My Favorite Denim Pieces

For the last few week I have been looking back at some older posts, due to scheduling conflicts and my own lack of motivation and energy to bring you a lot of new content. I do apologize for that, but this does offer you a look at different pieces that are worth investing in due to their reusability. Since we as fashion bloggers, thrifters and purchasers of fashion are wanting to be more conscious of how our choices affect the environment we are learning that sustainable fashion is important for the future of our world.

Sustainability at its finest starts even before the actual manufacture of clothing. While more companies are jumping on the sustainability wagon, we must admit there are literally tons of used clothing going into landfills, that could be part of this sustainability loop. Thrift stores are part of this loop and are helping to give new life to second hand pieces. Bloggers, Instagrammers and others are working their accounts to show you new ways to wear the clothes that are already in your closet, or at least encourage you to shop second hand.

This week I decided to focus on the favorite denim pieces in my closet. Denim has always been my go to fabric for every day outfits. Whether you like jeans, denim skirts, or denim jackets, everyone can get onboard with having a few work horse denim pieces in their wardrobe.

Piece 1 - Cropped Denim Jacket

This is one of the first cropped pieces I found that I really liked and still use repetitively. There is something about the silhouette of a cropped denim jacket that to me, makes it a little more versatile. I feel like it dresses up better than a standard jean jacket, but some of that might also be the wash. A darker wash will always look more dressy as opposed to a lighter or more acid washed piece. You can wear a piece like this with a casual dress, a classy maxi dress, leopard print, a longer tunic and jeans, and a pair of utility pants.

Picture by me.

Piece 2 - Denim Skirt

Since jeans are my first choice for most of my causal outfits, I am not going to include them in this post, but I will say, that most of my favorite jeans I have picked up at thrift stores. The ability to try on different styles, silhouettes and brands, many of which I wouldn’t have ever thought to shop, have provided me with several pairs that are on repeat during most of the year. If you are more of a skirt or dress kind of girl, then a denim skirt is a great casual alternative to jeans.

Just so you know, the first skirt is from a few years ago and I got rid of it, because I outgrew it. The last two pieces were just unique, so I picked them up, but my most used piece would be the darker wash pencil skirt in the middle number of photos. If you are looking for a denim skirt, that is the wash and style I would recommend. I recently thrifted a longer light wash one, so we’ll see how that gets styled this summer. Stay tuned.

Photo by me.

Piece 3 - Denim Vest

Another piece that I really love is a denim vest. So far I only have one and that is my Christopher and Banks piece, but I would like to find a few others including a longer one that ties and a more traditional vest shaped piece. These are things I add to my thrifting list and keep and eye out for. If I never find one, no big deal, but if I do, I’ll grab it.

Unique Denim Pieces

Since my love for denim extends to all areas of my wardrobe, I also wanted to include a few unique pieces with their own special embellishments or characteristics.

Embroidery

Any sort of embellishment on denim is fun, but I do love embroidery.

Chambray

While not technically denim, we group this with denim due to its similar washes and uses. Whether it is a button down, a popover or a dress, chambray is a great denim substitute for the warm temperatures of spring and summer.

I hope you enjoyed this look back at a few of my favorite denim pieces. I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit where not specified, Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring Outfit with Orange Pants

Just like I did for the blue pants, I wanted to show you a new outfit with my Worthington orange pants. For this one I focused on a work appropriate look. With many people finally returning to their jobs I thought it would be a good time to feature an outfit that would be perfect for the office, especially as air conditioners come back on.

I wish I would have thought to get close up of the details on this thrifted Maurices vest. I snatched it up, because I don’t have any summer weight white vests and I thought the eyelet detail and the texturing on the pockets made this such a unique piece. It has the utility vibe with the patch pockets and drawstring, but is dressier.

You can also see my H&M button down top. I found this one on the clearance rack a few years ago and just loved the botanical print with its flowers, butterflies and birds. I thought tying the front shirt tails made for a more summery look, but one that remains work appropriate. I also like the soft contrast between the stark white of the vest and the more off white of the blouse.

I added a double layered purple necklace and a few purple metal bangles to pull out the purple in the top.

I opted for more neutral shoes and bag. I thought the outfit had enough color with the bright orange pants and the flora print in the top. The neutral accessories give it not only a summer feel, but a polished and professional look. If I ever go back to an office job, I would definitely wear this. My bag you have seen on the blog before and is from Walmart and George brand. My perforated peep toe sandals are Sonoma brand from Kohl’s.

I was pleased with how this outfit turned out. What do you think? Would you wear something like this to work? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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

Have a great day, everyone and thanks for following along on the blog.

Spring Outfit with Bright Blue Pants

I thought I would come up with another outfit using my thrifted, bright blue, Ruby Rd. pants, since I was just talking about them on Tuesday. It was a beautiful day, so I managed to snap a few pictures for this post. They are never as good as my daughter’s pictures, but that is okay. This is real life, right? I never want to come across to you all as having it all together. There are so many bloggers and people who post on Instagram and it is easy to feel like we don’t measure up to their fabulous outfits, looks, or homes, but I know reality. It is messy, hard, busy and many times overwhelming. So I am trying to be as real as possible and not so great pictures are my reality, and so is my wide bottom. Ha, ha.

I wanted to create a look that was casual with just a touch of sass. My Star Wars tee belonged to my oldest daughter and she didn’t want it any more. I’m all for fun graphic tees and certainly am a Star Wars fan. I am actually a bigger Star Trek fan, but Star Wars is a close second.

Funny story about my thrifted silver belt. I chose the silver belt and my silver SO ballerina flats to jazz the look up a little bit, and it went with the silver lettering on the tee. When I went to pull the belt through the first belt loop a ton of the silver flaked off. I had silver dust all over my pants and my rug. Needless to say, I threw the belt in the trash when I was done with the pictures. I was disappointed, as I had great plans for that belt. Oh well, like I said, real life.

I’ve styled this thrifted, white, Sanctuary, jean jacket one other time on the blog. You can see how I styled it with a leopard print skirt. This jacket is not truly denim, it is a thicker cotton material, but doesn’t have the same characteristics of denim. However, I really like it and it is a good piece for the warmer weather and something different from the traditional jean jacket.

I didn’t take a picture of my little silver clutch, but you have seen it on the blog before. I chose it because it went with the belt and shoes. I do like things to match, but it is okay to not have things match as well. Many of our old fashion rules have gone by the wayside. I always go back to the idea, do what is best for you. If you like things to match, then make them match. If you want to wear purple shoes, carry a red bag and wear a green belt, you go girl! As bloggers, we are only here to give you inspiration, not tell you how you have to dress.

I want to know if you have gotten yourself a pair of bright blue pants? Ha, ha. Actually, they are a little hard to find, but if you thrift shop, be sure to check there. Thrift stores will often have loads of brightly colored pants, because they are no longer trending.

I hope you enjoyed this post and one more idea on how to style those bright blue pants.

I’m including a few shopping links just for fun. These are affiliate links brought to you at no added cost. If you click on a link I get a few cents. I appreciate every click. All opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Why You Should have a Pair of Colored Pants - Bright Blue

I am going to take a temporary hiatus from the Pantone series until my daughter and I can get together for a real photo shoot. I just think the pictures look so much better when she does them. She is the professional after all. In the mean time, I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about a few different clothing pieces that I think are essential to every woman’s wardrobe.

This week I would like to look at colored pants. I know many of us like to wear darker colors on the bottom to draw less attention to that part of our body. We usually have black, navy and perhaps a dark brown. Those who are a bit more bold might venture into the neutral category with tan or beige colored pants. Some will even dare to wear white in the warmer weather. If you are like me, you wear jeans more than anything else, even in the summer time, but I want to encourage you to purchase a pair of pants in a bolder, brighter color.

