Shopping our Closets - Colorful Skirt and Pantone Spring 2023 NY: Beetroot, Crystal Rose, Gray Lilac

(The colors used in these Pantone posts are approximations and not exact matches. The reference to the Pantone Color Institute is meant as a guide and only for your consideration. I do not receive any money from Pantone for these posts. I do it because I love color.)

This week we are shopping our closets looking for a colorful printed skirt to build an outfit around. I chose this floral maxi skirt that I have styled on the blog before as the place to start. Once again, I am incorporating three of the colors from the New York color palette just to give you a sampling of what the Color Institute came up with for this spring and summer.

These colors definitely fall into our radar for spring and summer. For some people pastels are a year round affair. For me, I tend to reach for these lighter, pale colors in the summer months as a way to stay and look cool. In my opinion Beetroot is very similar to Viva Magenta, although a bit more pink. Unlike years past, this year, the Color of the Year is not on the New York or London palettes. I guess they decided they could add one more color on each if they left the Color of the Year as its own entity.

My pleated maxi skirt was a clearance find from Kohl’s a few years ago. Chaps brand, it has a full lining and is very fun to style with its swishy, pleated loveliness. You can see this skirt styled with a gray tee and pink cardigan another Pantone season a few years ago.

Style Tip: As with our unique cardigan from last month’s Shopping our Closets post, start with your printed skirt and build your outfit around it, either focusing on one color in the skirt or a few different colors.

My Crystal Rose pullover sweater is a brand called Colorado Clothing and was thrifted. One of the reasons I give you the brand names on my thrifted pieces is so that if you like the brand you can take the name and plug it in on second hand clothing apps like Ebay or Poshmark and maybe find something you like.

My utility jacket from Maurices is the closest thing I have to the color called Gray Lilac. I had a bag, but in my messiness of clutter, I couldn’t find, it and might have gotten rid of it, but don’t remember. Oh dear, my brain! Ha, ha. It is a darker shade, but if you look it up on the Pantone Spring/Summer 2023 New York Palette page on their website you can see that it is similar.

I kept the accessories fairly simple as I wanted the skirt to be the focal point. I also made it my own by adding combat boots with a blingy clutch.

Style Tip: Make outfits about you and your personality. Just because a particular outfit typically is worn with a certain type of shoe or blazer, doesn’t mean you can’t mix it up a bit and choose pieces that are more to your liking and make your personality shine. The necklace and clutch were both clearance finds; the clutch at Kohl’s and the necklace at Meijer. My boots are a brand called ID Required and are thrifted.

What do you think of these Pantone colors? Do you have these in your closet? Do you have a love/hate relationship with pastels? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook. I’d love to hear from you.

How would you change up a style like this to make it your own? What do you like about this outfit? What do you not like? Let me know what you think!

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Have a great day!

You can now also buy me a cup of coffee by clicking on this link. I appreciate all of your support.

Outfit Inspiration: Pantone's Color of the Year - Viva Magenta

I still want to bring you a look at the Pantone Color Institutes color selections for this year, so this month I am going to feature a few of the New York Palette Spring/Summer 2023 colors for each of my monthly columns. The Pantone website has become increasingly user unfriendly for just the average joe. If you want to buy their services and products they are great, but I can no longer get specific color info. If you look at their page for the Palettes, the colors are now featured as these tiny, almost imperceptible to the human eye, swatches. Ha, ha.

Before I start, let me reiterate, these are my interpretations of the Pantone colors. They are not exact matches, but correspond as closely as I am able to make them with my limited information from the website and my limited wardrobe.

Viva Magenta is a bright, rich pinky red that easily catches the eye. It is a pretty color that can be combined with loads of other shades for a spring and summer worthy outfit palette. I don’t have a lot of pieces this color in my closet, so I was glad to see I had this Sonoma 3/4 bell sleeve top and the thrifted Libby Edelman shoulder bag.

I decided to combine the Viva Magenta with two of the other colors from the Spring New York Palette. Summer Song is a soft, light blue that reminds me of a light wash denim, which is why I chose my thrifted J. Jill - Out of the Blue embroidered, jacket as a topper. I love the embroidered details on this piece. I’ve worn this on the blog before. You can see it with a white skirt for summer, and with a pair of wide leg jeans.

Vanilla Cream is one of the classic colors on the palette this year. I would say it is a cross between a pale pink and a pale coral. The Crayola Crayon box might call this one Flesh, ha, ha! These thrifted Refuge jeggings, seemed to come pretty close to the Pantone color. I don't typically wear leggings or jeggings without a longer top, but these have back pockets and do look more like jeans than leggings, even though they are incredibly soft and stretchy. You can see how I styled these with a black floral top, a belted orange tank top, in a pink monochrome look, and in a flat lay.

My SO ankle boots were a clearance find from Kohl’s a number of years ago. You can see how I styled them with my cognac jeans, a yellow knit cape, dark pink cords, and gray plaid cropped pants.

Are you a fan of Pantone’s color of the year, Viva Magenta? Do you like it combined with these other spring Pantone colors? Do you have any of these colors in your wardrobe? Leave me a comment or two. I always love to hear your thoughts. I do try to respond to all of your comments, so be sure to check back after a few days.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. I do apologize that I have not yet gotten linked up with some other affiliate partners. It’s all about the research which takes time. I haven’t given up, but for now I will keep bringing you at least some possible options through my ShopStyle affiliate program. These are brought to you at no additional cost, unless you purchase something of course. Ha, ha.

My Style - Blue Jeans and Plaid Blazer

Nothing says comfort and style like a good pair of jeans and a fun blazer. This is the kind of style I love and dressing like this always makes me feel stylish, and confident. An outfit like this can be worn on casual Friday’s at the office, out for lunch with your gal pals, or for a casual date night with your significant other.

In keeping with my month long attempt to use mainly Valentine’s colors in my outfits I had to showcase this recent purchase from Maurice’s. I got this red plaid blazer and a few other fun items at great prices as they are moving fall and winter stuff out to make room for spring and summer. This piece may just be wearable for at least three seasons if not all four. It is a medium weight knit, but still structured enough that it lays well. It has a double breasted feel, with a one button closure.

My jeans are oldies that I have worn for many blog posts and Instagram photos. They are a brand called Kikit, and like many of my favorite jeans are beginning to show their wear. Do you have a few pairs of favorite jeans that you always find yourself reaching for over and over?

I thought this Elle brand, Eiffel Tower sweater would be a good mix with the black and white in the blazer. While this interpretation of the French tourist attraction is by no means symmetrical, I like the way it is filled in with the black velvet paisley swirls, flowers, and lace.

Since I was going for a casual, fun look I opted for my thrifted black marled Converse sneakers. My jewelry was simple with a short chain necklace with blingy globes and the burgundy twist bracelet. Last, I chose my black top handle/cross body bag, which was from Amazon.

