Pantoned

Dress: Spense; Shoes: Born Crown;

 Floral hair wreath: self-made (here's a tutorial); Bracelet: Kohls, gift. 

So I've always been interested in how Pantone chooses which colors are the 'it' color for the year or season. It turns out, it's a much more intricate process than I had originally imagined (paint chips on a dartboard?) that draws upon different themes that have cropped up across cultural, geographic and economic patterns. This story from Slate goes straight to the palette source and the reporter sits in on a color committee meeting. The back-and-forth debate sounds interesting ("Everybody’s into white flowers at the moment ... there are definitely movements, even in flowers"), but slightly mystical to outsiders and subjective to those involved. Either way, it's intriguing to see which colors will dominate in retail decisions.

Here I am in a dress I've had for years, but the color is a close rendition of the on-trend color of the year: 17-1463, or Tangerine Tango. Of course, I didn't buy it intuiting that the color would be popular years later, but it remains interesting how colors and trends ebb and flow. 

I took these photos at the park, knowing full well that the green foliage would make the dress's hue pop even more -- but didn't anticipate how naturally saturated it would all look. Hooray for playing with the color wheel ...

Time change woes: How to take outfit photos in the wintertime

(Photo from this outfit post)

If you are anything like me, last week's time change to rewind the clocks back an hour has been a disorienting, lagging experience as the sun sets quickly in the early evenings. If you're a style blogger (and one who does outdoor photography, especially), then this can be problematic issue in the wintertime, as it messes up the amount of time in the after-work hours to take photos. 

As I've been gearing up for doing photography during chilly temperatures, I've been revisiting some old tips on how to do outfit photos in the wintertime:

- Early to bed, early to rise. For those of you who live in regions that are affected by the time change, you may have noticed that there is now more daylight time in the mornings. Make the most of that daylight time by setting your alarm and taking your photos before work or school. You may surprise yourself in realizing how efficient it is to take photos before the day wears you and your outfit out, and who knows, you might like going to locations early in the morning too.  

- Crank up your ISO settings: If you decide to take photos in the evening, you may want to tinker with your ISO settings. ISO allows you to measure how sensitive your camera is to light, and many cameras will allow you to adjust your settings manually. A higher ISO number is better for situations where there isn't much light -- like around dusk. 

- Be flexible with your schedule: Maybe you're an extremely busy person and there just isn't time to take photos with the way your schedule is now. If there's any chance you can adjust your schedule for photography, perhaps you push around your work hours to get in some good photography time. Or perhaps you can find a few quick minutes -- be it lunch time or  a break -- to snap a few photos. It's all about finding opportunities of free moments that work well for you.

- If all else fails, go indoors: Sometimes photos just aren't going to happen outside, because of time or inclement weather. If that happens, you can always find a little spot in your home where you'd like to photograph your outfits. 

If you are a style blogger or photographer, how do you deal with time change in your photography? 

DIY: Autumn floral crown

Hair wreaths, floral crowns -- whatever you want to call them, I've been obsessed with making and wearing them this year. While my spring version was based on this tutorial, I've finally figured out an autumn-centric wreath, and here's the DIY below.

But first, a disclaimer: I would not consider myself a crafty person. Organized, perhaps, but definitely not one who sews or knits or sequins things. I simply do not have the patience to sit hunched over these details (though I admire those who can), and I know when I'm out of my depth on things like alterations. So, believe me when I say that I found this incredibly easy and fun to do, and making one takes 30 minutes, and it's an accessory I've found a lot of joy to use (I've worn it to a lot of summer parties).

Now, on we go!:

What to use: wire cutters, floral wire, floral tape and silk flowers or leaves. I found all of my supplies (minus the cutters) at Michael's for under $10. I had an easier time using flowers/leaves that had longer stems because they're easier to wrap with wire and floral tape.

Step 1: Use wire and wrap it around your head to get a good idea of what length you'd like it to be. Cut wire and wrap the end of it by securing it to the wire circle. Because I like a really secure and weighty wreath, I wrap my wire three times before cutting.