Today, I want to look back at a few of my outfits from the last few years of blogging. I want to show you why having a pair of bright blue pants is a way to expand your closet and give you additional outfit ideas. I got these pants from shopping a friend’s closet. They are not my favorite pair of pants due to the fit of the waist, so I usually only use them for blog pictures. However, if I ever come across a pair that fits better, I will definitely make the investment, so I can wear them on a more regular basis.

Outfit 1 - Bright blue with light blue.

If you have been following my blog since the beginning you will probably recognize these outfits. The beauty of a bright blue pair of pants is that they look so classy whether you are dressing them up, like this outfit or dressing them down. I love this combination of bright, bold blue with the lighter pastel blue of the sweater and scarf. The bright blue still makes my lower half look slimmer and doesn’t draw extra attention to that area. See the original post here.

Outfit 2 - Bright blue with a print.

I like having the option of pairing a pretty print top with something other than jeans and these bright blue pants were the perfect compliment to this top and the bomber jacket. Remember, things don’t have to match, though I personally love it when things have some color in common. I think it makes an outfit look more polished and cohesive, but that is just my personal opinion. You can see the original post here.

Outfit 3 - Bright blue with a print kimono.

Once again we are pairing the bright blue with a pretty print. An observation I want to make is the color blocking trend. Color block is not one of my favorite ways to style an outfit, but when you do something like this where you take two solid colors and top it with a fun, summer time print, you come up with an outfit that would be perfect for a graduation party, a picnic or a dinner date. Obviously, you could do this with a white, black or navy pair of pants, but doesn’t the bright blue just make this outfit so much more fun? See the original post here.

Outfit 4 - Bright blue with olive.

I am all about olive. I think olive is such a great neutral and it really goes with any other color. I love the cozy vibe of pairing bright blue with the more muted military olive. This is a great combination for fall as the weather is changing, and becoming cooler. The bright blue still gives the outfit a summer feel, but pairing it with olive makes me think of shorter days and crispy leaves. See the original post here.

Outfit 5 - Bright blue with color blocking.

This outfit was an attempt at color blocking. Again, it is not my favorite thing to do, but once again, I think the bright blue pants takes this outfit up a notch. You could definitely do a similar look with navy, black or white, but the bright blue adds a dimension of color and pizzazz to the look that other colors will not. There are occasions that call for black, especially when you want to look more elegant and classic, but for most of us the events we are going to attend are more conducive to a look that is a bit more relaxed and fun. See the original post here.

Outfit 6 - Bright blue with dark blue.

The last outfit I want to share pairs my bright blue pants with a navy blazer. I like this combination. Just like the pairing of the bright blue with pastel blue, this look creates a pretty contrast between two completely different blues. This is a great look for the office. The bright blue is not garish or overdone when paired with the navy blazer. The whole look epitomizes polish and professionalism. If I still had an office job, I would definitely wear this look. See the original post here.

Do you have a bright blue pair of pants in your closet? If not, does this post make you think differently about wearing them? I am going to include a few shopping links for bright blue pants, just in case you are now convinced you need a pair. Ha, ha. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.



Spring/Summer - 2021 - Spark Joy

This trend is a bit different and I think really open to each individual’s own interpretation. The idea of Spark Joy is color and print combinations that make you feel like you are wearing a party. I actually enjoyed putting this together. You know I love print mixing and this pushed me even further outside of my color and print mixing box. Let’s take a closer look.

I got this Universal Threads, sun print top at Target at the same time I got my pastel colored eyelet shirt (seen last week on the blog). Once again, you can see the puffed sleeves. Usually, I am not a ruffle girl, but once in a while, I find something that doesn’t make me look like a clown and this top was one of those times. I think the gathering around the neck helps and that the ruffles are vertical rather than horizontal. Horizontal patterns on us larger ladies are harder to pull off, and that goes for ruffles as well. In fact, when placed as they are on this top, I think it balances out my wider bottom.

This is another LuLaRoe skirt that I found at a local thrift store. The thing I like about these maxi skirts is that I don’t have to worry about wearing a slip. They are comfortable and easy to wear. The fun patterns are great for print mixing as in this outfit, or you can pick any color in the pattern and match up to it. I know not everyone can wear a maxi skirt and I will include a few shopping links at the end for shorter printed skirts for those of you who prefer a midi or knee length style.

My floral, Erin London, bomber jacket you’ve seen before. It was a purchase from Shop National from their mark down section a few years ago. You can see it here with a floral top.

My accessories were simple since there was already plenty going on in this outfit. I chose another long pendant necklace, this time with some bling and fringe. I also opted for a wide black belt to make more of a definition between my top and the skirt. I added a few bracelets, my thrifted, black, a.n.a. loafer heels and my thrifted bucket bag. My daughter does not like this bag. What do you think? She doesn’t like the shape of it. I told her I would ask for your opinion, so be sure to comment below.

So what do you think of this crazy print mixing outfit? I do not really expect you to go out and wear something like this, but it is truly fun to experiment and push ourselves outside of our normal outfit ideas. Would I wear something like this? Probably not exactly as I have it here. I might swap out the skirt for a solid black skirt or pair of pants, or I might change the top for a solid tee. I might even wear the top and skirt together, but switch out the floral bomber for a solid cardi or light weight jacket. You can still have joy with bright colors and print mixing, but you can also look polished and classy.

I’m including a few shopping links for fun prints. Be sure to check those out. These are affiliate links. When you click on a link, I get a few cents. I appreciate every click. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

I hope you are having a great week.

Spring/Summer Trends - 2021 - Wearing White, Bubblegum Pink and Ballerina Flats

You know how much I love color, so I was excited the Spring Trends for 2021 included a few fun colors. Once again, white is on the scene, and like pastels, seems to now be a year round staple. Winter whites this past winter were very popular and I felt it was an easier color for many to wear than a stark, brilliant white, but even bright white has a place, and this spring and summer it will have its day. In addition to white, this spring/summer season is heralding the addition of bubblegum pink. This bright, deep pink can be worn full on, or sprinkled. Just like ice cream toppings, you can decide if you want to drizzle or drench. Today’s outfit is a simple combination of these two colors. Let me know what you think.

My bright pink striped sweater is a thrift find from a few years ago. This Old Navy brand top is comfortable and light weight, so perfect for these still chilly days of spring. My biggest problem with pullovers right now are my belly flaps, or as they are more commonly known - the spare tire. I don’t really have as much of a bulge in the front, but definitely on my sides. At the suggestion of my daughter, I am discreetly hiding the fact behind my clutch. Ha, ha.

This picture is silly, but I put it in here for several reasons. First, I thought you might enjoy a good laugh. I think this was one of my dance moves: maybe the wave? The second reason has to do with what I did with my pullover top. I often do the front tuck. Doing this helps to hide some of the middle area bulge that many of us are carrying around. I did this as an after thought, so it isn’t as pretty as it could be, but you get the idea. Finally, I wanted you to see this maxi skirt that I have styled before on the blog. This St. John’s Bay skirt from JC Penny is one of my favorite summer pieces, as it is fully lined, has an elastic waist and groovy texture. You can see it styled with a green jacket and an orange striped tee.

I like to give you links to past posts, to show you the versatility of the pieces in your wardrobe and how they can be styled for different seasons and with different pieces. You don’t have to have a clothing fetish like I do to have a full and interesting wardrobe. Having a few key pieces, like a white skirt, whether maxi, midi or mini; a-line, pleated or pencil, will give you lots of options for warm weather looks.

I’ve included a couple of pictures that show you up close the details on the skirt.

