The Question:
Dear Belinda,
I live in Chicago and, needless to say, the winters here are extreme. My winter wardrobe consists of mostly dark colors and, quite frankly, the drab options in my closet are starting to bring me down. What can I do to brighten up my wardrobe (and cheer up my mood) without breaking my student budget?
Thanks,
I’ve Got the Blues (for My Wardrobe)
Belinda Says…
Dear I’ve Got the Blues,
Oh boy do I feel ya! All this winter cold sure can bring a gal down, not to mention the often monochromatic wardrobe that goes along with it. The good news is that spring is just around the corner and your options for color are at the beginning of their peak. Bright, cheerful colors are starting to pop up everywhere (Golden Globes red carpet fashion? Fa-bu-lous!) and everyone is starting to prepare their wardrobe for spring.
This year, Pantone announced Honeysuckle as the color for 2011 and this fabulous reddish pink hue is making its way into spring fashion without any reservations. “Courageous. Confident. Vital.” are all characteristics of this shade, according to Pantone, and it’s no wonder; I can’t help but feel vibrant and cheerful whenever I look at it! All you need are a few key pieces to refresh your winter look. A bright scarf, will punch up your winter coat in a heartbeat when you are out in the cold, but if you want to brighten things up indoors, don’t be afraid to incorporate some color into your outfits. A simple solid t-shirt in pink, orange or coral will take a drab outfit to a new level of fabulous and have you ready for the warmer days of spring.
Don’t forget to accessorize! Adding a bright handbag to your outfit can also give you the right amount of color without looking too out of season (remember, it’s still winter). I absolutely love Big Buddha’s Liberty Bag because it not only has a great spring shade, but has a versatile design! Are you a jewelery queen? Be sure to grab a few key accessories in rose gold, this spring’s on-trend metal.
Now is the time to start preparing your closet for warmer, sunnier days. Grab a few colorful pieces here and there, so that by the time spring comes around you will be ready to take The Second City (one of my favorite places, by the way!) by storm with the perfect wardrobe. Happy stylin’!
All the best,
Belinda
Have a question for Belinda? Send an email to fashion [at] smarter.com with all of your fashion inquiries. I may not be able to answer everyone’s questions, but I will try to get to as many as possible. Be sure to stay tuned for next week’s Ask Belinda Column, the next one may be yours!
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