My Style: Getting Dressed Up - Black Cardigan and Leopard Print Skirt

Today’s outfit pictures were actually taken a month ago. I was going to do an Instagram post where I copied someone else’s style. Unfortunately, I never got around to making that post, so I thought, why not use it for this week’s Fashion post on the blog.

I rarely get dressed up anymore, and this outfit was only put together for the IG challenge that I was going to do. I never actually wore this anywhere. However, if I had a reason to dress up and look fancy this would definitely work. Here’s the original inspiration. Zilla is a beautiful Instagram gal who posts from Australia. I love her classic, chic style. This is the outfit I came up with to mimic her style and still stay true to myself.

I decided to use a 3/4 sleeve black cardigan for my top that I have posted on the blog before. This has been in my closet for a number of years and still gets occasional wear. I typically use it as a topper rather than an actual top, but I wanted something that would look classy and still cover my muffin top, and was a tad bit warmer for the changing season. This is Croft & Barrow brand and was originally from Kohl’s. Here is a similar version from Kohl’s. There is also this version, and this one.

Style Tip: If you are ever looking for a specific piece and don’t know where to look just go to your browser and type in what clothing item you want to search for and it will bring up numerous options that you can then navigate to for specifics on store, sizing and pricing. Easy, peasy.

I got this fully lined skirt this past summer while thrifting and I think it was the perfect alternative to polka dots for this outfit. I had been looking for a long pleated skirt and when I found this print in a neutral and white color I knew I could use it all year round. I hope to do a future post on this skirt with knee high boots, and a comfy, oversized grandpa cardigan or a pullover sweater in a similar neutral color or in a dark brown. Check back for that. Here is a solid neutral from Walmart, a berry color from Kohl’s that would be pretty for the upcoming holiday season, a floral print from Nordstrom Rack, and this gorgeous plus size version from Woman Within.

I decided to keep my feet more neutral to elongate the lower half of my body and match the print of the skirt. I have had these Sonoma suede, block heeled booties for years. Sorry for the crummy pics. Ha, ha. You can see how I styled them for another fall outfit here.

Style Tip: If you can find, or afford good leather or suede boots, shoes or bags they are worth the investment. They last forever, and wear well, especially if you use suede spray or keep your leather polished. Clean them as best you can after they have been out in the elements and they will keep giving back for a lifetime.

In keeping with Zilla’s copy of the original outfit, I layered a couple of my pearl and faux pearl necklaces, and added a faux pearl and gold layered bracelet.

To dress things up just a smidge more I opted for my grayish black sparkly clutch. I always think sparkles snazz things up a little more, and for some reason, to me a clutch is more dressy than a hobo bag.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you think I did a good job taking inspiration from Zilla’s post, but still kept it my own? Do you have pieces in your closet that you could do a similar look with? I always love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments.

I have included some shopping links for you to look over. I hope you have a great week!

Hugs!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2026: Green Envy, Foxglove, and Candied Ginger

Happy first day of fall! It looks and feels like an autumn day with clouds, wind and a chill in the air. If you hop on over to my Instagram account you’ll see I pulled out one of my favorite flannel button downs and am wearing it as a shacket, which is perfect for today’s temps.

Today on the blog I am featuring another trio of Pantone colors from the Autumn/ Winter New York Palette. Today’s colors are Green Envy, a darker yellow green than our early feature of Acacia; Foxglove, a pretty pinky purple that falls in the mauve category; and Candied Ginger, a soft neutral medium tan. You can see the original Pantone colors here.

Once again let me say my pieces do not match the colors exactly. My jacket is a darker green, and my pants are definitely lighter. My bag and boots are probably a little closer to the actual colors. Again, this is just for fun, to try different color combinations by shopping the clothes we already have in our closets.

I thrifted this Fieldgear suede jacket years ago. I have thought about getting rid of it, but it is really a well made piece and a pretty color so I keep it around and wear it once in a while. I use it more like a blazer than an actual jacket, although for this in between wear it is a nice weight. Here’s a cute wrap jacket from Old Navy; here’s a pretty option from Shein; and Walmart has this short blazer option.

I really struggled with finding a piece in my closet that was close to the Foxglove color. Everything was either too pink or too purple. However, I finally came upon this tee in my tee pile and had to change the whole look to work around it, but I really wanted this color to stand out. This is Pink Republic brand and I got it a few years ago at Kohl’s. Here are a few solid versions from Life is Good, LLBean, and Gap.

Originally I had a leopard print pleated skirt picked out for this post whose spots matched the Candied Ginger color perfectly, but as I mentioned above, I had to switch things out when I picked the tee. I chose this pair of Croft & Barrow pants that I bought from Kohl’s a few years ago. They definitely have a tan or beige vibe, but they look almost cream or white in these pictures. Oh well! Here is a pair from Land’s End; Old Navy; Maurice’s; and JCPenney.

I chose this leather ILI NY bag because it was a similar color. This is a great bag. I prefer a cross body shoulder bag so when I am out I can be hands free. To me it just seems more secure. This one also has a number of extra pockets. I would give you a few shopping links for bags this color, but they all top out at around $100. If you are interested in an odd colored bag like this be sure to check out the thrift stores.

I decided to wear this layered bead and antler necklace. I thought it was a good way to bring in the tan of the pants and the boots. Plus I thought it did a good job of grabbing attention against the stripes of the tee. I can’t remember where I got this, but it is a fun piece.

I have had these Sonoma boots for a long time. Made of real suede and leather with a block heel I keep them around as a way to dress up a pair of jeans in the cool weather. I don’t wear heels at all any more, but an occasional date with these stacked heels works well. Here is a page of options from DSW.

What do you think of these colors? Do you have any of these in your closet? What other colors do you think would look good with Foxglove or Green Envy? I always love to get your feed back so be sure to leave a comment or two. I appreciate it.

Shopping links are included for you. I do not make any money off of these links and they are offered to you at no cost unless, of course, your purchase something. Ha, ha.

I hope you are having a fabulous week!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2026: Red Mahogany, Burnt Olive and Egret

Happy September, everyone! It has been a very long time since I have been regularly posting on the blog, and I hope starting this Pantone series for fall will be the catalyst to bringing this little blog back to life and bringing me back to the things I am most passionate about: fashion, faith and writing. I will be sharing more on my Faith page on the difficulty we have had over the last six months, so if you are interested you can visit there later this week. I hope to get back to my regular posting schedule of Fashion on Tuesdays, Faith on Thursdays and perhaps an occasional post on a different day of the week when time and energy allows.

While access to the Pantone Fashion Week colors seems to be getting harder and harder to find, I was able to find a link to the original article so you can see those colors by clicking on the link here. These fall colors are interesting, and I will be the first to admit that I rather like these bright colorful hues and noticed a few that remind me of colors I like to wear in the fall and winter like Arabian Spice, Red Mahogany, Toffee, and Poseidon.

