Pantone Autumn/Winter 2023 - New York Palette: Viva Magenta, Red Orange, and Eclipse

I have been wandering in the wilderness for a few weeks trying to maneuver the hard bits of life and the emotional drain that comes with it. That said, I want to keep bringing you content as often as I can and I appreciate your support and patience during these times when I am struggling.

Getting back to my Pantone color series we are looking at another combination of colors from the Autumn/Winter New York Palette. This trio is perfect for fall and I thought the classy, casual vibe of this outfit would be great for your Thanksgiving Day festivities.

I really like how this outfit turned out. Let’s look at each piece.

This Viva Magenta top was actually a piece I gifted to my daughter, but it ended up on her get rid of pile, so of course I snatched it back. Ha, ha. I have so few really classy, dress tops and I just love the bishop sleeves on this piece.

This Red Orange utility jacket was one of the first few utility pieces that I bought, so I have had it for six years. I purchased this at Nordstrom Rack because I fell in love with the color. You can see another Pantone post I did using this piece here.

Another thrift find, these Eclipse pants are so fun with their embellished velvet flowers. I have a feeling I will be pulling these out multiple times for the holidays. Not only are they unique, but they are comfy.

The accessories really pulled this whole look together. The scarf actually had all of the colors in it. My bag, and patent leather ankle boots added a classy element to the outfit, and the pendant necklace was a nice finishing touch.

What did you think of this outfit? Do you like these colors? Do you have these colors in your closet? Let me know what you think in the comments.

I hope you are having a great week!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2023 - New York Palette

The following are my renderings of the Pantone Color Institute’s Fall 2023 New York Palette. These are not going to be exact representations, but close to what the palette consists of. For actual color comparisons go to Pantone.

Happy fall everyone! The season is official and the leaves are beginning their seasonal change here in the midwest. My husband and I got out for a hike on Sunday afternoon and it was beautiful. It was actually a little warm for my preferences, but a lovely day to take a walk. The leaves around here are just showing touches, but many of those swatches are vibrant. I’m sorry Pantone, but no one creates a color palette like the God of Creation! These are few shots I took with my phone.

I am going to introduce the New York fall palette to you today. I decided to take pictures of the corresponding color pieces from my wardrobe to give you an idea of what the colors look like. Next week I will actually start showing you the outfits. In the mean time you can try to guess how I might put these pieces together, or you can come up with your own combinations, just for fun. Let me know in the comments which colors you would put together.

Tender Peach

As Pantone often does they include a few pastels. I am not as much a pastel girl, but I know many of you are, so it is fun to think about how I would include a pastel in a fall outfit.

Rose Violet

This hot pink fuchsia color is bright and sassy. Originally, I was going to use my fuchsia dress from Closet52, but it just wasn’t coming together, so I opted for this thrifted skirt with the Rose Violet flowers. I am not even sure what happened to Closet52. I can no longer find their website. So crazy, the way things come and go so fast.

Viva Magenta

This is the Pantone Color of the Year. You can see the post I did on that earlier this year. This is a lovely, bright color that really works in all seasons, and just about everyone can wear it, but it is hard to find.

Red Orange

This is a color we often equate with fall, especially when we think of changing leaves. The red orange can be easier to wear for some than a true orange. Either way it is a great fall color.

Red Dahlia

Fall wouldn’t be complete without some sort of maroon, burgundy or berry color. Red Dahlia is more towards the maroon side. This picture doesn’t really do it justice. The sweater is a dark maroon, but for some reason it kept looking lighter and more red. Silly phone photos!

High Visibility

Pantone almost always has some sort of bright yellow on its fall palettes. This is another color reminiscent of the changing leaves and sunflowers that are in full bloom at the end of summer.

Persian Jewel and Carnival Glass

These two colors you know will go together for my future outfits. They both were hard colors to find in my closet. I actually had a few pieces that met the Carnival Glass qualifications, but the Persian Jewel is a particular blue akin to Periwinkle, which is a purply blue. I do not have much of that particular blue in my wardrobe.

Burnt Sienna

This earthy orange is another fall staple in my opinion. It goes so well with many other colors and exudes that autumn feel.

Kohlrabi

This bright green works well with the fall palette, once again mimicking the changing tones of the leaves as they grown pale in comparison to their spring attire.

Classic Colors

As always the Pantone color palettes include a few classic colors that work well as foundational or accessory colors.

Coconut Milk

Not a pure, snow white, but not a true cream or ivory, this white does well for casual pieces like this jacket.

Eclipse

This dark, midnight blue is reminiscent of a fall, night sky as after the sun has completely set. A close cousin to navy, this blue is versatile enough to wear with any color.

Doe

This soft, light brown exudes warmth and can replace other common neutral colors like beige, tan, or camel.

