Shopping Our Closets: Fall Trends

I think it is always fun to look at what is trending for the up coming seasons. As we look to fall, we will be seeing much that is familiar, thus patterns and pieces that you probably already have in your closet. Be prepared for a resurgence of animal prints, plaid, sherpa, faux fur, and leather. Silhouettes will revolve around skirts from narrow denim to fuller midi lengths and will also continue to feature wide leg jeans. However, the news is out, skinnies will be back in the not too distant future, so I hope, like me, you hung on to your narrow legged jeans.

Style Tip: It seems in this ever changing fashion scape it is good to keep a few things that are timeless and classic, like a good, straight leg trouser or jean. They are neither wide nor skinny and can be worn with anything, and dressed up or down.

In addition fall will bring wonderful, earthy tones such as dark green and various shades of brown. Pantone revealed both a New York Autumn/Winter Color Palette 2024/25, and a London Autumn/Winter Color Palette 2024/25. I am thinking about delving back into these color palettes, so if that is something you’d like me to do, please let me know.

Today’s outfit revolves around a few of the fall trends that I have in my closet including a structured military jacket, an animal print scarf, a full denim skirt, combat boots and a brown bag.

This look is crossing a bit into a Dark Academia look, which I have featured in a What I’ve Been Wearing post on the blog here. The more somber hues with the structure of the military jacket give it an interesting vibe.

My younger daughter gave me this Torrid military jacket a number of years ago for Christmas. It is not a piece I reach for often, but I keep it in my closet because it is so unique. The olive drab color is such a contrast against the dark black trim, and the fit and flare silhouette makes it additionally interesting. It is a heavy knit fabric akin to sweatshirt material, so very comfy and stretchy.

Style Tip: Military jacket vs. utility jacket, what is the difference? Usually, a military jacket is a cropped piece and will have decorative buttons on both sides of the front opening, and some sort of contrasting piping, ribbon or stitching that gives it a formal military vibe. A utility jacket is usually longer, has a drawstring, large pockets and often both a zipper and snaps or buttons, and is meant to be a casual or functional type jacket.

I thought this thrifted, Express, “honor” graphic tee was the perfect piece to go with the military look.

I found this LizSport, full, midi or tea length, denim skirt while thrifting last year, and it has been coming in handy. It is a lighter weight which is nice with it being such a full piece. If the fabric was thicker it would definitely be very heavy. It is a tad bit tight around my waist, but I am willing to put up with it. Ha, ha. The things we gals do for fashion!

I just added this thrifted scarf to my scarf pile, and yes it is a pile, but I do so love scarves! Since animal prints are back in force, I thought this blend of zebra and leopard a fun mix. I didn’t add any jewelry since there is already plenty going on in this outfit.

If you look up Fall Bags 2024 you’ll see bags in all shapes and sizes, but in one very distinct color, brown, or the hues and shades thereof. It also looks like most of the bags are leather or faux leather, rather than a soft fabric like this corduroy one of mine. Here are a few to look at, including a few small animal print ones.

Combat boots seem to be around to stay, so if you haven’t hopped on that trend wagon, it’s not too late to start. I love my combat boots. They are so comfortable, and my inserts fit it every pair I currently own. This pair is Joe Boxer brand. I find most of mine at thrift stores, but have gotten a few pairs on sale at Kohl’s.

So what do you think of these fall trends? Do you have any similar items in your closet? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment or two below. I always love to hear from you.

I hope you enjoyed this post. All links included are affiliate links. If you click on a link, I might get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of the links I get a tiny commission. These are brought to you at no extra cost and are provided to give you inspiration and ideas as to where you can purchase similar pieces to those featured in the post. All opinions are my own.

Have a great week!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 - New York Palette: Rose Violet, Caramel Cafe, and Polar Night

As I continue the Pantone Autumn/Winter color series, I want to remind you my graphics are interpretations of the colors and do not match exactly. I have provided links to the Pantone website and the colors, so you can see what they actually look like. This week’s colors are a combination of a bright pinky purple, an earthy caramel brown and a deep navy. My Rose Violet is definitely too purple. If you click on the link you can see it really is more of a Fuchsia pink than purple. I don’t know why I thought my kimono was the right color. Oh well, I still think it makes for a bright, interesting outfit, even if the colors aren’t exact.

I received this beautiful silk robe from my younger daughter when she and her sister gave me my spa day for my birthday this past January. I really only wear robes in the winter when it is cold, so I thought this pretty piece deserved to be showcased.

Style Tip: Think outside the box when it comes to your clothing pieces. A bathrobe might suddenly be the perfect topper for a holiday party, or your cute checked pj pants might be a great addition to your casual Friday work wear routine.

I was having a hard time smiling when I took these pictures. I still feel tired and the dreary weather wasn’t helping my sinus headache. My hair is a bit fly away too. Oh well, you don’t follow me so that I’ll show you fake pictures and phony smiles. This is the real me, so thanks for loving me anyway! Ha, ha.

My Polar Night tee is an older Christopher and Banks piece. I like to have multiple solid colored tees in short sleeve and long sleeve versions strictly for the purpose of layering, either under pieces like this or just for added warmth under a pullover sweater.

You’ve seen these Stitch Star patchwork jeans on the blog before. I think they worked well for the Caramel Cafe color. The last two times I combined them with red. See the red sweater, and the red knit vest. I think they work well with the purple and with the navy colors.

Style Tip: Don’t be afraid to try new color combinations. You might find you like something even better than your regular go to choices, plus it makes you feel almost a bit daring stepping outside your comfort zone.

I kept my accessories simple. I liked the contrast of the navy tee with the pale purple necklace. I also chose my thrifted silver cross body bag.

I thought the navy SO ankle boots were a compatible choice with the navy tee, but a pair of caramel or cognac colored books would have worked too and the similar color would elongate the leg.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear a kimono like this anywhere but the house? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’m including a few shopping links. Enjoy shopping and remember these are affiliate links brought to you at no added cost. If you click on a link I get a few cents. I appreciate all your clicks.

I hope you are having a wonderful October. We have had some beautiful days and the leaves have been just gorgeous. I will not be posting next week as we are taking a few days away with our family, but look for more posts on the blog the following week and as usual I will be posting regularly on Instagram and Facebook.

Have a great weekend!

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.

Fall Trends 2022 - My Take: Outfit 2

This week I am focusing on three more fall trends: an oversized button down, cargo pants and a cozy coat. Here in the midwest cozy coat season is not upon us quite yet. In fact, it still feels summery and seeing as summer doesn’t end for a few more weeks, I think these warm temps are around for a while longer. That makes it hard for me to transition to fall outfits. As much as I want to, I am still reaching for my tees and cropped pants, rather than sweatshirts and boots.

For this outfit I started with the cargo pants, then the oversized button down, followed by the tee. I realized as my outfit came together, that it was going to have a monochrome vibe, so I kept my accessories more understated with similar tones. Let’s take a look at each piece separately.

Cargo pants

I found these Sonoma straight leg pants at a thrift store and I liked that they were a lighter weight version of a cargo pant. Like typical cargo pants they have extra pockets on the legs, as well as the normal pockets front and back. These also have full seams on the front of the legs giving them extra texture and interest. In addition these have tabs on the lower leg so you can roll them up and button in place, if you want to use them as more of a crop pant.

Basic tee

My Time and Tru tee is another thrift find. I was looking for a few tees like this that would work as good layering pieces. You can also see my necklace and a little bit of my belt, both of which have black and silver.

Style Tip: A light weight tee or cardi is a great way to add warmth in the cooler weather without adding too much bulk.

Oversized button down

I found this J. Crew button down on the men’s rack at the thrift store. The men’s rack is a great place to look for oversize pieces that have a more masculine flair. I often see gingham patterns in women’s departments, but they are usually larger checks. Sometimes it’s nice to also have a smaller print.

Style tip: Men’s shirts typically have longer sleeves since many men’s arms are longer than women’s. If you are a seamstress just cut the cuff off and make a hem. Otherwise just roll the cuffs once. You still get a cuffed look, but it’s not hanging down past your knuckles.

I added my olive green Sperry’s and a recently thrifted silver cross body bag.

Last but not least my topper.

Cozy coat

I fell in love with this cozy number that I found thrifting last year. Using it in the cold weather, I found it to be quite warm. The brand is Emma James which is an off shoot of Liz Claiborne. It is faux suede and has a faux fur lining throughout.

I think many of us have more than one cold winter coat. I have a wool one that I like to use in the really cold weather, and a real leather jacket that gets used before it gets super cold. This one is great for cold days and lighter weight so a good coat for shopping.

I hope you have enjoyed this post. Let me know what sort of coats you have. Do you wear oversized button downs? Do you wear cargo pants? I love to hear from you, so be sure to leave a comment. I am adding a few shopping links for you to peruse. Every time you click on a link, I get a few pennies. When you make a purchase through one of my links, I get a little more. Thank you for all your support. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Fall Trends for 2022

Once again, the season of fall is just around the corner and the fashion world always has its take on what is new and popular for the season. I am a firm believer that there is nothing new under the sun, whether it be a story plot, a difficulty or a fashion trend. Many of these trends you will already have in your closet. This post might introduce you to something new, or it might give you inspiration to dig out a particular piece and give it new life.

Baggy Jeans

I still love my skinny jeans, but baggy is in and because I love jeans in general I thought I would include this trend. Jeans are no longer just for the working man or woman on a ranch or construction site, now they are spot on for a casual day at home, a work day or even an dressy evening out.

Style Tip: If you want to dress up your jeans think fabrics and accessories. A silky top, heels and few statement pieces of jewelry will take your casual day outfit to night time glam outfit.

Basic White Tanks

I can get on board with this because just about everyone has a white tank top in their closet. This piece is perfect for late summer and early fall layering. Throw a blazer over your white tank and your ready for work, or add a cozy sweater for a casual lunch date look.

Style Tip: When looking for tank tops that are going to serve as actual tops and not just layering pieces choose fabrics that are a little thicker for less show through. Also, if you want more fitted look for ribbed knits; if you want less cling look for flowy fabrics in an a-line silhouettes.

Bomber Jackets

Bomber style jackets are back in force and they don’t just have vintage military vibes. They vary in color, prints and fabrics making them a piece that is accessible to everyone who wants a shorter coat for cool weather days.

Style Tip: Use a lighter weight bomber jacket like a sweater or blazer. Wear it over a blouse for work, or a tee for a casual date night look. Add accessories like metallic or sparkly jewelry, or soft scarves to make this menswear style completely feminine.

Oversized Button Ups:

Many of you already know, I love oversized button up shirts. I have shown you a few of my own over the last few years. I use them as jackets, under sweaters and vests and as tunics over skinny jeans with boots. Oversized is not for everyone, although I think most every body type can pull off an oversized button up by using it as a layering piece or a tunic, or even a short dress for those of you who are more petite. Don’t be afraid to try this trend, you might find you like it.

Style Tips: If you don’t like all that fabric especially if you are slight of frame, try belting the shirt or tying it at the waist. If you are a thrifter, be sure to shop for oversized button ups in the men’s section. That’s where I have found most of mine.

Cozy Coats:

Nothing beats the colder weather like a soft, cozy coat. Whether you like real or faux fur, real or faux shearling, soft wool blends or suede, a warm coat in a pretty color or with fun details can make a blue winter day seem a little less daunting.

Style Tip: When shopping for a coat, be sure you wear layers that you would normally wear under your jacket, or at least keep that in mind when you trying coats on. Sleeves that feel perfect with your polyester blouse may not be as roomy when you have on a chunky knit sweater. The same is true for being able to button or zip the coat. Think ahead to how you will most often wear the piece and what you will wear underneath.

Cargo Pants:

Cargo pants are a great alternative to jeans. I realize not every woman wants pockets on the side of her pants accentuating her thighs, but if you don’t mind those added details, cargos can be another way to a fun casual look. I especially like the jogger styles, because I think they look a little more slimming than the typical canvas or heavy cotton material.

Style Tip: When styling cargo pants try to balance out the extra pockets on your legs with a top with slight shoulder pads or or with pieces that are trim like a fitted tee, or a cropped jacket. Too much material on top begins to make the outfit look less classy and more unkempt.

Vests:

Vests, or in the fashion realm, fitted waistcoats are making a comeback, though I don’t know how much retailers are catching on with this one. Even at thrift stores it is hard to find vests, so hopefully you have a few in the dark recesses of your closet that you can pull out and give the light of day. I like vests for three reasons. The first is that the old fashion waistcoat really makes an outfit look polished and professional, whether you are wearing jeans or a pleather pencil skirt. A vest also adds a layer of warmth in the cooler weather. Finally, vests are a great way to draw in the waist and cover the bumps and bulges without wearing a full on corset (and yes, those are trending this fall as well, but I have chosen to leave those to the younger generation).

Style Tip: While vests look wonderful with trim button up shirts or more fitted sweaters try pairing a vest with an oversized button up for a fun artsy boho look. You can also wear a vest under a blazer for added interest and polish.

Maxi Skirts (and Dresses):

I’m not including any links for maxi dresses since I just showed you two from Closet52 a few weeks ago. Hem lengths really are an anything goes standard, but for the fall the longer, floor length styles are trending again. When it comes to styles these vary as well. One website talked about the Bohemian influence which would include tiered and prairie silhouettes, while another site said a-line and columns are in.

Style Tip: If you are petite you might struggle with finding a maxi skirt that is not too long. Try shopping for skirts that are tea length on other women. Tea length usually falls between the knee and the ankle which will probably be just about right for ladies that are 5’2” or shorter.

Leather (real or faux) jackets:

I have always loved leather jackets. I own a couple that are actual leather and the rest of my stock are fake. Fake leather today, looks just as good as the real thing, but varies from manufacturer to manufacturer as to how durable and long lasting the materials are. I recently went through my jackets and did put a few in the donate pile, mostly because they are more snug than I want these days. My style has also evolved over the last few years and I am more likely to reach for a utility jacket, a cozy sweater or a blazer when I want a light weight jacket or extra layer indoors. However, I still intend to hang onto a few of my more loved pieces.

Style Tip: When shopping for a real or faux leather jacket be sure to find pieces that are made of flexible, soft materials. The stiffer leather will become stiffer with age, unless regularly worn and tended to, and faux leather that is too cheap or stiff will tear away from the under layer.

Additional Trends worth mentioning:

Square Loafers:

Leopard Print:

Just a quick word here. Leopard print is always going to be around, so wear it, flaunt it, carry it and wrap yourself up in it. In addition sturdy tote bags are trending and very useful for work or even travel if you don’t want to pack too many suitcases. I also added the faux fur bag, since fur ( and faux fur) accessories are trending as well.

As always there are many more trends I would love to discuss, but these were the ones I felt we all could get on board with. Maybe you don’t like baggy jeans, but you do like square loafers. Maybe you are a fitted vest kind of girl, and absolutely don’t like oversized button ups. I hope you enjoyed hearing more about these fall trends.

All of the items listed are affiliate links. I get a small amount if you click on a link and a little bit more if you purchase through my site. I appreciate every click and even more appreciate your support for the blog. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these trends. How many of these do you have in your closet?

Next week I hope to show you my take on a few of these trends. Until then have a great week!

Thinking About Fall - What's Trending for 2021

I like to share with you some of the new trends for each season after I’ve done a little online research. I typically go to websites like Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and WhoWhatWear to see what the fashion world deems important for us to know. Believe me, I am not a huge trend follower, but I do like to see what’s going on out there. Many trends continue from one season to the next, and we often find trends come and go, then come back again. I have gotten into the habit of telling people, don’t throw things away that no longer seem trendy, because they will come back around. As long as you enjoy a trend and can still fit into it, there is no reason to give it up, just because the fashion gurus say it is no longer trending.

Image by suju-foto from Pixabay

Today’s post will cover a few of the trends I could easily get on board with. Some of these trends I already have in my closet and a few I might write on my thrift shopping list to look for the next time I go to a second hand store. I am including a variety of shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no additional cost. If you click on a link I get a few cents. I appreciate all your clicks.

Sweater Vests

These core layering pieces have been slowly making a comeback with a bit of a surge last winter spring. They are now on the radar for fall. I am glad. I like a classic sweater vest and think they can add so much to an outfit. Besides just adding a layer of warmth around your middle, they add texture and interest to any outfit from casual jeans and sneakers, to a shapely pencil skirt and heels.

Chunky Knits

Going along with the trend towards knit vests, there is the trend towards chunky, oversized knits. This would include pants, skirts, dresses and the like, but I know many of my followers would not be caught dead in a sweater dress or pants, so I am just including links for pullovers and cardigans. Some of the runway trends lean toward knits on steroids, which is definitely not me, so I will not be sharing those.

Fair Isle Sweaters

Another knit trend that is coming in popular this fall is the “Snow Bunny” trend or Fair Isle sweaters. This recognizable knit was popularized by the royal family in England in the 1920’s when Edward VIII wore his in public. Originally hand made on the island of Fair Isle, a somewhat isolated community north of Scotland, the original knit patterns donned wool hats and sweaters on fisherman, to keep them warm. See the article, History of the Fair Isle Sweater, for more information. While true Fair Isle sweaters are wool or at least partially wool, I’ve included some links for a few that are less itchy for those of us who can’t handle the wool.

Sequins and Sparkles

A girl can never have enough bling in my opinion, so when I saw sequins and sparkles on the trend radar, I thought how fun that can be. Whether you add it in big doses like a skirt, dress or top, or you add just a touch with a small clutch or the pocket on a tee, bling is a great way to jazz up an otherwise casual look.

Leopard Print and Faux Fur Coats

Leopard print is still trending and while the focus is on coats, don’t get rid of those leopard booties, sweaters and bags. I am on the prowl for a fuzzy faux fur coat this year, so I am going to put that on my Christmas list. I just found a leopard print, longer sweater while thrifting, so I will probably ask for my faux fur in a solid color.

The last two trends I want to look at I am going to include shopping links for accessories. I think these two trends are already in many of our closets, so I thought it would be fun to see what there is in the way of bags, shoes and other outfit add ons.

Quilted and Padded Textures

Most of us have a jacket, a longer coat, or at least a vest that has that puffer like quality. I have a number of vests, and a thrifted black coat that I use regularly in the winter. The quilted texture is a fun add on, especially in late fall and winter, when the temperatures plummet.

Highly Saturated Colors

I think most of us who are on the color wagon have multiple things in our wardrobes that fit into this category. Colors like fuchsia, violet, emerald green, royal blue, and bold orange come to mind when we think of saturated colors. Many people do not like deep, bright colors like these, but if you add just a pop here or there in the form of a pair of shoes, a scarf or some beads, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed by them.

I hope you enjoyed this look at some of this fall’s trends and that you will take a few minutes to stop and shop. Maybe there was something in today’s post, that you thought, “That is just what I was look for to fill that hole in my wardrobe.” Let me know which of these trends you already have in your closet and which one you are going to invest in.

Until next time, have a great day!

Oh, Olive! Utility Vest - Casual

Another olive work horse in my closet is this utility vest. I have a number of vests. My fuzzy and quilted ones are great for fall and winter, while a vest like this, that is lighter weight, is perfect for spring, summer and into fall. I have been focusing on these olive pieces as the perfect neutral add on for a variety of outfits. I have been styling both casual and workwear looks, so that you have more to think about.

This olive, Mudd brand, vest was a clearance find a few seasons back from Kohl’s. I was paying attention when olive was becoming popular as the new neutral, so I snatched this up. That, and I love vests. They are a great way to add warmth, interest and texture to an outfit. I made my outfit extra colorful, but you could easily tone a look like this down by going for monochrome layers topped by the vest. A black maxi dress, a tan tee and capris or a navy top and denim skirt would look fabulous topped by an olive vest like this. Let me know if you would like to see me style a few monochrome looks with this vest or the jacket from last week.

Fall Trend Alert - Florals

Florals are still in. Harper’s Bazaar listed florals in Finding Patterns on their fall list, and WhoWhatWear called theirs Charming Chinz. However, you label it, it seems that florals are holding their own as a print that is here to stay.

My Bandolino floral jeans are thrifted. They definitely brighten up any summer outfit. I love the floral print and the raw hem on the bottom. It also helps that they have some stretch and are very comfy.

My textured tee is a thrifted Simply Vera, Vera Wang. I love the textured floral print and thought the color and print went perfectly with my pants. You can also see here, I added the long bead and fringe pendant necklace and a few freshwater pearl bracelets in similar colors for an added party vibe. I did the front tuck with the tee and added a gold belt.

Wearing my olive Sperry’s again. These have become a favorite in my summer show wardrobe. I grabbed these instead of the white Steve Madden’s, because I like how the olive on top and on the bottom made the whole look more unified. You could wear any color with this outfit, like my blue Converse or my tan Keds.

Fall Trend Alert - Blush

Bright colors are definitely in for fall, but so are pastels. It seems any more that you really can wear whatever you want and at least a few things in your closet will be on trend.

I didn’t plan it this way, but it seems, most of my outfit has some sort of floral theme. It’s funny when it works out that way. This pretty blush bag was a gift from my younger daughter. Both my girls give me wonderful presents and they are very good at knowing my tastes.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like the combination of olive with blue? Do you like florals and will you be wearing them this fall? I’d love to hear you thoughts. I’m sorry that I have gotten a little bit behind in responding to your comments, but I promise, I will respond. I appreciate your input.

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!

Oh, Olive! Utility Jacket - Workwear Look

Depending on where you work, you might be able to be in your sweats or pj’s. So many people have been working at home through the Covid pandemic, that people have gotten rid of many of their business style pieces since they really have no need for them. However, many places have opened back up and have called people back into the office. When I was working as an assistant manager at a university bookstore, I could wear my jeans to work, and very often did, but I could also wear skirts or dresses if I chose to do that. Usually, when we talk about workwear style, we are talking about a business or business casual type of outfit consisting of blouses, nice pants, blazers and other similar pieces. We do have a more casual type of style that has moved into the work place in many business realms, allowing their employees to have more flexibility and comfort. I would say today’s look tends towards business casual due to the utility jacket and the tennis shoes, and I would have been perfectly comfortable wearing this to my previous job.

As I told you in Tuesday’s post, I am featuring the olive utility jacket as my olive piece. This is St. John’s Bay brand from JCPenney. This jacket is roomy, so I can wear multiple layers underneath if I want to use it in the cooler weather. Right now, it is a great piece for overly air conditioned restaurants, retail spaces and business offices. This piece also has adjustable tabs at the sides to make it more fitted, as well as a double front closure which includes a full zipper and buttons.

Fall Trend Alert - Lavender

Certain colors are always trending for each of the major seasons and fall is no exception. Surprisingly, rather than the typical fall hues of orange, brown or yellow, we are seeing pastels like lavender and blush. I’ll cover blush next week, but for today lavender is my color of choice. My thrifted eyelet top is Old Navy brand. I love this light weight piece.

You’ve seen my polka dot skirt on the blog before. Amazingly with my weight gain and redistribution (aka spare tires), I can still get it on. Ha ha. This older thrifted piece is a brand called Outback Red. It is a great piece for any warmer weather season, spring, summer or fall. Not a full length maxi skirt, it is more of a tea length. Another plus, it has pockets.

I kept my accessories pretty low key, except my layered necklace is fairly blingy. I added a few bracelets, my white cross body bag again and my Steve Madden sneakers that I got recently at DSW.

Do you like this outfit? What would you wear to the office? Let me know what you think.

I hope you enjoyed this look. I’m including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great rest of your week!

Flat Lays in the Flesh - Dark Florals

For those of you just joining me on the blog, I am doing a short series based on the Fall Trends 2019 flat lays that I did back in September. You can see those original posts by clicking on the links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4. I’ve been discussing how a flat lay can present how an outfit might look, but only from a more two dimensional view. Actually putting a person into the outfit is three dimensional and helps you see how the pieces go together and fit on the human body. In this case it is my human body, with all of its lovely flaws. Ha, ha

Photo credit Amy Christensen

This week’s outfit was based on the dark floral trend which was prominent this fall. Dark florals are moody, mysterious and melodramatic and that is why I like them. Dark florals want to be noticed, but are just as happy being partially hidden under a jacket, sweater or blazer. So what does this flat lay look like in the flesh?

This teal floral bomber jacket was a late summer purchase from National an online women’s clothing retailer, that I did a sponsored post for back in May. You can see that original post here. After working with National, I regularly received their catalogues and had my eye on this fun jacket. I was able to purchase it at a good discount, so ordered it straight away. The jacket is fully lined, has soft banding around the neck, sleeves and bottom and a durable metal zipper that is easy to zip.

This thrifted Jeans by Buffalo floral tee goes perfectly with the color of the bomber jacket. You can see the same teal color in the top and they look like they were meant to be together. Here is a picture of the top without the jacket, just so you get an idea of the shape. I like the longer tunic length hi-low hem and the a-line cut of this top.

The pattern on the top is only on the front. The back and sleeves are a simple, basic black. I’ve been thinking of pairing this with a black button up or a turtleneck so I can have the warmer layers without covering up the pretty print. I think I’d also like to try this with white jeans and a red jacket. What do you think? The colors in the shirt make me think of Christmas, so this might be a good top to wear throughout the holiday season.

These Rock and Republic jeans from Kohl’s have a good deal of stretch, otherwise I would never fit into them. Ha, ha. I like the bling and the distressing and I figure as long as my bum is covered I can still wear these because they are very comfy, even though they are tight.

My tall black boots were a clearance find at DSW. Don’t you love the clearance racks? They are definitely worth checking out from time to time at any store you may shop at. i love the detailing on these and the bright red zipper casement along the back. Sorry about the cheeky bum!

I went with red for my other accessories, and even though the necklace doesn’t make a bold statement, I like the way the gold chain and charms give added texture to the top.

Do you think this flat lay worked in the flesh? What about it do you like? What don’t you like? I appreciate all your input and your support.

I’m including a few shopping links for some dark florals. Remember Christmas is right around the corner and shopping from home is so easy. Ha, ha. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit, unless specified, Rebecca Trumbull.

Flat Lays in the Flesh - Animal Print

On Thanksgiving I will be starting a holiday series that I think you might find inspirational and interesting. That is all I am saying about that right now, just to whet your appetites. Until then I thought it might be fun to revisit a few of the Fall Trends 2019 that I talked about through the medium of flat lays. If you don’t know what a flat lay is, it is simply a way to show an outfit by laying out the pieces on a flat surface, rather than showing them on a person. I find so many flat lays look amazing, but I am always left wondering, what does the outfit look like on an actual person. I hope you don’t find this too repetitive, but I decided to take four of the flat lays I did for my Fall Trends 2019 series and show you what they look like, in the flesh. Let’s get started.

This first outfit features a snakeskin jacket that I found thrifting last spring. This was the flat lay from the original post, which focused on the fall trend of animal prints.

Photo by Amy D. Christensen

This is what the outfit looks like in the flesh.

It was only about 10 degrees outside and as much as I like to play the tough chick, I decided, forget that nonsense, so my daughter/photographer turned her spare bedroom into a studio. She is so good at being flexible and working with what we have. She does such a great job with natural light. There was no flash in any of these pictures.

This Liz Claiborne snakeskin jacket has a little bit of stretch to it, making it very easy to move in. I paired it with a thrifted Banana Republic sweater for this outfit, but you could easily swap in other pieces like a button up blouse, a graphic tee or a lighter weight turtleneck for all manner of stylish vibes. A jacket like this is a work horse in your wardrobe and can be dressed up with a skirt or dress and heels; or dressed down with distressed jeans and sneakers.

I went for a work wear look, pairing the sweater and jacket with my Gloria Vanderbilt cargo skinnies and my Impo wedge ankle boots.

I chose the yellow tote bag to enhance the sunshiny vibe of the outfit, making this a good combination for a cloudy, fall day. This was another thrifted piece.

I thought layering a few fun necklaces would make for an added statement. In the original flat lay I only had the shorter necklace, but just recently I found the long pendant necklace at JCPenney on the clearance rack. They don’t match, but I think the combination works well against the yellow back drop.

Do you think this flat lay turned out to be a good outfit? Do these pieces work well together? Why or why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

I’m leaving you with a few shopping links for fun animal print pieces. Remember Christmas is coming soon and there might be a person or two on your list, who would love an animal print piece. 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 few more pennies. Ha, ha. I appreciate every penny I get.

Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by the blog.

Photo credit (unless otherwise stated) Rebecca Trumbull.

Why Bother Being Trendy?

As most of you, who subscribe to my blog, know, I just finished a series on Fall Trends 2019. In addition to some of my faves which included, head to toe green, layering knits, dark florals, animal prints and a few others, there were other trends like wide shoulders, suiting, cinched waist coats and more. You might be asking yourself, why even bother with trends? Why not just wear the things I like to wear and if they aren’t trendy who cares? That is a legitimate question and one I would like to answer with a few points.

1 - Growth

Let’s face it, as we age it is very easy to become complacent and set in our ways. Change is harder and harder to wrap our heads around, therefore, we often choose to not do it. Coming from a family with a history of dementia, I am try to do things that actively use my brain. Reading, doing puzzles, learning new things all help to stave off some of the early symptoms of memory loss. While we don’t have a cure for memory issues at this point, it has been scientifically proven that keeping our brains active does help.

Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay

What does that have to do with being trendy? If you begin to take an interest in the seasonal trends you start to do research. You might begin by looking at the trends on the internet for the current or upcoming season. You might also read one of the many fashion magazines on the shelves at Barnes and Noble or multiple grocery and department stores.

Once you’ve done research you begin to comb your closet to see what you have that might fit with some of the seasonal trends. You would be surprised how many of these things keep coming around, again and again. There are only so many things you can do with clothing.

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Putting together an outfit that includes some of the current trends can help you to grow your style persona and keep your brain healthy and sharp.

2 - Breaking the Bubble

Once in a while it is good to get outside our bubble. It is okay to feel uncomfortable on occasion. Something I have noticed in our world today, especially in our technology driven society, people do not like to be uncomfortable. If they are ill, they want an instant fix. If they feel pain, they want drugs. Mind you, it is reasonable to go to the doctor if you are having ongoing symptoms that aren’t resolving. It is also reasonable to take aspirin when you have a headache.

When it comes to fashion and what we wear, we most often go for what makes us feel comfortable, whether it be a favorite pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, or a soft pair of pj pants. However, if we always chose to only do what we are comfortable with, then will never get to wear those cute boots, or that pencil skirt, or that faux fur coat.

Let me give you an example from the Fall Trends 2019 series that I just finished. I would have never thought to layer a big bulky sweatshirt under a cozy cardigan and then pair it with a bright pair of leggings. I have never been a leggings wearer, but after seeing that outfit as a flat lay in my series, I can hardly wait until it gets cold enough to give it a try. What is the worst thing that could happen? My husband will call me a “walking pile of laundry” and I’ll nod my head in agreement, but at least I will be warm and trendy. Ha, ha.

3 - Be the Example

I feel that we are living in a time where there are fewer and fewer good examples in the world, especially when it comes to how to dress modestly in the fashion arena. I am not going to launch into a rant about how I feel it is mandatory to dress modestly as a Christian woman, or even how it would be beneficial for all women to dress in a more modest way. What I am going to focus on is our role as older women to be leaders for younger women to look up to.

There are a slew of young women out there in the entertainment industry that are being examples to our daughters, grand daughters and so on. The question that needs to be asked is, are they good examples? Do these young women value life? Do they value love? Do they value dignity, honor and respect? Do they value men? Do they even value themselves? How do they treat others both in their actions and in their speech?

By adapting to a few of the trends we can show other women that we can be both fashionable and modern in our thinking and the way we dress, and we can possibly open a door for younger women to look to us, as people they might want to, not only dress like, but be like.

Next time you start to think, I don’t care about the trends, think twice. Maybe you could become a trend setter, not just a trend follower.

Fall Trends 2019 - Part 4

I’ve been looking at various Fall Trends the last few weeks. There are so many fun fashion ideas out there and I wanted to let you know what a few of my favorites are. So far we have looked at Head to Toe Green and Metallics, Romance Gone Goth and Layering Knits, Head to Toe Prints and Dark Florals. You can see the original posts by clicking on the links.

Today we are going to look at two more trends that I like. The first is relatively easy for most women to tap into, because most of us have at least one animal print in our closet. Whether you have a leopard print skirt, a snakeskin bag, a zebra top or a giraffe sweater, all animal prints are in. If you don’t have any type of animal print, be sure to check out thrift stores before you head to the mall. I have seen plenty of animal print items in various places like Goodwill and Salvation Army stores and they are so much cheaper.

Trend 7 - Animal Prints

Since you have seen me wear leopard print in the the form of a skirt and a sweater, I thought I would show off my recently acquired snakeskin jacket. I found this brown and white Liz Claiborne print while I was thrifting.

This is a great piece for right now, as it is unlined. As the weather gets cooler, I will reach more for my lined jackets, but this will work well for work or just if I am running errands and need a light weight piece. I decided to pair the jacket with a thrifted, yellow, Banana Republic sweater.

I think yellow looks really good with this earthy brown. Since I was going for a more earth toned looked, I decided to pair the jacket and sweater with my olive, cargo, Gloria Vanderbilt, skinny pants. Cargo and utility looks are still on the radar for this fall, so pull out your utility jackets and cargo pants.

Gray seemed to be a good choice for boots with this outfit I love this dark Impo brand with the low wedge heel. The chains on the side make for a fun detail.

To go along with the yellow sweater, I added a yellow tote. I think the print mixing works well and the yellow pulls the whole look together.

I am going to try this outfit on and see how it looks. If I like it, I’ll probably wear it to work and I’ll post a picture on Instagram.

This next trend, is not something I typically would wear, but finding the right piece at a thrift store suddenly made this feel feasible.

Trend 8 - Capes

Probably most of you when you hear the word cape think ,either of a super hero donning blue spanx, or a dark figure drawing you in with his devilish eyes to have your blood for a night cap. While those individuals certainly did wear capes, and might even be said to be stylish, wearing a cape this fall is trendy.

Capes on the run way are leather trimmed, worn with trench coat flair and made of cashmere. Of course capes are not limited to what the big wigs in New York think. Capes can be made of many different fabrics and like the one I found at a thrift store, can be beautifully crafted pieces knitted or crocheted.

When I saw this sunny yellow cape, I knew I had to try it on. The American Cancer Society thrift store I frequent is just up the road and they always have something that I have to have. This was one of those pieces. Lucky me, they were having a sale that day, so I got this for an even better price. This looks like it was hand made as there are no brand tags or washing instructions inside.

You can see the symmetrical pattern of the knit and the pretty gold buttons. Sometimes a cape will only have one closure at the top, but I like the fact that this one buttons all the way to the bottom. I also love the fringe. I really speaks to my inner hippy and reminds me of the ponchos I used to wear as a girl.

I paired this with a recently thrifted Divided H & M yellow plaid top. Yellow is definitely a new muse for me and I have accumulated quite a collection, more of which you will see in the coming weeks, both here and on IG. The top has just a hint of pink in it, so that is why I went for the blush boots and pink cross body clutch. The boots are SO brand on clearance at Kohl’s and the cross body bag was a clearance find at Meijer.

I thought jeans would be the perfect bottoms for this outfit. These dark wash, boot cut jeans are Rock & Republic brand and are from Kohl’s.

What did you think of these two fall trends? Do you like to wear animal prints? What kind do you have in your closet? Do you own a cape? I don’t know that a lot of people have one, and it may not be a trend that catches on, but it is fun to see what options are out there and how things are being worn.

For more info on these and other fall trends for 2019 check out these websites.

Marie Claire - 10 Fall Trends Everyone Will Be Talking About

Popsugar - The 9 Most Wearable Trends for Fall

Elite Daily - These Fall 2019 Fashion Trends….

There are plenty more. Just type in Fall 2019 Trends and numerous sites will pop up. I hope you enjoyed this look at some of the fun trends for this fall. Enjoy creating your outfits!

Fall Trends - 2019 - Part 3

Here we are looking at two more fall trends for 2019. Depending on who you look to for the latest info on the trends, there is some overlap. However, not all trends are the same according to all the fashion gurus. Who What Wear has a different list from Marie Claire who has a different list from Vogue and so on. When I put together my list of trends, I am taking from a few different sources and presenting you the ones I like and find interesting and plausible for us real women. Remember most trends that you see on the runways are geared toward younger women who have the stature of a fashion model, so very tall and thin. That does not mean that we cannot wear a particular trend, but pick the ones that are right for you.

Trend 5 - Head to Toe Prints

This is not a particularly new trend, but it presents itself in a bolder more, out there way. Pattern mixing has become quite common, but now the patterns are brighter and bigger. Here are some examples from a Pinterest page I discovered. I decided to go more conservative, because I was grooving on the earth tones of browns and blues. This is what I came up with.

Obviously the old time suiting that women, and men, used to wear would fall easily into this trend category. A matching plaid blazer and pants along with a bold print top and you would be stylin’ with the best of them. The thing I like about this trend is the challenge of creating a printed outfit that I would actually wear and that looks palatable to the eye, not obnoxious. Some of the outfits on that Pinterest page I would classify as obnoxious, but that is only my opinion.

I found these paisley corduroys while thrifting last spring and unfortunately won’t be able to wear them, until I get back to my lighter spring weight. Ugg. However, I loved the pattern and the heavier weight for fall and winter. They are a brand called Havana Jack’s Cafe. Do you ever wonder where they come up with the names for things?

The blue in the pants made me reach for my Chaps knit vest and my thrifted polka dot SO button up. I found the fun necklace at a second hand store and thought it would be a good addition to the outfit.

Blue seemed to be my color of choice for bag and shoes. Everything in this outfit came from my closet and has been used on the blog before. You can see the vest here and here. The pants have not. but I already explained that problem. Ha, ha.

Trend 6 - Dark Florals

I have really taken a liking to floral prints. I like the bright bold colors of spring, the soft pastel prints of summer and especially the dark floras of fall and winter. It would seem that florals are here to stay and I am glad.

I found this dark floral Jeans by Buffalo top while thrifting. I love the colors and when I went to put this flat lay together, I realized this erin london bomber jacket from Shop National would be the perfect over piece. It goes well with the green in the top and has its own floral print.

These distressed, embellished skinny jeans are Rock & Republic from Kohl’s, and I’ve had them for a while. Once again, I have grown out of them, but I refuse to get rid of them. Ha, ha.

Since the top contains some red, I chose red for my accessories, including my tall, black, studded boots that have red detailing along the zipper on the back.

This is definitely an outfit I would wear on a regular basis. The pretty florals, the layers and the skinny jeans with boots will be a regular rotation as the weather cools.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Next Tuesday I will bring you one more post on fall trends and then I hope to start my Pantone Fall 2019 - New York series.

Thanks for following and please join me next time.

Fall Trends - 2019 - Part 2

If you missed last Thursday’s post, I’ve started a short series on Fall 2019 Trends. Every season the runways are filled with with new colors and trends. This fall the trends include things we are familiar with like animal prints and metallic sheens to rebooted trends like patchwork, tiny bags and shoulder pads. I encourage you to pick and choose the ones that you feel most comfortable with and maybe go for one that pushes you a little outside your comfort zone.

The next trend I am featuring would, perhaps, be the one that would be a little outside my comfort zone, but one that I felt I could easily adapt to with pieces I already had in my closet.

Trend 3 - Romance Gone Goth

If you want to see the original looks from the runway click on this article by Who What Where titled These are the 9 Biggest Fall 2019 Trends, Period. Of course that is a matter of opinion. Ha, ha. I changed the name to Goth rather than Grunge, because if you do your research, Goth is head to toe black with lace, leather and more form fitting wear. Grunge is more about torn jeans, flannel shirts, Doc Martens, and while black is a common grunge color, other dark colors like maroon, forest green and indigo are also common.

My version is a lot less revealing and personifies me. My outfit is, also, not true Goth, because it has color. It is also not really Grunge either. Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Do your research.

For this look I chose three pieces that I would term romantic. This short sleeve ruffled top was thrifted and is Loft brand. The sheer blouse that I put underneath was my way to add another fall trend, that of dark florals, as well as add, just a touch of color. This is a brand called Kensie. I also thought the wide belt and the cross choker added a touch of metal that is often associate with Goth outfits.

These Apt. 9, faux lace pants I’ve worn before on the blog, You can see them styled with a multi-print tunic, and with a shimmery taupe top. Lace is another fabric or pattern that we often associate with romance, so it seemed appropriate to use them for this Romance Gone Goth outfit.

My black, Seven Dials, combat boots seemed the perfect choice for this faux Goth look. True Goth would not have any brightly colored patches.

The bag is totally not Goth, but I thought it went nicely with the green in the floral under-top.

Trend 4 - Layering Knits

I think this is a fun one, although not for everyone. Most women our age are in the throes of menopause and the last thing you want to do is start wearing layers of heavy knits, but for those of you who are typically cold most of the time in the winter months, this trend is for you.

I love the way this outfit turned out in the flat lay and I may actually put this on when it gets colder and see how it looks. I am not a big leggings fan, but this just looks so fun, I may have to do it…yes, getting outside my comfort zone again.

The sweater was a clearance find at Christopher and Banks. I love the lace up detail on the lower sides. This sweater has an open front with no closures and falls right about mid to lower thigh. It is a medium weight, so good for pairing over this thrifted over-sized Merona sweat shirt.

Isn’t Mr. Bear, just the cutest guy ever? He’s styling that cable knit sweater and I’m sure he’s heading right into his cozy hole to sleep for a good long while. He looks so happy. Believe me, I’d be happy too, if I knew when winter was on its way, I could go into a cozy hole and just sleep until spring arrived. Ha, ha.

These leggings are Lu La Roe and my daughter gave them to me. I have been waiting on the perfect outfit to pair these with and I think this just may be it. Because I opted for these leggings I decided to wear a recently thrifted pair of boots, high lighting the lighter yellows and tans in the leggings and sweatshirt. These boots are a brand called Rock & Candy by Zigi. While this is a brand I had never heard of before, it appears that they are available at places like Nordstrom Rack, Famous Footwear and Shoe Carnival.

Since the outfit already has a lot going on I went for a simple green clutch.

I added the scarf as an after thought as a way to tie the whole outfit together.

What do you think of these two fall trends? Would you do Romance Gone Goth, or Layering Knits? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments.

I hope your week is off to a great start. Thursday, I’ll give you another peek at two more Fall 2019 trends.

If you know anyone you think might like my blog, pass along the word. If you are not already a subscriber it’s easy to sign up by clicking on the subscribe button. Once a week you’ll receive an email from me letting you know there is new content on the blog. If you are a regular subscriber, hugs all around. You are why I write this blog. I’d also love for you to give me any feedback regarding other things you would like to see on the blog. Right now, I limit it to fashion, faith and occasional travel and lifestyle content, but I am open to other things as well.

Have a great day.

Girls' Night Out - Eden Fashion Boutique

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Picture from my cell phone.

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

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

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

These were a few of the things I tried on.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Outfit Inspiration - Plaid Trousers with Green

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Ordinary Amy - Bootcut Jeans and Leopard Print

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great weekend.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Ordinary Amy: Blush Moto Jacket

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pantone Fall 2017 - The New York Palette - Autumn Maple and Shaded Spruce

Believe it or not, this is the final installment in my Pantone Fall 2017 Series. Next week I'll do a recap of all the colors on both the London and New York palettes. After that I'll be starting a new series on camouflaging those problem areas, so keep coming back!

Originally I was going to pair the rusty orange called Autumn Maple with one of the blues, but after mulling it over,  thought what could be a better fall combination. mimicking nature, than orange and green; the very colors we see combined on the trees as they go through their metamorphosis. One of my favorite fall scenes is to see the dark green of pine surrounded by the bright oranges and reds of the changing leaf landscape. It is for that reason I combined Autumn Maple and Shaded Spruce in this rather bohemian outfit for today's post. 

You've seen several of the pieces in this outfit before. I wore the tiered skirt here and the black vest here and here. I also used the bag in this post here. i like to show you that you don't always have to go out and buy new clothes, even though that is way more fun! You can shop you closet and find new ways to reinvent a piece you already have. 

Though this skirt is not a solid color, orange is really what you see when you look at it. I thought it was the perfect companion piece for my Shaded Spruce Sonoma popover top. 

Here you can see some of the pretty perforated detailing on the top. I added a brown belt and lots of necklaces. The belt is velvet. I like a belt with this type of outfit as I feel it adds a touch of class to a more casual look. I tried my hand at the multiple necklace look. Did I pull it off, or do you think it looks to chaotic? I have mixed feelings. I also grabbed my berry fringe drawstring bag. I like this additional pop of color. What do you think?

I topped the whole outfit with the quilted black vest, and my black ankle boots. I think this pulled the outfit together and broke up the differing color scheme. 

I hope you enjoyed this series on the Pantone Fall 2017 colors. Next week, I'll have a recap of all the outfits from this series. 

Check back Thursday for another Fun Fall Look.

Below are a few shopping links in case you are looking for Shaded Spruce or Autumn Maple. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Fun Fall Look - Plaid Poncho

Plaid is all the rage this fall, so when I found this plaid poncho at Charming Charlie, I thought it would be a great addition to my wardrobe. Poncho's are a fun piece that add a layer of warm and an interesting look to many outfits. I have a crocheted poncho which I have styled on the blog before. You can see that post here. While that poncho is more for summer and warm wether, this piece I am styling for you today is perfect for fall and winter. 

Purple, being one of my favorite colors, I was thrilled to find this poncho. Not long after when I was thrifting with my older daughter, i found this purple pair of jeans. The jeans are really long and will look great with heels, but for this outfit, I rolled the pant legs up and wore my purple velvet kitten heels.

A poncho like this can be worn like a light weight jacket or when the weather gets colder it can be used like a blazer or sweater as an over piece for warmth and interest. I am wearing the poncho the traditional way with the point going down the front and back, but the poncho could be turned so that the points go toward the wrists for more of a rectangular appearance. I forgot to take a picture of it that way. 

For my outfit I am wearing the poncho as a layering piece over a light lavender cowl neck sweater.

Wearing the poncho as a layering piece means I have the extra warmth if I want it. I simply pull the necklace outside the poncho to make it look like a finished outfit. 

You can also see I added a few bracelets and a simple gray clutch.

Do you have a poncho? How do you like to wear yours? I've added a few shopping links if you are interested in getting one for yourself. There are a number of styles and colors. 

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

Thank you for stopping by the blog. Have a great weekend!