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We’re so excited! Annapolis has been great to us thus far. Meeting new people, the endless meetups, to just the water period. We just really love it!  Thank you to all my Fans….

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Thank You,

Your Ultimate Diva

Kesha

Nina Garcia, Fashion Director for Marie Claire, Judge on Bravo’s “Project Runway”, and author of “The Style Strategy: A Less-Is-More Approach to Staying Chic and Shopping Smart” gives these valuable tips:

“In order to look more pulled-together, choose colors in the same tonal palette.  Not only will you appear slimmer, but also more sophisticated and elegant.  Classic colors that always look expensive and mix well with the rest of your wardrobe are in the family of Chocolate Brown, Camel, Butterscotch, Ivory, Ecru, White, Gray (Gray Flannel, Dove Gray) and Navy — which is a great alternative to Black.  All these colors are great options and exemplify elegance.”

Our fall ‘09 colors Iron, Nomad, Creme Brulee, Honey Yellow and Majolica Blue could all be inserted here.  What color makes you feel “pulled together?”  What would you consider your classic anchor color?  Remember, there are curious minds that want to know (really, we do).

Photo: Roxanne Lowit

Simon Doonan, Creative Director, Barney’s New York and author of “Eccentric Glamour” has this sage advice for us:

“Staying groovy and hip on a budget should not be an issue.  Good style has never been about how much money you spend.  There are young designers producing gorgeous stuff at all price points!!  The most important thing to remember when shopping for yourself is that you express your individuality.”

Can’t remember when I was groovy or hip, but I agree, we don’t have to break the bank to stay up-to-date and stylish.  Let us know what you’re doing to make your fashion dollars stretch.  We’d love to hear from you!

With that said, mark your calendar, we’ll be hosting a Saturday Brunch on September 12, 2009, from 10am until 2pm. Come eat, socialize, and shop new fall merchandise. That’s right, just like the old days.

O yes, if you know of any retail space available let me know.

Like the olive in a martini, Warm Olive, a rich yellow-green adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to fall.  When combined, this tangy, intriguing hue makes all other colors come alive.  Look for it paired with Majolica Blue, a deep mysterious teal blue with more vibrancy than the usual navy.  Majolica Blue brings an exotic flair to the group, especially when paired with Burnt Sienna or Purple Heart.  Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2009

Wow, don’t you just love these descriptions?  Makes you just want to wrap yourself up in all these gorgeous colors.  Now I must say, the mention of olive green did,at first, conjure up some faint memories of my grandma’s kitchen with its coordinated olive green and harvest gold appliances (she’s since updated, thankfully).  But I agree, this olive, paired with the rest of this fall’s palette, especially Majolica Blue, gives off an air of a woman who knows where she’s headed and is determined to get there with self-confidence and style.

No more traditional blue/green tartan plaids for us.  This blue/green combination sets a tone of reliance and determination that, even in this economy, beckons “Show me the money!”

Adding spark to the fall palette, Rapture Rose artfully captures the vibrancy of fuchsia and the softness of pink.  Underscored by nurturing and feminine tones, the addition of Rapture Rose enlivens the more traditionally subdued fall hues.  Look for it in cosmetics as well as clothing and accessories.  Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2009

Yum!  This is so sweet and romantic.  A piece in this color may be “THE” one piece you want to invest in this year.  And it doesn’t have to break the bank.  A hat, a pair of knit gloves (or leather – to die for!), a scarf casually added to a suit for that extra moxie at your next board meeting.

We found Rapture Rose front and center in Besame Cosmetics’ new Voluptuous Lip Color Set.  A little off topic here, but the description and elegant Flash movie on their site intrigued me so.  We may have to start doing cosmetics reviews here.  If anyone’s tried this stuff, do let us know.  We’ll be trying to get our hands on some ourselves.

Fall would not be complete without a seasonal favorite like Burnt Sienna, a deepened, earth shade of orange, reminiscent of an autumn sunset.  Pair this versatile hue with Nomad and Rapture Rose for a different twist.  Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2009

Hmmm, Burnt Sienna…  Wasn’t there a Burnt Sienna in the Crayola crayon box?   Yes, there was!  Verified by trusty ol’ Wikipedia.  Debuted in 1949.  Hey, I just HAD to know.  So, I guess this one can qualify as  a classic.  Ya think?  Don’t get me wrong, I like it.  With Creme Brulee or Nomad it would be a winner in my closet.  Just not sure if I’ll be going out and stocking up on it.  How about you?  Got some in your closet?  Like it enough to search for it?  You know the drill – sound off with a comment.

What’s your take on the suggested combinations?  At first blush I thought YUK – rose and orange?  Did someone at Pantone take a coffee break?  But looking at the color chips and remembering their natural occurrence together in nature, I’m game.  I’d do it.  How about you?  Are you bold enough to combine two seemingly incompatible colors?  If not, tell us why you think this should be a fashion NO NO.  Come on now.  Don’t be shy!

Strong yet understated Iron serves as the “new Black,” making traditional basics much more interesting.  Neither gray nor brown, Iron is a grounding color that coordinates well with all colors in the palette.  Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2009

Ahh,Creme Brulee and Nomad round out our foundation colors (don’t you just LOVE these names?).  I’m sure you’ll agree these are two essentials for Fall along with Iron.  Check that closet, guys and dolls, you’ve got some of this in your closet already.  Go ahead, start rummaging.  You know those classic pieces are there just waiting to be updated with a bit of American Beauty, Majalica Blue or – wait for it – Warm Olive (can you say Dirty Martini?  Oops, I digress).

Creme Brulee, a grayed-down beige, and Nomad, which bridges the gap between beige and light gray, also speak to the need for timeless neutrals.  All three classics can stand alone or serve as anchors when paired with other colors.  Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2009