Do you like to wear a blazer with jeans? What is your go to style for a casual Friday look or going out with friends? Let me know in the comments below. I love to get your feedback.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links, which means I get a few cents when you click on a link. I appreciate every click. All opinions are my own and you are not charged anything extra to make a purchase through my links. I supply these links mainly to give you ideas and options for outfit pieces you may not already have. I appreciate all you clicks and purchases.

Shopping Our Closets - Unique Cardigan: A Casual Valentine's Day Outfit

I am pretty sure all of us have a unique cardigan in our closets. This would be the piece that has a different pattern or print that you simply love, but aren’t sure how to use it in an outfit. It has been hanging there for a while, and you are starting to think you should just get rid of it. Don’t do it, until after you have read this post. I am hoping to give you style tips on how to take that unique cardi and turn it into a masterpiece of an outfit.

I found this thrifted cardigan recently at my local thrift shop around the corner. I liked that it is a bit shorter, so for me gives the appearance of a cropped cardigan. It’s actually a petite size, so the sleeves are a tad short, but again this gives it a different look.

Style Tip - Always shop all size sections at thrift stores and even at full priced retailers. Sizing has become such a circus of silliness today. A size 12 now can be worn by someone who wears a size 10 or someone who wears a size 14, depending on the manufacturer. A small might fit someone with a very petite frame or it might be way to big.

Obviously, I was drawn to the color and the Fair Isle pattern on this piece. It actually has some wear around the button holes where the threads are starting to fray, so I need to see what I can do to fix it. I like that it has the red, white and a touch of olive green, so a great piece for Christmas, but also a bit of pink which makes it perfect for Valentine’s Day.

In order to build this outfit, I started with my unique sweater. I thought about pairing it with jeans, but then decided I needed to get out of that box. Seeing as I have several olive colored pairs of pants, I knew that would be a good choice. Thus, my Gloria Vanderbilt, olive, cargo skinnies. Black or white pants, or a skirt would have been another good choice.

Style Tip - When building an outfit start with the most colorful piece, then choose the rest of your pieces using colors from that. You can do this with a scarf, a bag, a top, a cardigan, a skirt or even a pair of pants that are very colorful.

My oddly colored long sleeve tee was a clearance find at Kohl’s. It really is a nondescript color. It leans towards an extremely washed out olive, but could also be seen as a very light tan or beige depending on what you wear it with. It is very light weight, so my thought was it would be a good layering piece, especially as the weather warms up.

Style Tip - Colors can be deceiving, which works to our benefit. A color can look quite different depending on what other color it is paired with. This is especially true for lighter colors in the green, orange and yellow categories. Depending on what you pair them with they might look more blue, pink or beige. Do an experiment and hold one of your lighter colored tops next to a variety of more saturated tones and see how it changes.

My jewelry also mimics the color tones in the sweater with the pinks, reds and olive greens. I thought this beaded necklace made a beautiful statement against the drab backdrop of my tee. Especially, with the somewhat monochrome look of the tee, pants and ankle boots.

Style Tip - Accessories are a great way to show off your own unique personality. Your shoes do not have to match your bag and your jewelry can be a whimsical - this is what I feel like wearing - choice; no matching required

I chose my faithful SO ankle boots and then added the bright red bag to pull it all together. (Don’t mind my blue socks! Ha, ha.)

What do you think of this outfit? What would you have done differently? Tell me about that unique cardigan in your closet and how you plan on using it to build a fabulous outfit.

Note in the picture below, the olive threads in the sweater look more beige. Maybe color is as fickle as fashion. Ha, ha. As my photographer daughter will tell you, color is definitely influenced by lighting.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Leave me some love in the comments. Your comments help keep my blog interesting and also keep it growing. I am including a few shopping links for you to look over.

Thanks for stopping by the blog.

Outfit Inspiration: A Dressy Valentine's Outfit

Hi everyone. Since this month is Valentine’s Day I wanted to give you a few Valentine’s looks. A holiday gives us a reason to dress differently. It doesn’t have to be that you have a significant other to dress for. You can dress up simply for your own well being, to make yourself look pretty and to use some of those extra special pieces in your closet. You can dress up to go out with your gal pals, go to a family dinner or a movie date with a friend. These days we don’t need special intimate date nights to get out our fancy dresses and frilly attire. Why not host a special friend party and celebrate “Galentine’s Day” instead?

One of my favorite bloggers who knows how to do just that is Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy. Liz is a plus size blogger from not to far from where I live, that I have referenced on the blog before. She is very good at what she does and has an enormous following. Not only does she have collaborations with plus size retailers like Spell, Eloquii, Lane Bryant and Anthropologie, she gives all sorts of tips and guides for travel, decorating, hair and make up.

What I love about Liz is not just how organized and thorough her blog is, but her lovely, whimsical style. Liz loves pink, pastels and all things girly. You’ll regularly see her in gorgeous dresses and shimmering skirts. Check out her Whimsical Pastel Holiday Style post from last October. The pieces she shares are indicative of her overall style. You can also see one of her idea posts for a Galentine’s get together in Pink and Red Galentine’s Day Brunch.

I knew I wanted to do something feminine and somewhat whimsical for this post and I knew Liz’s blog would be a great place to find inspiration. I also knew I wanted to include my burgundy tulle skirt and my pastel pink moto jacket. The rest of the outfit came together rather easily.

I found this fun tulle skirt at a thrift store. I haven’t really had an occasion to wear it outside the house, but it is fun to have for blog outfits and Instagram. I have used it numerous times for Instagram style challenges. You can see it styled with a cropped denim jacket, with a denim vest. and with a cropped metallic pink moto jacket. I wanted this look to be more dressy and something my spouse would like. He came in when I was taking pictures and said, “Wow! What are you all dressed up for?” Ha, ha.

I have had this silky button down top for years. I know it is a thrifted piece, but I have no idea where or when I got it. I thought it matched perfectly with both the jacket and the skirt. I was thinking of adding a black belt. Do you think that would have been a good idea or not? Let me know in the comments what your thoughts are.

I decided to use gold as my accent color for my necklace and bag.

My light pink moto jacket is from Christopher and Banks a few years back. I typically don’t wear these as jackets, but use them more as layering pieces. I have a nice leather jacket that I wear in the spring and fall when the temps are chilly, but not cold. These definitely could be used as a jacket, but I think they work well like a sweater for layering.

You’ve seen these shoes before. They are my Aerosoles and so comfy and elegant. They are perfect for a dressy outfit like this or for dressing up jeans or other pants.

What do you think of this outfit? Be sure to check out Liz’s blog and let me know if you think my look did a good job of mimicking her style.

I am including a few shopping links. I am still in the process of trying to find a few other affiliate programs to get involved in to bring you selections that are more in an “average” price range, yet still good quality. I appreciate your patience as I navigate new ideas.

Have a great week and be sure to check out my Faith post on Thursday to see who is inspiring me in my walk with God.

