Oh, Olive! Utility Vest - Casual

Another olive work horse in my closet is this utility vest. I have a number of vests. My fuzzy and quilted ones are great for fall and winter, while a vest like this, that is lighter weight, is perfect for spring, summer and into fall. I have been focusing on these olive pieces as the perfect neutral add on for a variety of outfits. I have been styling both casual and workwear looks, so that you have more to think about.

This olive, Mudd brand, vest was a clearance find a few seasons back from Kohl’s. I was paying attention when olive was becoming popular as the new neutral, so I snatched this up. That, and I love vests. They are a great way to add warmth, interest and texture to an outfit. I made my outfit extra colorful, but you could easily tone a look like this down by going for monochrome layers topped by the vest. A black maxi dress, a tan tee and capris or a navy top and denim skirt would look fabulous topped by an olive vest like this. Let me know if you would like to see me style a few monochrome looks with this vest or the jacket from last week.

Fall Trend Alert - Florals

Florals are still in. Harper’s Bazaar listed florals in Finding Patterns on their fall list, and WhoWhatWear called theirs Charming Chinz. However, you label it, it seems that florals are holding their own as a print that is here to stay.

My Bandolino floral jeans are thrifted. They definitely brighten up any summer outfit. I love the floral print and the raw hem on the bottom. It also helps that they have some stretch and are very comfy.

My textured tee is a thrifted Simply Vera, Vera Wang. I love the textured floral print and thought the color and print went perfectly with my pants. You can also see here, I added the long bead and fringe pendant necklace and a few freshwater pearl bracelets in similar colors for an added party vibe. I did the front tuck with the tee and added a gold belt.

Wearing my olive Sperry’s again. These have become a favorite in my summer show wardrobe. I grabbed these instead of the white Steve Madden’s, because I like how the olive on top and on the bottom made the whole look more unified. You could wear any color with this outfit, like my blue Converse or my tan Keds.

Fall Trend Alert - Blush

Bright colors are definitely in for fall, but so are pastels. It seems any more that you really can wear whatever you want and at least a few things in your closet will be on trend.

I didn’t plan it this way, but it seems, most of my outfit has some sort of floral theme. It’s funny when it works out that way. This pretty blush bag was a gift from my younger daughter. Both my girls give me wonderful presents and they are very good at knowing my tastes.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like the combination of olive with blue? Do you like florals and will you be wearing them this fall? I’d love to hear you thoughts. I’m sorry that I have gotten a little bit behind in responding to your comments, but I promise, I will respond. I appreciate your input.

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

Have a great day!

Oh, Olive! Utility Jacket - Casual

I am back from visiting my mom and ready to get back to posting here on the blog. I wasn’t feeling well, the first couple of days after I got home, but I think most of it was fatigue and allergies. They seem to be beating on everyone this year. While I was at my mom’s I didn’t have internet, but I was able to get some photos taken and was pretty pleased with the result. I hope you will be as well.

I am continuing my look at a few of my different olive pieces and how they can be used with just about any outfit and any color. I do like to think outside the box, at least my box, so I hope you will find some of these outfits inspirational for your own wardrobes. The week before last I showed you a casual and a workwear look using an olive pair of pants. Today and Thursday, I want to take a look at ways to style an olive utility jacket. You can see how I styled this same jacket on the blog before with a striped tee and distressed jeans, another striped tee, and a polka dot chambray top.

Another thing, I decided to add to this little series, is to give you a few peaks at what is trending for fall. I’ll point it out as we go along. Let’s take a look at the olive utility jacket.

I have had this olive utility piece for a number of years now. St. John’s Bay brand, I got it at JCPenney. Since then I have accumulated a few other utility jackets in other colors. I like that they are so versatile. In fact, I may have to do a post on that at a future date. Most of my pieces, including this one are lighter weight, so a great topper for spring, summer and fall. While they do tend towards more casual, I will show you on Thursday how to make one look appropriate for work.

What makes a piece utility? I think it has to do with the pockets and the details like drawstrings, snaps and metal zippers. Next week I will be showing you an olive utility vest.

Fall Trend Alert - Denim on Denim

Once again, it seems denim with denim is trending for fall. While I wouldn’t wear this regularly, it does have a casual appeal. Monochrome is always a good way to get a longer, sleeker line. Most of what I saw on the runway were pieces of the same wash. See this post on Fall 2021 trends from Marie Claire. However, there is a sense of personal creativity in putting together pieces with different washes, as I did in this outfit.

My chambray top is a thrift find from earlier in the summer. It is a brand called Cremieux. Apparently, Daniel Cremieux started a men’s clothing line in Saint Tropez, on the French Riviera in the mid 70’s. It looks like he designed women’s clothing for a time as well. Both lines were sold at Dillards, but the women’s line is no longer available in the US. The fun things you find when you thrift.

You’ve seen my thrifted, distressed Simply Vera, Vera Wang jeans plenty of times on the blog. They are getting rattier looking as time goes along, but I guess that is the point. Ha, ha. If the holes get to big for my comfort zone, I may make a few patches, which actually could be fun.

I decided to add this floral mini print scarf just for a little extra color. I don’t use my scarves much in the heat of the summer. I sweat just sitting still on these humid days. Last night, I was working on this post and I was dripping with sweat. Of course we hadn’t turned our air conditioners on. Sometimes, we have to choose between a little bit of inconvenience and being able to pay the electric bill. My husband always runs colder, so he’s not as hot unless he is doing yard work or something. Today is supposed to be even warmer. I think the air will be on later, so this woman doesn’t get too cranky. Ha, ha.

If you follow my Instagram account, you may have seen that I rearranged my scarves. Just like with all of my clothes, I have way more than I need, but I am trying to make everything more accessible and visible, so it is easier to sort through and find. Do you have a special way of arranging your scarves?

My blue Converse are making another appearance. While I still think this brand of sneaker makes me look even more like I have ski feet, I am trying to embrace those long skinny things on the ends of my legs.

The last accessory I have is my white cross body bag. This was another thrift find. I like that it is a little bit larger than many cross body bags, so I can actually fit everything in it, without having to squeeze it in. I am not sure what the brand is, but it was still very clean and unworn, so I snatched it up.

Do you own an olive utility jacket? How do you like to wear it? I love hearing from you, so be sure to leave me some love in the comments. I hope your summer is going swimmingly well!

I’m including a few shopping links for denim pieces and utility jackets. I hope you’ll look those over. Every time you click on a link, I get a few cents and I appreciate it. All opinions are my own.

Have a great Tuesday!

Pantone - Spring/Summer - 2021 - London Palette - Pirouette, Indigo Bunting and Polar Night

As always, with the Pantone color series, I find their choice of names for their colors intriguing. Today’s colors center on a pretty purply pink, called Pirouette, which, of course, makes me think of a ballerina. Indigo Bunting is a pretty blue, much like the bird after which it is named. I have had the privilege of seeing an Indigo Bunting flitting through the trees at one of our local metro parks a few years back. They regularly reside in Ohio in the summer time, but like to hang out in abandoned fields, scrubby bush areas and areas with red cedar trees, none of which I have around my house. Polar Night, much like its New York partner Inkwell, is a very dark navy blue.

This fun, multi-print dress is a few years old and was a Kohl’s clearance purchase. I really like many of the pieces by Vera Wang, made specifically for this retailer and called Simply Vera by Vera Wang. These are the pieces that real world women like myself can afford and wear. I have styled this dress, like a tunic for a trip we took to Florida a few years ago. You can see that post here. The dress really contains all three colors, except that its blue borders on being more of a teal.

I decided to add the bright blue sweater, another Christopher and Banks cardi, as my attempt at the Indigo Bunting. It is a tad bit bluer and maybe brighter, but I think it works well. I would have never thought to pair it with this dress, but I like how it looks.

This is me being silly as I commune with nature. Ha, ha.

I centered all my accessories around the necklace that is perfectly Pirouette. Since the beads are strung along a silver chain, I went for silver as my accessory color of choice. My thrifted silver clutch and my SO ballerina flats makes the outfit just a little more dressy.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear them? Do you have any of these colors in your closet? Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment here on the blog or on Facebook.

Don’t forget, I also post on Instagram and typically you’ll see more of what I wear on a regular basis. Right now my daily looks are very casual, since I am not working, but you’ll definitely get to see more of my clothes, that don’t make it to the blog.

As usual, I am including a few shopping links for these colors. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Have a great day!

Graphic and photo credit, Rebecca Trumbull.

Thrifted Thursday - Casual Summer Style

As you all know I am a regular thrifter. Thrifting is a great way to get quality clothing pieces at very low prices. You can find name brands like Coach, Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, and many more at drastically reduced prices. I personally don’t look for name brands, because brands are not as important to me as fit, ease of wear and care, and low price points. I have found things like my navy Ralph Lauren blazer and black heeled leather boots. I know there are many bloggers who score big finding very expensive brands for just a few dollars. Whatever you are looking for, thrift stores can be a great place to dig for treasure. During this time of Covid, you can also shop second hand on line, with retailers like Poshmark, thredUP and even Goodwill.

Thrifted Thursday is all about outfits pulled from my closet made entirely of pieces I have found thrifting. It challenges me to take a purposeful look at my thrift finds and come up with new ways to style them. There are many times I put an outfit together and it is entirely thrifted, but more often, my outfits are a blend of thrifted and regular retail priced pieces from stores like Christopher and Banks, Kohl’s, JCPenney and Maurices.

Both this graphic tee and my distressed cropped jeans have been on the blog before. You can see the tee styled with a denim skirt and the jeans styled with a green and white popover top, holiday sweater and a red plaid jacket. My Happy tee is No Boundaries brand. The distressed jeans are Simply Vera brand.

Since my tee is fairly loose and long, I thought to tie it at the front to give me a more defined waist. The tee is very thin, and almost distressed like my jeans. That is part of why I thought they went well together.

For my accessories, I chose my blush and pearl choker, which is not thrifted, but I thought it went well with the outfit. I also chose my thrifted, blush, NY & Co. bag.

This sweater vest was another fun thrift find. I was shopping with my best friend back in NY and she pointed this out to me. I tried it on and loved it. It is Relativity brand. What sold me on this piece was the fringe.

Since I was grooving on a blue theme, I chose my thrifted blue and silver, YNot brand cage sandals.

It is fun to put together an outfit made entirely, or mostly out of pieces I have found at a thrift store. Do you like this outfit? Do you like to go thrift shopping? What thrift stores do you like to shop at? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I’ll see you next week.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Spring/Summer 2020 - Mosaic Blue, Coral Pink and Brilliant White

Today features another pretty blue and a version of a coral color that comes around almost every summer. Just like Biscay Green, Mosaic Blue makes me think of tropical waters, blue skies and palm trees. Coral Blush reminds me of the light pink peonies that used to grow in my mother’s yard every spring. I have always loved peonies for their beautiful, large blooms and delicate scent. Once again, I am pairing these two lovely colors with Brilliant White from the Classic collection of colors.

The sleeveless, abstract print top is from a Kohl’s clearance rack a few years ago. I have always liked Vera Wang’s Simply Vera line at Kohl’s, but have to be choosy about which pieces I buy because of the fit. I love the bright, abstract patterns and the way she combines different textures and styles all in one piece. Her pieces have a little bit higher price point than what I normally like to pay, so I try to find pieces on clearance. The only problem with that is I often miss out on some really fun, eclectic looks because they sell out quickly. You can see some of the other Simply Vera pieces I have styled on the blog by clicking on the links: thrifted navy bag, thrifted cross body bag, embroidered skinny jeans, a floral top, and summer dress.

The Coral Pink long sleeve top that I put underneath matches the Coral Pink splotches in the Vera top perfectly. Obviously if it was warmer I wouldn’t have had to layer, but it is spring here in the midwest. Ha, ha. This coral colored piece is also a Kohl’s clearance find and is Lauren Conrad brand. Lauren Conrad is another brand I like from Kohl’s, but again, unless I find it on the clearance rack I don’t usually buy her pieces. I do love her take on pastels and feminine details.

I’ve also styled these Gloria Vanderbilt jeans from JC Penney on the blog before. These are my favorite white jeans, as they are thick and fit fairly well, even with my extra COVID pounds. Ha, ha. I like the flared style for a little dressier look and they go well with heels.

For my accessories, I thought some pearls would look good. I also grabbed my blue textured clutch and my blush SO ankle boots. Obviously, when the weather warms up I’ll exchange my ankle boots for sneakers and sandals, but these light colored booties work well for spring.

What do you think of these colors? Do you have either of these colors in your closet? I think both of these colors would look good on many complexions. Sometimes coral can be too orange, but this seems to be a happy medium.

Did you like this post? If you did, do my blog some good by hitting the like button and by leaving a comment. I appreciate all your feedback.

I’m leaving you with a few shopping links to enjoy. These are affiliate links and all you clicks give me a few cents here and there. Thank you for that as well. All opinions are my own.

Graphic designed by Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring Trends 2020 - Maxi Dresses, Psychedelic Prints and Vests

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I’m including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links which means if you click on a link, I get a few cents; if you purchase something through a link, I get a little bit more. Thanks to all of you who have looked at those shopping links. I really appreciate it.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Fall 2018 - Red Pear, Nebulas Blue and Sargasso Sea

Last week, I introduced you to this fall’s Pantone color palette. Now that I am just getting started with my series, I noticed their website already has the color palettes up for Spring 2019. I understand that in the fashion and interior design industries they always need to be one step ahead, or all of a sudden things have gone out of trend and disappeared. That reminds me of a verse from the book of Ecclesiastes which was written by King Solomon.

“That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So there is nothing new under the sun.”

— Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NASB)

Even a man as wise as Solomon, knew there was nothing new under the sun. Look at the movies and books that are currently out. It is pretty much the same story, just written with different characters and a different setting. Heck, how many times have they revisited Spider Man and Predator? Ha, ha. That being said, the color palettes that come out are really nothing new. They call them by different names, make one a little more blue based or yellow based and say they are fresh and new.

However, I do enjoy color and I like to create outfits using color in combinations that may be new or different, at least for me. Following the color palettes that Pantone puts out each season allows me to do just that.

Here are the first of this fall’s palette.

Red Pear and Nebulas Blue are on both the London and New York palettes. Sargasso Sea is one of the classic colors or what I like to refer to as a grounding color. Red Pear borders on a maroon and my pants are really too red, while my version of Nebulas Blue appears spot on. Sargasso Sea is navy by any other name, but even there you can see all the different shades of navy. My Ralph Lauren thrifted blazer is almost too blue, while Sargasso Sea seems to have more gray in it. I think my loafer heels and bag are a little bit closer to the Pantone color.

I added this colorful bandana for a scarf as a way to bring together the red and blue and add a pop of yellow.

The blazer, shoes and bag were all thrifted. The bag is Simply Vera Wang; the blazer is Ralph Lauren and the loafer heels are Relativity. Everything you see in this outfit with the exception of the scarf I have styled on the blog before. It just goes to show that our closets are a great place to look for new color combinations and outfits.

What do you think of these colors? Do you think these colors represent the fall season? Why or why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I have received a few messages that people are having problems commenting on my blog posts. If you an issue, please let me know. I contacted the help team for the platform that I use when I had a problem in the past and they said they couldn’t see any problem on their end. If you have an issue, please shoot me an email, so I can see how widespread the problem is.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which means I get a few cents if you click on it. All opinions are my own.

Outfit Inspiration - Bold & Bright

My outfit inspiration comes from many places. Sometimes it is a picture in a magazine or catalogue. Once in a while it comes from something I see in a book, but many times it comes from other fashion bloggers. This month my inspiration is coming from Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy. Liz has been a fashion blogger for a number of years now and specializes in outfits and styles for plus size women. She is sweet, fun and very knowledgable about clothes, styles, fabrics and working with retailers. I had the honor of doing a collaboration with Liz in the spring of 2017 on the Pantone Color palette for that year. You can see that post here. 

Liz has a whimsical, colorful approach to not only her outfits, but her life in general. This is a gal who is not afraid to wear pale pinks, purples and yellows, but she also knows when to take the color palette up a notch to make a statement. The post that inspired me for this month's Outfit Inspiration column is from June 1st and is called, Packing A Capsule Wardrobe for Summer Getaways.  You can see her original post by clicking on the link. 

I have never been a big fan of a capsule wardrobe, because I am a clothes horse and like to have options when I travel. However, I think it is an idea worth visiting so I thought I would give it a try for this post. I did not give too much thought ahead of time as to how I would put this together, but I chose four key pieces for my capsule wardrobe. At the end I will give you list of the extras I would throw in to make this a weekend worthy wardrobe. 

Outfit 1 - Casual But Cute

White pants whether cropped at the ankles, capris or longer are always a must have travel piece in the summer. They are versatile, going from casual to dressy and can be worn with anything solid or print. I have styled these Christopher and Banks ankle pants on the blog before.  Like Liz did in her post, I styled mine with a Simply Vera  - Vera Wang floral top. 

For this look, which would work well for perusing the shops in a cute little village and then having lunch or dinner with my husband, I chose simple accessories that draw on the colors in the blouse; blue heels, light pink clutch, silver bracelets and my new Marina Griffin necklace that I won in a drawing on Jodie's Touch of Style. 

I couldn't believe how perfectly the necklace goes with the colors in the blouse. Unfortunately, the necklace does get a little lost in the print of the blouse, so I'll be choosing a solid top next time to show off the necklace. This is a very pretty piece that is well made. Be sure to check out Marina's Facebook page by clicking on the link above.

Outfit 2 - Dressy But Comfy

When packing for a getaway it is nice to include pieces that will not wrinkle easily, especially if you want to get more dressed up. I chose my LuLaRoe maxi skirt for the bottom piece. these maxis are made out of a silky, stretchy medium weight knit. They pack well and you don't need to wear a slip as the material is thick enough to keep light from showing through. Any skirt that has some give and is made from material that won't easily wrinkle will be a good choice for your get away wardrobe.

For the top I chose another comfortable piece made from a similar material as the skirt. This knit peplum top is Liz Claiborne from JC Penney. 

This is such an easy top to wear. You just pull it on and go. there are no clasps or zippers or buttons. It's like wearing a tee shirt, but more dressy. As you can see I threw on a string of olive colored beads to go with the olive print in the skirt. 

I was also doing a fair bit of print mixing in this outfit. This works well, because the print of the top is smaller than the print in the skirt and it coordinates with the black in the skirt. 

Once again I kept my accessories simple with a little black clutch and a new pair of shoes I found on the DSW clearance rack. These may be my favorite black heels ever. I love the retro vibe and they are so easy to get on, as well as incredibly comfortable. Win, win! These are Aerosoles brand. They still have these in a number of sizes here. 

Here are my two outfits side by side. 

Now what would I add to these four pieces to make it the perfect weekend wardrobe?

1. One other shirt like a tank top that could be worn with either the pants or skirt.

2. A pair of flip flops or more casual sneakers.

3. A jacket or sweater that would go with either the pants or skirt. I think my dark wash, distressed cropped jean jacket would be perfect. 

Add to those three things a swim suit, sunglasses and a good book to read and you'll have just what you need for a fun weekend away. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. As always, I love to hear from you. What is something you can't live without when you travel? Leave me some love in the comments. 

Have a great day and a perfect weekend!

Spring Transition - Bomber Jacket Outfit

Last week, I started a series on transitional outfits that take us from winter to spring to summer. Last week's post featured a red jacket worn with a graphic tee, bootcut jeans and peep toe sandals. You can see that post here.

What exactly makes an outfit transitional? An outfit becomes transitional when it crosses over one season to the next or when it takes you from a daytime work wear look, to a night time date look. Usually, an outfit that transitions will incorporate different layers and things that can be taken off or swapped out easily for a different look. 

For today's look I chose another outfit from a Chico's catalogue that inspired me. This look centers around a summery dress, worn like a tunic over leggings, topped by a bomber jacket. 

I've styled this Simply Vera dress before on the blog, when we went to Florida, last December. You can see that post here. I found this cute piece on the clearance rack at Kohl's a few season's back. Here, and here are few cute styles for this season. 

This black bomber I picked up somewhere and I don't remember where! Ha, ha. It is an off brand, but I'll provide a few shopping links for jackets, bags and shoes at the end. 

These black leggings became mine, when I shopped a friend's closet. They are super comfy and thick, but not too thick. I am more inclined to wear leggings at this transitional time, as they are warm, but not overly warm. 

I chose my purply blue agate pendant necklace. I received this as a gift and it is one of my favorite pendant necklaces to wear because of its unique color and shape. Here are some very pretty options from an Etsy seller. i might need to buy myself another one, or two!

For my bag I chose this beauty that I've featured before on the blog. I really love the color and the texture of this pretty clutch, that my younger daughter gave me. It also has a strap so I can wear it as a cross body bag. It goes perfectly with the bluish green in the dress. 

I'm loving these peep toe shoeties from Clarks. They are not only cute, but comfy and the zipper up the back makes them pretty easy to get on and off. 

Here's a look at the outfit without the jacket. If it gets too warm, just take the jacket off and you have a light weight sleeveless dress. If it got real warm, you could take the leggings off as well. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. Do you have any light weight summer dresses that you are dying to wear, but don't feel that it is quite warm enough yet. This is the perfect way to extend the wearability of those pretty summer styles and still be warm and comfy. 

Thanks for stopping by the blog. Leave me some love and don't forget to check out my Instagram and Pinterest pages. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen. 

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my site, I get a small commission. All opinions are my own. 

Tuesday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb, Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. Thursday linking up with Jacqui of Mummabstylish.  Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style. 

Pantone Spring 2018 - Ultra Violet, Ash Rose and Sailor Blue

This is the final installment in my Pantone Spring 2018 color series. I love doing this series, because using color as a spring board for putting together an outfit makes getting dressed so much easier. I know not everyone loves color, but I really enjoy the challenge of trying to make each of these colors work for me. After all, if we ladies, who are over 50, are not limited by the styles of the outfits we wear, why should we be limited by the colors we wear? 

This week's color line up features Ultra Violet, which appears on both the New York and London color palettes. You can see my first pairing with Ultra Violet here. Ash Rose is only found on the London Palette and is one of my favorite colors from this spring line up. Sailor Blue is one of the classic colors that appeared on both palettes this season and I feel is a perfect color to ground an outfit to keep it from getting to clownish. I also threw in a touch of Arcadia for an additional pop. You can see how I originally paired Arcadia here. 

If I had a choice, this is how I would dress most of the time. I love my jeans, a fun moto jacket, basic tee with fun details and sneakers. Throw on some easy jewelry and a roomy bag and voila, the writer's outfit. It's comfy, but stylish. I think my daughter did a great job of capturing me in my element. Ha, ha. 

These jeans are my Rock & Republic bootcut pair from Kohl's. Here are a similar pair. 

In this next pic you can see my Arcadia colored beads and bracelet. I love the way the necklace pops against the Ash Rose color of the shirt. Doesn't that green look so pretty with these two very different purples? You can also see the lace detail on my thrifted long sleeve tee. This one is Van Heusen brand It really takes a tee up a notch to have some sort of lace overlay or embellishment. Here is a  Croft and Barrow short sleeve one that comes in many different colors.  

My bag is Simply Vera, by Vera Wang. Here is a really cute one from Kohl's. 

Keds are always my go to for stylish, simple sneakers. I don't wear these when I want to hike or take a long walk, but for just hanging out, going to the mall or shopping, etc. they work great. Here, here and here are three cute pairs that would be perfect for summer. 

These were the last pictures my daughter took that day and we neglected to do a shot of me standing, so this is the best you get. 

What do you think of these colors? What is your go to outfit when you want to be stylish and comfy? I'd love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two in the comments section. Or you can leave me some love on Facebook. Also, feel free to check out my Instagram and Pinterest accounts too. 

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link, I get a few pennies. If you purchase something through one of the links, I get a small commission. Thank you for all of your support. 

If you enjoy reading my Faith page, be sure to check back tomorrow for another Walk with the Psalmist. Check back on Thursday to see how I styled my Eva Trends lace body kimono two more ways in my Ordinary Amy column. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. Thursday linking up with Jacqui of mummabstylish. 

A Fun Casual Valentine's Look

I am going to take a break from my series on Working Undercover, to post a couple of Valentine's looks this week and next. After that I am going to start the Pantone Spring 2018 series. Don't worry, I will get back to more posts on hiding our "flaws" at a later date.  

Today's outfit revolves around a summer dress by Vera Wang. I got this fun watercolor print from Kohl's a few summer's ago and thought my Florida trip in December would be the perfect place to wear it. Unfortunately, the temps were not conducive to wearing it as a dress, so I chose to style it as a longer tunic over a pair of skinny jeans.  Take a look. 

I added a light pink tee to wear underneath for extra warmth. It was the perfect combination and went with the light pink in the dress. In addition I threw on the SO flats. I am not as much a sandal type of girl due to my vein issues (yes varicose veins can cover the feet too). So I like to wear ballet flats or sneakers in the warmer months. 

I have been intrigued by Vera Wang's Simply Vera, line of clothing at Kohl's since I first became acquainted with it a number of years ago. I love that she chooses patterns and colors that are out of the ordinary. I am not a big fan of everything she puts out on the run way, but she does have many cute pieces that are available to the average shopper. Many of her pieces have unique and interesting details. The prices aren't too bad and even better when you can score something off the clearance rack. 

I added the distressed cropped jean jacket as another layer. I kid you not, it was only about 50 degrees. so I not only added the cropped jean jacket, but before we left to go play mini golf, I also added a wind breaker. Ha. ha. 

Here are a few silly pictures of me being cold. 

In addition to the jean jacket I decided to wear the dress over my Rock and Republic jeans. 

I think this outfit would work well for a casual Valentine's date. The dress is flirty and feminine, but I made it my own, by adding the edginess of denim. I also wore minimal jewelry to let the dress take center stage. 

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear something like this? Do you like Vera Wang's line of fashion? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. 

I hope you enjoyed today's post. Check back on Thursday for the start of a new monthly column. I think you will enjoy it. 

Below are a few links to a few other Vera Wang pieces. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through a link in my post, I might get a little commission. As usual all opinions are my own. 

Have a great day!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Friday linking up with Jo-Lynne of Jo-Lynne Shane.