My Style: Leopard Print, Plaid and Denim

When I was thinking about an outfit for today’s post I realized I had the perfect inspiration in an Instagram challenge I was doing for the month of February. One of the prompts was Cheetah or Leopard, so I went with leopard since I don’t think I currently have any cheetah. I wanted to be cozy, and of course my go to is casual, so this is the outfit I came up with.

I started with this thrifted, open front, leopard print sweater. The brand is called Signature Studio. A few years ago these longer sweaters were quite popular and leopard print was just as popular then as it is now. I love that we can have all these beautiful animal prints without the harm that use to come to these beautiful animals. I know hunting still goes on for big game cats or other animals, but I’m hoping there is less demand for it with all the great prints we now have artificially.

I added a stretchy, brown belt to give the outfit a bit more of an hour glass silhouette.

I felt a bit of print mixing was in order so I grabbed this black and white Croft and Barrow, plaid shirt. This also was a thrifted piece.

Style Tip: Print mixing is easy. Try pairing plaid prints with stripes, florals, polka dots, animal prints, or other types of plaids like checks or Buffalo plaid.

Since it is my style, I wanted to keep it easy and casual so I chose these rolled, cropped St. John’s Bay jeans from JCPenney that I got a couple of winters ago. These are a boyfriend cut so very roomy and comfy.

Style Tip: Don’t put your crop pants away for the cold weather. Use them to show off fun, colorful socks or wear them with boots to help your boots take center stage.

For accessories I used the cognac color in the leopard print to inspire my necklace and my boots. However, I saw that for spring dark brown is the color of choice for bags and shoes, thus I pulled out my corduroy hobo bag.

This floral necklace is a new piece that I thrifted before I started my #75hardstylechallenge which is a buying fast for 75 days. I love this large, shorter pendant necklace.

My MIA boots keep showing up on here even though they are starting to look pretty ragged. They are comfy and fit well, making it hard to give them up. They were thrifted to begin with so for a few dollars I have gotten a lot of wear out of them and kept them out of the land fill for a couple more years.

You’ve seen this brown hobo bag numerous times here on the blog. It was another thrift find and has stood the test of time.

Did you like this outfit? Do you have any leopard print pieces in your closet? How do you like to style them?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Leave me some love. I always enjoy hearing your ideas and thoughts. I have included shopping links within the post. These are affiliate links. By purchasing something through one of my links I get a little bit of a kick back. I appreciate all of your support.

Have a great week!

Shopping Our Closets for Valentines's Inspiration

I know not everyone celebrates Valentine’s Day, and many do fun alternatives like Galentine’s Day and celebrate with friends. My hubby and I will probably do something at home on the actual day, because I have to clean that day and will be exhausted. Ha, ha. However, we can always get dressed in the wonderful colors that revolve around Valentine’s Day like reds, pinks, burgundies, whites and florals. I am doing that all week on Instagram, so be sure to check out my account on there for additional outfits.

I decided to build an outfit around a piece that is little used in the cold winter months, a kimono. While kimonos are not strictly for the warm weather, they do seem to cling and hold static in the colder months, so I don’t use them much. I thought it would be fun to style a casual, date night look using this pretty floral piece.

This thrifted kimono is a brand called Mason & Belle. I liked the floral print, the darker color and the shape of the piece. The lace trim was another fun detail.

I settled on my darker wash, newer Maurice’s jeans that I bought back in the summer. These are everflex, so they have plenty of stretch and are quite comfy.

Style Tip: A darker wash jean is a great alternative to dress pants for a dressy casual outfit or a work wear look.

I’ve had this thrifted Apt. 9 pullover sweater for quite a few years, and while it is showing a bit of wear, I really love the diamond shape open weave, and thought it went well with the kimono.

You can see in the above picture how I layered a few of my rose gold necklaces for a fun addition. Obviously the heart necklace, given to me by my younger daughter, is a shout out to Valentine’s Day.

Here are a few pictures of close ups of the jewelry I had on.

I decided to keep my bag and boots a similar color to the kimono. The bag was a thrift find from my bestie that she gifted to me, and is The Sak. My boots were a Kohl’s purchase from a number of years ago and are ESpirit brand.

What do you think of this outfit? Is this something you would wear? Do you do anything to celebrate Valentine’s Day? We certainly don’t need a significant other to shower love on others. Give a treat to your kids or grandkids; send flowers to a friend; or just take yourself out and celebrate the fact that you are alive!

I’ve included a few shopping links for bags and boots. These are affiliate links. If you purchase an item through my links, I get a few pennies. I appreciate all you support.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s week!

Color Play: Burgundy with Olive Drab and Gold Accents

This will be my last outfit post focusing on the color burgundy. January is drawing to a close and while we have plenty of winter left on the calendar, I want to move on to a few other ideas here on my Fashion Page. Please feel free to message me or if you subscribe to send me an email if you think of something you would like me to cover in this space.

Today’s outfit started with this fun, corduroy puffer vest that I got from Maurice’s a few months ago. It is different cut and style for me, but I wanted to try it and think up different ways to style it. Right now it is rather stiff, but a few washings may help with that. It is a cropped length and a boxy fit.

I’ve had this Sonoma blouse from Kohl’s for many years. I love dark florals, so this piece is perfect for fall and winter, and of course you could wear it all year round, but I like to transition my wardrobe to lighter colors in the spring and summer. There are no longer fashion rules that say you can only wear certain colors at certain times of year, but we can still have your personal preferences.

These thrifted, Lee corduroy trousers are olive drab. They look gray, but when you compare them to a true gray you can easily see they have a green tone to them. I love cords in the winter and these are super comfy.

You know you have bought a good piece or pieces when you wear them over and over, as is the case with these Impo brand, suede, ankle boots. Do you have pieces in your wardrobe that you reach for again and again?

I thought gold was a good choice for my accessories and they really stand out against the background of burgundy. The gold necklace I purchased from a retail store which might have been Kohl’s or JCPenney. I don’t remember. The gold clutch/crossbody bag was a thrift find.

This outfit formula is very simple and anyone can put something similar together. Pick a pretty blouse, a complimentary pair of pants or a skirt, a coordinating vest and finish it off with shoes, jewelry and a bag. You will be ready for work, a lunch date with friends or even a casual date night with your significant other.

What do you like about this outfit? What would you change to make it your own?

I’ve including shopping links after each clothing piece for similar items. I try to use retailers that I would shop at and choose things at a little bit lower price point. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost.

Thank you for stopping by the blog. Have a fantastic day!

