Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2020 - London Palette - Strong Blue, Military Olive and Jet Stream

Happy Thursday friends! Are you all as tired as I am. When morning comes I feel like I could just stay in bed for days. I am sure some of it has to do with our current Covid life. It really is extremely disheartening to see the numbers keep rising and know that there is really nothing different we can do, other than keep on keepin’ on. I implore, those of you who don’t wear masks, to at least consider it for the sake of others. These are very hard times. Do what you can to keep yourself busy and involved in life as much as you can. I have been spending a lot of time alone, when I am not with my family and I don’t think it is good for me. As an introvert, I enjoy my alone time, but I seriously feel like my brain is turning into slush. Anyone else feeling the “squishy brain syndrome”? I have also noticed a lax in my creativity. Going places and doing different things has always fed my creative brain, but being stuck at home, well, it isn’t very interesting. Ha, ha. What do you other creatives do to keep the creative vibes flowing? I’d love to have some feedback.

Today’s outfit centers around another medium blue, olive and white. Strong Blue could be a close cousin of Classic Blue. I was fortunate to have just found this graphic tee while thrifting. I think it matched the color perfectly and I really like the message. I can do the get up part, and being kind isn’t too hard, but being awesome is a bit of a stretch. Ha, ha.

This tee is a brand called Gildan. Once again, I have been exposed to a brand I had never heard of before, by thrifting. This is a basics retailer, selling tees, underwear, sweatpants and hoodies for men, women and children.

When we looked at the New York palette, Military Olive was a classic color. If you remember I wore it with Peach Nougat and Sandstone for that palette. You can click here to see the outfit again. For this look I just wanted to do something different from a solid colored sweater or jacket, and then I remembered I had this thrifted plaid piece. This is Jones NY brand and is part wool, so I can’t wear it without something long sleeved underneath. I made an exception with this outfit, because I knew I wouldn’t have it on very long. Wool makes me itch. I doesn’t matter if it is rich Merino wool or cashmere, my skin can tell the moment I put it on.

My Gloria Vanderbilt jeans have been on the blog numerous times before. They are a heavier weight, so perfect for the cooler temps of fall, winter and spring. They are really a little too white compared to the Jet Stream color which almost has a hint of tan or gray to it.

My military belt, SO ankle boots and beaded bracelets all have the Military Olive vibe.

I also added a heart necklace that has a sort of greenish colored stone. I think this used to belong to one of my daughters, who did not want it any more, so I snatched it. Ha, ha.

While my bag is not really Military Olive it does have an olive leaning and the blue flowers go well with the blue of the tee.

What do you think of this color combination? I like olive and blue together and I feel that olive goes with so many different blues, and really with so many different colors. It really can be used as a neutral in many situations.

I hope you are enjoying the colors on the London Palette. It is fun to experiment with color, especially when you discover, that color you thought you couldn’t wear, looks fabulous on you. Have a great rest of your week. I am including some shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no cost to you. If you click on a link, I get a few pennies. I offer these as a way for you to shop similar items in my posts. Since most of my items are from my closet or thrifted, I try to find items as close to mine as possible. All opinions are my own.

Keep in mind, the holidays are quickly approaching, so these shopping links may also offer you a way to shop for others you need to buy for. Enjoy.

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2020 - London Palette - Samba, Tawny Birch, and Sheepskin

Today’s neutral palette is interrupted by the bold, daring color red. Samba was in our New York palette and if you don’t remember which outfit that was you can see it again here. In the New York outfit I paired Samba with Fired Brick and Sleet for a chic work outfit with a bit of subtle print mixing. Today’s outfit, once again, would be perfect for the office or a date night with your significant other. In this time of Covid restrictions do you get dressed up to go out, or do you go out at all? Thus far my hubby and I usually get take out and either bring it home or take it to a park and eat it, so I’m afraid I haven’t been getting very dressed up, usually just jeans and a nicer shirt. It really depends on the day. I am not sure what we are going to do when the weather gets real cold.

When I was looking for pieces for this whole fall Pantone series, I knew I wanted to incorporate this thrifted, red, Calvin Klein, sleeveless sweater. I originally bought the piece thinking I could use it as a sweater vest, which, seeing as it is a larger size will offer enough room to put a blouse or long sleeve tee underneath. It will probably show up again either on the blog or in my Instagram feed. If you don’t follow me on Instagram make sure you do. I show you more of my day to day outfits there and occasional cute pictures of our cat and pretty scenery.

My Sheepskin colored cardigan was another thrifted piece. I thought it was a good balance between tan and beige and will be wearable with just about any color. This is a thrifted St. John’s Bay piece.

My Tawny Birch houndstooth patterned ankle pants have been on the blog before. These are Sonoma and were thrifted. You can see them styled in the Pantone Fall 2017 series, and in another series I did on vests.

Since I really wanted the red sweater to be the focal point of the outfit, I kept my bag and shoes a similar neutral tan color to the sweater and pants. Both thrifted, the bag is New Directions and the boots are Aerosoles. Then I added pearls. I thought this made for a great work look.

What do you think of these colors? Do you think the more neutral Tawny Birch goes well with the brighter Samba red? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I hope you enjoyed this look and that you are doing well. For those of you who follow my faith page, I hope to have the next installment of my series on Our Unseen Enemy up tomorrow. Have a great evening.

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

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2020 - London Palette - Mandarin, Celery and Sheepskin

I am now able to start the Pantone - Autumn/Winter 2020 - London Palette series. I am not sure why the Pantone Color Institute moved to having two palettes rather than one, except that it is a way to bring in a broader audience to market to. Whatever their reasoning, having two color palettes to draw from to create outfits is a fun challenge for me as a fashion blogger. Some of the colors crossed over from New York to London, but I’ll be showing them again, styled with their London counterparts. Here we go.

Just as with the New York Palette, the London Palette has four classic colors. I tried to include one of the classics with each of the outfits, just so you know what they look like. With this first outfit, Sheepskin, which is a classic, neutral color, is reminiscent of Peach Nougat and Sandstone from the New York Palette. My jacket isn’t really a dark enough version of this pinky tan, but you still get the idea.

My bright Mandarin red skirt is a thrifted piece by a brand called Kim Rogers. It was not a brand I was familiar with, but seems to be sold at retailers like Belk and online thrift retailers like Poshmark. Once again, the tiered skirt is a fave of mine. I guess I was supposed to be a gypsy. I often imagine that I have gypsy relatives, because my dad always loved to travel and we have French blood via his relatives. Ha, ha.

My Celery colored top is a 3/4 sleeve sweater, and a thrifted Banana Republic piece. I decided to tuck it in and add the black belt to go with the black print in the jacket and my black boots. I feel like I should have tightened the belt a notch, so you couldn’t see the skirt at the top. Oh well.

