Summer Outfit - Faux Lace Dress - Casual

I honestly wasn’t sure how to style this faux lace dress in a casual way, so I started by thinking what makes an outfit more casual. We usually associate certain shoes, bags and accessories as being either more casual or more dressy. There is also the option of adding other pieces to make a look more casual, like I did in my geometric maxi dress post, where I simply slipped on a graphic tee, to bring the look down to a more casual level. I also used more casual accessories like the straw bag and hat. I followed the same formula for this outfit.

I was sort of going for an artsy-writer look with this outfit…whatever that is. Ha, ha, ha. I was thinking if I wore this dress to a coffee shop to work on writing, rather than a night out to a show, what would I do differently? First off, I added my oversized, thrifted, pinstripe Izod button up, as a light weight jacket, for any air conditioning a coffee shop might offer.

This shirt is a very pale purple color and has gray pinstripes. To jazz up the outfit with a little more color I pulled out this cute fish scarf, but instead of putting it around my neck, I tied it to my bag. I thought the purple and green in the scarf pulled the outfit together.

The purple bead pendant goes so well with the purple in the shirt and the scarf. It also gives the outfit an added casual, boho feel. To keep that casual boho vibe going I thought the multiple strand green wrap bracelet a good choice.

This slouchy, thrifted, American Eagle hobo bag has made an appearance multiple times on the blog. It is good to have a few pieces in your bag arsenal that lean completely towards casual or dressy. It makes getting dressed so much easier. This hobo bag does just that and is a go to, if I want to make an outfit look dressed down.

Shoes are another thing that will either elevate or make an outfit more casual. I love these suede oxfords that I found on clearance a number of years ago at DSW. If I could have found them in multiple colors, I would have bought them all. I would love to have a pair in blue, green, red, brown…you get the idea. The thing I like about them, is they feel a tad tight when I put them on, but after having them on they are so comfortable. They are Naya brand.

What do you think of this outfit? Not every piece in your wardrobe will necessarily translate into a more dressy or more casual look, but I wanted to show you there are ways to think outside the box when it comes to your clothes. It not only gives you more outfit options, but enables you to get more wear out of each piece.

These pictures were taken at the Toledo Botanical Gardens by Rebecca Trumbull.

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

I’ve included a few shopping links just for fun. These are affiliate links. When you click on a link, I get a few cents. I appreciate every click! All opinions are my own.

Thanks for following along on the blog. It wouldn’t be any fun, if it weren’t for you, my faithful followers. If there is ever anything you would like me to cover on the blog, either in the area of fashion or faith, please feel free to make a suggestion in the comments below, or on Facebook. You can also shoot me an email.

I won’t be posting on the blog next week as I am going to visit my mom and won’t have internet, but I’ll still post some outfits and what I am doing on Instagram, so you can follow me over there. Have a wonderful weekend.

Summer Outfit - Geometric Maxi Dress - Dressy

Today’s outfit revolves around a maxi dress my mother-in-law passed along to me. She had bought it for herself, but then didn’t really like it as well as she thought. When she showed it to me, and asked if I wanted it, I said sure. I actually wasn’t sure how to style it, or rather, didn’t give it a lot of thought since I haven’t been reaching for my maxi dresses all that often. If it was just me and my hubby and I wasn’t hanging out with a nine year old, I might wear one more frequently, as they are comfortable and a fun way to dress for summer. However, when I started thinking about featuring a few summer outfits for the blog, I wanted to show off this fun maxi dress.

The dress is Calvin Klein brand and features a tank style top attached at the waist to an a-line style skirt featuring a geometric pattern of rectangles and squares. The bottom is fully lined. Macy’s carries a broad line of dresses with all lengths and styles. I’ll include a few shopping links below.

The pink shrug doesn’t match the pink in the dress, but I felt like it worked. This shrug is a thrifted Forever 21 piece. It is sheer and flowy, making it the perfect way to dress up and outfit.

Gold accessories just seem to take the outfit up another notch. My thrifted gold necklace and clutch go with the gold beads and baubles on my wrist.

I do get rather silly when we are taking pictures, especially when we are in a place where other people are around. I already feel silly getting my picture taken, but then if there are people walking by, I feel even sillier. Ha, ha. Anyway, sometimes, my daughter catches me in my shenanigans. I felt like I was up against the firing squad wall. This is another spot at the Toledo Botanical Gardens.

By the time this is posted I will have gotten a much needed hair cut. My ends are looking terrible and I need to get some of the length taken off. Have you been to the hair dresser recently? I know for a lot of people that was one of the first things they did after things started opening back up a bit.

These are a different pair of black wedge sandals, also thrifted, but a brand called Connie.

What did you think of this outfit? Do you like to wear maxi dresses? They are an easy piece to wear and create a whole outfit with only one piece and a few accessories.

I’ve included some shopping links for you to look at. These are affiliate links. If you click on a link, I get a a few cents. All your clicks are appreciated since blogging is a hobby for me, I don’t make money, but it is nice to get a few dollars here and there. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Summer Outfit - Leopard Print Skirt - Dressy

I decided after finishing up my Pantone series, to do a few weeks of summer outfits, using pieces from my closet and showing how to wear them two ways; a dressed up version and a more casual version. Today’s summer piece is a thrifted leopard print, asymmetrical skirt that I scored at a Goodwill back before the pandemic ever hit. This is a Who, What Wear piece, which is typically found at Target.

These photos were taken at the beautiful Botanical Gardens here in Toledo, which are very close by. I tend to forget they are there, which is ridiculous, because they are so nice for walking, taking pictures, clearing your head and they even have a huge playground, which is now reopened. I may have to get my grandson over there on a day when it is not too hot.

Here you can see up close the uneven hem of the skirt. The skirt is very light weight, but unfortunately when I put it on, it became full of static. I ended up putting a slip on, which helped a little bit, but static was still an issue. I guess I need to add fabric softener next time I wash it.

Here is a better view of the skirt from the front.

For more of a dressed up work look, I added my polka dot Black Label -Evan Picone blazer. I have styled this on the blog before. You can see me wearing it with a burgundy tunic dress, a blue maxi dress, and a scarf print blouse. Because I knew we were going to be taking pictures at a location that might not have their bathrooms open yet, I decided to make my changes from dressy to casual as simple as possible so I could just do it at the car. When I was completely done with one outfit my daughter and I would drive back to her house where I would change into the next outfit. Yes, we get creative. Ha ha.

The thrifted, off white, St. John’s Bay tank top, was an easy top to just throw different jackets over without any fuss or muss. You’ll see that in Thursday’s post.