You will see that most of the looks in this series try to incorporate transitional pieces. For those of us who live in the midwest, the transition from summer to fall often means cool mornings and evenings with the heat returning in the late morning and throughout the afternoon. We have to be able to layer light weight fabrics in a way that accounts for the midday heat and the still working air conditioners. In this first look I layer a light weight utility vest over a light weight peasant top, along with lighter weight crop pants.

Red Mahogany is dark, rich burgundy color and we often see this color come back in the fall and winter seasons. I chose a peasant top that I discovered last spring at a thrift store. I love the pretty floral and bird pattern, the embroidery around the neckline and the shirring along the neck and shoulders. It definitely has a feminine and Boho vibe which is a fun alternative to my practical tees, sweatshirts and flannels for cooler weather. This is a brand called Sundance. Here is a pretty solid colored piece from Lucky Brand; a floral version from Natural Life; and a Croft & Barrow version from Kohl’s.

Interesting Tidbit: Robert Redford founded the original Sundance clothing company in 1969 in Utah with a paper catalogue coming out in 1989. Pieces were originally crafted with interesting prints and Bohemian vibes. In 2004, Redford sold the company in 2004, and in 2025 the company closed. There is a current Sundance Boutique based in Cape Cod that features skirts and dresses with a coastal influence.

Since the top is rather voluminous, I opted for a vest rather than a belt or tuck. I have had this Mudd piece for a number of years. I used to shop more frequently at Kohl’s in the past, but not as much these days. The changes they have made, the increase in prices and more recently their involvement in political issues has me less likely to shop there. I have no problem with others shopping there and I will still occasionally check out their sales for Christmas or birthdays, but I personally would rather shop at a second hand store.

This piece falls easily into the Burnt Olive color. In my opinion olive can have a yellow undertone or a gray undertone. Burnt Olive seems to lean more towards the gray, and many of my olive pieces fall into this category. Here is one from Walmart, a shorter, insulated version from Duluth Trading, and a actual utility jacket from LL Bean.

I decided to use my copped pants for the Pantone classic color called Egret. I have had these thrifted St. John’s Bay pants for a number of years. They get pulled out every summer, and will continue to be worn with frequency as long as I can still fit into them. Ha, ha. This looks like a nice pair from Coldwater Creek; a barrel shaped pair from Land’s End, and a capri length pair from Kohl’s.

For my accessories I chose gold for my necklace and a sparkly bracelet, both of which I forgot to take pictures of. My bag was a gifted piece from a company called Saddleback Leather, and you can see my review for that here. It is a fun little piece if you want something easy to carry that doesn’t take up much space; perfect for a wallet and few odds and ends.

My Natural Soul loafers are also a second hand find from quite a few years ago. Sorry for my wrinkly elephant ankles! Wearing compression hose in the summer is not any fun, but it is better than seeing my pasty, purple and blue, bulgy veins. Ha, ha. Here are a page of options from DSW.

What do you think of these colors? Do you have any of these in your closet? It’s that time of year again to start wearing your fall colors. Isn’t it crazy how fast time flies by. Leave me a comment or two. I love to hear from you.

I hope you are having a great week. Be sure to stop by on Thursday for a new series on my Faith page. Hugs!

Shopping Our Closets: Casual Summer Vibes

I am trying to get back to my monthly posts, at least for the summer, so this week I am shopping my closet to bring you a casual summer outfit that would be good for a coffee shop date, an afternoon of shopping or a trip to the theater with the grandkids to see a movie. We all know that indoor activities during the summer can often come with too much air conditioning, so thinking ahead about what to wear is essential for being comfortable.

Today’s look revolves around pieces that most of us have in our closets, or at least pieces that are similar: a Breton striped tee, light wash jeans, and a light weight cardigan.

A casual look like this is easy to put together and anyone who is reading this can probably find similar pieces in your own closet. Let’s look at each piece individually.

My Breton striped tee is an older thrifted piece and is J. Crew brand. I love the structure of this piece and the beautiful, sparkly bird embellishing its upper right hand corner.

I wondered what exactly made a shirt a Breton striped piece, so I looked it up. The Breton stripe originated in France and was made specifically as the official uniform for the French Navy back in 1858. The shirt was typically white with navy; the white stripe being wider than the blue, and it was usually a 3/4 length sleeve. In addition the neckline was a wide boat neck. In 1910 Coco Chanel took inspiration from the French navel uniform and it began its iconic journey through the decades as a fashion statement.

Here is an elbow length sleeve version from JCPenney; a red version from Eddie Bauer; a short sleeve version from Land’s End, and a plus-sized version from Kohl’s.

Style Tip: While tee shirts that are cotton/polyester blends are soft and comfy, they don’t always give us the coverage we desire as far as our extra rolls. A medium to heavier weight cotton will typically give you more structure, and is less see through for both your extra bits and your undergarments.

The next piece we’ll look at are my light wash, cropped jeans. I love this pair of Talbots that I found at a second hand store. They are a little heavier weight, but are soft, and I love the added detail of the stripes that go along the outside seam. Once again, the heavier weight cotton fabric is still doable for summer because it is still breathable.

Here is a mid-rise version from Land’s End; a higher rise pair from J.Jill; a lighter weight version from L.L. Bean; and this pair with the fun pocket detail from Christopher & Banks.

Style Tip: Jean washes don’t really matter any more as far as seasons are concerned, but If you are old school like me, I like to get out my light wash, and white, or bright colored jeans for summer just to lighten my wardrobe up a bit.

I decided to tap into the black stripes on my tee, and yes, mine are black, not navy, for the cardigan I chose. The stripes on my jeans are also black, so that added to the reason I went for a black sweater and black shoes. My cardigan is Croft & Barrow brand and I bought it at Kohl’s many years ago. Time goes so fast, it is hard to keep track. The 3/4 sleeves are perfect for when you want extra coverage, but not too much.

Here is a Croft & Barrow, open front version from Kohl’s; one from Macy’s; another version from Chico’s; and a couple from JC Penney - regular size, and plus size.

My Oxford shoes have been around for quite some time considering I haven’t worked at the university bookstore since fall of 2019, and I got these while I was still employed. These are a brand called Naya, and I got these at DSW on the clearance racks.

It’s funny, of all the pictures I struggle with, shoes are the worst. Ha, ha. If my feet are in them, I don’t feel like I can ever get the right angle for the picture. Either my feet look super long, as in the first picture, or my ankles look like tree stumps, as in the second picture. Ha, ha. It’s okay. I am no flighty influencer and that is okay. I just keep doing this for fun, and for you, my lovely followers!

My woven bag is also thrifted, and the label says, icing, which was Claire’s Boutique’s brand for many years. I don’t shop there any more, since I no longer have young daughters, but it was a fun place to go, especially for their special sales and clearance jewelry.

Pull out your straw bags, I mean doesn’t everyone have one? They are always spot on for the warm weather months, and always seem to be trending for summer. Here is a whole page of possibilities from DSW.

What do you think of this outfit? Is this something you would wear, or that you could put together from pieces you already have in your closet? What would you do differently: wear shorts, or a skirt; pick different shoes? Let me know in the comments. I love to hear your ideas.

