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!

Color Play - A Pinterest Fall Color Palette

I have been collecting color palettes on Pinterest for quite a while, so I thought it would be fun to revisit that board and see what I could pull up for a fun fall color combination. This is the pin I drew my inspiration from and I used the swatch labeled Fall Fashion. I liked all the color combos, but I guess I wasn’t feeling overly adventurous, so went with the more conservative of the bunch.

This is a rich, earthy combination for fall, and I like how the green and brown are more sedate while the bright blue is a lovely pop of color. When I saw the color swatch I knew the olive would be a good color choice for a topper, as I have a number of sweaters and jackets in that color.

My faux leather moto jacket is an older Christopher and Banks piece. I like that it is simple, light weight and it has stretchy cloth panels on both sides and along the backs of the sleeves. They no longer seem to make these types of jackets, but always keep an eye out at thrift stores. In addition, real leather is always more suitable for longer wear and tear. Be sure to check out the Jacket Maker website for quality leather pieces at more reasonable prices.

I added this thrifted green scarf, because fall is always a good time for a scarf! This was a fun find as I didn’t have too many green scarves and I love the delicate look of it.

I was also dressing for an Instagram challenge today and the theme had to do with bling. This cute joei & i “Blessed” top was a gift from my oldest a few years ago and I do love it. It is the perfect weight for a cool fall day, and the sparkle makes it top notch in my book. You can also see the necklace I added. One can never have too many accessories on at one time, right? Ha, ha. In reality, if this was a work outfit, I would most likely take the jacket and scarf off while at the office, so the necklace works.

I have worn this skirt multiple times on the blog. It is St. John’s Bay brand and was purchased from JCPenney a number of years ago. You can see this skirt paired with a spotted tee, a bookish vest, and more recently a fringe vest.

My boots are second hand old, but they are real suede, so with a little TLC I will keep them indefinitely. They are a brand called Kelly & Katie.

My blue cross body bag is thrifted Tignanello brand.

Do you think these colors work well together? What colors from the Pinterest Autumn palette did you like best? Please leave a comment or two. I appreciate your input.

I’m including a few shopping links for block heeled boots, tiered skirts and faux leather moto jackets. These are affiliate links brought to you at no extra cost. All opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a great week!

Shopping Our Closets: Fall Florals

I don’t know about you, but I love the rich, vibrant colors of fall. Unlike spring and summer when we focus more on white, navy and all manner of pastels, fall allows us to indulge in dark maroons and earthy browns; golden yellows and rusty oranges. I love floral pieces in any season, but I especially love the dark florals of fall and winter. I am hoping you have a few fall florals in your closets and you will join me in putting together an outfit with those pieces as a focal point. Whether it is a top, a scarf, a bag or a skirt, fall florals make for outfits that are fun, whimsical and stylish.

For my fall floral I chose a thrifted Croft & Barrow tee. The rusty background, pinky reds in the flowers and the black leaves are a perfect choice for this fall look.

This top is just a basic Croft & Barrow tee. It fits well, and is perfectly comfy. It is a great piece for these early fall days where the temps are starting to get cooler, but it isn’t yet full on sweater weather yet.

I also chose simple beaded jewelry in similar fall tones.

I was going for a casual look, so chose jeans as my bottoms, but you could easily dress this up with a pair of black dress pants, or a rust or white colored skirt. These thrifted, boot-cut jeans are Apt. 9 brand.

My fun duster was a purchase from Cracker Barrel General Stores a few years ago. They always have beautiful holiday displays of their products and fun seasonal clothing. I would buy many more pieces there, but I just have a hard time paying full retail prices for anything I don’t really need. This is a brand called Linda Anderson.

My accessories really completed this casual look. I chose my thrifted Converse sneakers, my burgundy saddle bag purse, and an oversized, light weight, thrifted scarf. I like how the scarf has a similar color vibe to the tee, yet it is completely different. It also makes for a fun print mix.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you have any fall florals in your closet? If so, what sort of pieces do you have? I think it would be fun to style a fall outfit around a floral bag, scarf, skirt or dress. Let me know you thoughts.

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it provided a bit of inspiration for you in shopping your closet to build a fall outfit around a fall floral piece.

I’m including a few fall florals, bags and scarves below. These are affiliate links brought to you at no extra cost. If you purchase an item through one of my links, I get a few cents. I appreciate all you do to support the blog.

I hope you are having a great week!

Outfit Inspiration: Fall Look Inspired by Pinterest

As I finished up the Pantone Autumn/Winter 2024 NY Palette last Tuesday, I thought about where I wanted to go from there. Should I follow that up with the Autumn/Winter 2024 London Palette, or do I just let that go and do posts that are fall oriented, but of my own making? For today I chose to create my own outfit with just a little inspiration from Pinterest.

As you will see, I drew inspiration from the pin in the black pants and chambray top, but I opted to use a different color for the cardi, boots and bag, and I added a scarf.

Style Tip: Use things like Pinterest, art, magazines, and other inspiring ideas as a jumping off point. If you want to copy the style or the colors exactly that’s great, but leave room for you own interpretations. Not every style is for every woman, and not every woman wears every color, and so on. Inspiration is to be just that, something from which you get ideas and direction on where you want your style to go.

I started with my long sleeve chambray shirt. This Sonoma button down has been a work horse for years every since I purchased it at Kohl’s. I just love the embroidery on this piece.

Style Tip: Chambray comes in various washes, just like any denim, so don’t be afraid to experiment with various shades to see what works best for you and for the outfit you are trying to put together. I liked the contrast of the black with this lighter shade.

These black, cropped, raw hem jeans were a thrift find. They are very stretchy and have a higher waist, so are great if I want a smoother look under a top or sweater.

Style Tip: Be aware that most black jeans will look “weathered” after a number of washings, but here is an article on how to keep them looking top notch. In addition, if you want to keep a black pant truly black, and don’t want to re-dye them, look for a trouser with fabrics like polyester, rayon or viscose. These fabrics hold their color better than cotton or cotton blends.

My olive duster has also been one that gets regular wear in the cooler weather. This is another Sonoma piece from Kohl’s. The weight of this piece is perfect for these transitional temperatures, and it has pockets!

