Pantone - Spring/Summer - 2021 - London Palette - Purple Rose, Lava Falls and Baby's Breath

Today’s colors are a blend of pastel purple, bold red and creamy off white. I have always loved purple, but it really isn’t a color I regularly wear. I easily got on board with Purple Rose which is a medium purple that goes well with many other colors, especially things like brown, olive and navy. Why, then did I decide to pair it with a fierce red like Lava Falls? Because I always like to show you things outside the box. It is not very often, that I think to put purple and red together.

The factor that clinched the deal on putting these colors together, was that my thrifted Old Navy, Lava Falls, paisley popover top had both of these colors in it. How fortuitous was that? Ha, ha. This is a fun, tunic type shirt that has short sleeves, and the interesting details of a shirt tail hem line and a lace up v-neck. I love the paisley print too, which always reminds me of the 70’s.

The Croft and Barrow cardigan is older and I like I said, doesn’t get a lot of regular wear, but i just love the color so I keep it around.

You’ve seen these creamy, Baby’s Breath, thrifted, St. John’s Bay ankle pants on the blog before. I really think this look would have been cuter with a creamy denim pencil skirt or a pair of Bermuda shorts, but I don’t have either of those. I am not as fond of the silhouette, but it is okay, just not great.

I didn’t need to wear a necklace and this long opera length beaded strand is exactly the same color as the top, but sometimes I like the subtle texture and shine of a piece, even if it is a similar color. Wrapping this long strand of beads around my neck makes it look like I have on a choker.

I added a few beaded bracelets with similar reds, although there is plenty going on in the top, so it wasn’t really needed. Often, less is more.

My thrifted Simply Vera, Vera Wang cross body bag is making another appearance. This is a great little bag for the warmer months. The off white color goes perfectly with the Baby’s Breath color of the pants.

These Steve Madden platform sneakers were a new purchase from DSW. I had a coupon and I had been looking at this type of sneaker since last summer. I finally took the plunge. They are not something I would use for walking, but they are cute for a casual day of picnicking or window shopping.

What do you think of these colors? Do you think you would ever combine red with purple? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love.

I am including a few shopping links in these colors, so if you have time, give those a look. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Graphic and photo credit, Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring Outfit with Orange Pants

Just like I did for the blue pants, I wanted to show you a new outfit with my Worthington orange pants. For this one I focused on a work appropriate look. With many people finally returning to their jobs I thought it would be a good time to feature an outfit that would be perfect for the office, especially as air conditioners come back on.

I wish I would have thought to get close up of the details on this thrifted Maurices vest. I snatched it up, because I don’t have any summer weight white vests and I thought the eyelet detail and the texturing on the pockets made this such a unique piece. It has the utility vibe with the patch pockets and drawstring, but is dressier.

You can also see my H&M button down top. I found this one on the clearance rack a few years ago and just loved the botanical print with its flowers, butterflies and birds. I thought tying the front shirt tails made for a more summery look, but one that remains work appropriate. I also like the soft contrast between the stark white of the vest and the more off white of the blouse.

I added a double layered purple necklace and a few purple metal bangles to pull out the purple in the top.

I opted for more neutral shoes and bag. I thought the outfit had enough color with the bright orange pants and the flora print in the top. The neutral accessories give it not only a summer feel, but a polished and professional look. If I ever go back to an office job, I would definitely wear this. My bag you have seen on the blog before and is from Walmart and George brand. My perforated peep toe sandals are Sonoma brand from Kohl’s.

I was pleased with how this outfit turned out. What do you think? Would you wear something like this to work? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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

Have a great day, everyone and thanks for following along on the blog.

Why You Should have a Pair of Colored Pants - Orange

I thought I would do one more week on colored pants. This denim wearing diva, never imagined in all my years that I would learn to love brightly colored pants, but I have. I do remember when I was young, being a child of the sixties and seventies, I had a pair of bright red, cuffed bell bottom pants that I loved to wear to school. I am not sure what drew me away from the bright colored bottoms, except maybe that feeling of not wanting to be noticed or seen. I still struggle with that bit, but now I don’t worry so much about what other people are thinking or looking at. That is not my problem. I do try to dress modestly, but I love my bright colors and think they help to make me happy. This week I want to focus on my orange pants.

These orange pants were a clearance purchase at JC Penney about four years ago. They are Worthington brand, have a side zipper and an extra seam towards the front, giving the leg a long, lean line and less bulk around the middle, for a more streamlined look. The waist sits near my natural waist, so a little less of the spare tire problem. Here are past posts from the blog where I used these pants.

Outfit 1 - Orange with Sheer Light Blue Top

I love the summery vibe of this outfit. The light blue, sheer top over the white tank combined with the bright orange pants seems very fitting for dinner under the palm trees at a tropical resort.

Outfit 2 - Orange Pants with a Dress

This is one of my favorite outfits with these pants. It just happened that I found this dress at H&M and that the orange in the dress matched perfectly with the pants. I have no problem with women wearing shorter dresses. I know lots of women who will wear them with bike shorts underneath, so nothing is revealed if they blow up or if they bend over. I personally do not have the legs to wear a shorter dress, so wearing pants with a dress has become something I do more often. It is a fun way to display a short piece without any worry of revealing veiny legs or other leg flaws.

Outfit 3 - Orange with Bright Purple and Gray

Who would have thought to pair bright purple with orange? Well, I did and I think it turned out perfectly. I think the light gray jacket over the top helps to pull this whole look together. The pretty leaf necklace ties the orange pants to the purple top. This is a trick you can do to bring cohesiveness to an outfit that might seem a little outside the color box.

Outfit 4 - Orange with Dark Green

Once again, you see a color block pattern, but one that is complimented by the printed accessories in the form of a leaf print scarf and a Vera Bradley tote bag. Since this was a more casual look, I added a hem roll to the bottom of the pants. This would be a great outfit to wear for an early fall shopping trip.

Outfit 5 - Orange with Marled Black Vest

Vests are a great way to transition from cooler seasons to warmer ones and warmer ones to cooler ones. They keep our cores warm, but our arms from being bound under bulky sweaters or coats. The focal point of this outfit, was not the pants, but the scarf, but I drew on the colors in the scarf to create the complete look.

Outfit 6 - Orange with an Asymmetrical Vest

The solid colored orange pants are the grounding point in this outfit that is filled with busy prints. The floral tee, the open weave asymmetrical vest and the patchwork bag would probably be too much, if the pants were also printed. The bright orange once again announces that summer is just around the corner.

Outfit 7 - Orange with Teal, Gray and Yellow

Here we are, back to fall. Orange is a no brainer for fall outfits, but we often reach for rust or darker versions of orange. However, I think I have shown that this bright orange is perfect spring through fall. You probably could even dress it up for winter with a chunky fisherman sweater and some suede ankle boots. This particular pair of pants is lighter weight, so if I wore them in the winter, I might put a pair of tights underneath.

So what do you think of orange pants? For all practical purposes I think more women would choose a bright blue pair rather than the orange, but what I wanted to show you is that there are so many different ways to style a bright colored pair of pants and still have a classy outfit that you can wear for a night out with the hubby, a lunch with friends or to a summer picnic. Pick your favorite color and get a pair of bright colored pants now.

I plan on showing you another outfit on Thursday with these same pants that has a more work oriented feel. Be sure to check back then.

I am leaving you with shopping links for a variety of bright colored pants. I hope you find a pair that will be perfect for you. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring Trends 2020 - Color Play - Neon

When playing with color I have found the biggest obstacle to overcome is the fear that something won’t go together; that it might look silly or clownish if I have too many colors boldly blasting their way down the street. Obviously, right now, it really doesn’t matter what we are wearing because most of us aren’t going anywhere. I still like to get up, shower, put on make up, do my hair and at least put on a pair of jeans and a top and sweater or sweatshirt. A few days I have even put on jewelry, just because I could. It really doesn’t matter if anyone else sees us. It comes down to what makes you feel happier and more comfortable during this difficult time.

Since neon is once again trending on the runways this spring and summer, I decided to look to Pinterest for some inspiration. As most of you know, when you want to find something on Pinterest you just go to the website and search. I put in neon outfits and got all sorts of ideas, some of which were definitely way outside my style zone. Since I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for, I made up my own outfit. This is what I came up with.

This outfit would be perfectly acceptable at most work establishments and certainly helps to brighten up a drab, gloomy day. These bright red thrifted Faded Glory pants made their blog debut a few weeks ago in last months Color Play post.

This pale neon yellow short sleeve v-neck sweater was a Gap thrift find a few years ago. It is a very comfortable piece and I purposely chose the oversized look. As I told you last week, I have been getting into more oversized pieces. They are comfortable and if chosen carefully don’t add the illusion of extra pounds, but actually hide some of the more prominent bulges. Ha, ha.

My pale neon green jacket is a thrifted Christopher and Banks piece. The 3/4 length sleeves make it a great piece for spring and even for summer, when you need a little something extra for overly air conditioned offices and restaurants.

I thought the addition of this scarf was the perfect way to pull the pieces together. You could think of the this outfit as a type of color blocking, where you wear two or three plain colors next to each other. The addition of a printed scarf and bag add a touch of visual interest.

I have had this large tote bag for a long time. I don’t even remember where I got it, although I think it may have been something JC Penney’s carried in their luggage department a number of years ago and they were phasing it out. I believe I got it quite cheap. It is very roomy and easily fits my computer bag, notebooks and other writing necessities. Now that I think about it, I need to switch over to this bag from my buffalo check tote that I am currently using.

I threw on a few neon orange bracelets, just for fun.

Once again, I am featuring loafers, as they are trending right now. These are a thrifted pair of Nine West brand. Kohl’s started carrying Nine West brand clothing and shoes last fall, so I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled these out and realized they were that brand. I’m trendy and didn’t even know it. Ha, ha. I’ll include a few shopping links at the end if you are interested in adding a cute pair of loafers to your shoe collection.

Would you wear an outfit like this? Do you like neon colors? If you want to add neon to your wardrobe, but don’t want to go all out, look for a bright neon scarf, sweater or bag. I’ve provided a few shopping links below for a few fun neon items.

These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Seeing Red - Color Play - Patterned Scarf

Color inspiration can come from so many different places. In this monthly column, I am trying to force myself to look in different places for color. The typical places we look to are our clothes. For instance a pattern on a top or sweater, might be the basis for the rest of your clothing piece choices. Last month I chose a watercolor painting and table center piece as the inspiration for my outfit. I am hoping to inspire you to look in places you never thought of looking for color inspiration.

This month, I decided to inspire you with something probably every one of us has in our closets; a scarf. This particular scarf is full of color and not typically colors we would want to put together into an outfit, but why not? Think outside the box. Most of us use our scarves at accessories, without ever really letting them inspire our whole look. I decided to give it a try, so be sure to let me know what you think.

