Flat Lays in the Flesh - Capes

This is the last of my Flat Lays in the Flesh outfits. I picked out the four that really appealed to me, but that doesn’t mean the other Flat Lays weren’t also interesting and possible “in the flesh” outfits. These four were the ones that appealed to me for various reasons and it has been fun to see how they actually looked on a person, namely me. For your information, so that you know how you might measure up, I am 5’5”, 171lbs. I would feel more comfortable in my skin if I was about 150 or 155, so that is a goal I am working towards, albeit very slowly.

Today’s outfit in the flesh features the Fall 2019 trend of capes. I think capes were very popular back in the day, especially in Medieval Europe. They have come and gone over the years and typically when we hear the word cape we think of super heroes donning their spandex suits and adding a cape as a finishing touch; think Superman, Batman and Robin or even Thor. While capes came back this year, I personally haven’t seen very many of them floating around in the stores or donning women walking down the street.

Flay lay and photo by Amy Christensen

I know not everyone is buying into the mustard trend, but I really do like this rich sunflower yellow cape that I found while thrifting. I like that it is a crafted piece, made by hand and has the fringe, which is so indicative of a bohemian look. Here is the outfit in the flesh.

My yellow thrifted plaid shirt is Divided brand from H&M. I had no idea when I found it how well it would go with this knit cape. I love plaid and since I have been on the yellow train, it makes sense that I would buy a yellow plaid shirt, especially one from a thrift store. The plaid print includes a little blue, white and blush.

Drawing on the blush in the shirt, I went with blush accessories. My clutch I found on clearance at Meijer. My necklace was a JC Penney clearance find, and my SO ankle boots with the block heel, were a Kohl’s clearance purchase.

My Rock and Republic boot cut jeans are more like jeggings than jeans, but they have a zipper and button front, as well as regular pockets. They are just made from a stretchy fabric and are easy to move in.

Here is a quick shot of the back of the cape. I just love the fringe around the bottom.

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear a cape? Just to clarify, capes are usually shorter like this one and cloaks usually come past the knee, with some versions reaching the floor. Do you know how to knit or crochet? That is something I wish I had time to do, but not right now. My mom used to crochet afghans and doilies and I had an aunt that used to crochet stuffed animals like bears.

I’ve included a few shopping links for capes and for yellow pieces that I think are fun. I hope you are having a great Tuesday and thanks so much for stopping by the blog.

Photo credit, except where specified, Rebecca Trumbull.

These shopping links are affiliate links. When you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my site, I get a little bit more. All opinions are my own.

Flat Lays in the Flesh - Animal Print

On Thanksgiving I will be starting a holiday series that I think you might find inspirational and interesting. That is all I am saying about that right now, just to whet your appetites. Until then I thought it might be fun to revisit a few of the Fall Trends 2019 that I talked about through the medium of flat lays. If you don’t know what a flat lay is, it is simply a way to show an outfit by laying out the pieces on a flat surface, rather than showing them on a person. I find so many flat lays look amazing, but I am always left wondering, what does the outfit look like on an actual person. I hope you don’t find this too repetitive, but I decided to take four of the flat lays I did for my Fall Trends 2019 series and show you what they look like, in the flesh. Let’s get started.

This first outfit features a snakeskin jacket that I found thrifting last spring. This was the flat lay from the original post, which focused on the fall trend of animal prints.

Photo by Amy D. Christensen

This is what the outfit looks like in the flesh.

It was only about 10 degrees outside and as much as I like to play the tough chick, I decided, forget that nonsense, so my daughter/photographer turned her spare bedroom into a studio. She is so good at being flexible and working with what we have. She does such a great job with natural light. There was no flash in any of these pictures.

This Liz Claiborne snakeskin jacket has a little bit of stretch to it, making it very easy to move in. I paired it with a thrifted Banana Republic sweater for this outfit, but you could easily swap in other pieces like a button up blouse, a graphic tee or a lighter weight turtleneck for all manner of stylish vibes. A jacket like this is a work horse in your wardrobe and can be dressed up with a skirt or dress and heels; or dressed down with distressed jeans and sneakers.

I went for a work wear look, pairing the sweater and jacket with my Gloria Vanderbilt cargo skinnies and my Impo wedge ankle boots.

I chose the yellow tote bag to enhance the sunshiny vibe of the outfit, making this a good combination for a cloudy, fall day. This was another thrifted piece.

I thought layering a few fun necklaces would make for an added statement. In the original flat lay I only had the shorter necklace, but just recently I found the long pendant necklace at JCPenney on the clearance rack. They don’t match, but I think the combination works well against the yellow back drop.