Color Play - Black and Olive

I love color. Bright color, dark color, bold color, muted color, neutral color, pastel color, and all manner of prints and print mixes. I do not think I have met a color I didn’t like, or at least that I didn’t see potential for its use. Many people will disagree with me when I say, every woman can wear every color, but my reasoning is based on two factors: the shade or hue of the color, and where the color is worn on the body. While it is true that not every woman can wear a stark black next to her face, there are numerous shades and hues of black from gray black, to blue black and even brown black. In addition, if a woman just doesn’t like any shade of black near her face, there is no reason she can’t wear black pants, or have plentiful black shoes and bags.

My desire with this monthly look at color is to open your mind to embracing colors outside your normal comfort zone. There is no problem with being an all neutrals kind of gal, but start thinking about adding a little pizzazz to your outfit with a bright pink beaded necklace and earrings , or a lovely printed scarf with rusty oranges, reds and yellows. This isn’t just about how you look to the outside world. This is also about loving yourself and enjoying all the beautiful color in this world we live in.

For today’s post, I decided to start with two colors that are fairly classic and unobtrusive: black and olive.

Let me first say, having a daughter who is a professional photographer always makes me keenly aware of what I lack in the picture taking realm. I will give you pictures. I will either take them on my phone or on my camera, but they won’t be to the standard I would like, ha, ha. Now that I have said my piece, on with the post.

Olive is one of those greens that can come in a variety of shades. Check out this page from when I Googled olive color shades. The olive color of my older Sonoma cardigan from Kohl’s, and on this thrifted, Forever 21, camouflage sweater is what I would call olive drab, or military olive. It leans more towards brown than a true olive green. However, if you put it next to a brown sweater, it definitely looks green.

It is easy to pair olive with black. For that matter, any color pairs just as well with black as with white. Just envision this same outfit with a pair of white wide leg jeans instead of the black skinnies. It would work perfectly and give the look a whole new vibe.

My black skinnies are Simply Vera by Vera Wang and I either got them on the clearance rack at Kohl’s or at a thrift store. I really can’t remember. Yes, I know! I am still wearing my skinnies. They will likely come back around, as most things do, so I won’t be getting rid of them.

My Seven Dials combat boots are starting to show some wear, but they are one of my faves and so comfortable.

I added a few pieces of jewelry and a thrifted Tignanello bag.

I actually got this cute little bag when we were in Wisconsin for my father-in-law’s funeral. Since we ended up staying the whole week we were a bit underprepared, so I went to a thrift store to get us a few things for the funeral.

Olive and black are a great color combination for any season. In the spring you could combine a pair of black joggers with an olive zip up hoodie for a cozy, casual lunch as the temps are still cool. In the summer try pairing olive trousers with a black silky sleeveless for a classic work look. In the fall reach for that warm olive pullover to wear with your black maxi skirt.

Remember you don’t have to go full bore with these colors. You can just use each of these colors as accents with any other colored outfit. Wearing a navy dress? Reach for a set of olive beads and an olive bag and shoes. You can still have fun with a variety of colors without having to invest a lot of money.

What do you think of these colors? Do you wear olive and black together, or do you wear them separately? I’d love to hear your thoughts so leave me some love in the comments.

I’m including a few shopping links. I am going to try to find a few other affiliate programs so I can bring you more moderately priced shopping and brands you know and love. Keep an eye out for that.

Have a great Tuesday. Be sure to check back on Thursday for the first installment in a creative fiction series brought to you by me. Ha, ha.

Love and hugs!

What I Wore to a Fall Wedding (or a Great Thanksgiving Outfit)

I see numerous bloggers do posts on what to wear to a wedding according to whatever season it is. Since I was actually going to a wedding, I figured it would be good content for a post. The wedding was at night and it was a very cold evening, so those factors contributed to my outfit choice.

I knew I was going to wear pants instead of a dress, but initially I was thinking black, as it is typically a more classic color. However, I saw this recently thrifted Eva Mendez floral blouse in my closet and thought it would be a pretty piece to build a dressy, but warm and comfortable outfit around.

I just loved the pussy bow tie on this piece and its pretty floral print. It is sheer, so I added a dark cami underneath for coverage. Once I chose the blouse I started looking at my pants. I have a black pair, and I think that would have worked as well, but I decided on the brown Worthington wide leg.

After I had the top and pants figured out, I knew I wanted a sweater or topper of some sort. Once again I was thinking about a black sweater or even a light pink one, but neither of those seemed the right choice. Then I remembered another more recent thrift find.

I love the duster length, the rusty color, the drape, and the lighter weight of this A New Day sweater. It makes a great layering piece and it was perfect for giving me an extra layer of warmth without making me too hot.

Besides my belt, the only accessories I had were my boots and my bag. The brown suede ankle boots were a Kohl’s purchase a couple years ago and are Nine West brand. They have a bit of a western vibe with a shorter block heel and the pointier toe. Originally, I was going to wear my “witchy” boots from last week’s post, but because my knee has been painful, I decided to not take the chance of the taller heel making things worse.

My b.o.c. bag is a hand me over from my bestie. I really like the tritone color and the large metallic ring detail. It is also a bit smaller than some of my other bags, so less weight on my shoulders and neck. I typically wear a longer bag like this as a cross body bag.

This outfit would be great for work, a night out with your significant other or going to church. This also would be perfect for your Thanksgiving Day celebration. In all honesty, when we got to the wedding, I felt a bit underdressed, but at least I was warm and comfortable. Since we were not family of the bride or groom, I didn’t feel too out of place with all the suits and dresses. Ha, ha.

To top everything off, and to stay warm, I finished the look with my ESpirit Outerwear, brown, wool, winter dress coat. This is another thrifted piece and I keep it around for just this type of occasion: to look fairly nice and also be warm.

What would you wear to a fall wedding? What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear this? How would you change it to make it your own? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 - New York Palette: Samoan Sun, Martini Olive and Chiseled Stone

Today is my last post for the Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 New York palette series. I decided to do a flat lay for a change due to several factors that are affecting my ability to get posts done. The first is time. I do not know where time goes, but it sure seems like I have less of it than ever before and I am not even working a regular job right now. Second, I injured my knee a few years ago and recently I tweaked it and it has been very painful. I have an appointment Thursday to have it checked out, but I knew it was going to be hard to get pictures done with changing clothes, running up and down the stairs and going outside, so I thought a flat lay the next best thing.

The three colors today’s outfit revolved around are great colors for fall and I think this outfit would be perfect for a casual Thanksgiving celebration. My yellow Samoan Sun sweater is a thrifted Old Navy piece. It has more orange undertones to it, but I still think it works great for this outfit.

My Chiseled Stone striped tee is another thrift find from a brand called Company Ellen Tracy. I looked up Ellen Tracy and it is a clothing retailer with some nice pieces. You can check it out by clicking on the link. The brand seems to exude class and modesty. Prices are a tad high for my limited resources, but I like to show you retailers you might be interested in. If I had the money, I would definitely shop this brand more often.

My Martini Olive utility skinny pants have made multiple appearances on the blog. They are Gloria Vanderbilt brand. You can see these pants styled with a floral bomber, a light weight pullover, a snakeskin print jacket, a floral dress, a lace vest, and a floral dress as a jacket.