As I said previously I opted for all olive colored accessories: SO Ankle boots, thrifted hobo bag, and thrifted camo scarf. However, you could easily take this outfit formal and change up the color and style of sweater, boots and bag and have a completely different look.

Unfortunately, it has been too warm here in the midwest to wear an outfit like this. I did wear the pants, boots and button down the rest of the day, but it was too warm for a scarf and sweater. Okay summer, you can go now! Ha, ha.

Would you wear an outfit like this? What is the weather like where you are?

I hope you enjoyed this outfit. How would you style an outfit like this? Would use olive, tan, gray or some other color to top black pants and a chambray shirt? As always, I love to hear your thoughts.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links brought to you at no additional charge. If you purchase an item through one of my links I get a little commission. All opinions are my own.

I appreciate all you support. Thank you for continuing to following the blog.

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.

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2023 - NY Palette: Tender Peach, Red Dahlia, and Silver Birch

It was fun last week to hear your thoughts on how to combine these Pantone colors. I had my outfits already picked out, otherwise I might have tried some of your suggestions. Today’s outfit takes two of the more subdued colors and pairs them with a darker hue for an outfit that’s perfect for work, a child’s school event or even a casual date night with your significant other.

It is always fun shopping my closet for these colors. Everything in today’s outfit is thrifted except the boots and the bag. Let ‘s look at each piece in color order.

Tender Peach

I found this top last spring thrifting. I fell in love with the eyelet across the top around the neckline. It is a cotton fabric and fully lined making an under layer unnecessary. The bell sleeves make it a great summer piece, but obviously it works well for spring and summer as well.

Style Tip:

If you struggle with wearing solid colors choose pieces that have texture to create interest and draw the eye away from areas that might make you more self conscious.

Red Dahlia

This color is a staple in my fall and winter wardrobe. No matter what you call it: maroon, berry, Red Dahlia…it is a color that adds depth and classiness to any outfit. This cardigan with its black houndstooth pattern and gold toned buttons was a great addition to my closet and since pulling it out for this series, I’ve decided it really needs more time out it public.

Style Tip:

Adding a few patterns like houndstooth, herringbone, or chevron to your closet can boost your closet’s outfit potential. Try finding pieces in the forms of jackets, vests, cardigans or skirts that can quickly put together with other pieces to make simple looks that exude classic style.

Silver Birch

These cargo pants are actually a tad light for the Pantone Silver Birch color, but you get the idea. Silver Birch is a light gray, like oxford, but even lighter with a different hue. The cargo pants keep the outfit looking casual, but not as casual as my distressed jeans.

Style Tip:

Never say never when it comes to color. I have heard many older women say, “I can’t wear gray.” Gray is a great neutral and you most certainly can wear it on your bottom. In addition, try out various shades and hues of gray and you will realize not all colors are created equal. Oxford, cobalt, charcoal, steel, silver are all shades of gray, but each one has it’s own tones and hues. Find the one that works for you. If that doesn’t work, remember you CAN wear the gray, just add a scarf near your face that compliments your coloration.

The rest of my outfit came together with my accessories. The necklace was actually given to me by my spouse who found it at a garage sale. He knows I love costume jewelry, so every once in a while he will surprise me with a special piece he found.

I bought my Sonoma bag a few years ago on Clearance from Kohl’s. It’s just a roomy tote bag, but I thought the peachy, orange pattern went well with the Tender Peach color of the top.

I am always excited to be able get out my ankle boots in the fall. These ESpirit burgundy boots are regularly worn all through the fall and winter.

So what did you think of this color combination? What Pantone colors would you have combined with either Tender Peach or Red Dahlia? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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

Have a great day!

Shopping Our Closets: Monochrome Madness

I know I typically talk about color in my Color Play column at the end of the month, but this week I decided we should shop our closets for similar colored pieces to create a little monochrome magic. After all, I wouldn't go out shopping for same or like colored pieces to create a monochrome look, because generally we have pieces already in our closets that match.

The creation of a monochrome outfit in the fashion realm occurs when clothing pieces of similar or same color are combined to make an outfit that appears to be a column of a single color. Once you get started this is as easy as matching pants or skirts with tops or sweaters. An easy way to create a monochrome look is to use a dress, either short, midi or maxi with matching shoes and even, if you dare, matching hose.

Today I will show you step by step how I came up with this perfectly fall outfit.

I guess I should have taken these pictures outside because I am blending in with the cedar planking in our house. Ha, ha. I decided to use this cognac color to create my monochrome look. Here are the steps I took to put this look together.

Step 1 - Choose your color.

This might seem rather obvious, and for some this will be easier than it was for me, because I have so many darn clothes in just about every color. I thought this cognac brown a good color for fall, but I also thought about rust, burgundy and green. You can also use prints in a monochrome outfit as long as it stays mainly within the color scheme.

I started with my StitchStar jeans as I knew I had a pair of ankle boots that matched perfectly. My top is older and is Mudd brand. The idea that your shoes, pants, or skirt and top should all be pretty close to a match makes sense for a monochrome look.

Step 2 - Decide on a topper.

For my topper I chose an open front Tahari cardigan that I had found on clearance at TJMaxx a number of years ago. You could pick anything that matches your monochrome color from a pullover to a blazer.

Step 3 - Choose your jewelry.

I chose a piece that was in the same color scheme as the rest of my outfit, but you certainly don’t have to do that. Your jewelry can be whatever your choose and the outfit will still exude a monochrome vibe. My goal was to stay as close as possible to the cognac colors.

At this point you could be done with your monochrome outfit, but you know me! Why stop there? Ha, ha. While I love monochrome looks, I am too much a fan of color, texture and interest, so I had to add a few colored accessories.

Step 4 - Add a little interest.

I chose a scarf and a thrifted Liz Claiborne bag that matched the green in the scarf.

Step 5 - Finish it off.

Since fall is truly just around the corner layers are going to be essential, so I decided to finish this look with a recently thrifted Merona utility jacket. When I saw this cognac colored jacket I knew I had to have it. While it is a little snug for me, it works great as an open front piece and still allows the under layers to be visible.

