Why Bother Being Trendy?

As most of you, who subscribe to my blog, know, I just finished a series on Fall Trends 2019. In addition to some of my faves which included, head to toe green, layering knits, dark florals, animal prints and a few others, there were other trends like wide shoulders, suiting, cinched waist coats and more. You might be asking yourself, why even bother with trends? Why not just wear the things I like to wear and if they aren’t trendy who cares? That is a legitimate question and one I would like to answer with a few points.

1 - Growth

Let’s face it, as we age it is very easy to become complacent and set in our ways. Change is harder and harder to wrap our heads around, therefore, we often choose to not do it. Coming from a family with a history of dementia, I am try to do things that actively use my brain. Reading, doing puzzles, learning new things all help to stave off some of the early symptoms of memory loss. While we don’t have a cure for memory issues at this point, it has been scientifically proven that keeping our brains active does help.

Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay

What does that have to do with being trendy? If you begin to take an interest in the seasonal trends you start to do research. You might begin by looking at the trends on the internet for the current or upcoming season. You might also read one of the many fashion magazines on the shelves at Barnes and Noble or multiple grocery and department stores.

Once you’ve done research you begin to comb your closet to see what you have that might fit with some of the seasonal trends. You would be surprised how many of these things keep coming around, again and again. There are only so many things you can do with clothing.

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Putting together an outfit that includes some of the current trends can help you to grow your style persona and keep your brain healthy and sharp.

2 - Breaking the Bubble

Once in a while it is good to get outside our bubble. It is okay to feel uncomfortable on occasion. Something I have noticed in our world today, especially in our technology driven society, people do not like to be uncomfortable. If they are ill, they want an instant fix. If they feel pain, they want drugs. Mind you, it is reasonable to go to the doctor if you are having ongoing symptoms that aren’t resolving. It is also reasonable to take aspirin when you have a headache.

When it comes to fashion and what we wear, we most often go for what makes us feel comfortable, whether it be a favorite pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, or a soft pair of pj pants. However, if we always chose to only do what we are comfortable with, then will never get to wear those cute boots, or that pencil skirt, or that faux fur coat.

Let me give you an example from the Fall Trends 2019 series that I just finished. I would have never thought to layer a big bulky sweatshirt under a cozy cardigan and then pair it with a bright pair of leggings. I have never been a leggings wearer, but after seeing that outfit as a flat lay in my series, I can hardly wait until it gets cold enough to give it a try. What is the worst thing that could happen? My husband will call me a “walking pile of laundry” and I’ll nod my head in agreement, but at least I will be warm and trendy. Ha, ha.

3 - Be the Example

I feel that we are living in a time where there are fewer and fewer good examples in the world, especially when it comes to how to dress modestly in the fashion arena. I am not going to launch into a rant about how I feel it is mandatory to dress modestly as a Christian woman, or even how it would be beneficial for all women to dress in a more modest way. What I am going to focus on is our role as older women to be leaders for younger women to look up to.

There are a slew of young women out there in the entertainment industry that are being examples to our daughters, grand daughters and so on. The question that needs to be asked is, are they good examples? Do these young women value life? Do they value love? Do they value dignity, honor and respect? Do they value men? Do they even value themselves? How do they treat others both in their actions and in their speech?

By adapting to a few of the trends we can show other women that we can be both fashionable and modern in our thinking and the way we dress, and we can possibly open a door for younger women to look to us, as people they might want to, not only dress like, but be like.

Next time you start to think, I don’t care about the trends, think twice. Maybe you could become a trend setter, not just a trend follower.

Fall Trends - 2019 - Part 3

Here we are looking at two more fall trends for 2019. Depending on who you look to for the latest info on the trends, there is some overlap. However, not all trends are the same according to all the fashion gurus. Who What Wear has a different list from Marie Claire who has a different list from Vogue and so on. When I put together my list of trends, I am taking from a few different sources and presenting you the ones I like and find interesting and plausible for us real women. Remember most trends that you see on the runways are geared toward younger women who have the stature of a fashion model, so very tall and thin. That does not mean that we cannot wear a particular trend, but pick the ones that are right for you.

Trend 5 - Head to Toe Prints

This is not a particularly new trend, but it presents itself in a bolder more, out there way. Pattern mixing has become quite common, but now the patterns are brighter and bigger. Here are some examples from a Pinterest page I discovered. I decided to go more conservative, because I was grooving on the earth tones of browns and blues. This is what I came up with.

Obviously the old time suiting that women, and men, used to wear would fall easily into this trend category. A matching plaid blazer and pants along with a bold print top and you would be stylin’ with the best of them. The thing I like about this trend is the challenge of creating a printed outfit that I would actually wear and that looks palatable to the eye, not obnoxious. Some of the outfits on that Pinterest page I would classify as obnoxious, but that is only my opinion.

I found these paisley corduroys while thrifting last spring and unfortunately won’t be able to wear them, until I get back to my lighter spring weight. Ugg. However, I loved the pattern and the heavier weight for fall and winter. They are a brand called Havana Jack’s Cafe. Do you ever wonder where they come up with the names for things?

The blue in the pants made me reach for my Chaps knit vest and my thrifted polka dot SO button up. I found the fun necklace at a second hand store and thought it would be a good addition to the outfit.

Blue seemed to be my color of choice for bag and shoes. Everything in this outfit came from my closet and has been used on the blog before. You can see the vest here and here. The pants have not. but I already explained that problem. Ha, ha.

