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 - Desert Sun, Magical Forest, and Wispy Clouds

This week we are looking at three more colors from the Pantone London Palette for Autumn/Winter 2025. Today’s colors include, Desert Sun, a rich, golden yellow; Magical Forest, a dark green reminiscent of the deepest woods, and a light, airy grayish white called Wispy Clouds. You can see the actual colors in this pin.

My Desert Sun cardigan is a brand called Callaway V and was a thrift find a few years ago. I love the fun details on this piece including the ruffle around the neck line and the tiny jewels at the center of each button. My phone does not do closeups well, so I didn’t bother trying to get a photo, but trust me those tiny jewels are there. Ha, ha. This golden yellow is a perfect color for fall. You can see how I styled this cardigan with a multi print maxi dress here.

It was hard to find any cardigans in this color so I added a few other Desert Sun items.

My Magical Forest tee is Sonoma brand and was a piece I found at Kohl’s a few seasons ago. Being a not-so-basic sort of girl, most of my basics have to have a few details like interesting prints and even a bit of bling.

I thought these second hand, Gloria Vanderbilt utility pants were a close match to Wispy Clouds. They are a lighter weight so will be put away for the winter, but they are a great pair of pants for a dressy casual vibe. The utility details of extra pockets and rivets make it more casual, but the wider legs give them a dressier trouser vibe.

I kept my jewelry minimal with my fall themed, silver pumpkin necklace. This is a fun piece, with an orange leaf and an orange bead, making it perfect to wear all fall long. I honestly can’t remember where I got this. Ha, ha.

I chose black for my shoes, belt and bag. Honestly, I like how matching a shoe and bag, or a belt with a bag makes an outfit look polished and finished off, but that is just my opinion. Matching is a matter of personal taste these days, so do what works for you.

My belt was thrifted. My bag was a gift from my daughter and is Aidebam brand. My shiny Oxfords are a brand called Sugar. I have had these for a number of years, because I used to wear them to work and I haven’t worked at the bookstore since fall of 2019. Yikes! It’s been six years since I lost my job. Wow! Where does the time go?

What do you think of these colors? Do you like this combination? What colors would you have combined with this golden yellow or this dark green?

I have included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links brought to you at no cost to give you possible shopping options for similar items or colors. Not every color is easy to find, so that is where your closet or a thrift store come in handy. You would be surprised how often I have these colors in my closet, or a close enough match to make it unnecessary to go shopping…although I enjoy that too. Ha, ha.

Thank you for following along on the blog. I appreciate all your support. Have a great day.

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 - London Palette: Lavender Blue, Chili Oil and Crown Blue

As we start the London Color Palette this week you will recognize a few of the same colors that were on the New York Palette. Chili Oil and Crown Blue are two of those. You can see the London palette colors by checking out this pin on my Pinterest board. For today’s look and a one other look from this palette I decided to combine colors that fall into the same color category. Today I combined the pastel Lavender Blue with the classic Crown Blue, along with Chili Oil for a casual chic color block look.

The leaf is not part of the outfit! Ha, ha. Watch the following and you’ll know why. We have an immense Cottonwood tree in our yard and the leaves start to carpet the grass from the beginning of August. Even with all the leaves on the ground there are still leaves on the tree…and the sticks!! Eye, yie, yie. The stick shed from Cottonwoods is crazy.

You saw this Crown Blue thrifted Coldwater Creek piece just a few weeks ago. See the post here in case you missed it. This is a retailer that has many pretty and practical pieces, but they are a touch out of my price range, that is why I like to find different brands at thrift stores to try them out.

Lavender Blue is the London pallet’s pastel. I have two pullover tops in this color. It is a purply blue that is hard to match with anything, so an outfit like this allows it to stand on its own. This piece is Apt. 9 and was purchased at Kohl’s a number of years ago. I had to show off the beautiful lace inset on the back, even though it was concealed under the jacket. You can see how I styled this in another fall outfit with a white skirt.

My Chili Oil pants are Chico’s So Slimming, which I bought on sale a number of years ago. These are ponte pants. I never thought I would like a knit pant like this, but I do. I do not wear them often as I look at them more as a dress or work pant, but it was fun to get them out for this outfit. You saw them a few weeks ago when I styled them with Lemon Grass and French Roast.

I felt like keeping it casual, and thought it would be a nice contrast to the previous look with these pants which was more dressed up. It is amazing how accessories like shoes and bags can change a look. I chose my denim Keds as a nod back up to Crown Blue jacket. I also gave the pants a cuff, which in this look keeps it a bit more casual.

