by Rachel Grumman Bender

Seeing red. Feeling blue. Green with envy. There’s no denying that colors are inextricably linked with mood. Slip on a tailored LBD and you instantly feel chic and sexy or pop open a sunny yellow umbrella on a gloomy day and some of that sunniness will undoubtedly rub off on you.

There are several reasons why colors are able to influence how we feel. “We react on multiple levels of association with colors-there are social or culture levels as well as personal relationships with particular colors,” explains Leslie Harrington, executive director of The Color Association of The United States, which forecasts color trends. “You also have an innate reaction to color. For example, when you look at red, it does increase your heart rate. It is a stimulating color. This goes back to caveman days of fire and danger and alarm.”

You also have learned certain associations with color, such as red making your heart race since it’s linked with fire trucks and ambulances (in other words, alarm) or yellow having positive association simply because it was the color of your beloved grandmother’s kitchen. “As you get older, you become much more conscious of those learned reactions than the innate ones,” adds Harrington.

Jeannie Mai, who hosts “How Do I Look?” on the Style Network and who recently paired up with Yoplait Light to encourage women to make simple swaps (from giving your clothes a boost of color to swapping out unhealthy eating habits), is a firm believer in the ability of clothes to boost your mood. She calls it “wearapy.” “Therapists treat people with mood disorders,” she says. “I use clothing and texture to enhance people’s moods and their lives. On a bleak day it would be so easy to throw on a pair of jeans and a slouchy sweater, but I throw on something from spring-a green mini skirt, fun fringe booties and a sweater with evening jewelry. That makes an impression on everyone around me, but it also makes me feel cute. And when you feel cute, you feel better. You can channel the different moods you want with different colors.”

Feel like changing your frame of mind for the better? Play around with these colors when picking out your clothes, makeup and accessories:

Seeing Red
Red is the hot, crazy girl of colors, evoking powerful emotions such as fear, anger and passion. “Red would be one of the most complicated colors,” says Harrington. Unlike, say, yellow, which is sunny whether it’s a pale or bright version of the shade, the mood red conveys changes dramatically when you lighten it (sweet and innocent pink) or darken it (sophisticated burgundy).

Although research shows that the best way for a single gal to attract a guy’s attention is to wear red, you may be garnering attention you don’t necessarily want. “There’s a reason they call it the red light district,” notes Harrington. Adds Andrew Elliot, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Rochester: “We link red to passion because red is the color we exhibit on our skin when sexually interested-a red flush or blush.”

Rather than having your outfit scream “sex kitten” (unless that’s what you’re going for), the best way to rock this passion-producing color and get into a sexier frame of mind is by carrying a red clutch, donning a bright red polish on your nails (try Essie Well Red) or lining your lips in the right red. “Red lips can be your best accessory, especially if you’re wearing all black,” says Harrington. “You have to be confident to do it and have the right shade of red for your skintone.”

A Calming Case of the Blues

Need to chill out after a stressful day? Slip on something blue. “Psychologically, blue is the opposite of red-it lowers blood pressure,” says Harrington. “Red picks you up and blue takes you down, but not down to depression level.” That may be because if you look to nature, such as the sky and the ocean, blue conveys tranquility. That’s also what you project when wearing the shade. “I encourage women to wear blue when they want to create a calming essence,” says Mai. “Wear it on a first date-something turquoise or a light aqua sweater with a soft texture like cashmere. It makes a great a first impression and creates relaxation.”

Another beneficial time to make blue your go-to hue? If you’re going for a job interview or meeting your partner’s parents for the first time. “Blue is associated with trustworthiness, strength and dependability-hence, the blue power suit because it projects that image of dependability and trustworthiness,” says Harrington.

It’s Easy Being Green

From grass to leaves to other verdant vegetation, the color green is closely linked to the environment, which can put you in a relaxed or refreshed mood. “There is some tentative evidence emerging in the literature showing that green is relaxing because it is associated with growth and nature,” says Elliot. Green also looks good on every skin type and has a wide range of shades that allow you to modify your mood-from serious and sophisticated to fresh and bright.

“Green ranges from old traditional English libraries in a dark hunter green where you can sit down, concentrate and read to a spring-like yellow-based green, which symbolizes new birth or new growth-the beginning of something,” explains Harrington. Want to look relaxed, put together and sophisticated? Go for a rich dark green, such as Zara’s split sleeve dress in green. Want to perk up your peepers? Swipe on a shimmery green eye shadow such as MAC eye shadow in Humid.

