Full Disclosure

I have a formula for clothes shopping/getting dressed.  It's really more of a color theory, but let me tell you, it's genius.  And it makes packing for vacation really, really easy.

The secret is I only buy clothes of a certain color so they all go together. 

I have my building blocks of neutrals, which are denim and khaki and sometimes army green.

Then, basically everything else I buy is navy or grey, with occasional yellow and orange accents.  Most of my tee shirts are navy or grey.  I have some special silk blouses that are gold.  A striped shirt in cheerful orange.

To be fair, the navy and grey kind of act as neutrals, too, but take one from each category and you have a complete palette.  So it's goes something like this: khaki + navy + gold = outfit. 

This spring I was inspired by Pantone's Spring 2013 color report and I expanded a bit.  See, the Linen is my neutral and the Nectarine and Lemon Zest are already there.

So, I added two new colors to the rotation!!! Pantone calls them Princess Blue and Kelly Green.

I know, crazy, right?  But what about the formula?? How will I ever get dressed in the morning?! 
Let me fill you in on another little trick.  I use the color wheel.  It may seem really silly (or crazy), but if you ever feel paralyzed facing a rack of clothes, this will help.  I find that if I stick to Complimentary or Analogous colors, then I can always come up with a perfect combo. 

Complimentary colors are across from each other on the wheel and Analogous colors are next to each other.  So, by following my new formula, Princess Blue and orange are Complimentary and Kelly Green and yellow are Analogous.

Here are some ways I plan to use my new spring palette.

 

Neutral khaki shorts + blue checked shirt + cute orange bag

 

Neutral denim jeans + bright blue sweater + dotty orange scarf

Neutral denim tee + kelly green skinnies + yellow sandals

Neutral grey tee + kelly green skirt + yellow flats

I'm super excited about my new spring palette!  Do you use a formula when shopping or getting dressed in the morning?  Have you ever resorted to something like the color wheel? Or am I the only (OCD) one out there?

In Which I Learn I'm Ill Prepared for Winter

In the weeks directly following the storm, the weather was unusually cold and inclement.  It was then, that I realized I didn't really have what I needed to get me through a NYC winter.

My beloved Hunter boots keep me dry, but not warm.  These boots are perfect for stomping through the snow.

How did I make it through last winter without smart gloves?  Constantly pulling your gloves off to use your smart phone is not smart! These gloves will keep you warm, while you Google.

I was forced to commute by bike for a few days last month and New Yorkers ride their bikes all year long in call kinds of weather.  But being safe doesn't mean you have to look like a dork!  This helmet is stylish and the bright white, will help you be visible if you have ride after dark.

My early morning visits to the gym have survived daylight savings, but the cold weather has me rethinking what I wear on the walk over.  These sneakers are nice and lightweight so I can cram them in a bag if its snowing.

Happy December everyone!  Let the count down to winter begin!

Weekend Escape

Whew!  What a weekend, right guys?  I was a pretty un-happy camper most of the time, content to hide in the bedroom (where it's easier to cool down), eat breakfast and bed, and read slightly trashy books.  

I couldn't hide away the whole weekend, though, and so when I did venture outside, it was all about escaping the city.

 

We didn't have to go to far on Saturday afternoon.  We waited until about 3pm and then took the Q39 bus to Rockaway beach.  It's only an hour ride from Sunnyside, but you feel worlds away.  The above picture was taken at Rippers, on the boardwalk, where my friend asked me, "Where are we?"  It certainly didn't feel like New York City.

A few hours later we walked over to the Rockaway Beach Surf Club (where there's a constant reminder where you are) to watch the New York City premier of Here & Now.  On the way home, we dozed on the bus  and walked home in the middle of a tremendous downpour! 

Sunday, we still had designs on leaving the city, even if only in the planning stages.  We visited a few big Outdoor Gear stores and actually bought a tent!  We hope to escape later in the month to the Great Outdoors.

While we were downtown, I wanted to visit the Manhattan outpost of Despana Foods.  I was familiar with their tiny story in Queens, but in the city, not only do they sell all their wonderful foods, but they offer a small menu of sandwiches and tapas, along with wine and beer.  We shared two bocadillos and pretended were back in Barcelona for an hour.