Pantone Spring 2018 - Pink Lavender, Blooming Dahlia and Emperador

Welcome to the third installment in my Pantone Spring 2018 series. The first week I showed you Chili Oil, Arcadia and Lime Punch.  Last week I featured Ultra Violet, Cherry Tomato and Meadowlark.  This week I am going to style an outfit that revolves around Pink Lavender, Blooming Dahlia and Emperador. 

I wish these photos were a little more spring like; more like the weather today, when I am working on this post which is brilliant sunshine and temps in the 50's, However, working with my photographer means scheduling shoots when she is available, so we make the best of it. In this pic, it almost looks like I am at a studio with a winter background, but I can tell you we were definitely outside and it was cold!!

Pink lavender is a very pretty purply pink. I happened to have this short sleeve Croft and Barrow faux lace tee in my closet and it matched perfectly. My husband also picked up this necklace at a garage sale and thought I would like it. I did! I've told him, any time he sees costume jewelry at estate sales or garage sales to take a peek and pick up things he thinks I might like. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to jewelry! 

Emperador is a chocolate brown. I often wonder at how they come up with the names for the colors on each season's palette. Some are obvious. Pink Lavender looks like pink and lavender mixed together, but Emperador? I googled the word and a brandy company came up. Brandy is more of an amber color, so I am not sure if that is what they were thinking when they gave this brown it's name. I'm not an alcohol drinker, at all, but if you are interested here is a link to Emperador. 

My moto jacket is thrifted and is a brand called Celebrity Pink. This brand is sold at stores like Macy's and Burlington Coat Factory. Here is a similar jacket. Mine is a nice faux leather with a silver zipper and snaps. I should have taken a picture with the jacket zipped up. 

This skirt from dressbarn I have featured on the blog last summer in my Marvelous Maxis series. It is roz & Ali brand. The skirt with its fun, whimsical, floral pattern is fully lined and the perfect transition piece for spring. I thought it gave the illusion of Blooming Dahlia, even though it isn't an exact representation. Plus I felt the outfit benefited from a pattern. 

I added a stretchy woven belt to the skirt and chose to carry my George satchel for a bit of that classic color, Warm Sand. I also slipped on my suede American Eagle ankle boots. 

What do you think of these colors? Do you have any of these in your closet? I think all three of these can be great to combine with stronger classic colors like navy, green or black. If you are not real fond of a particular color because you don't think it looks good on you, don't be afraid to try a smattering of the color in the form of an accessory such as a necklace, bracelet or even a bag. That is a wonderful way to add color without letting it overwhelm you. 

Let me know your thoughts on these colors and my outfit. I love hearing from you! 

Here are a few shopping links for you. These are affiliate links which means if you click on a link I get a few pennies. If you purchase through one of my links I get a little commission. I appreciate your clicks! All opinions are my own. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen. 

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style. 

Outside the Box - Styling PJ Pants

This new monthly column on my blog is going to deal with fashion ideas and trends that I don't really buy into. Most of the time, it will involve me trying a different trend that I would have never tried before. It will also, occasionally include posts about color, print and texture pairings that we wouldn't usually think about putting together. Once in a while, I might use this monthly column to discuss ideas in the fashion world that I find hard to swallow. I hope you will enjoy this new column and I would love to hear from you. If you have an idea of a trend or fashion style you would like me to feature as something you are not used to wearing or don't have any idea how to style, this will be a good platform for that as well. You can leave me your ideas in a comment here on the blog or send me a Facebook message.

This week, I decided to try a trend that I have seen come and go on the runways: wearing pajama pants as part of an outfit. I'm sure we are all used to the idea of pajama pants as something we put on before we go to bed, or something we put on when we want to lounge around the house, but wearing a pair of pj pants out in public...uh, no! Okay, so I get it. I see more and more people running to Walmart and the grocery store with their fuzzy pajama pants on, but that is hardly stylish, let alone, something a stylish 50 something year old would wear to work or out to dinner. Remember, we are doing a fashion blog to help ourselves and you look and feel better, not end up imitating a walking pile of laundry. 

I found these striped pajama pants at a thrift store. They are Sonoma brand and a size large. If I do this again, I think I will try to go down a size and see if I like that look better. Sizing really depends on what you want to do with them and what look you are going for. If the only thing you are going to do with the pants is watch tv and get cozy, then by all means size up. The roomier the better. But for a sleeker, more stylish look it might be better to have the pants fit a little tighter. Let me know what you think.

Look 1 & 2 - Casual

For this first look, I paired the pants with my Paris graphic tee, a Loft green cardigan, Keds gray sneakers and an olive American Eagle bag. Here is another option on the Loft cardigan.  I also added my pearl, velvet and silver choker as well as a pearl bracelet.

For the next casual look, I swapped out the graphic tee for a long sleeve Mossimo tee from Target. Here is a bell sleeve one.  I did the front tuck to give a little more definition to my waist. Over the top I have on a heavy weight Liz Claiborne button up, that works great as a light weight jacket. I am wearing my SO taupe ankle boots and carrying a Nine & Co. bright blue tote. 

I also added a silver and blue chain necklace as well as a green cocktail ring. 

Look 3 & 4 - Dressy

The next two outfits I dressed up a little bit more. These would be good for work or even for a date night, if your hubby doesn't mind being seen in public with you wearing a pair of pajama pants. Ha, ha. 

In the first look I am wearing a navy crocheted top that I bought a few years ago at Christopher and Banks. It is more of a tunic, but I decided to tuck the top in and add a belt to give me a more defined waistline. I think this is a good idea when your pants are more bulky or billowy. 

The belt is a simple crocheted number that is stretchy. For jewelry I just added a neutral beaded necklace to pull in the colors of the shoes, belt and bag. The bag was a recent find on the Kohl's clearance rack. It is Madden brand. Here is the same one from Nordstrom on sale. I got a better deal at Kohl's, but clearance is what it is. When it is gone, it is gone. 

These SO peep toe heels are another recent find from Kohl's clearance. Here is another pair from Kohl's that is very similar. I am looking forward to warmer temps (and painting my toenails, of course), so I can wear these more. 

Even though my top is navy and matches the navy in my bottoms, I've got some print mixing going on. See how I did that? Print mixing is not always about color. It can also happen with textures and the weave of fabrics. 

This second dressy look is, perhaps my favorite. This outfit uses a button up top from JC Penney and a thrifted suiting piece, that I'll just call a vest. It is more like a blazer vest. You'll get what I mean if you know what a coat vest is. If not, don't worry about it. For the purpose of this post it is a vest. 