This jacket was a fun piece I found thrifting. I like the bright orange flowers and the artistic sketching on it. It is a brand called Susan Graver Style. Susan Graver is a stylist for the retailer QVC. Once again, I learned something new and found a brand I never would have tried, if I didn’t thrift.

I kept my accessories simple, because there is a lot going on in the print of the jacket and the texture of the skirt and bag. You’ve seen this necklace on the blog before. It is a unique piece I found at an artisan shop up in Grayling, MI a few years ago, when my hubby and I took a short trip up there. You can see it styled for another Pantone color palette here. I also added a simple charm bracelet with rusty fall colors and my thrifted fringe bag.

Since we are now fully into fall, I am regularly wearing my boots. I have quite a pile of boots, mostly ankle and knee high. These are Massini brand and are very comfortable. I’ve styled these on the blog before with a black pair of jeans, and a slip dress.

What do you think of these colors? I think if I had worn the colors by themselves without the jacket it would have looked like I was advertising for McDonalds. Ha. ha.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look at. These are affiliate links. It does not cost you a thing to click on a link and look at merchandise, but every time you click I get a few pennies. All opinions are my own.

Here is the London Palette in full.

Graphics and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Color Play - More Fall Mixing

My daughter has come into her very busy season and has numerous editing projects on her plate from all sorts of clients, so my Pantone - Autumn/Winter - London Palette series is going to be delayed for a little bit. In the mean time I am falling back to my Thursday columns, so today’s is based on, of all things, fall colors. You just aren’t going to get away from my obsession with color. Ha, ha.

Today’s outfits are centered around a thrifted Christopher and Banks jacket. I absolutely love the muted frenzy of colors and I knew it would be something I could wear repeatedly throughout fall, winter and spring. This is the back of the jacket. It is shaped and feels somewhat like a denim jacket, though the material seems a little less stiff. I paired the jacket with a rusty colored long sleeve tee that I got last year at Maurices. I am going to show you three ways these two pieces can be styled for different looks.

Look 1 - With Jeans

This first look was what I wore on the day I took these pictures. This is a simple look with my Rock & Republic jeans that I have had for years. I added my Sonoma faux suede boots to keep the fall color scheme intact, then I added my purple agate pendant necklace and a purply blue gingham scarf. The last piece to add was the thrifted olive hobo bag. I love the little ruffle on the sleeve hem on the tee. The sleeves on this jacket were the perfect length to let the sleeves stick out.

Look 2 - With White Jeans

For this look I swapped out the regular jeans fro my white Gloria Vanderbilt pair. I also removed the scarf, put on a different necklace and changed the bag and boots. White all year round is simple the rage, and that is one trend I am willing to put up with. These jeans are especially suited to the cooler weather, because they are a heavier weight. They also have a wider leg, so it is easier to get taller boots under them.

These brown ankle boots are a new pair I ordered from Kohl’s. I just love my suede and faux suede ankle boots and wear them all the time. I decided to add this dark brown Nine West pair to my collection because they were on sale and I had a coupon. To go with the boots I chose my thrifted bronzy colored shoulder bag.

Look 3 - Green Skirt

In the final look I chose my thrifted Old Navy tiered skirt, which I have styled numerous other times on the blog. I also added a pale yellow gingham scarf that I bought from the Jacket Society three years ago. Nora always has such unique and beautiful pieces. Be sure to check out the scarves and wraps here. I swapped out my bronze bag for this purple Nicole bag with gold chain handle accents, and my ankle boots for these thrifted mid-calf leather heeled boots. You can see I also added a woven belt that goes with the boots, just for some fun added texture and contrast.

Here are all three outfits side by side. Which one do you like best? Do you have a colorful jacket that you were thinking of getting rid of because you never wear it? How about trying some of these ideas and making your wardrobe work for you?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know your thoughts on these outfits. Tomorrow I will have a new Faith post on the blog, so be sure to stop by and check that out.

Have a great day!

I’ve included a few shopping links for printed jackets. These are affiliate links. It does not cost you anything to click on a link to shop, but it might pay me a few cents. Enjoy!

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2020 - New York Palette - Recap

I was going to jump right into the London Palette, but there have been some unforeseen problems, so I am going to put that off for a little bit. I usually do a recap post to show you all the the outfits at the same time, so that is what I am doing today.

Here is the whole New York Palette, along with the classic colors as well. Some people take the classic colors and build their outfits around them and simply add pops of the other colors for a more subdued approach to the palette. I think I need to try that some time. What keeps me from doing that more often is that I don’t have very many classic colored pieces. What I mean is, I don’t have a whole suit with pants or skirt and a jacket in any of the classic colors. In fact, I don’t have very many dress clothes that aren’t made up of colors and prints. Maybe in the spring I will try to focus more on using the classics as a way to build an outfit and add in the regular palette colors as accessories. We’ll see.

I thought I would give you a few of my thoughts about each outfit and why I think it worked or didn’t after each picture.

Peach Nougat, Sandstone and Military Olive

I like this outfit. I am not a big fan of these colors, but I really think the three colors worked well together and I think people found this, a neutral palette they could relate too. Almost everyone has something olive in their closet, so the fact that this was a classic color was a win, in my opinion. Not everyone can wear dark blue, oxford gray or tan, but I think everyone can wear Military Olive.

Samba, Fired Brick and Sleet

I think this outfit might be my favorite out of this New York Palette. I like the mix of a more true red with the brick red, even thought my outfit in the photos didn’t do it justice. Putting the colors aside, however, I just like how this outfit looks polished and professional, but has a fun blend of bold and pastel colors along with the subtle print mix.

Amber Glow, Green Sheen and Almond Oil

This outfit was a surprise. Both my daughter and I thought these two colors just seemed to grate against each other, and well they might have, if I had worn a solid skirt with the solid top, but the printed skirt makes all the difference in the world. I also think the jacket and boots softened the whole look.


Classic Blue, Ultramarine Green and Blue Depths

We don’t often think of combining green and blue, or blue with blue, for that matter, but I think this worked. The blue shades are quite different, but worked well next to each other and the green really pops against the blues. I think the addition of the snakeskin patterned round bag completed the look perfectly.

Magenta Purple, Rose Tan and Sleet

I really love both of these colors, but I was not thrilled with this outfit. Don’t get me wrong, I love a comfy, boho outfit, but I don’t know if throwing the long pink sweater in with the floral maxi and the gray tee made for a great outfit. I could see this with a long gray sweater, a similar shade to the tee and then a necklace or a scarf in a similar shade to the Magenta Purple. I don’t think it is the worst outfit I have ever done, but not my fave.