My accessories were simple and I chose to emphasize the black to coordinate with the stripes in the tee.

I love this simple charm pendant necklace. It adds a touch of interest to almost any outfit without being overly garish. I couldn’t even tell you where I got it, but knowing my past shopping habits it was either thrifted, or bought at Kohl’s or JC Penney. Ha, ha.

I’ve shown you this black Aidebam bag on the blog before. I got this one from Amazon, but Amazon’s inventory changes pretty regularly and I don’t see this exact style on there anymore. I will include a few shopping links at the end. Here is a very similar one.

These black boots are a very recent thrift find. They were my size and I loved the “witchy” vibe of them. They are a brand called Rampage. I have a wedding coming up and right now I am planning to build my outfit around one of two pairs of ankle boots. I also found a blue velvet pair, another thrifting treasure that I wasn’t lookin for, (but I was). I hope to do a blog post next week on what to wear to a fall wedding using the outfit I come up with. Keep a look out.

Style Tip - The right shoes or boots with an outfit can absolutely make the outfit. If you are not sure about which pair of shoes to wear when going to an event or celebration, try on a few different pairs. Remember, heels of any height will upgrade a look, even when wearing distressed jeans and a tee. If you are going for a more casual look, then think flatter souls and a heel that is an inch or less.

I hope you enjoyed this flat lay and the conclusion of my Pantone series. From now through the end of the the year I hope to bring you holiday inspired and winter looks. Leave me a comment or two, letting me know what you thought of this outfit. Which was your fave in the series? 1 - Lava Falls, Amazon, and Arctic Wolf, 2 - Orange Tiger, Nosegay, and Autumn Blonde, 3 - Rose Violet, Caramel Cafe, and Polar Night, 4 - Waterspout, Midnight and Loden Frost or today’s.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. Remember these are affiliate links, which are brought to you at no extra cost. You do not pay anything extra to purchase something through one of my links. In fact, it helps me by putting a few cents into my pocketbook. I really appreciate every little bit.

Have a great week!

What I've Been Wearing Lately: Fall Edition

I have one more Pantone post to do, but I am going to save that for a later date. This week I wanted to share with you a few of my day to day outfits that I have been wearing this fall. As I have done before, I will give a bit of the philosophy behind my outfit choices, why I like it and a few style tips. I hope you enjoy this quick look into my every day style.

Outfit 1 - Colorful Flannel with Gold Chenille Sweater and Fall Tee

Inspiration - Instagram challenge prompt on favorite fall fabrics

Thrifted Pieces - Flannel tee, and combat boots

Style Tip - Don’t be afraid to layer over layers and think outside the box when it comes to color. Bright colors are our friends, especially in the dreary days of winter. In addition, flannel shirts make great shackets for those not so cold early days of fall.

What I like about it - It’s casual, cheerful, comfortable, and incredibly cozy. (Fun tee purchased at Love in Faith tees.)

Outfit 2 - Brown Velvet Blazer with Black Jeans and Gray Button Down

Inspiration - Pinterest Dark Academia Style

Thrifted Pieces - Brown blazer, black cropped flares, and gray polka dot button down

Style Tip - Don’t be afraid to try new styles. I came across the Dark Academia Style on Pinterest and instantly knew it was something I wanted to try. It combines dark pieces to make outfits that look ready for the college campus, or that could easily be translated to the work arena.

What I like about it - I definitely like the modest factor, at least in many of the pins I found, though there could be some very short skirts or shorts, but even there, the styles are often worn over top of dark hose or tights. In addition, this is a look I am comfortable in that makes me feel confident. I am excited to try more styles in the Dark Academia vibe.

Outfit 3 - Purple Tie Dye Top, Utility Vest and Jeans

Inspiration - Instagram challenge prompt on our favorite layer.

Thrifted pieces - Utility vest

Style Tip - Just like boots are made for wearing, so are vests. Don’t be afraid to wear them over dresses, sweaters and even sweatshirts. A vest can make a casual outfit look a bit more polished and dressier. Just add a heeled boot and a bit of jewelry for a fun date night look like this.

What I like about it - I like the way the vest pulls everything in the outfit together. The purple in the sweatshirt didn’t really match the blue of the vest, and yet when the whole thing came together it was perfect. The dark navy boots and the beaded necklace were the cherry on top.

Outfit 4 - Tulle Skirt, Tee and Cropped Denim Jacket

Inspiration - Instagram “Roctober Style Challenge” prompt For Whom the Bell Tulles

Thrifted pieces - Tulle skirt, cropped denim jacket

Style Tip - Get a tulle skirt! These things are the bomb. I have yet to wear it out in public, but just having it in my closet to wear for an Instagram challenge, makes me incredibly happy. I looked for a long time for one at the thrift store and when I found this I felt like I had won the lottery. Ha, ha.

What I like about it - What’s not to like? A tulle skirt combined with a kick butt Wonder Woman tee, denim jacket, and burgundy combat boots?? It is my description of pure fun.

Outfit 5 - Yellow Cable Knit Sweater, Dark Floral Scarf and Distressed Boot Cut Jeans

Inspiration - Instagram challenge prompt, add an extra accessory

Thrifted pieces - Yellow cable knit sweater, and distressed jeans

Style Tip - Layering accessories is a fun way to wear more of your pieces all at once and it adds texture and interest to your outfit. Using a long pendant necklace with a simple scarf wrap like this highlights the necklace, the scarf and the bright sweater backdrop.

What I like about it - I love the contrast of the bright yellow with the darker burgundy and green in the scarf as well as the bronze color of the necklace.

I hope you enjoyed this look at some of my every day outfits, or outfits I donned as part of Instagram challenges. All of these looks, except for the tulle skirt, I wore for the whole day and is very typical of what I normally wear. I like to be intentional about what I put on each day, because it reminds me that I am a special, and beautiful individual with a creative eye and a love for color, fabrics and fashion.

Let me know which outfit is your favorite, or which one you most identify with. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Have a great week everyone!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 - New York Palette: Waterspout, Midnight and Loden Frost

Today’s Pantone Autumn/Winter colors include a bright blue, a dark blue and a light green. Waterspout is a bright aqua blue which seems an odd choice for an autumn palette, but the color gurus will do what they do, and actually it is rather nice to have a few brighter, lighter choices as the days get shorter and the skies begin to gray. Midnight is not really like the midnight blue crayon we all had in our big boxes of Crayolas growing up, but perhaps more like the night sky just after the sun sets, but before the stars start to come out. Loden Frost is a sage green with a little bit of depth and richness.

So far in this series, I think this is my favorite outfit. I like the combination of blues and greens and thought it was an appropriate look for a warm fall day.

I’ve styled this thrifted dress before on the blog. I have had it for years and it is getting a little snug since all my weight has done its post menopausal thing and moved to my mid section. Ha, ha. But that is the beauty of layering. You don’t notice it as much. This is a brand called Oliva Rose, however, there are numerous brands out there with that name, so I have no idea where it originated.