My corduroy axcess bag is very old, but I love the colors and keep it hanging around, even though my current go to’s for bags are cross body and smaller.

My jewelry is a simple pendant charm necklace. I like that the coppery color goes with the Chili Oil vibe of the pants, and makes the pastel top seem more fall appropriate.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like these colors? Do you like to wear a color block look?

I am including a few shopping links for you. These are affiliate links and are provided to give you ideas, inspiration and possible shopping options. If you use one of my links to make a purchase, I get a little commission, and believe me at this point in time, all the pennies count.

Have a super Tuesday!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2025 - New York Palette: Brandied Melon, Hot Chocolate and Bright White

Today I am showing you outfit #5 from my Pantone Autumn/Winter New York Palette series. This is the last trio of colors from this fall palette, and hopefully next week I’ll start the London color palette. You can see the original colors in this Pinterest pin.

Today’s outfit revolves around a mellow orange named Brandied Melon, a soothing brown reminiscent of Hot Chocolate, and Bright White, mimicking the gorgeous clouds we see meandering through the late summer sky.

I chose this unique, thrifted patchwork top for the pops of Brandied Melon. I love the boho vibe and the variety of colors and print. I looked up this brand, Style & Co, and found that Macy’s was the original retailer. I always find it interesting that I will find a certain brand and then find more pieces of that brand as I thrift. I must be drawn to them for a reason.

My Bright White Gloria Vanderbilt jeans have been around for years. I purchased them new at JC Penney, and use them whenever I need a pair of crisp, white pants that are both casual and dressy. I have a hard time photographing white, or any lighter colors outside. Oh well, not worries. You get the idea. You can see these jeans styled with a yellow sweater, a floral kimono, a velvet jacket, a fall jacket, with a white top and sweater, a black vest, and a multi print top. There are more, but you get the idea. White pants are not restricted by any season and go with every color.

Since the top didn’t contain any browns, I added my thrifted Hot Chocolate corduroy bag. I love this roomy, casual bag, and the strap is long enough I can use it like a cross body bag.

I kept my accessories simple. My faux suede, SO ankle boots were from Kohl’s a number of years ago. My necklace was from a few years ago.

If the weather was cooler, I could easily add a longer cardigan for another layer by picking another color in the top. It would look great with olive, black, white, and even the Mauve Wine (see my first outfit in this series, here.)

What do you think of these colors? Do you wear white all year round, or just in the warmer months? Please leave me your thoughts in the comments or leave a comment on FB. I love to hear your ideas.

I included a few shopping links under each item. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. I hope yo are having a great middle of September!

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!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2025 - New York Palette: Lemon Grass, Chili Oil, and French Roast

This week brings you another collection of colors from the Pantone Autumn New York color palette. Remember, I am combining colors as they inspired me, but you can take any of the colors from the palette and put them together, or maybe there are only one or two colors that you like and plan on adding to your wardrobe. This is always about what you like and how you can be inspired to look at your closet differently.

Today’s outfit is a contrast of light and dark combining the yellowy green of Lemon Grass with the classic French Roast along with the spice of Chili Oil. You can see the actual Pantone colors here.

This pale yellow top, is not a true yellow, but has just a hint of green, making it the perfect selection from my closet for the Pantone Lemon Grass. I found this a few years ago while thrifting and it is a brand called Jess & Jane. I discovered that Jess & Jane is a California based wholesale clothing company who only sells to specialty boutiques, so who knows where this piece originated from. It’s kind of fun to think of the roads some of our second hand pieces have traveled. I like the asymmetrical hemline and the funky ink spray pattern on the front. I also like the sleeve length, which is perfect for the transitional days between summer and fall.

I remembered that I still had these rusty, Chili Oil, Chico’s So Slimming ponte pants that I had purchased on sale a few years ago. Ponte pants are made from a thick, stretchy, double-knit fabric called Ponte di Roma. They offer a more flattering line than regular leggings due to the specially made seams and more support. I don’t wear dress pants very often these days as I no longer have an office job, but I hang onto things for now, because who knows when I may have to go back to work outside the home.

To add a bit of texture and a layer for cooler temps I reached for this thrifted Crazy Horse by Liz Claiborne corduroy vest. It does a fairly good job of mimicking the French Roast dark brown color on the New York classic palette. I love this piece as it is structured, but also has a bit of stretch making it easier to wear.

I kept my jewelry simple, as the top, vest and pants do the talking. A long black and white, beaded pendant necklace, and a stack, bead bracelet with browns, creams, blacks and a touch of yellow threw in a bit more texture and interest. I didn’t think to swap out my blue Fit Bit band for a brown or white one. Ha, ha.

I chose black for my shoes and bag to tie to the black print on the top. My bag is a thrifted Fossil shoulder bag, and my shoes are Aerosoles that I purchased a number of years ago from DSW. I really like both of these. The bag is a great fall and winter choice, and the heels are comfortable (for as comfy as a heeled shoe can be when you don’t wear them very often - ha, ha).

What do you think of these Pantone colors? Would you wear these colors together? Do you like Lemon Grass, Chili Oil or French Roast the best? Which of these colors do you already have in your closet? Leave me a comment or two. It helps my blog to grown and reminds me why I do this!

I have included a few shopping links. Thank you so much for making an occasional purchase through my links. That gives me a tiny bit of income. I cherish all of your support. These are affiliate links brought to you at no cost. All opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a great week!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2025 - New York: Primrose Pink, Damson, and Mauve Wine

I am making an attempt to get back on track on my Fashion page, by introducing the Pantone Autumn/Winter 2025 color palettes. I thought if I started a little earlier, you could take the inspiration and actually shop your closets for some of these colors to wear this fall. Starting with the New York palette, I hope to also cover the London Palette next month.

Today’s outfit is a pretty work wear look that uses the palette’s lightest color Primrose Pink, paired with the medium Damson purple and the darker Mauve Wine. I really like how these colors work together, giving a nod to the parting pastels of summer and to the incoming darker hues of fall. You can see the actual colors in one of the Pantone pins on my Pinterest board here.

I got dressed, did my makeup and was all set to take pictures outdoors and then it decided to pour. By the time I took these shots the sun was coming out again, but the grass and trees were soaked, so I decided to stay in doors.

I went through a few color combination iterations before I finally settled on this trio, but I really like how it turned out. Let’s look at all the pieces.

I decided to use this thrifted herringbone blazer for the Damson medium purple color. My photos don’t do the purple color justice, but it is what it is. This is a vintage piece from a U.S. manufacturer called Cape Cod Match Mates. The research I did said these were made in the 1970’s and 80’s. The pieces are easy wear, durable, and a stretchy polyester blend that holds its shape well. It also said they mostly made patterns that were bold and fun. I have one other blazer by them that is a darker blue and red plaid. You can see that on my Instagram page, here.

The Mauve Wine color of my floral blouse is actually under the Classic Colors on the New York palette. I was surprised. Usually, the classics are more neutrals or dark navy blues or black. It was nice to have a different option and this color is one I love for the fall and winter. This piece is a second hand Loft brand. Dark florals are always a winner for fall.

My Primrose Pink pants have made an appearance on the blog before. These Christopher and Banks trousers are a great choice when I want to look a little more dressy. You can see them styled here in a casual Easter outfit,

Since there was a tiny bit of green in my blouse, I reached for this Charming Charlie tote bag that I have had for a few years. I thought it keeps the summer element in the outfit along with the pink pants, after all we have about five more weeks of summer before the actual seasonal change.

I added a sparkly necklace just to add a bit of pizzazz!

These slip on Oxfords are an older second hand find and brand called Enzo-Angiolini. I don’t often wear anything other than casual shoes like sneakers and my Converse since I no longer have an office job, but I do hang on to shoes like these so I have options if I ever need to dress up a bit.

What do you think of these colors? Which of these three do you like the best? I always enjoy getting your feedback so leave me a comment or two.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look through. These links are brought to you at no cost. These are affiliate links. If you purchase an item through my link I get a small commission. I appreciate all you support. All opinions are my own.

Have a great week!

Color Play: Pantone Spring/Summer 2025 London Palette - Camellia, Windsor Wine and Garden Green

This week’s colors really seem more fall friendly, but it appears the Pantone Color Institute is taking to heart the idea of no more fashion rules. You know the kinds of things I am talking about: wearing white only between Easter and Labor Day, dark colors in the fall and winter, light colors in the spring and summer, and all the “rules” about age appropriate fashion. That last one is one I am personally glad we have more or less thrown out the window, but I still have my own opinions about what is appropriate to wear for any female versus what isn’t. However, I will save that rabbit trail for another day.

Today’s look revolves around a bright orangey coral, a dark burgundy and a deep green. These colors not only seem to be ready for Autumn, but I thought they would make an interesting combination, thus the reason I put this under my Color Play column. Welcome Camellia, Windsor Wine, and Garden Green from the Classic palette. You can see these colors on my Pinterest board by clicking here.

