20 Days of Christmas - Joy Sweater

I have styled this sweater on the blog before (see that post here) and I think that it is the perfect piece to add to my 20 Days of Christmas challenge. For many who believe that Christmas is celebrated because of Jesus birth, it is a time for joy. However, I think joy is a good word to think about at all different times of year. Webster’s online dictionary defines joy as: the emotion evoked by well-being, success or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.

When I think of joy, I think of something much more permanent and deep than merely obtaining what I desire. I desire all sorts of things, but it is rarely the acquisition of those things that brings true joy. In the same way good fortune or success do not necessarily bring real joy. They may provide momentary happiness, but joy seems to be much more stable than the fleeting happiness that success or things may bring.

If you are interested in hearing more about joy, check out my faith post tomorrow on the blog.

I would have worn tights that matched my skirt and shoes if I had them, but when I tried these on, I thought, why not? Both the skirt and shoes are more maroon, while the hose are more burgundy. To me it just seems festive all the way around.

This sweater is thrifted and Old Navy brand. It is fairly light weight, so I felt the need to add a blouse underneath. I chose my thrifted Jaclyn Smith piece that I have featured on the blog before, for another holiday season. You can see that post here. The thing I like about these silkier types of blouses, is that they add a layer without adding bulk. Plus they have that shimmery look to them, which is perfect for the holidays.

I found this unique necklace on one of my thrift runs. I really like the colors and the design.

I’ve had this maroon pleated skirt for a while now. It was originally from Kohl’s and is AB Studio brand. To keep the outfit more upscale I grabbed my pewter sparkly clutch and added my thrifted Bandolino heels.

Figuring out a festive look does not always mean green and red or silver and gold. Sometimes it is easier to find one festive piece, like a sweater and then build the rest of your outfit around that. A pleated skirt will always kick an outfit up a notch and then adding heels and a sparkly bag or jewelry is all you need to be ready for a Christmas get together.

What did you think of this outfit? What do you like to wear for holiday gatherings? I’d love the hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments.

Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram for my 20 Days of Christmas challenge. You’ll see more of my every day Christmas looks.

Have a wonderful Tuesday.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

i’ve included a few shopping links for cute booties and blingy clutches for you to look at. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

20 Days of Christmas - Plaid Pants

Every now and then I have to get outside my comfort box. I have never really liked wearing things that draw attention to my lower half. Especially tight fitting, brightly colored pieces. I prefer a-line dresses to body con styles. If you don’t know, body con is more of a form fitting dress. I prefer dark wash jeans to lighter washes and feel most comfortable in jeans rather than leggings. I don’t wear leggings as pants, or if I do, I have my bum covered. Anyway, when I saw these crazy, red, plaid pants at Target on the clearance rack, I immediately thought of my Christmas challenge.

Those of you who regularly follow me, know I have been doing a monthly column called Outside the Box. These have been posts that I have done to try to challenge myself to get out of my typical fashion mentality. Let’s face it, we all like to be comfortable. Some women are comfortable in heels and dresses. While I can do that, it is not what I turn to when I want to feel secure. My go to, as you know are jeans and cozy sweaters or flannel shirts. But I also know that part of getting older is the urge to get stuck in a rut and not be willing to learn or try new things, thus the idea of getting outside the box.

These plaid pants do not have any green in them, so they will be easily styled with other colors, but I thought they were perfect when paired with a newer Croft & Barrow v-neck cable knit sweater and a thrifted blazer.

This blazer is actually meant to have a double breasted look, but I am too big to button it in that manner. However, when I saw it, it was the buttons on each side that made me want to buy it, that and the color. I think wearing it open, using the buttons for a decoration, works just as well. Since it is more of a forest green, I felt that it keeps the outfit from being too over the top with color.

I decided on silver for my accessories and was excited to remember this large silver pendant necklace that closely resembles a snowflake. That and my SO silver flats and a small silver clutch complete the ensemble.

I think this outfit is festive and fun and would work well for a Christmas office party, or a lunch date with your girlfriends. Would you wear a pair of pants like this? How do you like to dress up for a Christmas party?

I’ve included a few shopping links for more fun plaid prints. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend everyone.

20 Days of Christmas - Fairisle Sweater

Nothing says winter better than a Fair Isle Sweater. Fair Isle is one of the Shetland islands and it is from this area that the familiar pattern of knitting, using multiple colors came into play in the fashion world. The patterns became popular in 1921 when the Prince of Wales wore Fair Isle sweaters in public. You can see examples of true Fair Isle pieces by visiting this website, Mati Ventrillon. Her story is interesting and the pieces she creates unique and beautiful. It is is worth taking time to peruse her site. If you have the resources and are able to wear wool, one of these sweaters would be a once in a life time investment.

Obviously, my sweater was made on a machine at a factory and is strictly man made materials, but finding this Chap’s brand sweater at Kohl’s on the clearance rack last year was a win for me. I cannot wear wool, as it makes me itch and the price for one of Mati’s beautiful hand made pieces tops off at about $250. Since I don’t live on a chilly island north of Scotland, I think I’ll stick with my cheap fake. Ha, ha.

I was a bit at a loss this morning with taking pictures. My weekend was so busy and then I didn’t feel the greatest yesterday, so I didn’t get my pictures taken after work as I had planned. Frankly, I forgot. My brain has turned to its usual SAD slush! Ugg. Weeks of clouds takes it’s toll and while we had one sunny day on Sunday, one day is not enough to bring me completely out of the seasonal funk.

Anyway, it was so overcast this morning, I knew it was going to take more time than I had to get my camera to a setting that would take a decent picture outside, so I opted for my phone. Lots of these turned out fuzzy, so I apologize for the not so great photos.

Here is a close up of the pretty red, white and blue pattern. While typically that color combination is patriotic, on this sweater it seems more festive and Christmas ready rather than Fourth of July. I love the dark navy with the lighter more silvery blue and the red almost borders on pink.