I found this Maurice’s brand sweater at a thrift store. I really like Maurice’s, but I try to stay out of that store. They have so many cute things every season. I like their tees, tops and jeans, but I wait for good sales and coupons, because things cost more now than ever. I am also really trying to curb my buying all around.

My sea turtle scarf is from the dollar store. Back when my oldest was pregnant and we were putting together the shower the theme was Sea creatures. I found a few cute scarves for game give aways and this was a left over. My necklace was a product of two different thrifted pieces that ended up breaking, so I put them together.

My olive Fossil hobo bag is also thrifted. It is another work horse in my closet and is continually in and out of rotation. Fossil brand is a good quality brand and while I never buy them full price, I do love when I can find one on clearance or at a thrift store. This one is a great utility bag with multiple pockets and compartments for everything you need.

I found these navy boots last year online at Kohl’s. They are Journee brand. I am not too adventurous when it comes to my boot colors. I like browns, black, and gray, but I thought it would be nice to have a navy pair, specifically of knee high boots, for a different vibe. Do you like your boots to be a more basic color, or do you like a bright, bold look for your feet?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know what you think of these colors. I am including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. When you click on a link, I get a few pennies. When you purchase the item through the provided link, I get a little bit more. I appreciate all you clicks. All opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a great week.

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022: Orange Tiger, Nosegay, and Autumn Blonde

Welcome to another outfit in my Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 - New York Palette color series. For today’s look I combined the colors Orange Tiger, a lovely fall orange, Nosegay, a rich pastel pink and Autumn Blonde, a neutral classic for a cozy outfit with watercolor brushstrokes and southwest vibes.

When I decided to pair Nosegay and Tiger Orange I had this watercolor skirt in mind. The colors are mixed together with bold strokes and finished off with the southwest hem along the bottom of the skirt. I found this piece thrifting a few years ago and thought it would be great for spring and summer, but it seems to work for fall as well. It is a brand called ECI NY.

My light Nosegaybutton down is a thrifted Eddie Bauer piece. Originally I was thinking of wearing it over the sweater like a shacket. I ended up putting it under the sweater, but I’m not in love with how this looks.

The Autumn Blonde sweater is a recent find and is Forever 21 brand. I really like the ties along the outer seams on the torso.

I decided to grab the olive color in the skirt with my bag and booties. The Fossil bag is thrifted, and the SO booties are from a few years ago at Kohl’s.

I am not thrilled with this outfit, but life happens and I wanted to get something thrown together to at least share the Pantone colors with you. Though I love the color pink, it is not one that I use regularly in the fall. I also go more for rusty oranges rather than a bright orange like this one. What are your thoughts? Do you like these colors? How would you wear them?

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Thank you for all you love, support and feedback. I always appreciate hearing from you!

Have a great week.

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022: Lava Falls, Amazon and Arctic Wolf

Here we are, once again, looking at another color palette from the Pantone Color Institute. For the next few weeks I will be concentrating on the New York colors. In the past I have tried to give you both palettes, but with changes in life, so too come changes with the blog. For now, I want to bring you the New York palette which was where the institute was founded in 1962. From the Pantone website it looks as though the London palette was added in 2017.

For this look, I wanted to combine the bright red of Lava Falls with the energetic green of Amazon and see if I could come up with an outfit that didn’t look like I was getting ready for a Christmas get together. Let me know in the comments if you think I pulled it off.

My Lava Falls flag tee was a thrift store find this summer. Unfortunately, I didn’t have it washed to wear for Independence Day celebrations. When I was pulling clothes for this series, I saw the tee and thought, why not. Our gratitude for our country and our freedom shouldn't be restricted to one or two days a year, just like Thanksgiving shouldn’t be the only time we dwell on what we have to be thankful for.

This Amazon green sweater was new from Christopher and Banks a few years ago. I love a longer cardigan like this for fall, and an open front cardigan has no buttons or zippers for things like coats or bags to get caught on. Most of the time, I leave my cardigans open anyway to show off the top underneath, so an open front piece is a great choice.

Arctic Wolf is a creamy off white and these thrifted Gloria Vanderbilt pants probably tend towards a little more gray where as the actual Pantone color has more yellow undertones. However, you get the idea and when it comes to the color cream, off white, ivory or whatever title you want to give it, they are all in the white family.

For accessories I went with black to go with the black stripes on the flag. My black bag was an Amazon purchase a few years ago and is Aidebam brand. My sneakers are new to me, a thrifted pair of Vans high tops with a fun floral design.

For jewelry I added a simple choker pendant. I found this at a thrift store and love the pressed flower look of the pendant.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear them together, or do you think red and green are strictly for Christmas? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I’m including a few shopping links for items in similar colors. These are affiliate links, which means when you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my site, I get a little bit more. I appreciate each and every click.

I just tested positive for Covid yesterday, after my hubby tested positive on Friday. Our two friends who came for the weekend have also tested positive. I feel so bad, but here we are. I would appreciate good thoughts and prayers, as with my asthmatic condition it puts me in a higher risk category. Thank you everyone!

Have a good week and stay healthy.

Fall Trends 2022 - My Take: Outfit 3

For today’s look I am combining the Fall 2022 trends of a fitted vest, feminine sheer top, floor length maxi skirt, and western style boot into a trendy boho style outfit. Let me know what you think at the end and whether you think I pulled it off.

When I first started putting this outfit together I originally had a black pleated type skirt, but I got to thinking I wanted something that gave the look a more boho vibe, and there is nothing like a tiered skirt and a fringe bag to add that element. This brown skirt, has been in my closet for a while. You can see how I styled it before with a dot print shirt. It is St. John’s Bay brand and I got it from JCPenney.

I’ve styled this Manteau gold dot blouse from Macy’s on the blog before. You can see it styled with jeans, and with a leopard print blazer. Sheer is in, and while I appreciate a pretty sheer blouse with the appropriate coverage underneath, I do not feel the sheer outfits I have seen on the runways and the celebrity news photos are justified, practical or modest. Ladies, please show a little respect for yourself and leave something to the imagination.

My Cabin Creek vest was thrifted and it really is too big. However, once in a while a piece is just worth the problems. How could a book nerd, writer like myself say no to this fun piece? I am going to try to make some adjustments to it, so it fits a little better.

This fun Mossimo fringe bucket bag has made multiple appearances on the blog. Here it is with a navy blazer and jeans, an olive utility vest and pink sweater, a burgundy dress. a burgundy pleated skirt, a grey city scape cardigan, and a floral pleated skirt.

These thrifted boots are not truly Western gear, but they have just a little bit of that vibe and apparently Western is also trending this fall. These lovely leather boots were made in Brazil and are a brand called Nurture. Apparently this brand is no longer viable, but you can find the brand second hand on Ebay, and on Poshmark.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like longer maxi skirts? Do you like button down vests? I love hearing your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

I’m including a few shopping links for you. These particular styles might be better found in thrift stores or shops like Poshmark, Ebay or Facebook Marketplace. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great week.

