Anything Goes

For color, anything goes according to the runways at the Emmy's. Brights like hot pink and canary yellow, soft hues like pale blue and beige as well as black and white, silver and glitter. The uniting theme is escapism, using fantasy colors and styles to create a "fun" look.

Top: Vanessa Williams in Kevan Hall, Christina Applegate in Reem Acra, Kyra Sedgwick in L'Wren Scott
Bottom: Heidi Klum in Armani Prive, Brooke Shields in Badgley Mischka, Mariska Hargitay in Carolina Herrera.

Some of the common themes in the Emmy gowns are one shoulder styles, wraps, and slim-fitting gowns. I think this all speaks to "playful elegance", that we will continue to see emerge in fashion and home decor.

A Bright Future

Usually when the fall months arrive, the pages of the fashion magazines turn from bright summer colors into cooling grays, blacks and browns. However, this season, I am seeing colors brighter than ever, mimicking mardi gras and peacock plumage.

From Harper's Bazaar feature of Roberto Cavalli line

Jewel tones in hues of bright green, teal, purple and fuscia are accented with yellow greens and pale blues. Colors can be paired together as solids or twisted into patchwork patterns like the Cavalli gowns.

Our Secrets of Angels ornament collection features brights for the holidays. We mixed the colors of the outer packaging with the inserts for a background that makes the metallic pewter angels POP!

Hippie Chic

"According to the New York Runways, nothing is out of style", quips the Wall Street Journal in an article covering the spring fashion shows. Alice + Olivia designer Stacey Bendet says she wanted to "mix up hippie and hipster" for her collection. What this includes is a lot of fringe on clothing, handbags and boots as well as floor-length floral dresses. The look is updated, fun and flirty, but also speaks to the casual escapism of the 1970's hippie style. Bright colors, flowing fabrics, comfort and confidence are they key.

Shown: Fringe Sweater by D&G, Fringe Handbag by Tory Burch, and Pewter Peace Sign ornament by Gloria Duchin.

For those who hung onto some of those vintage fashions, get them out of storage, air them out and get them ready to wear for the upcoming season!

A Naturally Modern Wedding

Color Trends… Chocolate, Chartreuse, and Cream

Robyn asked me to post the blog this week after spotting the recent color palettes this fall highlighting chocolate brown paired with chartreuse green.

When my older sister got engaged last December, she knew immediately what colors she wanted all the elements in her November wedding to be. From the Invitations to bridesmaid dresses to table settings, all elements would revolve around the color scheme chocolate brown, chartreuse green, and cream. Chocolate brown has been a classic autumn color for a number of years, but pairing it with bright pops of chartreuse green makes for a fresh and modern statement. Incorporating cream as a base color for the invitations and table setting adds a soft lightness, rather than the harshness of a pure white.



My sister and I teamed up in designing the invitations and all other printed elements. We found the colored stationary we were looking for at Paper Source, and were even able to come up with new ideas then what we had originally planned. While designing I found a versatile leafy vine element that we used on the invitations, RSVP cards, Thank You cards, and all name cards and table markers for the reception. A similar floral vine pattern is embroidered on the sashes of the chocolate brown bridesmaid dresses we found through Simple Silhouettes. Each bridesmaid, along with the bride, will be carrying a bouquet of varying white flowers.



The reception, which will be held at Woodend Sanctuary, a preserve belonging to the Audubon Naturalist Society in Washington DC, will carry on the same color theme. The tables will be set with a cream pintuck tablecloth and the brown cherrywood base plates. On top of that will be a plain twill white napkin folded around the menu printed on chartreuse cardstock and accented with a brown grosgrain ribbon. In the center of each table will be an arrangement of natural gourds and vegetation in fall colors scattered with white flowers similar to those of the wedding party’s bouquets.

From the location to invitations, every aspect is sure to use both nature and color to the best of their ability in creating a naturally modern, and unmistakably autumn wedding.

posted by Kate Huot

World's Greatest

We've been busy in the office this week, preparing for our "World's Greatest..." national television segment. Crown Point Productions will be here this week filming us for their show that features the world's greatest companies, products, people and places. We have been selected to appear on it in October. (read the full press release here).

In preparation, we've been decorating new trees in our design studio, based on our 2009 trends. We have our pink pop art tree with bright pink, green and purple ribbons and ornaments. We also have our Secret Agent black tree with silver ornaments and ribbon, as well as our silver tree with red and white accents including our pewter candy cane ornament.

During the show, I'll let you know how to create fantastic and affordable holiday tree designs in your own home, so be sure to check back to the blog for dates and showtimes!

Let's Get Personal

The key to gift giving this season is to make it personal. Even if you're on a tight budget, you can still get someone a great gift by making it more meaningful. Personalization means you can create your own message with custom engraving, or you can look for presents that tell the recipient that they are special to you. This could be anything from a special birthstone ornament to an "Our First" or "Baby's First" Christmas gift.

This year, we are pleased to announce that we will be retailing customizable ornaments at Sears.com with FREE engraving like the Birthstone angel ornament featured below. We also have an assortment of engravable ornaments available on our own website at https://www.gloriaduchin.com/customimprint/ For less than $20.00, you can get everyone on your list a one-of-a-kind gift!