Never the wayworn

 Dress: Old Navy, thrifted; Belt: Loft; Scarf: Thrifted, vintage; 

Floral wreath: self-made; Sandals: Miss Trish of Capri, Target.

 Thanks so much for your feedback on yesterday's post. It's always a little daunting to talk about personal plans in the making, but I'm so excited to see how things unfold in my life. It's always great to hear from those of you who have also made career changes too, and the ways blogging may have influenced those transitions.

These photos are a treat to share -- my sister Nikki came to spend a long weekend over in Athens, and as with most of her visits, we spent some time exploring the town on our own. We went to a park that I had in mind for photography -- it's a nature reserve with long, winding creeks that attract lots of birds. We had fun climbing out on the low rocks, blowing bubbles and enjoying long conversations before I showed her my usual park hangout. I know I'm usually a loner when it comes to these photo sessions, but it is always nice and safe to visit unfamiliar places with someone else.

I've worn this dress very similarly last fall, and I love that it works as a neutral base to the floral and purple accents.

Light of Venus

 Dress: Body Central; Sandals: Miss Trish of Capri for Target; Wreath: Self-made.

My absence from the Internet was unplanned but enjoyable. With my busy work/weekend schedule, as well as the oppressive heat, I've been spending my precious free time holed away in chilly hideouts -- namely, my apartment, the pool and the bookstore. In this downtime, Jeremiah and I have been running through the entire series of "Breaking Bad" (any fans out there?) before the fourth season premiere next week, and we're also making a lot of our own homemade popsicles (freeze Crystal Lite into shot glasses with a popsicle stick). So really, I've been thoroughly enjoying this time away.

I've been inspired to take more photos and have been reading a lot of photography books lately at the bookstore -- mainly works here and there about composition and lighting. I've got personal projects I'd love to complete before the summer is over, so I've been inspired in those ways to go to certain locations. But whatever I've gained in inspiration for photography, I've lost in my creativity with my own wardrobe. With the hot-sticky-grossness of being outside most afternoons, I have only worn about three or four different things in the last two weeks. I wore this outfit last week to a birthday party, and have repeated it a couple times since. I love the bright print paired with the floral wreath, which has increasingly become my accessory for the summer. I went out during dusk last night to take these photos to get my creative muscle going again and to get into the habit of taking photos in the afternoon (something I've shied away from since spring with the locust-like crowds descending on the park). I'm really glad I did, because the light was incredible and perfect, and made everything and everyone look like a Botticelli muse.

What accessories have you been loving this summer? 

The pretty little patter of a seaboard town

 Dress: Liz Claiborne, thrifted; Belt: Ann Taylor Loft;

 Shoes: Minnetonka; Flower crown: DIY by me.
Listening to: "Down by the water," The Decemberists.

I've been starting the last couple of posts with apologies for not blogging as much. I've had to take a break several times this month because of technological breakdowns -- my laptop, camera and television all died within the same week, and Jeremiah and I have spent every free weekend looking to replace them. It's been hard, because not being connected has left me feeling out of the loop by not being able to keep up with my  inbox, my friendships and my photography. Things have started to look up finally this week, though -- we just got my new laptop in the mail, so here's my foot back in, and  I am excited to getting back to a regular, consistent schedule.

While I was away, I did indulge in some DIY projects --- floral crowns! I am in love with the bohemian hair look -- I even used a floral wreath in my own wedding, and so I've been wanting to make some for awhile. I used this easy tutorial from Bleubird Vintage, and eventually made four of them with different flowers. The whole project was pretty cheap -- about $10 with supplies from Michael's -- and the only addendum I would add to the tutorial is that I had an easier time using silk leaves and smaller flowers. I couldn't get bulb-shaped flowers (like tulips) to work for me, but I'll try with more practice. I'm so excited about these, and plan on wearing them a lot this summer!

It feels so long, so tell me: how have you guys been? 

Easy DIY: Scarf organization

Just a simple way I like to keep my scarves organized. I used an empty glass cookie jar and folded all of my small to medium-sized silk scarves into squares and stuffed them inside. I like that I can see them all pretty easily in the glass, and the jar makes a pretty decoration in my closet.

