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.

Pantone Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Chili Pepper and Bluestone

Before I get started showing the outfits I put together for this color series, let me refresh what the Pantone colors are. The Pantone Color Institute is an entity that provides color related solutions across the industry for designers of graphics, products and fashion. It is their color choices for seasons and color of the year that influence the fashion and interior design fields. You can read more on their About Page.

When I began blogging over three years ago, I decided to include the Pantone seasonal color series as a regular feature of my blog. Many bloggers share their favorites with you, but I like to really explore how each of these colors can be combined to make creative outfits that are both fashionable and reasonable financially as almost all of these colors are already in my wardrobe.

This season’s outfits turned out a bit differently than some of the specific colors due to shade variances on different computers, phones and so on. However, the point is not to get perfect matches, but to broaden our thinking about color over all. I ask myself questions like, “How can I combine these colors into one outfit? How can I take this color I am not fond of and use it? How can colors in an outfit make us feel happier, more put together and more confident?”

Today’s outfit combines a cool grayish blue with a spicy red. Meet Bluestone and Chili Pepper. The third color is from Panone’s Classics palette, which I have tried to incorporate into each outfit.

This bright red top is most definitely not the exact same red at Chili Pepper. It was rather strange. I have used my phone before to look at the colors when trying to pick things out of my closet and for some reason I really thought this red was good. However, I think I just wanted to wear this Popsugar top from Kohl’s again because it’s so cute. Ha, ha. I styled this same blouse last spring in another Pantone series. You can see that post here.

My denim jacket is from Christopher & Banks and isn’t exactly Bluestone either, but I was having trouble finding that exact color.

For these pictures we went to Middlegrounds Metropark in downtown Toledo. What a beautiful park right close to the downtown area of our city. I just love the urban chic vibe that these pictures have. I don’t do a lot in the city, but there is a lot more there than I realized. Unfortunately, I may get more familiar with it, as I got summoned for jury duty in October and the Common Pleas court is downtown. Ha, ha.

I decided to pair my top and jacket with my dark blue printed St. John’s Bay, skirt from JC Penney. I thought it matched well with the Pantone classics color Evening Blue. This is a fun, easy to wear skirt with a wide elastic waist, and tiered layers which gives it swing.

Since I had a lot going on in this outfit with prints and textures I wanted to keep my accessories fairly simple. My thrifted Relativity loafer heels are a go to for a look that is classy and work ready.

I thought this pendant necklace a good piece that makes its own statement with this outfit.

Adding this Aerosmith tote bag was my way to show off my inner rocker. Ha, ha.

What do you think of Chili Pepper and Bluestone? Do you have these colors in your closet? How would you wear these?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments.

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

Photo and graphic credit, Rebecca Trumbull.

Why Bother Being Trendy?

As most of you, who subscribe to my blog, know, I just finished a series on Fall Trends 2019. In addition to some of my faves which included, head to toe green, layering knits, dark florals, animal prints and a few others, there were other trends like wide shoulders, suiting, cinched waist coats and more. You might be asking yourself, why even bother with trends? Why not just wear the things I like to wear and if they aren’t trendy who cares? That is a legitimate question and one I would like to answer with a few points.

1 - Growth

Let’s face it, as we age it is very easy to become complacent and set in our ways. Change is harder and harder to wrap our heads around, therefore, we often choose to not do it. Coming from a family with a history of dementia, I am try to do things that actively use my brain. Reading, doing puzzles, learning new things all help to stave off some of the early symptoms of memory loss. While we don’t have a cure for memory issues at this point, it has been scientifically proven that keeping our brains active does help.

Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay

What does that have to do with being trendy? If you begin to take an interest in the seasonal trends you start to do research. You might begin by looking at the trends on the internet for the current or upcoming season. You might also read one of the many fashion magazines on the shelves at Barnes and Noble or multiple grocery and department stores.

Once you’ve done research you begin to comb your closet to see what you have that might fit with some of the seasonal trends. You would be surprised how many of these things keep coming around, again and again. There are only so many things you can do with clothing.

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Putting together an outfit that includes some of the current trends can help you to grow your style persona and keep your brain healthy and sharp.

2 - Breaking the Bubble

Once in a while it is good to get outside our bubble. It is okay to feel uncomfortable on occasion. Something I have noticed in our world today, especially in our technology driven society, people do not like to be uncomfortable. If they are ill, they want an instant fix. If they feel pain, they want drugs. Mind you, it is reasonable to go to the doctor if you are having ongoing symptoms that aren’t resolving. It is also reasonable to take aspirin when you have a headache.

When it comes to fashion and what we wear, we most often go for what makes us feel comfortable, whether it be a favorite pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, or a soft pair of pj pants. However, if we always chose to only do what we are comfortable with, then will never get to wear those cute boots, or that pencil skirt, or that faux fur coat.

Let me give you an example from the Fall Trends 2019 series that I just finished. I would have never thought to layer a big bulky sweatshirt under a cozy cardigan and then pair it with a bright pair of leggings. I have never been a leggings wearer, but after seeing that outfit as a flat lay in my series, I can hardly wait until it gets cold enough to give it a try. What is the worst thing that could happen? My husband will call me a “walking pile of laundry” and I’ll nod my head in agreement, but at least I will be warm and trendy. Ha, ha.

3 - Be the Example

I feel that we are living in a time where there are fewer and fewer good examples in the world, especially when it comes to how to dress modestly in the fashion arena. I am not going to launch into a rant about how I feel it is mandatory to dress modestly as a Christian woman, or even how it would be beneficial for all women to dress in a more modest way. What I am going to focus on is our role as older women to be leaders for younger women to look up to.

There are a slew of young women out there in the entertainment industry that are being examples to our daughters, grand daughters and so on. The question that needs to be asked is, are they good examples? Do these young women value life? Do they value love? Do they value dignity, honor and respect? Do they value men? Do they even value themselves? How do they treat others both in their actions and in their speech?

By adapting to a few of the trends we can show other women that we can be both fashionable and modern in our thinking and the way we dress, and we can possibly open a door for younger women to look to us, as people they might want to, not only dress like, but be like.

Next time you start to think, I don’t care about the trends, think twice. Maybe you could become a trend setter, not just a trend follower.

Wearing White - Basic Tee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great weekend.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Recap

I hope you have enjoyed this series on denim. Most of us have denim pieces in our wardrobes and it is helpful when we have new ways to style them. Denim is a versatile, easy to wear fabric and goes with everything. It is also easy to wash and typically doesn’t need to be ironed, although the lighter weight chambray can get more wrinkly than typical denim.

Here are all the outfits side by side.

Denim Vest

Ruffled Chambray Top

Denim Skirt

Long Sleeve Chambray Shirt

Denim Jacket

Do you have a favorite outfit? Were you inspired to style your denim pieces differently from reading the posts in this series?

I think the piece that I really had to think about how to style was the pencil skirt as a dressier piece. I think is is natural to style a denim skirt in a more casual way with tees and sneakers, but dressing it up, just seems to take more thought. As far as my favorite piece in this series, it would be a toss up between the ruffled chambray shirt and the embroidered jacket.

I hope this was a fun series for you. It is hard to believe we are almost done with July. With August comes a return to school and even though the temps will still be warm, our thoughts begin to turn to fall, and all the things that come with it, like football and changes in the trees and the weather. I’m going to do a few posts on wearing white which will include some transitional outfits, then I’ll be showing you all the New York and London Pantone colors.

Thanks so much for the support you give to me and my little blog. I appreciate all your comments. If you signed up for my emails and are not receiving them, please be sure to subscribe again. I have noticed a few emails are not going through and I am thinking it might be that the emails did not get typed in correctly. Also, if you make a comment on a post, be sure to check back a few days later, because I do respond to all of your comments, or at least I try to. Thanks again.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Denim Jacket - Dressy

We don’t often think of a denim jacket as being a dressy piece. If we are scheduled to go to the opera, or a special theatrical production, I wouldn’t usually reach for my jean jacket. All the more reason, to create an outfit around a piece that could be considered dressy enough to wear out on the town. You saw this Christopher and Banks denim jacket styled casually on Tuesday, now I want to show you the dressed up version.

A pleated skirt always dresses an outfit up a bit. There is something about these lined, swingy skirts that make an outfit look extra special. This gold Lauren Conrad skirt I ordered online from Kohl’s last year. It was on clearance and I was looking for something in a different color from my burgundy one I already own. I think this is a little big on me and need to take it in. It has an elastic waist, thus the gold belt to create a more polished effect.

I like the way the belt really brings out the gold buttons on the top. This bright pink top was a hand-me-over from my daughter. It is sleeveless and A New Day brand, from Target.

For accessories, I chose a little bit of an eclectic look. This time not everything matched. I often like my accessories to match, like my shoes and my bag, but once in a while it is fun to get outside that box and just pick a few things for the fun ratio.

I thought this gold flower necklace was whimsical enough to go with the fun embroidery on the jacket and the gold also went with the gold buttons and belt. In that regard, I did keep all the metallic elements gold, except for the buttons on the jacket. You can see, I also wore a few gold bracelets. Somehow, to me, I need an element in every outfit I build that brings the whole thing together. It might be one particular piece like a scarf or bag, or it my me as easy as having all my accessories having a common metallic color. Do you like things to match, or do you not worry about that so much?

I found this awesome palm print bag on the clearance table at DSW. Palm print was big last year, but I noticed it is still hanging around this summer. You can use this as a clutch or wear it on your shoulder or as a crossbody bag. The gold chain makes it dress up well, but this would be a great casual bag as well.

I went with my retro heels, for my shoes. I have this voice in the back on my head saying it would have looked better with a different shoe. What do you think? A bright pink heel or a denim flat? I don’t know. I’d love to hear your thoughts. I am always open to input.

If I looked a little wilty in these pictures, it was pretty warm that day and I was getting tired, hot and sweaty by the time we were done with these pics. My daughter and I usually have to plan a series shoot all at once, because we are both busy, so our schedules don’t always match up.

I hope you enjoyed this series. On Tuesday of next week I’ll post a recap, where you can see all these denim outfits side by side. After that I’ll have a few end of the summer looks and then we’ll be starting the fall Pantone series. Yup, that’s right, fall will be upon us before we can say, “Boo!” and “Happy Halloween!” Ha, ha. Have a great weekend.

I’ve included a few shopping links for A New Day tops and some pleated skirts. Have fun shopping. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Long Sleeve Chambray Shirt - Casual

Before I get into the actual post for today, I wanted to let you know that there is a nice interview with, yours truly, on Rebecca Trumbull Photography’s blog. As most of you know, Rebecca is both my photographer and my oldest daughter. Her website, not only includes information about her packages and what she offers, but her own blog, which gives her experiences with clients and some fantastic pictures. Be sure to click on over the the interview by clicking here and give us both some love.

There are times in the summer, where it gets really hot outside. The problem, then is not the heat, but the air conditioning. Many places have the air blasting and it makes it uncomfortable for people who like moderation. Especially if you are going from the cool house, to the hot car, to the hot outdoors and then back into the cool indoors. My husband and I always take a light weight sweater or jacket with in the summer months, just to have something to put on when the inside air gets too chilly.

This week’s denim piece is a long sleeve, polka dot chambray shirt. A light weight blouse like this is another great way to have extra coverage for those chilly indoor spaces. You can use it like a jacket and take it off, if you get too warm.

This Christopher and Banks blouse is light weight and covered with fun purple polka dots. I decided to do some print mixing wearing it over this purple printed popover sleeveless blouse by Izod.

I think the print mix works well, because the popover top, which has the busier, and larger print is paired with the smaller polka dots of the chambray blouse. It also works because I chose a common color to mix with, which in this case was the purple. Here is a close up of the two prints. In the close up, you can see the popover top does its own pattern mixing.

White seemed the obvious choice for my bottoms. These cropped white jeans were thrifted.

We didn’t get a picture of the back pockets, but they have pretty bling on them. The cuffs on the bottom also add another interesting detail. The crop pant typically falls between where a capri would fall, several inches below the knee, and where an ankle pant would fall just at or a smidge above the ankle.

I wanted to add in another color, so when I chose this choker necklace that got passed over to me from my daughter, I decided to add green, thus the olive green hobo bag.

I also added this pretty multi layered beaded bracelet. I got this on clearance at JC Penney a few years back and I really like the way the beads change color as they wrap around the wrist. Its colorful and has a fun boho vibe. Couldn’t you see this piece of jewelry with a long flowing tiered gypsy skirt, a bright top with an off the shoulder look, lots of beads and a bandana on the head? Maybe not on me, but you get the idea. Ha, ha.

I found these sandals at a thrift store and they went into my cart as soon as I tried them on. I love the color. I don’t own very many accessories that are purple, other than jewelry, so I thought these were a fun addition to the wardrobe. I also like that they cover more of my foot. I would love to wear those strappy cuties that many women wear, but my bulbous veins, are not attractive. That doesn’t mean I can’t wear sandals, it just means I try to find styles that give me a little more coverage.

Do you own a long sleeve chambray shirt? Do you ever wear it like a jacket? Wearing long sleeve shirts as jackets can be done with any long sleeve, button-up in your closet, just keep it in mind when you are putting your outfit together, and pick accordingly.

Be sure to check back on Thursday for a dressed up version with this long sleeve shirt. I’ve included a few shopping links for long sleeve chambray’s below. Be sure to check them out.

Have a great Tuesday.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Pencil Skirt - Casual

What could be more versatile than a denim skirt? You can wear it spring, summer, winter and fall. You can dress it up or dress it down. You can wear it with heels, flip flops, ballerina flats, and boots of every configuration. A good, pencil skirt in any fabric with stretch can be a great addition to your wardrobe. It can take you from work to date night and has unlimited potential for other outfits. When I found this stretchy denim pencil skirt at a thrift store. I knew I had found a piece that would get repetitive use.

This skirt is a brand called No Faze Jeans. This brand is no longer available, except for on Poshmark and other 2nd hand retailers. This is a case, where the brand is not as important as the type of skirt. As I said before, a pencil type skirt should have a little stretch in it for bending and sitting. While I like a medium wash in a jacket or vest, a dark wash is a good choice for bottoms. Darker usually gives a slimmer profile.

For this casual look I grabbed a thrifted No Boundaries tee with the word, happy, embellishing the front in different colors. This is a light weight semi-sheer tee, so great for summer, but opaque enough that you don’t need a cami, unless you are wearing a very bright or dark bra.

This next picture shows you the front tuck. The shirt is quite long. Doing a front tuck defines your waist and provides an interesting line from front to back. Some people call this the French tuck, as well. I have mentioned this before in an earlier post, but I like the front tuck because it allows me to show off a belt, yet doesn’t take as much effort as tucking the whole piece in.

Even though the belt doesn’t match any other colors in the shirt, I like how it makes the outfit look bright and cheery, after all, the shirt does say happy.

This choker was a clearance find either at Kohl’s or Penney’s. I like that it looks dressed up, but can also be worn with something casual like this. The faux pearls add just the right class. In addition I threw on a few faux pearl bracelets to match.

Besides a cross body bag, I like a small hobo bag like this, when I don’t want to carry my full load around. This small shoulder bag is just big enough for my wallet and a few other items.

Keeping the vibe casual called for my well worn pair of sparkly gray Keds. These sneakers see a lot of wear in the warmer months and have been through the washer numerous times. I’m not sure how much longer they will hold up. Ha, ha. Who doesn’t have a pair of well worn shoes that they pull on all the time?

This is a simple outfit formula: denim skirt, graphic tee, jewelry, bag and sneakers. If you wanted to, you could swap the graphic tee out for a plain colored one and wear layers of chains, pearls or even a scarf for a whole different vibe.

Thursday, I’ll show you how I chose to dress this skirt up.

Do you own a denim skirt? Do you like to wear it? How do you like to style it? As always, I love to have your feedback. Just leave a comment below. I always read and respond to your comments, so you can check back the next time you are on the blog to see how your comment helped me out.

I’ve included a few shopping links for denim skirts. I hope you see something you like. I usually try to stick to retailers I am familiar with and I also try to include at least one plus size option. These are affiliate links. I get a few pennies when you click on a link. All opinions are my own.

Have a great Tuesday!

Denim Daze 2.0 - Vest - Dressy

A monochrome look, to me, always seems more dressed up than other looks using similar pieces. Style a black pair of pants with a multi print blouse and you have a great work outfit. Style the same pair of pants with a matching black blouse, heels and pearls and you have made yourself ready for a night out on the town.

Denim, by nature, is casual. Originally created as work wear for farmers, miners, lumberjacks and other physical labor jobs, denim was not meant to be worn to the opera or the theater. However, denim has come a long way since its original inception back in 1873. We now have various washes, weights and colors of denim, making it a much more versatile fabric for real life events, both casual and dressy.

In order to make this Christopher and Banks, denim vest seem more dressed up, I chose to pair it with a chambray, bell sleeve dress for a glitzed up monochrome look that I would wear with confidence to any number of more dressy events.

I found this cute, Massini, chambray, dress on the Meijer clearance rack a while back and it was one of those things I felt I couldn’t pass up. You know the feeling. It is not only cute and fits, but it is the right price and you have nothing like it in your closet. I love dresses, but do not wear them very often, but still, that doesn’t stop me from occasionally purchasing one that I absolutely love.

This dress has a full zipper in the back, a fit and flare silhouette, and is light weight. It works well on its own or when styled with a vest over the top. Wearing a vest still lets the fun sleeve bells strut their stuff, but gives you extra coverage and layers if the weather is cooler. I’ve worn this piece with a knit vest, suede boots and tights in the chillier months.

The only other things I had to add to this simple, but stylish outfit were the accessories. Since the vest has silver bling on it, I decided to have silver for my jewelry, shoes and bag. Simple pie, right?

This outfit came together quite easily because I had two pieces that were the same color. I don’t think this would have been quite as dressy if I had a vest that was a darker or lighter wash. Remember, when you have an event and you don’t know what to wear, a monochrome look will always be chic and stylish.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you think I accomplished the casual and the dressy with this vest? Are these outfits you would wear? Specifically could you see yourself wearing a monochrome denim outfit for a fancy occasion? It is always refreshing to think outside the box.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

I’ve included a few shopping links for chambray dresses. There seem to be a ton of these around right now, so it might be a good time to invest in one. They can be very versatile, especially if you get a button up, shirt dress type, which you could wear as a jacket, vest or dress in so many different ways. Have fun shopping.

These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Summer Pieces - Graphic Tee

What is summer without a fun graphic tee? I found this Smokey the Bear tee at Kohl’s at the beginning of the spring season. Do you remember Smokey the Bear? Originally this, real, bear cub that was found in 1950 during a major forest fire in the Captain Mountains in New Mexico, was called Smokey Bear and you can read his story here. There are lots of Smokey the Bear tees out there, so I’ll be sure to include a few choices at the end of this post.

I paired this tee with my Angle jeans from Kohl’s. They seem to be getting pretty faded. That’s was happens when you wear your jeans often. Comfortable jeans are my favorite thing to wear. These have a good amount of stretch and are technically skinny jeans, but I decided to wear them more like a crop pant. This time I only rolled them once, but sometimes I roll them up twice. Today was pretty cool, so I added my Mudd camo jacket, another clearance find from Kohl’s.

Here is a closer look at the tee.

I chose fun accessories as well. This multi-strand gold necklace makes it easy to layer necklaces. This one is all connected, but I have a few others that can be separated into individual necklaces. This one has a green chain, a green charm and the lowest charm is like an small green agate. You can’t see the color as well in this picture, but it is a nice piece to add to lots of outfits.

I also found this mixed metals bracelet and thought the two pieces worked well together.

I thought this thrifted bag was a good companion to this casual outfit.

Once again I went for my Keds. This brand is my go to for warm weather foot wear. This is an older pair which is a slip on, rather than a regular shoe.

In all honesty I threw this outfit together at the last minute. My in-laws have come to spend the week, so the family has been spending time together for meals and so on. However, a graphic tee or two is a great addition to your summer wardrobe. You can pair it with jeans like I have, or you could throw on a pair of shorts, a skirt or try it on over a summer sleeveless dress so it looks like you are wearing it with a skirt. Graphic tees can be anything from a gold standard like Diet Coke, or Smokey the Bear, to your favorite band, movie or sports team. I have a few different ones including, Wonder Woman, Mickey Mouse, The Beatles, and lots with words, here, here and here.