Once again, I chose a long, pendant necklace. I also added a silver and gray stone bracelet. To keep my accessories similar I grabbed my silver clutch and my silver SO ballerina flats. As I said last week, low soles are back in style, so grab your flats and your sandals and walk in comfort.

Do you wear white in the summer time? Do you like this bright, bubblegum pink? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring/Summer - 2021 - Eyelet, Luxe Leather, and Long Necklaces

I am continuing my look at Spring/Summer trends today with a focus on eyelet, metallic faux leather, and long necklaces. I have always like eyelet. I think it is a pretty, feminine material that is light weight, making it perfect for the warmer weather. Besides the feminine aspect of eyelet, I also like the textural element that a fabric like this adds to the outfit.

This top is Universal Thread brand. I added a similar colored tank top underneath for warmth. I thought it was appropriate that this top also has puffed sleeves since these are trending as well, as you saw last week. I personally like the puffed sleeve better when it is puffed at the end of the sleeve on a long sleeve top like last week’s. However, when I saw this top at Target, I fell in love with it, and I do like the way it looks. It will be a fun piece for summer with cropped pants and sneakers, or a skirt and flats.

The choice to wear my straight leg high waisted Gloria Vanderbilt jeans was a no brainer. The embroidered flowers on the leg, not only fit in with the fantasy floral trend, but they also went so well with the top. As I have said before, I am not getting rid of my skinny jeans, but I will gladly wear a pair of straight leg jeans on occasion.

You’ve seen this metallic faux leather moto jacket on the blog before. I got it at Nordstrom Rack and is a brand called Coffee Shop NY. It is a tad tight right now, due to my excess pandemic bulge, but I can still wear it open and I think it looks perfect with this outfit. You can see how I styled it with a camo shirt, and with a graphic tee and pin striped shirt combo.

Long necklaces are in this spring, as I mentioned before. I have quite a collection of pendant necklaces, like the one above, but I don’t think the trend is strictly limited to pendants. I think long dainty chains and multiple layers are trending too, so it really is what you want to make of it. I find almost all of my jewelry on clearance racks and at thrift shops. Once in a while I’ll get something brand new from one of my family members as a gift for Christmas, Mother’s day or my birthday, but otherwise I prefer cheap. Ha, ha.

My large pale green tote is making another appearance. I have used this numerous times on the blog and it was a purchase a few years ago from Charming Charlie. Big tote bags are also trending for spring. I think this often comes around again, because people are looking forward to traveling and going to the beach. We will see if Covid allows these simple pleasures in life again.

I figured since I was styling a moto jacket I might as well add my moto boots as well. You’ve also see these on the blog before too. These were a Kohl’s clearance purchase and are Sonoma brand.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like eyelet? Do you like to wear moto jackets? Wear do you get most of your jewelry from? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. You are what keeps this blog going. I know I don’t spend time talking about make up or hair products, and other fashion related ideas, but if you would like to see more of that kind of content, just leave a comment and let me know.

I am including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which means I get a few pennies if you click on a link. I appreciate all your clicks. All opinions are my own.

Have a great Tuesday!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring/Summer - 2021 - Puffed Sleeves, Pastels and Pops of Blue

I think most of you who follow me regularly know I love to combine ideas. For example, when I do my Pantone color series, I try to combine several colors at the same time. Part of why I do this is to save time, but it also stretches myself outside the normal, jeans and tees, types of outfits. I wanted to do the same thing with the Spring Trends, and today’s outfit also added the fun literary technique called alliteration. If you don’t already know what that is, it is the combining of words that all start with the same beginning sound. My grandson recently finished up a poetry unit at school. Why they think ten years olds need to know all the poetry terms and examples to go with them is beyond me. My grandson, came away with an unfortunate loathing for poetical form, which makes this writer sad. But I digress!

Today’s outfit revolves around three spring trends that we have seen before. Puffed sleeves keep coming back around, as do pastels. I think pastels are here to stay, as they can be used in so many ways as neutrals. The color blue is always classic, but I really liked the idea of using it as a pop of color in any outfit, so I might try to incorporate this trend into some of my future looks, just for fun.

I started this outfit with a recently thrifted top by John Paul Richard. I love the pattern and the puff sleeves. We often think of puffed sleeves as being puffy on the top, but on this particular top the puff is on the lower part of the sleeve. I won’t get a ton of wear out of this before the warmer weather hits as it is a heavier weight material, but it is perfect for those in between days. I also love the smocking on the bodice, through the back and upper sleeves. Having it loose through the body is a plus right now too, for my lovely love handles.

At first I had the top paired with some jeans that were more of a cognac color, but then I pulled out these blush Christopher & Banks trousers and thought it worked quite well. As you can see there is a light pink in the top, so my matchy mind likes the combination. However, I did like the way the top looked with the other colored pants as well, but I was trying to triple up on my trends. Ha, ha.

For my pops of blue, I added a beaded necklace, I got two Christmases ago, a couple of beaded bracelets with a few blue beads and my thrifted blue Nine & Co. bag.

The warmer weather always brings out my SO ballerina flats, and this year they are back on trend. However, the colors are more metallics and statement making patterns, but flat soles are in.

What do you think of these three trends? Do you like puffed sleeves? Do you like to wear pastels? Do you have any blue accessories that you can boost up your outfits with? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two. Your comments help keep me blogging.

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

Have a great weekend!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring/Summer - 2021 - Wide Leg Trousers, Fantasy Florals and Yellow Bags

It certainly seems that spring has settled in around here. I am fully aware here in the midwest, the temperatures will continue to fluctuate at least through April, so I am not breaking out the sleeveless tops and crop pants just yet, but sunshine is more present, the skies are that beautiful spring time blue, buds are on the trees and the grass is turning green. It is a wonderful thing to see these changes happening.

My husband and I got away for three nights to our favorite Ohio State Park, Mohican. We love renting a cabin down there and hiking a few of their many trails. It is just far enough away to feel like we went somewhere, yet we did not have to worry about out of state restrictions or quarantines. I see that New York finally lifted their travel advisory, so maybe the pandemic is finally getting under some amount of control. We certainly hope so. Time will tell.

As I said in my previous post, I wanted to take a couple of weeks and show you how I styled a few of the different Spring/Summer trends. Today’s outfit revolves around a pair of wide let trousers and a floral cardigan.

These thrifted wide leg trousers are a recent find and are St. John’s Bay brand. I personally am not a huge fan of the wide leg trouser look. Don’t get me wrong, I think they look beautiful on women with longer, thinner legs than mine. I personally prefer a boot cut, straight leg or skinny leg on my particular frame. However, I wanted to show you what a wide leg trouser might look like and this is a pair I will keep. I am going to think about some other ways to style them for future posts.

You know I love florals, so I was pleased that florals were again on the spring trend roster. I found this beautiful floral cardigan a while ago. I haven’t actually worn it, but I thought the colors went perfectly with the medium brown trousers. The sweater is a brand called Joseph A. The fabric is a light weight nylon mix and with the 3/4 length sleeves it will be great for summer.

Belts are back, ladies, so don’t be shy about showing off your waist lines. Whether you are straight, curvy, oblong or triangular, a belt not only cinches in your waist, but adds a fun detail to your outfit. I have been keeping my eyes open on my thrift store runs, but so far, no luck. I have had this brown belt with the blush embroidery detail, for a number of years. I really like it, but unfortunately it isn’t real leather and is already showing signs of wear.

You can also make out, I am wearing a long yellow pendant necklace. Long chain type necklaces are trending right now too. I have numerous longer necklaces, so now I have even more of a reason to wear them. It would be even better if I was actually going somewhere that I could wear them. Ha, ha.