I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!

Spring/Summer Trends 2026: Another Bright Color Combo and Romantic Details

I have been taking a look at the spring and summer trends for this year, and while I might be a little behind, as usual, these are definitely ideas that will take you well into fall. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the bright color combinations are trending. Me being a lover of color, I decided to look at another of these combos and add another of the spring trends, romantic details.

Today’s color combo is orange and white, although the fashion gurus also mentioned orange and gray, so I decided to incorporate all three colors into this color block outfit ( another trend for the warm weather season), and we will also talk about what gives an outfit a bit more of a soft, romantic vibe.

Since I knew I wanted the color orange and also wanted a look that had more romantic vibe I searched my closet for a good starting piece. This Old Navy eyelet top was just the thing. I have had this for a few summers now and have worn it every warm weather season since I thrifted it. I love eyelet. I think it is one of the textures and fabrics that whispers romance without having to be overly frilly or immodest. I added a Faded Glory tank underneath for coverage, but you could certainly just wear a nude colored bra for a cohesive color underneath. Since the tank has lace trim I think it works perfectly.

Style Tip: Whether you are wearing jeans or a satin skirt you can upgrade you look to include romance by making a few simple choices. Choose lace, eyelet, tulle or silky fabrics. These speak volumes to making an outfit more feminine and fun. You can also add embellishments like embroidery, ruffles, and pearls in the form of buttons or jewelry. My personal opinion is less is more…not less fabric or coverage, but less embellishments and textures. Here is are similar colors from Shein, Ann Taylor, Bloom Chic, and Macy’s.

I knew I want to have white pants or a skirt and opted for these lighter weight cropped pants that I thrifted last year. These are Talbots brand and very comfortable for the warm weather season. Capris are back in style. I won’t go back to those, but some people really like them. I might if my legs were pretty, but they are not, so I accept that and move on. Here are some from JCPenney, Macy’s, and Chico’s. Here are a few pairs of ankle pants too: JCPenny, Old Navy, and Macy’s.

When I decided to incorporate the color gray as well, I knew I wanted gray shoes, a bag and jewelry. I have several pairs of sneakers in different grays and this pair of medium gray Skechers seemed the most complimentary with the white and orange. I bought this pair at Gabes a number of years ago. I keep them around, because they are cute, although not the most comfortable. It baffles me how a pair of sneakers can be uncomfortable, but they can be! Ha, ha.

My bag was a thrift find and has no identifiable tag as to what brand it is. I love a cross body bag all year round, but a light weight bag is perfect for summer. This seemed perfect with the sneakers and the jewelry. Here are a few gray options from Kohl’s.

The two pieces of jewelry are both second hand. The necklace was from my bestie in NY, and the bracelet was a recent thrift find. I love both of these pieces for their interesting blend of metal shapes and textures. The bracelet is a reminder to me every time I wear it of what Christ did for me on the cross.

What do you think of this color combination? Do you wear bright white in the summer? How about all year round? I tend to lean more toward the creamy, winter whites in the cold weather and bright whites in the summer. I’d love to hear from you, so please leave a comment or two.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Pantone Spring/Summer 2026 - New York Palette: Muskmelon, Marina, and Sage Green

Hi everyone! It is time for another Pantone color series. If you are new to my blog, every spring and every fall the Pantone Color Institute comes out with a palette of colors for the coming season. Due to life being relentless, I usually don’t cover these colors until we are well into the spring and/or fall season, but I have had many of you tell me that you enjoy this series, so I decided to just keep doing it even if I am a bit behind.

Instead of trying to put together the colors on the palette by my own choices I made it easy on myself and simply went down the column of colors on the Pinterest pin which you can see here. As you can see in the first column we have today’s colors: Muskmelon, Marina and Sage Green. As per usual the first ten colors on the palette are the new colors for the season and the last six are the classic colors. Both the New York and the London palette contain a color named White Onyx, which I may or may not include in an outfit or two. I feel that white is a personal choice when it comes to fashion. Some women look better in cream, others look better in a crisp white, so I leave the whites for you to decide.

Style Tip: You can easily add white, in whatever variation you like to wear, to an outfit in the form of a bag, beads, a scarf, or a pair of sandals or sneakers.

Let’s start with this pretty Muskmelon orange. It is not pink, but also not as orange as an orange would be. I think this one has been named appropriately. I chose my Natural Reflections flannel shirt from Bass Pro Shops, due to the color and the cozy factor. It might say spring on the calendar, but in my area spring is here one day and gone the next. Right now Bass Pro has a number of flannel shirts on clearance. It is a good time to stock up. See more here. Kohl’s is also having a good clearance sale right now, so check them out too.

For the Marina blue, I decided to use these thrifted Sidefeel jeans. These have a wider leg, and a bit of stretch, which makes them comfortable, but also a tad bit dressier. I had never heard of this brand before, but if you click on the link you can check out their website. I know nothing about where their products are manufactured, but I get a feel they are a fast fashion retailer due to the low pricing and the statement that they purchase their items “in bulk.” I prefer to stay away from the fast fashion manufacturers and retailers, but I am also a thrifter, so I feel there are plenty of gently used items that need a new home. However, I realize not everyone wants to thrift and everyone also needs to buy according to their own budget.

For my Sage Green color I chose this thrifted Jenny Buchanan quilted jacket. I love this piece, and it is reversible, so it can be worn with the sage green out or switch it and it will be a pretty forest green. My biggest complaint about this piece is that it doesn’t have pockets. Ha, ha. Here is a very pretty quilted jacket from Kohl’s, not in the same color, but a fun piece.

I felt there was enough going on in the outfit between the plaid and the quilting on the jacket that I didn’t need to overdo the accessories. My second hand Tignanello bag was like a brighter version of the Marina blue.

My jewelry was all over the place as far as the blue color was concerned and I almost feel I should have went with something orange to bring out more of the Muskmelon color, like a scarf, but I didn’t have anything that was close to that color. It is obvious my bracelets were too much of a purple color. Oh well. :)

My booties were a thrift purchase last spring and I haven’t really worn them, but they are so cute. They are Merona brand and actually wool. I love the wedge heel. I am also amazed that they are as comfortable as they are. I need to remember these next fall to wear with skirts.

What do you think of these colors? Do you have any of these in your closet?

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have a moment leave me a comment or two. I always love to hear from you and your feedback helps keep my blog alive.

I am also still looking at possible affiliate links for you to have shopping options, but for now I have included a few links within the text as possible options. Thank you for your patience and support.

Have a great day.

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2025 - London Color Palette: Hot Chocolate, Fig and Cumulous Cloud

These are the last three colors on the London Color Palette for Autumn/Winter 2025. These are not exact matches, but you can see the actual colors in this pin. I would not have thought to pair these three colors together, but these are what was left after using the other colors on the palette. The reality is, you can pair any colors and create a beautiful outfit by focusing on textures and accessories. Let’s look at the details.