Trend 6 - Dark Florals

I have really taken a liking to floral prints. I like the bright bold colors of spring, the soft pastel prints of summer and especially the dark floras of fall and winter. It would seem that florals are here to stay and I am glad.

I found this dark floral Jeans by Buffalo top while thrifting. I love the colors and when I went to put this flat lay together, I realized this erin london bomber jacket from Shop National would be the perfect over piece. It goes well with the green in the top and has its own floral print.

These distressed, embellished skinny jeans are Rock & Republic from Kohl’s, and I’ve had them for a while. Once again, I have grown out of them, but I refuse to get rid of them. Ha, ha.

Since the top contains some red, I chose red for my accessories, including my tall, black, studded boots that have red detailing along the zipper on the back.

This is definitely an outfit I would wear on a regular basis. The pretty florals, the layers and the skinny jeans with boots will be a regular rotation as the weather cools.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Next Tuesday I will bring you one more post on fall trends and then I hope to start my Pantone Fall 2019 - New York series.

Thanks for following and please join me next time.

Fall Trends - 2019 - Part 1

Time has gotten away from us and life threw us a few curve balls, so my daughter and I have not been able to connect to take pictures for my Fall Pantone series. It is still on the docket, but will be put off for a week or two. In the mean time, I thought this would be a good opportunity to talk about a few of the fall trends. I touched on a few of them in my last Wearing White post, but now I will address them more in depth.

When it comes to fashion, I am not a big trend follower, but I do like to see what is current and pick and choose what trends I find most fitting for my personality and my style . This week I am going to cover two. These are flat lays I put together and these are clothes from my own closet. Once again, I encourage you to shop your own closet before going out to purchase new items to follow the trends. Often times we have things in our closets that we forget about, that fit perfectly with the trends that are current. I think this is especially important when it is a trend that isn’t going to be lasting - things like tie-dye, see through rain coats, bags and shoes and other very specialized trends.

Trend 1 - Head to Toe Green

I am simply calling this head to toe green, but it is most specific to a light green in the manner of pistachio, sea foam or colors of that nature.

This warm, fuzzy, knee length, open front cardi was a Christopher and Banks purchase at the end of the spring season. I fell in love with the color and its soft coziness. After making that purchase I found myself drawn to other pieces with that same light green color. I would probably say these are closer to a mint. In fact, take the pants away from the sweater and they actually look more like a very light blue. I love when colors have an almost chameleonic effect when they are near other colors.

These straight leg jeans are from Chico’s and I found them on the clearance rack. The silver studs on the bottom portion of the pant leg are part of what drew me to them. That, and they have a soft, stretchy feel. These are So Slimming Girlfriend Ankle Jeans.

This v-neck, thrifted, Croft and Barrow tee has black polka dots, so I decided to make my accessories black. this black beaded tassel necklace, I have had for a while.

I wish I would have thought to lay one of these booties on the side. They have a neat cut-out along the outside where the buckles attach. They are easy on and off with an inside zipper. I got these at Bass Pro Shop when my hubby was looking for a pair of hiking boots. These were marked down and yes my husband did get a pair of shoes too. Ha, ha. These are Natural Reflection brand.

Of course I had to include a bag in my flat lay, so I decided to add another Fall Trend, dark florals. The bookstore where I work used to sell various Vera Bradley products, but not any more. I get a few of these bags at extremely good discounts.

Trend 2 - Metallics

Why do I feel that metallics come around every fall, just in time for the holidays? I like metallics, but they are a trend that I personally feel you have to limit. For fall the push is for head to toe everything, so head to toe green, head to toe metallics and on it goes. I say do what works for you. I like subtlety with metallics, so the following flat lay, would probably be a bit more than I would normally go for, but I think it works well.

Lauren Conrad is famous for a line of clothes that is rich with pastels and feminine details. This skirt is no exception. The metallic sheen makes it party and holiday ready, but it exudes femininity. I need to figure out how to take it in a bit, because it is a little big.

The gold button up was thrifted and I have had it for a long time. George brand clothing is carried by Walmart. When I found this blue cropped tee with the metallic words and dots, I knew I could wear it over this gold blouse. This thrifted piece is Hollister brand. Hollister is not a brand I would normally buy, as they seem to be geared to younger people, but I will say, I don’t care who makes it when I am thrifting. If it fits and I like it, I buy it.

Keeping in the metallics theme I chose my SO silver flats, and my sparkly pewter clutch. The final piece was a metal beaded bracelet.

What do you think of these trends? Will these be trends you will try this fall? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Have a great weekend.

Wearing White - 3/4 Length Sleeve Tiered Blouse

This is my final post in this wearing white series. I feel this outfit really epitomizes the fall feel and it also showcases some of the fall trends that are floating around out there on the internet and in the fashion world. There are so many trends, and depending on who you get your information from, you’ll see some overlap and some very different ideas as to what is currently trending for fall. I’ll be talking more about that for a few posts starting on Thursday.

Today’s outfit features a white 3/4 length sleeve tiered blouse that I found at a thrift store. Just disregard the snarky look on my face. Ha, ha.

Here is a picture without the vest, so you can get a better look at the top. This top is a brand called Spense. You can find this brand at JC Penney, Nordstrom Rack and a few other retailers.

I didn’t notice until looking at this picture that you can see through the blouse a little bit, so it might be good to wear a cami underneath. It don’t think it is a big deal with the sweater vest over the top. I love the detailing on this piece. Each tier and the flounce on the sleeves are edged with a crocheted embellishment, giving the blouse an extra boho vibe.