Do you think this flat lay turned out to be a good outfit? Do these pieces work well together? Why or why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

I’m leaving you with a few shopping links for fun animal print pieces. Remember Christmas is coming soon and there might be a person or two on your list, who would love an animal print piece. These are affiliate links, which means if you click on a link, I get a few pennies, and if you purchase something through one of my links I get a few more pennies. Ha, ha. I appreciate every penny I get.

Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by the blog.

Photo credit (unless otherwise stated) Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - London Palette Recap

It’s time for a recap of the all the Pantone - Autumn/Winter -2019 - London Palette colors. There were things about these colors that I liked better than the New York Palette, but each of them had colors that I felt comfortable wearing. I’ll explain my favorite from this series after a review of the outfits.

Outfit 1 - Merlot and Antique Moss

Outfit 2 - Cranberry and Chicory Coffee

Outfit 3 - Summer Fig and Bluestone

Outfit 4 - Butterscotch and Grapeade

Outfit 5 - Crabapple and Forest Biome

Outfit 6 - Galaxy Blue and Hazel

I am having a hard time picking just one outfit from this series that I liked the best. I really liked Cranberry and Chicory Coffee. I have always been a fan of browns, but I just love the result when it is combined with the medium pinky red of Cranberry. I also like the long line of this outfit and I think the long Rutabaga open front cardi helped with the illusion.

My next fave would be the boho vibe of Butterscotch and Grapeade. If you would have asked me a few years ago if I would wear an outfit with these two colors together, I would have said no way. Yellow and purple? You have to be kidding, but there is something whimsical about this outfit and the color combination is only part of it. The colors are happy and fun, but the print of the skirt, the fringe bag and the fun textured boots really give this outfit its bohemian style.

Finally, I really like the last outfit. Even though, I wouldn’t necessarily wear a color like Hazel all on it’s own, I do like the way this color pairs so well with the grays and the blues in outfit. I also like the subtle plaid print mixing. It is obvious, but it doesn’t overwhelm the eye like some print mixing is capable of doing.

Well, I’ve told you my favorites, now tell me yours. I love to hear your feedback.

i hope you enjoyed this Pantone - Autumn/Winter series. If there is anything else you would like to see, with regards to the Pantone Color Institute you can check out their website. Just click on the link.

Have a great Tuesday!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Butterscotch and Grapeade

Today’s outfit features two colors from the London Autumn/Winter palette that Pantone describes as a “deliciously appealing golden yellow” and a “notable muted mauve tone.” You might wonder why I would pair purple with yellow. There was just something about this combination that I loved and when I paired them with the printed maxi skirt, I felt I had a winning outfit. Take a look.

This outfit says several things. First, it says I’m not afraid to try unusual color combinations. Second, it says you can make up your own style. The short sleeve sweater with a cardigan topper is a more classic combination, but the medallion print skirt, beaded jewelry and fringe bag scream boho. Let’s talk details.

The purple short sleeve sweater is a thrifted Loft piece. I like the scoop neck and it has plenty of stretch, but still holds its shape. I also love purple, which is trending this fall.

The Butterscotch thrifted cardigan is a brand called Callaway. When I looked it up, it appears to be a clothing brand for golfing, selling things like polo shirts, pants, jackets and other golf related pieces. The brand also has their own website which features golfing equipment like drivers, putters and bags. Neither my hubby, nor I play golf. He calls it “cow pasture pool.” He’s always got a name for everything. You can see Callaway clothing on Amazon, and on their own website, Callaway Apparel.

I may not be a golfer, but I know a quality sweater when I see one. I love the women’s fit of this cardi and the ruffle treatment around the neckline. It makes the sweater very feminine and fun.

I’ve styled this medallion print Roz & Ali brand skirt on the blog before. I got this at Dressbarn a few years ago. While it is a summer weight skirt, it is fully lined, so good for cooler temps and if you pair it with leggings or heavy tights you could wear it all winter. You can see how I paired the skirt with both an orange tank and a gold top here, and with another lighter purple color here.

In keeping with the boho feel of the outfit, I went for a hand crafted look with my jewelry and bag. The necklace was actually made by my oldest. She was into beading as a teen and made some fun pieces, of which I still have a few.

This beaded bracelet was probably a Kohl’s or JCPenney piece from the clearance rack. I’ve had it for a while, so I don’t remember.

I found this fringe bag at a thrift store and knew I had to have it. It looks like it was hand made and there is no label inside. I like that it is a neutral color and long enough to be a cross body bag.