This is a very basic, casual look, but we are all at different stages in life and an outfit like this is perfect for a day of running errands and meeting your girlfriends for lunch. It is comfortable, and warm. Today, I am starting something new. For each piece I am wearing I am going to add a Why I Like It sentence or two, to help you understand my Fashion Philosophy a little better.

Let’s start with my Cumulous Cloud, Christopher & Banks vest. This medium gray is not a color I reach for very often, but I do have a few pieces that are similar to this color. I think it can be a great neutral, but the medium to light grays have a tendency to wash me out, but I don’t let that keep me from wearing the color, I just try to find other ways to bring more color to my face, like a scarf, or even my makeup scheme. I didn’t do as well with that for this outfit, but I still like how this look turned out.

Why I Like It: I have always been a vest girl, and while I am not thrilled with the color, I do love the texture on the front of this piece. It is also a perfect neutral to pair with many other pieces and colors.

My Fig button down is a thrifted Van Heusen men’s shirt. I probably could have found a shirt that was closer to the almost reddish purple, but I ran out of steam. Burgundy might be a better choice.

Why I Like It: It’s purple, what other reason do I need? Ha, ha. There is something about the simplicity of a man’s button down. There’s no lace, no texture, just a basic shirt with a nice pattern. Sometimes simple, masculinity is a nice change from feminine frills.

This color was not popular on my affiliate website, so you are on you own for finding dark purple pieces. If you do a Google search there are a things that pop up.

Next up is the color Hot Chocolate. This color was on the New York Palette (you can see that post here), and these thrifted SO jeans are a little light, but again, it is what was closest in my closet.

Why I Like It: I have always liked the casual vibe of a utility pant, coat or vest. The fact that these are also jeans makes it even more fun, plus I was thrilled to find jeans in a different color. Any brown pants I have are dress pants.

I tried this look with several iterations of layered necklaces, but it just wasn’t working. Finally, I started going through my scarves and immediately knew this thrifted piece was the perfect accompaniment.

Why I Like It: I specifically liked it for this outfit due to the inclusion of every color - Cumulous Cloud, Hot Chocolate and Fig. I think it pulls the whole look together. I bought it because it is different. It is not the traditional square or oblong scarf, and it has that beautiful fringe detail.

Finally, I chose my thrifted, suede Keds sneakers, a cute backpack for my bag, and a simple bead necklace that was made years ago by my oldest daughter.

Why I Like It: The sneakers are more like shoes than sneakers due to their being dark brown and made of suede. I know these things aren’t even an issue any more, but back in the day, sneakers were white and typically not suede.

The backpack bag was a purchase made in the last couple of years as a travel item. I think I got it at our local Meijer.

While my daughter originally made this necklace when she was into beading and trying to sell jewelry, I obtained it when she was getting rid of a bunch of stuff. I love the color and the cute little dangly bead.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear a casual outfit like this? What pieces do you have in your closet in these colors? I love to have your feedback so feel free to leave a comment or two.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. What I have found with these Pantone colors is that they are not always available at the retailers used with the affiliate, so that is why you don’t see links for everything. However, this is for your inspiration and to get you to look at your closet with new eyes.

I hope you have a great weekend!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2025 - London Palette: Salted Lime, Fanfare and Chocolate Martini

We are well into October and the last four days have felt like the middle of July rather than fall. We are hopefully heading into a cool down in a day or two. Midwest weather has always been rather chaotic with fluctuating temperatures, times of endless rain, or months of drought. Right now things are very dry, the trees have hardly any color to them, and our cars are regularly covered with dust.

For today’s look I wanted to combine the two greens on the Pantone Autumn/Winter London palette. Just like I combined Lavender Blue and Crown Blue, today I am pairing Salted Lime, a medium, citrus green, and Fanfare, a tealy green. I chose Chocolate Martini for my classic color and I like the earthy vibe of this look. You can see the London palette colors by clicking on this link.

The star of this show is the Fanfare, velvet jacket that I recently thrifted. While not true velvet, it certainly looks the part. I found this piece and immediately threw it into my cart. When I tried it on, I knew it was coming home with me. It was obviously hand made as it still had the rough, inner seams with no finished edges, and no label of any kind.

Salted Lime is not a color I have a lot of. When it comes to greens I like the darker more moody hues of olive and forest green. I also like deep tones like emerald and jungle green. However, I do keep a few pieces that are this lime color. This thrifted, Jaclyn Smith, gingham button down has been around for a number of years. You can see this top as a shacket over a graphic tee, worn under a graphic tee, and worn with a plaid skirt,

My Chocolate Martini pants were purchased new when I was still working as an assistant manager at a university bookstore. These are Worthington brand and I got them at JCPenney. They have a wider leg and are a bit long so I like to pair them with something that has a small heel.

I chose my Nine West heeled ankle boots, which match the pants perfectly. A tip for making your legs look longer and leaner is to match your pants and your shoes. I got these a couple of years ago at Kohl’s.

I went for a layered jewelry look with a short wood bead necklace and a long beaded pendant necklace with fringe.

I wanted to add a pop of color and remembered this cute color block bag I had thrifted last year. It is just a cheap bag and has no brand name in it, but I thought it was extremely cute and fun. I think it works beautifully to add an element of extra color to this outfit.

What do you think of these colors? Do you have any of these in your closet? If not, which one would you like to add? Be sure to leave a comment or too. It helps my blog and it always encourages me.

This picture below, definitely needs a caption! What would you put on it?

I have included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no extra cost. These are retailers that are available through the affiliate and I cannot speak as to the quality of the pieces offered, so just be sure before you order something that you know the retailer’s return policy. If you purchase an item through my blog using one of my links, I get a little commission. I appreciate all your purchases as they help me keep the blog going. All opinions are my own.

Have a great week!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2025 - London Palette: Poppy Red, Bronze Mist and Dark Gull Gray

Can you believe September is almost over? Here in the midwest it doesn’t exactly feel like fall. The leaves are changing, the sun’s angle is different and the days are growing shorter and shorter, but our temps have been summery. I really don’t mind the blue skies and high 70’s or low 80’s, but I am ready for the cool down, and the return to all that is cozy, including hot tea and cocoa, baking things in the oven and the sweet layers of sweaters and scarves.

We are looking at another trio of colors from the Pantone London Autumn/Winter 2025 color palette. You can see the colors in this Pinterest pin.

Today’s look gets a power punch from Poppy Red. You might remember this color from the New York palette. It is definitely a mood lifter. You can see the New York post here. Today I decided to pair this bright red with Bronze Mist, which is a similar color to the NY Bronze Brown, just a bit more yellowy green. I also chose the color Dark Gull Gray from the classic palette. I styled the shirt two ways, left out and tucked in, so I will include pictures for both.

I found this bright Poppy Red, Sandra knit shell at a thrift store and thought it would work perfectly for a knit vest. I paired it with a second hand Dark Gull Gray, Falls Creek button down. I believe this may be a man’s shirt as it is quite big on me for a large, but who knows. Sizes are so different these days.