I think this is one classy outfit and yes, I am wearing pajama pants. Ha, ha. In addition to the button up, which has fish on it (more print mixing), and the vest, I added a beaded necklace and bracelets with an olive hue. I also grabbed my velvet clearance find from Meijer. This is Wallflower brand. Such a cute bag, and I don't care that it is velvet, I'll be using it in the spring! My loafer heels were the last touch. 

Here are all four of the outfits:

What do you think? Would you wear pajama pants as part of an outfit? I think this is a great idea, especially for summer, when you need something cool and light. I think part of the process in figuring out if a pair of pj bottoms are good for style wear is to see how they fit and what sort of outfit you can make out of them. I personally would not wear my Eeyore pajama pants, but this striped pair or maybe a plaid, why not! 

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it gave you a new perspective on those cozy duds we wear to bed!

Here are a few fun options. How would you style these into an outfit? This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Jo-Lynne of Jo-Lynne Shane and Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots. Saturday linking up with Rena of It's All Fine. Whatever Tickles the Fancy. 

A Fun Casual Valentine's Look

I am going to take a break from my series on Working Undercover, to post a couple of Valentine's looks this week and next. After that I am going to start the Pantone Spring 2018 series. Don't worry, I will get back to more posts on hiding our "flaws" at a later date.  

Today's outfit revolves around a summer dress by Vera Wang. I got this fun watercolor print from Kohl's a few summer's ago and thought my Florida trip in December would be the perfect place to wear it. Unfortunately, the temps were not conducive to wearing it as a dress, so I chose to style it as a longer tunic over a pair of skinny jeans.  Take a look. 

I added a light pink tee to wear underneath for extra warmth. It was the perfect combination and went with the light pink in the dress. In addition I threw on the SO flats. I am not as much a sandal type of girl due to my vein issues (yes varicose veins can cover the feet too). So I like to wear ballet flats or sneakers in the warmer months. 

I have been intrigued by Vera Wang's Simply Vera, line of clothing at Kohl's since I first became acquainted with it a number of years ago. I love that she chooses patterns and colors that are out of the ordinary. I am not a big fan of everything she puts out on the run way, but she does have many cute pieces that are available to the average shopper. Many of her pieces have unique and interesting details. The prices aren't too bad and even better when you can score something off the clearance rack. 

I added the distressed cropped jean jacket as another layer. I kid you not, it was only about 50 degrees. so I not only added the cropped jean jacket, but before we left to go play mini golf, I also added a wind breaker. Ha. ha. 

Here are a few silly pictures of me being cold. 

In addition to the jean jacket I decided to wear the dress over my Rock and Republic jeans. 

I think this outfit would work well for a casual Valentine's date. The dress is flirty and feminine, but I made it my own, by adding the edginess of denim. I also wore minimal jewelry to let the dress take center stage. 

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear something like this? Do you like Vera Wang's line of fashion? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. 

I hope you enjoyed today's post. Check back on Thursday for the start of a new monthly column. I think you will enjoy it. 

Below are a few links to a few other Vera Wang pieces. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through a link in my post, I might get a little commission. As usual all opinions are my own. 

Have a great day!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Friday linking up with Jo-Lynne of Jo-Lynne Shane. 

Layering Love - Wearing a Vest over a Cardigan - Another Look

After last week's post on layering a longer vest over a longer cardigan, I got curious to see how a shorter vest would look over a shorter cardigan. Finding different ways to use the pieces we already own, not only gives us more choices, but it helps our brain to stay active and learning. In the same way we benefit from learning a musical instrument, solving puzzles or taking on a new activity, figuring out how to put outfits together, helps keep our brains healthy. Check out this older post from Jodie of Jodie's Touch of Style, about how restyling our clothing can help our brains. 

I decided to give you two outfits for today's post. The Rock and Republic jeans are the same for both outfits.  I just bought these for my birthday in January. Kohl's was having a buy one get one 50% off, which doesn't happen too often, so I took advantage of it. 

Look 1: Monochrome

Just like last week's post, I decided to do a matching sweater and matching vest. For this look, I chose black. I chose this shorter A.M.I. cardigan with the big buttons and bell type, 3/4 length sleeves as something different from the usual standard cardigan. Since this was thrifted I had a hard time tracking down the original brand. There is an AMI out of Paris featuring Alexandre Mattuissi designs which are mainly for men, although he is launching a menswear for women this year. There is also an AMI Clubwear, which features more sexy and cute styles for going out, dancing and parties. If you click over there, just be prepared for a bit of skin. All that being said, I am not sure where this sweater originally came from. Ahh, the beauty of thrifting. Ha, ha. 

I used my Selene Sport (older brand-thrifted) quilted faux leather vest and added my Ralph Lauren leather ankle boots and my sparkly clutch to go with the bling on my necklace and pants. 

Look 2: Not Matching

For this outfit, I switched out the black cardi for a leopard print version by Karen Scott. Karen Scott brand is sold at Macy's. Once again it has 3/4 length sleeves, but a more traditional cardigan shape. The vest is Christopher and Banks that I got a few years ago. I thought the burgundy denim was a perfect compliment to the print of the sweater. 

I swapped out my black ankle boots for my knee high Unisa shearling ones. I thought these pulled out the brown in the cardi quite well. You can see how I styled these boots in another post from fall, here. I grabbed a simple burgundy clutch and threw on a few silver pieces of jewelry to go with the silver buttons on the vest. 

Here are the two outfits side by side.

I think this is a fun way to get more wear out of both your vests and your cardigans. It is also a perfect way to add an extra layer of warmth around your core. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. Leave me some love in the comments section. I love to hear your thoughts. If you ever have a suggestion for something you'd like to see me feature on the blog, please let me know. 

Have a great weekend!

Here are a few shopping links. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style, Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge and Jo-Lynne of Jo-Lynne Shane. 

Working Undercover - Battle of the Bulge - Part 2

For any of you who may have missed last week's post, I am doing a series on covering our flaws. Most of us are not completely satisfied with our own bodies, although it is good to try to accept ourselves and our flaws. I created this series for those of us who are still in the self acceptance stage. 

Last week I showed you my own bulges and a series of waist lines, specifically on dresses that help to cover those extra flabs. The waist lines would work on tops as well. If you want to read that post click on the link here: Battle of the Bulge - Part 1. 

Before I get to that here is another outfit from my Florida trip.

I'll talk more about this outfit after we discuss a few other things.

This week I want to show you a few other ideas for covering those stubborn bulgy areas. 

1. Banded pants.

Instead of jeans or trousers with a zipper and belt loops there are now pants that ride higher on the waist that are overall stretchy and cling more tightly through the hips and waist. You might wonder how something that is tighter can actually cover the bulges instead of making them worse. Take a look at this pair of pants from Chico's.

This is the So Slimming Slim Leg Pants. I happened to walk in, on a sale day, so I got this pair for $29.99 as opposed to the normal price of $89.00. They are definitely worth the money. This is the first pair I have had, and I love them. They pull on and they stay up. I have a few other banded waist pants and they have a tendency to sag throughout the day, but these stay put and are very comfortable. They are also made of a heavier bi-stretch fabric, so great for the cooler months. 

This type of pant works well under tighter fitting tops and because it rides higher it covers some of the those problematic tummy bulges. 

2. Waist bands that sit on top of your pelvic bones.

Another waist band to look for are those that rest just on top of your pelvic bones. Rather than cinching you right where the bulges pop, pants that rest just below that point, and are not too tight give a smoother look. These pants are a Kohl's clearance and are actually wide leg cropped pants, so i am excited to feature them in a future post. For now, you only get the waist band. Ha, ha.

Obviously, if your main problem is a tummy, you will be better off with a higher waisted pant, like the ones above. It really is a matter of trying different brands and styles until you find the ones that fit and work for you.

3. Two ways to wear tees. 

Tee shirts are always a conundrum for me. If I get them in my normal size they are usually too tight around my bulges. If I size up, in many styles they are too big on the top. I have come to the conclusion that when it comes to tees, I have to try different styles and different sizes in those styles. 

The next two tees i recently bought at Kohl's in the Junior's department. I usually stay away from that department, because so many of the clothes do not fit my over middle age body. However, I will be the first to admit they do carry cute things that you don't always see in the regular Misses department. If you read my Layering Love post last Thursday then you know, I found that cute duster vest at the same time I found these tees. You'll also see the first tee below in that same post. 

For these graphic tees I sized up. I can wear a medium with confidence at a store like Christopher and Banks. Those clothes are made for "average" sized women. In the Junior's department I size up to a large or in this case an extra large. This worked great for these tees. They run smaller through the bust and shoulders, but wider through the middle. This tee is Wonder Woman.

This next one is from Harry Potter. I love the color. It is a bit longer, so I could wear it long, or do a front tuck. I show you both ways. 

i'm glad I tried these on and I expect these will get some wear as the weather gets warmer. 

4. Wear a vest or a jacket. 

These are two easy ways to give yourself extra coverage when you are feeling less than confident. 

This brings me back to my Florida outfit.

This outfit includes a tee, which I'll show without the jacket next, and a jacket. It was a bit chilly in the Sunshine State while we were there, so a light jacket was appropriate. 

I love this top so much that I bought two of them. I think it is fun, romantic and figure flattering. The seams up the front give the tee shape, but it skims, rather than clinging to the bulges. Another clearance find at Kohl's. The tee tops my Rock and Republic jeans.

I bought this little purse a few years ago (Kohl's clearance....yes I have issues - ha, ha), and it is the perfect size for a day at the shops. I love the little bird and thought the colors went well with my floral bomber jacket from JC Penney. You can see wear I wore this jacket before in this post from fall. 

I also wore my layered bracelet and my chunky wood bead necklace. 

And of course, my blue SO flats. 

I hope you are enjoying this series and that you are finding it helpful. Obviously, there is so much information out there on how to dress and everyone is different. The tips I am giving might work for some of you, but not for others. The best advice I can give is try things on and see how you feel in them. 

I'll be back next week with a few more tips for working undercover. Be sure to check back Thursday for more layering love!

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge and Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. 

Layering Love - Wearing a Vest over a Cardigan

When it comes to layering there are so many possibilities. I have learned so much from other bloggers about adding layers and how to make my outfits more fun and interesting. I noticed a few bloggers a number of months ago layering with longer layers and I thought I'd give it a go. 

Today's outfit involves layering a long vest over a long cardigan. 

The color of these two pieces are a perfect match, so it is barely noticeable that they actually are two separate pieces. The duster cardigan is Chaps brand from Kohl's and the vest, also Kohl's. is Wall Flower brand from the Junior's department. Both pieces were clearance. I don't usually shop in the Junior's department for obvious reasons, most of their stuff doesn't fit me, but once in a while it pays to look. 

The knee length cardigan is light weight and will be a good transitional piece going into spring. It has pockets on each side in the front. 

For a fun casual look I paired the sweater and vest combo with a graphic tee. This particular one is Wonder Woman. I like the words. These are words I want to epitomize. 

Because it is cold, I thought my OTK boots would be appropriate. I also chose my burgundy cross body bag and bracelets to got with the red "W" below the words on the tee. 

I think this vest and sweater combo would look cute over a dress or a top and skirt. This would work well even if the sweater and vest were different colors. It adds a layer of interest and warmth to an outfit, which is a plus in this chilly weather. 

What about you? Have you ever tried to wear a vest over a cardigan? What do you think of this loo?. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave me a few words in the comments section.

Here are a few shopping links. If you click on a link I get a few cents. If you make a purchase through one of the links, I might get a small commission. I don't get paid to blog, so any help you can give in that regard is much appreciated. All opinions are my own.

Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style and Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots. 

Layering Love - A Leopard Print Jacket

Every now and then I come across a piece in a store I just love. Sometimes I don't know I'm in love until I try it on, other times I can tell as soon as I see or feel it. When I saw this leopard print jacket on the clearance rack at JC Penney, I had to touch it. When I felt its soft velvety texture, I had to try it on. When I tried it on, I said, "This is coming home with me."

I tried to take pictures outside, but it was only 11 degrees. Which would have been doable, if the camera hadn't decided it was too cold to be outside. I kept trying to use the remote and it wasn't having it! Ha, ha. I did take a few photos right next to the house, but when I looked at them I realized I had an electric meter coming out of my head, and green mold decorating the aluminum siding. I want to be real, but maybe not that real! Instead you get indoor pictures with bits of clutter and Christmas decorations here and there. I probably should take down the Christmas decor pretty soon. What do you think? How many of you still have Christmas up at your house? Please tell me, I am not the only one.

I wore this outfit to work and I was so glad. The heat was off on one side of the store. Did I mention it was only 11 degrees? Of course it was the side with the cash registers, so anytime we had a customer we had to leave our toasty back office and go to the cold side...sort of like the dark side, but you don't get a light saber. This Libby Edelman jacket and Croft and Barrow turtleneck kept me warm and cozy all day. Here is the link to the jacket online. I'm not sure why, but the it is still full price, unless you buy more than one thing, and they only have small sizes left.

For this casual work look, I paired the jacket with my Rock & Republic skinny jeans, and my Rialto black riding boots. 

I chose my Butterum hobo bag and added a simple beaded pendant necklace that I just found at Penney's on clearance. I thought it linked well with the colors in the jacket. 

I think this jacket would look fantastic with a red or burgundy dress or skirt, as well as navy or even cobalt blue pants. A leopard print jacket like this can be worn with many other pieces for both dressy and casual occasions. What do you think? Would you wear a jacket like this?

Be sure to leave me some love in the comments section. I appreciate your input.

Here are a few shopping options. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Friday linking up with Jo-Lynne of Jo-Lynne Shane. 

Layering Love - Styling a Summer Skirt

One issue with living where the seasons change is the need to change our wardrobes from cooler weather to warmer and back again. Due to my clothes horse tendencies and the small amount of closet space in our home, I have to actually put my change of season clothing in bins when not in use. Since I became a blogger, I have been trying to use more of my wardrobe all year round. 

This particular Jones Wear skirt I have styled on the blog earlier this fall when I was doing the Pantone Fall 2017 series. You can see that post here. It was intended for summer use with a light weight whimsical print layered over a full length sateen lining, thus no need for a slip. However, I thought the colors in this skirt would transfer easily to fall, which I think I showed in the Pantone post. 

I started thinking that if I could use it for fall, why not try a winter outfit as well. What you see below is what I came up with. 

 I first came up with this idea before the holidays, so it does have a little bit of Christmas vibe to it, but you could easily swap out the maroon scarf for something drawing on other colors in the skirt. The skirt has a purply blue, golden yellow.and various shades of green. It would also look pretty with a cream or ivory scarf as well. 

The sweater is thrifted and Old Navy brand. A simple cardigan, I really like the bright, Kelly green color. The biggest problem I have found with these types of sweaters is pilling. Do any of you have special ways you deal with pills?  I have tried razors, sweater shavers and just plain old, pulling off the pills with my fingers. Let me know what you do. I'd love to know. 

The scarf is a oblong rectangle, made of light weight material and trimmed with gold threads and fringe. I also chose bracelets with the same burgundy/maroon colors to go with the scarf and red colors in the skirt.

I chose my brown corduroy hobo bag and brown corduroy quilted ballet flats, although this outfit would also work with my mid calf brown suede boots. 

Of course, because these Thursday posts are all about layering, I have a cami under the sweater. Another way to wear the sweater would be to skip the scarf, add a tee or long sleeve top under the sweater drawing on one of the other colors in the skirt and add layers of necklaces. 

I hope you all are doing well, and that if you made any New Year's resolutions you are sticking to them. Ha, ha. It is always an uphill battle isn't it? Don't give up.

Have a great weekend. 

Holiday Outfit - Dressy - Skirt

Christmas is less than a week away. Every year I have a hard time wrapping my head around how fast the holiday season comes upon us and then passes us by. I have a busy week, but I am trying to keep my blog posts three days a week, even through this holiday time. 

Once again I am looking at a dressy holiday outfit. Today I am showing you how you could take a plain skirt and dress it up for a more formal look. Again, I chose a monochrome palette. You certainly don't have to choose monochrome for a formal look, but it really is an easy way to make an outfit look classy. I chose gray for this look. I know gray is not a color many people would choose, but gray can add a touch of elegance without going as stark as black. The beauty of gray is that it comes in different shades from  neutral, to light to a dark charcoal. 

I love this pretty red bush that was behind my daughter's apartment complex. It was the perfect backdrop for this holiday outfit. 

I found this gray pleated skirt at Kohl's on the clearance rack. It is Apt.9 brand. I saw this skirt last spring when the new season started and I just loved it, but I didn't want to pay the full price. Being a thrifter, I have the attitude that the price is more important than being what I'll term, trend timely. All that means is I am willing to wait on a piece that is more trendy to pay less. That's just me. Before I became a fashion blogger I never paid any attention to the trends, so I figure I am doing better, in that I follow trends, even if I do it later than when they first appear. Here is a pretty metallic one from Macy's.

Once I decided on the skirt I tried a few different tops with it, but settled on this gray Loft short sleeved sweater with pleated, ruffled collar

I added the Worthington drape for warmth and to add softness. Even though i only used gray for this outfit, changing the shades of gray (no pun intended) makes it more interesting 

The jewelry I am wearing I've had for some time and thought it went well with this gray palette. 

My little gray clutch is a brand called Urban Expressions. Here is a pretty red one from DSW. 

These gray pumps are Comfort Plus by Predictions. They are cushy and the heels aren't too high. Here is a different brand, but similar look from DSW. 

What would you wear to a formal holiday event? I'd love to have your input. 

I hope your week is off to a good start and that you are ready for the holidays. Remember to take some time for yourself. You are the only you there is and you are beautiful!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. 

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

Layering Love - Add a Vest

Continuing my series on layering, I wanted to look at several different ways of adding layers without adding bulk. A vest is a perfect choice for adding warmth around your core, but still allowing you to show off those fancy sleeves. 

Fancy sleeves are all the rage right now. Bell sleeves, laced sleeves and sleeves with layers of ruffles can be found in many of our frequented retailers. By wearing a vest, you give yourself an extra layer of warmth, and let your pretty sleeves show off. 

Since velvet is very trendy right now, I wanted to show off this top that I have worn on the blog before. You can see that post here. This pretty bell sleeve top is Notations brand, which is sold at various retailers including Target. Mine was thrifted. 

This picture shows the sleeve up close. Isn't the pattern pretty? I love the black background with the pink flowers. It is a true winter floral. This pic also shows my green clutch. I decided on green for the clutch and jewelry to pull in the little bit of green in the leaves on the top.

The faux leather skirt is Worthington brand which is sold at JC Penney. Mine was thrifted. I never really had an interest in getting a leather or faux leather skirt until I saw Jodie from Jodie's Touch of Style do a post showing off hers. I'm glad I made this purchase. You can see a couple of Jodie's posts on styling leather skirts here and here. 

Instead of tights I wore heavier leggings. Once again, another way to keep warm. 

The long black vest I got at TJ Maxx and it is brand called harve bernard. Kohl's sells this brand also. As you can see the vest is knee length and has a slight open weave. This will be a good add on piece for fall, winter and spring.

I didn't even realize until I looked at the inside of this boot for the brand that these were Ralph Lauren. No wonder I like them! They are leather, look nice and are comfortable. Win!

Do you like to wear a vest for added warmth in the winter? How would you style your vest? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments. section. I always appreciate your feed back and support. 

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

Holiday Outfit - Dressy - Pants

There may be an occasion during the holidays where you want to get dressed up. Maybe you are going to see a stage play such as, A Christmas Carol, or you may be going to a holiday party at the office that is a little more upscale. A great way to get dressed up using pieces you already have in your closet, is to go for a monochrome look. 

Monochrome is choosing one color scheme for your whole outfit. Black or navy is a a great choice since this darker color always looks classy and can easily be taken up a notch with the right accessories. The inspiration for this outfit came from a Chico's catalog that I got last year before the holidays. 

For my outfit I chose a pair of Daisy Fuentes black pants from Kohl's. Here is a pair from H&M. My sleeveless top is from Christopher and Banks. I think the drape neckline on this top is part of what makes it look more dressy. Here is a long sleeve tee version from JC Penney. 

The jacket was a thrift store find. It is very similar to the Chico's inspired outfit, which featured a sheer, mid-thigh over jacket. This one I found, has no label in it, so I don't know what brand it is. 

To keep the look more formal I chose my accessories for their classic dressy vibe. The faux pearls and the real freshwater pearls mingle in varying lengths against the black backdrop of my blouse. I also had the pearl bracelet with the gold and faux rhinestone cross, which seemed the perfect accompanying piece. 

The strands of pearls and beads are not exactly the same color, but it adds interest to the outfit. I grabbed my pewter clutch to complete the look. 

Instead of regular heels I went for the heeled ankle boots. When you are wearing longer slacks, a heeled boot looks perfectly dressy. 

The beauty of a monochrome look is that is elongates you. It makes you look taller, classy and put together. 

If you have a more dressy party or event to go to and don't want to spend a fortune on a dress you'll only wear once in a while, try the following suggestions.

1. Start with a dark skirt or pair of pants. Navy or black work best for a dressy occasion, but look for something that you have other pieces in of the same color.

2. Find a blouse, light weight sweater or other top that says dressed up. Fabrics do a lot to make an outfit look dressier. Look for fabrics that are silky, flowy or drape well. 

3. You don't have to wear a jacket like I did, but having some sort of over piece adds warmth and interest. A waterfall cardi, a button up tunic worn as a jacket or even a moto jacket can all dress an outfit up.

4. Wear heels if you are able. Heels make us walk with more confidence and stand up taller. If you can't wear heels, then choose a pair of flats with a pointier toe or made of a material like velvet. Velvet dresses anything up.

5. Add the perfect accessories. Silver and gold are alway a good choice to wear with a monochrome outfit, but pearls or iridescent beads in solid colors can add a touch of class. Do this for you bag choice as well. A clutch with bling always says upscale. 

I hope you enjoyed this outfit. Do you like to dress in monochrome? Do you have a go to outfit or clothing piece that just makes you feel like a million bucks when you wear it? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 

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

Layering Love - Using a Scarf for Added Interest

There is no end to how you can layer an outfit. While I spent the last few weeks looking at how you can add warmth in a functional way, there is also the idea of adding warmth, while adding a textural element to the outfit. A great way to add texture is to throw on a scarf. 

I wore this outfit to church on Sunday. I love to get dressed up, but it is also nice to be more casual. I like that more churches do both. The scarf I am wearing is a large oblong one made of a medium weight material. To tie it, I wrapped the scarf from front to back, then crossed both ends over and brought them back to the front. I tied the front ends together. You can do all sorts of things to tie a scarf. Check out this link that shows a video tutorial for 15 Chic and Creative Ways to Tie a Scarf. 

This dark purple Loft pullover sweater is soft and comfortable. In addition to the ribbing on on the sleeve cuffs and band on the bottom, there is a type of shirring across the yoke and shoulders. Here is a different one, but very cute. 

You can see that I kept the colors of the outfit simple by matching pieces up with those in the scarf. This dark purple sweater goes perfectly with the purple in the scarf as does the light pink or blush color of the waterfall cardi. This thrifted cardi is Jennifer Lopez brand. Here is a current one with fur trim at Kohl's.

While I used a different bag when I went to church, I thought this burgundy Massini saddle bag goes well with the casual look of the outfit and the colors in the scarf. You can see more about Meijer's Massini brand on Stacy London's blog. 

These are one of my favorite pair of knee high black books. They have a slight heel and the detailing of the buckle and shape of the boot give it a more dressed up feel. I would wear these with a skirt or dress. These are Croft and Barrow brand. These are very similar and not a bad price. 

My skinny jeans are also a brand called Angel that I recently found at Kohl's. They are very soft and hold their shape pretty well. These must have been some sort of a trial brand, because I do not see them any more on their website. However, here is a Lee pair and a Rock and Republic pair. As with most clothing, I recommend going to the store and trying things on. Every pair of jeans fits a little bit different. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. 

For those of you who follow my faith posts, I am a little behind this week. I am hoping to get my faith post up tomorrow. Sorry about that. 

Have a great weekend everyone.

Holiday Outfit - Dressy Casual - Skirt

Here we are five days into December. Only nineteen shopping days left. For my husband it's two. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, there are only two shopping days until Christmas. Ha, ha. I usually get my shopping started  mid to late October. I'm pretty well finished now, except for a few stocking stuffers. I am guilty of spending too much and buying too many things, but the way I figure it, my kids are working hard to pay the rent, bills and other necessities of life. They aren't going to buy that pair of fuzzy socks, even though they love wearing them, because they don't want to spend the money. So, this mama, likes to give them a few of those luxuries that they wouldn't necessarily buy for themselves. I tried to pare it down this year as we are flying them all to Florida for a family vacation, but I will still have a few gifts to put under the tree, thanks to coupons and shopping sales. 

Here's my step by step guide for this week's holiday outfit. 

1. Comb your closet for a fun skirt that is not too dressy, but not too casual. 

I am wearing a Jones Wear Studio plaid skirt. In all honesty I cannot remember where I got this. Macy's sells Jones Wear and so does dressbarn, so it could have been either, but I have had it for a while. This type of plaid skirt is not popular today, due to the length, cut and style, but it was a popular style for me in the 90's. Why get rid of something that still fits and looks nice! Besides, plaid is trending right now, so I figure I can't be too far off the fashion wagon. Plaid is part of what keeps this outfit more casual, as well as the heavier weight fabric of the skirt. 

2. Find a blouse or sweater that coordinates with one of the colors in your skirt. (This could be reversed by choosing a solid colored skirt with fun printed top.)

I used the same silky Jaclyn Smith cream colored top as I wore in last week's post where I paired it with jeans. You can see that post here. The combination of the plaid, heavier weight skirt with the silky material of the top really makes this outfit a perfect example of dressy casual. 

3. Spend a little time picking out your shoes and your bag.

I went for a little more of a retro look with the shoes. These A2 by Aerosoles are comfy and stylish. I like the multi layered look. I think pairing these cute shoes with this outfit adds to the festive holiday look, but still keeps the outfit from being over-the-top dressy. 

I kept my bag simple, but I thought it went well with the color of the shoes and the colors in the skirt. 

4. Add a few statement accessories. 

Being a woman of layers and feeling cold easily, I decided I needed something to throw over my shoulders that would still keep the outfit chic and stylish. This berry colored scarf was the perfect width to make a shawl. 

I show it open in these pictures, but you could also tie it at the front for a cozier look. 

My jewelry is understated, letting the shawl and the skirt take center stage. 

Here are the looks side by side. You could easily remove the shawl if you get to warm. 

Do you think this works for a dressy casual holiday outfit? What is your favorite thing to wear at the holidays? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I've included a few shopping links for plaid skirts. These are affiliate links which means if you click on a link I get a few cents. If you purchase something through a link, I get a small commission. Every little bit helps. All opinions are my own.

Be sure to check back on Thursday for another layering love post. Also, if you love holiday movies, I'll be talking about lessons learned from another one of my favorites on the faith page. Check back tomorrow for that. 

Until next time, have a great day and thanks for stopping by the blog.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Layering Love - What to do with a Light Weight Sweater

When the temperatures begin to fall I start to dress in layers. Much like a bear getting ready to hibernate, I add layers to keep me warm. Unfortunately, through the holidays I often add a layer of fat as well as clothing. To keep from looking like the Michelin Man, or the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man it is important to add layers that don't also add bulk. Bulky is fine if you are staying home, or if you pair skinny jeans with a heavy sweater, but there are days and times that we just don't want the heavier layers. 

Today's outfit is built around a light weight long sleeve sweater from Old Navy that I found thrifting. When I saw the word Joy written in gold threads across the front I knew it was coming home with me and would be a perfect piece for holiday dressing.

For this casual look I wore my Gloria Vanderbilt olive green skinnies. 

My shoes are Sonoma suede ankle boots with a low block heel. This olive colored tote bag is Style and Co brand and is also thrifted. I added the blue fringe dangle for an additional pop of color. 

For my extra layer I added my purple Christopher and Banks moto jacket. I love these kinds of jackets. They are not too heavy, but add the perfect layer of warmth. These work quite well for shopping, where you are just running from the car to the store. I also, occasionally where one to work to keep warm in the cold office. 

To keep the look simple and not detract from the lettering on the sweater, I chose a short statement necklace. It has a little bit of purple in it and goes well with both the sweater and the jacket. 

Do you have a light weight sweater in your closet? This is one way you can wear it while still keeping warm. Lighter layers are the perfect way to add warmth without adding a lot of bulk. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Have a great weekend!

Layering Love - What to Do with a Light Weight Skirt

I own a number of skirts that are light weight and for the most part only meant to be worn in warmer weather. I thought it would be fun to take one of those skirts and style it for cold weather. The beauty of a fuller skirt is that you can add multiple layers underneath and not create added bulges. 

For this outfit, which I wore for Thanksgiving day, I chose my black tiered skirt.

I think I am channeling my inner gypsy again. The combination of a tiered skirt, plaid shirt, Beatles sweatshirt and boots just feels like me. It is sort of eclectic and whimsical in a goth sort of way. 

Part of the reason I chose this skirt was for the bling. To me bling says many things, but especially at the holidays. To keep my warmer, I have a pair of leggings on underneath, which you can't even notice because the skirt is long enough and the boots are tall enough. 

For the layers on the top I chose a burgundy plaid button up that has elbow length sleeves. the sleeves are a bit too tight to button, so adding the sweatshirt over the top hides that problem. I like the pop of color against the gray and the black. I threw on the brown scarf to tie in with the brown boots. 

Though I didn't go anywhere except my kitchen, for the pics I wanted to show what it would look like with a bag, so added my berry colored tote. I also added a layer of beaded bracelets and a wrap bracelet to add to the gypsy look.

This was a fun outfit for me. It's an outfit that epitomizes my inner gypsy, my rocker-biker vibe and my love of all things blingy! I enjoy putting an outfit together that is a bit outside the box. For so long we were told to tuck in our shirts, never wear biker boots with a skirt and don't combine black and brown. Today, however, there is more flexibility in the fashion realm and part of the fun is learning to embrace the trends you like and try new things. 

I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Our family will be traveling to enjoy more extended family time over the weekend. Safe travels to all of you who are traveling and happy shopping to those braving the stores for Black Friday deals. 

Have a great weekend!

Holiday Outfit - Casual - Skirt

In this series on holiday outfits I wanted to give you options that you can use for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Although, by the time this series is done, Thanksgiving will be over. I can't believe it is on Thursday. I just took out my turkey this morning to start thawing. How many of you are cooking on Thursday? I really don't mind the work. When I have a special occasion I like to cook. When life is busy my spouse and I will eat out a couple times a week, so when I get the chance to cook, I do enjoy it. The clean up, not so much! Ha, ha

For this week's post I took a leopard print skirt and designed a casual and comfortable outfit that still looks chic and festive. 

Like I did last week, I'll organize this in a way that will help you build a holiday outfit from pieces that you already own. 

1. Pick a casual skirt that you like to wear. I doesn't have to have a print, but prints are fun. In keeping with the time of year, maybe choose a piece that has darker colors or more fall-like tones. Length is up to you. Mini's, maxi's or something in between all work as the foundation for a festive holiday outfit. 

The thing that makes this Jones, NY leopard print, pencil skirt more casual is its texture. It is made of narrow wale corduroy. Corduroy is very close to a ridged velvet. The fabric has the same soft feel, so it is comfortable and movable. Another thing that makes this skirt more casual is the belt loops and front zipper. I have another leopard print skirt that I styled on the blog here, but I feel it is more dressy. It is a smooth chino type fabric with a structured waist that buttons on the side. i'll admit they look pretty similar and I will probably get rid of one of them at some point, but for now, I am guilty of owning two leopard print skirts. Ha, ha. 

Another great casual skirt that you could easily dress up for the holidays is a denim one. Denim is the perfect back drop for all sorts of pretty combinations that stay casual, but still say holidays.

2. Pick a festive companion piece. For my outfit I chose two companion pieces, an open weave pullover sweater with gold threads, and a denim vest with silver bling on the yoke. This sweater is Covington and the vest is Christopher & Banks. 

The bling gives the outfit a holiday feel without being a top that has the actual holiday on it. If you don't have a top with bling choose a vest or sweater in the season's color. A rich burgundy or maroon will work great for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Even a deep purple or rusty orange will give an outfit a holiday vibe. 

