http://www.writedesignonline.com/resources/design/rules/color.html

Remember that most colors carry physiological, cultural, personal, emotional, and expressive implications.

Red	Any of various colors resembling the color of blood; the primary color at one extreme end of the visible spectrum, an effect of light with a wavelength between 610 and 780 nm. (Webster’s, p.1614). Increases pulse rate and breathing and causes blood pressure to rise. Infants and children respond well to red. Red is for the amorous, outspoken, and optimistic. People who love red, love life. The food color. Ever notice that restaurants use red a lot? It makes you hungry by increasing your body’s metabolism. Hot, passionate, urgent, danger, blood, devil, angry, enraged, amorous, outspoken, optimistic
Yellow	A color like that of egg yolk, ripe lemons, etc.; the primary color between green and orange in the visible spectrum, an effect of light with a wavelength between 570 and 590 nm. (Webster’s, p.2201). The color of the sunny disposition, the idealist. Intellectuals love yellow. It takes more chemicals in the eye to see the color yellow. Yellow can have some negative effects — babies cry more often and longer in yellow rooms; in convalescent homes it makes older people shake as it affects their minor motor movement. As you get older you tend to dislike yellow because it can make you feel anxious or angry. Yellow enhances concentration and speeds metabolism. Warm, cowardice, caution, fearful, bright
Blue	The pure color of a clear sky; the primary color between green and violet in the visible spectrum, an effect of light with a wavelength between 450 and 500 nm. (Webster’s, p.228). The number one color choice of the introspective and educated. Blue causes the brain to send off 11 chemical tranquilizers and is a wonderful calming color. or Pumps people up. Proven to increase energy. Weight lifters should lift in a blue room. Production people will produce more in a blue room. Not a good color for hospitals. Responsibility, trustworthiness, compassion, those are the attributes of royal blue. Honest, integrity, righteous, puritantical, moral, severe, prudish, cool, melancholy, sad, glum, downcast, gloomy, unhappy, quality, first place
Orange	A color between yellow and red in the spectrum, an effect of light with a wavelength between 590 and 610 nm; reddish yellow. A secondary color that has been formed by the mixture of red and yellow pigments (Webster’s, p.1361). Not a color that everyone loves, but those who do are generally social and fun loving. Confident, creative, adventurous, fun loving, sociable Top
Green	A color intermediate in the spectrum between yellow and blue, an effect of light with a wavelength between 500 and 570 nm.; found in nature as the color of most grasses and leaves while growing, of some fruits while ripening, and of the sea. A secondary color that has been formed by the mixture of blue and yellow pigments (Webster’s, p.837). A good color for people in transition. Green is Mother Nature’s color, lover’s of green may be fickle. The money color–bound to influence. In Celtic myths the Green man was the God of fertility. Universal symbolism: Nature, freshness Contemporary symbolism: Ecologically beneficial Nature, health, regeneration, contentment, harmony,cheerful, lively, friendly, fresh, sickly, unripe, immature, simple, unsophisticated, gullible, new
Purple	Any color having components of both red and blue, such as lavender, esp. one deep in tone (Webster’s, p.1569). The color of fantasy. Most men dislike purple. Royalty, intelligence, wealth, beauty, inspiration, sophistication, high rank, exalted, imperial, princely, excessively ornate rhetoric, profane, shocking
Gray	Of a color between white and black; having a neutral hue (Webster’s, p.834). A good color for offices. It promotes productivity and stimulates creativity. Neutral, ambiguous, intermediate, apathetic, dull, drab, monotonous, mature, sober, somber, mousy, smoky Top
Black	Lacking hue and brightness; absorbing light without reflecting any of the rays composing it. The color at one extreme end of the scale of grays, opposite to white (Webster’s, p.216). Produces a feeling of solidarity and formality. Black is a natural classic. The color of authority and power, yet also implies submission. Aloof, evil, death, unknown, fear, mystery, dark, night, sad, murky, sinful, inhuman, fiendish, devilish, infernal, monstrous, horrible, nefarious, treacherous, traitorous, villainous, depressing, somber, doleful, mournful, funereal, disastrous, calamitous, harmful, deliberate, pessimistic, dismal, hostile, threatening, wicked, disgrace, morbid, grotesque, undesirable, dangerous, false
White	A color without hue at one extreme end of the scale of grays, opposite to black. A white surface reflects light of all hues completely and diffusely. Most so-called whites are very light grays: fresh snow, for example, reflects about 80 percent of the incident light, but to be strictly white, snow would have to reflect 100 percent of the incident light. It is the ultimate limit of a series of shades of any color (Webster’s, p.2167). Never underestimate the power of this super neutral. It works with any other color, in any context, anywhere. One color plus white equals an almost foolproof color scheme. White would be an inappropriate color for a wedding in China. It is the color of mourning. If a bride chooses a white wedding gown, her parents would probably not allow her to get married. Innocence, purity, virginal, sterility, fairness, snow, frost, milk, ghostly, ultraconservative, blank, empty, transparent, honorable, dependable, auspicious, fortunate, harmless
Pink	A color varying from light crimson to pale reddish purple (Webster’s, p.1472). Makes one feel prosperous, a bit pampered. “Baker Miller” pink (deep shade of pink, similar to Pepto Bismol) is used in jail holding cells to calm prisoners. Pink is also used to treat patients suffering from headache disorders. Femininity, sweetness, prime, left-wing
Brown	A dark tertiary color with a yellowish or reddish hue (Webster’s, p.267). Solid, reliable brown is the color of earth and is abundant in nature. Light brown implies genuineness while dark brown is similar to wood or leather. Brown can also be sad and wistful. Men are more apt to say brown is one of their favorite colors. Earth, nature, dirt, tanned, drab, coffee, solid, sad

http://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/trends/articles/office-job-style-fashion-work