Shopping Our Closets: Winter Trends and Texture

It is always fun to add texture to our outfits whether through various materials, accessories or patterns. Winter provides ample time to pump up our texture building muscles by the addition of layers. Today’s outfit, still a call out to the winter trend of burgundy, also incorporates the additional trends of leopard print, and texture in the form of faux fur. I’ll also touch on the wider leg trouser trend.

I have had this thrifted, burgundy, Pendleton blazer for years. A few times I have thought to get rid of it, but then I pull it out and create an outfit and remember why I keep it. It is a beautiful, structured piece and I like the longer silhouette.

This leopard print tunic top was a second hand purchase from this past year. It is very soft and comfy and could just as easily be used for lounging around the house as going out on the town. Leopard print is having a long run in the fashion world and probably always will. It is practically perfect in every way, as Mary Poppins said of herself. Ha, ha. This pullover is a brand called Honey Me.

You can also see my thrifted three layer necklace. I love unique pieces like this . They add texture and interest to any outfit. Do you like these statement pieces or do like jewelry that is more delicate and fine?

My gray jeans, also thrifted, are White House, Black Market - Blanc. The sparkly embellishments on the pockets are part of what drew me to this particular pair. Gray jeans are in again, so if you have a pair in the back or your closet or in a drawer, pull them out and wear them. Wide leg trousers are also in. I would not call these a true wide leg, but what I have seen at retailers includes anything this width or wider.

My faux fur scarf was given to me by my youngest daughter a few years ago for Christmas. It is a fun piece and I love the color. It is A New Day brand.

My gray ankle boots are Impo brand and I purchased them a few years ago at DSW. These work well for a more dressed up look. They have a small wedge heel that is easy to walk in and look nice with pants or skirts.

My bag is Aidebam brand and used to be available on Amazon, but it seems they do not sell that brand anymore. It is a nice cross body bag with top handles so you can carry it either way.

What do you think of this outfit? Is this something you would wear? What would you do differently? What do you like most about an outfit like this?

I hope these burgundy inspired outfits are giving you ideas for outfits from you closet during these long winter days. Stay warm everyone!

Shopping links are affiliate links and are provided to you at no cost to you. If you purchase an item through one of my links I get a few pennies. I appreciate all your support.

Outfit Inspiration: Winter Trends and Embroidery

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome back to the blog. After a couple of weeks off for the holidays I am ready to get back to sharing outfits through shopping my closet, sources of inspiration, and studying up on the latest trends and colors for each season. We are in the full throes of winter here in the midwest. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for many) we are only experiencing the cold and very little snow. Being a Buffalo girl I definitely miss the snow in the winter and would much rather have a full blown blizzard to maneuver than the psychological ramifications of drab gray and brown.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is real and many people are affected by it in the cold, cloudy months. The lack of sunlight drives us into our self made caves where we try to comfort ourselves with layers of cozy blankets and pillows, fuzzy sweatshirts and sweaters and snacks that all contain some amount of carbohydrates. If we, like bears, would hibernate in the winter we would be just fine, and all those treats we ate through the holidays would simply melt off as we slept the weeks away.

To counteract my own struggle with SAD I looked up what colors and patterns were trending for winter and came upon a few favorites, so this month I am going to put the color burgundy on repeat and show you outfits full of layers and textures that will be sure to make you think about your own pieces in a new, although dim and clouded, light.

I was having a hard time with pictures on the day I took these. It was freezing outside, with a wind chill of 9 degrees Fahrenheit. I did attempt a few outside, but the light was too bright even though there was solid cloud cover, so most of the pictures looked washed out. What you get is a blend of indoor and outdoor pics.

What inspired me to follow the winter trends for this month was this gorgeous cardigan my best friend gifted me when we went to New York the weekend between Christmas and New Years. She felt it was too big on her and thought it might look better on someone with a bit more height and with broader shoulders. I absolutely love it. It is a thrifted Christopher and Banks piece and what can I say except the embroidery is stunning, and contains a beautiful blend of burgundy, pale to medium pink, as well as white and gray. The sweater has a bit of luminous silver threads through out and is gathered in the back for a better fit. I’m adding a few embellished cardigans, though they may not have embroidery.

With burgundy being the color choice for this winter I rifled through my shelves to find these thrifted Westport pants. They are comfy and have a straight leg, which is one style that is always in. Whatever you think about wide legs versus skinnies, boot cut or flares, you really can’t go wrong with a classic straight leg pant. I know I have said this before, but that’s why I hang on to various silhouettes.

I decided to do some subtle print mixing with this plaid SO shirt that I got from Kohl’s a few seasons ago. Plaid is also in for winter, which makes me ask the question, when has it not been in? Ha, ha. I wear plaid pretty much all year round and flannel is my go to for cool weather days in fall, winter and spring.

My necklaces were thrifted and hand-me-overs, and I had a few silver bracelets on that I forgot to take pictures of, but you can add your own jewelry to your own outfit. One of the things I like to try is layering different pieces of jewelry, just to add a bit of fun and interest. Here you can see I did that with two different necklaces.

My bag was another hand-me-over from my best friend. It is a brand called The Sak.

My patent leather ankle boots are a thrifted pair and are Forever 21’s own brand. I do not shop at those stores as, for the most part, they are not using sustainable practices, and the turn over of product is rampant. However, when it comes to second hand, I am fully aware my purchasing it keeps it out of a land fill.

What do you like best about this outfit? Are you fond of the color burgundy? What would you do differently with these pieces? I always love to hear your ideas and thoughts, so be sure to leave me some love.

All shopping links throughout this post are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost. These are provided to give you ideas or possible sources for similar items. If you purchase something through a link I have provided I get a few cents as a commission. I appreciate all you support.

I hope you have a fabulous Tuesday!

Styling into the Holidays - Part 3: Dressed Up

I couldn’t finish this series without a shout out to those of you who have fancier events to attend at the holidays, especially New Years. While today’s outfit is not black tie attire, I think it would do well for an evening out for dinner and a show, like the Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker. Many years ago, my mother, and father-in-law got my husband and I, along with his sister and her husband tickets to this holiday ballet. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had just been my sister-in-law and I. Ha, ha. My spouse does not appreciate ballet anymore than the color pink. He’s such a goof, but I love him.

I was helping my hubby pick out a shirt for the university December graduation ceremony that he was attending this morning, and while he is donned in his regalia, he still likes to look presentable under the robe. He was wearing black pants and asked if I would pick out a shirt for him. I ended up giving him a navy button down.

“Is it okay to wear black with navy,” he questioned.

I assured him any color can be worn with any other color and it also served as the inspiration for today’s outfit. I already had the blouse on, as I was using it as part of my Instagram outfit. It is one of the dressiest blouses I own. With that beginning I began looking through my skirts and settled on this beautiful navy, velvet piece with pleats. This was a Kohl’s clearance purchase a few year ago and is Chaps brand.

In my opinion pleated skirts never go out of style, nor does velvet, making it the perfect choice for fancier attire. An added bonus is that this skirt is warm, which is helpful on a chilly winter night.

The combination of this thrifted Jaclyn Smith satin blouse and the vest gives the outfit a classy academic vibe, and also adds more of an hour glass silhouette. This Rachel Zoe vest was a recent TJ Maxx clearance purchase. I have been looking for a waistcoat of this sort since they were trending back in the spring. I had all but decided they were only intended for the slender folk to wear, so low and behold when I saw this, tried it on and it fit I was super excited. It is definitely going to be used all year round.

You can also see my delicate gold jewelry, chosen for its association with the Silver and Gold song sung by Burl Ives. Ha, ha.

The black, faux fur, No Boundaries bomber was a gift a few years ago from my hubby for Christmas. I never think to pull it out once the temperatures plummet, but when I was taking these pictures I was totally cozy with it on. The draw back is that it is short and in the cold weather I like my bum and thighs to be covered. That is exactly why it is perfect for an outfit like this where you will be mostly in and out and not standing outside for a long time.

Style Tip: Fabrics like velvet, fur and silk or satin will add panache to any outfit, whether you are wearing jeans or tweed. If you are attending a function, but don’t want to go the whole gambit of a dress or skirt, try a dark wash pair of dress jeans with a silk blouse, and heels. You will look like a million bucks!

My Steve Madden, velvet, heeled ankle boots were a thrift find. Who knew they would work beautifully with the velvet skirt? A classy, heeled ankle boot is a great alternative to regular heels in the cold weather.

My sparkly clutch typically makes an appearance on the blog when I am showing off an outfit that is more dressed up. It was a good purchase all those years back. In the photo below you can’t really notice the sparkles. Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this more dressed up outfit. It was fun to put together, and afterwards I showed the pictures to my spouse and said, “You need to give me an excuse to get dressed up like this more often.” Ha, ha. I’m not subtle at all.

I interspersed shopping links throughout the article. You can just click on a picture to find out more about the piece as far as brand, store and pricing. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

There will be no fashion posts for the week of Christmas and New Years as I am going to take a little break and hope to get back to see my mom and other friends and family in NY between Christmas and New Years.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year!

Styling Into the Holidays

Over the next few weeks as we head towards Christmas and the end of the year, I thought I would devote my fashion posts to outfits with a holiday vibe. From casual to dressy we know the holidays can call for all manner of outfits from Christmas pjs to glitzy New Year’s Eve style. You know I am all about casual, but I will try to throw in a bit of fun and frivolity too.

Today’s look is very casual and would be perfect for some holiday shopping or errand running as you take your packages to the post office to mail off to family members far away. It would also serve to trim the tree after you drag all those Christmas boxes up from the basement or down from the attic. I wanted an outfit that was casual, but also festive. Let me know if you think I achieved my goal.

I have a number of Christmas specific tees, sweaters, sweatshirts and vests that I like to pull out every year to make their December appearance. This tee from Love In Faith is very basic, but that is what I like about it. It can be paired with just about any topper, and I love the sentiment.

You can just barely make out my snowflake necklace, which was the only piece of jewelry besides my wedding rings that i put on. It was slightly askew, and maybe I should have chose something more colorful. What would you have paired with this tee and topper, or would you not add any jewelry?

Once I chose this tee, I knew I wanted something red plaid as a topper. I am also wearing a thrifted long sleeve tee under the tee for extra warmth. I thought about one of my two red plaid blazers, but decided the red and black checked button down a better choice for the casual vibes. Buffalo plaid, which is a larger checked plaid, is always popular at Christmas, so I thought this worked well. This piece is thrifted Old Navy brand.

The only reason I reached for these sparkly, embellished Juicy Couture skinnies was that I had worn them a while ago and didn’t want to throw them in the wash until they had a second wear. Ha, ha. Sometimes inspiration is as simple and practical as a load of laundry. I just saw the other day that Taylor Swift is making skinnies popular again, and tucking them into ankle or combat type boots is okay by her, (click on the link to see the article). Ha, ha. So you see, I have been trendy all along!

I wanted to add a scarf for a little more festive color, and warmth, so I ended up with this pretty plaid number that I got from Kohl’s last year.

These black combat boots were thrifted last year and they continue to be worn frequently. They are already getting that “distressed” look, but because they are black it isn’t as noticeable. These are Joe Boxer brand and I’ve styled them on the blog before.

This Buffalo plaid tote bag was the final piece and even though I am stirring the check and plaid pot, I think it works. What do you think?

What do you think of this outfit? What would you wear for a casual day out, or for trimming the tree? Let me know in the comments. I always love your feedback.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. Christmas is on the way, so be sure to look for yourself or others. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a great day!

Shopping Our Closets: Cool Weather Basics

I think most of us veer towards certain pieces when the temperatures start to cool down. Even though our temps have been taking their time about cooling off, we know the chilly days are inevitable, and we will be reaching for our long sleeve tees and sweaters. Today I thought it would be fun to talk about these basic pieces and show you how I put together a simple, casual outfit that would be perfect for anyone’s busy lifestyle.

When I hear the word “basics” my mind automatically goes to things like underwear and socks, but everyone has their own likes on those so we’ll just leave that alone. The basics I wanted to talk about today are long sleeve tees, cardigans and jeans. Obviously, these basics can vary from piece to piece. Long sleeve tees can be v-neck, scoop neck, boat neck, crew neck or even turtle necks. The same is true of cardigans. Basic cardigans most often have crew or v-neck and buttons down the front, but cardigans come in a variety of lengths, styles, textures, fabrics and even embellishments. Maybe your basic cardigan is an open front knee length duster. Someone else maybe consider a sweater with a zipper and a fold over collar to be their basic piece. Basics really depend on your personal taste and what you are doing. A work wardrobe is going to be different than a casual, stay at home wardrobe.

As you can well imagine, I have cardigans in a variety of colors, but I chose red as a nod to the weeks ahead leading up to Christmas. It is coming whether we want it to or not. I personally love Christmas, but I also acknowledge that life is already very busy, then throw in the busyness of the holidays and trying to come up with outfits might be a bit overwhelming. However, when you stick to your basics you can’t go wrong. You will still look put together, and you can embellish with jewelry, scarves, bags and shoes and be ready for any holiday shopping or get together you need to attend. Here are a few basic cardigans from Kohl’s, JC Penney, Macy’s, and Amazon.

For this outfit I started with this thrifted red cardigan. I found this in the last couple of years. It is a medium weight, so great for these cooler days that are still above freezing.

Style Tip: When building an outfit around your basic pieces it really doesn’t matter what piece you start with. You could choose your tee first, your sweater, or even your pair of jeans and build your outfit around that. Mood is a realistic part of getting dressed, but instead of not getting dressed I think it is essential to take a shower and put on clean clothes. That is part of what makes having basics to important. If you are feel exhausted, or down if you can at least manage a tee, a cardi and a clea pair of jeans you are doing good.

I grabbed this red and white striped tee for my top. These basic tees from Kohl’s by Sonoma are perfect for layering under a cardigan. Here are a few other basic long sleeve tees from JC Penney, Maurice’s, Target, and Amazon.

These jeans were purchased at Maurice’s in the late summer. They are incredibly comfortable, a lighter wash and heavier so perfect for the cold weather. The mild distressing makes them great for both casual and dressier looks.

Style Tip: Once you have your basics chosen feel free to embellish as much or as little as you want. An outfit like this will allow your pretty necklaces and scarves to really pop and take center stage. I kept my look simple and casual with the choice of my Converse, but if I would have went with a low heeled boot it would have taken it up a notch taking it from busy grandma, to cute date night look.

I have been looking for an excuse to wear this layered bead necklace, so I was happy it looked so nice with this outfit. You can also see my Fossil bag which was another second hand score. One of the things I like about these heavier cloth bags is that you don’t have to worry so much about the issues with peeling that the nylon or faux leather bags have.

Do you like using basics like these to build an outfit? How do you most often use your basic pieces? How do you dress basics up to make them more work, or event worthy? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment or two below.

I’m adding a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. If you click on a link or buy a product through the link I get a little commission. These are brought to you at no extra cost. Thank you for all your support.

Have a great week!

Outfit Inspiration: Navy and Green Color Combo

Right now Pinterest seems to be the source of inspiration for many of my recent blog posts. I do use the occasional Instagram challenge to also find inspiration, and there are lots of places, people and things to inspire our clothing combinations. However, as you know, convenience often weighs heavily when life is busy or we are feeling tired. This is the pin that inspired today’s look.

Unlike the Pinterest pin, I used a vest, rather than a jacket, and there are other differences in accessories, and so on, but as I have said before, the point is to be inspired. I think something an fellow Instagram user posted makes sense. We want to be inspired, not influenced. Inspiration allows us to shop our own closets and put together similar looks without necessarily having to copy the look. Being influenced might include the pull to purchase pieces we don’t need or won’t actually wear.

This Christopher & Banks vest is from a couple years ago. It is a great piece and the quilting definitely gives it a warm, cozy feel. I like that it is a bit longer than many of my other quilted vests, and that it has buttons instead of a zipper. I rarely wear any of my vests closed, but it is nice to have different options.

Style Tip: Before you purchase vests or jackets think about collars. Ask yourself if you prefer the collar to lay flat or stand up, or be able to do both. Think about what you will be wearing it for and how you will be styling it with your other clothing. For today’s outfit, the stand up collar works great, but those are not my first choice. I typically like a collar to lay flat, or be something similar to a shawl type collar, or in the cold weather a turtleneck will do.

This minty green sweater is a thrifted Sonoma piece. The color and the texture were different than the other pullovers I have, so I snatched this one up. I added the reddish pendant necklace and bracelet, along with my bag as an after thought, but I think the darker reds help define the outfit as a fall look.

Style Tip: When it comes to transitional outfits, you may find yourself reaching for the same pieces which brings the option of pairing them together again. With a few easy adjustments you can make a fall outfit work for spring, or a spring outfit work for fall. To make this outfit passable for spring I would choose lighter colored accessories, possibly in a pastel pink.

These thrifted Sonoma utility pants look brown in this picture, but they are an olive drab. I thought they worked well for this overall casual outfit.

I played around with a few different scarves, one of which was a dark blue with pink and burgundy tones. I thought of pairing burgundy pants with the vest and sweater, but then decided I wasn’t quite ready for the darker colors. Thus when I saw this scarf and liked how it went with the other pieces I opted for burgundy accessories to still bring in the darker tone of fall, and I thought the burgundy went well with the pinks in the scarf.

My bag is The Sak brand and it was given to me by my thrifting bestie.

My ankle boots were purchased at Kohls and are SO brand. I have had them for several years.

Style Tip: Should you match your shoes to your pants, your top or not at all? I think variety is the spice of life, as they say, so why not do all three. Today, I matched my shoes to my vest. Other days I might wear shoes that look more like my pants to create that longer, leaner line from hip to toe. Still on other days, I might wear a basic brown, or black boot, or I might just wear sneakers and they don’t have to match at all. Your outfit, your way, so however you want to do it is fine. The point is to be comfortable, pulled together and confident in what you are wearing.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and that it inspired you to build an outfit that combines colors, textures and accessories to make you feel good when you are in it.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. Think ahead, and use these links to start your Christmas shopping. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Outfit Inspiration: Fall Look Inspired by Pinterest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Style: Pantone Autumn/Winter 2024 NY Palette - Fern, Adventurine, and Dark Gull

I wanted to continue the Pantone color series, but I also wanted to stick to my monthly posts, so for today’s look I am combining three of the Pantone NY palette colors into another style I like, but haven’t as much experience in: Dark Academia.

Academia fashion draws their ideas from university influences both real and imagined. Think of looks combining plaids, tweeds, cozy sweaters, pleated skirts, houndstooth patterns and other vibes associated with higher education. Dark Academia (click on the links to see a few of my pins on Pinterest) uses the darker, moodier end of the color spectrum, while Light Academia chooses pastels, and lighter shades, but in similar textures, styles and patterns. While some looks may include preppy, these are not specifically prep school leanings. I think of Dark Academia as outfits with a Detective Noir slant, but with more fun accessories like back packs, boots and plaid skirts.

This is my take on the Dark Academia style using the colors Fern, Adventurine, and Dark Gull.

To start off, I chose this thrifted, Old Navy, tiered Fern skirt. Tiered skirts are not really part of the academic vibe, but at the current moment I don’t have anything green in pants or a skirt that would have fit both the color and the style. However, I think this worked pretty well. You can see how I styled this skirt before on the blog with a colorful kimono, with a sheer floral top, and with a colorful fall jacket.

