Color Play - Building an Outfit Around Jewelry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shopping Our Closets - Wonderful White

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thinking About Fall - Transitional Style - Button Down Short Sleeve Top

I hope those of you who have subscribed to my blog are content with what I have been posting lately. I have fallen into a rhythm of only posting twice a week, but for now that is the best I can do. Real life is never as pretty as it looks on a blog post or Instagram. Real life is messy and often requires more of our energy and time than we have to give. That being said, I want you to know, I am trying to bring you content that goes along with the seasons and what is going on in the fashion world, as well as to encourage you in your faith. I will probably spend a few more weeks on these transitional looks and then I hope to start that infamous Pantone series. Ha, ha. Stay tuned.

Last week, I took myself on a little shopping trip. I went to two stores, Kohl’s and JC Penney. These have long been my go to’s when I am looking for new items. In my town, these two stores are only a few blocks apart, making it even easier to justify stopping at both. As you know by now, I shop the clearance racks and I really found some great pieces, including this yellow and white gingham, St. John’s Bay button down. I actually purchased these in two different prints, the other being a blue, yellow and white mini floral.

The thing I like about these is the light weight cotton material, which is perfect for these hot summer days, and the high-low square hem. You can see that better in the picture below. This makes it easy to wear the top out, like I did in this outfit, or you could tuck it in for a more polished look.

To keep my look light and cool, I accessorized with light, neutral colors and added a bracelet as my only piece of jewelry. My bag is from a few summers ago and is Sonoma brand. A woven bag is always a great summer piece. My off white sneakers were thrifted and they are Mossimo brand.

To make the outfit ready for cool weather, I made a few simple adjustments. I added a fun yellow moto jacket that I ordered from Kohl’s last year that was on clearance. This is Elizabeth and James brand. I fell in love with the color and it is a heavy, sturdy piece that can be worn as a jacket, not just a show piece.

I love this scarf and I think the colors are perfect for fall. The yellow mums, the burgundy splashes and there is also a little bit of an olive leopard print throughout. I should have straightened it out a bit more, since the ends look a but rumpled. My hair looks crazy too, so no worries. Ha, ha.

I swapped out my woven bag for a cute burgundy leather and suede shoulder bag my bestie gave me that she found thrifting. I also added my thrifted Rock & Candy by Zigi ankle boots. These are such a fun boot with the lace overlay. One of the reasons I love to thrift is finding fun, unique pieces like these boots.

Here are the outfits side by side. What do you think? Did I make a good transition to fall? What would you have done differently? I love to hear your thoughts.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. Moto jackets are a great way to take your clothes from one season to the next. They provide an added layer of warmth in the cooler weather and a lighter layer as the temperatures start to warm up in the spring.

These are affiliate links. When you click on a link I get a few cents. All opinions are my own. I appreciate all your support and all your clicks.

Have a great week.

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!

Oh, Olive! Utility Jacket - Casual

I am back from visiting my mom and ready to get back to posting here on the blog. I wasn’t feeling well, the first couple of days after I got home, but I think most of it was fatigue and allergies. They seem to be beating on everyone this year. While I was at my mom’s I didn’t have internet, but I was able to get some photos taken and was pretty pleased with the result. I hope you will be as well.

I am continuing my look at a few of my different olive pieces and how they can be used with just about any outfit and any color. I do like to think outside the box, at least my box, so I hope you will find some of these outfits inspirational for your own wardrobes. The week before last I showed you a casual and a workwear look using an olive pair of pants. Today and Thursday, I want to take a look at ways to style an olive utility jacket. You can see how I styled this same jacket on the blog before with a striped tee and distressed jeans, another striped tee, and a polka dot chambray top.

Another thing, I decided to add to this little series, is to give you a few peaks at what is trending for fall. I’ll point it out as we go along. Let’s take a look at the olive utility jacket.

I have had this olive utility piece for a number of years now. St. John’s Bay brand, I got it at JCPenney. Since then I have accumulated a few other utility jackets in other colors. I like that they are so versatile. In fact, I may have to do a post on that at a future date. Most of my pieces, including this one are lighter weight, so a great topper for spring, summer and fall. While they do tend towards more casual, I will show you on Thursday how to make one look appropriate for work.

What makes a piece utility? I think it has to do with the pockets and the details like drawstrings, snaps and metal zippers. Next week I will be showing you an olive utility vest.

Fall Trend Alert - Denim on Denim

Once again, it seems denim with denim is trending for fall. While I wouldn’t wear this regularly, it does have a casual appeal. Monochrome is always a good way to get a longer, sleeker line. Most of what I saw on the runway were pieces of the same wash. See this post on Fall 2021 trends from Marie Claire. However, there is a sense of personal creativity in putting together pieces with different washes, as I did in this outfit.

My chambray top is a thrift find from earlier in the summer. It is a brand called Cremieux. Apparently, Daniel Cremieux started a men’s clothing line in Saint Tropez, on the French Riviera in the mid 70’s. It looks like he designed women’s clothing for a time as well. Both lines were sold at Dillards, but the women’s line is no longer available in the US. The fun things you find when you thrift.

You’ve seen my thrifted, distressed Simply Vera, Vera Wang jeans plenty of times on the blog. They are getting rattier looking as time goes along, but I guess that is the point. Ha, ha. If the holes get to big for my comfort zone, I may make a few patches, which actually could be fun.

I decided to add this floral mini print scarf just for a little extra color. I don’t use my scarves much in the heat of the summer. I sweat just sitting still on these humid days. Last night, I was working on this post and I was dripping with sweat. Of course we hadn’t turned our air conditioners on. Sometimes, we have to choose between a little bit of inconvenience and being able to pay the electric bill. My husband always runs colder, so he’s not as hot unless he is doing yard work or something. Today is supposed to be even warmer. I think the air will be on later, so this woman doesn’t get too cranky. Ha, ha.

If you follow my Instagram account, you may have seen that I rearranged my scarves. Just like with all of my clothes, I have way more than I need, but I am trying to make everything more accessible and visible, so it is easier to sort through and find. Do you have a special way of arranging your scarves?

