Fall 2017 Trends - Fabulous Florals

I feel like we have talked about florals before, probably because we have. Floral patterns were trending in spring and they are still trending in fall. However, where spring florals were light and bright, fall florals are dark and bold. There are some fabulous fall florals out there right now and I will include a few shopping links in this post, to give you a few other ideas of what is available. As for my own collection of florals, I have nothing quite like what is trending, but I found a few pieces that I thought would transition well into the fall season. As I did last week, I will show you one outfit, a few flat lays and a few possible shopping options.

i have a few floral tops in my closet and chose this one for my outfit, because it seems a bit more fall like. The body is lined while the sleeves are sheer. the sleeves also have an asymmetrical hem line, and there is smocking on the upper part by the neck, making it an interesting piece. 

I paired the top with these recently thrifted J.Jill black jeans and my Clarks peep toe shooties.

I also had this black Franco Sarto bag in my closet. Here is a cross body bag from their site. 

I added a few fun pieces of jewelry to compliment the colors in the top.

Here are a few other looks that I put together as flat lays.

For this one the focal floral piece is the jacket, I opted to pull the blue out of the jacket by pairing it with a blue Christopher and Banks short sleeve sweater and blue heels. Because the jacket has so many colors it could be paired with lots of other pieces. 

This more casual look revolves around a mini floral print. I've had this yellow sweater for a while and it perfectly pulls out the yellow in the top. Styled with a pair of Rock & Republic boot cut jeans, a leather cross body bag and boots makes for a great casual fall outfit.

Here are a few other options of floral items. This post contains affliate links. All opinions expressed are my own.

I hope you enjoyed this look at another fall trend. Have a great weekend!

Pantone Fall 2017 - The London Palette - Blue Bell and Lemon Curry

Last week I looked at two colors with more of an orange hue from the Pantone Fall 2017 London palette. This week I am going to introduce you to one of the two yellow hues on the palette. Lemon Curry is a spicy yellow that can add a bit of zing to your fall color combinations. I decided to combine this yellow with Blue Bell, a light soothing color. The combination results in an outfit that has both pizzazz and peacefulness. 

My daughter had to teach me a few things about photography when she first sent me this grouping of pictures. The reality is that a camera does not see things the way the human eye does. Our human eye, unless they are unable to translate properly, see colors as they really are. A camera and the image it imprints onto a digital card is affected by lighting, exposure and other factors. 

When I saw these pictures, I texted my daughter and said, "This skirt does not look like it looks in real life." We went back and forth on it for a while and I finally told her to leave it alone. When we got together for my grandson's birthday party yesterday, she took the time to explain to me that a camera, no matter how fancy picks up what it thinks it sees, not necessarily what is really the fact. Who da thunk? Obviously the hombre skirt contains an underlying tone that the camera translates to more of an aqua blue, when in reality it is more of a navy or gray blue. Rebecca was able to adjust the pictures to make the skirt look more like the original color and I learned a few things about digital images. 

For this post, it doesn't really matter, because the blue I am trying to match with the Blue Bell color is the top tier of the skirt, rather than the bottom tier. 

Once again, for this color combination I shopped my closet. I've had this tiered skirt for a while and usually wear it a few times over the summer months, as it is light weight, but also lined. The tee I've had for a long time. I love the pattern, the fit and the longer short sleeves, but I hardly ever wear it. When I came across it looking for something yellow, I realized this would be the perfect piece to represent Lemon Curry.

Even though the top contains some black and white you can clearly tell is has the spicy Lemon Curry vibe. 

To pull the look together I wore Blue Bell colored jewelry including my pendant necklace from Kohls and my bracelet from Chico's. I decided to used a brown bag to keep the look more grounded and earthy.

For shoes, I chose my simple SO flats. Yes, I know I keep wearing these for various outfits, but they are just so cute and comfy!

What do you think of the pairing of these two colors? Which color do you like better?

I think these two colors are perfect for fall and transition easily from summer. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen. 

The following are few shopping links for possible items in Blue Bell and Lemon Curry. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Thanks for stopping by the blog. Hope to see you back again soon.

Styling a Piece from ShopSvelte

I was recently contacted by a Canadian retailer by the name of ShopSvelte. A  fairly new company, ShopSvelte, focuses on fashion centered around athleisure. Their clothing line is meant to be moved in. While their selection is small each piece is made from durable, form fitting, movement friendly material. All their pieces are made with a built in waist panel to help control the tummy bulges and flatter every figure. 

ShopSvelte gifted me a piece of my choice and in return I am writing this post. All opinions are my own and no money was exchanged for this review. 

For my gifted piece, I chose the slim cut jeans in a Large.  You all probably know by now, I am a jeans kind of girl. To be honest when these first arrived and I pulled them out of the bag I thought, "There is no way I am getting my big old booty in those jeans!" Ha, ha. However, as you can see by the pictures, the big old booty did fit! I think I would like to try an extra large just to see the difference in the legs. For me, I like a little bit of room in the legs, so an extra large may have been a better call. I normally wear a size 12 in pants, if that helps. 

Look 1: Casual sporty

For this casual look I threw on a fun sweatshirt and my sparkly gray Keds sneakers. 

As you can see these jeans are very form fitting. The stretch is amazing and there is absolutely no bagging or sagging. Warning! The next few pictures are of my butt and are specifically for the purposes of showing the fit of the jeans.

There are two pockets on the back. You can also see that they are high waisted, which is great for hiding all those tummy bulges and love handles. Here is a front view of the waist. No worries about bulging belts, or belt loops. 