Anything-But-Mellow Yellow

Yellow carries both positive and negative connotations-from sunshine, which conveys a joyous, happy mood to jaundice and sickliness, according to Harrington. In Mai’s experience, wearing the bright, fun color helped her stand out and put people at ease. “Wearing yellow creates a very open atmosphere with people,” she says. “When I was a reporter on Extra, if I was going to meet a celebrity who was a bit standoffish I found that wearing yellow would bring a smile to their demeanor right away. It’s an inviting color.”

That said, going overkill on yellow can leave you looking like a walking banana so Harrington recommends investing in yellow accessories instead to give you that same uplifting boost, such as a bright yellow clutch, scarf or even a pale yellow blouse under a sweater or suit. But keep in mind that not everyone can pull off this bright shade. “Skin with yellow undertones have a hard time with the color,” says Harrington, “and blue undertones can only wear certain shades of yellow so it’s hard to find the shade that looks good on, compared to navy, which anyone can wear.”

Orange You Glad You Wore It

This highly popular color marries the sunniness of yellow with red’s depth. In fact, orange is the perfect substitute if you’re not comfortable seeing red. But the color is by no means ho-hum-orange evokes action. “Orange is much more of a casual, active color-it’s big in active wear-whereas red is much more sophisticated,” explains Harrington. The perky shade is your best bet when you want to rev yourself up so you can hit the gym (if the Nike Free 3.0 V3 women’s running shoe doesn’t make you want to break into a run, nothing will) or channel creativity for a work project. “Orange is said to stimulate enthusiasm and creativity,” says Mai. “It symbolizes vitality and endurance.”

It’s also the color to choose when you want to stand out without taking a big risk. That’s because orange is considered a little edgy without be too “out there.” “If you’re going to buy a pocketbook and it comes in red, orange and yellow, yellow will be the biggest statement while almost everyone has a red bag,” says Harrington. “Orange is in the middle. It says, ‘have a little more fun and be a little different but not too different. Because of that, you see a lot more orange colors showing up in cosmetics.”

Give yourself a boost by playing around with orange makeup. Pucker up to a red-orange lipstick such as MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Good to Go or opt for a more subtle version with Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick in Satin Bright Orange. Not ready to take a big plunge in the orange pool? Swipe a bright orange polish on your toes, such as Essie Clambake, to perk up your mood on chilly winter nights.

A Royally Purple Palette

The rich color is associated with royalty and luxury, according to Mai. “Anytime you need to feel confident and regal, such as for a job interview, wear purple,” she says. If you have a young-looking face and want to appear more sophisticated, make purple your go-to color to help you look more mature, suggests Mai. If you’re afraid of looking too grape-like, give yourself a more subtle touch of sophistication with purple eye shadow instead, such as Kimara Ahnert’s matte eye shadow in Wine, which is flattering on most skintones.

Back in Black

Having a “fat day”? Slipping into something black makes you look five pounds slimmer-instantly improving your mood. “We all know what happens when you put on black jeans versus white jeans-it’s slimming,” says Harrington. But the darkest shade of all can affect how you feel in two other distinctly different ways: Wearing black can be a downer (think funerals) or make you feel trés chic (think Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”). Although in old movies, the villain always wore black, over the years the color has become more associated with high class-black limousines, patent leather shoes and elegant black tie affairs, according to Harrington.

Black is clearly the go-to color when you want to look more regal and formal. “It can be very elegant,” says Mai. “Every woman needs an LBD. It plays everything else down so you stand out. It lets you shine.”

While wearing black can make you feel polished and chic, Harrington suggests pairing it with a pop of color, such as wearing your favorite LBD with an eye-popping pair of magenta heels (slip on DV by Dolce Vita Phea Pump in Magenta Leather or rocking electric blue jeans with a fitted black blazer for a posh look with some panache.
- Rachel Grumman Bender

What’s your color of choice?

Read the original article here

For those of you who have followed my blog, you also know about my beloved Prayer Box I’ve placed at the steepest tip top of Runyon Canyon, a beautiful hillside hike here in Hollywood, California. I first had the vision for this box 2 years ago after an overwhelming sense of gratitude for each day that I’ve taken to hike to the top to pray and “reset” for the day ahead. I wondered if every other person who takes the time to hike these two tall mountains felt the same way after reaching the top… knowing that no matter how hard it feels, how badly you don’t feel like doing it, if you believe and put your best foot forward, you WILL.