This second hand, Old Navy green top I chose is a tad darker than the Adventurine color, but it is pretty close. I found this gauzy piece recently at the second hand shop around the corner. I have always loved gauze tops. They are so pretty, comfortable, and while we often think of them as warm weather pieces they are perfect to layer a jacket or sweater over.

This thrifted, Mossimo, Dark Gull blazer was a hand-me-over from my daughter. I have always liked a dark gray, better than a light gray, so I am naturally drawn to pieces this color. To me they are classy looking, but aren’t black, so a good choice when you don’t want to go as formal as black.

On Pinterest most of the accessories revolving around academic fashion are simple pendant necklaces, leather, or faux leather boots, loafers and oxfords and back packs or bags. There are also scarves, but our weather is still too hot for those. I decided to focus on silver as the belt over my shirt has silver links and buckles. I also chose a thrifted pair of shoes, a brand called Enzo Angiolini, that are like loafers, but also like oxfords. Ha, ha. And yes my collar is crooked in the first two pictures. Ha, ha.

What do you think of these three Pantone colors? Do you like the Dark Academia vibe? How would you change this type of outfit to make it your own? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments below.

I’m including a few shopping links for pieces that would fall into the Dark Academia style. These are affiliate links brought to you at no extra cost. All opinions are my own.

Color Play: Pantone Autumn/Winter 2024 - Golden Palm, Lucent White and Raw Umber

I have decided to revisit the Pantone Color series that I have done in the past. You know how I love color and trying new ways of combining colors in outfits that not only stand out, but that make us feel comfortable and confident. I am going to start with the New York Palette, after which I will decide if I am going to continue with the London Palette or move on to other things.

If you are not familiar with the Pantone Color Institute, they are “recognized globally as a leading source of color expertise.” (Pantone home page.) They work across many disciplines and areas to provide color inspiration and education. The fashion industry is just one of many areas where Pantone has input. Every year they typically post two seasonal color palettes, one for Spring/Summer and one for Autumn/Winter. These palettes vary between two main fashion centers - New York and London.

As I have done in the past, I am going to combine three colors in each outfit; two from the main color palette and one from the classics color palette. Today’s outfit revolves around the following colors: Golden Palm, a bright mustardy yellow; Lucent White, a bright, pure white; and Raw Umber, a medium earthy brown.

It always seems to be the case that when I am going to take pictures of fall outfits it is hot and humid! Ha, ha. It was almost 90 when I took these pictures, so if I seem to be glowing that is why.

The inspiration for this outfit actually came from a piece of artwork hanging in the little apartment we rented on our last getaway to central Ohio. These two pieces of artwork hung in the bedroom, and so I took a couple of pictures, knowing I would use them for outfit inspiration at some point. How fun that three of the colors were on the Pantone Autumn/Winter 2024 New York Palette!

The first piece I chose for this outfit was the Golden Palm Sonoma tee. I have had this for years. A thrifted piece, I have used it in other outfits on the blog. You can see it with a brown cardigan, a snakeskin print skirt, a purple skirt, and an embroidered denim jacket.

This picture also shows you a close up of the jewelry I chose for this look. I thought the white owl, and the pearly gold mix of the bracelets tied in quite well with the skirt.

My Lucent skirt is another piece I have had for a number of years. I love a tiered maxi as it speaks to my inner boho soul. This one is especially fun with its lace and textured details. This is St. John’s Bay from JC Penney. You can see how I styled this on the blog before with a striped tee, a pink striped sweater, a green top and jacket, and a brown moto jacket.

My cropped, Raw Umber, denim jacket is a newer piece. I bought this last year from Kohl’s and it is Sonoma brand.

For my accessories, besides my white jewelry, I chose my colorful, fall-ish tote bag. This is a Simply Vera, by Vera Wang piece that I found on clearance at Kohl’s a number of years ago. I also added my thrifted brown combat boots.

What do you think of Golden Palm, Lucent White and Raw Umber? Do you have any of these colors in your closet? What other colors do you think any of these would look good with? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. I always enjoy hearing from you!

I am providing a few shopping links for similar items. These shopping links are brought to you at no additional cost. These affiliate links which when purchased through a link gives me a few cents as a commission. All opinions are my own.

My Style: Business Casual

I have been doing a series in this monthly column of different style types that I borrow from. As I have said in the past, I do not have one particular style, although often I choose Casual as my current go to. This said, I do like to borrow from other style types when I am feeling particularly adventurous, or if I have a particular event or style challenge that I am participating in on Instagram. So far I have looked at Classic, Boho, and Grunge. Click on those links to see how I interpret each of those styles. Today I am going to look at the Business Casual style.

Business Casual revolves around pieces you can wear to the work place that are both comfortable and classic in style. Think of blazers, tees, trousers or wide leg denim, structured bags, simple cardigans and shoes from loafers to sneakers. For this outfit I chose items from my closet that were bought new and thrifted.

I actually started this outfit with this Jaclyn Smith sweater and Liz Claiborne bag. Both are thrifted pieces. The green color is trending for fall, and the Pantone color palettes for both London and NY contain a few greens. I believe the London palette color called Rain Forest comes closest to this dark, rich green.

The next piece I chose were these wide leg, Ophelia Roe jeans that I found on clearance at our local Meijer a few seasons ago. That was when wider leg pants were coming back in style and I knew I didn’t have any. I liked the lighter color and the no belt loops waistline. I also like the gold buttons and front patch pockets.

My simple, blue, thrifted, Time and Tru v-neck tee seemed the perfect pairing for this outfit that became, basically, a two color combo of light blue and dark green. To me it symbolizes the beautiful blue skies of late summer and early fall, and the dark greens of the last summer days against those blue skies.

With the addition of a gorgeous statement necklace that I acquired a number of years ago from Christopher and Banks this outfit really stands out. I also added a few metal bangle bracelets in similar colors of silver, blue and purple.

Here is a closer look at this great, green and brown, Liz Claiborne satchel bag that I found thrifting about a year or so ago.

Finally, I went with my older white and navy Keds for my shoes. I also have a pair of brown loafers, a similar brown to that of the bag, that would have went well with this look as well.

Sorry for the poor pictures. I have gotten lazy and use my phone for pictures, that and my computer no longer has room to hold pictures from my camera. The poor Apple is getting old. I will be looking at replacing it in the, hopefully, not too distant future once I have a bit of money saved up. However, the phone, as great as it does, doesn’t allow for adjusting the lighting, and if the light isn’y perfect then neither are the pictures.

So what did you think of this outfit? Do you have Business Casual pieces in your closet? Is this a go to style for you? I love to hear your thoughts so leave me a comment or two.

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 everyone!

Shopping Our Closets: Linen

Today’s outfit revolves around a few pieces I found in my closet that are over 50% linen. Linen is a go to for summer outfits due to it’s ability to keep the wearer cool and comfortable. I see many bloggers and Instagram gals wearing linen on the regular all throughout the summer. Many retailers carry these light weight pieces starting in the spring. You can see numerous pretty tops, pants, and skirts at Chico’s, JC Penney, Coldwater Creek, Old Navy and more.

Linen as a fabric is made from the inner stem fibers of the flax plant. In its pure form it is breathable, durable, dries easily, and is perfect for hot climates. The only bad side of pure linen is that it is rather stiff and wrinkles quite easily.

My two pieces featured today are a linen blend. My pants are linen and rayon, and my vest is linen and cotton. The pants are not as cool as a linen cotton blend, but they are flowy and that allows for better air circulation. As you can see, they still get a little wrinkly, and that is part of what makes me less enamored with linen than others might be.

These pants were a Christopher & Banks purchase from a few years ago. I liked that the stripes were vertical, keeping the eye moving down rather than fixating on my wider hips. These had front patch pockets, and a wider elastic waist. They are very comfy and so easy to pull on and off.

My vest is the other linen blend piece. This is a thrifted Maurice’s piece. I love vests and I have a small stash of lighter weight ones that I like to pull out for layering and texture when it is warm. The eyelet on this piece is really what drew me to it. I love clothing with texture and eyelet is one that we see a lot of in the warmer months.

I ended up using a simple, thrifted tank top underneath. While I could have chosen any color, I decided to go with white, to keep the top part of my body more monochrome, helping the blue stripes in the pants to stand out.

I also went for neutral accessories in my pendant necklace, my bracelet, and my lace up sandals. I like the way the neutral looks with this color combo giving the whole outfit a very summery feel.

I could have chosen a neutral colored handbag, but went for a lighter blue to add a bit more understated color to the look.

What do you think of this outfit? Do have linen pieces in your closet? Do you like linen and wear it often in the summer? I love to have your feedback so feel free to leave a comment or two.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. I decided to show you an array of linen/linen blend pieces. Even if you only have one or two in your closet, they do come in handy for these warm days of summer. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great day!

Outfit Inspiration: July 4th Holiday

Today’s outfit was inspired by the July 4th holiday. The idea to dress in red, white, and blue for patriotic holidays has been around for a while and is no doubt inspired by the colors of our nation’s flag. The great thing about this color combination is you can go as full on to the true colors as you want, or you can move into different shades and still get a patriotic feel.

For this outfit, I started with a thrifted, gingham, asymmetrical hem skirt. This is a fun piece with it’s unique hem and side button up detail. There was no label in this piece, so not clue where it came from originally.

The color is not a true, bright red, but rather more of a maroon or cranberry.

Since the skirt was red and white, I could have done blue as a top, but I decided to go with a Time & Tru white basic tee from Walmart, and my Christopher and Banks denim vest. Nothing says 4th of July like denim. Here’s a few denim vests from Target.

To keep the look fresh I chose a thrifted, white shoulder bag, that I also use as a cross body bag. This is a brand called Bueno. You can find numerous Bueno bags on ThredUp and Etsy. JC Penny sells a brand called Bueno of California, but I couldn’t find any info on whether these were the same company or not.

I added a few cute pieces of jewelry in red tones to pull in a little extra of the bright color.

I pulled out an old pair of Ked’s sneakers, as they were white and blue. I wish I could wear sandals more, but my veins make me self conscious, so I do wear compression knee highs almost all the time. However, for all of you who still have those beautiful legs, or for those who don’t care, wear the sandals!!

So what are you going to wear for the 4th of July? What do you think of this outfit? Is your Independence Day outfit going to include denim? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Happy 4th of July!

Color Play - Building Outfits Around an Abstract Print Skirt

I have been wanting to build an outfit around this pretty abstract print maxi skirt ever since I thrifted it a few seasons ago. In order to get a bit outside my normal jeans and tees kind of casual outfits, I have been purposefully meandering through my maxi skirts in an effort to build a few fun, summer outfits that would work for backyard bbq’s, dressy casual dates with a friend or significant other, work or a more casual summer wedding. Today, I am showing you two different outfits using the same skirt.

Outfit 1 - Dressed Up

This skirt is a brand called Maeve by Anthropololgie. The outer layer is cotton, and it has an attached slip, making it easy to wear with no show through. The wide elastic band is comfortable, and easily covered with a wide belt, as you’ll see in the next outfit.

My bright pink jacket is a Chico’s thrift find. It is actually a petite, but I don’t have a super long torso, so I occasionally can get away with a petite size. You don’t really notice, especially if the sleeves are rolled up.

My tank top was a St. John’s Bay basic that I got at JC Penney a few seasons ago. I was excited to see it matched the blue in the skirt spot on. Of course with this skirt you could use pink, orange, white or black, or even mix it up with a totally different color like mint green, or sunflower yellow. That is exactly why I like to call this monthly column, Color Play, to stretch our minds as to what sorts of colors go together.

The jewelry wasn’t made to go together, but they certainly work well together. The necklace I got a few months ago at my favorite thrift store around the corner. The bracelet was a clearance purchase probably from Kohl’s or Penneys.

I have had this Relic canvas tote for a number of years, and it is a great work horse for summer. While I regularly carry a cross body bag, I occasionally reach for a tote bag to run to the coffee shop or library, or when packing for a trip. Sorry about the bits of cat hair. You can’t have a pet without there being a bit of fall out, especially in these warm temps. Ha, ha.

Our silly curmudgeon, Plato Aristotle Radcliffe Christensen. A large cat had to have a large name!

I had to rummage through my shoe boxes to find these cute espadrilles. These are Chaps brand and were a Kohl’s purchase a few years ago.

Outfit 2 - More Casual

I couldn’t resist doing a bit of print mixing with this fun skirt, and polka dots and embroidery seemed a great companion for the abstract print.

Both of these pieces were second hand finds. Like so many pieces that I thrift, I don’t always have an idea in mind of what they are going to go with, but find I am pleasantly surprise when things line up. My button down is Jones New York Sport, and the embroidered vest is Van Heusen. I’ve heard of Van Heusen in men’s shirts, but this is clearly a women’s vest, although a man might like it as well, but it is cut more for a feminine body. Walmart and a few other stores carry this brand.

I decided to add a wide belt for this look. Another thrift find, this wide braided belt is a soft material that adds interest and texture. I thought the belt and my Vera Wang bag were a good match. You can also see I swapped out the black pendant necklace for my lovable owl, and replaced the metal and bead bracelet for some fun white and gold stretchies.

I chose my denim Keds as a way to compliment the vest and create more continuity to a busy printed outfit.

So which look do you like better? Would you have purchased a skirt like this? Do you have any skirts in your closet that you are just not sure how to style? I hope this post gave you a little inspiration for shopping your closet and thinking outside your color box.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of my links I get a tiny percent. I appreciate every click and purchase. All opinions are my own and you are not charged anything extra for purchasing through my site.

Thank yo for all you do. I hope you are having a great week.

Begin Again, and a Look at What I Have Been Wearing

Hi everyone. What was originally going to be a one month hiatus has turned into nearly two, thanks to my new normal. I am trying to come to terms with the idea I have a chronic illness; a muddled mess of chronic sinusitis and asthma, each one individually trying to be managed, and at the same time exacerbating the other when one goes awry. In my vast experience (ha, ha) of 3 years I am seeing a pattern of sinus infection almost always leading to worsening of asthmatic symptoms. There seems to be a definite connection, though you will hear little of it from the medical community. Indeed, I am learning it is imperative we do our own research and keep looking for answers while trying to maneuver an overburdened medical landscape.

That is part of the reason for my disappearance from regular posting on my little blog. My hubby and I were able to take our meandering vacation in May without any issues, other than the car having a few hiccups. I am so thankful, because it was after that I got sick, and that would have ruined a really relaxing trip.

Here I am doing what my counselor so often tells me to do and that is, begin again. I will be starting out slow, but I do want to get a little bit of content out there before the summer is over. Today I am going to share a few of my daily outfits that I was able to post to instagram.

Outfit 1 - Long Denim Skirt and Graphic Tee

I wore this while we were visiting my mother-in-law, before we left for our Meanderings. It was the perfect combination of comfy and cute. I have this skirt in my rotation to be worn again, so I am thinking it deserves its own spot in a blog post.

Outfit 2 - Olive Pants and Peach Top with Lace Cut Out Yoke

I love this thrifted top. It has a cotton liner in the bodice area, and since the entire thing is cotton it is very comfortable for our warmer temps. I thought the combination of pastel peach with olive and blue chambray a fitting outfit for late spring and early summer.

Outfit 3 - Subtle Camo Cropped Pants, Floral Tiered Tunic and Open Weave Shrug

This is one of my favorite outfits I put together since we got back from our trip. Everything but the Sperry sneakers was thrifted. The outfit came together as a result of a print mixing challenge in Instagram, and I always love a good print mix. It was one of those cooler, late spring days, and these pieces kept me completely comfortable.

Outfit 4 - Rewear of Camo Cropped Pants with Floral Peasant Top and Blingy Vest

I always rewear my pants over the course of a couple of weeks between laundry sessions. Rewearing helps keep our clothes from getting worn out due to over washing and saves water and detergent. Do you rewear your clothes before washing? Isn’t the floral mix of print and embroidery beautiful on the sleeves of this piece? The Christopher and Banks vest makes regular appearances on the blog and Instagram.

Outfit 5 - Purple and Blue Striped Maxi Skirt and Graphic Tee

It is a struggle for me to wear things outside my comfort zone. This comfort zone revolves more around what is going on in my life than things not being comfortable due to size, fit, or type of piece. I love skirts and dresses, but my life rarely is conducive to wearing them. In order to not be too stuck in a rut, I am trying to reach for a maxi skirt on occasion and style it for my writing grandma lifestyle. Ha, ha.

This outfit is so me. I love the purple hues in the skirt and the tee is right up my alley. The tee was thrifted, and the skirt was another past Christopher and Banks purchase. I haven’t bought from them since they closed down their brick and mortar stores, but I sure did like them when I was able to shop in person. Since they went to an online only presence I have been less than underwhelmed. Sad!

Outfit 6 - Embroidered Chambray Shirt, Graphic Tee and Dark Wash Jeans

I have had this light wash chambray shirt for years and I absolutely love it. If it has embroidery on it I am sold! I used it more as a shacket, but occasionally wear it as a button down. I don’t like to layer it under other things because I want the embroidery to be a focal point. The floral graphic tee was a Maurice’s find several years ago. The dark wash, ankle jeans are a pair of Lee’s petites that I found at Kohl’s on clearance a while back. I don’t normally buy petites but when looking for an ankle pant they often work.

Outfit 7 - Pineapple Bling Tee and Jeans

A fun, easy outfit. What more can we ask for during the busy, hot, days of summer?

Outfit 8 - Floral Kimono, Oversized Tee and Reworn Jeans

I had an eye doctor appointment the morning before I took these pictures, and my eyes were dilated. That’s always fun. When I stepped back outside after I got home to take these pics, I was pretty squint eyed. Ha. ha.

Style Tip - There are so many ways to take an ordinary jeans and tee outfit up a few notches with accessories including layered necklaces and kimonos. Just because you have a routine of wearing the same type or style doesn’t mean it has to get boring. Jazz up the routine with colors, patterns, layers and bling, even if it just for a grocery store run or a doctor’s appointment. It is amazing how much better it makes me feel to put in the effort. Even when I am struggling with my physical heath.

Outfit 9 - Jeans with Bling and an Oversized Tee

I could not resist this recently thrifted tee. It is not cotton, so definitely not one I will wear when it is super hot, but it is so me. I love murder mystery shows, all the comfy clothes, and feel most comfortable with just a small number of people; although I can handle more like 8 or 10. Ha, ha.

Finding pieces that perfectly fit both your body and your personality is really what makes fashion fun. Graphic tees are great ways to show off the bands, movies, books, and philosophies you like. In the same way accessories can further show off your amazing sparkle. Don’t be afraid to play dress up every day, even the days you don’t feel good.

I hope you enjoyed this look at a few of my more recent outfits and I hope to be back at regular posting soon. Have a great week!

Color Play: Building an Outfit Around a Bag

When I found this cute color block bag on a recent thrift store run, I knew I had to style an outfit around it. The colors are perfect for spring, summer and fall, and for me, the size is just right. I have gotten away from carrying large bags, because they tend to bother my shoulders. Even a cross body bag that is larger becomes problematic because I put too much stuff in it. You know the saying, “If it’s big, fill it up!” Ha, ha. I may have just made that up.

Aren’t the colors on this piece so cute? This has no brand name on it anywhere.

There were lots of choices I could have went with for an outfit. For a little while I was looking at a white maxi, but decided to save that for another day. I also pulled out a pair of coral pants, but ended up with the look you see here.

For this look I decided to have a similar color block vibe to the bag. I am looking forward to using this bag again for inspiration with a print mixing outfit.

I was pretty sure I wanted to use this thrifted teal blazer as it matched so well with the bag. Obviously this is a great outfit for these spring days where the temps fluctuate, but once summer hits the heavier layers will disappear. This blazer is a brand called Weekenders. It is a medium weight with a longer silhouette, and textured cuffs that match the shawl lapels.

Once I decided on the white Gloria Vanderbilt jeans that I have had for years, and can still squeeze into…and I do mean squeeze…I knew I wanted a coral piece to match the coral in the bag, so I chose this thrifted Cherokee shell, which I decided to use as a knit vest.

I also wanted to add a little black, so decided on this thrifted Chaps blouse with polka dots. Once I had that the only jewelry I added was this fun pendant necklace I found at the second hand shop around the corner.

I have always like the classy look of oxford shoes, so I pulled out this black patent leather pair I have from my days as an assistant manager at the bookstore. These are a brand called Sugar.

Do you have a bag that you can use to inspire an outfit? Have you ever tried building an outfit around a fun, colorful bag? What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear something like this? I would love to hear your thoughts.

I’m including a few shopping links for you. I bring these to you at no extra cost. These are affiliate links which means I get a few cents if you click on a link, and a bit more if you purchase something through one of the links I provide. I appreciate all your support. All opinions are my own.

Have a super week!

My Style: Grunge Aesthetic

This third Tuesday of the month I have been looking at various styles from which I pull my own style. I’ve titled my style blended, meaning I take from a variety of styles to make my own creative looks. So far we have looked at the Classic Style, and the Bohemian Style. Today we are going to look at the Grunge Style.

While we may not think we take much from the Grunge aesthetic we really do. Plaid patterns, graphic tees, combat boots, and hobo bags are all part of the Grunge scene. The term grunge originally came out of a music genre born in the northwest United States in the late 1980’s and 1990’s. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana fame was probably the most influential rocker on the grunge fashion movement. His style was completely understated often wearing an oversized sweater, baggy jeans and Converse tennis shoes to perform. The fashion movement bolstered the thrift movement with young people shopping to find worn, baggy, ripped, and oversized second hand clothing.

I easily fit into certain aspects of this style and I feel very comfortable in it. In fact, this is probably one of my faves, except for the fact that I love color, and it took some time for me to buy into the whole distressed pant movement. Now, however, I love my combat boots, my plaids, my ripped jeans and of course my graphic tees.

I had to think through how to build this outfit. I don’t have any band tees, and most of what I read and the images I saw showed tee shirts with band names and graphics on them. I decided since I hit 60 that I can make it my own, so I chose this silly tee I got at the state park my hubby and go to once or twice a year. It says, “I Ain’t Old…I’m Retro!” I couldn’t resist buying it and I think it works perfectly with this old lady’s grunge vibe.

My gray and white Vanilla Star plaid shirt is a thrifted piece. It had a slightly worn look to it, so I thought it served the purpose quite well. For some reason I felt my posture and facial expressions had to be a bit snarky to get the true grunge vibe across. Ha, ha.

These Stitch Star jeans I picked up on clearance at Meijer a few years ago. I like the distressing including the raw hems. I also like the buttons for the fly instead of a zipper. They look a little more worn than when I first got them, but I do wear them a lot and with all the washing they are looking rather funky, but that also may have had something to do with watching a toddler before I took these pics during his nap time.

One of the other pieces that I read about was the zip up hoodie. It seems dressing in the grunge way is all about layers of loose or oversized clothing. My pieces aren’t really all that oversized, but you get the idea. This zip up is part of a thrifted two piece set by NY & Co. Sport. Unfortunately, I messed up the pants with bleach, so I typically only wear them around the house. You can see the set before I messed up the pants here.

Layered necklaces, including crosses seems to be a thing, so this was my version.

These Joe Boxer combat boots became my faves this past season after I found them while thrifting. They are definitely showing their wear, but when you are feeling grungy the more worn the better.

I was trying to decide between a tote bag or one of my hobo style bags, and ended up with my Aerosmith tote to make up for the absence of a band tee.

What do you think of the Grunge Style? Do you have any plaid in your closet? Do you own combat boots? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

I hope you enjoyed this look at the Grunge Aesthetic. I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost. If you shop through one of my links, I get a few cents. Every view counts. Thank you for all you do.

Have a great week!

My Style: Bohemian Vibe

I started a series last month on the various styles that make up what I like to call my blended style. I don’t stay true to one style, but mix styles together for looks that are completely my own. I’m sure many women have this same thought about their own styles. Last month I looked at the basics of a Classic Style. Today we are going to take a look at Bohemian Style.

(It was extremely windy and cold when I took these pictures, so they aren’t the best. It even started to snow when I got back into the house. :))

Here is another article to look over, 15 Boho Outfit Ideas: Must Have Items. I found that once I started looking in my closet I had most of these pieces. In fact, I will be adding a few photos from previous posts wear I display the Bohemian Style.

I recently found this thrifted, gauzy top and I just love it. Especially with the lace cut outs around the neck area. The brand of this top is Jodifl. No, I did not spell that wrong. Ha, ha. I do have a white tank top underneath as it is pretty see through.

The crochet and wood belt is also thrifted. Since crocheted items are in the boho vibe, I thought it was appropriate, and the shirt is a little more billowy, so I wanted a little more of an hour glass silhouette.

My asymmetrical fringe vest has been on the blog before. It is Say What brand, and I honestly can’t remember where I got it as I have had it for quite a while. You can see that other post here. This piece is great for the warmer weather and like a kimono would be cute with shorts and a tee or tank top.

My tiered maxi skirt has been around quite a while. This is another piece I have used on the blog. You can see those posts here, and here. This piece was from JC Penney, and is St. John’s Bay brand.

Layered jewelry, wide hair bands, and soft bags with fun prints are all part of the Bohemian style.

We can’t forget shoes. Neutral ankle boots are big in the Bohemian style. This suede Sonoma pair are quite old, but still fit and still look fairly decent. Sorry about the blurry pictures!

What did you think of this outfit? Are you a boho kind of girl? Do you like certain aspects of the Bohemian style? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to leave a comment or two below.

I’m including a few other Bohemian style outfits from past blog posts. Just click on the picture to go to the original post.

I’ve included a few shopping links, but I didn’t have much success on the vests. I would say check sites like Etsy or second hand sites like ThreadUp or Poshmark.

Have a great day!