What I've Been Wearing Lately

I didn’t have the time, nor the energy to come up with outfits for a blog post, so I thought I would just share a few of my everyday outfits that I posted on Instagram. I know some of you follow me there, and on Facebook so these might be repeats for you, but to keep it interesting and fun I will be adding a few style tips and commentary on why I chose what I did and my thought process or the inspiration for putting it together. I also thought it would be fun to tell you which pieces are thrifted.

Outfit 1 - Tan Blazer with Striped Tee

Inspiration - Pinterest

Thrifted Pieces - Striped tee, blazer, jeans, belt and shorter necklace

Style Tip - Florals and stripes are an easy and quick way to print mix without getting overwhelmed.

What I like about it - It is casual, but a bit dressier with the blazer and jewelry. It adheres to my fashion style with the combat boots and floral scarf. The layers make it great for these transitional days as winter ends and spring begins.

Outfit 2 - Sunflower Skirt with Pullover Sweater

Inspiration - Style challenge on Instagram for #wearyellowtoendendo22 with @ldywhobrunches and @sarahceeraz

Thrifted Pieces - Sunflower skirt and gray faux suede boots.

Style Tip - Try choosing color combos that aren’t perfectly matched. It might go against your fashion sense, but it is good for your brain to think differently about how colors pair up. You might find color combos you never thought to put together.

What I like about it - I ended up wearing this outfit all day and it was extremely comfortable. It was just the right amount of layering to keep me warm and I didn’t feel overly constricted. I like the boho vibe of it, but it also says classy with the long flower pendant and the chic chenille sweater.

Outfit 3 - Plaid Jacket with Space Tee

Inspiration - My closet and my own creativity.

Thrifted Pieces - Plaid jacket.

Style Tip - Skinny jeans and straight leg jeans are the best for tucking into boots, so don’t get rid of all of your skinnies, no matter what is trending. Skinnies and straight leg pants give you a sleeker fit through the leg, but especially around the knee and top of a taller boot.

What I like about it - This outfit just speaks to my inner lumberjack persona. I love plaids and earth tones like brown and green. I like the contrast of the darker green tee, as opposed to choosing an olive green to match the tones in the jacket. Pairing the jacket with a scarf allowed me to wear the wool without doing all the itching.

Outfit 4 - Casual Blue Sweater and Jeans

Inspiration - My own closet and a desire for comfort. (You would be amazed at what motivates my fashion choices - Ha, ha.)

Thrifted pieces - Light blue sweater and light blue long sleeve tee underneath.

Style Tip - Choose a sweater with texture to minimize noticeable bulges around the middle. The eye is busy trying to follow the texture and pattern, rather than focusing on your bits. (I also size up, but that is a personal choice.)

What I like about it - Casual style is my jam and this is a perfect example of all the things I love: jeans, soft, roomy sweaters, pretty color and fun sneakers.

I hope you enjoyed taking a closer look at my everyday outfits, and hearing about where I draw inspiration from, and how I use my thrifted pieces. I also hope you are enjoying my style tips. Let me know what you think by leaving your thoughts in the comments, or on Facebook. I appreciate all your support.

Fashion Fun: One Blazer Three Ways

Everyone should own at least one or two good blazers. What I consider a good blazer is a piece that fits well, is made well and doesn’t show wear after only a few years. I have my own stockpile of blazers, because they are timeless. I do have wool based blazers that I only wear in the fall, winter and spring because they are the perfect classy layer to keep me warm. I also have a few that serve me well in the warmer months in overly air conditioned restaurants and theaters. Today, I want to show you a thrifted piece that I recently found.

I have been looking for a tan colored blazer for a few months. I didn’t care if it was tan, or beige, or camel, I just wanted something in that color family. I now have two. The one I will show you today being the first one I found. Last week I found a darker one at the dollar thrift store in the town south of us. How could I possibly pass up a beautiful blazer that fit me well and made me look like a girl straight out of Pinterest, for only a dollar? I couldn’t! Ha, ha. Do I need two tan blazers? No, and eventually, I will probably get rid of one, but for now I have two.

Outfit 1 - Casual with Jeans

This piece is a brand called Collections for Le Suit and I got it at Goodwill when my husband took me out for my birthday back in January. Looking at it in these pictures shows me that it is a little big. I lost a few pounds when I was sick and have not gained it back. Not being able to taste anything helps with that. Ha, ha. However, it will be nice to wear with bulkier sweaters and sweatshirts in the cold months.

My Apt. 9 jeans are also thrifted, though from a few years ago. I like the darker wash and bootcut of this pair. I have found most of my favorite jeans at thrift stores. It is a great place to find and try brands you haven’t heard of or can’t afford at regular retail prices. My patterned turtleneck is a thrifted brand called Investments Essentials. The funky pattern is what drew me to it.

To complete the look I added a beaded layered necklace, my Very Peri thrifted Merona bag and my old Sonoma heeled ankle boots from Kohl’s.

Outfit 2 - Workwear with Plaid Trousers

These plaid trousers are another dollar thrift find. I didn’t even try them on, figuring for only a buck, I could just donate them if them didn’t fit. What drew me to them were the light blue stripes. These are Mossimo brand.

I decided to pair them with my light blue Sonoma shirt. I got this from Kohl’s a number of years ago. A good chambray shirt, whether a light wash or a dark wash, is always in style and can be worn with so many things.

I finished off the look with silver accessories, and my blue Converse sneakers.

Outfit 3 - Dressy with a Polka Dot Skirt

I found this fabulous black and white polka dot skirt at the same dollar thrift store where I got the pants. How could I resist this classy, flowy piece, especially when black and white is trending for spring. It is a brand called Urban Coco. It has a white elastic band waist making it very comfortable. It also has a partial lining which hits just above the knees. I hope to see this one get some wear this summer.

White tees are all the rage for pairing with blazers, so I thought why not bring that into play here. My simple white tee is a Time and Tru piece from Walmart. This brand has definitely given Walmart a place in the fashion world, and they seem to be affordable pieces meant for real life wear.

For the rest of my look I kept it simple by adding a thrifted pendant necklace, a blag sparkly clutch and my Clark’s open toed shoeties.

If a girl’s got a twirly skirt, the girl’s got to twirl!

Here are the three looks side by side.

Which outfit do you like the best? Do you have a blazer this color? How do you like to wear it? Leave me some love in the comments. I really appreciate it. I am including a few shopping links for items similar to pieces in these outfits. Feel free to look them over. These are affiliate links, all opinions are my own.

Fashion Fun: Boho Maxi Dress

I do apologize, again, that I am not getting as much content out as I would like, and I am also forgetting to send out a weekly email. Life has been busy and we have been continually bombarded by life bombs including those minor inconveniences like car problems and bigger things like family illnesses and issues. Sometimes we get to a point where we want to give up and just go hide in a nice warm hole, but in the words of Tim Allen of Galaxy Quest fame, “Never give up! Never surrender.”