I would love to hear which outfit you liked the best from this series and which colors you like best from the New York Palette. Let me know by leaving a comment below, or a comment on Facebook. Thanks for following along. Be sure to check back on Thursday and hopefully I’ll have the first post for the London Palette colors. Also, if you follow my faith page, I am trying to post on Wednesdays, but due to schedule constraints, I am often having to post on Friday’s, so just check back if you don’t see it on Wednesday.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Fall/Winter 2020 - New York Palette - Magenta Purple, Rose Tan and Sleet

This is the last installment in the Pantone Fall/Winter 2020 New York Palette series. This has been an interesting palette with both rich, bold colors like Classic Blue, Samba and Ultramarine Green and the softer more muted neutrals like Peach Nougat, Sandstone and Almond Oil. Today’s last two colors are a mix of both the bold and muted elements. While Tuesday’s post was full on bold with Classic Blue and Ultramarine paired sided by side, today’s outfit takes the bright Magenta Purple and pairs it with the more subtle Rose Tan. As always, I’ve included a classic color to bring in a more foundational element.

This outfit, once again, has a rather bohemian vibe with the dark florals, fringe bag, and suede booties. I also feel that the more layered, relaxed look is often indicative of the boho style as well.

My long, pleated, floral maxi skirt is Chaps brand from Kohl’s. You can see this skirt styled for an earlier Pantone series back in Spring of 2018. I styled it with a blush top and gray sweater. The beauty of this piece is that it can be worn in any season and it is fully lined. I really like when a skirt is lined and I don’t have to wear a slip with it. This is especially nice in the cooler weather.

My Sleet colored slouchy tee is SO brand and also from Kohl’s. Do you know I have not been in a Kohl's store in months? Of course I haven’t been in any store, other than grocery stores and a few choice thrift shops since COVID happened. I have ordered a few things online from Kohl’s, so I can’t say I haven’t shopped there. Ha, ha. This tee is very light weight and has been retired to the summer clothing box for now. I have styled this on the blog before too. You can see it with another pleated skirt here.

My long pink sweater is also SO brand from Kohl’s. I bought two of these sweaters, as I mentioned a few weeks ago when I styled the maroon colored one. You can see that post here. This one is an XL and the maroon one is a L. This one is definitely bigger, but it is nice for wearing over multiple layers.

This fringe, suede bucket bag has been around for a few years and makes regular appearances on the blog. I actually haven’t used it as my day to day purse, because the top does not close. I like a little more security when I am out in public, as far as my bag goes. But it is cute and a great color for fall, so I keep it around.

I’ve styled these Easy Spirit ankle boots on the blog before too. I have numerous pairs of faux suede ankle boots. They are so easy to get on and off. They go with all manner of outfits and I can wear them with a variety of types and thicknesses of socks and hose. They are a nice alternative to dress shoes for work or an event where you want to look a little more put together, but still be casual.

I went for a layered look with my necklaces. I started with the ribbon choker, but gradually added the layered pearl choker and then the silver sphere pendant necklace. I like the look and I think it added a finishing touch to the outfit as a whole and still kept the boho vibe.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you think the long cardigan and the long maxi skirt work together? What might you have done differently? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Here a silly picture to make you smile. This is me, wishing COVID was a thing of the past. Ha, ha.

I am including a few shopping links for you. I hope you will check these out. Every click on a link gives me a few cents. It takes a very long time for the clicks to add up, but they do eventually and I appreciate every single one.

Keep laughing. Keep dancing. Keep loving. Keep Safe.

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Fall/Winter 2020 - New York Palette - Classic Blue, Ultramarine Green and Blue Depths

The Pantone Color of the Year is Classic Blue , so once again we are featuring this medium blue color in the Pantone series. Back in January I showed you this color paired with a furry bomber jacket and plaid skirt. You can also see this color with a multi-print midi dress and with a bright pink top. Classic Blue is a blue that just about anyone can wear. If you prefer not to have this pretty blue to close to your face you could carry it in a lovely bag, or wear it as a brooch pinned on your lapel. I’ll provide a few shopping links at the end with various options.

I didn’t really have anything that seemed to perfectly match the Ultramarine Green, at least not until after the fact. My button up is actually a thrifted men’s shirt; a brand called Zylos. It has very small greenish blue print with white and almost has more of an aqua feel to it. Oh well, I have long ago given up on the idea of trying to be perfect. Ha, ha. You can see a closer look at the pattern, and see my thrifted, fringe, pendant necklace. Actually, the necklace is probably a closer match to the Pantone green.

My Classic Blue pants were a thrifted piece from shopping a friend’s closet. They are Ruby Road brand and I have styled them over and over on the blog. You can see them with a light blue sweater and scarf, Beetroot purple top from last spring’s series, an olive velvet jacket, a plaid bomber jacket, and a multi-print kimono.

I also threw on a few beaded bracelets, just for fun. Sometimes wearing a scarf or jewelry isn’t so much to help with the outfit as a whole, but just to enjoy something I have. Since I rarely go any where other than the grocery store, I occasionally throw on some bracelets, just because I have them and they are pretty.

I thought this outfit would be perfect for my round Nine West snakeskin print bag. It think it adds an element of fall color to this more classic looking outfit.

My shoes are my old stand by thrifted Relativity loafer heels. If I had an office job, I would probably wear these a lot. They are a nice height for a stacked heel and fairly comfortable.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like the Classic Blue, or do you prefer the darker tones of Blue Depths? Do you like the color Ultramarine? As it is in the graphic, it seems to be more of a forest green color, which I do like. I like how these three colors worked together into an outfit that would be perfect for a day at the office or a date night with your significant other.

My life would not be complete if I didn’t leave you with a silly picture to make you smile. When I was trying to pose, I almost fell down. Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope you’ll leave me a comment or two. Life is lonely around here, so I love to hear from my internet and long distance friends.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to peruse. These are affiliate links. That means when you click on a link I get a few pennies. All opinions are my own.

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Fall/Winter 2020 - New York Palette - Amber Glow, Green Sheen and Almond Oil

The colors in today’s post are more pastel, but still encompass colors we think of when fall comes to mind. Oranges and yellows are obvious as we look at the trees around us. The Almond Oil color is an off white. When I was growing up, we never wore white after labor day. Our white shoes, bags, dresses, skirts and pants were all put away until the next year. I can still remember going out shoe shopping with my mom before Easter, because that was always when we would get out our white shoes to wear to church. Obviously, those days are gone, but many people still like the idea of wearing white in the summer and darker colors during the cooler, darker months of the year. Almond Oil might be a good alternative for those of you who would rather stay away from a pure white for the Fall/Winter seasons.