6 ways to showcase accessories in outfit photos

One of the questions I get often is how I decide to take my accessories photos. Accessories are often overlooked in outfit photos, because they can be small sartorial details. But they are some of the most intriguing subjects in portrait photography, because they offer interest and color --- and because they're still lifes, they're easier to deal with as models. Here are some quick tips to showcase accessories in photography to add more depth to outfit shots:

 1) Take it off.

Perhaps it was made to go on your arm or around your neck, but for close-up shots, it's easier to take the accessory off. This will allow the accessory to shine on its own, and you won't have to worry about zooming in or moving your own body in the frame to get the right shot.

2) Choose an interesting location.

 Although I usually pick my photo locations based on my overall outfit, I often try to take some time to find a small spot to place my accessories so they can be showcased. Finding an interesting location doesn't have to be hard to do -- like an accessory, it can just be a smaller detailed area of your overall location. I do a lot of my photos outdoors, so many of my accessories hang out in the grass, on tree limbs, or near shorelines. My favorite locations are ones where the item is serendipitous with the location (like the pocket watch above on the sundial), or ones that make the item look out of place and hint at an untold story.

3) Use background colors to complement the item.

Because this is all about the accessory, have fun playing with background color to enhance the item's elements. This might mean finding a wall that matches part of the item's pattern, or choosing an opposite hue on the color wheel to make the accessory's features and colors pop.

 4) Keep lighting a priority.

 Even without a fancy location, you can still show off an accessory with good lighting. Using sunlight or a back light can add more depth and scope to an item's features.

5) Experiment with different photo compositions.

 Because an accessory is often a more manageable model to use, it's a great chance to experiment with different photography compositions. A photo composition is the way the elements of a picture are arrange and lined up in the photo, and can affect the focus of the viewer. Digital Photography School has some great ideas for composition. For accessories, some favorite compositions include the Rule of Thirds (having the photo broken up into a grid so that items align in a certain area) and looking for horizontal lines (natural lines that act as a dividing point in a photo and add visual interest).

6) Always keep the item in focus. 

  This last one might be a no-brainer, but it's above all the most important tip in close-up photography. Because your accessory might be small, it can get lost in the details of a larger background setting (such as a pile of leaves). Minimize these issues by changing your camera settings -- it might mean zooming in, switching to an auto focus or portrait setting, or using a tripod to maintain a steady grip. And don't be afraid to experiment -- taking several shots from various angles can help you find the right focus to highlight your item!

Do you take photos of your accessories? What kinds of shots are important to you in outfit photos?

Further Sidewalk Chic reading:

[Safety in self-photography]

[How to pose naturally in outfit photos]

[6 types of great outfit locations]

Easy DIY: Jewelry display

 I used to fight a losing battle with my tangled necklaces and other bits of disorganized jewelry in my closet, until I came up with a solution. Here's a really simple DIY to display your jewelry and add a little art to your walls. Chances are you've already got the supplies around your house to make this.

What you'll need: 

For this you'll need an old, thin belt and some tacks (or nails, if you prefer lots of reinforcement, but tacks have always held up strong for me). I've had this belt for more than a few years now, and I've always loved its design. It's on its last run, so it's perfect for this new display. Alternatively, you could use a different fabric, such as ribbon or lace, but you want to keep the belt somewhat light so that its weight makes it easy to tack up. If you decide you like the look of a leather belt, you'll have to hammer and nail it in. 

Step One:

Use the tacks to hang up your belt. I have a display up on one wall in my closet and it's helped to have my jewelry in close proximity to my clothes to inspire future outfits.

Step Two:

Start putting jewelry on by hanging it over some of the tacks. And congrats, you've completed this DIY (told you it was easy). Use it to hang all kinds of jewelry -- necklaces, bracelets, clip-on earrings, bejeweled bobby pins, etc.

Alternatively, you can use your display for other mementos --- old photos, postcards, art, ticket stubs. I like to use clothespins to hang postcards from my travels. Much cheaper than having to buy new frames for them!