Hot Fudge

A dark brown that can be the perfect color to ground an outfit, weather as a skirt or pair of pants or as a pair of boots or leather bag.

Silver Birch

This light gray is the perfect transition color for fall, when you are not ready for the dark grays like oxford or charcoal. This is another color that will combine with just about anything.

So there you have all the fall colors. The next few weeks I will show you which colors I combined to make five fall worthy looks.

What are your favorite colors? Which colors would you combine to make an outfit? Which of these colors do you have in your closet. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Have a great Tuesday!

Shopping our Closets - Colorful Skirt and Pantone Spring 2023 NY: Beetroot, Crystal Rose, Gray Lilac

(The colors used in these Pantone posts are approximations and not exact matches. The reference to the Pantone Color Institute is meant as a guide and only for your consideration. I do not receive any money from Pantone for these posts. I do it because I love color.)

This week we are shopping our closets looking for a colorful printed skirt to build an outfit around. I chose this floral maxi skirt that I have styled on the blog before as the place to start. Once again, I am incorporating three of the colors from the New York color palette just to give you a sampling of what the Color Institute came up with for this spring and summer.

These colors definitely fall into our radar for spring and summer. For some people pastels are a year round affair. For me, I tend to reach for these lighter, pale colors in the summer months as a way to stay and look cool. In my opinion Beetroot is very similar to Viva Magenta, although a bit more pink. Unlike years past, this year, the Color of the Year is not on the New York or London palettes. I guess they decided they could add one more color on each if they left the Color of the Year as its own entity.

My pleated maxi skirt was a clearance find from Kohl’s a few years ago. Chaps brand, it has a full lining and is very fun to style with its swishy, pleated loveliness. You can see this skirt styled with a gray tee and pink cardigan another Pantone season a few years ago.

Style Tip: As with our unique cardigan from last month’s Shopping our Closets post, start with your printed skirt and build your outfit around it, either focusing on one color in the skirt or a few different colors.

My Crystal Rose pullover sweater is a brand called Colorado Clothing and was thrifted. One of the reasons I give you the brand names on my thrifted pieces is so that if you like the brand you can take the name and plug it in on second hand clothing apps like Ebay or Poshmark and maybe find something you like.

My utility jacket from Maurices is the closest thing I have to the color called Gray Lilac. I had a bag, but in my messiness of clutter, I couldn’t find, it and might have gotten rid of it, but don’t remember. Oh dear, my brain! Ha, ha. It is a darker shade, but if you look it up on the Pantone Spring/Summer 2023 New York Palette page on their website you can see that it is similar.

I kept the accessories fairly simple as I wanted the skirt to be the focal point. I also made it my own by adding combat boots with a blingy clutch.

Style Tip: Make outfits about you and your personality. Just because a particular outfit typically is worn with a certain type of shoe or blazer, doesn’t mean you can’t mix it up a bit and choose pieces that are more to your liking and make your personality shine. The necklace and clutch were both clearance finds; the clutch at Kohl’s and the necklace at Meijer. My boots are a brand called ID Required and are thrifted.

What do you think of these Pantone colors? Do you have these in your closet? Do you have a love/hate relationship with pastels? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook. I’d love to hear from you.

How would you change up a style like this to make it your own? What do you like about this outfit? What do you not like? Let me know what you think!

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!

You can now also buy me a cup of coffee by clicking on this link. I appreciate all of your support.

Outfit Inspiration: Pantone's Color of the Year - Viva Magenta

I still want to bring you a look at the Pantone Color Institutes color selections for this year, so this month I am going to feature a few of the New York Palette Spring/Summer 2023 colors for each of my monthly columns. The Pantone website has become increasingly user unfriendly for just the average joe. If you want to buy their services and products they are great, but I can no longer get specific color info. If you look at their page for the Palettes, the colors are now featured as these tiny, almost imperceptible to the human eye, swatches. Ha, ha.

Before I start, let me reiterate, these are my interpretations of the Pantone colors. They are not exact matches, but correspond as closely as I am able to make them with my limited information from the website and my limited wardrobe.

Viva Magenta is a bright, rich pinky red that easily catches the eye. It is a pretty color that can be combined with loads of other shades for a spring and summer worthy outfit palette. I don’t have a lot of pieces this color in my closet, so I was glad to see I had this Sonoma 3/4 bell sleeve top and the thrifted Libby Edelman shoulder bag.

I decided to combine the Viva Magenta with two of the other colors from the Spring New York Palette. Summer Song is a soft, light blue that reminds me of a light wash denim, which is why I chose my thrifted J. Jill - Out of the Blue embroidered, jacket as a topper. I love the embroidered details on this piece. I’ve worn this on the blog before. You can see it with a white skirt for summer, and with a pair of wide leg jeans.

Vanilla Cream is one of the classic colors on the palette this year. I would say it is a cross between a pale pink and a pale coral. The Crayola Crayon box might call this one Flesh, ha, ha! These thrifted Refuge jeggings, seemed to come pretty close to the Pantone color. I don't typically wear leggings or jeggings without a longer top, but these have back pockets and do look more like jeans than leggings, even though they are incredibly soft and stretchy. You can see how I styled these with a black floral top, a belted orange tank top, in a pink monochrome look, and in a flat lay.

My SO ankle boots were a clearance find from Kohl’s a number of years ago. You can see how I styled them with my cognac jeans, a yellow knit cape, dark pink cords, and gray plaid cropped pants.

Are you a fan of Pantone’s color of the year, Viva Magenta? Do you like it combined with these other spring Pantone colors? Do you have any of these colors in your wardrobe? Leave me a comment or two. I always love to hear your thoughts. I do try to respond to all of your comments, so be sure to check back after a few days.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. I do apologize that I have not yet gotten linked up with some other affiliate partners. It’s all about the research which takes time. I haven’t given up, but for now I will keep bringing you at least some possible options through my ShopStyle affiliate program. These are brought to you at no additional cost, unless you purchase something of course. Ha, ha.

Pantone Spring/Summer 2022: Glacier Lake, Daffodil and Snow White

Welcome to the New York Palette of the Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 colors. Pantone has changed the way it allows usage of products, so images are no longer free. Now you have to have a subscription to use the color swatches via the internet, so I have had to get creative in putting together my graphics. I am also not using my daughter’s photography services now, as she is very busy with her business and her baby. I am definitely creating new pathways in my brain, but that is good.

If you want to see the actual Pantone colors click on the following link: Spring/Summer 2022 - New York Palette. I try to get my colors as close to the palette colors as possible, but they are not exact. I appreciate the Pantone Institute’s use of color and always enjoy seeing what the colors are for each season.

For today’s outfit, I thought the mix of yellow, blue and white perfect for spring and even for the upcoming Easter holidays. This color combo makes me think of the sunny flowers the color is named for, and the many blues of summer including skies, lakes and denim. White is always classic, not only for summer, but every season.

My Glacier Lake vest is a Christopher and Banks piece that I found at a thrift store. It has the utility look with the larger, square pockets, encased drawstring and metal buttons. I love using my utility vests in the spring and fall.

Style Tip: If you want an extra layer but don’t want all the bulk choose a light weight vest. A utility vest or a dressier suit vest will provide extra warmth, but won’t add the bulk of a quilted, or sherpa type piece.

My bright, yellow cable knit pullover is St. John’s Bay piece. I honestly can’t remember if I bought it at JCPenney or if I got it thrifting. Ha, ha. My white Gloria Vanderbilt jeans I have had for a number of years now. They are just the right weight and thickness for no-show issues, and can be dressed up or down.

My floral scarf is a piece I recently thrifted. I love scarves. I think they add so much to an outfit.

Style Tip: When styling an outfit with two or three solid colors, add a printed scarf for additional color and interest.

You’ve seen my Merona thrifted bag a few times now on the blog. I thought it was a good choice for this springy look. I also opted to wear my Steve Madden platform sneakers. When it comes to platforms, these are very low, which I like. I really don’t like all the extra bulk of a thicker platform or a really thick lug sole on boots.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear them together? Do you have these colors in your closet? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two. I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links, which means I get a small commission when you click on a link. All opinions are my own.

Have a great week everyone!

Fashion Fun: One Blazer Three Ways

Everyone should own at least one or two good blazers. What I consider a good blazer is a piece that fits well, is made well and doesn’t show wear after only a few years. I have my own stockpile of blazers, because they are timeless. I do have wool based blazers that I only wear in the fall, winter and spring because they are the perfect classy layer to keep me warm. I also have a few that serve me well in the warmer months in overly air conditioned restaurants and theaters. Today, I want to show you a thrifted piece that I recently found.

I have been looking for a tan colored blazer for a few months. I didn’t care if it was tan, or beige, or camel, I just wanted something in that color family. I now have two. The one I will show you today being the first one I found. Last week I found a darker one at the dollar thrift store in the town south of us. How could I possibly pass up a beautiful blazer that fit me well and made me look like a girl straight out of Pinterest, for only a dollar? I couldn’t! Ha, ha. Do I need two tan blazers? No, and eventually, I will probably get rid of one, but for now I have two.

Outfit 1 - Casual with Jeans

This piece is a brand called Collections for Le Suit and I got it at Goodwill when my husband took me out for my birthday back in January. Looking at it in these pictures shows me that it is a little big. I lost a few pounds when I was sick and have not gained it back. Not being able to taste anything helps with that. Ha, ha. However, it will be nice to wear with bulkier sweaters and sweatshirts in the cold months.