I kept my accessories fairly simple since I had some print mixing going on. My necklace used to belong to my daughter, and when she didn’t want it any more, I grabbed it. I like the ribbons and dangling beads. It makes for a unique piece. I opted for a simple wood bracelet and a off white clutch type cloth bag.

These Kenneth Cole - Reaction - black wedge sandals were also a thrift find and I have used them on the blog before. You can see them worn with two outfits styled around a bag. and an outfit with shorts.

Do you own a leopard print skirt? Is it one you could wear in the summer. I have two other leopard print pencil skirts. One is corduroy and great for cold weather and the other is a more medium weight, so could be worn in any season.

Did you like this outfit? Be sure to check back on Thursday to see how I used this same skirt and tank for a completely casual look.

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

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Spring/Summer 2020 - Recap

I hope you have enjoyed this Pantone color series. Today I just want to show you a recap where you can see all the outfits in one post. Here we go.

New York Palette

Classic Blue, Chive and Navy Blazer

Faded Denim, Orange Peel and Lark

Sunlight, Flame Scarlet and Ash

Biscay Green, Saffron and Brilliant White

Mosaic Blue, Coral Pink and Brilliant White

Cinnamon Stick, Grape Compote and Navy Blazer

London Palette

Classic Blue, Beetroot Purple and Oyster Mushroom

Flame Orange, Blossom and Cuban Sand

Yellow Iris, Rose Brown and Cuban Sand

Storm, Fiery Red and Blueberry

Blush Beauty, Bossa Nova and Blanc de Blanc

Tanager Turquoise, Heritage Blue and Blanc de Blanc

Which color palette was your favorite? Which outfit did you like the best? I would love to hear your thoughts. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. We will be celebrating Father’s Day with our kids on different days, since schedules wouldn’t allow for everyone getting together. God bless each of you with peace and joy.

All graphics and London color palette photos by Rebecca Trumbull.

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

This is our last set of colors for this Pantone Spring/Summer 2020 series. Thursday I will do a recap of all the outfits from both palettes. Today’s blues are perfect for summer. Think tropical waters and blue skies and you have Tanager Turquoise and Heritage Blue. Pairing these two blues with white just seemed to be the right thing to do for a pretty summer outfit.

The basis for this outfit turned out to be a short sleeve floral sweater that I found while thrifting before the lockdown ever happened. I have yet to step back into a thrift store. I know many people are getting back out and resuming normal life, but I and my family have chosen to be a little more cautious. My husband and I have aging parents and we haven’t been able to spend any time since last fall visiting with them. Usually we spend the Thanksgiving through New Years holidays traveling to see our parents and other extended family, but this past fall, my job situation changed and I took on a seasonal job that did not allow for travel. Then, of course the pandemic happened. We miss our parents and hope to see them in a few weeks, Lord willing, but COVID is far from over.

Anyhow, this pretty sweater is Land’s End brand. It is perfect for these lingering cooler days of spring, before the really hot weather of summer begins, which for us, appears to be happening in just a couple of days. It is a medium weight with a crew neck and banded bottom. It has plenty of stretch so is easy to get on an off, although not like a regular tee shirt. Here are a few Land’s End tee’s to check out: leaf print, tropical, striped with ruffled sleeves, pale pineapple stripe, and here is a cute sleeveless polo as well.

I am also wearing one of my summer pants staples, my Christopher & Banks crop pants. I have used these numerous times on the blog. They are the perfect weight and thickness for summer and they have a banded waistline, so just pull on and off.

I added my light blue Croft and Barrow sweater that I have had for a number of years. I thought that this color mimicked the Tanager Turquoise in a softer more pastel shade. Now that I see the pictures, I think the blue flowers in the short sleeve sweater were a closer representation of that rather aqua blue color, with my purse being a closer shade to the Heritage Blue. Here are a few similar cardigans to look at: essential button up, seed stitch and another button up in darker colors.

I kept my accessories fairly simple since the floral sweater is doing all the talking. A few beaded bracelets, a bead and silver necklace that disappears in the sweater, the blue Rosetti cross body bag and my silver SO flats round out the outfit.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like this outfit? Do you have these colors in your closet? I’d love to have your feedback, so be sure to leave me some love in the comments section. Your feedback helps me grown as a blogger and helps my blog as well. Thanks for all you do.

I’m including a few other shopping links below. Feel free to peruse. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Blush Beauty, Bossa Nova and Blanc de Blanc

Today’s two bright colors might seem like an unlikely pairing, but then if you have been following me for a while, you know the crazier the color combo the more I want to try it. In some ways these colors combined almost make the outfit seem monochrome. Blush Beauty is a pinkish orange, so we might say it is like salmon or coral. Bossa Nova is a dark red with a little bit of a brown undertone. I added a Classic color Blanc de Blanc which is white by any other name. I know that there are shades of white, but for all intents and purposes, white is white. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

My paisley short sleeve tunic top is a thrifted Old Navy piece. It has a lace up detail that is just for show, but the print is what drew me to it. I have always like paisley. It just makes me think of the 60’s and 70’s and lots of my Dad’s old ties. Ha. ha. Here is a look at the outfit without the jacket so you get a better view of the top.

My pants are W63 from dressbarn. I’ve styled these on the blog before. You can see them worn with a coral sweater, a multi print jacket, and with a LuLaRoe perfect tee. One thing I noticed as I looked back at these pictures and the one above, these pants are always wrinkled when I wear them. Part of that may be the material as it sticks to my legs, and part of it may be my chunky legs. Ha, ha.

Here you can see the lace up detail on the top and the thrifted distressed Rue 21 cropped jean jacket. This is another piece that has gotten frequent wear on the blog. See it with a floral midi dress and a maxi dress, a high-waisted skirt, dark wash jeans, and with a leopard print skirt.

I thought the white accessories were a good compliment to go with the white in the top. The Jaclyn Smith bag was thrifted and the Keds were a Kohl’s clearance purchase a year or two ago.

What do you think of these colors together or even separately? Do you like Bossa Nova or Blush Beauty better? How are your clothes fitting these days? Ha, ha.

I hope you all are doing well and that you have a great weekend. Thank you all so much for following along and especially for your lovely comments. If there is ever anything you’d like to see or have me talk about on the blog, let me know. I have had someone suggest I do a video on how to tie scarves, so maybe I’ll try something like that in the fall.

I’ve included some shopping links to look over, so if you have the time, check those out. You never know when you might need something new. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Spring/Summer 2020 - Storm, Fiery Red and Blueberry

Last week I was really struggling with all that was going on in the world and in our country, so I only posted once, and never did send out an email. I apologize for that. Sometimes, life is like a sucker punch to the gut and you have to step back and try to catch your breath. I am going to approach the subject of all that is happening and my own response to it on my Faith page tomorrow, so just know that I do feel this is important enough to talk about, but I do not think it needs to be done on my Fashion page. Be sure to look for that post tomorrow.

Today we are looking at two very bright and bold colors. When I thought about pairing Storm with Fiery Red, I knew I wanted to keep it as far away from looking Christmasy as possible. Obviously, Storm would never be mistaken for the typical Christmas green that we usually associate with that holiday, but things have changed. Christmas green and red are no longer the only color combinations in holiday decor. Still, I wanted this look to evoke a feeling of fierce femininity, so let me know what you think.

This thrifted, graphic tee from Old Navy is the perfect green and considering everything we have been going through, I love its positive message. Everything has beauty, we just need to look for it.

I had some sheets hanging out on the line on the day we took these pictures, so we had a little fun with it.

Rather than create an outfit with a full red piece, I thought I would show you an outfit where you use one color just in your accessories and wow, what a statement it makes! The Fiery Red bandana in my hair, the jewelry and the bag, add that bright red color, without being overwhelming. Some people feel less comfortable wearing bright colors and prefer to just stick to the classics, like navy, gray or black. Adding a bright color really boosts the overall look of an outfit.

My medallion print skirt is from Christopher and Banks last year. I like that it is light weight, and yet not at all see through. Win, win. I felt that it was a good match for the Blueberry Pantone classic color.

You’ve seen these loafer heels numerous times on the blog before. I got these thrifting and have had them for years, but they still look pretty good. The plus side of real leather. These are Relativity brand.

What do you think of these colors? Do you think this was a good combination? Do you where skirts in the summer? What length skirt do you like to wear; mini, knee, midi or maxi? I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you to all of you who regularly comment on my posts. I always look forward to your insights and of course the positive feedback is wonderful, but your negative feedback is welcome too.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. I hope you are staying safe and healthy wherever you are!

Photos and graphic Rebecca Trumbull.

These shopping links are affiliate links which means I get a few pennies when you click on a link. Thanks for those clicks. All opinions are my own.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Yellow Iris, Rose Brown and Cuban Sand

Today I am featuring two colors I was not quite sure what to do with. When I began searching for these colors in my closet I was sure I wasn’t going to be able to find them. Rose brown is an odd color; not exactly brown, but not really pink, it has a purplish feel to it. Yellow Iris was another tough one for me. I don’t have a ton of pastels in my wardrobe. I like jewel tones and earthy colors, so this pale yellow was stumping me. I have a lot of yellow in my wardrobe; bright yellow, mustard yellow, sunflower yellow, and so on, but not a lot of pale yellow. While Sunlight from the New York palette had an almost light beige or tan vibe to it, this Yellow Iris is strictly a pale yellow. This is what I came up with. Let me know what you think.

I found this floral embellished tee first when looking for these colors. The flowers bear a close resemblance to Rose Brown. This is a thrifted Christopher and Banks tee. The Yellow Iris button up is a thrifted White Stag piece and while not quite as dark as the Pantone color is similar enough. The next pieces I had that were a light yellow were too yellow. Ha, ha.

I added this brown woven belt, because it has a bit of that Rose Brown vibe going on as do the two necklaces I chose. They are definitely a darker brown color, but different than a regular brown, and I thought they went well with the tee.

The gold in the longer necklace made me reach for my gold clutch. You can also see that I added a few simple seed bead bracelets to add a touch more of the Rose Brown color.

My white crop pants I have styled on the blog before. You can see them styled with a dress in another Pantone shoot here. These are a thrifted St. John’s Bay brand.

I looked up the difference between a caged sandal and a gladiator sandal and discovered that there really is no difference. Many gladiator styles come up higher on the leg, much like a boot and involve some sort of lacing, but both gladiator and caged sandals are basically an open style of sandal with numerous straps coming across the foot. They can be open toe, thong or closed toe in variety. The gladiator style ones I have on are Massini brand. I like that they cover more of my foot than a sandal with only a few straps. They also have a small block heel, which I think makes them a little more dressy.

What do you think of these colors? Are they colors you would wear? Do you have pale yellow, this purply brown in your closet? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I am leaving you with a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photos and graphic Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Biscay Green, Saffron and Brilliant White

Today’s outfit revolves around three colors from the Pantone Spring 2020 New York Palette that are described as flavorful, cleansing and pristine. Saffron is a rich orangey yellow color, while Biscay Green leans towards a more soothing aqua. Both colors to me are perfect for summer and when paired with a bright white give a warm weather, party ready look.

When I saw Biscay Green on the palette, I knew that I had nearly nothing in my closet that was this pretty greenish blue, so I started keeping an eye out at my local thrift stores last fall for an item or two that would add this medium green to my closet. This oversized button-up caught my eye. It is a brand called Zylos, which appears to be a past men’s brand in dress shirts and ties. As I have mentioned before, I am liking the oversized button up shirts for a fun, casual way to dress up a pair of jeans or in this case a skirt. For this outfit, I tied the bottom of the shirt and buttoned two buttons.

The Saffron colored Apt. 9 tee, is another thrift find and I have used it on the blog before for another Pantone series. Last year a similar color was called Mango Mojito and I used this same tee to represent that color. You can see that post here. I thought the color was independent enough that I didn’t need the whole tee shirt to show. The bright pop of yellow orange stands out quite nicely with the peaceful green.

I’ve styled this skirt on the blog before. It is St. John’s Bay brand and I got it at JC Penney a few years ago. I was drawn to it for two reasons. The first was that it was white and it was lined. It is so hard to find white you can wear in the summer that doesn’t require a slip or some other underwear that won’t show. This skirt is completely lined. You can still see through it if you have on a dark pair of panties, like red, black or navy, but for the most part they won’t be noticeable. The other reason was the beautiful lace detailing. It is a very pretty piece and can be dressed up or down, depending if you are feeling classic or boho.

I have had this layered beaded necklace for a while. I really like it, but don’t think to wear it that much. When I saw how well it complimented this outfit I was excited to include it. So much of my jewelry I can’t even remember where or when I got it. Ha, ha. Maybe that’s because I have so much of it. I also included a navy beaded bracelet, which you will see in the next picture, to pair with the navy beads in the necklace.

I found this bag at another thrift store when my girls took me thrifting back on my birthday in January. Ahh, those were the days, when we could get together, go shopping and get lunch. Hopefully, those days will come again. I love the color and feel of this bag. It is a brand called Stone Mountain and is very well made. It has a long handle which can be adjusted, so you can either use it for a shoulder bag or a cross body bag.