This fun silver fringe necklace is one of my favorites and I like the way it pulls out the silvery threads in the sweater pattern. The other reason I like this necklace is if you get nervous or bored it is fun to fiddle with the fringe! Ha, ha.

Since I wanted to keep the outfit casual I chose to pair it with my silver sneakers which are a new addition to my shoe pile. I found these at a local department store on clearance. Today was the first time I wore them for a long period of time. They weren’t too uncomfortable, although by the time I was done shopping with my daughter at the mall, I was starting to feel a few spots that were rubbing. Oh well, I am sure they will still get plenty of use at my part time job and other occasions where I don’t have to do a ton of walking.

I think this works for a very casual Christmas outfit and the sweater could easily be dressed up with a cute pencil skirt or even a pleated skirt with heels. You could also go for gold, instead of silver for your accessories to change it up a bit.

One last picture just for laughs and of course this one turned out perfect! Ha, ha. Isn’t that the way of things?

I was looking out the window and saw a huge flat bed truck with a full load of wooden palettes doing a U-turn in the middle of our street. It was one of those, “All righty then,” moments. Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Do you own a Fair Isle sweater? Is this the type of sweater you would wear? I’ve included a few shopping links for a few that are more budget friendly. Remember, these are affiliate links. If you click on a link I get a few pennies. All opinions are my own. I appreciate your support, but even more than clicks, I appreciate your comments. I love to hear how I have inspired you or how you have taken a fashion trend or idea and made it your own. That is so inspiring to me.

Have a great evening.

20 Days of Christmas - Red and Green

It is the fourth day of my 20 Days of Christmas challenge and it has been fun to pull out some of my Christmas themed pieces and think about how to put them together in a way that is fun and stylish. I also wanted to revisit some of the traditional holiday color combinations and see how I could combine them in a fresh, trendy way.

Today’s outfit uses the two age old Christmas colors, red and green. Greenery has been used in decorating for centuries to brighten up the long, drab, winter months and is a reminder of the return of spring. Red, while associated with holly berries, is also in the Christian tradition, a reminder of the blood of Christ.

I started with this LuLaRoe maxi skirt which I have styled before on the blog, here. When I initially got this skirt, I thought it had a bit of a tropical vibe, but they celebrate Christmas in tropical places too, right? I decided to add this 3/4 length sweater to brighten up the outfit, though I think a green top with red accessories would have worked as well. The sweater is Croft and Barrow.

To make the look a little bit more youthful and updated I decided to top the whole outfit with my Mudd olive utility vest. I also thought carrying the green velvet cross body bag added a bit of trendy textural interest. I’ve gotten a number of compliments on this bag that I found on the clearance rack at Meijer, last spring.

As you can see we had some snow, so I felt my Croft and Barrow knee high black boots were in order for the day. I also had on black leggings under the skirt for added warmth. I was pretty cozy all day at work and even when my daughter and I took her dogs for a walk. I also had a 3/4 length tee under my sweater. Layers, upon layers. It’s winter time.

The finishing touch was this green and gold two layer necklace. The green went perfectly with the green in the skirt.

I really like these LuLaRoe maxi’s, although I think I had heard they were phasing them out of their product line. It looks like they now have a long, pleated maxi skirt. Whatever the case, it is easy to make your summer maxi skirts winter wearable by adding heavy tights, or leggings and boots.

Do you wear red and green at Christmas time? What did you think of this outfit? Would you wear something like this? I always welcome your feedback.

Have a great weekend. Be sure to follow along with the 20 Days of Christmas challenge on Instagram.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Hanging Out with the Happiness Boutique

I was contacted by a German company called Happiness Boutique wanting to do a collaboration with me. The Happiness Boutique describes its style as being “…modern classic with a charming vintage touch.” They offered I pick out two of their jewelry pieces in exchange for featuring them on a blog post. When you check out their website you will see a collection of youthful, whimsical pieces that will add an element of bling or pizzazz to any outfit.

I pulled this outfit together just before I flew out the door to go to take pictures at my daughter’s house. I wanted to put together a look that was both warm and fun and that could be worn for a Thanksgiving day get together. I also wanted to think outside the box, since I wanted the jewelry to take center stage.

The two pieces I chose were a necklace and a bracelet. The necklace has more of a traditional gold finish and the bracelet is more of a rose gold.

I chose this double leaf pendant because I like that it acts like both a pendant and a fringe necklace. The leaves are very cute and add a unique textural element to the outfit. There is also a small dark colored jewel at the point from which the two leaf chains hang. This vintage feather necklace is a wonderfully delicate piece that makes a statement all on its own.

I chose to wear my new sweater from Eden Fashion Boutique as a solid backdrop for the necklace. Wanting the necklace to make a statement, I was afraid it would get lost in a print blouse, but any solid back ground really makes this pop.

The wavy bracelet in rose gold, is another statement piece. I love the wavy design, but also the added texture on the one loop. This shimmery, shiny piece is going to be making regular appearances throughout the holidays.

Happiness Boutique is currently offering my readers a 10% discount on your total order over $21.00. Just enter stylingrannymama at checkout. Act soon on that, because the extra 10% is a special for the Christmas season from November 20th to December 20th. In addition Happiness Boutique offers free shipping and a customer reward program.

I hope you enjoyed this look at Happiness Boutique. These items were gifted to me. I received no money for this post. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Here are a few other fun pieces from Happiness Boutique.

My Favorite Animal...Print, I Mean

I thought it would be fun to show you some of my own leopard print pieces. I would say, out of all the different animal prints, leopard is probably my favorite with snakeskin print being the second. I have never been into zebra print. I love the animals and think it is very pretty in home decor, but the jazzy black and white stripes never seemed to appeal to my fashion preferences. But never say never.

