What I Wore to a Fall Wedding (or a Great Thanksgiving Outfit)

November 22, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a night out, Dressing for fall, Dressing for work, Dressing up for holidays, Dressy casual, Dressing for a wedding, Fall Colors, Fall Fashion, Fall outfit, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Floral patterns, Floral top, Holiday outfit, Holiday style, Brown Trousers, Brown ankle boots, Layering light, Layering, Nine West brand, Over 40 Fashion Blog, Over 40 Fashion Style, Over 50 Fashion Blog, Over 50 style, Pussy bow blouse, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Styling a floral blouse, Rust cardigan, Thrifted sweater, Thrifted style, Thrifted pieces, Women's fall style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style, Work wear, Work wear style, Wedding outfit, Thanksgiving Day Style, Thanksgiving outfit

I see numerous bloggers do posts on what to wear to a wedding according to whatever season it is. Since I was actually going to a wedding, I figured it would be good content for a post. The wedding was at night and it was a very cold evening, so those factors contributed to my outfit choice.

I knew I was going to wear pants instead of a dress, but initially I was thinking black, as it is typically a more classic color. However, I saw this recently thrifted Eva Mendez floral blouse in my closet and thought it would be a pretty piece to build a dressy, but warm and comfortable outfit around.

I just loved the pussy bow tie on this piece and its pretty floral print. It is sheer, so I added a dark cami underneath for coverage. Once I chose the blouse I started looking at my pants. I have a black pair, and I think that would have worked as well, but I decided on the brown Worthington wide leg.

After I had the top and pants figured out, I knew I wanted a sweater or topper of some sort. Once again I was thinking about a black sweater or even a light pink one, but neither of those seemed the right choice. Then I remembered another more recent thrift find.

I love the duster length, the rusty color, the drape, and the lighter weight of this A New Day sweater. It makes a great layering piece and it was perfect for giving me an extra layer of warmth without making me too hot.

Besides my belt, the only accessories I had were my boots and my bag. The brown suede ankle boots were a Kohl’s purchase a couple years ago and are Nine West brand. They have a bit of a western vibe with a shorter block heel and the pointier toe. Originally, I was going to wear my “witchy” boots from last week’s post, but because my knee has been painful, I decided to not take the chance of the taller heel making things worse.

My b.o.c. bag is a hand me over from my bestie. I really like the tritone color and the large metallic ring detail. It is also a bit smaller than some of my other bags, so less weight on my shoulders and neck. I typically wear a longer bag like this as a cross body bag.

This outfit would be great for work, a night out with your significant other or going to church. This also would be perfect for your Thanksgiving Day celebration. In all honesty, when we got to the wedding, I felt a bit underdressed, but at least I was warm and comfortable. Since we were not family of the bride or groom, I didn’t feel too out of place with all the suits and dresses. Ha, ha.

To top everything off, and to stay warm, I finished the look with my ESpirit Outerwear, brown, wool, winter dress coat. This is another thrifted piece and I keep it around for just this type of occasion: to look fairly nice and also be warm.

What would you wear to a fall wedding? What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear this? How would you change it to make it your own? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 - New York Palette: Samoan Sun, Martini Olive and Chiseled Stone

November 16, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Booties, Bright colors, Casual dressing, Casual fall style, Casual holiday style, Casual style, Casual winter style, Color, Color play, Color series, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a casual day, Dressing for a night out, Dressing for comfort, Dressing for fall, Dressing for the holidays, Dressing for work, Dressing modestly, Dressy casual, Fall Colors, Fall Fashion, Fall outfit, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Olive pants, Olive skinny jeans, Open front card, Open front cardi, Over 40 Fashion Blog, Over 40 Fashion Style, Over 50 Fashion Blog, Over 50 style, Pantone, Pantone - 2022/2023, Pantone - Fall/Winter, Pantone Autumn/Winter, Pantone Color Institute, Pantone color series, Pantone New York, Pantone New York Palette, Pantone NY Palette, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style for winter, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Thrifted fashion, Thrifted outfits, Thrifted pieces, Thrifted style, Thrifted sweater, Women's casual style, Women's fall style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style, Work wear, Work wear style, Ellen Tracy brand, Company Ellen Tracy, Gloria Vanderbilt, Gloria Vanderbilt utility, Old Navy, Old Navy Sweater

Today is my last post for the Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 New York palette series. I decided to do a flat lay for a change due to several factors that are affecting my ability to get posts done. The first is time. I do not know where time goes, but it sure seems like I have less of it than ever before and I am not even working a regular job right now. Second, I injured my knee a few years ago and recently I tweaked it and it has been very painful. I have an appointment Thursday to have it checked out, but I knew it was going to be hard to get pictures done with changing clothes, running up and down the stairs and going outside, so I thought a flat lay the next best thing.

The three colors today’s outfit revolved around are great colors for fall and I think this outfit would be perfect for a casual Thanksgiving celebration. My yellow Samoan Sun sweater is a thrifted Old Navy piece. It has more orange undertones to it, but I still think it works great for this outfit.

My Chiseled Stone striped tee is another thrift find from a brand called Company Ellen Tracy. I looked up Ellen Tracy and it is a clothing retailer with some nice pieces. You can check it out by clicking on the link. The brand seems to exude class and modesty. Prices are a tad high for my limited resources, but I like to show you retailers you might be interested in. If I had the money, I would definitely shop this brand more often.

My Martini Olive utility skinny pants have made multiple appearances on the blog. They are Gloria Vanderbilt brand. You can see these pants styled with a floral bomber, a light weight pullover, a snakeskin print jacket, a floral dress, a lace vest, and a floral dress as a jacket.

My accessories were simple and I chose to emphasize the black to coordinate with the stripes in the tee.

I love this simple charm pendant necklace. It adds a touch of interest to almost any outfit without being overly garish. I couldn’t even tell you where I got it, but knowing my past shopping habits it was either thrifted, or bought at Kohl’s or JC Penney. Ha, ha.

I’ve shown you this black Aidebam bag on the blog before. I got this one from Amazon, but Amazon’s inventory changes pretty regularly and I don’t see this exact style on there anymore. I will include a few shopping links at the end. Here is a very similar one.

These black boots are a very recent thrift find. They were my size and I loved the “witchy” vibe of them. They are a brand called Rampage. I have a wedding coming up and right now I am planning to build my outfit around one of two pairs of ankle boots. I also found a blue velvet pair, another thrifting treasure that I wasn’t lookin for, (but I was). I hope to do a blog post next week on what to wear to a fall wedding using the outfit I come up with. Keep a look out.

Style Tip - The right shoes or boots with an outfit can absolutely make the outfit. If you are not sure about which pair of shoes to wear when going to an event or celebration, try on a few different pairs. Remember, heels of any height will upgrade a look, even when wearing distressed jeans and a tee. If you are going for a more casual look, then think flatter souls and a heel that is an inch or less.

I hope you enjoyed this flat lay and the conclusion of my Pantone series. From now through the end of the the year I hope to bring you holiday inspired and winter looks. Leave me a comment or two, letting me know what you thought of this outfit. Which was your fave in the series? 1 - Lava Falls, Amazon, and Arctic Wolf, 2 - Orange Tiger, Nosegay, and Autumn Blonde, 3 - Rose Violet, Caramel Cafe, and Polar Night, 4 - Waterspout, Midnight and Loden Frost or today’s.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. Remember these are affiliate links, which are brought to you at no extra cost. You do not pay anything extra to purchase something through one of my links. In fact, it helps me by putting a few cents into my pocketbook. I really appreciate every little bit.

Have a great week!

What I've Been Wearing Lately: Fall Edition

November 08, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Casual dressing, Casual fall style, Casual style, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a casual day, Dressing for comfort, Dressing for fall, Dressing modestly, Fall Colors, Fall Fashion, Fall fashion, Fall outfit, Fall plaid, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Layering, Outfit for an ordinary da, Outfit inspiration, Outfits from Instagram, Outfits with texture, Over 40 Fashion Blog, Over 40 Fashion Style, Over 50 Fashion Blog, Over 50 style, Plaid button up top, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Textures, Textures for fall, Texturized fabrics, Texturizing an outfit, Thinking fall, Thrifted fashion, Thrifted outfits, Thrifted pieces, Thrifted style, Thrifting, Women's casual style, Women's fall style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style

I have one more Pantone post to do, but I am going to save that for a later date. This week I wanted to share with you a few of my day to day outfits that I have been wearing this fall. As I have done before, I will give a bit of the philosophy behind my outfit choices, why I like it and a few style tips. I hope you enjoy this quick look into my every day style.

Outfit 1 - Colorful Flannel with Gold Chenille Sweater and Fall Tee

Inspiration - Instagram challenge prompt on favorite fall fabrics

Thrifted Pieces - Flannel tee, and combat boots

Style Tip - Don’t be afraid to layer over layers and think outside the box when it comes to color. Bright colors are our friends, especially in the dreary days of winter. In addition, flannel shirts make great shackets for those not so cold early days of fall.

