PREEN & CHIC: CHICKEN YELLOW AND TANGERINE ORANGE

It is no surprise that for the stylish crowd, any color comes in a variety of hues.  Red or green are not just colors, but instead they come in names such as candy apple red, or sea foam green.  It seems like we always have to complicate things.  As my friend Zara Barrie (local fashion icon and Assistant Director for The SOURCE Theatre) and I were getting ready to go out for dinner,  the conversation started over what to wear this season.  We are known not to only theme out our looks, but to also make some kind of announcement.  Any time last year you could hear us both blasting out “We are going tribal for Fall” and during our brief Winter we did Rock and Roll chic  As we got to Spring, which in Florida feels just like Summer, that night we chose the colors for the season in the closet.  I went for not just yellow, but a very bright and bold hue of the color which I've named chicken yellow in homage to the little chicks that I've only seen in cartoons.  While Zara opted for what she calls tangerine orange, which is very powerful and exploding in pigment.  Later I discover that our instincts were just right!  Our choices are the top colors for Spring 2012 according to the very well respected Pantone Report, who publishes their color picks for every season.

The best way to start wearing this range of fun and vibrant colors is to start picking out accessories or jewelry in your favorite tones.  You can start with sunnies, a handbag, jewelry, or a scarf.

For someone in the middle ground,  a printed top or a dress is best suited to have the color over a white background or  you can opt for solid colored tops or bottoms that you can introduce to your established  wardrobe.

Now for the ones who like to get more risky, color blocking is your thing.  Pairing single tone separates is a fun way to have the opposite (or the same) sex notice and the stylish crowd applauding.  It can be as simple as different hues of the same color in a gradient from head to toe going from light to dark or viceversa.  Mixing up a multitude of colors that compliment each other or are next to each other in the color wheel is the way to supreme fashion justice.  While it sounds risky, it is not impossible.  Some easy alternatives are turquoise and tangerine, orange, or burnt orange and red, and there is something genius about Hermes orange and Indian pink!

Don't be afraid to embrace color this season.  Like anything new in the mirror, you may be shocked to see yourself out of the norm.  Introducing color will not only give you aspring-summer edge, but will also be a smart way to update your closet with just a few new pieces to your wardrobe.  Start small, or go bold! If anything, no one looks bad wearing color and at least you'll break the mold of black and white.

Great events happening this weekend are:  Tonight's opening to the last Sarasota Ballet of the Season "Theatre of Dreams".  Performances occuring Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The Cheesey events occuring all day this Saturday April 28th for the Gulf Coast Cheese Fest and nothing better than Lido Beach Sundays, best of all it is FREE!

Remember to use this space as a resource.  Please e-mail any questions to [email protected] and like Preen & Chic on Facebook to keep up to date with tips and suggestions.