Shopping Our Closets: Print Mixing Style

It has been almost a month since I posted here and I do apologize. Our summer seemed to get increasingly busy and we had additional bumps along the way. In May I was dealing with another sinus infection and was back on antibiotics and steroids. In June my spouse was dealing with an old ankle injury from decades ago that has decided to act up. The end result of several doctor’s appointments and an MRI is an eventual invasive surgery that for the time being we are choosing to put off. He is doing okay as long as he doesn’t overdo. That also has meant taking on the responsibility of mowing the lawn for me. I honestly don’t mind, but it does take up another day and leaves me feeling pretty tired. However, God is good and always gives the strength I need to get the job done. Right now I am putting it off due to the increased heat. The grass will have to wait.

I decided to take a few pictures of the outfit I wore today and try to get it posted for this week. I have another very busy week coming up as I will have a few extra days of babysitting my grandson as his other grandma is taking the week off. I am hoping to do a few fun things with the three year old as these days of summer are quickly passing by.

Today’s look revolves around a few different prints that I think work very well together. I find it very fun to mix prints together, and it is much easier to do than you realize. The basic guidelines are as follows:

1- Pick similar color prints. As you will see in my outfit, the floral top has the some of the same coral shades as the pants, and it also contains the creamy white like my vest.

2 - Pair larger prints with smaller ones. This is not a rule, but for a beginner this makes it easier to decide which prints you will be comfortable pairing. For my look I paired the busy, larger floral print with the very small polka dots on my pants.

3 - If you are not sure about colored prints remember that textures count as prints as well. For instance, my crocheted vest is a print and pairs beautifully with the florals on the top and the polka dots on the pants. I could have just as easily paired the floral print with the textures of the vest and had a perfect print mix.

This floral tee was a thrift find this summer and is Loft brand. I love florals, especially dark florals, and this top caught my eye for the pretty colors, making me think of fall, and for the elbow length sleeves. I also like the neckline which gives it added interest.

Since the top is a little wide, adding the vest helped to give the outfit a little more shape. I was wearing this to church this morning, so I didn’t want to look too casual. Another second hand piece, this Jordache vest makes multiple appearances all year round. (I do not believe this manufacturer to be the same one that makes the jeans.) You can see the vest styled with olive pants here.

These polka dot Gloria Vanderbilt jeans were in a box to donate, but since I lost a little bit of weight, I decided to revisit the boxes that I hadn’t dealt with yet, trying everything on and setting aside things I still wanted to hang on to. I don’t wear these often, but I do like them as an alternative from regular blue denim. Plus with the polka dots it makes them a good choice for a print mix like this. You can see I folded the hems a few times to give them more the appearance of cropped pants.

My Aldo bag is the current one I use, and was another thrift find. Sorry about the stain. I didn’t even look it over before I went outside to take pictures. I have been using this one all spring and summer.

I added the charm necklace right before we left for church, thinking that it dressed up the outfit just a little bit more.

Finally, I wasn’t sure what shoe to wear, and still am not certain that these white and gold ones were the right choice but it seemed to work okay. I’m sure sandals would have been better, but I don’t wear those as often with my veiny feet. I found these at DSW on the clearance rack. They are Soul brand by Naturalizer.

What did you think of this look? Do you regularly print mix? What prints do you like to put together? Let me know in the comments. I always love to have your feedback.

I hope you are having a great week!

My Style: Casual with a Graphic Tee

I have been struggling to get things posted on the blog. It seems our summer has been busier than I thought it was going to be, and the heat, and added responsibilities have made it hard to find the time and the energy to put outfits together or write on my Faith page. However, here I am trying again. This is a piece of advice my mental health therapist often says, “Begin again.” There is something freeing about those two words. The fact that I can start over and begin again reminds me that, not only am I not perfect, but that it is okay. The important thing is that I keep trying.

For today’s outfit I decided to show you an outfit that is very much me. I am pretty simple when it comes to my style, and over the years I have showed you glimpses of what style types I pull from and for the most part these styles are casual and practical.

I like this combination of teal green with salmon. For this outfit, the first this I did was pick the tee shirt. I got another order from Love In Faith. I love their tees and place an order about once or twice a year. The fall and Christmas ones are always hard to resist, but this summer they had a number of cute graphics and colors. As always they are faith based. I am not an affiliate for them, I just love their products and they are always having good sales and are a faith based company so I like to buy from them.

I love the words on this tee, and the picture, of course, but the colors are lovely and so summery. The words printed at the bottom say, “My sin was great, His love was greater….Joh 3:16:” Obviously, I could have gone for a more orange color, but there are also slight shades of the salmon in the tee as well, which don’t show as well in my photo. In case you are ever interested in purchasing from Love In Faith, I typically get a large, because I like the extra room, but I could wear a medium. Since I have lost a few pounds, mediums are beginning to fit better, but I still like my tops roomy, and they do not shrink.

I bought light weight utility ankle pants a few years ago from Kohl’s and they are Sonoma brand. I was looking for a good alternative to jeans. These are perfect for hotter weather and though I could wear them ankle length in the summer I like to roll my pants so they come half way between my ankle and my knee. It is my alternative to shorts.

I found this fabulous green gingham number a few weeks ago. While I can’t really wear it yet, because it is so hot, I am looking forward to bringing it out more often when it gets cooler. It is actually a men’s shirt from JCPenney It is a stiffer cotton fabric, almost like a smooth canvas, and at first I wasn’t sure I would like it, but I am glad I took it. The stiffer feel gives it a bit more structure, which is great when wearing a piece like this as a shacket.

I added a bit of silver bling just to keep the outfit from getting too casual. You can see a little bit of the pinkish color I was talking about on the tee above, thus I also added my embellished Bueno pink cross body bag. I love the fake embroidery on this bag. This was another gift given to me by one of my daughers.

For shoes I pulled out my platform sneakers. I bought these back when platform sneakers were just becoming a thing a few years ago. It looks like we will have a bit of the platform trend sticking around, so I figured I was doing okay to wear these. These are a brand called Roxy and I found them on clearance at DSW.

What do you think of this outfit? What do you like to wear in the summer to look casual but put together? Leave me a comment or two below. I always like to hear your thoughts.

No shopping links today. Just take this as inspiration to shop your own closet and see what you can come up with.

Have a great day!

Outfit Inspiration: Cool, Coastal Vibes

Another trend that is around this summer is one I feel is always on repeat. Whether you call it coastal or nautical this summer trend seems to be veering away from the traditional red, navy and white color palette and is leaning more towards soft neutrals and pastels, while still giving a nod to the more traditional nautical stripes. For today’s outfit I decided to stick with a neutral palette, leaving out the stripes for a soft, feminine outfit that would be great for a casual dinner out followed by a walk on the beach.