Over the last few years I have been drawn to leopard print and have found a few fun pieces, some of which you have seen already. The first piece I acquired was a leopard print skirt. This was a JC Penney find and is Worthington brand. The first picture was from spring of 2016; the second is just this fall.

See original post here.

See original post here.

I also snatched up another leopard print skirt at a thrift store. Why do I need two leopard print skirts that are almost the same as far as shape and length? I could say the colors are a bit different and the second has a richer texture because it is corduroy, but in all honesty, I just forgot that I had the first one when I saw the second one in the thrift store. Ha, ha. This one is Jones, NY brand.

See original post here.

The next piece I acquired was a thrifted 3/4 length sleeve cardigan sweater. I liked the extra classy feel of the black band around the hem, sleeves and buttons. This is a brand called Karen Scott.

See original post here.

One of my favorite pieces you have seen recently on the blog and that is my leopard print blazer from JC Penney. This is a faux velvet piece and while it is not rigidly structured, it has enough shape to make it look classy. Thus far I have only styled it casually, but I think I will think about a more dressed up look.

See original post here.

See original post here.

If you are interesting in reading those original posts, just click on the links below the pictures. You might have fun seeing how different my hair was before I decided to start growing out my gray. Ha, ha.

I have a few other leopard print pieces for accessories including a pair of flats from Christopher and Banks and a scarf.

See original post here.

See original post here.

Those are my current leopard print treasures. I’m hoping at some point to acquire a pair of booties and a bag of some sort, but I’m in no hurry. I think leopard print is here to stay.

Do you have a favorite animal print? What ways do you like to wear those types of prints. I’d love to hear from you. Leave me some love or a few sassy remarks about my past pictures in the comments. Ha, ha.

Have a great weekend!

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to peruse. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Girls' Night Out - Eden Fashion Boutique

This past Thursday a local small business, Eden Fashion Boutique, was hosting a Girls’ Night Out party at their downtown Sylvania, Ohio location. Eden Fashion Boutique was the brain child of Katie Thompson and originally started in Bowling Green, Ohio, but their cute little retail store has expanded to include the Sylvania location. In addition, they have an online shop that features the same pieces they have in store, so if you like to shop from home, be sure to check out their site.

The Eden Fashion Boutique in downtown Sylvania is a small space that packs a big punch. From the stylish mannequins in the windows to the racks filled with items grouped by color, I couldn’t help but feel the need to try on every item in the store. Mustard and sunflower yellows, cedar greens, rich burgundies and classic black and whites filled the racks with the warm and cozy textures of fall and on coming winter.

The obvious idea behind this party was to bring your girl friends and have an intimate shopping experience while enjoying wine and snacks.

The party was timed from 5 to 9 so Rebecca and I got there right about 5:30. When we first walked in there were only a few other people in the store, but before we knew it, Eden was hopping. Rebecca had contacted Katie ahead of time and asked if she would be up for having us take pictures, try things on and so on. Katie was all about it and when I met her in person I was so impressed with her positive and energetic spirit.

Katie’s background is marketing and organizational development. A stay at home mom for nine years she was inspired to fill a need in her community.

“I wanted an uncluttered, curated place to shop with unique pieces that were affordable. And since that didn’t exist, I decided to create it myself!”

This wasn’t something that came about on a whim. Eden has their own branding statements that include their vision and mission. Their mission statement will ring true with many of my fellow bloggers:

“We strive to encourage, empower, and inspire women….” This statement is supported by the space Eden occupies, the clothing sold there, the people who serve the customers and the customers themselves. Shopping at Eden is not like going to the mall. It is an intimate, relaxed and positive experience.

That positivity translates into the boutiques from the friendly and helpful staff, to the signs on the walls, to the cute stickers they use to tape the tissue they wrap each purchased item in when it goes into your bag.

Picture from my cell phone.

They were having a special sale that evening, if you bought three items you got one free. With Rebecca’s birthday coming up this weekend, I told her to pick out two items and I would pick out two items. Let the shopping commence.

Don’t ask me to pose and shop at the same time! This is serious business! Ha, ha.

There were so many delicious pieces that it was hard to not try everything on. I told Katie I was going to have to come back for my own personal style session and do just that.

These were a few of the things I tried on.

This fuzzy cardigan was like wrapping yourself inside a blanket. What could be better in the winter than a stylish fuzzy blanket with arms? I loved the color.

These were a pair of their pull on jeans. The fit was nice and the material soft and flexible. Rebecca ended up with a pair of these. This sweat shirt is just another example of the positivity vibe of this store.

I’m just loving this brown mustard yellow color. The turtleneck is so soft to the touch and the sweater is another fun piece I would love to add to my wardrobe. I ended up with the turtleneck. It has an asymmetrical neck line. That and the soft fabric sold me.

I’ll be styling this on the blog later this week. I also bought a dark green pullover sweater that will be making an appearance on the blog as well.

This was a fun event and I hope to make Eden a more frequent stop. They keep their collections moving, so there are always new items to check out. The clothing seems to be well made, the price points are not bad and the shopping experience is intimate and fun. I will definitely be back.

I hope you enjoyed this look at one of my home town’s local small businesses and if you have the time, check out their online store. If you are ever in the area, this is a retail business worth checking out.

You can also visit Eden on their facebook page or their Instagram account.

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Outfit Inspiration - Plaid Trousers with Green

This outfit is another product of perusing a Christopher & Banks add that I had gotten in the mail. The add contained an outfit consisting of a pair of plaid pants, a cardigan, a short sleeve tee and a button up blouse with a collar. Since I am such a layering fanatic in the winter, due to living in a drafty old house and living in the mid west, I thought this would be a fun and different way to add multiple light layers. This layering not only adds warmth, but creates visual interest and additional texture, for an outfit that is clearly work appropriate, and also date night ready.