Style Tip: When thrifting make sure to look at all different size racks. You never know what you will find if you think outside the box in how you wear various pieces.

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it gave you quick and easy tips on building your own monochrome look. Shop your closets with new eyes. You will find new outfits you never knew existed. No shopping links today, because I know you are all running to your closets right now to see what you can create!

Until next time, think creative and be creative. Your wardrobe is yours to explore and have fun with.

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 - New York Palette: Samoan Sun, Martini Olive and Chiseled Stone

Today is my last post for the Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 New York palette series. I decided to do a flat lay for a change due to several factors that are affecting my ability to get posts done. The first is time. I do not know where time goes, but it sure seems like I have less of it than ever before and I am not even working a regular job right now. Second, I injured my knee a few years ago and recently I tweaked it and it has been very painful. I have an appointment Thursday to have it checked out, but I knew it was going to be hard to get pictures done with changing clothes, running up and down the stairs and going outside, so I thought a flat lay the next best thing.

The three colors today’s outfit revolved around are great colors for fall and I think this outfit would be perfect for a casual Thanksgiving celebration. My yellow Samoan Sun sweater is a thrifted Old Navy piece. It has more orange undertones to it, but I still think it works great for this outfit.

My Chiseled Stone striped tee is another thrift find from a brand called Company Ellen Tracy. I looked up Ellen Tracy and it is a clothing retailer with some nice pieces. You can check it out by clicking on the link. The brand seems to exude class and modesty. Prices are a tad high for my limited resources, but I like to show you retailers you might be interested in. If I had the money, I would definitely shop this brand more often.

My Martini Olive utility skinny pants have made multiple appearances on the blog. They are Gloria Vanderbilt brand. You can see these pants styled with a floral bomber, a light weight pullover, a snakeskin print jacket, a floral dress, a lace vest, and a floral dress as a jacket.

My accessories were simple and I chose to emphasize the black to coordinate with the stripes in the tee.

I love this simple charm pendant necklace. It adds a touch of interest to almost any outfit without being overly garish. I couldn’t even tell you where I got it, but knowing my past shopping habits it was either thrifted, or bought at Kohl’s or JC Penney. Ha, ha.

I’ve shown you this black Aidebam bag on the blog before. I got this one from Amazon, but Amazon’s inventory changes pretty regularly and I don’t see this exact style on there anymore. I will include a few shopping links at the end. Here is a very similar one.

These black boots are a very recent thrift find. They were my size and I loved the “witchy” vibe of them. They are a brand called Rampage. I have a wedding coming up and right now I am planning to build my outfit around one of two pairs of ankle boots. I also found a blue velvet pair, another thrifting treasure that I wasn’t lookin for, (but I was). I hope to do a blog post next week on what to wear to a fall wedding using the outfit I come up with. Keep a look out.

Style Tip - The right shoes or boots with an outfit can absolutely make the outfit. If you are not sure about which pair of shoes to wear when going to an event or celebration, try on a few different pairs. Remember, heels of any height will upgrade a look, even when wearing distressed jeans and a tee. If you are going for a more casual look, then think flatter souls and a heel that is an inch or less.

I hope you enjoyed this flat lay and the conclusion of my Pantone series. From now through the end of the the year I hope to bring you holiday inspired and winter looks. Leave me a comment or two, letting me know what you thought of this outfit. Which was your fave in the series? 1 - Lava Falls, Amazon, and Arctic Wolf, 2 - Orange Tiger, Nosegay, and Autumn Blonde, 3 - Rose Violet, Caramel Cafe, and Polar Night, 4 - Waterspout, Midnight and Loden Frost or today’s.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. Remember these are affiliate links, which are brought to you at no extra cost. You do not pay anything extra to purchase something through one of my links. In fact, it helps me by putting a few cents into my pocketbook. I really appreciate every little bit.

Have a great week!

What I've Been Wearing Lately: Fall Edition

I have one more Pantone post to do, but I am going to save that for a later date. This week I wanted to share with you a few of my day to day outfits that I have been wearing this fall. As I have done before, I will give a bit of the philosophy behind my outfit choices, why I like it and a few style tips. I hope you enjoy this quick look into my every day style.

Outfit 1 - Colorful Flannel with Gold Chenille Sweater and Fall Tee

Inspiration - Instagram challenge prompt on favorite fall fabrics

Thrifted Pieces - Flannel tee, and combat boots

Style Tip - Don’t be afraid to layer over layers and think outside the box when it comes to color. Bright colors are our friends, especially in the dreary days of winter. In addition, flannel shirts make great shackets for those not so cold early days of fall.

What I like about it - It’s casual, cheerful, comfortable, and incredibly cozy. (Fun tee purchased at Love in Faith tees.)

Outfit 2 - Brown Velvet Blazer with Black Jeans and Gray Button Down

Inspiration - Pinterest Dark Academia Style

Thrifted Pieces - Brown blazer, black cropped flares, and gray polka dot button down

Style Tip - Don’t be afraid to try new styles. I came across the Dark Academia Style on Pinterest and instantly knew it was something I wanted to try. It combines dark pieces to make outfits that look ready for the college campus, or that could easily be translated to the work arena.

What I like about it - I definitely like the modest factor, at least in many of the pins I found, though there could be some very short skirts or shorts, but even there, the styles are often worn over top of dark hose or tights. In addition, this is a look I am comfortable in that makes me feel confident. I am excited to try more styles in the Dark Academia vibe.

Outfit 3 - Purple Tie Dye Top, Utility Vest and Jeans

Inspiration - Instagram challenge prompt on our favorite layer.

Thrifted pieces - Utility vest

Style Tip - Just like boots are made for wearing, so are vests. Don’t be afraid to wear them over dresses, sweaters and even sweatshirts. A vest can make a casual outfit look a bit more polished and dressier. Just add a heeled boot and a bit of jewelry for a fun date night look like this.

What I like about it - I like the way the vest pulls everything in the outfit together. The purple in the sweatshirt didn’t really match the blue of the vest, and yet when the whole thing came together it was perfect. The dark navy boots and the beaded necklace were the cherry on top.

