Mint Condition

Seeing as this week’s weather in D.C. has been nothing short of perfect (70-80 degrees, sunshine, no humidity), I feel the need to talk about SPRING!!! More specifically, I want to share my spring obsession that could very well lead into summer too. This spring, I am absolutely in love with the colour mint. I can’t get enough of it!! Mint coloured jeans, mint tops, mint accessories—you name it and it’s mint, I want it! It’s strange because I’ve never really thought about the shade of pale green before. Looking through my wardrobe, I hardly owned anything ‘mint.’ I did fall in love with a leather pouch at my store (American Apparel) that was an interesting shade of pale-mint-ish-green, but of course, American Apparel takes it upon itself to invent creative and original ‘names’ for it’s colours (which would maybe be a pretty cool job—Director of Colour Naming for American Apparel?!?) so the pouch was the colour ‘lunar.’ American Apparel’s answer to a more ‘bold’ mint-colour is ‘lagoon.’ I recently purchased a puff sleeve chiffon top in ‘lagoon’ (basically a darker mint colour—gorgeous) and then very pale/almost pastel green linen pants from American Apparel. I’m really excited about both of these pieces for spring!

Flipping through the pages of Elle magazine or even Google searching images from spring fashion for spring 2012, there is definitely a wide range of pale, pastel colours—including mint!! I recently had to make a mood board (by the way, did not know what a mood board was but now do and am glad to have had the experience!) for a fashion media internship that I was applying for (no, I have not heard back, and yes, it is unlikely that I will ever hear back let alone even get the position). So for my mood board, I was supposed to showcase my personal style and what inspires me. I chose to stay current with spring 2012 fashion trends but I mainly used the colours pastel green/mint and light pink. I think my mood board turned out pretty nicely—even if it doesn’t get me the internship. It was cool to see my ideas come together with the colour serving as one of my themes.

My 'mood board'

 

I think I’m obsessed with mint because it’s different. It’s not pink or blue. It’s also fairly feminine in a refreshing yet stand out- hey! Yes, look at me and this fabulous shade I’m wearing-kind of way. I also appreciate how the colour really does look great on all kinds of skin types. I often find myself disappointed because my skin doesn’t suit certain colours. For instance, I can’t wear yellow. I can sometimes get away with mustard yellow if it’s a bottom (i.e. not close to my face or hair) and one occasion (my high school senior prom), I got away with a very pale, white-corn, yellow. Otherwise, I can’t wear yellow. I also stray away from orange due to my skin tone and hair colour (brown with reddish hints) and I strongly dislike and avoid all shades of purple because I do not think they look flattering on me. Mint, however, looks great on my pale, freckled skin and it also looks good on other skin tones very different from mine.

Mint can be a bit tricky to pair with other colours. For instance, I don't think it looks right when paired with red or orange. Pale pink, when done ‘right’ can look very sweet and complimentary to mint (see above mood board or the images below). Otherwise, I pair mint with neutrals such as white/cream/ivory, nude, black, or dark/light grey. Navy can also look nice with mint.

So while corals and yellows are also everywhere this spring season, I definitely suggest watching this space for some mint pieces—you won’t be disappointed! Happy minty-fresh spring!

 

Nicola