My Favorite Denim Pieces

For the last few week I have been looking back at some older posts, due to scheduling conflicts and my own lack of motivation and energy to bring you a lot of new content. I do apologize for that, but this does offer you a look at different pieces that are worth investing in due to their reusability. Since we as fashion bloggers, thrifters and purchasers of fashion are wanting to be more conscious of how our choices affect the environment we are learning that sustainable fashion is important for the future of our world.

Sustainability at its finest starts even before the actual manufacture of clothing. While more companies are jumping on the sustainability wagon, we must admit there are literally tons of used clothing going into landfills, that could be part of this sustainability loop. Thrift stores are part of this loop and are helping to give new life to second hand pieces. Bloggers, Instagrammers and others are working their accounts to show you new ways to wear the clothes that are already in your closet, or at least encourage you to shop second hand.

This week I decided to focus on the favorite denim pieces in my closet. Denim has always been my go to fabric for every day outfits. Whether you like jeans, denim skirts, or denim jackets, everyone can get onboard with having a few work horse denim pieces in their wardrobe.

Piece 1 - Cropped Denim Jacket

This is one of the first cropped pieces I found that I really liked and still use repetitively. There is something about the silhouette of a cropped denim jacket that to me, makes it a little more versatile. I feel like it dresses up better than a standard jean jacket, but some of that might also be the wash. A darker wash will always look more dressy as opposed to a lighter or more acid washed piece. You can wear a piece like this with a casual dress, a classy maxi dress, leopard print, a longer tunic and jeans, and a pair of utility pants.

Picture by me.

Piece 2 - Denim Skirt

Since jeans are my first choice for most of my causal outfits, I am not going to include them in this post, but I will say, that most of my favorite jeans I have picked up at thrift stores. The ability to try on different styles, silhouettes and brands, many of which I wouldn’t have ever thought to shop, have provided me with several pairs that are on repeat during most of the year. If you are more of a skirt or dress kind of girl, then a denim skirt is a great casual alternative to jeans.

Just so you know, the first skirt is from a few years ago and I got rid of it, because I outgrew it. The last two pieces were just unique, so I picked them up, but my most used piece would be the darker wash pencil skirt in the middle number of photos. If you are looking for a denim skirt, that is the wash and style I would recommend. I recently thrifted a longer light wash one, so we’ll see how that gets styled this summer. Stay tuned.

Photo by me.

Piece 3 - Denim Vest

Another piece that I really love is a denim vest. So far I only have one and that is my Christopher and Banks piece, but I would like to find a few others including a longer one that ties and a more traditional vest shaped piece. These are things I add to my thrifting list and keep and eye out for. If I never find one, no big deal, but if I do, I’ll grab it.

Unique Denim Pieces

Since my love for denim extends to all areas of my wardrobe, I also wanted to include a few unique pieces with their own special embellishments or characteristics.

Embroidery

Any sort of embellishment on denim is fun, but I do love embroidery.

Chambray

While not technically denim, we group this with denim due to its similar washes and uses. Whether it is a button down, a popover or a dress, chambray is a great denim substitute for the warm temperatures of spring and summer.

I hope you enjoyed this look back at a few of my favorite denim pieces. I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit where not specified, Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring Trends 2020 - Maxi Dresses, Psychedelic Prints and Vests

If you have been following along as I look at the Spring 2020 Trends, then you are well aware this year’s trends are full of patterns and diversity. If your style is classic, you’ll find pinstriped suiting and button up shirts; if you prefer color, you’ll be amused with abstract florals and tropical prints; if boho vibe is your thing then today’s post is for you. When I think of boho style, I think of 60’s and 70’s inspired prints, fringe and maxi dresses. While today’s outfit has no fringe, it definitely calls to one’s inner hippy.

I got this flower power maxi dress last year on the clearance racks at Meijer. I was attracted to the large flowers, the rusty orange colored background and the crochet overlay on the bodice. The dress has spaghetti straps, but since it is still cold out, I decided to layer a long sleeve tee underneath.

I purchased this striped long sleeve tee just after Christmas at Maurice’s. I thought the navy stripe worked well with the blue in the dress and the rusty color is similar enough to the rust of the dress to make a fun print mix.

I’ve styled this denim vest from Christopher and Banks on the blog before many times. It is a workhorse in my wardrobe and is appropriate for all seasons. See how I styled it for spring, summer, fall and winter by clicking on the seasons.

A couple of simple jewelry items are enough to make a statement without being overdone.

You’ve seen this Simply Vera, Vera Wang bag on the blog before. I’m thinking maybe a cloth bag or something like my fringe bag would have been a better choice. I almost feel like this bag was out of place. I think it looks nice with the colors involved, but doesn’t really fit the vibe of the outfit as a whole. I feel the same way about my boots.

These Baretraps boot from DSW first made their appearance on the blog last fall. You can see that post here. I love having a variety of boots and these with their slouchy fronts, spat-type appearance and wood stacked heels are just plain fun. However, I don’t think they were the best choice for this outfit. Maybe a pair of my suede ankle boots or even some sneakers would have been a better choice. What do you think?

At the last minute I grabbed a scarf to wear as a type of head band. My daughter said I looked like Frankie from Grace and Frankie. Which of course made me laugh. Lily Tomlin is a great actress and comedian.

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear a boho style like this? Do you like to wear maxi dresses or vests? Tell me your thought in the comments below. I always love to hear from you and thank you to all of my subscribers and those of you who take the time to follow along and make comments.

I’m including 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, I get a little bit more. Thanks to all of you who have looked at those shopping links. I really appreciate it.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Wearing White - Basic Tee with Print

Before we start spending time talking about the changes that come with the advent of fall, I wanted to spend the last few weeks of summer talking about how to wear white as transitional pieces. When we start thinking about changing our wardrobes from summer to fall, we are often hesitant to make that change completely. Fall can be like playing the lottery, trying to guess which outfit to wear for the temps and weather changes. Here in the mid west we usually still have warm weather well into September and sometimes even October.

My husband, who likes to hunt, always says if you want it to stay nice longer into the fall just go out duck hunting! The perfect fowl weather is…well…foul. Rain, low clouds and no wind make for perfect water fowl weather and cooler temps help as well. As has often been the case when my husband has bought duck stamps in the past, the weather suddenly turns sunny and hover’s at about 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Ha, ha.

As I said last week, I am trying to build a few outfits around my white pieces, partly because white is not a color I reach for regularly. I do like to wear white jeans occasionally, but my tops, skirts and sweaters rarely get worn. For a blogger, unworn pieces represent a challenge, so this little series will stretch my imagination and hopefully yours as well, for how to style those whites into great transitional outfits.

For today’s outfit, I started with a recently thrifted white tee with a hummingbird print. This tee is Time and Tru brand. I seem to be coming across this brand from Walmart quite a bit lately. My white tee from last week’s post was this brand as well. You can see that post here.

These striped cabana pants are from Christopher and Banks. They are a linen blend, so feel relatively cool in the hot weather and while they wrinkle some, they are not as bad as a piece that is 100% linen. The smocked waist line is comfortable and makes for ease of wear.

I added my denim vest from Christopher and Banks to bring cohesion to the outfit. This vest has gotten a lot of use on the blog over the last three years. It is pieces like these that become the work horses of our wardrobes and can be worn all year round. You can see how I styled it with polka dot jeans, a printed maxi skirt, over a sleeveless top, with a leopard print skirt and with a denim dress and a chambray shirt. You can click on any of those to see some of the other ways I’ve styled this vest.

This blue pendant necklace seemed to go perfectly with the other blues in this outfit. I like this simple statement piece. Pendant necklaces can be great additions for any variety of outfits. If you like layering, as the temps get cooler, layer a longer pendant necklace like this one under a scarf closer to your neck. Infinity scarves work well for this idea.

Once again, my bright blue Keds are making an appearance. These were thrifted, but are worn often if I want my color factor to pop a bit. For this look I was going for a monochrome effect, thus the addition of the blue shoes to elongate my silhouette.

Because I was trying to make this more of a transitional outfit, I thought it appropriate to add a bag in a more fall color. This bag also ties in to the maroon color in the tee. I found this soft, supple bag while thrifting. I told my hubby I wouldn’t bring home any more purses, but somehow this one jumped into my cart. Ha, ha.

Do you own a white tee that also has a print on it? I think it is a great way to introduce white into your wardrobe, but still enjoy a little bit of color. I know not everyone likes to wear white up by their face, so I will be showing you a few other outfits with white on the bottom, or paired with a neutral for a more toned down look.

I hope you are off to a good start this week. I am going to go visit my mom, for the weekend on Thursday. We’ll have some girl time and celebrate her 93rd birthday together. More changes are coming down the pike and I will share those with you as I am able.

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

Denim Daze 2.0 - Recap

I hope you have enjoyed this series on denim. Most of us have denim pieces in our wardrobes and it is helpful when we have new ways to style them. Denim is a versatile, easy to wear fabric and goes with everything. It is also easy to wash and typically doesn’t need to be ironed, although the lighter weight chambray can get more wrinkly than typical denim.

Here are all the outfits side by side.

Denim Vest

Ruffled Chambray Top

Denim Skirt

Long Sleeve Chambray Shirt

Denim Jacket

Do you have a favorite outfit? Were you inspired to style your denim pieces differently from reading the posts in this series?

I think the piece that I really had to think about how to style was the pencil skirt as a dressier piece. I think is is natural to style a denim skirt in a more casual way with tees and sneakers, but dressing it up, just seems to take more thought. As far as my favorite piece in this series, it would be a toss up between the ruffled chambray shirt and the embroidered jacket.

I hope this was a fun series for you. It is hard to believe we are almost done with July. With August comes a return to school and even though the temps will still be warm, our thoughts begin to turn to fall, and all the things that come with it, like football and changes in the trees and the weather. I’m going to do a few posts on wearing white which will include some transitional outfits, then I’ll be showing you all the New York and London Pantone colors.

Thanks so much for the support you give to me and my little blog. I appreciate all your comments. If you signed up for my emails and are not receiving them, please be sure to subscribe again. I have noticed a few emails are not going through and I am thinking it might be that the emails did not get typed in correctly. Also, if you make a comment on a post, be sure to check back a few days later, because I do respond to all of your comments, or at least I try to. Thanks again.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Vest - Dressy

A monochrome look, to me, always seems more dressed up than other looks using similar pieces. Style a black pair of pants with a multi print blouse and you have a great work outfit. Style the same pair of pants with a matching black blouse, heels and pearls and you have made yourself ready for a night out on the town.

Denim, by nature, is casual. Originally created as work wear for farmers, miners, lumberjacks and other physical labor jobs, denim was not meant to be worn to the opera or the theater. However, denim has come a long way since its original inception back in 1873. We now have various washes, weights and colors of denim, making it a much more versatile fabric for real life events, both casual and dressy.

In order to make this Christopher and Banks, denim vest seem more dressed up, I chose to pair it with a chambray, bell sleeve dress for a glitzed up monochrome look that I would wear with confidence to any number of more dressy events.

I found this cute, Massini, chambray, dress on the Meijer clearance rack a while back and it was one of those things I felt I couldn’t pass up. You know the feeling. It is not only cute and fits, but it is the right price and you have nothing like it in your closet. I love dresses, but do not wear them very often, but still, that doesn’t stop me from occasionally purchasing one that I absolutely love.

This dress has a full zipper in the back, a fit and flare silhouette, and is light weight. It works well on its own or when styled with a vest over the top. Wearing a vest still lets the fun sleeve bells strut their stuff, but gives you extra coverage and layers if the weather is cooler. I’ve worn this piece with a knit vest, suede boots and tights in the chillier months.

The only other things I had to add to this simple, but stylish outfit were the accessories. Since the vest has silver bling on it, I decided to have silver for my jewelry, shoes and bag. Simple pie, right?

This outfit came together quite easily because I had two pieces that were the same color. I don’t think this would have been quite as dressy if I had a vest that was a darker or lighter wash. Remember, when you have an event and you don’t know what to wear, a monochrome look will always be chic and stylish.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you think I accomplished the casual and the dressy with this vest? Are these outfits you would wear? Specifically could you see yourself wearing a monochrome denim outfit for a fancy occasion? It is always refreshing to think outside the box.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

I’ve included a few shopping links for chambray dresses. There seem to be a ton of these around right now, so it might be a good time to invest in one. They can be very versatile, especially if you get a button up, shirt dress type, which you could wear as a jacket, vest or dress in so many different ways. Have fun shopping.

These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Vest - Casual

During the summer of my first year blogging, I did a series called Denim Daze. During this series, I featured different denim pieces and showed you how I styled them both in a casual way and a dressy way. I’ve decided to reboot this series using different denim pieces and giving each outfit a full post, so one day for the casual look and one day for the dressy look. You can see the original Denim Daze posts by clicking on the following links: Intro, Bermuda Shorts, Chambray Shirt, Knee Length Skirt, Flared Jeans, and the Denim Jacket.

For this series I am starting with a denim vest. You have seen this Christopher and Banks denim vest on the blog before, with a maxi skirt, a pair of olive crop pants, in a Pantone outfit, and in a holiday outfit. It is one I return to again and again.

I thought it would be fun to give you the rationale behind each of the pieces I have chosen for this series, and why I styled them the way I did. This vest has several characteristics that I love.

1 - The color. I love denim in all washes, but for a vest, jacket or top, I often go for a medium wash. I’ve seen denim vests in light, medium and dark washes, but for me the medium wash seems to be easier to style with a lot of different options as far as colors, textures and patterns.

2 - The fit. I have a variety of vests. Many of them are knit with cascading fronts, or puffy for when the weather cools down. For a denim vest I like a more fitted profile. This one is pieced together with panels, rather than being one whole piece in the back or sides. These seams and the panels give a more fitted silhouette.

3 - The bling. What takes this simple denim vest up a notch is the bling. The sparkly studs on the yoke are the perfect compliment and make it quite simple to dress this cutie up or down.

The next piece I chose for this outfit was the thrifted floral tee. I knew I wanted to jazz up the outfit with a print and with some color. There is a little bit of blue in the top that matches the denim blue of the vest perfectly. I just love the cohesiveness of at least something matching in an outfit.

Once I picked out the top, I immediately thought of these jeans, which I have worn on the blog before as well. These thrifted Gloria Vanderbilt jeans are fun with their bright pinky red vibe and of course, the polka dots. They also match the shirt.

The tee, honestly, became the driving force in picking out the rest of this bright, casual outfit. I had blue and pinky red, the last color I wanted to accent was the green, thus the jewelry and the bag.

If you have a hard time putting outfits together, it is often easier to pick a piece with a few different colors in it and then use those to guide you to your next pieces. You can use a floral top like I did, a printed scarf or even a bag with multiple colors. Once you choose that piece, then find a skirt or pair of pants that comes in one of the other others, then a top or scarf, etc. Even your jewelry can be part of the color combination. When you are done, you will have an outfit that is cohesive and looks fantastic. For those of you who like to follow a recipe when you cook this method of picking out an outfit will work especially well for you.

For shoes, I am sure you could have guessed, I chose my blue SO flats.

I like the bright, happy look of this outfit and I think it would be perfect for lunch or shopping with your girlfriends, or for me a casual date night with my husband. I would even wear an outfit like this to work.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you own a denim vest? Do you ever wear it? If not, why not? I hope this provided a bit of inspiration for taking that denim vest out and putting it to work for you. Be sure to check back on Thursday for the dressed up version of this sparkly vest.

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

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.