My Apt. 9 jeans are also thrifted, though from a few years ago. I like the darker wash and bootcut of this pair. I have found most of my favorite jeans at thrift stores. It is a great place to find and try brands you haven’t heard of or can’t afford at regular retail prices. My patterned turtleneck is a thrifted brand called Investments Essentials. The funky pattern is what drew me to it.

To complete the look I added a beaded layered necklace, my Very Peri thrifted Merona bag and my old Sonoma heeled ankle boots from Kohl’s.

Outfit 2 - Workwear with Plaid Trousers

These plaid trousers are another dollar thrift find. I didn’t even try them on, figuring for only a buck, I could just donate them if them didn’t fit. What drew me to them were the light blue stripes. These are Mossimo brand.

I decided to pair them with my light blue Sonoma shirt. I got this from Kohl’s a number of years ago. A good chambray shirt, whether a light wash or a dark wash, is always in style and can be worn with so many things.

I finished off the look with silver accessories, and my blue Converse sneakers.

Outfit 3 - Dressy with a Polka Dot Skirt

I found this fabulous black and white polka dot skirt at the same dollar thrift store where I got the pants. How could I resist this classy, flowy piece, especially when black and white is trending for spring. It is a brand called Urban Coco. It has a white elastic band waist making it very comfortable. It also has a partial lining which hits just above the knees. I hope to see this one get some wear this summer.

White tees are all the rage for pairing with blazers, so I thought why not bring that into play here. My simple white tee is a Time and Tru piece from Walmart. This brand has definitely given Walmart a place in the fashion world, and they seem to be affordable pieces meant for real life wear.

For the rest of my look I kept it simple by adding a thrifted pendant necklace, a blag sparkly clutch and my Clark’s open toed shoeties.

If a girl’s got a twirly skirt, the girl’s got to twirl!

Here are the three looks side by side.

Which outfit do you like the best? Do you have a blazer this color? How do you like to wear it? Leave me some love in the comments. I really appreciate it. I am including a few shopping links for items similar to pieces in these outfits. Feel free to look them over. These are affiliate links, all opinions are my own.

Fashion Fun: Men's Oversized Button Down

When it comes to thrifting for fashion, I like to think outside the box. I always peruse all the sizes, because so often size is relative. What I mean by that is, it is relative to the brand. A size 12 in one brand might fit you perfectly, but a size 12 in another brand, might be too big or too small. I honestly believe sizing is different than it used to be. If you shop vintage clothing, at all, you will see that most of the pieces are relatively small. Women tended towards being smaller in the waist, hips, and shoulders than we are now. Not sure why, but it does seem to be the case.

I have also started looking in the men’s section of thrift stores for fun pieces like tees and printed button downs. I like the roomier cut of a men’s medium or even large shirt and they often have textures, prints and fabrics that are different than those on the women’s racks. Today, I am going to show you three different outfits using three men’s button downs that I purchased while thrifting.

Outfit 1 - Men’s Button Down as a Tunic

When I saw this paisley madness, I knew I had to have it. This is Visconti brand. If you type the name be sure to type in Visconti clothing. and you’ll see they have them at Dillards. They also have their own website, but I am not here to encourage you to buy a new shirt. This to encourage you to look at the men’s racks if you thrift, or even if you shop clearance. I absolutely love the colors in this piece and it is easily worn all year round as a top or as a “shacket”.

I topped this look with a thrifted, black Nadia brand, corduroy vest. I added my Simply Vera, Vera Wang skinny jeans and my black knee high boots. The black embroidery on these jeans are what sold me. The abstract floral print goes with so many other pieces.

I didn’t really need to add any jewelry since the print is so busy, but I thought it would be fun to add this piece that has a variety of colors and textures. It blends in, yet also stands on its own.

Outfit 2 - Men’s Button Down as a Work Wear Top

This shirt is Izod brand. This year’s Pantone Color of the Year is called Very Peri. I think it is a very pretty color reminiscent of the Periwinkle flowers, which can come in blue, purple or white. I thought this checked shirt fit the color well. One thing I have to do with most of the men’s shirts I purchase is roll up the sleeves, but rolling up the width of the cuff is just the right amount, so you can hardly tell.

My denim pencil skirt is also thrifted and Gloria Vanderbilt brand. I like the length of this and if I still had a reason to wear a skirt would definitely be wearing this often. I added the navy hose to cover my veiny legs and thought the black, thrifted Nine West loafers gave it a work wear look. I also added the denim blue cloth belt and the dark purple agate pendant necklace. My thrifted, Merona bag, also brings in that Very Peri vibe.

Outfit 3 - Men’s Button Down as a Shacket

I’ve had this thrifted, Ruff Hewn corduroy button down for a few years now. I love the color and typically think of it as a fall piece. It is soft, warm and roomy, so a perfect piece for wearing over lightweight sweaters, sweatshirts or long sleeve tees.

I wanted this outfit to have more of a spring vibe, so I went with my Sonoma floral joggers, and a thrifted light pink Express short sleeve tee. I opted for metallic accessories including my silver Sketcher sneakers, pewter hand-me-over bag, and my silver and copper necklace.

Here are the three outfits side by side.

I hope you enjoyed this look at how to style a men’s oversized button down. It is fun to explore other options in your fashion wardrobe, and you never know when something you try will become your new favorite style. Which outfit was your favorite? Do you wear men’s clothing? How do you like to style a men’s or women’s oversized shirt? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by the blog. I have provided a few shopping links for your enjoyment. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2021 - London Palette: First Blush, Ibiza Blue and Ultimate Gray

Due to my longer than usual absence from the blog because of my illness, I am going to bypass the wrap up of the New York Palette and the Intro to the London Palette for the Pantone 2021 color series and jump right into the London Palette, so that I can get this series concluded and get on with new content. I have been trying to give a more daily content on Instagram, which now also shows up on my regular Facebook account, but unfortunately, I have not been posting over on my Granny page. I guess I should start doing that as well. You would think all of these things would just be linked together. A few of the meds I am on are making my brain a bit dopey, so bear with me as I try to get things back into some sort of regular routine.

Here we are again, looking at a pastel pink on the fall color palette. I know pastels in fall are no longer taboo, but my brain still looks at this and thinks, “What a great spring outfit!” Maybe I should have paired First Blush with one of colors that seem more Autumnal to me, like Tomato Cream or Downtown Brown, but I liked the combination of blue and pink, so this is what you get.

My Ibeza Blue plaid shirt is a thrifted Faded Glory piece. I used this same plaid shirt in the spring for the French Blue color that was on the New York Palette. You can see that post here. You’ve seen these thrifted, distressed Lane Bryant jeans numerous times on the blog as they are one of my faves.

My First Blush jacket is also a repeat from my closet. Originally a Christopher and Banks purchase, this faux leather piece has some knit panels on the sides and under the arms to allow ease of movement and stretch. I added the scarf to bring in a little bit of added interest and additional color, plus with this being a fall outfit, the need for a scarf seemed more likely.

Ultimate Gray, once again makes its appearance on the London Palette, so I used this for my accessories in the metal chain belt, thrifted fold over bag and my silver sneakers. The only thing I did differently was the rose gold pendant. I just liked the way the color popped against the blue plaid.

While this look is certainly not what we would typically think of for the holidays, if you are more into pastel colors, this is a great casual look for that Thanksgiving celebration, especially if it involves a bit of shopping afterwards.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. Remember to order soon for Christmas. We have all heard how things are taking longer and some things are back logged so be sure to get your orders in, or even better, don’t deal with that added stress and try to buy local. That is what I am thinking about doing at least for part of my shopping this year.

These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull with Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2021 - New York Palette: Illuminating, Fire Whirl and Ultimate Gray

Over the weekend, I became grandmother again. My oldest daughter had a little boy and we are very excited to meet him, as soon as we can. Obviously, with all the restrictions for visitors in the hospital, we were not able to meet him before he came home.

I am going to being this Autumn/Winter series, as I usually do with the New York Palette. It wasn’t until recently that the Pantone entity added the London Palette to its long list of color tools. Today’s outfit revolves around the two Colors of the Year, the sunny yellow, Illuminating and the classic gray, Ultimate Gray.

In all honesty I was having a hard time putting the outfits together for this series. I think most of it had to do with being plagued by this stupid sinus stuff and cough for so long. I am finally sleeping in my bed again, but I still have a wheezy, chronic cough. We’ll see how long it takes to get some sort of resolution, or maybe it has moved in permanently, but it is a pain. It is hard to have long conversations and I cannot sing at all, not that I really could before I got this cough, but it was better than now. Oh well, life is just that way sometimes.

The other problem I think I was having, was the weather. It was so hot, I was having a hard time really getting into styling fall outfits. I love fall, and am excited about that change, but it has just been slow to actually feel like the season to wear layers. Here in my area, by Wednesday, the highs are only going to be in the 50’s. That definitely feels like fall.

You can see that I only used Illuminating in very small doses with my yellow beaded necklace and bracelets. The Fire Whirl red tank top is a thrifted Loft piece. It is actually more of an a-line or swing silhouette, so I gathered the shirt underneath in the front, then secured the little “pony tail” with a hair band. The result is to give the top a more fitted look with a fun swirl at the front.

For this outfit, it worked out that Ultimate Gray takes center stage with just a few pops of Fire Whirl and Illuminating. My thrifted, plaid, Sag Harbor trousers are actually petites, so I expect they would be closer to an ankle pant than a crop pant, but I like the way it looks, especially with my darker gray Impo booties.