You’ve see this Roz & Ali maxi skirt numerous times on the blog. I got this one at dressbarn. All the dressbarn stores in the area have closed, but I know they still have a pretty major online shop, so be sure to check them out. I used this skirt last fall in the Pantone London series styled with a purple sweater. You can also see it styled with an orange tank top and a brown moto jacket.

My yellowish green short sleeve sweater is a thrifted Gap piece. It is a tad big, but I like the slouchy look of it and tucking it in works great with this skirt.

The cream colored jacket is a thrifted NY&Co. It is made of a stiff fabric with a good amount of stretch to it. It almost has a bit of a linen feel to it and it tends to be more wrinkly.

I opted for the orange for my jewelry. I love this tiered statement necklace and hardly ever get to wear it. I have two more in different colors. It just makes a lovely statement, especially in this outfit. It really makes the whole outfit look cohesive. Many people don’t want their outfits to have that kind of matching game, but personally I love it. There is a symmetry and completion about an outfit when it has this sort of cohesion.

My top handle bag is another Stone Mountain thrift find. It seems to match the Almond Oil color even better than the jacket.

Once again, I pulled out my Sonoma suede ankle boots. The small heel gives me less of a chance for tripping over the skirt. Ha, ha.

What do you think of these two colors? When my daughter was editing these photos, she said it seemed these two colors would grate on each other, but she really liked the outfit. Pairing a print with a solid in these colors definitely makes the outfit softer and easier on the eye. This is something I would definitely wear…if I had some place to go. Ha, ha.

I hope you are enjoying this series. If you are leave me some love in the comments. I hope you are having a good week.

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Feel free to shop a few links below. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Pantone Fall/Winter 2020 - New York Palette - Samba, Fired Brick and Sleet

Red is not everyone’s choice of color, but this fall, both the New York and the London Color palettes offer a number of red shades that are sure to suit in one form or another. Whether you wear a whole outfit of red, red pants so they are not near your face, or just little splashes of red in your accessories, red is meant to be worn by everyone. I decided to pair these two different reds together, unfortunately the pictures don’t really pick up the Fired Brick stripes on my tee. They actually are a more brick red color. Oh well, this is about real life, so real life doesn’t always work out exactly as we planned. In fact, more often than not, it seems to be just the opposite. However, I do like this outfit, so let’s take a closer look.

I thought a little print mixing would be fun, so I pulled out these gray plaid crop pants from NY&Co. I’ve styled these on the blog before. You can see them styled with a brown moto jacket, with a silk sweater set, and with an asymmetrical vest.

My faux moto jacket is from Christopher and Banks. They do have some nice jackets, so I am always checking on their website to see what’s new. Right now they seem to have gotten away from the moto jackets, but they have this pretty plaid trucker jacket and this fun corduroy one.

My thrifted striped tee is Levis brand. Like I said, in person, you can tee it is a different red than the jacket, but for some reason it looks exactly the same. So many factors are involved in photography as my daughter would tell you.

Since the gray plaid has a light stripe in it that could be blush or tan or cream, I thought blush accessories would be fun and an interesting choice for a fall outfit. The thrifted blush bag you’ve see on the blog before and is also NY&Co brand. The booties are also making another appearance. I found these on clearance at Kohl’s a couple seasons ago and had to have them because they have bling. Ha, ha. they are SO brand.

My jewelry is very simple: a bead fringe necklace and a gold bangle bracelet.

What do you think of these colors? I do have quite a bit of red in my wardrobe, both the brighter, bolder Samba and the darker, more moody Fired Brick. What about you?

I hope you are enjoying this series. I am going to forego my Thursday columns for the next few weeks so I can get through the Pantone colors before we head into Halloween and the holiday season. Hard to believe we are already thinking about that.

Here is another look at the entire New York Palette.

Have a great week everyone.

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Here are a few shopping links. Be sure to take a look. These are brought to you at no cost to you, unless you purchase something of course. Every time you click on a link, I get a few cents. I appreciate every click. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

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Actual Amy - Layering Up

As most of you know, I love layers. Layering in these transitional times, from summer to fall, and fall to winter, gives us the ability to create outfits with even more interest and texture. Easy layering pieces include cardigans, blazers, jackets and scarves. These can all add a fun change to your wardrobe and give you layers to put on or take off as needed with the changing temperatures. We are expecting a warm spell these next few days, followed by falling temps for the beginning of October.

In today’s outfit, the focal point is a recent clearance find from Target. This A New Day striped blazer was uniquely different from my other blazers and jackets being that it is striped, so I knew I had to have it.

It was a chillier day when I took these pictures, so I already had the fall colored knit top and rust colored cardigan on in the house. We are hoping to make it until October before we turn on the heat. Ha, ha.

My knit, short sleeve multi-print top is a thrifted Loft piece. The rust colored cardigan is Croft & Barrow brand. There is some subtle print mixing going on here with the multi-print tee and the stripes on the blazer. This is one way to print mix without it being overwhelming. The solid color cardigan provides a border between the two prints, but you still see the mix.

These are my favorite thrifted jeans. This is an older brand called Kikit, which are only available from thrift retailers like Poshmark and Thredup. You can see how I styled these on the blog before with a leopard print blazer.

Less is more, when it comes to accessories for an outfit like this. This hand made pendent necklace is a simple piece, but makes just the right statement.

You’ve seen this pretty bag just recently on the blog when I used it with a fall colored fringe kimono.

I chose my black faux suede ankle boots. These are Natural Reflections which are a brand Cabela’s carries. My hubby and I go there every so often and usually pass through the shoe department to see what’s on sale. i really love the buckle detailing on these and I use them a lot throughout the cooler seasons.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you wear lots of layers when it gets cooler? How do you like to put your layers together? I love hearing your thoughts so be sure to leave a comment or two.

I’m including a few shopping links, so be sure to stop by. Every time you click on a link I get a few cents. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend everyone. If you follow my faith posts be sure to stop by tomorrow to see the latest.

Pantone Fall/Winter 2020 - New York Palette - Peach Nougat, Sandstone & Military Olive

Welcome to another round of Pantone colors. If you are new to my blog, the Pantone Color Institute is an entity that comes up with color palettes for two seasons a year - Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. These color palettes are referred to by members of the interior design and fashion community for designing spaces and clothing full of color and vibrancy. Many of their palette colors are meant to create a feeling of peace, unity and confidence whether at the office or on the runway.

Since becoming a Fashion Blogger in 2016 I have been drawn to the Pantone color palettes as a way to find inspiration for putting together outfits from the clothes in my closet. I enjoy all colors, so for me the two palettes put out by the Institute are a way to challenge myself to look at colors I might not normally wear in a different light. I hope you enjoy this series.