Do you have very many graphic tees? How do you like to wear them? Leave me some love in the comments.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to check out. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Until next time, have a great day.

Summer Pieces - Longer Kimono

Part of what makes a clothing piece interesting to me is color and pattern. As most of you already know, who follow me, I love pattern mixing and color combinations. Some of my pieces are busy with patterns and some are simply understated with texture rather than a mix of designs and color. What I like is the ability to choose. I have never been a fan of capsule wardrobes, not because they aren’t incredibly practical and workable, especially for vacations, but because I like to have choices. Not just the choice of what outfit to wear, but how to put that outfit together. As an aside, I really should try to do a capsule wardrobe for a month and see how it goes. That would make for some interesting blog posts

Today’s outfit focuses on a Sonoma kimono that I recently acquired on the clearance rack at Kohl’s. I love when they mark things down and then I get a 30% off coupon, plus a rewards coupon and some Kohl’s cash. That is really the way to stock up on fun pieces like this.

I like the sleeker fit of this kimono compared to a poncho, a ruana or a kimono that is wider. It gives a more fitted silhouette. If you are not sure what the difference is, check out my series on kimonos by clicking on the following links: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, and Week 6.

I normally don’t like to take pictures of my bum, but I wanted you to see the whole kimono front and back. This way you can see the length and the continuity of the pattern. The colors include a light blush on the front trim and a dark navy criss cross and diamond pattern.

I went with the silk tee from my Neiman Marcus, thrifted, sweater set. You can see how I styled the whole set in this post. It is a classy piece with plenty of texture and stretch. I also chose a choker set that has both a cord with a pearl and a chain. From there I added the bracelets.

This New York & Co bag actually belonged to a friend who was getting rid of it. You can used it as a large clutch or a tote, depending on how you want to carry it.

These sneakers were a Meijer find. I think one day, I found three pairs of shoes at Meijer on the clearance tables and this was one of them. They are a bit loose, but work well if you don’t want to pay the more expensive price of Converse. The brand is called Rocket Dog. Here are a few fun pairs, prints, stripes and slip ons.

My jeans are an older pair of Apt. 9 ankle pants. Many times I roll these up so they are more of a crop pant, but I like the ankle pant length for this outfit.

Do you wear kimono’s or other layering pieces like this? They are perfect for summer, when you don’t want a heavy sweater to wear outside, but you also need something for a chilly, air conditioned office, theater or restaurant. I have a number of kimonos now and am looking forward to wearing them more this summer.

I’m including a few shopping links for kimonos and fun bags. Be sure to check those out. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

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 Spring/Summer - 2019 - Recap

I think it is always good to do a recap of these series so that you can see all of the outfits in one post. This is especially helpful, when I have had a few interruptions in the flow of the series. When I do a recap, I like to spend a little time talking about various things related to my fashion journey.

Growing up I wasn’t really that fashion conscious, although looking back, I remember my love for bell bottoms and tie dye in the early to mid seventies. I remember having a pair of red bell bottoms that were cuffed. Oh my goodness, how fashionable I was and I didn’t even know it. Ha, ha. Obviously, with a love for red bell bottoms, I had no fear of color. I have never been a black and white sort of girl. I have always loved color and for a long time purple was my fave. Now I love all color, including black, white and gray. Yes, those are colors too.

With my love of color, it only made sense once I became a fashion blogger, that I figured out how to make color a central part of my blog. Once I found out about the Pantone Color Institute and their twice yearly color palettes, I knew I would have to do a regular series on color, thus the Pantone Spring and Pantone Fall series. All that being said, here is a recap of this Spring/Summer 2019 series that I just finished.

Living Coral & Terrarium Moss

Jester Red & Pepper Stem

Turmeric & Sweet Lilac

Pink Peacock & Pressed Rose

Toffee & Manjo Mojito

Fiesta & Princess Blue

Lemon Verbena & Aspen Gold

Here are each of the outfits side by side.

Which colors are your favorites? Which of my outfits do you like the most? What makes it your favorite? Which of my outfits do you like the least and why? I love to hear from you. Even if you think you have nothing to say, I love to know what you are thinking and your feedback is what helps me make a better blog. Just leave a comment below.

I think my favorite outfit is the Toffee and Mango Mojito. I just love how the leopard print skirt and the tee went together so well and how the white jacket added a crisp, polished look to the outfit. I also love the Fiesta Red and Princess Blue colors. They are so bright and happy and it makes me smile when I look at that outfit! Overall, I was pleased with this whole series. I loved all of the colors and had an easy time finding most of these in my closet and putting outfits together.

I hope you have enjoyed this series. I will be on vacay for the next week with my hubby, but I am hoping to still get a few posts up about our travels. Have a wonderful Memorial Day everyone!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2019 - Lemon Verbena & Aspen Gold

Today we are finishing up the Pantone Spring/Summer series with two lovely yellows: London’s Lemon Verbena and New York’s Aspen Gold. It wasn’t my first choice to pair these two colors together, but as I went along, picking out outfits and pairing colors, I decided that pairing the two yellows, was the prefect combination for a bright outfit that epitomizes the changes in the weather as we transition from spring to summer. The sun shines more, (hopefully), the skies are blue and we are looking to spending more time outdoors.

I have become an avid fan of yellows of any shade and have accumulated a number of pieces across seasons. I especially love the deeper shades that are reminiscent of sun flowers and daffodils, but lighter, lemon yellows, or tangier, mustard yellows are fun as well. Perhaps what draws me to it, is its ability to lift my spirits and make me think of sunshine, which I am in dire need of by this time of year. This spring seems especially bad, with all the rain we have been getting.

This Liz Claiborne 3/4 length sleeve cardi was a recent thrift find and so was the Chaps tee. I love the lacy detail on the front panels of the sweater and the yoke on the tee. Details like that just make an outfit look even more special. Once again, I got these two pieces separately, so I didn’t know until I paired them, that they both had that lace detailing. It just shows, once you have developed your fashion likes you will often reach for them. I love lace or things that look lacy. As I have shared with you before, I also love embroidery, which brings me to my neutral ankle pants.

These are also Liz Claiborne, but I got them on the clearance rack at JC Penney. I absolutely love the fit, fabric and details on this neutral pair of ankle pants. They are a light weight, chino type material and because they are a tan color, will go with so many tops. You can’t go wrong, having a neutral pair of pants in your wardrobe, spring, summer, winter or fall, a pair of pants like these can prove very useful.

This fun little necklace, used to belong to one of my daughters, but she didn’t want it any more. I like the hippy vibe and that there is a yellow cord mixed in. You can also see the detailing on the tee and the sweater more closely in this picture.

In keeping with my neutral feel for this outfit, I chose my large woven Sonoma tote bag. Once again, the fun details in the braiding and fringe, as well as the coppery threads, make this a great piece, especially for a day at the beach. This was a clearance find at Kohl’s.

The only other jewelry I added was a beaded bracelet with tones of tan, brown and red.

These Massimo sneakers were another thrift store find. I found these and the cream pair that I wore in the first Pantone outfit from this series at a Goodwill store. They had never been worn and still had the tags on them. I think the chocolate metallic color of these is rather fun! Do you have any metallic shoes. Hmmmm! Sounds like another idea for a blog post, don’t you think?

What do you think of these two colors? Do you like yellow? I never used to wear yellow, but now it has become a favorite of mine.

On Thursday, I hope to do a recap of all the Pantone colors. I’d love to hear which of them were your favorites.

I am including a few shopping links for all things yellow. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2019 - Fiesta & Princess Blue

Today’s Pantone outfit revolves around two, rich, party ready colors, called Fiesta and Princess Blue. Fiesta is another red on this spring’s palette, with a leaning towards orange undertones. This bright, cheerful red is perfect for pairing with this royal blue. We’ve had other versions of this royal blue color appear on multiple palettes over the last few years. You can see a few of my renditions and other names for this color by clicking on the links. Riverside Blue, Marina, Lapis Blue, Palace Blue, and Nebulas Blue. While each of these is not exactly the same as the other, you get the point.

I found this Popsugar Fiesta Red top at Kohl’s on the clearance rack. I was very excited, because all the the reds in my closet either lean more towards a purple/brown base - maroon/burgundy or towards a blue base - a truer red. This red definitely has more yellow undertones, which when you see it compares to other reds, makes it look more orange.

You’ve seen these Ruby Rd. pants on the blog many times. When I went through all of my pants, I thought about getting rid of these, but then realized I don’t have anything else in this exact color. They were a thrift find, when shopping a friend’s closet, and they fit pretty well and are made of a denim type fabric, so a perfect for more colorful looks. I just don’t think to grab them that often for everyday wear.

This Do Everything in Love, kimono is from DSW. I absolutely love this piece and when I saw the Fiesta Red top and Princess Blue pants next to it, I knew I was going to get my party on. This has so many amazing colors in it, so it will be useful for many outfits. This would look really cute with a white tee, and jean shorts, or a pair of crop pants with some fun sneakers.

Again, I kept my accessories simple, lest the outfit get too overwhelming. I thought the yellow flower pendant necklace a good choice to bring in the yellow in the kimono. The bag is a clearance find from Meijer and the gladiator sandals are Massini brand.

Do you have your toenails painted yet? I need to do that pretty soon. It’s lovely when you can go to a salon and get a manicure or a pedicure or both, but I don’t do my finger nails very often as they tend to chip and tear easily. I do try to paint my toes when the weather gets warm enough that I can put my flip flops on. It hasn’t warmed up quite to that point here, but my hubby and I are hoping to go on vacation next week and it will be warmer then.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like these colors and would you wear them? I love to have your feedback. If you have the time, leave a comment below. It helps me to know what you are thinking and as always, if you have any suggestions for the blog, I’d love to hear that as well.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Thank you for spending time on the blog. I appreciate all your input.

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2019 - Pink Peacock & Pressed Rose

Today’s Pantone Spring/Summer colors include a hot pink and a pastel pink. Pink Peacock could be a close cousin of fuchsia and reminds me of the bright pink flowers that begin to appear in many people’s gardens at this time of the year. Pressed Rose is a medium pink that appears only on the London color palette as a companion to New York’s Sweet Lilac. To me it is a more adult version of pink, that almost any woman could wear.

For this series, I thought it would be fun to pair colors that had similar roots, so for this pairing it was pink with pink. You will see another post where I pair yellow with yellow. Whereas, in last Thursday’s post with Turmeric and Sweet Lilac, the colors were quite different, almost to the point of being too different to put together. However, as we are beginning to realize with many fashion faux pas, never say never.

This bright pink thrifted, Worthington sweater was a purchase I made, just for this series. I have a number of bright pink things, but nothing seemed quite right, a little too red, or a little too purple, so when I saw this for a dollar I snapped it up without even trying it on. I like the ribbing around the neck line. Little added details like that are part of what make clothes special.

This David & Young kimono was a clearance find from DSW. Who thinks to shop for kimonos at a shoe store? Me, that’s who. Ha, ha. They have all sorts of great accessories there, like bags, wallets, key chains and of course shoes!

It is hard to see in these pictures, but the kimono’s flowers include the Pressed Rose color. I like the fringy details on the sleeves and it is also on the hem line. This will be a great topper for the warmer weather.

For this outfit I decided to try finding a piece that would mimic the Brown Granite color from the classic neutral palette. It is not often we see an actual brown on this palette. More often they choose a gray. I was disappointed there wasn’t a gray, but then I realized it would force me to think outside my box again. I actually like brown and my hubby loves when I wear it as it brings out my brown eyes, however, it is hard to find brown pieces that aren’t just drab and boring.

I got these brown Worthington trousers at JC Penney. You can obviously tell, I have a lot of Worthington pieces. For me it is a brand that fits my figure pretty well and has a lower price point. I think they make great work wear pieces. Here are a few pairs of pants in various colors: gray, various, bright pink, pull on skinny (similar to the orange ones from last Thursday’s post). This pair is more of a wide leg and very comfortable.

These cute ankle boots I found at Kohl’s in the clearance section. Do you shop clearance? It really pays off at Kohl’s as long as you don’t mind getting stuff at the end of the season. I don’t worry about being spot on as far as the trends and timing. I like what I like and I will wear it, whether it is trending or not.

Along with my light pink ankle boots I grabbed my little pink clutch, and added a few simple pieces of jewelry to keep the kimono and sweater center stage.

What do you think of these colors? Do you wear pink? My husband does not like pink, not even on me, but I wear it anyway. I’m such a bad wife. Ha, ha. But he puts up with me and loves me even in my pink moments.

As always, I’ve included a few shopping links for all things pink! Enjoy shopping. These are affiliate link, which means I get a few cents when you click on a link. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2019 - Jester Red & Pepper Stem

Today’s Pantone colors are the rich saturated relatives of red and green. These two pair perfectly for a tropical vibe mixed with a punch. Jester Red jams with a touch of blue and Pepper Stem is green with lilting yellow tones. I love how these two mix together to create a colorful summer vibe.

This Jones Wear printed midi-skirt is a great piece for spring, summer and fall. It is fully lined, so in the summer you don’t have to worry about wearing a slip. The length is modest, and pairs well with anything from heels to flats to flip flops. I’ve featured this skirt on the blog before in a fall Pantone palette. You can see that post here.

This Field Gear jacket is thrifted. I have also featured this on the blog before too. You can see that post here. If you take a look at that post, you’ll see it was also for the Pantone palette from last spring, where the color of the year was Greenery. This is a softer, light weight suede, which makes it the perfect piece for spring and summer.

This 3/4 length sleeve tee is a bit more red than the Jester Red color, but I thought it was pretty close. What drew me to this Rafaella Studio thrifted piece was the embellished neckline. The cowl neck is covered with beads in a hematite type sheen. I didn’t need any necklaces with this pretty piece in place. Tops with embellished necklines are a nice, easy way to dress up an outfit, without having to think about jewelry. You can see the intricate beading below.

For my accessories, I chose a thrifted Simply Vera/Vera Wang navy bag and thrifted Relativity loafer heels, to go along with the classic color Eclipse. Once again, let me reiterate, this is not a contest to see how close to the Pantone color palette you can get, but a spring board for inspiration and new color combinations that you may not have thought of before. We often think of red and green as a Christmas color combo, but when you make the green a little more tropical it pairs well with any red without looking Christmasy.

I added this belt too, just to make the outfit a little more polished. This is a stretchy belt that just clasps together in the front. A stretch belt is a fun way to add fun to an outfit and cinch in our waists.

I thought this was a fun, festive outfit that could be worn to a party. If the weather is hotter, sub out the 3/4 length sleeve tee for a tank top and use a light weight sweater or hoodie with flip flops or sneakers for a more casual look.

What do you think of Jester Red and Pepper Stem? Do you have any of these colors in your closet? If you do, have you ever worn them together? I love to hear you feedback.

I’ve included a few shopping links for similar colored items. Have fun perusing. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Pantone Spring/Summer - Introduction

I’m a little late, putting this series together this spring, but the Pantone colors are really for two seasons, spring/summer and fall/winter. Since the colors bleed over into summer, I figured it would be okay if my series started a little later.

Once again, we are introduced to both the New York and London color palettes, but the overlap between the two is substantial, so we’ve combined all the colors, so you can see the whole palette at once.