Outfits from a Short Trip

As I said last week, I wanted to show you this week how my outfits turned out that I packed for the trip to my mom’s. Most of the days I showered, got dressed and put on my make up, but Friday I spend cleaning my mother’s house: a job that needed to be done for some time now. Wearing all pink enabled me to not even think about how my pieces were going to go together. I already had it figured out ahead of time. That is the reason I like to have a theme or color(s) when packing for a trip.

Day 1: The Drive

I chose a comfortable pair of jeans with a good amount of stretch. My short sleeve tee is thrifted and I opted for the Christopher and Banks chambray shirt as a light weight extra layer. It was cooler and with the windows down this shirt was the perfect topper. I added my fun blue Converse sneakers which are comfortable and light weight.

Style Tip: Use a long sleeve button down as a light weight jacket. Rolling up the sleeves gives a little extra freedom and coolness. Add shoes that match your pants for a more elongated effect.

Day 2: Thrifting with My Bestie

I love the simplicity of the this outfit and the vibrant touch of color. No matter what is trending, florals are always in season, just like animal prints. Spring, summer, winter and fall, you can’t go wrong with a floral print. Everything I had on this day was a thrifting find, making it even more appropriate to wear when going thrifting with your best friend.

Style Tip: When deciding on accessories for an outfit with a busy print like florals, choose a statement piece that will stand out against the background using an accent color that appears in the print. For my outfit I chose a green pendant necklace with a bold silver chain and border around the stone. Also, don’t be afraid to wear fun shoes. I found these bright purple Sperry sneakers at the thrift shop around the corner from my house. They are a party for my feet!

Day 3: Birthday Picnic at the Park

Obviously I have a thing for florals. Ha, ha. I really needed to iron this blouse before wearing it, but who wants to iron? Once again, I chose my necklace according to a color in the print. I decided to keep to a shorter, layered piece to allow the beauty of the flowers and soft colors to show off fully.

Style Tip: When wearing a lower cut v-neck add a tank top with some sort of neckline embellishment that just peeks out the top for added interest and coverage. This also adds warmth in the cooler fall temps.

Day 4: Cleaning Day

This was my outfit after I spent about almost eight hours cleaning my mom’s house, then took a shower. Seeing as she just turned 96 and has become quite frail and unsteady, it has been a while since a thorough cleaning happened. My niece has been doing occasional cleaning, but she also has her own family, so is very busy.

I started at the top of the house with vacuum in hand and sucked down every cob web, and spider I could find. I did bedrooms, closets, the hall, down the steps, the back entry way, the laundry room, kitchen and living room. I also mopped and cleaned the bathroom and kitchen. I finished by vacuuming the living room carpet. My mom was very appreciative and now she can have a little piece of mind.

Style Tip: Wear comfortable clothes while you clean and after. Ha, ha

Day 5: Company

This look was great for playing with the grand baby, and visiting with, not only my daughter and son-in-law, but another niece and her daughter and their pup, who stopped by to wis my mom a happy birthday.

Style Tip: You can be comfortable in jeans and tees, but still look neat and classy. Try choosing jewelry with a bit of sparkle and bling or a metallic toned belt to bring the look up a notch.

This outfit is another fave. It is comfy and classic. The floral tee is not bold and bright like Day 2, but is more delicate and whimsical in its print. Plus the message is so appropriate. I was also impressed that this necklace matched almost perfectly with the green and pink tones in the tee.

Day 6: The Drive Home

Once again, a comfy outfit for the ride home. Thrifted tee, and jeans, and back to my Converse. The pale pink sweater was just the right coverage for the last half of the drive as the temps went down.

Style Tip: If you like to wear tee shirts like I do in the summer be sure to choose ones that portray messages, graphics and movies or music groups that you identify with. I love tees that give messages of encouragement and hope.

So those were my outfits for my time away including my travel days. I hope you enjoyed this post, and I hope you are having a great week.

Dreamy Dresses from Closet52: Floral Print Maxi Dress

Today I am featuring the last of the three dresses gifted to me by Closet52. This company based in New York City is a dress boutique featuring various styles for casual, work and special occasions, all at fairly reasonable prices. I have found the quality, drape and material of all the dresses I received very good. The fabrics are thick enough to hang well and provide full coverage without the need of a slip. There might be certain ones where a slip would be essential, but it appears that most of the more sheer fabrics have full slip liners under both the top and the skirt.

Today’s dress is the Floral Print Maxi Dress. This one is currently on sale, so if you are interested now would be the time to make a purchase. I do not receive any additional compensation if you buy, but I am pleased with all three of the pieces I received and I think you will be too.

I decided to keep the look casual for this piece, but I think this would be a great wedding guest dress. Glam it up with heels and a sparkly bag and your all set. This dress has a halter style top with a a gathered neckline that ties in back at the neck. I slipped my arms out of my bra so you could see it without my straps showing. I think this would also look cute with a tee shirt underneath.

The long pleated skirt is gathered at the top with an elastic waistline. I felt the elastic looked a little wonky when it was hanging on the hanger, but once I put it on it looked fine. I added a belt just for a little extra pop of pink.

With the close up of the pattern you can see the pretty flowers with a bit of gray and a very light pink in the center. All my accessories except my sneakers are thrifted.

I thought the floral embroidered jean jacket went well with the dress, even though the flowers are shaped differently, there is enough similarity to give it a cohesive feel.

Adding my white Steve Madden sneakers completes the casual look of the outfit.

I can see styling this dress in a few different ways like adding a pullover sweater and boots for the cooler weather, or a long cardigan and some loafers for a dressed down office look. When you shop for a dress, be sure to think outside the box for other ways to style it.

What do you think of this dress? Have you stopped by Closet52 to check out their selection? What did you think? I always love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two. I appreciate all your support, especially over the last year as I have been trying to get back into a more normal rhythm for the blog.

Have a great week everyone!

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull with Rebecca Trumbull Photography.

Creating Outfits with Texture - Part 1: Jewelry, and Bags

May has zipped by and I have been putting the blog on the back burner. I have been busy with family related things. I knew when I came back to the blog after my illness, I would not necessarily be posting every week. Still, I feel somewhat negligent if I am not putting something out there. I appreciate all of you who continue to follow along, even though I am not as routine in my posting.

My husband and I took a vacation during my hiatus and even though we just got back a few days ago, it already seems like it was months ago that we were in the deep south checking out Savannah and a few places in Florida. We ended our trip in the mountains of Kentucky at a State Park. By that time I was finally starting to relax. Then we had to come home. Ha, ha.

I thought I would round up a few outfits from past blog and Instagram posts and talk about texture. I have addressed the idea of texture on the blog before, but it is always an interesting topic to go over. It’s easy to bring texture to an outfit in the cooler weather, when we reach for heavy knits, warm sherpa and soft velvet, but summer can be a little more challenging, especially if you can’t wear layers. Here are a few simple tips for adding texture to an outfit in the warmer weather.