I looked at Pinterest for inspiration for this coastal trend, and I found a number of outfits with a similar color palette to what I have put together here. White, light tan, with a light version of blue often seen in chambray pieces like button downs or skirts. What seemed to dominate the looks I found on Pinterest were white tops and bottoms with layered pieces, bags, shoes and a bit of jewelry taking on the other colors. To make this look completely my own, I decided to use the neutral tan color as my overall grounding color and just add in a little white, and blue.

My knit ruana is a fabulous Sonoma piece I got a number of years ago at Kohl’s and use it every so often to help build an outfit with texture. You can see how I styled it on the blog as a work wear look, and a boho look.

My white tank is a thrifted Loft piece. It has a bit of an iridescent sheen, so it didn’t show up real well in some of the pictures. You can also see the simple pendent necklace I chose to keep the outfit more low key.

My pants have made the rounds and were a JC Penney’s clearance find years ago. They are Liz Claiborne brand. How could I resist these with their beautiful embroidery? You can see how I styled them on the blog with a yellow top and cardigan.

My gladiator sandals are older and Massini brand, and my bag was gift a number of Christmases ago from my younger daughter. I also added my woven hat as you can see in the final pictures below.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you think it is giving off coastal vibes? How would you do it differently? How would you make it your own? I love to have your feedback, so be sure to leave a comment or two below.

I have included shopping links with similar items for you to enjoy. These are affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of my links I get a little commission. I appreciate all your support.

Have a great week!

Color Play: Red Orange with Shade of Purple and Brown

This week I am showing you an outfit I actually wore all day. This colorful combination was inspired this past week by my husband’s Aunt Lynn who always wears skirts. I have so many fun skirts that I never wear and I thought, well, why not? Last week while she and my mother-in-law were visiting I donned this purple and blue skirt for a trip to our favorite British Tea Garden restaurant a little ways north of us. This week I decided to pull out this fabulous bohoesque piece. Keep reading for all the details.

Lighting makes such a huge difference in picture quality, as my daughter who is a professional photographer will tell you. It also makes a difference what sort of camera you use, time of day and so on. More expensive phones can take great pictures, and my little IPhone SE does okay, but on a bright, sunny day in the shade it just doesn’t capture the true essence of the colors in my outfit. My top definitely leans more towards a red orange, but in these phots it looks more red.

My top is a very recently thrifted Chico’s piece and is a linen blend. I’m not a huge linen fan as I have said before, but I do like the cool factor of linen, and a blend shows a little less wrinkling, but what really sold me on this piece were the sleeves. Aren’t they fun? Three layers of fringe add to the Bohemian vibe of this look.

This thrifted, colorful skirt is Notations brand. I like that it has a bit of a crinkle to it. Does anyone remember the old “broomstick skirts” from back in the 90’s? I had several back in the day, but ended up getting rid of them. They, like many trends come and go, but if you are into Boho or Cottage Core aesthetics in your fashion then you’ll want to keep a few of these long, wrinkly pieces. I have incorporated a couple back into my rotation, thus my desire to show off my skirts here and there.

The skirt has, not only the red orange color, but dark purple, a medium brown, a subtle olive green, and a periwinkle blue. For today’s outfit I wanted to emphasize the purple and brown in part to show off this fabulous glass bead necklace I found at the thrift shop around the corner from my house. They have so many awesome treasures. My grandson, who I have been watching this week said he loved my necklace and that the dark purple beads looked like candy. Ha, ha.

Another second hand find, this Universal Thread cross body bag was exactly what I had been on the hunt for. Obviously, it is more like the old fashion “butt packs” that we used to carry back in the 80’s. What I like about this version is being able to wear it across my chest. It makes it feel more secure and is very easy to access. This is a soft, buttery faux leather and, while small, it holds my wallet, phone, keys and a tube of lip gloss. What more does a girl need?

If I look a bit tired in the above picture it’s because I am exhausted. With my spouse being disabled from his gimpy ankles, having company last week and now watching a very energetic, stubborn, and loud three year old, I am pooped! But God is good and we will persevere, not because of who I am, but because of who He is!

For shoes I went with my older, tan Keds. While they are not as cute as a pair of sandals would be, they are much more practical for chasing a rambunctious toddler.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you have a colorful skirt that you like to pull out in the warmer weather? What colors does your skirt have in it? I love to hear your thoughts and ideas so leave a comment or two.

I’ve included shopping links interspersed throughout the article to give you options if you want to shop. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no charge. If you purchase through a link I provided I get a small commission. Thank you for all your clicks, likes and comments. I treasure each and every one.

Have a great Tuesday!

Shopping Our Closets: Summer Trends - Pinstripes and Polka Dots

This summer two patterns that seem to be trending are pinstripes and polka dots. I thought it would be fun to mix these two patterns for a smart, casual style that can be worn for dress down Friday at the office, or a lunch date with your girlfriends.

The star of this show is the a.new day blazer that I got off the clearance rack at Target a number of years ago. I don’t wear blazer’s as much as I used to, but I love these structured pieces and keep them around. After all, every now and then a girl wants to wrap herself in a lovely jacket, just to make her feel fabulous.

My polka dot tee is a thrifted brand called maxcare. I have never heard of this brand. I did a little searching and the only thing I could come up with was a medical supply company offering scrubs, etc, and a cosmetic company. I supposed this could have been a tee for a medical uniform, but who knows. It is interesting to try to track down some of these lesser known brands that I find at second hand shops.

My jeans, which are also a very light pinstripe pattern are thrifted Gloria Vanderbilt brand and I have had them for a number of years now. They are great for summer as they are light weight. For today’s look I rolled the hems up, but you could easily leave them down. I think rolled hems give an outfit a more playful vibe.

At first I was wearing my white sneakers, but I just wasn’t satisfied, so I went with my denim blue Keds that are from Kohl’s a number of years ago. Keds are one of my favorite casual sneaker brands.

My bag is also old, and another clearance find from Kohl’s. This Sonoma tote is big and roomy. I like the rose gold threads woven in for extra interest and texture. Tote bags are back in as purses, so don’t be afraid to carry one around as your regular bag. I like to occasionally have the extra room a tote bag offers to carry a book, a notebook, or a sweater for those extra chilly air conditioned spaces.

I threw on a little bit of jewelry and was ready for fun.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you have pinstripes and polka dots in your closet? Would you wear them together? I always love to hear your opinions, ideas and thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments.

The included shopping links are brought to you at no cost. These are affiliate links which means if you click on a link I get a few pennies, and if you purchase something through one of my links I get a small commission. Every little bit helps.

Thanks so much for following along on the blog. I hope to get back to regular posting on here and my Faith page soon. Life, as usual has been dishing it out on us, so sometimes I am not able to get to it. For me this is a hobby started to encourage women like me and you on getting dressed and walking out our faith.

Have a fabulous day!

Outfit Inspiration: Chambray for Summer

I looked around on Pinterest trying to get my creative vibes moving and saw a few outfits with chambray shirts that reminded me what great pieces these are to have in our closets. Whether you have one chambray shirt, a dress, a skirt or a simple accessory, chambray next to linen is a great fabric for summer. Of course, chambray can be worn all year round, but due to its lighter weave and weight it is ideal for these warmer days.

