Oh, my goodness! We had snow flurries over the weekend, and I had to cover my plants. Spring was flirting with us but has decided to play hard to get, I think. At least the sun is shining! Today is the third Thursday of March which means it’s time for an Ageless Style challenge. This month, Bo selected the Pantone colors for spring. Last month, Amy chose maxi skirts where I didn’t wear one at all! In the past we have done jeans, layering, Southwestern, summer denim, and many other ideas. If you’re curious, you can find some of my looks here, here, here, and here. Please do visit the other hostesses of the link party (oh, yes, there’s a link party) at their various sites! Today is also a Global Writing Challenge. I’ll have another post ready for that, and it’s all about family history!
Pantone colors…
Shhh…don’t tell anyone because I don’t want my blogger license revoked. I’m going to tell you a secret. Until I started blogging, I didn’t pay much attention, if any, to the Pantone color of the year. The first Pantone color of the year was announced in 2000, but the Pantone Color Institute had planned for it in 1999. The Institute wanted to “engage the design community and the color enthusiasts” in a common conversation. I encourage you to read this article about Pantone and the Color of the Year. There is so much information there, and I could never do it justice. Oh, and the very first Color of the Year was Cerulean 15-4020!
“The color we select to be our Pantone Color of the Year is bigger than one region or one sector of design. It is a color we see crossing all areas of design; a color that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude on the part of the consumers, a color that will resonate around the world, a color that reflects what people are looking for, a color that can hope to answer what they feel they need. That’s the difference between a more short-lived fad and a lifestyle trend. Pantone Color of the Year is reflective of a lifestyle trend. It’s about what’s happening in the zeitgeist at a macro level. It’s not going to represent a singular trend that you can only find in the US or only find in Asia. It’s global (source).”
How scrupulous…
I think we sometimes get bogged down in whether or not a color is the exact shade Pantone has selected. And, to make matters even worse, Pantone also does different collections of colors of the year. For this particular challenge, Bo chose Spring 2024. But, if you look here, you’ll discover there are different versions of that, too! So, what’s a fashion blogger to do? Well, this particular blogger looked at the colors and let them percolate a bit. Then, I happened to be returning something at Old Navy and spotted a lavender dress. I remembered lavender was one of the colors so I bought a new dress! I don’t, as a rule, buy new items just for a fashion challenge. And, honestly, I would have bought it anyway because I love lavender! My Pantone color is called Pastel Lilac so I should be calling it a lilac dress. But, that makes me think it would have a lilac print to it! I guess, if we get technical, lavender could also be a print!
My outfit…
I’m not convinced I love this look! I think it emphasizes my bosoms way too much. I tried my lace HalfTee, but it’s an antique color and looked a bit dingy against the freshness of the lavender dress. So, I did the old tried and true…added a plain white tee under the dress. It’s still cold here, or I would have worn a short sleeved tee which might have looked better. I’m really liking wearing a scarf around my neck and am a little sad at the thought of not wearing one this summer! I do think this lavender dress from Old Navy is a blank canvas just waiting for my brush!
The Lewk!
There is absolutely no lavender in these shoes, but I thought my rather sober (for me, at least) outfit needed some more color! These are from Super Lady Star. I haven’t made up my mind whether or not I recommend this company or not. It took several weeks for these shoes to arrive. They are cute, but I haven’t worn them enough to tell if they’re comfortable or not. I then added this necklace from J Jill. I have no idea if it’s a real gemstone or not, but it resembles druzy. The earrings are from my old eBay shopping days and are clear topaz.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I realized something as I was looking through the photos for today’s post. When I’m “required” to wear something, I’m generally not as happy as the outfits I create organically. I think it may be, in part, because I wait until the last minute to create an outfit. Honestly, I do that for almost every post!! But, I think I’m not always wearing things that are just natural to me, if that makes sense. So, can we talk? Do you let Pantone colors influence your choices? Or, do you find Pantone influences the choices that are possible for you? How do you decide what to do for a fashion challenge? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as soon as possible.
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits
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Bo ~ Bo’s Bodacious Blog
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Joanne ~ My Slice of Life
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie ~ Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After
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Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom
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Rosemary ~ Distinctly Southern Style
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And, now, it’s your turn!
Please link up your favorite posts about denim, DIY, baking, gardening, fashion…you name it…as long as it’s family friendly! Here are links to all of the lovely ladies in the Ageless Style collaboration. Please do visit them on their various media. Link up with us, visit a couple of others, and leave a comment or two! No worries if you don’t have a blog, just look around! You may find a new blog just waiting for you!
Until I started blogging, and fashion/lifestyle blogging at that, I had no idea Pantone had colors of the year either… and for the most part I tend to still ignore them. LOL I buy the colors I like in styles I like when I happen to see them in the stores. This pretty dress is perfect for spring and your scarf does a great job pulling the outfit together.
Thanks, Joanne! I am like you. I don’t really pay much attention, but the colors seem to trickle down to what’s available.
I had no idea there was a color of the year but I love that color on you and those shoes are so cute!
Thanks, Lisa! I was vaguely aware of it, but I learned more about it a few years ago when we met Herb Eiseman in Seattle. His wife is Leatrice Eiseman who is the head of the Pantone Color Institute. He was just a friendly guy sitting in the train station waiting for the train to take him to San Francisco. He talked with such pride about his wife. I had no idea who she was nor did I know who he was. He was the head of Fox Music (I think). He truly was a sweet, sweet man and passed a few years ago.