3. Pick your jewelry. If you have a more blingy top you might want to forgo the jewelry, lest you feel like a Christmas decoration, but if you think the more the better, then welcome to my world. The goal is overstatement versus understatement

I chose a brassy necklace that had a few beads that matched the Butterum color in the skirt. The brassy chain also goes with the brass buckle on my belt. Sometimes mixing metals can clash, but I think in this outfit it works because no one metal takes center stage. They all compliment and work together with other colors in the outfit.

If your outfit pieces have no bling, then you can layer on the jewelry. Try multiple layers of gold or silver necklaces, or mix them up. Gold and silver can look gorgeous on a backdrop of burgundy, dark purple or deep navy. Think about what you own and try different pieces until you find something that makes you say, "I really like how that looks." Chances are, other people will think so too.

4. Add a bag. To pull together the browns in the skirt and the necklace I reached for my Butterum hobo bag. It is roomy enough to fill with additional items for a trip to see the family for dinner or even to tuck a light weight shawl for someone else's cooler home. 

5. Don't forget your shoes. Once again I reached for my Impo gray suede ankle boots. You can see I also went for a dark brown pair of tights, for full coverage of my legs. 

I chose these as they are dressy, but not too dressy. They are warm and I thought the gray color went well with the gray sweater. You could also wear knee hight boots, over the knee boots or even a pair of Keds or Converse sneakers for an even more casual look. The classier your shoes are the more dressed up the outfit will look. Heels, to me always make a dressy statement. You'll see more of that in the next four posts as we get into dressier looks. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing this outfit in my holiday series and I hope it provided some inspiration for you to create a holiday look from your own closet. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. 

Here are a few cute skirts and boots to shop for. This post contains affiliate links. All opinion are my own.

Layering Love - What to do with a Light Weight Dress

Just because the temperatures are heading down, the wind is picking up and the snow is starting to fly doesn't mean we have to put away all of our cute, light weight dresses. The way to extend the life of our wardrobes and find new, fun outfits is to think outside the box. A light weight knee length or shorter dress can easily be used as a tunic. The differences lie in the length and weight of the accompanying pieces and the types of accessories that you add to complete the outfit. 

This burgundy dress I found on the clearance rack at Kohl's just recently. I has elbow length sleeves, shirring at the neck and shoulders and an elastic waist. It is incredibly soft and comfortable.

For my layer of warmth on the top I added a polka dot black and white blazer which is Black Label - Evan Picone brand. 

For my bottom layer I chose a pair of heavier Joe Boxer brand leggings that I have worn on the blog before. Leggings provide more coverage and warmth than a a pair of hose or even tights, although a heavy pair of sweater tights would do the job.

Yes, I was doing a bit of print mixing! 

My Mossimo fringe bag was having a few issues, probably because I didn't have anything in it. Yes, sometimes I am a fake. Ha, ha. I thought silver jewelry worked great with the burgundy colors. 

I just picked up these Life Stride ankle boots at a thrift store recently. I was really disappointed to find out that my favorite thrift store here in Toledo closed. It is unfortunate when corporations make these quick decisions. A bunch of people are now out of work because of that decision.

The boots have a sort of burgundy look to them when you compare them to brown, but compared to the burgundy dress they really look brown. Funny how that works. 

Just by adding a few layering pieces you can turn a lighter weight dress into a great outfit focal point, even in the winter. Think about what dresses you normally wouldn't wear in the winter. Do you have one that you might be able to transform into a cold weather outfit, just by adding a warm, chunky sweater, some leggings and boots? I'd love to hear you ideas. Leave me  some love in the comments section.

I hope you'll join me again next Tuesday for my next casual holiday outfit, featuring a fun printed skirt. Have a great weekend!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. 

If you like this blazer JC Penney is having a sale right now on Black Label - Evan Picone pieces. Here are a few to peruse. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Holiday Outfit - Casual - Jeans

Welcome to my series on holiday style. I hope that these next few weeks will take you from Thanksgiving through the New Year in creative and inspirational ways. I grew up in a family that rarely dressed up, except for church on Sundays. Holidays were typically ultra casual, in fact sometimes on Christmas we stayed in our pjs or most comfortable sweats all day long. When I got married and we had children our holidays were always spent traveling so that we could spend time with our extended families. Living out of a suitcase for a week was always a challenge, not because I couldn't fit everything in, but because I had to plan ahead! What was I going to wear on each and every day of our time away? And how was I going to look presentable, but still be warm and comfortable?

Now that I am a fashion blogger, I want to dress in a more festive way, but still stay true to my comfortable, relaxed roots. For this series I decided to take a look at three different approaches to holiday dressing, (No! I do not mean stuffing.) The first two weeks will look at a casual approach, the second two weeks a dressy casual approach and the last two weeks will be devoted to a dressy approach. I will follow that with a post on a New Years eve look. So let's begin.

Certainly all of you own a pair of jeans. Some of you may even own a pair of cropped jeans, and/or a pair of distressed jeans. Jeans are a part of my style routine. I wear them all the time, for work, play, dressing up or down and everything in between. Maybe you are not a jeans kind of girl. but whether you are or aren't you can create a casual style using the following simple guidelines.

1. Pick a pair of jeans or casual pants that you enjoy wearing. For this outfit I chose my Vera Wang cropped distressed jeans. Here is a cute pair from Lord & Taylor. You could just as easily choose a pair of mom jeans or a pair of skinnies and just roll up the bottoms for a similar, fun look. 

2. Pick a fun sweater. It doesn't have to be a holiday sweater. I think it is fun to wear something with a holiday motif after Thanksgiving, but until then, any warm cozy sweater will do and over sized is even better. Here is one from Old Navy, Nautica and Target. 

I found this fair isle sweater on the clearance rack at Kohls. It is amazing the treasures you can find on the clearance rack for just about any season. This is Chaps brand, which is on the higher end of what I like to spend, so finding it on clearance with a good coupon was a win. I tucked it away knowing I would be able to use it this winter. 

If you are not familiar with fair isle, it is a knitting technique that uses multiple colors to create patterns. This sweater also has some silver threads knitted in, so it gives the fair isle pattern some subtle bling. My fave and perfect for a holiday gathering.

As you can see I had a tank top underneath, but it works because the pinky red of the tank matches the pinky red in the sweater. I am always cold in the winter, unless I am moving around, so I like to have an extra layer or two, but more on that Thursday in my Layering Love series. Ha!

3. Add a few statement jewelry pieces. Jewelry can be such a wonderful outfit booster. A fun piece of jewelry can take an outfit from dowdy to divine.