For whatever reason, yellow bags are supposed to be trending this spring and summer. I have a number of yellow purses, so I was happy to have an excuse to get them out. This thrifted messenger style bag is perfect for carrying all the essentials plus a notebook or two. That is just what this writer needs. You never know when inspiration will strike.

You can also see I threw on a few beaded bracelets that I thought went well with the overall look.

These low wedge heels are Clarks and I got them a number of years ago. Low heels and flats are trending now too, so get out those ballerina flats. Platform sandals are also trending, so go figure. Ha. ha.

What do you think of the wide leg trouser trend? How about florals? Do you own a yellow bag? I’d love to have your feedback, so leave me some love in the comments section below.

I am including a few shopping links. These links are brought to you at no extra cost. I get a few cents if you click on a link and a few cents more if you make a purchase through a link. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great day!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring/Summer Trends - 2021

I am actually a little behind as far as being on the trend wagon, but I figure since spring hasn’t officially sprung yet, that I am right on schedule. Ha ha. I am going to do a few weeks on spring trends and then I will start my Pantone color series. It is always fun to head into summer thinking about new color combinations, so while I might be behind schedule, at least I am heading in the right direction. Let’s take a look at what is trending for this spring and summer. Remember, there are hundreds of trends that fashion entities put out and I just pick a few that I think you will find interesting. If you are interested in seeing more trends just type Spring Trends 2021 into your search bar and you will see all sorts of articles from fashion gurus like: Vogue, Cosmopolitan, WhoWhatWear, Marie Claire and more. I usually peruse as many of these sites as I can find, making a complete list, then I go through and choose the ones I like and that I can pull off with things from my own closet.

Statement Trousers

Pants have gone wide for spring and summer so be prepared for palazzo pants, wide crops and other statement pieces made of all types of fabrics from slinky knits and flowy chiffons, to more structured linens and unique denims.

Fantasy Florals

Florals are once again making a scene in the fashion world. From small prints to big and bold, you can find floral prints on everything from dresses, which I’ve shown here, to tops, bottoms, sweaters, bags, and shoes. I’m glad that florals are here to stay and that they are multi-generational

Belts

Belts are making their own statement this spring, so showing off your waist is essential whether it be by wearing a crop top or like me, by doing the front tuck. Another way to show off your belt acumen is by wearing a wider belt over a longer top, tunic or dress, to cinch in your waistline. Making a few investments in good quality leather belts is on my list of things to look for at thrift stores.

Eyelet

Texture is in for the warmer weather. We know texture plays a big part in our outfits in the winter with fur, chenille, velvet and others keeping us cozy. For summer the textures are just as noticeable with trims including feathers, fringe and string. Fabrics like eyelet, lace and netting are again popular providing extra interest for many outfits. I chose to focus on eyelet, because it is the more modest of the popular choices. Don’t get me started on what was being worn, or more truthfully said, what was not being worn on the fashion run ways!

Puffed Sleeves

One thing that is definitely true of this spring is size matters (pardon my vulgarity), but when it comes to sleeves, shoulder pads, bags and shoes, bigger is better. I have never been a huge fan of oversized shoulder pads, and platform shoes, while cute, are not something I would regularly wear, so I chose puffed sleeves for my oversized novelty.

Luxe Leather

Just like last spring, leather is still shaking up the fashion world. Leather (or faux leather for those of us with much stricter budget or looking for animal friendly options) is not just for jackets. You can find leather pants, tops, skirts and the usual leather pieces like shoes and bags. Wearable leather is much more wearer friendly these days with light weight and softer pieces. Leather also runs the color gambit, so look for leather in metallics and pastels.

Pastels

Pastels are here to stay and seem to be wearable in every season, but especially as we look forward to the brighter, warmer days of spring and summer. These lighter colors can be worn as statement pieces on their own, or you can incorporate them into your wardrobe in small doses with a bag, shoes or other accessories.

Bright Pink

This bright pink will get more air time when I do my Pantone series in a few weeks, but for now be aware, this bright, sometimes bubble gum pink is getting some attention. While blush has made its place as a new neutral in fashion, this bright pink is making a place of its own.

Wearing White

Wearing white after Memorial Day is a given, but that particular fashion “rule” has been disbanded by most people. White is a year round color, just like black or navy, or olive or blush. However, I am much more likely to wear white in the summer in the form of crop pants, skirts or shoes. If you have been wanting to get out your whites and give them a ride, go for it.

Pops of Blue

I thought this was an interesting trend that anyone could easily add to their wardrobe. The idea is to put together whatever outfit you are going to wear, then add a pop of blue. Whether you are dressed to go to work, or for a day running errands, you can easily uplift your outfit and your mindset with just a small pop of blue.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at a few of the Spring/Summer 2021 trends. I’ll be discussing a few others as I get into my outfits and possibly even into the Pantone series. If any of the pieces above look interesting, just click on the link for more details. These are affiliate links, brought to you at no additional cost. All opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a good week.

Having Fun with Layers - Light Weight Dress

I wanted to do another light weight dress in my layering series. I know plenty of you wear dresses more often than I do, so I thought it might be a good idea to show you how to take one of your light weight summer dresses and style it now, even thought it is still quite cold. This time, because the length of the dress is much shorter, I wore it over a pair of colored jeans, for extra warmth.

You’ve seen me style this thrifted Sonoma dress for a fall Pantone series. It certainly has the right color scheme for fall. I also styled it for a summer kimono series last August. The Chevron print is definitely unique in my wardrobe. I am more into florals, but this particular piece appealed to me because of it’s colors.

These cognac colored distressed jeans are Stitch Star from Meijer and you have seen me style them for another Pantone color series. I also styled them in a Christmas outfit.

This thrifted, blush Jennifer Lopez sweater is one of my favorites for the in between weather of spring and fall. I often throw this in the car in the summer too, for when we go into an air conditioned building. I like the weight of it, the fun texture and the asymmetrical cut.

My accessories were pretty simple since the dress is busy enough. My blush SO heeled ankle boots and my blush clutch were perfect choices to go with the blush sweater. My necklace is a floral statement piece that I thought would add a touch of bling. I also added a few blush beaded bracelets.

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear a dress with pants, or over leggings, or do you prefer to have your legs bare? I’d love to know your thoughts.

Since spring is on the way, I decided to give you some shopping links for all things blush. Enjoy shopping. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Having Fun with Layers - Light Weight Kimono

I am sure most of us have one or two kimonos in our closets. Typically, we only pull out these light weight pieces when the weather warms up enough that we can show them off over our spring or summer outfits. Kimonos are really more of an accessory than they are an actually clothing item. They are meant to accentuate or be the focal point of an outfit, much like a statement necklace or a scarf. For this reason, I thought it would be fun to show how we can use a kimono while it is still cold, by using it in the same manner, but over an outfit with heavier layering pieces.

This kimono was a clearance find at Kohl’s a few summers ago. It is actually a bit small for me, but since I don’t have to worry about closing the front, I just let it hang open, almost more like an open front cardi or vest. You can see the pretty floral detail, but what you can’t see is that there is also a spattering of light yellow here and there in the pattern. That is why I wore it over the bright yellow sweater.

I love this pretty yellow, St. John’s Bay, cable knit sweater that I got at JC Penney over a year ago. Cable knit sweaters are definitely a staple in my cold weather wardrobe. They are comfortable and can be worn along or with a collared shirt sticking out as an additional layer.

You’ve seen these Gloria Vanderbilt jeans on the blog many times and I swear by this particular pair of white jeans. So far I can still fit into them, which is a good thing, because a heavy weight pair of white jeans, that don’t show through are hard to come by. Ha ha.

