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Navigate with Style

Charting the style of daily life...with the mouth of a sailor.

guide

color theory...

fun and games, guide, inspiration, styleNavigate with StyleComment
I LOVE COLOR!
I'm fascinated by the meanings of colors and suggested uses for  maximizing their properties. Colors can mean many different things depending on culture, nationality or personal preference. Below is how I interpret the various colors...

RED - powerful, courageous, angry, determined, amorous
* wear red clothing, accessories or lipstick when you need an extra boost of confidence

ORANGE - creative, cheery, stimulating...screams AUTUMN to me!
* my favorite color...keep something bright orange in your work space to inspire creativity and to brighten a dull environment

YELLOW - happy, lively, comfortable, optimistic...so SUMMER to me!
* feeling dull? a yellow scarf (the appropriate hue depends on your skin tone) can perk you up in seconds flat

GREEN - luxurious, calm, reliable, honest, fresh...reminds me of SPRING!
* wear when you'll know you'll be faced with a hyper personality or when you're feeling out of sorts

BLUE - peaceful, loyal, cold, stable
* wear when public speaking or on television like the politicians do!

PURPLE - royal, powerful, mysterious, magical
* combine different shades of purple (violet with lilac) for a modern take on this regal color

PINK - feminine, youthful, pretty, soft
* my second favorite color...instantly adds a touch of girlishness whether fuchsia or pastel

GREY - conservative, traditional, serious
* this cool neutral pairs well with any color but is especially striking with more vibrant hues like yellow or orange

BROWN - casual, reassuring, earthy, genuine
* use this neutral in place of black to appear more approachable

BLACK - elegant, sophisticated, formal, strong
* black is commanding but can be harsh and sometimes a tad boring...for a real power combo wear black and red together

WHITE - clean, pure, innocent, simple...makes me think of WINTER!
* crisp flashes of white can make you appear more youthful...play with textures when wearing this neutral such as lace or matte silk.



traveling for the holidays?

guide, holidays, travelNavigate with StyleComment
'Tis the season for snowy road trips and airport delays...which means it's time to pack! Here are my favorite, no fail tips for packing like a pro!

* Stick with neutral clothing pieces that can be mixed and matched for maximum mileage from all the items in your suitcase. Jersey and knit fabrics pack nicely but for silk or satin pieces use tissue paper for protection against wrinkles. I know people talk about rolling clothes instead of folding but I've not had much luck with that technique.

* Load up on the accessories and jewelry to make your outfits more interesting or colorful. You don't need a ton of space to accommodate jewels so over packing in this category is encouraged. Use velvet pouches to protect chunky necklaces and bracelets and stash delicate earrings and rings in a sturdy jewelry travel case.

* Wear your coat, boots and chunky sweater on the plane or in the car so as not to take up valuable space in your bag or suitcase. Pack folding leather ballet flats (many come with a coordinating pouch) and a pair of heels for your more festive ensembles. Yes, a total of 3 pairs of shoes...gasp!

* I am a sucker for vintage suitcases but airport travel demands modern gear. Invest in a durable neutral colored rolling suitcase that is appropriately sized for carry on requirements. Use ribbons to customize or add some colorful luggage tags. OR you could make a stencil out of cardboard and use fabric paints to emblazon your boring bag with your last name, your monogram or something cute like "MINE!" in neon orange, natch!

* Decant beauty products into smaller bottles and jars or use your stash of samples. Cream blush can double as lipstick and vice versa. Leave your blow dryer at home but take dry shampoo and your flat iron for touch ups. Keep your beauty needs in an easily wiped bag in the event of spillage. I go into more detail about packing cosmetics here.

* An extra tote, like the very lightweight and foldable Baggu, is great to stash in your suitcase to hold extra purchases or to corral dirty laundry. The zip pouches are awesome as well and have many uses!

* Make a list of everything you pack as a reference for when it's time to come home.


Happy Trails!


bonus tip: "Need" to travel with alcohol (like I do)? Check here first!

Friday's Five Favorites...gift guides!

fall/winter, gifts, give back, guide, holidays, inspiration, shoppingNavigate with StyleComment
'Tis the season for gift guides so I'm giving you a guide to some of the best gift guides around.  A gift guide guide...how many more times can I type the words gift guide?

* refinery29 - Under $50 Beauty Gifts for Holiday

* stylebakery - 50 Under $50

* Daily Candy - Gifts Under $30

* Vital Juice - 2011 Gift Guide

last, but certainly not least...in fact, my favorite:

* Real, Random and Relevant by Heather Schoegler - Gifts that Keep on Giving Back

Merry Gifting!!!

tools of the trade on INsight...

INsight, beauty, cosmetics, guide, me, organization, skincareNavigate with StyleComment
After quite a few years working with many talented hair stylists, makeup artists and estheticians I've come to understand the tools, not just the products, can be incredibly important elements of any beauty regime.  Today on INsight I showed Emilie and Charity some key items that can make your daily routine a bit easier...click the links below:


The makeup brush cleanser I showed is by Beauty So Clean and my favorite foundation sponge is called the Beauty Blender. 

The soft diffuser for the blow dryer is the Hot Sock and the super strong hair clips for sectioning are called Grip Clips.

For product questions or recommendations email me at navigatewithstyle@gmail.com

Thanks for watching!!

xx
JDF