Pantone Spring 2017 - Greenery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a wonderful Easter!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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

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

Color Crash Course - Print Mixing

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

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

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

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

2. Stripes can be mixed easily with anything - 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Consider mixing prints with texture - 

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

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

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

5. Go for a monochrome look - 

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

6. Try an accessory - 

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

Patterned Scarf

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

Textured Bag

Patterned Bag

Textured jacket

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

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

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

Have a great weekend!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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

Pantone Spring 2017 - Primrose Yellow

It seems almost silly to start a series on the Spring 2017 Pantone colors, as the Fall colors are already on their website. However, I have never been one to stick to the rules of fashion, once I discovered exactly what fashion is. Ha, ha. So for all of you who work on a "better late than never" mentality, this one is for you. 

I am starting my series on the Pantone Spring 2017 colors. These are being brought to you in the order they appear here on the Pantone website. The first color in this report for spring is the color they labeled, Primrose Yellow. 

Similar shirt at Jacket Society - here. 

When I saw this top and scarf on sale on The Jacket Society website, I knew I had to add them to my collection. We are seeing so many combinations of florals and stripes together and I think Nora was a bit ahead of the trend when she first posted this top on her site a while back. 

I love this combination of gray, yellow, black and white. I paired the top with my gray skinny jeans, yellow jewelry and pewter hobo bag. 

This baseball type top has an asymmetrical hem line being shorter at the sides and longer in the front and back. I tucked the front in and left the back out. I also wore my gray suede ankle boots to give the outfit added texture.

I used to think I couldn't wear yellow, but I think this bright, cheery color is a lovely addition to any wardrobe, even if you only get a few statement pieces of jewelry. It will bring a bit of sunshine to your outfit.

I hope you enjoyed this post on Primrose Yellow. Do you like this yellow? Would you wear this color or do you steer clear of yellows of any kind? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my post I get a little commission. Thanks for the support. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee of in the  Spread the Kindness Link Up. Wednesday linking up with Sara and Hannah of The Perfect Storm. Friday linking up with Jo-Lynne Shane in the Fashion Friday link up. 

How to Wear a White Blouse - Under Another Blouse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great weekend! 

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

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

How to Wear a White Blouse - Under a Sleeveless Shirt

This week I am doing a collaboration with Jodie of Jodie's Touch of Style. If you haven't discovered Jodie's fabulous blog, I hope you will check it out. Jodie, provides three generations of style for women in the 50's, 60's and 70's, but so many of her outfits can translate to younger women as well. She loves to help women look their best and is never afraid to try something different. She was the one who inspired me to come along as we rethink how we style our white long sleeve blouses. On Monday we showed how it can be worn under a tee shirt. Today we are going to take a look at styling the blouse under a sleeveless top. 

For my version of this I first tried a striped tank top, but the stripes looked a little wonky in the photos so I decided to go for the solid red instead. 

You can click on the pictures below and it will take you over to Jodie's site where you can read how these three lovelies styled their white blouses. I really like how each of Jodie's models have a different take on this idea. Jodie shows off a cute button up sleeveless with ruffles. That detail,  combined with her khaki colored jeans and peep toe booties make for a very stylish look that could be worn to work or to the mall. Nancy looks so cute with her floral pants and bright Pink Yarrow (see Pantone Spring 2017) tank top, and Jodie's mom is ever her elegant self wearing her light pink top with a pretty gray knit skirt and heels. Be sure to check out their post for the details!

I kept my look low key casual. I love the look of gray with red, so I wore my light gray skinny jeans.

To add a little bit of sass to my outfit I donned my Converse high top sneakers. I also added some red jewelry and a dark Kale (see Pantone Spring 2017) colored bag. 

It is fun to try new things. Wearing a long sleeve blouse under a sleeveless top is pretty much like wearing a vest. The sleeves and collar on the blouse are given ample exposure, but the sleeveless top can give the outfit a pop of color, a different fashion vibe and even a back drop for a pretty scarf or statement necklace. It can also extend your seasons allowing you to wear a summer top late in the winter or into the fall.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Don't forget to hop on over to Jodie's blog and read the whole scoop on how they styled their white blouses under a sleeveless top. You'll get even more great ideas about fashion! 

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my Beautiful Blogger Bests column where I will be featuring an outfit with masculine flare. Also, check back on Friday for the final installment of this white blouse series. 