My blue Converse are making another appearance. While I still think this brand of sneaker makes me look even more like I have ski feet, I am trying to embrace those long skinny things on the ends of my legs.

The last accessory I have is my white cross body bag. This was another thrift find. I like that it is a little bit larger than many cross body bags, so I can actually fit everything in it, without having to squeeze it in. I am not sure what the brand is, but it was still very clean and unworn, so I snatched it up.

Do you own an olive utility jacket? How do you like to wear it? I love hearing from you, so be sure to leave me some love in the comments. I hope your summer is going swimmingly well!

I’m including a few shopping links for denim pieces and utility jackets. I hope you’ll look those over. Every time you click on a link, I get a few cents and I appreciate it. All opinions are my own.

Have a great Tuesday!

Spring Outfit with Orange Pants

Just like I did for the blue pants, I wanted to show you a new outfit with my Worthington orange pants. For this one I focused on a work appropriate look. With many people finally returning to their jobs I thought it would be a good time to feature an outfit that would be perfect for the office, especially as air conditioners come back on.

I wish I would have thought to get close up of the details on this thrifted Maurices vest. I snatched it up, because I don’t have any summer weight white vests and I thought the eyelet detail and the texturing on the pockets made this such a unique piece. It has the utility vibe with the patch pockets and drawstring, but is dressier.

You can also see my H&M button down top. I found this one on the clearance rack a few years ago and just loved the botanical print with its flowers, butterflies and birds. I thought tying the front shirt tails made for a more summery look, but one that remains work appropriate. I also like the soft contrast between the stark white of the vest and the more off white of the blouse.

I added a double layered purple necklace and a few purple metal bangles to pull out the purple in the top.

I opted for more neutral shoes and bag. I thought the outfit had enough color with the bright orange pants and the flora print in the top. The neutral accessories give it not only a summer feel, but a polished and professional look. If I ever go back to an office job, I would definitely wear this. My bag you have seen on the blog before and is from Walmart and George brand. My perforated peep toe sandals are Sonoma brand from Kohl’s.

I was pleased with how this outfit turned out. What do you think? Would you wear something like this to work? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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

Have a great day, everyone and thanks for following along on the blog.

Why You Should have a Pair of Colored Pants - Orange

I thought I would do one more week on colored pants. This denim wearing diva, never imagined in all my years that I would learn to love brightly colored pants, but I have. I do remember when I was young, being a child of the sixties and seventies, I had a pair of bright red, cuffed bell bottom pants that I loved to wear to school. I am not sure what drew me away from the bright colored bottoms, except maybe that feeling of not wanting to be noticed or seen. I still struggle with that bit, but now I don’t worry so much about what other people are thinking or looking at. That is not my problem. I do try to dress modestly, but I love my bright colors and think they help to make me happy. This week I want to focus on my orange pants.

These orange pants were a clearance purchase at JC Penney about four years ago. They are Worthington brand, have a side zipper and an extra seam towards the front, giving the leg a long, lean line and less bulk around the middle, for a more streamlined look. The waist sits near my natural waist, so a little less of the spare tire problem. Here are past posts from the blog where I used these pants.

Outfit 1 - Orange with Sheer Light Blue Top

I love the summery vibe of this outfit. The light blue, sheer top over the white tank combined with the bright orange pants seems very fitting for dinner under the palm trees at a tropical resort.

Outfit 2 - Orange Pants with a Dress

This is one of my favorite outfits with these pants. It just happened that I found this dress at H&M and that the orange in the dress matched perfectly with the pants. I have no problem with women wearing shorter dresses. I know lots of women who will wear them with bike shorts underneath, so nothing is revealed if they blow up or if they bend over. I personally do not have the legs to wear a shorter dress, so wearing pants with a dress has become something I do more often. It is a fun way to display a short piece without any worry of revealing veiny legs or other leg flaws.

Outfit 3 - Orange with Bright Purple and Gray

Who would have thought to pair bright purple with orange? Well, I did and I think it turned out perfectly. I think the light gray jacket over the top helps to pull this whole look together. The pretty leaf necklace ties the orange pants to the purple top. This is a trick you can do to bring cohesiveness to an outfit that might seem a little outside the color box.

Outfit 4 - Orange with Dark Green

Once again, you see a color block pattern, but one that is complimented by the printed accessories in the form of a leaf print scarf and a Vera Bradley tote bag. Since this was a more casual look, I added a hem roll to the bottom of the pants. This would be a great outfit to wear for an early fall shopping trip.

Outfit 5 - Orange with Marled Black Vest

Vests are a great way to transition from cooler seasons to warmer ones and warmer ones to cooler ones. They keep our cores warm, but our arms from being bound under bulky sweaters or coats. The focal point of this outfit, was not the pants, but the scarf, but I drew on the colors in the scarf to create the complete look.

Outfit 6 - Orange with an Asymmetrical Vest

The solid colored orange pants are the grounding point in this outfit that is filled with busy prints. The floral tee, the open weave asymmetrical vest and the patchwork bag would probably be too much, if the pants were also printed. The bright orange once again announces that summer is just around the corner.

Outfit 7 - Orange with Teal, Gray and Yellow

Here we are, back to fall. Orange is a no brainer for fall outfits, but we often reach for rust or darker versions of orange. However, I think I have shown that this bright orange is perfect spring through fall. You probably could even dress it up for winter with a chunky fisherman sweater and some suede ankle boots. This particular pair of pants is lighter weight, so if I wore them in the winter, I might put a pair of tights underneath.

So what do you think of orange pants? For all practical purposes I think more women would choose a bright blue pair rather than the orange, but what I wanted to show you is that there are so many different ways to style a bright colored pair of pants and still have a classy outfit that you can wear for a night out with the hubby, a lunch with friends or to a summer picnic. Pick your favorite color and get a pair of bright colored pants now.

I plan on showing you another outfit on Thursday with these same pants that has a more work oriented feel. Be sure to check back then.