Finally, my wonderful hubz made the first box and although it had some mysterious encounters, it had been there for almost a year as it filled up each day with prayers stuffed inside. There were so many prayers that I had to assign friends (thank you Grace and Eliot!) to come every other day if I was away to fill it with more paper and bring some prayers down to friends who can’t make it to the top. Anyone is always invited to send me prayers that I’ll take to the top, with a promise to have one from the box sent back from me. My dear friend Jaeson Mah also created an incredible movie that features the box in his documentary 1040, that features the prayer box. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to receive regular prayers from all over the world, my first from Ghana last week, different languages like Korean, Spanish, and even Hebrew- I even received a prayer from a 6 year old girl named Janie from Ohio who just started writing cursive!

Anyway, it came time that the box needed to be upgraded. In came the answer to my own prayer, Stavros, my dear friend who became the carpenter to bring the PrayerBox 2.0 to life. With prayers of patience and working hours into the night, the box was made, brought to Clairefoster who kicked in the dopest art skillz over the box, and bam. Here’s a pic him and  PB 2.o, once it was brought to the top. 

Instructions are simple: Leave a prayer, take a prayer.

It’s been only a month that the box has been up and already it’s filling up again. Prayers of hope, peace, individual prayers for loved ones who are hurt, broken, or just in need of love. It’s incredible. So just recently, a fan of the box and brilliant writer/reporter/world traveler/foodie David Fleming, contacted me to cover a story about the box on Fox 11 News. I accepted, more than anything to share my faith that prayer is hope in action, and to encourage everyone to Pray it Forward. The PrayerBox story will air TONIGHT 5/25 10PM on Fox 11 News, and TOMORROW 5/26 morning.

I just realized I look like I’m rapping in this picture.

Anyway enjoy the story tonight, please do make it out to the box if you’re here in LA, or email me at jmail@iheartjeanniemai.com to get your prayers to the top. (Include mailing address if you’d like a prayer sent back.)

As a community together, we each can keep each other lifted in faith and love. Heart you guys. So freakin much

My show, “How Do I Look?” on Style Network has been nominated for a daytime Emmy in the category of Outstanding Lifestyle Program!!

This is the second show I’ve hosted that’s been nominated for an emmy since I first started hosting, and is incredible news to celebrate because in all honesty, as cliche as it sounds, it truly is an honor just to be nominated. When I think back to mai blogs shared about incredible guests to mai “Pretty Posse“, mai team of hair, makeup, and wardrobe that bring my fantasy of fashion to life, all of you reading know how blessed I already feel to be doing what I love through this show: encouraging people to reach their best potential. Through this show, I don’t make over people’s clothes. I make over their confidence. My mother taught me this once before, and it built who I am to live doing this every day of my life towards everyone around me. I’m just honored to be able to do it through a show where others can be influenced and enjoy.

Mai biggest congrats and thanks to the entire team and power to push for us at Style Network, and to every single member of the How Do I Look family that makes these lives come to life on our show.
And thanks for celebrating with me all you friends! I’m going to have to go search for an Emmy dress now. Eek! Until then, would love to share here some of mai fave moments. Enjoy!

Why is Thanksgiving only one day? As much as I am thankful every single day for my bombtastic life, can we please consider having more holidays where we bring people, food, and thanks together?? Hallmark would have a field day, and we need pumpkin things in March. Please consider this.

Although I love everything you’ve given me, there are just a few faves I just have to give you props on. Like my mom. You couldn’t have hooked me up with a more perfect woman to raise me. I owe my career to her because she gave me the freaking personality I have to even be anything on tv, and who else would teach me to put fake lashes when I was 6? And these families I have on both coasts. I mean, come on. Who else would ever have thought to give me the most warm, affectionate loving people who celebrate everything no matter how many times it takes for each kid in the family to enjoy on the east coast, and the most rowdy, FoB (fresh off the boat) fantastic fun family on the west coast to rock out with in San Jose?? I can’t even stand it.  Oh, and then there’s my j-o-b. Are you serious with giving me the best career a girl could ever dream for where I play dress up to get onscreen and make some stylish smiles?? My path to empowering people is barely just beginning, and I’m so appreciative of the lil signs you give me to push me along. And omg (pardon the pun) you’re pretty spectacular with these friends you’ve filled in my life. I have such a creative combo of caring people, and can write a book about what makes a good friend. (They get your inappropriate jokes, help you get the ugly cry out, bring you food from fave places when they think of you, yes, TELL YOU when you’re fat, oh and my fave, actually volunteer to help you pack & move.) Then there’s so many fantastic things in my every day too that I hafta squeel over, like mint fro yo when I can find it, gorgeous Runyon canyon romps to the top, the way Nicole Millen fits, the really burnt roasted brussel sprouts, any great sale, Ca Kho (Vietnamese claypot fish), the McQueens in Lady Gaga’s video, toothless kids, Asset spanx, socks from Target, naps, my legs that never gain weight, Modern Family, a hug back, my job as a server way back when. And Lasik.

So if I had to find something to ask for it’d be making Thanksgiving longer, that’s all. And maybe slipping America a chill pill over things like Adam Lambert. Otherwise You’re on it like a bonnet!
Heart ya God- enjoy your leftover turkey.

Love,
Jeannie

Here’s the video in case you missed the segment:

It was so much fun– crazy how 4 minutes of this piece took months to write and weeks to prepare. Super dooper special thanks to Tim Laurie, the super talented Andy Paige, and Domenic Morea for helping make it a successful segment. I’m way too blessed to work with such fabulous people.

Last day in NY, then I’m on way home! I’ll be blogging the rest of my adventurous week so stay tuned! (Sexy romp thru Yves Saint Laurent store with Joe Zee…, crazy cab treats, I’ll tell you more!!)

Friends, thank you thank you so much for supporting and watching my first live appearance! Here’s to the next one sooner than later I hope

This week I sat with Kim to cover the her exciting new involvement with Fusion Beauty’s new lipgloss, a line of lip plumping glosses that obviously work extremely well for the gorgeous girl. My fave part about this lineup is the “Kiss Away Poverty” Campaign, in which $1 from every sale of Infatuation and Lipfusion glosses goes towards Seven Bar Foundation to help end poverty among women!! It was awesome talking with Kim’s passion over makeup with her artist Troy Jensen and sharing her fave beauty secret. So here’s the scoop– try it out! (MAC’s Vanilla Pigment totally gets the job done right, too )  Do get out there  to Sephora and check out the line –Sugar Rush is my personal fave!

Beauty and the City

930 Santee St # 6
Los Angeles, CA 90015-1832
(213) 607-0111

It was crazy tying in two perspectives from the entire night- one was when I was working, the other was when I was trying to work it. Here I am trying to strut and look poised and perfect, when really I’m stretching to snag the many passing celebs and pissing off fire marshals from not staying put on the lil platform where I was forced. Ahhh  I love working under pressure!! Then add on the dribbles of sweat from my forehead to boobs, thighs.. you get the idea. If it weren’t for our Extra crew to dab, fan off, wrangle in stars, or feed us water and gummies, I would have fainted under the piles of chains of my J Gerard dress. I have NO IDEA how Mario does it… black TUX and jacket?? Ay dios mio.

I hafta say every star was as dreamy as they looked. Vanessa Williams couldn’t have been nicer, Kevin Bacon was a gent.. I was squealing sequins with Sigourney Weaver! Drew even complimented my dress—when I was dying over hers!! Shut UP, right??

Because of the fabulous Extra family, we managed to keep our “cool” under the heat and whip out a hot show for you to enjoy tonight. Here are some pics of our fabulous team making it all happen for us, and a video you can click on of my dress BEFORE I sweated this whole look off an hour later. Do tune in tonight at 7PM to catch the chaos with us—until next time as this girl comes back to reality from it all ? (Scroll over pics for captions!)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Because I’m so freaking excited. And my dress is made of jersey so it’ll give for today’s goodies. Well, and the front–um…let’s just say I’ll definitely be glad I did some upper body lifting this week. Ha! Actually today’s a huge-rific day for a couple of reasons: I’m counting down to tomorrow’s spectacular Emmy event as I host the fashion coverage for the first time on my new job at Extra, and I feel so blessed to have a free Saturday to catch up on a good read, a hard hike, and maybe more chocolate before I go to bed. I think the best part of this experience has been watching this dress being made. This woman beside me in this pic is quite honestly as beautiful and passionate as the way this dress made me feel about hosting. My job is to celebrate people, feature things from all perspectives and make others have fun as u bring em along. The crazy part is– that’s been happening for ME each time I’ve ran to her store J Gerard on Melrose to try it on. The experience of her making this dress around me has been celebratory, way fun, and u’ll get all perspectives in this dress alright. Julia, thank you ahead for the experience already.

So here’s a tid bit from the back as the dress is getting final touches today. Tune into Extra tomorrow, Sunday at 12: 35 AM and Monday at 7 PM for me on the red rug- and DEFINITELY twitter, facebook your questions so I can hollaback!