Have you ever worn a long sleeve blouse under a sleeveless blouse? What was the occasion? Would you consider styling an outfit like this? I'd love your feedback. Also, if you do leave a comment you can always come back a day or so later and I will have left a reply. Sorry that right now I don't have a way of letting you know that I replied to your comments, but I always do! 

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking on a link I make a few cents. If you purchase something through one of my shopping links I'll make a little bit of a commission. I appreciate the support. All opinions are my own.

Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Wednesday linking up the Sara and Hannah of The Perfect Storm. 

How to Wear a White Blouse - Under a Tee Shirt

This week I am teaming up with Jodie of Jodie's Touch of Style to show you ways to style a simple white button up blouse. A long sleeve button up blouse is a piece most of us have in our closets. However, if you are like me, you only think of wearing it under a blazer or a cardigan. When Jodie told me she was going to show different ways to style a white blouse, I was intrigued. I told her to count me in for a collaboration and our posts this week will show you what we came up with. 

Today's challenge was to style the blouse under a tee shirt. In the photos below you can see Jodie styled her blouse under a striped long sleeved tee, while Nancy (Jodie's step mom) and Charlotte (Jodie's mom) styled theirs under a short sleeve tee. Nancy is wearing a solid colored polo shirt, while Charlotte is wearing a graphic crew neck. Aren't these three ladies the bomb?! Just click on the picture to see the whole post on Jodie's site. Be sure to give them some love!

I decided I would style my blouse under a graphic tee. Little did I know I was going to find the perfect piece when my husband and I went on our little get away last weekend.

With this fun graphic tee being the focal point, I decided to go biker chic for my outfit! 

I decided to add my burgundy fringe bag to bring in some color.

To complement the look I threw on my brown faux leather biker jacket. 

I finished with a few pieces of edgy jewelry.

Here is a closer look at the boots and bag! 

I hope you enjoyed this post on styling a white button up blouse under a tee shirt. Be sure to stop by Jodie's blog and check out the full post on how she styled her white blouse on three generations of lovely women! Also, check back on Wednesday to see another way to style a white button up blouse.

I appreciate your comments and it helps my blog to grow when you leave me some love. If you follow my faith page, I will be posting Monday's Mulling it Over post tomorrow, where I will be continuing to peruse Ephesians 6. 

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

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness Link up, 

Piece Perfect - The Basic Shift Dress

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

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

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

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

Outfit 1 - Gray Days with a Pop of Color

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

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

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

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

Outfit 2 - Greenery is on the Way

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

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

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

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

Here's the whole outfit.

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

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

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

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

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

Romance is in the Air - Final Week

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

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

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

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

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

Here is a view from the back. 

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

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

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

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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

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

Romance is in the Air - Week 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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

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

Beautiful Blogger Bests - A Casual Valentine's Look

Just because Valentine's Day is over, doesn't mean we need to pack away all our reds and pinks, velvet and lace! After all, romance is not just a day, it is a choice we make to bring love and passion not only to our relationships with our significant others, but to the way we dress. Back in January I came across a post by a blogger I had more recently started following, Tif of Bright on a Budget. Tif is a beautiful brunette with a big smile and a love for fashion. If you check out Tif's blog you can read on her About page that she is a lawyer, mom of a toddler and a wife. She loves to play with style and creates her looks with affordable flare. 

The post that I found inspiration on was Casual & Cozy Valentine's Day Outfit. Be sure to click on the link to see the original blog post and the outfit that I derived my outfit idea from. 

I love this clean, simple, casual look. The red flannel shirt and the white sweater pull in the Valentine's look without being overly frilly or feminine. However, the skinny jeans and the heels keep it from being too masculine. This is a look you could recreate any time with any colors. It's just that simple.

In Tif's original post she styles her outfit with a red and black checked top, a fuzzy white sweater, skinny jeans, a cute black bag and the cutest heels that match her shirt. Since I didn't have the matching heels and I only had a red and navy plaid shirt I decided to keep my purse and shoes blue. 

Still working on my focus, so I apologize for the fuzzy photo. You've seen these shoes numerous times on my blog. They are comfy and even though they aren't real dressy they still elevate the look of this outfit as opposed to wearing sneakers.

This bag that I got from my younger daughter for Christmas is a lovely mix of clutch and cross body. The handle is adjustable to make it shorter or longer, or it can be removed completely to use as a clutch. I love the texturing on this bag. 

Tif is wearing turquoise jewelry with her outfit and I absolutely love the look. The light blue really pops against the dramatic red background. For my outfit I wore my turquoise and gold pendant necklace, adding a turquoise and silver bracelet with a gold bracelet to bring all the pieces together. 

I hope you enjoyed my version of Tif's outfit from Bright on A Budget. Be sure to stop by her blog and give her some love.

I hope you have a great weekend. Spring isn't here yet, but it is on the way, so hang in there! 

This post contains affiliate links to give you shopping options. While your clicks might generate a few cents for me, all opinions are my own. Thanks for all your support. 

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. Friday linking up with JoLynne Shane in the Fashion Friday Link Up and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. 

Spring 2017 Pantone Sneak Peek with Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy

When Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy contacted me back in January about doing a collaboration featuring some of the Spring 2017 Pantone colors, I was so excited. I featured Liz on my Beautiful Blogger Best column a few months ago. She is a fantastic blogger who offers her readers a wealth of knowledge about style. Both Liz and I love to play with the Pantone colors. The chance to actually meet up and enjoy having our pictures taken together was the perfect spring board to show you some of the new Pantone colors. Be sure you click on the link below to check out Liz's post on her blog. There you can see more details on her beautiful outfits.

After getting refreshments at the local coffee shop, we made our way out into the foggy atmosphere. Even though the air was thick with moisture, I feel it made our colorful outfits pop even more. Pantone's color of the year is called Greenery. This lovely spring green is meant to remind us of life, new growth and to connect us back to nature. In our first outfits, Liz and I tried to incorporate Greenery in a way that would say, "Hang on! Spring is coming!" Do you think we succeeded?

Liz's outfit boasted little pops of Greenery throughout, from the pattern on her skirt, to the cute tassels on her purse pom, to the stones in her necklace. 

I went for a darker look wearing a popover top of Greenery with white. Adding my navy eyelet jacket, distressed cropped jeans, navy heels and the navy fringe necklace really made the green stand out.

Here are a few details of my first outfit including my American Eagle cross body bag, which I donned with brooches, and my navy loafer heels. Yes, those are distressed jeans. I thought I would never get a pair, but I found these at my favorite thrift store. They fit, and the distressing was minimal. Sold!

I had to include more than one of these photos, because I think the grounds and buildings were beautiful, plus we look fantastic! Ha, ha. Liz is styling the Pantone color called Pink Yarrow. Her clutch and scarf also contain Flame, a deep orange. You can see, Liz added a blue bracelet and a pair of super cool earrings that also bring in the Pantone color Lapis Blue. 

Two other colors that are on the Pantone Spring 2017 line up are this olive green which they labeled Kale, and a very light pink called Pale Dogwood. These Kale pants were a recent purchase from Kohl's and will probably become a staple in my transition wardrobe from winter to spring. The Pale Dogwood flats were also a Kohl's find. What can I say? I had a gift card from Christmas and some birthday money. Ha, ha. 

Since I have very little green, when I found the other popover top, I also found this gingham button up with the same Greenery vibe. I love the fresh, crisp feel of this color and of these pieces. I wore a thrifted burgundy leather jacket and threw on two beaded necklaces which brought in the Pale Dogwood and Flame colors. 

Here is a close up of these comfy flats and the bag, which I also found at Kohl's, ha, ha. I love that this bag has, not only the Greenery color, but the Pale Dogwood and Pink Yarrow as well.

All seriousness aside, Liz was a great person to hang out with. Her hubby Kyle came along as well and my daughter Rebecca was doing pictures. Sometimes we both felt a little silly posing, which makes me love her even more! Ha, ha. For these two looks we both included Lapis Blue. While Liz made her focal point the blue, my focal point was my Flame colored pants. 

Here we are Charlie's Angels! We could so pull it off! 

I loved Liz's floaty top and those jeans!! If I can't find a pair like this soon, I think I might have a project to do in the future! Also, check out that cute bag. It provides the perfect pop of color and texture.

Once again, I found parts of this outfit when I was out shopping. These pants are from JC Penney. Don't you love that orange, or Flame, as the experts are calling it. The vest was another Kohl's find. I find most of this stuff on the clearance racks, just so you don't think I am spending oodles of money. The long sleeve tee was a gift from my mom for Christmas. The boots were another Kohl's find and so was the jewelry. The Kale colored bag was thrifted and the brooches on the bag were mine. Another shout out to Jodie of Jodie's Touch of Style for the pin inspiration.

It was fun to meet Liz and her husband and spend time working on our blogs together. I hope you will head over to her blog and check out all the details on her lovely outfits. Just click below. 

I hope you enjoyed this collaboration. Leave us both some love and let us know what you thought of these Pantone colors. I'll be doing a whole series on each of this Spring's colors soon. Thanks for hanging out on the blog.

Check out the shopping options below. This post does contain affiliate links which means if you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you buy something through one of the links I get a little bit more. I appreciate your support and input! 

Have a great day and don't forget to check back tomorrow for this month's beautiful blogger! 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. My makeup Rachel Christensen.

Wednesday linking up with Hannah and Sara in the Wearable Wednesday Link Up. Linking up with Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness link up. Friday linking up with Nancy's Fashion Style.  And Jennie of A Pocketful of Polkadots, and Laurie of Vanity and Me. 

Awesome Accessories - The Statement Necklace

Accessories are the fashion flare on our outfits. An accessory can do more to pull an outfit together and give it a bit of sass than spending a mint on certain labels or brands. I am not against brands. Being a thrift shopper, I have actually found my hands going towards high end labels at my favorite second hand stores, because I have been educated by following other bloggers as to what is a good quality, well made piece. However, I have oodles of clothes that are not high end. After all, when I do shop at regular retail stores I usually find myself back at Kohl's, Penney's or Christopher and Banks. What I have found, however, is that my cheaper selections can actually look more high end by pairing them with great accessories. 

Today I want to take a look at statement necklaces. This will be an ongoing series over the course of several accessory posts to show you what is available in the necklace category and how one statement piece differs from another. There are so many options available, sometimes it is hard to know what piece to wear with what outfit. 

For this post I will be looking at short statement necklaces that are made with beads and metal. 

A statement piece does what it says. It makes a statement. Often the statement is bold, an exclamation of "Look at me! Aren't I pretty?" Statement pieces can also be unique, whether it be the arrangement of the materials involved or the colors. 

The above necklace is more simple, but simplicity can also be a statement. The uniqueness of this piece is found in its shell, stone, metal and wood beads and in the rawhide used to hang it around the neck. 

Sometimes during the heat of the summer I will get a rash wherever I have metal against my skin. I have a nickel allergy, so usually stick to silver or gold, but I love cheap costume jewelry. Having a rawhide chain rather than a metal one, can alleviate some of those issues. 

Isn't this one fun? I love all the silver circles, the way it dangles and the way it shimmers. This piece can be worn with just about any color and really dresses up and outfit. 

Most of these statement necklaces have an adjustable clasp in the back so you can make the necklace a little bit longer or shorter depending on your outfit and your preference. 

I have this necklace in two or three different colors. I know! I have a jewelry fetish, just like some people have purse and/or shoe fetishes. Ha, ha. I just love the way the beads cascade downward, reminiscent of a waterfall. 

I love everything about this one. The color of the beads, the strings of bling, and the chains all give it a more expensive feel. It almost looks like something a princess would wear! Here is a pic from when I wore this for a recent blog post. You can see the whole post here.  

Finally, this last one is just layers of fun. I love the color, the differing sizes of beads and even the way it feels when I run my fingers over it. 

What sorts of short statement necklaces do you have? Do you have just one special piece that you love to wear for special occasions or are you like me and have hooks full? I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments. 

Adding a special statement piece can serve so many functions for your outfit. It can add color, pizzazz and texture. It can draw attention away from problem areas and put the focus on your neck and face. A lovely statement necklace can make you feel and look more confident and vibrant. 

Thanks for hanging out on the blog today. I appreciate all your support. Check back next week for more fashion fun. Have a great weekend. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Shopping for Statements:

Black multi - Venus - $19.00

Sage - Modcloth - $5.99

Blue - Chico's - $34.99

Crystal - Francesca's - $20.98

Light pink - Charming Charlie - $10.00

Linking up with Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge , Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style, Laurie of Vanity and Me, 

Romance is in the Air - Week 1

February is a month that has long been loved and hated by those who are in love and those who wish they were. Whether you are in a relationship or not, you can still enjoy the idea of romance! Watching old romantic movies, reading good books or dressing in a way that puts forth the idea that you are a special person can all give you a sense of joy and satisfaction outside of a relationship. 