Jewelry

I love all sorts of jewelry and I am by no means a jewelry snob. I love cheap and I love expensive. I find awesome pieces at thrift stores and I have received fine jewelry as gifts. When it comes to texture the chunkier the better. If you don’t prefer chunky beads try layering delicate chains or wearing longer necklaces with interesting pendants.

Shorter Layered - As I was going through these older posts I was thinking about how I don’t wear as much jewelry any more. When I was working, I wore jewelry every day. Ahhh, the good old days.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Longer Pendant - While I love my shorter statement necklaces, I reach for longer pendants much more often. To me a pendant necklace is a tad bit more casual and it has a lengthening affect on the torso.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Bags

I don’t know that a lot of us think about how a bag brings texture to an outfit, but it does. Especially with all the different fabrics and types of bags that are now available. Textures in bags are seen in the the types of materials used, the type of weave chosen and the embellishments on the bags.

Here are a few of my bags that I think give you a good idea of texture and add that finishing touch to an outfit.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

If you are a thrifter, or like to shop clearance racks always look at the jewelry and bags; you never know what you will find. Many of the purses I have were thrift store finds, including the blue and yellow tote bags, the woven basket bag and the sequin clutch; all seen above. Jewelry treasures are also found at thrift stores as you also saw above in the owl, and brassy flower pendant, as well as the stained glass shorter pendant. Thrift store finds are always so unique and typically may be things you wouldn’t find at your regular retailers.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I’ll be sharing more next week when we look at how shoes and scarves add texture to outfits. Until then, I hope you have a lovely week.

I’ve included a few shopping links for bags and necklaces. These are affiliate links brought to you at no cost. If you click on a link, I get a few pennies. If you order through one of my links, I get a little more. I appreciate everything you do to support the blog. All opinions are my own.

Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 - NY Palette: Harbor Blue, Dahlia, and Northern Droplet

These are the last three colors from the Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 New York Palette. Today’s colors are festive and fun, the perfect combination for a summer event. I always love a brighter, richer approach to color anyway, so these are probably two of my faves from this palette. Click here to see the actual Pantone colors.

Harbor Blue is a medium blue green giving it a teal vibe, but with a little less intensity. Dahlia is a beautiful shade of purple that reminds me of spring and summer flowers like Azaleas, Cosmos and Pansies. Northern Droplet is a light shade of gray much like an early morning fog over a mountain lake.

For my outfit today, I ended up using a slightly darker gray rather than a light gray. I don’t own a lot of light gray because it is one of those colors that doesn’t do me justice. It is also what I would term, a non color, meaning it doesn’t really do a whole lot for very many people. Certainly there are women who look wonderful in a light shade of gray, but it seems to me that a medium to dark gray is a better choice for most of us.

As of the posting of these photos it is still cool in the midwest. We have had so many gray and rainy days, I am honestly starting to think we are turning into the new northwest and joining our friends in Seattle. However, I did want to give you an outfit where I at least showed a little bit of skin on my legs, just to give the feeling of oncoming summer and warmer weather.

My Harbor Blue bomber jacket was a clearance purchase from ShopNational a few seasons ago. I love the floral textured pattern. The banding at the neck, sleeves and bottom makes it extra comfy to wear. It is a unique piece that I don’t wear a lot, but one that I will hang on to for its versatility and vibrant color.

My thrifted jeans are a brand called Stylus. This appears to be a discontinued brand that may have once been sold at JC Penney and Walmart. I like that they have a tiny bit of distressing near the pocket and above the knee.

My Bambi tee is a thrifted Sonoma piece. When I first got it I knew the print was of deer, but after closer inspection it is definitely Bambi’s silhouette. You can also see my silver necklace that my bestie gave me back in March when we were in NY visiting my mom. I opted for the olive canvas belt because there is a bit of olive in the scarf.

My beautiful scarf was gifted to me by a dear friend who was clearing out her home in preparation for their move to Tennessee. Every time I wear it, I am reminded of her and her husband who moved to be near their youngest daughter, her husband, and their first baby. I just love all the colors in this scarf and feel like it is the perfect piece for every season.

Style Tip: When you don’t know what outfit to put together, pull out a favorite printed scarf. Take cues from the scarf on putting the ensemble together by choosing pieces with matching or similar colors. It really helps for picking out outfits and I do this often, when I am going away for the weekend.

My Ked’s sparkly sneakers are quite old, and perhaps need another run through the washer. I chose my simple Aerosmith tote (a hand me over from my younger girl) for my bag.

Do you like these colors? Would you wear these colors together? Let me know what you think of this outfit by leaving me a comment.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Thank you for all of your support. Have a great weekend!

Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 - NY Palette: Spun Sugar, Coca Mocha, and Perfectly Pale

Today’s Pantone colors are a blend of earthy and pastels. Spun Sugar is a light, airy blue reminiscent of hazy summer skies. Coca Mocha makes me think of a double scoop of chocolate ice cream and Perfectly Pale is the perfect summer alternative to basic white. See the actual Pantone colors here.

I think these colors are a great pairing for spring and summer. We often think of brown as a fall color, just like we think of white as only a summer color. Well, girlfriends, we definitely needing to change our thinking about color, as in all colors work at any time of year. I will forever love my darker browns, oranges, yellows and burgundies in the fall, but that doesn’t mean I won’t occasionally put them on in the heat of summer. God made color and color is good, all year round.

My Sugar Spun tee is a Sonoma piece. I don’t know that I consider myself wild, but I definitely am glad I live in a free country. That is something I never want to take for granted. I am thankful for all who have fought for so many years to keep our country the free nation it is. I have come to have a deep affection for graphic tees, especially those with words on them.

This outfit is all me. The colors work for me and the pieces are all thrift finds except the necklace, bag and sneakers. The Coca Mocha velvet blazer is a brand called SSA, and is definitely showing wear. I need to do some stitching around the cuffs as it has been wanting to come apart. But overall, I think the blazer still has some wear left in it. This is not something I would normally gravitate towards in the summer, but with our weather being so wacky, I think I will keep this available.

Style Tip: Don’t put your blazers away for spring and summer. Think of them as light weight jackets that you can throw on with cropped pants, capris and even shorts. They make any casual outfit look classy and put together.

My pants are Gloria Vanderbilt and a newer thrift purchase. I knew I wanted a few other lighter weight and lighter colored pants for spring, so this utility pair does the trick.

Style Tip: If pure white is not your bag, find light colored bottoms for summer in pale creams, tans and yellows. You’ll get a similar effect to wearing white and won’t have to worry as much about your colored underwear showing through.

Summer for me means less in the accessory department. I can’t wear most scarves as I get too hot and many of my jewelry pieces make me break out in the warmer weather. These warm months are where I turn to pieces with hippie vibes that use cording, or heavyweight string for pendants and bracelets. I am thinking about taking a few of my hubby’s metal detecting finds and turning them into jewelry, so I guess this would be the time.