I paired the blouse with my Worthington leopard print skirt, which I have styled on the blog before. You can see this skirt paired with a pink blouse, a cropped denim jacket, a teal green sweater, and a white denim jacket. You know a piece was worth investing in when it is worn over and over. Leopard print is still showcasing its fierceness this fall along with other animal prints like snakeskin, zebra and more.

To pull the whole outfit together, I chose this crafted fringe vest. I honestly cannot remember where I got this. Ha, ha. No matter, I like it and reach for it often. Fringe is another trend that seems to be making its own cross seasonal stand in the fashion world.

Accessories for an outfit like this can varied and colorful. You could go classic black or brighten up the look with variations of burgundy, red, blue or green. I wanted the focus to be my white blouse so I kept the accessories more sedate going for gold and brown.

Why not wear a leopard pendant with a leopard skirt?

I’ve had this gold bag for a very long time. It was thrifted and is a brand called emilie. Metallics are another trend that are big this fall. Be on the look out for pieces that shimmer and shine. If you are like me, you already have something in your closet that has a fun metallic sheen. I’ll be talking more about that on Thursday.

I just got these boots from DSW. They are Baretraps and I think they will be getting plenty of use this fall and winter.

What do you think of this outfit? Did you like this series on wearing white? I hope that you found some inspiration here on the blog.

I’ve included a few shopping links, just for fun. Every time you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of my links, I might get a little commission. All opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a good week so far.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Wearing White - White Sleeveless Sweater

As I shopped my closet for white pieces to use in this series, I realized I have some pieces that get worn more frequently and this sweater tank is one of them. I will pull this out time and time again, when I want something that looks more classy to wear with nice pants or a skirt. With that in mind I paired this top with a multi print skirt that I have had for a long time.

This sweater tank is a thrifted piece and I have had it for a long time. What drew me to it was the beaded embellishment around the neckline, which you will be able to see better in a later picture.

I just love the motion in this picture. My daughter and I have been working to get a little more variety in our shoots. It isn’t anyone’s fault, other than life being very busy and just trying to fit photos in around both of our schedules. For this shoot we went to one of the metro parks in our area that is along the Maumee River, called Farnsworth Metropark. All of the parks along this stretch of river are just gorgeous and make a great back drop for pictures.

This skirt was thrifted from many years ago and I hang onto it, because I love the swing of this a-line piece. I also like the pattern. You can’t see the colors too well, but there are greenish blue stripes mixed in with the white ones. Seeing as it is a light weight skirt, I don’t wear it much in the winter, but it is the perfect weight for a transitional outfit from summer to fall.

Once again, when I think about transitioning to fall, I think about layers. For this outfit, I wanted to bring in a more muted fall tone, so chose this sweater I found on the clearance rack at TJ Maxx. A simple open front cardigan, I think it adds depth and warmth to this more crisp and cool look.

Trend Alert: One of the trends for fall is layering knits. I found this rather amusing, because I’ve been layering knits for years. Ha, ha. I was trendy and didn’t even know it. Layering knits just means wearing knit type fabrics with other knit type fabrics, so go ahead and layer your knit shells with your knit cardigans, or your knit turtlenecks with your knit v-neck pullover sweaters. Obviously, if you are in the throes of menopause you do not want to be layering anything, let alone, heavy knits, otherwise layer away.

I found this white lariat type necklace on clearance at JC Penney. I like that it is both a choker and a longer necklace all in one, and that it is not the typical metal or beaded chain. The white piece is cording and every little way along it are a cluster of beads with the whole piece ending in two large green beads at the bottom.

I thought a retro vibe would be appropriate with this skirt so chose my chunky heel shooties which are thrifted Naturalizers. These are easy on and off due to the elastic inset on each side. I have found that shoes with these elastic type insets are very comfortable. You can also tell a good quality shoe, as I have had these for a while and they shoe very little wear.

I chose this very simple cross body bag to match the shoes and keep things sleek, rather than going for a bulkier bag. I got this on clearance at Meijer.

Of course things wouldn’t be complete without a goofy photo. In this one, my daughter was trying to direct me to hold my arms closer to my sides and look cozy. I ended up looking a little bit more like deranged. Honestly, I don’t listen to directions very well. Bah, ha, ha.

Other, than showing my silly side, what do you think of this outfit? Is this something you would wear? How would you change it up to make it more your own? I’d love to hear your ideas. I learn from you, just like you learn from me. It’s all good.

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

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Wearing White - Long Pants

Today’s featured piece is a pair of white Gloria Vanderbilt jeans that I have had for a long time. They were a little big when I originally got them, so fortunately, they still fit. These are a heavy weight jean, so there is no fear of see through, but because they are white I still choose to wear neutral underwear. I find that a neutral color like beige or a light peach or blush are an even better choice under white garments, because they mimic the natural color of our skin. If you are a darker skinned individual a deeper neutral would still be the way to go when wearing white.

This is another classic look like Tuesday’s pairing with black and white, but this time I paired the white with navy. Navy and white always make me think summer, nautical and beach, for some reason. Isn’t it funny how we have preconceived ideas about color and color combinations? There is nothing wrong with that and sometimes it is good to embrace that which is classic, timeless and well known.

Another classic summer look is the striped tee with white pants. This Loft tee was a thrift store find. I like that it has wider stripes, just for a change of pace from my typical skinny striped tees. I also love the elastic bottom. Sometimes an elastic band can ride up, especially if you get a top that is too small. This is a large and in Loft wear, I probably could use a medium .5, ha, ha, if there was such a thing. However, for this top the large works well. The elastic keeps it in place and the extra room allows for less of my bulges to show.