This Jones Wear skirt I have styled multiple times on the blog and even though I don’t wear skirts very often, this is still one I reach for. I chose this for the snippets of Bronze Mist color in the pattern. It is fully lined, but light enough to wear in the warmer weather, and warm enough to wear in the winter with tights and a pair of boots. You can see it with a maroon cardigan, a green suede jacket, a yellow top, and a green pullover sweater.

Since I was using the Dark Gull Gray color I chose my Impo ankle boots that I bought on clearance at DSW a few years ago, to balance the look out. Even though fall is the time we put our flip flops away and get out our boots, it is still too warm here to keep boots on for very long…at least for me. I love ankle boots in the cooler weather, and when it gets really cold, then I pull out the taller boots.

I chose this thrifted Fossil bag, as I thought it gave a nod to the Bronze Mist color, even though it isn’t a perfect match.

Do you like these colors together, or do you think they are odd? Do you have this bright Poppy Red in your wardrobe? Which version of this outfit do you like better, tucked in or left out? I love to hear your thoughts so leave me some love.

I’ve included a few shopping links for a few of the pieces to give you some similar color choices, but it was hard to find any sort of skirt in a similar color. These are brought to you at no extra cost. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a great week!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2025 - New York Palette: Bronzed Brown, Winterberry and Vapor Blue

I hope you are enjoying this Pantone color series. For the actual colors check out this pin on my Pinterest board. The Pantone Color Institute is the entity that people turn to for the trending colors for both fashion, architecture and home decor. I enjoy seeing what the colors are for each season, however, they have made it harder and harder to actually see the colors without having an account, so I appreciate those who do sharing their findings on Pinterest and other platforms.

Today’s colors are what I would call a little more reminiscent of what we tend to think of when we talk about the autumn season. Bronze Brown is a golden brown making me think of changing maple leaves and colorful sunsets, while Winterberry gives a nod to aromas soon to fill the air like cranberry and cinnamon, and Vapor Blue looks like wispy jet trails across a fading fall sky.

This seemed a bit of an odd pairing with the Bronze Brown and Winterberry, but after I put it together, I really liked how it turned out.

The Bronze Brown, Ophelia Roe jacket was a piece I got on clearance at Meijer. It actually had a pair of pants that went with it, that I bought at a later time. However, the pants seem to be a bit off. I should have taken them back right away, but sometimes you can’t tell right away something is cockeyed or sewn improperly. They are in the donation pile. I do, however, like the jacket with its utility, bomber style silhouette.

This Faded Glory floral blouse I have had for years. I don’t know why I don’t wear it more often, because I do like it. I just go right from shorts sleeves to fuzzy sweaters and sweatshirts and forget about the in between time. I honestly don’t remember if I bought it at Walmart, or if I found it at a second hand store.

You can also see my chunky berry and gold necklace, a gift from one of my daughters. I thought it went well with the casual vibe of the outfit. I also added a dark brown, almost burgundy colored leather belt that I recently thrifted. I know the trend has been no belts, but I always feel that a belt gives an outfit that finished feel, specifically when tucking a shirt in. Apparently the half tuck is no longer trendy and we are back to a full tuck or no tuck.

These Talbots jeans are also a thrift store find from this past spring/summer. If you look at the Pantone color for Vapor Blue, it really looks like a very light gray, but I feel that these jeans were representative of that faded blue sky we often see in the early morning or late evening. If the Pantone gurus say it’s blue, well okay, and this was my take! Ha, ha. I love the black and white pin striping down the outside seams of the legs.

Once I put the outfit together, I was struck by the thought that I actually could start styling boots again, so I grabbed these SO burgundy combat boots that I scored at Kohl’s a few seasons ago.

I just found this cute crossbody bag a few weeks ago when I was thrifting with my bestie back in New York. We always hit the thrift stores together, which is great fun. This is a brand called Modern Chic. I love the guitar strap vibe.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like how I put this outfit together? What would you have done differently? Please leave me some love in the comments. I appreciate my faithful few who try to comment on the regular. You always remind me why I keep doing this! Hugs to all of you.

I have included a few shopping links for you to look through. These are affiliate links which means when you purchase something through one of my links, I get a small commission. I appreciate all of your support, but most of all I appreciate that you stopped by the blog to hang out for a while.

Have a great week!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2025 - New York Palette: Poppy Red, Lyons Blue and Crown Blue

Happy Uno Septembo! In other words happy September, happy fall and all the good things that go with it: pumpkin muffins, hot chocolate, changing leaves and football. Our weather here in the Midwest is already feeling more like fall, although there is sure to be a few more warm days before the official start of fall and even after. I have heard rumors that we are supposed to have a cold winter and these early chill days may be a forewarning to that.

Today’s outfit takes three more colors from the New York Palette and combines them in a bright, cheerful look that would be perfect for a drab fall day. Poppy Red, Lyons Blue and Crown Blue combined seamlessly when I was working on outfits for this Pantone color series. It was a natural progressions to put these three saturated colors together. To see the actual Pantone colors check out this Pinterest pin.

This whole look is thrifted, except the sneakers. It is always fun to shop my closet and find that so many of the things I bought second hand are easily useable for the current trending colors and styles. So what if a few things are slightly outdated, or not currently on as far as the fashion gurus are concerned. It’s my closet and my style, as it is your closet and your style.

Let’s take the outfit apart. The first piece I chose was this paisley button down that I have had for years. The blue colors were a good match for the Lyons Blue color which is a deeply tinted blue teal. This thrifted piece is Jones Wear Sport. I have thought numerous times of getting rid of this piece, but then I end up wearing it for some reason or other. I do love a good paisley print, just like I love my plaids!

You can also see in this photo I chose a teal necklace that leans a bit more in the green direction, but I like the contrast. In addition, for this fall statement belts are trending, so I decided to create my own statement using an old silver colored chain belt that I have had laying around for decades. It didn’t really help to hold my baggy pants up, but I like how it looks!

After the shirt I chose the pants. It seemed the perfect choice as this bright red pair are perfectly Poppy Red. I thrifted these this year as I had been looking for a red pair of pants. These are Bandolino brand. They are actually a little big now, but I don’t mind and the baggy look is another thing that is trending this fall for jeans, so get comfortable ladies!

I then remembered I had thrifted this blue jacket recently and realized it was a perfect choice for the classic color Crown Blue. This piece is Coldwater Creek brand. This is actually a petite, which I can sometimes get away with. It just gives the jacket a more cropped silhouette, which I occasionally like. I love the contrasting white stitching around the edges. I had a hard time finding anything in this exact color, but I’ve included a few links for darker denim jackets.

I decided to go with silvery gray for my accessories. I wanted something different from red, to match the pants or blue to match the jacket. I do have a bit of a matchy, matchy gene, so I was trying to push myself outside that box. While I did end up matching the bag, and the shoes with the belt, I like how it pulls the whole look together. The sneakers are Skechers and I got them a while back on clearance at Gabes. I hardly ever go into that store, but once in a while my daughter wants to make a stop there and it is fun to look. My bag was thrifted and has no label.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like them together, or would you like them each separately? It is fun to try new combinations and I hope these posts inspire you to expand your thinking on how you put colors together. Leave me some feedback in the comments.