What I like about it - It’s casual, cheerful, comfortable, and incredibly cozy. (Fun tee purchased at Love in Faith tees.)

Outfit 2 - Brown Velvet Blazer with Black Jeans and Gray Button Down

Inspiration - Pinterest Dark Academia Style

Thrifted Pieces - Brown blazer, black cropped flares, and gray polka dot button down

Style Tip - Don’t be afraid to try new styles. I came across the Dark Academia Style on Pinterest and instantly knew it was something I wanted to try. It combines dark pieces to make outfits that look ready for the college campus, or that could easily be translated to the work arena.

What I like about it - I definitely like the modest factor, at least in many of the pins I found, though there could be some very short skirts or shorts, but even there, the styles are often worn over top of dark hose or tights. In addition, this is a look I am comfortable in that makes me feel confident. I am excited to try more styles in the Dark Academia vibe.

Outfit 3 - Purple Tie Dye Top, Utility Vest and Jeans

Inspiration - Instagram challenge prompt on our favorite layer.

Thrifted pieces - Utility vest

Style Tip - Just like boots are made for wearing, so are vests. Don’t be afraid to wear them over dresses, sweaters and even sweatshirts. A vest can make a casual outfit look a bit more polished and dressier. Just add a heeled boot and a bit of jewelry for a fun date night look like this.

What I like about it - I like the way the vest pulls everything in the outfit together. The purple in the sweatshirt didn’t really match the blue of the vest, and yet when the whole thing came together it was perfect. The dark navy boots and the beaded necklace were the cherry on top.

Outfit 4 - Tulle Skirt, Tee and Cropped Denim Jacket

Inspiration - Instagram “Roctober Style Challenge” prompt For Whom the Bell Tulles

Thrifted pieces - Tulle skirt, cropped denim jacket

Style Tip - Get a tulle skirt! These things are the bomb. I have yet to wear it out in public, but just having it in my closet to wear for an Instagram challenge, makes me incredibly happy. I looked for a long time for one at the thrift store and when I found this I felt like I had won the lottery. Ha, ha.

What I like about it - What’s not to like? A tulle skirt combined with a kick butt Wonder Woman tee, denim jacket, and burgundy combat boots?? It is my description of pure fun.

Outfit 5 - Yellow Cable Knit Sweater, Dark Floral Scarf and Distressed Boot Cut Jeans

Inspiration - Instagram challenge prompt, add an extra accessory

Thrifted pieces - Yellow cable knit sweater, and distressed jeans

Style Tip - Layering accessories is a fun way to wear more of your pieces all at once and it adds texture and interest to your outfit. Using a long pendant necklace with a simple scarf wrap like this highlights the necklace, the scarf and the bright sweater backdrop.

What I like about it - I love the contrast of the bright yellow with the darker burgundy and green in the scarf as well as the bronze color of the necklace.

I hope you enjoyed this look at some of my every day outfits, or outfits I donned as part of Instagram challenges. All of these looks, except for the tulle skirt, I wore for the whole day and is very typical of what I normally wear. I like to be intentional about what I put on each day, because it reminds me that I am a special, and beautiful individual with a creative eye and a love for color, fabrics and fashion.

Let me know which outfit is your favorite, or which one you most identify with. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Have a great week everyone!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 - New York Palette: Waterspout, Midnight and Loden Frost

November 02, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Pantone, Pantone - 2022/2023, Pantone - Fall/Winter, Pantone Autumn/Winter, Pantone Color Institute, Pantone color series, Pantone New York, Pantone New York Palette, Pantone NY Palette, New York Palette, New York Palette 2022, Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Casual dressing, Casual fall style, Casual style, Color, Color play, Color series, Colorful scarf, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a casual day, Dressing for comfort, Dressing for fall, Dressing for work, Dressing modestly, Dressing to be warm, Dressy casual, Dressy casual look, Fall Colors, Fall Fashion, Fall outfit, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Floral clothing, Floral dress, Layering, Layering for warmth, Maurice's, Midwest style, Outfit inspiration, Outfits with texture, Over 40 Fashion Blog, Over 40 Fashion Style, Over 50 Fashion Blog, Over 50 style, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Textures for fall, Texturizing an outfit, Thrifted fashion, Thrifted bag, Thrifted outfits, Thrifted pieces, Thrifted style, Thrifted sweater, Thrifting for clothes, Wearing a dress, Women's fall style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style, Work wear, Work wear style, Waterspout, Midnight, Loden Frost, Navy Journee boots, Olive bag, Fossil, Olivia Rose

Today’s Pantone Autumn/Winter colors include a bright blue, a dark blue and a light green. Waterspout is a bright aqua blue which seems an odd choice for an autumn palette, but the color gurus will do what they do, and actually it is rather nice to have a few brighter, lighter choices as the days get shorter and the skies begin to gray. Midnight is not really like the midnight blue crayon we all had in our big boxes of Crayolas growing up, but perhaps more like the night sky just after the sun sets, but before the stars start to come out. Loden Frost is a sage green with a little bit of depth and richness.

So far in this series, I think this is my favorite outfit. I like the combination of blues and greens and thought it was an appropriate look for a warm fall day.

I’ve styled this thrifted dress before on the blog. I have had it for years and it is getting a little snug since all my weight has done its post menopausal thing and moved to my mid section. Ha, ha. But that is the beauty of layering. You don’t notice it as much. This is a brand called Oliva Rose, however, there are numerous brands out there with that name, so I have no idea where it originated.

I found this Maurice’s brand sweater at a thrift store. I really like Maurice’s, but I try to stay out of that store. They have so many cute things every season. I like their tees, tops and jeans, but I wait for good sales and coupons, because things cost more now than ever. I am also really trying to curb my buying all around.

My sea turtle scarf is from the dollar store. Back when my oldest was pregnant and we were putting together the shower the theme was Sea creatures. I found a few cute scarves for game give aways and this was a left over. My necklace was a product of two different thrifted pieces that ended up breaking, so I put them together.

My olive Fossil hobo bag is also thrifted. It is another work horse in my closet and is continually in and out of rotation. Fossil brand is a good quality brand and while I never buy them full price, I do love when I can find one on clearance or at a thrift store. This one is a great utility bag with multiple pockets and compartments for everything you need.

I found these navy boots last year online at Kohl’s. They are Journee brand. I am not too adventurous when it comes to my boot colors. I like browns, black, and gray, but I thought it would be nice to have a navy pair, specifically of knee high boots, for a different vibe. Do you like your boots to be a more basic color, or do you like a bright, bold look for your feet?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know what you think of these colors. I am including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. When you click on a link, I get a few pennies. When you purchase the item through the provided link, I get a little bit more. I appreciate all you clicks. All opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a great week.

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 - New York Palette: Rose Violet, Caramel Cafe, and Polar Night

October 13, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Pantone, Pantone - 2022/2023, Pantone - Fall/Winter, Pantone Autumn/Winter, Pantone Color Institute, Pantone color series, Pantone New York, Pantone New York Palette, Pantone NY Palette, Rose Violet, Caramel Cafe, Polar Night, Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Casual dressing, Casual fall style, Casual style, Casual with a kimono, Christopher & Banks, Clothing pieces, Color, Color play, Color series, Colorful kimono, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a casual day, Dressing for fall, Dressy casual, Embellished skinny jeans, Fall Colors, Fall Fashion, Fall fashion, Fall outfit, Fall trends, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Floral kimono, Fun with layers, Having fun with layers, Kimono, Layering, Over 40 Fashion Blog, Over 40 Fashion Style, Over 50 Fashion Blog, Over 50 style, Sonoma, SO, Stitch Star, Statement necklaces, Style inspiration, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Styling a kimono, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style

As I continue the Pantone Autumn/Winter color series, I want to remind you my graphics are interpretations of the colors and do not match exactly. I have provided links to the Pantone website and the colors, so you can see what they actually look like. This week’s colors are a combination of a bright pinky purple, an earthy caramel brown and a deep navy. My Rose Violet is definitely too purple. If you click on the link you can see it really is more of a Fuchsia pink than purple. I don’t know why I thought my kimono was the right color. Oh well, I still think it makes for a bright, interesting outfit, even if the colors aren’t exact.

I received this beautiful silk robe from my younger daughter when she and her sister gave me my spa day for my birthday this past January. I really only wear robes in the winter when it is cold, so I thought this pretty piece deserved to be showcased.

Style Tip: Think outside the box when it comes to your clothing pieces. A bathrobe might suddenly be the perfect topper for a holiday party, or your cute checked pj pants might be a great addition to your casual Friday work wear routine.

I was having a hard time smiling when I took these pictures. I still feel tired and the dreary weather wasn’t helping my sinus headache. My hair is a bit fly away too. Oh well, you don’t follow me so that I’ll show you fake pictures and phony smiles. This is the real me, so thanks for loving me anyway! Ha, ha.