I am leaving you with shopping links for a variety of bright colored pants. I hope you find a pair that will be perfect for you. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Having Fun with Layers - Light Weight Kimono

I am sure most of us have one or two kimonos in our closets. Typically, we only pull out these light weight pieces when the weather warms up enough that we can show them off over our spring or summer outfits. Kimonos are really more of an accessory than they are an actually clothing item. They are meant to accentuate or be the focal point of an outfit, much like a statement necklace or a scarf. For this reason, I thought it would be fun to show how we can use a kimono while it is still cold, by using it in the same manner, but over an outfit with heavier layering pieces.

This kimono was a clearance find at Kohl’s a few summers ago. It is actually a bit small for me, but since I don’t have to worry about closing the front, I just let it hang open, almost more like an open front cardi or vest. You can see the pretty floral detail, but what you can’t see is that there is also a spattering of light yellow here and there in the pattern. That is why I wore it over the bright yellow sweater.

I love this pretty yellow, St. John’s Bay, cable knit sweater that I got at JC Penney over a year ago. Cable knit sweaters are definitely a staple in my cold weather wardrobe. They are comfortable and can be worn along or with a collared shirt sticking out as an additional layer.

You’ve seen these Gloria Vanderbilt jeans on the blog many times and I swear by this particular pair of white jeans. So far I can still fit into them, which is a good thing, because a heavy weight pair of white jeans, that don’t show through are hard to come by. Ha ha.

I didn’t really need to add a whole lot to my look since the kimono does the bulk of the work. I added some black beads, both at the neck and on my wrist. I also opted for gray Impo ankle boots, and a thrifted Evan-Picone bag. Like my blush New York and Co. bag, this gray piece serves as both a tote, a crossbody and a clutch.

I hope this post will inspire you to pull out that kimono in your closet and give it some love.

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

Have a great evening.

A Dickens' Christmas - The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

These photos were taken in a local graveyard. No disrespect was intended to the families of those laid to rest in its borders, nor to the spirits who might walk its paths.

Probably the spookiest of Dickens’ Christmas spirits is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. This specter is darker and more formidable than either of the previous phantasms. In both of my favorite movie versions of the story, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is personified as a dark, flowing, faceless creature who stands head and shoulders above Ebenezer Scrooge and who never speaks. He simply points his long, skeletal like fingers to what he wants Ebenezer to see.

When I started thinking about an outfit to typify this gruesome ghoul, I knew I wanted to go with gray colors. I thought gray, rather than a stark black spoke more to the shaded veil our futures seem to be. No one can know the future, but God alone, and I personally would rather not have the so called privilege of knowing what is to be, except that blessed assurance of life with Him, after I die.

There was no doubt, I wanted these pictures, done in a graveyard. The most telling scene in the movie version of A Christmas Carol, is when the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come brings Scrooge to a lonely, forsaken graveyard. In his creepy, speechless manner, the Ghost points to a specific, unattended grave, which in overwhelming despair, Ebenezer wipes aside the snow and sees his own name engraved on the stone.

I wanted my look to be work appropriate, so I chose pieces that created a classic monochrome look, but still gave the illusion of movement. I also wanted the layers.

My plaid Style & Co trousers have been around quite a while. I honestly can’t remember if I bought these new or if I got them at a thrift store. Style & Co are still sold at Macy’s.

My gray turtleneck is Worthington brand. Once again, I have had this piece for years and I don’t remember if I got it new at JCPenney’s, or if I thrifted it. Not only is my memory in need of help, so is my waistline. I know the above picture is not the most flattering, but ladies, this is the real me at the current moment. I have a spare tire or maybe two, and I am probably in the worst shape I have been in, in years, due to achey joints, not eating well and not enough exercise. I can’t blame it all on the pandemic, as much as I would like to. Most of it is my very undisciplined nature. Maybe you can relate. I hope so. I really don’t want to feel like I am the only one in this rocky boat. Ha, ha. I am really hoping, that once this busy holiday time is over, I can try to implement a few changes. Never give up!

The light weight shrug that I put over the turtleneck is also Worthington brand. This piece I did buy new at Penney’s. It has an asymmetrical hem, so the longer front pieces can be tied, to create a different look. You can see how I wore it tied with a black maxi dress.

My long, wide scarf was not only a purply gray color, but it had bugs on it, which somehow seemed fitting with the grave theme.

You know me, I had to try keeping in character. Ha, ha. I do look like a fitting specter to haunt this old graveyard, especially in black and white.

Here are my grays together.

Since this was meant to be an outfit, one could actually wear for work, or for a night out, I did have to style it with a few accessories. I chose silver and gray to maintain the monochrome look. A small silver clutch, to give it a bit of bling, a three strand statement necklace and my dark gray Impo ankle boots completed the look.

What do you think of this look? Do you think it personified the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come without looking too much like a costume? A monochrome look in any color can be an easy, fun and interesting way to change up your wardrobe and still look like you put thought and effort into your outfit. Monochrome doesn’t have to be an exact match, but just be pieces with the same color hues and tones. Adding texture is also the perfect way to make a single color scheme look go from boring to fabulous.

This was the last post in my Dickens’ Christmas series. I certainly hope you enjoyed my interpretations of one of my favorite Christmas stories. Be sure to check back on Thursday for a very mischievous, Actual Amy post. Until then, have a great week.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

This week, I am not including any shopping links, for outfits. I hope to resume regular style posts after the first of the year.

Have a great week and a very Merry Christmas!

Outfit Inspiration - Pinterest Fall Fashion

Right now is a great time to look to Pinterest for inspiration for fall outfits. There are so many outfit combinations complete with fall colors, textures and accessories. I don’t know why I haven’t used Pinterest before this to find inspiration for an outfit. This pin is from my Pinterest board titled Fall Fashion. I wanted to find something that would be a subtle shift from summer to fall, to provide both the colors and layers we often associate with this wonderful season.

I decided to give you a three for one deal today too. Instead of just showing you the original Pinterest inspired outfit, I thought it would be fun to show you two additional outfits I came up with as I was getting out my camera to take pictures. The only changes I made were the outer layer, bag and shoes. You’ll see how easy it is to come up with multiple combinations using the same two pieces.