I am going to start with the New York Palette. You can see the entire palette at the end of this post. Instead of doing an intro the color palettes for both New York and London, I am just going to jump right in to the New York colors. As per usual, I am going to combine two palette colors with a classic color, which is also shown on the palette.

There are a number of these lighter more pastel tans on both palettes this season. This is not a color I would normally reach for, however, if you are more into pastels and lighter shades both Peach Nougat and Sandstone might be good for you.

When I originally put this outfit together I thought the sweater was more like Sandstone, but now seeing the pictures, it is much too yellow. However, the thrifted, tie-front tee has both colors in it, so I am making that my Pantone piece for both colors in this post. Even so, I do like the way this outfit came together with a rather neutral vibe.

My camel colored, waffle knit, thrifted cardigan is Old Navy brand. I love this piece and it is the perfect weight for these changing temps. I like that it is a little longer, has pockets and will go with just about anything in my closet. It is showing a little bit of pilling, but these days, if we can wear distressed jeans, why not wear pilly sweaters. Ha, ha.

My Gloria Vanderbilt utility pants have been a staple in my wardrobe and you have seen these appear on the blog over and over. I am so thankful they are stretchy, because my weight has fluctuated over the last few years about eight pounds, up and down, many of you know the feeling. At least with pants that have some flex you can still wear them, even when your weight is up a bit. This year Military Olive is on the New York palette as a Classic Color and on the London palette as a main color. Not sure why that is, but you’ll see I use the color both ways, once you see the London palette colors.

This cross necklace was the perfect accompaniment for this outfit. It goes so well with the shirt, it looks like they are made to go together.

Keeping the look ultra casual allowed me to carry this fabulous hobo bag from Fossil. Also a thrift find. Shhhh! Don’t tell my hubby. He claims I have too many purses. Is that even a thing? Ha, ha.

Lastly, I chose these well worn, thrifted combat boots from Falls Creek. I have had these for quite a while and they are definitely showing their wear, but again, if you like a grunge look, like I occasionally do, then well worn is just right.

What do you think of these colors? Do you have any of these in your closet? Are you a pastel kind of girl, or do you like richer, bolder colors? Leave me some love in the comments. It means a lot to hear from you!

Here is the New York Fall/Winter 20/21 color palette.

I hope you will follow along as I continue this color series. I’ve included a few shopping links, for you to peruse. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Have a great day!

Photos and graphics Rebecca Trumbull.

Chambray Dress - Look #3

This is the final look from the sunflower fields at Hirzel Farms. My Massini chambray dress has proven to be a versatile piece and very easy to combine with accessories and toppers to create new and different looks. I think you could do a similar thing with any solid colored dress. For today’s outfit, I wanted to show a look that was more ready for fall.

This pretty, open weave sweater was a clearance find from Kohl’s. I have a number of Liz Claiborne pieces and I really like the feminine, lacy look of this cardigan. The sweater has no closures, which is fine, but what I have noticed is if the piece isn’t folded or hanging just so, the front tends to fold back. I solved that little problem by adding a small brooch to keep it closed and laying flat.

I added the leaf print scarf as another way to add interest. The colors of the sweater and scarf were very similar, so I like how this looks. This is an infinity scarf, which I like when I don’t want to worry about how to tie it.

Since the leaves on the scarf are black, I added this recently thrifted Scarlton bag. Amazon has a lot of these vegan leather bags. I have many purses that are not real leather. They are sufficient for looking nice and serving the purpose a purse serves, but what they don’t do is last. I have several real leather bags that I bought second hand that look brand new. Many of my non leather bags start showing signs of wear after only a few seasons. We’ll see how this vegan leather bag holds up.

My ankle boots are my old, trustworthy, Sonoma suede boots. The neutral color was perfect for this look.

What did you think of this outfit? Do you have a chambray dress, or any other solid dress that you could do looks like these? Leave me some love in the comments.

Here are the three looks side by side. Which one is your favorite?

I hope you enjoyed these sunny pictures. It was fun to take pictures with these yellow beauties. Isn’t God’s creation amazing?

I am including a few shopping links, so be sure to take a look at those. These are affiliate links, so every click you do gives me a few pennies. I appreciate every click. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Outfit Inspiration - Pinterest Fall Fashion

Right now is a great time to look to Pinterest for inspiration for fall outfits. There are so many outfit combinations complete with fall colors, textures and accessories. I don’t know why I haven’t used Pinterest before this to find inspiration for an outfit. This pin is from my Pinterest board titled Fall Fashion. I wanted to find something that would be a subtle shift from summer to fall, to provide both the colors and layers we often associate with this wonderful season.

I decided to give you a three for one deal today too. Instead of just showing you the original Pinterest inspired outfit, I thought it would be fun to show you two additional outfits I came up with as I was getting out my camera to take pictures. The only changes I made were the outer layer, bag and shoes. You’ll see how easy it is to come up with multiple combinations using the same two pieces.

Outfit 1 - The Pinterest Copy

Yes, there is a huge, red stop sign behind me and yes, my tee is wrinkled. I am going to blame it on the pretty bird bling. Of course I didn’t realize it until after I had taken the pictures. The joy of taking my own shots.

I am a huge fan of striped shirts and have many in my closet in just about every color. I have short sleeve tees, long sleeve tees and sweaters. For this outfit, I decided to choose a thrifted, short sleeve, J.Crew tee since it is still fairly warm during the day. I also love the embellished bird on this piece that I found thrifting. When I find a unique piece like this I grab it. It is just a step above ordinary. Of course with the sweater on, you can’t see it as well, but in the warmer part of the day, I will probably have the sweater off.

For an outfit like this any pair of skinny jeans will do. In fact, you don’t even have to wear skinnies. A pair of boyfriend or bootcut jeans would work just as well and give the outfit a totally different vibe. These jeans are a.n.a brand. I wear these all summer long. They are stretchy and the cropped length is perfect for warm weather. In fact, I usually wear them turned up, but as fall approaches, the ankle length is just right.

My cognac colored sweater is an old thrift find and is a brand called Maison Jules. It is a soft waffle weave and while I can button it, I usually just leave it open, for more of a fly away look. It has a bit of a high-lo hemline and side slits.

I’ve had this bronzy cross body bag for a while. I think it is a nice color for fall.

For shoes, I chose my white Keds, since the Pinterest outfit was styled with white sneakers.

Outfit 2 - Utility Jacket and Booties

For this next look, I simply swapped out the sweater for an olive, utility jacket. This one is St. John’s Bay from JCPenney. You could use any color utility jacket. I have a number of these, ahem…just like my striped shirts…ha, ha.

You can see I also swapped out my white sneakers for my olive, SO ankle boots. In addition I changed the small bronze cross body bag for this large mint green tote. I added the checked scarf as a pop of color and if it was extra cool, I could put the scarf around my neck.