As you can see it was super windy when I took these pictures. The wind also made it chilly. I was intending to do photos for several outfits, but if you saw last week’s post you can see I finally went inside. Ha, ha.

I have had this orangey coral cardigan for several years. It is Sonoma brand and I got it at Kohl’s. It is a great sweater for the warmer weather as it is light weight. It also has the tabs and buttons on the sleeves so you can roll it up to make them shorter if you want. It also has patch pockets on the lower front on both sides.

My Windsor Wine colored pants are thrifted Westport brand. I really would like to say I will wear these again this summer, but I have so many other things to wear in the warm weather that I find more appealing to my desired spring and summer color palette, so these will, most likely, be lovingly packed away until fall.

You can also see I pulled out my similarly colored loafers. These are a thrifted pair of Naturalizers, called Natural Soul. I used to wear these to work, back in the day when I was employed. Ha, ha. I like that they are patent leather, but not the typical black.

For the Garden Green classic color I chose this St. John’s Bay top that I’ve had for a while. I didn’t get a picture of the sleeves, but they are approximately elbow length bell sleeves. I did want you to see a little bit of the pretty embroidery on the top. You can also see my layered necklaces. The top leans a bit more towards the olive direction, but I felt it worked for the Pantone color.

My bag is also green, but compared to the Garden Green it is a bit too bright. This was another thrift find and is Liz Claiborne brand.

What did you think of this color combination? Do you like darker colors all year round, or do you think there is a better time of year to wear them? Let me know by leaving some love in the comments.

I supplied a few shopping links. Please feel free to use these links to buy items for yourself or someone else. If you shop a link through my site then I get a token commission. I appreciate all your support!

Have a great week everyone!

Outfit Inspiration: Pantone Spring/Summer 2025 London Palette Colors - Pear Sorbet, Hibiscus and Cocoa

I got my month all off kilter and I haven’t even been able to get my Faith posts out, so bear with me as I try to get back to my regular posting schedule. This column, Outfit Inspiration, usually happens the first Tuesday of the month, but for some reason I got completely off this month. Oh well, I know you all are very understanding so I appreciate the support even when I am losing the plot. Ha, ha.

I know a few weeks ago, I said I wasn’t going to cover all of the Pantone 2025 colors, but I got sucked in and am having fun shopping my closet for this year’s Spring/Summer palette. Currently, I am covering the London Palette after which I will decide if I am going to continue with the New York Palette. To see the current London palette you can see the pin I added to my board a few months ago with all of the colors. So far I have shown you Airy Blue and Passion Flower, and White Grape, Veridian Green, and Curds & Whey.

Today’s outfit is a mix of a bright jewel tone pinky red, a pastel very pale yellow, and one of the classic colors from their palette, a dark chocolate brown. May I introduce you to Pear Sorbet, Hibiscus, and Cocoa.

When deciding which of the remaining colors to put together I had to play around for a few hours to find the right pieces in the right combinations. I like how this turned out and it all started with this pale, Pear Sorbet, thrifted Christopher & Banks, plaid shirt. I am not as much into really pale colors like this, but I do think there is a place for them in our closets, especially in the warm weather months. This piece is as light weight as it is pale and will be great for when the temperatures go up.

The other piece I knew I wanted to use for the bright pinky red Hibiscus color was this thrifted Amazon Essentials vest. It is interesting how these darker or brighter shades of pink can look so vastly different. If I compare this to pink it looks almost red. If I compare it to red it looks pink. The wonderful world of color!

I have worn this tiered, knit maxi skirt on the blog numerous times. It is one of my regular go to’s in the the warmer months and is so comfortable. This is St. John’s Bay brand and is from JC Penney. You can see it styled with a spotted top, a green moto jacket, a bookish vest, and a long fringe vest.

To make the look more spring/summer like, I added a thrifted, pale yellow, St. John’s Bay tank top under the button down and left the upper buttons undone. I also added some layered jewelry.

I added my thrifted, leather Anne Klein crossbody bag.

Finally, I dug out this pale yellow pair of Universal Thread sneakers I found on clearance at Target a few summer’s ago, to complete the look. Sorry for the crummy picture.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like this combination of colors? Do you like pastels, and how do you like to wear them? I love to have your feedback, so please leave a comment or two.

When the weather does finally stay warm this bright vest will be put away until the cold weather returns, but I was glad to get one more wear in before summer actually arrives.

I’m including a few shopping links below. These affiliate links are brought to you at no extra cost. If you purchase an item through one of my links I get a little kick back. I appreciate all your clicks and purchases.