To make this a fall worthy, transitional outfit, I added the jacket. This Sonoma navy utility jacket has its own unique appeal. I have five utility jackets. You might wonder why I need so many. Truth be told, I don’t need any of them, but each one had something special about it that helped me decide to buy it. This green one was the classic olive style. This orange one is a color I love. Of course the wardrobe wouldn’t be complete without a camo one and an embroidered one. As if that was not enough, (you can see the others by clicking on the links), when I found this navy one with the embroidered sleeves, I knew it was coming home with me.

I kept my accessories simple once again, but you could have jazzed this outfit up with a bright, colorful scarf or bag. I went for a simple olive, crossbody, bag that seemed in keeping with the utility idea. This was a bag my daughter was getting rid of, so I snatched it up.

I tried on several necklaces and while I could have got completely without, I chose this simple blue flower on a silver chain. Do you think this small charm works with this outfit? Why or why not?

Once again, here are my navy Grasshoppers. These are such a classy and stylish shoe, perfect for warm weather and can be worn with skirts, cropped pants, shorts or jeans and they are amazingly comfy.

Finally, a post from me wouldn’t be complete without a blooper picture when I have one. The wind had picked up a bit on this very warm day, when we were taking pictures. When I tried to put my jacket on it kept blowing back into me. When I finally got it on, I was trying to flip my hair outside the collar and everything was sticking to me. The combination of sticky, windy and silly resulted in the this picture.

Overall, I like this outfit. What did you think? Do you wear white pants? Do you wear them all year round, or just in the summer. I love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love.

I’ve included a few shopping links for utility jackets. If you don’t own one, now might be a good time to buy for fall. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Friday linking up with Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots.

Wearing White - Ankle Pants

Hi everyone. Can you believe it is the middle of August already? It is still summer here in the mid west. I had a nice reprieve from the heat when I went to my mom’s which is near Buffalo. Sometimes being at the other end of Lake Erie can make a 10 to 15 degree difference. We had a few beautiful days to celebrate my mom’s birthday.

Growing up, my mom and I had a pretty good relationship. I think she was glad to have a girl after two boys. She used to sew us matching dresses and all through my growing up years she always made an effort to take an interest in what I was interested in, whether it was watching late night Sci-Fi Theater or prerecorded Alice Cooper concerts. We both love to read, watch birds and go for walks. My mom and I have seen plenty of sun sets and walked through blizzards just for the fun of it. At 93, she can’t walk as steadily anymore and has a harder time seeing print on a page, but we still watch the birds and television together.

My mom grew up in an era where wearing white was something you only did after Memorial Day at the onset of summer and only until Labor Day at the onset of fall. Usually that meant white shoes, white hand bags and an occasional white skirt or sweater. Obviously, fashion has come a long way since then and white is whenever and whatever you want it to be. Personally, I still like the lighter colors for spring and summer and the darker colors for fall and winter, but as I said, I am trying to get out of my own box.

Today’s white piece is a pair of ankle pants from Christopher and Banks that I have styled on the blog before. You can see these styled with a geometric print top, a gray studded tee, a neutral open front cardi, a bright floral top, and a chambray popover blouse.

Currently, I have two problems with these pants. First of all, I have gained weight and they have gotten tighter than they were. Second, when I stood up you could see all the wrinkles. I was a very warm day and everything was sticking to me, so I am sure that didn’t help either. Ha, ha.

My tee was a recent thrift store find. It is Disney brand and very silky and soft. I love the words and if you don’t remember, or have never seen Disney’s Cinderella, here is a refresher. There are times I wish I was a princess, or at least had the castle. I already have a lot of shoes.

To make the outfit transitional to fall, I added my Torrid olive military jacket. This was a Christmas gift a few years ago, from my younger daughter. I love the detailing on this piece from the cuff stripes to the double rows of buttons, to the pockets.

I opted to keep my accessories dark to go with the jacket and tee. These Clark peep toes shoes are a great transitional shoe with plenty of coverage for cooler weather, but still a peek of skin and toes.

My Rosetti leopard print bag is a new thrifted piece. Leopard print is always a winner and I didn’t have a bag with that print, so why not? I have a feeling I will be using it regularly in the cooler weather.

Since there was more going on in this outfit with the graphic tee, the added textures on the jacket and the print on the bag, I opted for a simple choker.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this outfit. Do you own a military jacket? I’m including a few shopping links for you to see. Every time you click on a shopping link, I get a few cents. Every little bit helps. Thanks for all your support.

Have a great Tuesday.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. 

Tuesday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb, and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge.

Wearing White - Embroidered Pants

I hope you are enjoying this series on wearing white. Most of us have at least something or other that is white, or at least cream or ivory (what is the difference really). I centered this series on pieces that I would classify as a true white, not cream or ivory or off white, however every outfit could easily use pieces that aren’t a true white. It’s all about wearing what works for you and what you are going to feel best in. Not everyone likes to wear white, top or bottom. It can make us look washed out or larger if it is on the bottom, but we are trying to break out of some of those fashion boxes right, and if I want to wear white, I’m going to do it. Ha, ha.

Today’s outfit revolves around pants that you saw earlier this spring on the blog. These pants are from Shop National and were gifted to me when I did the original post, which you can see here. I was excited to get to style these again and wanted to pull another color from the festive embroidery on the legs, so I chose yellow.

I have to tell you, my daughter and I had quite a time being silly on this shoot. It was hot and I was melting, so everything was sticking to me, as you can see here, my yellow tee was taking on its own identity with its ripples. Ha, ha. When we are taking pictures, I don’t remember to smooth everything out, but I guess that’s real life. When is life ripple free? Rarely ever. This tee is thrifted and is Basic Edition’s brand.

I thought it would be fun to show movement, so I told my daughter I wanted to take more shots of me walking. Here are a few. I must confess, I was having a hard time walking a straight line. Ha, ha. And I don’t even drink!

Because I wanted to make the outfits in this series transitional to fall, I added a layering piece to each one. For this outfit I chose my green faux velvet jacket that I found at a thrift store. This is a brand called Erika. It is soft and perfect for when the evenings start to get cooler.

Since this was a casual look, I kept my accessories simple. This pendant necklace I have worn before on the blog.

The embroidery on the pants contains yellow, green and a couple of blue shades. I brought in the yellow and green, so I thought blue would be perfect for my shoes and bag. These bright blue Keds are regulars on the blog, as you just saw on Tuesday. Isn’t it amazing how much more blue they look with the bright white pants?

Bright blue is also how my bag rolls. Bright blue like the summer sky.

I actually had this green tassel from another bag, so I added it to my blue bag. I just like that combination of colors and think it works perfectly for summer. I have several Rosetti bags and like each one for various reasons. Cross body bags are definitely my muse right now. They are perfect for hands free shopping and more secure than a shoulder bag.

I hope you liked this post and that this will inspire you to pull out those white pieces and creatively make an outfit that will take you into fall.

I’m heading off to see my mom this weekend. What are you up to? I love to hear from you and am very thankful for all of you who take time out of your busy schedules to comment.

Have a great weekend.

Wearing White - Basic Tee with Print

Before we start spending time talking about the changes that come with the advent of fall, I wanted to spend the last few weeks of summer talking about how to wear white as transitional pieces. When we start thinking about changing our wardrobes from summer to fall, we are often hesitant to make that change completely. Fall can be like playing the lottery, trying to guess which outfit to wear for the temps and weather changes. Here in the mid west we usually still have warm weather well into September and sometimes even October.

My husband, who likes to hunt, always says if you want it to stay nice longer into the fall just go out duck hunting! The perfect fowl weather is…well…foul. Rain, low clouds and no wind make for perfect water fowl weather and cooler temps help as well. As has often been the case when my husband has bought duck stamps in the past, the weather suddenly turns sunny and hover’s at about 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Ha, ha.

As I said last week, I am trying to build a few outfits around my white pieces, partly because white is not a color I reach for regularly. I do like to wear white jeans occasionally, but my tops, skirts and sweaters rarely get worn. For a blogger, unworn pieces represent a challenge, so this little series will stretch my imagination and hopefully yours as well, for how to style those whites into great transitional outfits.

For today’s outfit, I started with a recently thrifted white tee with a hummingbird print. This tee is Time and Tru brand. I seem to be coming across this brand from Walmart quite a bit lately. My white tee from last week’s post was this brand as well. You can see that post here.

These striped cabana pants are from Christopher and Banks. They are a linen blend, so feel relatively cool in the hot weather and while they wrinkle some, they are not as bad as a piece that is 100% linen. The smocked waist line is comfortable and makes for ease of wear.

I added my denim vest from Christopher and Banks to bring cohesion to the outfit. This vest has gotten a lot of use on the blog over the last three years. It is pieces like these that become the work horses of our wardrobes and can be worn all year round. You can see how I styled it with polka dot jeans, a printed maxi skirt, over a sleeveless top, with a leopard print skirt and with a denim dress and a chambray shirt. You can click on any of those to see some of the other ways I’ve styled this vest.

This blue pendant necklace seemed to go perfectly with the other blues in this outfit. I like this simple statement piece. Pendant necklaces can be great additions for any variety of outfits. If you like layering, as the temps get cooler, layer a longer pendant necklace like this one under a scarf closer to your neck. Infinity scarves work well for this idea.

Once again, my bright blue Keds are making an appearance. These were thrifted, but are worn often if I want my color factor to pop a bit. For this look I was going for a monochrome effect, thus the addition of the blue shoes to elongate my silhouette.

Because I was trying to make this more of a transitional outfit, I thought it appropriate to add a bag in a more fall color. This bag also ties in to the maroon color in the tee. I found this soft, supple bag while thrifting. I told my hubby I wouldn’t bring home any more purses, but somehow this one jumped into my cart. Ha, ha.

Do you own a white tee that also has a print on it? I think it is a great way to introduce white into your wardrobe, but still enjoy a little bit of color. I know not everyone likes to wear white up by their face, so I will be showing you a few other outfits with white on the bottom, or paired with a neutral for a more toned down look.

I hope you are off to a good start this week. I am going to go visit my mom, for the weekend on Thursday. We’ll have some girl time and celebrate her 93rd birthday together. More changes are coming down the pike and I will share those with you as I am able.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Recap

I hope you have enjoyed this series on denim. Most of us have denim pieces in our wardrobes and it is helpful when we have new ways to style them. Denim is a versatile, easy to wear fabric and goes with everything. It is also easy to wash and typically doesn’t need to be ironed, although the lighter weight chambray can get more wrinkly than typical denim.

Here are all the outfits side by side.

Denim Vest

Ruffled Chambray Top

Denim Skirt

Long Sleeve Chambray Shirt

Denim Jacket

Do you have a favorite outfit? Were you inspired to style your denim pieces differently from reading the posts in this series?

I think the piece that I really had to think about how to style was the pencil skirt as a dressier piece. I think is is natural to style a denim skirt in a more casual way with tees and sneakers, but dressing it up, just seems to take more thought. As far as my favorite piece in this series, it would be a toss up between the ruffled chambray shirt and the embroidered jacket.