This week I wanted to share with you three looks revolving around a dress I got as a gift for Christmas. Most of us are aware of the prairie/boho vibe that invaded Target this past year. Long, flowing, tiered maxi and midi dresses hung from every rack. I heard many women complaining that the retailer had lost their mind and that there was no way they were going to keep shopping there. However, I noticed these options are still strong with new colors and prints for spring.

My dress is a solid, rusty color, which will be great for fall, but I tried to think about how I could style this for spring. Let’s take a look.

Outfit 1 - With a Knit Vest

I have long been a fan of gauze. I can remember as I was growing up having a few different tops made out of the light weight, textured fabric. It is the perfect warm weather fabric. This dress is fully lined with a polyester underlay, so actually great for cooler temps. As you can see, the dress has an empire waist and four tiers layering down from the bodice. No worries about pinching or feeling like this piece is too tight. It is like a muumuu, but a little more stylish and classy.

This knit vest was in a style box I won through an Instagram Style Challenge. I hardly ever win anything, so this was a pleasant surprise and was gifted by Instagrammer Rae, @forensicfahsionnotes . There were lots of other goodies in the box including a dress, scarf and necklace. Most of the pieces were thrifted, which I love. This vest is a heavy weight yarn and the oxford gray will go with so many things.

To complete this look I added some beaded jewelry, my gray combat boots and a Sonoma tote bag that I picked up online at Kohl’s last fall. These are a great addition to your wardrobe. They are light weight, but sturdy; very roomy and will carry everything from your laptop or tablet to a notebook and all your other essentials. Check out all the glorious colors and prints by clicking on the link above.

Style Tip: When wearing a lower cut neckline, fill in the exposed area with several layers of beads.

Outfit 2 - With a Corduroy Jacket

I found this wide wale corduroy jacket while thrifting a few years ago. I have been very close to getting rid of it, because I just don’t wear it, but for some reason I keep hanging on to it. It is as though this jacket wants to be mine. It wants to belong to me, because it knows both it and I have such great potential together. The sleeves are a little short, but I love the off white color, the roomie box cut and the texture.

I thought my fringy boho scarf the perfect complimentary piece. After that it was just a matter of a black bag and white sneakers. Done!

Style Tip: When adding a scarf to an outfit with only one or two colors pick one that also has at least one or two of the same colors.

Outfit 3 - With a pullover sweater.

I was going to try just wearing the dress with a belt, but to me it didn’t look quite right. Part of it might be the need to find the right belt. Instead, I decided to make my maxi dress into a maxi skirt by topping it with this Christopher and Banks pullover sweater. This works wonderfully for the cold weather as it gives you an extra layer and using the belt allows you to cinch in your waist for a more streamlined look. The belt is another thrift find as it the necklace.

I added my suede boots and an older tote bag from many years ago. Once again, I love the pattern and the corduroy texture. Plus, it adds to the boho flare of the entire look.

Style Tip: Trying looking at your maxi dresses as skirts and see what sweaters or tops you have that would go with the bottom.

Here are the three outfits side by side.

Which outfit do you like best? Would you wear a prairie/boho dress like this? What other ways would you wear a dress like this? I’d love to have your feedback, so leave a comment below, or on my Facebook page.

I’m including a few shopping links, just for fun. Feel free to look them over. These are affiliate links, which means I get a few pennies every time you click on a link. I appreciate every click.

Have a great day!

Spring Trend 2022 - Wearing a Dress with Pants

I saw this on one of the websites as I was looking at Spring Trends for this year. This one is a bit more obscure, but I thought it isn’t so far outside our boxes as we might think. The runway models were wearing outfits that included long, oversized shirt dresses with voluminous pants. That is too overwhelming for most of us, especially if we are carrying a bit of extra weight. However, most of you have already done this to a degree, when you wear a longer tunic with leggings. After all, isn’t a tunic just a short dress? Aren’t leggings sort of like pants? I thought I would show you my version of a dress with pants outfit. It is very simple and perfect for these long, cold days of winter.

I found this fun, velvet piece thrifting and knew the moment I tried it on it was coming home with me. It is soft, warm and stretchy. I love the 70’s pattern and the empire waist with the slightly flared skirt. If I had the legs for it this would be a fun piece to wear with patent leather go-go boots. Ha, ha. However, I bought it with the idea that it would be fun to use as a tunic over pants, especially jeans.

I don’t know about you, but even though skinny jeans are not supposed to be in any more, I just love wearing them with boots in the winter. It is so much easier to get a pair of skinnies into the shaft of a boot, rather than a straight leg pair.

This dress could go over a variety of solid colored pants as well as a few smaller prints like gingham or pinstripes. You certainly wouldn’t have to choose skinny leg pants either. The length and silhouette of this tunic dress would work just as well with a pair of straight, or boot cut jeans.

Style Tip:

Wear a taller heel with straight leg or boot cut jeans for a more upscale look.

To give the outfit a little more interest, I added a long sweater vest the same length as the dress. I then chose gray suede boots, a long pendant necklace and a red bag to pull in the other colors in the the dress.

These boots were another thrift find. I usually don’t have as much success with shoes, but these were a great find. While not real suede, I have found that the faux suede boots last pretty well, as compared to the faux leather ones. They just don’t seem to show the wear as quickly.

My red bag is also thrifted. I don’t typically carry a satchel like this as I like to use a cross body bag to keep my hands free. But I like to keep a few different options around the house for the blog and so that I have choices. I think I might have a few too many choices. Ha, ha.

This long pendant necklace was another thrift fine. I find so many amazing jewelry pieces at thrift stores, so if you are a thrifter, be sure to check out the jewelry racks and counter.

It is easy to put together this kind of outfit and when it is cold during these long winter months, wearing a dress with pants isn’t so far outside the box. I hope you enjoyed this post.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links which means I get a few pennies every time you click on a link. I get a few more if you purchase something through one of the links. I appreciate all your clicks and views. Leave me some love in the comments and let me know what you think about this Spring 2022 trend of wearing pants with a dress.

Have a great evening.

Outfits with Sweaters

Hey everyone! I am trying to bring you content at least once a week, but time got away from me this past weekend and I wasn’t able to get pictures taken. I thought, instead, I would show you some of the the outfits I have been posting on Instagram. I know, not all of you have an Instagram account, and maybe not a Facebook account either, so you wouldn’t be getting that content.

Anyway, I recently styled four different sweaters and thought I would show you those outfits. I love my sweaters in the winter time. Anything to add extra layers on these frigid days is exactly what I want and need. We live in a drafty old house and over the years we have added insulation, new windows and things like that, but it is still a drafty, old, house. Ha, ha.

All of these outfits were made using a few of my longer cardigans. I love a long cardigan in the winter in our house, because my legs often feel cold, even with the extra bits on my thighs! Having a longer, cozy cardi makes me feel like I am wearing a blanket around my body.

After each outfit explanation you will see a new feature called a Style Tip. Be sure to check those out for easy ways to update your looks.