Have a great week!

My Style: Featuring Pantone 2025 London Palette Colors - White Grape, Veridian Green and Curds & Whey

I had one of my subscribers comment that she would like to see White Grape and Veridian Green together, so Sally this is for you. You can see these colors along with the other Pantone 2025 London Spring/Summer colors here. Thank you for those of you who take the time to comment. I know everyone is so busy and frankly, if you are like me, you feel inundated with too much information. However, I do want you to know that it means a lot when you take time to comment. I reminds me that what I am doing has a purpose and is seen.

I shopped my closet for these colors and had to open a few of my warm weather bins to find clothes that would look more spring-like. I thought it would be a fun change to layer a long sleeve shirt under a 3/4 length sleeve light weight jacket. I like how this turned out. Be sure to tell me what you think of this color combination and of the outfit in general.

I had to play around with a few pieces before I settled on these, but I found this combination came the closest to the palette colors. I started with this men’s button down as my Veridian Green layer. This is a brand called Zylos and it was thrifted a few years ago. I do like this deep aqua color, and it is perfect for the warm weathers months.

Next I found this thrifted Christopher and Banks piece, also a number of years ago. I thought about getting rid of it, as I don’t wear 3/4 sleeves very often, especially in jackets, but the color and fit kept it in my rotation. It is a great topper for chilly places when the air conditioners start to come on. The lighting was a bit persnickety, so the photo doesn’t do the color justice, but it definitely has that White Grape vibe.

I knew I wanted a casual look, as it is My Style, so jeans were my top choice. It took me a few try ons before I decided on this cropped, cuffed, St. John’s Bay pair from JC Penney a few Christmas seasons ago.

It occurred to me to check the classic colors on the Pantone palette to see what might work with this colorful look and I opted for Curds & Whey as I had my bag, belt and shoes that all fit with that color. I like this color as a different option to beige or tan for the summer months. All these pieces were second hand and obtained over the last few years. The bag is Fossil brand and the boat shoes, which are trending for summer, are Sperry’s.

I also added this necklace which did well to pull it all together.

Let me know what you think of these colors together. Do you like these greens? I’m not including any shopping links today, but let me know if you have seen these colors at any retailers other than thrift stores. Do you have these colors in your closet?

Have a great week!

Shopping Our Closets: Featuring Pantone 2025 London Palette Colors - Airy Blue and Passion Flower

I will no longer be featuring a series on the twice yearly Pantone color palettes, because it is no longer free to access. This year they have stopped showing the colors in their articles unless you sign up for an account. This was apparently due to an disagreement between Pantone and Adobe the platform that provided the color palettes. Pantone wanted customers to have direct access to the color libraries, but now it costs a subscription price of $15/month or $90/year. This is unfortunate for those of us who enjoy seeing the new colors. However, I was able to find a pin on Pinterest that shows the colors and you can see that here.

It is hard for me to show you warm weather looks when it is still so chilly outside, but I made an attempt with this outfit’s bright colors and fun denim jacket. It just happened that this purple which they are called Passion Flower is one of my favorite colors. I thought it paired well with the lighter Airy Blue of the denim and my vintage-ish shoulder bag. Let’s take a closer look at the details.

There are two stars in this outfit.

Star #1 - Embroidered Denim Jacket

You may have seen this beautiful, thrifted J. Jill Denim piece on the blog before. Click to see it styled with a head to toe denim outfit, a floral maxi dress, pink pants and a berry top, and a white maxi skirt. This is definitely a piece that I will be hanging on to.

Star #2 - Pleated Skirt

I bought this the last time I went thrifting before I started the #75hardstylechallenge . It was a tad tight around the waist, but I had started Weight Watchers and was hopeful that it would fit better as I lost weight, and indeed it does. It is still a tad snug, so no sit ups while I am wearing it, but who would be doing sit ups in a skirt anyway? Ha, ha.

This gorgeous piece is Pendleton brand, so very well made. I wish I could afford their clothing, but I will just have to keep my eye out when I start thrifting again. I did have two other Pendleton pieces, a blazer I still have which you can see here and here, and another blazer, here, which I do not have any longer.

I had this purple Time and Tru, thermal long sleeve tee from a previous thrifting occasion and it matches perfectly.

I added this pendant necklace and love how it pulls in the berry colors from the skirt. That also allowed me to add my Vionic suede combat boots, a clearance find at DSW, to pulled it all together.