I hope this was a fun series for you. It is hard to believe we are almost done with July. With August comes a return to school and even though the temps will still be warm, our thoughts begin to turn to fall, and all the things that come with it, like football and changes in the trees and the weather. I’m going to do a few posts on wearing white which will include some transitional outfits, then I’ll be showing you all the New York and London Pantone colors.

Thanks so much for the support you give to me and my little blog. I appreciate all your comments. If you signed up for my emails and are not receiving them, please be sure to subscribe again. I have noticed a few emails are not going through and I am thinking it might be that the emails did not get typed in correctly. Also, if you make a comment on a post, be sure to check back a few days later, because I do respond to all of your comments, or at least I try to. Thanks again.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Denim Jacket

The final piece in my Denim Daze series is a denim jacket. I have several denim jackets, all of which I love. For as long as I can remember I have liked denim jackets. Just like moto jackets, to me they seem cool and tough, but done up the right way they can be feminine and flirty. I own a simple jacket that has no embellishments in a light wash. I also have a cropped one in a medium wash that I have styled on the blog many times. A few others include a white, a light wash with white eyelet stripes and an orange one. This week I am featuring a newer one I acquired from Christopher and Banks. The characteristic that drew me to this one, was the embroidered detail.

I wanted this outfit to be casual, but still clean and fresh. These pinstriped light weight ankle pants are thrifted and Gloria Vanderbilt brand. They have become a go to summer option in my closet, when I want a little more coverage, but not the heavy weight of regular denim.

I thought this floral Croft & Barrow tee from Kohl’s went perfectly with the colors in the embroidery of the jacket. This tee was a recent purchase and has longer short sleeves and a medium weight. I love the cute pic on the front. If I had the time, and was more disciplined I would love to have more of a garden, a bit like an English garden with loads of different kinds of flowers that have some sort of uniform messiness to them.

Here is an up close of the embroidered detail. I can see wearing this into the fall with colors like rust, and maroon.

In keeping with the blue theme of my outfit, I opted for blue accessories. This cute cross body bag was gifted to my by my younger daughter for Christmas. I love the gold zippers and fringe detail.

Since I was on a floral kick I pulled out my floral SO flats. If you follow me regularly you know I love these flats and have them in four different colors. They are comfy and easy to get on and off.

I also wore a simple heart necklace with a pink stone. This was the perfect finishing touch.

Do you like to wear denim jackets? How do you like to style yours? What sort of washes do you have denim jackets in? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment or two below.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which means when you click on a link I get a few pennies. If you purchase something through my post, I get a small commission. All opinions are my own. Have fun shopping.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Long Sleeve Chambray Shirt - Dressy

This week I am styling a long sleeve chambray shirt. When I began this denim series a few weeks ago, I differentiated between true denim and chambray. Chambray and denim are made with the same type of cotton threads, but the denim uses a double strand and the chambray uses a single strand. It is amazing, these days how soft and moveable denim is. Now we add other threads to the mix like spandex and viscose to make this normally stiff fabric more figure and lifestyle friendly.

This long sleeve polka dot top works well as a jacket or a light weight layering piece for when you are going to be in an overly air conditioned office for the whole work day. My husband and I like to go out to eat and then spend the evening at Barnes and Noble. We both love books and enjoy working on writing projects, the blog or just relaxing with a book or magazine. I noticed the last two times we went into the store, the air was blasting and it was down right cold. Enter the light weight layering piece.

Whereas Tuesday, I showed this Christopher and Banks blouse styled casually, today’s outfit would be work or date night appropriate. On Tuesday, I wore it as a jacket with the tails loose and the front unbuttoned. Today’s look involves tying the tails and buttoning one or two buttons to create a fake ruched look.

Some gals might be fine with wearing a style like this without a tank top underneath, but I wanted a more appropriate work look, so opted to add a thrifted Loft tank top for additional warmth and layered interest.

You’ve seen this skirt before on the blog when I did my print mixing series. You can see those two posts, here and here. This was a thrifted piece and is Gianni brand. I love this simple a-line silhouette and the colors of the print. It has proved to be a very versatile piece.

I was excited to add this statement necklace to this outfit. I have had it for about a year and haven’t worn it too much, but I thought it was the perfect length and colors for this outfit. I found this beauty at Christopher and Banks online. Many times that is how I find my deals. I shop their clearance and wait for additional percents off.

My little bag is thrifted. It is a fun little piece to use all on its own, or you could use it inside a larger bag for holding the little odds and ends that every woman has in her purse.

Once again, I grabbed my trusty gray heels. Sometimes a simple heel is the best shoe of choice, rather than going for something with more interesting details. This pair is older, but is Comfort Plus brand. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to walk on squishy grass in heels? You sink! Ha, ha. The things you put up with as a woman, right? Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed this post and are enjoying the Denim Daze series. Most of us have a least a few of these denim or chambray pieces in our wardrobes. How much use are yours getting?

My hubby and I are heading to Wisconsin this weekend to be with his parent. Tomorrow is their 60th wedding anniversary. What a wonderful accomplishment! We are going to do a few fun things with them in celebration of the special day. I hope you all have a great weekend!

See you next week.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

I decided to feature a few fun pieces from Nordstrom since they are having a sale right now. Have fun shopping. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Long Sleeve Chambray Shirt - Casual

Before I get into the actual post for today, I wanted to let you know that there is a nice interview with, yours truly, on Rebecca Trumbull Photography’s blog. As most of you know, Rebecca is both my photographer and my oldest daughter. Her website, not only includes information about her packages and what she offers, but her own blog, which gives her experiences with clients and some fantastic pictures. Be sure to click on over the the interview by clicking here and give us both some love.