The next picture shows you a closer look a the Illuminating jewelry and the detailing on the yoke of the top. The gray moto jacket is a no name brand and I am not sure where I got it. I wanted to say it was thrifted, but for some reason, I think I bought it at a store. I really cannot remember. Is that bad? Ha, ha.

My tote bag was going to be a gift for one of my daughter’s one Christmas a few years ago and I ended up keeping it. Many times, I just end up buying too many items, so I have to return stuff, but this was a cheap purchase, I believe from Kohl’s and I really liked it.

Fire Whirl is more the color of my top, but I kind of liked the contrasting shades of red, as well as the two differing plaid patterns. It just gives the outfit a fun vibe.

What do you think of these colors? Would you pair these colors with one another? Do you have these colors in your closet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links, brought to you at no extra cost. If you click on a link, I get a few cents, if you purchase something through my site, I get a little more. Thank you for all of your support.

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull, with Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Spring/Summer - 2021 - London Palette: Illuminating, Marigold and Ultimate Gray

Illuminating and Ultimate Gray are the two colors of the year, so just like I did for the New York Palette, I decided to pair the two colors together and for this one I added Marigold, which was also on the New York palette.

We decided to go to the Toledo Botanical Gardens again for these pictures and we did come across some beautiful blooms. This particular bush is a rhododendron. I just did some research and found out that all azaleas are rhododendrons, but not all rhododendrons are azaleas. Whether you like azaleas or rhododendrons they are all beautiful.

Once again, I chose my recently thrifted bright yellow jacket to serve as the Illuminating color. The jacket is D&Co. (Denim and Co.). It has a nice stretch to it and I like the 3/4 length sleeves for a change of pace.

I’ve styled my medium yellow tee on the blog before. You can see it styled with a leopard print skirt. Having tees in a variety of colors comes in handy when you want to put an outfit together. This thrifted tee is Apt. 9 brand.

My Gloria Vanderbilt jeans were another Kohl’s clearance find. They are soft and stretchy, so great for my fluctuating weight. I say fluctuating, but it really doesn’t go up and down. It either stays the same or goes up. Ha, ha.

I wanted my accessories to make a statement since the outfit itself was not overwhelmingly interesting. I found this pretty layered necklace in gray tones somewhere along the way. I think it was a thrift shop nearby. I added a few beaded bracelets to tie the jewelry together.

When I decided on the thrifted tan loafers, I knew my Nine West snakeskin print circle bag would be the perfect piece to complete the whole look and bring everything together.

What do you think of these colors together? Do you like the lighter yellow of Illuminating or the richer tone of Marigold? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I appreciate when you give me your feedback. It can be kind of lonely as a blogger, when I don’t know if anyone is reading my content or looking at my posts, so I really love to hear from you.

I am including a few shopping link for you to enjoy. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost. If you click on a link I get a few pennies and I appreciate all of your clicks. I do not get paid to write my blog, I do it as a hobby and as a service to whomever wants to follow along. I hope that I inspire you to take a second look at your wardrobe and see new ways to put things together, that you never thought of before.

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Spring/Summer - 2021 - NY Palette - Illuminating, Rust and Ultimate Gray

I wanted to share this outfit with you first, because it contains the two colors that were chosen by the Pantone Color Institute as the colors of the year. Illuminating is a bright, sunny yellow. Pantone describes this yellow as, “Friendly and joyful, an optimistic yellow offering the promise of a sunny day.” Rust is typically a fall color, yet it is an earth tone, thus its inclusion in the spring palette. Ultimate Gray is a classic and comfortable gray that everyone can wear.

I have plenty of yellow in my closet. It is a color that has quickly become a favorite. I love the many different shades of yellow. I have mustard, sunflower, lemon, blonde and pineapple. Look up shades of yellow in your search bar and see all the fun names they give for these lovely pieces of sunshine. Illuminating is not really a different shade, but a different name for a shade that might also be called bumblebee, butter or dandelion.

Since I love the color so much, it was a no brainer that I add this thrifted, bright yellow, denim jacket to my closet. This is a brand called d & co, or denim and company. When I looked it up, it is a brand that is sold at retailers like QVC, Walmart and others. I like the relaxed style of this piece, as well as the 3/4 sleeves. It will be a great topper for cooler summer days.

We were back at the Toledo Botanical Gardens for pictures and things are starting to bloom over there. This tree was gorgeous and I had no idea what is was because the blooms were so big. It turned out to be a white magnolia. I grew up with a pink magnolia in my parents’ yard. I didn’t even know there were white ones.