Finally, my light blue shoulder bag, another thrift find is a brand called Sparrow True. On the label inside it says, “Inspired by Vintage Treasures of an Undiscovered Past.” I like that.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you own any Pendleton products? What has been your best find either at a thrift store or a regular retail store? I’d love to hear from you. Your input and feedback always makes my day and helps me to keep posting.

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

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

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: Pantone Autumn/Winter NY Palette - Tomato Cream, Moonstruck and Buckthorn Brown

Today I am combining the last three colors from the Pantone Autumn/Winter 2024 New York Palette. Tomato Cream will definitely remind you of the familiar soup. I still have cans of Campbell’s Tomato Soup in my pantry and use them regularly. My mom always used water to make the soup when I was growing up, but when I got married to a Wisconsin man who loved dairy I learned to use half a can of milk and half a can of water, or if I have skim milk, I use a full can. It makes the soup creamier and it takes on this orangey red color.

Moonstruck is a medium gray and reminds me of the gray skies of fall and winter that just hang around, but don’t produce any rain or snow. For this sufferer of Seasonal Affective Disorder those gray clouds are the worst! Just rain or snow, already. Ha, ha.

Buckthorn Brown is an earthy sunshine color. It tends towards yellowish gold, but is not truly yellow. I think their idea was buckskin, but without the bad press that animal skins or prints have for many people. I do not have an issue with leather, but I do prefer it is sustainably and responsibly sourced. Fast fashion is not good for our environment and certainly not for animals who are used just to make a buck…pardon the pun! That being said, I do like this color. It is a nice change from our darker browns, and gives our wardrobes a peppy vibe.

My outfit for these last three colors is very casual. This is more in line with my every day looks, so for those of you who are not working, or are working from home, this might be for you.

To see the actual Pantone Autumn/Winter 2024 New York Palette colors just click on the link. I do the best I can to match the colors with what I have in my closet, so they differ slightly.

My Tomato Cream Tahari open front cardigan was a clearance find from TJMaxx a few years ago. You can see how I styled that with a white sleeveless sweater, a fall graphic tee, and in a monochrome fall look from last year.

My Gloria Vanderbilt Moonstruck jeans have been around for a while. It seems every time there is a Pantone series, I bring these out as there is always some sort of gray. You can see them styled with a red and white striped tee, and with a red plaid blazer.

Buckthorn Brown is really more of a brownish gold or yellow, but I thought this Sonoma tee from Kohl’s was a pretty good match. Kohl’s has always been a great place to find basics like short and long sleeve tees, pullover sweaters for the cooler weather and fun tees with holiday motifs. I don’t shop there much any more due to my lack of need for clothing, and due to my love of thrifting. Ha, ha.

I kept my accessories pretty minimal. My necklace was a more recent thrift find, and might seem a little to fancy for this casual look, but I like the contrast of dressy and casual, and the color goes well with the Tomato Cream cardi.

I chose blue for my bag and my sneakers, just to play off the blue flowers in the tee. My bag is an old thrift find, a brand called Nine & Co. My sneakers are Keds.

What do you think of these colors? What did you think of this fall’s New York palette? What colors were your favorites? I’d love to get your feedback, so leave me a comment or two.

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

Have a great weekend, everyone!

My Style: Pantone Autumn/Winter 2024 NY Palette - Fern, Adventurine, and Dark Gull

I wanted to continue the Pantone color series, but I also wanted to stick to my monthly posts, so for today’s look I am combining three of the Pantone NY palette colors into another style I like, but haven’t as much experience in: Dark Academia.

Academia fashion draws their ideas from university influences both real and imagined. Think of looks combining plaids, tweeds, cozy sweaters, pleated skirts, houndstooth patterns and other vibes associated with higher education. Dark Academia (click on the links to see a few of my pins on Pinterest) uses the darker, moodier end of the color spectrum, while Light Academia chooses pastels, and lighter shades, but in similar textures, styles and patterns. While some looks may include preppy, these are not specifically prep school leanings. I think of Dark Academia as outfits with a Detective Noir slant, but with more fun accessories like back packs, boots and plaid skirts.

This is my take on the Dark Academia style using the colors Fern, Adventurine, and Dark Gull.

To start off, I chose this thrifted, Old Navy, tiered Fern skirt. Tiered skirts are not really part of the academic vibe, but at the current moment I don’t have anything green in pants or a skirt that would have fit both the color and the style. However, I think this worked pretty well. You can see how I styled this skirt before on the blog with a colorful kimono, with a sheer floral top, and with a colorful fall jacket.

