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

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

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

There are two stars in this outfit.

Star #1 - Embroidered Denim Jacket

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

Star #2 - Pleated Skirt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Color Play: Pantone Color of the Year Mocha Mousse with Brown and Gray

If you keep up with the Pantone Color of the Year, you know that this year’s color is a creamy brown with rosy undertones looking much like the dessert it is named after, Mocha Mousse. Click on the link to see the actual color. As I began looking through my closet, which contains almost every color under the sun, I realized I don’t have anything this exact color. The closest I came was a piece that is a little bit lighter version of the actual color, but I thought it would do for this post.

This tunic length sweater was a thrift find from last year. It is Lauren Conrad brand and I love the soft texture and the cute heart

I thought adding this thrifted, brown Fever vest a good way to further infuse the idea of the chocolatey goodness of mousse.

Style Tip: Adding a vest is a great way to have the fun of layering without the added weight and warmth. Vests are perfect for these transitional times between winter and spring, and summer and fall. Look for lighter weight, flowy vests that still provide coverage, but don’t add too much heat.

I decided to use my second hand White House Black Market Blanc jeans. It is nice to fit back into this trouser type pant to take a casual look up a notch.

Style Tip: Adding a pair or two of trouser type jeans, which have a somewhat wider silhouette allows you to dress up an outfit without going outside your “jeans box”. You know I am an avid fan of jeans and they are what I wear most of the time, but it is nice to have the option of a jean in a different style and/or color for a completely different look.

I decided to go for rose gold in my jewelry which I think goes well with the brown and the Mocha Mousse colors. I also added my pink Bueno crossbody bag which was a gift from my younger daughter a few years ago.

My thrifted patent leather ankle boots have made an appearance on the blog before and are Forever 21 brand. Apparently patent leather is making a come back this year, so if you have any of those in the shoe direction get them out of the dark corners of your closet and let them shine.

What do you think of Mocha Mousse? Do you like this color? Do you like the combination of brown with gray? How about brown with black? Please leave me your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a comment on Facebook. I always love to hear your ideas.

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

I hope you all are having a great week!

My Style: Denim Jacket Outfit for Spring - Two Ways

There is nothing that says warmer weather like a denim jacket. These warm weather pieces are the perfect weight when you just need a little something for the air conditioning or for a cooler evening outdoor event. Fortunately, there is no reason to wait until it is warmer. We can start wearing our beloved jean jackets during these transitional weather times as the temps fluctuate from 70’s one day to 40’s the next. “Oh my sinuses!!”

Style Tip: When styling a jean jacket for the cooler and unpredictable spring weather just look at them as you would a button down cardigan, a utility jacket or your favorite blazer. A denim jacket in any wash will make an outfit interesting, youthful and provide an extra layer when the weather isn’t quite ready to stay put.

I thought it would be fun, and beneficial to show you how to style a jean jacket two ways. The first will be for a dressed up look suitable for lunch with friends, a night out with your significant other, or even for the office or church. The second will be more casual for a day of chasing the grandkids, or getting the groceries.

Look 1 - White Button Down

I did some research this past week on styling white button down shirts. It seems these pieces that once were reserved for the work place or maybe church are now chic and elegant with any type of outfit. Listen to this YouTube Video which gave me some great ideas for styling a collared white button down. The thought to use it for this blog post on styling a denim jacket for spring seemed like the perfect way to introduce this idea.

This thrifted Christopher and Banks piece is actually an XL. Typically, the idea behind a classic white button down is that it be a bit more structured, but the fix for a bigger, boxier piece like this is to merely tuck it in.

Style Tip: Choose the white that works for you. I am not as much into stark white, and lean more towards an ivory, pearl or very light cream. Find what works best for your complexion.

I’ve had this basic denim jacket for a number of years. It is Massini brand and I bought it at our local Meijer. I have numerous jean jackets. Here is one in a military style, a cropped one, one with floral applique, a medium brown, a white one, and a yellow one with 3/4 length sleeves. I do have a couple more, but I haven’t taken outfit photos with them yet. I know! How many denim jackets does a girl need? A basic one is really all that your wardrobe requires, but you know me and my clothes horse issues. Ha. ha.

These hand-me-over slim cut pants are Chico’s brand. A few years ago my best friend was cleaning out her closet and let me go through the bags. That is always fun to do!

