2010: Future in Focus...

At the end of what could only be described as a tumultuous year; I'm looking forward to the future. This new year breeds optimism, but more importantly Clarity, Direction and Stability! I'll tell you the Sun's fight against the grey of the Seattle skies is amazingly encouraging.

A close friend once told me "it's the way you see the world" a lens... What is a lens? 
We all possess one, but the real question is "how are we choosing to focus it".

This year I intend to focus my lens... I hope you'll all do the same. To a new year!

CHROMA: the purity of a color, or its freedom from white or gray.

I think this best describes the weather influenced hues I'm particularity fawned of moving into 2010. To compliment these colors I think it's important to talk texture and tradition.
Plaids, Flannels, light Jersey knits, Brushed Wools and Twill are major for me.
Layer!! combine print with texture and add color, hark back to tradition.
Think modern about proportion and scale. Give traditional elements an opportunity for a new direction and create a fresh prospective in your closet. Familiarity is important when adding new direction or new layering ideas.

With that blurb out of the way... it's on to outer-space!  

Here is a look at the Eagle Nebula...

 

color names from left to right: metal air, water gas, phosphorus dust, dark matter, nova navy.

Here is a plaid I created, hope you enjoy!

"Day of the Dead"

El Día de los Muertos... here's a little info. 

My friend Christina looks amazing! Plus a little extra from this colorful holiday...

brights in the dust

Have you ever seen a box of old photos left in the corner to collect dust, maybe at a Junk Sale or at Junk in Williamsburg perhaps. I can say I've stop and rifled through a few of these discarded memories before but I've mostly overlooked them. It's not surprising that these dusty and forgotten snapshots are a perfect hobby for someone else. It just proves "one man's garbage is another man's treasure". A chance encounter with a google image search would lead me to this wonderful website "square america". It contains a random collection turned photo history of America. Captivating old photos categorized perfectly! I got lost in this website. With so many great photos it was hard for me to choose one to blog about. Then I found the photo below!
Somewhere caught between here and there, this dreamy highway photo speaks for itself.
 

Color names from left to right: Endless Sky, Rolling Hills, Dust, Mellow-Gold, Blue Horizon

Death of "Evergreen"

Fall is a time of transition. Noticeable in the way we eat, dress and feel. Having lived in Florida for most of my life, I was not prepared for the temperature change of moving to NYC. That being said, moving from NYC did not prepare me for the foliage change here in the PNW.
The rich colors of the "Evergreen State" shift from their namesake roots and burst into a fury of color. As the temp lowers the Greens glow warm with vivid Yellows, Reds, Burgundy and deep shades of Plum before greying to a muddy low chroma tone of death. (heavy)
Luckily for me, a friend of mine from college has been capturing this change. Anton Legoo has been here (well Portland) for a little while longer. His travels and unique eye for color are evident from his photo portfolio which can be found on his website. I'll be talking more about Anton and his work over the next few weeks, since a single post would be an insult!

Since the leaves will soon be dead and gone, I've decided to post a picture that highlights this "end" and go backward from there.

Photo by Anton Legoo.

Color names from Left to Right: Blue Spruce, Moth, Bark, Grey Sky, Sand Storm

Peaches and Patina...

My friend Joe travels all the time. Whether it's for work or pleasure he is always camera ready. Luckily for me sometimes they are actually good! (just kidding joey) In all seriousness, I couldn't stop looking at these peaches! YSL is thinking "strawberries"? I'm thinking peaches! When I started to pull a palette together I realized, I had my work cut out for me... It's no big secret I'm obsessed with Navys, so I pulled two Palettes from these Peaches. A multi palette and a Blue(ish) one.

Color Names from Left to Right: Derma, Mar, Pulmonary, Rhubarb, Prunus

Color Names from Left to Right: Deep, Storm Cloud, Fleet, Indigo, Uniform Blue

The Look! Resort & Spring 2010

I couldn't help but notice a recurring silhouette while surfing style.com . Is this the New Casual? 
These looks have an ease to them, a curtain way of making you feel comfortable. The palettes are complementary, the fabric are interchangeable and the end result is similar. This "Look" feels classic while still achieving modern. Maybe it's the combination of the structured elements with the more fluid pieces? Either way, this is "Bricks and Mortar" to my up coming wardrobe!