This second hand, Old Navy green top I chose is a tad darker than the Adventurine color, but it is pretty close. I found this gauzy piece recently at the second hand shop around the corner. I have always loved gauze tops. They are so pretty, comfortable, and while we often think of them as warm weather pieces they are perfect to layer a jacket or sweater over.

This thrifted, Mossimo, Dark Gull blazer was a hand-me-over from my daughter. I have always liked a dark gray, better than a light gray, so I am naturally drawn to pieces this color. To me they are classy looking, but aren’t black, so a good choice when you don’t want to go as formal as black.

On Pinterest most of the accessories revolving around academic fashion are simple pendant necklaces, leather, or faux leather boots, loafers and oxfords and back packs or bags. There are also scarves, but our weather is still too hot for those. I decided to focus on silver as the belt over my shirt has silver links and buckles. I also chose a thrifted pair of shoes, a brand called Enzo Angiolini, that are like loafers, but also like oxfords. Ha, ha. And yes my collar is crooked in the first two pictures. Ha, ha.

What do you think of these three Pantone colors? Do you like the Dark Academia vibe? How would you change this type of outfit to make it your own? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments below.

I’m including a few shopping links for pieces that would fall into the Dark Academia style. These are affiliate links brought to you at no extra cost. All opinions are my own.

Shopping Our Closets: Pantone Autumn/Winter 2024 NY - Red Orange, Scarlet Smile and Baritone Blue

The best part about having a closet full of color is that I can almost always come close to matching the Pantone color palettes, whether for spring or fall. I do try to come as close as possible to the palette colors, but it is not a science. It is meant to be a fun exercise in trying new color combinations that you might not normally try.

Today’s outfit is a fun combination of Red Orange, Scarlet Smile, and Baritone Blue. I think this look would be great for work, or for a fall festival or party.

For this outfit I started with this recently thrifted Notations prairie skirt. It has the Red Orange color throughout. I am a sucker for tiered maxi skirts and especially like the boho feel of the fall colored print. Seeing as the skirt has a variety of colors I am looking forward to trying out a few other ways to style this. It is light weight, so for this shoot I added a slip, but that’s just my personal preference. In the cooler weather I would also add heavier tights.

I had a different top picked out that leaned more towards a reddish pink, but looking at Scarlet Smile again, I opted for this men’s Van Heusen, plaid, short sleeve number. It gives the look a touch of a masculine feel. You certainly could make it much more feminine by choosing a top with ruffles, lace or puffy sleeves.

To bring in the darker classic Baritone Blue, which is basically navy, I chose my Sonoma utility jacket from Kohl’s with the embroidered sleeves. I thought the embroidery added a nice element and pulled the whole look together.

Once I had the outfit figured out, it was an easy choice to add a simple bead and metal necklace in the Red Orange color, my brown, thrifted combat boots, and my thrifted Simple Vera, Vera Wang, bag. Unfortunately, once I was finished with the shoot this bag went in the dumpster. I know of no way to stop the fake leather bags from peeling. If anyone knows a cure, let me know. Ha, ha.

What do you think of these colors? do you have any of these in your closet? Would you wear these colors together? I love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to take the time to comment.

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

Have a great day!

My Style: Business Casual

I have been doing a series in this monthly column of different style types that I borrow from. As I have said in the past, I do not have one particular style, although often I choose Casual as my current go to. This said, I do like to borrow from other style types when I am feeling particularly adventurous, or if I have a particular event or style challenge that I am participating in on Instagram. So far I have looked at Classic, Boho, and Grunge. Click on those links to see how I interpret each of those styles. Today I am going to look at the Business Casual style.

Business Casual revolves around pieces you can wear to the work place that are both comfortable and classic in style. Think of blazers, tees, trousers or wide leg denim, structured bags, simple cardigans and shoes from loafers to sneakers. For this outfit I chose items from my closet that were bought new and thrifted.

I actually started this outfit with this Jaclyn Smith sweater and Liz Claiborne bag. Both are thrifted pieces. The green color is trending for fall, and the Pantone color palettes for both London and NY contain a few greens. I believe the London palette color called Rain Forest comes closest to this dark, rich green.

The next piece I chose were these wide leg, Ophelia Roe jeans that I found on clearance at our local Meijer a few seasons ago. That was when wider leg pants were coming back in style and I knew I didn’t have any. I liked the lighter color and the no belt loops waistline. I also like the gold buttons and front patch pockets.