My Polar Night tee is an older Christopher and Banks piece. I like to have multiple solid colored tees in short sleeve and long sleeve versions strictly for the purpose of layering, either under pieces like this or just for added warmth under a pullover sweater.

You’ve seen these Stitch Star patchwork jeans on the blog before. I think they worked well for the Caramel Cafe color. The last two times I combined them with red. See the red sweater, and the red knit vest. I think they work well with the purple and with the navy colors.

Style Tip: Don’t be afraid to try new color combinations. You might find you like something even better than your regular go to choices, plus it makes you feel almost a bit daring stepping outside your comfort zone.

I kept my accessories simple. I liked the contrast of the navy tee with the pale purple necklace. I also chose my thrifted silver cross body bag.

I thought the navy SO ankle boots were a compatible choice with the navy tee, but a pair of caramel or cognac colored books would have worked too and the similar color would elongate the leg.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear a kimono like this anywhere but the house? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’m including a few shopping links. Enjoy shopping and remember these are affiliate links brought to you at no added cost. If you click on a link I get a few cents. I appreciate all your clicks.

I hope you are having a wonderful October. We have had some beautiful days and the leaves have been just gorgeous. I will not be posting next week as we are taking a few days away with our family, but look for more posts on the blog the following week and as usual I will be posting regularly on Instagram and Facebook.

Have a great weekend!

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022: Orange Tiger, Nosegay, and Autumn Blonde

October 06, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Pantone, Pantone - 2022/2023, Pantone - Fall/Winter, Pantone Autumn/Winter, Pantone Color Institute, Pantone color series, Pantone New York, Pantone New York Palette, Pantone NY Palette, Orange Tiger, Nosegay, Autumn Blonde, Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Bohemian style, Boho style, Boho vibe, Booties, Casual dressing, Casual fall style, Casual style, Casual winter style, Color, Color play, Color series, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for comfort, Dressing for fall, Dressy casual, Dressy casual look, Fall Colors, Fall Fashion, Fall outfit, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Fossil bag, Forever 21 sweater, Eddie Bauer, New York Palette, Olive accessories, Olive SO ankle boots, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Styling a maxi skirt, Styling over 50, Thrifted style, Thrifted pieces, Women's Fashion, Women's fall style, Women's casual style, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Work wear style

Welcome to another outfit in my Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022 - New York Palette color series. For today’s look I combined the colors Orange Tiger, a lovely fall orange, Nosegay, a rich pastel pink and Autumn Blonde, a neutral classic for a cozy outfit with watercolor brushstrokes and southwest vibes.

When I decided to pair Nosegay and Tiger Orange I had this watercolor skirt in mind. The colors are mixed together with bold strokes and finished off with the southwest hem along the bottom of the skirt. I found this piece thrifting a few years ago and thought it would be great for spring and summer, but it seems to work for fall as well. It is a brand called ECI NY.

My light Nosegaybutton down is a thrifted Eddie Bauer piece. Originally I was thinking of wearing it over the sweater like a shacket. I ended up putting it under the sweater, but I’m not in love with how this looks.

The Autumn Blonde sweater is a recent find and is Forever 21 brand. I really like the ties along the outer seams on the torso.

I decided to grab the olive color in the skirt with my bag and booties. The Fossil bag is thrifted, and the SO booties are from a few years ago at Kohl’s.

I am not thrilled with this outfit, but life happens and I wanted to get something thrown together to at least share the Pantone colors with you. Though I love the color pink, it is not one that I use regularly in the fall. I also go more for rusty oranges rather than a bright orange like this one. What are your thoughts? Do you like these colors? How would you wear them?

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Thank you for all you love, support and feedback. I always appreciate hearing from you!

Have a great week.

Pantone Autumn/Winter 2022: Lava Falls, Amazon and Arctic Wolf

September 27, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Pantone NY Palette, Pantone New York, Pantone New York Palette, Pantone color series, Pantone Color Institute, Pantone Autumn/Winter, Pantone - Fall/Winter, Pantone, Pantone - 2022/2023, Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Casual dressing, Casual fall style, Casual style, Color play, Color series, Dressing for fall, Fall Colors, Fall Fashion, Fall outfit, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion photography, Fashion style, floral sneakers, floral high tops, Lava Falls, Amazon, Arctic Wolf, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style for winter, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Styling cargo pants, Styling fall colors, Styling fall trends, Styling over 50, Thrifted accesories, Thrifted fashion, Thrifted outfits, Thrifted jewelry, Thrifted style, Thrifting for clothes, Women's casual style, Women's fall style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style, Christopher & Banks, Christopher & Banks cardi, Gloria Vanderbilt, Gloria Vanderbilt cargo

Here we are, once again, looking at another color palette from the Pantone Color Institute. For the next few weeks I will be concentrating on the New York colors. In the past I have tried to give you both palettes, but with changes in life, so too come changes with the blog. For now, I want to bring you the New York palette which was where the institute was founded in 1962. From the Pantone website it looks as though the London palette was added in 2017.

For this look, I wanted to combine the bright red of Lava Falls with the energetic green of Amazon and see if I could come up with an outfit that didn’t look like I was getting ready for a Christmas get together. Let me know in the comments if you think I pulled it off.

My Lava Falls flag tee was a thrift store find this summer. Unfortunately, I didn’t have it washed to wear for Independence Day celebrations. When I was pulling clothes for this series, I saw the tee and thought, why not. Our gratitude for our country and our freedom shouldn't be restricted to one or two days a year, just like Thanksgiving shouldn’t be the only time we dwell on what we have to be thankful for.

This Amazon green sweater was new from Christopher and Banks a few years ago. I love a longer cardigan like this for fall, and an open front cardigan has no buttons or zippers for things like coats or bags to get caught on. Most of the time, I leave my cardigans open anyway to show off the top underneath, so an open front piece is a great choice.

Arctic Wolf is a creamy off white and these thrifted Gloria Vanderbilt pants probably tend towards a little more gray where as the actual Pantone color has more yellow undertones. However, you get the idea and when it comes to the color cream, off white, ivory or whatever title you want to give it, they are all in the white family.

For accessories I went with black to go with the black stripes on the flag. My black bag was an Amazon purchase a few years ago and is Aidebam brand. My sneakers are new to me, a thrifted pair of Vans high tops with a fun floral design.

For jewelry I added a simple choker pendant. I found this at a thrift store and love the pressed flower look of the pendant.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear them together, or do you think red and green are strictly for Christmas? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I’m including a few shopping links for items in similar colors. These are affiliate links, which means when you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my site, I get a little bit more. I appreciate each and every click.

I just tested positive for Covid yesterday, after my hubby tested positive on Friday. Our two friends who came for the weekend have also tested positive. I feel so bad, but here we are. I would appreciate good thoughts and prayers, as with my asthmatic condition it puts me in a higher risk category. Thank you everyone!

Have a good week and stay healthy.

Fall Trends 2022 - My Take: Outfit 3

September 13, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Fall Colors, Fall Fashion, Fall outfit, Fall trends, Fall trends 2022, Sheer gold dot blouse, Fitted book vest, Brown tiered skirt, Fringe bucket bag, Textures for fall, Thrifted fashion, Thrifted outfits, Thrifted style, Tiered maxi skirt, Transitional outfits, Trends in fashion, 20 Days of Christmas, Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Casual dressing, Casual fall style, Casual style, Casual transitional style, Bohemian chic, Bohemian style, Boho style, Boho vibe, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for fall, Dressing for work, Dressing modestly, Dressing up a casual maxi, Dressy casual, Dressy casual look, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Cabin Creek, Manteau, St. John's Bay, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Styling a maxi skirt, Styling a tiered skirt, Styling a fitted vest, Wearing a vest, Women's Fashion, Women's fall style, Women's casual style, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style, Work wear, Work wear style

For today’s look I am combining the Fall 2022 trends of a fitted vest, feminine sheer top, floor length maxi skirt, and western style boot into a trendy boho style outfit. Let me know what you think at the end and whether you think I pulled it off.

When I first started putting this outfit together I originally had a black pleated type skirt, but I got to thinking I wanted something that gave the look a more boho vibe, and there is nothing like a tiered skirt and a fringe bag to add that element. This brown skirt, has been in my closet for a while. You can see how I styled it before with a dot print shirt. It is St. John’s Bay brand and I got it from JCPenney.

I’ve styled this Manteau gold dot blouse from Macy’s on the blog before. You can see it styled with jeans, and with a leopard print blazer. Sheer is in, and while I appreciate a pretty sheer blouse with the appropriate coverage underneath, I do not feel the sheer outfits I have seen on the runways and the celebrity news photos are justified, practical or modest. Ladies, please show a little respect for yourself and leave something to the imagination.