Enjoy the many poses of Amy! Ha, ha.

I hope you are having a great beginning to the month of September! I have included a few shopping links, but these colors are hard to find, so I would say add a color you like to your thrifting list! These are affiliate links, brought to you at no extra cost. If you shop a link through me, I get a tiny commission for your purchase. I appreciate all the support. All opinions are my own.

Have a great day!

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!

Color Play: Pantone Color of the Year Mocha Mousse with Brown and Gray

If you keep up with the Pantone Color of the Year, you know that this year’s color is a creamy brown with rosy undertones looking much like the dessert it is named after, Mocha Mousse. Click on the link to see the actual color. As I began looking through my closet, which contains almost every color under the sun, I realized I don’t have anything this exact color. The closest I came was a piece that is a little bit lighter version of the actual color, but I thought it would do for this post.

This tunic length sweater was a thrift find from last year. It is Lauren Conrad brand and I love the soft texture and the cute heart

I thought adding this thrifted, brown Fever vest a good way to further infuse the idea of the chocolatey goodness of mousse.

Style Tip: Adding a vest is a great way to have the fun of layering without the added weight and warmth. Vests are perfect for these transitional times between winter and spring, and summer and fall. Look for lighter weight, flowy vests that still provide coverage, but don’t add too much heat.

I decided to use my second hand White House Black Market Blanc jeans. It is nice to fit back into this trouser type pant to take a casual look up a notch.

Style Tip: Adding a pair or two of trouser type jeans, which have a somewhat wider silhouette allows you to dress up an outfit without going outside your “jeans box”. You know I am an avid fan of jeans and they are what I wear most of the time, but it is nice to have the option of a jean in a different style and/or color for a completely different look.

I decided to go for rose gold in my jewelry which I think goes well with the brown and the Mocha Mousse colors. I also added my pink Bueno crossbody bag which was a gift from my younger daughter a few years ago.

My thrifted patent leather ankle boots have made an appearance on the blog before and are Forever 21 brand. Apparently patent leather is making a come back this year, so if you have any of those in the shoe direction get them out of the dark corners of your closet and let them shine.

What do you think of Mocha Mousse? Do you like this color? Do you like the combination of brown with gray? How about brown with black? Please leave me your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a comment on Facebook. I always love to hear your ideas.

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

I hope you all are having a great week!

Color Play: Trending Spring Colors - Pistachio and Petal Pink

I thought I would cover two of the spring color trends that are being talked about, because you know I love color. The thought that these two colors would look good together was obvious to me and certainly is a nod to spring. Click here to read more about Glamour’s 10 Key Spring 2025 Fashion Trends.

Pistachio is a light green that is a bit different from mint in that it leans more toward yellow, thought not as yellow as olive. I think it is a pretty color and, as with many colors, comes in differing hues and shades.

Petal pink is a pretty spring time pink with purple undertones.

Today’s outfit was built from thrifted pieces in my closet. The sweater is a bit more purple than the Petal Pink color, but if you could see the actual piece it definitely has pink undertones throughout.

My pullover sweater is an unknown brand as the label was cut off. It is a boxy cut, so I decided to try a trick I have seen a number of bloggers and Instagram gals use. I took a belt and put it over the sweater at about my natural waist. I then proceeded to pull the top half of the sweater up and fold the resulting extra over the belt. Voila, a peplum top, of sorts!

Style Tip: Don’t be afraid to try different things to make your clothes work for you. If you don’t already follow Jodie from Jodie’s Touch of Style, she is the queen of giving you tips and tricks to make your clothes really work for you. Be sure to check out her blog. Alterations are great if you know how to sew, but using a hair clip, or a belt like the above example, is a way to make a top, skirt or dress fit a little better without seamstress style alterations.

My thrifted maxi skirt looks like it was a bride’s maid dress in a previous life, but someone cut the top off and gave it a proper waistband with elastic in the back to make it a wonderful full length skirt. Silky skirts are in for spring, so this was a great find when I purchased it a few months ago.

Style Tip: Do you still have a bride’s maid dress hanging around that you just don’t want to get rid of? Why not think about making it into something new, like a skirt, a top, or even a vest. Be creative!

I decided to add this thrifted faux leather quilted vest to add an edgy element to an otherwise soft and feminine look. It is a brand called Selene Sport. In addition, with spring not officially here for a few more weeks and the warmer temps even slower to follow, a vest adds a warm layer around you core.

Style Tip: Use a vest to add warm and interest to any outfit. It is also a great piece to add when an outfit needs a bit of cinching in at the waist, especially the more fitted waist coat types of vests.

I kept my accessories relatively simple. The longer, pendant in a soft shade of pink, and the gold beaded bracelet keep the outfit feminine and refined. The tall, black, SO lace up boots add a bit more edgy vibe with the vest, and the floral, Dana Buchman bag is a direct nod to spring.

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear something like this? Do you have any clothes that you have altered to make different pieces? I love to hear you thoughts and ideas so be sure to leave me some love in the comments.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links brought to you at no extra cost. All opinions are my own.

Have a great week!

My Style: Leopard Print, Plaid and Denim

When I was thinking about an outfit for today’s post I realized I had the perfect inspiration in an Instagram challenge I was doing for the month of February. One of the prompts was Cheetah or Leopard, so I went with leopard since I don’t think I currently have any cheetah. I wanted to be cozy, and of course my go to is casual, so this is the outfit I came up with.

I started with this thrifted, open front, leopard print sweater. The brand is called Signature Studio. A few years ago these longer sweaters were quite popular and leopard print was just as popular then as it is now. I love that we can have all these beautiful animal prints without the harm that use to come to these beautiful animals. I know hunting still goes on for big game cats or other animals, but I’m hoping there is less demand for it with all the great prints we now have artificially.

I added a stretchy, brown belt to give the outfit a bit more of an hour glass silhouette.

I felt a bit of print mixing was in order so I grabbed this black and white Croft and Barrow, plaid shirt. This also was a thrifted piece.

Style Tip: Print mixing is easy. Try pairing plaid prints with stripes, florals, polka dots, animal prints, or other types of plaids like checks or Buffalo plaid.

Since it is my style, I wanted to keep it easy and casual so I chose these rolled, cropped St. John’s Bay jeans from JCPenney that I got a couple of winters ago. These are a boyfriend cut so very roomy and comfy.

Style Tip: Don’t put your crop pants away for the cold weather. Use them to show off fun, colorful socks or wear them with boots to help your boots take center stage.

For accessories I used the cognac color in the leopard print to inspire my necklace and my boots. However, I saw that for spring dark brown is the color of choice for bags and shoes, thus I pulled out my corduroy hobo bag.

This floral necklace is a new piece that I thrifted before I started my #75hardstylechallenge which is a buying fast for 75 days. I love this large, shorter pendant necklace.

My MIA boots keep showing up on here even though they are starting to look pretty ragged. They are comfy and fit well, making it hard to give them up. They were thrifted to begin with so for a few dollars I have gotten a lot of wear out of them and kept them out of the land fill for a couple more years.