Outfit 4 - Tulle Skirt, Tee and Cropped Denim Jacket

Inspiration - Instagram “Roctober Style Challenge” prompt For Whom the Bell Tulles

Thrifted pieces - Tulle skirt, cropped denim jacket

Style Tip - Get a tulle skirt! These things are the bomb. I have yet to wear it out in public, but just having it in my closet to wear for an Instagram challenge, makes me incredibly happy. I looked for a long time for one at the thrift store and when I found this I felt like I had won the lottery. Ha, ha.

What I like about it - What’s not to like? A tulle skirt combined with a kick butt Wonder Woman tee, denim jacket, and burgundy combat boots?? It is my description of pure fun.

Outfit 5 - Yellow Cable Knit Sweater, Dark Floral Scarf and Distressed Boot Cut Jeans

Inspiration - Instagram challenge prompt, add an extra accessory

Thrifted pieces - Yellow cable knit sweater, and distressed jeans

Style Tip - Layering accessories is a fun way to wear more of your pieces all at once and it adds texture and interest to your outfit. Using a long pendant necklace with a simple scarf wrap like this highlights the necklace, the scarf and the bright sweater backdrop.

What I like about it - I love the contrast of the bright yellow with the darker burgundy and green in the scarf as well as the bronze color of the necklace.

I hope you enjoyed this look at some of my every day outfits, or outfits I donned as part of Instagram challenges. All of these looks, except for the tulle skirt, I wore for the whole day and is very typical of what I normally wear. I like to be intentional about what I put on each day, because it reminds me that I am a special, and beautiful individual with a creative eye and a love for color, fabrics and fashion.

Let me know which outfit is your favorite, or which one you most identify with. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Have a great week everyone!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 - New York Palette: Waterspout, Midnight and Loden Frost

Today’s Pantone Autumn/Winter colors include a bright blue, a dark blue and a light green. Waterspout is a bright aqua blue which seems an odd choice for an autumn palette, but the color gurus will do what they do, and actually it is rather nice to have a few brighter, lighter choices as the days get shorter and the skies begin to gray. Midnight is not really like the midnight blue crayon we all had in our big boxes of Crayolas growing up, but perhaps more like the night sky just after the sun sets, but before the stars start to come out. Loden Frost is a sage green with a little bit of depth and richness.

So far in this series, I think this is my favorite outfit. I like the combination of blues and greens and thought it was an appropriate look for a warm fall day.

I’ve styled this thrifted dress before on the blog. I have had it for years and it is getting a little snug since all my weight has done its post menopausal thing and moved to my mid section. Ha, ha. But that is the beauty of layering. You don’t notice it as much. This is a brand called Oliva Rose, however, there are numerous brands out there with that name, so I have no idea where it originated.

I found this Maurice’s brand sweater at a thrift store. I really like Maurice’s, but I try to stay out of that store. They have so many cute things every season. I like their tees, tops and jeans, but I wait for good sales and coupons, because things cost more now than ever. I am also really trying to curb my buying all around.

My sea turtle scarf is from the dollar store. Back when my oldest was pregnant and we were putting together the shower the theme was Sea creatures. I found a few cute scarves for game give aways and this was a left over. My necklace was a product of two different thrifted pieces that ended up breaking, so I put them together.

My olive Fossil hobo bag is also thrifted. It is another work horse in my closet and is continually in and out of rotation. Fossil brand is a good quality brand and while I never buy them full price, I do love when I can find one on clearance or at a thrift store. This one is a great utility bag with multiple pockets and compartments for everything you need.

I found these navy boots last year online at Kohl’s. They are Journee brand. I am not too adventurous when it comes to my boot colors. I like browns, black, and gray, but I thought it would be nice to have a navy pair, specifically of knee high boots, for a different vibe. Do you like your boots to be a more basic color, or do you like a bright, bold look for your feet?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know what you think of these colors. I am including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. When you click on a link, I get a few pennies. When you purchase the item through the provided link, I get a little bit more. I appreciate all you clicks. All opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a great week.

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 - New York Palette: Rose Violet, Caramel Cafe, and Polar Night

As I continue the Pantone Autumn/Winter color series, I want to remind you my graphics are interpretations of the colors and do not match exactly. I have provided links to the Pantone website and the colors, so you can see what they actually look like. This week’s colors are a combination of a bright pinky purple, an earthy caramel brown and a deep navy. My Rose Violet is definitely too purple. If you click on the link you can see it really is more of a Fuchsia pink than purple. I don’t know why I thought my kimono was the right color. Oh well, I still think it makes for a bright, interesting outfit, even if the colors aren’t exact.

I received this beautiful silk robe from my younger daughter when she and her sister gave me my spa day for my birthday this past January. I really only wear robes in the winter when it is cold, so I thought this pretty piece deserved to be showcased.

Style Tip: Think outside the box when it comes to your clothing pieces. A bathrobe might suddenly be the perfect topper for a holiday party, or your cute checked pj pants might be a great addition to your casual Friday work wear routine.

I was having a hard time smiling when I took these pictures. I still feel tired and the dreary weather wasn’t helping my sinus headache. My hair is a bit fly away too. Oh well, you don’t follow me so that I’ll show you fake pictures and phony smiles. This is the real me, so thanks for loving me anyway! Ha, ha.

My Polar Night tee is an older Christopher and Banks piece. I like to have multiple solid colored tees in short sleeve and long sleeve versions strictly for the purpose of layering, either under pieces like this or just for added warmth under a pullover sweater.

You’ve seen these Stitch Star patchwork jeans on the blog before. I think they worked well for the Caramel Cafe color. The last two times I combined them with red. See the red sweater, and the red knit vest. I think they work well with the purple and with the navy colors.

Style Tip: Don’t be afraid to try new color combinations. You might find you like something even better than your regular go to choices, plus it makes you feel almost a bit daring stepping outside your comfort zone.

I kept my accessories simple. I liked the contrast of the navy tee with the pale purple necklace. I also chose my thrifted silver cross body bag.

I thought the navy SO ankle boots were a compatible choice with the navy tee, but a pair of caramel or cognac colored books would have worked too and the similar color would elongate the leg.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear a kimono like this anywhere but the house? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’m including a few shopping links. Enjoy shopping and remember these are affiliate links brought to you at no added cost. If you click on a link I get a few cents. I appreciate all your clicks.