Plaid is in again and seems to be a recurring pattern in the fashion realm. Whether it is the light and bright plaids of spring and summer checks or the more expected flannel and buffalo plaids of fall, plaid is a pattern everyone can wear. With plaid shirts, pants, skirts and jackets there are plenty of choices for your closet.

I found this pair of Mossimo brand trousers at a thrift store. I like the wider legs, but it was the plaid pattern and the bright green stripes that had me throwing them in my cart. The picture below was to show off my dark brown Life Stride boots, but it also gives you a close up of the plaid colors.

Seeing as the pants have both a light green and a dark green stripe I was able to draw from several different greens in my closet. The Sonoma tee shirt is fairly old and is often worn during the warmer months as it is relatively light weight. The long sleeve gingham that I am wearing underneath is Jaclyn Smith and was thrifted. The cardigan was also thrifted and is Old Navy.

Because the tee had that touch of purple I added the purple bead and metal necklace for a contrasting splash of color.

I really like these greens with the purple. Even though I typically would associate these colors more with spring or summer I think they work well for fall and brighten things up, which really helps on a dreary day.

This shoulder bag is another thrift store find and is Liz Claiborne brand.

I like when the strap on a bag is long enough that I can use it either as a shoulder bag or a crossbody bag. It’s okay to occasionally have it both ways! Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this outfit. Do you like to wear plaid? What sorts of plaid items do you have in your closet. In addition to my plaid pants I have a few tops that are plaid, including a few flannel ones. How about you? Not all patterns are liked by everyone, but there are other ways to embrace a trend like florals or plaid, just think less is more. Carry a plaid bag, wear a plaid scarf or even a pair of plaid socks and then roll your pant cuffs so the socks are just peeking out.Everyone will think you are so on trend and you didn’t have to make a big investment.

I hope you all have a great weekend! Until next time.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Summer Maxi Dress for Fall

I’m sure many of you have heard about transitional dressing. This has to do with taking a clothing piece from one season and changing it up to make it wearable in the next season. With our seasons here in the mid west being so varied, it is essential to have pieces that can be worn for more than one season. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I love jeans. You can wear them any time of year. Ha, ha. However, this is not going to be a post about jeans. You already know how much I love those! This post focuses on a summer maxi dress that was a new purchase from late last spring.

Some of you who regularly follow me might remember this dress from my summer series on maxi dresses. You can see the whole dress and the original post here. This bohemian style maxi boldly stated it wanted to come home with me when I saw it on the rack at Nordstrom Rack this past May. I knew as soon as I tried it on that it would be a versatile piece and would easily take me from summer into fall.

In order to make the light weight dress fall ready I decided I needed layers. I knew I wanted to style it with knee high boots to add warmth on the lower level. While I didn’t wear tights for this photo shoot, I would add them if I was going to have the dress on for a longer period of time.

I do love wearing boots. They are a great way to change up an outfit and add warmth. With so many styles from ankle booties to over the knee types what is not to love. And now there are so many more colors!

Here are a few brown pairs, that I like at decent price points.

To add layers at the top I chose this thrifted sunflower yellow sweater cardigan. The brand name is Callaway. A simple cardigan adds a warm layer without a lot of bulk and they come in so many pretty prints and colors. Here are a few to look at. With Christmas coming, I am sure you need ideas for all those girls on your list. Ha, ha.

In addition to the sweater I also grabbed my thrifted brown moto jacket. I have styled this many times on the blog. It is one of my favorite thrift finds and most often I wear it as an extra layer in the winter time, rather than as an outerwear jacket. For this particular fall day this and the sweater were just the right amount of layers.

Here are a few shopping options.

My accessories are pretty simple. This layered necklace I found somewhere or other on the clearance rack. The nice thing about these types of necklaces is there is no work involved. Some days that is just exactly what I need.

My bag is a navy Vera Wang bag that is also thrifted.

One of the things that I like about fashion blogging is learning new ways to use my clothes. It used to be that we had our summer clothes and our winter clothes. I still go through the process of putting things away and pulling out different things each season, simply because I am a clothes horse and there is no way I could have all my clothes out at the same time. Also, I tend to reach for what is in my comfort zone. In the winter I like to be warm, so I like my heavy sweaters and added layers. In the summer I like less layers and lighter material. However, since I have started blogging I have learned that there are ways to extend the seasonal pieces and get more wear out of them. This outfit is the perfect example.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Leave me some love in the comments. I always like to hear your point of view.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you make a purchase through a link I get a little commission. I appreciate all your clicks.

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Pantone Fall 2018 Recap

After a series like the Pantone color one, I usually like to do a recap post, to show you all the colors and the outfits I styled using those colors into one post. These colors this season were not what I would call common fall colors. I usually think of fall colors as being richer and darker hues like deep burgundies, earthy browns and garden oranges that make us think of pumpkins and fall leaves. While the Pantone Fall 2018 had a few colors that fit into my typical fall color box they had numerous ones that clearly stepped outside that box. Colors like Limelight, Mellow Rose and Crocus Petal provided a pastel palette choice for those who like to think brighter and lighter when the seasons change.

Enjoy this review of my Pantone Fall 2018 outfits.

What did you think of this color palette this year? Do you like lighter, pastel colors or go for richer, darker colors when fall rolls around? Do you like to think outside the seasonal color rules, or are you like me and look forward to the seasons bringing you back to those colors you are familiar with and enjoy at that time of year? It really doesn’t matter any more. The joy of fashion today is that you can decide what you like to wear at any time of year.

I like that Pantone had added the classic colors to the color palette for each season. It allows me to add a more toned down color to each outfit keeping the outfit colorful, but no overly so. it would be easy to add a touch of any of these colors to a more neutral outfit. For instance, if you wanted to go for a monochrome look using a navy like Sargasso Sea, you could add a little color by throwing on a bright Russet Orange scarf or some Limelight colored beads. If you normally dress in more neutral tones try adding just a touch of color in your accessories to make your outfits more interesting and visible.