You’ve seen this brown hobo bag numerous times here on the blog. It was another thrift find and has stood the test of time.

Did you like this outfit? Do you have any leopard print pieces in your closet? How do you like to style them?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Leave me some love. I always enjoy hearing your ideas and thoughts. I have included shopping links within the post. These are affiliate links. By purchasing something through one of my links I get a little bit of a kick back. I appreciate all of your support.

Have a great week!

Shopping Our Closets for Valentines's Inspiration

I know not everyone celebrates Valentine’s Day, and many do fun alternatives like Galentine’s Day and celebrate with friends. My hubby and I will probably do something at home on the actual day, because I have to clean that day and will be exhausted. Ha, ha. However, we can always get dressed in the wonderful colors that revolve around Valentine’s Day like reds, pinks, burgundies, whites and florals. I am doing that all week on Instagram, so be sure to check out my account on there for additional outfits.

I decided to build an outfit around a piece that is little used in the cold winter months, a kimono. While kimonos are not strictly for the warm weather, they do seem to cling and hold static in the colder months, so I don’t use them much. I thought it would be fun to style a casual, date night look using this pretty floral piece.

This thrifted kimono is a brand called Mason & Belle. I liked the floral print, the darker color and the shape of the piece. The lace trim was another fun detail.

I settled on my darker wash, newer Maurice’s jeans that I bought back in the summer. These are everflex, so they have plenty of stretch and are quite comfy.

Style Tip: A darker wash jean is a great alternative to dress pants for a dressy casual outfit or a work wear look.

I’ve had this thrifted Apt. 9 pullover sweater for quite a few years, and while it is showing a bit of wear, I really love the diamond shape open weave, and thought it went well with the kimono.

You can see in the above picture how I layered a few of my rose gold necklaces for a fun addition. Obviously the heart necklace, given to me by my younger daughter, is a shout out to Valentine’s Day.

Here are a few pictures of close ups of the jewelry I had on.

I decided to keep my bag and boots a similar color to the kimono. The bag was a thrift find from my bestie that she gifted to me, and is The Sak. My boots were a Kohl’s purchase from a number of years ago and are ESpirit brand.

What do you think of this outfit? Is this something you would wear? Do you do anything to celebrate Valentine’s Day? We certainly don’t need a significant other to shower love on others. Give a treat to your kids or grandkids; send flowers to a friend; or just take yourself out and celebrate the fact that you are alive!

I’ve included a few shopping links for bags and boots. These are affiliate links. If you purchase an item through my links, I get a few pennies. I appreciate all you support.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s week!

Outfit Inspiration: Pinterest - Winter Pastels

I turned to Pinterest again to search my boards for outfit inspiration. I finally chose this outfit. I typically use these pins as spring boards to build an outfit. While the outfit from Pinterest is lovely and I could totally see myself wearing something like it, I wanted to do something a little bit different. Unfortunately, I am not real thrilled with how this turned out. I decided to post it anyway, because we are ever changing human beings and we are not always spot on, no matter what social media influencers make you think.

I have always wanted to keep this blog real. I am a real person with health issues, mental struggles and emotional ups and downs. This affects my content. It affects how often I post and how put together my outfits look. This past weekend when I took these pictures I was really struggling with fatigue. Being still undiagnosed with what caused my health crisis back in 2021 my body seems to struggle with being at “full health” most of the time. It’s okay. This is life and I am thankful I can still do things and still bring you content even if it is not always perfect.

That being said, I am currently on a journey to do what I can to be healthier. At the suggestion of my digestive health doctor, due to a hiatal hernia, I am trying to lose a few pounds and eat healthier. I joined Weight Watchers and it is helping me to make better choices, as well as lose weight through tracking and portion control. I left in the picture of my pants, even though they look silly, but you can see they are a bit baggy and slouchy due to some of the weight loss.

I decided to use my pastel green, open front, Christopher and Banks sweater instead of a similar colored pullover that I could have used. I love this light colored, textured piece.

Style Tip: If you are getting tired of the darker colors we often reach for in the colder months try changing things up a bit by throwing in a few pastels or super bright colors to give your day a boost.

My thrifted Oxford gray, Sonoma pullover sweater is a light weight piece that works much like a long sleeve tee, but has the fun detailing of the ribbed bottom, boat neck, and wrists.

Style Tip: Look for light weight sweaters at thrift stores or end of season sales to add to your basics pile of layering pieces.

These Stitch Star jeans from Meijer are definitely showing their wear and will probably need to be passed along one day soon.

I wanted a similar scarf to the original pin with a touch of another pastel color. Theirs was more of a purply pink, so I pulled out a scarf that had the light green, but also some splashes of purple and pale pink,

I chose pale pink for my other accessories, except my necklace which is dark purple agate. My cross body bag and my metallic Circus by Sam Edelman combat boots are both thrifted.

I thought I would add pictures to show you a few other ways to wear the scarf with this outfit.

What do you think of this outfit? I think the overall concept is a good one: cardigan, light weight sweater, pants/jeans, scarf and accessories. However, if I did it again I think I would swap out the the faded jeans for a dark black pair. I am also still not sold on the metallic combat boots. I am not sure why. I think they are adorable when I look at them, but when I put them on I feel unsettled. Ha, ha. Yes I do have an emotional relationship with my clothes.

Let me know what your thoughts are. I always love your feedback.

No shopping links this week. Be sure to stop by the blog on Thursday for another Mulling it Over Post where I continue to dive deep into Romans 8.

Color Play: Burgundy with Olive Drab and Gold Accents

This will be my last outfit post focusing on the color burgundy. January is drawing to a close and while we have plenty of winter left on the calendar, I want to move on to a few other ideas here on my Fashion Page. Please feel free to message me or if you subscribe to send me an email if you think of something you would like me to cover in this space.

Today’s outfit started with this fun, corduroy puffer vest that I got from Maurice’s a few months ago. It is different cut and style for me, but I wanted to try it and think up different ways to style it. Right now it is rather stiff, but a few washings may help with that. It is a cropped length and a boxy fit.

I’ve had this Sonoma blouse from Kohl’s for many years. I love dark florals, so this piece is perfect for fall and winter, and of course you could wear it all year round, but I like to transition my wardrobe to lighter colors in the spring and summer. There are no longer fashion rules that say you can only wear certain colors at certain times of year, but we can still have your personal preferences.

These thrifted, Lee corduroy trousers are olive drab. They look gray, but when you compare them to a true gray you can easily see they have a green tone to them. I love cords in the winter and these are super comfy.

You know you have bought a good piece or pieces when you wear them over and over, as is the case with these Impo brand, suede, ankle boots. Do you have pieces in your wardrobe that you reach for again and again?

I thought gold was a good choice for my accessories and they really stand out against the background of burgundy. The gold necklace I purchased from a retail store which might have been Kohl’s or JCPenney. I don’t remember. The gold clutch/crossbody bag was a thrift find.