I hope you are having a wonderful October. We have had some beautiful days and the leaves have been just gorgeous. I will not be posting next week as we are taking a few days away with our family, but look for more posts on the blog the following week and as usual I will be posting regularly on Instagram and Facebook.

Have a great weekend!

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2021 - London Palette: Green Bee, Downtown Brown, and Olive Branch

Hi everyone! November is zooming along and I am still trying to get back into some sort of rhythm, not only here on the blog, but in life. Anyone who suffers from a long term illness can relate to what I am talking about. Not being able to sleep for such a long period of time and still dealing with unresolved symptoms make it hard to get back to what I would say is a normal routine. However, I know there are people who are struggling with much worse situations and I am thankful that I am able to do as much as I can. In fact, this past weekend, we were able to travel to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday with her, so that was good.

Unfortunately, there has also been other difficult things along the way. My son-in-law lost his grandfather this past week and I know that has been a great loss for the whole family. He was a dear man, a wonderful painter and loved his family, so he will be missed. As many of you can relate, it seems as we get older, we see loss happening around us at a more frequent pace. This too is part of life, and for me knowing God is holding me and my loved ones during these times, makes it a little less painful.

Now on to another outfit. As I said last week, while I am wildly behind, I decided to go ahead and show you these Pantone London Palette outfits as possible sources of inspiration for Thanksgiving Day wear. Many of you will be celebrating with friends or family and it is a good reason, to get out of those sweat pants and dress up a little bit, if just for your own mental well being.

You can’t go wrong with a pair of trousers, a pretty top and a fun scarf and bag. Obviously, you can pick your colors, but I chose to combine these earthy tones for a look that is a mix of military meets, moto chic.

My Downtown Brown moto jacket is a thrifted piece that I have styled on the blog before. It is a brand called Celebrity Works. I do like this medium milk chocolate brown. Browns can be tricky to wear, especially when they contain a little too much gray or a little more red, or well, you get the idea. A true brown is hard to find, but I think this brown hits the mark, so thank you Pantone for that one.

You’ve seen my Olive Branch pants numerous times on the blog as well. As I look at them in these pictures, I am thinking I might need to find a replacement pair. These are starting to look worn and really don’t look very flattering. Of course that may have had something to do with my chubby thighs. Ha, ha. These were Gloria Vanderbilt brand and I probably got them at Kohl’s.

For the Green Bee color I chose a thrifted Studio Works popover top that I did the front tuck on, which gave it the blouson effect. I also added the Green Bee paisley print scarf. The thought to add the Dana Buchman floral bag was a last minute addition, but I like how it pulled everything together. A fun floral bag is a great addition to your wardrobe, especially when it can serve multiple season duty. This one works just as well in spring, summer and fall.

I chose my trusty Olive Branch SO ankle boots for my shoes. My ankle boots definitely get used in these cooler fall temps.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear an outfit like this to your Thanksgiving celebration? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments below.

I am including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no extra cost. If you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of my links I get a few more pennies. I appreciate every penny! All opinions are my own. Please note, I am not familiar with all of the retailers I list in my links, so be sure to read and understand their return policies in case something doesn’t fit or isn’t to your liking.

I hope you enjoyed today’s post. Until next time, have a great day.

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull with Rebecca Trumbull.

Thinking About Fall - Transitional Style - Button Down Short Sleeve Top

I hope those of you who have subscribed to my blog are content with what I have been posting lately. I have fallen into a rhythm of only posting twice a week, but for now that is the best I can do. Real life is never as pretty as it looks on a blog post or Instagram. Real life is messy and often requires more of our energy and time than we have to give. That being said, I want you to know, I am trying to bring you content that goes along with the seasons and what is going on in the fashion world, as well as to encourage you in your faith. I will probably spend a few more weeks on these transitional looks and then I hope to start that infamous Pantone series. Ha, ha. Stay tuned.

Last week, I took myself on a little shopping trip. I went to two stores, Kohl’s and JC Penney. These have long been my go to’s when I am looking for new items. In my town, these two stores are only a few blocks apart, making it even easier to justify stopping at both. As you know by now, I shop the clearance racks and I really found some great pieces, including this yellow and white gingham, St. John’s Bay button down. I actually purchased these in two different prints, the other being a blue, yellow and white mini floral.

The thing I like about these is the light weight cotton material, which is perfect for these hot summer days, and the high-low square hem. You can see that better in the picture below. This makes it easy to wear the top out, like I did in this outfit, or you could tuck it in for a more polished look.

To keep my look light and cool, I accessorized with light, neutral colors and added a bracelet as my only piece of jewelry. My bag is from a few summers ago and is Sonoma brand. A woven bag is always a great summer piece. My off white sneakers were thrifted and they are Mossimo brand.

To make the outfit ready for cool weather, I made a few simple adjustments. I added a fun yellow moto jacket that I ordered from Kohl’s last year that was on clearance. This is Elizabeth and James brand. I fell in love with the color and it is a heavy, sturdy piece that can be worn as a jacket, not just a show piece.

I love this scarf and I think the colors are perfect for fall. The yellow mums, the burgundy splashes and there is also a little bit of an olive leopard print throughout. I should have straightened it out a bit more, since the ends look a but rumpled. My hair looks crazy too, so no worries. Ha, ha.

I swapped out my woven bag for a cute burgundy leather and suede shoulder bag my bestie gave me that she found thrifting. I also added my thrifted Rock & Candy by Zigi ankle boots. These are such a fun boot with the lace overlay. One of the reasons I love to thrift is finding fun, unique pieces like these boots.

Here are the outfits side by side. What do you think? Did I make a good transition to fall? What would you have done differently? I love to hear your thoughts.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. Moto jackets are a great way to take your clothes from one season to the next. They provide an added layer of warmth in the cooler weather and a lighter layer as the temperatures start to warm up in the spring.

These are affiliate links. When you click on a link I get a few cents. All opinions are my own. I appreciate all your support and all your clicks.

Have a great week.

