Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Party Fashion: Color Blind to Making your Party "Green"

Do I need to take a color blind test? Am I the only one thinking like this? Let me tell you my "inconvenient truth".

As a party writer, and party designer, caterer event planner, I simply cannot be guilty of becoming - nor do I want to see you become - color blind to making your party "green".

Lately I feel like I'm not being "green" enough. I don't think I recycle enough.

I'm good at turning off unnecessary lights. And I don't waste fuel - I only drive out of necessity these days.

But am I the only one that feels a tinge of guilt when the subject of "going green" comes up? I mean, I wonder how many people are really trying to make a "green" home?

Now that there's all this talk about "being green" and "going green", is there such thing as being "too green"? And, if there is - is it because people try too hard, and end up shoving it down everyone's throats? I'm not going to go on about carbon credits and fossil fuel. But I kind of could. I administrate Cellulosic Ethanol Rocks!, a group over at the DNC. I know a little bit about it.

But I'm not here to lecture you. I really hate that.

I will say with certainty that while we can never do enough for the environment, it's pretty easy to go awfully wrong when it comes to planning a party using the color green.

Kind of like choosing a doctor (although this is not as serious, of course), you want to be wise about choosing how you use the color green.

Here's some Cater-Hater party-central style about what works and what shouldn't be recycled:

Some food groups just aren't good for your party

Peas and carrots? I've said no and passed on peas my entire life, but the carrots were certainly alright. I say heck no to pea green when it's not a complimentary color at a party.
How I Would Style It: Carefully choose a partner color that will hang out well with this particular shade of green. Stick to neutrals for a perfect balance; black, gray or khaki.

Keep it simple, baby - keep it nice and simple

You know what they say, less is more. Overindulging in one shade of green can verge between tacky and fabulously terrific. But if you're going green all the way, you can imagine which side of overindulgence you've landed on. Not good.
How I Would Style It: When you're greening your party environment, stick with shapes and forms. Style chic! The tendency, oftentimes, is to go with good 'ol green and gold. Keep it green simple and gold minimal. Otherwise, ouch on the eyes!

Green envy doesn't exist here

I always tell clients who tell me they're unsure of what matches to go with a monochromatic concept because it always works. Never say never. Never say always, not to this color trend. Top to bottom green on Santa's helpers at Christmas time might be "cute", but it's anything but that outside of elfdom.
How I Would Style It: Go with green in one area, and do something else with the rest. Uh huh, one area. See bullet point No. 1 for pairing shade colors.

My favorite martian? Heck NO!

Sure, every season Pantone dictates new trends in color and color combination's. Like, they say the color for today is Very Grape. But taking heed to their every word won't always work. Case in point, today I'm talking about not being color blind to making your party GREEN. There are no martians here so - neon green, for example, only looks good in small doses.
How I Would Style It: Return everything neon green for another shade of green that's not so offensive. When it comes to green, again I suggest the neutrals. I always add black or khaki.

Everything doesn't need to scream GREEN, but don't be color blind to making your party green. Rocking green and not looking like an extra from the national touring company of Wicked isn't impossible, nor is it challenging.

I saved this for last: My true favorite, favorite, favorite accent color to add to the color green? Metallics. But you know how it goes... Too much of a good thing can go a long way. Keep it simple. Keep it chic. Because when green is done right, it can be the perfect touch.

And like I said before...

You get bonus points for incorporating anything previously shared. You get extra bonus points if you start a catering business!

Image source: Wikipedia