My perforated peep toe shoeties are Sonoma brand and from Kohl’s. I need to paint my toes. I don’t wear sandals a lot because my feet are like my legs and covered with nasty looking varicose veins. Last fall I went to a vascular surgeon who did an ultra sound to see what could be done. Unfortunately, most of the veins in my legs are in the same bad condition, so having them worked on would provide some temporary relief, but over the course of time, they would develop the same issues. I am putting that off for now, but one day may revisit the idea.

Do you like these colors? How would you wear them? Remember you don’t have to put the colors together as I do. I am simply trying to show you what the colors are for the Pantone seasons and ways you might combine them. Do you wear white in the summer? Do you have a white skirt or do you prefer to wear pants, capris or shorts? I’d love to hear from you, so leave a comment or two.

Graphic designed by Rebecca Trumbull.

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

Have a great day and be safe as the world begins to open back up!

.

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

There are so many ways to combine these colors. I have had a few of you make comments about which colors you like and love to combine. Susan told me she loves today’s pale yellow, Sunlight, combined with Tuesday’s medium pale blue, Faded Denim. What a great combination. I had Karen tell me she usually veers towards the Classic colors, but suddenly realized she had a few new outfits in her closet when she saw last Thursday’s combination of Classic Blue and Chive. I would love to spend most of my blog time just talking about color combinations, because the more I do these Pantone series, the more I realize how many more beautiful combinations there are. However, I know there are other fashion topics to talk about, so I’ll keep the color talks to the Pantone series and my monthly Color Play posts, which will be back soon. Thank you, all of my beautiful subscribers, for your input and support.

Today’s color combination may not have been your first choice. When we think of combining yellow and red my mind immediately goes to McDonald’s. Anyone else have that reaction? Yellow and red seem almost clownish together, but you may change your mind when you see how a pale faded yellow pairs with a stark red. I like it. Let me know what you think.

This thrifted Christopher and Banks corduroy jacket was the perfect Sunlight color. This jacket is soft, flexible, and great for those in between days when it is still cool.

Another thrift find, this Nautica 3/4 sleeve tee is a great spring and summer staple. Not only does it have the bright Flame Scarlet and white stripes, but it bears the nautical sign of the anchor. It makes me think of the anchor of the Lord, that moors my boat in this ever stormy sea called life.

These Ash gray jeans are another thrift find, and are Gloria Vanderbilt. I used to wear Gloria’s jeans all the time, then got away from them. This pair is soft and have just enough stretch to make them so comfortable to wear. I think the length of these is great for summer. How do you like to wear your pant length in the warmer months?

I kept the jewelry minimal and threw on this opera length string of large beads. Doubling it, gives it a fun layered look.

I chose this simple thrifted Jaclyn Smith top handle bag to keep the look light and fresh. This also comes with a longer strap so it can be converted into a crossbody bag. You can see how I styled this bag with white jeans, Bermuda shorts and high waisted jeans.

My Dana Buchman tweed loafers are making another appearance. Loafers are a great shoe for this in between time, before you really want to go out in sandals.

What do you think of this color combination? Have I changed your view on wearing red and yellow together? It would not be my first choice of colors to combine, but I am glad I did it for this series. It helps me to think outside my box. As always I love to hear you thoughts.

Graphic created by Rebecca Trumbull.

I’ve included a few shopping links which mimic this look. These are affiliate links and all opinions are my own.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Faded Denim, Orange Peel and Lark

I must give the creators at the Pantone Color Institute credit for coming up with interesting names for their colors. It is especially mind boggling when they have been doing it for so long. Coming up with new words to describe color has to be no easy task. The name Faded Denim is cute and evokes memories of well worn jean jackets and tattered jeans. Orange Peel, mmmm, can’t you just smell the juicy, citrusy goodness? A Lark is a type of bird and you can see a few images of one here. On seeing the images the color will make perfect sense. On to our outfit.

The Pantone version of Faded Denim is a more of a medium wash denim that has paled a bit from repetitive washing. I chose my light wash Christopher and Banks pop over chambray top, which is a bit lighter than the Pantone color, but it serves the purpose. I’ve used this top on the blog before. You can see how I styled it with white pants, and with a denim vest. Here is a picture without the sweater, which I’ll come back to.

This Lu La Roe maxi skirt has a fun multi-colored print that includes Orange Peel. I like a printed skirt like this because I can match it up with so many different colored tops or sweaters. Even in this situation where the top is not one of the colors in the skirt, it works because the light blue goes well with all of the other colors. You probably could do this with numerous other colors.

I found this Lark (or camel by any other name), colored sweater thrifting. It is Old Navy brand. It has a bit of a grunge vibe, which I like. I thought pairing it with this more dressed up skirt and top gave the look a cozy feel.

This chunky orange necklace was perfect for this outfit and the small little black clutch with heart appliques kept the whole look from being too overwhelming. Some times a big skirt and a big sweater and a big top with a big bag, just gets to be too much.

This black pair of peep toe shoeties from Clarks are so comfy and I like the zipper on the heel. They are very easy to get in and out of.

What do you think of Faded Denim and Orange Peel? Would you wear these colors? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments.

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

Graphic by Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Classic Blue, Chive and Navy Blazer

As usual, the names for the Pantone colors always amuse me. Classic Blue is pretty normal. Obviously, Chive makes me think of green onions and as you will see, the color is a pretty dark green. Navy Blazer is one of the classic colors and is your typical navy staple, which many of us have a piece or two in our closets. Since Classic Blue is the color of the year, I decided to start with it. The idea to combine it with Chive was a natural progression when I pulled out this thrifted summer midi dress.

This outfit centers around this thrifted OliviaRose dress that I got numerous years ago. Its pretty floral print combines blue, white and green a black background. I didn’t even have to think when I pulled this out of my closet. Classic Blue and Chive were the perfect pairing. An outfit like this really can be worn year round.

This bright blue scarf was gifted to me for Christmas and I used it to introduce the Pantone Color of the Year back in January. You can see that post here.

My faux suede blazer has a little more of a blue undertone than the Chive color, but I thought it was pretty close. This thrifted ISB Inc. blazer is meant to have a double breasted appearance when buttoned, but my figure right now will not allow for that. However, I think it looks just as nice left open since there are buttons on both sides.

You can see in the next picture how nicely the blazer fits through the back. I like that it is more fitted, rather than boxy. I was also trying something different with my hair.

This thrifted Simply Vera/Vera Wang bag has made multiple appearances on the blog as has my thrifted Relativity loafer heels.

