Outfit Inspiration - Plaid Trousers with Green

This outfit is another product of perusing a Christopher & Banks add that I had gotten in the mail. The add contained an outfit consisting of a pair of plaid pants, a cardigan, a short sleeve tee and a button up blouse with a collar. Since I am such a layering fanatic in the winter, due to living in a drafty old house and living in the mid west, I thought this would be a fun and different way to add multiple light layers. This layering not only adds warmth, but creates visual interest and additional texture, for an outfit that is clearly work appropriate, and also date night ready.

Plaid is in again and seems to be a recurring pattern in the fashion realm. Whether it is the light and bright plaids of spring and summer checks or the more expected flannel and buffalo plaids of fall, plaid is a pattern everyone can wear. With plaid shirts, pants, skirts and jackets there are plenty of choices for your closet.

I found this pair of Mossimo brand trousers at a thrift store. I like the wider legs, but it was the plaid pattern and the bright green stripes that had me throwing them in my cart. The picture below was to show off my dark brown Life Stride boots, but it also gives you a close up of the plaid colors.

Seeing as the pants have both a light green and a dark green stripe I was able to draw from several different greens in my closet. The Sonoma tee shirt is fairly old and is often worn during the warmer months as it is relatively light weight. The long sleeve gingham that I am wearing underneath is Jaclyn Smith and was thrifted. The cardigan was also thrifted and is Old Navy.

Because the tee had that touch of purple I added the purple bead and metal necklace for a contrasting splash of color.

I really like these greens with the purple. Even though I typically would associate these colors more with spring or summer I think they work well for fall and brighten things up, which really helps on a dreary day.

This shoulder bag is another thrift store find and is Liz Claiborne brand.

I like when the strap on a bag is long enough that I can use it either as a shoulder bag or a crossbody bag. It’s okay to occasionally have it both ways! Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this outfit. Do you like to wear plaid? What sorts of plaid items do you have in your closet. In addition to my plaid pants I have a few tops that are plaid, including a few flannel ones. How about you? Not all patterns are liked by everyone, but there are other ways to embrace a trend like florals or plaid, just think less is more. Carry a plaid bag, wear a plaid scarf or even a pair of plaid socks and then roll your pant cuffs so the socks are just peeking out.Everyone will think you are so on trend and you didn’t have to make a big investment.

I hope you all have a great weekend! Until next time.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Summer Maxi Dress for Fall

I’m sure many of you have heard about transitional dressing. This has to do with taking a clothing piece from one season and changing it up to make it wearable in the next season. With our seasons here in the mid west being so varied, it is essential to have pieces that can be worn for more than one season. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I love jeans. You can wear them any time of year. Ha, ha. However, this is not going to be a post about jeans. You already know how much I love those! This post focuses on a summer maxi dress that was a new purchase from late last spring.

Some of you who regularly follow me might remember this dress from my summer series on maxi dresses. You can see the whole dress and the original post here. This bohemian style maxi boldly stated it wanted to come home with me when I saw it on the rack at Nordstrom Rack this past May. I knew as soon as I tried it on that it would be a versatile piece and would easily take me from summer into fall.

In order to make the light weight dress fall ready I decided I needed layers. I knew I wanted to style it with knee high boots to add warmth on the lower level. While I didn’t wear tights for this photo shoot, I would add them if I was going to have the dress on for a longer period of time.

I do love wearing boots. They are a great way to change up an outfit and add warmth. With so many styles from ankle booties to over the knee types what is not to love. And now there are so many more colors!

Here are a few brown pairs, that I like at decent price points.

To add layers at the top I chose this thrifted sunflower yellow sweater cardigan. The brand name is Callaway. A simple cardigan adds a warm layer without a lot of bulk and they come in so many pretty prints and colors. Here are a few to look at. With Christmas coming, I am sure you need ideas for all those girls on your list. Ha, ha.

In addition to the sweater I also grabbed my thrifted brown moto jacket. I have styled this many times on the blog. It is one of my favorite thrift finds and most often I wear it as an extra layer in the winter time, rather than as an outerwear jacket. For this particular fall day this and the sweater were just the right amount of layers.

Here are a few shopping options.

My accessories are pretty simple. This layered necklace I found somewhere or other on the clearance rack. The nice thing about these types of necklaces is there is no work involved. Some days that is just exactly what I need.