I have been blessed to be married to the same man for almost 30 years. We have had our ups and our downs, but we made a commitment at the start of our life together that we wouldn't give up on each other. My hubby loves when I dress up and I don't do it nearly enough. This month, I thought it would be fun to do a series centering on outfits that are a little more romantic. I'm not talking negligee and fishnet stockings, though you could certainly add those things to any of these outfits. I talking more about going on a date to special place or event. Dressing up, just a little bit more, not only pleases the person you are going with, it makes you feel good as well.

This outfit consists of a velvet floral bell sleeve top, pleated skirt, and leggings. I opted to wear the leggings for a bit of added warmth over my nude hose. Hey, when it is cold outside, I get creative in my layering. Thinner layers are key in making an outfit warmer, but not adding bulk. 

To give my waist a bit more definition, I tucked the top in and added a woven yarn belt that ends in fringe. I tied this to the side giving the outfit a little bit of a boho vibe. 

Here you get a good look at the bell sleeve. I think this sleeve type can be very pretty, but it also has to be managed, especially when you are eating. Be careful you aren't dragging the sleeve through your food. Ha, ha. Once again I reached for my dark gray/black clutch with bling. It just goes with all things fancy! You can also see the fringe on the belt. And yes! I did paint my nails a dark maroon! 

My black leggings have a bit of bling on them. I used these just two weeks ago in this Chasing Away the Winter Blues post. I shopped these in a friend's closet and they fit really well and are made of a thermal type fabric. For this outfit I donned my patent leather heels. This is an older pair of shoes I found at a thrift store. I like the height of the heel and the patent leather stays shiny. 

This choker was my first and I got it when I went to Nordstrom Rack on my birthday. I won a gift card from Jodie on Jodie's Touch of Style when she was celebrating her two year anniversary on her blog. This choker was one of the things I bought with the gift card. 

While very simple, the choker adds an element of edgy elegance and allows the square neckline of the top to show off some skin.

My hubby and I are going to a show Thursday evening and I think I will probably wear this outfit. I hope you enjoyed this post. Be sure to check back next week for another outfit made for romance. 

Also, check back on Thursday for another Awesome Accessory post.

Have a great day!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Sunday linking up with Rena of It's All Fine. Whatever Tickles the Fancy. Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, and Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness link up.  Wednesday linking up with The Perfect Storm, Tania of 50 is not Old. Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. 

Piece Perfect - The Cropped Denim Jacket

I don't know about you, but I am thankful, January is over. It means we are a little bit closer to spring and the days are starting to get just a smidge longer! Yay! When thinking spring I start to think about outfits that can transition me out of winter. I still want to layer pieces because it is still very cold, but I want to get away from some of my heavier sweaters, jackets and boots and start thinking about lighter layers and brighter colors. 

Today's Piece Perfect post centers around a cropped denim jacket. 

I have worn this jacket in a number of posts and I will be including pics from each of those. I found this cute jacket at a thrift store, but they are very popular right now and you can find them just about any where. This particular jacket is a medium wash, has a good amount of stretch and has just a little bit of distressing. 

It has taken me a little while to warm up to the idea of clothing with rips in them, but when I found this jacket I knew it was perfect for me. The distressing is minimal and the "wounds" are showing threads, not skin. That is just my personal preference and has nothing to do with whether the clothing is appropriate or not.

For this post, I styled the denim jacket with my leopard print skirt, a gold button up blouse, black hose and black boots. I kept the accessories minimal with my gold woven clutch and my chunky pendant necklace. 

Now that I am looking at this picture, I am wondering if a black turtleneck would have been better. what do you think? I think the necklace would have popped more and black would have hidden my bulges. Ha, ha.

A medium or dark wash denim jacket is quite versatile. You can style it casually or dress it up. Here are a few of the other outfits I styled this jacket with in the past. 

Click here to see this post. 

See the full post for the above two looks here.

As you can see I styled this jacket in a number of different ways. Which one is your favorite? Here are all four looks side by side. 

Each piece that I have selected over the last few months in these Piece Perfect posts is meant to serve as a source of inspiration. The reason I like the cropped denim jacket as opposed to a normal length denim jacket is that it gives the wearer a plethora of ways to style it. If you prefer a light wash or a darker wash you can still style it in many unique and fun ways. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. Tell me in the comments section which outfit you liked the best, or tell me how you like to wear a denim jacket. I appreciate all of your comments. I currently don't have a way of letting you know that I responded to your comments, but I do try to respond to everyone, just check back on the original post to see my reply. 

