Seeing Red - Outfit Inspiration - 4 Year Bloggiversary Giveaway

Happy Bloggiversary to me! This month makes four years that I have been writing about faith and fashion. Though my consistency hasn’t been perfect, I have tried to show you a variety of outfits that are meant to be inspirational. From the start my blog was meant to be encouraging. I desire to lift up the average woman, the ones who don’t always get the recognition, the ones who don’t always have a close friend to ask, “Does this make me look fat?” Ha, ha. I never was the popular one at school. I never got involved in student activities, other than a poetry club. I was shy and I didn’t fit the popularity norm.

The force that drove me to start a blog, was the desire to write. It really doesn’t matter what I write, but just the process of typing out words and expressing ideas through letters and sentences gives me a thrill. However, I knew as I was living life as a wife, mother and believer, I often felt alone. Even though we were involved in a good church, I still never felt like I quite fit in. Those are the women I am writing to and for.

I wanted women to know they were accepted. I wanted them to feel they could go into their closets and put together an outfit because I had shared something on the blog that inspired them. I wanted them to be able to read a faith post and feel that they had finally met someone who got it and who could encourage them to walk the walk. I hope I am succeeding.

Today, in addition to an outfit, you get a give away. Once again, I am offering a $30 Target gift card. The rules for entering the giveaway are at the end of the post. In order to be entered into the giveaway you need to be a subscriber and comment on this blog post. If you want an extra entry you can comment on the Facebook post of this blog post. I’ll announce the winner next Tuesday.

Today’s outfit was inspired by another ad that I received in the mail, this time from Christopher and Banks. The outfit featured a burgundy, plaid button up shirt, styled with some distressed jeans and a floral scarf. This is my take on the outfit.

My plaid shirt is Old Navy brand. I usually don’t shop at Old Navy, but a few years ago at Christmas I ordered some gifts online and got this shirt for myself. I love the color.

My jeans are a recent thrift find. I only have a few distressed items in my coset, but I wanted to add a few more. They are fun to wear for a trendy, casual look. This pair is Lane Bryant brand and have a slight boot cut.

The original model cinched in her waist with a simple belt, so I did the same with this thin, black patent leather one.

In the original ad, the model also featured a darker floral print scarf. I didn’t have anything that color, so I decided to go with the light, white floral print. I thought it went well with the shirt because of the white stripes.

I’ve read that large tote bags are back this spring, so I chose this thrifted Style & Co. bag. You can also see my fun bracelet.

My burgundy Spirit brand ankle boots went perfectly with the outfit. I know my shoes don’t have to match my shirt, but once in a while, I just love that they do.

Before we ran out the door to take these photos I threw on this double breasted wool blazer, just to keep me cozy, while we walked a little ways to where we were going to take the shots. It’s a an older thrifted piece, that I don’t wear a lot, but I like to keep it around, because it looks classy and I love how it looks with these distressed jeans.

Be sure to enter the giveaway to win a $30 Target gift card.

A special thank you to everyone who follows along and subscribes to my blog. I appreciate all of your support, comments, suggestions and prayers. You are what keeps this blog going.

Have a wonderful day and a great weekend.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

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.

Seeing Red - Thrifted Thursday - Burgundy Skirt

Today’s column is the first of a new one I am going to feature the first Thursday of the Month. Since I am such an avid thrifter and because I see so many other thrifters featuring their treasures on a regular basis, I thought it would be fun to come up with an outfit once a month that is entirely thrifted. I thought this outfit fit into my February theme of Seeing Red because it features my burgundy faux leather skirt.

This skirt is Worthington brand. I have styled this on the blog before. You can see it styled with a velvet floral top here; a burgundy lace top here; a floral top here; and a gray sweater tunic here. This just goes to show, a faux leather skirt is a versatile option for your wardrobe. It works great as a work wear piece or dressed up for a classy night out.

I love this cognac yellow, cowl neck sweater. It is Charlotte Russe brand. Since it is a wider, more relaxed fit, I decided to do the front tuck. I have seen numerous vloggers, (video bloggers) who use this method to create a waist line on an outfit, with a more bulky or voluminous piece. Since I added a jacket over the top, leaving the back untucked was no big deal, as you can see below.

This olive green jacket could be a shirt dress, a very short one. Ha, ha. However, my days of mini skirts are long gone, so I am using it like a light weight jacket. This is Fashion Bug brand. With its large square pockets, metals snaps and casing belt, it definitely falls into the utility jacket category.

I kept my accessories simple. The fun brass and bead flower pendant I found thrifting a few years ago. The cognac, leather, Fossil cross body bag is perfect for carrying the essentials when shopping. I could have went with some cognac colored ankle boots, but opted for the black ANA loafer heels instead. I thought it made the outfit look a little more professional and office ready. My dark colored hose are the only thing not thrifted in my outfit.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like this combination of colors? I really liked the way the yellow, burgundy and olive compliment each other.

If you don’t go thrifting, I would strongly recommend you give it a try. It is a great way to help our environment, other people and our own pocket books.

I’ve included a few modestly priced shopping links, if you are more of an online shopper. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Seeing Red - Layering Light - Monochrome Pink Outfit

Seeing as it is the beginning of February, I thought it would be fun to make this whole month revolve around the color red, or some derivative thereof in keeping with a Valentines theme. Today’s outfit is the last in my Layering Light series, but I felt it fit into this month’s theme, because pink is just a lighter shade of red. I remember in grade school, learning how to make pink by mixing red paint with white paint. Even though this outfit is mainly pink, just think of it as a shade a red with white mixed in.

I got these dark pink Sonoma corduroy jeans at Kohl’s this past fall. They are soft and stretchy, and the narrow wale corduroy is extra warm in the chilly winter weather.

This light pink moto jacket is a clearance buy from Christopher and Banks. Can you have too many moto jackets? Of course not! Ha, ha.

This light pink Gap turtleneck was a thrift find. I like that it is lighter weight, because that makes it easy to layer under other pieces. The ribbed neck is also soft and comfortable, with no itchiness or irritation. Different fabrics affect my skin in different ways. I cannot wear wool and usually try to stay away from fabrics that are stiff and scratchy.

You can also see in the above picture, I added a pink scarf which subtly ties in to the darker color of the pants. The coppery metallic ring necklace and the thrifted copper bag were a way to add a touch of earthy color to the outfit.

These SO block heeled blush boots were the perfect choice to finish off the outfit.

This outfit would be a great date night look to wear with your significant other for Valentine’s Day. My husband is not a huge fan of pink, so I might wear this out with friends and choose something else for the romantic holiday.

Would you wear all pink? Do you own a pair of corduroy’s? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

This month I will be having another give away since this is my bloggiversary month, so keep a look out for that.

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.

