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!

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.

Actual Amy - Waterfall Cardigan Outfit

I decided to go back to a column once a month on outfits that better represent how I really dress. I think it is important for fashion bloggers to show you things about fashion and beauty that are trending and help women feel more confident and beautiful. I also think there is a lot of false information going around out there. Take for example the idea of ageism and body acceptance. I really believe that even though these things are being addressed, in the fashion realm, there is still a huge gap between what is shown and what is reality. I do think it has been bloggers that have made strides in closing that gap, but I know I still struggle with showing you things that are interesting and helpful and showing you the real me. Thus this monthly column. I was doing a similar column previously and called it Ordinary Amy, but I thought that might not be the best title, so now you get Actual Amy! Ha, ha.

This thrifted Pink Rose brand, waterfall cardigan is one of my favorites. I am not a huge fan of the waterfall or cascading cardigans, unless they are made from a lighter weight knit. I have tried heavier versions and I always feel that they add to much bulk right where I do not need extra bulk; around the thighs and middle. The lighter weight knit and the more open weave seem to do better for me. I also love the rusty color of this one.

I found this rust and navy long sleeve tee at Maurice’s on sale. It’s made of a soft, stretchy fabric and will be a great piece to wear by itself, when the weather warms up a little. The brand is 24/7.

You can also see my pendant necklace. The thing I like about this large, donut style bead is the variety of colors in it. I wear it a lot with blue and navy, but it also looks great with this rust color.

Kohl’s now carries the brand Nine West and this bag was on clearance. I do not have a round bag, so when I saw this brand, at a great price and with a snakeskin print I knew I had to order it. I’m sure it will not be a regular in my rotation, because the shape and size are not large enough for all I carry in a bag, but it will be great for special occasions. I’m thinking this will look great with yellow, brown, blush or navy.

My jeans are Apt. 9 skinny ankle jeans. These work great with my Sonoma faux suede boots. Because they are shorter than other pairs of my skinny jeans, I wear a pair of heavy boot socks which come up about mid calf, and tuck the pants into them. It keeps the jeans from riding up when I sit down.

This an outfit formula that works for me. Pick a great sweater, a top, a pair of jeans, boots and a bag and voila you are ready for a day out with friends shopping and hanging out.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like waterfall cardigans? If not, what sorts of sweaters do you reach for in your wardrobe?

I’m including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which means when you click on a link, I get a small commission. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for all your support. I know not everyone has time to read blog posts or time to make comments, but I appreciate when you do. Have a great weekend and I’ll see you next week.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Crème de Pêche and Rocky Road

I am not sure how the Pantone Color Institute decides the colors they are going to feature for each of their palettes. If you have been following me for a few years now, you can probably tell that many of the colors that appear on the palette are very similar to another season’s palette and are just called a different name. For example Tuesday’s Galaxy Blue was very similar to last spring’s Princess Blue.

Today’s outfit features two colors called Crème de Pêche and Rocky Road. Once again, my versions of the colors, do not look much like the Pantone colors, but it still gives us inspiration to pair to fall type colors together and pull it all together with a light gray.

My Chico pants look much more orange in comparison to the Pantone color swatch, but I do like how this pair of pull on Ponte knit pants looks combined with the light peach top.

The light peach eyelet top was a thrift find and I wear it a lot in the warmer months. You can see a closer look at that and the necklace I chose in the picture below. I thought the necklace was a good compliment because of its similar colors.

This light gray, About A Girl, jacket was a fun find on the Kohl’s clearance rack. I like the military vibe of the buttons, but the surprising feminine detail of the ruffles on the hem and sleeves.

Another Kohl’s clearance find, I got these Sonoma boots at the end of last winter season. They are a faux suede and a different look that some of my others boots. I love the slouchy and buckle details. Yes, I do have too many pairs of boots, but can a woman who lives in the midwest, have too many? Ha, ha.