My simple, blue, thrifted, Time and Tru v-neck tee seemed the perfect pairing for this outfit that became, basically, a two color combo of light blue and dark green. To me it symbolizes the beautiful blue skies of late summer and early fall, and the dark greens of the last summer days against those blue skies.

With the addition of a gorgeous statement necklace that I acquired a number of years ago from Christopher and Banks this outfit really stands out. I also added a few metal bangle bracelets in similar colors of silver, blue and purple.

Here is a closer look at this great, green and brown, Liz Claiborne satchel bag that I found thrifting about a year or so ago.

Finally, I went with my older white and navy Keds for my shoes. I also have a pair of brown loafers, a similar brown to that of the bag, that would have went well with this look as well.

Sorry for the poor pictures. I have gotten lazy and use my phone for pictures, that and my computer no longer has room to hold pictures from my camera. The poor Apple is getting old. I will be looking at replacing it in the, hopefully, not too distant future once I have a bit of money saved up. However, the phone, as great as it does, doesn’t allow for adjusting the lighting, and if the light isn’y perfect then neither are the pictures.

So what did you think of this outfit? Do you have Business Casual pieces in your closet? Is this a go to style for you? I love to hear your thoughts so leave me a comment or two.

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

Have a great day everyone!

Heading Toward the Holidays - Graphics and Flannels

Once again, I apologize for my inconsistency in getting things posted on the blog. Life has been busy and often overwhelming with various difficulties, but I will keep trying to show up. I decided to forego my Pantone color series. Just like in life, we often have to review and measure what is important and meaningful in our lives. The things that don’t give us the spark they once did might better be set aside for a time, and maybe even left forever.

The whole Pantone entity has become much less user friendly. The graphics are no longer available to use without paying for them, and even their website seems less geared toward the fashion industry and more towards color as it is used in building and designing interior spaces. That is fine, but I am a bit underwhelmed by it all, so for now, I am setting that part of my color interest aside.

For this month, December, I want to focus on building outfits for the holidays from our closets. Winter colors, textures and pieces can be so much fun to play with and even more fun to think about putting together as we deck the halls, make the cookies, shop, wrap presents, and gather together with friends coworkers and family.

Today’s simple, casual look revolves around a Christmas themed long sleeve tee and a plaid, flannel shirt.

Style Tip: When dressing for the cold weather holidays think textures and layers. Chunky beads, or scarves, fabrics like flannel or fleece, and faux suede boots with a bit of slouch make for interesting outfits whether dressing in jeans, skirts or even dresses.

This outfit is a mix of new and old. Let’s start at the top. This men’s flannel shirt was purchased last year on line from Kohl’s when they had a good sale. You know my love for flannel and I didn’t have anything with this combination of tan and dark green. The Christmas Tree Farm tee was also a Kohl’s purchase last year. Both of these pieces are Sonoma brand.

My string of beads are a thrift find. Don’t they match perfectly with the tee?

My jeans I’ve had for a few years. They were also a Kohl’s purchase and are a brand called Angels. Kohl’s only seemed to carry them for a short time, as the brand is no longer available. I really like them and was sad when the brand disappeared. These are a skinny leg, which are still my faves for sliding into boots.

As I mentioned earlier faux suede or real suede is a great textural element to add to your winter outfits. My boots, which are also a Sonoma purchase from Kohl’s clearance a few years ago, are one of my favorite pairs and they went so well with this casual outfit. I took a few close up pics of the boots, but for some weird reason they would not download like the other ones did. Go figure. It honestly is ALWAYS something! Ha, ha.

My fun, velvet bag comes out every year in the colder weather. It’s a different green, but I think it works because it is just different enough it stands out on its own, but the blue flowers complement the blue jeans and pull the outfit together.

Style Tip: Pick accessories, especially bags and boots that you know you will reach for again and again. These are the easiest to use with multiple different outfits and if you love them you’ll want to show them off.

At the last minute I decided to add one other piece to this outfit to make it perfect for a run to the store for those last minute stocking stuffers. I found this beautiful reversible jacket on one of my last thrift runs with my girlfriend when I was back to see my mom. It’s a brand called Jenny Buchanan, but seems to be only available now on second hand websites like Poshmark and Thread Up. I love the detailed quilting on this piece. It isn’t lined, so definitely won't work for a really cold day, but this will be great three season piece. I probably will use it more like a blazer in the winter.

Do you like to wear casual outfits like this? What would you do differently? What is one of your favorite casual brand names for winter clothes? I love to hear your thoughts.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look through. I provide these as a service to you, to give you ideas or places to look for similar pieces. These are affiliate links. all opinions are my own.

Have a great week everyone!