Winter Trend - My Take on Bold Checks

While I have always loved plaid for as long as I can remember, my affection for checks has come about more slowly. When I was younger I always thought gingham was meant for tables, not clothing. I thought it was silly to wear checks. Wouldn’t someone think I looked like a table cloth, or a cutesy picnic ground covering? As gingham evolved and grew, the types of clothing pieces adorned with a gingham pattern grew as well. Dresses, blouses, and now, even pants, tees and all manner of accessories can be found with these colorful little checks.

The checkered pattern has evolved over time and the popular pattern Buffalo Plaid really had its time this past holiday season. Perhaps that is partially due to the fashion trend that I am talking about today, that of bold checks. The idea of bold doesn’t necessarily refer to its color, although that is certainly part of what makes this pattern so fun. Bold references the check itself which is big and makes a statement, no matter what color it is.

My outfit today centers around a bold black and white piece that is perfect for the cold days still ahead of us. I would not wear this as an outer piece except, perhaps in the cooling days of fall. My thought is to wear it as a a layering piece for when I am at a coffee shop or even at home. Being a writer means I am often sitting for long periods of time and I do tend to get cold, so a piece like this is perfect for taking the chill off.

This black and white checked ruana is a heavier weight flannel. I honestly don’t remember where I got this, and I don’t know what the brand is, but it might have been Kohl’s on the clearance rack a few years ago. If you don’t remember what the difference between a ruana and a kimono, here is a quick refresher. A ruana is one piece of material cut into a t-shape. It typically has no sleeves, but simply drapes over the arms. A kimono is usually a longer t-shaped piece with side seams and sleeves. A ruana might be a little more like a poncho, except you don’t put it on over your head.

Here is a back view. You can see that this particular piece hangs a little longer in the back than in the front.

I decided I wanted to do something other than my typical jeans, so I went for a skirt. The fact that it was a denim skirt is a reflection on my love for this sturdy material that literally goes with everything. I’ve styled this stretchy pencil number on the blog before. You can see it style with a tee for a casual look, and with a asymmetrical tunic for a more dressed up approach. This was a thrifted piece and is a brand called NoFazeJeans.

My white sweater with the tour Eiffel on it is Elle brand. I like the texturized picture, which seems to be made out of something like velvet. I thought it was the perfect piece to go with the bold, checked ruana.

I thought the look would be cuter and more winter appropriate with knee high boots and black tights. Funny story. I bought these tights at Kohl’s and the way they were sized I ended up getting a plus size, because you know how tights and hose can be. I mean, it really is like trying to cram sausages into those skinny paper straws. Well, I thought I was safe with the size I chose and when I unfolded them from the package they were plenty long and the part at the top seemed plenty stretchy. When I went to put them on, it was hilarious. The top is very stretchy and they are very long, but the spandex ended when they got to the actual leg part of the hose. I could barely get them up past my knees. I managed to struggle into them and luckily the stretchy part at the top was also long enough that it stretched around my chubby thighs. It is absolutely ridiculous! Those tights were made for a very tall person with extremely skinny legs. No lie! They were not made for an average size girl, let alone a plus size one! Ha, ha.

These old boots, I have had for a while and are a brand called Rialto. I have worn these over many winters and about two years ago, the soles started separating from the rubber bottoms of the shoes. My hubby got some Shoe Goo (yes it is a real product) and glued them back together. They are showing a lot of wear, and I probably won’t be wearing them when it is really wet out, but I’ll get a few more years out of them.

My bright yellow bag was a birthday gift from my younger daughter. It is a simple tote bag, and I love the color. I was thinking about making this my go to bag for my writing stuff. It doesn’t have a label, so I have no idea what brand it is, but it will be used.

I added a few gold items for jewelry. A couple of gold bracelets and this fun large link, gold and black chain.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like the bold checks? Do you have bold checks in different colors? I’d love to hear what’s in your closet!

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 weekend.