My ankle boots are another thrift store find and I thought paired well with the boho theme of the outfit. These are a brand called Rock Candy by Zigi.

What do you think of these colors? Do you have these in your closet? Would you wear yellow and purple together? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave me some love in the comments.

i’m including a few shopping links for things purple and yellow. The holidays are coming up. How many of you have started your Christmas shopping? I’m guilty! Life is so busy, I can’t afford to wait until the last minute. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Summer Fig and Bluestone

You’ll remember from the New York Pantone series the color Bluestone. This is one of only two colors that showed up on both palettes. I’m not sure how the Pantone Color Institute comes up with the colors they choose. Is there a committee? If so who is on the committee? How do they come up with the names for each of the colors? Yes, these are the things a fashion blogger wonders when she is tired and needing a burst of writing motivation. Ha, ha. I am speaking the truth when I say, I had to look up what a fig looked like to understand where they came up with this red color. This red coincides with the bright red interior of the fig fruit. I have never eaten a fig, have you?

This bright red tee is SO brand from Kohl’s. It is a few years old. I find Kohl’s and JCPenney my go to’s for things like short and long sleeve tees.

The Bluestone vest is a LuLaRoe piece. This particular style is called Joy. I like that some clothing companies name each of their styles. Not that I will remember what they are called, but I just think it adds another dimension to a retailer, that they have taken the time and effort to specify a certain line has a name. This is the only vest I have that is this length and I like how it looks in this outfit. The fabric has plenty of stretch, but doesn’t lose its shape.

Once again, I turned to the classic color of Olive Green for my pants, bag, and belt. Olive just seems to be an easy color to pair other colors with and it grounds an outfit and keeps it looking chic with a bit of an edge. These utility pants are Gloria Vanderbilt brand and I’ve styled them before on the blog. You can see them styled with an olive utility vest here and in a flat lay with a snakeskin jacket here. I got the tote bag from Charming Charlie a couple years before they went out of business. Belts are so expensive, I usually try to pick them up at thrift stores.

I kept the jewelry simple with a gold pendant necklace and a gold bracelet.

This old pair of Sonoma ankle boots has been with me for a while, but they are the perfect neutral finishing touch and the suede texture is just right for a fall outfit.

What do you think of these colors? They are very similar to the New York palette using Bluestone and Chili Pepper. Do you like to wear vests? Do you have a long one like this? What are some other ways you could style a long vest? I’d love to have your feedback.

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

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Orange Tiger and Eden

I mentioned in Tuesday’s post on Sugar Almond and Dark Cheddar, that not everyone can or wants to wear orange. I love orange, but it has to be the right shade for me to wear it near my face. Some oranges make me look sallow or washed out. Today’s colors are bold and what caused me to put these two colors together, was the contrast of dark with light, deep with bright. Today’s colors are a “fearless” Tiger Orange, and a rich “stately forest green” called Eden. I think Pantone’s description of these colors is perfect.

These two colors are the first in this series that I felt truly matched with the Pantone colors. I looked for a while in thrift stores for the perfect green and I really think this dark cardi nailed it. the sweater is Jaclyn Smith brand.

These bright orange pants are Worthington brand and I got them at JC Penney a number of years ago. These are more of a skinny leg trouser than a wide leg trouser. I got them for the bright color and do find occasions in the spring, summer and fall to wear them. You can see how I styled these with a floral tunic here.

This cream colored tank top is a thrifted Loft piece. I actually have two of them, found on different occasions, but the exact same style. This one is a large and has a sheen to it, that you can’t really see in the picture. The other one I have is a medium and is more of a true white. Why do I need two of these? Comfort and ease of wear. They work perfectly for something like this, but I will also be able to use them as a light weight under layer when the temps grow cold. The piece is banded on the bottom, making for a great fit without showing off the bulges. Here are a few to look at.

The scarf I added was another thrifted piece. I don’t have many pieces that are cream or ivory, like this. I am also looking for a cream fisherman sweater and/or turtleneck. I don’t need anything, because I am a clothes horse, but every now and then, I do realize I am lacking something I would love to incorporate into my closet. What about you? What pieces have you been hoping to add to your closet?

In addition to the scarf I wanted to add a long charm pendant necklace to break up the plain back drop of the tank. I think this outfit would have been equally good with a printed tank under the sweater.

My other accessories included my Vera Bradley tote bag and my thrifted Mossimo sneakers.

What did you think of this outfit? Would you wear a pair of bright orange pants like this? What is the brightest color you have ever worn in pants or a skirt? I’d love to hear you thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments.

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

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Sugar Almond and Dark Cheddar

Today’s colors, in my opinion are the epitome of fall. The browns and oranges remind me of pumpkins and firewood stacked as it waits to be used. Red’s and yellows are other bright colors associated with this season and we will be seeing more of those in the London color palette, which will be coming up shortly. Let’s take a closer look at Sugar Almond and Dark Cheddar.

This thrifted, Sonoma, chevron print, dress caught my eye a few months ago and I knew it would be perfect for fall. Originally, I was going to used the waterfall cardi for the Sugar Almond color, but I actually think the colors in the dress are more suited to both of these Pantone colors.

Since I don’t normally wear dresses this short, I thought it would be fun to pair it with cropped pants. This pair of St. John’s Bay, creamy colored pants were another thrift store find. I almost didn’t get them, because I thought they were a little tight, but then, what isn’t on me right now. Ha, ha. However, I ‘m glad I put them in my cart. I think they make a cute addition to this dress. I want to try them with boots, when the weather gets colder. I might even try this dress with a chunky sweater, tights or leggings and boots. If I have success with that, I’ll post pictures either on Instagram, or I’ll do a post about it.

You can see in the above picture, the dress has a partial button front and an elastic waist. Wearing a belt with this would be another fashion forward idea, but I wanted an uninterrupted look from collar to hem, especially since I chose to wear this with cropped pants.

Let’s take just a moment to talk about the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is a photography guideline that suggests mentally dividing your picture into thirds, horizontally and vertically. You then place the image you wish to photograph at the intersection of two lines. This can make for a more interesting picture, that draws the eye to the image.

Fashion also has a rule of thirds. The body is divided into thirds: head to waist, waist to knees and knees to feet. This is an approximation and as we all know, some people have longer necks, shorter torsos and longer legs, so each individual will be a little different. This rule is good to be aware of when putting together an outfit.

If you look at the above picture, the dress would be considered in the first two thirds of my body and the crop pants and shoes in the last third. Take a look at this article to learn more about the rule of thirds in fashion, and why it helps to keep it in mind when you dress. Dressing Your Best: Rule of Thirds.

This Pink Rose, waterfall cardi is another thrift find. I love the open weave, and as you can see, it also has the chevron pattern on it. I did not plan that. Ha, ha. I just thought the color went perfectly with the colors in the dress. This is a great piece for these fall days that are still warm.

For accessories, I went with a coppery bag and my thrifted Naturalizer shooties. I also added the pendant bead necklace as a way to bring out the cream in the dress and tie in the pants. Accessories are the best way to pull an entire outfit together and make it look finished.

What do you think of these colors? Do you wear orange? Orange is often an intimidating color to wear, but there are so many different shades and tones that there is probably one out there you could wear. Would you wear crop pants with a dress like this? Let me know your thoughts. I love to hear from you.

Be sure to check back Thursday for two more Pantone colors.

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look at. These are affiliate links. Any time you click on a link, I get a few pennies. If you purchase something through my links, I get a a small commission. I appreciate all your support and all opinions are my own.

Have a great week.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Crème de Pêche and Rocky Road

I am not sure how the Pantone Color Institute decides the colors they are going to feature for each of their palettes. If you have been following me for a few years now, you can probably tell that many of the colors that appear on the palette are very similar to another season’s palette and are just called a different name. For example Tuesday’s Galaxy Blue was very similar to last spring’s Princess Blue.

Today’s outfit features two colors called Crème de Pêche and Rocky Road. Once again, my versions of the colors, do not look much like the Pantone colors, but it still gives us inspiration to pair to fall type colors together and pull it all together with a light gray.

My Chico pants look much more orange in comparison to the Pantone color swatch, but I do like how this pair of pull on Ponte knit pants looks combined with the light peach top.

The light peach eyelet top was a thrift find and I wear it a lot in the warmer months. You can see a closer look at that and the necklace I chose in the picture below. I thought the necklace was a good compliment because of its similar colors.

This light gray, About A Girl, jacket was a fun find on the Kohl’s clearance rack. I like the military vibe of the buttons, but the surprising feminine detail of the ruffles on the hem and sleeves.

Another Kohl’s clearance find, I got these Sonoma boots at the end of last winter season. They are a faux suede and a different look that some of my others boots. I love the slouchy and buckle details. Yes, I do have too many pairs of boots, but can a woman who lives in the midwest, have too many? Ha, ha.

Here is the thrifted Rosetti leopard cross body again. I am planning on making this my “normal” every day bag, as soon as I get around to changing things over. How many of you change your purse on a regular basis? I have many more purses and bags than I actually use. I use them for the blog, so you can see the different styles and shapes, but more often than not, I carry a cross body bag like this. It is just so convenient for hands free shopping.

Here are a few more pictures. I really liked these photos, especially with the large rock and the yellow flowers in the background.

Although my colors were off, I hope you enjoyed this outfit. Do you have a favorite pair of boots you like to wear? What color are they? What do you think of these colors from the Pantone palette? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

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 - New York Palette - Intro

For those of you who like my Pantone color series, you’ll will be glad to know, it is finally here. Due to scheduling issues my photographer and I finally got together to take the pictures and let me tell you, it was another scorcher! Ha, ha. I don’t know why, but it seems whenever we are scheduled to do pictures the weather is unreasonable. When we did the Pantone 2019 Spring/Summer shoot it was snowing. Now for the Pantone 2019 Autumn/Winter shoot it was sunny and hot. Oh well, there is no planning for the weather around here.

This year the color palettes between New York and London are quite varied, so I decided to do this in two separate series, rather than combining the palettes. Starting on Thursday i’ll be covering just the New York palette. When that palette is finished then I will cover the London palette.

This year’s New York palette is made up of colors described with terms like spicy, adventurous, extroverted and appetizing. Hopefully these descriptors will whet your appetites to follow along with this fall’s color series.

I really like this season’s colors. I feel like there is a good mix of tones that will give all skin colors lots of choices. The palette has a wide array of colors from classic blues, reds and green, to earthy browns and oranges to lighter pastels. Some of my favorites are Bluestone, Eden and Sugar Almond.

In addition, Pantone also includes a palette of classic colors which work well to use as the foundation of your outfit or as add on colors to tone down the brighter more jazzy color combinations. I can’t wait for you to see the outfits I came up with right out of my very own closet.

Here are a few sneak peeks. Join me Thursday for the start of the series.

Photo and graphic credit, Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Fall 2018 Recap

After a series like the Pantone color one, I usually like to do a recap post, to show you all the colors and the outfits I styled using those colors into one post. These colors this season were not what I would call common fall colors. I usually think of fall colors as being richer and darker hues like deep burgundies, earthy browns and garden oranges that make us think of pumpkins and fall leaves. While the Pantone Fall 2018 had a few colors that fit into my typical fall color box they had numerous ones that clearly stepped outside that box. Colors like Limelight, Mellow Rose and Crocus Petal provided a pastel palette choice for those who like to think brighter and lighter when the seasons change.

Enjoy this review of my Pantone Fall 2018 outfits.

What did you think of this color palette this year? Do you like lighter, pastel colors or go for richer, darker colors when fall rolls around? Do you like to think outside the seasonal color rules, or are you like me and look forward to the seasons bringing you back to those colors you are familiar with and enjoy at that time of year? It really doesn’t matter any more. The joy of fashion today is that you can decide what you like to wear at any time of year.

I like that Pantone had added the classic colors to the color palette for each season. It allows me to add a more toned down color to each outfit keeping the outfit colorful, but no overly so. it would be easy to add a touch of any of these colors to a more neutral outfit. For instance, if you wanted to go for a monochrome look using a navy like Sargasso Sea, you could add a little color by throwing on a bright Russet Orange scarf or some Limelight colored beads. If you normally dress in more neutral tones try adding just a touch of color in your accessories to make your outfits more interesting and visible.

I hope you enjoyed this series. Check back on Thursday for more fashion fun.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Outfit Inspiration - Gingham and Olive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rebecca Trumbull

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

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

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

Have a wonderful weekend!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Old Becomes New - Multi-print Blazer

For this month’s Old Becomes New column, I am featuring a short, 3/4 sleeve blazer that I found at a thrift store a few years back. What drew me to it was the amazing, eclectic color palette. My first thought was that I could wear it with so many things. After I tried it on and loved its’ stretchy feel, I had to take it home. Unfortunately, I’ve only worn it less than a handful of times. I decided to revisit it and make the tough choice as to whether I should keep it our not.

I honestly believe this jacket is meant for a smaller person than me. I am 5’ 5” and hover around 163 pounds. While it tends, on me, as more of a crop jacket, I’m just not sure. I am asking for your help friends. What do you all think? Does my outfit look disproportionate?

I chose my dressbarn W62 jeans. I bought this pair last year and they no longer carry this color. I love that they are so comfortable and stretchy, however, I feel like they are almost too big. I lost a few pounds this past spring, so I don’t know if that is what made the difference, but they seem to have a lot more wrinkles. Do you ever buy something, put it on and think, “It just doesn’t have the magic, I thought it had?”

I went with this thrifted brown tee and a necklace that was in some of my daughter’s stuff to be gotten rid of. Hey, I’m not afraid to find treasure in the strangest of places. I like the brown and yellow cord, the beads, ribbon and the charms, which you can’t see much of in this picture. It seemed a prefect fall accessory.

My bag is another thrift find. I felt the brown tee and the brown bag pulled in more of a fall feel with this blazer that could be worn in any season.

Once again, I chose my SO olive ankle boots. These are perfect for the cool temps of fall when you are not quite ready for mid-calf or knee high boots. You can see more fun colors here. The price point on these is not bad at all and they are very comfortable. I typically wear an 8.5 or a 9 and went with a 9 in these so I have more room for heavier socks as the days get cooler.

What is your verdict? Is this a jacket I should keep or should I let it go free? Ha, ha. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I have to work Friday and Saturday and try to play catch up with all the other stuff that I don’t get done during the week. Ha, ha. Take care and always choose to be kind.

Pantone Fall 2018 - Martini Olive, Ceylon Yellow and Tofu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Layering Love - What to do with a Light Weight Dress

Just because the temperatures are heading down, the wind is picking up and the snow is starting to fly doesn't mean we have to put away all of our cute, light weight dresses. The way to extend the life of our wardrobes and find new, fun outfits is to think outside the box. A light weight knee length or shorter dress can easily be used as a tunic. The differences lie in the length and weight of the accompanying pieces and the types of accessories that you add to complete the outfit. 

This burgundy dress I found on the clearance rack at Kohl's just recently. I has elbow length sleeves, shirring at the neck and shoulders and an elastic waist. It is incredibly soft and comfortable.

For my layer of warmth on the top I added a polka dot black and white blazer which is Black Label - Evan Picone brand. 

For my bottom layer I chose a pair of heavier Joe Boxer brand leggings that I have worn on the blog before. Leggings provide more coverage and warmth than a a pair of hose or even tights, although a heavy pair of sweater tights would do the job.

Yes, I was doing a bit of print mixing! 

My Mossimo fringe bag was having a few issues, probably because I didn't have anything in it. Yes, sometimes I am a fake. Ha, ha. I thought silver jewelry worked great with the burgundy colors. 

I just picked up these Life Stride ankle boots at a thrift store recently. I was really disappointed to find out that my favorite thrift store here in Toledo closed. It is unfortunate when corporations make these quick decisions. A bunch of people are now out of work because of that decision.

The boots have a sort of burgundy look to them when you compare them to brown, but compared to the burgundy dress they really look brown. Funny how that works. 

Just by adding a few layering pieces you can turn a lighter weight dress into a great outfit focal point, even in the winter. Think about what dresses you normally wouldn't wear in the winter. Do you have one that you might be able to transform into a cold weather outfit, just by adding a warm, chunky sweater, some leggings and boots? I'd love to hear you ideas. Leave me  some love in the comments section.

I hope you'll join me again next Tuesday for my next casual holiday outfit, featuring a fun printed skirt. Have a great weekend!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. 

If you like this blazer JC Penney is having a sale right now on Black Label - Evan Picone pieces. Here are a few to peruse. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

The Pantone Fall 2017 Recap

What I want to do for this week's post is give you a recap of all the Pantone Fall 2017 colors. Instead of taking up too much of your time, reviewing what was already said about each outfit, I think you are all smart enough to go back and revisit the original post on each color combination if you want to see and read more. 

For those of you who have been following me for a while, you already know my philosophy behind using the Pantone colors on my blog. For those of you who are new here, I love color and whether it be in God's creation, a painting or an outfit, I love to see how various colors combine and contrast to create stunning visual displays. Pantone gives me a spring board from which to choose color combinations for my outfits. That being said, here are the outfits from this year's fall colors.

The London Palette

Flame Scarlet and Otter 

Primrose Pink and Navy Peony 

Toast and Copper Tan  

Blue Bell and Lemon Curry 

Royal Lilac and Golden Olive 

Here is a look at the outfits side by side. 

What is your personal favorite? I'd be interested to hear. Mine is the Royal Lilac and Golden Olive. I loved the richness of both of these colors, the comfort of the outfit and the Bohemian vibe that I felt it portrayed. I also felt that I looked the best in these colors, which is a revelation since I have never thought of myself as looking good in yellow. So much for those ideas that we had in the past!