You’ve seen my boho skirt on the blog before. I looked at other Rust colored options in my closet, but just wasn’t satisfied with how the outfit looked. Choosing this skirt not only gave me a print, but the perfect blend of classic and bohemian. This skirt is a brand called Notations, but I can’t remember where I got it. Ha, ha. You can see it styled with a green top and a different gray top.

This simple Ultimate Gray tee is from Kohl’s and is SO brand. I got this one and a red one a few years ago. I love that they are light weight, but still provide coverage. The hemline is a straight cut and the length is shorter, so perfect for wearing out. I did the front tuck, just for a more polished look.

When I was rummaging through my necklaces, I saw this one and thought it would pull in both the rusty oranges in the skirt and the yellow of the jacket and bag. To go with the coppery colors I also put on my thrifted beaded bracelet. My yellow diamond patterned tote was a fun find at a thrift store. Another thrift store find, my ID Required combat boots get plenty of wear.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear rust in the summer time or do you think it is a color strictly for fall? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments. Your comments keep me motivated to keep providing content to you all.

I’m providing a few shopping links for you to look over in your spare time. These are affiliate links brought to you at no cost. When you click on a link, I get a few pennies, so I appreciate every click. All opinions are my own.

Photo and graphic Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Spring/Summer - 2021 - New York Palette: Introduction

I am a bit behind on the Pantone colors this year. I had a hard time getting back into the swing of regularly posting, but here I am. While we are a few weeks into spring, the Pantone colors for this season are for spring and summer. I don’t pay attention too much to their time table, because they already have the colors out for the fall/winter season. Who wants to think about fall/winter when we have barely made it into spring? Ha, ha.

Just as a quick review, the Pantone Color Institute is an entity that provides the color trends for both the fashion and interior design industries. If you go to their website you can see all sorts of information from color swatches you can order to educational opportunities. Obviously, these are not the only colors that you see trending on the runways, but Pantone is easily considered a color authority by both design areas.

Every year, Pantone chooses a color of the year. Last year it was Classic Blue. In 2019 it was Living Coral. This year they picked two colors, Illuminating, a sunny yellow and Ultimate Gray, which is a classic medium gray. Typically, the colors of the year are seen on both the New York and the London Palettes. As I have done in the past I will be starting my series with the New York Palette. This year, the palettes are quite dissimilar, which makes it more interesting for me, as I pick out outfits and for you, my lovely subscribers.

Here is the New York Palette.

This is a mix of jewel tones and pastels, so if you lean towards one or the other, this palette will make everyone happy. Rust is a different color for summer, but I think it can work well with many of the others colors. Once again there is a selection of classic colors, which to me are helpful if you want to tone down an outfit and just accent with the brighter colors through jewelry and other accessories.

The following are a few photos from our shoot which give you some sneak peeks at how I combined these colors.

I hope you will join me on Thursday as I start the series. Have a great day!

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Classic Blue, Beetroot Purple and Oyster Mushroom

I am now starting the Pantone Spring/Summer London color palette. Once again, as you saw in the intro post from last Thursday these colors vary across the spectrum from blues and reds, to greens and purples. I like the variety in the Spring/Summer palette this year. There really are so many ways you could combine and wear these bright colors, so let my combinations be a spring board for your own creative style. Try combining different colors that you already have in your closet, rather than going out and purchasing new pieces. In addition, if you are more of a classic color kind of gal, think of these brighter colors as accent colors for choices in your jewelry, shoes, bags and scarves.

Once again, I am starting the series with the Pantone Color of the Year, which for 2020 is Classic Blue. These Ruby Rd. pants are a bit more like royal blue, but I thought they worked well enough. These pants were from a friend’s closet when she no longer wanted them. I have styled these repeatedly on the blog. You can see them with a blue sweater, a pink sweater, a plaid bomber jacket, and a colorful kimono.

My Beetroot Purple button up top is a piece I picked up from my daughter who was getting rid of it. It is A New Day brand. I would call this color fuschia, but I am not the one making up the names. Ha, ha. They can call it whatever they want, but basically it is a bright pink.

This light gray, or Oyster Mushroom moto jacket is another thrifted piece and Christopher and Banks brand. I love when I can find brands I already love at a thrift store. Especially older styles and colors that aren’t around any more. This is a simple, no frills jacket, which makes it perfect for this kind of outfit when the color is doing the talking.

I decided to do a mixed metals sort of thing with my accessories. The statement necklace and bracelet take on the gold hue of my shirt buttons, while my clutch and simple gladiator sandals go for more of a silvery look.

What do you think of these colors? Do you think the bright blue and pink is too bold? What would you wear these colors with? Leave me a comment or two below. I love to hear from you.

I hope you are enjoying learning more about the Pantone color palettes.

I am including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links which means if you click on a link I get a few cents. I blog for a hobby, but a few cent here and does help to defray the cost of my platform. I appreciate every click and purchase, but even more I appreciate your kind comments on the blog and the emails some of you send me. Thank you.

