Color Day: Tangerine Tango

Every year we love to check to see what Pantone's "Color of the Year" is.  Last year was the cheerful and feminine Honeysuckle Pink. This year we are delighted to see Tangerine Tango, a vibrant, edgy, and sexy shade of reddish orange.  We're big on the red/orange color as we think it's fun and energizing and perfect for a Spring or summer wedding or to spice up your wardrobe for the new year! Added bonus to choosing the color orange for your event: it really goes a long way in the lighting department to create a warm, cozy, and romantic glow.

Tangerine Tango Color Inspiration Board

1. Starshaped Press via Flickr | 2. Teapots and Tulle | 3. The Vegas Wedding Planner | 4. Urban Outfitters |

5. Pantone | 6. Fearon May | 7. Butter | 8. Nordstrom | 9. Artesan Jewelry | 10. Urban Outfitters | 

11. Glamour | 12. Sweet Pickle Jewelry | 13. Amina Michele | 

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Deeply Yours

Is it nearing the end of January already?! Valentine's Day is approaching which for some means adding an insane amount of red to your wardrobe. Our snarky side hates color coding holidays, but then we go ahead and do it anyway. If you want to be a little festive but not seem over-the-top-weird, then forego the candy red and instead try on a deep, rich red / maroon / burgundy for a more mature and professional look. The rich full color adds drama to any outfit, but is still understated enough to wear in the office. Plus, the deep red hue tends to look good with every skin tone.

1. Victoria's Secret | 2. Bettie Page | 3. Urban Outfitters | 4. American Eagle |

 5. Steve Madden | 6. Ralph Lauren | 7. Express |

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Color Day Theme: The Greatest Show on Earth

Come one, come all! Ladies and gentleman of all ages, step right up and prepare to be entertained by the unique, the vintage, and the whimsical circus inspiration board! Make your wedding the most spectacular show on Earth by incorporating some fun circus elements like popcorn, peanuts, bales of hay, small elephant accents, fun props, and bright colors.  Got Water for Elephants on the brain?  We do too!  So, this board is a slightly more vintage, romantic take on the big top wedding:

Vintage Circus Theme Wedding Inspiration Board

1. Green Wedding Shoes | 2. Once Wed | 3. Oh Lovely Day | 4. Glamour |

5. September Faire | 6. Something Old Something New | 7 & 8. Josh Goleman |

9. Jaime Mancilla | 10. Bridalhood | 11. Royal Steam Line

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Look Red Hot This Valentine's Day

It turns out we have too many posts for Valentine's Day and not enough days to post them.  So, in lieu of our usual color day today we will be featuring red hot looks for Valentine's Day.  Red is the color of love and passion, worn by the bold. Whether it's a sexy dress, fierce heels, or lush makeup, wearing red puts you in the spotlight. While we're a bit on the fence about wearing red on Valentine's Day, everyone does it and we secretly may want to do it, so here are some looks to flaunt on February 14th:

Look sweet but sexy in this lovely red dress available at Mod Cloth. We love the classic full skirt, while the asymmetrical neck gives it a more constructive look. Wear it with soft curls or a retro updo, kitten heels, and some delicate jewelry.

 A more casual, but still very sexy look is this short sleeved smock dress from Express. It comes with a cute, cinched belt to help flatter your figure and would look great with black wool tights and booties.

 Not a fan of the bright red dress? Then throw on your trusty LBD and add some hot, red suede peep toes to top off the ensemble. It will jazz up your outfit, add some color, and look very sexy and stylish.

Since Valentine's Day falls on a Monday, you may want to opt for something a bit more appropriate than a sexy red dress and sky high heels for work. Instead, try on this red v-neck sweater from Ann Taylor.  Made from lightweight wool, you'll stay warm and look hot all day long. Add some personality by wearing it with a chunky necklace, as shown above, or keep it sleek and chic with a pencil skirt and black pumps.

Colored tights aren't just for Blair Waldorf. While red tights can look a bit juvenile, you just need to know how to dress them. Steer away from pleated skirts and flats so you don't look too prep school, but do wear mini skirts and heeled Mary Janes. Also, don't layer your reds... if you go for red tights, then stick with a black or grey dress and black shoes.

 Nothing is sexier than bold, red lips on Valentine's Day. Mac offers a great array of colors and textures, although we particularly recommend Viva Glam. There's nothing like saying I love you by leaving your mark on your man's face.

You don't have to be a pin-up bombshell on Valentine's Day to feel romantic. Look perfectly sweet and lovely in this full skirt from Urban Outfitters.Wear it with a loose tank (pictured above) for a more free spirited look, or a fitted cardigan to give it a vintage vibe.

Get cheeky this Valentine's Day in these adorable heart print panties from Victoria's Secret. This is a great way to secretly feel festive if you can't or don't want to wear red at work. Top it off with a matching bra and you'll be the cutest thing this Valentine's Day.



 XOXO,



Jen & Saira

Color Day: Be My Valentine (Red & Pink)

Last week, our color day focused on shades of pink.  This week, we will add in a bit of red (and lots of hearts!) to give it that super Valentine's Day feel. We generally avoid wearing these colors together any other time because, well, they just look like Valentine's Day. So, with that, this is about the only time of year that we consider it truly acceptable. But, regardless of what we think, these colors are romantic and traditional and, when combined, give things an overall happy and delightful feel that we can't help but enjoy.

Valentine's Day Red, Pink, and White Color Inspiration Board

Images from: ThePathLessTraveled, Nella Designs, Wedding Cabaret, The Slightly Obsessive Bride, Elizabeth Anne Designs, The Perfect Palette, Wed Loft, All Women Stalk, Cactus Creek

    XOXO

     Jen & Saira

Holiday Style: Red and Green Are the New Black

 Celebrate the first full week of December by dressing yourself in the colors of the season -- red and green of course! These two colors can pretty much only be worn together during the month of December so be sure to get your fill of this combo before the Christmas season passes us by!  While we're not huge fans of dressing up for holidays (i.e. wearing red on Valentine's day), adding some select red or green pieces into your wardrobe is definitely the easiest way to incorporate a little holiday spirit and get you feeling festive. Plus we love coordinating outfits and cohesive themes so wearing one of these shades is a great way to compliment all the holiday decor!

Nothing quite says Christmas like a bright red, warm and cozy sweater dress.  This one, from Victoria's Secret, is modest enough for your family party but also looks very sexy with the thin black belt.  Pair this with some black leggings and cute flats and you'll be ready to deck the halls in no time!

Look picture perfect in front of the tree this Christmas in this beautiful red and green (ish) print dress from Urban Outfitters. This dress is reminiscent of the dress you wore with the velvet bow in your hair to your great Aunt Mildred's house on Christmas Eve... but in a good way! Add some loose curls, maybe a headband, and definitely some black tights, and you're on your way to looking like your very own Christmas card.

 You can be Santa's sexy little helper in these ruffled peep toe pumps.  Add them to any basic black dress to jazz up your outfit, and get ready to sashay onto the dance floor... or kitchen floor, same difference.

This green satin dress from J. Crew is definitely at the top of our winter wish list, and just may be our dream dress for the holiday season. The rich jewel hemline adds just the right amount of sparkle to this simple satin dress, making it bright and festive, without being over the top. While it's a bit pricier than the picks we tend to share on our blog (we are pretty modest girls, after all), we just loved it so much that we had to share.

Feeling the holiday spirit, but not the satin or frills? Then try on this checked embroidered skirt from Mod Cloth. While the skirt is decorated with horses, not reindeer, we think this skirt would be perfect for Christmas eve with a cute little cardigan and black tights. 

Brighten up your gray December morning with this warm, green, cowl neck sweater from Macy's.  The extra long sleeves and layered neckline is exactly what the doctor ordered this winter.  It would look great with a pair of straight leg black dress pants and a chunky bracelet or ring and don't forget the red lipstick to really pull the look together! Also, you can recycle this sweater for St. Patrick's Day, so everyone wins!

Dressing up in a red satin dress is not for everyone, but dressing up with a red satin clutch is totally doable. Add on some glamor this holiday season with this red, satin rosette clutch available at Macy's. Dress up a beaded black or silver dress, and you'll be set for any holiday party.

For a more subtle way to show your holiday spirit, try out this silk, jeweled bracelet from Anthropologie. It's simple, elegant, and our favorite shade of green!

Stand out from the crowd in this red satin halter top by Ann Taylor. For a casual look, wear it belted with black pants (shown above) or dress it up with a pencil skirt for a chic and polished look. It already has some shimmer, so opt for minimal jewelry, such as small stud earrings or a sparkly bracelet.

Or, looking for a more laid back, casual look?  Show your Christmas spirit while being extra cozy in these fun green leggings!  Paired with a simple cream top and flats or boots, these cheerful leggings can be a really great way to wear holiday colors and ensure you have plenty of room for all those Christmas cookies!



Remember to comment on today's post to be eligible to win a prize in the Paper Doll Romance 12 Days of Christmas!  We picked up some really great items this weekend that we're so excited to give away!  Winners will start being announced once a day starting December 12th.  Best of luck!



'tis the season to be jolly!



XOXO

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Red, Black, and Khaki

December is finally here and that means today is the first day of our 12 Days of Christmas promotion!  Please start commenting and you'll be entered into our random drawing to win a great little prize from a local artist or crafter.  We have things to give away from cards to candles to prints, soaps, jewelry and more! 

Now, in the meantime, to get us into the holiday spirit here is a color board that says Christmas with style.  One look at this color board will leave you longing for a snow day where you snuggle up with a warm blanket and sip cocoa by the fireplace. Red is a signature shade of the holidays and it very vibrant, but here it is toned down with the neutral khaki, black, and white to create a rustic, country look with a level of sophistication that we think even the people over at Burberry would be pleased with.

Khaki, Red, Black, and White Inspiration Board

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Images from: designandink, ootch, hankandtillie, cottonbirddesigns, lovegrowsbygiving, sewnnatural, anniewhere, pattisprimitives, boopteylu, inburberry, with this ring, modcloth     

May your days be merry and bright!

XOXO

Jen & Saira       

Color Day Themes: Ornate Oriental

Jen is currently traveling in Asia, so we thought this "Oriental" inspired color-day would be appropriate.  The underlying color to this theme is red, which can be as subtle or as bold as you want. The key to this theme is the details: go for the take-out boxes, over-sized lanterns, paper cranes, chopsticks, and fortune cookies.  We realize we're blending cultures, but you can pick and choose what look you want to go with. Just remember to be bold, and when in doubt, go for take-out!

Images from: awaysoiree, Biz Bash, Claire Pettibone, Favor Ideas, Jacques, Priceless Weddings, Wedding Paper Divas, Worldly Weddings, Wedding Dazed  

Color Day Themes: Teacher's Pet (Red Delicious Apple)

Happy September, dolls!  Today's board is inspired by school tradition and the infamous "teacher's pet".  Being teacher's pet isn't easy; there's studying, class participation, and of course the time-honored tradition of presenting your teacher with "thoughtful gifts".  And, when it comes to gifts, there is nothing more traditional and formally ingrained in our minds than a ripe, red, perfectly polished apple. "Back to School" can remind you of a lot of things like paper bag book covers, pencil shavings, and plaid, but when you think of school and teachers and Fall and put it all together, you get a big juicy apple.  Luckily, here in New Jersey, we have an abundance of orchards! So, in September and October we can all flock to our nearest farm and pick our apples, which may be used to help get us to the head of the class, or better yet in pies, as place card holders, & as centerpieces. However you choose to use this fall favorite, incorporating apples into your Fall decor is a surefire way to get an A+ from us!

Red Apple Color Inspiration Board

Images from: Zazzle, lehanpaperdesign, ModCloth, kellyoshiroevents, moorehousedesigns, theinspireddesignblog, Keen to be Seen, Thoughtfully Simple, Ritzy Bee, Cup Cakes Take the Cake, Inspired by This, ringoblog, This Next, Tizzalicious           

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Bejeweled Bliss

Rubies, Sapphires, and Emeralds, oh my! Jewel tones have a unique ability to add a sense of luxury and passion to any space, wardrobe, etc. Can't decide which to use?  Use them all! These regal shades flow together and compliment each other so nicely to create a sexy, sultry, naturally glamorous atmosphere. We think this rich and luxurious looking ensemble, inspired by your favorite gemstones, is fit for a queen and certainly for any Fall wedding or event.

Jewel-toned Wedding Color Inspiration Board

Images from: Pretty Chicky, Zenadia Design, The Indie Bride, ModCloth, Wedding Paper Divas, Nelle, handmadebyemy, Real Simple, Alex Sepkus, Eco-Lovely Guide





And, PS - Can you believe this is our 100th post!?

 Oh, how the time flies! It totally snuck up on us and we didn't even have a chance to prepare a speech or celebratory photo montage.

Anyway, in the next few weeks you can look forward to some fresh posts on Fall fashion and accessories, all sorts of back to school necessities, and, of course more inspiring color days, themes, and weddings!

We love writing for you and we thank you, so very much, for reading.

Here's to the next 100!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Spices of India

Namaste!  Let's continue this week's food theme with a pallet inspired by some of our favorite cuisine. Tikka Masala, Palak Paneer, Curry, Tandoori anything.. we just can't get enough ethnic foods and Indian is one of our favorites! With it's rich red, deep gold, & earthy green spices, Indian food is by far the most colorful and vibrant of them all!  We love the way these savory hues play off each other and work together to create a color scheme that invokes comfort, warmth, & passion.  This is one delectable color inspiration that we're sure will add a little spice to your home, event, or Fall wardrobe.

 Indian Spices Color Inspiration Board

Images from: Macy's,  The Sweetest Occasion, Santa Barbara Chic, Anthropologie, Alfred Angelo, Urban Outfitters, Wedding Paper Divas, Project Wedding, Elizabeth Ann Designs, I Do Inspiration, Polka Dot Robot, Taste of India 

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

         

Color Day: Red, White, and Blue

Oh say can you see... an awesomely patriotic color board!?!



In a perfect world, this post would have gone up last week to inspire you for your July 4th parties, but alas, Eclipse swooped in and took over our posts.  But, just because our Independence Day is over does not mean that we should be any less patriotic!  So, here is a color day inspired by the stars and stripes on our grand ol' flag.  We're sure this theme would make our founding fathers' proud.

Red, White, & Blue "Americana" Color Inspiration Board

Images from: Bliss Event Group, FineStationary, TheKnot, Elizabeth Ann Designs, Flickr, Ruffled,  Live Earth, Things Festive, Project Wedding, Tammy Michelle, Fausta Store, qacreate, ikabags, bohemmarket, The Posh Event, Anthropologie           

...with liberty and justice for all!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Happy Birthday USA!

Happy Birthday, USA!  We hope you enjoyed your 4th of July or are still currently enjoying it. Since many of you are off today in observance of independence day, we've decided to share some patriotic fashion that would be great for summertime barbecues, beach days, or just hanging around the house!  Take a look below at some of our favorites:

Element dress from Pacific Sunwear 

Striped, jersey knit romper by Top Shop

Ruffly, blue and white chemise by Anthropologie

Striped T-shirt with boat graphic by Mod Cloth

Preppy sailor inspired dress, also by Mod Cloth

Scallopedpencil skirt in red from Urban Outfitters

Marc Jacobs patriotic sandals available at Zappos

For life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Black, White, and Red

The newest Twilight movie comes out TODAY and we wouldn't be prepared for "Eclipse" without a vampire inspired color day! The covers of the Stephenie Meyer Twilight books all sport the same theme, black with bold white and red graphics.  Black and white can represent opposites, Jacob Vs. Edward or Good vs. Evil for example, and red is the color of love, anger, and, of course, blood.  Now, it's easy to incorporate these shades without going totally Dita Von Teese or having your friends and family thinking you've suddenly gone "goth". These are classic colors and nothing can ever compare to the elegance of simple black and white, think 007, tuxedos, pearls, little black dresses. Choosing red as your accent ensures your space, event, etc. has just the right amount of passion and drama.

Black, White, and Red "Eclipse" Color Inspiration Board

Images from: Steve Madden, Forever21, Bakerella, HM Creative Supplies, Planet Wall Art, Name Your Wish Images, Jasmine Bridal, Little Black Book, PriceGems, Lunarrastar Jewelry, FIAZCO, The Kitchen Sink 

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Turquoise & Red

Different colors evoke different emotions and selecting the appropriate colors for your space or event are often difficult. There are cool tones, warm tones, & neutrals and you usually pair colors together according to their color families. It is typical for people to select like colors and play it safe... but the rare few that are daring enough to go for complimentary colors are the ones that are sure to make the biggest impact! We love those that are bold enough to go for color combos that are opposites on the color wheel, like these shades of blue and red! The pairing of cool turquoise and warm, bright red is a bold choice for the ultra modern home, wedding, or wardrobe.

Images from: Wedding Times, Wedding Chicks, TheCakeBlog, ElizabethAnneDesigns, ProjectWedding, TheKnot, Life.Love.Lipstick, BridalPartyTees, SparklePower, RocketDog, DecadentDesigns, PartyInnovations, GraciousPaper, Rachel Jasper Design 

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Real Wedding: Jen & Tom

We think one of the best ways to capture the beauty and romance of weddings is to share the pictures of our friends and readers. To kick off our blog, it seemed most fitting to share the pictures of our very own Doll, Jen!

 

Jen and Tom met our freshman year of college, and it was pretty much picture perfect from the start. They were best friends, a few months later they fell in love, and the rest is history. Their wedding style reflected their personalities: fun, energetic, quirky, and sweet. Set at the Morris Arboretum, a historic carriage house and garden just outside of Philly, the wedding was a nice mix of traditional and whimsical. The officiant was the groom's roommate, there were assorted pies and a candy bar in lieu of wedding cake, mini cheese steaks and a french fry bar for hors-oeuvres, a DIY photo booth, and a wish tree as an interesting twist on a guest book. A perfect beginning for a perfect couple, here's a glance at Jen &Tom's wedding:

Details about Jen & Tom's Wedding after the break!  If you'd like to share pictures from your special day, please send us an email at paperdollromance@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you and possibly feature your wedding in a future post!



 

Venue: The Morris Arboretum

Dress: Maggie Sottero - Elaine - Purchased from The Bridal Suite in Hamilton, NJ. Our friend & shop owner, Kim, is wonderful. NJ &PA Brides/Bridesmaids/etc. please check them out and tell them we sent you ;)

Groom's Suit: BCBG

Bridesmaids: Jasmine Bridals

Groomsmen: Suits from Men's Warehouse

Photography: David Difuntorum

Flowers: Whole Foods

Food: Catering by Bruno's

Hair and Makeup: Daneene Jensen

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira