Accessory Generation: Lifestyle Matters: Summer Colors

I think I've established that I'm currently obsessed with the color chartreuse. Don't ask me why, but I just love it, maybe because I love green and yellow and chartreuse is in between the two. Anyway, it is one of my favorite colors for summer accessories and vibrant purple is the other. I wasn't trying to style any outfits today, but I just happened to lay some things around as I was organizing and I realized how amazing my new summer tote looks with an old umbrella and even older wallet. While in color combining mode I realized my few recent purchases, except the bag, are all purple and then realized they look smashing together as well.

The chartreuse tote was hanging in between my brown wallet and near my umbrella stand when I noticed that this umbrella pulled in all the colors and looked fab together. It's so true that if you buy accessories that speak to you, in colors you love, you will be able to coordinate amazing outfits without even trying.

New INZI tote, ancient Louis Vuitton wallet and last year's Missoni umbrella (from TJ Maxx!)

Turns out Monty & Dusty even have coordinating cat toys!

And, of course, there's a coordinating necklace.....Not planned at all, but this very inexpensive necklace that I picked up at my favorite jewelry "chop shop" (no longer in my neighborhood) last year is a perfect pairing with the tote, but not too matchy-matchy. The necklace reminds me of the style of collars the Egyptian pharaohs wore. It also came in shades of blue and gray, but liked this color palette because it's summery and matches my eyes.

Necklace with multi shades of green, including chartreuse

So chic!

Purple, in all its glory, is my other favorite right now. It's such a rich color that, historically, it is the color of royalty in many cultures. It has so many luscious shades, that it looks good on everyone, you just have to find the shade that suits you best. I recently purchased a few items, not intending to start a purple collection, but I'm feeling the purple vibe right now. It appears that even Blogspot was so bowled over by the color purple that it can't see straight and refuses to post my best photo right side up, despite my repeated attempts (see below).

Although I haven't had the time or the money (thanks to Monty's medical condition and bills) for much shopping lately, I went antiquing with a friend a couple weekends ago and we visited a little shop that sells vintage jewelry that was recently recommended by several people, called Jewel Diva (they have a web site that can be Googled). We were sort of antique window shopping and I was doing some research for this blog and for what I hope will become an Ebay business, when the earrings and bracelet below caught my eye and I thought they were worth the value. The bracelet was unsigned and pretty reasonably priced. The large earrings are Larry Vrba (more on Vrba in an upcoming mega post I'm working on) and, while not cheap, still a fairly modest splurge. The resin necklace is from a stylish new boutique in Katonah called Ebba. Very inexpensive and came in several fabulous colors, including chartreuse, but the shopkeeper and I both thought the purple looked better on me. I wasn't even considering the earrings and bracelet when I bought the necklace, but they are a great match and I plan to wear them (not all at the same time) this summer to breath new life into a festive maxi dress I bought three years ago that has a lot of purple and gold in the pattern.