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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week.

Thinking About Fall - Transitional Style - Lightweight Skirt

When we start thinking about fall, we are probably starting to yearn for our cozy sweaters, scarves and boots. As the weather begins its journey through the waning days of summer we know the days will still be plenty warm, but the evenings might start cooling off, especially after the sun goes down. That is a good time to think about layers. Why not pull out a few of your medium weight sweaters and a couple pairs of ankle boots and start using them, even though the start of fall on the calendar is not for another month?

Today’s outfit revolves around a light weight skirt that I picked up just a few weeks ago at Kohl’s on the clearance rack. It is obviously from this past spring, perhaps even related to Easter style, so I thought this would be a good piece to take from warm summer day, to cool weather appropriate with just a few simple changes.

For a cute, breezy, summer look I thought this Chaps plaid skirt would pair well with a fun graphic tee. You have see this thrifted No Boundaries tee on the blog before. You can see it styled with a denim pencil skirt, and a fringe vest. Isn’t it funny that I did the front knot with the fringe vest as well? The shirt is a little over sized and very stretchy, so knotting it is easy. The skirt is not lined, but I wasn’t going anywhere and it is not sheer, so unless I had on a pair of dark panties, there was no show through worries.

I wanted to highlight the pink and the white letters in the tee, so chose pink and pearl accessories.

I thought the Steve Madden white tennis shoes a good choice to keep the look fun and casual.

To make the transition to cooler weather, I once again reached for the color brown. I love brown in the fall. My husband likes the color brown on me, so I have been trying to incorporated it into a year round color, but it is often hard to find. For this look, instead of a jacket I chose my cozy, thrifted Old Navy cardigan.

Once again, I chose a more chunky necklace with shades of brown, gold, and coppery bronze. I really wasn’t sure how I felt about this look, but now that I see it, I like it. Brown and pink are always a winning combo and the contrast of the gray tee gives it interest and keeps it from being overly two-toned.

I went with my taller Sonoma suede boots, because I liked the more slouchy look with this casual outfit. They give it a bit more of a boho vibe. Most of the boots I own, that I have bought new I got at Kohl’s. I like both So and Sonoma brand. They fit my feet well and allow room for socks or tights. They are ultra casual, but still make an outfit look polished and complete. I’ll provide a few shopping links at the end if you are thinking about a new pair for fall.

My bronze cross body bag is another staple in my closet. I bring this one out every fall.

Here are the two looks side by side.

Do you have a summer skirt that you would like to wear longer? What can you add to make that skirt still useable in the cooler weather? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

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

Have a great Tuesday!

Thinking About Fall - Transitional Style - Tank Top

Before I get into the Pantone color series for Autumn/Winter 2021, I wanted to look at a few options for taking your summer pieces into fall. It seems like common sense to add layers as the weather begins to cool, at least for those of us in the northern part of the country. Even in warmer states, and countries, there are always those rainy days, or cooler evenings where having a layer or two makes a person more comfortable. The question I have to ask myself is why bother transitioning? Why not just change out our summer wardrobes for those fall pieces in deep burgundies and rusty oranges?

I think there are several reasons we need to transition from summer into fall. First of all, even those of us who love fall and enjoy the cooler weather, hate to see summer come to an end. The end of summer means shorter days, and the loss of the freedom and fun we associate with summer. Being able to run around without heavy coats, mittens and scarves is something most of us love being able to do. Summer also means vacations and beach days for many. It is hard to say goodbye to these wonderfully long, lazy days.

Another reason is that transitioning our wardrobes to fall slowly, allows us to extend the life of those summer pieces we love. The tank tops, shorts, light weight dresses and kimonos are still usable as the weather cools if we remember how much fun layering can be. I have already seen many bloggers and Instagram gals showing off these types of outfits.

Today’s focus is on tank tops. This could be a simple ribbed tank, or something like this thrifted Christopher & Banks shell, that is more structured and workwear appropriate. Since I am not working, I am showing you a casual look that can easily be taken from summer into fall with three simple changes.

My daughter hired an assistant and has started training her behind the camera. They asked if we could do pictures in the studio, to give her some practice, not only with outfit photos, but with indoor shots. I love outdoor photos because there are so many possibilities, but there is something to be said for studio photos, especially when the weather is hot, humid and buggy! We just used the wall as a backdrop, but it you follow Rebecca Trumbull Photography, you know she has all sorts of backdrop colors for headshots and puppy pictures.

This outfit is easy, peasy. A pair of thrifted Merona boyfriend ankle jeans, a tank top, shoes, bag and a little jewelry. Except for the bag and jewelry, everything in this outfit is thrifted.

I chose this tank top for a few reasons. The first is, I have been trying to use pieces that I haven’t used in a while in my closet. I actually started keeping track of what I have worn. For my hanging pieces, I turn the hangers backwards after I wash and hang them back up. For my tees, I have started turning the ones I used neck line out, rather than fold out. It might seem silly, but it does help to see what I have been wearing and encourages me to choose other pieces.

For this easy summer look, I kept my jewelry light and simple.

I wanted to chose a bag that could make the transition to fall, so this bright yellow tote was perfect.

My sneakers are thrifted Converse. I washed them in the washer, but they need a little TLC to make them look pristine, which I haven’t done yet.

In order to make an outfit like this ready for the cooler weather and changes that fall bring with it, you only need to do three simple things.

1 - Swap out light, breezy jewelry for jewelry that is bold and chunky.

2 - Add a jacket, sweater or other topper.

Utility jackets are often my fall and spring go to’s for light layers. This Sonoma piece with its beautiful embroidered embellishments goes perfectly with the leafy print of the tank. Being that it is tan, rather than a darker olive or brown, also gives me that slow transition into the darker, richer colors of fall.

3 - Swap out sneakers for ankle boots.

These are my Sonoma suede heeled booties. They are a regular part of my fall, winter and spring wardrobe.

Let’s take a look at the outfits side by side.

You can see that in the summer look I rolled the pants up and in the fall look I left them full length. I love ankle pants for this transition time, because they allow me to show off the ankle boots, and they are still not as warm as full length pants.

The other detail I changed was doing the front tuck on the top, to show off the belt and give the outfit a less casual vibe.

How would you transition a tank top into fall? Do you have tank tops that you love to wear all year round? What do you think of this outfits?

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no extra cost. If you click on a shopping link, I get a few cents. I appreciate all your clicks and all your comments.

Have a great Wednesday!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Chambray Dress - Look #2

Last week I showed you this chambray, bell sleeve dress styled with a kimono. That was the last in my long kimono series. I told you, I had a number of kimonos and I didn’t even show you all of them. Ha, ha. I styled a dressy casual look, that might be termed resort wear with a touch of Hindi style. Once again, these were taken at Hirzel Farms in Luckey, OH.

I put together this outfit, knowing that it would not be something I would typically wear, but I like to try to show you different ways of putting pieces together to show you there is more versatility in your wardrobe than you realize. I liked how this turned out. It has a flowy quality to it, while still offering full coverage and layering for cooler weather.

The striped linen pants are last year’s purchase from Christopher and Banks. They are very comfy with an elastic waist and wide legs. As I said in last Tuesday’s post, my chambray dress is Massini brand from Target a year or so ago.

My blue duster vest is a LuLaRoe piece. It is made of a medium weight knit and just like all the other LuLaRoe pieces is very easy to care for. I like the long slits at the sides. If you want to create visual interest and add texture to an outfit, a long vest like this is a great way to do it. You can wear a duster length vest with jeans and boots, a pencil skirt and heels or with a variety of other outfit combinations.

For my accessories I clung to a smattering of boho add ons. My bead pendant necklace is a creation of my own. I found the large doughnut shaped bead at a shop on one of our travels a while ago. I simply added a piece of leather for the cord to hang it around my neck and there you have it.

What drew me to this particular bead were the colors. It has flecks of color in it, including a little bit of rust and gold. Those colors prompted me to add this bright orange suede bag to the outfit. This was another thrift find. I love the bright pop of color. You can also see I threw on a few bracelets.

My blue thrifted Keds are making another appearance. I don’t wear these quite as much. As we get older, our feet tend to change, so where I once wore a size 8.5, I now wear a nine. These are a little short, but if I don’t wear them for a long day of walking they are still quite comfortable.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you ever wear pants under a dress? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’ll be posting the last pictures from this fabulous sunflower spot next week, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. Check back on Thursday for another Outfit Inspiration post. Also, if you are regular follower of my faith page, I hope to be back to posting on there tomorrow.

I hope you are having a great week.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

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

Kickin' It with Kimonos - Looks like Sunflowers

I came across another Ohio blogger, recently on instagram named Shannon Solt. She inspired me to check out Hirzel Farms and their sunflower fields. Since she did a fashion post in front of the pretty blooms, I thought that would be a great idea and texted my daughter about getting some pictures in before the heavy seeded sunflower heads started to droop. Being the practical minded person that I am, I wanted to come up with an outfit where I would be able to get more than one blog post. I finally decided on using one piece styled three different ways.

The piece I chose to revolve all three outfits around is this Massini chambray dress that I found on the clearance rack at Target. I have styled this on the blog before as seen with a denim vest.

It was a bright day, but with plenty of fluffy clouds flying over, so the sun would shine and then it would go behind a cloud. This can be a problem for taking pictures, but I thought my daughter did a great job. We both prefer shade or clouds for pictures.

I found this fabulous kimono, or in actuality a ruana, at maurices. I love the color combination and once again it is a floral print. You can see in these pictures the sunflowers are already getting heavy with seeds. This was about two weeks ago and now they are completely brown and drooping so their heads face the ground. At this point each individual stalk can be cut. Once further dried the seeds can be harvested, or the stalks can be left outside and the seeds become food for all sorts of critters.

Doesn’t it look like the flowers are bowing to me as I walk by? Ha, ha.

I would have had a yellow pendant necklace if i hadn’t forgotten it at home. Ha, ha. The joys of taking pictures somewhere other than home. I can’t just run back into the house if I forgot something. Anyway, there is plenty of activity going on in the kimono and in the back ground, so it is probably okay that I don’t have a necklace on.

I did have this bracelet for another outfit, so I threw that on. I really like the little owl charm.

If you have been following for a while, you know I love these SO ballerina flats. They are comfortable, light weight and so easy to slip on and off. They tend to mold to your foot, so don’t slip off when I am walking.

I’ve used this light blue bag on the blog before too. Unfortunately, in this picture the bag is backwards and you can’t see the pretty gold zipper and blue tassels on the front. I really need to pay more attention to the details.

Here is a fun black and white photo for you. I love the contrast of grays, whites and blacks in this picture.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you own a chambray dress, or a fit and flare dress like this? Do you like to wear bell sleeves? I’d love to hear your thoughts

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

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Actual Amy - Tiered Navy Skirt

Today’s Thursday column revolves around outfits I would be likely to wear. What I would like to do with this column is give you some explanation behind my outfit choices. Not only does this help me to be more thoughtful about what pieces I am putting together, but it also helps you as you think about the pieces that are in your closet.

Today’s look is what I would call dressy casual. What makes an outfit fit this description? I believe it is a combination of what types of pieces are worn and how they are accessorized. While we don’t usually think of something like sweat pants or torn jeans as being dressy, there are certainly ways we can make them looked more dressed up.

With this outfit, I think the tiered skirt, the button up and the tee could all be dressed up or down. Pair the skirt with heels, a silk blouse and a blingy bag and you’d be ready for a show. Layer the tee under a blazer, with nice dress pants and heels and you’d be ready for the office. The button up could be worn with a cashmere sweater in the cooler weather, with nice skinny jeans and boots and it could be date night. I have learned to try not to divide my wardrobe into casual or dressy. I believe there are all manner of levels of casual, dressy casual and dressy between the stay at home in your jammies look and the heading to the Oscars look.

I just recently found this pretty, navy blue, Chaps tiered skirt, while thrifting. I really am a sucker for tiered skirts. Why is this me? Part of it is, I like to cover my legs, due to my veins, but I have liked the prairie skirt idea ever since I can remember. I always thought the long dresses of days gone by were so unique and different, whether plain, like the women living on the frontier or the frilly, decorative dresses of the nobility. I am also a bit of a boho girl, and to me a prairie skirt just seems to have a certain hippy quality about it.

There is definitely something fishy about this JC Penney button up from a few years ago. Though this top is not silk it has a certain soft, silky quality to it. I chose this top, because I decided I wanted to go for a more monochrome look. There is just something classy and slimming about an outfit with one main color scheme.

My white, v-neck tee underneath is Time & Tru brand from Walmart. Walmart, Target and Kohl’s are great stores to get basics like short sleeve and long sleeve tees.

Rather than tucking the top in and adding a belt, which would have made the outfit more polished, I chose to tie the tails at the waist. Just that simple choice of tying, rather than tucking, can make an outfit more casual or dressy.

My accessories were chosen to finish off the casual look, yet I felt they kept the outfit elevated enough to be something I could wear to an outdoor concert or dinner with friends, especially if walking was involved. I got this great Stone Mountain cross body bag at a thrift store. It is real leather and looks hardly used. I thought it was a fun pop of color and goes with the color of some of the beads in the necklace. Once again, my white Keds sneakers are making an appearance. Adding sneakers to a dress or skirt is an easy way to make the look more casual and right now this is very trendy and also better for your feet, knees, hips and back if you have to do much walking or standing during the day.

I don’t have much opportunity to wear heels any more, though I do put them on with outfits for the blog, because I know many women still wear their heels. That is why I have so many different sneaker type shoes. It’s just what I wear.

What do you think of this outfit? I am including a few shopping links, for you to look over. Remember every link you click on gives me a few pennies. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend everyone. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay sane.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Kickin' It with Kimonos - Multi-colored Floral

As you have figured out by now, I have a number of kimonos. The one thing they seem to have in common is they all have prints. Kimonos really are more of an accessory to an outfit, as opposed to a cardigan or blazer, which serve, not only to pull an outfit together, but as a layer of warmth in the cooler weather. Most kimonos and ruanas are very light weight and are meant to be used much as you would use a statement necklace or scarf. They are meant to make your outfit more fun and noticeable.

