May We Be...Vibrant

VIBRANT  ˈvībrənt | adjective

1. full of energy and enthusiasm: a vibrant cosmopolitan city. 2. (of color) bright and striking.

 "You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it." - Edith Head

Don’t be afraid to be bold this season! Embrace vibrant colors in your wardrobe and personal style from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Pantone’s choice of Viva Magenta as its 2023 Color of the Year demonstrated that bright and vivid colors will be leading the way. Marie Claire’s Spring 2023 Color Trend Report confirmed a celebration of highly saturated hues. In addition to a full palette of pinks, other vivid shades include azure and true red, with pastel hues like lavender and yellow thrown in the mix. They report that the fashion industry is in the midst of a “widespread maximalist movement known as dopamine dressing.” The premise of the movement is that in times of stress and strife, humans seek joy wherever it can be found, and that includes in our self-expression and fashion choices. So, we’re once again looking at lifting spirits, but now channeling it into our sense of style. Dress in bright colors and fun prints that make you happy, make you feel pretty, and make you feel alive.

If you’re not someone who typically likes to don splashy colors and bold looks, we do have some pointers from the pros about how to incorporate these vivid shades into your wardrobe stylishly. But before you spin the color wheel and start planning your palette, it’s important to understand your skin tone so you know which shades suit you best. You’ll want to determine whether your skin tones are complemented by cool shades like blue, green, and lilac or warmer colors like red, orange, and yellow. You don’t want to splurge on a jonquil jumper only to find out that yellows wash you out or make you look sallow.

There are a couple simple ways to determine your skin tones (the surface color of your skin) and undertones (the subtle hue underneath the surface). First, look at the color of the veins on the inside of your wrist under natural light. If your veins appear green, you have a warm skin tone. If your veins look blue or purple, you have a cool skin tone. If your veins look bluish-green, you have a neutral undertone. You can also hold a white piece of paper next to your face to determine the color of your skin compared to the paper. If your skin appears yellowish compared to the paper, you have a warm skin tone. If your skin appears pink, rosy, or blue/red, you have a cool skin tone. If your skin looks grey, you likely have an olive complexion with neutral undertones. If you don’t see a yellow, pink, or olive cast, your skin tone is neutral. People with olive and neutral undertones can experiment with colors on both ends of the cool/warm tone spectrum.

Once you’ve determined what color tones would best complement your complexion, you can jump into the world of big, bright colors. Of course, you don’t have to dive into the deep end all at once. You can easily add a splash of color to your everyday wardrobe without breaking the bank or straying too far out of your comfort zone. Start by adding interesting vibrant accessories to spice up your usual style. Big, chunky jewelry that makes a statement, fun hats, billowy scarves, and eye-catching eyewear can provide the pops of color you want to a basic look you already wear. Shoes, belts, and handbags in vibrant shades can be foundation pieces to build an outfit around.

Implement color by elevating your basics with statement hues. Try a sunny coral summer sweater or a cobalt blue raincoat. Colorful dresses are a simple way to start, and you can add or accent with more colors in layers or accessories as you feel more confident with this bolder style. Our fashionistas caution not to mix too many colors and patterns at the same time, because the goal is to have a coherent bright and bold look, not a confusing mix and riot of colors.

For the truly adventurous, you can create a super chic look with a vibrant monochromatic outfit. A fun way to do this is by choosing different shades of the same color for the different pieces of the outfit. Varying hues of purple from plum to lavender and the pinks that range from bubble gum to fuchsia are especially well suited for this tone over tone approach. Can’t you just picture deep purple suede booties and a plum mini paired with a sparkly lilac tank under a lavender button-down accessorized with some chunky amethyst jewelry?! Take it one step further with purple tips in your hair and you’ve got the thoroughly modern fusion of Purple Rain and Lavender Haze. Turn it up!

This bold and vibrant energy doesn’t stop at the wardrobe when it comes to today’s style. Current trends in hairstyles embrace vibrant colors that include playful red tones like strawberry and copper, and bright, bold platinum blonde hues. High shine styles and dramatic statement-making cuts are also popular.

Turning to make-up, looks on the runways have been electric and edgy. Shimmery pops of color are found in metallic eyeshadows, super blush, and vividly painted lips. And it’s not limited to eye-popping hues of the traditional reds, pinks, or purples; the entire rainbow spectrum is out there in shades that range from muted pastels to screaming neon. While these more extreme runway style trends may not be suited for a day at the office or your weekend beach getaway, we encourage you to incorporate a new, brighter shade of lipstick or refresh that hair color with a bolder hue to energize your look. Don’t forget your fingers and toes make a wonderful canvas for color too!

According to Tinu Bello, a senior brand ambassador for Mylee in an interview with Glamour about 2023 style trends, we’ll even be seeing vibrant hues in nail colors. “Things are about to get bolder, but still super wearable. 2022 was all about neutrals – we all loved those cool beiges, browns and whites. In 2023, expect a shift towards bold shades.” She adds, “Rather than an all-over hue, I predict that brights will be used to outline and accent nails, taking a basic manicure to the next level, with sharp edges and negative space.” Blues, purples, oranges, and yellows are all shades that come into play for brightening up your manicure. Don’t be shy! Viva vivaciousness! Be vibrant!