My Cabin Creek vest was thrifted and it really is too big. However, once in a while a piece is just worth the problems. How could a book nerd, writer like myself say no to this fun piece? I am going to try to make some adjustments to it, so it fits a little better.

This fun Mossimo fringe bucket bag has made multiple appearances on the blog. Here it is with a navy blazer and jeans, an olive utility vest and pink sweater, a burgundy dress. a burgundy pleated skirt, a grey city scape cardigan, and a floral pleated skirt.

These thrifted boots are not truly Western gear, but they have just a little bit of that vibe and apparently Western is also trending this fall. These lovely leather boots were made in Brazil and are a brand called Nurture. Apparently this brand is no longer viable, but you can find the brand second hand on Ebay, and on Poshmark.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like longer maxi skirts? Do you like button down vests? I love hearing your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

I’m including a few shopping links for you. These particular styles might be better found in thrift stores or shops like Poshmark, Ebay or Facebook Marketplace. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great week.

Fall Trends 2022 - My Take: Outfit 2

September 06, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Fall Colors, Fall Fashion, Fall outfit, Fall trends, Fall trends 2022, Oversized button up, Basic tee, Cargo pants, Olive as a neutral, Olive pants, Olive utility pants, Olive tee, Olive check print shirt, Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Casual dressing, Casual fall style, Casual style, Casual transitional style, Clothing pieces, Cozy coats, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a casual day, Dressing for comfort, Dressing for fall, Dressing modestly, Dressing to be warm, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Faux fur coats, Faux suede coat, J.Crew, Emma James, Sperry sneakers, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Styling over 50, Styling oversized shirt, Styling a cozy coat, Women's casual style, Women's fall style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style

This week I am focusing on three more fall trends: an oversized button down, cargo pants and a cozy coat. Here in the midwest cozy coat season is not upon us quite yet. In fact, it still feels summery and seeing as summer doesn’t end for a few more weeks, I think these warm temps are around for a while longer. That makes it hard for me to transition to fall outfits. As much as I want to, I am still reaching for my tees and cropped pants, rather than sweatshirts and boots.

For this outfit I started with the cargo pants, then the oversized button down, followed by the tee. I realized as my outfit came together, that it was going to have a monochrome vibe, so I kept my accessories more understated with similar tones. Let’s take a look at each piece separately.

Cargo pants

I found these Sonoma straight leg pants at a thrift store and I liked that they were a lighter weight version of a cargo pant. Like typical cargo pants they have extra pockets on the legs, as well as the normal pockets front and back. These also have full seams on the front of the legs giving them extra texture and interest. In addition these have tabs on the lower leg so you can roll them up and button in place, if you want to use them as more of a crop pant.

Basic tee

My Time and Tru tee is another thrift find. I was looking for a few tees like this that would work as good layering pieces. You can also see my necklace and a little bit of my belt, both of which have black and silver.

Style Tip: A light weight tee or cardi is a great way to add warmth in the cooler weather without adding too much bulk.

Oversized button down

I found this J. Crew button down on the men’s rack at the thrift store. The men’s rack is a great place to look for oversize pieces that have a more masculine flair. I often see gingham patterns in women’s departments, but they are usually larger checks. Sometimes it’s nice to also have a smaller print.

Style tip: Men’s shirts typically have longer sleeves since many men’s arms are longer than women’s. If you are a seamstress just cut the cuff off and make a hem. Otherwise just roll the cuffs once. You still get a cuffed look, but it’s not hanging down past your knuckles.

I added my olive green Sperry’s and a recently thrifted silver cross body bag.

Last but not least my topper.

Cozy coat

I fell in love with this cozy number that I found thrifting last year. Using it in the cold weather, I found it to be quite warm. The brand is Emma James which is an off shoot of Liz Claiborne. It is faux suede and has a faux fur lining throughout.

I think many of us have more than one cold winter coat. I have a wool one that I like to use in the really cold weather, and a real leather jacket that gets used before it gets super cold. This one is great for cold days and lighter weight so a good coat for shopping.

I hope you have enjoyed this post. Let me know what sort of coats you have. Do you wear oversized button downs? Do you wear cargo pants? I love to hear from you, so be sure to leave a comment. I am adding a few shopping links for you to peruse. Every time you click on a link, I get a few pennies. When you make a purchase through one of my links, I get a little more. Thank you for all your support. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Fall Trends 2022 - My Take: Outfit 1

August 30, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Casual dressing, Casual fall style, Casual style, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a casual day, Dressing for comfort, Dressing for fall, Dressing modestly, Bomber jacket, Baggy Jeans, Fall Fashion, Fall outfit, Fall trends 2022, Fashion inspiration, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, fun flats, Layering, Leopard print, Leopard print shoes, Outfit inspiration, Outfits with texture, Over 40 Fashion Blog, Over 40 Fashion Style, Over 50 Fashion Blog, Over 50 style, St. John's Bay, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Styling a bomber jacket, White tank tops, Women's casual style, Women's fall style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style, Burgundy bomber jacket, Light wash mom jeans

The next few weeks, I am going to show you my take on some of the Fall 2022 Trends that I talked about last week. I think it is one thing to see these styles on the tall, thin models on the run ways, but something quite different for those of us with real post menopausal bodies. There is always a small body of fashionistas that say wear whatever you want because it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, but the reality is most of us still care what other people think about how we look. That is precisely why I like to be more reasonable and realistic when it comes to what trends we might like and be able to pull off.

Today’s look combines three trends I talked about last week: a pair of baggy jeans, a white tank top and a bomber jacket.

Let’s start at the top. I have had this white tank top for years, and typically, I just wear it under things as an added layer in the cold weather, but it does have a tiny bit of embellishment around the neck line, so I thought it would be good for this post. The brand is St. John’s Bay, but I can’t remember if I bought it at JCPenny when it was brand new, or if I bought it second hand.

Next lets talk about jeans, and more specifically baggy jeans. I think jean trends are not realistic for all women. Baggy jeans don’t necessarily look good on every body. This pair of Sonoma mom jeans I found on the clearance rack at Kohl’s. I bought them because I wanted to try something with a higher waist. They are not truly “baggy”, but they are not fitted either. The biggest problem I have with baggier jeans is that they add volume to my lower half, and I have enough volume there already, thank you very much! Ha, ha.

This pair is ankle length, which I think makes my legs look shorter. They are also a straight leg rather than a flair or a skinny. The wash of a jean will also change how it makes you look. A darker wash is always better if you want a more slimming line on the bottom. I am going to try these with ankle boots when the temps get cooler to see how that works.

I didn’t bother with a belt, although my normal tendency would be to tuck the shirt and wear a belt. Most of the things I saw that captured this tank and jeans trend left the jeans without a belt.

I have several bomber jackets, but I chose this burgundy colored one for the quilting. Quilting or puffer style is another trend that seems to be popular for this fall season. Now you can find quilted phone cases, hats, vests, jackets, skirts and more. I thought the quilted bandana a rather unique piece I would definitely wear. If any of the pieces below, just click on the picture and it will take you to the retailer.

My bomber jacket was a thrift find. It is light weight, so for me it will serve more as a layering piece for inside, just like a sweater or blazer would. There was not brand tag in this one.

Style Tip: Think outside the box when it comes to layering pieces. Not every jacket you own has to be for outerwear. Light weight bombers, utility jackets, moto jackets and even sweater coats can be used as the top layer for a work outfit, or a lunch date. I even wear these sorts of layers at home to keep me extra cozy in the winter.

When it came to accessories for this outfit, I just threw a few things together. Since the look was ultra casual, I didn’t add any jewelry. I reached for a thrifted, tote bag with a little more structure. Work horse bags are trending right now, so I thought this one met the criteria. It is large enough that I can carry all the essentials plus notebooks, a sweater and whatever else I may need for the day.

Here are a few other fun bags to look at.

For shoes I chose my leopard print flats. I got these a number of years ago at Christopher and Banks. I really don’t love them, so they will be going into my “get rid of” pile. I think I like a toe that is slightly more pointed for a flat, or a loafer style. There’s something about a rounded toe, that I don’t think looks great on my feet.

Leopard print is trending once again, and most likely will always be the classic animal print seen on the runway, and in our closets.

I hope you enjoyed this outfit. Let me know what you think in the comments below. Do you own a bomber jacket? Do you wear it as outer wear or inside? Are you a fan of leopard print? I always love to hear from you, so leave me some lovin’! Of course you can also leave me a criticism. It is all part of being real with each other. I just like to hear from you!

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

Have a super day everyone!

Image by Anja-#pray for ukraine# #helping hands# stop the war from Pixabay

Fall Trends for 2022

August 23, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Blogging, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Fall fashion, Fall Colors, Fall trends, Fall trends 2022, Casual dressing, Casual fall style, Casual style, Casual transitional style, Closet52, Clothing pieces, Baggy Jeans, White tank tops, Bomber jacket, Oversized button up, Cozy coats, Cargo pants, Fitted vests, Maxi skirt, Leather jackets, Square toed loafers, Leopard print, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Faux fur jacket, Faux fur coats, Faux leather jacket, Layering, Loafers, Over 40 Fashion Blog, Over 40 Fashion Style, Over 50 Fashion Blog, Over 50 style, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Styling fall trends, Women's casual style, Women's fall style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style

Once again, the season of fall is just around the corner and the fashion world always has its take on what is new and popular for the season. I am a firm believer that there is nothing new under the sun, whether it be a story plot, a difficulty or a fashion trend. Many of these trends you will already have in your closet. This post might introduce you to something new, or it might give you inspiration to dig out a particular piece and give it new life.

Baggy Jeans

I still love my skinny jeans, but baggy is in and because I love jeans in general I thought I would include this trend. Jeans are no longer just for the working man or woman on a ranch or construction site, now they are spot on for a casual day at home, a work day or even an dressy evening out.

Style Tip: If you want to dress up your jeans think fabrics and accessories. A silky top, heels and few statement pieces of jewelry will take your casual day outfit to night time glam outfit.

Basic White Tanks

I can get on board with this because just about everyone has a white tank top in their closet. This piece is perfect for late summer and early fall layering. Throw a blazer over your white tank and your ready for work, or add a cozy sweater for a casual lunch date look.

Style Tip: When looking for tank tops that are going to serve as actual tops and not just layering pieces choose fabrics that are a little thicker for less show through. Also, if you want more fitted look for ribbed knits; if you want less cling look for flowy fabrics in an a-line silhouettes.

Bomber Jackets

Bomber style jackets are back in force and they don’t just have vintage military vibes. They vary in color, prints and fabrics making them a piece that is accessible to everyone who wants a shorter coat for cool weather days.

Style Tip: Use a lighter weight bomber jacket like a sweater or blazer. Wear it over a blouse for work, or a tee for a casual date night look. Add accessories like metallic or sparkly jewelry, or soft scarves to make this menswear style completely feminine.

Oversized Button Ups:

Many of you already know, I love oversized button up shirts. I have shown you a few of my own over the last few years. I use them as jackets, under sweaters and vests and as tunics over skinny jeans with boots. Oversized is not for everyone, although I think most every body type can pull off an oversized button up by using it as a layering piece or a tunic, or even a short dress for those of you who are more petite. Don’t be afraid to try this trend, you might find you like it.

Style Tips: If you don’t like all that fabric especially if you are slight of frame, try belting the shirt or tying it at the waist. If you are a thrifter, be sure to shop for oversized button ups in the men’s section. That’s where I have found most of mine.

Cozy Coats:

Nothing beats the colder weather like a soft, cozy coat. Whether you like real or faux fur, real or faux shearling, soft wool blends or suede, a warm coat in a pretty color or with fun details can make a blue winter day seem a little less daunting.

Style Tip: When shopping for a coat, be sure you wear layers that you would normally wear under your jacket, or at least keep that in mind when you trying coats on. Sleeves that feel perfect with your polyester blouse may not be as roomy when you have on a chunky knit sweater. The same is true for being able to button or zip the coat. Think ahead to how you will most often wear the piece and what you will wear underneath.

Cargo Pants:

Cargo pants are a great alternative to jeans. I realize not every woman wants pockets on the side of her pants accentuating her thighs, but if you don’t mind those added details, cargos can be another way to a fun casual look. I especially like the jogger styles, because I think they look a little more slimming than the typical canvas or heavy cotton material.

Style Tip: When styling cargo pants try to balance out the extra pockets on your legs with a top with slight shoulder pads or or with pieces that are trim like a fitted tee, or a cropped jacket. Too much material on top begins to make the outfit look less classy and more unkempt.

Vests:

Vests, or in the fashion realm, fitted waistcoats are making a comeback, though I don’t know how much retailers are catching on with this one. Even at thrift stores it is hard to find vests, so hopefully you have a few in the dark recesses of your closet that you can pull out and give the light of day. I like vests for three reasons. The first is that the old fashion waistcoat really makes an outfit look polished and professional, whether you are wearing jeans or a pleather pencil skirt. A vest also adds a layer of warmth in the cooler weather. Finally, vests are a great way to draw in the waist and cover the bumps and bulges without wearing a full on corset (and yes, those are trending this fall as well, but I have chosen to leave those to the younger generation).

Style Tip: While vests look wonderful with trim button up shirts or more fitted sweaters try pairing a vest with an oversized button up for a fun artsy boho look. You can also wear a vest under a blazer for added interest and polish.

Maxi Skirts (and Dresses):

I’m not including any links for maxi dresses since I just showed you two from Closet52 a few weeks ago. Hem lengths really are an anything goes standard, but for the fall the longer, floor length styles are trending again. When it comes to styles these vary as well. One website talked about the Bohemian influence which would include tiered and prairie silhouettes, while another site said a-line and columns are in.

Style Tip: If you are petite you might struggle with finding a maxi skirt that is not too long. Try shopping for skirts that are tea length on other women. Tea length usually falls between the knee and the ankle which will probably be just about right for ladies that are 5’2” or shorter.

Leather (real or faux) jackets:

I have always loved leather jackets. I own a couple that are actual leather and the rest of my stock are fake. Fake leather today, looks just as good as the real thing, but varies from manufacturer to manufacturer as to how durable and long lasting the materials are. I recently went through my jackets and did put a few in the donate pile, mostly because they are more snug than I want these days. My style has also evolved over the last few years and I am more likely to reach for a utility jacket, a cozy sweater or a blazer when I want a light weight jacket or extra layer indoors. However, I still intend to hang onto a few of my more loved pieces.

Style Tip: When shopping for a real or faux leather jacket be sure to find pieces that are made of flexible, soft materials. The stiffer leather will become stiffer with age, unless regularly worn and tended to, and faux leather that is too cheap or stiff will tear away from the under layer.

Additional Trends worth mentioning:

Square Loafers:

Leopard Print:

Just a quick word here. Leopard print is always going to be around, so wear it, flaunt it, carry it and wrap yourself up in it. In addition sturdy tote bags are trending and very useful for work or even travel if you don’t want to pack too many suitcases. I also added the faux fur bag, since fur ( and faux fur) accessories are trending as well.

As always there are many more trends I would love to discuss, but these were the ones I felt we all could get on board with. Maybe you don’t like baggy jeans, but you do like square loafers. Maybe you are a fitted vest kind of girl, and absolutely don’t like oversized button ups. I hope you enjoyed hearing more about these fall trends.

All of the items listed are affiliate links. I get a small amount if you click on a link and a little bit more if you purchase through my site. I appreciate every click and even more appreciate your support for the blog. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these trends. How many of these do you have in your closet?

Next week I hope to show you my take on a few of these trends. Until then have a great week!

Outfits from a Short Trip

August 16, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Blush cardigan, Button up cardi, Button down, Casual dressing, Casual looks for a trip, Casual style, Casual transitional style, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a casual day, Dressing for a trip, Dressing for comfort, Dressing modestly, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Floral patterns, Fun prints, Layering, Over 40 Fashion Blog, Over 40 Fashion Style, Over 50 Fashion Blog, Over 50 style, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Styling a floral blouse, Styling over 50, Summer florals, Thrift stores, Thrifted accesories, Thrifted fashion, Thrifted outfits, Thrifted pieces, Thrifted style, Thrifted sweater, Thrifting, Thrifting for clothes, Travel, Traveling style, Transitional outfits, Women's style, Women's fashion style, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion blog, Women's Fashion

As I said last week, I wanted to show you this week how my outfits turned out that I packed for the trip to my mom’s. Most of the days I showered, got dressed and put on my make up, but Friday I spend cleaning my mother’s house: a job that needed to be done for some time now. Wearing all pink enabled me to not even think about how my pieces were going to go together. I already had it figured out ahead of time. That is the reason I like to have a theme or color(s) when packing for a trip.

Day 1: The Drive

I chose a comfortable pair of jeans with a good amount of stretch. My short sleeve tee is thrifted and I opted for the Christopher and Banks chambray shirt as a light weight extra layer. It was cooler and with the windows down this shirt was the perfect topper. I added my fun blue Converse sneakers which are comfortable and light weight.

Style Tip: Use a long sleeve button down as a light weight jacket. Rolling up the sleeves gives a little extra freedom and coolness. Add shoes that match your pants for a more elongated effect.

Day 2: Thrifting with My Bestie

I love the simplicity of the this outfit and the vibrant touch of color. No matter what is trending, florals are always in season, just like animal prints. Spring, summer, winter and fall, you can’t go wrong with a floral print. Everything I had on this day was a thrifting find, making it even more appropriate to wear when going thrifting with your best friend.

Style Tip: When deciding on accessories for an outfit with a busy print like florals, choose a statement piece that will stand out against the background using an accent color that appears in the print. For my outfit I chose a green pendant necklace with a bold silver chain and border around the stone. Also, don’t be afraid to wear fun shoes. I found these bright purple Sperry sneakers at the thrift shop around the corner from my house. They are a party for my feet!

Day 3: Birthday Picnic at the Park

Obviously I have a thing for florals. Ha, ha. I really needed to iron this blouse before wearing it, but who wants to iron? Once again, I chose my necklace according to a color in the print. I decided to keep to a shorter, layered piece to allow the beauty of the flowers and soft colors to show off fully.

Style Tip: When wearing a lower cut v-neck add a tank top with some sort of neckline embellishment that just peeks out the top for added interest and coverage. This also adds warmth in the cooler fall temps.

Day 4: Cleaning Day

This was my outfit after I spent about almost eight hours cleaning my mom’s house, then took a shower. Seeing as she just turned 96 and has become quite frail and unsteady, it has been a while since a thorough cleaning happened. My niece has been doing occasional cleaning, but she also has her own family, so is very busy.

I started at the top of the house with vacuum in hand and sucked down every cob web, and spider I could find. I did bedrooms, closets, the hall, down the steps, the back entry way, the laundry room, kitchen and living room. I also mopped and cleaned the bathroom and kitchen. I finished by vacuuming the living room carpet. My mom was very appreciative and now she can have a little piece of mind.

Style Tip: Wear comfortable clothes while you clean and after. Ha, ha

Day 5: Company

This look was great for playing with the grand baby, and visiting with, not only my daughter and son-in-law, but another niece and her daughter and their pup, who stopped by to wis my mom a happy birthday.

Style Tip: You can be comfortable in jeans and tees, but still look neat and classy. Try choosing jewelry with a bit of sparkle and bling or a metallic toned belt to bring the look up a notch.

This outfit is another fave. It is comfy and classic. The floral tee is not bold and bright like Day 2, but is more delicate and whimsical in its print. Plus the message is so appropriate. I was also impressed that this necklace matched almost perfectly with the green and pink tones in the tee.

Day 6: The Drive Home

Once again, a comfy outfit for the ride home. Thrifted tee, and jeans, and back to my Converse. The pale pink sweater was just the right coverage for the last half of the drive as the temps went down.

Style Tip: If you like to wear tee shirts like I do in the summer be sure to choose ones that portray messages, graphics and movies or music groups that you identify with. I love tees that give messages of encouragement and hope.

So those were my outfits for my time away including my travel days. I hope you enjoyed this post, and I hope you are having a great week.

Packing for a Short Trip

August 09, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Casual dressing, Casual style, Casual summer style, Casual transitional style, Casual looks for a trip, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a casual day, Dressing for a trip, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Floral top, Floral tee, Ohio blogger, Outfit for an ordinary da, Outfit inspiration, Over 40 Fashion Blog, Over 40 Fashion Style, Over 50 Fashion Blog, Over 50 style, Striped Tee, Style blog, Style blogger, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Traveling style, Women's casual style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style, Transitional outfits, Travel

I thought I would do something a little different and take you through my thought process when I am packing for a short trip away. I am not really into capsule wardrobes, because I really love my clothes, and I also love having variety and choices. I think capsule wardrobes are great and maybe some day I’ll give it a try, but for now I am trying to use the many clothes that I have. However, that does make it harder when I am packing for a trip to decide what to bring with. I try not to get into a rut and wear the same things over and over as far as my tops, so when I pack for a trip I usually pick a theme, an accessory like a scarf or bag or a color to work around to limit my choices.

For this little trip I am taking to my moms for her birthday, I decided to go with the color pink. Usually I pick two or three colors to focus on, but this time I chose a dark pink and a light pink. I have two lighter weight sweaters that I thought would be perfect for a late summer trip where the temps will still be warm during the day, but possibly cooler at night and also thinking about air conditioning in stores and restaurants.

Once I chose the two sweaters, then I started to pull out tops that would coordinate with those and this is what I came up with.

After I chose my sweaters and tops, I decided to add a necklace for each outfit, even if I decide to not wear one, at least I have the options with. I also swapped out the coral tank top under the floral button down for a more neutral light beige one.

I knew I was going to be ultra casual as is my normal style so I chose simple shoes and jeans to complete my looks.

Using things like colors, a special accessory or a theme can help you narrow your selections for a trip whether short or long. Next week I’ll show you all the outfits as I wore them.

How do you decide what to wear for a trip? Do you have a capsule wardrobe or a large wardrobe like I have with many choices? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

I hope you are having a great week.

Dreamy Dresses from Closet52: Floral Print Maxi Dress

August 02, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Closet52, Closet52 Dress Boutique, Floral Print Maxi, Blogging, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a casual day, Dressing for work, Dressing modestly, Dressy casual, Dressy casual look, Embroidery, Embroidered jacket, Denim jacket, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Floral maxi dress, Floral patterns, Maxi dress style, Maxi dress, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for fall, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Styling a floral dress, Styling a maxi dress, Thrifted fashion, Thrifted pieces, Thrifted style, Thrifted accesories, Wearing a dress, Wearing a maxi dress, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's style

Today I am featuring the last of the three dresses gifted to me by Closet52. This company based in New York City is a dress boutique featuring various styles for casual, work and special occasions, all at fairly reasonable prices. I have found the quality, drape and material of all the dresses I received very good. The fabrics are thick enough to hang well and provide full coverage without the need of a slip. There might be certain ones where a slip would be essential, but it appears that most of the more sheer fabrics have full slip liners under both the top and the skirt.

Today’s dress is the Floral Print Maxi Dress. This one is currently on sale, so if you are interested now would be the time to make a purchase. I do not receive any additional compensation if you buy, but I am pleased with all three of the pieces I received and I think you will be too.

I decided to keep the look casual for this piece, but I think this would be a great wedding guest dress. Glam it up with heels and a sparkly bag and your all set. This dress has a halter style top with a a gathered neckline that ties in back at the neck. I slipped my arms out of my bra so you could see it without my straps showing. I think this would also look cute with a tee shirt underneath.

The long pleated skirt is gathered at the top with an elastic waistline. I felt the elastic looked a little wonky when it was hanging on the hanger, but once I put it on it looked fine. I added a belt just for a little extra pop of pink.

With the close up of the pattern you can see the pretty flowers with a bit of gray and a very light pink in the center. All my accessories except my sneakers are thrifted.

I thought the floral embroidered jean jacket went well with the dress, even though the flowers are shaped differently, there is enough similarity to give it a cohesive feel.

Adding my white Steve Madden sneakers completes the casual look of the outfit.

I can see styling this dress in a few different ways like adding a pullover sweater and boots for the cooler weather, or a long cardigan and some loafers for a dressed down office look. When you shop for a dress, be sure to think outside the box for other ways to style it.

What do you think of this dress? Have you stopped by Closet52 to check out their selection? What did you think? I always love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two. I appreciate all your support, especially over the last year as I have been trying to get back into a more normal rhythm for the blog.

Have a great week everyone!

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull with Rebecca Trumbull Photography.

Dreamy Dresses from Closet52 - Button Front Maxi Dress

July 26, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Closet52, Closet52 Dress Boutique, Button Front Maxi Dress, Tiered maxi dress, Women's style, Women's fashion style, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion blog, Women's Fashion, Women's fall style, Wearing a dress, Wearing a maxi dress, Styling over 50, Styling dresses, Styling a maxi dress, Style over 40, Style inspiration, Style for fall, Style blogger, Style blog, Outfit inspiration, Over 50 Fashion Blog, Over 50 style, Over 40 Fashion Blog, Over 40 Fashion Style, Maxi dress style, Work wear, Work wear style, Day to night style, Fuchsia pink maxi dress, Wearing fuchsia pink, Fashion style, Fashion photography, Fashion over 50, Fashion over 40, Fashion inspiration, Fashion blogger, Fashion Blog, Fall fashion, Fall Colors, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a night out, Bohemian chic, Bohemian style, Blogging over 50, Blogging on style, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on color, Blogging

Today’s outfit is another piece gifted to me by Closet52. Closet52 provides quality dresses for women at reasonable prices. Whether you need a dress for work, a special occasion or every day, Closet52 is a great place to start you search.

Today’s featured dress is the Button Front Maxi.

I love the simplicity and elegance of this maxi dress. Once again, the fabric is a medium weight, 100% polyester knit. The description on their websites lists this as a capped sleeve, and on their model it does look that way, but on me, it lays as a wide sleeveless. A capped sleeve usually extends a little bit onto the arm.

I should have taken a picture without the included belt to show you the dress actually doesn’t have a waist. From the bodice to the first tier on the skirt the dress is more of a column. What I like about this idea is I can style it with different belts, or even scarves to create unique looks. I decided to wrap the belt around and tie it at the back for a different look.