I didn’t really need to add a whole lot to my look since the kimono does the bulk of the work. I added some black beads, both at the neck and on my wrist. I also opted for gray Impo ankle boots, and a thrifted Evan-Picone bag. Like my blush New York and Co. bag, this gray piece serves as both a tote, a crossbody and a clutch.

I hope this post will inspire you to pull out that kimono in your closet and give it some love.

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

Have a great evening.

Having Fun with Layers - Casual Valentine's Day Look - Celebrating 5 Years

Here I am again, celebrating another year of Faith and Fashion blogging. When I started this little hobby back in 2016, I had no idea how my sense of style would change and evolve. I also never realized how doing this 2 or three times a week every week for the last five years would help my ability to write. Starting this blog, in part to help me write regularly, has helped me to become a better writer. As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect. I am no where near perfect, but I do have more confidence, not only as a writer, but as a woman who knows something about fashion. As I have done in recent years I wanted to have a giveaway, so be sure to read all the way to the end, so you know what the drawing is for and how to enter. This year there will be two winners!

I decided to spend a few weeks talking about layering. I realize we are all looking forward to spring, but we are in the middle of the deep freeze here in the mid-west and I really don’t want to be trying to take pictures of light weight, flowy spring outfits. Well, I really would rather be doing that, but I would have to take everything to Florida to take pictures. Ha, ha. No chance of that happening right now. Instead, what I am going to do, is show you a few spring pieces that I have doctored up for the cold weather, and that means layering.

I love layers. I love being able to wear multiple pieces from my closet all at the same time and it has a very practical purpose. Layers keep me warm. I do understand that many women are menopausal and that means hot flashes, so layers are not as practical, but what I hope to do is show you layers that are easy enough to take off when those heat waves blow through.

Today’s outfit revolves around a light weight pair of floral pants that I recently purchased at Kohl’s.

When I saw these cute twill joggers on the rack at Kohl’s I thought, “I’m going to buy myself something that is new for the season.” Typically I wait until the end of the season to purchase new pieces and then wear them for the remaining weeks of the season, or put them away until next year, but these were on sale and I had a good coupon. I love the floral print and the light weight fabric, which makes them great for spring and summer. These are Sonoma brand.

If you are anxious to wear your new spring finds, but it is still cold, I would start with an under layers. I chose a pair of black tights and a black tank top.

Most under layers will not add a lot of extra bulk, but they will add warmth. If you are suffering with hot flashes, don’t add the extra under layers. You will be warm enough with the normal pieces.

I wanted to draw on both the dark, almost burgundy pinks and the light pinks in the flowers on the pants, so I chose a light weight thrifted SO sweatshirt. Layers do not have to add bulk, as I said before. This sweatshirt is a lighter weight fleece, making it much easier to wear something over the top.

For my top piece I chose a light pink, faux leather, Christopher and Banks moto jacket. The light pastel pink certainly makes me think of spring with all of its pretty flowers and of course Easter outfits and colored eggs.

I added a few simple details like my fringe pendant necklace, which actually has some olive colored beads; a couple of beaded bracelets, my blush colored, thrifted New York and Co bag and my Spirit burgundy ankle boots.

I noticed after the fact that my shoes were all scuffed and covered with dust and cat hair. I’m sorry for the poor photos as well. My glasses were picking up the glare from the windows. I wasn’t going to go outside, as it is so cold and I was trying to get the best light, but didn’t take the glare into account. The joys of being an amateur photographer. Ha. ha. My daughter has been so busy and I haven’t want to add more work to her already full plate. That’s okay, because this is real life.

I hope you enjoyed this post on layering fun. Think about the spring pieces in your closet and how you could make them wearable in the cold temperatures by adding layers. What could you wear?

I’m including a few shopping links to get you thinking about spring. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Have fun shopping, and don’t forget about the giveaway. Just follow the directions and you will be entered to win one of two gift cards. Entries for the give away will close on Friday February 12th, at midnight. I will announce the winners of the give away on Tuesday February 16th.

When to Let it Go

A subscriber and friend of mine, suggested I do a post on how to know when it is time to let an item of clothing go. I thought this would be a good post to do while I am recovering from my out patient surgery, since it won’t require I do a lot of leg work. Ha, ha.

What I would like to do is go back through some of my old photos and review pieces that I have let go of and what the motivation was for getting rid of them. I hope this will be useful to all of you in determining what clothes you might have in your closet that need to be given the boot!

Motivation 1 - Weight Fluctuations

I am sad that I am one of those women that constantly struggles with my weight. I am the heaviest right now that I have ever been and honestly I am not pleased. I do not feel comfortable being at this weight and I know it is harder on my joints and my heart. However, I am also trying to be realistic about the need for grace and acceptance. I want to make better food choices and get some exercise, but I also know I may not loose that extra weight, so I have gotten rid of a number of things, that no longer fit.

These floral jeans were so fun, but by the time I got rid of them I could barely get them buttoned. There was nothing wrong with them, except they did not fit. Most of us are kidding ourselves when we say, “I’m going to hang on to that item, lose weight and fit back into it. More often than not, we are not going to fit back into those things we are hanging on to. I have developed the mentality, if I do lose weight, then I will take myself thrifting and get a few new things!

Motivation 2 - Worn Out

Another motivation to part with certain clothing items is that they get worn out. My hubby has tee shirts and underwear that could make him a priest, they are so holy! Ha, ha. He might think there is still plenty of wear left, but I try to sneak those out of his drawers and into the rag bag. Don’t donate items that are so worn you would no longer wear them. Throw them away or cut them up for rags to clean your car or your house.

Image by Jerzy Górecki from Pixabay

Motivation 3 - It’s just not the right fit for me.

Over these past years of being a fashion blogger, I have gotten better at figuring out what works and what doesn’t for my body type. That doesn’t mean I can’t wear all sorts of clothes, but it does mean that some clothes will look better than others, which in turn, makes me feel more confident in my skin.

Let me show you a few examples. Both of these jackets are what we would call cropped jackets. They sit just above the pelvic bones, right about where my belly button is. I loved both of these; the first because it was velvet and the second because it was so colorful and unique. I recently got rid of both of them. Neither one really looks like it fit me well. The faux velvet piece was really a little too wide and droopy and the other was a tad bit too small.

This cropped denim jacket is a different story. It is a stretchy denim, so it fits like a glove, yet it still serves as a denim jacket. It goes with almost every thing I wear and adds a fun touch to a dress or skirt.

Finding pieces that fit properly is part of the process of becoming more fluent in your own fashion language. I think I need to discuss that further in a different post, so stay tuned for that.

Motivation 4 - It’s just not the right color.

You know I am the first one who will tell you that you should be able to wear every color under the sun, no matter what your skin tone, hair, or eye color. However, every color has variant shades and tones and this is what you need to be concerned with when picking out your clothing. Who says a red head can’t wear red or pink; or that a women with ivory skin can’t wear stark colors like black or navy? The trick is to find the right tones of those colors. If you have pieces in your closet that you rarely ever reach for, or when you put them on you don’t have that, “This looks awesome on me,” thought, then part of the problem might be the color.

Let me show you a side by side comparison of two tones of gray: a light oxford and a dark charcoal.

These were taken by the same photographer, on the same day, in the same lighting. I really think the image on the right, where I am wearing a charcoal gray cowel neck is a much better look on me, than the light gray or oxford sweater in the image on the left.

Play with various colors. Ask yourself what colors are you drawn to? What colors do you get the most compliments on when you are wearing it?

Motivation 5 - A pretty pattern or texture, but in the wrong place.

You have probably heard the term illusion when it comes to certain ways of putting an outfit together. If we are shorter, or have shorter, thicker legs, we want to create the illusion of height or length. If we have a thicker mid section, we want to wear pieces that give us the illusion of a waistline. Unfortunately, there are pieces that do the exact opposite and make us look bulky, boxy and wider than we would like. Patterns are one of those things that can accentuate or create an illusion. Here are a few examples.

