Color Me Happy
Early in my career, I wore mostly neutral colors, but my bag or shoes were always something completely different. A black sheath dress paired with purple snake stilettos. A gray wool skirt and cream sweater with red boots. Those unexpected pops of color made my outfits interesting and helped me stand out (I'm a smidge over 5'). Over time, though, the color disappeared. What once made my outfits distinctive and expressive was gradually replaced by a focus on versatility and practicality. For years, my wardrobe reflected muted, neutral tones—lots of black, beige, and gray. I love a cashmere sweater in those colors, and I've always been a fan of denim. Navy is my favorite color. My shoes, accessories, and clothes all stayed within this palette: muted, versatile, and safe. It's so easy to dress in this palette, sophisticated even. But it doesn't reflect ME anymore. I miss the unexpected bursts of color. Color makes me smile.
A few years ago, I was introduced to the bold and colorful mod patterns of Orla Kiely, a British textile designer. It has now become an obsession - and that might be an understatement. I packed away all of my beautiful leather bags—Coach, Michael Kors, and even a Louis Vuitton—and completely converted to Orla Kiely purses, cosmetic bags, wallets, briefcases, travel carry-ons, crossbodies… you name it—all while continuing to wear neutrals. Those bags became the pop of color I had been missing.
Through this conversion, I remembered something important: color makes me happy. A yellow sweater makes me happy. Bright orange flats make me happy. Red fingernails make me happy. Wearing colors that complement my skin tone gives me confidence (thank you, Kate at My Colors Pop). Colorful accessories make me happy. Slowly but surely, my wardrobe is changing. I’m surrounding myself with clothing that not only looks good on me but makes me feel like me. These clothes shape my outlook each morning—a happier, more optimistic, more authentic version of myself. Have I gotten rid of all the black? Heck no. Am I wearing an unexpected pair of red shoes with olive pants? Yep… with a wild-patterned Orla Kiely bag, of course. I’m mixing my neutrals with pops of color—a little spark of happiness that I’m both internalizing and projecting outward. Not loud, but intentional. Not someone else—but unmistakably me.
This gravitation toward color didn’t happen all at once. It happened in small moments—pauses where I chose differently. A pause before buying another black top. A pause before reaching for the same neutral dress. A pause to ask: Does this feel like me?
Your Perfect Pause isn’t about stopping everything. It’s about creating space—space to notice, to remember, to reconnect. For me, color became that pause. A way to check in—not just with how I look, but with how I feel. A way to remember what sparks my happiness - some of those sparks are pictured below. And if you’re feeling inspired to take that next step—to refresh your wardrobe in a way that truly reflects you—I’d love to invite you to my boutique event this August. It’s the perfect moment to usher in your fall wardrobe with intention, color, and pieces that align with who you are now. Consider it your next Perfect Pause… and a beautiful way to step into the season ahead. Check out the Experiences page to register for your ticket.
Because you deserve more than just a break.