Be sure to check back next Tuesday for the start of my Romance is in the Air series. I'll be styling lace and velvet and other pretty things. Have a great weekend.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Shopping Options:

Cropped Denim Jackets

Macy's - $49.99 (on sale now)

JC Penney - $34.99 (on sale now)

Forever 21 - $29.90

Chasing Away the Winter Blues - Week 5

This is the final installment in my Chasing Away the Winter Blues Series. With the month of February starting tomorrow, it will be time to think about love and romance. Today, however, I wanted to share what I call the comfort outfit. 

Let's face it, we all have a day or days where we just can't work up the gumption to get dressed up. Maybe you are home sick from work or maybe the winter blues have just beaten you down enough that you need a day of rest and complete comfort.

I found this comfy sweatsuit when I was shopping a friend's closet. I would have never picked it up except that it has bling on it! I'll get to that in a minute. I normally do not wear sweatsuits. I like to dress up, even if it is just jeans and a sweater or nicer sweat shirt, but this little number is perfect when I want to just stay home and be extra warm and comfortable. 

In keeping with my love of this berry color I decided to wear a striped 3/4 length tee and added my berry colored Puma sneakers. The sneakers are thrifted and the tee was from Christopher and Banks. 

Here you can see my sneakers, but you can also see the line of faux rhinestones along the outside leg of the pants. 

The tee also has a line of bling along the neck and I opted for my lovely cross necklace hubby gave me for Christmas and the ring he gave me as well. 

The next few shots are just me being silly.

And of course I had to channel Rocky Balboa!

So maybe I am trying to beat away the winter blues. Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed this series on chasing away the winter blues. Join me on Thursday for the Piece Perfect column for February. Be sure to come back next Tuesday for a new series titled Romance is in the Air.

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Shopping Options:

Black sweatsuit - Zulily - $16.49

Maroon striped tee - Target - $8.40

Maroon sneakers - Macy's - $59.98

Saturday linking up with Rena of  It's All Fine. Whatever Tickles the Fancy. Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish and Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness link up. Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. 

Color Crash Course - Brown and Navy

It's time for another Color Crash Course column. You have seen me style denim with denim, orange with red, Halloween colors including black, orange and purple, red and burgundy and the Christmas colors of red, green and gold. This month's color combo is not as bold as some of the other choices, but it is what I would call comfortable.

For this outfit I wore my brown mid-calf boots with navy blue jeggings. I chose a vertical striped sweater tunic as my top. For added warmth and interest I topped the sweater with my cropped denim jacket...sneak peek...this jacket will be featured on my Piece Perfect column next week. To add a little print mixing I threw on a fun blue and brown infinity scarf.

I got this blue bag from my younger daughter for Christmas. I just love the color and the texture. It has an edgy vibe, and can be used with the strap or as a clutch.

Here you can see more of the fun texture of the sweater. 

For a pop of bling I put on my gold pendant necklace. 

Just a closer look at the boots. 

A view from the back. There was a time, I would have never had my top hanging out below my jacket, or sweater, or vest, or whatever, but now I love to do this. It adds an element of interest to the outfit and allows you to show off a piece even if there is something over the top. This is especially fun if you have something like this with a unique texture or print. It also allows you to show off the color.

I hope you enjoyed this Color Crash Course today. Would you combine brown and navy? How would you wear it? I'd love to see your comments below. If my post inspired you to put together an outfit post a picture of it on my FB page in the comments section. I'd love to see them.

Have a great weekend. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Shopping Options:

Navy jeggings - Old Navy - $25.00

Brown tunic sweater - Venus - $26.00 (Not familiar with this brand, but this has some great detailing)

Cropped denim jacket - Macy's - $69.00

Mid-calf boots - Walmart - $43.99

Blue clutch - Charming Charlie - $16.99

Chasing Away the Winter Blues - Week 4

In this series I have been sharing with you, some of the ways I try to beat the winter blues. January, February and even into March can be a long, cold and dark time for many people. As a fashion blogger, I wanted to come up with a few outfit ideas that might help to lift our spirits. I also posted about getting out for a day, just to have some fun and a change of scenery. This week, I thought, why not create an outfit using a summer item. 

The focus behind picking a summer piece to wear in the winter, is to see and handle and remember a warmer, lovelier time when you might have worn the piece and to wrap yourself in that memory, to help you get through the long winter days.