Palazzo Pants

I have tried these flowy, patterned pants on numerous occasions and I just don’t seem to be able to pull it off. I have wide thighs and hips and these pants are not forgiving when it comes to that. I have gotten rid of all my palazzo pants. It doesn’t matter what we think about how pretty they are or fun and comfortable, if we don’t think we look good in them, we won’t wear them.

Lace and Ruffles

Photo by me.

I really do like lace and ruffles, but from now on I am only wearing it in small doses. A little bit of lace inlay on a top or lace trim on a skirt are very pretty, but too much lace, just like ruffles, starts to make me look like an old bride wanna be and I prefer my wedding days are done. You won’t find much lace or two many ruffly things in my closet these days. I think it works beautifully on many people, but it is not for me.

Horizontal patterns on skirts (or pants)

Some women like to draw attention to their booties, but I am not one of them and wearing too much horizontal, especially wider lines, on the bottom can make a person look disproportionate. This is especially true if you have smaller breasts and wider hips as in the triangle shape.

Here are a list of questions to ask yourself if you are considering whether to get rid of a clothing piece:

1 - Does it still fit?

2 - Is it a color you love and that looks good on you?

3 - Is it showing signs of wear or is it stained, pilly, or frayed?

4 - Does the pattern compliment your figure?

5 - Is it something you regularly reach for? If not, is it a piece that you at least reach for on special occasions, holidays or other special events?

6 - When you put it on does it make you say, “Wow! I look good in this?”

These are just a few things to think about if you are looking to get rid of a few pieces you are unsure of, or if you are looking to purge your whole wardrobe. I do a purge once or twice a year, usually when I am changing seasons; so before it gets warmer and before it gets colder. Many times I will make piles of things I need to try on. If they do not fit, I put them in a box to donate. If they are just not the right color, pattern or shape, they go into the box.

It really is better to develop a habit of only buying things you know you are going to wear and that, as Marie Kondo says, “Spark Joy.” I am still working on this, but as with so many good habits in life, it takes one choice at a time to make a change.

I hope you found this post helpful. Let me know in the comments how you decide to keep a clothing piece or how you choose to get rid of it. I’d love to hear your thoughts, because I learn new things from you all as well.

Have a great day!

Photo credit, unless otherwise specified, Rebecca Trumbull.

Winter Trend - My Take on Color Block and Shearling

The trend of color block isn’t new. It has been around for a very long time. Some attribute the inspiration for color blocking to Piet Mondrian, an artist who used dark lines and bright colors to form paintings with block like components in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. In fact, in 1966, Yves Saint-Laurent designed a line of dresses called Mondrian dresses, after the work of the late artist.

Image by Andrew Martin from Pixabay

Often when color blocking is done, it follows a formula of sorts, where one color will be paired with an opposite color from the color wheel, creating a bold, bright outfit that really stands out and makes a statement. You can easily make your own color block outfit by combining solid colored pieces from your closet.

I am not a huge fan of color blocking, because I love patterns and textures so much. I did, however, find a beautiful color block sweater when my girls took me out birthday shopping, so that is what I built today’s outfit around.

I bought this glam brand, color block sweater at Eden Fashion Boutique. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to try it on. It is so soft and cozy. We have some below freezing temps coming down the pike and I know I will be wearing this to stay warm. I also like the drop shoulder sleeves and the more neutral color tones. I’ve included a shot of the back. As you can see the back is a little longer than the front.

My cognac colored pants are another pair of thrifted jeans. They are Michael Kors brand. I like the color and feel it is one of those colors you can use for all seasons.

You can also get a closer look at my thrifted Unisa wedge heeled shearling boots. I have not really had the opportunity to wear these for anything other than the blog, but they are so cute, I can’t stand the thought of letting them go. For now they still have a home with my many other boots. You can see the fun side decorative gold zipper and the shearling trim in the next picture.

You can see how I styled these on the blog with a fringe vest, and with a floral dress.

My thrifted, leather, Fossil bag is making another appearance in this post. This bag is so durable and goes with everything, plus it is a cross body bag which is my go to when I am going out shopping.

The only jewelry I added was this necklace which was a clearance purchase when I made my Christopher & Banks store closing run. I love the peachy coral colors on the beads. This will be a nice piece for spring and summer.

You noticed that these pictures were taken inside (sorry about the glare on my glasses). I just didn’t have the energy to trudge out into the snow with the camera in tow and take pictures. My incision is starting to heal, and it occasionally hurts a little. I have no complaints, because I think the doc did a great job getting rid of my little fatty tumor, but I decided to take it easy this week, until my appointment on Monday for a recheck.

Here are a few other posts I did, that show off how you can do color blocking with solid pieces from your wardrobe. These do not follow any particular formula as far as colors go, but you get the idea. If you don’t particularly like print mixing and have lots of solid colors in your closet, this is a great way to create outfits that are colorful, fun, stylish and trendy.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I am including a few shopping links for you to enjoy. Have fun with it. These links are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost. If you click on a shopping link I get a few cents and if you purchase something through my links, I get a little bit more. Think of it as a way to get yourself something special and buy me a cup of tea. Ha, ha.

Have a great day everyone. Be sure to check back Thursday for a post on how you know it is time to get rid of certain pieces in your wardrobe.

Photos in photo grid Rebecca Trumbull.

My Intro to Winter Trends - 2020/2021

I know that the current winter trends have been on the market since last fall, but as I have said before, I am not one to jump on the early trend band wagon. We have plenty of winter left here in Northwest Ohio and I am sure, many other northern areas as well. While we don’t have snow, we definitely still have temperatures in the 30’s, so our sweaters, long sleeve tops and boots are still going to see plenty of wear. In addition, seeing as how I am living in the land of eternal gray skies, I need a motivational boost for getting out of bed, and into clothing that doesn’t resemble pajamas.

For today’s post, I am going to talk about a number of trends that I find interesting, and I will show you samples of each trend via my affiliate links. If you see something that looks fun, just click on the link and it will take you to the retailer, where you can purchase it. These are affiliate links. I get a few pennies for each click you make and a little bit more if you purchase something through my links. All opinions are my own. My hope is that the next few weeks, I can show you what these trends look like by giving you posts of outfits from my own clothes.

Patchwork - This is a fun trend that seems to come around every so often. I wouldn’t want a whole closet full of patchwork things, but I think a few things, make for a more fun wardrobe. I especially like the bags and shoes.

Puffer Jackets and Vests - These might not be your first choice for outer wear, but there is something to be said for these warm pieces. The puff needn’t be overly voluminous to keep your warm. There are many thinner, packable versions that offer toasty warmth as well.

Quilting - This technique is very similar to the puffer style when it comes to clothing, the only difference is in the pattern and the amount of filling. Once again, you see this trend most specifically in outerwear.

Bold Checks - If you like plaid, you might also like the more structured print of checks. I love Buffalo plaid, which is really just a checkered pattern and we have been seeing a lot of it this fall and winter. I especially like the checked white and green skirt below.

Bohemian Chic - There are many things I like about the Bohemian style of dressing and this winter Bohemian Chic is trending. The Boho vibe is not for everyone, but a little dash of Boho in a blouse, a bag or just in the details of a piece of jewelry or an accessory can really make an outfit more interesting. I think one of the reasons I like it, is the bright, pretty colors and patterns.

Color Block - This is a style that seems to always be around, sometimes lingering in the background and other times pushed to the forefront of what is trendy. I decided to put this one on the list, because it is not something I do. Wanting to try new things and keep my content fresh, I am going to give this a try.

