Color Blog - Page 19

Choosing the Perfect Gemstone Jewelry for Your Loved One

It would seem that jewelry has always been the perfect present for a loved one, and holidays, birthdays and anniversaries are the equally perfect occasions for such gift-giving. By choosing specific gemstone colors, you can further identify those qualities that you value in your significant other or in your special relationship.

Every woman loves to receive jewelry, and rings, pendants, bracelets necklaces and earrings are always considered appropriate personal gifts. Not only can these items be constant reminders of the affection of the giver, but they are also easy to show off to friends and associates. For natural health practitioners, the color and type of gemstone can represent a variety of healing properties. For others, there is the belief that good fortune and magical powers may accompany certain colors. Even the month in which you were born is associated with specific gemstones.

How do you choose the right jewelry for your loved one? While women may say they can't wear one of the two most popular metals, gold and silver, they are probably really stating that they simply prefer one to the other. Keep those personal preferences in mind when shopping for your loved one. With all the shades of gold available today, you can choose a very bright yellow that would look great on anyone with darker skin tones, or you can purchase white gold, an ideal choice for those with white or gray hair or blue undertones in their skin.

Choosing the Right Carpet Colors for Your Home: Trends, Tips, and Considerations

Choosing the right carpet colors for your home is a big decision, one you will be living with for years. Because carpeting is one of the more costly expenses in decorating your home, you'll want to choose a rug color that works with your current or planned color scheme. Trends do change, even in the popular colors for floor coverings, but they run 1-2 years behind those of the rest of the fashion industry. This means that the most popular shades in the ladies' clothing department will be showing up on floors in a couple of years.

What are considered outdated, at the moment, are the cool gold and green shades. Silvers, mauves and grays are also less favored. The current trends are towards the much warmer colors. Golds and greens are still around, but they have been warmed up considerably. Earthy, environmental colors have become increasingly popular as well. Light blues, neutral stone hues, rosy quartz, khaki and suede shades are also very much in demand. Beige, the traditional stand-by, is considered too dull and too safe by many designers. However, no other color has as much utilitarian value and flexibility as beige, so it will continue to be a popular choice, regardless of changing color trends.

The Evolution of Wedding Dress Colors: From Queen Victoria to Modern Brides

Her wedding day has always been one of the most important events in any woman's life. Until the mid-1800s, each bride wore the best dress already in her wardrobe. Those who could afford to splurge bought or had sewn a new outfit for their wedding day. It was always purchased with utility in mind and the anticipation of repeated wear for the next several years. Any color was acceptable, but blue was a favorite choice. Then came the opulent marriage of Queen Victoria to her cousin Albert of Saxe-Coburg in 1840. Her elaborate, expensive white gown set the new standard for wedding dress colors.

Contrary to modern sentiment, white wedding dresses were not originally a sign of purity and childhood innocence. They reflected the social status of a woman who could afford to be married in a white dress that she would only wear once in her lifetime, as in the case of Queen Victoria. Within a decade, however, the attachment to virtue would be created, and what bride would not want to be thought of as virtuous?

During the years following, women have clung to the idealistic white wedding dress, aided by the invention of department stores and lower prices. During the Depression, white dresses were purchased and later dyed for further usability. Borrowing or renting white dresses also became acceptable during WW II. And then Grace Kelly married the Prince of Monaco in 1950 and the entire world watched a fairytale wedding come to life. Her white silk and lace gown dazzled everyone.

Choosing the Perfect Wedding Color Scheme: Seasonal and Trendy Ideas

Choosing the color scheme for your wedding is one of the most important decisions you will need to make, although it is not necessarily the first. At the top of your list will be the wedding venue. Will you be indoors or outdoors? Will you be in an all-purpose room that you can decorate with your colors or in an already stylized room with its own color scheme? Unfortunately, some very beautiful venues are limited in their adaptability to a variety of color decorations. If you absolutely must be married in one of these locations, make up your mind to build on the colors already prominent. You'll benefit from what already exists, and yet you can still customize for your special occasion.

Once the location is decided, you may want to think about the seasonality of your wedding. While there are no hard and fast rules, and today's trends offer even more freedom than years ago, by bearing in mind the traditional colors of a season you may be able to blend those into your own tastes. For example, a New England fall wedding would be elegant in burgundy, dark green, gold, burnt orange, cream, taupe, rich browns and plum.

Winter weddings can be magical with a snow white, cranberry and platinum color scheme. Throw in some hints of deep berry for accent, and you have a beautiful combination. Royal colors such as navy blue, emerald green and regal purple are other possibilities. If you choose a strong color such as one of these, you might consider adding lighter shades for a monochromatic but impressive color scheme.

Men's Dress Shoes: Making the Right Color Choice for Business Success

Wearing appropriate men's dress shoes and colors might seem rather inconsequential in the business world, but your choice in shoes actually says more about you than you may have realized. Not only the styles but also the colors are important, especially when you need to make a great first impression. To quote an expert on men's shoes: "A well-made shoe sends the world a message about its wearer." However, choosing the right color shoe to match your pants or suit is equally important. Matching your shoe tones to your belt shows attention to detail and presents a well-tailored look.

It is not necessary to have a closet packed with a huge variety of shoe styles and colors to create consistently well-matched outfits. The average man can survive well with as few as six pairs if he chooses wisely. An absolute must for the business executive is owning one or two pairs of well-made, conservative black shoes. They should be leather rather than suede. Avoid chunky rubber soles. The general rule is the better quality and style of pants worn should be equaled by the style, quality and conservatism of the shoe. Adding a pair of shoes that are burgundy and a pair that are dark tan should cover most circumstances and work with your wardrobe of suits and slacks, both formal and semi-formal.

The most basic guideline for choosing the right color for men's business shoes is to favor a shade that is darker than that of your pants. The following guidelines may be helpful: