#2012SpringFashion | Valentina Expressions

The Gift Of A Leap Day | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

“Leap Day in the Gregorian calendar is a date that occurs in most years that are evenly divisible by 4, such as 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. Years that are evenly divisible by 100 do not contain a leap day, with the exception of years that are evenly divisible by 400, which do contain a leap day; thus 1900 did not contain a leap day while 2000 did. […] […] a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. Every four years, during which an extra 24 hours have accumulated, one extra day is added to keep the count coordinated with the sun’s apparent position.[…]” Wikipedia says.

I hope that you have taken advantage of the gift of an extra day to do something fun.
Yesterday, my business, of course, was on my mind, as every day. I start very early in the morning and I go on and on, without noticing the hours, mixing pleasure and work.
However, yesterday at one point, I decided to enjoy my leap day and left my studio for a discovery mission. I visited a few fashion stores and then I sat at a fancy café for a delicious and relaxing cappuccino. While I was sitting at the café I went over in my mind on the items I had seen in stores and what I am considering buying.

(Dolce & Gabbana crystal embellished stretch tulle bust)
Animal print pants will still be around this spring and even though I have plenty of them, I wouldn’t mind having a red pair. They are so fabulous under a blazer.
Could never have enough of corsets in all shapes and forms, especially if they are encrusted.

(Sandal – https://www.gilt.com/brand/pencey/product/85481954-pencey-alexus-platform-sandal)

There is a plethora of shoes in stores, half of which are not even worth considering due to cheap material that will do nothing for the feet only hurt them. I am Italian and accustomed to super good quality shoes, I refuse to put plastic shoes on my feet. The right choice of shoes will contribute to the sexiness of the feet worth admiring. Unfortunately, women will fill up their wardrobe senseless with shoes, no matter what.

In the last few years, women shoes resemble more like heavy tanks than sexy shoes, adding only heaviness to the legs and that trend is still continuing in the spring. The chunky heels are back in fashion, at least they are better for supporting the weight of the body. Heavy, massive shoes are not really becoming for women with very muscular or heavy legs, but often women will wear what is in fashion at all cost instead of what looks good for their body shape, or skin coloration.

In the spring fashion, there are so many bright and sunny colors, vividness and gentleness. There are more colors in the spring palette than in any other palette and not much of dark colors.
Spring people (light skin and hair with low contrast coloration) should avoid dark color, especially white and black. The colors of the Far East are perfect for a spring person: light purple, peach, saffron, orange, bright green, turquoise or soft lilac and light blues. The choice of colors is endless this coming spring.

I saw many flowery prints and powdery colors, dusty beige, pearl gray, or dusty rose. I tried on a lovely dusty rose leather jacket, the shape, and the design were absolutely gorgeous, but the delicate color washed out my golden tone skin and blonde hair. I had to let it go with disappointment. Knowing about colors helps me not to buy on impulse. The wrong color will drag me down and the face will look opaque as if the light has been turned off.

It was a good exercise thinking of spring in this rainy, leap day and a much-appreciated gift from the cosmos. I was also rolling in my thoughts amused at the knowledge that in some countries, on leap day, women can propose marriage to a man and wondering how many did and got accepted, or how many did not get accepted and must wait four more years for the same chance.

Using colors is an art. Either one is gifted at birth, or one must learn it.
“To see the sunlight, one must have sunny eyes” ~ Anonymus.

Should you need my help in selecting architectural colors, or fashion colors, please do not hesitate to contact me by leaving your name in the box below.
Please share me with your circles freely. Ciao,
Valentina

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Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer and former Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe since 1990. She blends well fashion with interior and colors the world of her clients. She has been described as “the colorist” and loves to create the unusual. She is the author of RED-A Voyage Into Colors, the forthcoming book on the subject of colors. Check out her two published books on