Here is a view of the bottom of the leg on the jeans. They look like real denim jeans, even thought they are truly athleisure shape wear. 

Look 2: Casual dressy

I decided to show you two ways to style these ShopSvelte slim fit jeans, because I personally am not comfortable showing off my booty in a form fitting jean, legging or jegging. When I am walking on the street or at the mall I like people who see me from behind to think, "What a great outfit," rather than, "What a big butt!" Ha, ha.

For this outfit I chose a tunic length, button up top that I recently purchased from H&M. 

For this look, I swapped out my sparkly Keds for my light blue SO flats, a long silver pendant necklace, a couple silver bracelets and my pewter sparkly clutch.

Here are the two looks side by side. Which one do you like better?

If your style is athleisure and you like form fitting shape wear you will want to check out ShopSvelte. It seems to be a good quality product and the price range runs from about $55 to $85. I hope you enjoyed this review. 

If you are still not sure about ShopSvelte check out a few of these other blogger reviews:

Feeling LIke a Boss Lady by Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. 

Svelte Shape Wear Jeans Review by Marcie of Marcie in Mommyland. 

Enhancing the Shape of You by Tenille of Feisty, Frugal and Fabulous.

You can also follow ShopSvelte on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Have a great weekend.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Pantone Fall 2017 - An Intro to Two Color Palettes

This fall, the color institute known as Pantone published their usual ten color New York palette. However, this year they also published the ten color London palette. So what is a fashion blogger to do? Why, feature all twenty of these colors. Don't worry, I won't be featuring one color a week for the next twenty weeks. That would take me into January. Ha, ha. 

For this series on the Pantone colors, I will be combining two colors a week. There are a few colors that overlap on both the London and the New York palettes, and many of the colors while having different names are very similar hues. 

New York Palette

I decided to start the series with the London colors. The graphic above and below was put together by Rebecca, my photographer, web helper and daughter, using Pantone's color coding. The way you see the graphic will be the way I pair the colors. For example, Flame Scarlet will be paired with Otter, Primrose Pink with Navy Peony and so on.

London Palette

You might wonder what got me interested in the Pantone color palettes in the first place. I love color. I love flowers in the summer, changing leaves in the fall, orange pumpkins at Halloween, Christmas lights at Christmas and the soothing colors of nature such as a blue sky, green trees and red cardinals. With my propensity toward color it was only natural when I became interested in fashion that an interest in fashion color choices followed. 

Pantone is the fashion and design industry's go to for color choice. I am not sure what the whole process looks like, as far as how they come up with the colors for each season and how those translate to fabric versus paint or graphic design, but if you start paying attention to the Pantone colors, all of a sudden you will begin to see those colors in the new season's line of clothing, home furnishings, graphics and even architectural designs for offices. 

Here are some sneak peeks at what I have coming up, starting next week, with the Pantone Fall 2017 London color palette.

You can probably tell from looking at the graphic that this was not the easiest grouping of colors to work with. There are lots of pale colors as well as yellows which many people cannot wear. This palette was definitely a challenge, but I find that even more fun. Besides, it is helping my brain stay active to try to figure out how to combine pieces and colors in a ways that will be pleasing to the eye. 

I hope you will join me the next five Tuesday's for my Pantone Fall 2017 London series on the blog. Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check back on Thursday to see who my Beautiful Blogger Bests choice will be. Until then have a great Tuesday. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, and Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Wednesday linking up with Hannah and Sara of The Perfect Storm. 

Marvelous Maxis - A+ A-lines

This is the final installment in my Marvelous Maxis series. An A-line skirt is basically a skirt that is narrow at the waist then subtly flares out toward the bottom, thus the "A" look. I have always been a fan of the A-line skirt because it is figure flattering, but still allows for room through the hips and thighs. It is also a great skirt to wear if you want some flare, but don't want a lot of excess material. 

Today's skirt is from Dressbarn. If you are not familiar with Dressbarn they are a women's clothing retailer selling sizes 4-24. I hadn't been in a Dressbarn in ages, but then visited one with my girlfriend while I was back in NY a few months ago. I was glad I did. They have a fun and whimsical style with a variety of prints, colors and cuts in pants, skirts, dresses and tops. They also sell accessories like shoes, bags and jewelry. It took everything in my power to not spend more than I did! 

Look 1 - Casual

I fell in love with the print on this skirt, knowing that I will be able to use it for spring, summer and fall. The skirt is a somewhat sheer material, but is fully lined so you don't have to worry about finding a slip to wear underneath. 

The lining has knee high slits on both sides, making it easy to walk and sit without feeling bound in. Here is a pretty fuschia floral print. 

I paired the skirt with a simple embellished orange tank top. This is a St. John's Bay brand which is found at JC Penney. My tank was thrifted. I tucked the top in, to keep a more figure flattering silhouette. Notice after I tucked it in, I pulled it out a touch, to allow the material to bag out to camouflage my bulges. We have to have a trick or two to hide our baggage!

Since the tank has all this bling, I decided to not wear a necklace. For accessories I just wore a multi-strand beaded bracelet, carried a small macrame bag and wore my lace up sandals. I bought these sandals at Meijer. Meijer is a grocery and clothing retailer here in the midwest. I was surprised to find out that their Massini clothing line is now backed by Stacy London of What Not to Wear fame. Meijer is trying to create a style for every body. 

Look 2 - Dressy

For a more dressy look, I swapped the casual tank for my glitzy taupe short sleeved pullover blouse. This piece was thrifted and is The Limited brand. The Limited is no longer available as they closed their stores back in January. You can see how I styled this blouse in last fall's Pantone series here. 