This pendant was another Kohl's clearance find. The bracelet I found on my first visit to Chico's. The two matched perfectly to one another and to the light blue in this sweater. Plus the silver trim goes well with the silver threads in the sweater. 

This brings me to another style question that seems to often come up...to match or not to match? This really is a matter of personal taste. I personally love to have at least a little bit of matching going on in an outfit. I feel that it makes the outfit look polished and gives it a classic, pulled together feel, BUT that is just my personal taste. There are many fashion bloggers who take pride in not being matchy and do a fabulous job at it! Do what is best for you. After all that is what this blogging thing is all about, helping you find your own style!

4. Grab a great bag. Since red is big this fall, I couldn't resist pulling out this Arizona Jeans brand Buffalo plaid tote. A Penney's clearance purchase last year, I got this as a possible Christmas gift, but decided to keep it for myself. Ha, ha. Here is an adorable one from dressbarn. 

A tote bag is a great way to transport things, especially if you are going to visit family at the holidays. Whether you are going just for dinner, for the day or for an extended weekend, a large roomy tote will give your room for all your essentials, a few little gifts and that book you are planning to read in the car while someone else drives. Oh, and don't forget that water bottle! The holidays can be a hard time to keep hydrated because there are so many goodies and fun drinks occupying our hands 

5. Don't forget the shoes. Just because you are going casual doesn't mean you have to wear sneakers, although a cute pair of hi-top Converse would be perfect with this outfit. I chose my wedge heel ankle boots from Impo. Here is a very similar pair from Macy's. 

I love these gray suede boots. They are super comfy, but also stylish. I wear these over and over during the cold weather. 

This is a look that I will most likely be wearing over the next few weeks as the holidays begin. It would be a great casual look for a holiday gathering, movie night or a day out Christmas shopping. I hope the tips I gave you will help you come up with your own casual holiday outfit. 

I would love to hear about what outfits you came up with. Leave me a note about them in the comments section, or leave me a picture on my Facebook page. I'd love to see your looks.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. 

Below are a few shopping options. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you buy an item through a link I get a small commission. All opinions are my own. 

Layering Love - What to Do with a LuLaRoe Tee

I introduced you to Kaylee Barfell in a previous post on LuLaRoe. Kaylee throws these Facebook parties and posts pictures of LuLaRoe pieces which we are then able to shop and buy. She has posted so many amazing outfits and pieces. When I saw this Perfect Tee, I knew I wouldn't be able to pass it up, so I made the purchase. 

The beauty of the Perfect Tee is in its fit. The tee is more fitted through the bodice, but then flares out from the waist. It is a tunic length, so could be worn with leggings, but also looks fantastic with skirts or jeans. For this post today, I decided to style my Perfect tee with my light orange skinny jeans that I got at dressbarn on clearance. 

I wanted to show you the tee with two different layering options. Since winter is on the way, I know I won't wear just a tee by itself, so I wanted to show you how you could still wear your tee, but be a bit warmer. Sorry for the fuzzy pics. I was in a hurry and it was cold. Ha, ha.

Layering from Underneath.

For this look, I put a blue button up blouse under the Perfect Tee. For size reference in the Perfect I went with a medium, because it flares out at the bottom. Many times I buy a large in a top, not because I need it through the bust, but because I don't want all my bulges to show. With the Perfect Tee you don't have to worry about that. It fits just right in the bust area and I was able to get this blouse on underneath without bulges and wrinkles.

Here is a close up of the pattern. LuLaRoe has so many fun and colorful patterns. That is part of the draw. 

To keep the look simple I chose yellow beads for my necklace and bracelets, my blue SO flats and a gray clutch.

I had to add a twirl, so you could see how the Perfect is more like a swing tee.

Layering Over the Top.

For the second look I took the button up off and put my denim crop jacket over the top. I swapped out the yellow beads for a long green and gold fringe pendant necklace. I decided to wear my suede ankle boots and opted for a large yellow tote. 

What do you think? Do you like to dress in layers? Have you ever layered a blouse under a tee? Layering is a great way to extend the wearability of some of your summer clothing into the fall and your fall clothing into the winter. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have a great weekend.

Pantone Fall 2017 - The New York Palette - Tawny Port and Golden Lime

This week's color combination is a blend of a dark maroon and a more subtle green. Tawny Port is described on the Pantone site as "Taking the red family to new depths..." I think of it as more of purple than a red, but then purple is made up of red and blue. Golden Lime takes on a more tropical hue, so I though pairing these two colors would make for an interesting outfit. 

These pictures were taken at Wildwood Metropark here in Toledo. This is an amazing park and so close to home. It used to be the estate of Champion Spark Plug magnate Robert Stranahan. The park boasts the original Manor house and outbuildings, as well as acres of trails, a covered bridge and boardwalk. It is used for everything from family picnics to all manner of photo opportunities. In December the Manor house will be decorated for Christmas and thousands of people will come to take a tour. 

For today's pics we just found a piece of trail to take pictures on.

I've had this skirt, which is Jones Wear Brand, for a while. Honestly, I don't even remember where I got it. Ha, ha. However, it is a fun skirt with it's whimsical pattern and colors. It is fully lined and would be considered either midi or tea length, depending on what chart you look at. 

This open waterfall cardi is ANA brand. It probably leans more towards purple than what Tawny Port actually is, but I think It works well. The Tawny Port splotches in the skirt actually are more red. It is amazing how you can pair something with a color that has both red and blue in it's undertones and it will lean toward the color of the piece you have on.

This faux lace top from Croft and Barrow appears more green in person, but you get the idea. I like these types of tops as they give the appearance of lace, but you don't have to wear a cami underneath. This one is a silky, stretchy material, so very easy to wear and wash. 

You can also see I added a gold belt to bring out that color in the skirt as well, plus it adds a point of interest and texture as well as defining my shape. I chose this bluish purple agate necklace as the skirt has just a little bit of this color in it too. 

My bag is thrifted and you can see I've used it before in this post. This dark olive bag from Talbots has two handles. One allows you to use it as a top handle hobo bag and the other as a cross body bag. It is nice to have options. 

I was really stumped when it came to what shoes to wear. My casual side won out in the end and I went for the combat boots. These are thrifted and are Falls Creek brand. Falls Creek is a brand sold at Meijer. 

I thought this was a fun outfit for fall. It is comfy, cozy and for cooler weather could be made wearable by swapping out the short sleeve stretchy tee for a long sleeve top and adding heavier tights under the skirt. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. I've included a few shopping links for Tawny Port and Golden Lime. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Have a great week and don't forget to stop back on Thursday for another Fun Fall Look.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge and Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish.