Markdown Mondays: The Golden Hour

As we’re getting deeper into Fall and early Winter, and especially with the days getting shorter (Hello, Daylight Savings!), it’s becoming harder and harder to find vitamin D between our early morning commutes in the dark and getting out of the office after the sun has already set. That’s why it’s increasingly important to add bright and cheery colors to our wardrobes – after all, just because it’s gloomy outside doesn’t mean our looks have to be.

As I’m sure a lot of you know, one of my favorite colors of all time is yellow (my summer Instagram was full of it!) It’s the color of optimism and it fills the room with that energy when you walk in – so those around you can feel it on a subconscious level. It’s a great color for negotiations, for working with people (social work, career coaching) and for work with kids (they can intuitively sense the positive energy that the color brings).

So in this week’s #MarkdownMondays collage, I decide to give you the ingredients for a an-all yellow look (if you’re feeling brave). All the pieces are strong and powerful enough to be added to your style recipe one at a time – they’ll still have a tremendous effect – so you can mix them in with more familiar/safer colors.

My favorite color combinations are purple and yellow and yellow and blue – which makes the color easy to mix with jeans, dark purple skirts and dresses, and boots in shades of maroon/purple.

Yellow can be a difficult color for some people as if you’re unsure of the shade/tone of yellow that looks good on you, it can feel intimidating. The best way to figure out your ideal yellow is of course through a Color Analysis Process (a fun & empowering service I offer at my studio) – so if you can find 30 minutes of time in your schedule, be sure to contact me to set up your session. In the absence of an official Color Analysis, you can rely on your eye to determine if the shade is washing you out (adding dark circles under your eyes would be most obvious effect if the color is wrong) or if it’s harmonizing. Look out for whether the color feels heavy (like’s it weighing you down and sitting on top of you, with your face disappearing), or if it’s washing over you like a ray of light, brightening up your features and everything around you.

Now as for today’s outfit elements, we start with one of my favorite Fall/Winter coats – this Chateau Parka from JCrew in “golden sun” color. The coat is comfortable, warm, comes with a hood adorned with faux fur, and is made from their signature “stadium cloth” nylon/wool blend with a flattering, elongating fit. In case yellow feels like too much for your outerwear, the coat is also available in a myriad of other shades, from this basic “hthr dusk gray” (neutral) to this beautiful “hthr emerald green” (statement).

The two options for tops that I chose for this collage are a perfect representation of Ying/Yang of colors. This Banana Republic Button-Hem Cable Pullover in a buttery soft yellow is more complementary for natural & soft Springs (warm palettes with medium contrast levels); while this Anthropologie Geolace Swing Top in dark yellow is a better color for deeper, more balanced & richer complexions – such as warm & true Autumns (dark features with medium contrast levels).

For accessories to add to your look, I found these amazing L.K. Bennett Fern Lime Suede Heels (made in Spain from 100% leather with a 4″ comfortable heel). They’re 25% off today as part of their shoe sale. The other accessory piece is this beautiful Kate Spade Cedar Street Hayden in a combination of crisp linen/lemonade shades. The bag has a cross-body strap for a hands-free look, and is roomy enough to hold all your essentials without feeling bulky or overstuffed. If all else fails, and if you feel that yellow clothing is not your thing, adding a brightly-colored yellow purse is sure to still bring the sunlight effect!

As always, to get more personalized styling tips and if you’d like to go Fall shopping together, please don’t hesitate to reach out to schedule your 1-on-1 Personal Shopping Session with me!

xo,