Fall/Thanksgiving Outfits - Harvest Tee and Distressed Jeans - Casual

This week I am taking two more very casual pieces and showing two different ways to wear them, either for a fall shopping trip with friends or for turkey day. I chose a thrifted pair of distressed boot cut jeans and a harvest tee that I recently purchased from Kohl’s online.

I had posted an outfit on my Instagram account that featured a pair of distressed skinny jeans I recently acquire from maurice’s. When distressed jeans really started making a comeback, I was resistant to go all in and get things that were really torn up. I felt that it looked to grungy, but now, several years later, I am much more accepting of these types of pieces as I feel they add an element of texture and uniqueness to an otherwise simple outfit. I still prefer the holes to be lined or at least somewhat opaque as far as skin is concerned, although I do think it looks cute when a person wears fun colored tights under their distressed jeans, so the tights show through.

These jeans are Lane Bryant brand. I have never bought anything from Lane Bryant before, thinking, they were just an underwear company for plus size women. However, what I have discovered after looking over their website, is that they sell all sorts of clothing and accessories from size 12 to 28. I love these jeans and they have easily fallen into one of my favorite jeans, spots. They have a bit of stretch, but always look good when I put them on. They also fit nicely around the waist, with no gaping. Once again, I have found a new brand, that I might consider buying, because I got to try them thrifting.

This Sonoma tee is the perfect balance between casual and dressy with its cursive print and gold leaves and edging on the letters. I don’t have a lot of fall graphic pieces, so when I saw this, I knew I wanted to add it to my collection.

My Tahari sweater was a clearance piece last year from TJ Maxx. You can see how I styled it for a series on wearing white as a transitional piece, here.

This thrifted stained glass necklace, just seemed to go well with the outfit. I love that it almost has a leaf shape to it, which gives the outfit that extra fall feel.

I wanted to stick with the burgundy colors in the letters as the inspiration for the rest of my accessories, so I grabbed my Massini saddle bag purse and my thrifted Puma sneakers to complete the look.

What do you think of this outfit? Is this something you would wear to your Thanksgiving day celebration?

I’ve included a few shopping links, so be sure to check those out. I try to offer pieces that are similar to the ones I show in my posts. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost. If you click on a link, I get a few pennies. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2020 - All the Outfits

I wanted to end this fall color series by showing you all of the colors from both the Pantone New York Palette and the Pantone London Palette. To make it a little more interesting I thought I would show outfits that have, either a same color or a similar color side by side.

I hope that you enjoyed this series. If there are any other topics in fashion that you are interested in learning more about, or in seeing me talk about or put together in an outfit, I would love for you to let me know. I don’t follow trends too closely and this fall, I totally missed the boat on that, so I do apologize. I know some of you enjoy hearing what the trends are for each season and seeing how I apply those to the “real” world. Often when we look at websites or see magazines with tall, thin models or celebrities who are seamlessly coifed we think there is no way we would want to try this or that, especially when it comes to runway trends. However, there are a lot of trends that we can participate in and enjoy like leopard print, various colors and different types of accessories.

I will keep doing this Pantone series as long as I am blogging, because I feel strongly that even though we might differ from each other in our style, color is something we all have in common. Approaching new, bold and different colors without fear is a way to expand your wardrobe and spice up your style without completely committing to a whole different way of doing things.

The Color Palettes Side by Side.

Samba

I love the color red and I think there is a red for every complexion. I think both of these outfits worked quite well and love that both of them present a more neutral palette with a bright pop of red. In the New York outfit on the left Samba is paired with Fired Brick and Sleet. In the London outfit on the right Samba is paired with Tawny Birch and Sheepskin.

Ultramarine Green

Ultramarine was on both palettes and I think it is a pretty green that can bring a peaceful, yet vibrant feel to any outfit. This color green would look great in a bag, jewelry or a scarf and to me it really seems to draw your eyes to it. Maybe it is just my love for the greens in nature that make me like this color so much. In the New York outfit on the left Ultramarine Green is paired with Classic Blue and Blue Depths. In the London palette on the right Ultramarine Green is paired with Exuberance and Sleet.

Military Olive

While I love bright and bold colors like the two I mentioned previously, I love using olive as a neutral. It goes with every color, and has a different vibe than gray or beige. It is classy, yet subtle. In the New York outfit on the left, Military Olive is paired with Peach Nougat and Sandstone. In the London outfit on the right Military Olive is paired with Strong Blue and Jet Stream.

Green Sheen/Celery

It is hard to tell in these pictures, but Green Sheen and Celery are pretty similar. I think, because the lighting is different the colors look brighter in the shaded picture. They are different colors, but not enough different that they couldn’t be exchanged from one outfit to another. In the New York outfit on the left, Green Sheen is paired with Amber Glow and Almond Oil. In the London outfit on the right, Celery is paired with Mandarin and Sheepskin.

The Other Colors

These last two are paired only because they were the last two and don’t really have anything in common. The New York outfit on the left is a combination of Rose Tan, Magenta Purple and Sleet. The London outfit on the right is a combination of Burnt Henna, True Blue and Dress Blues.

Which outfit do you like most? Which color from the two palettes is one you frequently wear? What new color(s) are going to try to add to your wardrobe. As always, I love to hear your thoughts.

I apologize to those of you who subscribe to my blog. The last three weeks, I have completely forgotten to send out my weekly emails. I’ll just attribute that to “squishy brain syndrome.” Ha, ha.

Thanks for following along on the blog. I hope to use the next couple of weeks leading up to Thanksgiving showing you more fall outfits and maybe a few ideas for what to wear to Thanksgiving dinner whether you are going some place or sheltering in place.

If you follow my Faith page be sure to check back tomorrow for the next installment in my series on the Unseen Enemy.

Have a great weekend!

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Color Play - More Fall Mixing

My daughter has come into her very busy season and has numerous editing projects on her plate from all sorts of clients, so my Pantone - Autumn/Winter - London Palette series is going to be delayed for a little bit. In the mean time I am falling back to my Thursday columns, so today’s is based on, of all things, fall colors. You just aren’t going to get away from my obsession with color. Ha, ha.