I took these photos all at the same time of day, with pretty much the same settings, so I am not sure what happened to these. I was sort of misting out, so I don’t know if the weather conditions had anything to do with it.

Outfit 3 - Plaid Jacket and Combat Boots

My final ensemble was chosen for the cooler temps that will soon be upon us. I love this plaid jacket with sherpa trim I got at Maurices at the end of last season. You can see how I first styled it on the blog in a similar look here.

My black bag was a recent thrift store find. I had been looking for a black one and this Scarlton tote was perfect.

Once again, my Seven Dials combat boots are featured. I have used these frequently on the blog, since I got them. You can see them styled with a dress, a plaid skirt, distressed jeans, a denim skirt, and black faux lace pants. I like to give you the links to these previous posts, so you can see how one piece, like a jacket or a pair of boots can be used over and over again.

Here are the three outfits side by side.

Do you have a favorite? It is fun to see what combinations you can come up with for different pieces in your wardrobe. These are all looks I would return to again and again. I would call this a formula that works for me. A pair of jeans, a striped tee and then some sort of top layer in the form of a sweater, jacket or other topper. You could do the same thing with a graphic tee.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I am working on the Fall/Winter Pantone series, so hopefully I’ll have that for you soon. I also want to apologize to any of you who have sent me personal emails over the last few months that I may not have responded to. I love to get your emails, and please don’t stop. I get so many emails that I tend to not keep up very well, so if you have emailed me, I am sorry if I have not gotten back to you. I am going through my in box now, trying to clean it up a bit, so hopefully it won’t happen again. All of you are important to me and it means a lot when you take the time to comment on the blog or send me a little personal encouragement. Thank you so much and please don’t stop!

I’m including a few shopping links for you to peruse. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Since there were so many options I’ve included a number of links, so feel free to click and shop.

I hope you had a good week and have a safe and happy weekend!

Chambray Dress - Look #2

Last week I showed you this chambray, bell sleeve dress styled with a kimono. That was the last in my long kimono series. I told you, I had a number of kimonos and I didn’t even show you all of them. Ha, ha. I styled a dressy casual look, that might be termed resort wear with a touch of Hindi style. Once again, these were taken at Hirzel Farms in Luckey, OH.

I put together this outfit, knowing that it would not be something I would typically wear, but I like to try to show you different ways of putting pieces together to show you there is more versatility in your wardrobe than you realize. I liked how this turned out. It has a flowy quality to it, while still offering full coverage and layering for cooler weather.

The striped linen pants are last year’s purchase from Christopher and Banks. They are very comfy with an elastic waist and wide legs. As I said in last Tuesday’s post, my chambray dress is Massini brand from Target a year or so ago.

My blue duster vest is a LuLaRoe piece. It is made of a medium weight knit and just like all the other LuLaRoe pieces is very easy to care for. I like the long slits at the sides. If you want to create visual interest and add texture to an outfit, a long vest like this is a great way to do it. You can wear a duster length vest with jeans and boots, a pencil skirt and heels or with a variety of other outfit combinations.

For my accessories I clung to a smattering of boho add ons. My bead pendant necklace is a creation of my own. I found the large doughnut shaped bead at a shop on one of our travels a while ago. I simply added a piece of leather for the cord to hang it around my neck and there you have it.

What drew me to this particular bead were the colors. It has flecks of color in it, including a little bit of rust and gold. Those colors prompted me to add this bright orange suede bag to the outfit. This was another thrift find. I love the bright pop of color. You can also see I threw on a few bracelets.

My blue thrifted Keds are making another appearance. I don’t wear these quite as much. As we get older, our feet tend to change, so where I once wore a size 8.5, I now wear a nine. These are a little short, but if I don’t wear them for a long day of walking they are still quite comfortable.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you ever wear pants under a dress? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’ll be posting the last pictures from this fabulous sunflower spot next week, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. Check back on Thursday for another Outfit Inspiration post. Also, if you are regular follower of my faith page, I hope to be back to posting on there tomorrow.

I hope you are having a great week.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

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

Thrifted Thursday - Dots and Stripes

Today’s outfit is another one pulled together from my many thrifted pieces. I wanted something casual that wasn’t the same old outfit formula that I have been wearing all summer, which has been skinny jeans or ankle pants rolled up with some sort of warm weather top, whether a sleeveless button up or a light weight tee. I knew I wanted to still wear pants, since I still have to watch my grandson and I never know what I’ll be doing, but I wanted something different. I remembered these salmon colored polka dot pants and knew I had the start of my casual thrifted outfit.

I have several pairs of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. I am not a huge fan, although I have worn them on and off through out the years. Don’t get me wrong, they are very comfortable and if you want a fairly high waisted jean, most of hers fit the bill. I like my jeans to fit a little tighter. I also like either a skinny jean or a wider bootcut jean. That gives me the notion that I need to do a post on jeans. Ha, ha. So many things to blog about and so little time.

I decided to try a blue top with my bright jeans, for a fun contrast. I tried several solid colored navy shirts, but when I saw this thrifted striped tee, I thought it would be fun to do a little print mixing. This is a comfy tee and is a brand called Cotton On. Some people only buy certain brands and that is fine, but one of the many things I like about thrifting is I get to try so many brands that I would have never heard of otherwise. Cotton On has a whole website with all sorts of pieces for men, women and children, from sweats and tees, to jeans and button ups. Their price points don’t seem too bad and I do like the quality of this tee, so they might be worth checking out. My tee is a Large for reference.

Since we are thinking ahead to fall with cooler mornings and evenings, I thought it would be appropriate to show this outfit with a layering piece. This Dalia Collection button up is another thrift store find. I like the dark wash and it has a soft feel.

You can see that I added a navy belt to my pants. The reason I did this is three fold. First, I almost always wear a belt. That is just me. The second reason has to do with the print mix. Since the prints on both of these pieces are so small, a dividing line is not really necessary, but sometimes a belt provides a border between the two prints, making it more pleasing to look at. The third reason has to do with interest. The belt is wide, bold and has texture; all things that add to the interest of an outfit. I did the front tuck, to make the belt visible.

This is the last thrifted piece in my outfit. I just found this glass pendant necklace at a local charity shop. I thought it was a very unique piece and will go with just about any outfit.

I wanted to make this outfit look more like fall, thus my choice of bag. I think velvet is the perfect touch for an outfit that is transitioning from summer to fall. It adds texture and an element of warmth to any outfit. This was not thrifted, but a Meijer clearance find from a few seasons ago.

My white Keds are a frequent choice during the summer. I know there is not longer a “wearing white” rule, but I do prefer to put away my white shoes in the winter, mostly because I have way too many cute boots to wear that keep my feet a lot warmer. These were also not a thrift find. I think I got these at DSW on clearance.