Photo credit and graphic Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Classic Blue, Chive and Navy Blazer

As usual, the names for the Pantone colors always amuse me. Classic Blue is pretty normal. Obviously, Chive makes me think of green onions and as you will see, the color is a pretty dark green. Navy Blazer is one of the classic colors and is your typical navy staple, which many of us have a piece or two in our closets. Since Classic Blue is the color of the year, I decided to start with it. The idea to combine it with Chive was a natural progression when I pulled out this thrifted summer midi dress.

This outfit centers around this thrifted OliviaRose dress that I got numerous years ago. Its pretty floral print combines blue, white and green a black background. I didn’t even have to think when I pulled this out of my closet. Classic Blue and Chive were the perfect pairing. An outfit like this really can be worn year round.

This bright blue scarf was gifted to me for Christmas and I used it to introduce the Pantone Color of the Year back in January. You can see that post here.

My faux suede blazer has a little more of a blue undertone than the Chive color, but I thought it was pretty close. This thrifted ISB Inc. blazer is meant to have a double breasted appearance when buttoned, but my figure right now will not allow for that. However, I think it looks just as nice left open since there are buttons on both sides.

You can see in the next picture how nicely the blazer fits through the back. I like that it is more fitted, rather than boxy. I was also trying something different with my hair.

This thrifted Simply Vera/Vera Wang bag has made multiple appearances on the blog as has my thrifted Relativity loafer heels.

I also added my sparkly Classic Blue bracelet, which was also a Christmas gift.

If you are not into wearing bold, bright colors, then these colors would be the perfect choice for you. You could easily make this pairing more summery by adding a white skirt or crop pants instead of the darker print dress. You could also wear head to toe white with a Chive colored blazer or sweater and just a few pops of Classic Blue jewelry. There are so many options, so never say never to any color.

Do you like these colors? How would you wear them? Is this the sort of outfit you would wear? If not, what kind of outfit would you put together? I would love to hear back from you. Things are a little lonely around here. Ha, ha. I am sure you all can relate. We really need the world to get back to something more normal, even if it is not perfect.

I hope you enjoyed this post everyone. Until next time. Stay safe and healthy.

Graphic by Rebecca Trumbull.

I’ve included a few shopping links just for something to look at. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Pantone Color of the Year - Classic Blue

Since I do the Pantone Color Series twice a year, it seemed to make sense that I introduce the Color of the Year. For the year 2020, blue is the chosen color. Classic Blue, as it is called is a medium, dusky blue reminiscent of the the evening sky. Pantone describes it this way:

“An expansive presence, Classic Blue is evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky opening a world of possibilities.”

— Pantone Website

This is the sort of blue that would look good head to toe, or as in my outfit, be the perfect pop of color against other backdrops. I think this blue will look good on almost anyone and is a color that can be worn all year round.

The wind was doing some crazy things to my hair, so my daughter was doing her best to capture good shots regardless. A number of the pieces in this outfit were given to me for Christmas.

The gray and blue plaid skirt is older and Croft and Barrow brand. There was a time when skirts like these were very trendy. I’ve had my share and have worn them often to church in the winter time. While they may not be the most coveted skirt, these tea length pieces are perfect to wear with boots. I chose to wear my Seven Dials combat boots. I wanted to keep the look a bit more edgy and modern.

This fuzzy faux fur bomber jacket was a Christmas gift from my hubby. It is so soft and I had been coveting all the ones I saw at Kohl’s when I was working. This one he found at Walmart and is No Boundaries brand. Walmart has definitely upped their fashion game.

The gray pullover sweater I have on under the jacket is a brand called Ellen Tracy and was thrifted. A number of retailers carry the Ellen Tracy brand, including Macy’s, Nordstrom, Belk, and others. For this look, I tucked the whole sweater into the skirt. The skirt has a finished waist line, as opposed to elastic. I think a finished waist is just a little more classy than elastic.

The scarf, necklace and bracelet were all Christmas gifts from my husband and oldest daughter, who went shopping together. She was the one to do the research on the Pantone color of the Year. Indeed, blue was the theme, but what a pretty blue it is.

This bag was a thrift find. I often find purses when I thrift shop. They are so much cheaper than their full price counterparts at various retailers and I don’t even by the big name brands. I just don’t like spending a lot of money on clothing or accessories. I also like variety. Sure, I could buy one bag for $500 or I could get a whole year’s worth of thrifting for that much.

What do you think of Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year? Do you like this blue? Why or why not? Do you have a plaid skirt in your closet like this one? If you do, how do you style it? Be sure to leave me some love in the comments.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which means if you click on a link I get a few cents. If you purchase something through a link a get a few cents more. I appreciate every penny!

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.