Today’s outfits are centered around a thrifted Christopher and Banks jacket. I absolutely love the muted frenzy of colors and I knew it would be something I could wear repeatedly throughout fall, winter and spring. This is the back of the jacket. It is shaped and feels somewhat like a denim jacket, though the material seems a little less stiff. I paired the jacket with a rusty colored long sleeve tee that I got last year at Maurices. I am going to show you three ways these two pieces can be styled for different looks.

Look 1 - With Jeans

This first look was what I wore on the day I took these pictures. This is a simple look with my Rock & Republic jeans that I have had for years. I added my Sonoma faux suede boots to keep the fall color scheme intact, then I added my purple agate pendant necklace and a purply blue gingham scarf. The last piece to add was the thrifted olive hobo bag. I love the little ruffle on the sleeve hem on the tee. The sleeves on this jacket were the perfect length to let the sleeves stick out.

Look 2 - With White Jeans

For this look I swapped out the regular jeans fro my white Gloria Vanderbilt pair. I also removed the scarf, put on a different necklace and changed the bag and boots. White all year round is simple the rage, and that is one trend I am willing to put up with. These jeans are especially suited to the cooler weather, because they are a heavier weight. They also have a wider leg, so it is easier to get taller boots under them.

These brown ankle boots are a new pair I ordered from Kohl’s. I just love my suede and faux suede ankle boots and wear them all the time. I decided to add this dark brown Nine West pair to my collection because they were on sale and I had a coupon. To go with the boots I chose my thrifted bronzy colored shoulder bag.

Look 3 - Green Skirt

In the final look I chose my thrifted Old Navy tiered skirt, which I have styled numerous other times on the blog. I also added a pale yellow gingham scarf that I bought from the Jacket Society three years ago. Nora always has such unique and beautiful pieces. Be sure to check out the scarves and wraps here. I swapped out my bronze bag for this purple Nicole bag with gold chain handle accents, and my ankle boots for these thrifted mid-calf leather heeled boots. You can see I also added a woven belt that goes with the boots, just for some fun added texture and contrast.

Here are all three outfits side by side. Which one do you like best? Do you have a colorful jacket that you were thinking of getting rid of because you never wear it? How about trying some of these ideas and making your wardrobe work for you?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know your thoughts on these outfits. Tomorrow I will have a new Faith post on the blog, so be sure to stop by and check that out.

Have a great day!

I’ve included a few shopping links for printed jackets. These are affiliate links. It does not cost you anything to click on a link to shop, but it might pay me a few cents. Enjoy!

Pantone Fall/Winter 2020 - New York Palette - Amber Glow, Green Sheen and Almond Oil

The colors in today’s post are more pastel, but still encompass colors we think of when fall comes to mind. Oranges and yellows are obvious as we look at the trees around us. The Almond Oil color is an off white. When I was growing up, we never wore white after labor day. Our white shoes, bags, dresses, skirts and pants were all put away until the next year. I can still remember going out shoe shopping with my mom before Easter, because that was always when we would get out our white shoes to wear to church. Obviously, those days are gone, but many people still like the idea of wearing white in the summer and darker colors during the cooler, darker months of the year. Almond Oil might be a good alternative for those of you who would rather stay away from a pure white for the Fall/Winter seasons.

You’ve see this Roz & Ali maxi skirt numerous times on the blog. I got this one at dressbarn. All the dressbarn stores in the area have closed, but I know they still have a pretty major online shop, so be sure to check them out. I used this skirt last fall in the Pantone London series styled with a purple sweater. You can also see it styled with an orange tank top and a brown moto jacket.

My yellowish green short sleeve sweater is a thrifted Gap piece. It is a tad big, but I like the slouchy look of it and tucking it in works great with this skirt.

The cream colored jacket is a thrifted NY&Co. It is made of a stiff fabric with a good amount of stretch to it. It almost has a bit of a linen feel to it and it tends to be more wrinkly.

I opted for the orange for my jewelry. I love this tiered statement necklace and hardly ever get to wear it. I have two more in different colors. It just makes a lovely statement, especially in this outfit. It really makes the whole outfit look cohesive. Many people don’t want their outfits to have that kind of matching game, but personally I love it. There is a symmetry and completion about an outfit when it has this sort of cohesion.

My top handle bag is another Stone Mountain thrift find. It seems to match the Almond Oil color even better than the jacket.

Once again, I pulled out my Sonoma suede ankle boots. The small heel gives me less of a chance for tripping over the skirt. Ha, ha.

What do you think of these two colors? When my daughter was editing these photos, she said it seemed these two colors would grate on each other, but she really liked the outfit. Pairing a print with a solid in these colors definitely makes the outfit softer and easier on the eye. This is something I would definitely wear…if I had some place to go. Ha, ha.

I hope you are enjoying this series. If you are leave me some love in the comments. I hope you are having a good week.

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Feel free to shop a few links below. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Color Play - Fall Color Mix

What better time to play with color than in the fall? I love the bright hues of red, orange and gold, as well as the moodier tones of burgundy, brown and forest green. I have found many Pinterest pins on fall color combos, so drew some of my inspiration from those. The pieces I chose are perfect for this in between time where the days can still be warm but the mornings and evenings cool. Today, took a turn towards the cooler side and I am typing this post with a cup of hot cocoa at my side. I need the milk for calcium, but thought this morning I would add a little chocolate and pop it in the microwave. Yum!

When I started looking for my Warm Spice colors, I knew I wanted to used my burgundy SO sweater, which was a Kohl’s purchase last year. I have another one just like this in a light pink, which you will see on the Pantone series coming up. I also got two sizes. This one is a large and the light pink is an extra large. I liked the way each fit for different reasons, so I got both. Ha, ha. You can see the side detailing below.

Yellow was the next color in the Pinterest Warm Spice Pin, so I chose a thrifted short sleeve Sonoma tee with a small white pattern.

I also, knew I wanted this to be a cozy, casual look so opted for my Rock & Republic straight leg jeans.

The third color is orange. I wasn’t sure, at first, how I was going to pull that off, and then I saw this infinity scarf hanging in my closet. This was another thrift store find. I love getting scarves, bags and jewelry at thrift stores, because there are so many different choices and you can’t be the prices. I absolutely love athe fall vibe of this piece. It contains all those colors I think of when I think of fall and the pattern is reminiscent of the 1970’s. You can see I did a bit of print mixing as well.