My daisy necklace was a Christmas gift from my husband. I like the little quirk it has, because that’s me, just a little quirky. Ha. ha. I am also showing off my round Nine West snakeskin print bag, that I got a few seasons ago from Kohl’s on clearance. Last, but not least, I had to use my bright blue Converse again, since they went along with the Spun Sugar color.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like the colors together, or would you put them with other colors? I love hearing your thoughts and ideas. You inspire me too!

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

Have a great day!

Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 - NY Palette - Innuendo, Poinciana and Basil

Week two in my Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 series and we are looking at the New York Palette. Last week we saw a medium blue, a bright yellow and a crisp white that, put together, made a perfect spring Easter look. This week is another perfect combo for the upcoming Sunday holiday, especially if you are going to church or visiting family.

Innuendo is a bright, hot pink, while Poinciana is a simmering red. Combined with the classic light green color Basil, the look I put together says chic and classy with a splash of watermelon cooler! Let me know what you think.

I don’t often think of pairing pink and red, but for some reason I love how this turned out. The bright pink with the bright red just seems to work. Pairing them with the printed floral skirt led to a bright, colorful spring outfit perfect for Easter Sunday, or even a spring wedding or other event where you need to get more dressed up.

My bright pink open front cardigan was a thrift find and is Old Navy brand. I like to give you the brand names on things because it gives you an idea of the cut and quality of a piece. I don’t shop at Old Navy, but I certainly will grab their brand at a thrift store. This is a lighter weight piece so perfect for the warmer temps…at whatever point those arrive. Ha, ha. Here is one from Kohl’s, Shein, and Chico’s.

My Pop Sugar red smocked blouse was from Kohl’s a few seasons ago. It has ruffle details along the sleeve openings, but is otherwise sleeveless. I love the smocking detail and the shiny fabric. Check out these tops from Shein, Dia & Co, and JC Penney. You can also see in the photo below my long pendant necklace and belt. I have a beaded bracelet on as well that mimics the Basil green color, but it is mostly hidden by my sleeve. Ha, ha.

Style Tip: To get more use out of your clothes, try pairing unexpected colors together. You will not only have new ways to wear different pieces, but you’ll become a trend maker.

My skirt is a thrifted piece and the tag was torn or cut out, so I have no idea who made it, but it is a typical prairie maxi skirt. It is lined, but the lining is very sheer like the skirt, so I still felt a slip was necessary. See these from Kohl’s, Shein, and Dia & Co.

My shoes are a number of years old. I don’t wear heels or wedges much any more, so these have stayed in nice shape. These are Keds brand. I most likely got them at Kohl’s on clearance. The brand doesn’t seem to make this sort of espadrille with the wedge heel anymore, but I’ll give you some other options in my shopping links below.

My bag is also a few years old and was from Charming Charlie. We used to have a store at our mall. Now it is called something else, but still has a similar vibe to it with bags, jewelry and scarves being their main products along with a few clothes. Here are a few green tote bags from Amazon, Banana Republic, ModCloth, and Kohl’s.

What do you think of these colors? Do you think they go well together? Do you have any of these colors in your closet? I love hearing your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

I provided direct link shopping links above, due to changes at the affiliate site I was using. I’ve included a few shoe links through the affiliate website. I only receive a few cents when you shop through the affiliate sites. The other direct link sites I bring to you at no cost, but I also don’t make money through them. I just want you to have some shopping options.

Have a great week!

Fairy Tales and Print Mixing

I promise, I will be starting my Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 series next week. I can’t thank you enough for being patient with me as I maneuver this new normal in this season of life. As I type this my grand baby is sitting next to me on the floor. He is six months old going on a year. Ha, ha. He can sit up, is starting to eat solid food, looks like he might be getting his first tooth and when he is on his tummy he does planks and rocks back and forth on his hands and knees. What a joy to be able to enjoy the first year of his life with all the changes and all the fun.

I thought I would show you what I am wearing today, which is a mix of fairytale meets military. I never used to do much print mixing. In fact, I never would have thought to put multiple prints together, but now I do it with ease and even look for ways to combine numerous prints as the same time. One of the key elements in classic print mixing is to pick similar color schemes in all of your prints.

I got this Forever 21 sweater at a thrift store. I rarely ever shop retailers like Forever 21, or H & M any more, though they used to be frequent stops when my girls were younger. The clothes were cute and cheap, but I am trying to get away from “fast fashion” and move towards more sustainable choices in my purchasing. That is why thrifting is so high on my list when it comes to finding things, not only for myself, and other members of my family, but also for my home. I have found kitchen items, wall decor, picture frames, candles and even movies and books at second hand shops. This past Christmas I gave everyone in the family a thrift box filled with all thrifted items from clothing to books and movies to cute decor. It was fun to shop for people that way.

Unicorns are the stuff of fairy tales. I am less about the one horned wonder and more about regular horses with insight into their master’s whims and thoughts…think Gandalf’s horse Shadowfax from Lord of the Rings. Still, I could not resist this sweater, since I am a sucker for fairy tales and all things fantastical. Because the top is short, I added a long sleeve pink tee underneath.

It is another cold day, so I knew I wanted a scarf since the top has a wide neck. I remembered, I had recently thrifted this pretty cherry blossom scarf and thought it not only went with the top due to the pink flowers, but the delicate, lacy branches have a fairy tale look to them.

I was searching for a different pair of jeans when I came upon these and I was so thrilled that not only did the embroidery match my color scheme, and add another print, but these fit better than when I last tried them on. Yay! These are Levi’s brand and I got them a while back from Kohl’s clearance.

When I think of fairy tales, I think of princesses, knights, villains, and sometimes monsters. There is usually some sort of magic and always a quest or adventure to go on. I also imagine, flowy fabrics, with the fair maidens dressed in pastels and tulle. The villains are garbed in black or red. Ha, ha. Yes, my fairy tale memories are full of stereotypes. These are not the politically correct fairy tales of today. My favorite Disney fairy tale retelling is Beauty and the Beast. I love both the cartoon and live action versions.

I always wanted to be a different sort of princess. I wanted to be the warrior, so when I started thinking about this outfit, I knew I had to throw in my own touch by adding combat boots. Of course, if you are going to kick some villain butt, you can’t be in dresses and heels, as least I couldn’t. I would end up tangled up in my gown and spraining an ankle from trying to walk in heels. Ha, ha. These are also thrifted, and are a regular part of my fall through spring wardrobe.

Style Tip: An easy way to add an edgy element to any outfit is to wear combat or motorcycle boots. They are fun with jeans, skirts, dresses and even shorts, for those of you who have pretty legs. These days combat boots come in a variety of colors and styles. Check out the shopping links below for options.

I am a child of the King, therefore, I am a princess. I fight battles every day on my knees and on my walkabouts with God, therefore, I am a warrior. I am full of flaws, lack confidence and have a list of idiosyncrasies, but I stand in His strength. Fairy tales all have elements of truth. Magic or miracles? Monsters or murderers? Fairy godmothers, or just grandmothers, I am living an adventure.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Thanks for following along on the blog.

Have a great week.