For my shoes, I grabbed these thrifted, Merona, wedge ankle boots. I thrifted them last year and hadn’t really had the opportunity to wear them. When I put them one, I was pleasantly surprised at how comfy they are. I definitely need to think of some more ways to style these.

My tote bag was from Charming Charlie’s back when we still had a store at our mall. I love this room piece and with the two tone color and gold rivets feel like it is great for dressing up.

Gold tones seemed the perfect accompaniment for this outfit. Layering necklaces is still a think so feel free to layer it on.

Look 2 - White Tee

The beauty of this type of outfit is that it is easy to swap out just a few pieces to make the outfit completely different for the changing aspects of your life. Swap out the dressier button down for a white tee. I chose a long sleeve, graphic tee.

I got this cute “love yourself” tee with the appliqued daisy before I started my #75hardstylechallenge . This is a brand called Ultra Flirt and I bought it at the thrift shop around the corner when they were having a 50% off sale which they do at the end of each month. You can also see, I swapped out my narrow metallic belt for this wider olive one, which also makes the outfit more casual. This shirt is a cropped piece, so could also be worn out with not belt.

I chose white my white Steve Madden sneakers from DSW. These are starting to show some wear, but I will clean them up with a bit of dish soap, baking soda and a toothbrush and they will get me through one more summer.

Since brown bags are trending, I thought I would pull out this thrifted Rafe for Target bag. I definitely want to use this for the summer. It is quite roomy and seems very durable and it has a pretty printed cloth liner.

Here are the two outfits side by side. What do you think? Do you have a denim jacket in your closet? Will you be taking it out for spring? Would you style it the same way as you would a blazer or cardigan to get more wear out of these fun warm weather pieces?

I hope you enjoyed this post. I’m providing a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Shopping Our Closets for Valentines's Inspiration

I know not everyone celebrates Valentine’s Day, and many do fun alternatives like Galentine’s Day and celebrate with friends. My hubby and I will probably do something at home on the actual day, because I have to clean that day and will be exhausted. Ha, ha. However, we can always get dressed in the wonderful colors that revolve around Valentine’s Day like reds, pinks, burgundies, whites and florals. I am doing that all week on Instagram, so be sure to check out my account on there for additional outfits.

I decided to build an outfit around a piece that is little used in the cold winter months, a kimono. While kimonos are not strictly for the warm weather, they do seem to cling and hold static in the colder months, so I don’t use them much. I thought it would be fun to style a casual, date night look using this pretty floral piece.

This thrifted kimono is a brand called Mason & Belle. I liked the floral print, the darker color and the shape of the piece. The lace trim was another fun detail.

I settled on my darker wash, newer Maurice’s jeans that I bought back in the summer. These are everflex, so they have plenty of stretch and are quite comfy.

Style Tip: A darker wash jean is a great alternative to dress pants for a dressy casual outfit or a work wear look.

I’ve had this thrifted Apt. 9 pullover sweater for quite a few years, and while it is showing a bit of wear, I really love the diamond shape open weave, and thought it went well with the kimono.

You can see in the above picture how I layered a few of my rose gold necklaces for a fun addition. Obviously the heart necklace, given to me by my younger daughter, is a shout out to Valentine’s Day.

Here are a few pictures of close ups of the jewelry I had on.

I decided to keep my bag and boots a similar color to the kimono. The bag was a thrift find from my bestie that she gifted to me, and is The Sak. My boots were a Kohl’s purchase from a number of years ago and are ESpirit brand.

What do you think of this outfit? Is this something you would wear? Do you do anything to celebrate Valentine’s Day? We certainly don’t need a significant other to shower love on others. Give a treat to your kids or grandkids; send flowers to a friend; or just take yourself out and celebrate the fact that you are alive!

I’ve included a few shopping links for bags and boots. These are affiliate links. If you purchase an item through my links, I get a few pennies. I appreciate all you support.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s week!

Color Play: Burgundy with Olive Drab and Gold Accents

This will be my last outfit post focusing on the color burgundy. January is drawing to a close and while we have plenty of winter left on the calendar, I want to move on to a few other ideas here on my Fashion Page. Please feel free to message me or if you subscribe to send me an email if you think of something you would like me to cover in this space.