I also added my sparkly Classic Blue bracelet, which was also a Christmas gift.

If you are not into wearing bold, bright colors, then these colors would be the perfect choice for you. You could easily make this pairing more summery by adding a white skirt or crop pants instead of the darker print dress. You could also wear head to toe white with a Chive colored blazer or sweater and just a few pops of Classic Blue jewelry. There are so many options, so never say never to any color.

Do you like these colors? How would you wear them? Is this the sort of outfit you would wear? If not, what kind of outfit would you put together? I would love to hear back from you. Things are a little lonely around here. Ha, ha. I am sure you all can relate. We really need the world to get back to something more normal, even if it is not perfect.

I hope you enjoyed this post everyone. Until next time. Stay safe and healthy.

Graphic by Rebecca Trumbull.

I’ve included a few shopping links just for something to look at. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Pantone Spring/Summer 2020 - Intro: The New York Palette

Here we are again, looking at the Spring/Summer color palette for 2020. The Pantone Color Institute puts out two color palettes twice a year; the New York palette and the London palette. The palettes for Spring/Summer come out in the fall of the year before. The Fall/Winter palettes comes out around January. They are thinking much further ahead than I am. I am just gearing up to talk about the Spring/Summer palette and the fashion industry already has their color choices and styles made up for the fall and winter. It is very hard to keep up, so I don’t even try. I try to show you the seasonal trends, as those are more time focused. Colors, in my opinion are not restricted by times or seasons, although, I am one to pull out my lighter colors for spring and summer and my darker colors for fall and winter.

This Spring/Summer palette is full of colors that just about anyone can be pleased with. If you are a pastel kind of gal you will love the lighter shades of pale Sunlight, Coral Pink and Faded Denim. If you enjoy bright and bold, you’ll want to reach for Flame Scarlet, Saffron and Orange Peel. Maybe you enjoy tones that are more earthy, then you will like Chive, Classic Blue and Cinnamon Stick. Looking for color inspiration for resort wear, then take a peek at Grape Compote, Mosaic Blue and Biscay Green. In addition the Institute always includes a classic color palette if you prefer the main part of your outfit to be more neutral and conservative. This year those colors include a deep tan, called Lark, and a dark blue called Navy Blazer. Bright White and Ash are also classic options on the New York palette.

A good way to combine these colors is to take a navy blazer, a gray skirt and then add a bright pop of color like Orange Peel or Saffron in a blouse, jewelry or a bag. If you don’t normally like a bold approach to your wardrobe, this is a great way to still stay in your comfort zone, but add color in small bursts.

The way I will be pairing these, as usual is taking two of the colors and adding a pinch of a classic color to keep things from getting to outrageous. Just so you have a teaser as to what is coming up, here are a few pictures of my color combos.

Classic Blue and Chive

Faded Denim and Orange Peel

Sunlight and Flame Scarlet

Saffron and Biscay Green

Coral Pink and Mosaic Blue

Grape Compote and Cinnamon Stick

I’ll talk more about these colors and how I decided to put the outfits together when I post each of these outfits over the next couple of weeks.

Be sure to come back on Thursday to see the first outfit in the Pantone Spring/Summer 2020 New York palette.

Have a great day!

Graphic provided by Rebecca Trumbull.



Transitional Spring Outfit

Before I get to my Pantone series I decided to do a few more posts featuring transitional spring outfits. If you are unsure what a transitional outfit is, let me explain by first giving you the definition of the word transition. Webster’s online dictionary gives several definitions for this word:

- passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another

- a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another

- a musical passage leading from one section of a piece to another

There are a few other definitions which are not as pertinent to our fashion content. The second definition seems to be the one that suits our needs the best, but I really like the third definition. Aren’t we a musical score, written by an Almighty Creator? The seasonal changes in our natural world and in the fashion world are akin to a piece of music changing and modulating from one section to another.

When it pertains to fashion we enjoy moving from one season to another just as much as we enjoy the change of the nakedness of winter to the covering bloom of spring. We enjoy moving our heavy, dark winter clothes to the back of the closet, or the bins in the basement and pulling out our bright, light weight tops and fun colorful maxi dresses. What often becomes a problem is that period of time when winter has not yet loosened its grip and the chill in the spring air is too cool for our light weight layers. The transition is this time period we, in the midwest, now find ourselves in. We still need our sweaters and our booties, but we crave our bright colors and layers that allow the sun to caress our skin.

Today’s outfit is another attempt at styling a look around a scarf. I have so many pretty, colorful scarves, so I thought why not use them as focal points for outfits.

The beauty of styling an outfit around a colorful scarf like this is it is so easy to do. This scarf has several colors including a light and dark pink, a light purple, a light blue and the orange. I wanted to stay away from pink for this outfit so I chose the orange, light blue and purple to focus on.

My Worthington orange pants have made many appearances on the blog. You can see them worn with a green sweater, a floral dress, and a print top. Worthington is a JC Penney brand and I find them to be a good brand if you are looking for durable, decent fitting work/dress pants.

My light blue Sonoma tee was a thrift find. I typically wear these crew neck or v-neck types of tees as layering pieces under sweaters or long sleeve button ups during the winter, but for a transitional outfit like this it was perfect to wear on its own, or in this case with a vest.

The above picture gives you a closer view of the scarf. It is a large square, which I folded into a triangle. The point point of the triangle is at the front. The two other long, narrow points fold towards the back and then around to the front. I tied those into a double knot over the bib part of the triangle.

I chose this open weave black marled vest to go with the black lines in the scarf. This vest is Croft and Barrow brand from the Kohl’s clearance racks a number of years ago. (I am not sure what was going on with my pants, but please don’t judge my crotch ailment — ha, ha! Probably because they are a little tight, bleh!)

This Nicole Miller bag was another Kohl’s clearance find a few years ago. It has appeared on the blog numerous times. I chose it for its purplish color. I also opted for a few purple bangle bracelets to add to the purple vibe of the scarf.

I chose my tasseled Dana Buchman loafers as I thought they went with the vest and as you learned earlier this year, loafers are back in.

Do I have you thinking about those pretty scarves in your closet? Do you have a few that you feel qualify as spring scarves due to their color and weight? I think it would be fabulous if you built an outfit around one of those scarves and told me about it in the comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts on how you put a transitional spring outfit together, using one of your scarves.

As usual, I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links, which means when you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of my links I get a few more cents. I appreciate every click. All opinions are my own.

I hope you week is off to a good start.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another post on my Faith page, where we are working our way very slowly through Romans chapter 8. In addition if you follow my Fashion pages, Thursday will feature another transitional spring outfit, this time with a new maxi dress I got from a local retailer before the stay at home order went into effect.

