Denim Daze - Flared Jeans

Today I'm styling a pair of flared jeans. I have said this before, but jeans are my go to for just about any sort of event. I wear them to work, to shop, out on a date with my spouse and even to church. Jeans are just that versatile. 

As usual, my first look is casual.

These jeans are a thrift store find and to me have the perfect flare width. I personally do not care for flares that are excessive. I like just enough of a flare to show they aren't bootcut. The long sweater vest I am wearing was another thrift store find and is actually a long dress (for a very svelte person - ha, ha). I thought it gave this outfit that boho feel and I will be planning other things for this vest. I added a pop of color with the coral 3/4 length sleeve tee.

I wore a simple macrame belt, along with a dark silver medallion necklace. I think this added to the boho vibe. For a little contrast I used a metallic clutch and metallic sandals.

Here is the more dressed up version.

I swapped out the vest and tee for a cami and a sheer long sleeve blouse. 

Here you can see the gold polka dots on the blouse. I wore a long gold pendant which I use quite often, a gold and silver bracelet and a gold belt. I did the half tuck on the blouse to show off the belt and give me a little shape. The bag was a thrift store find and has little gold threads running throughout.

The final piece for my dressy outfit was a pair of gold strap wedge sandals. 

I hope you enjoyed the outfits I came up with for a pair of flared jeans. Be sure to check back Thursday for my Color Crash Course and next Tuesday I'll wrap up my Denim Daze series by styling a jean jacket. 

Be sure to leave me a comment about how your are wearing your denim. I'd love to have your input.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Shopping a Similar Look:

Denim Flares - H&M - $19.99 (flares are popular and can be found just about anywhere you like to shop)

 Sweater Vest - Kohl's - $40.60

3/4 Length Sleeve Tee - Christopher and Banks - $26.95

Silver Sandals - DSW - $69.95

Silver Clutch - Charming Charlie - $10.00

Dressy blouse - Macy's - $34.99

Gold wedge sandals - DSW - $54.95

Gold pendant necklace - JC Penney - $15.40

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Wednesday linking up with Allison of Sydney Fashion Hunter. Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. Linking up with Jennie of  A Pocketful of Polka Dots and JoLynne of JoLynne Shane My Life and Style.

Beautiful Blogger Bests - Styling an Outfit Around a Printed Bag

When I started blogging back in February I was informed by my daughter and other resources to start following other bloggers. My email is constantly inundated by new posts. Sometimes I can keep up and sometimes I can't, but I have found a number of bloggers that are worth following for their creativity, fashion moxie, sense of humor and their beautiful spirits. When I decided to start this column it was not to give myself a pat on the back by featuring other bloggers, hoping they would do the same for me. I made the decision based on a simple theory....inspiration inspires inspiration. The inspiration I have received from other bloggers has given me ideas, confidence and creativity that I never knew I had. It is my goal to inspire you by drawing on the inspiration other bloggers have given me.

The blogger I am featuring today is Janeane of Designing from My Closet. If you visit Janeane's blog site you will find a California girl who loves interior design, color and fashion. You can follow Janeane by clicking on the link I provided and subscribing to her blog, or find her on You Tube or Instagram. 

Back in May Janeane did a post titled How to Wear a Printed Handbag. Click on the link to read that original post. My first thoughts were, "What?" "How do you wear a handbag?" After reading the article I realized what Janeane was referring to was designing an outfit around a particular bag. In her case a beautiful floral tote bag. I came away thinking, "Hmmmm. That would be a cool thing to try. I do have a couple of colorful bags I could work with."

Not long after reading that post a girlfriend of mine was getting rid of a closet full of clothes, bags and shoes and invited myself and two other friends over to "shop" her closet. We had done that before and had such a fun time we jumped at the chance to do it again. 

This was one of my finds from my friend's closet. Right away I knew I had found the bag to style an outfit around. I asked my other two friends, "Does anyone want this bag?" We're polite that way! Ha, ha. Neither one did, so I brought it home.  I have used it many times this summer and found that styling an outfit around a bag is an easy way to pack for a short weekend or to style an outfit for a summer evening out. What follows are two of the ideas I came up with for styling this bag.

Black maxi skirt, black strappy wedge sandals, bright pink tank, blue 3 strand beaded necklace and a simple green and gold cuff bracelet.

Here you can see a little more of the detailing on the bag. It is a beautiful tote by Sarah Violet. There is an exact version on Poshmark right now for only $15.00, so click on their link if you are interested. I am not real familiar with the brand, but it seems sturdy and well made. The bag is roomy and has a few pockets for added organization.

Here is the other outfit, this time drawing on the red, blue-green and yellow on the bag.

Light blue crop pants, black strappy wedge sandals, red button up front tie blouse, yellow beads and bracelets.

Here are the outfits side by side.

Styling an outfit around a bag is fun. It gave me a starting point for choosing an outfit and actually made it much easier to decide what to wear. I am thankful for Janeane who inspired me with her idea and I hope that this post will inspire you as well. 

If you come up with a great outfit styled around a bag let me know in the comments section below or post a pic of it on my Facebook page.

Thanks for checking out Stylin' Granny Mama and have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Beautiful Blogger Bests

This is the third column I am adding to my fashion blog. When I started thinking about blogging my daughter told me I needed to follow other blogs to see how people set up their pages, what they were talking about and so on. I have simply fallen in love with some of the other blogs I follow. 

Pixabay

I have found ideas, inspiration, motivation and encouragement through other bloggers. So in honor of their wonderful blogs and their great ideas, I have decided to do a feature once a month focusing on an idea that I saw on another blogger's post, by showing you my own version of their idea. Of course I want to give them all the credit, so I will be including links back to the original posts that inspired me.

Here are a few of the fashion bloggers that I love to follow:

Jodie's Touch of Style - Jodie is a retired cosmetic dentist. She has taken fashion, interior decorating and design classes and uses the things she has learned to enhance her knowledge of fashion for women over 50. I love how Jodie uses three generations of models; herself (50's), her step-mom, Nancy (60's) and her mom, Charlotte (70'). Many of the items you see, she has found at thrift stores, which is right up my alley. Jodie is a sweet, down to earth person, who wants to encourage all women to find their own style. I will be featuring a number of ideas from Jodie because I have learned so much from her. 

Designing From My Closet - Janeane is a beautiful soul. Being an interior designer she has easily translated that ability into her fashion. She, like Jodie and myself, loves to create from her own closet, using pieces that she already has, or buying more inexpensively via thrift stores, using coupons and Poshmark. Janeane has inspired me in so many ways and has made me think more about intentional dressing. Dressing not just for an occasion, but looking at our style as a way to convey an image, emotion or message. 

With Wonder and Whimsy - Liz has her own style and I love to see what she posts each time. Her style is full of color, lace and well, whimsy. Liz is not afraid to try new things and doesn't let her beautiful red hair keep her from wearing certain colors. She looks beautiful in them all! Whether she's styling an outfit up or an outfit down, Liz creates a cohesive look that inspires and motivates me to give new things a try. 

A Pocketful of Polka Dots - Jennie is an administrative assistant and a blogger. She is the mother of 4 boys and hit a point in her 40's where she decided to do things differently, going from wearing mainly black to all sorts of color. She loves shoes and you'll love her collection too! I haven't been following Jennie for quite as long as the others, but I really like her style. Being a fan of casual dressing, I love her take on wearing jeans, Converse sneakers, tee- shirts and blazers. 

Not Dressed as Lamb - Catherine is a well known, award-winning,  blogger from the UK. Her sense of style is supported by the idea that no one should tell you what you can and cannot wear...no matter how old you are. She has no fear of mixing colors, patterns or textures. She knows how to bring a pop of color to a more subdued palette, but can also create an awesome outfit around something as unique as a pair of yellow pants. Catherine believes women should be able to wear what they want, when they want and look stylish while doing it.  

These are only 5 of the bloggers I follow and there are many more out there including Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, High Latitude Style, Petite Over 40, JoLynne Shane, Grace and Beauty, Fifty is Not Old and more. As I learn and grow as a fashion blogger, I hope to expose those of you who follow me to even more of the beautiful bloggers that inspire me. The more I read and learn, the more I can't wait to try new ideas. 

Be sure to check back next month for my first Beautiful Blogger inspired post. Have a great weekend!

Awesome Accessories

The second Thursday of the month I am going to focus on accessories. 

“My motto is to go wild on the accessories - the belts, the hair clips, the jewelry.”

— Heidi Klum

Accessories are those items that help make an outfit look complete. They can include jewelry, shoes, bags, scarves, hair clips, hats, belts and so on. Most often we put an outfit on and then decide how to accessorize it. What necklace goes well with this top? Should I wear bracelets with this sweater? Should I wear over-the-knee boots or heels? Do I carry a clutch or a hobo bag? So many questions and so many answers. 

This column will look at different accessories and possible ways to style them. I'll try to answer questions that I have had about differences in shoes, bags, scarves and so on. Not everyone automatically knows how to tie an oblong scarf versus a square scarf. If you are like me, you probably didn't know how many different types of bags there are and I am not talking about the ones under your eyes! I hope to share what I am learning with those of you who read my blog about the importance of using accessories to add to your clothing "language". 

I never used to think about styling an outfit around a scarf, or a bag, or a statement necklace, but now I do. In fact, I think putting a well thought outfit together can be fun.  I love going into my closet and saying, "What can I put together?" Just like that puzzle idea I mentioned last week, finding the right pieces for an outfit and the right accessories can be a very satisfying experience. Do I feel satisfied every time, no, but I do find joy in the search, just like I enjoy finding pieces that fit together in a puzzle.

I hope, over the coming months, to show you different ways to wear a scarf, what makes a piece of jewelry a "statement piece", the ins and outs of purses and bags as well as look at other clothing items that might qualify more as an accessory rather than an actual item of clothing.

If there is anything you would like me to feature on this Awesome Accessory column, let me know by leaving a comment. I would adore you input! Thanks for following and have a great week.

Piece Perfect

I am playing with some new ideas on my blog. I feel the need to do a little more intentional posting about fashion related subjects. After all, there is so much more to fashion than just showing a picture of an outfit. Since I am truly a writer first and fashion blogger second, I thought why not put a little more emphasis on writing about fashion. I have no idea who will be interested, but the point is to use the ability I have been given, and if I can use that on an area other people are interested in, win, win! 

My intention, then, is to begin a series of monthly columns, if you will, on different fashion related topics. The first Thursday of the month I will focus on clothing pieces. 

Clothing is like a puzzle. Each outfit is a finished picture made up of a few, or many complementary pieces. An outfit is not as locked in as a puzzle, where the pieces have to go together in an exact way to make the intended picture. We have more freedom with our outfits to throw pieces together that, a few years ago, might have been considered taboo. Pairing a pair of jeans with a dress for instance (see my post of that here). We also can pair colors in an array as varied as the wildflowers along the highway (see my take here). The point is up to us. What am I trying to say with the outfit I put on this morning? If it is a jeans and sweatshirt sort of day, I am probably feeling a need for comfort. If I am wearing something I usually don't wear, I may be feeling bold or daring. This, of course, can transcend our closets and seep into our make up and accessories. I never wear red lipstick. The day I do, I will be saying, "Look at me! I have made a change and I am proud of it!" Ha, ha.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Clothing is part of our language. It enables us to speak without using words. Perhaps that is why I like bright colors and fun textures. It speaks volumes about the person I am on the inside, not just the woman on the outside. Colors speak to the deep inner joy I have found in my relationship with Christ. I expect that heaven will be filled with colors I can't even imagine. Color is such a powerful form of expression. On a drab, gray, winter day I often reach for bright pink or blue to chase the blahs away. Think of your favorite place to vacation or your favorite local coffee shop or restaurant. I bet one of the reasons they appeal to you has to do with color: the blues of the ocean on a sunny day, the oranges of a log fire on a cool fall evening, the calming greens of the coffee shop walls or the dark wood of that Irish pub. Color can speak volumes. Textures can also add a dimension to our clothing language. When I am feeling girly, I reach for ruffles or lace. When I am feeling cold and want comfort I reach for a heavy cable knit or a soft cashmere sweater.