I also added a gold clutch and gold Covington wedge sandals, Sears carries Covington brand shoes. I also added a fun pendant necklace. 

Here are the two looks side by side.

I hope you enjoyed this series on maxi skirts. These skirts are a great option when you want to have your legs covered, but don't want to wear pant or hose. Do you have maxi skirts in your closet? How do you like to wear them? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Have a great week! 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen. 

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link below, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my site, I get a small commission. All opinions are my own. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness link up and Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style. 

Pantone Spring 2017 - Recap

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

Primrose Yellow

Pale Dogwood

Hazelnut

Island Paradise

Greenery

Flame

Pink Yarrow

Niagara

Kale

Lapis Blue

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

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

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

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

See you then. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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

Color Crash Course - Blush and Pastel Orange

Color inspiration can come from anywhere. I love the bold greens of new plants and bright blues of summer skies.  I also have many fond memories of childhood trips to the corner store for candy, bubble gum and popsicles. All of these things, not only evoke memories, but also provide a spring board for fashion creativity. As with any visual creative venture, whether drawing, painting, photography, working with ceramics or fabric, color plays a part in our designs. Have you ever looked at a painting and wondered, "What were they thinking?" Have you ever thought that about a person's outfit? I've had that thought about pieces that I have brought home from the store that lay dormant in my closet, until some such time as I pull it out and that bell goes off. "What was I thinking?"

Intentionality is as important to outfits as it is to a painting, a story or a musical composition. I want what I wear to mean something, even if it is as simple as saying, "I feel attractive in this." Sure there is a time for improvisation, just like in jazz, a time to just throw on that comfy pair of jeans, a cute graphic tee and those fun sneakers and just wander around town, with no real intention at all. 

I think we can be intentional about the colors we choose in our outfits as well. My outfit today revolves around two colors that we often associate with summer, blush and pastel orange. 

I wore this outfit to work, one of my last days there. It was a cool day, thus the sweater. What inspired me to pull this outfit together was the top.

Have you ever had one of those mornings where you just don't know what to wear? Instead of pulling out the bottoms first, pick a printed top, then chose all your other pieces, including your accessories to compliment the top. In this case, this sleeveless top with a ruffle down the front heralds hues of pink, blush, orange and black all on a white background. I pulled out my blush sweater, bag and flats to go with the lighter pink. I added my pastel orange pants to emphasize the light orange and I added just a pop of Pink Yarrow for one of my accessories. 

This works great for planning a weekend getaway. Pick your favorite printed bag or scarf and build all of your outfits around it. If you are like me, the disadvantage of having a bulging closet is having too many choices. Building an outfit around a top, a scarf or a bag limits the options. See my posts on styling an outfit around a bag, here and here. 

Both the sweater and bag are from a thrift store. I don't know the brand of the sweater as, the tag was torn out, but I like its ribbed shawl type collar, open front and waffle weave. Here is a cute option from H&M. The cross body bag is a Vera Wang. Here is a more pinky version from Kohl's.  I love to use a cross body bag when I shop. It let's me have both hands free to peruse the merchandise! Thus my bulging closet! Ha, ha.

I picked up these SO flats from Kohl's this year. They are cute, comfy and were very reasonably priced. I have already worn them a number of times. They are on sale for $17.99 right now and come in a variety of colors. Now that I looked at them again, I am thinking I may want another pair. The floral ones are both cute and so are the light blue!

I hope you enjoyed this month's Color Crash Course column and I hope it will inspire you to think more about the colors you choose for your outfits. Any color combination can work. It is just a matter of intentionality. 

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by the blog! 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style, and JoLynn Shane in the Fashion Friday link up. 

Pantone Spring 2017 - Lapis Blue

This is the final color of the Pantone Spring 2017 color series. The fall colors have already been out over a month, so I will try to get started a little earlier on those this time around. Lapis blue is another color that I think almost anyone can wear. It is bright, but not too bright, deep, but not so deep it washes you out and I think it is a color that will pair well with many of your other summer colors. For instance I think this color would go very well with the blush color that we are seeing everywhere right now. 

For my look, I decided on a more traditional, classic pairing with black and white. 

I have had this silky blouse from Worthington (here and here are pretty options) for a number of years and haven't really gotten much use out of it. I love the blue color and the floral print, both of which are now in style. I'll probably be pulling this out from time to time, now that I have an outfit in mind that I can use it for. The white jeans, by Gloria Vanderbilt, (similar here)  I have styled on the blog before. 

I added the black vest because when I took these pics it was still quite chilly. The outfit would look cute without the vest or you could top it with a dark wash denim for a more casual feel. If I went without a vest I would probably string some long  black beads to add more texture to the top. 

This Jaclyn Smith bag I found at a thrift store. Kmart has a cute version here. I like that this bag can be carried as a cross body or as a satchel. White clothing and accessories used to only show up between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but things have changed dramatically. White can be worn (and carried) all year round. This bag will get some use!

You can just make out my navy two strand necklace. The little beads are such a dark blue they almost look black and have a lovely iridescent sheen. Here is a different look from Etsy that includes the iridescent navy. 

No outfit would be complete without a fun pair of shoes. I love these black wedge espadrilles by Chaps. Kohl's has this same style here. Check out some of the other fun colors.

I hope you enjoyed this color. Do you have anything this color in your closet? I always love to hear your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below. 

Below I have included a few Lapis blue items you might find interesting. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link I get few cents. If you buy something through one of the links I get a little commission. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Friday linking up with Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, and Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots. 