I hope you enjoyed this series. Check back on Thursday for more fashion fun.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Fall 2018 - Quetzal Green, Crocus Petal and Meerkat

I am on my last Pantone Fall 2018 post. I hope you have enjoyed seeing these colors and the way I have managed to put outfits together using the inspiration from the 2018 Fall palette. As in anything where fashion is concerned we can take it our leave it. Fashion is for you. It is about putting together outfits and colors that you like, make you feel confident and that you will enjoy wearing. In some ways what we wear is like our second skin. It provides a covering for a bodies and how we put that cover together can boost our self-image and help us better manage our wardrobes and our pocket books.

I have found, in the fashion realm, just like in cooking, having a source of inspiration really helps. Whether you follow a recipe or cook from memories of you and your mom or grandmother working together to make wonderful creations in the kitchen, you use that inspiration to put food on your table. In the same way inspiration for fashion can come from magazines, bloggers, color palettes or even things out in nature. That is the reason I always like to use the Pantone color palettes as a spring board for creating fun and interesting outfits.

These last two colors, Quetzal Green and Crocus Petal, I decided to pair, once again, with Meerkat. Crocus Petal is a lighter, more spring like color found on the London palette. I feel that pairing it with Quetzal Green and Meerkat was the perfect way to keep the light color grounded and more fall like.

This top is a Kohl’s clearance find and is Dana Buchman brand. It is a button up with 3/4 length sleeves and a longer silhouette. It has some stretch and is more fitted. I opted to wear this bead and metal statement necklace, which incorporates the Crocus Petal color as well. I wore a simple gold cuff on my arm.

I found the open weave sweater thrifting, I love the variations in the knit. I am not a yarn girl, though I would love to be. I think this is crocheted, but it might be knit. Can any of you readers tell? Whatever it is I love the different stitch sizes and open versus more closed aspect to the piece. Here we are talking about texture again and how essential is is to making an outfit more interesting.

I thought these two colors when great with the browns, black and cream of my leopard print pencil skirt. This skirt is another JC Penney find and is Worthington brand.

The boots, Aerosoles and bag, both thrifted were the perfect accessories to pair with this outfit. I think black would have worked well or even a cream colored boot, which are trending right now, but I love the luxe feel of the Meerkat color.

Next week I’ll have a recap of all the Pantone Fall 2018 colors. I hope you’ve enjoyed this series and that it provided you with some inspiration for trying new color combinations. Always shop your closet before going out to purchase what is currently trending. You might already have a leopard print top or the perfect color piece that matches with one of the Pantone seasonal colors.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Ordinary Amy - Bootcut Jeans and Leopard Print

Those of you who follow me on a regular basis know I am a jeans kind of gal. Jean are what I live in and I love to be able to dress up a pair of jeans for a lunch date, work or a night out with my hubby. I don’t care what wash they are or what cut, jeans are just my favorite, go to pants.

For today’s post I decided to move away from my frequent choice of dark wash skinny jeans and chose my lighter wash, thrifted, bootcut jeans. I like the shape of a good pair of boot cut jeans. These are actually a little bigger, which I like because they are so comfortable. These are a thicker denim, so hopefully, will last for a while. This is an older brand called Kikit, which are only available through Etsy, Poshmark and other thrift retailers.

The choice to wear this leopard print blazer that I found on the JC Penney clearance rack last year was a no brainer! Animal prints are trending now, especially the classic leopard print.

I can remember when I was a young girl thinking of leopard print as something only the rich and famous wore. Pictures of celebrities with their fur stoles and jackets were from before my time, but even in the late 60’s and early 70’s animal print patterns were not something the average woman wore. Maybe that is part of the reason these prints are so popular now and continue to be. Also, I think we are more evolved in the fashion arena as far as fabrics and pieces that can mimic the patterns in nature.

For my top, I chose my black velvet tee. This was a Christmas gift from my hubby last Christmas. I thought it went very nicely under the velvet, leopard jacket.

Along with leopard print comes the look of burgundy or red accessories. Red shoes and boots are big this fall. I opted for the more subdued burgundy color, rather than a bright red, but the combination works to make a much more interesting outfit. Even if you don’t have leopard print you could combine burgundy with brown, tan and black and get a sharp looking outfit.

My cute fringe bag is thrifted and my ankle boots are a recent purchase from Meijer. I will be the first to admit I have a shoe problem, but only in spurts. Meijer was having a Buy One Get One for a Dollar, so I had to take a look. Of course I found these boot and they went right into my cart. Then I tried on some Keds and a pair of those jumped in the cart. Well, there was a clearance area as well and I found the cutest blush sneakers…so yes, I came home with three pairs of shoes. Shhhhh! Don’t tell.

I decided to wear my burgundy wood and metal and a coppery gold belt as my finishing pieces, adding a front tuck to give definition to my waist.

While we were taking pictures, I met this very nice man. He was so understanding and quite a good listener. Ha, ha. We couldn’t pass up a great picture opportunity.

Are you a jeans girl too? What is your favorite brand of jeans? Do you buy your jeans at thrift stores or do you have a particular retailer that you like to buy from? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave me some love in the comments section.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which means if you click on a link I get a few pennies. If you purchase something through one of my links, I get a little bit more. All opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Outfit Inspiration - Gingham and Olive

This week’s Outfit Inspiration comes from a Christopher & Banks add that I received in the mail. I love to try to copy the outfits that many retailers put in their advertisements and catalogues, because it gives me a source for a well thought out outfit, without me having to come up with the idea. I still have to shop my closet and try to find similar enough pieces to create the look, but the inspiration was provided by someone else.

When I saw the classic combination of a gingham button up with olive pants I knew it was an outfit I could easily replicate from pieces in my closet. This is what I came up with.

Since olive is treated as a neutral these days you can wear it with any other color and it works. Case in point, for this outfit I am pairing these olive trousers with a black and white gingham blouse, a white tank underneath to add interest and a gray casual cardigan.

This is an outfit I would easily wear to work. While the outfit is fairly neutral you can easily jazz it up by adding color in your accessories. I chose to keep my look more neutral all over. I have on black loafer heels, which I have worn on the blog before, and decided to carry my thrifted snakeskin clutch, since animal prints are trending right now. I opted for a few silver bangles and no other jewelry. I felt there was enough going on with the gingham check and the layers, although you could easily add a necklace or a pretty colored scarf to wake the outfit up a bit.

This gingham blouse was thrifted and is Old Navy brand. The white sweater tank that I have on underneath was also thrifted and is George brand. The original photo that I took the inspiration from showed the model with her top tucked in and no belt, even though the pants had belt loops. I wanted to stick to the original outfit as much as possible, but next time I will add a belt. I just think it makes an outfit look more polished. I have an olive colored one that would have worked perfectly with these pants.

My gray sweater is from H&M. I had a gray sweater, very similar to this, but it was showing wear, so I was glad to find this as a replacement.

Here is a picture of the shoes taken on a different occasion. They are a sturdy, practical heel, but still look stylish while being fairly comfortable. These were thrifted and are ANA brand.

Rebecca Trumbull

Here are a few more photos I thought I’d share just for fun:

I was having fun with this red bud tree. Unfortunately, the poor thing is half dead.

That’s all I have for today. I hope you enjoyed this post. I’d love the hear your feedback. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Pantone Fall 2018 - Russet Orange, Ultra Violet and Quiet Gray

This week’s Pantone Fall 2018 colors are a bright pumpkin orange and a deep purple we met last spring, that won Color of the Year. Russet Orange is an easy color on the eye and reminds us of those beautiful Maple trees that boast red, yellow and orange leaves. Ultra Violet might be part of your Halloween decorating. Since the combination of orange and purple has become a less dark and more party friendly Halloween pairing, I thought it would be fun to put these two colors together.

These pants I’ve worn on the blog before, here, here and here. They are Worthington brand from JC Penney. These have a side zipper and sit higher on the waist, so help to create a more smooth silhouette.

My top is an older tee from Christopher & Banks. I love the color of this top. To keep the bright colors from being too overwhelming, I chose the Pantone color Quiet Gray as a topper to polish off the look. This fun piece is from the Kohl’s clearance rack and is a brand called About A Girl. I really like the double breasted look and the feminine detailed ruffles.

I kept my accessories fairly simple. This lovely leaf necklace I found at a shop in Grayling, MI called The Main Branch Gallery. Boasting art work and crafts from local artisans it is a great place to visit if you are ever up that way.

I then finished off the look with my silver clutch and silver SO flats that I recently added to my SO shoe collection from Kohl’s. Here is a link if you are interested in other colors. They are on sale right now for only $21.99, which is a good deal for a fairly comfortable shoe that makes any outfit look a little more dressed up. I normally wear an 8.5 or a 9 and I get these in a 9.

What do you think of these two colors? Would you wear Russet Orange and Ultra Violet together? I’ve included a few shopping links below. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Old Becomes New - Multi-print Blazer

For this month’s Old Becomes New column, I am featuring a short, 3/4 sleeve blazer that I found at a thrift store a few years back. What drew me to it was the amazing, eclectic color palette. My first thought was that I could wear it with so many things. After I tried it on and loved its’ stretchy feel, I had to take it home. Unfortunately, I’ve only worn it less than a handful of times. I decided to revisit it and make the tough choice as to whether I should keep it our not.

I honestly believe this jacket is meant for a smaller person than me. I am 5’ 5” and hover around 163 pounds. While it tends, on me, as more of a crop jacket, I’m just not sure. I am asking for your help friends. What do you all think? Does my outfit look disproportionate?

I chose my dressbarn W62 jeans. I bought this pair last year and they no longer carry this color. I love that they are so comfortable and stretchy, however, I feel like they are almost too big. I lost a few pounds this past spring, so I don’t know if that is what made the difference, but they seem to have a lot more wrinkles. Do you ever buy something, put it on and think, “It just doesn’t have the magic, I thought it had?”

I went with this thrifted brown tee and a necklace that was in some of my daughter’s stuff to be gotten rid of. Hey, I’m not afraid to find treasure in the strangest of places. I like the brown and yellow cord, the beads, ribbon and the charms, which you can’t see much of in this picture. It seemed a prefect fall accessory.

My bag is another thrift find. I felt the brown tee and the brown bag pulled in more of a fall feel with this blazer that could be worn in any season.

Once again, I chose my SO olive ankle boots. These are perfect for the cool temps of fall when you are not quite ready for mid-calf or knee high boots. You can see more fun colors here. The price point on these is not bad at all and they are very comfortable. I typically wear an 8.5 or a 9 and went with a 9 in these so I have more room for heavier socks as the days get cooler.

What is your verdict? Is this a jacket I should keep or should I let it go free? Ha, ha. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I have to work Friday and Saturday and try to play catch up with all the other stuff that I don’t get done during the week. Ha, ha. Take care and always choose to be kind.

Pantone Fall 2018 - Pink Peacock, Valiant Poppy and Almond Buff

Welcome back to outfit number three in this fall’s Pantone color series. Today I am featuring two colors which the Pantone site describes as a “bright and bold dramatic pink” and a “brave and outgoing red.” I didn’t go into this series thinking I would pair these two colors, but when I started looking for the pink and decided on this multi-print tunic, it was only natural to choose another color in the tunic to pair with it, which obviously turned out to be red. I have always thought of pairing red and pink as a Valentine’s Day idea, but when I began putting this outfit together, I saw a subtle shift from cupids and hearts to fall apples and fuzzy pink slippers.

