What Season Are You?

This week we continue our flashback to the 80’s – when everyone was getting their colors done. I just discovered that this method of determining which colors work for you originates from a book called “Color Me Beautiful” by Carole Jackson - which spent 4 years on the NY Times bestseller list. For more information straight from the source, you should visit her website at carolejackson.com – she provides samples of color swatches that you can refer to once you identify which season suits you.

Wondering if you are a Winter? Then please read our last article called “Get Your Colors Done Part 1: Is Winter Cool For You?“

Are You a Spring?

In the last article we explained that Winters have cool skin tones and that they look good in black and bright colors. An easy way to remember this is that Winter has cool temperatures. Spring, on the other hand, is when things start to warm up – and if you’re a Spring you will look better in warm tones to flatter your complexion. If you did the paper test described in the Winter article and your face cast a yellowish tone on the paper, then you are a Spring.

Just Peachy!

Springs look great in warm colors such as coral and turquoise. See how the turquoise blouse compliments Mrs. Garrett’s skin tone?

Certain shades of green, red, blue, and pink also work well for them (think of bright Spring flowers in the sunshine). While black and white look best on Winters, a Spring can wear soft black and ivory.

Spring Gift Ideas

A gift in flattering colors will warm your Spring’s  heart. Here are some ideas for the Springs on your Christmas shopping list.

Peach Scarf

This vintage scarf is available at Etsy.

Yellow Gold

The warm tones of this yellow gold necklace suit a Spring more than white gold or silver, and the butterfly (a symbol of Spring) is also a nice touch.

Coral Converse

Perfect for the Spring man or woman on your list and available for under $30 at overstock.com.

Extra Reading:

Simon Doonan at the NY Observer has written an article about the Color Me Beautiful phenomenon that is both funny and informative, and includes an interview with Carole Jackson.

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Have You Ever Had Your Colors Done?

During the 1980’s women would often get their ‘colors done’ – a trained specialist (like for example, one of your mom’s friends) would evaluate your coloring (hair, complexion, eyes) and then tell you if you were a Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter. You would be told what colors you should wear based on this evaluation.

This type of oversimplification and rigid rules of style went out with those scarves you were supposed to be able to wear in 150 different ways (instruction booklet attached).

Yet, there are colors that suit different people – and they can still be a good foundation to build a personal look on.

Today fashion rules are much more flexible (and fun) but not everyone has the confidence to break the rules (or the eye to do it well). In that case, we start a fun 4 part series based on the 4 seasons:

Are You A Spring, Fall, Winter or Summer?

Join us as we look at the characteristics for each season and the colors that compliment them.

Which season are you?

Perhaps you will be surprised by the results. Perhaps we’ll inspire you to try out some new colors. Or, you can use the seasons as a gift guide for the Winter and Spring folks on your Christmas list (that’s probably how far we will get this month). And, of course, in true Celebrity Icing style – we will include some sparkly Stars and some starry sparklers for you to enjoy -with some fun nods back to that colorful decade, the 80’s along the way…

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Born between November 22 and December 21?

If so, then you are in good company!

Words used to describe people born under the sign of Sagittarius… flirty and fun, you like to have a good time. This, combined with your optimism, can get you into a world of trouble but at least you’ll look good on your way!

Extrovert

The ultimate example of lead singer-itis – Jim Morrison of the Doors. He had amazing stage presence but got carried away when he took all of his clothes off on stage (and got arrested for indecency). Get inspired by Jim’s original rock and roll style and get yourself some leather pants (or reasonable facsimile) – nothing says rock n roll more than black leather! (Warning: advice is not for anyone over 40 years old unless you were already a rock star when the Doors were still touring.)

Prove your are legit and get your leather at a shop that caters to bikers rather than a boutique.

Partier

Here’s a sagittarius who really nose how to party – Keith Richards actually snorted part of his cremated father according to merryswankster.com. Sagittarians love freedom and they love to have a good time, but they can also have gambling problems when they get out of control…

Check out cool Keith’s belt – it sends the message you can be pretty wasted and still be pretty at the same time! Like Keith Richards, the belt buckle below is a 100% original piece of work. They will also design a custom motif for you so you could even ask them to make you a belt buckle inspired by Keith’s buckle shown above.

Energetic

If you have big hair, strong pipes, and great legs like Tina Turner, you don’t need flashy jewelry to get anyone’s attention. Note her simple bracelet that sends a message that she isn’t a flash-in-the-pan… she’s solid gold.

Stylish

Katie Holmes’ name doesn’t pop into my head when I think of the words ‘flirt’ or ‘party girl’. However she must have two key traits of Sagittarius; she must be optimistic and a gambler or she wouldn’t have agreed to marry you-know-who…

Katie’s smart, pulled together style hints that she must know what she is doing (or she has a very good stylist). Check out the elegant dress and earrings below.

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Take this quick quiz to find out which Gossip Girl style is perfect for you…

Are You a Vanessa, Blair,

Serena, or Jenny?

.

1. How would you describe your relationship with your mom?

a. She’s not a big part of my life any more.

b. She has very high standards but I’m going to live my own life.

c. She is worried that I will repeat the mistakes she made in her life.

d. She is so busy with her career that I often feel like she doesn’t even notice I’m around.

2. How would you describe yourself?

a. I’ve grown up a lot over the last few years – I’m a better person and my relationships are healthier.

b. I feel like I can achieve anything once I set a goal for myself. I’m also much more independent and in control of my life than I was a few years ago.

c. I’m pretty much the same person I was a few years ago – I’m never satisfied with my situation, I always want more – and I’ll do almost anything to get what I want.

d. I’m smart, confident, and a hard worker but unlucky in love. Things are improving: even if my relationships still never seem to work out, at least I know I’m on the right track.

3. Describe what you would wear to an important job interview.

a. The hottest designer’s interpretation of business wear: possibly a bit over-the-top, but very expensive. I would put a lot of though into the shoes and purse as well.

b. I tend to feel most comfortable in black.

c. I would wear something appropriate (not too revealing, slightly conservative) and then accessorize with a funky necklace and earrings.

d. It doesn’t matter where I’m going – every outfit includes a short skirt and high heels.

Add Up Your Score

Question 1

A – 1, B – 2 , C – 3, D – 4

Question 2

A – 3, B – 1, C – 4, D – 2

Question 3

A – 4, B – 1, C – 2, D – 3

JENNY

(if you scored 0 to 5)

VANESSA

(if you scored 6 to

SERENA

(if you scored 9 to 11)

BLAIR

(if you scored 12)

Stay tuned- next week we’ll show you some inspired styles for each Gossip Girl…

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I’m due to have my baby very soon so I guess I have babies on the brain more than usual.

Should Babies Wear Jewelry?

Some cultures seem to prefer jewelry on their children very young (bracelets, earrings). My mom bought all of her girl grandchildren tiny engraved bracelets when they were born – not sure if this is  German thing or just a personal predilection – she also buys child-size silver cutlery for all the kids…

This week we feature baby bracelets:

I also know other people who are passionately against the whole concept of adorning their precious little ones in precious metals.

Of course, if you are going to string your baby with bling make sure it is safe.

Always observe the age guidelines for jewelry – most of it is not practical for children under 3 (it is only worn during a photo session or special ceremony like a christening and then kept as a keepsake or heirloom). For specific information about recalls, please refer to ConsumerReports.org. Here are some basic guidelines:

• Don’t leave children unattended (this includes naptime, bedtime)
• Purchase jewelry from a reputable jewelry store (you get what you pay for).
• Be suspicious of any jewelry purchased from a vending machine or dollar/discount store.
• Watch for small pieces and jewels that might detach (choking hazards).
• ”Breakaway” clasps or weak elastic is the best choice for all jewelry worn around a child’s neck (or better yet, just avoid this jewelry until the child is older).
• Ask the store to confirm what metals are contained in the jewelry. Good jewelry stores (online included) will provide this information on their websites.

Guaranteed Goodies

For example, the Danforth Diamond website informs you that their 14K Yellow Gold Baby Girl charm is made from Harmony Recycled Metals (and you receive a Certificate of Authenticity with your purchase).

Charm The Little One

A great gift idea for a little girl – buy her a charm bracelet. You can buy her charms for years to come, making gift shopping easy! She may not be able to wear it right away, but it can grow along with her – the charms you select while she grows up can symbolize milestones in her life (shoes for first steps or ballet shoes for first dance recital, for example). It’s also a nice way to show your commitment to be in this little girl’s life – perfect for divorced dads, distant grandparents, or mom’s best friend!

Traditional Baby

The Gingham Grasshopper offers bracelets that are like the bracelets babies used to get at the hospital, only much fancier. The bracelet pictured below is made from .925 Sterling Silver and freshwater pearls (read their safety issues link for their guarantee).

Yummy Mummy

Dr. Bloom’s Chewable Jewels – are actually for mom, but baby gets to chew on them when teething.

Here’s one of Celebrity Icing’s favorite celebs, Milla Jovohovich, a fan of Dr. Bloom’s jewels.

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The perfect accessories for the new mom!

Get Personal

These sweet charms are custom made, available at myretrobaby.com.

Another idea – select a moppet from danforthdiamond.com to match gender and birth stone for a reasonable price (pictured below is the moppet for an August baby girl).

Available in gold, and they also have a sterling silver option (no stones) for under $40!

You can always get a tattoo of your children’s names – this is getting more popular now that tattoos are becoming so mainstream.

Rocker Travis Barker (Blink 182) has his 3 children – Alabama, Landon and Atiana tattooed on his lower back.

Special Delivery

For the truly unique gift, etsy.com is always a good bet.

Here is a vintage locket and charm combination created to safeguard photos of those precious little ones – and for an extra $2.00 she will gift wrap it for you and enclose your personalized note on a card.

Great Things Come in Small Packages

A gift just for mom is also always appreciated in a time where everything is about the baby.

Try to keep jewelry kid proof so she can enjoy it – curious fingers or rough housing rug rats can pull big earrings right out of mom’s ear. These butterfly gold earrings are pretty safe (and pretty!) – they also symbolize the transformation of your friend (or wife, daughter, or sister) into a mother.

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It’s raining here today and many people

are already grumbling

about Summer being at an end

but there’s a whole lot of August left – so…

Let’s Get Beachy!

Here’s a shot of Lindsay Lohan in Malibu. She doesn’t let her lack of pants keep her from loading on the jewelry, and somehow it all works – she looks like she’s out for a casual, relaxed day.

Lohan Loads On the Bangles and Necklaces With a Clunky Ring.

What are the rich and famous wearing in the waves?

Here’s sun-kissed Jessica Alba looking positively golden – with gold accessories to match. She’s wearing 5 bracelets and at least two necklaces and six rings; not to mention a lovely chain belt.

Jewelry Sure to Brighten Up Any Shore…

Toned down, this look could work for anyone – two necklaces and several rings are perfect if you stick to the same metal (and color) or select sleek designs.

Beach Party? For shore!

Jim Carrey seems to think his classic suit is enough, but I would recommend something sparkley to really pull his look together.

May I suggest this Silver and Grey Pearl Drop Necklace?

And some classy studs will really make this stud’s day at the beach shine. Studs are always a better option just in case you get pulled into a game of beach volleyball or have to dive in to the ocean and rescue a swimmer in distress – large or dangly earrings might get caught and tear  your ear; or even worse, you might lose them!

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Let’s face it, it’s hard to come up with good names for your kids. You might go out of your way to give your child a unique name only to have 5 other kids with the same name in his or her kindergarten class. A few years ago, no one would have said Isabella was common but now the playground is teeming with Bellas and Ellas. Isabella (or a version thereof) is the new Jennifer and Ava is the new Stephanie…

The trick is to come up with a name everyone involved is happy with, that isn’t too common -but that is also easy to pronounce and spell. My own pet peeve is ‘unique’ spellings of common names – the Jenyfurs, etc –  I’ve always thought it just makes it look like your parents can’t spell. Is your child really going to thank you after the thousandth time they’ve had to correct the spelling of their name? 

Celebrities seem to be be very challenged in this area – I guess their approach is different because they know that little “Rebel” or “Free” will never have to put their name on a resume or seek employment in the real world. A world where studies have shown that any name that is too hard to pronounce, or even just too ethnic – means less interviews… 

Well, here at Celebrity Icing we like to celebrate our favorites, so rather than making fun of all the goofy names selected for celebrity spawn we thought we’d spend some time featuring some of the names we like!

Beckett is the bee’s knees

Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher named their son Beckett and their daughter Bailey (presumably before Grey’s Anatomy went on the air…). The name Beckett means ‘Bee Cottage’ which is rather cute and inspires one to all sorts of nursery room decorating ideas. Beckett may have been named after the famous Irish writer or (and I hope it’s this one) Scott Bakula’s character from Quantum Leap. What child wouldn’t want to be named after the mysterious and adorable time traveler?

Coco is classy yet cute 

Courteney Cox Arquette  and David Arquette named their daughter Coco (rumor: after Courtney Cox). This name meets all of my criteria: if you see it in writing, you immediately know how to pronounce it – yet, at the same time, it’s very rare. According to thinkbabynames.com it is originally from Spain and is the short form of Soccoro (which means ‘lover of soccer’? no, just kidding…). It is cute, yet with a classy hint of Coco Chanel. My only fear would be that people might not take my daughter seriously – but that won’t be a problem if she turns out to be funny like her dad or a strong personality like her mom… 

Tallulah springs to mind

Bruce Willis and Demi More AND Simon LeBon and Yasmin Parvaneh both named a daughter Tallulah. This name means “leaping waters” in the Choctaw language (behindthename.com) or “jumping water” (babynamewizard.com). There is a waterfall named Tallulah in Georgia, where famous Tallulah Bankhead came from. It’s a beautiful sounding name and very rare. According to the namevoyager at babynamewizard.com – it’s never been in the top 1,000 names in any decade on record. (In contrast, Gertrude was ranked #24 in the 1890’s and Isabella was #2 in 2007.)  Tallulah Bankhead was actually notorious for her promiscuous behavior, boozing, drugging, and is actually thought to be the inspiration for 101 Dalmation’s Cruella Deville so I’m going with the idea that these children were named after the waterfall! Then again, so many parents named their daughters “Paris” in 2004, that it is ranked #156 in popularity – so nothing can surprise me anymore… yuck… 

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Everyone needs a key ring – this accessory is extremely practical but it doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, these rings can make great gifts! Here are some celebrity-inspired key rings…

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

It’s not green but it’s still the perfect accessory on March 17th or the perfect gift to get your favorite Irish eyes a-smiling…

And, let’s face it hot Irish Colin Farrell could use some help accessorizing – what’s with the scarf? I think the role of “pretentious indie hipster” has already been taken and if it was vacant, he’d be too old for it anyways…

His and Her Gifts

Just moved in with the love of your life?  Here’s a mushy way to present him or her with a key. Awwwwwwwwwwwww….

Geek Love

Do you have a weakness for nerdy guys like me? Then, here is the perfect gift for your man – and, it’s an accessory that actually comes with an accessory – how cute is that? The character is a flash drive and the hoodie turns it into a keychain!

Jet Set Jewelry

Is your love always leaving on a jet plane? (or maybe just dreams about traveling?) Here’s a great gift. PS Also a great way to impress your jet setter with one of those famous blue Tiffany & Co boxes for under $200!

Way to Go, Tiger!

Now we here at Celebrity Icing would never suggest a golf-themed gift for Tiger Woods… but if you have a golfing enthusiast in your life you might consider this. Also the perfect way to present that key to the brand new golf cart he or she has been drooling over…

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Only 9 days to Christmas!

 

The traditional Christmas colors are Red and Green so this year, celebrityicing.com will feature them in two posts. This week we will look at radiant red and next week we’ll look at glorious green – with a few celebrities thrown in, of course! You may even get some last minute gift ideas! 

Red Music

Blonde Redhead

Click on the video for a lovely soundtrack to accompany your reading of this post…

Blond Redhead
  

Famous Redheads

Lucille Ball

Also… Shirley MacLaine, Debra Messing, Marcia Cross, Seth Green, Ron Howard, Robert Redford, Molly Ringwald

Surprisingly… Clara Bow, Bette Davis, and Marilyn Monroe were apparently natural redheads as well! 

Historically… Richard the Lionheart, Prince Harry, Thomas Jefferson, General George A. Custer

For a more complete list (and lots of great pictures), check out Anna Marie Bowman’s Famous Redheads Throughout History.

Red Jewels

Rubies

According to Chi in Asian Tradition, you can wear a red jewel to help you fulfill your dreams to become famous! The perfect gift for your actor, musician, artist or writer friends. Or, for anyone that you feel deserves recognition (like moms, wives, girlfriends… hint hint).

Food

Raspberries

I think this is my favorite color of red, and one of my favorite flavors, too! Perfect with some homemade cheesecake. 

Red Spirits

We just brought a bottle of ‘Little Black Dress’ home, not able to resist the label. Haven’t tasted it yet, but if it tastes as good as it looks, it will be a treat! 

Another interesting wine I would like to try is ‘Red Guitar’. 

 

 

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