This outfit formula is very simple and anyone can put something similar together. Pick a pretty blouse, a complimentary pair of pants or a skirt, a coordinating vest and finish it off with shoes, jewelry and a bag. You will be ready for work, a lunch date with friends or even a casual date night with your significant other.

What do you like about this outfit? What would you change to make it your own?

I’ve including shopping links after each clothing piece for similar items. I try to use retailers that I would shop at and choose things at a little bit lower price point. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost.

Thank you for stopping by the blog. Have a fantastic day!

Styling into the Holidays - Part 3: Dressed Up

I couldn’t finish this series without a shout out to those of you who have fancier events to attend at the holidays, especially New Years. While today’s outfit is not black tie attire, I think it would do well for an evening out for dinner and a show, like the Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker. Many years ago, my mother, and father-in-law got my husband and I, along with his sister and her husband tickets to this holiday ballet. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had just been my sister-in-law and I. Ha, ha. My spouse does not appreciate ballet anymore than the color pink. He’s such a goof, but I love him.

I was helping my hubby pick out a shirt for the university December graduation ceremony that he was attending this morning, and while he is donned in his regalia, he still likes to look presentable under the robe. He was wearing black pants and asked if I would pick out a shirt for him. I ended up giving him a navy button down.

“Is it okay to wear black with navy,” he questioned.

I assured him any color can be worn with any other color and it also served as the inspiration for today’s outfit. I already had the blouse on, as I was using it as part of my Instagram outfit. It is one of the dressiest blouses I own. With that beginning I began looking through my skirts and settled on this beautiful navy, velvet piece with pleats. This was a Kohl’s clearance purchase a few year ago and is Chaps brand.

In my opinion pleated skirts never go out of style, nor does velvet, making it the perfect choice for fancier attire. An added bonus is that this skirt is warm, which is helpful on a chilly winter night.

The combination of this thrifted Jaclyn Smith satin blouse and the vest gives the outfit a classy academic vibe, and also adds more of an hour glass silhouette. This Rachel Zoe vest was a recent TJ Maxx clearance purchase. I have been looking for a waistcoat of this sort since they were trending back in the spring. I had all but decided they were only intended for the slender folk to wear, so low and behold when I saw this, tried it on and it fit I was super excited. It is definitely going to be used all year round.

You can also see my delicate gold jewelry, chosen for its association with the Silver and Gold song sung by Burl Ives. Ha, ha.

The black, faux fur, No Boundaries bomber was a gift a few years ago from my hubby for Christmas. I never think to pull it out once the temperatures plummet, but when I was taking these pictures I was totally cozy with it on. The draw back is that it is short and in the cold weather I like my bum and thighs to be covered. That is exactly why it is perfect for an outfit like this where you will be mostly in and out and not standing outside for a long time.

Style Tip: Fabrics like velvet, fur and silk or satin will add panache to any outfit, whether you are wearing jeans or tweed. If you are attending a function, but don’t want to go the whole gambit of a dress or skirt, try a dark wash pair of dress jeans with a silk blouse, and heels. You will look like a million bucks!

My Steve Madden, velvet, heeled ankle boots were a thrift find. Who knew they would work beautifully with the velvet skirt? A classy, heeled ankle boot is a great alternative to regular heels in the cold weather.

My sparkly clutch typically makes an appearance on the blog when I am showing off an outfit that is more dressed up. It was a good purchase all those years back. In the photo below you can’t really notice the sparkles. Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this more dressed up outfit. It was fun to put together, and afterwards I showed the pictures to my spouse and said, “You need to give me an excuse to get dressed up like this more often.” Ha, ha. I’m not subtle at all.

I interspersed shopping links throughout the article. You can just click on a picture to find out more about the piece as far as brand, store and pricing. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

There will be no fashion posts for the week of Christmas and New Years as I am going to take a little break and hope to get back to see my mom and other friends and family in NY between Christmas and New Years.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year!

Outfit Inspiration: Navy and Green Color Combo

Right now Pinterest seems to be the source of inspiration for many of my recent blog posts. I do use the occasional Instagram challenge to also find inspiration, and there are lots of places, people and things to inspire our clothing combinations. However, as you know, convenience often weighs heavily when life is busy or we are feeling tired. This is the pin that inspired today’s look.

Unlike the Pinterest pin, I used a vest, rather than a jacket, and there are other differences in accessories, and so on, but as I have said before, the point is to be inspired. I think something an fellow Instagram user posted makes sense. We want to be inspired, not influenced. Inspiration allows us to shop our own closets and put together similar looks without necessarily having to copy the look. Being influenced might include the pull to purchase pieces we don’t need or won’t actually wear.

This Christopher & Banks vest is from a couple years ago. It is a great piece and the quilting definitely gives it a warm, cozy feel. I like that it is a bit longer than many of my other quilted vests, and that it has buttons instead of a zipper. I rarely wear any of my vests closed, but it is nice to have different options.

Style Tip: Before you purchase vests or jackets think about collars. Ask yourself if you prefer the collar to lay flat or stand up, or be able to do both. Think about what you will be wearing it for and how you will be styling it with your other clothing. For today’s outfit, the stand up collar works great, but those are not my first choice. I typically like a collar to lay flat, or be something similar to a shawl type collar, or in the cold weather a turtleneck will do.

This minty green sweater is a thrifted Sonoma piece. The color and the texture were different than the other pullovers I have, so I snatched this one up. I added the reddish pendant necklace and bracelet, along with my bag as an after thought, but I think the darker reds help define the outfit as a fall look.

Style Tip: When it comes to transitional outfits, you may find yourself reaching for the same pieces which brings the option of pairing them together again. With a few easy adjustments you can make a fall outfit work for spring, or a spring outfit work for fall. To make this outfit passable for spring I would choose lighter colored accessories, possibly in a pastel pink.

These thrifted Sonoma utility pants look brown in this picture, but they are an olive drab. I thought they worked well for this overall casual outfit.

I played around with a few different scarves, one of which was a dark blue with pink and burgundy tones. I thought of pairing burgundy pants with the vest and sweater, but then decided I wasn’t quite ready for the darker colors. Thus when I saw this scarf and liked how it went with the other pieces I opted for burgundy accessories to still bring in the darker tone of fall, and I thought the burgundy went well with the pinks in the scarf.

My bag is The Sak brand and it was given to me by my thrifting bestie.

My ankle boots were purchased at Kohls and are SO brand. I have had them for several years.

Style Tip: Should you match your shoes to your pants, your top or not at all? I think variety is the spice of life, as they say, so why not do all three. Today, I matched my shoes to my vest. Other days I might wear shoes that look more like my pants to create that longer, leaner line from hip to toe. Still on other days, I might wear a basic brown, or black boot, or I might just wear sneakers and they don’t have to match at all. Your outfit, your way, so however you want to do it is fine. The point is to be comfortable, pulled together and confident in what you are wearing.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and that it inspired you to build an outfit that combines colors, textures and accessories to make you feel good when you are in it.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. Think ahead, and use these links to start your Christmas shopping. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!