This tunic is a brand called East Fifth and while I can’t remember, I think I got it at JC Penney. Although, when I checked on their website, it looks like they currently only carry East Fifth shoes. and a few bags. I have styled this tunic on the blog before. You can see that post here.

When I realized I had this thrifted Merona cardigan, I knew that would add the perfect pop of red, in addition to my red clutch.

To keep the outfit grounded I picked the Pantone color Almond Buff from the classic palette. These pants are a little on the light side to truly mimic the color, but my swede ankle boots are a closer match. Yes, I am doing the Robot.

The pants are Croft and Barrow brand. The boots are Sonoma. Both items were from Kohl’s.

I chose my bright red clutch to add to the Valiant Poppy vibe. Because the tunic is so busy the only jewelry I added was a gold bangle bracelet and the pink and red tassel necklace, which as you can see, blends in with the top, but still adds a little textural detail.

Isn’t it funny that I bought this necklace a while back, never realizing that Pink Peacock and Valiant Poppy would be a thing, or that I would end up pairing these two colors on the blog? This next picture is just me at my silliest! Ha, ha.

Would you combine these two colors? Do you think they are what we would classify as fall colors? I’d love to hear you thoughts. It means a great deal to me when you take the time to stop by, read my posts and comment (when technology is cooperating). I have learned a lot from your comments, especially when you share, how you would have done it differently or what you like about a particular post, so keep it up.

Be sure to check back Thursday for a new Old Becomes New post, where I’ll be sharing a colorful blazer styled in a fall outfit. I need your help to decide whether I should keep it or not. Until then, have a great day.

I’ve included a few shopping links for pink tops and red bags, just for fun. These are affiliate links which means I get a penny or two when you click on a link. If you purchase something through my site, I get a little commission.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Outside the Box - Floral Dress with Combat Boots

I have never been especially adventurous with fashion. My style is somewhat classic with a tomboy edge and a dash of boho meets warrior princess, or at least that is what I would like to think. I am not overtly feminine, though I do like pink and especially love lace. As I revealed in last week’s Ordinary Amy post, I like motorcycle jackets, blue jeans and boots or tennis shoes. The premise for having a column called Outside the Box, is exactly that, to get me thinking outside my own fashion box.

This week’s outfit is what I would call motorcycle mayhem meets feminine flirt. Let me know if you agree.

I often see bloggers who put together outfits that I would have never dreamed of doing. Not because they are so bold or daring, but because my mind would just never think to combine combat boots, fishnet stockings and a floral dress.

I began this outfit journey with the floral dress. I picked this up at Gabes this past spring with the thought in mind that it would be a great fall piece. Bright florals on a dark background make me think more of cooler weather and sipping hot cocoa. It’s not that you couldn’t wear these colors in the spring and summer, but there is something seasonal about certain color combinations.

I know fashion is not contained neatly in one box and many in the fashion world are strongly pushing against the stereotypes of weight and age, which is awesome, and I fully support. However, there is also a push against traditional fashion ideas, such as not wearing white before or after the summer months, or allowing seasonal color changes to affect what we wear. I’m fine with many of these ideas, but fashion is also about wearing what we want to wear. I like darker colors in the fall and winter and brighter colors in the spring and summer. That is just me!

What really drew me to this little floral number besides the print were the bell sleeves. You can’t see them really well in these photos, but they add a fun element to the piece.

During the summer, when my hubby and I were on vacation in Wisconsin, I went with my mother-in-law to a department store that was going out of business. They were just getting started with their sales and we spent our time looking at shoes. It was then, I came across these boots.

Just like motorcycle jackets, I love combat boots. This is now my third pair and I love the embellishments on these. I’ve included a few shopping links at the end of similar pairs. These zip on the inner ankle so are easy to get on and off. I thought the contrast of the floral dress with the combat boots was a look that was outside my norm.

To give the outfit another more feminine edge I added the fishnet tights. These are a heavier weight than true fishnet stockings. I didn’t even remember I had these until I started looking through my hose bin! I saw these and said, “Yes, this is it!” The outfit would be just as fun with a pair of sweater tights in a dark or a bright color like red or cream. I do like darker on the bottom for the thinning factor.

Because the dress is so busy, I kept my accessories minimal. I put on my yellow pendant necklace and added a faux leather cross body bag for a last touch of tough girl.

This bag makes me think of a motorcycle saddle bag. I’m a little preoccupied! My hubby had a Harley before we ever met, and I keep trying to convince him we need to get one in our old age. Ha, ha.

What do you think? Would you wear combat boots with fishnet stockings and a dress? It even sounds odd, but I actually think it works. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I have been having some issues with people commenting on my blog. For some reason it lets some people comment and not others. I have contacted my platform support team to see if the issues are on my end. Sometimes it can be the browser you are using. Squarespace tries to keep current with changes and updates in multiple browsers so it can take time. If you can’t comment right away, please try again later. I do apologize for the problems. You can also give me feedback on Facebook as well. I appreciate your thoughts and support.

Have a great weekend!

Pantone Fall 2018 - Martini Olive, Ceylon Yellow and Tofu

I will confess, these colors are not my favorites. It might be due to the fact that I decided to combine them into one outfit.

Martini Olive is more of a gray or brown based olive. I honestly like an olive that is more green. However, for the sake of being open minded this would be a good neutral that could go with many different colors including navy, black or even a rich deep red. Maybe I should have paired Martini Olive with Red Pear. What do you think? These jeans are thrifted and Gloria Vanderbilt brand.

Ceylon Yellow has a bit of a bite. It is not really a mustard, but has a bit of spice underlying it. I have fallen in love with yellow, but my personal tastes tend more towards the yellows that are sunflower or goldenrod. The top is thrifted and Merona brand.