Pantone Spring 2017 - Island Paradise

When Pantone created their Spring 2017 line up, the over all force behind the colors was the idea of nature. As I described last week, Greenery speaks to everything that is budding out now that spring has arrived. Trees, bushes and even the grass green up to their fullest potential. Island Paradise also brings the natural world into our homes and wardrobes.

Island Paradise exudes my idea of sunny days, blue waters and white sandy beaches. While I am not a sun worshipper, I do like to be near the water, gentle breezes caressing my face and the feeling of sun warmed sand beneath my toes. It creates the perfect harmony of peace and relaxation. This Pantone color gives me that same feeling. Just looking at it makes me feel happy and helps my stress level to decrease. 

I don't own many pieces that perfectly match this color. I have lots of navy, cobalt and denim, but not very much that truly speaks to this sunny blue. I found this sheer top at a thrift store and hadn't really worn it much. When I saw it hanging in my closet, I thought it might work well to create the feeling of the summery tropics.

Due to the sheer nature of the shirt I decided to wear it open more like a jacket or cardigan. I opted for a white ribbed tank top underneath. The beauty of styling a tank with a shirt like this is the outer shirt can be removed outside when it is really warm, and it can be put back on when you go into an air conditioned store or restaurant.

To keep the look fun and tropical, I paired the top with my Worthington pumpkin colored pants from JC Penney (possible options here). Worthington pants are a good fit for me, allowing enough room for my thighs and bottom, while not gaping at the waist. These are a light weight polyester blend with a side zipper, that allows easy movement. 

The above picture also gives you a good view of my blush flats and cross body bag. While the bag is not actually a true blush color, there is enough similarity that I think it works. Mind you, you  don't always have to match your bag to your shoes, but once in a while, I think it makes an outfit look crisp and finished. 

I kept my accessories simple with a single strand bead and metal necklace and one beaded bracelet. With the busy pattern of the blouse I didn't think it was necessary to add too much jewelry. However, I wanted to have a little something to show off, in case the outer blouse was removed. 

Overall, I think this is a great resort outfit, meaning I would take this on vacation to a warm place. I could see myself in this outfit walking on the beach with my hubby, breeze blowing the flowy blouse, pants rolled up, flats in hand, feet in the surf. It's probably a sunset walk, after a delicious dinner out.....ahhhhh, how relaxing!

What would you wear to go to a warm destination vacation? Did you like this outfit? Let me know in the comments section below. Or you can leave me a comment on Facebook. I love hearing from you. Have a great Tuesday!

Be sure to check back on Thursday to see this months, Beautiful Blogger. Until next time.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you purchase something through a link, I get a little commission. Having a blog does take time, so I appreciate any support you give. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Wednesday linking up with Sara and Hannah of The Perfect Storm. 

Pantone Spring 2017 - Greenery

I decided to put this color first before the Island Paradise, which was the one next in the Pantone line up, because I thought it made a possible Easter outfit. The Greenery color is one of my favorites from the Pantone Spring 2017 line up for its connection to nature. Looking out my window, I can see the first shades of green in the grass, trees and bushes. No two greens are exactly the same. I first talked about Greenery when Liz and I did our collaboration back in February. You can see that post here. I decided to use the same top, but paired it with a white skirt and a Greenery suede jacket that I found recently thrifting. 

I tucked the popover top in and added a belt that blends green and a bit of pink with the straw color. Tucking the top in and adding the belt give definition to my waist. I could also have left the top out and wore the belt over it. That would make another interesting look. 

Here you can see the belt better as well as the necklace and ring that I added for accessories. As always, I like to add visual interest to an outfit by adding texture. The belt, the skirt and the suede jacket all add their own texture. In addition to that the necklace with its gold metal sunbursts add a different but complementary element. 

I went for my pewter  tote bag and added my tan colored shooties. The subdued brown and tan shades add to the earthy look of the outfit, while the white skirt makes it stand out. 

You can also see a little of the detail on this fun maxi skirt that I found at Kohl's at the end of the season last summer. I love that this is a fully lined maxi, so I don't have to worry about wearing a slip underneath. As long as I don't wear red or black underwear this will be a great go-to skirt for a day of shopping, a night out with the hubby or a walk in flip flops on the beach. I love pieces that have that amount of versatility. 

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear something like this for Easter? What are you planning for Easter day? We will have a treasure hunt for my Grandson, visit with family and probably have the traditional meal of ham, deviled eggs and many other goodies. 

I always appreciate your input, so if you have the time, be sure to leave a comment in the comments section below. 

Have a wonderful Easter!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of the links, I get a little commission. All opinions are my own. I appreciate your support for my blog. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Wednesday linking up with Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness link up and Hannah and Sara of The Perfect Storm Blog. 

Spring Trends - 2017

Every season we see a new parade of trends marching across the stage at all the up scale fashion shows. Many of the things we see on the runways are not necessarily trends that translate well to the everyday world of many women. We probably are not going to don our peek-a-boo tops for work (unless we work at a strip club...ha, ha) and our stripes may not be quite as gaudy or loud, however, there are a number of spring trends that are perfect for all of us actual women.

1. Stripes are stunning. You can wear them horizontal or vertical; seaside or oxford; wide or narrow; stripes are everywhere. Stripes are our friends. You might not think so, but let's do a quick review. Horizontal stripes have long been touted as making us look fatter, but narrow horizontals can actually make you look thinner. Vertical stripes tend to elongate our frames. My theory is this, you can wear whatever you like. I wear horizontals on the top and verticals on the bottom. However, If it is a piece I absolutely adore, I will forgo my usual way of doing things.