My bag is a navy Vera Wang bag that is also thrifted.

One of the things that I like about fashion blogging is learning new ways to use my clothes. It used to be that we had our summer clothes and our winter clothes. I still go through the process of putting things away and pulling out different things each season, simply because I am a clothes horse and there is no way I could have all my clothes out at the same time. Also, I tend to reach for what is in my comfort zone. In the winter I like to be warm, so I like my heavy sweaters and added layers. In the summer I like less layers and lighter material. However, since I have started blogging I have learned that there are ways to extend the seasonal pieces and get more wear out of them. This outfit is the perfect example.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Leave me some love in the comments. I always like to hear your point of view.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you make a purchase through a link I get a little commission. I appreciate all your clicks.

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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.

Ordinary Amy - Bootcut Jeans and Leopard Print

Those of you who follow me on a regular basis know I am a jeans kind of gal. Jean are what I live in and I love to be able to dress up a pair of jeans for a lunch date, work or a night out with my hubby. I don’t care what wash they are or what cut, jeans are just my favorite, go to pants.

For today’s post I decided to move away from my frequent choice of dark wash skinny jeans and chose my lighter wash, thrifted, bootcut jeans. I like the shape of a good pair of boot cut jeans. These are actually a little bigger, which I like because they are so comfortable. These are a thicker denim, so hopefully, will last for a while. This is an older brand called Kikit, which are only available through Etsy, Poshmark and other thrift retailers.

The choice to wear this leopard print blazer that I found on the JC Penney clearance rack last year was a no brainer! Animal prints are trending now, especially the classic leopard print.

I can remember when I was a young girl thinking of leopard print as something only the rich and famous wore. Pictures of celebrities with their fur stoles and jackets were from before my time, but even in the late 60’s and early 70’s animal print patterns were not something the average woman wore. Maybe that is part of the reason these prints are so popular now and continue to be. Also, I think we are more evolved in the fashion arena as far as fabrics and pieces that can mimic the patterns in nature.

For my top, I chose my black velvet tee. This was a Christmas gift from my hubby last Christmas. I thought it went very nicely under the velvet, leopard jacket.

Along with leopard print comes the look of burgundy or red accessories. Red shoes and boots are big this fall. I opted for the more subdued burgundy color, rather than a bright red, but the combination works to make a much more interesting outfit. Even if you don’t have leopard print you could combine burgundy with brown, tan and black and get a sharp looking outfit.

My cute fringe bag is thrifted and my ankle boots are a recent purchase from Meijer. I will be the first to admit I have a shoe problem, but only in spurts. Meijer was having a Buy One Get One for a Dollar, so I had to take a look. Of course I found these boot and they went right into my cart. Then I tried on some Keds and a pair of those jumped in the cart. Well, there was a clearance area as well and I found the cutest blush sneakers…so yes, I came home with three pairs of shoes. Shhhhh! Don’t tell.

I decided to wear my burgundy wood and metal and a coppery gold belt as my finishing pieces, adding a front tuck to give definition to my waist.

While we were taking pictures, I met this very nice man. He was so understanding and quite a good listener. Ha, ha. We couldn’t pass up a great picture opportunity.

Are you a jeans girl too? What is your favorite brand of jeans? Do you buy your jeans at thrift stores or do you have a particular retailer that you like to buy from? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave me some love in the comments section.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which means if you click on a link I get a few pennies. If you purchase something through one of my links, I get a little bit more. All opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Pantone Fall 2018 - Limelight, Mellow Rose and Meerkat

Of all the colors on the Pantone Fall 2018 palette, I felt Limelight and Mellow Rose were the least fall-like colors. Once again, I had to think outside the box when pairing these two light pastels together, to make the outfit seem more in keeping with a fall theme. In order to do this, I thought it would be best to pair them with Pantone’s classic color, Meerkat. Meerkat is a warm, orange brown and while it could be used in any season, It makes me think of fall leaves, bonfires and warm apple cider.

Mellow Rose is actually one of two colors that is only found on the London Palette. I am not sure why they added this and Crocus Petal, the two extra colors on their palette, but they are light, airy and more spring like. Maybe it was an attempt at bridging the gap between the seasons and reminding people that the old rules are gone and colors are seasonless.