Shearling Trim - Shearling trim is a fun, textural addition to any winter wardrobe. Just a little bit can make your outfits extra cozy and cute.

There are a few more trends that I hope to give mention to, when I show you the actual outfits. I hope you enjoyed this quick look at a few of the winter trends that I like. I’m getting off to a little bit of a slow start, but hopefully next week, I’ll have a few outfits back up on the blog. Until then, have a great week.

A Look Back at 2020 - My Favorite Outfits

Before I launch into a short series on some of the current winter trends, i wanted to revisit my favorite outfits from this past year. 2020 was a year unlike any other with the Covid Pandemic, racial unrest and the election overwhelming our newsfeeds. There were times where I just didn’t feel like being a blogger any more. I just wanted to crawl into a nice, cozy hole and not come out until all of the bad news went away. Fortunately, I didn’t do that. I had a sense that every single one of you that regularly follow me, needed a brief respite from all the bad that was going on around us. The normalcy of looking at and talking about faith and fashion, just seemed to be a good thing to do, so I kept at it.

I have a feeling that 2021 is not going to be a whole lot different from 2020. Change is going to continue to happen and change is what often pushes us well outside of our comfort zones. However, my little blog is still going to be here, as long as God gives me the health, energy and brain power to continue, I will do so. Many of you have become like family to me. Those of you who have regularly commented or even taken the time to send me a personal email have been a great source of encouragement to me, so thank you.

Here is a look back at 2020. As I have done before, I go month by month and pick out my faves. I’d love to know which outfit really inspired you.

January

Actual Amy - Waterfall Cardigan

Why I like It: This whole outfit is very much me. I love the rusty textures of the waterfall cardigan and faux suede boots. As you all know, I love my jeans and the striped long sleeve tee is the perfect choice for this ultra casual outfit. I also like the subtle print mixing going on between the stripes, snakeskin patterned bag and the speckled bead pendant.

February

Seeing Red - Thrifted Thursday - Burgundy Skirt

Why I Like It: In all honesty, I had three outfits, all together, that I liked from February. I decided to post this one as my favorite, because it was totally unexpected. I honestly did not think this outfit was going to look as good as it did when I started putting it together. I wasn’t sure about the color combo or the mix of smooth faux leather pencil skirt with oversized textured sweater, but I absolutely love everything about this outfit. The color combo was perfect and the unexpected mix of textures and lengths honestly works well. The only thing I might have changed is the shoes. I’m wondering if a burgundy shoe would have been a better choice, but overall it worked. The other two that I liked from February were, Seeing Red - Red with Tan - Velvet Jacket, and Seeing Red - Actual Amy - Plaid Jacket.

March

Spring Trends 2020 - Maxi Dresses, Psychedelic Prints and Vests

Why I Like It: March was the month I focused on the Spring Trends for the year. I will do that again this year. I like the boho, hippy vibe of this outfit with the medallion printed maxi dress, the striped tee and the denim vest. It just presents a fun, eclectic mix that makes for a great casual date night look.

April

Transitional Spring Outfit

Photo credit Rachel Christensen

Why I Like It: Who doesn’t like a kimono? They are just fun, fabulous pieces and every woman should have one or two in her closet. I have many more than that, but there are so many pretty styles, prints and colors. This pink, burgundy and white piece is no exception. I especially like the fringe on the sleeve and bottom hems. Every since I learned about print mixing, I have become obsessed and nothing pairs better than stripes and flowers. The burgundy colored accessories complete the look perfectly.

May

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Sunlight, Flame Scarlet and Ash

Photo credit Amy Christensen

Why I Like It: There is nothing special about this outfit, other than it is something I would actually wear. Though all of the outfits I post are things I actually own, I don’t necessarily wear everything that you see, exactly as you see it. The reason for this is, I am trying to show a varied audience outfits that could be used for every day, work, going out or traveling. Right now I am not working outside the home and we really aren’t going anywhere, yet this outfit is something I would still wear.

June

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Tanager Turquoise, Heritage Blue and Blanc de Blanc

Why I Like It: This look is classic. It could be worn by any woman, anywhere. It is a great outfit for work, but could also be worn for a date night, or lunch with the girls. It also exudes spring and summer with the bright floral top, crisp white ankle pants and silver ballerina flats. The blue bag, beaded necklace and bracelets add fun matching elements to the ensemble.

July

Summer Outfit - Geometric Maxi Dress - Casual

Why I Like It: Honestly, I like this outfit, because I think it is fun! I love the hat, the tee and the geometric print on the maxi dress. The top is a light weight sleeveless tee material, so adding the other tee did not add bulk, weight or make it hotter. This would be a great look for traveling, going to the beach or on a picnic.

August

Outfit Inspiration - Dressed Up Casual Style

Why I Like It: What is not to love about this dressy casual look. The star piece is the thrifted kimono. It took a simple white tee and boyfriend jeans up to a new level of style. The fringe necklace compliments the purples in the kimono and the rusty orange bag the oranges. This was a nice transitional outfit for the waning days of summer.

September

Pantone Fall/Winter 2020 - Samba, Fired Brick and Sleet

Why I Like It: September was another month where I had several favorite outfits, but this one still stands out as a winner. Once again, the combination of colors, as well as the print mixing, really goes a long way to making this dressier outfit perfect for the office. I also like how my last minute addition of blush accessories pulled everything together. Two of my other faves were, Pantone Fall Winter 2020 - Peach Nougat, Sandstone and Military Olive, and Color Play - Fall Mix.

October

Pantone - Autumn/Winter 2020 - London Palette - Samba, Tawny Birch and Sheepskin

Why I Like It: I don’t wear neutrals all that often, but a combination like this really pops. The neutral palette colors of Tawny Birch and Sheepskin, combined with the bright Samba red makes an exceptional outfit. The added joy is that everything in this outfit is thrifted, except the pearls. When I can put a whole outfit together with thrifted pieces and it ends up looking like this, I am all for it.

November

Fall/Thanksgiving Outfits - Harvest Tee and Distressed Jeans - Dressy

Why I Like It: This outfit is just very me. I love wearing tees, and jeans and throwing a nice blazer and a pair of boots on really levels up a very casual outfit. The addition of a fun statement necklace and a cute bag also provide a dressier look, even with the distressed jeans.

December

A Dickens’ Christmas - The Ghost of Christmas Past

Why I Like It: Out of my whole Christmas series, I think this outfit and these photos were my faves. Winter white is really trending right now and when I put these pieces together for my Ghost of Christmas Past persona, I didn’t realize how popular these creamy whites were. The outfit itself was cozy and in keeping with my love for pants and flats. Ha, ha.

There you have it, my favorite picks from 2020. What were your faves? I would love to hear back from you. Also, if there is anything you would like to see more of on the blog, or a different topic you would like me to talk about, please let me know.

I hope your New Year is off to a great start. Check back on Thursday for a look at some of the current winter trends.

Photo credit unless otherwise stated, Rebecca Trumbull Photography.

A Dickens' Christmas - The Ghost of Christmas Present

If you have seen any of the more recent versions of A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Present is the one that exudes the festive, living presence of the holiday season. In both the George C. Scott version and the Muppet Christmas Carol version the being known as the Ghost of Christmas present is a jovial, boisterous giant of a character who escorts Scrooge on a tour of Christmas day. The day is filled with food, singing, gift giving and game playing. The joyful Ghost, shows Ebenezer a day made even more beautiful by the love of family and the generosity of his fellow man.

When I began thinking about how i wanted this outfit to look, I knew I wanted it to be bright and colorful. I wanted to present Christmas as a joyful celebration full of life and beauty.

Once again, the Toledo Botanical Gardens provided the back drop for our pictures. They have the entryway into the park so festive and pretty.

