our own
*please treat your wardrobe well many people work very hard to get it to you
The tomato behind The Three Tomatoes.
Cheryl Benton, aka the “head tomato” is founder and publisher of The Three Tomatoes, a digital lifestyle magazine for “women who aren’t kids”. Having lived and worked for many years in New York City, the land of size zero twenty-somethings, she was truly starting to feel like an invisible woman. She created The Three Tomatoes just for the fun of it as the antidote for invisibility and sent it to 60 friends. Today she has thousands of friends and is chief cheerleader for smart, savvy women who want to live their lives fully at every age and every stage. She is the author of the novel, "Can You See Us Now?" and co-author of a humorous books of quips, "Martini Wisdom." Because she's lived a long time, her full bio won't fit here. If you want the "blah, blah, blah", read more. www.thethreetomatoes.com/about-the-head-tomato
Wow! The long slim skirts are absolutely my vibe! So chic! And I love the way you are styling them!
Yes, please! 💗💗💗
Hi Amy,
Thanks so much for your comment. I’m with you on long skirts. This is actually a dress that I’m wearing as a skirt. It’s a great way to extend the “life” of your dresses.