Outfit 1 - The Pinterest Copy

Yes, there is a huge, red stop sign behind me and yes, my tee is wrinkled. I am going to blame it on the pretty bird bling. Of course I didn’t realize it until after I had taken the pictures. The joy of taking my own shots.

I am a huge fan of striped shirts and have many in my closet in just about every color. I have short sleeve tees, long sleeve tees and sweaters. For this outfit, I decided to choose a thrifted, short sleeve, J.Crew tee since it is still fairly warm during the day. I also love the embellished bird on this piece that I found thrifting. When I find a unique piece like this I grab it. It is just a step above ordinary. Of course with the sweater on, you can’t see it as well, but in the warmer part of the day, I will probably have the sweater off.

For an outfit like this any pair of skinny jeans will do. In fact, you don’t even have to wear skinnies. A pair of boyfriend or bootcut jeans would work just as well and give the outfit a totally different vibe. These jeans are a.n.a brand. I wear these all summer long. They are stretchy and the cropped length is perfect for warm weather. In fact, I usually wear them turned up, but as fall approaches, the ankle length is just right.

My cognac colored sweater is an old thrift find and is a brand called Maison Jules. It is a soft waffle weave and while I can button it, I usually just leave it open, for more of a fly away look. It has a bit of a high-lo hemline and side slits.

I’ve had this bronzy cross body bag for a while. I think it is a nice color for fall.

For shoes, I chose my white Keds, since the Pinterest outfit was styled with white sneakers.

Outfit 2 - Utility Jacket and Booties

For this next look, I simply swapped out the sweater for an olive, utility jacket. This one is St. John’s Bay from JCPenney. You could use any color utility jacket. I have a number of these, ahem…just like my striped shirts…ha, ha.

You can see I also swapped out my white sneakers for my olive, SO ankle boots. In addition I changed the small bronze cross body bag for this large mint green tote. I added the checked scarf as a pop of color and if it was extra cool, I could put the scarf around my neck.

I took these photos all at the same time of day, with pretty much the same settings, so I am not sure what happened to these. I was sort of misting out, so I don’t know if the weather conditions had anything to do with it.

Outfit 3 - Plaid Jacket and Combat Boots

My final ensemble was chosen for the cooler temps that will soon be upon us. I love this plaid jacket with sherpa trim I got at Maurices at the end of last season. You can see how I first styled it on the blog in a similar look here.

My black bag was a recent thrift store find. I had been looking for a black one and this Scarlton tote was perfect.

Once again, my Seven Dials combat boots are featured. I have used these frequently on the blog, since I got them. You can see them styled with a dress, a plaid skirt, distressed jeans, a denim skirt, and black faux lace pants. I like to give you the links to these previous posts, so you can see how one piece, like a jacket or a pair of boots can be used over and over again.

Here are the three outfits side by side.

Do you have a favorite? It is fun to see what combinations you can come up with for different pieces in your wardrobe. These are all looks I would return to again and again. I would call this a formula that works for me. A pair of jeans, a striped tee and then some sort of top layer in the form of a sweater, jacket or other topper. You could do the same thing with a graphic tee.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I am working on the Fall/Winter Pantone series, so hopefully I’ll have that for you soon. I also want to apologize to any of you who have sent me personal emails over the last few months that I may not have responded to. I love to get your emails, and please don’t stop. I get so many emails that I tend to not keep up very well, so if you have emailed me, I am sorry if I have not gotten back to you. I am going through my in box now, trying to clean it up a bit, so hopefully it won’t happen again. All of you are important to me and it means a lot when you take the time to comment on the blog or send me a little personal encouragement. Thank you so much and please don’t stop!

I’m including a few shopping links for you to peruse. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Since there were so many options I’ve included a number of links, so feel free to click and shop.

I hope you had a good week and have a safe and happy weekend!

Pantone Spring/Summer 2020 - Mosaic Blue, Coral Pink and Brilliant White

Today features another pretty blue and a version of a coral color that comes around almost every summer. Just like Biscay Green, Mosaic Blue makes me think of tropical waters, blue skies and palm trees. Coral Blush reminds me of the light pink peonies that used to grow in my mother’s yard every spring. I have always loved peonies for their beautiful, large blooms and delicate scent. Once again, I am pairing these two lovely colors with Brilliant White from the Classic collection of colors.

The sleeveless, abstract print top is from a Kohl’s clearance rack a few years ago. I have always liked Vera Wang’s Simply Vera line at Kohl’s, but have to be choosy about which pieces I buy because of the fit. I love the bright, abstract patterns and the way she combines different textures and styles all in one piece. Her pieces have a little bit higher price point than what I normally like to pay, so I try to find pieces on clearance. The only problem with that is I often miss out on some really fun, eclectic looks because they sell out quickly. You can see some of the other Simply Vera pieces I have styled on the blog by clicking on the links: thrifted navy bag, thrifted cross body bag, embroidered skinny jeans, a floral top, and summer dress.

The Coral Pink long sleeve top that I put underneath matches the Coral Pink splotches in the Vera top perfectly. Obviously if it was warmer I wouldn’t have had to layer, but it is spring here in the midwest. Ha, ha. This coral colored piece is also a Kohl’s clearance find and is Lauren Conrad brand. Lauren Conrad is another brand I like from Kohl’s, but again, unless I find it on the clearance rack I don’t usually buy her pieces. I do love her take on pastels and feminine details.

I’ve also styled these Gloria Vanderbilt jeans from JC Penney on the blog before. These are my favorite white jeans, as they are thick and fit fairly well, even with my extra COVID pounds. Ha, ha. I like the flared style for a little dressier look and they go well with heels.

For my accessories, I thought some pearls would look good. I also grabbed my blue textured clutch and my blush SO ankle boots. Obviously, when the weather warms up I’ll exchange my ankle boots for sneakers and sandals, but these light colored booties work well for spring.

What do you think of these colors? Do you have either of these colors in your closet? I think both of these colors would look good on many complexions. Sometimes coral can be too orange, but this seems to be a happy medium.

