It’s Time To Stop And Smell The Roses

By Brian Maynor

 

Life is hectic, no doubt about it, and with Mardi Gras in full swing and Lent starting next week it seems the year is picking up speed every moment. With all that rushing, do you ever wish you could stop time and just take a breath? I do.

We may not be able to stop time, or even slow it down; we can use the Pantone Colors of the Year to help us feel like we can. This year Pantone broke with tradition and blended two colors together for 2016, Rose Quartz and Serenity. The idea was to showcase balance and tranquility in a stressful world.

Here are a few highlights about this novel approach:

1.    Combining warm and cool. Rose Quartz as expected is a warm, ethereal color that engenders healing and comfort while Serenity is a cool blue that reflects tranquility and peace. These two colors may be opposed in qualities, but they work perfectly together to create a well-balanced, holistic approach to color.

2.    Tempering. Rose is part of the red family, which means it carries with it the passion and fire associated with red, it is just tempered with white to be a more gentle and romantic color. If you want to stick with the holistic attitude, white, as the color of purity, is responsible for this shift in association. Rose Quartz is a color of compassion, health and composure. Other connotations are rosy complexion, rose-colored glasses and a rosy disposition.

3.    Not just a fluff color. Pinks have a standard association with frivolous, little girls, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Pink, like any color has various shades and hues and they all evoke their own sense of strength and power. Light pinks are often associated with sensitivity and thoughtfulness; muted and dusty pinks are viewed as sophisticated and upscale shades, and brighter pinks are always connected to fun and youth.

4.    Sense of space. Remember as a child just staring up at the blue sky and getting lost in its depth and vast expanse? That same feeling is what the color Serenity captures and evokes. The idea is that airy space offers comfort and peace as well as a respite from the turbulence of the day.

5.    Endless possibilities. Along with comfort and peace, a blue sky also conjures up the idea of anything is possible. Seeing a solid field of light blue energizes us with a sense of vitality and enthusiasm that we can do anything, no matter what challenges we face.

The power and art of color connotation is nothing new, and certainly at the forefront of this season’s palette. Since the colors we wear influence our moods and actions the overriding theme of these colors is to promote disconnection, mainly from technology and the daily grind, and focus us more on being centered and calm. If you’re like me, you know a few people who could use all the help they can get.

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

I am always curious to hear some of your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and challenges. Please send your comments and questions to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

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