This maxi is actually a dress. I threw a crew neck pullover sweater over the top, to give me a layer of warmth.

My daughter kindly pointed out, that next time, I may want to use a dress that didn't have a horizontal line right around the hips and butt. She's right! Now that I have that out of the way, I do like the color of this dress. Since it is more of a fair weather palette I decided to add a touch of maroon, to bring us back to the reality that it is still January.

I also added a black jacket that has tiny white polka dots on it. You can better see the dots on the jacket below. I didn't even realize until we were taking pictures that the black flowers on the dress also have tiny white polka dots on them. Go figure! 

I really like the maroon color with this outfit. 

Due to the thin fabric of the dress, I decided to wear a pair of black leggings underneath. I also wore my black ankle boots. It is still winter after all, even if we don't have snow. 

I'm wondering if you have a summer maxi dress in your closet. Would you style it for winter? How would you add layers of warmth to that summer clothing piece to make it wearable in the colder weather? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. 

If you haven't already subscribed to my blog and would like to receive weekly emails when I post new things, just go to the subscribe box and click.

Check back on Thursday to see what colors I am combining in my Color Crash Course column. Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, and Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness link up. Wednesday linking up with The Perfect Storm. Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. Friday linking up with Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style, JoLynne Shane in the Fashion Friday Link Up, and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. 

Beautiful Blogger Bests - Outfit for a Special Night Out

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shop the Look:

Navy Dress - Kohl's - $89.99

Berry jacket - Make Me Chic - $37.00

Black loafer heels - Nordstrom - $114.95

Black clutch - Target - $29.99

Statement necklace - Charming Charlie - $24.00

Chasing Away the Winter Blues - Week 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen. 

Shopping Options:

Cobalt ankle pants - JCPenney - $48.00

Cobalt heels - DSW - $39.95

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

Light blue scarf - Target - $14.99

Snakeskin bag - Charming Charlie - $22.00

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

Awesome Accessories - Over the Knee Boots

Happy Thursday everyone! I hope today is a good one for you. Once again I am trying my hand at my own photos, so bear with me. One of these days I will be better, I promise. As with anything hobby related, we don't often just sit down and start doing something perfectly. We have to practice, learn, try and then learn some more and try again. 

One thing I have learned in my almost one full year of blogging is that there is always room for growth and change. I never used to think I would want a pair of over the knee boots. When I put these on and went outside to take pictures I suddenly realized why so many people have these. They are cute and they are warm. Just having that little extra length covering my leg really helped to warm things up.

When I got dressed today, I wasn't even really thinking about this post. when It hit me, I needed to do some pictures, I thought I had better put something on that was somewhat photo worthy. I decided on a white button up which has a print of blue bicycles that have a tiny red seat, thus the red cardigan. These skinny jeans are one of my favorites, although they do give me muffin top....ha, ha. Due to that anomaly, I had to try to stand up straighter. 

I actually bought these boots before Christmas with the idea that my husband could give them to me as a gift. Ha, ha. Anyone else do that? I had a coupon for DSW. As usual I went straight back to the clearance section of the store and found these! Not only were they marked down, but they were an addition percent off, plus I had the coupon. Win!!

I like the color, as I didn't have a tall pair of gray boots. I like that they are a little wider, so no tugging and pulling to get them on and the full zipper up the back makes them very easy to get into. There is a short little wedge inside the boot giving me an extra lift. 

To add some texture and bling, I added this multi layered necklace, which incorporates ivory, gray and blush beads. 

Here you can see a little more detail on the white button up. It's an Old Navy shirt that I found at a thrift store. I like the whimsical little bicycles and can wear this all year round. 

Now that I own a pair of over the knee boots, I would highly recommend them. especially if you live in an area that is cold five or six months out of the year. I am looking forward to styling these in more ways, say with a shorter skirt.

Tell me what you think of over the knee boots. Do you have a pair? Would you wear these? What is your favorite boot height? I would love to hear your thoughts. 

Thanks for stopping by the blog. If you haven't subscribed you can get emails from me when there are new posts. Just fill in your name and email in the subscribe slot. I only send out emails once or twice a week to try not to overload your inbox. I'd love to have you on board. And for those of you that already subscribe, thank you! Your support, thoughts and comments mean a lot. 

Have a great weekend. 

Shop over the knee boots:

Bare Traps - $79.95

Journee - $59.95

Unisa Saranaa - $79.95