So how to make this work?

1) Two colors, MAX. 

If you're just starting out on this jewel-tone-mixing business, it's usually best to cap yourself out at two colors. One color would have just looked average. Three colors in this (like, jewel-tone tights) would have been OTT. Two colors is just enough. Fun to look at without inducing eye seizures. And have fun with your picks--emerald and cobalt would have been pretty here, just like purple and ruby. Jewel tones look nice together, kind of like wearing a multi-colored stone necklace.

2) Minimize those patterns.

Notice my shirt is patterned, but it's a small pattern. And the skirt is solid. Keeping it small and simple draws the eye to how cool your color mixing is, and who doesn't want to feel like a cool cat in their jewel tones? (Also, never forget the power of a tied shirt and flouncy skirt. You will look like you have a TINY waist!)

3. Anchor it with black. 

For me, the perfect way to cap off these colors was a pair of black tights and black booties. Because to me, if you're going to put a lot of bright in one spot, you want to give it all the attention. Here, the black puts the eye up on the color. Again, giving your cool color-mixing some cred here, kid. I don't think this look works as well without it--for instance, come springtime, it won't feel as cute with neutral flats as this did with black.

Add those together and there you have it--a cute outfit! 

Perfect for taking over the classroom (at 8:00pm, when no one else is hanging around to watch you take pictures of yourself sitting on desks...)! 

Now, this probably ISN'T the question that you were asking yourself when you started reading this post, but...WHY did I wear purple yesterday? There's a good answer to that!

As some of you (not everyone) knows, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the color that symbolizes the domestic violence movement is (you guessed it) purple. As a former social worker for survivors of domestic/intimate partner violence, it is one of the most important months of my year. I have thought about domestic violence every day for the last five and a half odd years--after all, it's hard not to when it's either a) your passion or b) your job--but it comes to a head every year in October. Since I've been out of social work for two Octobers now, it's a reminder to me to keep thinking about domestic/intimate partner violence, and to keep talking about it. One in four women in this country will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and that's just what is reported. One in three women who die as a result of homicide are killed by either a current or former intimate partner. It's a serious issue--one that we should be talking about, whether or not Ray Rice is in the news. 

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there is hope and help. You are not alone. it is not your fault. There is support out there for you. Below is the number and website for the National Domestic Violence Hotline (US). This hotline can offer information and referrals to local domestic violence agencies in your community. 

1-800-799-7233

1-800-787-3224 (TTY for deaf and hard of hearing)

www.thehotline.org  

These are also helpful resources to find out about local domestic violence organizations that could use your time, talents, or donations to help make their programs more successful in assisting survivors who are seeking counseling and/or have left their abusive homes to pave a new life free from violence.

If you're unable to make a monetary donation, then consider wearing purple with me again on October 23rd, when the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) hosts its own Wear Purple Day (#purplethursday) for awareness. After all, speaking out for domestic violence awareness is always the fashionable thing to do.