Layering Light - Lifting our Winter Blues with Color

This is the second installment in my Layering Light series. This is not about layering light weight layers, but about layering up with light colors; colors that will help lift your mood in the deep, dark, doldrums of winter. Last week I showed you an outfit with light wash jeans, light neutral layers and a scarf that brought a bright pop of sunshine yellow. This week I reached for a floral dress and a light colored jacket to lighten up the blue mood.

Even though this floral dress might be considered more of a winter floral due to the dark back ground, it still has an uplifting feel, making me think of summer time when the roses are in full bloom. You can see how I styled this Wilde brand bell sleeve top with fishnet stockings and combat boots here.

Versatility in a clothing piece is a prerequisite for purchasing it in my opinion. I have a ton of clothes, but only a certain percent of them get worn repeatedly. Even if it is only to show you on a blog post, you can see the value of a piece in how often and how uniquely it can be styled. Truth be told, I have not yet worn this dress for an actual real day of wear, but seeing it here, I am thinking ahead to summer and wearing it with rolled up jeans and either oxfords or tennies for a fun warm weather look.

I opted for my skinny olive cargo pants, since it is cold and I don’t have any good sweater weight tights right now. Leggings would work as well, but these Gloria Vanderbilt pants are a good medium weight and have lots of stretch for maximum comfort.

My tweed moto jacket is from H&M clearance last season. It hasn’t gotten a ton of wear, but I really love how it looks with this dress. You can also see how I styled this pieces in my Pantone series from Fall 2018.

There are several things that drew me to this piece. The first was the color. I have numerous moto jackets, but until recently I only had darker colors. With this creamy color, I have different options for putting together an outfit like this. In addition to the color, I was draw to the tweedy texture and the frayed hems on the bottom and sleeves.

For my jewelry I chose two simple rose gold pieces. The bracelet was a gift from The Happiness Boutique and I featured them on this post here.

This cream colored bag was another thrift find as were the shearling knee high boots. The bag is Stone Mountain brand. The boots are Unisa brand. DSW and other retailers carry this brand. I love the details on these boots. The three inch wedge heel is a bit of a challenge to walk in for me, but these would be great “sitting” boots, because they look so good. Ha, ha.

I was being photo bombed by my cute grand puppies, so of course I had to include a few of those pics.

They didn’t like that they had to stay in the fence at my daughter’s house, but Titan, the white Pity mix, would have disappeared in a grand squirrel chase adventure if he was let out. Beatrice, brown Mastiff mix probably would have stayed by us, but would have barked at every car that went by.

What do you think of this outfit? What pieces do you have in your closet that will lighten up your dreary winter days? What’s keeping you from getting them out and putting together something new and different that you had never thought to put together?

I’m including a few shopping links. While the pieces I am wearing are thrifted and from clearance racks, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t similar pieces out there. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Photo bombers: White Pity mix - Titan Oliver Trumbull, Brown Mastiff mix - Beatrice Potter Trumbull, Follow their adventures on Instagram - sitstaybea

Outfit Inspiration - Monochrome Look with a Kimono

As I have mentioned on other occasions, the inspiration for my fashion posts, comes from all different areas. A lot of times it comes from a picture in a magazine, or an add I get in the mail. I have a notebook where I keep the pages from these magazines and catalogues, of outfits I’d like to try to mimic. Today’s outfit was inspired by a JC Penney add from last fall.

In the add, the model featured a rust colored tee, rust colored corduroys and a kimono with a beautiful fall pattern full of those colors like rust, teal and burgundy. I have numerous kimonos, which I am always lamenting I don’t wear enough for how pretty they are. Kimonos, ruanas, ponchos or capes can all be such beautiful statement pieces, so why not make that statement piece the focal point of the outfit.

Since we are well into winter, I decided to use a more wintery colored kimono. This is truly a great piece for all year round, but since I decided to make the monochrome part of the outfit black, it seemed perfect to top the dark under layers with a piece full of bright tropical pink. This kimono was thrifted and is Massini brand. Before I had any kimonos, I never really saw what the draw was, but now I am sold. This beauty was one of the first ones I bought.

I know my black pieces do not match exactly and while that would drive some people nutty, I figure the kimono is getting the main attention in this outfit, so it didn’t matter as much. The thrifted black skinny jeans are Mossimo brand and the back cable knit turtleneck sweater was from Kohl’s a number of years ago and is Croft and Barrow brand.

My black, slouch, Massini, boots are also a Kohl’s purchase, but a clearance find. I had been looking for a pair of these soft, faux suede boots to wear with skirts and dresses. I have a wider calf, so quite often I cannot get these softer types of pieces. They are usually made thinner to stay up, otherwise we’d have panty hose ankles like our grandmas use to have, but with our boots.

With my recent walking activity while employed seasonally by Kohl’s my legs got much more tone and I lost a few pounds. Now I can wear these boots over skinny jeans, as long as the material isn’t too bulky.

I styled these same boots and the black turtleneck in my 20 Days of Christmas series back in 2018. You can see how I used those two pieces with a slip dress here.

For my accessories I went with silver, black and gold. These days there is no worry over mixing our metals. I enjoy pendant necklaces and reach for these longer pieces more often than my short ones. This one has a number of charms dangling from the end of the chain.

You can also see the layers of bracelets I threw on my arm. Most of these are cheap stretchy beaded types, but I don’t think we have to pay tons of money to have interesting and unique pieces in our jewelry boxes.

This bag was another thrift store find. It is Libby Edelman brand and is genuine leather. The leather is soft and supple and I love the wide guitar like strap and the riveting. My hubby thinks i have two many purses, which is true, but how can you pass up a winner like this one? I also love the bright reddish pink color.

What do you think of this outfit formula? What inspires the outfits you wear? Inspiration can come from all sorts of places, including bloggers you follow, other people’s Pinterest pages and like I found, even pictures in an add or catalog. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I appreciate each one of you.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

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

Pantone Color of the Year - Classic Blue

Since I do the Pantone Color Series twice a year, it seemed to make sense that I introduce the Color of the Year. For the year 2020, blue is the chosen color. Classic Blue, as it is called is a medium, dusky blue reminiscent of the the evening sky. Pantone describes it this way:

“An expansive presence, Classic Blue is evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky opening a world of possibilities.”

— Pantone Website

This is the sort of blue that would look good head to toe, or as in my outfit, be the perfect pop of color against other backdrops. I think this blue will look good on almost anyone and is a color that can be worn all year round.

The wind was doing some crazy things to my hair, so my daughter was doing her best to capture good shots regardless. A number of the pieces in this outfit were given to me for Christmas.

The gray and blue plaid skirt is older and Croft and Barrow brand. There was a time when skirts like these were very trendy. I’ve had my share and have worn them often to church in the winter time. While they may not be the most coveted skirt, these tea length pieces are perfect to wear with boots. I chose to wear my Seven Dials combat boots. I wanted to keep the look a bit more edgy and modern.

This fuzzy faux fur bomber jacket was a Christmas gift from my hubby. It is so soft and I had been coveting all the ones I saw at Kohl’s when I was working. This one he found at Walmart and is No Boundaries brand. Walmart has definitely upped their fashion game.

The gray pullover sweater I have on under the jacket is a brand called Ellen Tracy and was thrifted. A number of retailers carry the Ellen Tracy brand, including Macy’s, Nordstrom, Belk, and others. For this look, I tucked the whole sweater into the skirt. The skirt has a finished waist line, as opposed to elastic. I think a finished waist is just a little more classy than elastic.

The scarf, necklace and bracelet were all Christmas gifts from my husband and oldest daughter, who went shopping together. She was the one to do the research on the Pantone color of the Year. Indeed, blue was the theme, but what a pretty blue it is.

This bag was a thrift find. I often find purses when I thrift shop. They are so much cheaper than their full price counterparts at various retailers and I don’t even by the big name brands. I just don’t like spending a lot of money on clothing or accessories. I also like variety. Sure, I could buy one bag for $500 or I could get a whole year’s worth of thrifting for that much.

What do you think of Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year? Do you like this blue? Why or why not? Do you have a plaid skirt in your closet like this one? If you do, how do you style it? Be sure to leave me some love in the comments.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which means if you click on a link I get a few cents. If you purchase something through a link a get a few cents more. I appreciate every penny!

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

A Look Back at 2019 - My Favorite Outfits

As we begin another year, I like to look back and see what I have accomplished over the past year. More often than not, it turns out that I didn’t accomplish anything new or life changing, but I did survive all that life threw our way. I wish I could say, I lost the weight I wanted to lose, or cleaned out that bedroom that needed to be freed of clutter, but in fact, what happened was, I gained a few extra pounds and the room got even more cluttered. Real life!

My husband always says, he won’t make any New Year’s resolutions because then he won’t feel disappointed when he doesn’t stick to them. I guess I can see the security in that mentality, but some of us want to have a goal to shoot for, even if we don’t attain it. I like having a second chance, or a third or fourth. There is something encouraging in the idea that I can start over, reboot and try again. I’ll save those thoughts for another post, but today, I want to take a look back at 2019, showing you my favorite outfits and explaining why. If you want to see the original post, just click on the link.

January

Spring Trend - Head to Toe Neutral

Why I like it: When we are in the midst of the mid-west winter, we are also in the throes of darkness and gloom. For this Seasonal Affective Disorder sufferer that means fatigue, lack of motivation, brain fog, major carb cravings and just a general feeling of anxiety and discouragement. I have found that choosing bright or light colors to wear, gives me a tiny little boost in the middle of the sadness. This creamy neutral outfit is a perfect color to lighten things up. I also love the textural elements in the vest, ribbed knit sweater and patchwork tote bag. In addition I like the way my accessories pop against the neutral back drop.

February

Spring Trend - Scarf Prints

Why I like it: What is not to like about an outfit that is crisp, structured and perfect for a date night or a day at work. I love the mix of prints. The polka dot blazer and the colorful scarf print top are the perfect compliments to each other. Add a bright white pair of trouser/jeans and you have a winning combination. The blue bag and classic patent leather block heels help as well.

March

Print Mixing Mash Up - Printed Skirt - Outfit 2

I loved the way these pieces came together for this print mixing post. All of these pieces were in my closet, which goes to show you don’t have to spend lots of money to have a fun, stylish wardrobe, as well as be a print mixing queen.

April

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2019 - Turmeric and Sweet Lilac

The thing I like about this outfit is how it made me think outside my norm. I would not normally think of pairing this bright orange with this more pastel pinky purple. Those colors always make me think of Easter eggs. Ha, ha. But of course, some of our fashion norms or rules or even preferences are meant to be broken, or at least experimented with. I think adding the dark navy vest and shoes kept the outfit from being to little girlish.

May

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2019 - Toffee and Mango Mojito

Why do I like this outfit? Leopard print skirt, check! Bright colored tee, check! Creamy denim jacket, check! Fun basket bag, check! It is casual and fun. You could change it up by wearing a black tee or a black jacket. You could wear tennis shoes or heels instead of loafers. Each little change you make, can change the whole persona of the outfit, yet you still keep the classic leopard print skirt.

June

When Summer Doesn’t Feel Like Summer

Photo credit Amy Christensen

While this outfit picture was taken in June, the weather wasn’t begin very cooperative. It was cool, thus the layers. I really liked this look. The bell sleeve floral top, the crocheted ruana and the light wash denim gave the look a boho feel. Adding the fringe bag and cognac suede booties nailed it. This is definitely an outfit I am comfortable in.

July

Denim Daze 2.0 - Ruffled Chambray Top - Dressy

When I found this skirt at Christopher and Banks, I had to have it. I was in the midst of watching Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, and absolutely loved the 20’s vibe and costumes in the show. This skirt made me think of those 20’s styles and I thought it would be a great summer piece. It was perfect for this 4th of July themed outfit.

August

Wearing White - White Sleeveless Sweater

I love this combination. Seeing as this was an outfit for transitioning into fall, I thought it worked very well. The white sleeveless sweater is a perfect topper for the swingy a-line printed skirt, but I really like the way the sweater gives the outfit that fall vibe. The colors go well together, even though the skirt and top didn’t contain any colors remotely similar to the sweater.

September

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Creme de Peche and Rocky Road

Even though these colors did not exactly match the Pantone colors, I really liked this outfit. The rusty color of the pants and boots were right in tune with fall color trends and the addition of the light peach eyelet top and gray jacket with ruffles gave the outfit a flirty, feminine feel. The leopard print bag and necklace with fall colored beads were lovely compliments.

October

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Cranberry and Chicory Coffee

This is a great work wear look, or even a date night combo. I think the outfit elongates my whole body making me look slim and trim. The dark brown trousers and dark brown boots create a long line for my lower half. The dark color is also trimming. In addition to that, I like the longer open front cardi. It is a lighter weight, which doesn’t add bulk. The snakeskin bag, leopard print pendant necklace and the floral lace on the cami added just enough printed interest to keep the outfit from getting boring.

November

Outfit Inspiration - It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

I just really like everything about this picture. It really says, “Christmas time is here.” I wanted my outfit to be Christmasy, but not over the top. The creamy thrifted “Joy” sweater is one of my favorites. I also love the pairing of the rusty yellow cognac color with bright red. The finishing touch was the Christmas scarf in my hair. It really gave the look a retro feel.

December

Outfit Inspiration - It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This is just such a me outfit. I love plaid. I love shearling and I really like how the gray looked with all of it. Turning up the cuffs on the jeans and wearing the tan, shearling lined boots gave the outfit a fun casual flair, while the snowflake tee and Believe pin kept the outfit on the Christmas theme. I’m going to have to wear this plaid blazer a few more times this winter, just for fun!

