Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Introduction: The London Palette

Tuesday I finished the New York Palette for the Pantone Spring/Summer 2020 season. I am not sure why they decided to start doing two palettes every season, but several years ago, they began posting both a New York and a London palette. I am sure it has something to do with the Fashion influence in both of these large metropolitan areas. Regardless, I like to make you aware of these color palettes, not to raise your awareness of the Pantone entity, but to show you how wonderful color is and to challenge you to think outside the box when it comes to combining and wearing colors.

Pantone Spring/Summer - London Palette

Today I am introducing you to the London Color Palette. Many of the colors, while similar have different names and somewhat different shading. The Classic color palette is similar in that it contains a beige, white, dark navy blue and gray. I was just thinking it would be fun to do a Pantone series where the focus is on the classic colors with the other colors used to accessorize and compliment an outfit. Unfortunately, for this blogger, I don’t have many pieces that are just classic colors. Yes I do have a few things that are tan, white, navy and gray, but probably not enough to create a whole series of outfits, but then, if those proponents of capsule wardrobes could do it, I suppose I could too. I’ll have to think on that over the summer and see what the fall colors looks like.

I will confess, I haven’t even started putting outfits together for this series. Ha, ha. Rather than making that a priority over the last week, I was changing out my seasonal wardrobe and purging some things from my closet. I am trying everything on. With weight gain and post menopausal weight distribution changes I am finding many things I have don’t fit any more. Rather than hanging on to things with the hopes of losing weight and changing how my body looks, I’ve decided it is a good time to pare down and reevaluate what I feel comfortable in and what makes me feel confident. Many tees and tank tops are too tight, not only around the waist, but through the arms. Isn’t it crazy what just a few pounds can do?

Because of my lack of planning I am posting a number of pictures from my photographer’s fine arts gallery to coordinate with the colors from this London Palette. You can visit Rebecca’s Fine Arts page here. Right now, through me, if you find something your want to purchase you get a 15% discount on your order if you use the code STYL2020. If you are looking for a colorful, natural photo to make a wall pop be sure to check out her site.

Classic Blue

RTP - Fine Art - Jelly Fish

Beetroot Purple

RTP - Beetroot Purple - Tulip

Blanc de Blanc

RTP - Fine Art - Blanc de Blanc - blossoms

Blossom

RTP - Fine Art - Blossom

Blueberry

RTP - Fine art - blueberry - water

Blush Beauty

RTP - Fine Art - Blush Beauty

Bossa Nova

RTP - Fine Art - Bossa nova

Cuban Sand

RTP - Fine ARt - Cuban Sand

Fiery Red

RTP - Fine Art - Fiery Red

Flame Orange

RTP - Fine Art - Flame Orange

Heritage Blue

RTP - Fine Art - Heritage Blue

Rose Brown

RTF - Fine Art - Rose brown

Storm

RTP - Fine Art - Storm

Tanager Turquoise

RTP - Fine Art - Tanager Turquoise

Yellow Iris

RTP - Fine Art - Yellow Iris

I saw an amazing Instagram post from Arnold Schwarzenegger just last week, where he was giving a speech to the graduates of 2020. It was about ten minutes long and I’ve included it with this post. It was so encouraging and up lifting. He said one thing that really stood out to me about having a vision and keeping that vision in our minds as we work, train, learn and grow towards obtaining it. He knowingly shared that there will always be obstacles to overcome, but it is in that overcoming that we grow and finally obtain our dreams or visions.

I really felt encouraged to take that idea to heart. I want to lose weight. The weight I am at right now, is not comfortable for me and I don’t feel happy with it. The excess pounds are hard on my joints and on my heart. I have a vision to be a certain weight and to be healthier, so I am trying to keep that vision in mind as I evaluate what I can do differently in my eating habits, exercise and mind set to achieve that goal. In addition, I want to make a living at writing. In the same way, I am envisioning being an author for pay and trying to develop a plan for how to obtain that dream. Both of these things will take work. I have no doubt that I will fail, repeatedly, but instead of giving up, I want to dust myself off and start over. I don’t want to slide into that mindset of, “I can’t do this, so I might as well not try.”