Outfit 1 - Mint Green Bubble Cardigan

This is a Christopher and Banks piece I bought a few years ago. The bubble texture is soft and cozy. For this outfit I decided to pair the sweater with a pale, lavender long sleeve top and a printed scarf which also had navy accents in addition to the mint and purple. That is why I chose my navy, SO ankle boots and a few navy bracelets. Here is a similar pair of boots at Kohl’s. My jeans are from Maurices. Click on the link to a similar pair.

Style Tip:

Trying pairing pastels with other pastels, then throw in a bit of a primary color like red, bright yellow or dark blue for an interesting contrast.

Outfit 2 - Leopard Print Cardigan

I found this great piece while thrifting and I grabbed it. I had been on the hunt for a longer, heavier, leopard print cardigan and this one was perfect. This cardigan, like the last one is an open front piece, with no zippers, buttons or snaps. I have grown to really like these types of cardi’s because they provide warmth, but still allow you to show off the top underneath, as well as any accessories like scarves or jewelry.

For this outfit, I chose my rusty brown, thrifted turtleneck, which happens to be Chico’s brand and is very soft. My jeans are my trusty old Rock & Republic brand from Kohl’s. My boots are clearance Sonoma brand, also from Kohl’s a few seasons ago. Here is a different gray pair, a brown pair, and a black pair.

Style Tip:

Adding a belt to a longer cardigan can give you an entirely new look, accenting your waist and making the outfit more streamlined.

Outfit 3 - Camouflage Waffle Weave Cardigan

This purple camo piece I found recently at my local Meijer. Not only was it on clearance, it was an additional 50% off. Yay! Being that is was such a different piece with the color and the texture, I grabbed it. I had just been thinking I want to add a few other purple pieces to my closet and this was perfect. In addition, it is a medium weight so I will be able to wear it for three seasons instead of just one. You can try finding a long light weight cardi here on Amazon.

This look was very casual, with a thrifted light weight pullover sweater, thrifted jeans and my sherpa lined ankle boots. Another clearance Sonoma pair. I wore this to go meet friends at a nearby BBQ place.

Style Tip:

Add layers of fun jewelry to a casual look to take it up a notch, making it social engagement ready.

Outfit 4 - Bright Blue Bubble Sweater

Apparently, bubble sweaters were a thing, but now they are not. I think I got the mint one, and this bright blue one the same year. This one I found at a local shop last year when my girls took me birthday shopping. My sparkly, red, long sleeve tee is a recent online purchase from Kohl’s. Tee’s are definitely a staple in my closet: short sleeves for spring and summer, and long sleeves for fall and winter.

The jeans are a stretchier version of my other Rock & Republic jeans. The boots are a hand me over from my oldest. Since her pregnancy her feet got a tad bigger. These are tight on me too and I almost wonder if they were mislabeled. I wear them around the house and places where I don’t have to walk a lot. Do you wear shoes at home? Many days I wear my slippers, but I will also get fully dressed, just to feel like I am not frittering away time. Since I am currently working from home with my little freelance jobs, it makes me feel like I am accomplishing something if I get dressed. Ha, ha.

Style Tip:

Color block an outfit by adding two, three or more different solid colors, then add a fun printed scarf for warmth and interest. Don’t forget to accent your scarf with a pretty pin/brooch.

I hope you enjoyed this post. These are a few of my every day outfits. I love to get dressed and to add interest and color to my outfits, even if I am just staying at home. I provided a few shopping links within the article that you can check out. Some of these are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great evening.

Updating Your Wardrobe: Part 2 - Old Becoming New

I thought I would take another week to look at ways we can update our wardrobe using older style pieces by showing you my own rendering of a couple of outfits with a recent thrift purchase I made. This two piece set is from Blair. I don’t know about you, but I have often felt that mail order retailers like Blair are old school and really gear their products to women, who like the simplicity of shopping via mail and buying products that are easily mix and match and easy to take care of. Don’t get me wrong, they do have many lovely pieces, like this Fair Isle sweater, this spring jacket, and these cute Skechers sneakers.

What I am going to attempt to show you is how you can use this two piece set three different ways for looks that are up to date and appropriate for work, date night or church.

I think the pattern and the colors of this set are lovely. It can be worn all year round, but will be especially pretty in the spring and the fall. The under piece is short sleeve and the over piece is sheer.

Look 1 - Casual

The first way I wanted to style it was casual, since that is pretty much all I wear right now. I decided to wear both pieces together, and added a heavier sweater coat that I recently thrifted as a warm layering piece. I love the winter white of this sweater and the textured waffle weave. It has two silver clasps in the front, but I wore it open so the two piece set could be shown off. I added my old olive combat boots, an olive belt and a dark olive bag. I did the front tuck to show off the belt. This is a great casual look and I would definitely wear it for a date night with my hubby.

Look 2 - Church

Obviously, this look doesn’t just have to be for church. You could also wear it to work or on a fun day out with your girlfriends. In this look I got rid of the sheer overlay piece and used a Kohl’s moto jacket I purchased last year. The jacket is rather heavy, so would definitely be better as an outerwear piece rather than just a layering piece. Often, I will use jackets as layering pieces in the winter, but this one will be better as a spring or fall jacket when the temps are cool, but not freezing.

The skirt is another thrift find. I like the buckskin look of this piece, and thought it could be styled with lots of other colors. The skirt actually could be hemmed up, if you prefer at the knee or above the knee. With these tall brown boots, which were a hand me over from my older daughter, I almost think having the skirt above the knee would look a little better. I added a gray thrifted bag as a point of contrast.

Look 3 - Work

For this last look, I got rid of the short sleeved under piece and donned the long sleeved over piece. I do have a cami on, so I could have worn it like that, but I wanted to add another layer for the cold and more texture. I switched to corduroy winter white pants, heeled suede ankle boots and added another layering piece that could be removed if I got too warm. The office I used to work in was cold in the winter months, so layering was essential. The dark olive jacket is thrifted and is probably a dress. The vest was a Christmas gift two years ago. I went for my dark brown, thrifted corduroy bag as a final touch.

There are so many options when it comes to your clothing. Your closet is a space with unlimited possibilities. Don’t worry about what the media says about what women should or shouldn’t wear at this or that age. Wear what you like, just figure out how to wear it to make yourself feel your best and most confident.

Thanks to everyone who follows along with my blog. I really appreciate it. I hope to bring you more fun content in the weeks and months ahead. If you like to read my Faith posts, be sure to check back Thursday for a new post on what I am learning about the word rejoice! Until then, I hope you are having a great week.

I am including a few shopping links for you to peruse. These are affiliate links, which means I earn a few cents every time you click on a link. I don’t receive compensation for what I do on the blog. I do it for myself, because it stretches my creative boundaries, and I do it for you, because I want to encourage and inspire you.

Updating Your Wardrobe

The thought that we have to buy new things to update our wardrobes is a misconception. There is nothing wrong with buying a few new things, or purchasing an item in a current color or trend to give our closets a bit of a refresh. However, I believe it is possible to take those older pieces in our closets that we might see as outdated and no longer wearable and turn them into something modern and up to date.