This scarf is perfect for this month’s Seeing Red theme. It is full of burgundy, red, shades of purple and a yellowy green. Using this as my spring board, I dove into my closet to see what I could find. This is what I came up with.

These bright red Faded Glory pants are a recent thrift find. I like ankle pants as the weather gets warmer and I thought this color would be fun for spring and summer. I used to never wear bright colored pants like this, but I have decided that life is too short to not wear the fun pants. I still reach for my simple blue denim jeans the most, but a bright color once in a while is a good way to stretch ourselves, whether it be on the bottom or the top.

My lavender colored button up shirt is a thrifted Merona piece. The longer yellow sweater was a clearance find at the end of last winter season from Forever 21. I don’t shop there too often, because most juniors sized clothing, does not fit me very well, but with the advent of bigger, roomier fashion, I can find things once in a while that don’t make me look like I’m trying to dress like I am still 21; 39 maybe, but not 21. Ha, ha. The sweater is soft and cozy, the perfect topper for these very chilly winter days.

I know the fashion industry and many bloggers are already talking about spring and the upcoming fashion trends. I understand the need for being ahead of the game and often at this time of year we are yearning for the change of seasons and the warmer days of spring. However, the reality is, it is still, very cold! This morning when I checked the temperature, it registered at 18, but the “feels like” temp was only 9. Um, I’m still going to wear my warm, cozy sweaters, thank you very much. To even think about baring my ankles or talking about shorts and less layers makes me feel cold.

I’ve had this red and gold charm necklace for a long time. It is the perfect piece to add a pop of red color against any top. I love pendant necklaces and I am fortunate enough to have a long enough torso to wear them. I especially like these charm type necklaces with all their different fun charms, beads and dangles.

You’ve seen this cranberry colored bag just recently on the blog (you can see that post here), and I realized it would be a great color match for the berry color in the scarf. This thrifted Libby Edelman bag was brought to my attention by my thrifting bestie back in Buffalo, NY one time when I was back visiting my mom. As much as my hubby prefers that I never bring a purse into the house again, once in a while a girl has to bring it home.

My olive SO ankle boots are making another appearance. These ankle boots are the most comfortable, versatile pieces and are the one purchase I would strongly recommend. It doesn’t have to be the SO brand, but I have found Kohl’s carries SO and Sonoma boots and I have really liked both. They are comfortable, fairly durable and have a great price point, especially if you can get them on sale or on clearance. I’m including shopping links at the bottom of the post, so be sure to check those out. Now is a great time to get boots for next season as many of them are on clearance. The great thing about ankle boots is you can wear them well into the spring with cropped pants, rolled pant hems and even skirts.

Do you have a scarf in your closet that you would love to build an outfit around? Give it a try. It is always fun to challenge your fashion brain to think beyond your norm. Many people might say they don’t want to change the way they do things, but there is something fun and satisfying about doing things differently and having it turn out well. Give it a try and let me know how you did.

For some beautiful scarves check out Nora Minassian at The Jacket Society. She has some beautiful printed pieces like this blue and white multi, ivory, pink and orange, tan and orange, multi-leaf print, and many others. Nora’s scarves are large and can be used as a shawl too, which would also be perfect for an outfit like this.

I love to hear your thoughts and I really wish there was a way to get more people to interact on the blog. The reason I say this, is not just for my benefit, but you all can be an encouragement to each other. After all, isn’t that what this is all about? For those of you who do comment, thanks again. For those who don’t, I would never want you to feel pressured. I know life is crazy busy. I often delete posts from other bloggers, because I just don’t have the time to comment, but I always feel good if I do. I feel like I am reaching out and encouraging a friend I’ve never met.

Thanks again for all your support.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

The shopping links included are affiliate links. I get a few cents if you click on a link and a little bit more if you purchase something through one of my links. I appreciate every click.

Have a great weekend and I hope the sun is shining where you are.

Pantone Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Fruit Dove and Galaxy Blue

These next two colors are described by the Pantone Color Institute as an “extroverted pink” and a “thoughtful blue”. I like that combination of terms, in the same way I like this combination of colors. We often think of extroverted people as popular, charming and talkative, while thoughtful people could be described as people who think more than they talk, or people who are on the look out for ways to help others. I am not an extrovert, but an introvert. I have a hard time in crowds, get tired of too much noise or activity and I need my alone time. Wearing a bright pink like this is my way of standing out in the crowd, without saying very much.

You might think these three colors are more spring like than fall like, but colors transcend all seasons. I do like darker, richer colors for fall and lighter, breezier colors for spring, but that is my personal opinion. What really makes an outfit more season specific are the textures and accessories you incorporate into it.

i’ve worn these bright blue Ruby Rd. pants on the blog before. You can see them with a light blue sweater, a plaid bomber jacket, and a multi-colored kimono. My friend was getting rid of these and I took them, not realizing how much I would actually wear them and used them for the blog. This royal blue color seems to keep coming around again and again.

I have had this thrifted Ralph Lauren pullover sweater for a while. I don’t wear short sleeve sweaters too often, because in the summer it is too hot and in the fall, winter and spring it is too cold. However, for some of these warm fall days, where the temps are still in the 70’s in the day and 50’s at night, a short sleeve sweater is a good option. Can you tell in the picture below I am trying to stand up straight and suck in my rolls? Ha, ha. Well, I am! Just being real!

In addition to the two New York palette colors of Fruit Dove and Galaxy Blue, I wanted to incorporate one of the classic colors. I thought it was interesting that they included this olive green, which they call Guacamole. In the past, the classic color palettes usually contained a dark blue, a gray, some sort of cream or ivory and either a camel or a shade of brown. This was the first year they included a green. At first, I thought that was a rather odd choice, but once I got used to the idea, I realized this green would work with a number of color combinations. I pulled out my velour jacket, knowing it would be a great accompanying piece for this outfit.

Since I pulled in the Guacamole, I decided to go for green accessories. My SO olive booties, the velvet floral bag and the green neck scarf bring a continuity to the outfit and tone down the bright blue and pink.

Believe me when I say, it was too hot to be wearing all of these layers. As soon as we finished at outfit, I was undressing as we walked back to the car. Ha, ha.

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear these colors? Would you wear these colors together? Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Do you like to wear clothes that attract attention, or do you like to wear pieces that make you disappear? I’d love to hear your opinions and thoughts. Your support keeps my blog going, so leave a comment or two.

I’m leaving you with a few shopping links for pieces in these colors. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photos and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Summer Pieces - Water Color Maxi Skirt

With my photographer on vacation I have to resort to taking pictures myself for a week or two, meaning relearning how to use my camera. Ha, ha. I thought I would talk about a few of the fun summer pieces I have recently acquired. Every seasonal change, I have to go through my wardrobe to purge what I do not wear, what no longer fits or what I realize was one of those, why did I buy this, moments. As I have said before, I love clothes and I love shopping, so you can imagine that I am inundated with clothing. I also, (true confession time), often shop in spurts, somewhat like an addict trying to get my fix. It is sad, really, but for many of us, shopping is a hobby. To keep myself from ending up on the show, Hoarders, I decided that when I buy, I also need to purge. I am in the middle of this process right now and the fun part of it is, I get reminded of all the fun pieces I do have, and it inspires me to put together a few new outfits.

This water color maxi skirt, I found at a Goodwill store along the way, when my hubby and I were on vacation. It is a brand called eci New York. Macy’s does carry a few eci pieces that revolve around bright, bold florals and patterns. I love all the colors, because it provides a myriad of options for putting outfits together. Made of a medium weight polyester, this piece is easy wash and wear with no ironing needed. It has a wider elastic waist which provides comfort, as well as ease of wear.

I first thought of pairing the skirt with a light pink top, but then when I pulled this top from last year out of hibernation, I knew that was it. The yellow, St. John’s Bay top, from JC Penney, has a bit of a boho vibe already so I thought it was the perfect companion for this unique skirt. I love the textured aspect of this top, from the eyelet on the bodice, to the poms along the bodice edge, to the tasseled cords. I also like the flowy sleeves.

When I started veering towards the Bohemian feel, I chose a woven belt that ties, leaving long fringe hanging along the skirt. You could position this belt wherever you wanted, with the fringe in the front, back or off to either side. I chose the left side, since I typically carry my bag on my right side.

I also chose jewelry that I felt epitomized that characteristically gypsy feel, like a multi-layered beaded bracelet with a dollop of fringe and a unique amber pendant choker with an aesthetically pleasing swirl.

My bag, bought many years ago, is the only true macrame piece I own and what says boho more than macrame? Ha, ha. It is small, but I have used this piece over and over as a cross body bad when we travel. It is big enough to hold the essentials, but not so big that it hurts your neck. This probably could use another washing. Bags like this are easy to wash. Be sure to put it in a laundry bag, then throw it in with your lights or towels. It isn’t meant to be a true white, but more of a cream.

For shoes I chose my No Boundaries black, gladiator sandals. These are ankle high gladiators, unlike the ones that go all the way up the calf. I’ve had these for a long time. They are comfy for a flat sandal and easy to pair with so many outfits for summer. I finally painted my toes, so summer must be pretty well here to stay. It is not that warm, but perfect in my opinion. If I owned a pool, I’d be happy with temps in the mid eighties, but as it is, I really like it to be about seventy five with a slight breeze.

Do you like this outfit? Would you wear a skirt like this? What sort of artsy or uniques pieces do you have in your closet? I’d love you hear from you. I don’t mean to be a nag, but I really do like when my followers give me a little feedback. It is good for my blog as well. It helps me to know what you like and what sorts of things you would like to see on the blog. Even if you made a commitment to comment once a month, that would mean a great deal to me. Thank you so much, for all of your support, whether you comment or not! I appreciate you.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. When You click on a link, I receive a few cents. Every little bit helps. These links are to things I think you might like and that follow along with the outfits I am posting. All opinions are my own.

Have a great Tuesday.

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 2107 - The London Palette - Royal Lilac and Golden Olive

This is the final installment in the London series of colors from the Pantone Fall 2017 palette. I love the brightness of these two colors, especially together. For some reason they make me think of fall and of a Bohemian gypsy vibe. Maybe it is a flash back from the bright psychedelic colors of the late 60's and early 70's. Royal Lilac is a purple worthy of a king. Purple is one of my favorite colors and we rarely see it on the runways and magazines of the fashion world. Purples in those realms seem to tend more towards wines, burgundies or maroons.

Once again, let me say that when I look for these colors I try to get as close as possible to the color that is being portrayed in the Pantone palette. My colors do not always match exactly, but the point is to introduce you to the colors on the palette and show you ways to style those colors. Just like Toast and Copper Tan, Golden Olive was a difficult color to find. I had this top in my closet and the actual color seems a bit more green than what appears in the pictures, but not quite like the Golden Olive.