All of the pieces in this outfit were thrifted except the bag and the boots. The Limelight colored jeans are Talbots brand and are really an ankle pant that I rolled up, so they stop at the top of my boots. The Mellow Rose button up is Izod brand and the long fringe knit vest is a brand called Sun and Shadow. I’ve styled this vest several times before. You can see those posts here and here.

I don’t remember where I got the belt, but I thought it tied in with the boots and bag quite well. I just did a front tuck with the shirt.

This bag I got at Meijer and I am not sure of the brand. It is a nice cross body bag and the embroidery on the front adds interesting color and texture. I think this can be used for all seasons.

These boots are a brand called Sugar and I got them at Kohl’s a few years ago. They are made of a suede type material and add a different look to an outfit because of the single, long, wrap tie.

I just added a simple bead and metal necklace and a bracelet for jewelry. This might be fun with a scarf or even some layered necklaces for a more bohemian look.

Here is a full length view of the vest from behind.

This is the second outfit in this series that I am not completely happy with. These colors are great, just not necessarily together, or for the season of fall. I know, I know, we can wear whatever, whenever, but if I’m not happy with it, then I’m not going to wear it. I’ve worn both of these pieces in the spring and summer. My color leanings are more bold and bright, but if you are a pastel kind of girl, then follow my friend Liz at With Wonder and Whimsy. She loves pastels and wears them all year round!

That’s all for today. Hope you are having a great Tuesday!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pantone Fall 2018 - Pink Peacock, Valiant Poppy and Almond Buff

Welcome back to outfit number three in this fall’s Pantone color series. Today I am featuring two colors which the Pantone site describes as a “bright and bold dramatic pink” and a “brave and outgoing red.” I didn’t go into this series thinking I would pair these two colors, but when I started looking for the pink and decided on this multi-print tunic, it was only natural to choose another color in the tunic to pair with it, which obviously turned out to be red. I have always thought of pairing red and pink as a Valentine’s Day idea, but when I began putting this outfit together, I saw a subtle shift from cupids and hearts to fall apples and fuzzy pink slippers.

This tunic is a brand called East Fifth and while I can’t remember, I think I got it at JC Penney. Although, when I checked on their website, it looks like they currently only carry East Fifth shoes. and a few bags. I have styled this tunic on the blog before. You can see that post here.

When I realized I had this thrifted Merona cardigan, I knew that would add the perfect pop of red, in addition to my red clutch.

To keep the outfit grounded I picked the Pantone color Almond Buff from the classic palette. These pants are a little on the light side to truly mimic the color, but my swede ankle boots are a closer match. Yes, I am doing the Robot.

The pants are Croft and Barrow brand. The boots are Sonoma. Both items were from Kohl’s.

I chose my bright red clutch to add to the Valiant Poppy vibe. Because the tunic is so busy the only jewelry I added was a gold bangle bracelet and the pink and red tassel necklace, which as you can see, blends in with the top, but still adds a little textural detail.

Isn’t it funny that I bought this necklace a while back, never realizing that Pink Peacock and Valiant Poppy would be a thing, or that I would end up pairing these two colors on the blog? This next picture is just me at my silliest! Ha, ha.

Would you combine these two colors? Do you think they are what we would classify as fall colors? I’d love to hear you thoughts. It means a great deal to me when you take the time to stop by, read my posts and comment (when technology is cooperating). I have learned a lot from your comments, especially when you share, how you would have done it differently or what you like about a particular post, so keep it up.

Be sure to check back Thursday for a new Old Becomes New post, where I’ll be sharing a colorful blazer styled in a fall outfit. I need your help to decide whether I should keep it or not. Until then, have a great day.

I’ve included a few shopping links for pink tops and red bags, just for fun. These are affiliate links which means I get a penny or two when you click on a link. If you purchase something through my site, I get a little commission.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

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.

Pantone Fall 2018 - Red Pear, Nebulas Blue and Sargasso Sea

Last week, I introduced you to this fall’s Pantone color palette. Now that I am just getting started with my series, I noticed their website already has the color palettes up for Spring 2019. I understand that in the fashion and interior design industries they always need to be one step ahead, or all of a sudden things have gone out of trend and disappeared. That reminds me of a verse from the book of Ecclesiastes which was written by King Solomon.

“That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So there is nothing new under the sun.”

— Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NASB)

Even a man as wise as Solomon, knew there was nothing new under the sun. Look at the movies and books that are currently out. It is pretty much the same story, just written with different characters and a different setting. Heck, how many times have they revisited Spider Man and Predator? Ha, ha. That being said, the color palettes that come out are really nothing new. They call them by different names, make one a little more blue based or yellow based and say they are fresh and new.

However, I do enjoy color and I like to create outfits using color in combinations that may be new or different, at least for me. Following the color palettes that Pantone puts out each season allows me to do just that.

Here are the first of this fall’s palette.

Red Pear and Nebulas Blue are on both the London and New York palettes. Sargasso Sea is one of the classic colors or what I like to refer to as a grounding color. Red Pear borders on a maroon and my pants are really too red, while my version of Nebulas Blue appears spot on. Sargasso Sea is navy by any other name, but even there you can see all the different shades of navy. My Ralph Lauren thrifted blazer is almost too blue, while Sargasso Sea seems to have more gray in it. I think my loafer heels and bag are a little bit closer to the Pantone color.

I added this colorful bandana for a scarf as a way to bring together the red and blue and add a pop of yellow.

The blazer, shoes and bag were all thrifted. The bag is Simply Vera Wang; the blazer is Ralph Lauren and the loafer heels are Relativity. Everything you see in this outfit with the exception of the scarf I have styled on the blog before. It just goes to show that our closets are a great place to look for new color combinations and outfits.

What do you think of these colors? Do you think these colors represent the fall season? Why or why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I have received a few messages that people are having problems commenting on my blog posts. If you an issue, please let me know. I contacted the help team for the platform that I use when I had a problem in the past and they said they couldn’t see any problem on their end. If you have an issue, please shoot me an email, so I can see how widespread the problem is.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which means I get a few cents if you click on it. All opinions are my own.

Fall Collaboration with Ethyl Clothing

I was recently contacted by a clothing retailer named Ethyl Clothing. Ethyl Clothing has been around for over 30 years. Based out of Seattle, Washington, founders and designers, Alan and Kathy Schulz, continue to be actively involved in bringing their quality products to over 3000 boutiques across the country. They now have an online store, which makes shopping their classic clothing pieces even easier.

When I went to their website, I was pleased to see models that look like average sized women. In other words, these women look like me. That alone, intrigued me. While I was informed that Ethyl clothing originally was geared to the younger woman, their clothing line has developed over the years to encompass and cater to the “baby-boomer” generation. These are women like me, who are busy and enjoy clothing that looks nice, but feels soft and comfortable with some amount of stretch and give.

When I received my pieces, I was not disappointed. Because these are vanity sized, I was told to size down from what I would normally wear. Sizes run from XS to XXXL on most. For both the tunic sweater and the jacket I chose a medium. For the jeans I went with a size 10, where I normally wear a size 12. Everything fit exactly as it should.

Each of the following pieces was gifted to me. No money was exchanged and all opinions are my own. After a short description of each piece, I will give it a review by listing positive and/or negative points, along with suggestions for wearing.

Like many smaller clothing retailers today, Ethyl Clothing names each of their pieces. Let me introduce you.

1. The Anne 2 - Kenzi

The Kenzi boasts a long, gracious tunic silhouette, a comfortable cowl neckline and roomy, pleated front pockets that add interest and texture.

Positive Points - flattering silhouette, silky material drapes well and holds its shape, roomy - doesn’t bind or pinch.

Negative Points - sleeves are a bit long. For me this is not an issue, but if you have short arms you may need to have them altered or roll them up.

Style suggestions: Wear with skinny jeans or leggings; pair with various jackets either long or short; wear with a skirt, either tucked, belted or just left long; slip on over a dress that will show a little at the bottom.

2. The Jaqueline Flair Jean - Abigail

These boot cut, dark wash jeans are made of a medium weight denim woven from a poly-cotton blend with a dash of rayon and spandex for stretch, comfort and ease of wear.

Positive points - good stretch, not too heavy, hold their shape, dark wash, figure flattering.

Negative points - very long, narrow through the thighs. If you have heavier legs or short legs I would suggest trying their pants with the shorter inseam. The Abigail only comes in the longer (31”to 34”) inseam.

Style Suggestions: Boot cut jeans always look good with heeled boots, but these would also dress up well with a pair of heels. They fall just below the natural waist so could be easily paired with shorter tops and sweaters.