What do you think of this outfit? How do you make the transition to fall while still using some of your summer pieces? Leave me some love in the comments. I always like to hear you thoughts.

I am leaving you with a few shopping links. If you click on a link, I get a few cents. Every click helps. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Kickin' It with Kimonos - Looks like Sunflowers

I came across another Ohio blogger, recently on instagram named Shannon Solt. She inspired me to check out Hirzel Farms and their sunflower fields. Since she did a fashion post in front of the pretty blooms, I thought that would be a great idea and texted my daughter about getting some pictures in before the heavy seeded sunflower heads started to droop. Being the practical minded person that I am, I wanted to come up with an outfit where I would be able to get more than one blog post. I finally decided on using one piece styled three different ways.

The piece I chose to revolve all three outfits around is this Massini chambray dress that I found on the clearance rack at Target. I have styled this on the blog before as seen with a denim vest.

It was a bright day, but with plenty of fluffy clouds flying over, so the sun would shine and then it would go behind a cloud. This can be a problem for taking pictures, but I thought my daughter did a great job. We both prefer shade or clouds for pictures.

I found this fabulous kimono, or in actuality a ruana, at maurices. I love the color combination and once again it is a floral print. You can see in these pictures the sunflowers are already getting heavy with seeds. This was about two weeks ago and now they are completely brown and drooping so their heads face the ground. At this point each individual stalk can be cut. Once further dried the seeds can be harvested, or the stalks can be left outside and the seeds become food for all sorts of critters.

Doesn’t it look like the flowers are bowing to me as I walk by? Ha, ha.

I would have had a yellow pendant necklace if i hadn’t forgotten it at home. Ha, ha. The joys of taking pictures somewhere other than home. I can’t just run back into the house if I forgot something. Anyway, there is plenty of activity going on in the kimono and in the back ground, so it is probably okay that I don’t have a necklace on.

I did have this bracelet for another outfit, so I threw that on. I really like the little owl charm.

If you have been following for a while, you know I love these SO ballerina flats. They are comfortable, light weight and so easy to slip on and off. They tend to mold to your foot, so don’t slip off when I am walking.

I’ve used this light blue bag on the blog before too. Unfortunately, in this picture the bag is backwards and you can’t see the pretty gold zipper and blue tassels on the front. I really need to pay more attention to the details.

Here is a fun black and white photo for you. I love the contrast of grays, whites and blacks in this picture.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you own a chambray dress, or a fit and flare dress like this? Do you like to wear bell sleeves? I’d love to hear your thoughts

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

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Actual Amy - Tiered Navy Skirt

Today’s Thursday column revolves around outfits I would be likely to wear. What I would like to do with this column is give you some explanation behind my outfit choices. Not only does this help me to be more thoughtful about what pieces I am putting together, but it also helps you as you think about the pieces that are in your closet.

Today’s look is what I would call dressy casual. What makes an outfit fit this description? I believe it is a combination of what types of pieces are worn and how they are accessorized. While we don’t usually think of something like sweat pants or torn jeans as being dressy, there are certainly ways we can make them looked more dressed up.

With this outfit, I think the tiered skirt, the button up and the tee could all be dressed up or down. Pair the skirt with heels, a silk blouse and a blingy bag and you’d be ready for a show. Layer the tee under a blazer, with nice dress pants and heels and you’d be ready for the office. The button up could be worn with a cashmere sweater in the cooler weather, with nice skinny jeans and boots and it could be date night. I have learned to try not to divide my wardrobe into casual or dressy. I believe there are all manner of levels of casual, dressy casual and dressy between the stay at home in your jammies look and the heading to the Oscars look.

I just recently found this pretty, navy blue, Chaps tiered skirt, while thrifting. I really am a sucker for tiered skirts. Why is this me? Part of it is, I like to cover my legs, due to my veins, but I have liked the prairie skirt idea ever since I can remember. I always thought the long dresses of days gone by were so unique and different, whether plain, like the women living on the frontier or the frilly, decorative dresses of the nobility. I am also a bit of a boho girl, and to me a prairie skirt just seems to have a certain hippy quality about it.

There is definitely something fishy about this JC Penney button up from a few years ago. Though this top is not silk it has a certain soft, silky quality to it. I chose this top, because I decided I wanted to go for a more monochrome look. There is just something classy and slimming about an outfit with one main color scheme.

My white, v-neck tee underneath is Time & Tru brand from Walmart. Walmart, Target and Kohl’s are great stores to get basics like short sleeve and long sleeve tees.

Rather than tucking the top in and adding a belt, which would have made the outfit more polished, I chose to tie the tails at the waist. Just that simple choice of tying, rather than tucking, can make an outfit more casual or dressy.

My accessories were chosen to finish off the casual look, yet I felt they kept the outfit elevated enough to be something I could wear to an outdoor concert or dinner with friends, especially if walking was involved. I got this great Stone Mountain cross body bag at a thrift store. It is real leather and looks hardly used. I thought it was a fun pop of color and goes with the color of some of the beads in the necklace. Once again, my white Keds sneakers are making an appearance. Adding sneakers to a dress or skirt is an easy way to make the look more casual and right now this is very trendy and also better for your feet, knees, hips and back if you have to do much walking or standing during the day.

I don’t have much opportunity to wear heels any more, though I do put them on with outfits for the blog, because I know many women still wear their heels. That is why I have so many different sneaker type shoes. It’s just what I wear.

What do you think of this outfit? I am including a few shopping links, for you to look over. Remember every link you click on gives me a few pennies. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend everyone. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay sane.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Kickin' It with Kimonos - Multi-colored Floral

As you have figured out by now, I have a number of kimonos. The one thing they seem to have in common is they all have prints. Kimonos really are more of an accessory to an outfit, as opposed to a cardigan or blazer, which serve, not only to pull an outfit together, but as a layer of warmth in the cooler weather. Most kimonos and ruanas are very light weight and are meant to be used much as you would use a statement necklace or scarf. They are meant to make your outfit more fun and noticeable.

This next kimono I am going to show you is a LuLaRoe piece and once again adds an element of flirty and feminine to an otherwise casual, tomboyish outfit.

I got this thrifted Nike tee on a recent thrift run. I usually don’t buy brand tees like this. I have no affinity for sports wear branding. I am sure if I were more into sports, then I might feel differently. However, I have always thought that Nike’s slogan, “Just do it,” was something we all could identify with. I mean which one of us hasn’t wished we could do better, be better, eat better, exercise more and so on. Typically I don’t like to go around with this type of slogan across my chest. Not because I am worried about people looking at my chest. I highly doubt a tee shirt like this is going to invoke a drool worthy response from a man. Ha, ha. My feeling is more along the lines that I don’t want to advertise something I have to live up to. Seriously! Yes, I want to be a writer: just do it! Yes, I want to eat better: just do it! Yes, I want to exercise more: just do it. I feel as though I am a walking billboard for a chorus of condemnation. Do any of y’all get what I am saying?