2. Florals are fragrant. Light florals, dark florals, floral dresses, skirts, tops, leggings, jackets and pants; basically you can easily find a bouquet of floral patterned pieces just about anywhere. I like floral patterns, but I am picky about how much, how large or small and what color combinations. There are patterns, that for me, are just too busy. I don't want to get dizzy looking at what I am about to put on.

3. Blush is beautiful. Pale pink is all the rage and is showing up everywhere from shoes and bags, to coats, tops and jeans. You won't have to look too far to see pale pink sneaking onto store shelves and clothing racks. Not all of you may feel you can wear this light color, but as with any color, never say never. Pale pink can show up as a cute cross body bag or a comfy pair of sneakers. Just a touch of it in your wardrobe can make you trend savvy.

4. Raging ruffles. They're back! Romantic ruffles. How do you feel about ruffles? I used to have a white silk blouse that had ruffles around the neck and down by the wrists. It was a regular pirate shirt. I loved it at the time, but once the trend came and went I let it go! I should have kept it. Ha, ha. I'm okay with ruffles, but I like to do them in moderation. 

5. Perfect perforations. Another trend that I like is perforations. These little decorative holes are showing up on bags, wallets, sandals and shoes. I also like to think of crocheted or knitted items as perforated clothing. They are basically clothing with little (or big) holes in them.

6. Cool khaki. Khaki is the new neutral, or maybe it is an old neutral, as it has been front and center before. This color works great as a pair of pants or shorts, or as a skirt or dress. The piece that I think of most often when I hear the word is the trench coat. 

I gave you a few samples under each category just to give you ideas. What follows are just a few outfit ensembles that I did by shopping my own closet. 

Blush jeggings, pin striped jacket, floral long sleeve button up, Pink Yarrow jewelry, gold sandals and clutch. Pattern mixing has gotten even easier with the smooth blend of stripes and florals.

Olive utility jacket, striped 3/4 length sleeve tee with embellishment, gold jewelry, frayed hem crop jeans, blush fold over bag and blush flats. Olive seems to be making a stand in the fashion world and will be sticking around as another versatile neutral. Distressed jeans are big right now too. 

Crocheted fit and flare sweater top, blush lace trim cami, fringe multi strand bracelet, gold floral necklace, perforated red bag, tiered floral tea length skirt, sandals. The fit and flare trend is back as well, meaning dresses and tops are more fitted through the bodice and waist, then flare out. The tiered skirt also seems to be making a subtle come back, which I love, as I have several of these. This is a great skirt for the summer, giving full coverage, but not needing a slip underneath. 

I hope to show you some of these outfits, in the flesh, at some point down the line. While I didn't cover all the trends, I hope that this was informative in letting you know more about what is going on in the fashion world this spring. 

Let me know what you thought of this post in the comments section below. Your comments help my blog to grow, so I appreciate the input. 

This post contains affiliate links, which means when you click on a shopping link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of the links, I get a little commission. All opinions expressed are my own.

Monday linking up with Rena of Fine! Whatever...., Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb.  

Pantone Spring 2017 - Pale Dogwood

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Below are some shopping options. This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my site I get a little commission. All opinions expressed are my own. 

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

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

Color Crash Course - Print Mixing

It is a beautiful day today, but the wind chill is only seventeen, so as much as I want to go outside and take pictures, I am going to be a wimp and stay inside in a sunny window and use some pics from past posts. 

We hear many things about print mixing and a plethora of bloggers do a wonderful job of mixing all sorts of patterns and colors. What follows are some tips on learning to piece together an outfit that has a mix of patterns and colors that will leave you feeling confident and stylish. 

1. Choose a mix of bold/large patterns with more subtle/small patterns. 

In the above post from January 24th (click on the date and it will take you to the original post), I wore a maxi dress with a bold black pattern around the hem line. The dress also has a more subtle print throughout. To top the dress off, after adding a similar blue pullover sweater I added a black blazer that has small white polka dots. 

2. Stripes can be mixed easily with anything - 

If you are at all trendy, then you know one of the big trends this spring is the mix of floral with stripes. I'm seeing this pattern mix everywhere and it works. 

This was my post from Tuesday, the start of my series on the Pantone Spring 2017 colors. The tee from Jacket Society is the perfect mix of stripes and floral. But for another take on this trend see Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb for her interpretation on floral and stripes together using her own pieces. 

Here is a different idea for mixing stripes with another pattern. This outfit was from a Color Crash Course column. In this outfit the stripes are vertical on the brown sweater. The scarf provides the other pattern. One reason this works is because the scarf pattern is kept tight around my neck and face, while my body is elongated by the stripes on the sweater. They are not competing with one another, but complementing one another. That leads me to the third tip for pattern mixing.

3. When mixing it up, think color, color, color -

Most people who do pattern mixing well, would probably tell you it has to do with choosing a color that complements both pieces. For instance in the above outfit, the taupe is found in both the scarf and the sweater. The blue is also found in the jacket and pants, but I am speaking directly to pattern mixing.

In this post from last week the pattern mix is masculine chic with the blue background of my top bringing up the blue stripe in my plaid trousers.

This outfit from my Denim Days series late last summer mixes different size polka dots on the chambray shirt and pink jeans. Part of what makes this work is the varied size of the dots, but also the muted, soft colors mixed with the more subdued neutral accessories. 

This next outfit was from my Fall 2016 Pantone series and actually fits into two of my mixing tips, so I'll start with it in this color category.

Originally this was just the skirt and top, which is its own version of print mixing. I will address that under the next tip. I added the scarf for a post I did on styling a pashmina scarf, only because the green in the scarf matched the green of the top. Voila! Print mixing with similar colors. 