The gold buttons are a beautiful addition to the bright fuchsia color of the dress. I think it is small details like this that make Closet52’s selection a step above other dress retailers. Gold allows this dress to be taken from the work place to a night on the town, with just a quick change of accessories. I wanted to focus on the gold buttons so my accessory choices were all gold.

I love a tiered maxi skirt anyway, so the tiering on this piece is perfect. It gives the look a little bit of that prairie girl, boho chic vibe while still looking modern and classic. This is another piece I am excited about trying to style in different ways. I can see this working quite well as a jumper with a flowy button down top and knee high boots. You could even leave a few of the lower buttons unbuttoned to better show off your boots.

With the tiered skirt giving it a bit more volume a girl’s gotta twirl!

Once again, I am very impressed with the quality and detailing on this piece from Closet52. The easy on, easy off ability and the way the dress hangs are just added benefits of this beautiful dress. Check out the great selection at Closet52 by clicking on any of the included links.

This dress was gifted to me by Closet52. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull for Rebecca Trumbull Photography.

Dreamy Dresses from Closet52 - The Doily Print Dress

July 19, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Closet52, Closet52 Dress Boutique, Styling dresses, Swing style dress, A-line dress, Doily Print Dress, Blogging, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Casual style, Casual summer style, Flirty style, Flirty summer style, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion photography, Fashion style, Fun prints, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Colorful outfit, Colorful dress, Style blog, Style blogger, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Styling a print dress, Styling a shorter dress, Styling a summer dress, White denim vest, Women's casual style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion style, Women's style

Closet52 is on a mission to give all women affordable, quality made dresses at reasonable prices. Based in New York City, they provide dresses for work, everyday and special occasions. Their line of affordable, quality made dresses includes swing styles, a-line, sheath, maxis and more. Join me today as I style the Doily Print Dress.

This dress is all about the print. I love the fun doily pattern. If you are older, like me, then you probably had doilies around your home growing up or perhaps they were in your grandmother’s house. I always love the lacy look of a doily under a lamp on a side table or dresser. These are much more colorful than the creamy white ones I grew up with, but they definitely give the dress a lacy look.

I am very impressed with Closet52’s fabrics and details. The dress is a medium weight (polyester/spandex blend) which gives it movement and swing. This one lays very well and I did not have to worry about wearing a slip. The other detail that impressed me about all of the sleeveless dresses I picked out was that the armholes were the perfect size for me. Often the sleeveless arm holes on a piece will be too big, revealing my bra, or so small they feel constricting.

Another fabulous detail on this dress is the tie at the back of the neck. Easy on and easy off make this piece perfect for a summer party, event or dinner out after a day at the beach. The material will pack well and the fun pattern will translate into all seasons. I am already thinking about how I could add tights and ankle boots in the fall, or a blazer and skinny jeans in the winter. I love when clothing pieces have that much versatility.

For this look I simply added a few of my own elements, including a necklace, bag, combat boots, and a jacket.

There are so many ways you could style this dress from amazingly simple to wonderfully elegant. Add a pair of flip flops or sneakers for ultra casual. Add a fancy topper and heels for a night on the town. If you are looking for a dress be sure to stop by Closet52. Styles range from cute to elegant, and sizing includes regular, petites and plus size.

If you are looking for a dress be sure to stop by Closet52.

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull @ Rebecca Trumbull Photography.

This dress was gifted to me by Closet52. All opinions are my own.

Creating Outfits with Texture - Part 2: Shoes

June 09, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Blogging, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Casual style, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Style blog, Style blogger, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Textures, Texturizing an outfit, Texture in shoes, Adding texture, Adding texture with shoes

Wow! I began a draft of this post on June 7th and here it is a full month later. Time flies when you are having fun, as the saying goes, but not everything during that month was fun. We did take a ten day vacation down south visiting Savannah, Georgia, Florida and Kentucky. When we got back we had a few days to unpack and get the house ready for company. Our friends from Wisconsin spent four nights and we had a great time of visiting and hanging out. After that we helped our daughter with a bedroom redo. The next day I watched the grand baby and by evening I had come down with the stomach crud that has been going around. Thankfully, I only got the 24 hour version, but that was not fun. We then learned family members had Covid, so our Father’s Day plans got put on hold. The month ended well, however, with my spouse and I taking a mini trip up north for our anniversary. It was wonderfully relaxing.

This past weekend my brother was in town for two nights and on Monday we ended up celebrating my husband and younger daughter’s birthdays with a family get together and meal. Whew! It has been a whirlwind. This month things are slowing down, just a bit, although we are hoping to get back to see our Wisconsin family later in the month.

Last month I started this series on creating outfits with texture. Adding texture to an outfit makes it more interesting and who wants to wear boring clothes? Ha. ha. Actually, I am a pretty boring person when it comes to my style, because I really love my tee shirts and jeans, but even a simple outfit like that can be taken up a notch by adding a few fun textural elements. For this post I want to look at Shoes.

Shoes

I think most of us enjoy numerous pairs of shoes. In the spring and summer we love our sandals, sneakers and flats. In the fall and winter we love our ankle, knee high and thigh high boots. Many women love heels all year round, and we now can find shoes in every configuration from platform sneakers, to wedge heels to ballerina flats. Shoes come in a variety of materials with embellishments from the normal laces and buckles to floral prints, special weaving and fringe.

I’m going to divide these up by seasons, but obviously if you live in a warm weather climate you can wear sandals all year round, and if you live in a cooler climate you might choose boots more regularly.

Warm Weather

Sandals -

Sneakers -

Flats -

Cold Weather

Oxfords - I think of oxfords as more of a cold weather shoe. You can wear them all year round, and they would certainly look cute with many of our warmer weather outfits, but for the purposes of this post, I am putting them with the cold weather shoes.

Ankle Boots -

Motorcycle or Combat boots -

Knee High Boots -

That last pair were actually above the knee and they are the only pair of over the knee boots I have.

Shoes and boots all provide additional texture and interest to an outfit. As you could see from many of my pairs shoes are not just bland and ordinary, but fun and extraordinary and that is exactly what they can do for your outfits.

I’ll be back with another post on creating outfits with texture. Next time we will look at fabrics and add ons like hats, scarves and other ideas. Until then, have a great week.

Creating Outfits with Texture - Part 1: Jewelry, and Bags

May 31, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Blogging, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Style blog, Style blogger, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Textures, Texturizing an outfit, Texture in jewelry, Texture in bags, Adding texture, Layering necklaces, Embellished bags, Ruched bags, Sequin cluth, Sequin clutch, Basket bag, Snakeskin print bag, Texturized fabrics, Thrifted fashion, Thrifted bag, Thrifted pieces, Thrifted style, Thrifted jewelry

May has zipped by and I have been putting the blog on the back burner. I have been busy with family related things. I knew when I came back to the blog after my illness, I would not necessarily be posting every week. Still, I feel somewhat negligent if I am not putting something out there. I appreciate all of you who continue to follow along, even though I am not as routine in my posting.

My husband and I took a vacation during my hiatus and even though we just got back a few days ago, it already seems like it was months ago that we were in the deep south checking out Savannah and a few places in Florida. We ended our trip in the mountains of Kentucky at a State Park. By that time I was finally starting to relax. Then we had to come home. Ha, ha.

I thought I would round up a few outfits from past blog and Instagram posts and talk about texture. I have addressed the idea of texture on the blog before, but it is always an interesting topic to go over. It’s easy to bring texture to an outfit in the cooler weather, when we reach for heavy knits, warm sherpa and soft velvet, but summer can be a little more challenging, especially if you can’t wear layers. Here are a few simple tips for adding texture to an outfit in the warmer weather.

Jewelry

I love all sorts of jewelry and I am by no means a jewelry snob. I love cheap and I love expensive. I find awesome pieces at thrift stores and I have received fine jewelry as gifts. When it comes to texture the chunkier the better. If you don’t prefer chunky beads try layering delicate chains or wearing longer necklaces with interesting pendants.

Shorter Layered - As I was going through these older posts I was thinking about how I don’t wear as much jewelry any more. When I was working, I wore jewelry every day. Ahhh, the good old days.

Longer Pendant - While I love my shorter statement necklaces, I reach for longer pendants much more often. To me a pendant necklace is a tad bit more casual and it has a lengthening affect on the torso.

Bags

I don’t know that a lot of us think about how a bag brings texture to an outfit, but it does. Especially with all the different fabrics and types of bags that are now available. Textures in bags are seen in the the types of materials used, the type of weave chosen and the embellishments on the bags.

Here are a few of my bags that I think give you a good idea of texture and add that finishing touch to an outfit.

If you are a thrifter, or like to shop clearance racks always look at the jewelry and bags; you never know what you will find. Many of the purses I have were thrift store finds, including the blue and yellow tote bags, the woven basket bag and the sequin clutch; all seen above. Jewelry treasures are also found at thrift stores as you also saw above in the owl, and brassy flower pendant, as well as the stained glass shorter pendant. Thrift store finds are always so unique and typically may be things you wouldn’t find at your regular retailers.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I’ll be sharing more next week when we look at how shoes and scarves add texture to outfits. Until then, I hope you have a lovely week.

I’ve included a few shopping links for bags and necklaces. These are affiliate links brought to you at no cost. If you click on a link, I get a few pennies. If you order through one of my links, I get a little more. I appreciate everything you do to support the blog. All opinions are my own.

Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 - NY Palette: Harbor Blue, Dahlia, and Northern Droplet

May 05, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Bright colors, Casual dressing, Casual style, Casual summer style, Casual transitional style, Casual spring style, Color, Color crash course, Color play, Color series, Colorful outfit, Colorful scarf, Colorful top, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a casual day, Dressing for spring, Dressing for summer, Dressing modestly, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Floral bomber jacket, Floral scarf, Kimonos, Kimono, Layering, Mid-west, Midwest style, Multi-print scarf, National, New York Palette, New York Palette 2022, Outfit inspiration, Over 50 Fashion Blog, Over 50 style, Pantone, Pantone Color Institute, Pantone color series, Pantone New York, Pantone New York Palette, Pantone NY Palette, Pantone Spring, Pantone Spring 2022, Pantone Spring/Summer, Print mixing, Sonoma, Spring, Spring colors, Spring style, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for spring, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Styling crop pants, Styling over 50, Thrifted fashion, Thrifted pieces, Thrifted style, Thrifting, Transitional outfits, wearing a scarf, Women's casual style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's spring style, Women's style, Harbor Blue, Dahlia, Northern Droplet, Sonoma Bambi tee, Teal Bomber jacket, Boyfriend cropped jeans

These are the last three colors from the Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 New York Palette. Today’s colors are festive and fun, the perfect combination for a summer event. I always love a brighter, richer approach to color anyway, so these are probably two of my faves from this palette. Click here to see the actual Pantone colors.

Harbor Blue is a medium blue green giving it a teal vibe, but with a little less intensity. Dahlia is a beautiful shade of purple that reminds me of spring and summer flowers like Azaleas, Cosmos and Pansies. Northern Droplet is a light shade of gray much like an early morning fog over a mountain lake.

For my outfit today, I ended up using a slightly darker gray rather than a light gray. I don’t own a lot of light gray because it is one of those colors that doesn’t do me justice. It is also what I would term, a non color, meaning it doesn’t really do a whole lot for very many people. Certainly there are women who look wonderful in a light shade of gray, but it seems to me that a medium to dark gray is a better choice for most of us.

As of the posting of these photos it is still cool in the midwest. We have had so many gray and rainy days, I am honestly starting to think we are turning into the new northwest and joining our friends in Seattle. However, I did want to give you an outfit where I at least showed a little bit of skin on my legs, just to give the feeling of oncoming summer and warmer weather.

My Harbor Blue bomber jacket was a clearance purchase from ShopNational a few seasons ago. I love the floral textured pattern. The banding at the neck, sleeves and bottom makes it extra comfy to wear. It is a unique piece that I don’t wear a lot, but one that I will hang on to for its versatility and vibrant color.

My thrifted jeans are a brand called Stylus. This appears to be a discontinued brand that may have once been sold at JC Penney and Walmart. I like that they have a tiny bit of distressing near the pocket and above the knee.

My Bambi tee is a thrifted Sonoma piece. When I first got it I knew the print was of deer, but after closer inspection it is definitely Bambi’s silhouette. You can also see my silver necklace that my bestie gave me back in March when we were in NY visiting my mom. I opted for the olive canvas belt because there is a bit of olive in the scarf.

My beautiful scarf was gifted to me by a dear friend who was clearing out her home in preparation for their move to Tennessee. Every time I wear it, I am reminded of her and her husband who moved to be near their youngest daughter, her husband, and their first baby. I just love all the colors in this scarf and feel like it is the perfect piece for every season.

Style Tip: When you don’t know what outfit to put together, pull out a favorite printed scarf. Take cues from the scarf on putting the ensemble together by choosing pieces with matching or similar colors. It really helps for picking out outfits and I do this often, when I am going away for the weekend.

My Ked’s sparkly sneakers are quite old, and perhaps need another run through the washer. I chose my simple Aerosmith tote (a hand me over from my younger girl) for my bag.

Do you like these colors? Would you wear these colors together? Let me know what you think of this outfit by leaving me a comment.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Thank you for all of your support. Have a great weekend!

Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 - NY Palette: Spun Sugar, Coca Mocha, and Perfectly Pale

April 26, 2022 by Amy Christensen in Pantone, Pantone Color Institute, Pantone color series, Pantone New York, Pantone New York Palette, Pantone NY Palette, Pantone Spring, Pantone Spring 2022, Pantone Spring/Summer, Spun Sugar, Coca Mocha, Perfectly Pale, Spring colors, Spring style, Spring transition outfit, Color, Color crash course, Color play, Color series, Blogging, Blogging on color, Blogging on fashion, Blogging on style, Blogging over 50, Bright colors, Brown velvet blazer, Casual style, Casual spring style, Casual dressing, Casual summer style, Casual transitional style, Clothing pieces, Dressing after 40, Dressing After 50, Dressing for a casual day, Dressing for comfort, Dressing for spring, Dressing modestly, Dressing for work, Light blue graphic tee, Wild and free graphic tee, Pale colored utility pant, Light colored cargo pants, Fashion Blog, Fashion blogger, Fashion inspiration, Fashion over 40, Fashion over 50, Fashion style, Sonoma light blue tee, Gloria Vanderbilt utility, Spring, Style blog, Style blogger, Style for spring, Style inspiration, Style over 40, Style over 50, Style tips, Styling a graphic tee, Styling over 50, Styling Pantone colors, Styling spring colors, Styling wide leg trousers, Thrifted fashion, Thrifted outfits, Thrifted pieces, Thrifted style, Transitional outfits, Blue Converse sneakers, Nine West circle bag, Snakeskin print bag, Velvet blazer, Wearing Brown, Wearing utility pants, Women's casual style, Women's Fashion, Women's fashion blog, Women's fashion over 40, Women's fashion over 50, Women's fashion style, Women's spring style, Women's style

Today’s Pantone colors are a blend of earthy and pastels. Spun Sugar is a light, airy blue reminiscent of hazy summer skies. Coca Mocha makes me think of a double scoop of chocolate ice cream and Perfectly Pale is the perfect summer alternative to basic white. See the actual Pantone colors here.

I think these colors are a great pairing for spring and summer. We often think of brown as a fall color, just like we think of white as only a summer color. Well, girlfriends, we definitely needing to change our thinking about color, as in all colors work at any time of year. I will forever love my darker browns, oranges, yellows and burgundies in the fall, but that doesn’t mean I won’t occasionally put them on in the heat of summer. God made color and color is good, all year round.

My Sugar Spun tee is a Sonoma piece. I don’t know that I consider myself wild, but I definitely am glad I live in a free country. That is something I never want to take for granted. I am thankful for all who have fought for so many years to keep our country the free nation it is. I have come to have a deep affection for graphic tees, especially those with words on them.

This outfit is all me. The colors work for me and the pieces are all thrift finds except the necklace, bag and sneakers. The Coca Mocha velvet blazer is a brand called SSA, and is definitely showing wear. I need to do some stitching around the cuffs as it has been wanting to come apart. But overall, I think the blazer still has some wear left in it. This is not something I would normally gravitate towards in the summer, but with our weather being so wacky, I think I will keep this available.

Style Tip: Don’t put your blazers away for spring and summer. Think of them as light weight jackets that you can throw on with cropped pants, capris and even shorts. They make any casual outfit look classy and put together.

My pants are Gloria Vanderbilt and a newer thrift purchase. I knew I wanted a few other lighter weight and lighter colored pants for spring, so this utility pair does the trick.

Style Tip: If pure white is not your bag, find light colored bottoms for summer in pale creams, tans and yellows. You’ll get a similar effect to wearing white and won’t have to worry as much about your colored underwear showing through.

Summer for me means less in the accessory department. I can’t wear most scarves as I get too hot and many of my jewelry pieces make me break out in the warmer weather. These warm months are where I turn to pieces with hippie vibes that use cording, or heavyweight string for pendants and bracelets. I am thinking about taking a few of my hubby’s metal detecting finds and turning them into jewelry, so I guess this would be the time.

My daisy necklace was a Christmas gift from my husband. I like the little quirk it has, because that’s me, just a little quirky. Ha. ha. I am also showing off my round Nine West snakeskin print bag, that I got a few seasons ago from Kohl’s on clearance. Last, but not least, I had to use my bright blue Converse again, since they went along with the Spun Sugar color.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like the colors together, or would you put them with other colors? I love hearing your thoughts and ideas. You inspire me too!

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

Have a great day!