Edition 41: Fashion Friday

So while I was in Nashville last week, there was a real live stylist on the set. And by “real live stylist”, I mean that she actually gets paid to dress people for a living as opposed to just dispensing arbitrary advice on the internet while under the influence of prescription cough medicine.

Anyway, her name was Heather and she was lovely and very fashionable. I told her I had a little blog where I sometimes play the role of fashion expert and asked if she had any wisdom to share. Truth be told, we’d probably all be better off if she’d just take over the entire Fashion Friday thing, but I think she’s way too busy being a professional.

However, she did give me a little gem of color wisdom. Do you ever wonder if one color goes with another color? Or have an outfit that needs a little pop of color but you’re not sure what color that should be?

ME TOO.

Do a google search for the color wheel and you will find something that basically looks like this.

Any colors that are directly across from each other on the wheel are complementary colors. In addition to that, every third color is also a complementary color.

For example, on this wheel, the colors found in section 1 and 19 are complementary because they are across from each other. And colors 1, 4, 7, 10, etc. are also complementary.

You can use this information to create a color palette that you can work with in your wardrobe, decorating your house, or even trying to figure out what everyone should wear in this year’s Christmas card photo.

Everyone else in the world may already know this information, but humor me and make me think it just changed your life.

Now for the questions.

1. Kristi asks: “My sister-in-law is getting married for the second time, as is her fiancé. She is 35 and has always been trendy in what she picks out to wear, although she will tell you she’d rather have traditional anything. She thinks she wants “white” but since you’re the queen of fashion, I’m wondering if you might have some suggestions for her. Low key wedding but she wants it to be memorable.”

First of all, congratulations to your sister-in-law! I’m so glad that she and her fiance’ have found each other.

Secondly, it’s the bride’s big day and if she wants to wear white then she should wear white. The most important thing is that she feels beautiful and special.

I love either of these dresses from J.Crew. They are simple and elegant. The best part is that they come in ivory which is much softer and usually photographs better than a true white.

I also love this matte jersey gown by Calvin Klein.

But, if it were me, I would choose this dress by BCBG.

In fact, I may have to sell P on the idea of renewing our vows. Isn’t that traditional for a 12th wedding anniversary?

2. Mary asks: “I am currently in a great debate among friends on the appropriateness of wearing tracksuits/windpants as casual winter wear. I was told that ‘anything made out of material used to make a kite is not ok’. I tend to disagree. Shouldn’t everyone have some casual athletic wear to use for trips to the store and the like??? And along the same line, what is your opinion of velour???”

I hate to tell you but whoever told you to stay away from wearing material used to make a kite is your true friend. That should be a universal fashion rule.

Another guideline is to ask yourself how much noise you want to make as you walk the aisles at the grocery store. Shopping for groceries is hard enough these days without the distraction of “WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH” coming from the canned vegetable aisle.

I do agree that everyone needs some sort of casual athletic wear for the winter, but don’t be afraid of good old-fashioned cotton goods.

Personally, I’m a big fan of yoga pants or something like these jersey pants. They’re comfortable and versatile, plus you can pair them with a lot of cute things like a fleece pullover or a lightweight hoodie. You could even get super tricky and wear them with a vest.

(Total sidenote. Whoever works for Old Navy and decided to call that color “Baby Spinach” should be fired because EWW.)

As for the velour, I was ready to give up on the velour. A few years ago I decided it was perhaps a little too “Jenny from the block” and needed to go the way of Bennifer. However, I am a closet velour fan.

Last year, I gave in to the velour pants. I wore them with t-shirts and occasionally my denim jacket, but swore I wouldn’t go back to the full-on velour suit.

Yesterday I purchased a complete velour jogging suit AND I think I like it.

Even though a part of me feels like I’m wearing a costume.

What does this mean, my love of the velour jogging suit? Am I old and out of touch? Am I giving into Motherhood Fashion?

I’d love your thoughts on the velour jogging suit before I take the tags off the one I bought.

3. Caroline asks: “Is there a way to gently break it to someone (a good friend) that florals and stripes, stripes and plaid, or floral stripes and plaid REALLY don’t match? And also, said person really wants to be a fashion designer and is working towards it. Often her colors don’t match either!! Should I say nothing?”

Yes, you should say nothing.

If Project Runway has taught me anything over the last few seasons it is that fashion and taste are very subjective. It doesn’t always make sense and often beauty is in the eye of the beholder and/or designer.

How else do you explain the fact that anyone ever wore acid-washed jeans?

Or the prom dress that Molly Ringwald designed for herself at the end of “Pretty in Pink”?

That’s it for today.

Y’all have a great Friday.

I’m looking forward to a weekend curled up with my cough medicine and various decongestants.