Piece Perfect will focus on different pieces in our wardrobes that can be foundational for building a great outfit. I will try to have an outfit post to go with the piece I have selected. Occasionally,  I might show pictures of the piece along with possible complementary items and accessories. I hope that you will enjoy reading this new portion of my blog and that you will come back each month as I feature a different clothing piece. The first piece I will be styling next month will be a pleated skirt. Be sure to check back the first Thursday of next month.

Leave me a comment below about the colorful places you like to visit! Until next time.

Between the Lines: Week 3 and Styling a Simple Black Maxi Dress - Part 1

The next few weeks I want to show two ways for styling a certain piece. This week I am focusing on a simple, knit black maxi dress. The dress itself is very plain. It has a sleeveless tank type top and a straight skirt with no form to it. Some people might use a maxi like this a swimsuit cover up or for lounging around the house when they don't have to go to work. The beauty of this dress is that it is reasonably priced, light weight, doesn't require a slip underneath and very comfortable..

View fullsize

Photo Credit Rebecca Trumbull, Make Up Rachel Christensen

 For this particular outfit I simply threw a gray and black striped tee over the top. The shirt is very light weight as the black stripes are made of a sheer see through material and the grey stripes are lighter weight knit. I added a pop of color with the Buttercup yellow beaded necklace and bracelets and lastly stepped into a very comfortable pair of black espadrilles.

All Photos by Rebecca Trumbull, Make Up Rachel Christensen

This was a very comfy outfit and would be great for an evening stroll along the beach or boardwalk. Or for a casual day of shopping. Next week I'll show you how to dress this simple maxi up for a night out!

Shop A Similar Look:

Black Maxi-dress - J.Crew - $44.50

Gray and Black Striped Tee - Target (longer version - would look cute belted) - $19.99 

Black shoes - DSW - $49.95

Necklace - Etsy - $22.00 or $16.00

Bracelet - Etsy - $9.00

Be sure to check out the next ten Over 50 Bloggers in the Between the Lines series by clicking on the image below. That will take you to Katherine's Corners. Katherine was wonderful enough and ambitious enough to start this series two weeks ago. Every week she features 10 bloggers over 50. These are bloggers who do everything from cook and farm to furniture redos and fashion. Head on over and give them some love!

Linking up with Top of the World Style, Sed Bona, Turning Heads Tuesday. Also linked up with Sydney Fashion Hunter.

Between the Lines - Stylin' Granny Mama

Please read to the end of this post for a new series started by Katie at Katherine's Corners.com called Between the Lines.

Today's post is a typical day in the life of me. I work at a university bookstore as an assistant manager. The way we are able to dress for this job is anything from fancy to casual. I usually go for dressy casual as my job not only involves computer work and scheduling, but book slamming as well. Book slamming is the term I made up for unboxing and shelving textbooks. If you have any experience with textbooks you know they are often heavy and come in boxes sometimes covered in dirt and grease.

On this particular day I opted for a chambray shirt as a jacket worn open over a monochrome peach echo top and pants. The top is a shade lighter than the pants, but it still works. The scarf I purchased from The Jacket Society. All of their items are made right here in the USA. Be sure to check out their site. I bought two of their scarves and they are just beautiful. 

My pictures on my cheapy flip phone do not do justice to the intricate beauty of this simple scarf. The open weave and the subtle silver threads give it a shimmery appearance. I can't wait to wear it with other summer outfits.

I finished off my work outfit with my comfy gray Keds with silver bling. A perfect match with my shimmery scarf. Below you can shop some similar styles.

Shop the Look

Chambray Shirt - Kohl's - $19.99

Peach Tee - Kohl's - $8.99, Nordstrom - $26.00

Peach Echo Pants - Christopher and Banks - $59.95

Scarf - The Jacket Society - $19.00

Gray Sneakers - Kohl's - $49.99

This week in addition to my regular fashion post I wanted to introduce you to a ten week series started by Katie at Katherine's Corner.com. The series titled, Between the Lines will be featured every Tuesday and centers on bloggers over 50. Being over 50 and starting a blog has been challenging. Technology has never been easy for me. I much more enjoy the written word on a paper page than a digital image on a computer screen. However, I think learning and adapting are very important characteristics to have, especially as we age. How many times have we heard the phrase, "They are so set in their ways!" Well, I don't want to be accused of that, so I thought that blogging would not only be a way to learn and grow, but to force me to write more and dabble with the world of fashion. In addition to that I wanted to be a source of encouragement and inspiration to women of all ages. I hope you will join us and visit the bloggers that are featured each week. You might find a few you want to follow on a regular basis. If you do, just hit their subscribe button and you'll get emails every time they feature a new post. I'm very thankful to Katie for all her hard work putting this together! Just click on the image below to see this week's featured bloggers.

Today I also linked up with Jess from Elegantly Dressed and Stylish for Turning Heads Tuesday. Friday I linked up with Jo-Lynne Shane and Jennie from A Pocket Full of Polka Dots.

Me? A Fashionista? Get Serious!

When I began seriously thinking about starting this blog, I laughed at the idea of talking about fashion.  My adult daughters would back me up when I say, I have not always been a fashionista.  I still have a long way to go. And posing in front of a camera, don't make me laugh!  Seriously, I am the one, who in every picture, has some strange contortion of the mouth. Either food is involved or I am talking passionately about something. I mean really!  Every picture. My husband of 28 years assures me that I am a beautiful woman, but the camera has yet to agree with him.

Photo credit: Rebecca Trumbull

With a new found interest in fashion, I began looking at magazines, noticing what people were wearing and perusing a number of blogs centering on women after 40. I am no expert, as I have already confessed, but I am fairly certain many women over 40 don't look like many of the bloggers that are posting pictures out there. Granted, I have only looked at a few blogs, but so many of them are pictures of thin, attractive women who are able to pull off skinny jeans without worry. This only fueled my desire to create a blog for actual women.

I am one of those women.  I am slightly (okay, so maybe moderately) overweight, my skin is beginning to look  like parchment and my hair feels more like dry grass than silk.  I am not a fashion guru and I have no desire to walk the streets of New York City in high heeled booties.  Sneakers, yes, or even a pair of stylish riding boots, but heels?  No way. Working part time, parenting adult children, loving on a grandson and working at a marriage, my style has developed just as I have developed as a woman.

Most of my clothing comes from second hand stores, although I do have a few favorite retailers that I will mention at some point. I am so new to blogging, I am still figuring out how it works, so bear with me. Rather than give you incentives to buy what I buy, I would like to encourage you to shop in your own closet. Most of us have too many clothes! God bless you women out there who don't like to shop. It is an addiction just like sweets and I hope to eventually get on that wagon too!

My desire is to show you how to feel good about yourself whether you work outside the home or inside the home; dress in suits or jeans; use top of the line make up or none at all.  The truth, ladies, is that God made women His piece de resistance. That's right, you are a jewel. Granted, some of us need more buffing than others, but I hope that you will find things on this blog that will help you shine.