Did you like this post? If you did, do my blog some good by hitting the like button and by leaving a comment. I appreciate all your feedback.

I’m leaving you with a few shopping links to enjoy. These are affiliate links and all you clicks give me a few cents here and there. Thank you for that as well. All opinions are my own.

Graphic designed by Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Biscay Green, Saffron and Brilliant White

Today’s outfit revolves around three colors from the Pantone Spring 2020 New York Palette that are described as flavorful, cleansing and pristine. Saffron is a rich orangey yellow color, while Biscay Green leans towards a more soothing aqua. Both colors to me are perfect for summer and when paired with a bright white give a warm weather, party ready look.

When I saw Biscay Green on the palette, I knew that I had nearly nothing in my closet that was this pretty greenish blue, so I started keeping an eye out at my local thrift stores last fall for an item or two that would add this medium green to my closet. This oversized button-up caught my eye. It is a brand called Zylos, which appears to be a past men’s brand in dress shirts and ties. As I have mentioned before, I am liking the oversized button up shirts for a fun, casual way to dress up a pair of jeans or in this case a skirt. For this outfit, I tied the bottom of the shirt and buttoned two buttons.

The Saffron colored Apt. 9 tee, is another thrift find and I have used it on the blog before for another Pantone series. Last year a similar color was called Mango Mojito and I used this same tee to represent that color. You can see that post here. I thought the color was independent enough that I didn’t need the whole tee shirt to show. The bright pop of yellow orange stands out quite nicely with the peaceful green.

I’ve styled this skirt on the blog before. It is St. John’s Bay brand and I got it at JC Penney a few years ago. I was drawn to it for two reasons. The first was that it was white and it was lined. It is so hard to find white you can wear in the summer that doesn’t require a slip or some other underwear that won’t show. This skirt is completely lined. You can still see through it if you have on a dark pair of panties, like red, black or navy, but for the most part they won’t be noticeable. The other reason was the beautiful lace detailing. It is a very pretty piece and can be dressed up or down, depending if you are feeling classic or boho.

I have had this layered beaded necklace for a while. I really like it, but don’t think to wear it that much. When I saw how well it complimented this outfit I was excited to include it. So much of my jewelry I can’t even remember where or when I got it. Ha, ha. Maybe that’s because I have so much of it. I also included a navy beaded bracelet, which you will see in the next picture, to pair with the navy beads in the necklace.

I found this bag at another thrift store when my girls took me thrifting back on my birthday in January. Ahh, those were the days, when we could get together, go shopping and get lunch. Hopefully, those days will come again. I love the color and feel of this bag. It is a brand called Stone Mountain and is very well made. It has a long handle which can be adjusted, so you can either use it for a shoulder bag or a cross body bag.

My perforated peep toe shoeties are Sonoma brand and from Kohl’s. I need to paint my toes. I don’t wear sandals a lot because my feet are like my legs and covered with nasty looking varicose veins. Last fall I went to a vascular surgeon who did an ultra sound to see what could be done. Unfortunately, most of the veins in my legs are in the same bad condition, so having them worked on would provide some temporary relief, but over the course of time, they would develop the same issues. I am putting that off for now, but one day may revisit the idea.

Do you like these colors? How would you wear them? Remember you don’t have to put the colors together as I do. I am simply trying to show you what the colors are for the Pantone seasons and ways you might combine them. Do you wear white in the summer? Do you have a white skirt or do you prefer to wear pants, capris or shorts? I’d love to hear from you, so leave a comment or two.

Graphic designed by Rebecca Trumbull.

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

Have a great day and be safe as the world begins to open back up!

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Transitional Spring Outfit

Before I get to my Pantone series I decided to do a few more posts featuring transitional spring outfits. If you are unsure what a transitional outfit is, let me explain by first giving you the definition of the word transition. Webster’s online dictionary gives several definitions for this word:

- passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another

- a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another

- a musical passage leading from one section of a piece to another

There are a few other definitions which are not as pertinent to our fashion content. The second definition seems to be the one that suits our needs the best, but I really like the third definition. Aren’t we a musical score, written by an Almighty Creator? The seasonal changes in our natural world and in the fashion world are akin to a piece of music changing and modulating from one section to another.

When it pertains to fashion we enjoy moving from one season to another just as much as we enjoy the change of the nakedness of winter to the covering bloom of spring. We enjoy moving our heavy, dark winter clothes to the back of the closet, or the bins in the basement and pulling out our bright, light weight tops and fun colorful maxi dresses. What often becomes a problem is that period of time when winter has not yet loosened its grip and the chill in the spring air is too cool for our light weight layers. The transition is this time period we, in the midwest, now find ourselves in. We still need our sweaters and our booties, but we crave our bright colors and layers that allow the sun to caress our skin.

Today’s outfit is another attempt at styling a look around a scarf. I have so many pretty, colorful scarves, so I thought why not use them as focal points for outfits.

The beauty of styling an outfit around a colorful scarf like this is it is so easy to do. This scarf has several colors including a light and dark pink, a light purple, a light blue and the orange. I wanted to stay away from pink for this outfit so I chose the orange, light blue and purple to focus on.

My Worthington orange pants have made many appearances on the blog. You can see them worn with a green sweater, a floral dress, and a print top. Worthington is a JC Penney brand and I find them to be a good brand if you are looking for durable, decent fitting work/dress pants.

My light blue Sonoma tee was a thrift find. I typically wear these crew neck or v-neck types of tees as layering pieces under sweaters or long sleeve button ups during the winter, but for a transitional outfit like this it was perfect to wear on its own, or in this case with a vest.

The above picture gives you a closer view of the scarf. It is a large square, which I folded into a triangle. The point point of the triangle is at the front. The two other long, narrow points fold towards the back and then around to the front. I tied those into a double knot over the bib part of the triangle.

I chose this open weave black marled vest to go with the black lines in the scarf. This vest is Croft and Barrow brand from the Kohl’s clearance racks a number of years ago. (I am not sure what was going on with my pants, but please don’t judge my crotch ailment — ha, ha! Probably because they are a little tight, bleh!)