4. Consider mixing prints with texture - 

If you a bit hesitant about mixing prints, try mixing a print with a texture. 

My Lush Meadow top is a textured pattern. My maxi skirt is obviously a print. Part of what makes this work is the pattern shape. The diamond shapes on the top are similar to the diamond shapes on the skirt. The other trick to making this look work well is adding the belt. The belt divides the patterns and keeps it from looking too busy. Adding a solid piece, like a belt, vest, cardi or jacket can help tone the busyness of prints down and give the outfit a cohesive look.

In this picture you can see the textured lace pattern of the top works beautifully with the leopard print cardigan. Inspired by Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, you can see my original post here.  If you still feel a bit intimidated by mixing patterns. try envisioning this same look with a black lace top or a more neutral tan. You are still mixing prints because of the texture, but it will be more subdued. 

5. Go for a monochrome look - 

This outfit was based on a post by Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy (see her post here). Instead of trying to pull one central color out of two crazy patterned pieces, going for a monochrome look allows print mixing with a crisp, clean vibe. I seem to have this thing for polka dots that I didn't even know I had. Ha, ha. See my original post here. 

6. Try an accessory - 

If you want a more subtle look, try just adding a simple patterned accessory to your print. Check out the following ideas:

Patterned Scarf

Adding this scarf to my snake skin jeans is a perfect pattern mix.

Textured Bag

Patterned Bag

Textured jacket

Print mixing can be intimidating, but you probably are already doing it and you didn't even know it. Don't be afraid to mix it up. Print mixing can be fun and it can also make your outfit more colorful and interesting.

Even my daughter likes to print mix. She sent me this pic of her most recent attempt. She pulled this off by using the base color of both her top and her scarf as well as mixing the larger scarf print with the smaller dots on the top. 

We'd love to hear from you. Leave me some love in the comments section!

Have a great weekend!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style.    Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style, Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, 

How to Wear a White Blouse - Under Another Blouse

This is the last installment in my collaboration with Jodie of Jodie's Touch of Style. We have been showing you different ways to style a white blouse. It is so easy to get into a rut, wearing the same clothing piece in exactly the same way. Jodie has a flare for mixing things up and for trying a new idea! I was intrigued when she said she was going to do a series on wearing a white button up blouse in new and innovative ways, so I asked if I could participate and she said yes. 

Monday we styled our white blouses under a tee shirt. Wednesday you can see us all wearing our white blouses under a sleeveless top. Today's post will show you how to wear a white blouse under another button up top.

For my look I chose a tunic. I am sure this particular piece was meant to be worn as a dress and I might style it over leggings as some point, but I thought it was a fun tunic length top that could be worn open or closed, belted or not. For this post, I chose to wear it like a jacket over my white button up.

If you click on the picture below it will take you over to Jodie's blog. Jodie has the joy of styling not just herself but her step mom, Nancy and her mom, Charlotte. I have trouble coming up with one outfit! I don't know how she styles three women. I love these unique takes on how to wear the white blouse. Jodie pretty much has hers only peeking out the top of her pretty floral blouse. Nancy is cool casual in her white and blue. Don't you love those cute shoes and her rolled up jeans? Charlotte looks so stylish and on trend with her white blouse showing beneath her belted chambray. Ladies you do us proud!

I found these bright red pants at the thrift store. They are Worthington brand from JCPenney. Worthington dress pants are wash and wear and unless you cram them in a drawer they don't need to be ironed. They also fit smoothly around the butt and thighs, which I love. Sometimes when I try on pants, they fit around the thighs, but then they gape around the waist. These being a wider leg trouser I am going to be able to style them in some fun ways in the future. 

I decided to cinch my waist in with a skinny belt and also chose brown shoes to match the belt. I think this would have looked better with a higher heeled shoe. For a bag I chose my navy Vera Wang.

If you look closely at this top you will see besides the blues and red, it also has a touch of teal green, so I chose that color for my accessories.

What do you think about this series on wearing a white blouse in different ways? Has it made you rethink that blouse that is hanging in your closet? Jodie and I both agree, this has given new life to button ups of all sorts, as a great piece for transitioning from the colder days of winter to the warmer days of spring. We hope you enjoyed following along.

Have a great weekend! 

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something by clicking on a link, I get a little bit more. All your support is appreciated. We couldn't be bloggers without you! 

Friday linking up with Laurie of Vanity and Me, JoLynne in the Fashion Friday link up, and Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots. Saturday linking up with Rena of It's All Fine. Whatever....

Awesome Accessories - The Statement Necklace - Long

Last month in my Awesome Accessory column I talked about the short statement necklace. You can see that post here. This month, I want to continue that thought, but look at what a longer statement necklace might look like. You might wonder what makes a necklace a statement piece. Obviously, it needs to make a statement! What that means for you, might be a little different than what it means for me. However, there should be something about the piece that makes it stand out and not get swallowed up by your outfit.

Where as a short statement necklace is worn closer to the face and usually includes an element of striking color or style, a longer statement necklace can be colorful, but it is often more about texture and design. Let me show you a few of my own necklaces that I would classify as long statement pieces.

This particular necklace makes a statement, not by its bold color, but by the combination of texture, note the faceting on the beads, and the shape. If you look at the larger metal links they are not perfect circles. They are somewhat squashed looking. In addition, the necklace is not designed to be symmetrical, so some of the bigger beads are higher and some are lower. It is not the same on both sides. I also like this necklace, because it isn't a bold color and will go with many outfits, both dressy and casual. 