Today’s outfit started with this fun, corduroy puffer vest that I got from Maurice’s a few months ago. It is different cut and style for me, but I wanted to try it and think up different ways to style it. Right now it is rather stiff, but a few washings may help with that. It is a cropped length and a boxy fit.

I’ve had this Sonoma blouse from Kohl’s for many years. I love dark florals, so this piece is perfect for fall and winter, and of course you could wear it all year round, but I like to transition my wardrobe to lighter colors in the spring and summer. There are no longer fashion rules that say you can only wear certain colors at certain times of year, but we can still have your personal preferences.

These thrifted, Lee corduroy trousers are olive drab. They look gray, but when you compare them to a true gray you can easily see they have a green tone to them. I love cords in the winter and these are super comfy.

You know you have bought a good piece or pieces when you wear them over and over, as is the case with these Impo brand, suede, ankle boots. Do you have pieces in your wardrobe that you reach for again and again?

I thought gold was a good choice for my accessories and they really stand out against the background of burgundy. The gold necklace I purchased from a retail store which might have been Kohl’s or JCPenney. I don’t remember. The gold clutch/crossbody bag was a thrift find.

This outfit formula is very simple and anyone can put something similar together. Pick a pretty blouse, a complimentary pair of pants or a skirt, a coordinating vest and finish it off with shoes, jewelry and a bag. You will be ready for work, a lunch date with friends or even a casual date night with your significant other.

What do you like about this outfit? What would you change to make it your own?

I’ve including shopping links after each clothing piece for similar items. I try to use retailers that I would shop at and choose things at a little bit lower price point. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost.

Thank you for stopping by the blog. Have a fantastic day!

My Style: Cozy Textures and Print Mixing Fun

When we think of winter, one print and one texture always come to mind: buffalo plaid and sherpa. Today’s outfit combines both the fuzzy, cozy texture of sherpa with the casual print mix of dark winter florals and buffalo plaid while still giving a nod to our winter color of burgundy. This outfit is one I might have worn to work back in the day, but would be perfect for lunch with a friend or a casual date night out.

My base pullover is one I got this last fall from Maurice’s online. It is so soft, and perfect to wear all winter long. I threw on a pendant necklace that also makes me think of snowflakes, but you can’t really see it. A shorter necklace would have been better.

My Gloria Vanderbilt, floral jeans were a Kohl’s clearance find a few seasons ago. I love dark florals in the fall and winter and with the burgundy color being popular right now I felt these fit in quite well.

I added this Sonoma sherpa jacket for the fun of print mixing, and it is a shout out to the wonderful textures of winter that keep us warm and cozy. This was another clearance find at Kohl’s a few seasons ago. It was marked way down and I think they were not very popular as there were a few left. I think the cut is a bit boxy and I got it more as a piece I could wear around the house on these polar vortex days. Ha, ha.

I decided on my thrifted, olive, hobo bag to go along with the bits of green in the pants. This is a great bag that I have had for a number of years. It is made of some sort of vinyl blend and really isn’t showing any sort of wear or pealing like so many of the fake leather hand bags show after just a few years. I added a fun snowflake pin for a bit of bling.

My ankle boots are the same ones I wore the week before last with the embroidered cardigan and burgundy pants. They are thrifted Forever 21 brand. Please excuse the dust and cat hair. Ugh! Real life.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you have a sherpa jacket? Do you like buffalo plaid? I always love to hear your thoughts.

I hope you are having a wonderful week.

I’ve interspersed shopping links throughout. These are affiliate links. I appreciate you taking the time to check out the blog.

Styling into the Holidays - Part 3: Dressed Up

I couldn’t finish this series without a shout out to those of you who have fancier events to attend at the holidays, especially New Years. While today’s outfit is not black tie attire, I think it would do well for an evening out for dinner and a show, like the Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker. Many years ago, my mother, and father-in-law got my husband and I, along with his sister and her husband tickets to this holiday ballet. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had just been my sister-in-law and I. Ha, ha. My spouse does not appreciate ballet anymore than the color pink. He’s such a goof, but I love him.

I was helping my hubby pick out a shirt for the university December graduation ceremony that he was attending this morning, and while he is donned in his regalia, he still likes to look presentable under the robe. He was wearing black pants and asked if I would pick out a shirt for him. I ended up giving him a navy button down.

“Is it okay to wear black with navy,” he questioned.