I had a friend contact me over the weekend who told me she was going through her closet getting rid of things that were either worn, no longer fit or that she thought were outdated. She had several pieces she didn’t want to let go of. Before she threw them in the box to donate she sent me a message along with a few pictures. She had a few pieces that were quality brands such as Evan Picone and Pendleton and wondered if there was any way to still make use of them.

Absolutely! (Peggy gave me permission to use the pictures she sent.)

Outdated Suits

While women still do wear suits, especially at a corporate level, there is less of a need when you hit retirement. True, vintage is becoming a big deal among thrifty fashionistas, as seen on blogs or Instagram, but not everyone is a fashion blogger. Most women just want to look nice and not like they just walked off the set of an old time movie (whether it be 1880’s or 1980’s). Most of us want to look like we care and that we put thought and effort into our outfits.

One of the things I love about fashion in today’s world is that anything goes. With so much emphasis on inclusion and being who you want to be and wearing what you want to wear, no matter your age, you can wear whatever you please, just please wear something as opposed to nothing! Ha, ha.

Here are some of the tips I gave Peggy for bringing those pieces up to date.

1 - Wear the blazers with other pieces. Jeans, dress pants, denim skirts, faux leather pencil skirts, or even a tiered maxi skirt can take both blazers from oh so 80’s up to 2022. The gray blazer would look stunning with a burgundy pencil skirt and heels, or try wearing it over a black velvet dress. The plaid blazer would look awesome with jeans and ankle boots, or with a pair of cream colored corduroys. I love things to match, but not too much.

2 - Use the skirts as springboards for updated winter outfits by adding chunky sweaters, and tall knee boots. Another option is to top the skirts with slim fitting cardigans and tees. A white tee, with some chunky jewelry and a navy blazer would make a whole new look for that gray skirt. Top the plaid skirt with a black tee, cream jean jacket and white sneakers for a great work wear option. You’ll be warm, comfortable and stylish.

Outdated Dresses

I had to wonder if a dress could really be outdated, but alas some of the add ons, embellishments and collars do make a dress look less than modern. Again, let me reiterate, big collars, shoulder pads and anything retro or vintage is all the rage for many younger people today. The trick is figuring out how we, as older women, can make it work.

This dress of Peggy’s is a beautiful color, so I can understand why she would not want to part with it. Part of the dated look of it has to do with the overlay piece at the top. If you are a skilled seamstress you could remove the overlay completely if the under part is made of the same material. A seamstress could also figure out how to attach the piece at the bottom and sides so that it looks like the dress was made that way.

If you are not skilled in the area of sewing, then there are other ways to make this pretty dress still wearable. Perhaps the easiest thing to do is add a jean jacket and a pair of trainers or low platform tennis shoes. You could also add a fringy earthy colored jacket and a pair of cowboy boots. This way the pretty embellishment is still visible.

On another occasion you might want to cover the embellishment, so throw on a sweatshirt or sweater. A printed pullover or graphic sweatshirt would cover the less modern top, but still give a shout out to the beautiful color of the skirt.

While hem lines do change according to the fashion world, I don’t really listen. I don’t wear mini skirts. They are just not my jam. I like skirts that hit at the knee or below, either in a tea length (also known as a midi) or a maxi which hits at the ankle. I say this, only to reassure you to not worry about the length of your skirt if you have older pieces.

Coats

I don’t think coats can ever be outdated. Sure the coats from the 1980’s and early 90’s had bigger shoulder pads, but shoulder pads are back. The other thing that I have noticed is the call for our clothing to be in pristine condition just isn’t a thing any more. We wear jeans with holes in them, why worry if our coat or shoes are showing a little wear. Again, this is your wardrobe, you make the decisions.

I think this coat of Peggy’s is perfectly lovely and I adore the creamy, winter white color. If you feel like a coat is no longer serviceable as a nice dress coat, think about wearing it with jeans to run to the store or sweats if you’re picking up coffee at the drive through. No one is going to notice if your coat is looking a little worn, especially if the rest of you is polished and put together.

I wanted to show you my own example with a blazer that I found thrifting a number of years ago. This Pendleton blazer is probably from the 1990’s or early 2000’s which isn’t that long ago. It seemed like the type of jacket that would have gone with a pencil skirt in the same color, probably sold as a suit. I have had it for a long time and don’t wear it very often, not because I don’t like it, but because being at home I typically reach for my flannel and my sweaters more often than a blazer. What I am showing you in this picture is how I took a professional looking piece and turned it into a casual date night look.

Sorry my pictures are so grainy.

The gist of this post is that your clothes can be more than what they were made for. Pieces have so much more versatility if you are just willing and able to think outside the box.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Next Tuesday I want to show you another older piece and how I made it work for me in a fun, updated way. Be sure to check out my Faith Page on Thursday for a new post. I hope you are having a great week.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2021 - London Palette: Green Bee, Downtown Brown, and Olive Branch

Hi everyone! November is zooming along and I am still trying to get back into some sort of rhythm, not only here on the blog, but in life. Anyone who suffers from a long term illness can relate to what I am talking about. Not being able to sleep for such a long period of time and still dealing with unresolved symptoms make it hard to get back to what I would say is a normal routine. However, I know there are people who are struggling with much worse situations and I am thankful that I am able to do as much as I can. In fact, this past weekend, we were able to travel to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday with her, so that was good.

Unfortunately, there has also been other difficult things along the way. My son-in-law lost his grandfather this past week and I know that has been a great loss for the whole family. He was a dear man, a wonderful painter and loved his family, so he will be missed. As many of you can relate, it seems as we get older, we see loss happening around us at a more frequent pace. This too is part of life, and for me knowing God is holding me and my loved ones during these times, makes it a little less painful.

Now on to another outfit. As I said last week, while I am wildly behind, I decided to go ahead and show you these Pantone London Palette outfits as possible sources of inspiration for Thanksgiving Day wear. Many of you will be celebrating with friends or family and it is a good reason, to get out of those sweat pants and dress up a little bit, if just for your own mental well being.

You can’t go wrong with a pair of trousers, a pretty top and a fun scarf and bag. Obviously, you can pick your colors, but I chose to combine these earthy tones for a look that is a mix of military meets, moto chic.

My Downtown Brown moto jacket is a thrifted piece that I have styled on the blog before. It is a brand called Celebrity Works. I do like this medium milk chocolate brown. Browns can be tricky to wear, especially when they contain a little too much gray or a little more red, or well, you get the idea. A true brown is hard to find, but I think this brown hits the mark, so thank you Pantone for that one.

You’ve seen my Olive Branch pants numerous times on the blog as well. As I look at them in these pictures, I am thinking I might need to find a replacement pair. These are starting to look worn and really don’t look very flattering. Of course that may have had something to do with my chubby thighs. Ha, ha. These were Gloria Vanderbilt brand and I probably got them at Kohl’s.

For the Green Bee color I chose a thrifted Studio Works popover top that I did the front tuck on, which gave it the blouson effect. I also added the Green Bee paisley print scarf. The thought to add the Dana Buchman floral bag was a last minute addition, but I like how it pulled everything together. A fun floral bag is a great addition to your wardrobe, especially when it can serve multiple season duty. This one works just as well in spring, summer and fall.

I chose my trusty Olive Branch SO ankle boots for my shoes. My ankle boots definitely get used in these cooler fall temps.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear an outfit like this to your Thanksgiving celebration? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments below.

I am including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no extra cost. If you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of my links I get a few more pennies. I appreciate every penny! All opinions are my own. Please note, I am not familiar with all of the retailers I list in my links, so be sure to read and understand their return policies in case something doesn’t fit or isn’t to your liking.

I hope you enjoyed today’s post. Until next time, have a great day.

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull with Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2021 - London Palette: First Blush, Ibiza Blue and Ultimate Gray

Due to my longer than usual absence from the blog because of my illness, I am going to bypass the wrap up of the New York Palette and the Intro to the London Palette for the Pantone 2021 color series and jump right into the London Palette, so that I can get this series concluded and get on with new content. I have been trying to give a more daily content on Instagram, which now also shows up on my regular Facebook account, but unfortunately, I have not been posting over on my Granny page. I guess I should start doing that as well. You would think all of these things would just be linked together. A few of the meds I am on are making my brain a bit dopey, so bear with me as I try to get things back into some sort of regular routine.

Here we are again, looking at a pastel pink on the fall color palette. I know pastels in fall are no longer taboo, but my brain still looks at this and thinks, “What a great spring outfit!” Maybe I should have paired First Blush with one of colors that seem more Autumnal to me, like Tomato Cream or Downtown Brown, but I liked the combination of blue and pink, so this is what you get.

My Ibeza Blue plaid shirt is a thrifted Faded Glory piece. I used this same plaid shirt in the spring for the French Blue color that was on the New York Palette. You can see that post here. You’ve seen these thrifted, distressed Lane Bryant jeans numerous times on the blog as they are one of my faves.

My First Blush jacket is also a repeat from my closet. Originally a Christopher and Banks purchase, this faux leather piece has some knit panels on the sides and under the arms to allow ease of movement and stretch. I added the scarf to bring in a little bit of added interest and additional color, plus with this being a fall outfit, the need for a scarf seemed more likely.

Ultimate Gray, once again makes its appearance on the London Palette, so I used this for my accessories in the metal chain belt, thrifted fold over bag and my silver sneakers. The only thing I did differently was the rose gold pendant. I just liked the way the color popped against the blue plaid.

While this look is certainly not what we would typically think of for the holidays, if you are more into pastel colors, this is a great casual look for that Thanksgiving celebration, especially if it involves a bit of shopping afterwards.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. Remember to order soon for Christmas. We have all heard how things are taking longer and some things are back logged so be sure to get your orders in, or even better, don’t deal with that added stress and try to buy local. That is what I am thinking about doing at least for part of my shopping this year.

These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull with Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2021 - New York Palette: Mykonos Blue, Spring Lake and Coconut Cream

It seems that every Pantone color palette that comes through the Institute has at least one, if not two blues on it. Blue is a color that everyone can wear, whether you wear dark classic navy, casual comfortable chambray or tropical hues that take you to the beaches of the Caribbean. I have a lot of blue in my closet, but then, I have a lot of every color in my closet. Ha, ha. Blue is great for pairing with many other colors. I pair denim with every color and denim definitely falls in the range of blues. Today’s blues are wearable and most likely already in your wardrobe.

My colors did not really line up with these blues. Oh well, that is part of the challenge of doing this series. I don’t always get the match spot on, but that is okay. The point is to take things you already have and do something similar. It doesn’t matter if your blues are a perfect match or not. All of these pieces were things I already had.

When I picked out these pieces I really thought the pants and the vest would have matched better to Spring Lake, but now looking at the picture the pants seem to match better with the Mykonos Blue. The vest, which does seem to lean a little bit toward a gray undertone, was too dark to match the Spring Lake color. However, the patches on the pants seem to lean a little more in that direction.

The vest is a thrifted Relativity piece. I have styled this on the blog before. You can see it worn with a graphic tee. The jeans which I have styled on the blog before are thrifted and a brand called Est. 1946 Denim. You can see how I wore them with a graphic tee and cozy sweater here. Looking at the above picture, I should have rolled up the cuffs on the jeans.

When you have an asymmetrical vest with fringe, you just have to twirl!

My yellow mini floral print button down is a thrifted Old Navy piece. I decided to leave it completely untucked to add to the ultra casual vibe of this outfit.

I was trying to go for the Coconut Cream idea in my accessories, but again, things didn’t match up exactly. My bag was a hand-me-over from my daughter. This Miche brand bag actually has interchangeable outer shells, so for this look I used the cream colored one.

My sneakers are thrifted Mossimo.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like to wear blue? What color blue is your favorite?

Thanks for following along with the blog. I appreciate all of your clicks, likes and comments.

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

Have a great day.

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull with Rebecca Trumbull.

Thinking About Fall - Transitional Style - Button Down Short Sleeve Top

I hope those of you who have subscribed to my blog are content with what I have been posting lately. I have fallen into a rhythm of only posting twice a week, but for now that is the best I can do. Real life is never as pretty as it looks on a blog post or Instagram. Real life is messy and often requires more of our energy and time than we have to give. That being said, I want you to know, I am trying to bring you content that goes along with the seasons and what is going on in the fashion world, as well as to encourage you in your faith. I will probably spend a few more weeks on these transitional looks and then I hope to start that infamous Pantone series. Ha, ha. Stay tuned.

Last week, I took myself on a little shopping trip. I went to two stores, Kohl’s and JC Penney. These have long been my go to’s when I am looking for new items. In my town, these two stores are only a few blocks apart, making it even easier to justify stopping at both. As you know by now, I shop the clearance racks and I really found some great pieces, including this yellow and white gingham, St. John’s Bay button down. I actually purchased these in two different prints, the other being a blue, yellow and white mini floral.

The thing I like about these is the light weight cotton material, which is perfect for these hot summer days, and the high-low square hem. You can see that better in the picture below. This makes it easy to wear the top out, like I did in this outfit, or you could tuck it in for a more polished look.

To keep my look light and cool, I accessorized with light, neutral colors and added a bracelet as my only piece of jewelry. My bag is from a few summers ago and is Sonoma brand. A woven bag is always a great summer piece. My off white sneakers were thrifted and they are Mossimo brand.

To make the outfit ready for cool weather, I made a few simple adjustments. I added a fun yellow moto jacket that I ordered from Kohl’s last year that was on clearance. This is Elizabeth and James brand. I fell in love with the color and it is a heavy, sturdy piece that can be worn as a jacket, not just a show piece.

I love this scarf and I think the colors are perfect for fall. The yellow mums, the burgundy splashes and there is also a little bit of an olive leopard print throughout. I should have straightened it out a bit more, since the ends look a but rumpled. My hair looks crazy too, so no worries. Ha, ha.

I swapped out my woven bag for a cute burgundy leather and suede shoulder bag my bestie gave me that she found thrifting. I also added my thrifted Rock & Candy by Zigi ankle boots. These are such a fun boot with the lace overlay. One of the reasons I love to thrift is finding fun, unique pieces like these boots.