Have a good day!

Styling an Easter Outfit Around a Scarf - Dressy Look

This week I am using a spring scarf around which to build two Easter outfits. On Tuesday I showed you a casual look with blush pants, a polka dot denim shirt, and a utility jacket. That look was something you could wear to your kids’ Easter egg hunt, a spring picnic at the park or even to a more casual church service. Obviously, right now, we are not doing any of those things, but you could also use either one of these outfits for some other event later in the summer when, hopefully, things will be open again.

Today’s look still revolves around the pretty floral print scarf that was a gift from my daughter. It is the perfect piece to draw inspiration from because of all the beautiful colors. However, for this look I wanted to be more dressed up.

This long, silky, Jennifer Lopez dress was a Kohl’s purchase a number of years ago. I have styled this on the blog before with my cropped denim jacket and with a floral bag.

I wanted to add a belt and thought this recent clearance purchase would be a fun pop of color around my waist, and it went with the scarf.

Once again you can see a closer view of the scarf and all its pretty colors. The bright blue cardigan Is from Christopher and Banks.

You’ve seen this little blush clutch on the blog before and I thought it went well with the pink scarf and the dressy vibe of the outfit. I found this on clearance at Meijer, a few seasons ago.

My pretty blue bracelet was a Christmas gift from my hubby. I love the sparkle.

I went with my silver SO flats to go with the silver in the bracelet and on the clutch.

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear something like this for Easter? What pieces do you have in your closet to build an outfit similar to this? What scarf do you own that you could build an outfit around?

With all that is going on right now to keep us at home, it is kind of fun to go rummaging through your closet for ways to style pieces you already own differently. Try it and find out. You might have several new outfits you didn’t know you had. Think outside the box.

I hope you enjoyed these Easter outfits and I hope and pray you are doing well, both physically and mentally. Hang in there and have a lovely Easter weekend!

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

Styling an Easter Outfit Around a Scarf - Casual Look

Hi everyone. These are definitely disturbing times we are living in. I am so thankful for my faith in Jesus, my family and friends, and all of you lovely subscribers who are on this journey with me. I am not alone and neither are you. I hope that you are staying safe and healthy. Everyday there is another article in the news about the virus and the long term ramifications on our health, the state of health care in our country, or the world. It can be very scary and really blow our anxiety levels right through the roof, so please follow along for a little break from the bleakness. Follow me into the world of spring color.

I am not starting my Pantone series yet, but I do hope to work on that a little over the weekend. Things look a lot different around here as I am sure they do in your household as well. My older daughter, who is my photographer is trying to stay safe at home and is not venturing out much, and I totally respect that. Therefore, we will not be getting together for pictures for a little while. My younger daughter works and since her son is off school I see both of them several days a week, so we have contact. If you have the option of staying home and not having contact with other people, even your family, please do so. It is really best for everyone. For those of you who are helping your families with child care or in other ways, just be sure to wash hands, sanitize and try not to have too much up in your face contact (hard to do with babies and toddlers.)

As my title says, I decided to give you two spring outfits this week that would be perfect for the upcoming Easter weekend. I know most of us won’t be having our normal family gatherings, but whoever you are with you can still dress up and maybe Face Time or Skype with your other family members. My older daughter said her husband’s family is going to do a progressive dinner of sorts, where they each make something, divvy it into portions for each household and then deliver it to the rest of the families involved. Then when they are all back safe in their own homes they can have video dinner time together. What a great idea! I am not sure what our family will do, but even if you are in your own home with just your spouse, or another significant family member you can still celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and the hope that this current darkness will pass.

Today’s outfit centers around the pretty print scarf I got as a gift. A fiesta of feathery friends, and flowers adorns the light pink background on this long, rectangular piece. There are plenty of colors to choose from including several shades of blue, green and yellow. For this outfit I opted to focus on the blue, green and pink.

This St. John’s Bay utility jacket was my first utility piece. I had never had a utility jacket up until I bought this one at JCPenney I have these longer sleeves rolled up once and they actually came with tabs, so you could roll them up farther and button them. You can see how I styled this same jacket with a striped tee and a pair of distressed crop pants here.

My light pink pants are Christopher and Banks which I got on sale at the end of last season. These are very comfy and have good amount of stretch making it easier to move around. I was not really thinking about my hair in these pictures, so this is what you get. Ha, ha.

Here is a closer look at the scarf and you can also see my SO thrifted polka dot denim shirt. I thought it went well with the medium blue in the scarf.

Once again I went for my thrifted olive American Eagle hobo bag. I didn’t realize how closely it matches with my jacket.

I added this simple beaded bracelet for a pop of orange. I got this last summer at a street fair when we were visiting family.

It must be spring, because the bright blue thrifted Keds are back in the rotation! Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this colorful outfit. On Thursday, I’ll use the same scarf to show you a more dressy outfit.

What are you going to wear for Easter Day? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I hope you are all staying safe out there. Hugs and prayers for you all.

I’ve included a few shopping links. I know it is easy to shop from home, maybe a little too easy, but it is where we are at, so enjoy looking at these. These are affiliate links, which means when you click on a link I get a few cents. When you make a purchase through a link, I get a little more. I appreciate all your clicks and your comments.

Seeing Red - Actual Amy - Plaid Jacket

Today is the last post for the month of February and for my Seeing Red series. If you are new to the blog, I do a lot of series, as it gives me a theme around which to style my outfits, so seeing as February is Valentine’s month and Heart Disease awareness month, red was my color of choice.

Today’s focal piece is a recent purchase from Maurice’s clothing store. This plaid jacket with its sherpa collar called to me as soon as I saw it. “Amy! Hey, Amy! You know you want me. I would look amazing on you, and you would look amazing with me wrapped around you. I’d also keep you cozy, as well as ramp up your casual, biker-chic vibe.” I do believe the jacket was right. Take a look at today’s outfit and see if you agree?

There are so many things I love about this jacket. The color, the pattern and the sherpa along the collar, cuffs and zipper inside, are the main characteristics that drew me to it. The deciding factor was the price. Since it was a winter/seasonal item, the price was only $19.99. I was doing a return to Maurice’s so I considered it an exchange and got it. The other nice thing about this piece is the fit. I could actually wear a bulkier item underneath and still zip it up without looking like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Ha, ha. It was a cold dat when we took these pictures and I clearly felt warm with this jacket on.

I was obviously going for a very casual look, so I chose my thrifted, distressed, Vera Wang cropped jeans. I wear these a lot in the summer, but thought they would give a fun, edgy vibe to this look.