I assured him any color can be worn with any other color and it also served as the inspiration for today’s outfit. I already had the blouse on, as I was using it as part of my Instagram outfit. It is one of the dressiest blouses I own. With that beginning I began looking through my skirts and settled on this beautiful navy, velvet piece with pleats. This was a Kohl’s clearance purchase a few year ago and is Chaps brand.

In my opinion pleated skirts never go out of style, nor does velvet, making it the perfect choice for fancier attire. An added bonus is that this skirt is warm, which is helpful on a chilly winter night.

The combination of this thrifted Jaclyn Smith satin blouse and the vest gives the outfit a classy academic vibe, and also adds more of an hour glass silhouette. This Rachel Zoe vest was a recent TJ Maxx clearance purchase. I have been looking for a waistcoat of this sort since they were trending back in the spring. I had all but decided they were only intended for the slender folk to wear, so low and behold when I saw this, tried it on and it fit I was super excited. It is definitely going to be used all year round.

You can also see my delicate gold jewelry, chosen for its association with the Silver and Gold song sung by Burl Ives. Ha, ha.

The black, faux fur, No Boundaries bomber was a gift a few years ago from my hubby for Christmas. I never think to pull it out once the temperatures plummet, but when I was taking these pictures I was totally cozy with it on. The draw back is that it is short and in the cold weather I like my bum and thighs to be covered. That is exactly why it is perfect for an outfit like this where you will be mostly in and out and not standing outside for a long time.

Style Tip: Fabrics like velvet, fur and silk or satin will add panache to any outfit, whether you are wearing jeans or tweed. If you are attending a function, but don’t want to go the whole gambit of a dress or skirt, try a dark wash pair of dress jeans with a silk blouse, and heels. You will look like a million bucks!

My Steve Madden, velvet, heeled ankle boots were a thrift find. Who knew they would work beautifully with the velvet skirt? A classy, heeled ankle boot is a great alternative to regular heels in the cold weather.

My sparkly clutch typically makes an appearance on the blog when I am showing off an outfit that is more dressed up. It was a good purchase all those years back. In the photo below you can’t really notice the sparkles. Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this more dressed up outfit. It was fun to put together, and afterwards I showed the pictures to my spouse and said, “You need to give me an excuse to get dressed up like this more often.” Ha, ha. I’m not subtle at all.

I interspersed shopping links throughout the article. You can just click on a picture to find out more about the piece as far as brand, store and pricing. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

There will be no fashion posts for the week of Christmas and New Years as I am going to take a little break and hope to get back to see my mom and other friends and family in NY between Christmas and New Years.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year!

Styling Into the Holidays

Over the next few weeks as we head towards Christmas and the end of the year, I thought I would devote my fashion posts to outfits with a holiday vibe. From casual to dressy we know the holidays can call for all manner of outfits from Christmas pjs to glitzy New Year’s Eve style. You know I am all about casual, but I will try to throw in a bit of fun and frivolity too.

Today’s look is very casual and would be perfect for some holiday shopping or errand running as you take your packages to the post office to mail off to family members far away. It would also serve to trim the tree after you drag all those Christmas boxes up from the basement or down from the attic. I wanted an outfit that was casual, but also festive. Let me know if you think I achieved my goal.

I have a number of Christmas specific tees, sweaters, sweatshirts and vests that I like to pull out every year to make their December appearance. This tee from Love In Faith is very basic, but that is what I like about it. It can be paired with just about any topper, and I love the sentiment.

You can just barely make out my snowflake necklace, which was the only piece of jewelry besides my wedding rings that i put on. It was slightly askew, and maybe I should have chose something more colorful. What would you have paired with this tee and topper, or would you not add any jewelry?

Once I chose this tee, I knew I wanted something red plaid as a topper. I am also wearing a thrifted long sleeve tee under the tee for extra warmth. I thought about one of my two red plaid blazers, but decided the red and black checked button down a better choice for the casual vibes. Buffalo plaid, which is a larger checked plaid, is always popular at Christmas, so I thought this worked well. This piece is thrifted Old Navy brand.

The only reason I reached for these sparkly, embellished Juicy Couture skinnies was that I had worn them a while ago and didn’t want to throw them in the wash until they had a second wear. Ha, ha. Sometimes inspiration is as simple and practical as a load of laundry. I just saw the other day that Taylor Swift is making skinnies popular again, and tucking them into ankle or combat type boots is okay by her, (click on the link to see the article). Ha, ha. So you see, I have been trendy all along!