Out of all the color pairings that I did from the London palette, I like this one the best. There is something about the contrast between the purple and the mustardy yellow, that appeals to my inner gypsy. In keeping with that idea, I thought I would accessorize with a brown hobo bag and brown slouchy boots. 

For my jewelry I added a brown lariat choker and a long metal and bead necklace that tied into the purple skirt

One of the other things I like about this outfit is the comfort. The material of the top and the skirt is basically heavy weight tee shirt material, so it moves with me and there is no binding or pinching. This is also a great transitional outfit as the weather cools. The 3/4 length sleeves on the shirt, the maxi length skirt and the boots all provide full coverage for those chilly days ahead. 

What do you think of these two colors? Do you like them? Would you wear them? I hope you will leave me a comment in the comments section below. I appreciate when you do and it helps my blog grow.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link below, I get a few cents. Every lttle bit helps, so thank you for the clicks. Part of why I include the links is to show you real items that are currently available in the colors I post, or at least close. All opinions expressed are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Thanks for hanging out on the blog today. Check back on Thursday for another Fall 2017 trend.

Fall 2017 Trends - Mad about Plaid

When I begin my research on the new season trends, I do a goole search. Often I end up looking at sites like Elle and Cosmopolitan to name a few. One has to weed through numerous articles hi-lighting movies stars, and runway styles to find things that are really useful. I try to approach these sites with an open minded attitude, because there are many trends I do no agree with, nor would you ever catch me supporting them on my blog. However, there are plenty of ideas to glean from these fashion authorities.

For the month of September I am going to forgo my Thursday monthly columns to focus on styles that are trending for fall this year. I thought it would be fun to pick a trend then do a post with an outfit centered around each, as well as a few flat lays and possible shopping options. I hope you enjoy this series. Be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of each post. 

Today I am looking at plaid. Plaid is back and for a girl who grew up loving flannel shirts, I am glad. Plaid has been around since as far back the 16th century. The word plaid comes from the Scottish Gaelic word plaide which means blanket. My husband is Scottish on his mother's side. It is fun to look at the numerous plaid colors that represent each of the family/clan names from that time period. My hubby's great grandmother was a Robertson. The Robertson plaid is a bright red with navy and just a hint of forest green. This is a tie Mark's Uncle David got for him. It even has a tag that says Robertson.

I found this light weight plaid jacket at one of my favorite thrift stores, Savers. I make regular stops at this store as they have a great selection that is always changing. You can read more on thrifting in my two part series: Thoughts on Thrifting - Part 1 and Thoughts on Thrifting - Part 2. 

I love the vibrant red of this jacket. Red is trending for fall also, so look at me, I am being doubly trendy. Ha, ha. We'll look at the fall trending colors in a later post. 

To keep it simple and let the jacket do the talking I slipped on a red tee, my Christopher and Banks slimming slip on jeans, then added black beads, black heeled ankle boots and a black and gray bag. You could also draw on the white in the jacket or the red to bring out those colors as well. 

Here are a few other jacket possibilities:

In addition to jackets you can style an outfit with a plaid top. Here is a flat lay I put together to show you a possible outfit starting with a plaid top. This top screams fall for its lovely fall colors, but to keep it from getting to colorful, I went for olive pants, and a black bomber jacket. 

As a last thought I grabbed the Tawny Port clutch. See the Pantone site for a look at this New York fall color. 

Here are a few plaid button ups that are currently available.

The next look revolves around a plaid accessory. In this case it is a pretty scarf. Plaid scarves have always been a viable option for the cooler weather and this year is no exception.

I think this is a fun look for a date night with the hubby or a lunch date with the girls. Keeping the colors of the pants and top similar allows the scarf to be the center of attention.

Here are a few fun options for scarves:

What do you think of plaid? Is is a pattern you like to wear? Even if you don't like it in big quantities, even a little plaid can brighten up an outfit. 

Here are a few other plaid options:

As you can see there are plenty of options for adding plaid to your wardrobe. If you click on the pictures that show you other options it will take you to the site where you can see more details and tell you the prices.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link I'll get a few cents. If you buy something through the link, I get a small commission. All opinions are my own.

i hope you enjoyed this look at plaid. Be sure to check back next week, where I'll look at another fall trend.

Have a great weekend!

Pantone Spring 2017 - Recap

I thought it would be a good idea to review the whole Pantone Spring 2017 line up in one blog post. This gives you a review of what the colors were and what outfits I chose to put together to go with each color. This series gets to be rather long, so I thought a recap would be a fun way to see it all together. 

Primrose Yellow

Pale Dogwood

Hazelnut

Island Paradise

Greenery

Flame

Pink Yarrow

Niagara

Kale

Lapis Blue

For those of you who are not familiar with the Pantone Color Institute, they are basically the color gurus of the fashion and design arena. Twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, Pantone puts out a palette of colors around which fashion designers, graphic designers and architectural entities design fabric, paint, home furnishings and more. You can look at their website by clicking on the link here. 

My interest in the Pantone palettes began as a way to get ideas about color and how to use it in the outfits I put together. I love color and am very thankful that God designed a world full of colors of every hue imaginable. The reason I do the series is to encourage you, that no matter what the color is, you can somehow wear it, whether it be as a top, bottom, jacket or as an accessory. Never say never to color. 

I hope you enjoy these series that I do. Out of my above outfits which one is your favorite? Which color would you reach for on a regular basis? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. If you follow me on Facebook, you can also leave a comment there, but it helps my blog if you do it on the posts as well. 

Check back on Thursday for June's Piece Perfect Column (yes June starts in just a few days)! Also, be sure to look for my next series which starts next week revolving around our marvelous maxi skirts. 

See you then. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Sunday linking up with Rena of It's All Fine. Whatever....Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge and Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish.  Wednesday linking up with Sara and Hannah of The Perfect Storm.

Pantone Spring 2017 - Flame

If you follow the Pantone colors, you know that they come up with a palette every spring and fall that contains ten colors. This palette becomes the basis for what fashion designers and architectural designers use as their color schemes for clothing, accessories, paint colors and home goods, such as furniture, bedding and pillows.

Today's earthy hue is called Flame. This bold, deep orange is evocative of sunny days sipping iced tea and warm evenings sitting around a campfire toasting marshmallows. It also shouts of day lilies and fuzzy peaches warmed by the mid day sun.

Earlier in the year, Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy and I, did a collaboration sneak peek of the Spring Pantone colors. To see my post click here. For one of my outfits I styled the same pair of pants that I used in last week's post and called it Flame. Just for fun I want you to see the difference in these two oranges.

When we initially did our sneak peek back in February, I thought these orange pants were pretty close to the actual Pantone color. Turns out I was wrong! See, I do mess up! Ha, ha. It's all good. I am still learning about color. Perhaps that is the reason I enjoy doing this series on the Pantone colors. The first orange really is more of a pumpkin color and has yellow undertones. Flame has more red undertones. So we could say, orange is orange is orange, but in reality, it isn't. 

The reason, I am spending a bit of time on this idea of color, is that I often hear people say, "I can't wear that color. It just washes me out." In reality, I think we can wear every color out there. You just have to know which version of the color is flattering for you. I probably would not wear the pumpkin orange near my face, but Flame, I can. However, I can wear the pumpkin orange as pants and it is no problem.

On to my outfit. This Flame utility jacket I purchased at Nordstrom Rack with the gift cards I received from winning a drawing on Jodie's Touch of Style.  I fell in love not only with the style, but with the color. 

I wore my dark wash skinny jeans, although I think any wash denim would look good with this orange. This orange would also look great with brown, khaki, olive and white. I rolled the jeans for a fun look and the lighter colored cuff adds some interesting texture. 

Since stripes are in I decided to wear my navy and white Loft tee. I found this at a thrift store. It is a nice weight and has an elastic bottom. I love that it is a tee, but hides my flaws. The best kind!

You can also see I kept the jewelry simple. Gold seemed to be a nice contrast, but I think silver would have worked as well. 

My navy blue bag, another thrift store find, is a Vera Wang. I love the dual tone and texturing on the bag, and, of course, the roominess. 

This was meant to be a transitional outfit, taking me from winter to spring. In Northwest Ohio, for me it is still pants weather, so I will be wearing this again. I went with a pair of ankle boots, but it could be just as cute with a pair of fun canvas sneakers or cute flip flops. 

What do you think of this orange? Do you think you like the pumpkin orange of my pants or this Flame color better? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. 

I hope you are enjoying this series on the Pantone Spring 2017 colors. I love to read your comments. Right now if you make a comment you won't know if I respond, but I always respond to your input. Just check back on the original post a day or so later and you will be able to see that. I am so thankful for your support.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I get a small trickle of income if you click on a shopping link. If you buy something through my post I get a small commission. That means a lot to me. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Here are some possible "orange" options.

Have a great Tuesday!

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Nicki of Sweet Parrish Place, Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Wednesday linking up with Sara and Hannah of The Perfect Storm. Friday linking up with JoLynne Shane in the Fashion Friday link up and Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style. 

Awesome Accessories - A Spring Bag

I love purses, just like many of you love shoes or jewelry. I love it all, really! I just have to try to curb my buying for two reasons. I don't have that much money and I don't have that much room. It is a good thing that I live in a small house and that our income is not that of a Hollywood star or NFL player. Ha, ha. 

A fun purse can make an outfit even more interesting. Last summer I did a whole post on styling an outfit around a bag. The idea was inspired by Janeane of Designing From my Closet. You can see my original post here and her original post here. The thought is, if we can plan an outfit around a jacket, a pair of shoes or a scarf, why not plan an outfit around a bag. There are so many colorful, interesting bags out there, so why not make one the focal point of your outfit. 

I would first like to show you the bag, then I'll show you the whole outfit. 

Of all the places to find a bag, I got this cute little clutch on a Barnes and Nobel Bookstore clearance table. In all honesty I think it is supposed to be a case for writing instruments and other school type supplies, although B & N also sells Vera Bradley bags and wallets, so I guess this could have been an actual clutch. My thought is, there is plenty of room for a phone, wallet and a few other necessary items, so it makes a perfect spring bag. It even has a wristlet handle in case you need your hands free. Here is a look at the pretty pink lining.

Obviously, there are plenty of colors to chose from to plan an outfit. I decided to use the green in keeping with the Greenery color from Pantone and add my favorite color purple. 

I took these on Sunday, which was a beautiful day, but the wind was blowing, so my dress got a bit billowy. This is a maxi dress that I have styled before, in my Denim Days series last summer. The top and half of the skirt are lined. The sweater is a simple cardigan and the purple sash which matches perfectly was something I kept from one of my daughter's old pj's or bathrobes. 

Sorry that my toes aren't painted yet! I thought these sandals were the perfect foot wear for this type of outfit. Plus they have a purple tinge to them!

Here you can see the top of the dress without the sweater. I do have to wear a strapless bra with this one, although these days you could wear a natural colored bra with straps and no one would think twice. Or wear a bright colored bra and you'll be trending. I prefer the old fashioned no-bra strap look. 

For my jewelry I threw on this three layered gold necklace with beads that border on purple. The three layers all connect in the back. It is an easy way to provide visual interest to an outfit and with all three strands connecting in the back you don't have to worry about each individual one sliding out of place. 

Here is a quick close up of the sandals. These are your basic thongs, but I slip into them, then zip them up the back. Part of what drew me to them was the bling!

I hope this inspires you to think about that fun bag that is in your closet. You know the one. You loved the colors and how it looked, but now you don't know what to do with it. Plan your outfit around it. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you.

Have a blessed Easter!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style.  Friday linking up with Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style, Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, JoLynne Shane in the Fashion Friday link up, and Laurie of Vanity and Me. Saturday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. 

Pantone Spring 2017 - Pale Dogwood

If you have ever seen a flowering Dogwood tree you know they come in variations of white, pink and red. I love these lacy trees which bloom in the first weeks of spring before the mighty oaks and maples fill in the canopy. 

Today's Pantone color is called Pale Dogwood. It is a very light pink, almost a blush color. I will touch more on the blush trend for spring in my post Thursday.

For this outfit, I decided to go with a monochrome look. The pale pink jeggings are Chico brand that I found at a thrift store. I layered a long sleeved longer tee under my Gap pale pink pullover sweater, just to add some texture to the outfit. To make the outfit more interesting I added a rectangular scarf with a bold Southwest pattern on it.

To bring out the colors in the scarf I wore a turquoise pendant necklace and some turquoise bracelets. (These are not real...ha, ha.)

I could wear the scarf like a scarf as in the above picture.

Or I could wear it like a wrap or shawl, as in the following picture.

Here is a better look at the pattern on the scarf.

To finish off the look I grabbed my dark orange bag and threw on my combat boots. I thought the boots grounded the outfit and kept it from looking too much like cotton candy! 

I hope you enjoyed my take on Pale Dogwood. Would you wear this color?

Below are some shopping options. This post contains affiliate links which means 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 expressed are my own. 

Sorry that one of the items was sold out by the time this was published.

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness link up, and Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. 

Awesome Accessories - The Statement Necklace

Accessories are the fashion flare on our outfits. An accessory can do more to pull an outfit together and give it a bit of sass than spending a mint on certain labels or brands. I am not against brands. Being a thrift shopper, I have actually found my hands going towards high end labels at my favorite second hand stores, because I have been educated by following other bloggers as to what is a good quality, well made piece. However, I have oodles of clothes that are not high end. After all, when I do shop at regular retail stores I usually find myself back at Kohl's, Penney's or Christopher and Banks. What I have found, however, is that my cheaper selections can actually look more high end by pairing them with great accessories. 

Today I want to take a look at statement necklaces. This will be an ongoing series over the course of several accessory posts to show you what is available in the necklace category and how one statement piece differs from another. There are so many options available, sometimes it is hard to know what piece to wear with what outfit. 

For this post I will be looking at short statement necklaces that are made with beads and metal. 

A statement piece does what it says. It makes a statement. Often the statement is bold, an exclamation of "Look at me! Aren't I pretty?" Statement pieces can also be unique, whether it be the arrangement of the materials involved or the colors. 

The above necklace is more simple, but simplicity can also be a statement. The uniqueness of this piece is found in its shell, stone, metal and wood beads and in the rawhide used to hang it around the neck. 

Sometimes during the heat of the summer I will get a rash wherever I have metal against my skin. I have a nickel allergy, so usually stick to silver or gold, but I love cheap costume jewelry. Having a rawhide chain rather than a metal one, can alleviate some of those issues. 

Isn't this one fun? I love all the silver circles, the way it dangles and the way it shimmers. This piece can be worn with just about any color and really dresses up and outfit. 

Most of these statement necklaces have an adjustable clasp in the back so you can make the necklace a little bit longer or shorter depending on your outfit and your preference. 

I have this necklace in two or three different colors. I know! I have a jewelry fetish, just like some people have purse and/or shoe fetishes. Ha, ha. I just love the way the beads cascade downward, reminiscent of a waterfall. 

I love everything about this one. The color of the beads, the strings of bling, and the chains all give it a more expensive feel. It almost looks like something a princess would wear! Here is a pic from when I wore this for a recent blog post. You can see the whole post here.  

Finally, this last one is just layers of fun. I love the color, the differing sizes of beads and even the way it feels when I run my fingers over it. 

What sorts of short statement necklaces do you have? Do you have just one special piece that you love to wear for special occasions or are you like me and have hooks full? I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments. 

Adding a special statement piece can serve so many functions for your outfit. It can add color, pizzazz and texture. It can draw attention away from problem areas and put the focus on your neck and face. A lovely statement necklace can make you feel and look more confident and vibrant. 

Thanks for hanging out on the blog today. I appreciate all your support. Check back next week for more fashion fun. Have a great weekend. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Shopping for Statements:

Black multi - Venus - $19.00

Sage - Modcloth - $5.99

Blue - Chico's - $34.99

Crystal - Francesca's - $20.98

Light pink - Charming Charlie - $10.00

Linking up with Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge , Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style, Laurie of Vanity and Me, 

Chasing Away the Winter Blues - Week 3

I have been talking about chasing away the winter blues this month. January can be a long, cold and typically overcast month here in the mid west. As I discussed the last few weeks, wearing bright colors and getting out to do something fun can be two "blues" chasers. This week I wanted to take another look at color, but approach it from a more spiritual aspect.

For those of you who follow my Faith page on the blog, you know that I am a Christ follower and what some would term a Bible thumper, not to be confused with Thumper, the rabbit from Bambi fame. I am a supporter of intelligent design, believing that an almighty God crafted us and the world we live on, from nothingness. This being said, I am not here to preach at you or convert you to my way of thinking, but to share with you a fashion idea that makes perfect sense to me. 

Think about the colors in nature. Green grass, red cardinals, purple flowers, yellow sun and blue skies. Since these things were put into place by an intelligent creator for our benefit and pleasure wouldn't it also make sense that color and how we wear it can affect our mood and outlook, as well as affect how other people perceive us.

For this outfit, I was dreaming of blues skies, blue seas and gentle warm breezes. 

Cobalt blue is really in right now, so when I spied these ankle pants in my dresser I joyfully pulled them out! That made me remember my cobalt suede heels. I wore these in this Denim Days post from back in the summer. In keeping with the blue theme, I lightened up the sweater and scarf near my face.

My younger daughter gave me this pretty scarf for Christmas. The button up cardigan was from Kohl's last year. The three strand gold and bling necklace was thrifted.

To add a bit more interest to the outfit, I added the snakeskin clutch. I think it adds a fun contrast to the "same color" theme of the outfit. 

I hope you enjoyed this post on another way to chase away those winter blues. What is your favorite color out in nature? Have you ever tried to incorporate that color into an outfit? How did it make you feel? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below or leave me a comment on my Facebook page. 

Thanks for following along. Check back on Thursday to see who my Beautiful Blogger is for this month.

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen. 

Shopping Options:

Cobalt ankle pants - JCPenney - $48.00

Cobalt heels - DSW - $39.95

Light blue sweater - Lord & Taylor - $59.95 (cashmere on clearance!)

Light blue scarf - Target - $14.99

Snakeskin bag - Charming Charlie - $22.00

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb, and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style,  Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, and Carrie of Curly Crafty Mom. Friday linking up with JoLynne in the Fashion Friday Link Up, Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, and Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style.

Chasing Away the Winter Blues - Week 1

January can be a difficult month for many people. The days following the busyness of the holidays can be cold, dark and conducive to illness, depression and fear. How do I know this? Because I am a sufferer of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Probably more of us suffer from it than even realize. With the lack of sunshine during the shorter days of winter, especially in the north we can become reclusive, emotional and even fearful. I have already experienced that descent into darkness this year and I still find myself asking, "Why am I feeling this way?" However, now that I am aware of the issue, and have been for several years now, I can reassure myself, "This too, shall pass!"

There are numerous things that I, or you can do if you suffer with mild SAD syndrome. If your case is really severe you may need to see your practitioner who might prescribe light therapy or mild anti-depressants. I need to get my light out and put it to use! I find there are other things that help me through these gray days. Exercise is very important, if you can get out of bed! Eating well is also a plus, if you can pull yourself away from the carbs that your body craves during this syndrome. Another thing that I try to do is up the color factor in the outfits I pick our for each day. Thus, the outfit for today's post!

Once again I am taking my own pictures, so the quality is not great. Thank you for bearing with me as I continue to learn about taking my own photos. One of the issues I noticed is that when I try to focus my camera, I am not standing there to be the focal point for the lens. A good friend suggested I get a card board cut out of someone like Johnny Depp and have it be my stand in. Ha, ha. 

As you can see I opted for light pink. The bright color, not only reflects light up into my face, but makes me feel like spring might not be too far away. Seeing as it is winter, I layered a lighter pink long sleeve tee underneath and added an orange marled sweater vest over top. 

I added a multicolored scarf to add interest and texture to the outfit. The scarf with its orange and pink floral pattern drew together the pink of the blouse and the orange of the sweater.

I also had this silver and bead necklace that coordinated with the yellow green in the scarf.

I decided on a pair of dark brown jeans. I like the way these colors compliment each other. The dark brown still keeps me connected to the winter season, but the bright colors on top lighten up my whole visage. 

Because my pants are a little bit short I opted for dark brown ankle boots to elongate the leg and keep the eye from noticing the shortness of the pants. 

The thing I like about this pair of shoes is the elastic inserts on the back of the ankle. It makes getting into the shoes easy and it also avoids that cutting feeling that some stiff leather or non leather ankle boots can give.

To keep the colors bright I decided on my Lush Meadow colored bag. You can see it has a few defects like a missing rivet and a little wear on the bottom. But overall it is a lovely bag and makes a statement all on its own.

Next week I will share another idea for chasing away the winter blues. I hope you enjoyed today's post. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Check back on Thursday for this month's perfect piece.

Have a great day.

Due to time constraints I am not including any shopping options in this post. If you ever have any questions as to where you can find a particular item, please leave me a comment in the comments section below and I will do my best to find something similar and let you know where to find it. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. Friday linking up with Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style and JoLynne Shane in the Fashion Friday link up.