It also seemed appropriate to have a thrifted band sweatshirt. I like the Beatles, but I was more of an Alice Cooper and Aerosmith chick as I was growing up. My younger daughter and I went to a Cooper concert a few years ago and it was such a blast. I guess I should have gotten a tee shirt!

To go along with this tough girl vibe, I chose accessories that included metal and black. Please don’t judge me for adding flowers to my olive hobo bag. Ha ha. It may have been a wish for spring, my inner flower child feelings or the fact that I really just love flowers.

Finally, my Seven Dials combat boots finished the look. What do you think?

Why is this outfit actually me? I was the one that beat up boys when I was in elementary school. I was the one that chased after my brothers on their motorcycles on my bicycle. I was the one that swam in the creek behind our house. I’m the one who would really like to have a motorcycle of my own. I’m the one who would like to be a warrior princess, if I could. This outfit just seems to sum me up. I told you that jacket was speaking to me. Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Thank you for all of your support. I hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

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

Seeing Red - Color Play - Patterned Scarf

Color inspiration can come from so many different places. In this monthly column, I am trying to force myself to look in different places for color. The typical places we look to are our clothes. For instance a pattern on a top or sweater, might be the basis for the rest of your clothing piece choices. Last month I chose a watercolor painting and table center piece as the inspiration for my outfit. I am hoping to inspire you to look in places you never thought of looking for color inspiration.

This month, I decided to inspire you with something probably every one of us has in our closets; a scarf. This particular scarf is full of color and not typically colors we would want to put together into an outfit, but why not? Think outside the box. Most of us use our scarves at accessories, without ever really letting them inspire our whole look. I decided to give it a try, so be sure to let me know what you think.

This scarf is perfect for this month’s Seeing Red theme. It is full of burgundy, red, shades of purple and a yellowy green. Using this as my spring board, I dove into my closet to see what I could find. This is what I came up with.

These bright red Faded Glory pants are a recent thrift find. I like ankle pants as the weather gets warmer and I thought this color would be fun for spring and summer. I used to never wear bright colored pants like this, but I have decided that life is too short to not wear the fun pants. I still reach for my simple blue denim jeans the most, but a bright color once in a while is a good way to stretch ourselves, whether it be on the bottom or the top.

My lavender colored button up shirt is a thrifted Merona piece. The longer yellow sweater was a clearance find at the end of last winter season from Forever 21. I don’t shop there too often, because most juniors sized clothing, does not fit me very well, but with the advent of bigger, roomier fashion, I can find things once in a while that don’t make me look like I’m trying to dress like I am still 21; 39 maybe, but not 21. Ha, ha. The sweater is soft and cozy, the perfect topper for these very chilly winter days.

I know the fashion industry and many bloggers are already talking about spring and the upcoming fashion trends. I understand the need for being ahead of the game and often at this time of year we are yearning for the change of seasons and the warmer days of spring. However, the reality is, it is still, very cold! This morning when I checked the temperature, it registered at 18, but the “feels like” temp was only 9. Um, I’m still going to wear my warm, cozy sweaters, thank you very much. To even think about baring my ankles or talking about shorts and less layers makes me feel cold.

I’ve had this red and gold charm necklace for a long time. It is the perfect piece to add a pop of red color against any top. I love pendant necklaces and I am fortunate enough to have a long enough torso to wear them. I especially like these charm type necklaces with all their different fun charms, beads and dangles.

You’ve seen this cranberry colored bag just recently on the blog (you can see that post here), and I realized it would be a great color match for the berry color in the scarf. This thrifted Libby Edelman bag was brought to my attention by my thrifting bestie back in Buffalo, NY one time when I was back visiting my mom. As much as my hubby prefers that I never bring a purse into the house again, once in a while a girl has to bring it home.

My olive SO ankle boots are making another appearance. These ankle boots are the most comfortable, versatile pieces and are the one purchase I would strongly recommend. It doesn’t have to be the SO brand, but I have found Kohl’s carries SO and Sonoma boots and I have really liked both. They are comfortable, fairly durable and have a great price point, especially if you can get them on sale or on clearance. I’m including shopping links at the bottom of the post, so be sure to check those out. Now is a great time to get boots for next season as many of them are on clearance. The great thing about ankle boots is you can wear them well into the spring with cropped pants, rolled pant hems and even skirts.

Do you have a scarf in your closet that you would love to build an outfit around? Give it a try. It is always fun to challenge your fashion brain to think beyond your norm. Many people might say they don’t want to change the way they do things, but there is something fun and satisfying about doing things differently and having it turn out well. Give it a try and let me know how you did.

For some beautiful scarves check out Nora Minassian at The Jacket Society. She has some beautiful printed pieces like this blue and white multi, ivory, pink and orange, tan and orange, multi-leaf print, and many others. Nora’s scarves are large and can be used as a shawl too, which would also be perfect for an outfit like this.

I love to hear your thoughts and I really wish there was a way to get more people to interact on the blog. The reason I say this, is not just for my benefit, but you all can be an encouragement to each other. After all, isn’t that what this is all about? For those of you who do comment, thanks again. For those who don’t, I would never want you to feel pressured. I know life is crazy busy. I often delete posts from other bloggers, because I just don’t have the time to comment, but I always feel good if I do. I feel like I am reaching out and encouraging a friend I’ve never met.

Thanks again for all your support.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

The shopping links included are affiliate links. I get a few cents if you click on a link and a little bit more if you purchase something through one of my links. I appreciate every click.

Have a great weekend and I hope the sun is shining where you are.

Seeing Red - Red with Tan - Velvet Jacket

(For those of you who entered the Bloggiversary Givaway, be sure to read to the bottom to see who won.)

As I was preparing for this series, I knew there were certain pieces I wanted to feature. Today’s red velvet jacket is one of those. This thrifted Briggs NY blazer is such a fun and unique piece. I originally got it as a holiday blazer when I was doing my 20 Days of Christmas series back in 2018. You can see the post featuring that Christmas outfit here. I wanted to be able to style this jacket in another way and what better than to wear it for the month of February. Whether you celebrate Valentines Day or are wearing red for Heart Disease awareness month, a red jacket, or blazer is a great way to do it.

Let me share a style secret with you. I typically don’t button or zip my sweaters or blazers. If I am using a piece as outerwear, then I do want to be able to zip or button it. More often though, I add a jacket or sweater as a layering piece for warmth, but leave it open, so the under layer, whether it be a graphic tee, button up or a textured sweater like the one in this outfit, can be seen. That also allows any necklaces or scarves to be an added focal point in the outfit. This blazer is too tight, but it fits well through the shoulders and back so I bought it, knowing this is exactly how I would wear it. The fashion gurus might say I am committing a crime worthy of jail, but I don’t care. After all, part of the reason many of us blog about fashion is to remind people to wear what makes you feel good and is completely you.

Just like the red and black of last week’s post, red and tan also make a wonderful statement. My tan Sonoma sweater is older than the hills. I don’t wear it too often, but it goes with so many things and was the perfect topper for this recently thrifted Worthington skirt. I like that the sweater is an open weave, so I can layer any cardi under it and you’ll be able to see the color. For this outfit I just did white, but it would have worked well with black or red too.

I fell in love with this skirt when I saw it. I have way too many skirts and don’t wear them very often at all, but I like having them, if just for the sake of showing you outfits on the blog. Plus, I like to have choices. My problem is, I have too many choices. Ha, ha. Anyway, the skirt is easy on and easy off with an elastic waist. It is a medium weight swingy knit. I wasn’t sure about the pattern at first, and even when I put it on and looked in the mirror I wasn’t sure if it would make me look too wide on the bottom, but I think the diagonal pattern works well for both narrow and fat bottomed girls. ( Do you hear Freddy Mercury singing, “Fat bottomed girls make the rockin’ world go round”?)

I found this fun necklace on clearance at Meijer. The pretty leaf is what sold me.

I also chose my bracelet with the gray stone and my silver clutch.

The same suede Aerosoles that I wore in last week’s post are making another appearance. I opted for the black hose for two reasons. With the black shoes, they make my legs look longer and thinner. In addition, the fact that it is still winter and they were a heavier weight seemed like a good choice.

What do you think of this outfit? Do wear printed skirts or do you choose to wear only solids on your bottom half? Do you like your sweaters and jackets to be worn closed or open? I’d love to hear your thoughts

For those of you who entered my Bloggiversary giveaway, thank you so much for participating. I didn’t get nearly the response I did last year, so I’m not sure if people are just too busy, or if a Target gift card isn’t that big of a draw. Ha, ha. Anyway, for those who took the time and my one new person who subscribed, thank you, thank you, thank you. You all are truly the reason I keep doing this. I also want to say thanks for your kind remarks. You all made my day and my week.

The winner of the $30 Target gift card is Karen Anderson. Congratulations, Karen!

Thanks again, everyone who supports the blog. Have a great Tuesday.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

I’m including a few shopping links for red blazers and jackets, just in case you find your closet lacking. Have fun shopping. These are affiliate links, all opinions are my own.

Seeing Red - Red with Black - Taking Care of Our Hearts

We don’t often think of pairing red and black for Valentine’s Day. More often we style red with white or some version of red and pink. There are also many of us who don’t even visit the red or pink idea for Valentine’s because we either don’t celebrate that special day, we don’t like traditional holiday color schemes in our outfits or maybe are more into blues and greens than reds and pinks.

For these February posts, I’ve chosen to focus on red or darker versions of red like burgundy. I also wanted to make each of these outfits, not be so much about Valentine’s Day, although you could use them for a Valentine’s or Galentine’s outing, but more about the color red.

February is Heart Disease awareness month, and the color red certainly represents the age old idea of what a Valentine’s heart looks like, but it also represents that most important muscle in our bodies. This major fireball, which is about the size of your fist, works hard, pumping blood to keep us alive. Try to envision the heart as the UPS hub, where everything comes to and goes out that our bodies need to survive. Heart disease, like cancer, drug addictions and infectious diseases can be life threatening. It can manifest itself with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hardening of the arteries and many other complications. Take a look at some of these statistics that I got off the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) website:

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.1
One person dies every 37 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease.1
About 647,000 Americans die from heart disease each year—that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.2,3
Heart disease costs the United States about $219 billion each year from 2014 to 2015.3 This includes the cost of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity due to death.”

— Centers for Disease Control Website

As you look at the pictures of this outfit I put together, I’m sure you can think of at least one person you know that has been affected by heart disease. This past fall at the college my husband teaches at, a 24 year old student died from a massive heart attack. It was a tragedy.

The Heart Association, formed in 1924, is the major force behind raising awareness about heart disease in the United States. Their website has a bucket load of information. You can see some interesting historical facts on their history page here. I am not getting paid to mention this, but merely want to raise awareness of a disease that affects so many people. You would think in our world where we have so much awareness about health, good eating, exercise and so on, that heart disease would be a thing of the past, but it’s not. We all struggle to make good choices and taking care of our hearts should be no exception.

I have not touched my camera for months, but this is what you get when schedules for taking pictures don’t coincide. Ha, ha. I just did not want to stand outside and try to get my settings figured out, so I tried to stand by the windows to get enough natural light. The skies were gray, as usual, thus the shadows on my face. Oh well, I tired and the pictures are good enough that you get the idea.

For this outfit I wanted to showcase this cute black Croft and Barrow tunic that I found a few weeks ago thrifting. It is probably meant to be more of a summer piece, and when I saw it, I thought it would look cute with cropped jeans and a tee or tank top in the warmer weather, but I also thought it would be the perfect topper for a winter look, thus this red and black combo.

My red cropped pants, I have styled on the blog before. You can see them with a black kimono and with a navy blazer. I found these a while ago at Meijer on the clearance rack and they are a brand called Stitch Star.

The lace 3/4 sleeve, Lauren Conrad top was a thrift find. Typically I would wear a cami underneath, but because I knew the black tunic was going over the top, I didn’t bother. The idea was to create a monochrome layer underneath and even though the pants and top are not the exact same shade of red, it works fine because they are not right next to each other.

To keep the look fairly stream lined I chose my thrifted black and gray houndstooth, Thirty One purse and my Aerosole black suede heels.

The jewelry I am wearing I bought for my oldest daughter’s wedding, so I am often looking for other reasons to wear the necklace and bracelet. I thought this was the perfect finishing touch. You can also see the fun metal rings on the tunic.

Would you wear red and black? What sort of occasion would you wear it for? I could see wearing this outfit for a date night with my hubs where we go somewhere more fancy than Five Guys. Ha, ha.

Do you take care of your heart? I need too. My cholesterol is borderline high, so I have started eating oatmeal more. Exercise is very important, especially cardiovascular. I try to walk a few days a week, but I know I need to be more purposeful in that area as well. I want to do better and my heart needs me to. I hope you all are taking care of your hearts. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than to give the gift of health to our hearts.

Have a great Tuesday!

I’ve included a few shopping links for black tunics. These would be great to pair with red pants, pencil skirts or shorts. They could go with all sorts of colors. Feel free to peruse at your leisure. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.