With the mix of orange in the scarf, I thought it would be fun to add another pop of orange away from my face with the addition of this thrifted orange suede bag. It may be small, but this little number packs a powerful color punch.

It seemed the natural choice to also reach for my Spirit faux suede ankle boots, to balance out the whole look. I love all of my boots, but especially enjoy wearing these ankle boots in the late summer and early fall. Only 5 days until the first day of fall. Whoo, hoo. I have already noticed Halloween decorations in yards and Christmas items in the stores. Eye, yie, yie.

The only jewelry I added was a fun charm bracelet with a bit of fall color.

What did you think of this outfit? Would you wear these colors together?

I hope you are having a good week. I have been busy. My grandson’s 10th birthday was Tuesday. He was supposed to have a small friend party, but one of the boys got sick and with our #covidlife as it is currently we had to cancel. We hope to reschedule for a future date. My husband and I went over and I made a cake and he got to open some presents. This weekend, we are going out to Maumee Bay State Park for one night at the lodge as a part of the birthday celebration. Quintin’s mom and he will go with us and our other daughter and her hubby will join us for dinner. We find ways to make life work, even in our current circumstances.

I am including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

I hope to get my faith post up tomorrow, so be sure to check back for that. Have a great weekend!

Flat Lays in the Flesh - Animal Print

On Thanksgiving I will be starting a holiday series that I think you might find inspirational and interesting. That is all I am saying about that right now, just to whet your appetites. Until then I thought it might be fun to revisit a few of the Fall Trends 2019 that I talked about through the medium of flat lays. If you don’t know what a flat lay is, it is simply a way to show an outfit by laying out the pieces on a flat surface, rather than showing them on a person. I find so many flat lays look amazing, but I am always left wondering, what does the outfit look like on an actual person. I hope you don’t find this too repetitive, but I decided to take four of the flat lays I did for my Fall Trends 2019 series and show you what they look like, in the flesh. Let’s get started.

This first outfit features a snakeskin jacket that I found thrifting last spring. This was the flat lay from the original post, which focused on the fall trend of animal prints.

Photo by Amy D. Christensen

This is what the outfit looks like in the flesh.

It was only about 10 degrees outside and as much as I like to play the tough chick, I decided, forget that nonsense, so my daughter/photographer turned her spare bedroom into a studio. She is so good at being flexible and working with what we have. She does such a great job with natural light. There was no flash in any of these pictures.

This Liz Claiborne snakeskin jacket has a little bit of stretch to it, making it very easy to move in. I paired it with a thrifted Banana Republic sweater for this outfit, but you could easily swap in other pieces like a button up blouse, a graphic tee or a lighter weight turtleneck for all manner of stylish vibes. A jacket like this is a work horse in your wardrobe and can be dressed up with a skirt or dress and heels; or dressed down with distressed jeans and sneakers.

I went for a work wear look, pairing the sweater and jacket with my Gloria Vanderbilt cargo skinnies and my Impo wedge ankle boots.

I chose the yellow tote bag to enhance the sunshiny vibe of the outfit, making this a good combination for a cloudy, fall day. This was another thrifted piece.

I thought layering a few fun necklaces would make for an added statement. In the original flat lay I only had the shorter necklace, but just recently I found the long pendant necklace at JCPenney on the clearance rack. They don’t match, but I think the combination works well against the yellow back drop.

Do you think this flat lay turned out to be a good outfit? Do these pieces work well together? Why or why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

I’m leaving you with a few shopping links for fun animal print pieces. Remember Christmas is coming soon and there might be a person or two on your list, who would love an animal print piece. These are affiliate links, which means if you click on a link, I get a few pennies, and if you purchase something through one of my links I get a few more pennies. Ha, ha. I appreciate every penny I get.

Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by the blog.

Photo credit (unless otherwise stated) Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Cranberry and Chicory Coffee

Hi everyone. The days are flying by and we are almost to Halloween. I haven’t even gotten out my decorations yet! That is how far behind I am. Maybe I should just skip Halloween and start decorating for Christmas. All the stores are doing it. Ha, ha . Well, I don’t think I’ll get that crazy, but this time of year does seem to go awfully fast. Do you get that feeling?

Today’s colors are what the Pantone Color Institute label a “vital red that adds a pungent punch to the palette,” and a “robust and tasteful” brown that, “introduces an element of heartiness.”

I was able to pull these pieces from my closet and decided to add the off white cardi that mimics Rutabaga from the London classic color palette.

This Cranberry cami was a recent thrift purchase. Most of my camis are pretty tight and I wear them as layering pieces under long sleeve tops and sweaters. I do not wear them to be seen, but it occurred to me that it would be nice to have something I could have more visible under an open sweater. It is Maurice’s brand. I am becoming a fan of Maurice’s. I see pieces every so often at thrift stores and recently I bought what has become one of my favorite pairs of jeans on the clearance rack. What really drew me to this cami was the pretty lace detailing.

These trousers are Worthington brand from JCPenney. Do you know how hard it is to find brown slacks? Now maybe that has changed. I have seen rust, and that more yellowy brown called cognac, but real brown is hard to find, especially a dark brown like this one.

The off white open front cardigan is Chaps brand and another clearance rack find from Kohl’s. Chaps has some nice pieces, but they do have a higher price point than I would normally pay, thus my reasoning for waiting for them to go on clearance. If I thought a particular piece is really worth paying full price for, I would buy it, but for the most part there isn’t anything that I absolutely have to have. I could shop my closet for months and come up with all sorts of new combinations, because I have so many clothes. Truth!

I kept the accessories minimal with my gold leopard print medallion necklace, a few gold bracelets, my snakeskin clutch, a brown belt, and brown boots. I thought this was a good outfit for complimenting with animal prints.

These are two colors that I can get behind. I love the combination and think these two work well together. What do you think? Do you have any of these colors in your closet? Do you wear camis a lot? Do you wear them more for layering or to be seen? I’d love to hear you thoughts, so leave me a comment or two in the comments section. I appreciate hearing from you and all your support.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to peruse. I hope that you find these helpful. Every click you do, gives me a few cents and I appreciate every one. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Have a great day.