I opted for orange, as the pop of color I felt this outfit needed. Orange bag, orange necklace and bracelet: I feel like it epitomizes the mix of colors in the fall that we so often see in the trees.

This jacket I found at H&M on the clearance rack. Once again, it is a moto type jacket, but tends more towards a tweedy look, which gives it an entirely different vibe from last week’s metallic blush moto jacket. The color is in line with the Pantone classic color labeled Tofu. Not a true white, but not a true cream, it seems to fall somewhere in between. I love the texture details, including the frayed sleeves and bottom hem.

Once again, I am wearing my olive SO ankle boots. Just like my SO ballet flats these boots are very comfortable and look nice. I love the rich texture of the faux suede.

I am not completely satisfied with this look. I don’t like what I did with my hair, even though that is something I do from time to time and this outfit doesn’t have enough color contrast for me. I like bright, rich colors and this palette just leaves me looking washed out. But hey, not every outfit can be a winner. I’m still learning and growing.

I do think these colors would be better paired with another color. The yellow would look pretty with a blue shade or even a rich chocolate brown and like I said earlier, the Martini Olive would pair well with a navy, burgundy or even a purple.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts, both good and bad! I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Ordinary Amy: Blush Moto Jacket

I have gotten away from my monthly columns for a while, but now feel like I can get back at it. For today’s Ordinary Amy post, I chose to build my outfit around a blush moto jacket that I found at Nordstrom Rack back in May. I had been looking for a lighter colored moto jacket and this one fit the bill perfectly.

I know I am not the only gal that has a love affair with motorcycle jackets. They have always been a favorite of mine, for as long as I can remember. When I was young, my brothers used to race dirt bikes (motocross) and I loved the thrill, the noise and the dirt of going to watch them ride. I always thought that would have been so much fun. Needless to say, growing up with the two wheeled noise makers around gave me an earthy, edgy perspective on life.

Another factor that solidified my love for moto jackets, motorcycles and writing, was a book that I had to read in my 8th grade English class. The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton was a coming of age story about a group of boys from the poor side of town and how they dealt with the difficulties of broken homes, strained relationships and maneuvering adolescence in the midst of night time rumbles with the rich kids and running away from home. Some of the first stories I wrote followed a very similar thread to S.E. Hinton, as I struggled with my own acceptance of adolescence, my place in the socioeconomic strata and who I was becoming as a young woman.

Just as my fashion sense has grown and changed, so has my writing ability and interest. I still love to revisit those early stories and remember the feelings associated with them. I’m now trying to learn new genres of writing, in the hopes that one day, I might actually make publishing a reality. In the mean time, here is an outfit for you to peruse.

My daughter quickly took these pictures on my camera while she was over with her pups to help me rake my yard. Cottonwood trees are big and give plenty of shade, but they shed terribly and the leaves they drop in the fall are exactly as you see here, brown and crunchy. This was after my spouse and I had already raked a good portion of the yard into huge piles.

This jacket is a crop length and has a beautiful metallic sheen. I am excited to see how many different ways this can be styled, both casual and dressy. Since this is about my regular way of dressing I paired it with a blush and camo knit top, a pair of Rock & Republic jeans and my SO olive booties.

Do you like moto jackets? Do you have any in your closet? I think everyone, should have at least one. They can be a very versatile piece and are perfect for the cooler weather of fall.

I hope you enjoyed this post and reading more about extraordinary me. Ha, ha.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Saturday linking up with Rena of It’s All Fine. Whatever…

Pantone Fall 2018 - Red Pear, Nebulas Blue and Sargasso Sea

Last week, I introduced you to this fall’s Pantone color palette. Now that I am just getting started with my series, I noticed their website already has the color palettes up for Spring 2019. I understand that in the fashion and interior design industries they always need to be one step ahead, or all of a sudden things have gone out of trend and disappeared. That reminds me of a verse from the book of Ecclesiastes which was written by King Solomon.

“That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So there is nothing new under the sun.”

— Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NASB)

Even a man as wise as Solomon, knew there was nothing new under the sun. Look at the movies and books that are currently out. It is pretty much the same story, just written with different characters and a different setting. Heck, how many times have they revisited Spider Man and Predator? Ha, ha. That being said, the color palettes that come out are really nothing new. They call them by different names, make one a little more blue based or yellow based and say they are fresh and new.

However, I do enjoy color and I like to create outfits using color in combinations that may be new or different, at least for me. Following the color palettes that Pantone puts out each season allows me to do just that.

Here are the first of this fall’s palette.

Red Pear and Nebulas Blue are on both the London and New York palettes. Sargasso Sea is one of the classic colors or what I like to refer to as a grounding color. Red Pear borders on a maroon and my pants are really too red, while my version of Nebulas Blue appears spot on. Sargasso Sea is navy by any other name, but even there you can see all the different shades of navy. My Ralph Lauren thrifted blazer is almost too blue, while Sargasso Sea seems to have more gray in it. I think my loafer heels and bag are a little bit closer to the Pantone color.

I added this colorful bandana for a scarf as a way to bring together the red and blue and add a pop of yellow.

The blazer, shoes and bag were all thrifted. The bag is Simply Vera Wang; the blazer is Ralph Lauren and the loafer heels are Relativity. Everything you see in this outfit with the exception of the scarf I have styled on the blog before. It just goes to show that our closets are a great place to look for new color combinations and outfits.

What do you think of these colors? Do you think these colors represent the fall season? Why or why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I have received a few messages that people are having problems commenting on my blog posts. If you an issue, please let me know. I contacted the help team for the platform that I use when I had a problem in the past and they said they couldn’t see any problem on their end. If you have an issue, please shoot me an email, so I can see how widespread the problem is.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which means I get a few cents if you click on it. All opinions are my own.