3. The Margot - Blake

The Blake is meant to be a style piece not an actual jacket. A medium weight cotton-poly blend with spandex this black denim jacket is the perfect add on piece to take any outfit up a notch. The bling detail on the lapels and the frayed hems, give it a vibe that says both edgy and party ready. The non-closure, open front allows you to show off, not only the jacket, but a statement piece underneath.

Positive points - easy on and off, no buttons or zippers to snag sweaters or scarves, plenty of stretch, longer length for better back side coverage.

Negative points - this is less a negative than it is a personal opinion. When I first received this jacket I did not like the way it fit and after working with the rep from the company was sent a large to try on. The piece is designed to not come together in the front, which to me seemed odd, but this is the way the designers intended the jacket to be. It was created this way to allow exposure of the top you are wearing underneath. After having the two sizes to try on I ended up sending the large back. It really was too big. Now that I’ve seen the two sizes and have a better understanding of what the piece is intended to do, I like it. I am looking forward to wearing it with other outfits to see its full potential as a fun add on piece, almost more like an accessory.

Style suggestions: This would look great with a shift dress, pencil skirt or skinny pants. It will also allow for many different top choices including tunics and vests. The Blake will also allow your fun scarves and statement necklaces to still take center stage while providing a backdrop of bling, warmth and fun.

My overall opinion of Ethyl Clothing is that it is a woman friendly retailer with a strong classic, casual line structured for comfort and ease of wear. While they are not offering a discount through my site, if you spend over $100 you get free shipping. The pieces you order also come with free return labels, so that if you are not completely satisfied you can return your purchases for a full refund.

I hope you enjoyed this look at Ethyl Clothing. Head on over to their site and take a few minutes to shop. Just click on the link, Ethyl Clothing.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Fall 2018 - Introduction to the Color Palette

Once again, I am visiting the Pantone fall color palette. If you are unfamiliar with the Pantone Institute of Color, they are considered to be the leaders in color technology. Here is a quote from the About Us portion of their website.

“Pantone provides a universal language of color that enables color-critical decisions through every stage of the workflow for brands and manufacturers. More than 10 million designers and producers around the world rely on Pantone products and services to help define, communicate and control color from inspiration to realization – leveraging advanced X-Rite technology to achieve color consistency across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion and product design. Pantone Standards feature digital and physical color specification and workflow tools. The Pantone Color Institute™ provides customized color standards, brand identity and product color consulting as well as trend forecasting inclusive of Pantone Color of the Year, Fashion Runway Color Trend Reports, color psychology and more. Pantone B2B Licensing incorporates the Pantone Color System into different products and services, enabling licensees to communicate and reproduce approved Pantone values and improve efficiencies for their users. Pantone Lifestyle brings color and design together across apparel, home, and accessories”

— Pantone website

There are two major cities in the fashion industry that put out their corresponding color palettes for each season. The graphic below shows a combination of the New York and London Fall palettes.

This year’s fall palette is a blend of traditional seasonal hues, soft pastels and pops of bright color making for an interesting color mix. You could pick one color from this palette or all of the colors and when combined with other seasonal trends such as animal prints, plaid and camo make amazing outfits that go beyond our normal expectations for fall.

In addition to the twelve colors above, last spring Pantone also began putting out a classic color palette. While these colors remain more neutral and unchanged, thus the classic descriptor, they present an option for what I call a “grounding” color for our outfits. While some people like to wear color on color, others like to have small pops of color with a more classic foundation to keep their outfits grounded and impeccable.

Next week, I will begin showing you how I put these colors together to form outfits that are both classic and colorful. For now, here are few sneak peeks. I hope you’ll join me then.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Texture Talk - Part 3

You might be thinking I covered everything I could when it came to texture and fashion in the last two posts I did on this quick texture series, however, there are two other areas I wanted to address. They both have to do with adding texture to outfits, but in completely different ways. The first deals with adding texture by using patterns. The second will look at taking a monochrome outfit and making it visually interesting by adding texture. 

Adding Texture by Using Patterns

We talk a lot about patterns on our clothing. Everything from stripes and flowers, to plaid and polka dots are part of the clothing we choose to wear. I personally love prints and since I have been blogging, I love to mix prints. When I started thinking about this series on texture, I suddenly realized that prints and patterns do add dimension and depth to our outfits, so therefore, must be a component of a series on texture.

The following pictures all are examples of patterns that add an interesting dimension to each outfit.