Girlfriends, summer is still here for a while, and while our feeds, and the retailers are doing their best to move us forward into fall, Halloween and yes even Christmas, I am choosing to embrace these dog days of summer and live them to the fullest.

To me there is nothing more crisp and summery than chambray with white, and a little bit of tan. Thus, though Pinterest was the initial inspiration for this outfit, it is completely my own idea pulled together with pieces from my closet.

While, I have numerous chambray pieces, I went with this thrifted Cremieux, rolled sleeve button down with raw hemline. It needed its time in front of the spotlight. It can be worn on its own as a top, or as I did today used as a topper to add interest to the outfit. It also would provide a bit of warmth in the air conditioning, which in some places can be quite fierce. I’ll include a few options in the shopping links at the end of the article.

My under layer is a simple striped Croft & Barrow tank top, clearance at Kohl’s a few seasons ago. I chose blue and white, but any striped color combination would work for this look. You could also change the look by using a floral print or a graphic tee. Do what you love.

You also know, I have to add a little jewelry, so my necklace, a gift from my spouse, and the bracelets, seen in the previous picture were my add ons. I chose not to bother with a belt. I typically wear them all the time, but it is starting to seem silly when there is no chance of my pants falling down. Ha, ha.

My distressed, white, Stylus jeans are thrifted. I still have to laugh at how I was so against distressing for years, and now I actually look for it. I know not everyone is on the distressed bandwagon, but to each her own. Wear the things that make you feel comfortable and confident. The pieces I don’t feel good in are shorts and short skirts, due to my bad varicose veins. Rather than bemoaning that I don’t feel comfortable in those pieces, I just reach for the things I enjoy and live life.

My bag is a recently thrifted Fossil piece. I have been on the search for a few neutral colored bags. Shhhh! Don’t tell my hubby. He thinks I have too many bags already. Now, that can’t possibly be true! Ha, ha.

Another option with a chambray button down is to tie the bottom, for a cute cropped look.

It occurred to me I could also pull the tank out so it hangs below the tied up chambray piece for an additional fun look.

I thought about wearing white sneakers, but chose my denim Keds instead.

Here are a few possibilities if you are looking for something similar.

Do you have any chambray in your closet? How do you like to wear it? Do you wear it just in the summer or all year round. I love to hear from you, so please leave a comment or two. What did you think of this outfit?

Check out a few of my past chambray outfits by clicking on the links. Denim Daze 2.0, White with Denim, Denim Daze, Long Sleeve Chambray Shirt, Light Wash Chambray, With a Maxi Dress, Chambray Dress with Denim Vest, and With a Poncho.

I am including a few shopping links for chambray pieces, and neutral colored bags. Use these for inspiration or to buy yourself a little something. If you purchase something through one of my links, I get a few pennies, but every cent counts. These are affiliate links brought to you at no additional cost. All opinions are my own.

I hope you have a great day!

Shopping Our Closets: Linen

Today’s outfit revolves around a few pieces I found in my closet that are over 50% linen. Linen is a go to for summer outfits due to it’s ability to keep the wearer cool and comfortable. I see many bloggers and Instagram gals wearing linen on the regular all throughout the summer. Many retailers carry these light weight pieces starting in the spring. You can see numerous pretty tops, pants, and skirts at Chico’s, JC Penney, Coldwater Creek, Old Navy and more.

Linen as a fabric is made from the inner stem fibers of the flax plant. In its pure form it is breathable, durable, dries easily, and is perfect for hot climates. The only bad side of pure linen is that it is rather stiff and wrinkles quite easily.

My two pieces featured today are a linen blend. My pants are linen and rayon, and my vest is linen and cotton. The pants are not as cool as a linen cotton blend, but they are flowy and that allows for better air circulation. As you can see, they still get a little wrinkly, and that is part of what makes me less enamored with linen than others might be.

These pants were a Christopher & Banks purchase from a few years ago. I liked that the stripes were vertical, keeping the eye moving down rather than fixating on my wider hips. These had front patch pockets, and a wider elastic waist. They are very comfy and so easy to pull on and off.

My vest is the other linen blend piece. This is a thrifted Maurice’s piece. I love vests and I have a small stash of lighter weight ones that I like to pull out for layering and texture when it is warm. The eyelet on this piece is really what drew me to it. I love clothing with texture and eyelet is one that we see a lot of in the warmer months.

I ended up using a simple, thrifted tank top underneath. While I could have chosen any color, I decided to go with white, to keep the top part of my body more monochrome, helping the blue stripes in the pants to stand out.

I also went for neutral accessories in my pendant necklace, my bracelet, and my lace up sandals. I like the way the neutral looks with this color combo giving the whole outfit a very summery feel.

I could have chosen a neutral colored handbag, but went for a lighter blue to add a bit more understated color to the look.

What do you think of this outfit? Do have linen pieces in your closet? Do you like linen and wear it often in the summer? I love to have your feedback so feel free to leave a comment or two.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. I decided to show you an array of linen/linen blend pieces. Even if you only have one or two in your closet, they do come in handy for these warm days of summer. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great day!

Outfit Inspiration: July 4th Holiday

Today’s outfit was inspired by the July 4th holiday. The idea to dress in red, white, and blue for patriotic holidays has been around for a while and is no doubt inspired by the colors of our nation’s flag. The great thing about this color combination is you can go as full on to the true colors as you want, or you can move into different shades and still get a patriotic feel.

For this outfit, I started with a thrifted, gingham, asymmetrical hem skirt. This is a fun piece with it’s unique hem and side button up detail. There was no label in this piece, so not clue where it came from originally.

The color is not a true, bright red, but rather more of a maroon or cranberry.

Since the skirt was red and white, I could have done blue as a top, but I decided to go with a Time & Tru white basic tee from Walmart, and my Christopher and Banks denim vest. Nothing says 4th of July like denim. Here’s a few denim vests from Target.

To keep the look fresh I chose a thrifted, white shoulder bag, that I also use as a cross body bag. This is a brand called Bueno. You can find numerous Bueno bags on ThredUp and Etsy. JC Penny sells a brand called Bueno of California, but I couldn’t find any info on whether these were the same company or not.

I added a few cute pieces of jewelry in red tones to pull in a little extra of the bright color.

I pulled out an old pair of Ked’s sneakers, as they were white and blue. I wish I could wear sandals more, but my veins make me self conscious, so I do wear compression knee highs almost all the time. However, for all of you who still have those beautiful legs, or for those who don’t care, wear the sandals!!

So what are you going to wear for the 4th of July? What do you think of this outfit? Is your Independence Day outfit going to include denim? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Happy 4th of July!