I wanted to add a scarf for a little more festive color, and warmth, so I ended up with this pretty plaid number that I got from Kohl’s last year.

These black combat boots were thrifted last year and they continue to be worn frequently. They are already getting that “distressed” look, but because they are black it isn’t as noticeable. These are Joe Boxer brand and I’ve styled them on the blog before.

This Buffalo plaid tote bag was the final piece and even though I am stirring the check and plaid pot, I think it works. What do you think?

What do you think of this outfit? What would you wear for a casual day out, or for trimming the tree? Let me know in the comments. I always love your feedback.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. Christmas is on the way, so be sure to look for yourself or others. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a great day!

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!

Outfit Inspiration: Navy and Green Color Combo

Right now Pinterest seems to be the source of inspiration for many of my recent blog posts. I do use the occasional Instagram challenge to also find inspiration, and there are lots of places, people and things to inspire our clothing combinations. However, as you know, convenience often weighs heavily when life is busy or we are feeling tired. This is the pin that inspired today’s look.

Unlike the Pinterest pin, I used a vest, rather than a jacket, and there are other differences in accessories, and so on, but as I have said before, the point is to be inspired. I think something an fellow Instagram user posted makes sense. We want to be inspired, not influenced. Inspiration allows us to shop our own closets and put together similar looks without necessarily having to copy the look. Being influenced might include the pull to purchase pieces we don’t need or won’t actually wear.

This Christopher & Banks vest is from a couple years ago. It is a great piece and the quilting definitely gives it a warm, cozy feel. I like that it is a bit longer than many of my other quilted vests, and that it has buttons instead of a zipper. I rarely wear any of my vests closed, but it is nice to have different options.

Style Tip: Before you purchase vests or jackets think about collars. Ask yourself if you prefer the collar to lay flat or stand up, or be able to do both. Think about what you will be wearing it for and how you will be styling it with your other clothing. For today’s outfit, the stand up collar works great, but those are not my first choice. I typically like a collar to lay flat, or be something similar to a shawl type collar, or in the cold weather a turtleneck will do.

This minty green sweater is a thrifted Sonoma piece. The color and the texture were different than the other pullovers I have, so I snatched this one up. I added the reddish pendant necklace and bracelet, along with my bag as an after thought, but I think the darker reds help define the outfit as a fall look.

Style Tip: When it comes to transitional outfits, you may find yourself reaching for the same pieces which brings the option of pairing them together again. With a few easy adjustments you can make a fall outfit work for spring, or a spring outfit work for fall. To make this outfit passable for spring I would choose lighter colored accessories, possibly in a pastel pink.

These thrifted Sonoma utility pants look brown in this picture, but they are an olive drab. I thought they worked well for this overall casual outfit.

I played around with a few different scarves, one of which was a dark blue with pink and burgundy tones. I thought of pairing burgundy pants with the vest and sweater, but then decided I wasn’t quite ready for the darker colors. Thus when I saw this scarf and liked how it went with the other pieces I opted for burgundy accessories to still bring in the darker tone of fall, and I thought the burgundy went well with the pinks in the scarf.

My bag is The Sak brand and it was given to me by my thrifting bestie.

My ankle boots were purchased at Kohls and are SO brand. I have had them for several years.

Style Tip: Should you match your shoes to your pants, your top or not at all? I think variety is the spice of life, as they say, so why not do all three. Today, I matched my shoes to my vest. Other days I might wear shoes that look more like my pants to create that longer, leaner line from hip to toe. Still on other days, I might wear a basic brown, or black boot, or I might just wear sneakers and they don’t have to match at all. Your outfit, your way, so however you want to do it is fine. The point is to be comfortable, pulled together and confident in what you are wearing.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and that it inspired you to build an outfit that combines colors, textures and accessories to make you feel good when you are in it.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. Think ahead, and use these links to start your Christmas shopping. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Outfit Inspiration: Pantone Autumn/Winter 2024 NY Palette: Italian Plum, Winter Sky, and White Swan

This week’s inspiration came from the Pantone Color Institute’s Autumn/Winter 2024 New York Palette. The three colors I am featuring were fairly easy to find in my wardrobe. My colors may not match spot on, but they are close enough. Feel free to look at the exact colors as given by the Pantone company by clicking on the above link. This week the two main palette colors are the dark purple called Italian Plum, and the blue called Winter Sky. The creamy color is from the classics palette and is called White Swan.