I am glad that I clicked on that link! As I read, my mind kept saying, “But it’s Peach Fuzz.” They already did an NYC Fashion Week study! Then things made sense. I think that I have always been aware of Pantone. As far as really paying attention, it wasn’t until after I retired and did nail blogging, because that was a big deal. Within a month, all the nail polish companies would come out with a Pantone color of the year.
I think my favorite was 2022’s Very Peri. I even bought a pair of Cariuma sneakers in the color. And on the side, they say, “PANTONE.”
It’s interesting because your dress is along the purple line, which I love. OK, I have talked enough. Great post…Terri
Thanks, Terri! I am like you. I thought there was just the Color of the Year, but it seems they do seasonal and special occasion colors, too. Nails would be a fun way to do the colors of the year, but my nails are so thin. I rarely polish them as that makes them peel so badly! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I also did a post on Very Peri which was a fun one. I met Leatrice Eiseman’s husband in Seattle at the train station. He was a sweet man who was so proud of his wife. I had no idea who she was at the time nor did I know who he was. He was a big wig in the music field!
I’m the same way about the Pantone colors. And I still don’t follow them that much because I’m an equal opportunity color lover.
I must say I LOVE how this looks. And so what if you look busty. Some women pay good money to get the girls bigger and they show them off because of that.
The scarf and shoes are fabulous with this and I hope you wear it more.
XOOX
Jodie
Honestly, I only pay attention when they come up as a fashion challenge! I love to wear the colors I love whether they’re trending or not.
True…I should just channel my inner Dolly! Once I looked at the photos again, I think the problem was in the strange yin/yang of the slim sundress straps with the heavier long sleeve tee. I can’t wait to figure out a different look!
Thanks, Jodie!
You could always add a belt and see if it distracts from your bosom =). I love that color so much: I have a top in that color: I think I wore it with yellow recently. I wonder which other color I could pair it with. I am trying to not shop but I couldn’t help myself today and bought a cool pair of sandals that Jodie shared not too long ago. With a $30 coupon off, I paid $31. Love your scarf too!
Thanks, Mireille! I did try a belt and found it just added to the “meh” factor. I think it was the combination of the antique lace and the lilac that didn’t work. I’ll give a belt another try. I do like yellow with lavender, too. I can’t wait to see your new sandals!
I didn’t know about the Pantone color until I started blogging either! I think the color influences us all to some extent just because we see it a bit more often in stores during the year. I love this lavender color on you! Your shoes are such a fun choice to pair with it!
Thanks, Laura! I agree with you. We don’t really even need to know the color of the year because the retailers do it for us! But, it’s fun to read the reasoning behind them.
I think the dress looks lovely on you and the color is so complimentary. I only let Pantone influence my color choices if it’s a color I like. There have been several years they picked a color that I did not like at all (like “radiant orchid”). And I think many times what Pantone claims will be the “it” color never comes to fruition. I’m always curious as to what color they will pick. Right now I’m seeing a lot of “mint green” in the stores even though “peach fuzz” is suppose to be the color. I even bought a “mint green” chair! However, it’s not “mint” to me, it’s sage. But green does seem to be the “it” color right now and Pantone claimed “greenery” as the color of the year back in 2017 ha ha. I haven’t seen any Peach in the stores whatsoever, but it’s only March. As far as fashion challenges go, I think they’re great because they force me out of my comfort zone and to think outside the box. I can get stuck in a fashion rut if it weren’t for the challenges.
Thank you so much, Amy! Honestly, Pantone colors don’t register with me unless they’re mentioned in a blog or as a fashion challenge. I won’t be looking for peach fuzz anywhere as it’s not a color I can wear. I agree with getting stuck in a rut…I’m usually in jeans and a top of some kind!
I never knew about the Pantone colors of the year until I started blogging. And they always seem to have multiple colors across a wide range every year, too, so I don’t pay that much attention to it. Your lavender dress is such a pretty color on you! Love your styling with the layers and scarf!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thank you so much, Jill! I think I really only notice it when I see it on a blog. Like you said, there are usually several colors, and they pop up in retailers eventually!
You look so lovely in lilac! I really like the scarf you chose to accessorise with too, it matches the white tee and lilac dress so well! I love lilac and really need more of it in my wardrobe, it’s really just a few little lilac accessories I have. But I keep an eye out for it when I’m thrifting! 🙂
Thank you so much, Mica! I needed something to cover up all that white space from the tee!
While I am aware of the Pantone colors each year, I rarely ‘follow’ their lead. I typically purchase what I like and in the colors that I feel best in. But you will find that retailers tend to follow the colors, which is why you can find most in the larger stores. I tend to not be so adventurous in my clothing selection—I stick with my favorites. Colors I tend to gravitate to are all shades of pink, purple and blue. And of course, black and white. I do throw in a few of the others, but the majority of my wardrobe follows those shades. I love the lilac dress and how it was styled with the white undershirt–it looks great together. Your hair and coloring make both colors pop! And the SHOES!! Oh my, I absolutely love them!
Thank you so much, Tina! I am like you about the Pantone colors. I honestly didn’t know much about them until I started blogging! I know the colors that work for me, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a Pantone color or not. If I know I won’t look good in it, I won’t wear it. That’s why you won’t see me in Peach Fuzz this year!
Thank you so much for the compliments on my outfit. Yes, these shoes are a bit out there, aren’t they? And, they’re comfortable on top of all the color!
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