Print Mixing Mash Up - Plaid Bomber Jacket - Outfit 1

If you are just joining me here on my blog, I am doing a series on print mixing. Week one focused on a yellow and white long sleeved tee ( Outfit 1, Outfit 2). Week two focused on a printed skirt (Outfit 1, Outfit 2). You can see the original posts for each outfit, by clicking on the links. My goal for each of these outfits is to show you three things: 1) You don’t have to spend buckets of money to look fashionable and be trendy, 2) Print mixing is not that hard, and 3) Your ability to print mix starts in your own closet. The only way I learned to print mix was practice, just like so many things in life that we aren’t born with an innate knowledge of.

This week’s outfits revolve around a plaid bomber jacket. I found this fun piece at Eden Fashion Boutique. It was marked down and I also had a coupon, so it was one of those win, win combos. Eden is a local boutique with stores in Sylvania, Ohio and Bowling Green, Ohio. I did a post on the Sylvania location and if you are interested, you can read about that here.

My daughter and I were doing some thrifting and shopping in Bowling Green and stopped in at their location. We both tried on numerous fun pieces and I bought this bomber jacket and a long sleeve tee that I posted on Instagram last Thursday.

The plaid jacket is a mix of orange and blue stripes on a gray background. I thought it would be fun to pair it with a print containing those same colors. When I came across this longer denim skirt, I thought to give it a try. While, I think the print mix works, I really don’t like the silhouette of the outfit. Just a little too baggy for my taste.

Here you can see the mix of prints closer up.

The fact that the outfit was going to be ultra casual made me reach for this olive hobo bag that I have used on the blog before. It is always fun to add a pretty brooch or two, to an otherwise more plain piece, whether it be a blouse, a jacket, a scarf or a bag like this one.

I also decided to wear my Seven Dials black combat boots. The reason I chose these was to bring together the black and white cuffs and collar on the jacket with the shoes.

To keep the edgy look I went for a necklace that I have had for many years. A combination of metal and beads, I like that it has a utility look to it.

The dark orange tee is a thrifted Chico’s tee. It really brings out the orange in the plaid jacket, as well as the rusty orange floral print of the skirt. This is another way to bring printed pieces together in a harmonious blend. (Yes, I am listening to Celtic music right now and I love the harmonies in their music, whether instrumental or vocal.) Pick a solid piece that is a common color in both pieces. You’ll see this idea again in Thursday’s post with this same jacket.

As always, I love to hear your thoughts on these outfits. Is this something your would wear? Do you like denim skirts? Do you like skirts that are this length or shorter? Do you have a bomber jacket that you like to wear? I value your input, so leave a comment or two below.

My hubby and I had a nice weekend away, but now I am fighting the crud. I was hoping to get through the whole winter without getting sick, but my grandson and daughter both got it, so I had to join the fun. Hope this post finds you all well.

Have a great Tuesday.

Print Mixing Mash Up - Printed Skirt - Outfit 2

Tuesday’s rendition of this skirt was meant to be a more casual take. To me it was something I could wear to the mall, if I wore skirts more often. Today’s outfit is meant to be more of a work wear look. Adding a button up blouse, and heels takes the look up a notch.

In Tuesday’s look the print mix wasn’t as obvious, as the two prints were not side by side. In this look the print mix is more pronounced, but I still think it is subtle enough that it works. Here again, the colors work together, even though the skirt doesn’t actually contain the green or the olive. The darker squares in the skirt are more of a brown, but seen here with this olive sweater, they look olive.

i found this button up shirt at H&M on clearance. I think I paid $6 for it. I love the sage green color and the feathers. Once again, I didn’t even think of this skirt when I bought it, but don’t they go well together?

When I started putting things together, I thought of this light purple bead and metal necklace. It really pulls out the lighter purple of the feathers in the shirt and the lighter purples on the skirt.

I opted to go with this Nicolle Miller bag. I wanted to put an adjective in front of the word bag in that last sentence, but I honestly don’t know if this is a tote, a shopper, a shoulder bag or something else all together. Usually a shoulder bag has a longer strap and a shopper is larger, so this is probably a tote bag, or I guess could even be considered a satchel. Whatever you want to call it, I chose it for the purply color and the fun straps. Once again, details say a lot.

These gray Comfort Plus heels have made plenty of appearances on the blog over the last three years. I like that they are simple, but textured. I also like that the heel isn’t too high. Even in my younger days, I always preferred a little bit lower heel, due to my clumsy gene.

You’ve seen this olive Sonoma sweater before as well. i love clothing pieces that work over and over again in my closet. I have that same olive sweater on right now, with a buffalo plaid tee and jeans, showing that it is indeed a versatile piece. Another Kohl’s clearance rack find, just showing that fashion and versatility does not have to be expensive.

Here is another shot of a very cold fashion blogger.

If it looks as though I am in pain, I think I was. That cold wind was biting. Ha, ha. Hopefully, those will be the last really cold pictures we had to take. I am hoping when we do our Pantone series pictures at the beginning of April, that it will be sufficiently warmer.

I hoped you liked this outfit. How many of you have a print skirt that you have been wondering how to style? Try a little bit of print mixing and see what you can come up with. I’d love to hear about what sort of things you have been inspired to put together.

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

Have a great weekend.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Print Mixing Mash Up - Striped Tee - Outfit 1

As i started pulling pieces out of my closet to do this print mixing series, I had no idea how much fun it would be and how many outfits I would come up with. It is amazing how many pieces I have that actually go together in a way that creates real life, wear it to work, outfits. The way I decided to put this together, was to feature one printed piece a week that will be the foundational piece that I build the rest of each outfit around. For this week it is a yellow striped Sonoma tee. The outfit you see today and the outfit on Thursday’s post will both be built around this same piece.

Let me preface this by saying, it was 18 degrees with a wind chill factor that made it feel like 4, when we were taking these photos. It was cold and that wind bit, but we got it done. My daughter is pretty quick at taking pictures, although in those temps, even the camera wasn’t always willing to work properly.

Today’s outfit was a casual look, that I might wear to a get together with friends, or a fun date night with my hubby.

It’s a little hard to see the print mix in these photos, but I showed the top and this kimono in last Thursday’s introduction to print mixing. You can see that post here, if you missed it.

This yellow striped long sleeved Sonoma tee is a recent purchase from Kohl’s. It is light weight and a great layering piece for spring.

This floral kimono was a clearance find at DSW. If you are a clearance shopper like me, it is always a good idea to check out the clearance rack at all stores you go into. DSW is a great place to find shoes on clearance, and I would have never thought to go in there to look for a pretty kimono like this, but there it was. In fact I got two other ones that will no doubt make it on to the blog at some point.

These white Gloria Vanderbilt jeans you just saw on the blog, last week when I was wearing them with my scarf print blouse. You can see that post here. These are my favorite white jeans. They are thick enough that my underwear don’t show through and I like the wider leg.

I wanted to keep this look more casual so I opted for my navy blue Keds. After we took these photos are were on the way back into the house, I realized we needed to take a picture of my shoes, thus the snow.

I grabbed this bright blue tote to go with the bright blue in the kimono. This bag is thrifted and Nine & Co. brand. I do like a good sized tote bag like this for traveling. I can fit a lot more in it, like a book and a pad of paper, in case i get the urge to read or write. I know there are electronic versions available, but I still like the feel of a book in my hand or moving a pen on a piece of paper.

You could easily replicate this look by using a color of your choosing for the striped tee and then picking a piece with a complimentary color for the kimono or even a floral cardigan or bomber jacket. It’s not that you create an outfit that looks just like mine, but that you find things in your own closet that will give you a similar look. You wouldn’t have to wear white jeans. Any wash of denim would look cute with a print mix like this or pick out another color that goes with one of the other colors in your print pieces. For instance, my kimono also contains brown and is on a black background. Either color could have worked for my bottom piece.

Why this works:

The main reason this works is the color. The yellow of the striped tee goes perfectly with the yellow in the kimono. The other reason it works is that the stripes are small and narrow, which works well with the busier, bolder pattern of the kimono.

What do you think? Do you like this outfit? Do you have pieces like this in your closet that you like to pair together for a fun print mixing look? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave me some love in the comments section.

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

Spring Trend - Scarf Prints

As I mentioned in last Tuesday’s Spring Trend post on crafted pieces, print mixing is bigger and better than ever. One of the patterns that you will see gracing the stores is scarf print. Scarf prints started a come back back in the fall of last year, but seem to be showing up more and more. Scarf prints are an easy way to mix prints effortlessly. The prints are already picked out for you and all you have to do is take it off the hanger and decide what you want to wear it with. Whether you choose jeans, skirts, leggings, shorts or some other combination, scarf prints will leave you feeling like a print mixing pro.

I’ve had this Apt. 9, scarf print blouse for eons. Every time I think about getting rid of it, I end up hanging on to it. Now I am glad I did. I wish I would have thought to have taken a picture of the blouse without the jacket on, but it was freezing outside and we were just trying to get the pictures finished.

I did the front tuck with the blouse and added a black studded leather belt, just to add a little more interest and texture.

I thought my white Gloria Vanderbilt jeans the perfect bottom piece for this look, to make it more spring-like. While white can be worn all year round, I am a bit of a traditionalist, in that, I like to keep my whites more for spring, summer and a bit into fall. I do agree that white is a great color even in the winter and can really brighten up an otherwise mundane time period. I guess that is one of the reasons I would rather have snow in the winter time, than just brown grass and gray trees.

Since the emphasis was meant to be on print mixing, I decided to add my Black Label, Evan Piccone polka dot blazer. A JC Penney clearance find, this cute little number goes with so many things and is the perfect way to add a print to any outfit without going over the top. You can also see in this picture the blue bead necklace that I chose to wear. This was another hand-me-over from my daughter. It is fun to have girls to be able to swap stuff with.

These Easy Spirit black patent leather block heels I’ve styled on the blog before. I like the lower heel and that the toe is not pointy, but also not rounded. The bit of gold is the perfect amount of bling.

This cute cross body bag was a Christmas gift from my younger daughter. Both my girls do a good job picking out gifts for me. The light blue color is perfect for spring and compliments the blue in the blouse.

What do you think of scarf prints? Do you own any scarf print items? How do you like to wear your scarf prints? How do you like to wear your scarves? Leave me some thoughts in the comments.

I’ve included a few shopping links for scarf print items. Please enjoy looking these over. These are affiliate links. If you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my site, I get a little commission. All opinions are my own.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today. Have a great Tuesday.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Celebrating My 3 Year Bloggiversary with a Giveaway

It is hard for me to believe that I am celebrating three years as a Faith and Fashion blogger. It has been an interesting hobby and I have definitely created new pathways in my brain. There was so much I had to learn about downloading pictures, pasting in links, collaborations and more. There were times that I was ready to throw in the towel, and others, where I was very excited about continuing this journey as a blogger. I have connected with friends, people I may never personally meet, but friends still the same and I have stretched myself by learning new things both technologically and in the realm of fashion blogging.

I wanted to make this a celebration by giving something away. You, my faithful subscribers, are the ones who really keep me motivated to keep doing this. Let’s face it, there are thousands of fashion bloggers out there and thousands of faith bloggers. You could easily find a blog that is more up on the trends, and geared towards featuring great clothes from retailers for you to see and buy. You could also find a blog that is more geared towards the younger set, moms who are raising kids, who need just the right advice or encouragement about how to keep their sanity in these busy years of their lives. These are all good and so many of them are extremely well done. So why do I keep doing this?

Every time, I get discouraged, and start asking myself, why am I doing this, God seems to send just the right person along, to comment on my blog. When someone tells me I inspired them with a certain outfit, to try to do a similar thing from their own closet, or when a subscriber tells me, the faith post I wrote, was just what they needed to hear, that is why I keep doing this.

You see, when I started blogging, it wasn’t about making money, getting free stuff, or becoming famous, it revolved around my desire to write and my desire to encourage. I know in my heart of hearts that there are hundreds of women out there who are having bad days. It might be hard to get out of bed, let alone, figure out what to wear. I also know there are women, like me, who can’t always talk about what is going on inside, because there are other factors and people involved. However, we can still be encouraging by just being there for one another. Think of me, as that friend that shows up at your door at just the right time, to give you a hug and remind you that you are beautiful and you are valuable. We all need that.

I thought it would be fun to show you a few pictures from when I first started blogging and compare them to more recent photos. Let me know if you see any changes, for good or bad. Ha, ha.

This is from my very first fashion post in 2016. If you want to see the original post, just click on the picture.

The next image is from a year later, in February of 2017.

Here is an outfit from February 2018.

And of course I had to add one from this year.

I think it is fun to watch the progression, not only in my daughter Rebecca’s photography, my other daughter Rachel’s make up, but also in the changes in my hair. Ha, ha. Having a blog is a great way to document changes in your life.

I thought a Target gift card would be a good choice for this giveaway. Everyone can find something or other at Target, even if you don’t like their clothes, bags or shoes, you can always use $30 to stock up on toilet paper or cards for upcoming birthdays.

Just follow the directions below to participate in the giveaway.

Thanks again for all of your support. Entries for the giveaway will close on Friday, February 15th at midnight. I’ll announce the winner Tuesday, February 19th.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Spring Trend - Neons and Pastels

In contrast to last week’s post, Spring Trend - Head to Toe Neutral, this week I am focusing on the Spring Trend of neons and pastels. Rather than divide this into two posts, I decided to combine the trends and the colors into one outfit. If we can wear neutral on the top and bottom, why not create an outfit with neon and pastel together?

This bright neon yellow top is sleeveless and there was no way I was going out in the snow in a sleeveless top, so I added a recent purchase from Forever 21’s clearance racks, this citron yellow chenille sweater. The top is H&M and is a hand-me-over from my daughter. The sweater is as cozy and soft as it looks, so I was glad to add it to my outfit on this very cold day.

These blush jeans are H&M and you’ve seen them before on the blog in my 20 Days of Christmas series. They have a little bit of distressing on them, but because they are so light you can hardly notice. Since I was going with light pink for my pastel, I added my blush SO flats and my blush clutch.

My necklace was a thrift store find. I thought it added another splash of neon in a different color. If you don’t like neon, this is a simple way to add just a splash of color without being overwhelmed by it. Accessories are always a good way to add color that you wouldn’t necessarily wear near you face.

What do you think of the neon trend? would you wear these bright colors or do you prefer neutrals like the ones in my post last week? Are you a pastel lover? I’d love to hear you thoughts.

I’ve included a few shopping links for all things neon. If you don’t like wearing bright colors like this try adding a little splash by wearing neon earrings or by carrying a neon purse. You’ll be right on trend.

These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

My Eva Trends Wish List and a Sale

Eva Trends is having a sale right now, so I thought I would share a few of the things on my wish list. If you purchase something with my code AC15 you get 15% off. In addition to that they are giving away a dress with every purchase. This only lasts until the end of January, so if you are at all interested in Eva Trends, you’ll want to take advantage of this great deal.

I have worked with Eva Trends on two different occasions and have enjoyed all the different pieces I was gifted. You can see each of those posts by clicking on the links below:

Asymmetrical Tassel Knit Sweater

Spell Color Cape Sweater

Lace Body Kimono

Eva Trends Dress

Half Collar Sweater Top

Verdant Cardigan

I love that this retailer has so many options. However, their pieces sell out fast and are quickly replaced by other fun, whimsical designs. If you see something you really like I wouldn’t wait to long to snatch it up. With the current sale, my discount and a free dress, now is the time to buy.

Here are a few of my faves:’

Maxi Dresses

Strange Wild Color Print Maxi

Rose Hem Silk Maxi Dress

Karen Button-hole Neck with Floral Print (Yellow)

A-Line Dresses -

Natasha Black and White Striped

Tropics Lady A-Line Dress

Stripes Field A-Line Dress

Tops -

Sarah Round Neck Cactus Sweater

Lenora Stand Neck Vintage Embroidered Shirt

Stripe Hope Bat Sleeve Sweater

I could fill this post with many more items of interest to me from Eva Trends. They have a number of artsy, colorful sweaters and fun things like dungarees and accessories too. Be sure to head on over to Eva Trends to take advantage of this great sale. Don’t forget to use the code AC15 for an additional 15% off your entire order at checkout.

All the items I received from Eva Trends were gifted to me. All opinion are my own.

Have a great day.

Eva Trends - Half Collar Sweater Top

When I first was contacted by Eva Trends to do a collaboration, I immediately went to their site to check out their merchandise. What I found was a large collection of pieces from roomy artistic tops, to lovely lace dresses, to baggy grunge type pants. There really is something for everyone at this retailer. With reasonable price points and rapid turn over of styles there is always something new to look at on their website.

This is the second collaboration I have done with Eva Trends and enjoyed selecting the pieces that I have been sharing with you. Today is my final piece and is called the Half Collar Sweater Top with Dough Twist Stripes.

There are so many pieces that I like, but when I saw this sweater, I thought it would be perfect for the winter. Not only is it a rich, dark red, but I like the looser fit and the half collar. It is not truly a turtle neck, but not a crew next either.

This sweater features drop shoulders, dough stripe or cable knit texturing and flared or bell sleeves. This is a thick sweater and quite warm. This particular sweater is no longer available, but if you click on the link you will see several pages of fun sweaters, many of which would be great for spring.

I decided to style the sweater for this shoot with my plaid ankle pants, however, I wore this to work the other day and wore a pair of boot cut jeans and my dark red, ankle boots. The plaid pants are fun, but with where this sweater ends, adds a great deal of bulk to my widening bottom. Yes, I am one of those people who gained weight over Christmas!

What a face, right?

For accessories I chose my brown, lace up ankle boots, some beaded jewelry and my blue, textured clutch.

Cable knit sweaters are a warm cozy way to dress up an outfit. Layer collared blouses underneath or throw one over a dress. Do you own a cable knit sweater or two? I have a number of sweaters like this with the cable knitting in various colors. How would you style a sweater like this? Would you wear it with jeans, a pencil skirt, leggings or a maxi?

I hope you enjoyed these posts about Eva Trends. If you see something you like be sure to use the code AC15 at check out to receive 15% off your entire order.

These items were gifted to me by Eva Trends. I was not paid to do these posts and all opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

20 Days of Christmas - Plaid Pants

Every now and then I have to get outside my comfort box. I have never really liked wearing things that draw attention to my lower half. Especially tight fitting, brightly colored pieces. I prefer a-line dresses to body con styles. If you don’t know, body con is more of a form fitting dress. I prefer dark wash jeans to lighter washes and feel most comfortable in jeans rather than leggings. I don’t wear leggings as pants, or if I do, I have my bum covered. Anyway, when I saw these crazy, red, plaid pants at Target on the clearance rack, I immediately thought of my Christmas challenge.

Those of you who regularly follow me, know I have been doing a monthly column called Outside the Box. These have been posts that I have done to try to challenge myself to get out of my typical fashion mentality. Let’s face it, we all like to be comfortable. Some women are comfortable in heels and dresses. While I can do that, it is not what I turn to when I want to feel secure. My go to, as you know are jeans and cozy sweaters or flannel shirts. But I also know that part of getting older is the urge to get stuck in a rut and not be willing to learn or try new things, thus the idea of getting outside the box.

These plaid pants do not have any green in them, so they will be easily styled with other colors, but I thought they were perfect when paired with a newer Croft & Barrow v-neck cable knit sweater and a thrifted blazer.

This blazer is actually meant to have a double breasted look, but I am too big to button it in that manner. However, when I saw it, it was the buttons on each side that made me want to buy it, that and the color. I think wearing it open, using the buttons for a decoration, works just as well. Since it is more of a forest green, I felt that it keeps the outfit from being too over the top with color.

I decided on silver for my accessories and was excited to remember this large silver pendant necklace that closely resembles a snowflake. That and my SO silver flats and a small silver clutch complete the ensemble.

I think this outfit is festive and fun and would work well for a Christmas office party, or a lunch date with your girlfriends. Would you wear a pair of pants like this? How do you like to dress up for a Christmas party?

I’ve included a few shopping links for more fun plaid prints. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend everyone.

20 Days of Christmas - Fairisle Sweater

Nothing says winter better than a Fair Isle Sweater. Fair Isle is one of the Shetland islands and it is from this area that the familiar pattern of knitting, using multiple colors came into play in the fashion world. The patterns became popular in 1921 when the Prince of Wales wore Fair Isle sweaters in public. You can see examples of true Fair Isle pieces by visiting this website, Mati Ventrillon. Her story is interesting and the pieces she creates unique and beautiful. It is is worth taking time to peruse her site. If you have the resources and are able to wear wool, one of these sweaters would be a once in a life time investment.

Obviously, my sweater was made on a machine at a factory and is strictly man made materials, but finding this Chap’s brand sweater at Kohl’s on the clearance rack last year was a win for me. I cannot wear wool, as it makes me itch and the price for one of Mati’s beautiful hand made pieces tops off at about $250. Since I don’t live on a chilly island north of Scotland, I think I’ll stick with my cheap fake. Ha, ha.

I was a bit at a loss this morning with taking pictures. My weekend was so busy and then I didn’t feel the greatest yesterday, so I didn’t get my pictures taken after work as I had planned. Frankly, I forgot. My brain has turned to its usual SAD slush! Ugg. Weeks of clouds takes it’s toll and while we had one sunny day on Sunday, one day is not enough to bring me completely out of the seasonal funk.

Anyway, it was so overcast this morning, I knew it was going to take more time than I had to get my camera to a setting that would take a decent picture outside, so I opted for my phone. Lots of these turned out fuzzy, so I apologize for the not so great photos.

Here is a close up of the pretty red, white and blue pattern. While typically that color combination is patriotic, on this sweater it seems more festive and Christmas ready rather than Fourth of July. I love the dark navy with the lighter more silvery blue and the red almost borders on pink.

This fun silver fringe necklace is one of my favorites and I like the way it pulls out the silvery threads in the sweater pattern. The other reason I like this necklace is if you get nervous or bored it is fun to fiddle with the fringe! Ha, ha.

Since I wanted to keep the outfit casual I chose to pair it with my silver sneakers which are a new addition to my shoe pile. I found these at a local department store on clearance. Today was the first time I wore them for a long period of time. They weren’t too uncomfortable, although by the time I was done shopping with my daughter at the mall, I was starting to feel a few spots that were rubbing. Oh well, I am sure they will still get plenty of use at my part time job and other occasions where I don’t have to do a ton of walking.

I think this works for a very casual Christmas outfit and the sweater could easily be dressed up with a cute pencil skirt or even a pleated skirt with heels. You could also go for gold, instead of silver for your accessories to change it up a bit.

One last picture just for laughs and of course this one turned out perfect! Ha, ha. Isn’t that the way of things?

I was looking out the window and saw a huge flat bed truck with a full load of wooden palettes doing a U-turn in the middle of our street. It was one of those, “All righty then,” moments. Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Do you own a Fair Isle sweater? Is this the type of sweater you would wear? I’ve included a few shopping links for a few that are more budget friendly. Remember, these are affiliate links. If you click on a link I get a few pennies. All opinions are my own. I appreciate your support, but even more than clicks, I appreciate your comments. I love to hear how I have inspired you or how you have taken a fashion trend or idea and made it your own. That is so inspiring to me.

Have a great evening.

Hanging Out with the Happiness Boutique

I was contacted by a German company called Happiness Boutique wanting to do a collaboration with me. The Happiness Boutique describes its style as being “…modern classic with a charming vintage touch.” They offered I pick out two of their jewelry pieces in exchange for featuring them on a blog post. When you check out their website you will see a collection of youthful, whimsical pieces that will add an element of bling or pizzazz to any outfit.

I pulled this outfit together just before I flew out the door to go to take pictures at my daughter’s house. I wanted to put together a look that was both warm and fun and that could be worn for a Thanksgiving day get together. I also wanted to think outside the box, since I wanted the jewelry to take center stage.

The two pieces I chose were a necklace and a bracelet. The necklace has more of a traditional gold finish and the bracelet is more of a rose gold.

I chose this double leaf pendant because I like that it acts like both a pendant and a fringe necklace. The leaves are very cute and add a unique textural element to the outfit. There is also a small dark colored jewel at the point from which the two leaf chains hang. This vintage feather necklace is a wonderfully delicate piece that makes a statement all on its own.

I chose to wear my new sweater from Eden Fashion Boutique as a solid backdrop for the necklace. Wanting the necklace to make a statement, I was afraid it would get lost in a print blouse, but any solid back ground really makes this pop.

The wavy bracelet in rose gold, is another statement piece. I love the wavy design, but also the added texture on the one loop. This shimmery, shiny piece is going to be making regular appearances throughout the holidays.

Happiness Boutique is currently offering my readers a 10% discount on your total order over $21.00. Just enter stylingrannymama at checkout. Act soon on that, because the extra 10% is a special for the Christmas season from November 20th to December 20th. In addition Happiness Boutique offers free shipping and a customer reward program.

I hope you enjoyed this look at Happiness Boutique. These items were gifted to me. I received no money for this post. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Here are a few other fun pieces from Happiness Boutique.

Girls' Night Out - Eden Fashion Boutique

This past Thursday a local small business, Eden Fashion Boutique, was hosting a Girls’ Night Out party at their downtown Sylvania, Ohio location. Eden Fashion Boutique was the brain child of Katie Thompson and originally started in Bowling Green, Ohio, but their cute little retail store has expanded to include the Sylvania location. In addition, they have an online shop that features the same pieces they have in store, so if you like to shop from home, be sure to check out their site.

The Eden Fashion Boutique in downtown Sylvania is a small space that packs a big punch. From the stylish mannequins in the windows to the racks filled with items grouped by color, I couldn’t help but feel the need to try on every item in the store. Mustard and sunflower yellows, cedar greens, rich burgundies and classic black and whites filled the racks with the warm and cozy textures of fall and on coming winter.

The obvious idea behind this party was to bring your girl friends and have an intimate shopping experience while enjoying wine and snacks.

The party was timed from 5 to 9 so Rebecca and I got there right about 5:30. When we first walked in there were only a few other people in the store, but before we knew it, Eden was hopping. Rebecca had contacted Katie ahead of time and asked if she would be up for having us take pictures, try things on and so on. Katie was all about it and when I met her in person I was so impressed with her positive and energetic spirit.

Katie’s background is marketing and organizational development. A stay at home mom for nine years she was inspired to fill a need in her community.

“I wanted an uncluttered, curated place to shop with unique pieces that were affordable. And since that didn’t exist, I decided to create it myself!”

This wasn’t something that came about on a whim. Eden has their own branding statements that include their vision and mission. Their mission statement will ring true with many of my fellow bloggers:

“We strive to encourage, empower, and inspire women….” This statement is supported by the space Eden occupies, the clothing sold there, the people who serve the customers and the customers themselves. Shopping at Eden is not like going to the mall. It is an intimate, relaxed and positive experience.

That positivity translates into the boutiques from the friendly and helpful staff, to the signs on the walls, to the cute stickers they use to tape the tissue they wrap each purchased item in when it goes into your bag.

Picture from my cell phone.

They were having a special sale that evening, if you bought three items you got one free. With Rebecca’s birthday coming up this weekend, I told her to pick out two items and I would pick out two items. Let the shopping commence.

Don’t ask me to pose and shop at the same time! This is serious business! Ha, ha.

There were so many delicious pieces that it was hard to not try everything on. I told Katie I was going to have to come back for my own personal style session and do just that.

These were a few of the things I tried on.

This fuzzy cardigan was like wrapping yourself inside a blanket. What could be better in the winter than a stylish fuzzy blanket with arms? I loved the color.

These were a pair of their pull on jeans. The fit was nice and the material soft and flexible. Rebecca ended up with a pair of these. This sweat shirt is just another example of the positivity vibe of this store.

I’m just loving this brown mustard yellow color. The turtleneck is so soft to the touch and the sweater is another fun piece I would love to add to my wardrobe. I ended up with the turtleneck. It has an asymmetrical neck line. That and the soft fabric sold me.

I’ll be styling this on the blog later this week. I also bought a dark green pullover sweater that will be making an appearance on the blog as well.

This was a fun event and I hope to make Eden a more frequent stop. They keep their collections moving, so there are always new items to check out. The clothing seems to be well made, the price points are not bad and the shopping experience is intimate and fun. I will definitely be back.

I hope you enjoyed this look at one of my home town’s local small businesses and if you have the time, check out their online store. If you are ever in the area, this is a retail business worth checking out.

You can also visit Eden on their facebook page or their Instagram account.

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Outfit Inspiration - Gingham and Olive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rebecca Trumbull

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

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

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

Have a wonderful weekend!

Pantone Fall 2018 - Russet Orange, Ultra Violet and Quiet Gray

This week’s Pantone Fall 2018 colors are a bright pumpkin orange and a deep purple we met last spring, that won Color of the Year. Russet Orange is an easy color on the eye and reminds us of those beautiful Maple trees that boast red, yellow and orange leaves. Ultra Violet might be part of your Halloween decorating. Since the combination of orange and purple has become a less dark and more party friendly Halloween pairing, I thought it would be fun to put these two colors together.

These pants I’ve worn on the blog before, here, here and here. They are Worthington brand from JC Penney. These have a side zipper and sit higher on the waist, so help to create a more smooth silhouette.

My top is an older tee from Christopher & Banks. I love the color of this top. To keep the bright colors from being too overwhelming, I chose the Pantone color Quiet Gray as a topper to polish off the look. This fun piece is from the Kohl’s clearance rack and is a brand called About A Girl. I really like the double breasted look and the feminine detailed ruffles.

I kept my accessories fairly simple. This lovely leaf necklace I found at a shop in Grayling, MI called The Main Branch Gallery. Boasting art work and crafts from local artisans it is a great place to visit if you are ever up that way.

I then finished off the look with my silver clutch and silver SO flats that I recently added to my SO shoe collection from Kohl’s. Here is a link if you are interested in other colors. They are on sale right now for only $21.99, which is a good deal for a fairly comfortable shoe that makes any outfit look a little more dressed up. I normally wear an 8.5 or a 9 and I get these in a 9.

What do you think of these two colors? Would you wear Russet Orange and Ultra Violet together? I’ve included a few shopping links below. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Pantone Fall 2018 - Martini Olive, Ceylon Yellow and Tofu

I will confess, these colors are not my favorites. It might be due to the fact that I decided to combine them into one outfit.

Martini Olive is more of a gray or brown based olive. I honestly like an olive that is more green. However, for the sake of being open minded this would be a good neutral that could go with many different colors including navy, black or even a rich deep red. Maybe I should have paired Martini Olive with Red Pear. What do you think? These jeans are thrifted and Gloria Vanderbilt brand.

Ceylon Yellow has a bit of a bite. It is not really a mustard, but has a bit of spice underlying it. I have fallen in love with yellow, but my personal tastes tend more towards the yellows that are sunflower or goldenrod. The top is thrifted and Merona brand.

I opted for orange, as the pop of color I felt this outfit needed. Orange bag, orange necklace and bracelet: I feel like it epitomizes the mix of colors in the fall that we so often see in the trees.

This jacket I found at H&M on the clearance rack. Once again, it is a moto type jacket, but tends more towards a tweedy look, which gives it an entirely different vibe from last week’s metallic blush moto jacket. The color is in line with the Pantone classic color labeled Tofu. Not a true white, but not a true cream, it seems to fall somewhere in between. I love the texture details, including the frayed sleeves and bottom hem.

Once again, I am wearing my olive SO ankle boots. Just like my SO ballet flats these boots are very comfortable and look nice. I love the rich texture of the faux suede.

I am not completely satisfied with this look. I don’t like what I did with my hair, even though that is something I do from time to time and this outfit doesn’t have enough color contrast for me. I like bright, rich colors and this palette just leaves me looking washed out. But hey, not every outfit can be a winner. I’m still learning and growing.

I do think these colors would be better paired with another color. The yellow would look pretty with a blue shade or even a rich chocolate brown and like I said earlier, the Martini Olive would pair well with a navy, burgundy or even a purple.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts, both good and bad! I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Texture Talk - Part 2 - Embellishments and Fabrics

Last week I took a look at how adding texture to our outfits can change and elevate our same old, same old looks, to a new level. Texture is all around us in nature and in the homes we live in. Take a look at your living room or bedroom. There is texture on the couch in the form of upholstery, pillows, and throw blankets. Your bed probably has a thick cushy comforter or mattress pad that adds comfort for a better night's sleep. We fill our homes with pictures, decorations and nick nacks to add depth and interest to the environment we live in. Why would we not do the same thing to our outfits?

Last week I looked specifically at adding texture in the form of our accessories, such as bags, shoes, jewelry and scarves. You can see that post here. This week I want to look at fabrics and embellishments and what choices there are to add texture in this regard. 

Embellishments:

This would include anything added to a clothing piece that gives it texture that is not specifically fabric related. Fabrics like lace could be an embellishment, but I am going to leave that for the fabrics section. 

Things like beads, jewels, sequins, fringe and special buttons, are all embellishments. Certain types of stitching, like the embroidery above, as well as things like gathering or ruching also add texture to an outfit. 

Fabrics:

Lace

I love lace and I think it can add an element of elegance to any outfit. It obviously adds beautiful texture when it is worn. Combining lace with leather or lace with some other embellishment makes for an even more interesting outfit. 

Knits

My pictures all revolve around open weave knits. Things like crochet or knitted pieces are great for boosting the texture factor. However, even regular knits made in a factory add dimension to a look, especially if they are ribbed or manufactured in a way that builds texture. You'll see an example of ribbed knits a little further below. 

Fabrics made with special textures:

Pleats

Quilting

Ribbing

Texture is a wonderful thing to add to our outfits. As you begin thinking about fall in particular you will be naturally reaching for things like cozy knit sweaters and fun boots. Coats and jackets will also add an element of texture to your outfit. 

I am going to stretch this into one more post, because I think there is one more area of texture we need to discuss. Look for another post next Thursday. Until then, have a great weekend!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Is it a Kimono or a Ruana? Week 6

This is my final installment in this series on kimonos and ruanas. If you have been following along you know there is a difference between these two pieces, but often the way a piece is put together, makes it more of a hybrid, or something I call a "kiana". A piece like this has both the longer front drape of a ruana, but also the more formed sleeves of a kimono. Today's piece is a kimono and this one is a heavier piece that will take me well into fall. I found this cute little number at a Bealls store in Florida last December, when our whole family spent a few days together in the St. Petersburg area. It was cold, so shopping was a fun alternative to the beach for my daughters and I. 

I decided to pull my outfit colors from the flower embroidered on the front left of the kimono, thus the red and olive green. Here is a picture of the outfit without the kimono.

This olive top is thrifted and Chico's brand. The crop pants are from the Meijer clearance racks and is a brand called Stitch Star. 

Once in a while things get rather interesting when my daughter is taking my pictures. I think she gets bored so she was making rather suggestive comments about the flower on my chest, which elicited this response from me. Of course she had to get it all on camera!

Anyway, you can see the floral embellishment includes the deeper red like my pants and a lighter pink. I just got a pair of distressed pink jeans from H&M and I think they will look nice with this kimono. There is also just a hint of green in the leaves, thus my olive green top. The marled black knit of the kimono is a nice alternative to an all black look. 

i went for brassy gold in my accessories and grabbed my small heart embellished black clutch and black strap block heeled sandals to complete the look. 

Aren't the snaps on these pants a fun addition. I am looking forward to styling these pants more different ways this fall. 

Here is a back view, showing you the hi-low hem line of the kimono. 

What do you think of this outfit? Do you think the red pants are too bold? Would you where bright colored pants? Do you own a kimono? How do you like to where yours? I'd love to hear you thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments section below. If you are not sure how to comment, just read the instructions below. 

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Have a great day!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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Texture Talk - Part 1 - Accessories

I am going to veer away from my usual monthly column for a few weeks to talk about texture. We all know that our clothes are made of various fabrics. These fabrics are woven together from many different materials including plant based items like cotton and linen, to man made items like rayon and nylon. Every fabric has its own feel, swing (or lack thereof) and texture. Many materials might appear to have no texture at all, but even something smooth has texture. Silk for example is smooth to the touch, but a silk blouse feels beautiful because of its smooth, silky texture. Why, then, even worry about whether an outfit has textural elements, when all fabric has texture of some sort? The reason is quite simple. Texture adds interest.

Let's look at a few examples of texture in nature. 

Try to imagine our world without texture? Texture has the ability to tell us something about the thing we are looking at. The bark looks rough. The feather looks soft. The trees have depth. The grass looks wispy. Leaves and flowers speak of life and provide a texture all their own. In the same way, our clothes speak volumes about who we are and what is important to us. 

As I mentioned before all fabric has texture, whether it be smooth, rough, bumpy, itchy, or anything in between, but what sorts of elements can add texture to our outfits to make them more interesting? Think of elements such as ruching, ruffles, buckles, zippers, weaving, fringe and lacing. All of these elements create interest in the palette of an outfit. 

This week I want to give you a few examples of how accessories can easily add texture to your outfits. These are all items you've seen on the blog before and came from my closet. Many of them came from thrift stores or end of season clearance racks. You certainly don't have to spend tons of money to add interesting elements to your every day outfits. Take a look.

Bags

A bag is the perfect way to add texture to an outfit without adding a bulky extra layer. We often think of adding texture by putting on a chunky sweater or a fury scarf, but a bag with ruching, weaving or other textural components is a great way to take your texture IQ up a notch. 

Shoes

You might wonder how a pair of shoes can add texture to an outfit, but think about perforations, laces, shearling or fur, buckles, straps, and bling.

Photo by me

Jewelry

Jewelry is another way to add texture to your outfits without adding a lot of bulk. There are so many choices when it comes to jewelry with just about every material imaginable. Here are some of my pieces.

Scarves

I love scarves and have way too many of them, but scarves are another way to add texture to an outfit. With summer coming to an end and fall on its way, now is a great time to pull out those scarves and think about how you can add them to your outfits. 

Photo by me

Photo by me

Accessories are an easy way to add texture to all of your outfits without having to buy new items. You already have purses and bags and jewelry. Think about how you can combine these for more interesting and undated looks. 

Next week I'll continue this little side series by taking a look fabrics and embellisments that also add texture to our outfits. I hope you enjoyed this post. Leave me some love in the comments section and have a great weekend!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull, unless otherwise specified. 

Is it a Kimono or a Ruana? Week 5

I have two installments left in this series on kimonos and ruanas. I have found that adding a couple of these pieces to your closet will give you miles of extra wear on things that you might consider more plain or mundane. The kimono or ruana is a piece that can stand alone, meaning it doesn't need much help to make an outfit look fabulous. For most of these I have worn the kimono/ruana over an outfit built from simple pieces like a skirt and a tank, pants and a tank, etc. The over piece is what takes center stage, which it should. 

Today's look is a different sort of kimono/ruana. Once again, I am going to call this one a "kiana" because it takes the long drape of the ruana, but makes it more kimono like by sewing the sides together to create a sleeve of sorts. When I first got this open weave piece, it was only sewn at the sides by a few stitches. I liked the way it stayed in place, but soon the stitching came undone and I noticed it was harder to keep the piece from slipping off, so I sewed the sides back together. 

I decided with this open weave look, I could focus more on the entire outfit standing out, thus the tropical print pants and graphic tee. I got these fun pants at H&M on the clearance rack. I don't wear this loud of a print too often, but I loved the fit and thought it was time, once again, to climb out of my comfort box. 

At first, I tried this on with a number of tank tops, including white and a light blue, but nothing seemed right. It was then I remembered, I had this thrifted tee and the greens matched perfectly. 

I chose the pink accessories to pull out the little bit of pink in the pants. Yes, my necklace is wrapped over my boob! Sometimes, I forget to make sure everything is positioned just perfectly. Ha, ha. Oh well, just keeping it real!

Just a few words about this shirt. If you follow my Instagram feed, then you have seen this before and I said a similar thing then that I am going to say now. It is often hard to see beauty in tragedy. How do we see beauty in school shootings, wild fires, volcanoes, mud slides and things like disease and addictions? The point is not that those things themselves contain the beauty, but that there can be beauty, even amid those difficulties. Communities coming together to help families of victims, amazing fire fighters who risk their lives saving others, and people who come out stronger than ever going through loss and heartache are all beautiful. 

There is a verse in the Bible, which says,

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

— Romans 8:28 (NASB)

I'm not going to preach to you, because this is a fashion post, but I truly believe this. Gratitude plays a huge part in seeing beauty and in bringing healing when we have gone through difficulties. Finding, even the smallest things to be thankful for, is the first step to realizing exactly what this tee represents. I'll step off my soap box now. Ha, ha.

Here is a back view of the "kiana".

Besides the open weave allowing your outfit to take center stage, rather than the kimono, it also allows air to get through. I have found many kimonos are make of polyester, poly blends, viscose or silk and actually can make you feel more hot and sticky. That's perfect when you are in an overly air conditioned building, but not if you are walking at the fair or an outdoor summer festival. An open weave outer piece is a great option for the waning days of summer. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. What do you think of this outfit? I'd love to hear your comments on how you style a kimono or a ruana in the comments sections below. 

I've included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links which means if you click on a link I get a few pennies. If you purchase something through my site, I might get a little commission. I appreciate all the clicks you can give, but even more I appreciate hearing from you. 

Have a great day everyone!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Is it a Kimono or a Ruana? Week 3

If you are new to my blog or to this series, I am looking at the difference between a kimono and a ruana. You can see the definition of each as I explained it here in last week's post. This week's outfit revolves around a more traditional kimono. The first post in this series featured an outfit with a short kimono. You can see that post here. Front and center this week is a longer kimono, which to me, seems more traditional to what I think a kimono is supposed to look like as far as shape and length. 

This kimono is thrifted Massini brand. Since the kimono has a lot going on with its vivid floral print, I decided to go with a more monochrome outfit underneath. 

This gray, embellished tank is Croft and Barrow and was thrifted. The pants are Falls Creek and a recent clearance purchase from Meijer. Once again, I like the idea of print mixing stripes and floral. This time the stripes are vertical rather than horizontal and worn on the bottom rather than the top. 

No outfit is complete without a few accessories. I added a silver necklace and a couple of unique bracelets. Since the tank has the beaded embellishment I went for a simple, understated necklace. 

I have also fallen in love with the color yellow and I couldn't resist adding the bright sunflower feel of this thrifted Elle bag to the berry and gray mix. Do you think it works?

I decided on my gray oxfords instead of sandals, which makes this a work approved outfit. We can't wear open toed shoes at the bookstore. Although, I'll tell you even a shoe like this will not keep your foot from getting injured when you drop a 1st Semester Nursing package on it. Ha, ha. 

Here is a back view of the kimono. The hem line is higher in the front and lower in the back. 

What do you think of this outfit? Do you have a kimono hanging in your closet? If not, I'm sharing a few pretty ones that I found in my shopping section. I also shared how you might put them together with pants and a top. These are just suggestions. These are affiliate links. If you click on a link I get a few pennies. If you purchase something through my links, I might get a small commission. All opinions are my own. 

I hope you enjoyed today's post. I'd love to hear from you. You can also see what I am wearing on a daily basis by checking out my Instagram account. I try to post on there at least three or four days a week. 

Have a great week everyone.