Here are the outfits side by side. What do you think? Did I make a good transition to fall? What would you have done differently? I love to hear your thoughts.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. Moto jackets are a great way to take your clothes from one season to the next. They provide an added layer of warmth in the cooler weather and a lighter layer as the temperatures start to warm up in the spring.

These are affiliate links. When you click on a link I get a few cents. All opinions are my own. I appreciate all your support and all your clicks.

Have a great week.

Thinking About Fall - Transitional Style - Lightweight Crop Pants

I’m going to give you a couple more weeks of Transitional Style and then hopefully I’ll be ready to start the Pantone Series. We decided to forgo pictures this week since the weather was too hot for this post menopausal woman and her very pregnant photographer. Ha ha. Hopefully, next week will be a tad bit more humane for all involved.

Today we are going to look at how to take a pair of lightweight cropped pants from summer into fall. Once again, these changes are so easy and everyone can do them. It is only a matter of swapping out a few things or adding another layer. Other than those little changes the outfit overall stays exactly the same.

I found these black and white, gingham cropped pants thrifting. I wanted something a little different than my usual rolled up jeans and I think these work very well. Today was my first attempt at wearing them and I was pleased with this cool, casual look. These are Jones New York Sport brand.

My simple light green tank top is a thrifted Loft piece. I decided to wear a few more of my sleeveless pieces this week, since it is going to be so hot all week long. I liked the mix of the pastel green with the black and white print of the pants.

I finished off the look with a long light green pendant necklace, a few beaded stretch bracelets, my green bag from Charming Charlie and my thrifted, black Bare Traps sandals.

In order to make this outfit fall worthy, I added my longer olive Sonoma cardigan. I have had this piece for a number of years now and it it definitely one of those work horses in my cold weather wardrobe.

Instead of the necklace I swapped it out for a scarf that is totally speaking the fall vibes. Scarves are great things to find at thrift stores. I also swapped out the lighter beaded bracelets for a couple of darker pieces.

It was a no brainer to add my black Natural Reflections ankle boots and a thrifted black Scarleton bag.

Here are the two outfits side by side. Do you have a pair of light weight pants that you are unsure how to transition to fall? I hope this post helps. Let me know what your thought are, or how you might do something similar to this.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. Every click on a link gives me a few pennies, at no cost to you. These are affiliate links and I appreciate every click.

Have a great Tuesday!

Thinking About Fall - Transitional Style - Lightweight Skirt

When we start thinking about fall, we are probably starting to yearn for our cozy sweaters, scarves and boots. As the weather begins its journey through the waning days of summer we know the days will still be plenty warm, but the evenings might start cooling off, especially after the sun goes down. That is a good time to think about layers. Why not pull out a few of your medium weight sweaters and a couple pairs of ankle boots and start using them, even though the start of fall on the calendar is not for another month?

Today’s outfit revolves around a light weight skirt that I picked up just a few weeks ago at Kohl’s on the clearance rack. It is obviously from this past spring, perhaps even related to Easter style, so I thought this would be a good piece to take from warm summer day, to cool weather appropriate with just a few simple changes.

For a cute, breezy, summer look I thought this Chaps plaid skirt would pair well with a fun graphic tee. You have see this thrifted No Boundaries tee on the blog before. You can see it styled with a denim pencil skirt, and a fringe vest. Isn’t it funny that I did the front knot with the fringe vest as well? The shirt is a little over sized and very stretchy, so knotting it is easy. The skirt is not lined, but I wasn’t going anywhere and it is not sheer, so unless I had on a pair of dark panties, there was no show through worries.

I wanted to highlight the pink and the white letters in the tee, so chose pink and pearl accessories.

I thought the Steve Madden white tennis shoes a good choice to keep the look fun and casual.

To make the transition to cooler weather, I once again reached for the color brown. I love brown in the fall. My husband likes the color brown on me, so I have been trying to incorporated it into a year round color, but it is often hard to find. For this look, instead of a jacket I chose my cozy, thrifted Old Navy cardigan.

Once again, I chose a more chunky necklace with shades of brown, gold, and coppery bronze. I really wasn’t sure how I felt about this look, but now that I see it, I like it. Brown and pink are always a winning combo and the contrast of the gray tee gives it interest and keeps it from being overly two-toned.

I went with my taller Sonoma suede boots, because I liked the more slouchy look with this casual outfit. They give it a bit more of a boho vibe. Most of the boots I own, that I have bought new I got at Kohl’s. I like both So and Sonoma brand. They fit my feet well and allow room for socks or tights. They are ultra casual, but still make an outfit look polished and complete. I’ll provide a few shopping links at the end if you are thinking about a new pair for fall.

My bronze cross body bag is another staple in my closet. I bring this one out every fall.

Here are the two looks side by side.

Do you have a summer skirt that you would like to wear longer? What can you add to make that skirt still useable in the cooler weather? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

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

Have a great Tuesday!

Thinking About Fall - Transitional Style - Tank Top

Before I get into the Pantone color series for Autumn/Winter 2021, I wanted to look at a few options for taking your summer pieces into fall. It seems like common sense to add layers as the weather begins to cool, at least for those of us in the northern part of the country. Even in warmer states, and countries, there are always those rainy days, or cooler evenings where having a layer or two makes a person more comfortable. The question I have to ask myself is why bother transitioning? Why not just change out our summer wardrobes for those fall pieces in deep burgundies and rusty oranges?

I think there are several reasons we need to transition from summer into fall. First of all, even those of us who love fall and enjoy the cooler weather, hate to see summer come to an end. The end of summer means shorter days, and the loss of the freedom and fun we associate with summer. Being able to run around without heavy coats, mittens and scarves is something most of us love being able to do. Summer also means vacations and beach days for many. It is hard to say goodbye to these wonderfully long, lazy days.

Another reason is that transitioning our wardrobes to fall slowly, allows us to extend the life of those summer pieces we love. The tank tops, shorts, light weight dresses and kimonos are still usable as the weather cools if we remember how much fun layering can be. I have already seen many bloggers and Instagram gals showing off these types of outfits.

Today’s focus is on tank tops. This could be a simple ribbed tank, or something like this thrifted Christopher & Banks shell, that is more structured and workwear appropriate. Since I am not working, I am showing you a casual look that can easily be taken from summer into fall with three simple changes.

My daughter hired an assistant and has started training her behind the camera. They asked if we could do pictures in the studio, to give her some practice, not only with outfit photos, but with indoor shots. I love outdoor photos because there are so many possibilities, but there is something to be said for studio photos, especially when the weather is hot, humid and buggy! We just used the wall as a backdrop, but it you follow Rebecca Trumbull Photography, you know she has all sorts of backdrop colors for headshots and puppy pictures.

This outfit is easy, peasy. A pair of thrifted Merona boyfriend ankle jeans, a tank top, shoes, bag and a little jewelry. Except for the bag and jewelry, everything in this outfit is thrifted.