This Nicole Miller bag was another Kohl’s clearance find a few years ago. It has appeared on the blog numerous times. I chose it for its purplish color. I also opted for a few purple bangle bracelets to add to the purple vibe of the scarf.

I chose my tasseled Dana Buchman loafers as I thought they went with the vest and as you learned earlier this year, loafers are back in.

Do I have you thinking about those pretty scarves in your closet? Do you have a few that you feel qualify as spring scarves due to their color and weight? I think it would be fabulous if you built an outfit around one of those scarves and told me about it in the comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts on how you put a transitional spring outfit together, using one of your scarves.

As usual, I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links, which means when you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of my links I get a few more cents. I appreciate every click. All opinions are my own.

I hope you week is off to a good start.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another post on my Faith page, where we are working our way very slowly through Romans chapter 8. In addition if you follow my Fashion pages, Thursday will feature another transitional spring outfit, this time with a new maxi dress I got from a local retailer before the stay at home order went into effect.

Have a good day!

Transitional Spring Outfit

Since I have the time right now, I thought I would give you a few transitional spring outfits. The day I took these photos, which by the time this is posted will be yesterday it was snowing on and off most of the afternoon. Thankfully it wasn’t sticking. I had a bit of a window, when it was not snowing, where I decided to snap a few pictures of the outfit I was wearing. I thought it would make another good transitional outfit to talk about and feature on the blog.

This is not a complicated outfit. Jeans, a button up chambray shirt, a sweater, shoes, purse and necklace; that’s it. This really is my go to formula. It’s easy, comfortable and casual. It is dressed up enough to run errands, if I had anyplace to go, but simple enough to stay home, sitting on the couch reading or watching Netflix.

This light wash chambray shirt has made a regular appearance on the blog and is one of my favorite transitional weather pieces. I have had this Sonoma button up for many years and it has held its shape and its look after many washings. I use it like you see here as a button up, but I have also used it like a light weight jacket.

It really thrills me that it is trendy to wear denim with denim, since it is rather my first love. For today’s look, instead of a jean jacket, which for me would have been a more springy choice, I opted for my chenille sweater. It just seemed so much cozier considering the cold and snowy weather.

I love the braided, back detailing on this Pink Rose sweater. This was another clearance find, although, to be honest I can’t remember if it was JC Penney or Kohl’s because both of them have had Pink Rose brand clothing. I do have too many clothes and not enough memory.

My old faithful Rock & Republic jeans are a regular rotation in my wardrobe. On Tuesday you saw my darker wash Rock & Republic jeggings, which are very soft and stretchy. This pair is regular denim with little stretch. I rolled them up once, just for a fun, retro look and to show off my ankle boots. You can also see my lighter colored belt. I did the front tuck with the shirt and wore this belt to match the boots.

A simple charm pendant necklace adds a touch of bling and whimsy.

Once again my thrifted, Fossil crossbody bag is making an appearance.

My Sonoma boots are looking a bit dirty. As I said previously it was snowing for a good portion of the afternoon and when I ran outside to take these pictures our yard was a soggy mess. With all the rain we have had the last year or so, it is rare that our yard is completely dry.

What do you like to wear at this time of year, when the weather is somewhat unpredictable? What are your favorite go-to pieces during this stay at home time?

I love to hear your thoughts and opinions, so leave me some love in the comments. I appreciate all of your support, whether comments, taking time to read my blog posts or clicking on affiliate links so I get a few cents. Thanks for everything you do!

I’m including a few shopping links because we are stuck inside and can’t even go thrifting. Ha, ha. You don’t have to buy anything, but sometimes it is fun just to put things in our carts. It makes me feel like I am shopping.

These are affiliate links, all opinions are my own.

Transitional Spring Outfit

Spring time in my area is a carousel ride of fluctuating temperatures and weather which makes getting dressed any given morning like playing the lottery. The best way I have found to adapt to these changeable days is to think layers. As opposed to winter layering that is full of heavy long sleeved tees and bulky sweaters, spring layering is more about lighter layers. Fabrics like cotton or cotton polyester blends are ideal for light layers and still give you mobility while keeping you warm.

Today’s outfit was what I wore on Saturday for our Easter celebration. I wanted something casual and comfortable, but still flexible enough to cook a big dinner and do all the clean up afterwards. I also wanted layers that would be warm, but not so warm I would be peeling them off when the oven was on cooking the turkey.

Transitional dressing usually means you are moving from one season to another and you are in between one wardrobe and another. The move from winter to spring in my area is usually still chilly and even downright cold. Rain, snow showers and wind are common place during the months of March, April and once in a rare while into May. Many people who have a capsule type wardrobe can have all of their clothes in their closet at one time. For those of us who are clothes horses, we need to move out the winter wardrobe and move in the summer wardrobe. I usually don’t do this until the weather is consistently above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold weather clothes spend much more time in my closet than my warm weather clothes, unfortunately. Ha ha.

In this outfit I am wearing two lightweight cotton long sleeve tees. The striped tee you can see is a.n.a. brand and was a purchase this past fall from JC Penney. They had a good sale on long sleeve tees and I bought a few. Underneath the striped tee is along sleeve thrifted light pink tee which is Old Navy brand.

My pretty floral kimono is David & Young brand and a DSW clearance find. Don’t be afraid to look at the accessory sections at different stores. You never know what you might find. The thing that drew me to this piece was the print, the colors and the tassels.

My jeans are Rock & Republic from Kohl’s. I have several pairs of these and love all of them. These are more stretchy and like jeggings rather than jeans. My other pairs are regular denim.

Once again, my chunky burgundy necklace is making an appearance. I love the way it looks with this outfit and I also love the print mix of this outfit. Stripes and florals are one of the easiest and most popular print mixes.

I thought these Spirit ankle boots were a good choice for this look. They are comfortable and yet stylish with a faux suede finish and low heel.

This Massini saddle bag was purchased from clearance at Meijer a while back. I’ve styled this with an outfit before on the blog. You can see that post here.

