Let's start by saying, I'm in no way a professional as far as me being an art major, nor have I studied color theory at great length. I am, however, extremely passionate about color and all of the varying combinations. I love the conventional AND the unconventional pairings (I'm sure there's a specific term for this), and I do not shy away from color expression. I follow my gut and use what I may have come across or learned through out life, to guide me.

I'd also like to take a moment and address the disobedient dreadlocks that decided to pop out of my neat little bun on the top of my head *Side- eye in Spanish*.

When I buy something, there's a few things that happen out right; first I'm like, does this fit my "uniqueness" qualifications (cuz though I'm more into finding basics to anchor all my unique pieces...I'm far from basic), and then I'm like....how many millions of things can I pair this with?

When pairing things I do in fact take color theory into consideration, color palette is of great importance to me, THEN everything else gets put on the table (juxtaposition, comfort, whether it suites the character I'm choosing to "play" at any given time, etc...). Some of my favorite color combos are pinks and greens, blues and orange, and how any color pops against a neutral such as brown, black and white (which is still up in the air as to whether or not blk &wht are technically a color or not), etc..

My goal most times is make a statement, I AM HERE, HEAR ME ROAR, TAKE IN ALL OF THIS FABULOSITY. Now, there are many ways to stand out aesthetically (even if your pieces are void of color), but my favorite expression is with a manipulation of color and/or even print combinations.

Here, I've decided to go with the tried and true blue and orange. The best thing about color combos is how you can combine a multitude of tones, hues, shades, depths, of each color. Instead of a primary type of bright (red, blue, and yellow), I ventured outwards and began combining secondary colors with my anchored primary (blue). I took a dustier medium blue and paired it with varying shades of orange, warm browns, taupe and terracotta. This is something I translate to my makeup application. Think of the different shades of orange and warm browns as my transition colors into and away from the bright blue. This look overall is a basic display of complimentary colors, and even though it's quite bright and out there for some, it's the easiest route to color combinations.

There are even more color ways and combinations once you start to incorporate analogous color schemes (e.g red-orange, orange-red, orange-yellow, yellow-orange, etc...) It is easiest to combine these colors and flawlessly create gradients and monochromatic looks. When it comes to color theory, you have primary colors , secondary colors, analogous color schemes (the colors that bridge the gap from one color to the next), etc...

Once you've gotten the hang of it, the color palette is endless and you'll never be the same....at least I wasn't. I was mixing colors that seemingly didn't belong together, since I was a wee one, and it turns out there was an actual method to the madness...I just didn't realize (nor did the plain-Jane folks in my family) that I was on to something. I urge you....I DARE you, to experiment and see how fun it can be. Now don't get it twisted, there's nothing wrong with going the colorless route, like I said before....you can still stand out in a crowd, devoid of color, if you wanted to.

I may do a whole series on color combos, standing out without color use, going monochrome with color, and breaking some of the print mixing rules and still making it work. You tell me, which one you want to see and which I should do first?

What I'm Wearing:

Head scarf from a streetfair. $5
Lightweight faux suede jacket from Gslovesme.com. $20 (On sale)
Top from Walmart.com. $12 (No longer avail., altern. HERE, and HERE)
Corduroy pants from JCP.com. $25 (On sale, no longer avail., altern. HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE)
Shoes from Mandee. $15 (On sale, no longer avail. similar HERE, and HERE)

Yo, can I dead have a phone like this in my hands...in at least a close proximity? This year...? This year and the one prior has be nothing but an onslaught of actual bull's shit, like when people say "bullSHIT" it's just this figurative expression. And, honestly, yes, there's a whole heap of figurative B to the S....but I feel as though the levels of BS have crossed over from figurative to literal (cuz that's how funky, putrid, and wack, shit is). The scope of BS, the way it flowed through life's bowels and casually (catastrophically) contaminated EVERYTHING in it's path......? You can only admire the bull SHIT symphony at this point, you almost can't get mad (I said almost...but not quite), like the expertise, the fluid and majestic cosmic dance of destruction. It's like when you watch mother nature devour lands and it's one part devastating (for obvious reasons) and one part a song beautifully sung, a story beautifully told (with the most perfect climactic ending). How can one, after fully processing what's transpired, fully be mad at it? So here we are, scrambling as yet another bullshit year comes to a close and all I can say (what little advise I can impart), take a moment, breathe, #ReclaimYourTime, appreciate the glory of it all, the magic of it all, inhale the good shit, exhale the bullshit, and remeber to brace yourself for what's to come. If all else fails, just getchu a existential phone. -Jamila Pierre #NaughtCouture {NaughtCouture.com}

So the caption above was under my most recent post on IG (Instagram: @NaughtCouture), I felt compelled to drop a lil' sumthin' sumthin' due to the end of the year's fast approach. This is the time when people's insecurities and self doubt tend to surface, and do so with a vengeance. This is the time when people stereotypically begin to resolute, making promises to themselves and professing change....when they know damn well that they aren't changing shit, and hey...that's OK. There's all this pressure to change, to do better, to be better, to have accomplished and achieved something better than years past. And though I am all about change and betterment....I think that there is very little balance involved, perpetuating #FailureFeels, and propelling people into downward spirals.

We live in a world that looks down upon mental illness while simultaneously making the cycle practically unbreakable. We drag people into our projections and own ideals, leaving people to feel....well...less than, all of the time.

It's important, as the person being dragged, that you fight to get loose, to get free, and that if you still get dragged in...that you maintain a sense of self because it is entirely too easy to let yourself be swallowed by the expectations of others. And though there's a thin line between expectations and standards, there is in fact a difference, there is in fact a line. Educate yourself on those differences and protect yourself, not just from those around you...but from yourself. It may be cliche but it's true, you ARE your own worst enemy.

It is also common practice to to shrink ones self, especially if you're a part of a marginalized group (POC, Female, LGBTQIA+, Disabled, etc..), this is the expectation. You're not allowed to have a voice, not allowed to feel or express said feelings, your plight, the fact that you need help or recognition of your struggles, the fact that you are falling apart in every way imaginable, is to NEVER be put out there. So you essentially just have to shut up and smile for the cameras. With that said, the biggest wish, hope, and dream I have for you this upcoming year and the years that follow....is that you become louder, is that you find your voice and use it, is that you no longer feel the need to shrink.

I'd also like for you to be able to find as many moments as humanly possible, to breath, regroup, asses, and push through. This message isn't just for you, it's very much so for me, for I struggle with all of these things to the tenth power.

Wish me luck and send all your good juju and blessings this way, I will return the favor. Here's to a new year and may it be exceptionally better than the years past. #Make2018YourBitch, and if you can't...remember it's OK, you're still good enough, you're still worthy, you're still the bomb!

As for this outfit? I know, I know, it isn't exactly season appropriate because winter is currently raging against the dying of the light, but ehhhh....whataya gonna do? Hope you enjoy it none the less.

What I'm Wearing:

Sunnies from Rainbow. $5
Head-scarf from a street fair. $3
Vest is from Target. $7 (On sale) Alternative HERE
Sweater is from Forever21. $19.90 (Alternatives HERE, and HERE)
Necklace is from Burlington Coat Factory. $13
Bracelets are from Burlington Coat Factory and street vendors. $2-$7
Jeans are the most expensive jeggings of all time and are from HSN, circa many yrs ago. (Gifted $54) (Alternative HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE)
Boots are from Charlotterusse.com. $ (On sale) Alternative HERE HERE, HERE , HERE, HERE, and HERE

COLOR THEORY.

Smile For The Cameras.