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.

Summer Pieces - Graphic Tee

What is summer without a fun graphic tee? I found this Smokey the Bear tee at Kohl’s at the beginning of the spring season. Do you remember Smokey the Bear? Originally this, real, bear cub that was found in 1950 during a major forest fire in the Captain Mountains in New Mexico, was called Smokey Bear and you can read his story here. There are lots of Smokey the Bear tees out there, so I’ll be sure to include a few choices at the end of this post.

I paired this tee with my Angle jeans from Kohl’s. They seem to be getting pretty faded. That’s was happens when you wear your jeans often. Comfortable jeans are my favorite thing to wear. These have a good amount of stretch and are technically skinny jeans, but I decided to wear them more like a crop pant. This time I only rolled them once, but sometimes I roll them up twice. Today was pretty cool, so I added my Mudd camo jacket, another clearance find from Kohl’s.

Here is a closer look at the tee.

I chose fun accessories as well. This multi-strand gold necklace makes it easy to layer necklaces. This one is all connected, but I have a few others that can be separated into individual necklaces. This one has a green chain, a green charm and the lowest charm is like an small green agate. You can’t see the color as well in this picture, but it is a nice piece to add to lots of outfits.

I also found this mixed metals bracelet and thought the two pieces worked well together.

I thought this thrifted bag was a good companion to this casual outfit.

Once again I went for my Keds. This brand is my go to for warm weather foot wear. This is an older pair which is a slip on, rather than a regular shoe.

In all honesty I threw this outfit together at the last minute. My in-laws have come to spend the week, so the family has been spending time together for meals and so on. However, a graphic tee or two is a great addition to your summer wardrobe. You can pair it with jeans like I have, or you could throw on a pair of shorts, a skirt or try it on over a summer sleeveless dress so it looks like you are wearing it with a skirt. Graphic tees can be anything from a gold standard like Diet Coke, or Smokey the Bear, to your favorite band, movie or sports team. I have a few different ones including, Wonder Woman, Mickey Mouse, The Beatles, and lots with words, here, here and here.

Do you have very many graphic tees? How do you like to wear them? Leave me some love in the comments.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to check out. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Until next time, have a great day.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2019 - Lemon Verbena & Aspen Gold

Today we are finishing up the Pantone Spring/Summer series with two lovely yellows: London’s Lemon Verbena and New York’s Aspen Gold. It wasn’t my first choice to pair these two colors together, but as I went along, picking out outfits and pairing colors, I decided that pairing the two yellows, was the prefect combination for a bright outfit that epitomizes the changes in the weather as we transition from spring to summer. The sun shines more, (hopefully), the skies are blue and we are looking to spending more time outdoors.

I have become an avid fan of yellows of any shade and have accumulated a number of pieces across seasons. I especially love the deeper shades that are reminiscent of sun flowers and daffodils, but lighter, lemon yellows, or tangier, mustard yellows are fun as well. Perhaps what draws me to it, is its ability to lift my spirits and make me think of sunshine, which I am in dire need of by this time of year. This spring seems especially bad, with all the rain we have been getting.

This Liz Claiborne 3/4 length sleeve cardi was a recent thrift find and so was the Chaps tee. I love the lacy detail on the front panels of the sweater and the yoke on the tee. Details like that just make an outfit look even more special. Once again, I got these two pieces separately, so I didn’t know until I paired them, that they both had that lace detailing. It just shows, once you have developed your fashion likes you will often reach for them. I love lace or things that look lacy. As I have shared with you before, I also love embroidery, which brings me to my neutral ankle pants.

These are also Liz Claiborne, but I got them on the clearance rack at JC Penney. I absolutely love the fit, fabric and details on this neutral pair of ankle pants. They are a light weight, chino type material and because they are a tan color, will go with so many tops. You can’t go wrong, having a neutral pair of pants in your wardrobe, spring, summer, winter or fall, a pair of pants like these can prove very useful.

This fun little necklace, used to belong to one of my daughters, but she didn’t want it any more. I like the hippy vibe and that there is a yellow cord mixed in. You can also see the detailing on the tee and the sweater more closely in this picture.

In keeping with my neutral feel for this outfit, I chose my large woven Sonoma tote bag. Once again, the fun details in the braiding and fringe, as well as the coppery threads, make this a great piece, especially for a day at the beach. This was a clearance find at Kohl’s.

The only other jewelry I added was a beaded bracelet with tones of tan, brown and red.

These Massimo sneakers were another thrift store find. I found these and the cream pair that I wore in the first Pantone outfit from this series at a Goodwill store. They had never been worn and still had the tags on them. I think the chocolate metallic color of these is rather fun! Do you have any metallic shoes. Hmmmm! Sounds like another idea for a blog post, don’t you think?

What do you think of these two colors? Do you like yellow? I never used to wear yellow, but now it has become a favorite of mine.

On Thursday, I hope to do a recap of all the Pantone colors. I’d love to hear which of them were your favorites.

I am including a few shopping links for all things yellow. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Mixing Metals

There was a time, back in the stone age, when women were not allowed to mix metals in their outfits. Why, there was a time when women were not allowed to mix patterns, or wear white after Labor Day, or wear pants. How things have changed. Many of these changes have been good, especially when it comes to fashion and the average woman. Now women can wear their floral blouse under a striped sweater and get all manner of compliments. A woman can wear white all winter long if she so desires, and us gals have been wearing pants for a very long time.

Many of the changes that have come about in the last few years, I have had to get used to. I was brought up to only wear white between Memorial Day and Labor Day. I keep my white pants out now and even though I don’t reach for them as often as some women might, it is not because of a rule that no longer exists. It took me a while to get the print mixing thing figured out, but now I print mix with the best of them.

One of the more subtle changes in the fashion world that I have been adjusting to is to mix metals. In other words it is now acceptable to wear gold with silver with copper with bronze with brass and pewter. Anything goes. My daughter suggested I take the challenge and make it my own, so this outfit is my first intentional attempt at metal mixing.

I started the outfit with the gold metallic top that I got for Christmas. It is a cute piece that my hubby got for me from a retailer named Marshall’s, with a little help from our daughter. It is a top that I will wear more when the weather warms up.

The fun snakeskin print vest I found in my daughter’s get rid of pile. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, right? The front of the vest comes together with a metallic piece that holds the fabric in place. I couldn’t resist taking this fun topper home and even though it has a little wear, it doesn’t show due to the animal print. I am already thinking about how I can style this more casually for a great date night look.

I decided to go with a pencil skirt for a work wear or date night appropriate outfit. I like the streamlined look of a pencil skirt, especially under a more voluminous topper.

For my next metal, I put on a necklace that I also thrifted from my daughter. I thought the mix of copper, silver and brassy colors made this the perfect statement piece for this outfit. Using a necklace like this makes it easy to mix metals.

I got these leather boots at a local thrift store. Real leather, heels and fun details made me take these home with me.

My finishing touch on the metal mixing was to grab my little gray clutch with the brassy chain and edging and a mixed metals charm bracelet. The silver rings are my daily choice for hand wear, so I almost always have those on and the wedding band is white gold.

I like how this outfit turned out. The browns and grays are similar to the silver and coppers of the metals. This outfit is earthy with a touch of shimmer and shine.

What do you think? Do you like to mix metals? Do you like to wear outfits with shimmer or bling?

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look over. Thanks for hanging out on the blog.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Have a great weekend!

Eva Trends - Verdant Cardigan

The word verdant means green with grass or other vegetation or of a bright green color. Today’s featured piece from Eva Trends is just that, a piece reminiscent of the first greens of spring. Who doesn’t look forward to those first green buds of spring after a long, cold winter. While this winter, so far, has been an exception to the usual winters we have, I still look forward to when the cold, drab days, loosen their grip and spring once again claims the land. In the mean time, this sweater is the perfect piece for a cold winter day.

The Verdant Cardigan is a heavy weight sweater made of a cellulose based fiber knows as Viscose. Viscose is not a completely natural fabric such as cotton or silk, but is also not completely man made. The mateiral is plant based and results in a silky, soft fabric used in the manufacture of various clothing pieces as well as upholstery. The resulting fabric hangs well and provides a heavy weight perfect for sweaters or coats.

There are many fun features about this open front cardi besides the material itself. It has pockets that are woven right in, meaning no fear of things coming unattached. The pockets are square and roomy.

Another fun detail is the stitching on the front and sleeves. The back is plain. The length is perfect for office wear or just for a cozy night at home.

For this outfit I decided to put the pretty green sweater over my plaid top from Christopher and Banks. I added my Chico’s slimming pants, my SO olive booties and my Charming Charlie tote bag. The silver and coppery bead necklace finished the look.

This is a very pretty cardigan and I really like it. It will be great for cold, winter days at the office and at home. My only caution is that the sizing runs small. This is a one size item and if you are bigger than a size 12, I would not recommend this particular piece. However, Eva Trends has many other good options, so be sure to head over to their site and do some looking.

If you are interesting in purchasing anything from Eva Trends, if you used the code AC15, you’ll get 15% off your entire order. Their website is filled with fun, eclectic, artistic pieces and I am sure you can find something there to suit your tastes. Just keep in mind their sizing runs a bit smaller than normal.

The Verdant Cardigan was gifted to me. I was not paid to feature these pieces, and I do not receive compensation if you purchase something through these links, but you do get the discount for me featuring their product on my blog. All opinions are my own.

I hope you enjoyed this post and this outfit. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. I so appreciate you ladies that regularly comment on my blog. You always make me feel special!

Have a great Tuesday and be sure to check back tomorrow for my Faith post, When Our Thoughts are a Train Wreck, and on Thursday for my final Eva Trends piece.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

20 Days of Christmas - All the Outfits

I know Christmas is officially over, but many of us still have ongoing celebrations into the New Year with family, so it seemed okay to share with you a post that reviewed all the outfits from my 20 Days of Christmas challenge. Did you have a good Christmas day? Ours was fun. It is always a joyous time when both of my girls are at my home with my son-in-law and my grandson. We even got to have a little grandkitty love on Christmas eve and grandpuppy love on Christmas day.

Today I feel pretty whipped. It is a lot of work to do everything that needs to be done as far as gift buying, wrapping and giving, as well as cooking up a storm. Even that part of it isn’t the hardest thing. I think it is after everything is over and you have a mountain of dishes and bags of wrapping paper to take care of. How about you? Are you feeling tired today? Did you have to go right back to work or do you have some time off? If you are a stay at home mom are you finding things to do with your kids that are keeping them occupied? I would think that the day after Christmas, kids would be content to play with their new toys, but I know that is not always the case. Some of you are even packing to go see family, or maybe you are already on the road. We will be heading out on Friday for the weekend with my in-laws.

Here is a review of all the outfits from my 20 Days of Christmas. It was a fun challenge to encourage myself to think outside the box when it came to the clothes I was wearing for the holidays. I tried to keep each outfit in keeping with the season, but still change them up enough that it wasn’t the same thin over and over.

Enjoy looking at all of these and I hope today is a day you can kick your feet up and relax!

Day 1 - Blue Snowflake

Day 2 - Slip Dress

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Day 3 - Stovepipe Hat Snowman

Day 4 - LuLaRoe Skirt

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Day 5 - Red and Green Flannel

Day 6 - Stripes and Olive

Day 7 - Fair Isle Sweater

Day 8 - Snowflake Tee with Plaid Shirt

Day 9 - Red Plaid Pants

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Day 10 - Reindeer Tee

Day 11 - Snowflake Pin with Red and Green

Day 12 - Joy Sweater

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Day 13 - Reindeer Sweater

Day 14 - Eva Trends Dress

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Day 15 - Sweater with Bling

Day 16 - Buffalo Plaid Tee

Day 17 - Red Velvet Jacket

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Day 18 - Happy Holidays Tee

Day 19 - Floral Velvet Top

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Day 20 - Metallic Snowflake Tee

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

I know many stores are having some great after Christmas sales. Are you braving the stores today, or are you staying at home to relax? Whatever you do, have fun!

Pantone Fall 2018 - Quetzal Green, Crocus Petal and Meerkat

I am on my last Pantone Fall 2018 post. I hope you have enjoyed seeing these colors and the way I have managed to put outfits together using the inspiration from the 2018 Fall palette. As in anything where fashion is concerned we can take it our leave it. Fashion is for you. It is about putting together outfits and colors that you like, make you feel confident and that you will enjoy wearing. In some ways what we wear is like our second skin. It provides a covering for a bodies and how we put that cover together can boost our self-image and help us better manage our wardrobes and our pocket books.

I have found, in the fashion realm, just like in cooking, having a source of inspiration really helps. Whether you follow a recipe or cook from memories of you and your mom or grandmother working together to make wonderful creations in the kitchen, you use that inspiration to put food on your table. In the same way inspiration for fashion can come from magazines, bloggers, color palettes or even things out in nature. That is the reason I always like to use the Pantone color palettes as a spring board for creating fun and interesting outfits.

These last two colors, Quetzal Green and Crocus Petal, I decided to pair, once again, with Meerkat. Crocus Petal is a lighter, more spring like color found on the London palette. I feel that pairing it with Quetzal Green and Meerkat was the perfect way to keep the light color grounded and more fall like.

This top is a Kohl’s clearance find and is Dana Buchman brand. It is a button up with 3/4 length sleeves and a longer silhouette. It has some stretch and is more fitted. I opted to wear this bead and metal statement necklace, which incorporates the Crocus Petal color as well. I wore a simple gold cuff on my arm.

I found the open weave sweater thrifting, I love the variations in the knit. I am not a yarn girl, though I would love to be. I think this is crocheted, but it might be knit. Can any of you readers tell? Whatever it is I love the different stitch sizes and open versus more closed aspect to the piece. Here we are talking about texture again and how essential is is to making an outfit more interesting.

I thought these two colors when great with the browns, black and cream of my leopard print pencil skirt. This skirt is another JC Penney find and is Worthington brand.

The boots, Aerosoles and bag, both thrifted were the perfect accessories to pair with this outfit. I think black would have worked well or even a cream colored boot, which are trending right now, but I love the luxe feel of the Meerkat color.

Next week I’ll have a recap of all the Pantone Fall 2018 colors. I hope you’ve enjoyed this series and that it provided you with some inspiration for trying new color combinations. Always shop your closet before going out to purchase what is currently trending. You might already have a leopard print top or the perfect color piece that matches with one of the Pantone seasonal colors.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Outfit Inspiration - Gingham and Olive

This week’s Outfit Inspiration comes from a Christopher & Banks add that I received in the mail. I love to try to copy the outfits that many retailers put in their advertisements and catalogues, because it gives me a source for a well thought out outfit, without me having to come up with the idea. I still have to shop my closet and try to find similar enough pieces to create the look, but the inspiration was provided by someone else.

When I saw the classic combination of a gingham button up with olive pants I knew it was an outfit I could easily replicate from pieces in my closet. This is what I came up with.

Since olive is treated as a neutral these days you can wear it with any other color and it works. Case in point, for this outfit I am pairing these olive trousers with a black and white gingham blouse, a white tank underneath to add interest and a gray casual cardigan.

This is an outfit I would easily wear to work. While the outfit is fairly neutral you can easily jazz it up by adding color in your accessories. I chose to keep my look more neutral all over. I have on black loafer heels, which I have worn on the blog before, and decided to carry my thrifted snakeskin clutch, since animal prints are trending right now. I opted for a few silver bangles and no other jewelry. I felt there was enough going on with the gingham check and the layers, although you could easily add a necklace or a pretty colored scarf to wake the outfit up a bit.

This gingham blouse was thrifted and is Old Navy brand. The white sweater tank that I have on underneath was also thrifted and is George brand. The original photo that I took the inspiration from showed the model with her top tucked in and no belt, even though the pants had belt loops. I wanted to stick to the original outfit as much as possible, but next time I will add a belt. I just think it makes an outfit look more polished. I have an olive colored one that would have worked perfectly with these pants.

My gray sweater is from H&M. I had a gray sweater, very similar to this, but it was showing wear, so I was glad to find this as a replacement.

Here is a picture of the shoes taken on a different occasion. They are a sturdy, practical heel, but still look stylish while being fairly comfortable. These were thrifted and are ANA brand.

Rebecca Trumbull

Here are a few more photos I thought I’d share just for fun:

I was having fun with this red bud tree. Unfortunately, the poor thing is half dead.

That’s all I have for today. I hope you enjoyed this post. I’d love the hear your feedback. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Old Becomes New - Multi-print Blazer

For this month’s Old Becomes New column, I am featuring a short, 3/4 sleeve blazer that I found at a thrift store a few years back. What drew me to it was the amazing, eclectic color palette. My first thought was that I could wear it with so many things. After I tried it on and loved its’ stretchy feel, I had to take it home. Unfortunately, I’ve only worn it less than a handful of times. I decided to revisit it and make the tough choice as to whether I should keep it our not.

I honestly believe this jacket is meant for a smaller person than me. I am 5’ 5” and hover around 163 pounds. While it tends, on me, as more of a crop jacket, I’m just not sure. I am asking for your help friends. What do you all think? Does my outfit look disproportionate?

I chose my dressbarn W62 jeans. I bought this pair last year and they no longer carry this color. I love that they are so comfortable and stretchy, however, I feel like they are almost too big. I lost a few pounds this past spring, so I don’t know if that is what made the difference, but they seem to have a lot more wrinkles. Do you ever buy something, put it on and think, “It just doesn’t have the magic, I thought it had?”

I went with this thrifted brown tee and a necklace that was in some of my daughter’s stuff to be gotten rid of. Hey, I’m not afraid to find treasure in the strangest of places. I like the brown and yellow cord, the beads, ribbon and the charms, which you can’t see much of in this picture. It seemed a prefect fall accessory.

My bag is another thrift find. I felt the brown tee and the brown bag pulled in more of a fall feel with this blazer that could be worn in any season.

Once again, I chose my SO olive ankle boots. These are perfect for the cool temps of fall when you are not quite ready for mid-calf or knee high boots. You can see more fun colors here. The price point on these is not bad at all and they are very comfortable. I typically wear an 8.5 or a 9 and went with a 9 in these so I have more room for heavier socks as the days get cooler.

What is your verdict? Is this a jacket I should keep or should I let it go free? Ha, ha. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I have to work Friday and Saturday and try to play catch up with all the other stuff that I don’t get done during the week. Ha, ha. Take care and always choose to be kind.

Pantone Fall 2018 - Pink Peacock, Valiant Poppy and Almond Buff

Welcome back to outfit number three in this fall’s Pantone color series. Today I am featuring two colors which the Pantone site describes as a “bright and bold dramatic pink” and a “brave and outgoing red.” I didn’t go into this series thinking I would pair these two colors, but when I started looking for the pink and decided on this multi-print tunic, it was only natural to choose another color in the tunic to pair with it, which obviously turned out to be red. I have always thought of pairing red and pink as a Valentine’s Day idea, but when I began putting this outfit together, I saw a subtle shift from cupids and hearts to fall apples and fuzzy pink slippers.

This tunic is a brand called East Fifth and while I can’t remember, I think I got it at JC Penney. Although, when I checked on their website, it looks like they currently only carry East Fifth shoes. and a few bags. I have styled this tunic on the blog before. You can see that post here.

When I realized I had this thrifted Merona cardigan, I knew that would add the perfect pop of red, in addition to my red clutch.

To keep the outfit grounded I picked the Pantone color Almond Buff from the classic palette. These pants are a little on the light side to truly mimic the color, but my swede ankle boots are a closer match. Yes, I am doing the Robot.

The pants are Croft and Barrow brand. The boots are Sonoma. Both items were from Kohl’s.

I chose my bright red clutch to add to the Valiant Poppy vibe. Because the tunic is so busy the only jewelry I added was a gold bangle bracelet and the pink and red tassel necklace, which as you can see, blends in with the top, but still adds a little textural detail.

Isn’t it funny that I bought this necklace a while back, never realizing that Pink Peacock and Valiant Poppy would be a thing, or that I would end up pairing these two colors on the blog? This next picture is just me at my silliest! Ha, ha.

Would you combine these two colors? Do you think they are what we would classify as fall colors? I’d love to hear you thoughts. It means a great deal to me when you take the time to stop by, read my posts and comment (when technology is cooperating). I have learned a lot from your comments, especially when you share, how you would have done it differently or what you like about a particular post, so keep it up.

Be sure to check back Thursday for a new Old Becomes New post, where I’ll be sharing a colorful blazer styled in a fall outfit. I need your help to decide whether I should keep it or not. Until then, have a great day.

I’ve included a few shopping links for pink tops and red bags, just for fun. These are affiliate links which means I get a penny or two when you click on a link. If you purchase something through my site, I get a little commission.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Outside the Box - Floral Dress with Combat Boots

I have never been especially adventurous with fashion. My style is somewhat classic with a tomboy edge and a dash of boho meets warrior princess, or at least that is what I would like to think. I am not overtly feminine, though I do like pink and especially love lace. As I revealed in last week’s Ordinary Amy post, I like motorcycle jackets, blue jeans and boots or tennis shoes. The premise for having a column called Outside the Box, is exactly that, to get me thinking outside my own fashion box.

This week’s outfit is what I would call motorcycle mayhem meets feminine flirt. Let me know if you agree.

I often see bloggers who put together outfits that I would have never dreamed of doing. Not because they are so bold or daring, but because my mind would just never think to combine combat boots, fishnet stockings and a floral dress.

I began this outfit journey with the floral dress. I picked this up at Gabes this past spring with the thought in mind that it would be a great fall piece. Bright florals on a dark background make me think more of cooler weather and sipping hot cocoa. It’s not that you couldn’t wear these colors in the spring and summer, but there is something seasonal about certain color combinations.

I know fashion is not contained neatly in one box and many in the fashion world are strongly pushing against the stereotypes of weight and age, which is awesome, and I fully support. However, there is also a push against traditional fashion ideas, such as not wearing white before or after the summer months, or allowing seasonal color changes to affect what we wear. I’m fine with many of these ideas, but fashion is also about wearing what we want to wear. I like darker colors in the fall and winter and brighter colors in the spring and summer. That is just me!

What really drew me to this little floral number besides the print were the bell sleeves. You can’t see them really well in these photos, but they add a fun element to the piece.

During the summer, when my hubby and I were on vacation in Wisconsin, I went with my mother-in-law to a department store that was going out of business. They were just getting started with their sales and we spent our time looking at shoes. It was then, I came across these boots.

Just like motorcycle jackets, I love combat boots. This is now my third pair and I love the embellishments on these. I’ve included a few shopping links at the end of similar pairs. These zip on the inner ankle so are easy to get on and off. I thought the contrast of the floral dress with the combat boots was a look that was outside my norm.

To give the outfit another more feminine edge I added the fishnet tights. These are a heavier weight than true fishnet stockings. I didn’t even remember I had these until I started looking through my hose bin! I saw these and said, “Yes, this is it!” The outfit would be just as fun with a pair of sweater tights in a dark or a bright color like red or cream. I do like darker on the bottom for the thinning factor.

Because the dress is so busy, I kept my accessories minimal. I put on my yellow pendant necklace and added a faux leather cross body bag for a last touch of tough girl.

This bag makes me think of a motorcycle saddle bag. I’m a little preoccupied! My hubby had a Harley before we ever met, and I keep trying to convince him we need to get one in our old age. Ha, ha.

What do you think? Would you wear combat boots with fishnet stockings and a dress? It even sounds odd, but I actually think it works. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I have been having some issues with people commenting on my blog. For some reason it lets some people comment and not others. I have contacted my platform support team to see if the issues are on my end. Sometimes it can be the browser you are using. Squarespace tries to keep current with changes and updates in multiple browsers so it can take time. If you can’t comment right away, please try again later. I do apologize for the problems. You can also give me feedback on Facebook as well. I appreciate your thoughts and support.

Have a great weekend!

Ordinary Amy: Blush Moto Jacket

I have gotten away from my monthly columns for a while, but now feel like I can get back at it. For today’s Ordinary Amy post, I chose to build my outfit around a blush moto jacket that I found at Nordstrom Rack back in May. I had been looking for a lighter colored moto jacket and this one fit the bill perfectly.

I know I am not the only gal that has a love affair with motorcycle jackets. They have always been a favorite of mine, for as long as I can remember. When I was young, my brothers used to race dirt bikes (motocross) and I loved the thrill, the noise and the dirt of going to watch them ride. I always thought that would have been so much fun. Needless to say, growing up with the two wheeled noise makers around gave me an earthy, edgy perspective on life.

Another factor that solidified my love for moto jackets, motorcycles and writing, was a book that I had to read in my 8th grade English class. The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton was a coming of age story about a group of boys from the poor side of town and how they dealt with the difficulties of broken homes, strained relationships and maneuvering adolescence in the midst of night time rumbles with the rich kids and running away from home. Some of the first stories I wrote followed a very similar thread to S.E. Hinton, as I struggled with my own acceptance of adolescence, my place in the socioeconomic strata and who I was becoming as a young woman.

Just as my fashion sense has grown and changed, so has my writing ability and interest. I still love to revisit those early stories and remember the feelings associated with them. I’m now trying to learn new genres of writing, in the hopes that one day, I might actually make publishing a reality. In the mean time, here is an outfit for you to peruse.

My daughter quickly took these pictures on my camera while she was over with her pups to help me rake my yard. Cottonwood trees are big and give plenty of shade, but they shed terribly and the leaves they drop in the fall are exactly as you see here, brown and crunchy. This was after my spouse and I had already raked a good portion of the yard into huge piles.

This jacket is a crop length and has a beautiful metallic sheen. I am excited to see how many different ways this can be styled, both casual and dressy. Since this is about my regular way of dressing I paired it with a blush and camo knit top, a pair of Rock & Republic jeans and my SO olive booties.

Do you like moto jackets? Do you have any in your closet? I think everyone, should have at least one. They can be a very versatile piece and are perfect for the cooler weather of fall.

I hope you enjoyed this post and reading more about extraordinary me. Ha, ha.

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

Saturday linking up with Rena of It’s All Fine. Whatever…

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.