This next kimono I am going to show you is a LuLaRoe piece and once again adds an element of flirty and feminine to an otherwise casual, tomboyish outfit.

I got this thrifted Nike tee on a recent thrift run. I usually don’t buy brand tees like this. I have no affinity for sports wear branding. I am sure if I were more into sports, then I might feel differently. However, I have always thought that Nike’s slogan, “Just do it,” was something we all could identify with. I mean which one of us hasn’t wished we could do better, be better, eat better, exercise more and so on. Typically I don’t like to go around with this type of slogan across my chest. Not because I am worried about people looking at my chest. I highly doubt a tee shirt like this is going to invoke a drool worthy response from a man. Ha, ha. My feeling is more along the lines that I don’t want to advertise something I have to live up to. Seriously! Yes, I want to be a writer: just do it! Yes, I want to eat better: just do it! Yes, I want to exercise more: just do it. I feel as though I am a walking billboard for a chorus of condemnation. Do any of y’all get what I am saying?

That being said, maybe I need to have these types of messages make an appearance more regularly, not only in my wardrobe, but in the things I read, watch and listen too. Maybe, if I added a bit more of this spice of encouragement to my life, I would be more likely to succeed at those aforementioned desires. What are your thoughts? How do you encourage yourself to do the things that are difficult? Especially when life is so busy and chaotic?

Let me also add in here I know my tee is extremely wrinkled. Ha, ha. I should have gotten it out further ahead of time and let it hang in the bathroom. My daughter keeps telling me I need to get a steamer. Maybe I’ll suggest that on my Christmas list.

This is our first grand puppy, Beatrice. We call her Bea, Sweet Bea, Sweetie Bea and an odd assortment of other endearing terms. She is a mastiff mix. My daughter actually sent in a sample for DNA testing to Embark, to see what breeds Beatrice has in her lineage. The main breed was Cane Corso, which is an Italian breed of mastiff, but she also has Dog de Bordeaux, which is a French breed of mastiff, Neapolitan, which is another Italian mastiff and Bull Mastiff, along with a few other odds and ends. We were trying to get her to turn around, but she wasn’t having anything to do with it.

My yellow, Talbots, crop pants are a thrift find. I have styled these on the blog before. You can see it with a white tee and light gray blazer, and with a pink button up and open weave vest,

This little yellow cross body bag is starting to show some wear, especially since it was second hand when I got it. Paying a little extra for real leather trim or a real leather bag is definitely worth it as they will last longer. I think this one is going to go in the donation box. I do like the color, but I am not lacking purses, so I’ll find a suitable substitute.

Even my cute beaded, fringe bracelet is showing some wear. I will either trim the tassel or just remove it entirely.

Here again are my Naya black suede oxfords. I really like these shoes and they are great for fall and winter.

You’ve got to have a few fun photos. In the second shot my daughter was trying to get me to show the asymmetrical line of the kimono, but my mind went towards Dracula’s cape. Ha, ha. Always the ham, I am!

What do you think of this outfit? Is this a little too outside the box? Do you stay away from writing on tees? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to leave a little love in the comments. I appreciate all your support.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

I’m including a few shopping links. Enjoy! These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Wearing White - 3/4 Length Sleeve Tiered Blouse

This is my final post in this wearing white series. I feel this outfit really epitomizes the fall feel and it also showcases some of the fall trends that are floating around out there on the internet and in the fashion world. There are so many trends, and depending on who you get your information from, you’ll see some overlap and some very different ideas as to what is currently trending for fall. I’ll be talking more about that for a few posts starting on Thursday.

Today’s outfit features a white 3/4 length sleeve tiered blouse that I found at a thrift store. Just disregard the snarky look on my face. Ha, ha.

Here is a picture without the vest, so you can get a better look at the top. This top is a brand called Spense. You can find this brand at JC Penney, Nordstrom Rack and a few other retailers.

I didn’t notice until looking at this picture that you can see through the blouse a little bit, so it might be good to wear a cami underneath. It don’t think it is a big deal with the sweater vest over the top. I love the detailing on this piece. Each tier and the flounce on the sleeves are edged with a crocheted embellishment, giving the blouse an extra boho vibe.

I paired the blouse with my Worthington leopard print skirt, which I have styled on the blog before. You can see this skirt paired with a pink blouse, a cropped denim jacket, a teal green sweater, and a white denim jacket. You know a piece was worth investing in when it is worn over and over. Leopard print is still showcasing its fierceness this fall along with other animal prints like snakeskin, zebra and more.

To pull the whole outfit together, I chose this crafted fringe vest. I honestly cannot remember where I got this. Ha, ha. No matter, I like it and reach for it often. Fringe is another trend that seems to be making its own cross seasonal stand in the fashion world.

Accessories for an outfit like this can varied and colorful. You could go classic black or brighten up the look with variations of burgundy, red, blue or green. I wanted the focus to be my white blouse so I kept the accessories more sedate going for gold and brown.

Why not wear a leopard pendant with a leopard skirt?

I’ve had this gold bag for a very long time. It was thrifted and is a brand called emilie. Metallics are another trend that are big this fall. Be on the look out for pieces that shimmer and shine. If you are like me, you already have something in your closet that has a fun metallic sheen. I’ll be talking more about that on Thursday.

I just got these boots from DSW. They are Baretraps and I think they will be getting plenty of use this fall and winter.

What do you think of this outfit? Did you like this series on wearing white? I hope that you found some inspiration here on the blog.

I’ve included a few shopping links, just for fun. Every time you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of my links, I might get a little commission. All opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a good week so far.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Wearing White - White Sleeveless Sweater

As I shopped my closet for white pieces to use in this series, I realized I have some pieces that get worn more frequently and this sweater tank is one of them. I will pull this out time and time again, when I want something that looks more classy to wear with nice pants or a skirt. With that in mind I paired this top with a multi print skirt that I have had for a long time.

This sweater tank is a thrifted piece and I have had it for a long time. What drew me to it was the beaded embellishment around the neckline, which you will be able to see better in a later picture.

I just love the motion in this picture. My daughter and I have been working to get a little more variety in our shoots. It isn’t anyone’s fault, other than life being very busy and just trying to fit photos in around both of our schedules. For this shoot we went to one of the metro parks in our area that is along the Maumee River, called Farnsworth Metropark. All of the parks along this stretch of river are just gorgeous and make a great back drop for pictures.

This skirt was thrifted from many years ago and I hang onto it, because I love the swing of this a-line piece. I also like the pattern. You can’t see the colors too well, but there are greenish blue stripes mixed in with the white ones. Seeing as it is a light weight skirt, I don’t wear it much in the winter, but it is the perfect weight for a transitional outfit from summer to fall.

Once again, when I think about transitioning to fall, I think about layers. For this outfit, I wanted to bring in a more muted fall tone, so chose this sweater I found on the clearance rack at TJ Maxx. A simple open front cardigan, I think it adds depth and warmth to this more crisp and cool look.

Trend Alert: One of the trends for fall is layering knits. I found this rather amusing, because I’ve been layering knits for years. Ha, ha. I was trendy and didn’t even know it. Layering knits just means wearing knit type fabrics with other knit type fabrics, so go ahead and layer your knit shells with your knit cardigans, or your knit turtlenecks with your knit v-neck pullover sweaters. Obviously, if you are in the throes of menopause you do not want to be layering anything, let alone, heavy knits, otherwise layer away.

I found this white lariat type necklace on clearance at JC Penney. I like that it is both a choker and a longer necklace all in one, and that it is not the typical metal or beaded chain. The white piece is cording and every little way along it are a cluster of beads with the whole piece ending in two large green beads at the bottom.

I thought a retro vibe would be appropriate with this skirt so chose my chunky heel shooties which are thrifted Naturalizers. These are easy on and off due to the elastic inset on each side. I have found that shoes with these elastic type insets are very comfortable. You can also tell a good quality shoe, as I have had these for a while and they shoe very little wear.

I chose this very simple cross body bag to match the shoes and keep things sleek, rather than going for a bulkier bag. I got this on clearance at Meijer.

Of course things wouldn’t be complete without a goofy photo. In this one, my daughter was trying to direct me to hold my arms closer to my sides and look cozy. I ended up looking a little bit more like deranged. Honestly, I don’t listen to directions very well. Bah, ha, ha.

Other, than showing my silly side, what do you think of this outfit? Is this something you would wear? How would you change it up to make it more your own? I’d love to hear your ideas. I learn from you, just like you learn from me. It’s all good.

I’m including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Have fun shopping.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Wearing White - Long Pants

Today’s featured piece is a pair of white Gloria Vanderbilt jeans that I have had for a long time. They were a little big when I originally got them, so fortunately, they still fit. These are a heavy weight jean, so there is no fear of see through, but because they are white I still choose to wear neutral underwear. I find that a neutral color like beige or a light peach or blush are an even better choice under white garments, because they mimic the natural color of our skin. If you are a darker skinned individual a deeper neutral would still be the way to go when wearing white.

This is another classic look like Tuesday’s pairing with black and white, but this time I paired the white with navy. Navy and white always make me think summer, nautical and beach, for some reason. Isn’t it funny how we have preconceived ideas about color and color combinations? There is nothing wrong with that and sometimes it is good to embrace that which is classic, timeless and well known.

Another classic summer look is the striped tee with white pants. This Loft tee was a thrift store find. I like that it has wider stripes, just for a change of pace from my typical skinny striped tees. I also love the elastic bottom. Sometimes an elastic band can ride up, especially if you get a top that is too small. This is a large and in Loft wear, I probably could use a medium .5, ha, ha, if there was such a thing. However, for this top the large works well. The elastic keeps it in place and the extra room allows for less of my bulges to show.

To make this a fall worthy, transitional outfit, I added the jacket. This Sonoma navy utility jacket has its own unique appeal. I have five utility jackets. You might wonder why I need so many. Truth be told, I don’t need any of them, but each one had something special about it that helped me decide to buy it. This green one was the classic olive style. This orange one is a color I love. Of course the wardrobe wouldn’t be complete without a camo one and an embroidered one. As if that was not enough, (you can see the others by clicking on the links), when I found this navy one with the embroidered sleeves, I knew it was coming home with me.

I kept my accessories simple once again, but you could have jazzed this outfit up with a bright, colorful scarf or bag. I went for a simple olive, crossbody, bag that seemed in keeping with the utility idea. This was a bag my daughter was getting rid of, so I snatched it up.

I tried on several necklaces and while I could have got completely without, I chose this simple blue flower on a silver chain. Do you think this small charm works with this outfit? Why or why not?

Once again, here are my navy Grasshoppers. These are such a classy and stylish shoe, perfect for warm weather and can be worn with skirts, cropped pants, shorts or jeans and they are amazingly comfy.

Finally, a post from me wouldn’t be complete without a blooper picture when I have one. The wind had picked up a bit on this very warm day, when we were taking pictures. When I tried to put my jacket on it kept blowing back into me. When I finally got it on, I was trying to flip my hair outside the collar and everything was sticking to me. The combination of sticky, windy and silly resulted in the this picture.

Overall, I like this outfit. What did you think? Do you wear white pants? Do you wear them all year round, or just in the summer. I love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love.

I’ve included a few shopping links for utility jackets. If you don’t own one, now might be a good time to buy for fall. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Friday linking up with Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots.

Wearing White - Embroidered Pants

I hope you are enjoying this series on wearing white. Most of us have at least something or other that is white, or at least cream or ivory (what is the difference really). I centered this series on pieces that I would classify as a true white, not cream or ivory or off white, however every outfit could easily use pieces that aren’t a true white. It’s all about wearing what works for you and what you are going to feel best in. Not everyone likes to wear white, top or bottom. It can make us look washed out or larger if it is on the bottom, but we are trying to break out of some of those fashion boxes right, and if I want to wear white, I’m going to do it. Ha, ha.

Today’s outfit revolves around pants that you saw earlier this spring on the blog. These pants are from Shop National and were gifted to me when I did the original post, which you can see here. I was excited to get to style these again and wanted to pull another color from the festive embroidery on the legs, so I chose yellow.

I have to tell you, my daughter and I had quite a time being silly on this shoot. It was hot and I was melting, so everything was sticking to me, as you can see here, my yellow tee was taking on its own identity with its ripples. Ha, ha. When we are taking pictures, I don’t remember to smooth everything out, but I guess that’s real life. When is life ripple free? Rarely ever. This tee is thrifted and is Basic Edition’s brand.

I thought it would be fun to show movement, so I told my daughter I wanted to take more shots of me walking. Here are a few. I must confess, I was having a hard time walking a straight line. Ha, ha. And I don’t even drink!

Because I wanted to make the outfits in this series transitional to fall, I added a layering piece to each one. For this outfit I chose my green faux velvet jacket that I found at a thrift store. This is a brand called Erika. It is soft and perfect for when the evenings start to get cooler.

Since this was a casual look, I kept my accessories simple. This pendant necklace I have worn before on the blog.

The embroidery on the pants contains yellow, green and a couple of blue shades. I brought in the yellow and green, so I thought blue would be perfect for my shoes and bag. These bright blue Keds are regulars on the blog, as you just saw on Tuesday. Isn’t it amazing how much more blue they look with the bright white pants?

Bright blue is also how my bag rolls. Bright blue like the summer sky.

I actually had this green tassel from another bag, so I added it to my blue bag. I just like that combination of colors and think it works perfectly for summer. I have several Rosetti bags and like each one for various reasons. Cross body bags are definitely my muse right now. They are perfect for hands free shopping and more secure than a shoulder bag.

I hope you liked this post and that this will inspire you to pull out those white pieces and creatively make an outfit that will take you into fall.

I’m heading off to see my mom this weekend. What are you up to? I love to hear from you and am very thankful for all of you who take time out of your busy schedules to comment.

Have a great weekend.

Wearing White - Basic Tee

White has long been a staple for the summer months, and now it is worn all year round, even in the dead of winter. I don’t reach for white on a regular basis, so I thought I would do a short series on white with a few transitional outfits that could easily take me into fall.

This first look features a white tee. A simple white tee is an easy and inexpensive piece to add to your wardrobe and can be dressed up or down. I wore this outfit to my younger daughter’s poster presentation for the final project of her summer research position with the University of Toledo.

In all honesty, I am not happy with my weight right now. After being down last year I have gained everything back plus extra. My pants are too tight. I don’t like the way I look or the way I feel. I have gotten back on the Fitbit bandwagon and am trying to keep track and walk, but it is a long process and I really suck at being disciplined. They say confession is good for the soul, so y’all get to hear mine. Ha, ha.

This jacket was a clearance find at H&M last season. You can see how I styled this before on the blog in my print mixing series, here. A light weight, lined jacket like this is a great way to start transitioning toward fall and cooler temps. Here in the midwest we might have days still in the 80’s well into October, but evenings will be cooler. Usually, we start doing the yo-yo thing with one day being 85 and the next day being 55, but thankfully, there should still be some summer type weather for at least another month or so.

My white tee is from Walmart. If you want simple basics that have a great price point, Walmart is a good place to look. This brand is called Tried and Tru. The weight of this tee is medium and it has a relaxed silhouette, so isn’t too clingy in all the wrong places. I also don’t have to worry about it being see through. Obviously, if you were wearing a red or black bra, you could still see it, but for the most part, I won’t have to wear a cami under this tee.

These yellow crop pants were thrifted and are Talbots brand. They are a medium weight denim and I do like that they are a totally different color than I usually wear. This bright yellow is great for spring, summer and fall. You can see how I styled these for a more fall look here.

I decided to go with gray for jewelry and shoes to compliment the light gray jacket. These shoes are Naturalizer brand. I think oxfords are a nice alternative flat for general use and I have several pairs.

To bring it a little more color, I grabbed the current bag that I am carrying, a blue, cross body. I like the adjustable strap, the extra zippered compartments and I added the green tassel. This is Rosetti brand. Have you ever noticed how expensive purses are? I’m not even talking Coach, Dior or Kate Spade. I mean standard Kohl’s brands like Rosetti, Fossil, Dana Buchman and so on. I have found that I can find my best deals on the clearance racks at the end of the season. I know trends are important to people, and even staying on trend, which means they wear the trend before, or as it is happening, but I’m not all that worried about timing. I also like what I like and if it is a trend, great, and if it isn’t, so what. Wear what you like and carry the bag you like. This little number is pretty, practical and carries everything I need.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you have a white tee that you like to wear? How do you style yours? I’d love to hear you ideas and thoughts in the comments. I appreciate when you have the time to leave me some feedback. That means a lot.

Rebecca Trumbull took these pictures on my camera at our house, but I did the editing. We were heading out the door and just had time for a few quick shots.

Have a great weekend.

Summer Maxi Dress for Fall

I’m sure many of you have heard about transitional dressing. This has to do with taking a clothing piece from one season and changing it up to make it wearable in the next season. With our seasons here in the mid west being so varied, it is essential to have pieces that can be worn for more than one season. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I love jeans. You can wear them any time of year. Ha, ha. However, this is not going to be a post about jeans. You already know how much I love those! This post focuses on a summer maxi dress that was a new purchase from late last spring.

Some of you who regularly follow me might remember this dress from my summer series on maxi dresses. You can see the whole dress and the original post here. This bohemian style maxi boldly stated it wanted to come home with me when I saw it on the rack at Nordstrom Rack this past May. I knew as soon as I tried it on that it would be a versatile piece and would easily take me from summer into fall.

In order to make the light weight dress fall ready I decided I needed layers. I knew I wanted to style it with knee high boots to add warmth on the lower level. While I didn’t wear tights for this photo shoot, I would add them if I was going to have the dress on for a longer period of time.

I do love wearing boots. They are a great way to change up an outfit and add warmth. With so many styles from ankle booties to over the knee types what is not to love. And now there are so many more colors!

Here are a few brown pairs, that I like at decent price points.

To add layers at the top I chose this thrifted sunflower yellow sweater cardigan. The brand name is Callaway. A simple cardigan adds a warm layer without a lot of bulk and they come in so many pretty prints and colors. Here are a few to look at. With Christmas coming, I am sure you need ideas for all those girls on your list. Ha, ha.

In addition to the sweater I also grabbed my thrifted brown moto jacket. I have styled this many times on the blog. It is one of my favorite thrift finds and most often I wear it as an extra layer in the winter time, rather than as an outerwear jacket. For this particular fall day this and the sweater were just the right amount of layers.

Here are a few shopping options.

My accessories are pretty simple. This layered necklace I found somewhere or other on the clearance rack. The nice thing about these types of necklaces is there is no work involved. Some days that is just exactly what I need.

My bag is a navy Vera Wang bag that is also thrifted.

One of the things that I like about fashion blogging is learning new ways to use my clothes. It used to be that we had our summer clothes and our winter clothes. I still go through the process of putting things away and pulling out different things each season, simply because I am a clothes horse and there is no way I could have all my clothes out at the same time. Also, I tend to reach for what is in my comfort zone. In the winter I like to be warm, so I like my heavy sweaters and added layers. In the summer I like less layers and lighter material. However, since I have started blogging I have learned that there are ways to extend the seasonal pieces and get more wear out of them. This outfit is the perfect example.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Leave me some love in the comments. I always like to hear your point of view.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you make a purchase through a link I get a little commission. I appreciate all your clicks.

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Pantone Fall 2017 - The New York Palette - Grenadine and Butterum

I want to continue my look at the Pantone 2017 Fall color palette this week, but now we are venturing into the New York colors. Whereas for the London palette, I paired the two colors together that were directly parallel to one another, for the New York palette I decided to pick the color pairings that appealed to me. 

Grenadine is named after the bright red syrup that is used to make drinks. It traditionally is derived from the pomegranate. Obviously, when the Pantone gurus chose to name this color they hit the mark with this bright red. Butterum has many similarities to the London color Toast. I felt that these two colors made a fun pairing and enjoyed putting this outfit together.

My top is a simple button up cardigan that I have had for some time. It is Merona which is a Target brand. Here is a similar one from Macy's.  Instead of a necklace I added a silky fringe scarf.

My pants edge more towards a cognac color than the Butterum, but you get the idea. I purchased these pants recently from Meijer and they are a brand called Stitch Star.  I love that they have patches. It creates additional texture and interest to the outfit. Here is a blue jean pair from Kohls.

I kept my accessories minimal. My boots, which are Aerosoles, are a close enough match to the pants that it gives me that longer line. Matching your pants with your shoes can elongate your legs making you look leaner, and taller. 

Here is a similar color boot from Aerosole. Here is a fun pair from DSW. There are so many fun ankle boots out right now in every color and heel height.

My only other accessory is my snakeskin clutch. I thought this connected with the outfit well because of the color combination. I like this clutch because it has a short chain, so I can also put it over my shoulder if I need both hands free. 

Here are a few other fun bags. 

What do you think of this color combination? Red is trending this fall and whether it be Grenadine or Flame Scarlet or something in between, you will be stylin' if you are the lady in red. 

I've listed a few shopping options below. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Thanks for stopping by the blog!

Color Crash Course - Mint Green and Teal

For today's Color Crash Course I thought I would style a transitional outfit. As we near the end of summer and the beginning of fall we see the changes all around us. The leaves begin to turn and drop or if you have a cottonwood, they just drop! Ha, ha. The temperatures begin to cool off and the sun's time in the sky shortens. 

While I love all of these changes, what I think I love even more is that I get to move away from my warm weather clothes and start wearing my cooler weather clothes. However, we all know that cooler weather does not happen over night. Usually, we still have plenty of days in the mid to upper seventies and even a few edging into the eighties. For that reason, I like to think layers. 

As I have told you when I started this blog, I am a woman of layers and that includes my outfit style. For a transitional season like fall, I still want to wear shorter sleeves, but I will add a sweater or jacket to combat the early morning chill on my way to work, or the later evening coolness when the hubby and I are coming home from a night out.

Today's outfit combines the warmth of mint with the coolness of teal. These two colors both come from the green family, but teal edges towards blue and mint edges towards yellow.

This mint, ruffle sleeve popover top is a Lauren Conrad brand from Kohl's. The jeans are Gloria Vanderbilt. Looking at these pics, I began to notice the pants seem a bit big and baggy. Though I love the way baggier pants feel, I really do not like the way they look. I will save that thought for another post! 

This jacket I got on clearance from Christopher and Banks. I like the fall colors and the fit. It is also fully lined, so I will be able to use it as a jacket while the weather is just starting to turn cool. 

The colors in the jacket allowed me to add my maroon necklace and maroon Pumas. I finished off the look with my Fossil cognac cross body bag. 

You can turn just about any of your summer styles (except maybe a swimsuit - ha, ha) into transitional outfits if you think layers. Do you still want to wear those capris? Try adding a pair of ankle boots and top it with a bulky sweater. Want to still wear that light weight tee? Add a denim or camo jacket with a pretty colored scarf. Be creative. You'll be amazed at how many more outfits you can come up with if you just take the time to play with your clothes. 

I hope you enjoyed today's post. Leave me a comment in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you.

I am hoping next week to get back to a more regular schedule. If you follow my faith page, be sure to check back tomorrow for a post on change!

Have a great weekend!