This piece is not fancy and doesn't show much flare, but I feel it makes a statement because of it's odd shape and unique color. Cut from an agate you can find these almost anywhere. My daughter got me this for Christmas a couple years ago. It is trimmed all the way around with tiny faux diamonds, which add another element of texture and bling. Here is a close up. 

I love the little streak of light blue and the hole in the middle. It is just a very unique piece.

This piece makes me think of something out of a fairy tale. The color of the beads as well as the filagree on the pendant give it a feel of richness and value, while the additional silver chains make it feel more delicate and feminine. 

Of course I had to throw in a fringe necklace. I love these because they are simply so much fun and they are fun to touch! I chose this one over my other fringe necklaces, not because any one of them couldn't have been a statement piece, but because this particular one seems to stand out above the rest. I just love the look of this elegant necklace. The color is demure and the gold chain and cap on the fringe give it a posh feel. I also feel a little retro when I wear it. 

You have probably seen this necklace in several of my more recent blog and Instagram posts. My other daughter got this for me this past Christmas from Charming Charlie. I think what makes this necklace a statement piece is the contrast of the berry wooden shapes and the gold chain and links. It really stands out.

This unique piece I picked up at a thrift store. I instantly fell in love with it when I saw it. It is in a class all by itself with the rope like chains, metallic flower and the dark beads embellished with gold colored floral caps. Once again, the color is more muted, so can be worn with many different outfits. Here is a close up of the flower and beads. 

I hope you enjoyed this post on the long statement necklace. Do you like longer or shorter statement pieces? I'd love to know your thoughts. Just leave a comment below. 

Have a great weekend. 

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a shopping link below I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of the links, I get a little bit more. All opinions are my own.

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style, Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood and Laurie of Vanity and Me. Friday linking up with Jo-Lynne Shane in the Fashion Friday link up, Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge.  

Piece Perfect - The Basic Shift Dress

I have learned so much from other bloggers. One of the things I see repeatedly on other blogs is the clothing piece we refer to as a shift dress. A shift dress is basically a straight dress, that typically falls just above the knee. The dress is not fitted, allowing room to breath and hiding a boat load of flaws. However, I think today we have many dresses that would fall into the shift dress category albeit not adhering exactly to the true definition. 

I found this blue dress at my favorite thrift store and thought, why not give it a go. 

This is not the typical shift dress as it is more fitted through the waist. However, I can style it in similar ways to a true shift type dress, and the price was right. Ha, ha.

I want to show you two transitional outfits using this dress. These outfits can take you from the cold days of February to the warmer days of April.

Outfit 1 - Gray Days with a Pop of Color

For this simple look, I added a pair of gray leggings, gray ankle boots and a gray open front fly away cardi. The awesome thing about a shift dress is that it is so easy to style around. From throwing on a sweater or jacket, to pairing it with tights or leggings, it can take on a completely different look. Also, with this particular shift being a solid color I have so many options of how to accessorize.

Because we are already thinking ahead to spring and because I wanted this outfit to be a transitional outfit from winter to spring I decided to add my Flame colored accessories. For more on the Spring 2017 Pantone color line up see my collaboration post with Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy, Pantone Sneak Peek. (If you click on her website it will take you to Liz's post. If you click on the sneak peek link it will take you to my post.)

I love how the orange really pops with the dark charcoal gray and the rich navy.

To add just a bit more color I added this Vera Wang floral deep tote bag. 

Outfit 2 - Greenery is on the Way

As the temperatures start to climb we will want to lose our heavy leggings and ankle boots for bare legs or (for me) nude support hose and fun flats. I decided to wear the shift like a jumper and styled my Greenery popover blouse underneath.

One of the nice features of this dress is the heavier knit fabric. It allows me to style something under it without showing off wrinkles or other flaws, such as my pudgy middle. The darker navy fabric helps hide the flaws as well. 

To add a touch of whimsical elegance I added this long statement necklace. The white flower reminds me of Snowdrop flowers which were always the first to appear after a long winter back in Buffalo, NY where I hail from.

I kept my other accessories simple using a cognac colored bag and flats. 

Here's the whole outfit.

One of the things I liked about this dress is the pockets. They would come in handy for your phone or keys and so on.

This dress will probably show up again down the road when summer gets here. Do you own a shift dress? How do you style it?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have a great weekend.

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

Wednesday linking up with Sara and Hannah of The Perfect Storm Blog. Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. 

Romance is in the Air - Final Week

Here it is the last day of February. I can't say that I am disappointed. January, February and March are not my favorite months, but I also don't want to wish them away. Time goes so fast as it is. Today is the last post in my Romance is in the Air series. I tried to pick fabrics and patterns that are reminiscent of the idea of romance, such as velvet, florals and lace. Today's outfit is a more casual look, but still incorporates the softness and frill associated with romance.  

For today's look, I went back to my berry colored velvet jacket. This time I layered it over a light pink chiffon top with a hi-lo hemline. I added a pair of Christopher and Banks skinny pull on pin striped pants and my gray over-the-knee boots.

For my accessories I wore a matching necklace and bracelet that I had bought when my oldest got married. For a little bit of fun I carried my bird tote bag and added a light blue fringe key fob to match the birds. 

Because the blouse is fairly sheer I wore a light pink cami with lace trim underneath. I think the peek of lace adds another romantic dimension to the outfit.

This photo provides a better look of the hi-lo hemline of this blouse and the lace trim on the cami underneath. You can also make out the pin stripe detail on the pants.

Here is a view from the back. 