God’s Word says,

13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
— Philippians 4:13 (NASB)

I was also reading in My Utmost for His Highest the other day and Oswald Chambers said this:

It is a continual struggle not to listen to the moods which arise as a result of our physical condition, but we must never submit to them for a second. We have to pick ourselves up by the back of the neck and shake ourselves; then we will find that we can do what we believed we were unable to do. The problem that most of us are cursed with is simply that we won’t. The Christian life is one of spiritual courage and determination lived out in our flesh.
— My Utmost for His Highest - May 20 - Oswald Chambers

Moods are a huge thing for me. When I am up, I feel like I can get tons of things accomplished. When I am feeling down, I feel like am dragging my feet through sticky mud and can’t make progress in any area. Moods affect my productivity and my relationships to people and to myself. I think I need to do a whole blog post on just that idea, so maybe I’ll save that for later.

We don’t have to be failures. Yes we will fail. We will have obstacles thrown into our paths and for many of us that is a pretty regular occurrence, but they do not define who we are or what we can accomplish. Our perception and our belief have more to do with what we ultimately think about ourselves.

If the Pantone Color Institute can go about defining the color industry for thousands of businesses, fashion gurus and retail shoppers like us, than why can’t each of us have a vision for ourselves as to what we want to do and what we want to be? Let’s make it happen.

Graphic and photos by Rebecca Trumbull. Also see Fine Arts Page for purchasable photos for your home or office. Use STYL2020 for 15% off your order.

Check out this graduation speech from Arnold. It is well worth the watch. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend everyone. Stay safe.




Beautiful Blogger Bests - The Feminine Masculine Look

One of the first bloggers I started following was Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Catherine lives across the "big pond" in England and has been nominated for the coveted UK Blogger Awards. She has a huge following and it is no wonder! She's got sass, charm and a "I don't care what you think" approach to fashion. As far as she is concerned a woman can wear whatever she wants regardless of age. She approaches fashion with a flare for combining nontraditional colors and pattern mixes and makes it look fabulous! 

Photo from Catherine's post with her permission. 

The post that inspired me for today's outfit was from January 25th and is titled:  Wide Leg Trousers: How to Get the Katharine Hepburn LookIn Catherine's original post which you can see if you click on the title, she styles a lovely outfit that has a "masculine chic" vibe. The plaid wide leg trousers and black longer coat have a menswear inspired feel, but Catherine adds a touch of the feminine wearing a peach blouse with white polka dots, pointy toed heels and a sweet box handbag. 

For my look, I took a pair of wide leg trousers that I thrifted and paired them with a sheer blue and pink top. 

When I threw this outfit together I didn't realize the blue in the blouse matches the thin blue stripes in the pants. Hey I'm a pattern mixing fool! Ha, ha. 

I kept my accessories similar, so the belt and the purse matched and the necklace and bracelet pulled together the pinky orange in the top.

It was a balmy 31 degrees with a wind chill of 25 when we were taking these pics. Catherine wears a black coat, which looks lovely with her outfit. I opted for my JJill velvet gray jacket. 

For my shoes I wore a simple black pump. I thought this bag a good mix of masculine and feminine. It kind of resembles a mini brief case. At least that was the idea I was going for. 

I think the look on my face is saying, "Hurry up! I'm freezing!" I think I need to take a modeling class. Ha, ha. I'm seeing my Dad's side of the family in this picture. Isn't that funny? Do you ever do things or look at yourself and think, "Oh my goodness. I'm doing just what my mom/dad does/did!" Or, "I know that face! That looks just like Aunt Mildred!" Actually, that is just the face I am displaying and I did have an Aunt Mildred! Ha, ha. ha.

Enough of my familial silliness! Do you think this outfit says, masculine chic? Is it too masculine? Leave me a comment in the comments section below. I love to have your input, good and bad! 

Be sure to check back on the blog tomorrow when Jodie and I will be finishing our series on styling a white blouse in a variety of ways. 

Until then, have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

This post contains affiliate links. All opinion are my own.

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style. Saturday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb.