Pantone Autumn/Winter 2026: Red Mahogany, Burnt Olive and Egret

Happy September, everyone! It has been a very long time since I have been regularly posting on the blog, and I hope starting this Pantone series for fall will be the catalyst to bringing this little blog back to life and bringing me back to the things I am most passionate about: fashion, faith and writing. I will be sharing more on my Faith page on the difficulty we have had over the last six months, so if you are interested you can visit there later this week. I hope to get back to my regular posting schedule of Fashion on Tuesdays, Faith on Thursdays and perhaps an occasional post on a different day of the week when time and energy allows.

While access to the Pantone Fashion Week colors seems to be getting harder and harder to find, I was able to find a link to the original article so you can see those colors by clicking on the link here. These fall colors are interesting, and I will be the first to admit that I rather like these bright colorful hues and noticed a few that remind me of colors I like to wear in the fall and winter like Arabian Spice, Red Mahogany, Toffee, and Poseidon.

You will see that most of the looks in this series try to incorporate transitional pieces. For those of us who live in the midwest, the transition from summer to fall often means cool mornings and evenings with the heat returning in the late morning and throughout the afternoon. We have to be able to layer light weight fabrics in a way that accounts for the midday heat and the still working air conditioners. In this first look I layer a light weight utility vest over a light weight peasant top, along with lighter weight crop pants.

Red Mahogany is dark, rich burgundy color and we often see this color come back in the fall and winter seasons. I chose a peasant top that I discovered last spring at a thrift store. I love the pretty floral and bird pattern, the embroidery around the neckline and the shirring along the neck and shoulders. It definitely has a feminine and Boho vibe which is a fun alternative to my practical tees, sweatshirts and flannels for cooler weather. This is a brand called Sundance. Here is a pretty solid colored piece from Lucky Brand; a floral version from Natural Life; and a Croft & Barrow version from Kohl’s.

Interesting Tidbit: Robert Redford founded the original Sundance clothing company in 1969 in Utah with a paper catalogue coming out in 1989. Pieces were originally crafted with interesting prints and Bohemian vibes. In 2004, Redford sold the company in 2004, and in 2025 the company closed. There is a current Sundance Boutique based in Cape Cod that features skirts and dresses with a coastal influence.

Since the top is rather voluminous, I opted for a vest rather than a belt or tuck. I have had this Mudd piece for a number of years. I used to shop more frequently at Kohl’s in the past, but not as much these days. The changes they have made, the increase in prices and more recently their involvement in political issues has me less likely to shop there. I have no problem with others shopping there and I will still occasionally check out their sales for Christmas or birthdays, but I personally would rather shop at a second hand store.

This piece falls easily into the Burnt Olive color. In my opinion olive can have a yellow undertone or a gray undertone. Burnt Olive seems to lean more towards the gray, and many of my olive pieces fall into this category. Here is one from Walmart, a shorter, insulated version from Duluth Trading, and a actual utility jacket from LL Bean.

I decided to use my copped pants for the Pantone classic color called Egret. I have had these thrifted St. John’s Bay pants for a number of years. They get pulled out every summer, and will continue to be worn with frequency as long as I can still fit into them. Ha, ha. This looks like a nice pair from Coldwater Creek; a barrel shaped pair from Land’s End, and a capri length pair from Kohl’s.

For my accessories I chose gold for my necklace and a sparkly bracelet, both of which I forgot to take pictures of. My bag was a gifted piece from a company called Saddleback Leather, and you can see my review for that here. It is a fun little piece if you want something easy to carry that doesn’t take up much space; perfect for a wallet and few odds and ends.

My Natural Soul loafers are also a second hand find from quite a few years ago. Sorry for my wrinkly elephant ankles! Wearing compression hose in the summer is not any fun, but it is better than seeing my pasty, purple and blue, bulgy veins. Ha, ha. Here are a page of options from DSW.

What do you think of these colors? Do you have any of these in your closet? It’s that time of year again to start wearing your fall colors. Isn’t it crazy how fast time flies by. Leave me a comment or two. I love to hear from you.

I hope you are having a great week. Be sure to stop by on Thursday for a new series on my Faith page. Hugs!

A Few Weeks of Spring/Summer Trends - 2026 - Bright Color Combos

I decided to forego the Pantone Spring/Summer 2026 London color palette so that I could spend a few weeks looking at the trends for this spring/summer season. As you know I don’t typically jump on the trend wagon, especially when so many of them border on the ridiculous. However, I still like to take a look and share what I think are the more reasonable ideas because once in a while there is something new that seems fun, or there is something coming around again, but with a new, fresh take.

I love the color combos that are trending for spring and summer, and I would love to just devote a few weeks just to those, but since we just got done with a Pantone palette, I will just show you today’s combination.

I feel like I need to apologize for my disheveled appearance. My brain and body are really struggling right now with fog, and what I hope is just stress. My hair, digestive tract and joints seem to be suffering. I did start taking collagen again, which seems to help with the joint pain. I have not seen much improvement with my hair yet. It is so dry and thin, and coming out in bunches. I have been looking at a few different products to try, but as my beautician said, often hair health is tied in to what is going on internally. I am trying to get by until my insurance changes again and hoping when things smooth out a bit with the aftermath of my spouse’s job loss before I pursue contacting my GP to see if something else is going on. Anyway, enough of that! Ha, ha.

One of the color pairings that we are seeing for spring is red and pink. You have a certain amount of flexibility with this. I combined a bright pink and a bright red, but you could certainly do a bright pink with a more muted red, or even a burgundy. On the other hand you could combine the bright red with a pale, pastel pink. Obviously, not everyone wants to wear bright colors, but I like to explore options.

Style Tip: If you want to try a trend or two, but don’t want to go all in try looking at small pops of color. For instance, combine a more neutral look with a bright red bag, red shoes and pink jewelry.

For today’s look I started with my red, thrifted, Bandolino jeans. I like this pair of pants, especially the bright red color. They are a bit baggy, and I have been thinking about whether I need to try to alter them in some way. I don’t mind baggy, but I think the combination of too long and baggy is problematic. What do you think? Come on all you fashionistas give me some advice! Ha, ha. Here are a pair of ankle pants at JC Penney, a Gloria Vanderbilt pair from Belk, and a linen blend pair from Gap Factory.

After I chose the pants, I knew I wanted to use this thrifted Chico’s jacket. It is actually a petite, thus why the sleeves are a bit short, but I don’t let that bother me. Plus they can be rolled and buttoned for an elbow length sleeve look. I love the bright pink color and the shiny, gold buttons. Here’s a lighter pink style from Kohl’s, and another possibility from Walmart.

Style Tip: Don’t let sleeve length stop you from purchasing a piece your really like. If the sleeves are too long, have them shortened. If the sleeves are too short pile on the bracelets, or wear a longer sleeve underneath that sticks out a bit. It will make the outfit even more interesting.

Next I chose the thrifted Sonoma, mini floral print tee with the side tie hem. I really like this piece for summer as it is so soft and comfortable. Plus I love the fun print with the little bits of burgundy and orange. Here is a cute floral from Chico’s, a different option from Macy’s, and another pretty option from Woman Within.

I kept my accessories simple using gold jewelry and burgundy for my bag and shoes. The bag is thrifted, and a brand called modern+chic. The guitar type strap was on the bag when I purchased it. The cute charm is from my daughter, who now makes bag charms, earrings, and cute magnets for all seasons and interests. Check out Ruby’s Charm on Facebook or Instagram.

I’ve had these thrifted Puma’s for quite a while now, but I keep pulling them out over and over. They are starting to look a bit worn, but they still have some life left in them.

What do you think of this color combination? I did something similar to this back in February. You can see that post here. I am beginning to think I could make this color combo a regular part of my fashion rotation. What is your favorite summer color combo? Leave me some love in the comments. I always like to hear form you.

Have a great day!

Pantone Spring/Summer 2026 - New York Palette: Dusty Rose, Lava Falls and Rhodonite

Another week has flown by. Can you believe it is already the middle of April? We have been having summer here in the midwest. Today it was in the 80’s so my grandson and I spend some time at the park and played outside. I don’t really like that it is this warm already. I like a more gradual warm up and truly enjoy the temps that hover around 65 to 75. Any warmer than that and I start to wilt.

Today I put together an outfit using pieces in my closet for the next three colors on the Pantone New York Palette: Dusty Rose, Lava Falls and Rhodonite. You can see the original colors on this pin on Pinterest.

For this outfit I pulled out my Sonoma corduroy’s from Kohl’s. I love this color and think it can look pink, or even rusty depending on what other colors it is paired with. These are very comfy, though they would be even more comfy if I got back on track with my Weight Watchers app. It has been a real battle lately, and all the stress of grief, my hubby losing his job and my ongoing health issues does not help.

Here are a few similar colored pairs of pants from Chico’s, Land’s End, and Talbots.

Rhodonite has been on the Pantone palette before. You can see that outfit here. This purply blue is unique as far as darker blues go, and it doesn’t always pair up with other blues, but I do like that it is different which makes it fun to find combinations to go with it. This is a thrifted Old Navy shirt, and appears to be a men’s vintage piece.

Since this color is very hard to find in clothing I am linking a few pieces in a navy blue or a dark blue for you to look at. Check out Kohl’s, J.Jill, and Land’s End.

For the Lava Falls color, I decided to use this thrifted Croft and Barrow cardigan. The color has almost a burgundy tone to it, but not truly, so I thought this red sweater with the marled yarn a closer option.

This is a pretty one from a retailer called Mayberry. This one is also cute from Nordstrom.

I chose my navy blue ankle boots, and while they are not the exact same blue as Rhodonite you can hardly tell the difference since they are not right next to each other.

I wanted something a little different for my necklace and bag, so I chose to use similar colors with the cognac brown. I don’t remember where I got the necklace, and the bag is a thrifted, leather Fossil piece.

Here are a few bags from DSW.

What do you think of these colors? Would you have ever thought to combine these into one outfit? Out of these three colors which do you like the best?

I hope you are enjoying these Pantone colors. If you like this series and the blog, please leave me a comment or two. It helps to know there are people out there following along.

Have a great Tuesday!

A Thrifting Adventure

My oldest daughter gifted me a thrifting scavenger hunt for my birthday. While my actual day was back in early January, we just recently got to go on this fun little adventure. When she showed up at my house she gave me this cute little printout with the instructions and the list of fashion items I was to look for. This was for fun, so most of the items for the outfits I did not purchase, but we both succeeded in buying a few things. Ha, ha.

I didn’t find everything on the list as our time was limited and we also had to stop for lunch, but I was able to find 17 out of the 26 prompts. It was a lot harder than it seems because you are dealing with limited inventory. For instance my first prompt was Cowgirl Chic. While you might be able to find a western shirt, or skirt, or even a vest, you might have a harder time finding boots, or a cowboy hat. This is the outfit I came up with.

Cowboy Chic

Becky found the dress and I found the tee shirt. I should have looked for a pair of ankle boots or a jacket, but as I said time was limited.

Neon on Neon on Neon

I must say, this is a pretty cute outfit, but I generally am not a leggings type of girl, and I don’t wear neon very often. Maybe if I found just the right pieces I would be more inclined to wear it, but this was what I came up with for the prompt.

The Most “Not You” Thing that You Actually Look Great In - or Mary Ann Vibes

I most definitely felt like Mary Ann from Gilligan’s Island in this cute cropped top and navy blue capris. Actually, I thought I looked pretty cute in this outfit, but it just isn’t my normal vibe, and the fact of the matter is, if I don’t feel comfortable in it I probably won’t reach for it.

Impossible Patterns

I had to ask my daughter for a bit of clarification on this, but it was pretty wide open. It could be a pattern, like this, that was just out of the ordinary, or it could have been a wild print mix. I actually liked this button down so much I bought it. It has all the artsy feels and I do love a good artistic rendered clothing piece. Plus it has so many colors in it, so unlimited possibilites.

Touch Me Texture

I saw these wide wale corduroy overalls and thought, “My dream come true.” I have been looking for overalls for a number of years, but have not been able to find a pair second hand. These were cute, and cozy, but unfortunately too small. I wasn’t able to zip the side zipper all the way up, even when I untucked the heavy sweater, which I did purchase. Oh well, I will keep looking!

Neutrally Neutral

This was a fun combo, and both my daughter and I benefitted from it. I bought the cozy, soft textured pants, and she bought the waffle weave sweatshirt.

Heels Made for Sitting

If only, I could still wear heels like this! Actually, I never wore heels like this. Ha, ha. But they are cute. I did stand up in them, but being that I have osteoporosis, I decided to not risk trying to walk.

Breaking the Rules

This was a hard one, because frankly all the rules have been broken in the fashion industry. From wearing underwear as clothing, to men dressing like women and so on, I really don’t think there are rules any more. I decided to go for a bit of an eclectic print mix and also the skirt is like a very soft blanket. I think it was meant to be worn as a a swimsuit cover up of sorts. It is very much outside of my fashion box.

Something from the Men’s Rack

This was another piece I purchased. It is a beautiful men’s shirt with a textured feel. I wanted to add a few more neutral pieces to my wardrobe since so much of what is in my closet falls into a color category. Neutrals are great to have when you just want something more understated, or want to emphasize your accessories or another piece you are wearing.

Weirdest Handbag

What can I say about this bag? It’s just very, well…weird. Ha, ha.

Wear it Backwards

This was a fun challenge and I was lucky to find this stretchy jumpsuit. You can hardly tell the back from the front, except that worn backwards the butt area is a bit tighter and the pelvic area looser. This was a cute piece, but neither of us bought it.

Wear it Inside Out

I wish I would have take a picture of this dress worn the right way. It was a fully lace piece with this nude underlay. While it was a bit short for my taste it worked well for the prompt.

Inspired by a Fictional Character

If you guessed Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote you are correct. Jessica is my fictional persona. What could possibly be more fun then being a writer who jets all over the world and helps solve mysteries?

A Color You Don’t Think You Look Good In

If you have followed me for a while, you know that I say, no color is off limits. With that being said, I do think certain colors look better than others. I am not an Oxford gray girl. I think I look much better in a charcoal gray. This was a cute and comfy sweatshirt, but I didn’t buy it. I just would wear it when I have so many other better color choices.

Sentimental and Significant

As soon as I saw this button down shirt it reminded me of tops my mom used to wear in the summer time. I felt like crying. I almost bought it just for the purpose of wearing her close to me, but I didn’t. There will be another lady somewhere that will enjoy wearing this piece.

Four Seasons in One Outfit

Summer

Fall

Winter

Spring

This was actually the first outfit I put together, and I really liked how it turned out. I did end up purchasing this dress, and the navy blue tiered dress that I used for the Cowboy Chic prompt at the top. I really want to get out of my jeans with everything rut, but with everything going on in our lives right now it has been hard. However, we have a wedding of a friend coming up in April, so I will probably wear one of these depending on the weather.

Stay at Home Cozy

I wanted to just wear this outfit out of the store, it was so cozy. I thought long and hard on the oversized sweater dress, but I didn’t buy it. I did, however, purchase the sweat pants. They are amazingly soft and comfortable. They are a heavy weight, drapey fabric, so they might work as a pair of pants. I’ll have to do some playing around with them.

This was a very fun day with my oldest girl and it made me feel so good to be able to spend time with her and enjoy the fun of shopping. We also had a great lunch and a good talk. Rebecca also took all the pictures on her phone. Thank you!

I hope you enjoyed this thrifting adventure. I am going to look at starting the Pantone Spring color soon, so please keep checking in. I appreciate all you love and support.

Have a great day!

November Styles - Fair Isle, Corduroy and Suede

For today’s outfit I looked again at my list of what was trending for Fall 2025. It is hard to even think about fall, as for many of us the leaves are already off the trees, we have had a ground covering snowfall, and we are barreling towards Christmas. However, it is still fall and I won’t pull out my Christmas tees and sweaters until the day after Thanksgiving. Ha, ha.

One of the trends that popped up for this fall was unusual color combinations. Think pink with red, mint with brown, or light blue with purple. They all sound like lovely combinations to me, but not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea. I decided to try an unusual pairing that is understated rather than bold, and combine it with a neutral gray and an earthy brown. Say hello to rust and red.

Fair Isle seems to be back on the radar as far as retailers go. I saw a number of pretty pieces at Kohl’s when I visited recently. I found this red number at a thrift shop and grabbed it straight away. I love Fair Isle patterns, though I personally can’t wear wool, so my pieces are a mix of man made fabrics. This sweater is a brand called Original Weatherproof Vintage. It is so soft and a little oversized, so very comfy.

Corduroy material is also on the docket this fall, and as far as I am concerned should be a fall and winter staple. It is a lovely fabric that adds extra warmth due to the waling. A narrow wale will give a more luxurious look, while a wide wale is more casual. I found these last year on Black Friday at JCPenney. I love the color and the fit. These are St. John’s Bay brand.

My gray jacket is a beautiful J.Jill piece that I found thrifting a few years back. I don’t wear it a lot, but once in a while it is just the right piece for the occasion. It has a beautiful printed lining. It could also be worn as a fully lined, longer style blazer. It has a velvety feel and can be dressed up or down. I linked a few velvet style blazers below.

The color brown has also seen an uptick for this fall, especially in suede accessories like shoes and bags. I chose my Nine West ankle boots from Kohl’s and my thrifted corduroy bag as a nod to this particular trend.

The only thing I added to this look was the large, wooden circle bead necklace, which I thought tied the whole vibe together.

What do you think of this outfit? This is an outfit I would wear for Thanksgiving day, whether visiting or working in the kitchen. I think it also makes a cozy, work wear look, or a great outfit for a casual night out to dinner and the movies.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know your thoughts on this or on other things you have seen trending for this fall? I hope you are having a great week.

I have included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links which are brought to you at no extra cost. If you click on a link and purchase an item through it, I get a tiny commission. I appreciate everything you do to support this little blog.

Happy Tuesday!