I featured these boots on a previous post here. I wasn't too sure about getting an over-the-knee boot, until I actually tried them on. There are many different styles of otk boots, so if you are thinking about purchasing a pair at the end of this season, be sure to do your research and see what is available. Trying them on is the best idea.

Let me know what you think of this outfit. I appreciate when you make comments. It helps my blog out as well. Next week, I will have a recap post on all of these outfits so you can see them side by side. 

Check back on Thursday for March's Piece Perfect column where I will be showing how to transition a shift dress from winter to spring.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you purchase an item through one of those links I get a little bit more. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Happy shopping.

Sunday linking up with Rena of It's All Fine. Whatever Tickles the Fancy. Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish and Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness link up. Friday linking up with Jennie of  A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Jo-Lynne Shane in the Fashion Friday link up and Laurie of Vanity and Me. 

Romance is in the Air - Week 3

As you all know, Valentine's Day is over, but in keeping with the idea that romance is a year round affair, here is another outfit for a date night with your significant other. The last two weeks I showed you two outfits that were a bit more dressy. This week and next week the outfits will be more casual. You can see Week 1 and Week 2 by clicking on the links. 

This J.Jill knee length velvet jacket was a thrift store find. It is a beautifully tailored piece with a full floral lining, which I forgot to take pictures of! The jacket has roomy pockets on both sides and buttons for closure. As soon as I put this on at the thrift shop, I knew I wanted it and for only six dollars who's complaining. 

I decided to pair this jacket with a floral long sleeve blouse with hints of pink and berry. I tucked the blouse into a pair of bootcut jeans and wore a navy belt. For my jewelry I decided on pink an  gold to highlight the pink in the blouse. 

Accessories included a Vera Wang bag that I thrifted and my berry heeled booties. 

This would be a great outfit for a date to a quaint little outdoor shopping area. We have a small town about a forty minute drive from where we live that was built along a picturesque river. It is a nice place to go for lunch and a walk through antique and craft shops, as well as down by the water.

While this outfit isn't as flirty and feminine as the first two, this is one that makes me feel warm, comfy and confident while still looking stylish. What would you wear on a more casual outdoor date? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below. I love to hear from you. 

Also, do me a favor, if you like my blog, but have never subscribed please do so now. I promise not to clutter up your in box and usually only send you an email once a week with links connected to each of my posts. The content will still be relevant to the week, but you won't have a whole bunch of separate email in your inbox. 

Thanks for all your support. Check back on Thursday for this week's Color Crash Course.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a shopping option below I receive a few cents. If you actually purchase something through my site I get a little bit more. However, all opinions are my own. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, and Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness Link Up. Wednesday linking up with Sara and Hannah in the Wearable Wednesday link up. Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge and Ada Elegance and Mommyhood.  Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style and JoLynn Shane in the Fashion Friday link up.

Beautiful Blogger Bests - Outfit for a Special Night Out

If you have not been introduced to Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, then I hope you will click on over to her site and see what a beautiful lady she is. Another red head, her sweet and gentle spirit touches all who come into contact with her, whether in person or over the internet. Jess was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome nine years ago. An illness that affects the muscles and joints, Jess hasn't let this stop her from being a very active and popular fashion blogger.  You can see more about EDS on Jess' About Me page on her blog. 

One of the many posts that Jess has inspired me with, was this one from just before Christmas, called Rockport - What to Wear to a Holiday Show. You can see her full post by clicking on the link. While Jess was doing the post for the Rockport shoe company, I just loved the look of her outfit and thought it could be incorporated for any dress up occasion, such as a concert, theater or other function. The following post is my take on the inspiration Jess provided from her post.

While Jess wore a beautiful strapless black dress, I opted for a slightly less formal look by wearing this navy dress that I got from Christopher and Banks. It is a heavy weight polyester knit that hangs perfectly. The area on the bodice has a sort of criss-crossed ruching and a v-neck. 

I opted for a black pair of loafer heels that have some fun buckles and stitching on the top of the toe. Dressy, but casual.

The dress having short sleeves also prompted me, like Jess, to add a jacket over top. The berry color of this velvet piece pairs beautifully with the navy dress. You can see how I styled this jacket in these other posts here and here. 

This is a fun little jacket with its 3/4 length sleeves, the velvet covered buttons and the ruching on the pockets. I am finding it a great blazer for dressing up or down. Here you can also see the statement necklace I added. Jess added a lovely necklace that adorned her neck with just the right amount of delicacy and bling. I tried to do a similar thing with this necklace I found a few years ago on the clearance rack at H&M.

For my finishing touches I added a few silver bracelets and carried a black blingy clutch, which I have featured with other outfits. 

I love the way this outfit turned out. The sleek fabric of the dress and the jacket are a perfect back drop for the texture and bling of the statement necklace, sparkly clutch and buckled loafer heels. 

Please follow the link to Jess' site and give her some love. She has inspired me in so many ways and I know she will inspire you too. Let me know what you think of this outfit in the comments section below. Do you like to go to the theater and see live shows or are you more of a stay at home and cuddle on the couch kind of person? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Shop the Look:

Navy Dress - Kohl's - $89.99

Berry jacket - Make Me Chic - $37.00

Black loafer heels - Nordstrom - $114.95

Black clutch - Target - $29.99

Statement necklace - Charming Charlie - $24.00

Chasing Away the Winter Blues - Week 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen. 

Shopping Options:

Cobalt ankle pants - JCPenney - $48.00

Cobalt heels - DSW - $39.95

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

Light blue scarf - Target - $14.99

Snakeskin bag - Charming Charlie - $22.00

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