I chose this tank top for a few reasons. The first is, I have been trying to use pieces that I haven’t used in a while in my closet. I actually started keeping track of what I have worn. For my hanging pieces, I turn the hangers backwards after I wash and hang them back up. For my tees, I have started turning the ones I used neck line out, rather than fold out. It might seem silly, but it does help to see what I have been wearing and encourages me to choose other pieces.

For this easy summer look, I kept my jewelry light and simple.

I wanted to chose a bag that could make the transition to fall, so this bright yellow tote was perfect.

My sneakers are thrifted Converse. I washed them in the washer, but they need a little TLC to make them look pristine, which I haven’t done yet.

In order to make an outfit like this ready for the cooler weather and changes that fall bring with it, you only need to do three simple things.

1 - Swap out light, breezy jewelry for jewelry that is bold and chunky.

2 - Add a jacket, sweater or other topper.

Utility jackets are often my fall and spring go to’s for light layers. This Sonoma piece with its beautiful embroidered embellishments goes perfectly with the leafy print of the tank. Being that it is tan, rather than a darker olive or brown, also gives me that slow transition into the darker, richer colors of fall.

3 - Swap out sneakers for ankle boots.

These are my Sonoma suede heeled booties. They are a regular part of my fall, winter and spring wardrobe.

Let’s take a look at the outfits side by side.

You can see that in the summer look I rolled the pants up and in the fall look I left them full length. I love ankle pants for this transition time, because they allow me to show off the ankle boots, and they are still not as warm as full length pants.

The other detail I changed was doing the front tuck on the top, to show off the belt and give the outfit a less casual vibe.

How would you transition a tank top into fall? Do you have tank tops that you love to wear all year round? What do you think of this outfits?

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no extra cost. If you click on a shopping link, I get a few cents. I appreciate all your clicks and all your comments.

Have a great Wednesday!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Oh, Olive! Utility Vest - Casual

Another olive work horse in my closet is this utility vest. I have a number of vests. My fuzzy and quilted ones are great for fall and winter, while a vest like this, that is lighter weight, is perfect for spring, summer and into fall. I have been focusing on these olive pieces as the perfect neutral add on for a variety of outfits. I have been styling both casual and workwear looks, so that you have more to think about.

This olive, Mudd brand, vest was a clearance find a few seasons back from Kohl’s. I was paying attention when olive was becoming popular as the new neutral, so I snatched this up. That, and I love vests. They are a great way to add warmth, interest and texture to an outfit. I made my outfit extra colorful, but you could easily tone a look like this down by going for monochrome layers topped by the vest. A black maxi dress, a tan tee and capris or a navy top and denim skirt would look fabulous topped by an olive vest like this. Let me know if you would like to see me style a few monochrome looks with this vest or the jacket from last week.

Fall Trend Alert - Florals

Florals are still in. Harper’s Bazaar listed florals in Finding Patterns on their fall list, and WhoWhatWear called theirs Charming Chinz. However, you label it, it seems that florals are holding their own as a print that is here to stay.

My Bandolino floral jeans are thrifted. They definitely brighten up any summer outfit. I love the floral print and the raw hem on the bottom. It also helps that they have some stretch and are very comfy.

My textured tee is a thrifted Simply Vera, Vera Wang. I love the textured floral print and thought the color and print went perfectly with my pants. You can also see here, I added the long bead and fringe pendant necklace and a few freshwater pearl bracelets in similar colors for an added party vibe. I did the front tuck with the tee and added a gold belt.

Wearing my olive Sperry’s again. These have become a favorite in my summer show wardrobe. I grabbed these instead of the white Steve Madden’s, because I like how the olive on top and on the bottom made the whole look more unified. You could wear any color with this outfit, like my blue Converse or my tan Keds.

Fall Trend Alert - Blush

Bright colors are definitely in for fall, but so are pastels. It seems any more that you really can wear whatever you want and at least a few things in your closet will be on trend.

I didn’t plan it this way, but it seems, most of my outfit has some sort of floral theme. It’s funny when it works out that way. This pretty blush bag was a gift from my younger daughter. Both my girls give me wonderful presents and they are very good at knowing my tastes.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like the combination of olive with blue? Do you like florals and will you be wearing them this fall? I’d love to hear you thoughts. I’m sorry that I have gotten a little bit behind in responding to your comments, but I promise, I will respond. I appreciate your input.

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

Have a great day!

Pantone - Spring/Summer - 2021 - London Palette - Beach Glass, Blue Atoll and Macchiato

We’ve reached the end of the Pantone - London Palette series with these last three colors which make me think of tropical seas and sandy beaches. Like Tuesday’s post, where I combined two different greens from the palette, today’s post combines two summery blues for a light, airy, warm weather look.

I started figuring this outfit out with my light blue, thrifted Sonoma crop pants. Though they are a bit lighter than the Beach Glass color, I think they still work. I pull these out every spring and summer as a light weight alternative to denim.

My multi-print top is another thrift store find. I just loved the soft colors and print on this popover blouse. It has no tag in it, so I have no idea what the brand was. The print has the light Beach Glass blue, as well as the darker Macchiato.. You’ll see a close up in the next photo.

For the darker Blue Atoll color I decided to add a few pieces of jewelry. I had some long, opera length beads and decided to do some layering with the necklaces. I also added a beaded bracelet, that appears to better match the Beach Glass color.

For the Macchiato color, I played around with several pieces, but everything seemed too yellow. This longer sweater was a recent purchase from Cracker Barrel. While they are a restaurant, they also have what they call an Old Country Store. The store is filled with all sorts of items from old fashioned candy, beautiful home decor, quilts, jewelry, cards, music and clothing. If you click on the link, it will take you to the sweater and it is on sale. Whoo, hoo. If you like it snatch it up. Here are a few photos to show you the details of this pretty piece and the movement. It is a light weight material, so it will be great for spring, summer and fall.

My bag is Madden brand; a clearance find from Kohl’s. My perforated peep toe shoes are Sonoma brand and another Kohl’s purchase from a few years ago.

What do you think of these three colors? I really like how this outfit turned out and think the color combination is great for summer. Do you have these colors in your closet?

I’m including a few other shopping links for you to look over. The Cracker Barrel sweater link is not part of the affiliate program, but I wanted to offer it to you, in case you really like the sweater. The rest of the shopping links are through the affiliate program. Every time you click on a link I get a few pennies, and I appreciate every click.

Have a great weekend!

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Spring/Summer - 2021 - London Palette - Pickled Pepper, Orange Ochre and Sphagnum

For today’s outfit I decided to combine the two greens that were on the London Palette. Both Pickled Pepper and Sphagnum are great green shades for summer time. While Pickled Pepper is one of the main palette colors, Sphagnum is one of the palette classic colors. Olive is a great neutral and goes with just about every color out there, so Sphagnum, (which is actually a type of moss), makes for the perfect classic color.

My Pickled Pepper popover top is Sonoma from Kohl’s a few years ago. This top is easy to wear, as well as cool for these hot, humid days. I don’t usually prefer to wear sleeves with elastic, but as long as the elastic isn’t cutting off the circulation in my arms I’m okay with it.