These first two are in black and white, because I thought that it makes the point even more dramatically. Not only does the pattern of my clothing add texture to the outfit, but you can see all the texture in the back ground from the trees and landscape. 

These next two are jackets. The first is a sleek bomber jacket, but it gives the illusion of texture by placing bold colored flowers on a black back ground. 

In my opinion patterns like houndstooth. herringbone, sharkskin and others are the perfect textural patterns. We see these a lot in suits for men and women. I found this houndstooth jacket at a nearby thrift store 

An all over pattern gives the illusion of texture while hiding some of my more prominent bulges. 

The sweater by itself provides texture, but the pattern across the top and shoulder area, as well as the buffalo plaid bag add interest and depth. 

This outfit has many textural components, but they all play so well together, what's not to love? The sweater has ribbing, the vest is embellished at the top, the belt, jewelry and bag provide other interesting elements and the patterned skirt is also made of corduroy, thus more texture. This type of outfit, with all of it's textures still looks chic and classy, but is warm and comfortable. 

The same goes for this outfit as well. The striped dress is knit, the jacket has polka dots and the bag is not only made of suede, but has fringe. Texture upon texture, upon texture. Going back to my initial post about texture, I showed some photos of textural elements in nature. If you go for a walk in a park or even in the city, you will see layer, upon layer, upon layer of texture. It is perfectly okay to wear lots of texture in your outfits, as long as you think about how you are putting things together. You can see my original post here. 

Adding Texture to a Monochrome Outfit

This first outfit from my Spring 2017 Pantone series featuring a color called Pale Dogwood. This pale pink is a great backdrop for adding pattern and texture. Other than the laces on my shoes, the knit fabric of the sweater and the necklace it is the addition of the bold pattern on the scarf that gives the outfit a texturized look. If you wanted to go for a complete monochrome look you could have added a fuzzy pink boa or a wide pink belt with some sort of texture. 

Even though this outfit has a patterned dress the look is still monochromatic because the entire look is basically a conglomeration of earthy browns. The pattern and the open weave knit are the texture winners in this look.

Just to give you an idea of what an actual monochrome outfit looks like, I threw these next two in from last years holiday outfit series. The black top adds texture with its draping neckline. The over piece adds texture with shear sleeves. Isn't it funny that something sheer can actually add texture, but think about things like neglige and wedding dresses.

This gray outfit is, perhaps, one of my favorites for a monochromatic look with loads of texture. The sheer drape, the pleated neckline of the sweater, the pleats on the skirt as well as my heels which have almost an alligator pattern on them are all textural components in this outfit.

Now that you have seen a few examples I hope you will give more thought as to how to add more texture to your outfits. With the onset of fall it will be much easier to add texture through fun pieces like scarves, hats and boots. 

Let me know if you liked this series on texture. If there are other fashion ideas you are interested in having me do a series on, let me know and I'll give it some thought. 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

What to Wear to a Family Photo Shoot

Today I am a guest writer for Rebecca Trumbull Photography. If you are thinking about having family photos done, you will want to read my blog post on Rebecca's website. Family photos are a wonderful investment and a way to capture a moment in time. 

I can remember at every family gathering, my Dad getting out the camera and often the movie camera as well. It has been twelve years since he passed away, but we still have loads of pictures to remind us of the fun gatherings we had with immediate and extended family. The pictures were often under exposed, over exposed, blurry and full of people with missing heads, arms and feet. That's why I would encourage you to get family photos done by a professional photographer. 

As I point out in the post on Rebecca's blog, getting ready for family photos can often be a challenge, especially if you've never done it before. Figuring out what to wear when you have a family with age ranges from teens to toddlers provides an added challenge. That is exactly why we collaborated on this post. Rebecca and I want you make it easier for you to have family portraits that will provide beauty, and cohesiveness, but also provide images that are uniquely your family. 

Be sure to click on the image below and read the article. Leave some love on Rebecca's blog and let us know your thoughts. 

Rebecca Trumbull is a professional photographer based out of Northwest Ohio. Rebecca is easy to work with and for those of you uncomfortable in front of the camera like I am, she is great at giving directions and making your portrait session fun and painless. In addition to being the main photographer for Stylin' Granny Mama, and taking fabulous family portraits, Rebecca also shoots high school seniors, pets, maternity, weddings and commercial photos. To see more of her work or contact her about scheduling photos just click the link.