Everything in this outfit is thrifted, except for the necklace and boots.

My skirt is another LuLaRoe piece that I found at a thrift store just around the corner from me. It really is a little too long and a tad too big (I rarely have that problem…ha, ha), but I love the floral pattern and it seemed perfect for representing the spirit of Christmas.

My daughter was playing around when she was editing the picture and added a smattering of festive green bubbles.

I found this fabulous Tommy Hilfiger red corduroy jacket at one of our local Goodwills. I haven’t really had a chance to show it off, until I thought about this outfit. I definitely wanted to stick with the more traditional Christmas colors of red and green, so this jacket and the lighter green Sonoma v-neck were a good combination.

I found this long, sparkly, fringe pendant necklace at a thrift store as well. You can’t see it real well in this picture, but the beads have a sparkly, iridescent quality. The picture below, shows you a closer look at the textures of the necklace, sweater and jacket.

You’ve seen this faithful leather, Fossil bag on the blog numerous times. I need to find a smaller wallet to use with this purse, as my current one is too big.

I wanted comfortable boots with this festive outfit, so I chose my suede Massini boots that I found on clearance at Meijer a few seasons ago.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you think it represents the Ghost of Christmas Present and all the symbolism that goes with it? I thought it exemplified the idea of life, celebrations and festiveness; all the things that the Ghost of Christmas Present is fond of.

I hope you enjoyed this post and are enjoying my movie inspired outfits this month. It has been fun to see what sort of outfits I could come up with.

I am including a few shopping links to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a wonderful day!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Fall/Thanksgiving Outfits - Sweatshirt and Skinny Jeans - Casual

For the next few weeks I thought I would focus on outfits that could be worn for the Thanksgiving Holiday, or just as another fall outfit. Each week I will take one or two main pieces and show how to style them two different ways. This week my pieces are a pair of embellished skinny jeans, and a deep yellow sweatshirt that I grabbed from my daughter’s "to get rid of” pile.

For today’s look I wanted to go with a more casual vibe. The two pieces could be worn by themselves and be perfectly acceptable for a casual, low key Thanksgiving; just add a scarf or necklace and some sneakers or knee high boots and you are all set. I wanted to do something with a little more texture and print, so I decided to top the whole outfit with my plaid ruana that I got last year at Bass Pro Shop. It may sound a little funny, but I love their clothes. They have a little higher price point than I usually pay, but you can read the story of how my hubby surprised me with a mini shopping spree here.

It is always a journey taking my own pictures. Ha, ha. Here is the ruana from more of a back and side view.

This rich yellow sweatshirt is from a local boutique Eden Fashion Boutique. I did a blog post on their Sylvania location which you can see here. Unfortunately that shop closed up during the pandemic. The original shop is still in business in Bowling Green, OH which is about a 25 minute drive. My daughter decided she didn’t wear it enough for it to warrant taking up space in her closet. I absolutely love color. It also has snaps from about the elbow up on both sleeves, which gives it a fun look. I should have taken a picture of it without the ruana. Oh well! I’ll save that for another time.

You can see the blingy embellishment on my jeans. There are sparkles on both legs, the right is closer to the hip. These are Juicy Couture brand and I got them a year or so ago at Kohl’s on the clearance rack.

Since I wanted this to be casual, but it is also meant to be for an occasion like a Thanksgiving dinner, I added a little bit of jewelry and a bag to bring out the blue in the ruana. My long pendant necklace I use regularly. The beaded bracelet has a cute owl charm on it and the blue cross body bag was a gift a few Christmases ago from my younger daughter.

These rusty colored moto boots are a soft faux suede and have zippers on the inside of the leg. They are Steve Madden brand and I ordered them from DSW last year on clearance.

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear this for a casual Thanksgiving day gathering? What might you have done differently? Leave me your thoughts in the comments. I always love to hear what you are thinking and how the blog is helping or hindering your fashion journey.

This last photo is very fuzzy, but I liked the way it turned out anyway. Ha, ha. I really need to play with my camera more, so I can take better pictures. I am also a perfectionist, as if you hadn’t noticed. Ha, ha.

I’m including a few shopping links. Remember, Christmas is coming, so you might like to look over these links as possible gift ideas for you or yourself. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2020 - All the Outfits

I wanted to end this fall color series by showing you all of the colors from both the Pantone New York Palette and the Pantone London Palette. To make it a little more interesting I thought I would show outfits that have, either a same color or a similar color side by side.

I hope that you enjoyed this series. If there are any other topics in fashion that you are interested in learning more about, or in seeing me talk about or put together in an outfit, I would love for you to let me know. I don’t follow trends too closely and this fall, I totally missed the boat on that, so I do apologize. I know some of you enjoy hearing what the trends are for each season and seeing how I apply those to the “real” world. Often when we look at websites or see magazines with tall, thin models or celebrities who are seamlessly coifed we think there is no way we would want to try this or that, especially when it comes to runway trends. However, there are a lot of trends that we can participate in and enjoy like leopard print, various colors and different types of accessories.

I will keep doing this Pantone series as long as I am blogging, because I feel strongly that even though we might differ from each other in our style, color is something we all have in common. Approaching new, bold and different colors without fear is a way to expand your wardrobe and spice up your style without completely committing to a whole different way of doing things.

The Color Palettes Side by Side.

Samba

I love the color red and I think there is a red for every complexion. I think both of these outfits worked quite well and love that both of them present a more neutral palette with a bright pop of red. In the New York outfit on the left Samba is paired with Fired Brick and Sleet. In the London outfit on the right Samba is paired with Tawny Birch and Sheepskin.

Ultramarine Green

Ultramarine was on both palettes and I think it is a pretty green that can bring a peaceful, yet vibrant feel to any outfit. This color green would look great in a bag, jewelry or a scarf and to me it really seems to draw your eyes to it. Maybe it is just my love for the greens in nature that make me like this color so much. In the New York outfit on the left Ultramarine Green is paired with Classic Blue and Blue Depths. In the London palette on the right Ultramarine Green is paired with Exuberance and Sleet.

Military Olive

While I love bright and bold colors like the two I mentioned previously, I love using olive as a neutral. It goes with every color, and has a different vibe than gray or beige. It is classy, yet subtle. In the New York outfit on the left, Military Olive is paired with Peach Nougat and Sandstone. In the London outfit on the right Military Olive is paired with Strong Blue and Jet Stream.

Green Sheen/Celery

It is hard to tell in these pictures, but Green Sheen and Celery are pretty similar. I think, because the lighting is different the colors look brighter in the shaded picture. They are different colors, but not enough different that they couldn’t be exchanged from one outfit to another. In the New York outfit on the left, Green Sheen is paired with Amber Glow and Almond Oil. In the London outfit on the right, Celery is paired with Mandarin and Sheepskin.

The Other Colors

These last two are paired only because they were the last two and don’t really have anything in common. The New York outfit on the left is a combination of Rose Tan, Magenta Purple and Sleet. The London outfit on the right is a combination of Burnt Henna, True Blue and Dress Blues.

Which outfit do you like most? Which color from the two palettes is one you frequently wear? What new color(s) are going to try to add to your wardrobe. As always, I love to hear your thoughts.

I apologize to those of you who subscribe to my blog. The last three weeks, I have completely forgotten to send out my weekly emails. I’ll just attribute that to “squishy brain syndrome.” Ha, ha.

Thanks for following along on the blog. I hope to use the next couple of weeks leading up to Thanksgiving showing you more fall outfits and maybe a few ideas for what to wear to Thanksgiving dinner whether you are going some place or sheltering in place.

If you follow my Faith page be sure to check back tomorrow for the next installment in my series on the Unseen Enemy.

Have a great weekend!

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.