That being said, maybe I need to have these types of messages make an appearance more regularly, not only in my wardrobe, but in the things I read, watch and listen too. Maybe, if I added a bit more of this spice of encouragement to my life, I would be more likely to succeed at those aforementioned desires. What are your thoughts? How do you encourage yourself to do the things that are difficult? Especially when life is so busy and chaotic?

Let me also add in here I know my tee is extremely wrinkled. Ha, ha. I should have gotten it out further ahead of time and let it hang in the bathroom. My daughter keeps telling me I need to get a steamer. Maybe I’ll suggest that on my Christmas list.

This is our first grand puppy, Beatrice. We call her Bea, Sweet Bea, Sweetie Bea and an odd assortment of other endearing terms. She is a mastiff mix. My daughter actually sent in a sample for DNA testing to Embark, to see what breeds Beatrice has in her lineage. The main breed was Cane Corso, which is an Italian breed of mastiff, but she also has Dog de Bordeaux, which is a French breed of mastiff, Neapolitan, which is another Italian mastiff and Bull Mastiff, along with a few other odds and ends. We were trying to get her to turn around, but she wasn’t having anything to do with it.

My yellow, Talbots, crop pants are a thrift find. I have styled these on the blog before. You can see it with a white tee and light gray blazer, and with a pink button up and open weave vest,

This little yellow cross body bag is starting to show some wear, especially since it was second hand when I got it. Paying a little extra for real leather trim or a real leather bag is definitely worth it as they will last longer. I think this one is going to go in the donation box. I do like the color, but I am not lacking purses, so I’ll find a suitable substitute.

Even my cute beaded, fringe bracelet is showing some wear. I will either trim the tassel or just remove it entirely.

Here again are my Naya black suede oxfords. I really like these shoes and they are great for fall and winter.

You’ve got to have a few fun photos. In the second shot my daughter was trying to get me to show the asymmetrical line of the kimono, but my mind went towards Dracula’s cape. Ha, ha. Always the ham, I am!

What do you think of this outfit? Is this a little too outside the box? Do you stay away from writing on tees? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to leave a little love in the comments. I appreciate all your support.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

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

Color Play - Bathroom Tiles

You might think by the title of my post, that I am going to talk about the tiles in my bathroom. That would not be very entertaining, as my downstairs bath has white tiles and the upstairs bath is in dire need of repair. I took a picture of these bathroom tiles at the public library nearby, as a source of inspiration for putting an outfit together. I have been trying to think of more creative ways to look at color, not only in the world around me, but for the purpose of using those colors as inspiration for outfits.

Picture taken by me on my phone.

There is a lot going on with these tiles. I see several shades of blue, gray, brown and a sort of mustardy yellow tan. Ha, ha. I’m sure there is a correct color name, but who knows what it is. I was originally going to post this outfit back in July, so I had chosen to go with the white tiles rather than the darker grays.

This outfit is perfect for the transition from summer to cooler fall temps and frankly, while there is still a whole month of summer left, I am looking forward to the temps cooling off, the leaves changing and all the other tantalizing fall aromas and tastes.

Everything in this outfit was thrifted. My white skirt, a brand called VLD was styled last year in my Wearing White series. You can see the skirt worn with a blue top and fall colored scarf, here.

The thrifted 3/4 length sleeve, mustard tee is Sonoma brand. This is another piece that gets regular wear in the cooler temps. You can see it styled with a snakeskin print skirt, purple maxi skirt, and a brown cardigan,

You have also seen this thrifted J.Jill jacket on the blog before too. See it styled with my head to toe denim outfit from this last spring’s trend post.

I added the blue pendant necklace as an additional pot of color against the yellow background.

When I was putting this outfit together and wondering what bag to use, it came to me that this little thrifted piece of bling would be the perfect accompaniment. The browns also mimic some of the brown tiles in my inspirational picture. I love the little southwestern scene done in sequins and beads on this fun piece.

The black casing of the bag and the little black cord strap caused me to reach for my thrifted, black, Baretraps sandals.

What do you think? Did I mimic the bathroom tile colors? What sorts of things do you get your outfit inspiration from besides bloggers or models? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love in the comments.

Here I am kicking 2020 to the curb! Ha, ha.

Here is a look at the tiles and my outfit side by side.

I hope you enjoyed this post and that you come away from it with new eyes to look for added sources of outfit inspiration.

I’m including a few similar piece shopping links, so feel free to peruse. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit (except for the tiles) Rebecca Trumbull.

Kickin' It with Kimonos - White Print

Today’s outfit features a longer kimono with the more traditional rectangular shape with sleeves. I have styled this pretty Sonoma kimono one other time on the blog. You can see it styled for a casual look with ankle jeans and a silk sweater top. I found this piece on the Kohl’s clearance rack last summer. Speaking of Kohl’s, I got a 40% off coupon in my wallet that I need to use before the day is over. Plus, my hubby had gotten me a Kohl’s gift card for our anniversary, so I guess I will be doing a little online shopping today. Ha. ha.

I have shown you how to wear kimonos and ruanas with skirts, shorts, white pants, short dresses and jeans. Today I thought it would be appropriate to show you, that you can also wear a kimono or ruana with a maxi dress.

I have had this navy, column type maxi dress from Christopher & Banks for a few years. It is a medium weight knit, so no need for a slip. It drapes nicely and can be dressed up or down, depending on where you want to wear it. The heavier knit has stayed fresh over the years, so the dress never looks worn or faded. The dress has its own elastic waistline and came with a simple cloth, tie belt. I typically use other belts to jazz it up a bit, but you really wouldn’t have to use a belt at all. You can see how I styled this sleeveless piece before in my Marvelous Maxis series.

When I chose my accessories, I wanted to keep the look slightly more casual, so I opted for browns and a little blush in my jewelry to pull out the very light pink along the front edge and neck line of the kimono. My sandals are Croft & Barrow, Ortholite brand and they are very comfy. The bag was a thrifted Aldo piece. I really like how the earth tones of the bag, sandals and belt really compliment the whole outfit.

Here’s a few twirling pictures. What little and big girls don’t love a good twirl…but not too much, or I’ll get sick. Ha, ha. The joys of aging!

I do like how this outfit turned out. What do you think? Have your worn a kimono with a maxi dress? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Your comments do help my blog grown and they also help me to know what content you enjoy reading, so if you have a moment, leave me some love.

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Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.