Color Play - Building Outfits Around an Abstract Print Skirt

I have been wanting to build an outfit around this pretty abstract print maxi skirt ever since I thrifted it a few seasons ago. In order to get a bit outside my normal jeans and tees kind of casual outfits, I have been purposefully meandering through my maxi skirts in an effort to build a few fun, summer outfits that would work for backyard bbq’s, dressy casual dates with a friend or significant other, work or a more casual summer wedding. Today, I am showing you two different outfits using the same skirt.

Outfit 1 - Dressed Up

This skirt is a brand called Maeve by Anthropololgie. The outer layer is cotton, and it has an attached slip, making it easy to wear with no show through. The wide elastic band is comfortable, and easily covered with a wide belt, as you’ll see in the next outfit.

My bright pink jacket is a Chico’s thrift find. It is actually a petite, but I don’t have a super long torso, so I occasionally can get away with a petite size. You don’t really notice, especially if the sleeves are rolled up.

My tank top was a St. John’s Bay basic that I got at JC Penney a few seasons ago. I was excited to see it matched the blue in the skirt spot on. Of course with this skirt you could use pink, orange, white or black, or even mix it up with a totally different color like mint green, or sunflower yellow. That is exactly why I like to call this monthly column, Color Play, to stretch our minds as to what sorts of colors go together.

The jewelry wasn’t made to go together, but they certainly work well together. The necklace I got a few months ago at my favorite thrift store around the corner. The bracelet was a clearance purchase probably from Kohl’s or Penneys.

I have had this Relic canvas tote for a number of years, and it is a great work horse for summer. While I regularly carry a cross body bag, I occasionally reach for a tote bag to run to the coffee shop or library, or when packing for a trip. Sorry about the bits of cat hair. You can’t have a pet without there being a bit of fall out, especially in these warm temps. Ha, ha.

Our silly curmudgeon, Plato Aristotle Radcliffe Christensen. A large cat had to have a large name!

I had to rummage through my shoe boxes to find these cute espadrilles. These are Chaps brand and were a Kohl’s purchase a few years ago.

Outfit 2 - More Casual

I couldn’t resist doing a bit of print mixing with this fun skirt, and polka dots and embroidery seemed a great companion for the abstract print.

Both of these pieces were second hand finds. Like so many pieces that I thrift, I don’t always have an idea in mind of what they are going to go with, but find I am pleasantly surprise when things line up. My button down is Jones New York Sport, and the embroidered vest is Van Heusen. I’ve heard of Van Heusen in men’s shirts, but this is clearly a women’s vest, although a man might like it as well, but it is cut more for a feminine body. Walmart and a few other stores carry this brand.

I decided to add a wide belt for this look. Another thrift find, this wide braided belt is a soft material that adds interest and texture. I thought the belt and my Vera Wang bag were a good match. You can also see I swapped out the black pendant necklace for my lovable owl, and replaced the metal and bead bracelet for some fun white and gold stretchies.

I chose my denim Keds as a way to compliment the vest and create more continuity to a busy printed outfit.

So which look do you like better? Would you have purchased a skirt like this? Do you have any skirts in your closet that you are just not sure how to style? I hope this post gave you a little inspiration for shopping your closet and thinking outside your color box.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of my links I get a tiny percent. I appreciate every click and purchase. All opinions are my own and you are not charged anything extra for purchasing through my site.

Thank yo for all you do. I hope you are having a great week.

Begin Again, and a Look at What I Have Been Wearing

Hi everyone. What was originally going to be a one month hiatus has turned into nearly two, thanks to my new normal. I am trying to come to terms with the idea I have a chronic illness; a muddled mess of chronic sinusitis and asthma, each one individually trying to be managed, and at the same time exacerbating the other when one goes awry. In my vast experience (ha, ha) of 3 years I am seeing a pattern of sinus infection almost always leading to worsening of asthmatic symptoms. There seems to be a definite connection, though you will hear little of it from the medical community. Indeed, I am learning it is imperative we do our own research and keep looking for answers while trying to maneuver an overburdened medical landscape.

That is part of the reason for my disappearance from regular posting on my little blog. My hubby and I were able to take our meandering vacation in May without any issues, other than the car having a few hiccups. I am so thankful, because it was after that I got sick, and that would have ruined a really relaxing trip.

Here I am doing what my counselor so often tells me to do and that is, begin again. I will be starting out slow, but I do want to get a little bit of content out there before the summer is over. Today I am going to share a few of my daily outfits that I was able to post to instagram.

Outfit 1 - Long Denim Skirt and Graphic Tee

I wore this while we were visiting my mother-in-law, before we left for our Meanderings. It was the perfect combination of comfy and cute. I have this skirt in my rotation to be worn again, so I am thinking it deserves its own spot in a blog post.

Outfit 2 - Olive Pants and Peach Top with Lace Cut Out Yoke

I love this thrifted top. It has a cotton liner in the bodice area, and since the entire thing is cotton it is very comfortable for our warmer temps. I thought the combination of pastel peach with olive and blue chambray a fitting outfit for late spring and early summer.

Outfit 3 - Subtle Camo Cropped Pants, Floral Tiered Tunic and Open Weave Shrug

This is one of my favorite outfits I put together since we got back from our trip. Everything but the Sperry sneakers was thrifted. The outfit came together as a result of a print mixing challenge in Instagram, and I always love a good print mix. It was one of those cooler, late spring days, and these pieces kept me completely comfortable.

Outfit 4 - Rewear of Camo Cropped Pants with Floral Peasant Top and Blingy Vest

I always rewear my pants over the course of a couple of weeks between laundry sessions. Rewearing helps keep our clothes from getting worn out due to over washing and saves water and detergent. Do you rewear your clothes before washing? Isn’t the floral mix of print and embroidery beautiful on the sleeves of this piece? The Christopher and Banks vest makes regular appearances on the blog and Instagram.

Outfit 5 - Purple and Blue Striped Maxi Skirt and Graphic Tee

It is a struggle for me to wear things outside my comfort zone. This comfort zone revolves more around what is going on in my life than things not being comfortable due to size, fit, or type of piece. I love skirts and dresses, but my life rarely is conducive to wearing them. In order to not be too stuck in a rut, I am trying to reach for a maxi skirt on occasion and style it for my writing grandma lifestyle. Ha, ha.

This outfit is so me. I love the purple hues in the skirt and the tee is right up my alley. The tee was thrifted, and the skirt was another past Christopher and Banks purchase. I haven’t bought from them since they closed down their brick and mortar stores, but I sure did like them when I was able to shop in person. Since they went to an online only presence I have been less than underwhelmed. Sad!

Outfit 6 - Embroidered Chambray Shirt, Graphic Tee and Dark Wash Jeans

I have had this light wash chambray shirt for years and I absolutely love it. If it has embroidery on it I am sold! I used it more as a shacket, but occasionally wear it as a button down. I don’t like to layer it under other things because I want the embroidery to be a focal point. The floral graphic tee was a Maurice’s find several years ago. The dark wash, ankle jeans are a pair of Lee’s petites that I found at Kohl’s on clearance a while back. I don’t normally buy petites but when looking for an ankle pant they often work.

Outfit 7 - Pineapple Bling Tee and Jeans

A fun, easy outfit. What more can we ask for during the busy, hot, days of summer?

Outfit 8 - Floral Kimono, Oversized Tee and Reworn Jeans

I had an eye doctor appointment the morning before I took these pictures, and my eyes were dilated. That’s always fun. When I stepped back outside after I got home to take these pics, I was pretty squint eyed. Ha. ha.

Style Tip - There are so many ways to take an ordinary jeans and tee outfit up a few notches with accessories including layered necklaces and kimonos. Just because you have a routine of wearing the same type or style doesn’t mean it has to get boring. Jazz up the routine with colors, patterns, layers and bling, even if it just for a grocery store run or a doctor’s appointment. It is amazing how much better it makes me feel to put in the effort. Even when I am struggling with my physical heath.

Outfit 9 - Jeans with Bling and an Oversized Tee

I could not resist this recently thrifted tee. It is not cotton, so definitely not one I will wear when it is super hot, but it is so me. I love murder mystery shows, all the comfy clothes, and feel most comfortable with just a small number of people; although I can handle more like 8 or 10. Ha, ha.

Finding pieces that perfectly fit both your body and your personality is really what makes fashion fun. Graphic tees are great ways to show off the bands, movies, books, and philosophies you like. In the same way accessories can further show off your amazing sparkle. Don’t be afraid to play dress up every day, even the days you don’t feel good.

I hope you enjoyed this look at a few of my more recent outfits and I hope to be back at regular posting soon. Have a great week!

My Style: Grunge Aesthetic

This third Tuesday of the month I have been looking at various styles from which I pull my own style. I’ve titled my style blended, meaning I take from a variety of styles to make my own creative looks. So far we have looked at the Classic Style, and the Bohemian Style. Today we are going to look at the Grunge Style.

While we may not think we take much from the Grunge aesthetic we really do. Plaid patterns, graphic tees, combat boots, and hobo bags are all part of the Grunge scene. The term grunge originally came out of a music genre born in the northwest United States in the late 1980’s and 1990’s. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana fame was probably the most influential rocker on the grunge fashion movement. His style was completely understated often wearing an oversized sweater, baggy jeans and Converse tennis shoes to perform. The fashion movement bolstered the thrift movement with young people shopping to find worn, baggy, ripped, and oversized second hand clothing.

I easily fit into certain aspects of this style and I feel very comfortable in it. In fact, this is probably one of my faves, except for the fact that I love color, and it took some time for me to buy into the whole distressed pant movement. Now, however, I love my combat boots, my plaids, my ripped jeans and of course my graphic tees.

I had to think through how to build this outfit. I don’t have any band tees, and most of what I read and the images I saw showed tee shirts with band names and graphics on them. I decided since I hit 60 that I can make it my own, so I chose this silly tee I got at the state park my hubby and go to once or twice a year. It says, “I Ain’t Old…I’m Retro!” I couldn’t resist buying it and I think it works perfectly with this old lady’s grunge vibe.

My gray and white Vanilla Star plaid shirt is a thrifted piece. It had a slightly worn look to it, so I thought it served the purpose quite well. For some reason I felt my posture and facial expressions had to be a bit snarky to get the true grunge vibe across. Ha, ha.

These Stitch Star jeans I picked up on clearance at Meijer a few years ago. I like the distressing including the raw hems. I also like the buttons for the fly instead of a zipper. They look a little more worn than when I first got them, but I do wear them a lot and with all the washing they are looking rather funky, but that also may have had something to do with watching a toddler before I took these pics during his nap time.

One of the other pieces that I read about was the zip up hoodie. It seems dressing in the grunge way is all about layers of loose or oversized clothing. My pieces aren’t really all that oversized, but you get the idea. This zip up is part of a thrifted two piece set by NY & Co. Sport. Unfortunately, I messed up the pants with bleach, so I typically only wear them around the house. You can see the set before I messed up the pants here.

Layered necklaces, including crosses seems to be a thing, so this was my version.

These Joe Boxer combat boots became my faves this past season after I found them while thrifting. They are definitely showing their wear, but when you are feeling grungy the more worn the better.

I was trying to decide between a tote bag or one of my hobo style bags, and ended up with my Aerosmith tote to make up for the absence of a band tee.

What do you think of the Grunge Style? Do you have any plaid in your closet? Do you own combat boots? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

I hope you enjoyed this look at the Grunge Aesthetic. I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost. If you shop through one of my links, I get a few cents. Every view counts. Thank you for all you do.

Have a great week!

Color Play - Building an Outfit Around Jewelry

Since my Color Play column can encompass all aspects of color, I thought it would be fun to show you how I build an outfit around a colorful piece of jewelry. Let’s face it, not all of us are into fine jewelry. Yes, I do have a few silver and gold items that my spouse gave me over the years, but those are mainly rings and a few chain necklaces. Most of my jewelry is costume jewelry that I have either found on clearance at regular retail stores like Kohl’s, JC Penney, or Maurice’s, or it is from a thrift store. The piece I will be using today was actually gifted to me by a friend.

I love all the colors in this piece, but it does make it more difficult to combine with printed pieces, of which I have many. However, that makes it more challenging, which I love. Today, I decided to go for more of a color block style, and used solid colors for each of the pieces in my outfit. Take a look.

I am grooving on my wide leg cropped pants right now, so if they are not your cup of tea, then just swap them out for your own version of pants. You could also just as easily choose a skirt. Remember my job is to inspire you to look at your own clothes in a new and innovative way, to make them work for you and your style preferences.

Today’s style tips are going to cater to styling an outfit around a piece of jewelry.

Style Tip 1 - Choose a piece of jewelry that makes a statement, then figure out how to monopolize on that statement effect.

As you can see in the first picture my necklace contains so many colors: orange, dark blue, turquoise, or aqua, purple, olive, light green, orange and a light yellowy orange. If I wore this piece with a printed top it might easily get lost, but pairing it with this navy popover blouse was the perfect way to make the colors of the necklace pop. You could have used any of the colors in the necklace, but I love the way it looks against the navy.

I have two of these Knox Rose tops. The other is a pale purple color. I love the lace, the longer length short sleeves and the flowy silhouette. The trim on the bottom is pretty as well. I honestly can’t remember if I found these on the clearance rack at Target, or at a Goodwill store where I often find like new Knox Rose items.

Style Tip 2 - Choose pieces that go with the colors in the jewelry or at least compliment it.

The navy top almost matched exactly the navy beads on the necklace. However, I chose to wear a pair of pants that was less matchy and more complimentary. The light green borders on olive, but not exactly. It’s almost a very pale chartreuse. I know in the picture they look more gray or beige than green, but believe me they have a green cast to them.

These raw hem jeans are Sonoma brand and they were a clearance find at Kohl’s a summer season ago.

After choosing my main two pieces I decided on shoes and a bag. I also added a few other bright beaded bracelets for fun. My SO ankle boots have been around for a while. I thought it appropriate to start throwing in a few fall like pieces since we all know it is coming at some point. My thrifted orange suede bag is not one I use very often, but I simply love the bright color, and it works so well as an accent piece.

Style Tip 3 - Pull in one or two other colors from you chosen piece of jewelry (if it has more than two colors) by adding them in as accessories: shoes or boots, bags, scarves or a sweater or jacket.

I thought about adding a sweater to this, but I wanted to still look summery, and it was nearing 90F when I took these pictures. I was already beginning to sweat. Ha, ha.

What do you think of this outfit? Have you ever styled an outfit around a piece of jewelry? If so, what was it? I’d love to hear your thoughts. You feedback is always welcome, good or bad.

I’m including a few shopping links for fun necklaces. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Have a great day!

Outfit Inspiration - Pinterest Summer Look

When looking for outfit inspiration I used to look at catalogues and adds that I would get from various retailers like Christopher and Banks, Kohl’s, JC Penney, and others that would send flyers with outfit possibilities to get you to go purchase various pieces from their stores. It seems these days there are fewer and fewer who do the paper adds, choosing to stick to online marketing with only occasional pushes via snail mail.

I have also used fashion magazines like In Style, Vogue, Elle and others to get inspiration, but lately I can’t even bring myself to look at those magazines due to the political and social agendas so many of them have. I’m all for human rights and treating one another fairly and with kindness, but I get frustrated when various entities try to shove it down my throat, when all I want to do is put an outfit together. The same is true of retail stores, but my purpose in this blog is not to create hate and controversy. My desire is to encourage and inspire.

That being said, I now frequently turn to art, as you saw at the end of June when I styled an outfit around the colors in two paintings. I am also trying to remember to look at my Pinterest Boards, after all, I pin those outfits, recipes, home decor and so on for a purpose. They are suppose to inspire me to try new things and give you styles that are fun and easily duplicated.

Today’s outfit is an easy style that can be replicated with any a-line skirt, tank top or tee, and accessories. You can make it completely your own, by using a different print and color skirt, adding black or other colored accessories instead of brown, and by switching in a graphic tee for the solid colored tank top. This outfit was inspired by this pin.

This thrifted skirt has been in my closet for a number of years and it is starting to show some wear. I don’t wear skirts that often, but this one is a piece I often reach for in the warmer weather. It is a brand called Outback Red. So, I did a little poking around on the internet and discovered that this brand used to be sold by The Limited. Do you remember that store? I do. It was very popular in the 80’s, thus the style of this skirt. Since the 80’s were over forty years ago, can we now say that item made in that decade are vintage? Ha, ha.

My white tank top is also a thrift find, along with the layered bead necklace, and belt. The skirt has no belt loops, but I think the belt adds a touch of polish to the outfit. What do you think?

Style Tip - Adding a belt to skirt or dress can add interest to your outfit and give the appearance of a narrower waistline.

I found two of these tank tops at different times thrifting. This one is a creamy white, while the other has a taupe vibe to it. They both have a banded bottom, which is nice if you wear it out with jeans in that it doesn’t show off the love handles like some ribbed tank tops do. For this outfit I tucked it in. In fact the necklace would go well with either of the tank tops I am talking about.

You have seen my bag on the blog before. This one I got a Walmart a few years ago when patchwork was the rage. I think it is a very classy looking, structured piece, and the low key tans and browns go with many outfits.

Style Tip - While bright colored handbags are fun to use (I have a number), bags in classic colors like neutrals, black or navy add a touch of class to any look.

I wanted a similar look to the pinned outfit, so I knew I wanted to wear sandals. I got these gladiator sandals last year, and when I want something different from my usual sneakers these fit the bill. They are easy to get on and off, with a zipper on the back of the heel. They are airy, comfortable and you don’t have to worry about them falling off. They also cover most of the varicose veins on my feet.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you use Pinterest for outfit inspiration? Where do you get your outfit inspiration from? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, or you can also leave me a comment on Facebook.

(Pardon my arm flab! Ha, ha.)

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Color Play - Peach and Sea Foam Green

My grandson was here for the weekend, so I asked him to give me an unusual color combination. First he came up with orange and purple, which is definitely on my list of colors to pair in the future. He also mentioned red and green, but when I said Christmas, he decided not that. Finally, he said, “Peach and Sea Foam Green.”

We proceeded to have a mini discussion about what peach and sea foam green or blue actually look like. I finally had to Google both colors to see what the internet said. Sea Foam green is pretty straight forward. It is akin to minty green, but with a touch more blue in it. Peach, however, is another story. There are so many versions of peach: yellow-pink, pink-orange, yellow-orange…the list goes on. When you open up the peach fruit, the center is a yellowy orange, but the skin can have shades of pink in it.

When I started looking for these colors in my closet I was leaning towards the pinky orange, but everything I have leans more towards coral than peach. I finally settled on this floral tee blouse. I call it a tee blouse because it looks and feels like a tee, but the sleeves and front have a sheer material, giving it a lovely dressy vibe. The sea foam green jeans were just right for this post.

Style Tip: Think outside the box when it comes to color. You don’t have to wear the same colors all the time, because that’s what the color gurus say you look best in. Try adding color in small amounts with a bag or shoes, or other accessories. I know I have said this before, but color is just too fun to not wear it.

This pretty floral piece is Alfred Dunner brand and was either a thrift find or a clearance find at Kohl’s. It has been a few years, so I can’t remember. Ha, ha. I like the water color feel of the flowers. Since peach is yellow, but also pink, I thought this blend of colors a good compromise. You might not think it looks very peachy, but the point is not about perfect matches, but color inspiration.

Style Tip: Let color be a guide rather than a prison. Maybe you don’t have anything peach, or orange or yellow. Maybe your clothes revolve around neutrals. Why not use beige or tan with your sea foam green instead?

These bright green jeans are a brand called NYJD. I found these thrifting, but they do have a website and it looks like a decent brand. I love the fit and feel of these jeans. They are a bit stretchy, but not so much so they get slouchy. Check out their website, NYJD. I am not receiving anything in exchange for telling you about this retailer, it just looks like a decent place to get jeans that fit well.

I decided to add a pinky-peach cross body bag to tie in the pink colors in the top. I also added my pale yellow Universal Thread sneakers, clearance from Target. Isn’t the embellishment on this bag so much fun? It looks like embroidery.

When you really pay attention you can see that this top isn’t really peach. You can also see that the green in the top, which is almost a citron green is nothing like the sea foam green of my pants, but I think the outfit works. Again, think in terms of inspiration rather than firm rules.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you think these colors work together? What is the brightest pair of pants you have in your closet? Do you have anything in the sea foam color? I love hearing your thoughts so leave a comment or two.

Don’t forget you can buy me a coffee by clicking on the link below. It is a great way to support people like me who bring you inspiration and ideas without receiving compensation for it.

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I’m including some shopping links for you to peruse. These are affiliate links. I do not receive any compensation unless you buy a product through the links below. All opinions are my own.

Outfit Inspiration - Independence Day Color

We just celebrated the 4th of July which is a summer holiday filled with fireworks, picnics, and cookouts. For my husband and I it was a day to get things done around our home that we have let go way to long. On Sunday we started cleaning our bedroom. I kid you not when I say, it took us three days, and he still has a bit of tidying up to do on his bookshelf and dresser, but we conquered the dust bunnies!

In addition to cleaning our bedroom, we decided to clean out our chest freezer. We have had our freezer for many years. My husband being a hunter, we bought it expecting that part of its use would be for game. Unfortunately, what seems to happen is that things get lost in there. In fact, the freezer becomes like an ancient tomb, but the finds at the bottom of the burial mound are not very pretty, let alone edible. We threw away a lot of food. It is unfortunate, but it is real life and we are going to try to do better from now on to use what we have, and rotate our stock.

For today’s ultra casual look, I will confess I didn’t even get dressed until late afternoon. I tried on a maxi skirt, but that made me feel too hot. Usually, they are pretty cool, but on a 90 plus day the less material the better. Ha, ha.

This is my regular, summer outfit formula. Rolled up jeans, or cropped pants, a top, sneakers, some sort of jewelry and a topper for air conditioning. My husband and I were heading out for dinner and ice cream. Ice cream was our treat for working so hard the last few days, that and the reward of a clean room and defrosted freezer.

My bright red sleeveless top is perfect for these occasions when red is the color of choice. It is a bright, tomato red and is a brand called Popsugar which I found on clearance a Kohl’s a few years ago. I love the smocking detail on the bodice and the ruffles. It is also flowy, so no worries about the bulges showing. Ha!

These thrifted cropped jeans are Mossimo. They have been seeing quite a bit of wear this summer. I am always on the lookout for jeans when I thrift. I have found some of my most favorite and most worn pairs second hand. Jeans see a long life of wear, if made properly, so getting them at thrift store is a way to find off brands that fit, save money and keep clothes out of the land fills.

My creamy white sweater is another thrift find from a few years ago. I was enamored with the beaded embellishment near the neckline. It also has 3/4 length sleeves, which I don’t wear often, but for summer air conditioning they are the perfect length. It is Christopher and Banks brand.

I went with white for my jewelry. That way, if I did’t have the sweater on, I still wore red, white and blue. The cute daisy pendant necklace was a Christmas gift a few years ago from my spouse. The bracelets were clearance finds.

The Comfortiva red shoes you saw last week, and the blue bag, I added after I finished taking pictures, so I had my hubby snap a couple with the bag. Ha, Ha.

What did you wear for your July 4th? Did you get dressed up, or did you keep it casual? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Just leave me some love in the comments.

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Color Play - Finding Inspiration in Wall Art

We don’t just have to go to Pinterest to find inspiration for our outfits, although that is a great source for all sorts of color combinations. All you need to do is type in your color combo and outfits of all sorts will pop up. For example if I type in, “Neon green with brown outfit,” or “Outfits with neon green and brown,” you’ll get a variety. If you want to only search casual outfits, add the word casual to your search.

I am one who likes variety when it comes to where I am getting my color inspiration, so it is a good thing the sources are unlimited. Besides nature, one of my favorite places for inspiration is wall art. From water colors to oils, to photographs to tiles in kitchen back splashes or bathroom trim, I love to create outfits using those colors.

Today’s outfit revolves around two pieces of wall art that were hanging at the house we staying at on our trip to Kentucky. I loved the colors in each. (I had to take the pictures at an angle to cut the glare on the glass that was over the prints.)

As I started looking through my closet I was struck by how many different outfits could be derived from these prints. I may have to revisit these at a future date. Today’s casual outfit pulled out the bold red, dark and medium blue, and the creamy light brown.

Everything in this outfit is second hand, except for the tee shirt. My white v-neck tee is Time and Tru brand from Walmart from a year or two ago. These make great basic tees and are totally affordable. If you click on the Walmart link you’ll see they have two packs of these types of tees in various colors.

I pulled out a pair of straight leg jeans as it was going to be a little cool and rainy on the day I took these pictures. These are Old Navy brand and are called The Sweetheart. As I usually do, I rolled these. Having my ankles showing makes me stay cooler and it just seems more appropriate for the summer weather.

My print jacket is a Christopher and Banks piece. It seems to be a blend of leopard, and floral. I thought the lighter colors would be good for the warmer weather. It is also lighter weight than a denim or utility jacket. Once again, the beauty of thrift shopping is that you can find all your favorite brands at reduced prices and keep them out of the landfill.

Since the jeans incorporated the darker blue of the picture, I added the brighter blue crossbody bag to pull in the pretty blue of the vase in the second print. This is Tignanello brand.

Now let’s talk about the color red. Red provides such a wonderful pop of color in any outfit that is somewhat understated. I think the red flower necklace and the red shoes make this outfit more fun and interesting. I just found these awesome red shoes at my favorite dollar thrift store. They are like brand new and are a brand called Comfortiva.

If you want shoes that are super comfortable, and affordable, check out their website. They have some cute sandals like the Erena, the Parrea, and the Ganata. I’m not getting any compensation to recommend this retailer, I just know my dollar thrifted shoes are super comfy and cute.

So what do you think? Did my outfit look a little like the prints I took inspiration from?

As I said before, I might have to revisit these color inspiring prints for another outfit. Do you ever get your outfit inspiration from paintings, wall tiles or nature? I would love to hear your sources for outfit inspiration, so leave me a comment or two below.

I hope you are having a great week.

Shopping Our Closets - Wonderful White

I grew up in the era when white was only worn between Memorial Day and Labor Day, with the exception of Easter Sunday when my mother typically bought new white shoes, for both of us. Easter Sunday always represented the onset of spring, even though the actual spring equinox happened before, so white shoes and a white bag were perfectly acceptable for that religious holiday. However, wearing white blouses, dresses or pants usually didn’t start until after the end of May when the summer festivities were well under way.

I love the combination of white with brown. When I thought about going for a monochrome look, I knew I didn’t have a white belt, although I could have left my shirt untucked and wore white tennis shoes and had a white bag for a completely white look. However, I like the way this turned out. Casual and fun with interesting details, this would be a great look for a summer concert at the park or a boat outing with friends…I wish a had friends with a boat. Ha, ha.

Everything in this outfit is thrifted. Thrifting seems to be on the rise as people look for more ways to save money. I did a little shopping at Kohl’s recently and was flabbergasted by the prices. A man’s polo shirt for $80? What? I bought the ones that were on sale for $12.99 and I had a 30% off coupon. Shopping retail becomes a game of knowing when to shop and finding the best deals and coupons. Thrifting, fortunately, tends towards slower inflation rates and many places still offer spectacular deals. We have a shop about 20 minutes from where I live where everything is $1. With the exception of a few upscale brands, furniture and the like, all the clothing, books, toys, shoes, and home goods are one buckaroo!

My top is Adrianna Papell brand. This brand seems to specialize in special event gowns and dresses. I love the crinkly texture and the “just enough puff” sleeves. I really don’t like anything too poofy, as my shoulders are a bit broader. That’s why I was never a fan of shoulder pads. If they are removable, I take them out of my blazers, dresses or tops that come with them. You can also see the necklace I added in keeping with the brown theme.

My distressed, Boyfriend cut, white jeans are Stylus, a JC Penney brand. They are super comfy and casual, so these will be on repeat this summer. The belt loops were wide enough that I was able to get this recently thrifted, woven piece through. I thought the speckling of color and the braiding of the belt were great details.

I found these cute sandals when my hubby and I went up north at a Goodwill store. They are a brand called I Love Comfort, and looks like it used to be a Sears brand. They slip on and tie up just like regular shoes. They have a fairly comfortable footbed, and give full coverage for my veiny feet. Sorry for the nasty looking nail polish. I need to redo my toes with a more durable polish. Ha, ha. Hey, I’m just keeping it real.

You’ve seen this bag on the blog before. It is Rafe for Target brand. Check out the actual Rafe NY website. Cute bags, but way out of my price range. I love this one I found at a second hand store. It is quite roomy, so I might make this my bag for our upcoming travel.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you wear white in the summer, or all year round? Do you like to dress in a monochrome look? Do you add different colored accessories to make the outfit more interesting? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. I hope you are having a great week!

Color Play - Brown and Pale Green

Brown is a color that not everyone likes to wear, but you know me and my motto which is all colors for all women. Color and how we wear it and look good in it has to do with shades of color, and placement of the color on our bodies.

Today I am showing you an outfit that uses different browns, as well as different pale greens. The thought that brown and green go well together is not new, just think about trees and their branches. Many of the color combinations we see in nature work in the fashion world too.

It is hard to tell that these pants are actually green, but they are. They almost look gray, but when you set them next to a gray pair of pants, they definitely have a green tint. I found these recently on a thrift run and they are Chico’s Girlfriend style.

My plaid brown top was also a thrift find and is Lauren Conrad brand. I love the poofy sleeves and the smocking around the neckline. The fact that it is brown and plaid are what ultimately made me buy it. I have a hard time finding the color brown, especially for summer weight clothing. This one is perfect for the season. Of course, it also helps hide one thousand sins, you know the ones, the extra ice cream sin, the extra serving of potato chips sin, the double serving of just about any kind of chocolate sin…Ha, ha. Ugh! I can’t even really taste things right now, but I just keep on eating.

I added this other second hand treasure, the Apt. 9 vest, for interest and to tone down the volume of the top. The vest adds its own volume, but I think together it looks cute .

For accessories I added my Keds sneakers, a minty green necklace and some beaded bracelets with mint and silver like the necklace. I am also showing off this Rosetti bag that I recently found at a thrift store.

The only things in this outfit that aren’t second hand are the necklace, bracelets and sneakers. It is a satisfying feeling to be wearing an entire outfit that didn’t end up in a land fill.

What do you think of this outfit? I would like to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments below, or leave a comment on my Facebook page.

I hope you are having a marvelous week.

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Packing for a Short Trip

I thought I would do something a little different and take you through my thought process when I am packing for a short trip away. I am not really into capsule wardrobes, because I really love my clothes, and I also love having variety and choices. I think capsule wardrobes are great and maybe some day I’ll give it a try, but for now I am trying to use the many clothes that I have. However, that does make it harder when I am packing for a trip to decide what to bring with. I try not to get into a rut and wear the same things over and over as far as my tops, so when I pack for a trip I usually pick a theme, an accessory like a scarf or bag or a color to work around to limit my choices.

For this little trip I am taking to my moms for her birthday, I decided to go with the color pink. Usually I pick two or three colors to focus on, but this time I chose a dark pink and a light pink. I have two lighter weight sweaters that I thought would be perfect for a late summer trip where the temps will still be warm during the day, but possibly cooler at night and also thinking about air conditioning in stores and restaurants.

Once I chose the two sweaters, then I started to pull out tops that would coordinate with those and this is what I came up with.

After I chose my sweaters and tops, I decided to add a necklace for each outfit, even if I decide to not wear one, at least I have the options with. I also swapped out the coral tank top under the floral button down for a more neutral light beige one.

I knew I was going to be ultra casual as is my normal style so I chose simple shoes and jeans to complete my looks.

Using things like colors, a special accessory or a theme can help you narrow your selections for a trip whether short or long. Next week I’ll show you all the outfits as I wore them.

How do you decide what to wear for a trip? Do you have a capsule wardrobe or a large wardrobe like I have with many choices? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

I hope you are having a great week.

Dreamy Dresses from Closet52 - The Doily Print Dress

Closet52 is on a mission to give all women affordable, quality made dresses at reasonable prices. Based in New York City, they provide dresses for work, everyday and special occasions. Their line of affordable, quality made dresses includes swing styles, a-line, sheath, maxis and more. Join me today as I style the Doily Print Dress.

This dress is all about the print. I love the fun doily pattern. If you are older, like me, then you probably had doilies around your home growing up or perhaps they were in your grandmother’s house. I always love the lacy look of a doily under a lamp on a side table or dresser. These are much more colorful than the creamy white ones I grew up with, but they definitely give the dress a lacy look.

I am very impressed with Closet52’s fabrics and details. The dress is a medium weight (polyester/spandex blend) which gives it movement and swing. This one lays very well and I did not have to worry about wearing a slip. The other detail that impressed me about all of the sleeveless dresses I picked out was that the armholes were the perfect size for me. Often the sleeveless arm holes on a piece will be too big, revealing my bra, or so small they feel constricting.

Another fabulous detail on this dress is the tie at the back of the neck. Easy on and easy off make this piece perfect for a summer party, event or dinner out after a day at the beach. The material will pack well and the fun pattern will translate into all seasons. I am already thinking about how I could add tights and ankle boots in the fall, or a blazer and skinny jeans in the winter. I love when clothing pieces have that much versatility.

For this look I simply added a few of my own elements, including a necklace, bag, combat boots, and a jacket.

There are so many ways you could style this dress from amazingly simple to wonderfully elegant. Add a pair of flip flops or sneakers for ultra casual. Add a fancy topper and heels for a night on the town. If you are looking for a dress be sure to stop by Closet52. Styles range from cute to elegant, and sizing includes regular, petites and plus size.

If you are looking for a dress be sure to stop by Closet52.

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull @ Rebecca Trumbull Photography.

This dress was gifted to me by Closet52. All opinions are my own.