Here is the thrifted Rosetti leopard cross body again. I am planning on making this my “normal” every day bag, as soon as I get around to changing things over. How many of you change your purse on a regular basis? I have many more purses and bags than I actually use. I use them for the blog, so you can see the different styles and shapes, but more often than not, I carry a cross body bag like this. It is just so convenient for hands free shopping.

Here are a few more pictures. I really liked these photos, especially with the large rock and the yellow flowers in the background.

Although my colors were off, I hope you enjoyed this outfit. Do you have a favorite pair of boots you like to wear? What color are they? What do you think of these colors from the Pantone palette? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

When Summer Doesn't Feel Like Summer

Since the beginning of January, Toledo, OH has gotten more days of rain than Seattle, WA. I have a feeling many other mid-west areas could make the same claim. Obviously, the rainy days do their own thing to make me want to feel comfortable, but in addition, the temps have been much cooler than normal. I can remember a number of years ago, when the girls were very small going camping in May at a campground that is only about 45 minutes away. That year, the average temperature in May was in the mid to upper 80’s. I don’t know that we have broken the 80 degree mark yet this year and it is now the middle of June.

The thought came to me this morning that it might be good to share a post on how to dress when summer isn’t exactly acting like summer. We all want to wear our lighter colors and lighter weight clothes, along with short sleeves, shorts and sandals. I see many people doing just that, rebelling against the weather, but I like to be warm or at least comfortable, so I still find myself wearing long pants and cardigans over my short sleeves. Today’s layered looks revolves around three key pieces: a pair of thrifted jeans, a bell sleeve top and a knit ruana.

When I saw these Banana Republic jeans at a Goodwill store, I tried them on. I almost wasn’t going to buy them, but they were 50% off, so I think I paid $2.50 for them. I like the wide legs, the applied pockets, the subtle distressing, and the lighter wash, but the right leg has a wonky seam. You know how it is, when the leg seam doesn’t stay lined up with the other leg seam. It isn’t too noticeable and for the price, I decided it was worth it.

This knit ruana was a clearance find at Kohl’s. If you learn nothing else from me, then I, at least, hope you have learned to shop clearance, or second hand. Ha, ha. The texture and feel of this piece drew me to it. I love hand crafted pieces and really wish I had the time to learn to knit or at least pick crochet back up, as I learned it from my mom as a child. This ruana is made of a very soft, almost silky yarn. It is light weight, so the perfect topper for a cool summer day or an air conditioned office. It gave me just the right amount of coverage, so I wasn’t uncomfortable in the cooler temps today. This one has a small seam at each side, which I think helps keep it in place, and runs a little shorter in front than the back. Here is a couple of back views.

I got this Liz Claiborne bell sleeve top last year at Kohl’s and today was the first opportunity I had to wear it. I like the design and colors and the bell sleeve is at just the right spot so I am not dragging them through my food. Yes, I am that clumsy! I liked the way the bell peeked out from the bottom the the ruana sleeve. I did the front tuck and wore a gold belt for a fun statement.

Since, I chose the gold belt, I thought to accent the rest of my outfit with gold as well, so grabbed this three layered necklace, and a few rose/gold bead bracelets.

The outfit was decidedly boho, so I went for my burgundy fringe bag, which I thought lifted the burgundy color in the blouse.

I had to think about shoes for a bit before I decided on my SO booties. It was cool enough today, that this wasn’t a bad choice. My little toes were happy to be warm and cozy in these light weight faux suede booties. I’m serious. It really felt more like a late September or early October day today. So sad! The other reason I chose these was that they have a little bit of a heel. These pants are long and as you can see were already hem worn by the previous owner. I don’t mind pants dragging a little bit, but I don’t want to be walking on them.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you own pants with wonky leg seems? Do you like bell sleeve tops? Do you like to knit or crochet and do you wear your own creations? I’d love to hear from you.

I’m including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which gives me a few pennies when you click and a few more when you buy. All opinions are my own. Have fun shopping.

Remember to check back on Wednesdays for my Faith post and Thursdays for my second weekly Fashion post.

Until next time, have a great day.