Examples of retro:

Examples of classic:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karyn-starr-and-andrea-longacrewhite/the-working-wardrobe_b_135496.html

As Nick Paumgarten argued in the New Yorker this week, “hoarding is panic’s quiet twin.”

During this economy’s downturn a purge of any sort may strike as counter-intuitive. Yet as wardrobes go, we find that people keep buying when they cannot see what they have; cannot see what it is that is working best for them in their own closets. Our focus has always been functional fashion for the modern woman, to which the idea of a working wardrobe is our most integral concept and reiterated mantra.

Favorite clothing items are often those simple basics with an exaggerated detail (eg. tailoring play or kick of patent) or perfect fit. They are no-brainers: unfussy and versatile, how every piece in a wardrobe should feel. Of course, while dramatic or extravagant special occasion pieces are necessary and fun, it is too often we find them overrunning a wardrobe rather than supplementing a great base/foundation.

A great base consists of three different layers:

- Bottoms: pants and skirts

- Tops

- Outer layers: cardigans/sweaters/jackets

A way to test the functionality of one’s wardrobe is that each of these layers should all go together relatively easily/fluidly and in many combinations. Outfits, or a single top that only matches a single bottom have little place in the working wardrobe.

Within a working wardrobe, the wheel need not be reinvented every time the closet is entered! Looking to French women we see fewer items and greater ingenuity of pairings. Everything goes together: making for endless outcomes. Also relevant is the European closet whose average size is much smaller than its American equivalent. We, Americans, therefore require double the diligence in curbing our hoarding practices and unchecked overflow.

In the long run, the working wardrobe philosophy saves money through engendering smarter shopping practices. With a strong foundation (based on individual lifestyle needs, body type and work realities) key classics can carry through from season to season and when loved beyond the point of wearability, may then be replaced. Shopping to replace; a clothing search with a more specific focus allows for more finely tuned and directed shopping. As the clothing search becomes less scattered, by extension, so will the overall wardrobe.

In going forward, get in your closet and spend a little time! Get playful, experiment with what you already have. Put it all together, try layering thin materials, pair clothes tonally. Think of balancing volume with cinching or showing off a wrist, elbow or collarbone. In pairing down and experimenting you may find those one or two key pieces you’ve been missing (simple belt, scarf, black blazer) that keeps a wardrobe fresh and can changes individual articles.

A vital aspect of the working wardrobe and the mind shift most important in transitioning towards one is moving away from the idea that each individual article of clothing must be “interesting” or “eccentric.” The statement is the outfit as a whole, each article working together for overall effect and composition. Therefore, though a thin black cardigan with a subtle detail or shape may seem tame when viewed in solitary, it takes on life when paired with counterparts, when used as one character in a larger ensemble.

Andrea Longacre-White of White-Starr

http://blackwhiteyellow.blogspot.com

The posting about Gucci outfits in those colors is simply stunning.  http://blackwhiteyellow.blogspot.com/2009/07/black-white-and-yellow-collection-gucci.html

Yellow top: Theory

Belt: Reiss

Skirt: Banana Republic

Shoes: Bally

Cat looking on: Jazz

First time wearing these Bally pumps.  I had the heels cut by the shoe repair already (a good shoe repair person can tell you how much to be cut without losing the balance of the shoes).  Bally shoes are great and they are relatively comfy for this height.

Yellow also looks great against gray or navy.

This is what I settled on.

• Blue top: Theory
• Scarf: Ralph Lauren
• Pants: Cynthia Steffie
• Shoes: Hugo Boss

It was a bit chilly just wearing this in the office.  I purchased this Banana Republic cardigan (silk / cotton/viscose blend) that could go well with this outfit.  

I can also make this an all – season outfit by pairing it with a black wool jacket with mandarin collar from Banana Republic a couple of season ago.

This is what I wore on Tuesday and I have to say I was not really thrilled.  The wrap did not fit perfectly and the cami had too much showing.  These are the things I do not want to worry about.  Will donate the wrap top and look for something else to pair with this skirt (could be as simple as a white shirt with a belt?)

• Wrap top: Esprit
• Purple Skirt: Hugo Boss
• Scarf: Emlio Pucci
• Pumps: Barneys Coop

Excuse to purchase: a wide patent belt (black most likely); a printed top with a purple/violet tone.

P.s.: bought the black patent belt from Reiss; hold off buying the top because either a white blouse could do or I may already have something in my closet that could also work.