Color Stories
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Hi, and happy Sunday. I am up early, burning this candle* (I finally get the hype, though don’t sleep on this one either), reading an incredible book about the art of journaling, and then actually journaling. My older kids and I have also discovered a show you may have heard of called Stranger Things, and I did not expect to love it as much as I do.
If Trader Joe’s is on your list today, allow me to share an easy dinner that earned a rare 4 out of 5 family rave reviews. Start with the Spanish-style rice from the freezer aisle, prepare it, then throw it into a casserole with finely diced chorizo, chopped baked chicken thighs, and whatever protein is lingering in your fridge. I added a baked cod fillet rubbed with smoked paprika and a big handful of garlicky shrimp, wilted two fistfuls of spinach, and served the whole thing under the guise of weeknight “paella.” Y vamos!
This newsletter is all about color, with a little bonus at the end for paid subscribers.
February energy sneaks in to guide us from one energetic chapter to the next. Not just because it’s short, but because it carries us from the tension of the holidays and New Year’s into the lightness and possibility of spring. There’s an invitation to shake off heaviness like a coat and embrace a more anything-goes sensibility.
Collectively, if our tastes are going to drift toward color, now is the moment. Winter may linger for weeks, but the thrill of buying winter pieces has mostly passed, except for the savvy few who use this stretch to pounce on great deals. The rest of us are ready to taste the rainbow. I’m swapping my Sunday bouquet of white hydrangea for a riot of color, and thinking carefully about where I might do the same in my closet.
I’m also fascinated by the energy certain colors carry, especially on screen, where color can be an emotional shorthand or an element of outright symbolism.
Remember the teen cult classic Heathers? Decoding the colors and the meaning behind the names was the stuff of afterschool telephone marathon dreams. The dominant Heather, wears red. Veronica, (Winona Ryder) wears blue, signaling sadness and fear. J.D (Christian Slater) wears black for nihilism :-) The remaining Heathers wear green for jealousy and yellow for optimism.
Or Great Expectations (1998). Estella (Gwyneth) wears green throughout the film; exclusively Donna Karan green in fact. The emphasis on green does not appear in Dickens’ original text, making it all the more interesting as to why (besides looking great). My favorite theory traces the decision to director Alfonso Cuarón, drawing on Latin symbolism, where green is associated with hope. The Spanish title for the film is Grandes Esperanzas and esperanza is the Spanish word for hope. Who knows?! Cool though, right? And pretty.
In Black Swan, the white and then black costumes are central to the plot and psychological-horror undercurrent of the movie. Amy Westcott, the film’s costume designer, has described using color to track Nina’s transformation and sexual awakening, allowing the wardrobe to story-tell alongside the action.
Once you start looking, you’ll see it everywhere. The list is long. The Virgin Suicides. The Talented Mr. Ripley, Mad Men. The Queen’s Gambit, pretty much every film by Wes Anderson, and even less stylish works like Breaking Bad (Hank’s wife always wore purple). When color is used deliberately, it’s decorative AND declarative.
And that’s what costume directors do. They tell a story. The trick, I think, is realizing you can borrow the same magic for your own life. Your closet tells a story too. Remember when I wrote about needing more black in my wardrobe? I maintain that all-black is chic on a good day and bad on a crappy day, just as soft, muted neutrals are not great for a day you need to make an impact.
The colors I’m most excited by right.this.very.minute are Sofia Coppola pink and that vibrant, Michael Rider green. Or is it Estella green? Or Atonement?
ATONEMENT/ ESTELLA / CELINE GREEN
Vibe: Laid back optimism. 20-teens dopamine. Preppy, but we’re following fewer rules.
pants // polo sweater // sandals // watch // navy bag // clutch // bracelets // sunglasses
COPPOLA PINK
Sweet, with firm boundaries. Ballet season ticket holder. Usually wears black, but with a pink vibe, y’know?
shoes // lipstick // solid fragrance // nail polish // bralette // sweater // denim // charm bracelet // earrings // bag
Here’s how I see the energy of some other colors:
Red: power, but also irreverence
Orange: in on the joke
Yellow: perceptive, open minded and ready to party
Light Blue: calm clarity, creates her own magic // Dark blue: knows what she wants
White: infinite possibilities // Black: structure
I was curious what’s on everyone else’s radar too, so I asked a few friends: if the next few months had a signature shade for you, what would it be? Responses below from Meighan Grady, Maria Hyde Kelly Klein, and Kelly Williams. Tell me in the comments what color you’re looking to incorporate next.
Meighan Grady 🤎
Maybe I’m a little late to this, but I’ve been feeling pulled towards more brown as I make my way back to the office.