This spring/summer palette is full of rich, saturated colors, but also has sweet, light pastels that will appeal to the little girls in us. As usual the Pantone Color Institute has named these colors with fun foodie words like Pepper Stem, Turmeric, Toffee, Mango Mojito and Lemon Verbena. Other names convey the beauties of the natural world, such as Living Coral (the Pantone Color of the Year), Aspen Gold, Terrarium Moss, Sweet Lilac and Pressed Rose. Finally, summer wouldn’t be complete without a few colors that remind us of cookouts, parties and fun times: Fiesta, Jester Red, Pink Peacock and Princess Blue.

I liked all of the colors on this palette. I had fun choosing outfits around these colors and when we get to the actual outfit posts, I’ll explain my rationale for each outfit more fully.

I addition to the 14 colors above both the New York and London palettes both share the four neutral palette shown below.

I wish they had included a gray, like they’ve done in the past, but I don’t begrudge them for changing things up a bit. The Brown Granite is a nice choice, but I find, that it is easier to locate a gray piece than a color like this. Gray seems to be more classic, but maybe things will change and this brownish gray will take over.

Here are a few sneak peeks at what is to come over the next few weeks.

If you like color and like to challenge yourself to try new things, be sure to join me for this Spring/Summer Pantone 2019 series, beginning next Tuesday.

What do you think of this spring’s color palette? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Have a great weekend!

Photos and graphics, Rebecca Trumbull.

Print Mixing Mash Up - Print Dress - Outfit 2

For today’s print mixing outfit, I used the same dress from Tuesday, but instead of layering a printed tee underneath, I chose to layer a tee, and also add a printed jacket on the top.

This Apt. 9, tweed jacket, was a thrift store find. I like the light pink trim and polka dots. The brown, faux lace tee that I have on under the dress is also a thrift store purchase and is Croft and Barrow.

For this outfit, I decided to emphasize pink for my accessories. I found this necklace at JC Penney on the clearance rack. I thought it would be a fun statement piece for spring and summer, as it has flowers on it. I also grabbed my little pink clutch.

I’ve had these thrifted A2 Aerosole heels for a while and they are starting to show their age, but I hang onto them, because I really like their retro look.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you feel that it has a rather retro vibe? What have you been challenged to put together since starting this print mixing series? I’d love to have your feedback.

I’ve included a few shopping links for tweed jackets. Everyone should have at least one of these in their closet. They can be dressed up or down and no matter what your style, a tweed jacket will work. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Print Mixing Mash Up - Print Dress - Outfit 1

This is my last week for the print mixing series. I hope you have enjoyed this, and that it has made a difference in your ability and desire to print mix. You’ll see more print mixing on in future posts, because I really like doing it and I feel that it is so much easier, now that I have had to come up with outfits to share with you all.

This last piece is a thrifted print dress. The brand was an unfamiliar brand called Kari NY. I have featured this dress on the blog before. You can see that post here. I love the print and the colors. It is meant to be a sleeveless summer dress, but I usually wear it with a tee underneath.

I chose this thrifted elbow length sleeve Loft tee because of the color similarities to the dress. Once again, we can see the ratio factor that makes for a great print mix - large with small. This ratio, along with color similarities makes it much easier to mix prints with ease.

I love the ruching around the waist on this dress. It hides so many bulges. Ha, ha.

On this particular day it was freezing, so I thought I’d add a dark brown scarf as a shawl. I also chose dark brown tights and my cognac colored SO ankle boots. Since this is a time of year that we think more about transitional outfits, we have to be conscious of reaching for lighter weight spring pieces, while still needing to keep warm with layers. Layering is a great way to do this and this outfit is the perfect example.

I chose a summery dress, then I added a layer underneath, by choosing a tee shirt. I also opted for heavier tights rather than nude hose, with a pair of ankle boots for added warmth. Believe me, on this day, I needed it!

I chose jewelry with orange tones, to pull out the orangey pinks in the tee and the dress.

I decided, once again to match my bag to my shoes. Once in a while I choose to do this, because there is enough going on in the outfit, especially with print mixing. Adding a completely different colored bag or another print, might have been toon much. I think a black or brown bag would work well with this as well, but I opted for the cognac color of this thrifted hobo bag.

It seems there is a big push towards recycling in our country, especially with clothing. With retailers like Savers, Good Will, Salvation Army, American Cancer Society and others, used clothing can be found for a fraction of the price of what things cost brand new. The added benefit, we aren’t putting those things into a land fill. Everything in this outfit, except my underclothes, my tights, the shoes and the jewelry was thrifted. I have devoted my shopping lust to mainly second hand purchases, although even I am a sucker for a good sale at a store, like Kohl’s, Penney’s, Christopher and Banks and so on. I’ve devoted two full blog posts to my thoughts on thrifting. You can read those by clicking on the links - Thoughts on Thrifting - Part 1 - The Stores, and Thoughts on Thrifting - Part 2 - How To.

Just a funny picture of me getting attacked by snowflakes.

Would you ever mix prints like this? Why or why not? I’d love to have your feedback. Leave me some love in the comments section below.

i’ve included a few shopping links below. These are 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 are my own.

I hope you are having a great week.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.