My Italian Plum corduroy jacket is a thrifted Christopher & Banks piece. It is actually a petite large, but I like that it has more of a cropped look. I like the different seams on this piece, and corduroy is perfect for cooler weather.

Style Tip: Shop sizes outside your normal because sizing is different across many manufacturers, and you might like how the piece looks if it is a bit shorter, longer or oversized.

Here are a few possibilities, but there isn’t much out there in this color.

My polka dot Winter Sky top is another Christopher & Banks piece that I bought on a sale back when we had a store in our area. A chambray piece the purple dots were a fun addition to the normal denim style shirt.

My light colored White Swan pants are Croft & Barrow brand from Kohl’s clearance a few years ago. They are plain and simple and sometimes that is just what an outfit calls for.

Style Tip: Not every outfit needs pants or skirts that are texturized or embellished. Sometimes, the simpler the better. Plain pants are typically better for work if you don’t have a uniform provided by the company.

I kept my accessories fairly simple as well. I opted for tan as my color of choice for both my bag and boots since that seems to be trending this fall. I also chose silver as my jewelry color.

What do you think of these Pantone colors? I love purple anyway, so this darker color is a fave, especially for fall. Do you think the a chambray shirt would have worked with this purple jacket and lighter colored pants even if it didn’t have the purple dots on it?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know your thoughts on these colors. Have a great week!

Shopping links are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

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!

Outfit Inspiration: July 4th Holiday

Today’s outfit was inspired by the July 4th holiday. The idea to dress in red, white, and blue for patriotic holidays has been around for a while and is no doubt inspired by the colors of our nation’s flag. The great thing about this color combination is you can go as full on to the true colors as you want, or you can move into different shades and still get a patriotic feel.

For this outfit, I started with a thrifted, gingham, asymmetrical hem skirt. This is a fun piece with it’s unique hem and side button up detail. There was no label in this piece, so not clue where it came from originally.

The color is not a true, bright red, but rather more of a maroon or cranberry.

Since the skirt was red and white, I could have done blue as a top, but I decided to go with a Time & Tru white basic tee from Walmart, and my Christopher and Banks denim vest. Nothing says 4th of July like denim. Here’s a few denim vests from Target.

To keep the look fresh I chose a thrifted, white shoulder bag, that I also use as a cross body bag. This is a brand called Bueno. You can find numerous Bueno bags on ThredUp and Etsy. JC Penny sells a brand called Bueno of California, but I couldn’t find any info on whether these were the same company or not.

I added a few cute pieces of jewelry in red tones to pull in a little extra of the bright color.

I pulled out an old pair of Ked’s sneakers, as they were white and blue. I wish I could wear sandals more, but my veins make me self conscious, so I do wear compression knee highs almost all the time. However, for all of you who still have those beautiful legs, or for those who don’t care, wear the sandals!!

So what are you going to wear for the 4th of July? What do you think of this outfit? Is your Independence Day outfit going to include denim? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Happy 4th of July!

Color Play - Building Outfits Around an Abstract Print Skirt

I have been wanting to build an outfit around this pretty abstract print maxi skirt ever since I thrifted it a few seasons ago. In order to get a bit outside my normal jeans and tees kind of casual outfits, I have been purposefully meandering through my maxi skirts in an effort to build a few fun, summer outfits that would work for backyard bbq’s, dressy casual dates with a friend or significant other, work or a more casual summer wedding. Today, I am showing you two different outfits using the same skirt.

Outfit 1 - Dressed Up

This skirt is a brand called Maeve by Anthropololgie. The outer layer is cotton, and it has an attached slip, making it easy to wear with no show through. The wide elastic band is comfortable, and easily covered with a wide belt, as you’ll see in the next outfit.

My bright pink jacket is a Chico’s thrift find. It is actually a petite, but I don’t have a super long torso, so I occasionally can get away with a petite size. You don’t really notice, especially if the sleeves are rolled up.

My tank top was a St. John’s Bay basic that I got at JC Penney a few seasons ago. I was excited to see it matched the blue in the skirt spot on. Of course with this skirt you could use pink, orange, white or black, or even mix it up with a totally different color like mint green, or sunflower yellow. That is exactly why I like to call this monthly column, Color Play, to stretch our minds as to what sorts of colors go together.

The jewelry wasn’t made to go together, but they certainly work well together. The necklace I got a few months ago at my favorite thrift store around the corner. The bracelet was a clearance purchase probably from Kohl’s or Penneys.

I have had this Relic canvas tote for a number of years, and it is a great work horse for summer. While I regularly carry a cross body bag, I occasionally reach for a tote bag to run to the coffee shop or library, or when packing for a trip. Sorry about the bits of cat hair. You can’t have a pet without there being a bit of fall out, especially in these warm temps. Ha, ha.

Our silly curmudgeon, Plato Aristotle Radcliffe Christensen. A large cat had to have a large name!

I had to rummage through my shoe boxes to find these cute espadrilles. These are Chaps brand and were a Kohl’s purchase a few years ago.

Outfit 2 - More Casual

I couldn’t resist doing a bit of print mixing with this fun skirt, and polka dots and embroidery seemed a great companion for the abstract print.

Both of these pieces were second hand finds. Like so many pieces that I thrift, I don’t always have an idea in mind of what they are going to go with, but find I am pleasantly surprise when things line up. My button down is Jones New York Sport, and the embroidered vest is Van Heusen. I’ve heard of Van Heusen in men’s shirts, but this is clearly a women’s vest, although a man might like it as well, but it is cut more for a feminine body. Walmart and a few other stores carry this brand.

I decided to add a wide belt for this look. Another thrift find, this wide braided belt is a soft material that adds interest and texture. I thought the belt and my Vera Wang bag were a good match. You can also see I swapped out the black pendant necklace for my lovable owl, and replaced the metal and bead bracelet for some fun white and gold stretchies.

I chose my denim Keds as a way to compliment the vest and create more continuity to a busy printed outfit.

So which look do you like better? Would you have purchased a skirt like this? Do you have any skirts in your closet that you are just not sure how to style? I hope this post gave you a little inspiration for shopping your closet and thinking outside your color box.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of my links I get a tiny percent. I appreciate every click and purchase. All opinions are my own and you are not charged anything extra for purchasing through my site.

Thank yo for all you do. I hope you are having a great week.

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!

My Style: Bohemian Vibe

I started a series last month on the various styles that make up what I like to call my blended style. I don’t stay true to one style, but mix styles together for looks that are completely my own. I’m sure many women have this same thought about their own styles. Last month I looked at the basics of a Classic Style. Today we are going to take a look at Bohemian Style.

(It was extremely windy and cold when I took these pictures, so they aren’t the best. It even started to snow when I got back into the house. :))

Here is another article to look over, 15 Boho Outfit Ideas: Must Have Items. I found that once I started looking in my closet I had most of these pieces. In fact, I will be adding a few photos from previous posts wear I display the Bohemian Style.

I recently found this thrifted, gauzy top and I just love it. Especially with the lace cut outs around the neck area. The brand of this top is Jodifl. No, I did not spell that wrong. Ha, ha. I do have a white tank top underneath as it is pretty see through.

The crochet and wood belt is also thrifted. Since crocheted items are in the boho vibe, I thought it was appropriate, and the shirt is a little more billowy, so I wanted a little more of an hour glass silhouette.

My asymmetrical fringe vest has been on the blog before. It is Say What brand, and I honestly can’t remember where I got it as I have had it for quite a while. You can see that other post here. This piece is great for the warmer weather and like a kimono would be cute with shorts and a tee or tank top.

My tiered maxi skirt has been around quite a while. This is another piece I have used on the blog. You can see those posts here, and here. This piece was from JC Penney, and is St. John’s Bay brand.

Layered jewelry, wide hair bands, and soft bags with fun prints are all part of the Bohemian style.

We can’t forget shoes. Neutral ankle boots are big in the Bohemian style. This suede Sonoma pair are quite old, but still fit and still look fairly decent. Sorry about the blurry pictures!

What did you think of this outfit? Are you a boho kind of girl? Do you like certain aspects of the Bohemian style? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to leave a comment or two below.

I’m including a few other Bohemian style outfits from past blog posts. Just click on the picture to go to the original post.

I’ve included a few shopping links, but I didn’t have much success on the vests. I would say check sites like Etsy or second hand sites like ThreadUp or Poshmark.

Have a great day!

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.

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Have a great week.