So there you have it, my favorite outfits from 2019. If you want to read the original posts, just click on the titles of each and it will take you there. Did you have a favorite outfit from my blog, this past year? If you did, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I hope to have a new series up and running by next week, on layering light for these drab, gloomy days of winter. In addition to that, I am going to revamp my weekly columns, so every Thursday will be a specific area of fashion that I am wanting to post about. I hope you will join me for what’s ahead.

Have a great week.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull, unless specified under the picture.

Outfit Inspiration - What Child is This?

I had good intentions of getting these last two posts done a few days ago, but it didn’t happen, so you will get these Christmas song inspired outfits after the fact of Christmas. I typed that and I am still having a hard time believing Christmas is over for another year. That always leaves me feeling a little sad, but that gives me a good excuse to extend the holiday for a little longer.

When I looked up the history of this song I was surprised to learn that the tune Greensleeves, to which the lyrics of What Child is This was set, was originally composed as a broadside ballad and registered with the London Stationer’s Company in 1580 by a man named Richard Jones. There are contrary ideas on the original lyrics of the ballad. One idea was that Lady Greensleeves was a prostitute or a promiscuous young lady. The idea of a lady’s clothing being green had to do with grass stains on her dress from rolling around on the grass having sex. Another idea was that a woman had green sleeves on her outfit and was mistakenly taken for a hussy, to which she snubs the advances of the one trying to take advantage of her position. Either way, I am surprised the tune, then became the basis for What Child is This.

In 1865, William Chatterton Dix, a manager for an insurance company, came down with a life threatening illness. During that time, he had a spiritual awakening and wrote a poem The Manger Throne. The poem, became the basis for What Child is This. The poem centered around the adoration of the shepherds when they came to the manger and baby Jesus. It is not clear at what point the poem was set to the tune Greensleeves, nor by whom, but in 1871 it was included in a collection of carols published in the United Kingdom.

To me this song evokes a sense of simplicity and purity. Seen through the eyes of shepherds, the words create an image of the stark simple animal stable and the roughly crafted manger in which the baby Jesus lay. With this idea in mind I chose a simple prairie maxi dress that I found at a thrift store.

When I saw this dress, I immediately grabbed it, lest anyone else notice it and throw it in their cart. When you are thrifting, you have to grab a piece when you see it, otherwise it might be gone. You can always put it back before you check out if you decide to not buy it.

I love the floral pattern and the flounce at the bottom. The waist is gathered with elastic, but I decided to add a belt to add definition and texture. The cuffs on the sleeves are elastic as well. The dress is so simple. There are no buttons, ties or zippers. I just throw it on and go. It is also fully lined, so no worrying over a slip or cami.

You can just make out the elastic waist. It is almost an empire waist, but falls further below the bottom of the bust line. In my typical feminine with an edge stye, I added a wide black belt with plenty of metal. It has a sort of prairie goddess meets motorcycle mama vibe. Ha, ha.

In keeping with the simple theme, my accessories are not loud and other than the belt do not particularly draw attention. A black velvet choker, and a cross necklace give the old time vibe an updated look when worn together. The cross necklace is actually patterned on the front, so I turned it around to show only the black back.

The cognac colored bag was a Meijer clearance find and is perfect for this outfit. I’m also wearing my cognac colored SO booties from Kohl’s.

The final touch was to add my black shawl. It made the simple prairie vibe complete. I’ve had this fabulous piece for many, many years and I couldn’t tell you where I originally got it.

Would you wear a prairie dress like this? Why or why not? Not everyone can wear maxi’s and feel comfortable in them. Not everyone likes the prairie vibe. What sort of style do you like to wear? Are you more contemporary and like to follow the latest trends, or do you like styles from the past? I’d love to hear you thoughts.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

I am including a link to my most favorite version of What Child is This, as sung by Andrea Boccelli and Mary J. Blige. In my opinion this is one of the most worshipful and beautiful renditions I have every heard.

Outfit Inspiration - Santa Baby

There are two Christmas songs I would classify as sexy. The first inspired the outfit in today’s post, Santa Baby sung by Eartha Kitt. The second would be Elvis Presley’s Santa Claus is Back in Town. there is also a good version of that by Kurt Russell in his Christmas movie that came out last year called The Christmas Chronicles. That is a fun family movie, if you are looking for something different to watch.

Back to Santa Baby. This song was written by Joan Javits in 1953. It was meant to be a tongue in cheek look at the Christmas list of a a woman who wants expensive gifts from Santa such as furs, cars and a diamond ring. Eartha Kitt, a multi-talented actress, and singer recorded the song and it was a hit. She had a very distinct voice and that is part of why I love her version of the song. There have been several other artists who recorded the song since then, Madonna being one. Eartha rerecorded the song in 1963 with a more upbeat tempo. I personally, like the original version best. It is sassy and sexy and that is what I was trying to evoke with this outfit. See what you think.

When I thought about doing this song, I pushed the idea from my mind, because I am not a sexy person by nature. As many of you know, who have followed me since the beginning, I grew up with brothers and was a tomboy. I also grew up in a very conservative home, where affection was not regularly expressed and things like sexuality were not discussed. Unfortunately, that did affect how I related to my spouse once I was married. I feel rather silly trying to be sexy. I can pull it off once in a while with my hubby, but that stays in the bedroom. What I have for you is a much more subtle and modest attempt at sexy.

This pretty red kimono was a gift from my hubby in an attempt to make me more sexy, Ha, ha. It is a very pretty piece, so I thought why not use it for this outfit. The red is perfect for Christmas. The kimono is a brand called California Miss. I have no idea where my spouse bought it as that was a few years ago.

You can see the pretty floral detail on the sleeves of the kimono and how fun that it goes with the floral embroidery on my jeans. I just bought these jeans on clearance at Kohl’s. They are Simply Vera/Vera Wang brand. They fit well and have a good amount of stretch and the skinny legs will work great in boots.

My black velvet tee was a Christmas gift from my spouse last year. The tee is a brand called City Streets. One or both of my daughters usually go shopping at least once with him, to help him choose gifts. He had to do it all by himself when the girls were younger. How did he manage? Ha, ha. He usually does pretty well. My best ever gift was this computer from four years ago. I wouldn’t be blogging if he hadn’t gotten me this wonderful Apple. What is one of your favorite Christmas gifts?

I went for silver and black for my accessories. My silver bangles you can see in the above picture. I also added two silver necklaces. A long fringe pendant and a snowflake pendant.

My little black heart embellished clutch and my Ralph Lauren boots are both thrifted.

Here are a few other pictures that I was inspired to throw in because of the song.

A sable, the keys and a deed. Ha, ha

I hope you enjoyed this post. Do you think this outfit worked for the song? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

It is hard to believe Christmas is in four days. Yikes! I have so much to do. My brother is coming into town tomorrow on his way to see my mom for a few days. I am glad he will be with her, since with this seasonal job I won’t be off contract until January 4h. I hope you are prepared for the upcoming holiday. I’ll have two more outfits, next week in this series, so keep a look out for those.

Have a great weekend!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Enjoy this version of Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt.

Outfit Inspiration - Let There Be Light

This series wouldn’t be complete without a contemporary song or two. Point of Grace is a Christian Contemporary group made up of three ladies, Shelley Breen, Denise Jones, and Leigh Cappillino. In 2005 they came out with a Christmas album called, “Winter Wonderland.” The song, Let There Be Light, became one of my favorites from that collection of both old and new Christmas songs. The song was sung by John David Webster with background vocals by the girls.

“From the beginning the Father
Had a magnificent plan
Revealed through the law and the prophets
To fulfill the redemption of man
You spoke after centuries of silence
In the midst of a still, starry night
And Emmanuel came down among us
And the Father said, ‘Let there be light’”

— Let There Be Light - Point of Grace

I love the imagery. We were walking in darkness, but God sent His son, the light. Indeed a magnificent plan. With those words in mind, I came up with an outfit full of shimmer and light.

My Hollister, Light up the City crop tee was a thrift find. I don’t typically wear cropped tees or tops, but when I saw this one and the one in my O Holy Night outfit, I knew I could afford to purchase them and give them a try. This one boasts dots that make it look like there are splotches of light on the tee.

I wanted to have my arms covered so I added this thrifted gold George button up under the crop top. Originally, I was going to let the gold top hang out the bottom of the crop top, but it is a little small and didn’t look quite right, so I tucked it, instead.

This pretty velvet skirt was a Kohl’s clearance find and is Chaps brand. I love some of the Chaps brand pieces, but they are typically a higher price point than I want to pay, so finding this on clearance was perfect. I really like the way the velvet has a light of it’s own and definitely takes the outfit up a notch. Once again, the dark blue makes me think of that night sky over the fields of Bethlehem, when baby Jesus was born.

You’ve seen these shoes a few times on the blog now. I think they are fun and classy and the black suede could be a first cousin to velvet, but without the shimmer and shine. These are Easy Spirit brand.

My accessories were meant to add further bling and light to the outfit. The multi strand bead and metal necklace, the gray stone and bling bracelet and the sparkly black envelope clutch all bring added light.

I love the light: sunshine, candles, Christmas lights, fairy lights, fireworks, fires in a fireplace, campfires, lamps in all their various shapes and forms. The light is so important to our lives and to our world. We couldn’t grow food without sunshine. We couldn’t see in the dark without a candle, flashlight or lamp, or at least the light of the moon. Light gives our lives meaning and purpose, especially the light that came into the world over two thousand years ago.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”

— 1 John 3:1 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

— John 3:16 (ESV)

“Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

— John 8:12 (ESV)

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like to wear clothing that is luminous and reflects the light? What sort of light do you like? At Christmas do you decorate your house with lights? Where do you put them and do you have a lot of lights or just a few? I have enjoyed so much, reading your comments. People have been sharing their Christmas memories from going to get the tree with their family to Christmas caroling and giving out food. These just make me smile, so thank you everyone who has been willing to comment and share.

Here is the song, Let There Be Light by Point of Grace. Enjoy!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Here are a few velvet skirts to look at.

Have a great week!

Outfit Inspiration - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

One of my favorite Christmas tunes is Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee. When I was in high school I hung out with a girl a grade ahead of me named Sherry. We had tons of fun together and had a very special friendship. Though our ways parted after high school, we still keep in touch through Facebook. Sherry and I were in my church’s youth group together and often found ourselves with other church friends at local restaurants. One particular pizza/sub shop had a juke box. Seeing as it was that time of year, Christmas songs had been added to the playlist. Sherry and I chose a few songs, and one of the ones she picked was Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. The funny thing was, Sherry decided to be silly and kept going up, inserting more change and playing that same song over and over. We all had a giggle fest as we ate our food. Now, every time I hear that song, I think of my dear friend and all the fun we had together.

The song, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, was written by Johnny Marks and sung by Brenda Lee in 1958. The interesting thing about Brenda Lee was her age when she recorded the song. She was only thirteen. Her mature sounding voice lead her to a career in country music, but it is the blend of rockabilly and country style that makes this song a forever hit. To this day most radio stations from adult contemporary, to top 40, to country play Mark’s and Lee’s version of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree more than any other version.

Of course with the 50’s rock and roll feel of the song, I had to dress with a 50’s vibe. Rolled up jeans, a mismatched sweater set and a ponytail with a fun Christmas scarf brought in the 50’s details, most of which I got from watching shows like Happy Days. Ha, ha. Probably not exactly historically accurate, but you get the idea.

I hadn’t gotten my full sized Christmas tree up yet, but I wanted the pictures to look somewhat festive. When my daughters were both still living at home, we had gotten them each a tiny, Charlie Brown, type tree for their rooms. This one still resides at our house, so I thought it would add a touch of Christmas cheer to the pictures. Plus, how do you rock around the Christmas tree, if there isn’t one?

As you know, high waisted mom jeans are back in style. I had gotten rid of all of mine, not because they went out of stye, but because I gained weight and had to buy new jeans. Personally, I don’t really like the confines of high waisted jeans now that I have muffins to stuff into them. I prefer jeans that fall just below my belly button, but when I found this pair on clearance at Kohl’s, I thought I would add one pair of high waisted jeans back into rotation. These are Wild Fable brand. Target carries this brand and has a number of different washes, as well as various amounts of distressing.

You may think pink and red an odd color combo for Christmas, but it just makes me think of candy canes, Christmas cookies and wrapping paper. Both of these pieces were thrifted. The red cardigan is Merona brand and the pink pullover with rabbit fur embellishment is Emma James (a Liz Claiborne company). I am not a proponent of real fur, but if I have the choice of saving a clothing item from a land fill and part or all of its component are real fur, then I am a fan. Here is a pic without the cardi.

Since I wanted the outfit to be simple and fun I didn’t wear any jewelry. I don’t own a pair of saddle shoes, so the next best thing was a pair of Converse high tops. These are the only Converse I own. They typically do not fit my feet very well, but I found these on clearance at DSW. I popped on the white socks as a topper and it reminded me of how girls would wear their socks back in the 50’s.

Of course, in my opinion, no outfit is complete without a bag. What if you realize as you are rockin’ around the Christmas tree, baking cookies or decorating that you’ve run out of sugar or you’ve discovered another string of lights that won’t light (I swear, it happens every year)? You will need to run to the store. I chose this white, Jaclyn Smith satchel. This thrifted bag can be carried by the top handles and it also comes with a long strap to wear it as a cross body bag. This is also a thrift find.

My final addition was the scarf in my hair. Over the years I have collected a number of Christmas related pieces. I have a number of long sleeve tees, a couple sweaters and a few scarves. If you followed my Instagram feed last year, I featured most of those pieces in my “20 Days of Christmas series”. This cute snowman scarf is a narrow oblong scarf that works perfectly as a hair tie. I wore it to work yesterday around my neck, with a snowman pin.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like high waisted mom jeans? Is Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree a favorite song of yours? Do you think I did justice to the song with my outfit? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Here is Brenda Lee singing Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.

I’m including a few shopping links. I hope you are having a good month leading up to Christmas. I especially hope that you do not feel stressed out and that you are staying healthy. Take care of yourself. There is only one beautiful you. Have a great week.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Outfit Inspiration - We Three Kings

I have been listening to Christmas music since I was a toddler. Songs like Jingle Bells, I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas and so many others have been permanently embedded in my brain. There are a few songs that I remember, not so much because of their catchy tunes, but because of the pictures they created in my mind as a young person. We Three Kings is a perfect example of this kind of song.

Over the years We Three Kings became an icon of American Christmas carols. It was originally written by John Henry Hopkins, Jr. in 1857 for a Christmas pageant In New York City. He was the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, PA at the time. The song revolves around the three Magi who came to worship Jesus when He was a small child. You can read that Biblical account in Matthew 1:1-12. If I had more time, I would love to spend a little time discussing these interesting men and the gifts they bring the Christ child, but since this is a fashion post I won’t belabor the point.

You might be wondering, why did I choose this song. While it is clearly a traditional Christmas carol, it wouldn’t necessarily be a favorite of everyone out there. I love the story behind it. For years, these extremely wise men, who were obviously people of influence and wealth, but not necessarily kings in their own countries, studied the stars. They studied history and they may have even studied some version of Messianic prophecy. We can’t really say for sure, what caused them to take up their long trek to Bethlehem, but my imagination says it must have been a pulling of the Holy Spirit that led them to Herod and then to the baby Jesus.

I also love the dichotomy of shepherds on the night of His birth and these upper class men, some days later. It reminds me that we are all able to approach God, not because of our goodness and rightness, but because of Jesus.

I wanted this outfit to exude luxury, not that these wise men had all sorts of money, nor even dressed in a way that would attract attention, but the idea of kings, wise men and worshipping the King of Kings, made me want to dress as thought I was going to see the King myself.

This velvet jacket was a thrift store find. I was watching Merlin, a King Arthur series that was on a few years ago. When I saw this, I thought of Arthur Pendragon in all his finery and I knew I had to have it. I guess I should have taken the lint brush to it, before we took pictures. Ha, ha. I think the gold front closures are so fun. The brand is R & M Richards by Karen Kwong. It is obvious the style has an oriental flavor, which makes it perfect for my wisemen from the east.

At first I was going to go for a monochrome look, and pair the jacket with brown trousers, but then I thought of this Lauren Conrad skirt that I ordered from Kohl’s on clearance. It’s actually too big on me, so I had to safety pin the waist band for our photo shoot, but one of these days I will take it in. I thought the gold pleats and flowy feel made for a more luxe look.

In thinking about our three wise men, I chose gold to accent the entire outfit. My gold high-lo hemline tee, I got for Christmas last year from my husband. It is Dantelle brand from Marshalls. I tucked it in for this look and paired it with a wide gold belt that I found thrifting.

My jewelry and bag are gold with just a touch of bling. The little clutch with attached chain is also a thrift find.

I’ve worn these thrifted LifeStride brown ankle boots on the blog before and I thought they matched the jacket perfectly.

What would you wear to see a king? If we could afford it we would probably wear something a bit fancier than what I put together. Ha, ha. But that is part of the point of Christmas. The shepherds were able to see the King the night He was born and I’m sure they weren’t wearing their Sunday best. Jesus is happy to have us come as we are.

Today I am not going to include any shopping links, but here is one of the versions of We Three Kings that I like. For some reason I was not able to upload the video, so just click on the link and it will take you to the YouTube page with the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qmrRhVhKuw

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Outfit Inspiration - It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and welcome to my holiday series! This year my fashion posts leading up to Christmas will be inspired by a few of my favorite Christmas songs. I love Christmas music and I am guilty of starting to listen to it, the week before Thanksgiving. In my opinion, the season goes by so fast and I want to enjoy all the music, lights and trimmings for as long as I can. In addition to the outfit photos, I will also provide a few tidbits on the history of the song, as well as sharing a few of my own Christmas traditions. I also hope to connect my faith posts on Wednesday or Fridays (depending on which day I can get them done), to the songs that epitomize the original reason for the season. I hope you enjoy the series.

The first song I chose is It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. This song was written by Meredith Wilson in 1951. Mr. Wilson was an American flautist, composer, conductor, playwright and author. He is probably best known for the book, music and lyrics for the Broadway musical Music Man. This Christmas song is probably best remembered by us older folks as being performed by Perry Como, or Bing Crosby, but was also performed by Johnny Mathis. More recently Michael Buble did a version which has gained popularity over the last eight years when it first appeared on his album, Christmas.

As you can see, this first outfit and the setting are, indeed, beginning to look like Christmas. We were fortunate (?), to have snow for this first outfit. All the rest of them will be typical Northwest Ohio, browns and grays. Ha, ha.

This mid thigh length red sweater vest is a great piece for Christmas, or anytime the weather is cold and you need an extra layer over your core. This was a recent thrift store find and is a brand called one A. The vest has a full button front, roomy square pockets and a belt. For this outfit, I chose to leave it open and tied the belt at the back, so you could see my Joy sweater.

I’ve styled this cute, thrifted, Old Navy sweater on the blog in my Christmas series last year. In that post, I wore it with my burgundy pleated skirt. I’ve also styled it with a purple moto jacket. Just click on the links to see those posts.

Christmas is a season that brings me joy and that is part of the reason, I chose this song and this sweater. When I was a child, Christmas wasn’t about how much money we had, but about the traditions that went with the holiday season. My family celebrated Jesus birth. That was the central focus of the holiday. We would go to church, sing Christmas hymns and carols and enjoy good food with family. There were several things that brought me joy. The first was when my mother would begin to get out the Christmas decorations. We had a trio of red bells that lit up and we would hang those in our front door so you could see them from the street. I loved seeing those bells as they flashed, announcing to all the passersby that it was Christ’s birthday.

One of the other things that brought me joy was the Christmas tree. When I was really little, my dad would get the tree and he and my mom would decorate it after we went to bed on Christmas eve. My brothers and I would wake up to a magical tree complete with pretty wrapped packages from Santa under its scented pine boughs. As we got older we would go with my dad to pick out a tree and helped to decorate it after he put it in the tree stand. We have wonderfully amusing memories of crazy shaped trees.

These distressed cognac colored jeans were from Meijer a few years ago. They are a brand called Stitch Star. I’ve styled these on the blog before too. In that post they were a featured Pantone Fall 2017 color. I wore them in that post with a red sweater. I just love the combination of those two colors. This type of distressing is my favorite. No skin shows and they have added pretty embroidered embellishment.

For my accessories I added a Christmas scarf as a head band and tied it in a bow. I also grabbed my patchwork tote bag from Walmart and my SO cognac booties from Kohl’.s. The booties got a little bit snow covered. Ha, ha

Do you like Christmas music? What is your favorite song? What do you think of this outfit? Do you have Christmas traditions that you remember from your childhood? What sort of Christmas traditions do you have with your family? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

This last picture will hopefully bring you joy, as it is a photo of me being silly.

Since there is a few weeks until Christmas and because you might be stumped on what to get people on your list for Christmas, I am including a few shopping links and a few Black Friday deals. Be sure to check them out. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving Day. I had to work, but we are going to have dinner this evening.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Here is a link to Michael Buble’s version of It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. That is my favorite version of the song. I hope you like it as well.

Flat Lays in the Flesh - Capes

This is the last of my Flat Lays in the Flesh outfits. I picked out the four that really appealed to me, but that doesn’t mean the other Flat Lays weren’t also interesting and possible “in the flesh” outfits. These four were the ones that appealed to me for various reasons and it has been fun to see how they actually looked on a person, namely me. For your information, so that you know how you might measure up, I am 5’5”, 171lbs. I would feel more comfortable in my skin if I was about 150 or 155, so that is a goal I am working towards, albeit very slowly.

Today’s outfit in the flesh features the Fall 2019 trend of capes. I think capes were very popular back in the day, especially in Medieval Europe. They have come and gone over the years and typically when we hear the word cape we think of super heroes donning their spandex suits and adding a cape as a finishing touch; think Superman, Batman and Robin or even Thor. While capes came back this year, I personally haven’t seen very many of them floating around in the stores or donning women walking down the street.

Flay lay and photo by Amy Christensen

I know not everyone is buying into the mustard trend, but I really do like this rich sunflower yellow cape that I found while thrifting. I like that it is a crafted piece, made by hand and has the fringe, which is so indicative of a bohemian look. Here is the outfit in the flesh.

My yellow thrifted plaid shirt is Divided brand from H&M. I had no idea when I found it how well it would go with this knit cape. I love plaid and since I have been on the yellow train, it makes sense that I would buy a yellow plaid shirt, especially one from a thrift store. The plaid print includes a little blue, white and blush.

Drawing on the blush in the shirt, I went with blush accessories. My clutch I found on clearance at Meijer. My necklace was a JC Penney clearance find, and my SO ankle boots with the block heel, were a Kohl’s clearance purchase.

My Rock and Republic boot cut jeans are more like jeggings than jeans, but they have a zipper and button front, as well as regular pockets. They are just made from a stretchy fabric and are easy to move in.

Here is a quick shot of the back of the cape. I just love the fringe around the bottom.

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear a cape? Just to clarify, capes are usually shorter like this one and cloaks usually come past the knee, with some versions reaching the floor. Do you know how to knit or crochet? That is something I wish I had time to do, but not right now. My mom used to crochet afghans and doilies and I had an aunt that used to crochet stuffed animals like bears.

I’ve included a few shopping links for capes and for yellow pieces that I think are fun. I hope you are having a great Tuesday and thanks so much for stopping by the blog.

Photo credit, except where specified, Rebecca Trumbull.

These shopping links are affiliate links. When you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my site, I get a little bit more. All opinions are my own.

Flat Lays in the Flesh - Dark Florals

For those of you just joining me on the blog, I am doing a short series based on the Fall Trends 2019 flat lays that I did back in September. You can see those original posts by clicking on the links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4. I’ve been discussing how a flat lay can present how an outfit might look, but only from a more two dimensional view. Actually putting a person into the outfit is three dimensional and helps you see how the pieces go together and fit on the human body. In this case it is my human body, with all of its lovely flaws. Ha, ha

Photo credit Amy Christensen

This week’s outfit was based on the dark floral trend which was prominent this fall. Dark florals are moody, mysterious and melodramatic and that is why I like them. Dark florals want to be noticed, but are just as happy being partially hidden under a jacket, sweater or blazer. So what does this flat lay look like in the flesh?

This teal floral bomber jacket was a late summer purchase from National an online women’s clothing retailer, that I did a sponsored post for back in May. You can see that original post here. After working with National, I regularly received their catalogues and had my eye on this fun jacket. I was able to purchase it at a good discount, so ordered it straight away. The jacket is fully lined, has soft banding around the neck, sleeves and bottom and a durable metal zipper that is easy to zip.

This thrifted Jeans by Buffalo floral tee goes perfectly with the color of the bomber jacket. You can see the same teal color in the top and they look like they were meant to be together. Here is a picture of the top without the jacket, just so you get an idea of the shape. I like the longer tunic length hi-low hem and the a-line cut of this top.

The pattern on the top is only on the front. The back and sleeves are a simple, basic black. I’ve been thinking of pairing this with a black button up or a turtleneck so I can have the warmer layers without covering up the pretty print. I think I’d also like to try this with white jeans and a red jacket. What do you think? The colors in the shirt make me think of Christmas, so this might be a good top to wear throughout the holiday season.

These Rock and Republic jeans from Kohl’s have a good deal of stretch, otherwise I would never fit into them. Ha, ha. I like the bling and the distressing and I figure as long as my bum is covered I can still wear these because they are very comfy, even though they are tight.

My tall black boots were a clearance find at DSW. Don’t you love the clearance racks? They are definitely worth checking out from time to time at any store you may shop at. i love the detailing on these and the bright red zipper casement along the back. Sorry about the cheeky bum!

I went with red for my other accessories, and even though the necklace doesn’t make a bold statement, I like the way the gold chain and charms give added texture to the top.

Do you think this flat lay worked in the flesh? What about it do you like? What don’t you like? I appreciate all your input and your support.

I’m including a few shopping links for some dark florals. Remember Christmas is right around the corner and shopping from home is so easy. Ha, ha. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit, unless specified, Rebecca Trumbull.

Flat Lays in the Flesh - Animal Print

On Thanksgiving I will be starting a holiday series that I think you might find inspirational and interesting. That is all I am saying about that right now, just to whet your appetites. Until then I thought it might be fun to revisit a few of the Fall Trends 2019 that I talked about through the medium of flat lays. If you don’t know what a flat lay is, it is simply a way to show an outfit by laying out the pieces on a flat surface, rather than showing them on a person. I find so many flat lays look amazing, but I am always left wondering, what does the outfit look like on an actual person. I hope you don’t find this too repetitive, but I decided to take four of the flat lays I did for my Fall Trends 2019 series and show you what they look like, in the flesh. Let’s get started.

This first outfit features a snakeskin jacket that I found thrifting last spring. This was the flat lay from the original post, which focused on the fall trend of animal prints.

Photo by Amy D. Christensen

This is what the outfit looks like in the flesh.

It was only about 10 degrees outside and as much as I like to play the tough chick, I decided, forget that nonsense, so my daughter/photographer turned her spare bedroom into a studio. She is so good at being flexible and working with what we have. She does such a great job with natural light. There was no flash in any of these pictures.

This Liz Claiborne snakeskin jacket has a little bit of stretch to it, making it very easy to move in. I paired it with a thrifted Banana Republic sweater for this outfit, but you could easily swap in other pieces like a button up blouse, a graphic tee or a lighter weight turtleneck for all manner of stylish vibes. A jacket like this is a work horse in your wardrobe and can be dressed up with a skirt or dress and heels; or dressed down with distressed jeans and sneakers.

I went for a work wear look, pairing the sweater and jacket with my Gloria Vanderbilt cargo skinnies and my Impo wedge ankle boots.

I chose the yellow tote bag to enhance the sunshiny vibe of the outfit, making this a good combination for a cloudy, fall day. This was another thrifted piece.

I thought layering a few fun necklaces would make for an added statement. In the original flat lay I only had the shorter necklace, but just recently I found the long pendant necklace at JCPenney on the clearance rack. They don’t match, but I think the combination works well against the yellow back drop.

Do you think this flat lay turned out to be a good outfit? Do these pieces work well together? Why or why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

I’m leaving you with a few shopping links for fun animal print pieces. Remember Christmas is coming soon and there might be a person or two on your list, who would love an animal print piece. These are affiliate links, which means if you click on a link, I get a few pennies, and if you purchase something through one of my links I get a few more pennies. Ha, ha. I appreciate every penny I get.

Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by the blog.

Photo credit (unless otherwise stated) Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - London Palette Recap

It’s time for a recap of the all the Pantone - Autumn/Winter -2019 - London Palette colors. There were things about these colors that I liked better than the New York Palette, but each of them had colors that I felt comfortable wearing. I’ll explain my favorite from this series after a review of the outfits.

Outfit 1 - Merlot and Antique Moss

Outfit 2 - Cranberry and Chicory Coffee

Outfit 3 - Summer Fig and Bluestone

Outfit 4 - Butterscotch and Grapeade

Outfit 5 - Crabapple and Forest Biome

Outfit 6 - Galaxy Blue and Hazel

I am having a hard time picking just one outfit from this series that I liked the best. I really liked Cranberry and Chicory Coffee. I have always been a fan of browns, but I just love the result when it is combined with the medium pinky red of Cranberry. I also like the long line of this outfit and I think the long Rutabaga open front cardi helped with the illusion.

My next fave would be the boho vibe of Butterscotch and Grapeade. If you would have asked me a few years ago if I would wear an outfit with these two colors together, I would have said no way. Yellow and purple? You have to be kidding, but there is something whimsical about this outfit and the color combination is only part of it. The colors are happy and fun, but the print of the skirt, the fringe bag and the fun textured boots really give this outfit its bohemian style.

Finally, I really like the last outfit. Even though, I wouldn’t necessarily wear a color like Hazel all on it’s own, I do like the way this color pairs so well with the grays and the blues in outfit. I also like the subtle plaid print mixing. It is obvious, but it doesn’t overwhelm the eye like some print mixing is capable of doing.

Well, I’ve told you my favorites, now tell me yours. I love to hear your feedback.

i hope you enjoyed this Pantone - Autumn/Winter series. If there is anything else you would like to see, with regards to the Pantone Color Institute you can check out their website. Just click on the link.

Have a great Tuesday!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - Galaxy Blue and Hazel

I neglected to get my post done for Tuesday. Monday and Tuesday, my grandson had off from school. It was parent/teacher conference days. My daughter had her appointment right away on Monday morning and Quintin is doing very well. He is nationally high ranking in his reading ability and math, so this Grandma is proud of a certain nine year old.

This is the last outfit from the Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 London Palette. Next week, I’ll have another recap post to show you all the London colors and then we will put the Pantone Institute aside until spring. For your information, the Spring/Summer colors for 2020 are already up on the website and have been for a couple of months, so if you are really curious, you can go the to the Pantone website and see what they look like. As for this blogger, you won’t get to view them here until spring.

Our last two colors are Galaxy Blue, which was also on the New York palette and a mellow brown called Hazel. This brown is not one I would regularly reach for. I like colors that are more rich and saturated. In the Crayola Crayon box, this color might be similar to Antique Brass. See the complete list of current crayon colors here. Talk about fun color names! Be sure to read some of those. They are not merely called red, pink or blue any more. Ha, ha.

I decided to do some plaid print mixing in this outfit, as you can see with my ruana and my pants. I must tell you how I came to own this beautiful ruana. My hubby and I were out on a date. We try to go out once a week, usually for dinner and then to Barnes and Noble bookstore. We both love spending time around books and we usually end up getting a hot drink and sometimes a treat. On this particular night we went out for Mexican. After we were finished eating he told me that before we head to Barnes and Noble he had to stop at Bass Pro Shop and get something for his trailer hitch. I don’t even think twice about it. I don’t mind going to Bass Pro or Cabelas, because they both have fun things to look at, like mounted animals and clothing that I like, but would never purchase, because it is out of my price range.

We walked into the store and were heading down the center aisle. On the right side of the aisle are all the women’s clothes. We got to this lovely display where this ruana was styled over an ivory sweater. It immediately caught my eye. My husband said, “I thought you might like this.” I was shocked. Not only had he thought of me, but he had picked out something he thought I would both like and look nice in. He let me pick out a few other things besides the ruana to try on and just hung out while I did. I picked out the ruana and a rusty orange sweater, that I haven’t worn yet, but that looks great under the plaid. My husband does not do things like this very often, but it sure makes an impact on me, when he does.

My thrifted blue tee is Charter Club brand. It is a bit brighter than Galaxy Blue, but once again, you get the idea. I like the detailing around the neckline.

These gray pants are also thrifted and you can see how I styled them with a faux leather jacket, and with a pink sweater set.

Here is a close up of my print mixing.

I kept my accessories simple since there was already so much going on in the outfit with the two plaids. A bright blue crystal pendant, a simple gray Rosetti bag, and these thrifted Lifestride maroon ankle boots.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like plaid? I’d love to hear your thoughts so be sure to leave me a comment or two. Your support and feedback mean a lot to me and help give me ideas and direction for the blog.

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to peruse. With the holidays coming up maybe these will give you some inspiration for someone on your list. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.