The New York Palette

Grenadine and Butterum 

Ballet Slipper and Neutral Gray 

Marina and Navy Peony 

Tawny Port and Golden Lime 

Autumn Maple and Shaded Spruce 

Here are the outfits side by side. 

Which one of these color combinations did you like the most? Over all, I liked the New York Palette better than the London Palette. I felt the colors were deeper, richer and easier to find and work with than some of the London colors. If I had to pick one favorite I wouldn't be able to. I like the boldness of Grenadine and Butterum, the classic feel of Ballet Slipper with Neutral Gray, the perfect blend of Navy Peony and Marina, the tropical contrast of Tawny Port and Golden Olive and the fall perfection of Autumn Maple and Shaded Spruce. 

What is lovely about these colors is that you could pair any one with a totally different combination than I have and come up with an equally awesome outfit. How about Grenadine with Marina, Neutral Gray with Shaded Spruce or Autumn Maple with Navy Peony. That is the beauty of finding inspiration in the Pantone color palettes. There is so much you can do with them, long after these colors become obsolete. The Pantone Color Institute has already put out their Spring palettes! Yikes! For a sneak peek at those just click on the one you want to see: London Palette or New York Palette. 

To see any of my original posts on this series just click on the link above the picture. I hope you enjoyed this series on the Fall 2017 Pantone colors. 

I have decided to postpone my series on camouflage until the new year, so I will be starting a series on dressing for the holidays, next Tuesday. On Thursday I'll be starting a series on layering, which is one of my favorite things to do. I hope you'll join me.

Fun Fall Look - Shearling

For this Fun Fall Look today, I am wearing a pair of boots I recently thrifted, that combine the earthy tone of brown suede with the fun texture of creamy shearling. Shearling is basically the wool from a sheep after it is shorn. Most of the shearling you see in the stores this season is fake, but it is a fun texture that is widely popular right now and appears on coats, vests, hats, scarves and yes, boots. Most often the fuzzy texture is left a creamy white color and can be made of various man made fibers.

Because I wanted to show off the boots, I kept the rest of my outfit rather casual and simple. 

This berry colored tunic I bought a few years ago at Christopher and Banks. Here is a cute cowl neck version at Nordstrom. 

The  Apt. 9 vest I found on the clearance rack at Kohls. This is a light weight faux suede. I like the waterfall open front and this brown will go with many other colors. Do you like it paired with the berry? I think it works to keep the outfit more earthy. Here is a back view of the vest and the boots.

I chose these dark wash Rock and Republic skinny jeans for a look that slimming and in keeping with the darker colors of fall. I got these on clearance at Kohl's. I lost about 7 pounds over the summer, so they fit a little better now than when I first got them. It's amazing how just a few pounds can make a difference. 

I decided to mix jewelry just to keep the look more interesting. To go with the suede look of the vest and boots I chose the lariat choker. To go with the berry tunic I also added this fun fringe gold and bead pendant necklace.

I also added a number of bracelets that I recently brought home. They are just simple stretchy beaded ones, but even these can make an outfit look more fun and interesting. I love these layers of burgundy, berry and gold.

These Unisa brand boots were a great find. I love that they have a higher wedge heel and the gold zipper and buckle detailing on the outer leg gives them a cool vibe that can be dressed up or down. They seem pretty comfortable, so I expect these will get some wear this winter. Just remember if you are going to wear suede boots they should be treated for waterproofing and I would avoid wearing them when the salt trucks are out. Salt does nasty things to suede and leather. To keep your boots looking great wear your snow boots, rain boots or a boot that can be easily cleaned when the weather gets really messy. 

Do you have any shearling pieces in your closet? How do you wear your shearling? I hope you enjoyed this post. Below are a few affiliate shopping links that can give you other ideas for how to wear shearling. All opinions are my own.

I hope you have a great weekend. 

Pantone Fall 2017 - The New York Palette - Tawny Port and Golden Lime

This week's color combination is a blend of a dark maroon and a more subtle green. Tawny Port is described on the Pantone site as "Taking the red family to new depths..." I think of it as more of purple than a red, but then purple is made up of red and blue. Golden Lime takes on a more tropical hue, so I though pairing these two colors would make for an interesting outfit. 

These pictures were taken at Wildwood Metropark here in Toledo. This is an amazing park and so close to home. It used to be the estate of Champion Spark Plug magnate Robert Stranahan. The park boasts the original Manor house and outbuildings, as well as acres of trails, a covered bridge and boardwalk. It is used for everything from family picnics to all manner of photo opportunities. In December the Manor house will be decorated for Christmas and thousands of people will come to take a tour. 

For today's pics we just found a piece of trail to take pictures on.

I've had this skirt, which is Jones Wear Brand, for a while. Honestly, I don't even remember where I got it. Ha, ha. However, it is a fun skirt with it's whimsical pattern and colors. It is fully lined and would be considered either midi or tea length, depending on what chart you look at. 

This open waterfall cardi is ANA brand. It probably leans more towards purple than what Tawny Port actually is, but I think It works well. The Tawny Port splotches in the skirt actually are more red. It is amazing how you can pair something with a color that has both red and blue in it's undertones and it will lean toward the color of the piece you have on.

This faux lace top from Croft and Barrow appears more green in person, but you get the idea. I like these types of tops as they give the appearance of lace, but you don't have to wear a cami underneath. This one is a silky, stretchy material, so very easy to wear and wash. 

You can also see I added a gold belt to bring out that color in the skirt as well, plus it adds a point of interest and texture as well as defining my shape. I chose this bluish purple agate necklace as the skirt has just a little bit of this color in it too. 

My bag is thrifted and you can see I've used it before in this post. This dark olive bag from Talbots has two handles. One allows you to use it as a top handle hobo bag and the other as a cross body bag. It is nice to have options. 

I was really stumped when it came to what shoes to wear. My casual side won out in the end and I went for the combat boots. These are thrifted and are Falls Creek brand. Falls Creek is a brand sold at Meijer. 

I thought this was a fun outfit for fall. It is comfy, cozy and for cooler weather could be made wearable by swapping out the short sleeve stretchy tee for a long sleeve top and adding heavier tights under the skirt. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. I've included a few shopping links for Tawny Port and Golden Lime. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Have a great week and don't forget to stop back on Thursday for another Fun Fall Look.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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. 

Fun Fall Look - Blanket Scarf

Until this last spring I had never owned a blanket scarf. Last fall and winter when I saw all sorts of my favorite bloggers showing off their warm, fuzzy scarves I kept thinking I need to get one of these. It wasn't until my hubby and I visited The British Tea Garden in Tecumseh, Michigan that I found the exact one I wanted. Our fun lunch date included delicious food and our choice of tea. They also had a cute little gift shop which I had to peruse while we were waiting to be seated. This is the blanket scarf I bought on clearance. 

What makes a blanket scarf different from other scarves. There are two main characteristics. The first is that the scarf is a large square. I believe this one is five feet by five feet. The second is that the material is heavier, but soft enough to wrap around our necks or shoulders. 

For this post I styled my blanket scarf for a casual look that could be worn on a date with my hubby or shopping with a friend. 

I've been seeing cropped pants everywhere, especially distressed denim with frayed hems. I guess I'm right on trend in that department. These Vera Wang pants are thrifted. I wasn't too keen on the whole distressed pants trend, but I have come over to the dark side. Ha, ha. Personally, this is as much distressing as I need. No holes revealing pasty flesh for this girl. Although small holes and a cute pair of tights would be okay. That's just me!

I thought it would be fun to pair the jeans with a dressier jacket/blazer that is also thrifted. I had been wondering how exactly to style this jacket, but when I saw the scarf next to it, I knew it would be the perfect pairing.

This jacket is not meant to be worn as outerwear as it is very light and unlined. It may have been part of a pant suit or went with a skirt. I like wearing jackets like this. They provide an added layer of warmth, especially when I work. Our office is chilly all year round. 

Under the jacket I wore one of my winter sweaters tunics. It has more of an open weave, so isn't too heavy. If I wore it alone, I would have added a cami or tank underneath. 

The following pictures show another way to style this scarf. 

For shoes I chose my black heeled ankle boots. 

I didn't go wild with my accessories as I wanted the scarf to be the focal point. A fun ring with fall colors and a gold bracelet were my only jewelry. 

I thought adding this red/berry colored bag would be a great pop of color against this otherwise subdued outfit. Another thrift store find, I love the color of this purse. It has the roominess of a tote, but also has organizational compartments for all the extras. Thrift stores are great places to find purses, even pricer name brands like Coach. Just be sure you know your brand before you buy. 

So that is a look at my blanket scarf outfit. I can't wait until it gets a little chillier so I can wear this cozy piece more often. Do you have a blanket scarf? How do you like to wear yours?

Here are a few shopping links for blanket scarves. If you purchase an item through my site I get a little bit of a kick back. While my blog is just a hobby right now, it would be awesome if it made a little bit of money too. Ha, ha. 

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

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!