I hope you enjoyed this outfit. What do you wear to transition from winter to spring? Are you still wearing layers where you are, or is it warm? I’d love to hear from you, so be sure to leave a comment below.

I hope you all are well and managing to stay healthy and mentally sound, which isn’t easy to do in these times we are in. I have good days and bad days, but we all need to give ourselves grace. These are difficult times, so set small goals and try to get outside.

I’m including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own. Thanks for stopping by the blog.

Styling an Easter Outfit Around a Scarf - Casual Look

Hi everyone. These are definitely disturbing times we are living in. I am so thankful for my faith in Jesus, my family and friends, and all of you lovely subscribers who are on this journey with me. I am not alone and neither are you. I hope that you are staying safe and healthy. Everyday there is another article in the news about the virus and the long term ramifications on our health, the state of health care in our country, or the world. It can be very scary and really blow our anxiety levels right through the roof, so please follow along for a little break from the bleakness. Follow me into the world of spring color.

I am not starting my Pantone series yet, but I do hope to work on that a little over the weekend. Things look a lot different around here as I am sure they do in your household as well. My older daughter, who is my photographer is trying to stay safe at home and is not venturing out much, and I totally respect that. Therefore, we will not be getting together for pictures for a little while. My younger daughter works and since her son is off school I see both of them several days a week, so we have contact. If you have the option of staying home and not having contact with other people, even your family, please do so. It is really best for everyone. For those of you who are helping your families with child care or in other ways, just be sure to wash hands, sanitize and try not to have too much up in your face contact (hard to do with babies and toddlers.)

As my title says, I decided to give you two spring outfits this week that would be perfect for the upcoming Easter weekend. I know most of us won’t be having our normal family gatherings, but whoever you are with you can still dress up and maybe Face Time or Skype with your other family members. My older daughter said her husband’s family is going to do a progressive dinner of sorts, where they each make something, divvy it into portions for each household and then deliver it to the rest of the families involved. Then when they are all back safe in their own homes they can have video dinner time together. What a great idea! I am not sure what our family will do, but even if you are in your own home with just your spouse, or another significant family member you can still celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and the hope that this current darkness will pass.

Today’s outfit centers around the pretty print scarf I got as a gift. A fiesta of feathery friends, and flowers adorns the light pink background on this long, rectangular piece. There are plenty of colors to choose from including several shades of blue, green and yellow. For this outfit I opted to focus on the blue, green and pink.

This St. John’s Bay utility jacket was my first utility piece. I had never had a utility jacket up until I bought this one at JCPenney I have these longer sleeves rolled up once and they actually came with tabs, so you could roll them up farther and button them. You can see how I styled this same jacket with a striped tee and a pair of distressed crop pants here.

My light pink pants are Christopher and Banks which I got on sale at the end of last season. These are very comfy and have good amount of stretch making it easier to move around. I was not really thinking about my hair in these pictures, so this is what you get. Ha, ha.

Here is a closer look at the scarf and you can also see my SO thrifted polka dot denim shirt. I thought it went well with the medium blue in the scarf.

Once again I went for my thrifted olive American Eagle hobo bag. I didn’t realize how closely it matches with my jacket.

I added this simple beaded bracelet for a pop of orange. I got this last summer at a street fair when we were visiting family.

It must be spring, because the bright blue thrifted Keds are back in the rotation! Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this colorful outfit. On Thursday, I’ll use the same scarf to show you a more dressy outfit.

What are you going to wear for Easter Day? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I hope you are all staying safe out there. Hugs and prayers for you all.

I’ve included a few shopping links. I know it is easy to shop from home, maybe a little too easy, but it is where we are at, so enjoy looking at these. These are affiliate links, which means when you click on a link I get a few cents. When you make a purchase through a link, I get a little more. I appreciate all your clicks and your comments.

Spring Trends 2020 - Color Play - Neon

When playing with color I have found the biggest obstacle to overcome is the fear that something won’t go together; that it might look silly or clownish if I have too many colors boldly blasting their way down the street. Obviously, right now, it really doesn’t matter what we are wearing because most of us aren’t going anywhere. I still like to get up, shower, put on make up, do my hair and at least put on a pair of jeans and a top and sweater or sweatshirt. A few days I have even put on jewelry, just because I could. It really doesn’t matter if anyone else sees us. It comes down to what makes you feel happier and more comfortable during this difficult time.

Since neon is once again trending on the runways this spring and summer, I decided to look to Pinterest for some inspiration. As most of you know, when you want to find something on Pinterest you just go to the website and search. I put in neon outfits and got all sorts of ideas, some of which were definitely way outside my style zone. Since I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for, I made up my own outfit. This is what I came up with.

This outfit would be perfectly acceptable at most work establishments and certainly helps to brighten up a drab, gloomy day. These bright red thrifted Faded Glory pants made their blog debut a few weeks ago in last months Color Play post.

This pale neon yellow short sleeve v-neck sweater was a Gap thrift find a few years ago. It is a very comfortable piece and I purposely chose the oversized look. As I told you last week, I have been getting into more oversized pieces. They are comfortable and if chosen carefully don’t add the illusion of extra pounds, but actually hide some of the more prominent bulges. Ha, ha.

My pale neon green jacket is a thrifted Christopher and Banks piece. The 3/4 length sleeves make it a great piece for spring and even for summer, when you need a little something extra for overly air conditioned offices and restaurants.

I thought the addition of this scarf was the perfect way to pull the pieces together. You could think of the this outfit as a type of color blocking, where you wear two or three plain colors next to each other. The addition of a printed scarf and bag add a touch of visual interest.

I have had this large tote bag for a long time. I don’t even remember where I got it, although I think it may have been something JC Penney’s carried in their luggage department a number of years ago and they were phasing it out. I believe I got it quite cheap. It is very roomy and easily fits my computer bag, notebooks and other writing necessities. Now that I think about it, I need to switch over to this bag from my buffalo check tote that I am currently using.

I threw on a few neon orange bracelets, just for fun.