There are times in the summer, where it gets really hot outside. The problem, then is not the heat, but the air conditioning. Many places have the air blasting and it makes it uncomfortable for people who like moderation. Especially if you are going from the cool house, to the hot car, to the hot outdoors and then back into the cool indoors. My husband and I always take a light weight sweater or jacket with in the summer months, just to have something to put on when the inside air gets too chilly.

This week’s denim piece is a long sleeve, polka dot chambray shirt. A light weight blouse like this is another great way to have extra coverage for those chilly indoor spaces. You can use it like a jacket and take it off, if you get too warm.

This Christopher and Banks blouse is light weight and covered with fun purple polka dots. I decided to do some print mixing wearing it over this purple printed popover sleeveless blouse by Izod.

I think the print mix works well, because the popover top, which has the busier, and larger print is paired with the smaller polka dots of the chambray blouse. It also works because I chose a common color to mix with, which in this case was the purple. Here is a close up of the two prints. In the close up, you can see the popover top does its own pattern mixing.

White seemed the obvious choice for my bottoms. These cropped white jeans were thrifted.

We didn’t get a picture of the back pockets, but they have pretty bling on them. The cuffs on the bottom also add another interesting detail. The crop pant typically falls between where a capri would fall, several inches below the knee, and where an ankle pant would fall just at or a smidge above the ankle.

I wanted to add in another color, so when I chose this choker necklace that got passed over to me from my daughter, I decided to add green, thus the olive green hobo bag.

I also added this pretty multi layered beaded bracelet. I got this on clearance at JC Penney a few years back and I really like the way the beads change color as they wrap around the wrist. Its colorful and has a fun boho vibe. Couldn’t you see this piece of jewelry with a long flowing tiered gypsy skirt, a bright top with an off the shoulder look, lots of beads and a bandana on the head? Maybe not on me, but you get the idea. Ha, ha.

I found these sandals at a thrift store and they went into my cart as soon as I tried them on. I love the color. I don’t own very many accessories that are purple, other than jewelry, so I thought these were a fun addition to the wardrobe. I also like that they cover more of my foot. I would love to wear those strappy cuties that many women wear, but my bulbous veins, are not attractive. That doesn’t mean I can’t wear sandals, it just means I try to find styles that give me a little more coverage.

Do you own a long sleeve chambray shirt? Do you ever wear it like a jacket? Wearing long sleeve shirts as jackets can be done with any long sleeve, button-up in your closet, just keep it in mind when you are putting your outfit together, and pick accordingly.

Be sure to check back on Thursday for a dressed up version with this long sleeve shirt. I’ve included a few shopping links for long sleeve chambray’s below. Be sure to check them out.

Have a great Tuesday.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Pencil Skirt - Casual

What could be more versatile than a denim skirt? You can wear it spring, summer, winter and fall. You can dress it up or dress it down. You can wear it with heels, flip flops, ballerina flats, and boots of every configuration. A good, pencil skirt in any fabric with stretch can be a great addition to your wardrobe. It can take you from work to date night and has unlimited potential for other outfits. When I found this stretchy denim pencil skirt at a thrift store. I knew I had found a piece that would get repetitive use.

This skirt is a brand called No Faze Jeans. This brand is no longer available, except for on Poshmark and other 2nd hand retailers. This is a case, where the brand is not as important as the type of skirt. As I said before, a pencil type skirt should have a little stretch in it for bending and sitting. While I like a medium wash in a jacket or vest, a dark wash is a good choice for bottoms. Darker usually gives a slimmer profile.

For this casual look I grabbed a thrifted No Boundaries tee with the word, happy, embellishing the front in different colors. This is a light weight semi-sheer tee, so great for summer, but opaque enough that you don’t need a cami, unless you are wearing a very bright or dark bra.

This next picture shows you the front tuck. The shirt is quite long. Doing a front tuck defines your waist and provides an interesting line from front to back. Some people call this the French tuck, as well. I have mentioned this before in an earlier post, but I like the front tuck because it allows me to show off a belt, yet doesn’t take as much effort as tucking the whole piece in.

Even though the belt doesn’t match any other colors in the shirt, I like how it makes the outfit look bright and cheery, after all, the shirt does say happy.

This choker was a clearance find either at Kohl’s or Penney’s. I like that it looks dressed up, but can also be worn with something casual like this. The faux pearls add just the right class. In addition I threw on a few faux pearl bracelets to match.

Besides a cross body bag, I like a small hobo bag like this, when I don’t want to carry my full load around. This small shoulder bag is just big enough for my wallet and a few other items.

Keeping the vibe casual called for my well worn pair of sparkly gray Keds. These sneakers see a lot of wear in the warmer months and have been through the washer numerous times. I’m not sure how much longer they will hold up. Ha, ha. Who doesn’t have a pair of well worn shoes that they pull on all the time?

This is a simple outfit formula: denim skirt, graphic tee, jewelry, bag and sneakers. If you wanted to, you could swap the graphic tee out for a plain colored one and wear layers of chains, pearls or even a scarf for a whole different vibe.

Thursday, I’ll show you how I chose to dress this skirt up.

Do you own a denim skirt? Do you like to wear it? How do you like to style it? As always, I love to have your feedback. Just leave a comment below. I always read and respond to your comments, so you can check back the next time you are on the blog to see how your comment helped me out.