Fall/Thanksgiving Outfits - Sweatshirt and Skinny Jeans - Casual

For the next few weeks I thought I would focus on outfits that could be worn for the Thanksgiving Holiday, or just as another fall outfit. Each week I will take one or two main pieces and show how to style them two different ways. This week my pieces are a pair of embellished skinny jeans, and a deep yellow sweatshirt that I grabbed from my daughter’s "to get rid of” pile.

For today’s look I wanted to go with a more casual vibe. The two pieces could be worn by themselves and be perfectly acceptable for a casual, low key Thanksgiving; just add a scarf or necklace and some sneakers or knee high boots and you are all set. I wanted to do something with a little more texture and print, so I decided to top the whole outfit with my plaid ruana that I got last year at Bass Pro Shop. It may sound a little funny, but I love their clothes. They have a little higher price point than I usually pay, but you can read the story of how my hubby surprised me with a mini shopping spree here.

It is always a journey taking my own pictures. Ha, ha. Here is the ruana from more of a back and side view.

This rich yellow sweatshirt is from a local boutique Eden Fashion Boutique. I did a blog post on their Sylvania location which you can see here. Unfortunately that shop closed up during the pandemic. The original shop is still in business in Bowling Green, OH which is about a 25 minute drive. My daughter decided she didn’t wear it enough for it to warrant taking up space in her closet. I absolutely love color. It also has snaps from about the elbow up on both sleeves, which gives it a fun look. I should have taken a picture of it without the ruana. Oh well! I’ll save that for another time.

You can see the blingy embellishment on my jeans. There are sparkles on both legs, the right is closer to the hip. These are Juicy Couture brand and I got them a year or so ago at Kohl’s on the clearance rack.

Since I wanted this to be casual, but it is also meant to be for an occasion like a Thanksgiving dinner, I added a little bit of jewelry and a bag to bring out the blue in the ruana. My long pendant necklace I use regularly. The beaded bracelet has a cute owl charm on it and the blue cross body bag was a gift a few Christmases ago from my younger daughter.

These rusty colored moto boots are a soft faux suede and have zippers on the inside of the leg. They are Steve Madden brand and I ordered them from DSW last year on clearance.

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear this for a casual Thanksgiving day gathering? What might you have done differently? Leave me your thoughts in the comments. I always love to hear what you are thinking and how the blog is helping or hindering your fashion journey.

This last photo is very fuzzy, but I liked the way it turned out anyway. Ha, ha. I really need to play with my camera more, so I can take better pictures. I am also a perfectionist, as if you hadn’t noticed. Ha, ha.

I’m including a few shopping links. Remember, Christmas is coming, so you might like to look over these links as possible gift ideas for you or yourself. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - Galaxy Blue and Hazel

I neglected to get my post done for Tuesday. Monday and Tuesday, my grandson had off from school. It was parent/teacher conference days. My daughter had her appointment right away on Monday morning and Quintin is doing very well. He is nationally high ranking in his reading ability and math, so this Grandma is proud of a certain nine year old.

This is the last outfit from the Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 London Palette. Next week, I’ll have another recap post to show you all the London colors and then we will put the Pantone Institute aside until spring. For your information, the Spring/Summer colors for 2020 are already up on the website and have been for a couple of months, so if you are really curious, you can go the to the Pantone website and see what they look like. As for this blogger, you won’t get to view them here until spring.

Our last two colors are Galaxy Blue, which was also on the New York palette and a mellow brown called Hazel. This brown is not one I would regularly reach for. I like colors that are more rich and saturated. In the Crayola Crayon box, this color might be similar to Antique Brass. See the complete list of current crayon colors here. Talk about fun color names! Be sure to read some of those. They are not merely called red, pink or blue any more. Ha, ha.

I decided to do some plaid print mixing in this outfit, as you can see with my ruana and my pants. I must tell you how I came to own this beautiful ruana. My hubby and I were out on a date. We try to go out once a week, usually for dinner and then to Barnes and Noble bookstore. We both love spending time around books and we usually end up getting a hot drink and sometimes a treat. On this particular night we went out for Mexican. After we were finished eating he told me that before we head to Barnes and Noble he had to stop at Bass Pro Shop and get something for his trailer hitch. I don’t even think twice about it. I don’t mind going to Bass Pro or Cabelas, because they both have fun things to look at, like mounted animals and clothing that I like, but would never purchase, because it is out of my price range.