Once again, I am featuring loafers, as they are trending right now. These are a thrifted pair of Nine West brand. Kohl’s started carrying Nine West brand clothing and shoes last fall, so I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled these out and realized they were that brand. I’m trendy and didn’t even know it. Ha, ha. I’ll include a few shopping links at the end if you are interested in adding a cute pair of loafers to your shoe collection.

Would you wear an outfit like this? Do you like neon colors? If you want to add neon to your wardrobe, but don’t want to go all out, look for a bright neon scarf, sweater or bag. I’ve provided a few shopping links below for a few fun neon items.

These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Seeing Red - Red with Leopard - Leopard Print Blazer

I have always loved the combination of leopard print with red and burgundy, so for this outfit, I chose a leopard print blazer to go with a pair of red trousers. If you think you just can’t wear red pants, never say never. It really isn’t so much about color, but about fit. As you saw in last Thursday’s post I wore a pair of bright red jeans and while the fit around my middle was a little tight, the fit through the hips and legs was perfect. Don’t say no to a bright color on your bottom, until you at least give it a try. Be bold! Be confident! Color is our friend.

I will be showing you a few rather funny pictures in a bit. The sun was bright, which I absolutely needed, but after so many days of gloomy gray my eyes were having a hard time adjusting to the brilliance. Even in this picture, my forehead is showing its wrinkles as I squint and my eyes all but disappear. Ha, ha.

These Worthington trousers are a bit too long and I probably should hem them up, but who has time to sew? Actually, the other day, I did get out my thread and needle to fix one of my hubby’s shirts. I have a few other things in the mending pile, so maybe I will add these to the list. Worthington is a brand I have bought numerous times over the years, either from JC Penney or thrift stores. They seem to be a great trouser for times when you need something other than jeans. For instance these make great office attire. They are stretchy, but never look wrinkled or faded. They are medium weight so are good for any season and they are easy to take care of. They also drape well. I have several pairs that I have styled on the blog before. You can see this red pair with a long button up tunic and a open weave light brown sweater.

This gold dot blouse seemed to be natural choice to keep this outfit looking classy. I decided to tuck it in, but you could also leave it out. These days to tuck or not to tuck isn’t even a question any more. It really is up to you and is acceptable either way. This is a brand called Monteau and I got it a few years ago at Macy’s on the clearance rack.

I got this leopard print, Libby Edelman blazer, at JC Penney on the clearance rack. You can see how I styled this before on the blog, here and here. It is more of an unstructured piece and the sleeves are a little bit wonky, almost like they are meant to be worn rolled up rather than down, but I make it work. Have you ever bought a piece like that, where it had some sort of weird hem or problem, yet you make it work because you love the piece? I figure, it is a good reminder of who we are in God’s eyes. We all are a little wonky and have our issues, but He loves us anyway.

Gold was my color of choice for the accessories including a clutch, bracelet and layered statement necklace.

For shoes I wore my thrifted Nurture brand mid calf boots. They have a lower heel and the pants would have draped better with a higher heel.

I promise you a few silly images, so here they are.

I think in the first picture my face is trying to adjust to the sun. The second picture I don’t know what to do with my feet and the third picture I look like I am sinking into the ground or am bent over because I hurt my back. Ha, ha. Anyway, I thought you might get a good laugh out of them.

This one is a little better. Ha, ha.

What did you think of this outfit? Would you wear red with leopard? What sorts of leopard pieces do you own? Leopard print is here to stay and I would have to say, so is the color red.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. Every click you click gives me a few pennies and I appreciate every one. While I don’t write my blog to make money, I do pay for my Squarespace account and of course have to shop every now and then. Ha, ha. Thank you for all of your support.

Photo credit 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.

Old Becomes New - Tiered Maxi Skirt

This Old Becomes New column was put together to help me reach for those things in my closet that I have had for a while. The goal is to come up with an outfit that feels fresh, and modern, then decide if it is a piece I want to keep. Today I pulled out this brown tiered maxi skirt.

The goal of this outfit was ease and comfort. This St. John's Bay skirt from JC Penney is made of a medium weight knit, much like a heavier tee. It has four tiers. Sometimes a tiered skirt can add bulk, making our bottoms look bigger and heavier, but this fabric drapes really well and almost gives the appearance of long pleats.

My 3/4 length sleeve top is Dana Buchman, from Kohl's  and is also older. What drew me to this silky tee were the spots and the neckline. I wish I would have straightened it out a bit for the pictures, but that's what I get for trying to rush. The neckline is a pleated v-neck and lays quite nicely, except for the big wrinkle in this pic! Ha, ha. The print is not really leopard and not really cheetah, but it has that same wild looking effect. 

This is an old bag that I got at a thrift store. I love the sheen, which makes it great for dressing up an outfit. I also love the simple muted taupe and silvery tan color. You really could use a purse like this with any outfit. The brand is Tignanello. Most of their products seem to be sold through QVC or Macy's and are made of leather. The price points are higher than I would pay for a purse, thus thrift stores are a great place to find quality name brand pieces at much more affordable prices. You just have to be vigilant and visit your thrift establishments on a regular basis. 

I've styled this pretty necklace on the blog before and always look for ways I can incorporate it into an outfit. I got this at H&M a number of years ago on the clearance rack and thought it was a unique and fun piece. 

Once again, I chose my peep toe, perforated sandals to complete the outfit. I am really finding these Sonoma brand shoes versatile and comfortable. I actually made the effort to paint my toes before we took pictures, so they could get some sun. Ha, ha. 

So what do you think? Do you like this type of skirt? I think a maxi skirt can be a versatile piece to wear in the summer. It gives you coverage, but also gives you a wealth of options for dressing up or dressing down. You could swap our the silky tee for a tank top and the heels for flip flops. You could also dress it up by throwing a cute black blazer or sweater over the top, then switching out the more casual sandals for a pair of black heels or black wedges. Add a cute sparkly clutch and your all ready for a date night. 

I'd love to hear your feedback, so leave me some comments below. 

I've included a few shopping links for you to peruse. These are affiliate links which means if you click on a link, I get a few cents and if you purchase a piece through one of these links, I get a small commission. All opinions are my own. 

Have a great weekend.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.