Pantone's Color Of The Year At Our Friends' Closet!

All the presents have been unwrapped, and a new year is on the horizon! 

The new year brings with it a fresh start, new opportunities, and of course Pantone's color of the year!!

Pantone is the authority on color! Ever wonder how Tiffany & Co or Christian Louboutin can have a copyright on a certain color? Pantone makes it easy! For every color you can imagine (and some you would never think of), Pantone has a system to match that color EXACTLY through printing. They do it by telling printers how much of each color (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) to apply to achieve the desired color. 

For some time now, Pantone has held a super secret meeting of various color standards companies to determine the color of the year for the following year. Sometimes they choose colors based on how the outlook on the world is. For example in 2011 honeysuckle(a bright pink) was chosen because, "In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits." This color is then presented to fashion designers, interior designers, florists, etc in order to guide them in their planning for the following year. 

For 2014 Pantone has chosen the color Radiant Orchid. According to Pantone, "Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple—one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health. "Rea

Get a head of the game, and start wearing this purple hue today!!

Merona Cardigan (NWT) size XS $11 (40% off)
Loft Top size Small Petite $13 (40% off)

Two colors that pair exceptionally well with Radiant Orchid is a dark green and gray. Here we utilized all three colors, but because the green and the gray are the same tone, it doesn't overpower the look. Having the two darker colors makes the purple pop. The top has bead work around the neck of it so to avoid conflict, don't wear a necklace with this top. 

Wearing earrings that mimic the sequin detailing in the shirt really help to set off the outfit. No one will notice your not wearing a necklace. 

Bandolino Blazer Size 4 $16 (20% off)
Rafaella skirt Size 8 $13 (20% off)
Pamela Tank size small $8 (20% off)

Another great pairing with green! If the thought of wearing purple and green together scares you, add a neutral colored jacket or blazer to break up the color!

Loft Sweater
Express Sweater vest size Small $13 (20% off)

You don't have to match Radiant Orchid exactly to be on trend, wearing variations of the color is also trendy. You can also create a slight optical illusion by wearing colors that if mixed, would create Radiant Orchid. That's what we have done in this outfit. We paired a lighter purple sweater with a hot pink sweater vest to give the illusion of a brighter purple. Don't be afraid of color! This outfit is designed to be a standout outfit. That's why we paired a great statement necklace with it. When trying to make a statement, its important to make it look intentional.

Banana Republic Blazer size 6 $49 (20% off)
J Crew Skirt Size 2 $26 (40% off)
Sweater- Boden Size 6-8 $29 (40% off)
Necklace- Stella & Dot $79 (20% off)

Radiant Orchid also pairs beautifully with blue! This outfit is perfect for the office. Gone are the days of stuffy black suits. Wearing color helps make the work day more enjoyable, and is sure to put you in a better mood! If the skirt seems to short for the office, throw on some opaque black tights. Again, this gives the optical illusion of the skirt being longer, and gives more coverage. 

Stella and Dot necklace $79

Can you tell we LOVE this Stella and Dot statement necklace? Statement necklaces are named that for a reason, the whole point is for them to make a statement. Contrary to popular belief, this necklace can be worn anywhere. Throwing on a statement necklace with a tee shirt and jeans (with a nice pair of flats/heels) will make it look like you put more effort into your outfit than you really did. 

Magaschoni Blazer size 8 $129
Anne Klein Tank (NWT) size Large $19
More & More Pants size 6 $24

New Year's hasn't even arrived yet, but we all know that Valentine's day is right around the corner! Radiant Orchid pairs beautifully with a deep red, making the perfect Valentine's day outfit. Don't forget, it will still be cold in February so add this velvet blazer for extra warmth and luxury!

Coach $159

Grab this Coach bag in Radiant Orchid, and then you can carry this beautiful hue everyday! There is almost nothing this color doesn't match so be fearless and wear it everywhere!

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The Scarf

We hear from our customers all the time that they don't know how to wear scarves. Scarves are my personal favorite accessory, and they're easier to wear than you think!

The good news is it's almost impossible to go wrong with a scarf. They are the perfect accessory because they not only make your outfit more interesting, they also offer the added bonus of keeping you warm!


There are the fool proof ways of wearing a scarf, such as simply looped around the neck as shown below.

 

However, with a few simple tricks you can turn your scarf into a work of art.

 

 

This felt scarf is interesting on its own with the flower detail, but it's also a little harder to wear than a traditional scarf because it is shorter and more detailed. A great way to wear this scarf is to hold it together with a brooch. The brooch used in the above photo mimics the flower detail in the scarf making it a perfect match.

 

 

If you prefer a longer scarf, simply pull one end longer and pin close to the neck to hold the scarf in place. This gives the scarf a more traditional look, and if done well, you can make people believe the scarf is longer than it actually is.

 

 

A simple twist also creates interest in a striped winter scarf.

 

When you twist both ends and pin them together, it creates a dramatic infinity type heavy scarf.
(* Hint: any scarf can be an infinity scarf as long as you can tie the ends together)

 

 

We also have a collection of pashminas at the store than can be worn in a variety of ways. Traditionally a pashmina is worn more as a wrap (as shown above) than a scarf, but they also make beautiful scarves.

 

Again a simple twist creates a beautiful effect!

 

 To create the effect, start with the scarf simply hung around your neck and tie a simple knot as if you were tying your shoes.

Then take one side of the scarf and twist. You can choose to make it a smooth twist or a rougher one. I prefer a smoother twist.

Once you have one end fully twisted, simply wrap the twist around one side of the circle around your neck. The twist should end with the end of the scarf on the underside so as not to be seen. Simply pin the end in place with a safety pin, and go out and impress your friends with your scarf!

 

Another fun, and even more simple, way to wear your scarf is to again utilize the simple twist! For this look start with the simple scarf look as shown in the first picture. Have the loop as close to the neck as your comfortable with. I pulled the loop flush with the neck so that the ends of my scarf would be longer. Next you simply twist the loose ends around the loop at your neck. If you wish, you could add a brooch to add a little bit of sparkle.

 

You can also do less twists, and end with the ends of the scarf on the underside of the loop, rather than on top of it. When done this way, your scarf acts as a necklace. You could also add a necklace along the loop to give it more sparkle.

 

If you love these simple yet beautiful scarf looks, visit Scarves.net. They have a master list of scarf knots that can be made with a variety of different scarf types.

Be sure to come in to Our Friends' Closet and show us your beautiful scarves, and teach us how to make your favorite knot!

-Erica