I've compiled both Men's and Women's, Since I feel this "Look" translates for both genders.(minus a few elements)


Below Left to Right: Victor & Rolf Resort 2010, Dior Homme Spring 2010

Above from Left to Right: 3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2010, Balenciaga Resort 2010, Marni Resort 2010

Pastel: mixed emotions- Part one

Pastel- an adjective, meaning pale in color.
It's no secret that I haven't been a big fan of pastels. Being raised around shuffle-board and palm trees left me a little scarred. Besides, what place do pastels have outside Resort towns and Easter anyway?

Surprisingly, my affection for this color family emerged from an unlikely place: The Street! 
Overlapped and sun bleached, on the street these colors seem new and youthful.
I'm not sure why we associate these colors with things of a delicate nature. I'm almost positive when someone says "you look a little green" that's a pastel.

I think it's time to start playing with Pastels outside the norm.

"Gum wall" Pike St. Market back alley

 

Above color names from Left to Right:  Sherbert, Lemon, Mint, Spearmint, Bubble-gum

"Untitled" Wheat-paste paper on building. Williamsburg, Brooklyn

  

 

Above color names from Left to Right: Aqua Paste, Orchid Sepal, Dirt Cloud, Oxidized, Turq Air

Spring 10: Men's Wear "Marni"

When I think about Spring, It's always Color and Styling. The east coast is rather hot which leaves me in cut off's and T-Shirts. Don't get me wrong I love T's and cut off's, but sometimes you desire a little more...

Desire no longer!!! Thanks to Marni's Spring 2010 Men's collection.
http://men.style.com/fashion/collections/S2010MEN/review/MARNIMEN
This is fashion at it's best; clean, well made, and perfectly colored. I have never wanted to jump over fall so bad before! It's Oct 1, harvest is just around the corner and I'm thinking shorts. Yikes!

Here are a couple of can't live without looks I'll be rocking come Spring!

(all images are from Mens.style.com)

Tastes so Red...

 

Pike St. Market, in Seattle WA. is a great place to see color. Providing flowers, the freshest fish and of course fruits & vegetables! With all the greenery and precipitation here in the NW, It's not hard to imagine why the produce is so colorful and fragrant. I love the idea of tasting and smelling color. The sweet smell of sugar snap peas, the earthiness of asparagus and not mention the aroma of freshly boiled corn!    YUM!                                                          

But, it was the burst of color from these Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes that caught my eye and had my mind surging with culinary delight!

Here is the simple recipe I used to enjoy the color and flavor of these delicous tomatoes.

-10 Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes cut in half, a variety of colors if possible
-1/4 cup diced shallot
-1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
-1 tablespoon E.V.O.O (sorry I couldn't miss that opportunity)
-1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
- coarse salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
-Stir and chill, should be enjoyed chilled

Here are some fun Reds I pulled. Color names are from Left to Right.

Peach fuzz, Chili paste, Ancho powder, Bright nectar, Dragon fruit

Natural green palette...

Lake Washington at Coulon Park in Renton, WA.
Coming from New York City, you often forget how clear water can be. You know the water around the city isn't naturally that Brown but you get use to it.
I was a little taken back by this image, not only can you see the sand but you can see the reflection of the sky and trees as well. Lucky for me it photographed!

Anyone who knows me can see a funny thing about this photo and the colors I chose to highlight below.
Oddly, they closely match paint colors I choose for my interior. They are not perfect matches but the generally feeling is there. I tend to like Cool Inconstant Colors for rooms that get a lot of natual light. This is because they change with the light. Starting off cool in the morning they get warmer throughout the afternoon and finally returning to a relaxing color at night. Hard colors to get bored with.

Color names in order from left to right:
Med Navy, Silken Corn Yellow, Mallard, Sage Grey, Moss, Periwinkle, Kelly Green.

Welcome to Color & Lore...

Color- is light reflected by an object and interpreted by an observer.

Basically 3 things must be present to see color. (Light, Object and Observer)
For example: Observer could be your eye or a Machine.

Lore- the body of knowledge, esp. of a traditional, anecdotal, or popular nature, on a particular subject.

Okay! With definitions out of the way (at least for now) let me give you a hint at what's to come...

Fashion, Environmental, Art, Music, Film, Trends, interviews and random topics; All related back to Color!

Green...

Since I've recently relocated to Seattle, I think it's fitting to start with a color that's missing on a normal walk around New York. GREEN, or this "Electric Grass Green" which is nature's perfect expression of a Bright Yellow-Green. This Tree was really breath taking; a slight breeze added a moment of pause on my walk around Capital Hill. Just think this tree was in someone's front yard! I wonder if they ponder like I did. Would you?