My Sphagnum utility vest is Mudd brand, and was another clearance purchase from Kohl’s a few seasons ago.

These light wash jeans were a recent thrift find. A brand called Ella Moss, this brand is available at stores like Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Amazon, Dillards, and others. I like the cropped length and the high waist of this pair.

For the Orange Ochre color, I grabbed my thrifted, orange suede bag and a fun pendant choker. It is much easier to include a brighter color, if you do it with accessories.

I had to show off my new clearance Converse sneakers from DSW. They are very comfy and I love the blue color. They are similar in color to my thrifted Keds, which are showing a bit of wear, so these were a great find.

Here are a few silly pictures. I was jumping for joy. Ha, ha.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like to wear green? Do you have Sphagnum (olive) in your closet? I would love to hear from you. I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Spring/Summer - 2021 - London Palette - Purple Rose, Lava Falls and Baby's Breath

Today’s colors are a blend of pastel purple, bold red and creamy off white. I have always loved purple, but it really isn’t a color I regularly wear. I easily got on board with Purple Rose which is a medium purple that goes well with many other colors, especially things like brown, olive and navy. Why, then did I decide to pair it with a fierce red like Lava Falls? Because I always like to show you things outside the box. It is not very often, that I think to put purple and red together.

The factor that clinched the deal on putting these colors together, was that my thrifted Old Navy, Lava Falls, paisley popover top had both of these colors in it. How fortuitous was that? Ha, ha. This is a fun, tunic type shirt that has short sleeves, and the interesting details of a shirt tail hem line and a lace up v-neck. I love the paisley print too, which always reminds me of the 70’s.

The Croft and Barrow cardigan is older and I like I said, doesn’t get a lot of regular wear, but i just love the color so I keep it around.

You’ve seen these creamy, Baby’s Breath, thrifted, St. John’s Bay ankle pants on the blog before. I really think this look would have been cuter with a creamy denim pencil skirt or a pair of Bermuda shorts, but I don’t have either of those. I am not as fond of the silhouette, but it is okay, just not great.

I didn’t need to wear a necklace and this long opera length beaded strand is exactly the same color as the top, but sometimes I like the subtle texture and shine of a piece, even if it is a similar color. Wrapping this long strand of beads around my neck makes it look like I have on a choker.

I added a few beaded bracelets with similar reds, although there is plenty going on in the top, so it wasn’t really needed. Often, less is more.

My thrifted Simply Vera, Vera Wang cross body bag is making another appearance. This is a great little bag for the warmer months. The off white color goes perfectly with the Baby’s Breath color of the pants.

These Steve Madden platform sneakers were a new purchase from DSW. I had a coupon and I had been looking at this type of sneaker since last summer. I finally took the plunge. They are not something I would use for walking, but they are cute for a casual day of picnicking or window shopping.

What do you think of these colors? Do you think you would ever combine red with purple? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love.

I am including a few shopping links in these colors, so if you have time, give those a look. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Graphic and photo credit, Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Spring/Summer - 2021 - London Palette - Pirouette, Indigo Bunting and Polar Night

As always, with the Pantone color series, I find their choice of names for their colors intriguing. Today’s colors center on a pretty purply pink, called Pirouette, which, of course, makes me think of a ballerina. Indigo Bunting is a pretty blue, much like the bird after which it is named. I have had the privilege of seeing an Indigo Bunting flitting through the trees at one of our local metro parks a few years back. They regularly reside in Ohio in the summer time, but like to hang out in abandoned fields, scrubby bush areas and areas with red cedar trees, none of which I have around my house. Polar Night, much like its New York partner Inkwell, is a very dark navy blue.

This fun, multi-print dress is a few years old and was a Kohl’s clearance purchase. I really like many of the pieces by Vera Wang, made specifically for this retailer and called Simply Vera by Vera Wang. These are the pieces that real world women like myself can afford and wear. I have styled this dress, like a tunic for a trip we took to Florida a few years ago. You can see that post here. The dress really contains all three colors, except that its blue borders on being more of a teal.

I decided to add the bright blue sweater, another Christopher and Banks cardi, as my attempt at the Indigo Bunting. It is a tad bit bluer and maybe brighter, but I think it works well. I would have never thought to pair it with this dress, but I like how it looks.

This is me being silly as I commune with nature. Ha, ha.

I centered all my accessories around the necklace that is perfectly Pirouette. Since the beads are strung along a silver chain, I went for silver as my accessory color of choice. My thrifted silver clutch and my SO ballerina flats makes the outfit just a little more dressy.

What do you think of these colors? Would you wear them? Do you have any of these colors in your closet? Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment here on the blog or on Facebook.

Don’t forget, I also post on Instagram and typically you’ll see more of what I wear on a regular basis. Right now my daily looks are very casual, since I am not working, but you’ll definitely get to see more of my clothes, that don’t make it to the blog.

As usual, I am including a few shopping links for these colors. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Have a great day!

Graphic and photo credit, Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Spring/Summer - 2021 - London Palette: Illuminating, Marigold and Ultimate Gray

Illuminating and Ultimate Gray are the two colors of the year, so just like I did for the New York Palette, I decided to pair the two colors together and for this one I added Marigold, which was also on the New York palette.

We decided to go to the Toledo Botanical Gardens again for these pictures and we did come across some beautiful blooms. This particular bush is a rhododendron. I just did some research and found out that all azaleas are rhododendrons, but not all rhododendrons are azaleas. Whether you like azaleas or rhododendrons they are all beautiful.

Once again, I chose my recently thrifted bright yellow jacket to serve as the Illuminating color. The jacket is D&Co. (Denim and Co.). It has a nice stretch to it and I like the 3/4 length sleeves for a change of pace.

I’ve styled my medium yellow tee on the blog before. You can see it styled with a leopard print skirt. Having tees in a variety of colors comes in handy when you want to put an outfit together. This thrifted tee is Apt. 9 brand.

My Gloria Vanderbilt jeans were another Kohl’s clearance find. They are soft and stretchy, so great for my fluctuating weight. I say fluctuating, but it really doesn’t go up and down. It either stays the same or goes up. Ha, ha.

I wanted my accessories to make a statement since the outfit itself was not overwhelmingly interesting. I found this pretty layered necklace in gray tones somewhere along the way. I think it was a thrift shop nearby. I added a few beaded bracelets to tie the jewelry together.

When I decided on the thrifted tan loafers, I knew my Nine West snakeskin print circle bag would be the perfect piece to complete the whole look and bring everything together.

What do you think of these colors together? Do you like the lighter yellow of Illuminating or the richer tone of Marigold? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I appreciate when you give me your feedback. It can be kind of lonely as a blogger, when I don’t know if anyone is reading my content or looking at my posts, so I really love to hear from you.

I am including a few shopping link for you to enjoy. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost. If you click on a link I get a few pennies and I appreciate all of your clicks. I do not get paid to write my blog, I do it as a hobby and as a service to whomever wants to follow along. I hope that I inspire you to take a second look at your wardrobe and see new ways to put things together, that you never thought of before.

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.