Seeing Green
I decided not-too-long ago that I just couldn't take seeing another black coat in my wardrobe. Yes, black is the classic, go-with-everything color, and a coat is often a major investment (certainly my biggest wardrobe investment), but as a sufferer of major seasonal affective disorder, I need a dose of color -- no matter how impractical it may seem. Continue...
Coat: DVF Laurel Boucle Coat. Dress: eloquii "Flirty Sheath Dress" (currently on sale!). Belt: ASOS Curve. Bag: Furla Candy Bag, (gift). Tights: Spanx, (gift). Booties: Evans. Bracelets: Kenneth Jay Lane via QVC, Julie Nolan via CatBird NYC.
Nails: "Sweet Dreams" by Deborah Lippmann. Cheeks: "Coygirl" by MAC. Eyes: Stila All Day Liquid Liner. Brows: Stila All Day Brow Color. Skin: OCC Skin Conceal, Dr. Jart V7 Beauty Balm. Lips: "Girl About Town" by MAC.
It's no surprise, or secret, that I wear a lot of black, as-is. I've been hearing all about the "flattering" and "slimming" effects of an all-black-silhouette since before I even knew what it meant to flatter my figure, or why such a thing was considered necessary or desirable. It's one of those social codes that is ingrained into women; avoid bright colors, never wear stripes, black is slimming. It doesn't matter if you wear a size 2 or a 12 or a 20 -- we all hear the same subtle "suggestions" on how to look "better." It's hard not to hear my mother's (loving, but often critical) voice in my head every time I dare to step outside in an attention grabbing color or a sleeveless dress or a voluminous skirt. It's taken a lot of undoing and analyzing and processing to get to a point where I gravitate more towards color and print rather than my sartorial safe space. I get a lot of credit for my confidence or constant will to break the rules, but I'd be lying if I said it was never a struggle. Sometimes it feels easier to take the conservative route and avoid backhanded compliments, rather than wearing what honestly brings me joy.
Well, I've decided to brave the winter with a coat of extra bright armor - because there's something about chartreuse that just make me smile. We hear a lot about a "pop" of color -- but why not make color the main event? DVF has served me well in the outerwear department, so I knew this coat would make its way into my wardrobe when I spied it in their Soho boutique. Yes, even in it's bright, impractical color.
No, chartreuse is not the new black, but it sure does make me smile. 
