Charles + Olive

UK-based Charles Olive produces bow ties that are fabulously bold in both print and pattern. Such an unexpected pop of color in a much under-used and under-appreciated area of menswear. 

How dapper are they paired with a beard? Their stylist seemed to think so as well.

I always require my dates to wear bow ties. Preferably gold ones.

(example A)

(P.S.This is a picture of my friend Richard and I. Its his birthday today! woo!)

Spotted on Wolf Eyebrows.

Color + Print

An informative and fascinating look into the team that produces some of the best color and print around: Free People

(my favorite thing in my closet ever that I wear everyday is this jacket)

EMERALD

Here's to the Pantone Color of the Year:

Emerald!

I'm ecstatic.

"Lively. Radiant. Lush… A color of elegance and beauty                      
                        that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony."

COLOR + PRINT

Close your eyes and picture the most wonderfully aesthetic combination of sexy modern swimwear and bright tribal prints.

Ok. Now look at these pieces from Stella Jean's Summer 2012 Beachwear collection and try and tell me they aren't everything you had ever imagined and more.

 Absolutely stunning. 

See the full collection here.

But wait! there's more! I couldn't get enough of these colors so I'm gonna have to give you a glimpse of her S/S 2012 collection as well.

 Check out the rest here.

 I WANT IT ALL.

Spotted by Selina.

Stripes + Spots

Keds and Madewell have teamed up to form a beautiful love connection of shoes! The bright funky stripes and polkadots are getting me in the mood for one thing: Spring. 

(personal faves)

Spotted at Refinery 29.

Pink + Camels

Smitten with the color combinations used on Virginia Johnson's pouches and iPhone sleeves. A palette to die for. Hot pink camels? Tangerine birds? Chocolate turtles? yes please.

(PS. THEY'RE ON SALE. treat. yo. self.)

(iwantiwantiwant)

Spotted on Pinterest.

Block + Color

Another ingenious DIY from Honestly... WTF. All you need? Pants, paint and tape. 

Voila!

 Trendy color block pants. 

Try it out I dare you.

Spotted at Honesty...WTF.

Other Great Color Blocking:

Happy + People

You know those people that exist that are just so inexplicably cheerful and vivacious? I love them. Everyday I strive to be more like them. But no one is a clearer example than Katie from the blog "Color me Katie." She has such a wonderfully childish (in a good way) outlook on life, spontaneously finding ways to make her life more colorful and creative. I urge you to give her blog a good read-over.
I promise it'll make you smile.

http://colormekatie.blogspot.com/

some favorites:
All work and no play makes Katie a dull girl.
Breaking Routine.
Something Old to something New.

And don't leave the blog until you see at least a couple of posts about her cat, Moo. 

Black + Wedding

So Vera Wang's Fall 2012 bridal line is rocking the wedding world-- thoughts?  Personally, I respect such a brave move and appreciate the pushing of boundaries etc. etc., but I just don't see people actually going for such a drastically nontraditional color. That is, unless Twilight has had more of an impact on our upcoming generation of brides than I thought. 

Call me conventional, but I'm planning on kicking it Billy Idol-style.

Magic + Spill

Ever wished that your tablecloth became MORE beautiful after you spilled a drink on it? Well fear not, consumer, I have found just the thing for your niche.

 Designer Kristine Bajaadal created a table cloth called "Underfull" consisting of a very subtle butterfly pattern in white on white. However, when a liquid is spilled, only the butterflies in the fabric absorb said liquid and, in turn, take on that color. 

Voilà! The definition of a happy accident. And one less embarrassed guest.

Watch the movie below to see the magic happen.

nifty, huh?

Spotted at Illusion.

Lime + Crime

"So bright, it's illegal" is how Lime Crime makeup line describes its colors. Its all about going against the norm and standing out. Something I whole-heartedly applaud. How wonderful would it be if we lived in a world where women did go about in such fantastic colors? I think everyone would be a little happier. It would certainly spruce up the office cubicle population.