Poll Post: Emerald

The phrase "Fall style" makes me think of a lot of things: natural fabric, thick knits, denim, leather, and other rich, luxe materials and elements. The same goes for color. Earth tones are beautiful and a stark contrast to summer's brights. My favorites are taupe and dusty red. 

Another of my favorites is emerald. This color is a bluish medium green. There are both light and dark shades of the color. When it's bright, the blue is very visible (it can even look teal), while in darker shades are like those of evergreen needles. In my opinion, emerald's blue tint is its defining factor.

Emerald is so versatile; you can wear a bright shade for a fun look, or go with a hunter hue for a dressier occasion. Plus, the range of shades allows you to inject it into your accessories, whether it be a dark wear-everywhere bag or some statement jewels. And it doesn't hurt that emerald's unofficially the color of the year (as declared by Pantone). Now, let's explore how to dress it up, down, and everywhere in between. 

1) Casual- Bright

From left to right by column:
BCBGMaxazria Kayleen Draped Hem Halter Top, $158, yearshopping.com
Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Leather Shorts, $418, barneys.com
14k Gold 6mm Pyramid Stud Earrings, macys.com
Asos Premium Day Leather Sandals, $109.69, asos.com

This is an example of a very blue emerald. What I really like about this top is the cut-out and hem detail. I paired the top with leather shorts and sandals to make it the focus of the outfit. To keep it from becoming boring, I featured a strappy, chunky-heeled sandal and gold studs to break up the monotony of the two black pieces.

2) Casual- Earth tone

Left to right by column:
Adrienne Crop Sweater, $58, nastygal.com
American Eagle Skinny Jean in Vintage Superlight Destroy, $39.99 (on sale), ae.com
Danielle Nicole Adeline Croc-Embossed Satchel Bag, $98, cusp.com
Paul Green 'Sage' Bootie, $360, nordstrom.com

Give a neutral outfit some color with a deep emerald bag. The croc-embossed faux leather keeps things interesting along with the short hem of the sweater, the jean's rips, and the ankle boot's silhouette. 

3) Office/Formal

Left to right:
Jason Wu Bi-color Fitted Dress, $2905.15, farfetch.com
Steve Madden 'Drmaquen' Pump, $129.95, stevemadden.com

I kept this ensemble simple because that's your safest bet for formal settings. Plus, the expensive material of the dress paired with these statement heels gives just enough punch. You can add more, but in this case I prefer simplicity. 

4) Special Occasions/Night Out

Clockwise from top left:
Silla Mid Heel, $61, missselfridge.com
3.1 Phillip Lim Sequined Silk Dress, $349.98 (on sale/SOLD OUT), theoutnet.com
BP. Open Metalwork Ring, $10, nordstrom.com

This dress is from last season, but I had to feature it. The bold sequins and sheer panels (on the shoulders and back) make the dress exciting, while the color scheme keeps it modern. To bring out the white accent in the dress, I chose a white pump. These also had a silver toe detail which I reinforced with the ring. In addition, the geometric pattern of the ring goes with the colorblocked pattern on the dress. The silver details bring out the dress's gray-silver sequins. 

Bonus: Hey, look! Jennifer Hudson approves!

I think it's safe to say that emerald's one of the hottest colors around. It's pretty in basically every shade and can be worn for any occasion. The outfits I put together above are just a few examples out of the countless number you can make with this color. What do you guys think? Do you like emerald? Gimme your thoughts in the comments and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com to chat.