Chambray Dress - Look #3

This is the final look from the sunflower fields at Hirzel Farms. My Massini chambray dress has proven to be a versatile piece and very easy to combine with accessories and toppers to create new and different looks. I think you could do a similar thing with any solid colored dress. For today’s outfit, I wanted to show a look that was more ready for fall.

This pretty, open weave sweater was a clearance find from Kohl’s. I have a number of Liz Claiborne pieces and I really like the feminine, lacy look of this cardigan. The sweater has no closures, which is fine, but what I have noticed is if the piece isn’t folded or hanging just so, the front tends to fold back. I solved that little problem by adding a small brooch to keep it closed and laying flat.

I added the leaf print scarf as another way to add interest. The colors of the sweater and scarf were very similar, so I like how this looks. This is an infinity scarf, which I like when I don’t want to worry about how to tie it.

Since the leaves on the scarf are black, I added this recently thrifted Scarlton bag. Amazon has a lot of these vegan leather bags. I have many purses that are not real leather. They are sufficient for looking nice and serving the purpose a purse serves, but what they don’t do is last. I have several real leather bags that I bought second hand that look brand new. Many of my non leather bags start showing signs of wear after only a few seasons. We’ll see how this vegan leather bag holds up.

My ankle boots are my old, trustworthy, Sonoma suede boots. The neutral color was perfect for this look.

What did you think of this outfit? Do you have a chambray dress, or any other solid dress that you could do looks like these? Leave me some love in the comments.

Here are the three looks side by side. Which one is your favorite?

I hope you enjoyed these sunny pictures. It was fun to take pictures with these yellow beauties. Isn’t God’s creation amazing?

I am including a few shopping links, so be sure to take a look at those. These are affiliate links, so every click you do gives me a few pennies. I appreciate every click. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring Trend - Head to Toe Neutral

I thought it would be fun to shop my closet and see what sort of spring trend outfits I could come up with. When I began looking for neutral pieces I couldn’t decide what shade to go for. When I looked at various websites for spring trends, some of the neutral pieces leaned more toward camel than beige, but it doesn’t really matter. You can choose any version of neutral for this look. My neutrals are almost more of a cream than beige, but the effect is the same.

When putting a neutral outfit together, think in terms of texture. Adding texture gives the outfit interest. This is more important when your outfit doesn’t contain any pops of color. Color, whether bright neons or soft pastels makes an outfit speak. When wearing a neutral outfit, it can be too understated without adding textural elements.

This ribbed v-neck sweater I have had for a number of years. The brand is NorthCrest Classic, but was thrifted. The vest I purchased at Kohl’s and is Wallflower brand. I’ll be speaking to crafted pieces, another spring trend, later, but this vest fits the bill. My jeans are Croft and Barrow.

I thought gold would a be good choice for jewelry. I just like the way the gold looks agains the neutral background, but you could have used silver, copper or brass or mixed the metals. You could get a more classy dressed up look by adding a few strings of pearls.

Top handle bags are all the rage for spring. Mine is not as trendy as the stuff out there right now, but I like the patchwork look and the room this bag from Walmart has. It is structured, sturdy and stylish. What more could I want. Okay, maybe a matching wallet with several one hundred dollar bills would be nice. Ha, ha.

These suede Sonoma boots have served me well over the years and really aren’t looking to worn yet. Once again, choosing suede adds texture, although an outfit like this would look fabulous with a cream or beige leather bootie or even an off white. You’d still be staying in the neutral zone with any of those.

The old saying the devil is in the detail would apply when wearing a neutral outfit like this. When picking out pieces for a neutral look, try to add a few things that have texture like a ribbed or cable knit sweater, a piece that is knitted or crocheted or even something with quilting. Also think about details when choosing accessories. Jewelry with fun add ons like feathers or charms, shoes or bags with buckles or interesting stitching all add texture and interest to a neutral outfit.

What do you think of the neutral trend? Will this be a trend you will wear this spring? How do you like to wear your neutrals? I love having your feedback, so leave me some love in the comments. I would also appreciate you telling your friends or family about the blog. Ask them to subscribe.

Have a great Thursday and stay warm. If you follow my faith page, be sure to check back tomorrow for the final installment in my New Year, New Mind, series.

Here are a few neutral pieces for you to shop. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.