Chaos Theory: Winter Blues & Why Primrose Yellow Will Be the Color of the Summer

Image: The Dolls Factory 

Chaos Theory is a trend forecast series that, like its scientific counterpart, focuses on the potential changes and shifts in what's trending in fashion before they happen. 

I've mentioned it before in earlier posts, but I am so glad it's finally springtime. It only stopped being cold in Houston a few weeks ago and I already feel happier. Though I, thankfully, don't suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, I do get a pretty obnoxious case of the winter blues and constantly long for warmer weather and sunshine. Also, once Twitter caught on to the temperatures rising, many users shouted their hoorays and jokingly claimed to crawl out of their winter holes. It truly is a great moment for us spring and summer lovers. And though it may be painfully obvious, yellow is one of the best colors for these seasons.

Though Primrose Yellow was on Pantone's trend forecast in 2017, it often takes up to two years for a trend to make its way to the mainstream and I believe it is finally getting its shine. I first noticed it on Kate Spade's website and instantly had a feeling that it would be one of the primary colors this summer. I also made sure to scourge my favorite websites for Primrose Yellow products and was mostly unsuccessful, but the few things I did come across (see below) were beautiful.

It is interesting to note that color trends often shift from one tone to another. For instance, the shift from the almost universally loved Millennial Pink to hot, neon pink as seen on Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Tracee Ellis Ross. The next shift just may be from the almost marigold Gen Z yellow that was the go-to color for any Urban Outfitters shopper last year to the brighter and bolder Primrose Yellow.

If you're looking to celebrate your increased serotonin levels like I am, a few brands have already begun offering Primrose Yellow wares. Kate Spade has Primrose Yellow crossbody bags and a cardholder and accessory brand Elleme offers a pricier, but pretty yellow bucket bag. Yellow can be a hard color to wear, but if its on your accessory, its much easier and fun to pull off!

Blog: 5 Books About Fashion that Will Educate, Inspire, and Make You a More Informed Consumer

Image: Unsplash

It's almost summer, my favorite season! Which means that it's time to finally lay back, relax and break open a new book. I didn't know it until I did a deep dive on Amazon a few years ago, but the fashion industry has a plethora of resources and reads that do everything from educate to inform and inspire. While they're not exactly beach reads, I'm sharing some of my favorite books about fashion design, consumer behavior, trend research, and more: 

1. Getting Dressed: Clothing and Imitation in Clothing and Everyday Life by Carrie Yodanis. Though I'm still working through this book, I have to say it was one I was very excited to read. In it, Carrie Yodanis, an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of British Columbia, explains that although we often think the way we dress is a result of our own personal identity, there are still several social influences at play including race, class, and gender that shape our personal style. Imitation, conformity, and how we dress and why are the main themes of this book. Check it out on Amazon. 

2. Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth Cline. In this book, Elizabeth Cline discusses the monster that is fast fashion and how it has changed the way Americans dress and how they value clothing. She also breaks down how cheap clothes are impacting us environmentally, economically, and more. Take a look inside or purchase it on Amazon. 

3. The Incidents: "Insert Complicated Title Here" by Virgil Abloh. Designer of Louis Vuitton Men's and Off-White and friend of Kanye West, Virgil Abloh hosted a lecture at Harvard University about his personal design shortcuts, "cheat codes," and how he created his iconic quotation mark branding or "personal design language." However you may feel about him or his designs, there is no doubt that he is one of the most iconic fashion designers of the present. As a fellow artist, it is interesting to see one of the most well-known African American designers of this time sharing his processes and artistic thoughts. Even if you're not a fan of his, this is still worth the read if you love fashion design or are looking for artistic advice. It's a short book and is available on Amazon. 

4. How to Research Trends by Els Dragt. This book has been vital for me in starting my career path in trend research. Within the first two chapters, you'll soak in so much information. I recommend it for anyone interested in trend forecasting or research, or even if you're a fashion enthusiast who'd like to know how the trends you consume are developed. It is ready for purchase on Amazon. 

5. Ways of Seeing by John Berger. While this isn't exactly a fashion book, John Berger offers his perspective on art and art criticism. I'm also still working through this book (one day I'll finish them all, I promise), but so far it has proven to be an interesting take on we view art and therefore, evaluate it. Originally a televised series on BBC in 1972, it was formatted into a book soon after. It's very affordable and available on Amazon. 

6. The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth Cline. Journalist Elizabeth Cline returns for her second book with a 322-page how-to for the fashionable consumer about how to consume consciously. She touches on everything from capsule wardrobes to building an ethical closet and how to keep up with trends while still being environmentally aware. The kicker about this book is that it hasn't been released yet. Look out for it on August 20th! 

Guest Blog: Glossing Over the All-Matte Everything Beauty Craze by Chelsea Todd

Image: Charisse Kenion on Unsplash

Written by: Chelsea Todd 

If you had to choose to only wear matte lipstick or lip gloss for the rest of your life, which one would it be? For me, the choice is obvious and easy. Gloss. All day, every day. I would rather have my hair stick to my lips than to suffer through cracking, chapping or bleeding to the point that no Lush lip scrub or Laneige lip mask could save them.

The all-matte trend has been prevalent in beauty for quite some time now. From full-face matte makeup looks that include everything from brows to blush to highlighter and contouring to super drying liquid lipsticks, the overarching "look" in beauty has been matte without even an ounce of shine for several years. But let's be honest, this look has had its moment. Now that it it's 2019, it's time for it to die or at the very least, that we embrace more hydrating alternatives.

I want to point the finger and I blame Kylie Jenner. I blame Kylie Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and other big name brands that push super matte products on us. They, along with beauty influencers, have the power to dictate what's hot or what trends we should follow and this causes a domino effect that starts from the top to the bottom in the beauty industry. The market gets oversaturated with so many of the same types of products and the people that can't rock a trend (in this case, my dry skin peeps) get left out in the cold. Can we have something that mattifies but is also moisturizing? Nope! We get stuck with foundation that makes our skin flake and with chapped, peeling lips.

But don't get me wrong. Matte lipsticks are innovative. They're long lasting and don't smear nearly as much as traditional creamy or satin lipsticks. Yet they don't give me the same vibe and comfort as lip gloss does. When I wear lip gloss I feel fun, carefree, and nostalgic. I feel like I've been transported to the 90's when gloss was at its peak! Everything was colorful and vibrant, but laid back.

I'm glad that lip gloss is making a comeback (thank you ColourPop and NYX). It looks natural, is easy-going, feels comfortable, and unlike some matte products, seems to compliment everyone. Plus, my lips look like a luscious, glazed snack and I love it.

All opinions are that of the author. 

Blog: 5 Tips on How to Not Give In To Hype

Image: JC Gellidon on Unsplash

Hype is an inescapable, omnipresent phenomenon. It's always existed, but since the rise of streetwear in recent years, it's now a term that is heard all over the fashion industry and beyond. If I had to define it, I'd say it's a "force in fashion that appeals to many consumers for reasons beyond their immediate understanding and stirs within them a resonance that makes them highly consider engaging in its wonder." Hyped brands include everything from Supreme to Off-White and hyped products include Yeezy shoes, Jacquemus's miniature bags, and almost anything that's branded or from a brand collaboration. 

However hyped something may be, sometimes being a better consumer means picking and choosing things that you actually care about or have some kind of aesthetic or emotional response to. Although the need to purchase hyped products or to buy items from hyped brands can be strong, there are ways to avoid unnecessary spending on them. Here are five tips I use when deciding to purchase hyped products or brands: 

1. Ask yourself, "Why am I buying this?" Not every product has to be practical, but think about the value this product will add to your life. Will it last for several years? Can it be styled with the majority of your wardrobe? If you're into reselling your possessions down the line, will it be worth the initial investment?

2. Consider why you find yourself attracted to the product you're admiring. Hype is fickle and can often come with a lack of meaning and purpose. Some brands slap their logos on Gildan t-shirts and instantly make a hit with consumers. Having aesthetic appeal is important, but clothing has significant meaning and artistic value behind it. If your reasoning for purchasing a hyped product is to tout it as a status symbol or if you only intend to use the product two times or less, dive deeper into why it's a necessary addition to your wardrobe. 

3. Also ask yourself, "is this brand one that I can support in good conscience?" This question depends on how you feel about art in relation to its creator. Personally, I consider art and its creator to be one and the same. Everything a brand or artist puts out into the universe is a reflection of themselves. Knowing this, there are some brands and creators that I will not support or have stopped supporting. It's cliché to say, but I work hard for my paycheck and refuse to spend my money on brands that I consider to be offensive, untrustworthy, or tone-deaf. 

4. Do your research. The Internet is a vast expanse of information and so many people are sharing reviews about fashion and beauty. You can find reviews about almost any brand or product on YouTube. Look up anything you want to know about the item you're about to purchase. How does it look on the body, does the color match the photo online, where are the garments made, etc. Another thing I've learned the hard way: always check the size chart. 

5. Will you look like your most authentic and true self if you buy it? Think about the image that you want to reflect onto the world and how this item will help you accomplish that. Is it an accurate representation of your "self-curated reality?" If not, pass on it. 

Blog: 3 Cosmetic & Streetwear Products That Donate Profits to Charity

1. CHNGE Gurl's Talk Long Sleeve T-shirt

Made in collaboration with model Adwoa Aboah's Gurls Talk, this cool t-shirt is made of 100% organic cotton. Gurls Talk is an online community for women to discuss everything from mental health to love, sex, and education. Women of all different backgrounds and identities can submit their stories to the platform and they also have an amazing podcast. From $10 from every sale is donated to women's shelters of Gurls Talk's choice.

2. Fenty Beauty Diamond Ball Out Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter

This highlighter is an extremely sparkly and pigmented silver with plenty of glitter. If you're not one for a silver highlight, you can also use it on your eyes. 100% of the proceeds go to the Clara Lionel Foundation. Founded by Rihanna herself, it supports and funds education, health, and emergency response efforts worldwide. It also contributed grants to victims of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, a disaster that struck my home city, Houston, TX.

3. Everybody World's Wash Wear Long Sleeve T-shirt

One of my favorite sustainable brands, Everybody World, created a collection of t-shirts, mesh shorts, and sweats with Mr. Wash, an former inmate who received a wrongful conviction and spent 21 years in prison before his sentence was commuted by President Obama. While in prison, he taught himself to draw and paint and created the artwork for his collection with Everybody World along with streetwear designer Rick Klotz. 100% of the profits go to Mr. Wash's legal fund as he continues to fight to clear his name. It's also made of 100% recycled cotton!

Blog: Premium Mediocre, Fashion Consciousness & Why I Will Always Love Kate Spade

Image: Tapestry

A term coined by blogger Venkatesh Rao in 2017, "premium mediocre" is the new way to describe anything that gives off the feeling of luxury without actually being luxury. Premium mediocre products and services are offered at higher price points than their "regular" counterparts but are not quite as exclusive or premium as they are made to sound. Examples of this include "General Admission Plus" tickets at certain music festivals, Gucci socks or any extremely entry-level accessory offered by a luxury brand, almost any and everything Michael Kors, and everyone's favorite: premium economy seats on flights. Premium mediocre is everywhere and we buy into it purposefully. 

Rao states that, "To live a premium mediocre life is to live this pattern of potential social mobility." You may not be able to buy Gucci shoes right now, but the socks will suffice. Purchasing goods and services that are as close as possible to luxury is reminiscent of Thorstein Veblen's theory of the leisure class. Essentially, it states that people are influenced by the social class immediately above them. Almost everything on Instagram portrays an "aspirational lifestyle" or luxury items and experiences most of us can't afford and this has an obvious influence on us. 

Though it seems as though premium mediocre is thoughtless consumption in order to appear wealthier, Rao points out what premium mediocre is not. "The consumers of premium mediocre things are generally strongly or acutely self-aware about what they are doing...you have to be living under a rock to harbor strong illusions about how what you consume is perceived by your more tasteful peers. Second, the distinguishing feature is that premium mediocrity only signals an appearance of striving upwards. Everybody in the premium mediocre world recognizes that it is not a reliable indicator of actual upward striving..." In other words, we're buying what we want while not crossing the line of affordability. 

In the case of fashion, buying a pair of sneakers that are below $250 or $300 is an easy spend if it means looking the way you want. How we interpret ourselves within the world is what Gestalt psychologist, Kurt Lewin calls our "self-curated reality." We curate ourselves with the way dress and the products we choose to consume. To explain this even further, Pak Lun Chiu of Hajinsky Magazine states that "those who are more fashion conscious (e.g. being aware of trends, style, and the inevitable hype) are also more conscious of their overall self-perception and participate more in self-monitoring behaviours, including fashion engagement and purchases, to confirm their self-identity." 

We purchase premium mediocre fashion because it allows us to portray ourselves the way we see ourselves for prices we can afford. It's rocking designer hats or socks or cardholders, or whatever we so desire, which leads me to Kate Spade. If we can rope Michael Kors into being a premium mediocre brand, Kate Spade should also have that title. However, this brand has a special place in my heart. The wild string of celebrity deaths in recent years has been hard for us all, but the loss of Kate Spade truly hurt. At one point I was convinced that I liked and wore nothing but dark colors, but Kate Spade made me realize I love color. Millennial pink, lilac, yellow and light green are only a few of their amazing colorways and despite the need for me to develop better shopping habits, I need at least one thing in each color option. Also, I do not fit the image of a typical Kate Spade customer. Most of my clothing is streetwear inspired, but when I rock Kate, I instantly become and see myself as a chicer, more polished version of myself. And thankfully, I can afford it. Regardless of social status, we should be able to consume what we want within reason. I'll be the first to admit that I've purchased premium mediocre products and I'll stop when Nicola Glass (who has, so far, been an amazing choice for creative director) stops dropping heat. 

Blog: In Living Coral: A Critique of 2019's Color of the Year

Image: Unsplash

Although it's currently April and springtime, which I love, there are a few things the end of the year brings that I look forward to. One being my horoscope for the upcoming year and the other being Pantone's annual announcement of the new Color of the Year. Though some believe that Pantone is more so in the business of creating and manufacturing trends than predicting them, it is always interesting to see what their "prediction" will be.

The Color of the Year is a color Pantone believes represents the zeitgeist of the year ahead. 2016's Rose Quartz and Serenity stood for "gender equality and fluidity" while 2018's Ultraviolet was a combination of red and blue meant to symbolize the coming together of the Democratic and Republican parties after the tumultuous start of Donald Trump's presidency. As evidenced by Ultraviolet, Pantone's predictions can be wrong.

2019's chosen color, Living Coral "embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment. In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences than enable connection and intimacy...Living coral welcomes and enables lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits...Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression [and] is a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence on social media," (Pantone). 

To state my biased opinion first, I'm not a fan of coral as a color. It's warm tone doesn't look good on my cool toned skin and I'm not typically drawn to colors with an orange base. However, this is not the true issue with Living Coral. This color is the complete opposite of what it is supposed to represent. The primary image of Living Coral on Pantone's website is of a bright fish swimming next to a coral of the same color. In reality, coral and coral reefs are dying due to pollution and an abundance of plastic in our oceans. Its vivid color is disappearing from our natural surroundings at an alarming rate. Living Coral is also supposed to symbolize a need for optimism and leisure, but our current political and social climate and the future of our planet is nothing short of grim. Also, if we are looking to connect with each other on an intimate level that surpasses social media, why should it matter that Living Coral will look amazing on your Instagram feed? 

Living Coral is us pretending nothing is wrong. Or even worse, it represents us turning a blind eye to issues that matter. It's a color of sadness and naivety. If you remember the book or movie, "Because of Winn-Dixie," Opal and her friend Sweetie Pie try the candy, Litmus Lozenges. Sweetie Pie spits it out and says, "that tastes sad." Litmus Lozenges had a flavor of sadness due to its creator's loss and heartache after World War II. Living Coral, on the other hand, isn't being honest about being sad. It's the meme of the dog surrounded by fire while saying, "Everything is fine." 

While it is difficult to find a singular color that is a sign of the times, Pantone's choice feels so far removed from what is actually happening. However, it doesn't feel wrong to say that there aren't times where we feel like we need to take a step back from everything going wrong to find some serenity or peace of mind. We turn our news notifications off or plan vacations to take breaks, which we absolutely deserve. Living Coral is a complex color and has taken on a meaning that I don't believe Pantone intended. It's vivid, yet melancholy and represents an uncertain future whose outcome may become worse if we don't take action. Coral bias aside, it won't be making an appearance in my wardrobe or my walls this year.