My Style: Goblin Core

You are probably looking at my title and thinking, what in the world is Goblin Core? I am so glad you asked. Ha, ha. Goblin Core is a newer aesthetic similar to Cottage Core, with its whimsical fancy, but with a darker, earthier vibe. For a refresher on Cottage Core check out this post I did on Cottage Core with an Edge.

I first learned about Goblin Core when I was perusing Pinterest and looking at Dark Academia aesthetics. You can see my Goblin Core board by clicking on the link. I only have six pins so far. If you look up style types you won’t typically find this style, but you might find something similar called Natural/Earthy. If I had to define Goblin Core I would say it is earthy with an edge, but the colors primarily revolve around earth tones and also embrace the idea of life and living things, so browns and greens. Wardrobe pieces are comfortable, even to the point of oversized or baggy and are robust with textures and details. Overalls, corduroy, baggy sweaters, combat boots, Mary Janes, patterned socks, grandpa style sweaters, and vintage pieces are all part of the Goblin Core style. I was drawn to the greens and browns of this style, so that is what I chose as I put my outfit together.

I feel like there is a bit of Gypsy influence in this style, perhaps due to the earthy colors, or the tiered skirts and vests. It has a similar feel to Bohemian style, but perhaps more grounded.

When I started putting the outfit together, I knew I wanted to pair green and brown, so the sweater came first. This is an older, thrifted Faded Glory piece. It is definitely getting pilly, but I still haven’t found an adequate way to get rid of pills that actually does a decent job. If you know of something, let me know! It is a great sweater with plenty of room, a little longer body, and nice textured stripes.

I then thought about a topper of sorts wondering if I should do a similar colored cardigan, utility jacket, or blazer, but the idea of brown kept coming back to me and I remembered I had this stupendous corduroy vest. This is a Liz Claiborne off shoot called Crazy Horse. This is a great vest with structure, but added stretch. I love it.

I initially had no intentions of using a skirt for my lower half. I was looking at jeans with embroidery, but then when I saw this skirt I knew I had the right combination. This has made multiple appearances on the blog and is a brand called Notations. I honestly do not remember what store I bought this at. It has been a while. You can see how I styled this piece with a graphic tee, in a Pantone outfit, and with a yellow jacket.

I decided to wear knee high boots instead of combat boots, or Mary Janes, because I’m me. These boots are recently thrifted XoXo brand, and seem to be in good shape. No they are not real leather, but I will hopefully get some wear out of them before they start to peel. I decided that if we can wear distressed jeans, why not distressed boots? Ha, ha.

I kept my accessories simple, as Goblin Core doesn’t seem to over embellish. My necklace was a thrift find and my bracelet was purchased from somewhere, which I also can’t remember. Eye, yie, yie. My brain!

My bag is another thrifted Fossil piece, and another one I really like. Olive will go with any other color, so definitely a versatile piece.

Looking back at these photos, I wish I would have used a better looking sweater, but it is what it is. I hate to get rid of something that still has plenty of wear. As I said, I need to find a way to eliminate pills.

I hope you enjoyed learning more about the Goblin Core style aesthetic. I like sharing these ideas with you and even if you don’t necessarily like a particular style I hope that it will still inspire you to be creative with your own clothes, making new outfits from the pieces already living in your closet.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. Remember with Christmas on the way these also might be ideas for the loved once on your gift list. If you make a purchase through my site I get a few pennies. These shopping links are brought to you at no extra cost and all opinions are my own.

Have a great day!

Shopping Our Closets: Cool Weather Basics

I think most of us veer towards certain pieces when the temperatures start to cool down. Even though our temps have been taking their time about cooling off, we know the chilly days are inevitable, and we will be reaching for our long sleeve tees and sweaters. Today I thought it would be fun to talk about these basic pieces and show you how I put together a simple, casual outfit that would be perfect for anyone’s busy lifestyle.

When I hear the word “basics” my mind automatically goes to things like underwear and socks, but everyone has their own likes on those so we’ll just leave that alone. The basics I wanted to talk about today are long sleeve tees, cardigans and jeans. Obviously, these basics can vary from piece to piece. Long sleeve tees can be v-neck, scoop neck, boat neck, crew neck or even turtle necks. The same is true of cardigans. Basic cardigans most often have crew or v-neck and buttons down the front, but cardigans come in a variety of lengths, styles, textures, fabrics and even embellishments. Maybe your basic cardigan is an open front knee length duster. Someone else maybe consider a sweater with a zipper and a fold over collar to be their basic piece. Basics really depend on your personal taste and what you are doing. A work wardrobe is going to be different than a casual, stay at home wardrobe.

As you can well imagine, I have cardigans in a variety of colors, but I chose red as a nod to the weeks ahead leading up to Christmas. It is coming whether we want it to or not. I personally love Christmas, but I also acknowledge that life is already very busy, then throw in the busyness of the holidays and trying to come up with outfits might be a bit overwhelming. However, when you stick to your basics you can’t go wrong. You will still look put together, and you can embellish with jewelry, scarves, bags and shoes and be ready for any holiday shopping or get together you need to attend. Here are a few basic cardigans from Kohl’s, JC Penney, Macy’s, and Amazon.

For this outfit I started with this thrifted red cardigan. I found this in the last couple of years. It is a medium weight, so great for these cooler days that are still above freezing.

Style Tip: When building an outfit around your basic pieces it really doesn’t matter what piece you start with. You could choose your tee first, your sweater, or even your pair of jeans and build your outfit around that. Mood is a realistic part of getting dressed, but instead of not getting dressed I think it is essential to take a shower and put on clean clothes. That is part of what makes having basics to important. If you are feel exhausted, or down if you can at least manage a tee, a cardi and a clea pair of jeans you are doing good.

I grabbed this red and white striped tee for my top. These basic tees from Kohl’s by Sonoma are perfect for layering under a cardigan. Here are a few other basic long sleeve tees from JC Penney, Maurice’s, Target, and Amazon.

These jeans were purchased at Maurice’s in the late summer. They are incredibly comfortable, a lighter wash and heavier so perfect for the cold weather. The mild distressing makes them great for both casual and dressier looks.

Style Tip: Once you have your basics chosen feel free to embellish as much or as little as you want. An outfit like this will allow your pretty necklaces and scarves to really pop and take center stage. I kept my look simple and casual with the choice of my Converse, but if I would have went with a low heeled boot it would have taken it up a notch taking it from busy grandma, to cute date night look.

I have been looking for an excuse to wear this layered bead necklace, so I was happy it looked so nice with this outfit. You can also see my Fossil bag which was another second hand score. One of the things I like about these heavier cloth bags is that you don’t have to worry so much about the issues with peeling that the nylon or faux leather bags have.

Do you like using basics like these to build an outfit? How do you most often use your basic pieces? How do you dress basics up to make them more work, or event worthy? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment or two below.

I’m adding a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. If you click on a link or buy a product through the link I get a little commission. These are brought to you at no extra cost. Thank you for all your support.

Have a great week!

My Style: Tomboy/Tomboy Femme

Tomboy or Tomboy Femme style is a mix of masculine and feminine elements that involves pieces as simple and casual as flannel shirts and sneakers to ones more classic and complex like trousers and button downs. I have always deemed myself a tomboy. I loved chasing after my older brothers when I was growing up, especially when they were riding dirt bikes in the field near our house. I would follow them on my bicycle, longing for the day when I could join them on their noisy, dirty motorcycles.

While my longing to race motorcycles never came to fruition, to this day I love the rumble of a Harley Davidson, and all the leather and denim that goes along with it. I enjoy playing outdoors whether it be hiking, camping, fishing or even hunting, occasionally, with my spouse.

When puberty came with all of its teenage angst, it also came with a full swing into things that were girly. I did play with dolls growing up and definitely loved Barbie and all of her friends, but after puberty I noticed I became acutely aware of clothes, boys, and hair styles. Make up came later when I was in college.

To this day, I still prefer jeans and sneakers to dresses and heals. I can totally dress up for a special event, but the bulk of the time I feel most confident when I am wearing a casual look that involves both feminine and masculine vibes.

This look came together after I picked out this multi-print babydoll top with peasant sleeves. This is a fun piece I thrifted a while back, but it is definitely made for cold weather as it is a heavy weight material. I wore a tank top underneath to keep the chilly air from coming up under the top. This is definitely a feminine piece by its silhouette, but the colors keep it more grounded and even masculine in nature.

After I picked the top I knew I wanted to use an oversized button down to hone in on the tomboy nature of the look. I remembered I had this wonderful thrifted corduroy shirt so I dug through my cold weather clothes, which are slowly being transitioned back into my closet after their summer hiatus. This piece matched perfectly with the rusty orange in the top.

Style Tip: Look for heavy weight, oversized button downs in the men’s section at thrift stores. You will most likely find a few gems. Use these like a cardigan, blazer or jacket for a casual, relaxed tone.

Knowing my top half was going to be more bulky and oversized I wanted to go for a slimmer leg jean. I grabbed this slightly distressed, high waisted pair from Maurice’s on clearance. I rolled the hems to add to the tomboy demeanor, but I look forward to wearing these with boots later this season and into winter.

My high top Converse seemed the perfect choice to drive home the tomboy nature of this look, however I wanted a few more feminine touches so chose a pastel pink cross body bag, and two rosy gold necklaces that my bestie gave to me a while back. She gave me a box with multiple necklaces and scarves that she was no longer using, so I finally pulled it out of my closet and took everything out so I can use it. I love the layered look these two necklaces provide. I also added my sparkly rose gold faux leather bracelet.

Do you think I pulled off the tomboy, or tomboy femme look? Do you wear outfits like this? Do you have pieces like this in your closet? Do you own a corduroy button down? Be sure to leave me a comment or two. I always love to hear from you.

I was also participating in an Instagram challenge yesterday that involved our favorite hat, so I added my hat to the outfit and took a few more pics.

I am including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Note I included a few men’s corduroy button downs as they will provide a bigger, oversized look. I typically get a men’s Medium or Large so there is a bit more room in the hip area, but if you are petite order a small.

Have a great week!

My Style: Business Casual

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great day everyone!

Shopping Our Closets: Fall Trends

I think it is always fun to look at what is trending for the up coming seasons. As we look to fall, we will be seeing much that is familiar, thus patterns and pieces that you probably already have in your closet. Be prepared for a resurgence of animal prints, plaid, sherpa, faux fur, and leather. Silhouettes will revolve around skirts from narrow denim to fuller midi lengths and will also continue to feature wide leg jeans. However, the news is out, skinnies will be back in the not too distant future, so I hope, like me, you hung on to your narrow legged jeans.

Style Tip: It seems in this ever changing fashion scape it is good to keep a few things that are timeless and classic, like a good, straight leg trouser or jean. They are neither wide nor skinny and can be worn with anything, and dressed up or down.

In addition fall will bring wonderful, earthy tones such as dark green and various shades of brown. Pantone revealed both a New York Autumn/Winter Color Palette 2024/25, and a London Autumn/Winter Color Palette 2024/25. I am thinking about delving back into these color palettes, so if that is something you’d like me to do, please let me know.

Today’s outfit revolves around a few of the fall trends that I have in my closet including a structured military jacket, an animal print scarf, a full denim skirt, combat boots and a brown bag.

This look is crossing a bit into a Dark Academia look, which I have featured in a What I’ve Been Wearing post on the blog here. The more somber hues with the structure of the military jacket give it an interesting vibe.

My younger daughter gave me this Torrid military jacket a number of years ago for Christmas. It is not a piece I reach for often, but I keep it in my closet because it is so unique. The olive drab color is such a contrast against the dark black trim, and the fit and flare silhouette makes it additionally interesting. It is a heavy knit fabric akin to sweatshirt material, so very comfy and stretchy.

Style Tip: Military jacket vs. utility jacket, what is the difference? Usually, a military jacket is a cropped piece and will have decorative buttons on both sides of the front opening, and some sort of contrasting piping, ribbon or stitching that gives it a formal military vibe. A utility jacket is usually longer, has a drawstring, large pockets and often both a zipper and snaps or buttons, and is meant to be a casual or functional type jacket.

I thought this thrifted, Express, “honor” graphic tee was the perfect piece to go with the military look.

I found this LizSport, full, midi or tea length, denim skirt while thrifting last year, and it has been coming in handy. It is a lighter weight which is nice with it being such a full piece. If the fabric was thicker it would definitely be very heavy. It is a tad bit tight around my waist, but I am willing to put up with it. Ha, ha. The things we gals do for fashion!

I just added this thrifted scarf to my scarf pile, and yes it is a pile, but I do so love scarves! Since animal prints are back in force, I thought this blend of zebra and leopard a fun mix. I didn’t add any jewelry since there is already plenty going on in this outfit.

If you look up Fall Bags 2024 you’ll see bags in all shapes and sizes, but in one very distinct color, brown, or the hues and shades thereof. It also looks like most of the bags are leather or faux leather, rather than a soft fabric like this corduroy one of mine. Here are a few to look at, including a few small animal print ones.

Combat boots seem to be around to stay, so if you haven’t hopped on that trend wagon, it’s not too late to start. I love my combat boots. They are so comfortable, and my inserts fit it every pair I currently own. This pair is Joe Boxer brand. I find most of mine at thrift stores, but have gotten a few pairs on sale at Kohl’s.

So what do you think of these fall trends? Do you have any similar items in your closet? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment or two below. I always love to hear from you.

I hope you enjoyed this post. All links included are affiliate links. If you click on a link, I might get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of the links I get a tiny commission. These are brought to you at no extra cost and are provided to give you inspiration and ideas as to where you can purchase similar pieces to those featured in the post. All opinions are my own.

Have a great week!

Outfit Inspiration: Chambray for Summer

I looked around on Pinterest trying to get my creative vibes moving and saw a few outfits with chambray shirts that reminded me what great pieces these are to have in our closets. Whether you have one chambray shirt, a dress, a skirt or a simple accessory, chambray next to linen is a great fabric for summer. Of course, chambray can be worn all year round, but due to its lighter weave and weight it is ideal for these warmer days.

Girlfriends, summer is still here for a while, and while our feeds, and the retailers are doing their best to move us forward into fall, Halloween and yes even Christmas, I am choosing to embrace these dog days of summer and live them to the fullest.

To me there is nothing more crisp and summery than chambray with white, and a little bit of tan. Thus, though Pinterest was the initial inspiration for this outfit, it is completely my own idea pulled together with pieces from my closet.

While, I have numerous chambray pieces, I went with this thrifted Cremieux, rolled sleeve button down with raw hemline. It needed its time in front of the spotlight. It can be worn on its own as a top, or as I did today used as a topper to add interest to the outfit. It also would provide a bit of warmth in the air conditioning, which in some places can be quite fierce. I’ll include a few options in the shopping links at the end of the article.

My under layer is a simple striped Croft & Barrow tank top, clearance at Kohl’s a few seasons ago. I chose blue and white, but any striped color combination would work for this look. You could also change the look by using a floral print or a graphic tee. Do what you love.

You also know, I have to add a little jewelry, so my necklace, a gift from my spouse, and the bracelets, seen in the previous picture were my add ons. I chose not to bother with a belt. I typically wear them all the time, but it is starting to seem silly when there is no chance of my pants falling down. Ha, ha.

My distressed, white, Stylus jeans are thrifted. I still have to laugh at how I was so against distressing for years, and now I actually look for it. I know not everyone is on the distressed bandwagon, but to each her own. Wear the things that make you feel comfortable and confident. The pieces I don’t feel good in are shorts and short skirts, due to my bad varicose veins. Rather than bemoaning that I don’t feel comfortable in those pieces, I just reach for the things I enjoy and live life.

My bag is a recently thrifted Fossil piece. I have been on the search for a few neutral colored bags. Shhhh! Don’t tell my hubby. He thinks I have too many bags already. Now, that can’t possibly be true! Ha, ha.

Another option with a chambray button down is to tie the bottom, for a cute cropped look.

It occurred to me I could also pull the tank out so it hangs below the tied up chambray piece for an additional fun look.

I thought about wearing white sneakers, but chose my denim Keds instead.

Here are a few possibilities if you are looking for something similar.

Do you have any chambray in your closet? How do you like to wear it? Do you wear it just in the summer or all year round. I love to hear from you, so please leave a comment or two. What did you think of this outfit?

Check out a few of my past chambray outfits by clicking on the links. Denim Daze 2.0, White with Denim, Denim Daze, Long Sleeve Chambray Shirt, Light Wash Chambray, With a Maxi Dress, Chambray Dress with Denim Vest, and With a Poncho.

I am including a few shopping links for chambray pieces, and neutral colored bags. Use these for inspiration or to buy yourself a little something. If you purchase something through one of my links, I get a few pennies, but every cent counts. These are affiliate links brought to you at no additional cost. All opinions are my own.

I hope you have a great day!

Shopping Our Closets: Linen

Today’s outfit revolves around a few pieces I found in my closet that are over 50% linen. Linen is a go to for summer outfits due to it’s ability to keep the wearer cool and comfortable. I see many bloggers and Instagram gals wearing linen on the regular all throughout the summer. Many retailers carry these light weight pieces starting in the spring. You can see numerous pretty tops, pants, and skirts at Chico’s, JC Penney, Coldwater Creek, Old Navy and more.

Linen as a fabric is made from the inner stem fibers of the flax plant. In its pure form it is breathable, durable, dries easily, and is perfect for hot climates. The only bad side of pure linen is that it is rather stiff and wrinkles quite easily.

My two pieces featured today are a linen blend. My pants are linen and rayon, and my vest is linen and cotton. The pants are not as cool as a linen cotton blend, but they are flowy and that allows for better air circulation. As you can see, they still get a little wrinkly, and that is part of what makes me less enamored with linen than others might be.

These pants were a Christopher & Banks purchase from a few years ago. I liked that the stripes were vertical, keeping the eye moving down rather than fixating on my wider hips. These had front patch pockets, and a wider elastic waist. They are very comfy and so easy to pull on and off.

My vest is the other linen blend piece. This is a thrifted Maurice’s piece. I love vests and I have a small stash of lighter weight ones that I like to pull out for layering and texture when it is warm. The eyelet on this piece is really what drew me to it. I love clothing with texture and eyelet is one that we see a lot of in the warmer months.

I ended up using a simple, thrifted tank top underneath. While I could have chosen any color, I decided to go with white, to keep the top part of my body more monochrome, helping the blue stripes in the pants to stand out.

I also went for neutral accessories in my pendant necklace, my bracelet, and my lace up sandals. I like the way the neutral looks with this color combo giving the whole outfit a very summery feel.

I could have chosen a neutral colored handbag, but went for a lighter blue to add a bit more understated color to the look.

What do you think of this outfit? Do have linen pieces in your closet? Do you like linen and wear it often in the summer? I love to have your feedback so feel free to leave a comment or two.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. I decided to show you an array of linen/linen blend pieces. Even if you only have one or two in your closet, they do come in handy for these warm days of summer. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great day!

Begin Again, and a Look at What I Have Been Wearing

Hi everyone. What was originally going to be a one month hiatus has turned into nearly two, thanks to my new normal. I am trying to come to terms with the idea I have a chronic illness; a muddled mess of chronic sinusitis and asthma, each one individually trying to be managed, and at the same time exacerbating the other when one goes awry. In my vast experience (ha, ha) of 3 years I am seeing a pattern of sinus infection almost always leading to worsening of asthmatic symptoms. There seems to be a definite connection, though you will hear little of it from the medical community. Indeed, I am learning it is imperative we do our own research and keep looking for answers while trying to maneuver an overburdened medical landscape.

That is part of the reason for my disappearance from regular posting on my little blog. My hubby and I were able to take our meandering vacation in May without any issues, other than the car having a few hiccups. I am so thankful, because it was after that I got sick, and that would have ruined a really relaxing trip.

Here I am doing what my counselor so often tells me to do and that is, begin again. I will be starting out slow, but I do want to get a little bit of content out there before the summer is over. Today I am going to share a few of my daily outfits that I was able to post to instagram.

Outfit 1 - Long Denim Skirt and Graphic Tee

I wore this while we were visiting my mother-in-law, before we left for our Meanderings. It was the perfect combination of comfy and cute. I have this skirt in my rotation to be worn again, so I am thinking it deserves its own spot in a blog post.

Outfit 2 - Olive Pants and Peach Top with Lace Cut Out Yoke

I love this thrifted top. It has a cotton liner in the bodice area, and since the entire thing is cotton it is very comfortable for our warmer temps. I thought the combination of pastel peach with olive and blue chambray a fitting outfit for late spring and early summer.

Outfit 3 - Subtle Camo Cropped Pants, Floral Tiered Tunic and Open Weave Shrug

This is one of my favorite outfits I put together since we got back from our trip. Everything but the Sperry sneakers was thrifted. The outfit came together as a result of a print mixing challenge in Instagram, and I always love a good print mix. It was one of those cooler, late spring days, and these pieces kept me completely comfortable.

Outfit 4 - Rewear of Camo Cropped Pants with Floral Peasant Top and Blingy Vest

I always rewear my pants over the course of a couple of weeks between laundry sessions. Rewearing helps keep our clothes from getting worn out due to over washing and saves water and detergent. Do you rewear your clothes before washing? Isn’t the floral mix of print and embroidery beautiful on the sleeves of this piece? The Christopher and Banks vest makes regular appearances on the blog and Instagram.

Outfit 5 - Purple and Blue Striped Maxi Skirt and Graphic Tee

It is a struggle for me to wear things outside my comfort zone. This comfort zone revolves more around what is going on in my life than things not being comfortable due to size, fit, or type of piece. I love skirts and dresses, but my life rarely is conducive to wearing them. In order to not be too stuck in a rut, I am trying to reach for a maxi skirt on occasion and style it for my writing grandma lifestyle. Ha, ha.

This outfit is so me. I love the purple hues in the skirt and the tee is right up my alley. The tee was thrifted, and the skirt was another past Christopher and Banks purchase. I haven’t bought from them since they closed down their brick and mortar stores, but I sure did like them when I was able to shop in person. Since they went to an online only presence I have been less than underwhelmed. Sad!

Outfit 6 - Embroidered Chambray Shirt, Graphic Tee and Dark Wash Jeans

I have had this light wash chambray shirt for years and I absolutely love it. If it has embroidery on it I am sold! I used it more as a shacket, but occasionally wear it as a button down. I don’t like to layer it under other things because I want the embroidery to be a focal point. The floral graphic tee was a Maurice’s find several years ago. The dark wash, ankle jeans are a pair of Lee’s petites that I found at Kohl’s on clearance a while back. I don’t normally buy petites but when looking for an ankle pant they often work.

Outfit 7 - Pineapple Bling Tee and Jeans

A fun, easy outfit. What more can we ask for during the busy, hot, days of summer?

Outfit 8 - Floral Kimono, Oversized Tee and Reworn Jeans

I had an eye doctor appointment the morning before I took these pictures, and my eyes were dilated. That’s always fun. When I stepped back outside after I got home to take these pics, I was pretty squint eyed. Ha. ha.

Style Tip - There are so many ways to take an ordinary jeans and tee outfit up a few notches with accessories including layered necklaces and kimonos. Just because you have a routine of wearing the same type or style doesn’t mean it has to get boring. Jazz up the routine with colors, patterns, layers and bling, even if it just for a grocery store run or a doctor’s appointment. It is amazing how much better it makes me feel to put in the effort. Even when I am struggling with my physical heath.

Outfit 9 - Jeans with Bling and an Oversized Tee

I could not resist this recently thrifted tee. It is not cotton, so definitely not one I will wear when it is super hot, but it is so me. I love murder mystery shows, all the comfy clothes, and feel most comfortable with just a small number of people; although I can handle more like 8 or 10. Ha, ha.

Finding pieces that perfectly fit both your body and your personality is really what makes fashion fun. Graphic tees are great ways to show off the bands, movies, books, and philosophies you like. In the same way accessories can further show off your amazing sparkle. Don’t be afraid to play dress up every day, even the days you don’t feel good.

I hope you enjoyed this look at a few of my more recent outfits and I hope to be back at regular posting soon. Have a great week!

My Style: Grunge Aesthetic

This third Tuesday of the month I have been looking at various styles from which I pull my own style. I’ve titled my style blended, meaning I take from a variety of styles to make my own creative looks. So far we have looked at the Classic Style, and the Bohemian Style. Today we are going to look at the Grunge Style.

While we may not think we take much from the Grunge aesthetic we really do. Plaid patterns, graphic tees, combat boots, and hobo bags are all part of the Grunge scene. The term grunge originally came out of a music genre born in the northwest United States in the late 1980’s and 1990’s. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana fame was probably the most influential rocker on the grunge fashion movement. His style was completely understated often wearing an oversized sweater, baggy jeans and Converse tennis shoes to perform. The fashion movement bolstered the thrift movement with young people shopping to find worn, baggy, ripped, and oversized second hand clothing.

I easily fit into certain aspects of this style and I feel very comfortable in it. In fact, this is probably one of my faves, except for the fact that I love color, and it took some time for me to buy into the whole distressed pant movement. Now, however, I love my combat boots, my plaids, my ripped jeans and of course my graphic tees.

I had to think through how to build this outfit. I don’t have any band tees, and most of what I read and the images I saw showed tee shirts with band names and graphics on them. I decided since I hit 60 that I can make it my own, so I chose this silly tee I got at the state park my hubby and go to once or twice a year. It says, “I Ain’t Old…I’m Retro!” I couldn’t resist buying it and I think it works perfectly with this old lady’s grunge vibe.

My gray and white Vanilla Star plaid shirt is a thrifted piece. It had a slightly worn look to it, so I thought it served the purpose quite well. For some reason I felt my posture and facial expressions had to be a bit snarky to get the true grunge vibe across. Ha, ha.

These Stitch Star jeans I picked up on clearance at Meijer a few years ago. I like the distressing including the raw hems. I also like the buttons for the fly instead of a zipper. They look a little more worn than when I first got them, but I do wear them a lot and with all the washing they are looking rather funky, but that also may have had something to do with watching a toddler before I took these pics during his nap time.

One of the other pieces that I read about was the zip up hoodie. It seems dressing in the grunge way is all about layers of loose or oversized clothing. My pieces aren’t really all that oversized, but you get the idea. This zip up is part of a thrifted two piece set by NY & Co. Sport. Unfortunately, I messed up the pants with bleach, so I typically only wear them around the house. You can see the set before I messed up the pants here.

Layered necklaces, including crosses seems to be a thing, so this was my version.

These Joe Boxer combat boots became my faves this past season after I found them while thrifting. They are definitely showing their wear, but when you are feeling grungy the more worn the better.

I was trying to decide between a tote bag or one of my hobo style bags, and ended up with my Aerosmith tote to make up for the absence of a band tee.

What do you think of the Grunge Style? Do you have any plaid in your closet? Do you own combat boots? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

I hope you enjoyed this look at the Grunge Aesthetic. I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost. If you shop through one of my links, I get a few cents. Every view counts. Thank you for all you do.

Have a great week!

Shopping Our Closets: Tweed Jacket

The origin of tweed fabric is Scotland, and it is still the informal outerwear choice of most of Great Britain. A wool fabric it was originally “woven with a plain weave, twill or herringbone structure.” (Wikipedia - Tweed) It was known to be quite weatherproof, and for a time was only worn by the upper crust for outdoor activities such as shooting and hunting.

What we here in the USA call tweed, while manufactured to look like the rough, textured fabric is much more colorful and typically made from polyester, and cotton with a small percentage of wool, or none at all. Of course there are true tweed pieces to be found but it is mostly seen as suiting, although there are jackets here and there that would meet the true tweed standard.

When I was newly married, I owned a faux tweed suit. It was a beautiful light blue. Unfortunately, tweed became less popular as a fashion trend, and I outgrew my suit so I got rid of it. Now tweed is in and out of the spotlight much like polka dots and satin, but it will always have a place in this girl’s closet; maybe it does in yours as well.

Today I am showing off one of several tweed jackets that I have thrifted over the years. This piece is great for spring and fall. It offers just the right amount of warmth on a cool day, and makes any outfit look work or date worthy. Just for fun I am showing you two looks.

Look 1 - Work Appropriate

I love the colors in this Marshall Fields piece. Brown, yellow, rust, and creamy white form a beautiful blend for any season. This piece is 30% wool, so perfect for the chilly days of fall, winter and spring. During summer, this might just be the piece you put over your shoulders when the air conditioning is blasting. I also love the fringe detail along the collar and middle seams.

To make this look more work worthy I chose a pair of Croft and Barrow Chinos purchased some time ago from a Kohl’s clearance rack. I thought about a light weight sweater, but decided on my dressier, Christopher & Banks button down. This was also thrifted.

You can see my belt, and necklace above. I thought the rusty colored belt and my second hand loafers would subtly pull out the rust color in the jacket. The shoes are a brand called Etienne Aigner. I had to do a little research, but found Etienne Aigner, the man, was born in Hungary and established a fashion line that now caters to buyers all over the world dealing in luxury bags, shoes, clothing and more. Aigner, the retail company now hales out of Munich, Germany. Etienne, the man, died in the year 2000 at the age of 95.

Sorry for the crummy picture.

You’ve see this satchel bag on the blog before. I purchased this from Walmart a number of years ago, and is a brand called George.

Look 2 - Casual Day with the Kids or Grandkids.

To give the look a more casual vibe, I went with a dark brown tee shirt tunic. I also swapped out my Chinos for a pair of light gray Chicos ankle pants. Both are thrifted.

I swapped out my jewelry for a long, pressed flower pendant, and chose my thrifted Rafe for Target bag, which has also had a day or two here on the blog.

Instead of loafers I went back to my Steve Madden sneakers. Yes, they still need a good scrub! Ha, ha.

What do you think of these outfits? Which one do you like better? Do you have a tweed jacket? How do you like to wear yours? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to leave a comment or two.

Thanks for following along. Until next time!

I’m including a few shopping links for tweed jackets. The sizes are sparse, but I tried to find a variety. Besides these you can always search for tweed jackets in your search bar and see what pops up. In addition, thrift stores are great places to find these kinds of pieces. Happy hunting!

Outfit Inspiration: Gray Days of Spring

We all yearn for the warmer temps and sunshine of spring. We want to see the trees budding into flower and leaf, and smell the fragrance of flowers on the breeze. We are ready to tear off our winter layers, and pull out the tees, light weight sweaters and jackets, and allow our ankles and toes to see the sun. Unfortunately, here in the midwest, spring mosey’s along as if trying to decide whether it wants to settle in, or just bypass our area and let winter reign a while longer until summer blazes into place.

Today’s outfit was inspired by the weather. It is gray, damp, and chilly. There is a chilly breeze blowing, which doesn’t help it feel more spring like. On day’s like these I am still reaching for layers. However, I like to keep the layers visibly lighter and more spring-like in their appearance.

The outfit started around this recently thrifted Rose & Olive knit top. I love the print and after a little research I am not sure if I would call this a Damask, or Ikat inspired pattern. It is quite unique and along with the puffed sleeves and wider banded wrists give the top a very elegant feel. I think it would look lovely with a dark gray skirt or pair of trousers, or a black maxi skirt or jumper. Even pairing it with a dark navy would be fun. You can see I layered a darker gray, long sleeve tee underneath as an extra layer to keep me warm.

Once I chose the top, I thought the best way to give it a more spring feel was to pair it with a light colored pair of pants, so I chose these white, thrifted, distressed Stylus brand cropped jeans. These are very comfy and I am looking forward to wearing them more when the weather gets warmer.

Yes, my shoelace is untied, and I didn’t notice until late in the day. Ha, ha.

I knew I would need one other light layer so I reached for my years old, Christopher and Banks vest. This is a great piece and I regularly wear it as a light layering piece or as a great way to cover some of my middle age bulge. :)

I knew I would gravitate towards my thrifted gray moto boots and my current thrifted gray cross body bag as the perfect accessories to keep a monochromatic feel.

I didn’t want the outfit to be too bland, so I added a sparkly pendant necklace with a tear drop gray jewel, and a cherry blossom scarf, both thrift finds. A girl has to have a little sparkle and glam even if she is just dressing casual. You just never know what a day will bring. I ended up meeting a friend for coffee at a near by coffee shop and I felt very comfy and stylish.

Of course if you get too warm through out the day, you can always remove the scarf and add it to your bag.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you think it evokes the feeling of a gray, spring day? Do you think the scarf and pendant necklace good additions to make the outfit a tad bit more interesting?

I hope you enjoyed this post. I hope that these fashion ideas help you use the clothes already in your closet to create new outfits that will make you feel fresh and confident.

Style Tip: You can make a look like this using any two colors. I chose gray and white, but you might choose navy and tan, or mint green with pale yellow. See what is in your closet and go for it. The outfit formula is simple: top, pants or skirt, vest, shoes, bag, and your choice of accessories. Have fun!

I hope you have a wonderful week.

Shopping Our Closets: Graphics on Clothing

Today I thought I would spend a little time talking about graphics on clothing. When I refer to graphics, I am talking about specific pictures, words, sayings or branding that make a statement. I read an article called A Brief History of Graphic Tees. I was surprised to find that the first printing of a word on a tee shirt happened in one of my favorite older movies, The Wizard of Oz. In one of the scenes after Dorothy and her companions reach the Emerald City, they are all getting cleaned up. Three workers, all wearing tees with the word "Oz” printed on them, are seen re-stuffing the Scarecrow. That was 1939.

The article goes on to show how graphic tees gained popularity being used by presidential candidates, Walt Disney, and artists like Andy Warhol. Graphic tees really took off as a “messaging platform” in the 1960’s and 70’s with the explosion of rock and roll and anti-war protests. Tee shirts became an easy way to show what you believed and who you wanted to associate with.

Today, graphics are not just common place on short sleeved tees, but can be seen donning sleeveless and long sleeve tees, as well as pullover sweaters, sweatshirts and tops with added textures and trims. Graphics can also be found on sneakers, bags, water bottles and bedding.

A few years ago, I came across a company called Love in Faith. All of their tees and products have to do with the Christian faith. This is not a sponsored post. I have not been given any products or money to endorse this retailer, I just like what they do, and the products they produce. Today’s outfit revolves around one of their tees.

You know my style is casual, but even with a tee shirt I like to look like I made some effort in putting the outfit together. This look was entirely put together from things I already had in my closet. I have loads of tees, and over the last couple of years since I found out about Love in Faith, I have purchased a number of their fun, tees which are always spot on either with verses, lines from hymns or Christian songs, or specific holiday graphics.

I chose this particular tee because it has the words, It is well, with my soul, which is the first line of the chorus from one of my favorite hymns, When Peace, Like a River. I was totally taken in by the bold, white flowers and the unique cognac color. I decided to layer a black tee underneath since our weather is still very unpredictable.

To keep me cozy I grabbed my fuzzy, chenille cardigan. This was a hand me over from my oldest. I had actually gotten this for her one Christmas a few years ago, but it didn’t really grab her attention. When I saw she was getting rid of it, I snatched it up. It is a perfect topper fall, winter and spring and it’s cream color makes it a very versatile piece.

To keep this look light and more fitting for spring, I grabbed my medium wash, thrifted, Bandolino, straight leg jeans. These are very comfortable. Since they are not all that interesting, I added a hem roll on the bottom to give them more of a boyfriend vibe.

I opted for gold jewelry, but you could easily swap in white or black, or go for a more bold choice and pick a medium blue necklace or scarf to pull in the color of your jeans. That would also make the outfit look even more springy.

I wear these thrifted, moto boots several days a week. While they are completely man made materials, they seem to be holding up very well. My cute, little, woven bag is a recent thrift find, and I thought it would be perfect for Easter.

Do you wear graphics? If so, what sort of graphics do you wear? What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear something like this? Let me know what you think, in the comments. You can also comment on Facebook if that is easier for you. I just love to have your feedback.

Here are a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links, all opinions are my own.

Have a great week.

Color Play: Building an Outfit Around a Jacket

It has been a while since I have done a Color Play post. You know I love color and finding creative ways to put colors together that might not be typical color combo choices. Today’s look revolves around a heavy weight plaid shacket that I got from Maurice’s last year when they had end of the season clearance. They always have such good prices on their clearance items, but you have to act fast because sizes and styles disappear quickly.

We are having such weird weather here in the midwest. It is February and it is acting like late March or April. Today as I write this it is supposed to be almost 70 degrees (F). I don’t like the drastic changes and they don’t do anything for headache and allergy sufferers, let alone for all the viruses and bacteria that keep making our grandkids get sick.

This plaid shacket has the shirt vibe, but it is heavy enough to wear as a coat on the chillier spring days. When I decided to use this piece for my color inspiration, I decided to lean towards pastels rather than the more primary blue, orange and yellow. You can see the colors better in this close up shot. Do you see the very faint minty green line?

With these colors in mind, I plaid with two variations, but the pastels won out. It seemed appropriate as we move towards spring.

All three pastel pieces are thrift store finds. The coral pants are Croft & Barrow. Theses are a light weight cotton blend, so they will be great for the warmer months.

The men’s button down shirt is Express brand. It has tiny white flowers on it, and I love how it goes withe the pale yellow and the coral .

The yellow pullover is a brand called Karen Scott. I her brand used to be sold at Macy’s and perhaps Walmart. Not sure if they still are. I don’t wear pale color too often near my face, but the minty green does the job of providing a border between my skin and the pale yellow.

Style Tip: I will never tire of saying, you can wear all colors. If a certain color doesn’t look good right next to your face, just add a scarf or some statement jewelry, or layer a collared shirt under or over it. That doesn’t mean certain colors won’t look better with your skin tone, but if you love a color wear it.

My navy blue bag was a thrifted Simply Vera by Vera Wang piece. Big tote bags are back in for spring, so dig around in your closet and find those larger bags.

My tan, ankle boots are Sonoma brand and were a pre-winter purchase online from Kohl’s.

I kept my jewelry simple with a blue bead, pendant necklace.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like pastels? How do find color inspiration for your outfits?

Thanks for hanging out on the blog. I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These links are brought to you at no additional cost. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great week!

Outfit Inspiration: Valentine's Day Inspo from Pinterest

Today I am showing you an outfit that was inspired from a Pinterest pin. I have a number of Pinterest boards and with this being the month of Heart Health Awareness and Valentine’s Day I thought I would create a new board and pin outfits that contain the color red. This is the pin that inspired today’s outfit.

Red on red is definitely a bold choice, but so is any bright color combo. I knew I wanted to do this when I rediscovered this red coat out on our back porch covered with a plastic garbage bag to keep it clean. I hang a few of our winter things out there when we are off season. How could I have forgotten this beauty? Truth be told it is a tad tight around the middle since I have put on a few pounds, but that doesn’t mean I need to get rid of it.

This lighter weight, thrifted jacket works well for those not super cold days. It is Worthington brand. I love the textured fabric and the buttons on the back. My pictures do not do it justice.

Style Tip: If you are a thrift shopper always check out the coats and jackets. You never know what beautiful piece you will find, especially in the off seasons. If you don’t do a lot of thrifting, buy coats at the end of the season. This is when you will find the best sales, and if you shop stores like Kohl’s or JCPenney you might get an additional percent off with coupons.

My bright red mock turtleneck sweater was just thrifted; I didn’t even wash it yet. When I decided to do this outfit, I knew it would be a perfect partner for the coat. This is A New Day brand.

My jeans were also thrifted and are Jennifer Lopez brand. I know Kohl’s used to sell her clothing, but they stopped carrying her line in 2020. These are slightly distressed skinnies and comfortably stretchy, making them perfect for boots.

I found these leather, Clarks boots at the same thrift store as the red sweater. How awesome is that? I have really been trying to find a least a couple of pairs of leather boots at thrift stores. They are so expensive to buy full price, even though they do last almost forever. When I saw these I was so excited they were in my size. They had a little bit of scuffing, but my hubby has a shoe polish kit and was able to shine them up.

Style Tip: Whether you are a pro second hand store shopper or and avid fan of regular retail, it is always helpful to make a list. Keeping a running list of things you are regularly looking for or in need of is good planning and will help you save money in the long run and keep you from overbuying.

My bag was from Amazon and a gift.

Style Tip: I think most of us know we don’t have to match our bag to our shoes anymore, but what about matching our bag to our clothes? Isn’t that too much matching? You tell me. I think anything goes, and I am loving this monochrome look on the top. Plus the little bits of gold on the bag goes perfectly with my gold jewelry.

As is the outfit is great, but what if you want just a little bit of extra color or warmth around you neck by adding a scarf? Why not? I chose my Southwest oblong scarf that I have had for a number of years. It does a great job of pulling it all together with the reds, browns and blues of my outfit.

What do you think of this outfit? Does this look like a good Valentine’s outfit? Would you wear something like this? What would you do differently to make it your own? I love to hear what you think. Those of you who take time to comment always give me things to think about as well.

A few shopping links for you to peruse. We are coming to the end of boot and coat season, at least in the retail world. Ha, ha. Have a great week.

Hello 60! Being a Grandma.

When I got married, I didn’t think about the fact that one day I would have grandchildren. At the time, I wasn’t even thinking about children. My husband and I had discussed kids, and we both agreed that we wanted to have them at some point in time, but we figured that was maybe four or five years in the future. Two years later I had our daughter, Rebecca. Nineteen months later her sister Rachel came along. Neither of our daughters was planned, at least not by us, but God, the master planner has it all figured out.

In the same way, eighteen years after we had our youngest, she had our grandson Quintin. I won’t tell you it was a beautiful time. Our daughter had walked away from the belief system we had raised her in, and she struggled to figure out who she was. When that little guy came along, all of our worlds were upended, and she was in the throes of becoming an adult, but still needing to be a child, and having a child to now be responsible for. Eleven years later, our oldest had our next grandson, Lewis.

My mother-in-law used to tease me when the girls were young. She’d say, “Just you wait until you become a grandma. There is nothing quite like it.” The first time I got to hold Quintin in the hospital, the proverbial lightbulb came on and I realized she was right. Having grandchildren is something very different than having your own children. You love your kids, and would die for them, but grandkids, well, that love just goes a bit deeper. Maybe it is the fact that grandchildren and grandparents now have a common enemy. Ha, ha. I don’t know how many times I have muttered under my breath, “Pay back,” when my younger daughter bemoans something about her newly turned teen, or when my older daughter complains about how much work it is having a toddler. Not a very Christian attitude, I know, and as I grow closer to the One, these thoughts come less frequently.

Being a grandmother is awesome. I have had the privilege to be part of both of my grandsons’ lives on a very regular basis. I helped my single daughter take care of Quintin from the time he was very small. Now, he’s moved into the time of school, video games, and friends and grandma doesn’t see him very often, but I am still here if he needs to be picked up from school, or if mom wants him to hang out with us for a few hours when she has a long shift at the hospital. I also watch Lewis once a week, or sometimes more if needed. I have enjoyed every minute with both of them.

Style for grandmothers is a bit different than it was when I was a child. My grandmother wore dark, floral dresses, often with an apron over the top, sturdy block heeled shoes, and never got down on the floor to play with us. She did, however, make a mean pot roast with gravy and mashed potatoes. These days you can’t tell who is a grandmother and who is not. Most women have been influenced by the anti-ageism movement, as well as social influencers and bloggers who remind them to wear what they want and age is just a number.

When I’m on grandma duty, I dress in an outfit that is stylish and comfortable. I want to be stylish in case I need to run to the store, the mall or somewhere else with the boy(s). I also want to be comfortable so I can get down on the floor to play or move furniture around to make a fort. Quintin is much more likely to just want to sit on the couch watching YouTube videos, but occasionally we will venture out to a movie or to get lunch at the mall. The toddler loves to go outside, play with Play Dough, and pull things out of grandma’s drawers and cupboards. I do a lot of bending, lifting and getting up and down when he is here.

My 70’s style SO hoodie was a recent purchase from Kohl’s. I saw it and fell in love. The black, distressed Stitch Star jeans were from Meijer. The boots, scarf and bag were all thrifted. The Eiffel Tower sweater is Elle brand and has been around for a while and I think was also from Kohl’s.

I hope you enjoyed this little look at the Grandma side of me. I have been enjoying sharing with you more about the person I have become. Don’t worry. February will be back to my regular Fashion posts and not nearly so wordy. Ha, ha.

Hello 60! The Writer in Me

If this is your first interaction with my blog welcome to my Fashion page. This month I celebrated my 60th birthday. I decided to spend the month celebrating me. Why not? I rarely spend a lot of time talking about how I came to be the person I am, and 60 is a pretty big deal.

Last week I did a post that gave a shout out to the decade I grew up in, the 1970’s. I was born in 1964, but it wasn’t the 60’s that most influenced my fashion or music choices. I can distinctly remember a particular pair of red cuffed, wide leg flares my mother ordered for me out of one of the sale catalogues at the time (JC Penney, and Wards were the two I grew up with). I remember standing on the toilet in the bathroom, so I could see what I looked like in the medicine chest mirror. We never had a full length mirror in our home. I was so excited to wear my mod, red pants to school that day. Do you have any good memories that revolved around clothing when you were young?

I’m gong to throw my pictures in throughout, tell my story, and then give the outfit details.

It was in 8th grade that I became a writer. Our English class was reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. For some reason that story felt so real and personal. As a typical public school student I saw the divisions, the bullying, and the reality of teens being affected by their peers. I was one of them. I didn’t get bullied like some, but I never fit in. My family didn’t have a lot of money, and I often wore second hand clothes I got from my cousin. That’s probably why I remember those red pants so vividly. I had a small circle of friends and most of my social life revolved around the church.

I began to create my own Outsiders stories. After several “books”, which were hand written pieces of about 100 pages, I moved towards stories with mild sci fi slant. Gradually, I turned to trying to write historical fiction, and now my muse is fantasy. I have published a few short articles, and I do a regular monthly article in a local community news magazine, and of course I have this blog. Do I want to be a published author? Yes? Why haven’t I got there yet? I could give you a million excuses such as undisciplined, lazy, tired, busy, etc., but I think the real reason is much simpler: fear.

It takes effort, time, and something I would call heart and soul to pour out your ideas and thoughts into a cohesive work that makes sense and appeals to others. Not only do you have to write, you have to read, voraciously, books in your genre, books in other genres, and books on writing; lots and lots of books. In addition, once you’ve written your piece then comes the ripping, and tearing editing process, followed by the overwhelming questions. Where do I send this? Is it long enough? Is it short enough? Is it good enough? Should I get an agent? How do I look for an agent? The questions are endless. Believe me, to be a writer for a living is a full time job, and not for the weak. However, I am not going to give up.

I am currently working on a fantasy novel with a Christian slant involving a rag tag group of young people who have to learn how to overcome their various problems, find self acceptance and become warriors who can help save the world. In addition to that, I have a few short stories I want to fine tune and try to send either to e-zines, or contests. I would like to get a portfolio of 10 to 12 short stories that I can keep sending as I receive rejections to eventually get something published. Right now I have five short stories that need some work. I am also going to keep looking for some sort of freelance work that I could do part time. If anyone you know is hiring for remote writers, or copy editors let me know.

That’s enough about my writing life. Let’s look at the details of this outfit.

I was inspired by looking through Pinterest at 70’s and 80’s fashion when I found knit sweater outfits, either a skirt and top or a dress. I thought it would be fun to mimic that style and use a few of the 70’s accessory vibes.

My creamy zip up v-neck was a Kohl’s find a year or so ago. It is soft and warm. The skirt I found at a thrift store. I don’t usually wear sweater knit skirts or dresses, due to the hip factor. I do have wider hips and I have never felt comfortable showing off my curves like some women do, but this skirt is big enough that it doesn’t cling. It is also very warm and comfy. The brown belt adds an hour glass vibe, without being extreme.

The Walmart bag is a nod to the patchwork patterns that were popular in the 70’s. Bags were shaped differently than this one, but I thought this worked as a tote bag, and purse.

Once again I added my thrifted slouchy, suede boots.

Apparently, pearls were a thing in the 70’s too. I do remember my mom wearing fake pearls to church early in the 70’s, so I guess that was a thing.

Are you a sweater dress, or sweater skirt fan? What do you think of this look? Would you wear something like this to work? Please leave a thought or two in the comments. I always love to hear from you.

Sharing a few shopping links just in case you are looking for slouchy boots, patchwork bags, or knit pieces of a similar vibe.

I hope you have a great Tuesday!

Heading Toward the Holidays - Graphics and Flannels

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week everyone!

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!

My Style: Collection of My Favorite Fall Looks

It was an extremely busy weekend with two birthday parties, housecleaning, set up and take down, and so on. I am starting the week exhausted so I thought I would put together a collection of my favorite fall outfits from past falls. These are outfits that exhibit my style best. I will include a little synopsis on what I like about it. I hope you enjoy these pics and outfits.

2016

September

I love this all brown look. It really says fall with the medallion print on the dress and the long fringe vest. I am sad that I got rid of all of these pieces, but the reality is the vest was a little bit small and I have put on weight since then, and I don’t wear dresses much at all any more.

October

This is a look I would wear again. I still have all of these pieces including the large tote bag. It is relaxed and casual, but perfectly stylish for a day of shopping or hanging out with the grandkids. Although, these days I would swap out the flats for more supportive sneakers or shoes.

November

I think the contrast of prints and textures is part of the allure of this outfit. Another fun look for a date night. Unfortunately, I washed the skirt and it was never the same. I got rid of it. I still have the top, belt, necklace and bag.

2017

September

I love this purple and mustard yellow combination. It has a bit of a boho Halloween vibe, but it is right up my alley as far as comfort and color.

October

I had to pick two for this month.

I absolutely love this skirt and still have it. I really need to pull it out and try some other combinations with it. This look is so full of texture, rich color and detail making it one of my faves.

This fall look is all about the contrast between the deep rich berry color of the sweater, and the lighter green of the top and skirt. I still have the skirt, boots, sweater and bag, but got rid of the top.

November

I wore this for Thanksgiving that year, and I absolutely loved it. I’m a fan of tiered skirts, sweatshirts, flannel, boots and scarves so this whole look was fun and definitely outside my normal wheel house, but I think it worked and was fun. Unfortunately, the skirt is gone, the boots are worn out, and the bag started showing signs of wear.

2018

September

This cute cropped moto jacket was a find at Nordstrom Rack. With the camo shirt pecking out and the Rock & Republic jeans I thought it was a fun look, and very much my style.

October

I loved this look. The velvet top with the velvety leopard print jacket complimented each other. Adding the jeans made it one of those dressy casual looks that I love to wear.

November

This is actually a summer maxi dress that I wanted to make work for fall. Adding the yellow sweater, boots and a brown moto jacket did just that.

2019

September

Once again, just like me, a study in contrasts. Print mixing, different blues, different textures along with a lovely pop of red. And yes, I am carrying an Aerosmith tote bag. Ha, ha.

October

I just love the colors and the flowing, fun lines of this look. A fun work outfit, or lunch out with friends.

November

Plaid with plaid? Why not? Especially when the one plaid is flannel! A great office look with superb print mixing. (Yes, I can say that about my print mixing ability. Ha, ha.)

2020

September

Who can resist a color mix like this for fall? Doesn’t it remind you of the many colors as the leaves change?

October

Fashion reasons I love fall: print mixing, layers, scarves, boots, dark hues, and jeans, always jeans!

November

This is my go to casual outfit: jeans, fun sneakers, graphic tee, sweater and bag. I love incorporating similar colors into my outfits and accessories like the dark maroon in the bag, sneakers and tee in this outfit.

2021 (This was the fall I was sick, so I wasn’t doing a lot of regular posting, but I found a few things.)

September

Vests are always popular in the fall as a layering piece and for me I love them all, from puffers, to waist coats, to pieces like these with fringe, they provide warmth, texture and interest.

October

I think we all have pieces we look forward to pulling out every fall. This jacket is definitely one of those! As you can see, it is on repeat in my wardrobe.

November

Many of these outfits are from Pantone color palettes, which I usually try to do in the fall and spring. I am still debating about this year. But this outfit proves we can wear pastels in the fall.

2022

September

Why not wear red and green in the fall? It is all about shades and textures. Plus the American flag gives the outfit an end of summer feel.

October

Though these may not be the “typical” fall colors, I really like the romantic, fall vibe this outfit is giving off.

November

This was actually an Instagram post, but the inspiration for it was a fashion trend called Dark Academia, which I really have gotten into. I don’t wear it as much as I would like, but perhaps I will do a blog post about it soon.

I hope you have enjoyed this look back at my favorite fall outfits since I started the blog. It was fun for me to look back and see what I have done in the past. It is challenging me to re-up my game plan to bring ideas and outfits to you that will continue to inspire and help you grow in your fashion knowledge and abilities.

Have a great evening!