We walked into the store and were heading down the center aisle. On the right side of the aisle are all the women’s clothes. We got to this lovely display where this ruana was styled over an ivory sweater. It immediately caught my eye. My husband said, “I thought you might like this.” I was shocked. Not only had he thought of me, but he had picked out something he thought I would both like and look nice in. He let me pick out a few other things besides the ruana to try on and just hung out while I did. I picked out the ruana and a rusty orange sweater, that I haven’t worn yet, but that looks great under the plaid. My husband does not do things like this very often, but it sure makes an impact on me, when he does.

My thrifted blue tee is Charter Club brand. It is a bit brighter than Galaxy Blue, but once again, you get the idea. I like the detailing around the neckline.

These gray pants are also thrifted and you can see how I styled them with a faux leather jacket, and with a pink sweater set.

Here is a close up of my print mixing.

I kept my accessories simple since there was already so much going on in the outfit with the two plaids. A bright blue crystal pendant, a simple gray Rosetti bag, and these thrifted Lifestride maroon ankle boots.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like plaid? I’d love to hear your thoughts so be sure to leave me a comment or two. Your support and feedback mean a lot to me and help give me ideas and direction for the blog.

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to peruse. With the holidays coming up maybe these will give you some inspiration for someone on your list. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Spring Trend - Crafted Pieces

If you have followed my last few posts you know I am doing a short series on some of the Spring 2019 trends. The crazy thing about this whole trend idea is that there are many differing opinions on what exactly those trends are. I tried to narrow it down to some of the more prominent ones, but I may have missed some and picked up on others that I thought were more interesting. Today’s trend is definitely one I like, crafted pieces.

What is a crafted piece, you may wonder. Basically, crafting means that it is or is like home made. Think of pieces that are crocheted, knitted, tie dye or various forms of weaving, beading and so on. These pieces are going to make a statement all on their own, but will easily add pop and pizazz to any outfit. Think sixties hippy meets stylin’ granny. If that sounds a little too funky for you, hang in there and you might change your mind.

I grew up with a mom who crocheted and she had numerous sisters, my aunts, that also worked their wonders with yarn and needle(s). Mostly, my mom made afghans and doilies. One of my aunts made bears and clowns and sold them at craft shows. Occasionally something would come across our doorstep from cousins’ and others’ hand-me-downs, that would include a crocheted piece of clothing. I remember a vest, in particular that I really liked made of separate crocheted squares pieced together. I guess it was my exposure to these crafted pieces that has given me the love I have for them still.

This knit ruana is Sonoma brand and I found it at Kohl’s on the clearance rack at the end of last summer season. I like that it is a neutral color and that it has actual sleeves sown into it. Many ruanas merely drape over the arms and down the back, which always makes me feel a little less at ease, for fear it will shift and I will have to keep arranging it to keep it in place. Having a bit of a sleeve solves this problem. You can see another post on a ruana without sewn in sleeves by clicking on the link to this post from last summer.

I love the mix of open and more closed weaving on this piece.

Another trend that I didn’t do a specific post for is pattern mixing. This spring pattern mixing is bigger than ever. For those of you who still haven’t come on board the pattern mixing trend, the fashion gurus are making it easier by manufacturing pieces that have patterns already mixed on them. We saw some of the last few seasons with baseball type tees donning both stripes and flowers. You’ll see more of it this year and the patterns are going to be bolder than ever. I’ll give you more examples on Thursday’s post where I talk about the scarf pattern trend.

I decided to do some of my own print mixing on this outfit by pairing this subtle paisley print top with my thrifted plaid Mossimo trousers.

Once again, the key to print mixing is in both color and pattern. Although, I have a feeling this spring we’ll be seeing more pieces with a more Anything Goes feel.

I kept my jewelry minimal since this Liz Claiborne top from JC Penney already has some of its own embellishment. This leaf necklace was a recent find, also from Penney’s.

My shoes are thrifted and are Natural Soul brand. My cute little clutch was a recent clearance purchase from DSW. Make sure you check out the clearance sections at these types of stores. I found this clutch and three kimono/ruana’s that are going to be perfect for spring and summer. The prices were too good to pass up.

Even though palm print was last spring’s trend I feel that it is one of those that could become timeless, sort of like leopard print. Especially when in a complimentary piece like this that will easily become a go to for summer.

I guess technically you could say I am mixing four prints in this outfit. Plaid, paisley, palms and the weaving on the crafted piece. What do you know, I styled an outfit that is filled with prints and alliteration. Ha, ha. There is texture also happening in the woven bag, the chain, the crochet, the tassels and metal embellishments on the top and the gathering on the empire waist and sleeves. There is, indeed, much going on in this outfit. Do you think it works or is it too much?

I love to hear you thoughts, so leave a comment or two in the comments section.

Now, to announce the winner of the $30 Target gift card. First of all, I want to thank all of you who are my regular followers, who regularly leave some love on the blog. Your input means so much to me. Secondly, I want to thank all the new subscribers who signed up as part of the giveaway and I hope that my blog will not disappoint you and that you will find inspiration and encouragement on a regular basis here.

And the winner is: Shirley Hulbert

I will be contacting you via email, to get your info, so I can get the card out to you as soon as possible. Congratulations!

I’ve included a few shopping links for crafted pieces. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. I’ve included a number of pieces I thought looked fun. Enjoy perusing!

Is it a Kimono or a Ruana? Week 5

I have two installments left in this series on kimonos and ruanas. I have found that adding a couple of these pieces to your closet will give you miles of extra wear on things that you might consider more plain or mundane. The kimono or ruana is a piece that can stand alone, meaning it doesn't need much help to make an outfit look fabulous. For most of these I have worn the kimono/ruana over an outfit built from simple pieces like a skirt and a tank, pants and a tank, etc. The over piece is what takes center stage, which it should. 

Today's look is a different sort of kimono/ruana. Once again, I am going to call this one a "kiana" because it takes the long drape of the ruana, but makes it more kimono like by sewing the sides together to create a sleeve of sorts. When I first got this open weave piece, it was only sewn at the sides by a few stitches. I liked the way it stayed in place, but soon the stitching came undone and I noticed it was harder to keep the piece from slipping off, so I sewed the sides back together. 

I decided with this open weave look, I could focus more on the entire outfit standing out, thus the tropical print pants and graphic tee. I got these fun pants at H&M on the clearance rack. I don't wear this loud of a print too often, but I loved the fit and thought it was time, once again, to climb out of my comfort box. 

At first, I tried this on with a number of tank tops, including white and a light blue, but nothing seemed right. It was then I remembered, I had this thrifted tee and the greens matched perfectly. 

I chose the pink accessories to pull out the little bit of pink in the pants. Yes, my necklace is wrapped over my boob! Sometimes, I forget to make sure everything is positioned just perfectly. Ha, ha. Oh well, just keeping it real!

Just a few words about this shirt. If you follow my Instagram feed, then you have seen this before and I said a similar thing then that I am going to say now. It is often hard to see beauty in tragedy. How do we see beauty in school shootings, wild fires, volcanoes, mud slides and things like disease and addictions? The point is not that those things themselves contain the beauty, but that there can be beauty, even amid those difficulties. Communities coming together to help families of victims, amazing fire fighters who risk their lives saving others, and people who come out stronger than ever going through loss and heartache are all beautiful. 

There is a verse in the Bible, which says,

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

— Romans 8:28 (NASB)

I'm not going to preach to you, because this is a fashion post, but I truly believe this. Gratitude plays a huge part in seeing beauty and in bringing healing when we have gone through difficulties. Finding, even the smallest things to be thankful for, is the first step to realizing exactly what this tee represents. I'll step off my soap box now. Ha, ha.

Here is a back view of the "kiana".

Besides the open weave allowing your outfit to take center stage, rather than the kimono, it also allows air to get through. I have found many kimonos are make of polyester, poly blends, viscose or silk and actually can make you feel more hot and sticky. That's perfect when you are in an overly air conditioned building, but not if you are walking at the fair or an outdoor summer festival. An open weave outer piece is a great option for the waning days of summer. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. What do you think of this outfit? I'd love to hear your comments on how you style a kimono or a ruana in the comments sections below. 

I've included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links which means if you click on a link I get a few pennies. If you purchase something through my site, I might get a little commission. I appreciate all the clicks you can give, but even more I appreciate hearing from you. 

Have a great day everyone!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Is It a Kimono or a Ruana? Week 4

Here I am, once again, taking a look at kimonos versus ruanas. Both of these over pieces are excellent additions to your wardrobe. They help spruce up a more plain outfit and add a lovely, interesting, layer to a work outfit or a date night look. The lighter layers not only add interest, but a little extra warmth for those overly air conditioned offices and restaurants. If you didn't see my previous three posts you can look at those by clicking on the link. Week 1, Week 2 and Week 3. Week 2 gives a good overview of the difference between the kimono and the ruana, if you were wondering.

This week's post centers around a hybrid piece that I am going to call a "kiana", as I feel it has both the cut and fit of a ruana, but the essence of the kimono. This is another online purchase from Christopher and Banks that I got for a good deal. 

For this outfit, I wore a pair of Sonoma olive trousers, a cream colored St. John's Bay tank, and my blue SO flats. 

I am calling this a "kiana" because it is shaped like a ruana, but is sewn on the sides, creating the illusion of sleeves, thus the kimono. Once again, you can see that the outfit by itself is rather plain, but adding this sheer over piece makes the outfit really pop.

I received this fun textured clutch for Christmas from my younger daughter a few years ago. I love the color and the texture. Texture is another way to add interest to an outfit. Think about adding texture in the form of a jacket, a scarf or a bag like this one. Jewelry can also be a way to add more texture. Think pendant necklaces with fringe or even a beaded bracelet like this one I am wearing that I found in a clearance basket at Chicos. 

Here is another look at the entire outfit. 

What do you think of this piece? Do you think calling it a "kiana" is a good name? What are some ways you style your kimonos or ruanas? What are some ways you add texture to your outfits? I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments section below. 

I've included a few shopping links below for you to peruse. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Have a wonderful day. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen. 

Is it a Kimono or a Ruana? Week 2

Last week I styled a short kimono. You can see that post here.  This week I am styling a ruana. What exactly is the difference between these two outer layer pieces? A kimono is more of a jacket. It has sleeves that can be narrow or wide, long or short. It is usually open in the front, but can come with or without a belt or tie to keep it closed. A bathrobe is really a heavy weight kimono. A ruana is one large piece of cloth that falls down the back, over the shoulders and down the front. It has no sleeve closures, rather just drapes over the shoulders and is kept in place with your arms, although I have seen and heard of people using a pin or a pretty brooch to keep them in place. A ruana is usually worn open, although the fashion police won't put you away if you wear it with a belt for a more cinched in look. 

This tasseled ruana was a spring purchase from Christopher and Banks. To make the look more streamline, I went with a tank top and a dark gray pencil skirt. Here is the outfit before adding the ruana.

You've seen this blush tank with bling before on my blog. I am an avid proponent of shopping and re-shopping my closet. The tank is Relativity brand and the pencil skirt is Liz Claiborne. Both of these pieces were thrifted. The black heels are Comfort Plus brand and the straw bag was thrifted as well. I opted for minimal jewelry with the beaded choker and a few beaded bracelets. 

The next two pictures show you the width of the ruana, which is typically a wider silhouette than a kimono.

Do you own a ruana? How do you like to wear it? Is it more of a summer weight or a fall weight? I am seeing fall styles beginning to fill the racks at most retailers. Kohl's was having some good sales on kimonos and ruanas and right now, you might find deals on the lighter weight ones that you could use for the rest of the summer and next season. 

I'd love to hear your feedback on this outfit. Would you wear something like this? I think this outfit is a great office look and the ruana would add a light layer for those overly air conditioned buildings. 

I've included a few shopping links for you to peruse. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own. 

Thanks for stopping by the blog and be sure to check back on Thursday to see what I am featuring on my Old Becomes New column. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.