I’ve included a few shopping links for denim skirts. I hope you see something you like. I usually try to stick to retailers I am familiar with and I also try to include at least one plus size option. These are affiliate links. I get a few pennies when you click on a link. All opinions are my own.

Have a great Tuesday!

Denim Daze 2.0 - Ruffled Chambray Top - Dressy

Before I start today’s post I wanted to let everyone know that my interview with ShopNational is finally on their blog, ifthemuumuufits. Be sure to check that out and thanks again to ShopNational for the opportunity to work with them. You can see the original post here.

I intentionally chose this outfit for today, because it is red, white and blue. Happy 4th of July everyone. I hope that your day will be a good one, whether relaxing at home, because you have a day off from work or spending the day with friends and family celebrating. Our day will be pretty low key. Our kids are busy with their own thing. We used to regularly go see the fireworks, but sometimes we just want to stay home and watch a movie. That’s what we did last night. We watched the first Indiana Jones movie, which is one of our favorites.

Today’s post revolves around the short sleeve chambray top featured on Tuesday, but today will be a dressed up version.

Looking at this picture, I realized how white I am. Ha, ha. I don’t intentionally tan, like I used to when I was a young person, but it would be nice to have a little color. I was using a Mary Kay product for a little while and it was giving me a bit of a glow, but it is a lot of work to keep it up. You have to use the product every day for a week or so and then I am assuming every other day or so to keep it up. I just don’t have the time or discipline. Just like so many things in my life. For real!

Once again, the top is a Liz Claiborne find from JC Penney. This skirt was a recent purchase from Christopher and Banks. I absolutely fell in love with it. To give you a little background, I was watching a show on Netflix called the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Set in the late 1920’s in Melbourne, Australia. It is fun, sassy, sexy and definitely eye candy for the fashion conscious. This skirt would have been a little casual for Miss Fisher, but it could have fit right in. I love the vertical stripes, which help to elongate my legs and the button details on the side.

I decided to tuck the shirt in all the way around, and you can’t even tell because the skirt is thick enough where the color doesn’t show through. I don’t think I would wear back, navy or red underwear, though, just in case.

I added red accessories, to make this outfit a winning patriotic statement.

Believe it or not, this pair of pretty red wedges are Keds. I have had these for a while and when I got on their site, it doesn’t look like they offer anything with a wedge heel any more. I found a few others that are similar and will include those at the end under shopping links.

I hope you enjoyed this outfit and that you will have a wonderful Independence Day here in the good old USA!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Ruffled Chambray Top - Casual

When we talk about denim, we often think of chambray. Chambray typically uses the same cotton fabrics that true denim does, but they are put together in a a different way, called plain weaving, as opposed to twill weaving for denim. Chambray is lighter weight as it uses single strands of thread as opposed to the double strands that denim uses. However, we most often identify chambray as denim as it comes in the same washes and typically serves the same purpose for casual dressing.

This darker wash Liz Claiborne chambray top was on the clearance rack at JC Penney. I don’t frequent Penneys as much now, but when I have a coupon and am looking for a specific item, I will go there. Believe me, as a clothes horse, I have spent lots of money on clothes, but I have always felt the need to shop clearance and second hand. Now, I feel thrifting is even more important for environmental reasons. Land fills are overflowing with plastic, furniture, appliances, clothing and just general garbage. Why throw stuff away, when we can repurpose it?

I thought for a casual look, wearing these Christopher and Banks, Bermuda length shorts would be something different. Plus, most people grab their shorts for summer outfits that are cooler. These Sonoma shorts are light weight, the perfect length for those of us who are a little more leg conscious. I like the way this darker chambray top looks with the tan shorts. For a girl who usually loves lots of color, being more toned down once in a while is a nice change.

I absolutely love the detailing on this popover top. The raw edges on the bodice and sleeves, as well as the ruffles make this a very pretty and interesting piece.

Since this was a relatively casual outfit, I wanted to keep my accessories more minimalistic with a few beaded bracelets, a pendant necklace from Christopher and Banks, a white bag and sneakers.

This white and tan bag is a thrifted Jaclyn Smith. It has a longer strap so you can wear it as a crossbody bag.

This pair of Windsor Knot Grasshoppers were a recent purchase this season. Here is a link to DSW where they have several colors. Once again, it is the details that make an outfit so much more interesting. The stripes on these sneakers and the braided cord, just adds a special touch. Of course this would have looked great with a fun pair of sandals as well.

Do you have a fun top like this, that has unique textural details? How about a pair of shoes that are more interesting because of their different details? A bag can also be a focal piece for an outfit, adding color, texture, and other details.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Remember your comments help my blog, plus I feel like I have friends out there, even though we have never met. If you ever have an idea for a post or a series on my blog, let me know. I’d love to have your input.

I’ve included a few shopping links for more chambray tops, but also for tops with fun details. Be sure to do some window shopping. All your clicks help support the blog as well. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Denim Daze 2.0 - Vest - Casual

During the summer of my first year blogging, I did a series called Denim Daze. During this series, I featured different denim pieces and showed you how I styled them both in a casual way and a dressy way. I’ve decided to reboot this series using different denim pieces and giving each outfit a full post, so one day for the casual look and one day for the dressy look. You can see the original Denim Daze posts by clicking on the following links: Intro, Bermuda Shorts, Chambray Shirt, Knee Length Skirt, Flared Jeans, and the Denim Jacket.

For this series I am starting with a denim vest. You have seen this Christopher and Banks denim vest on the blog before, with a maxi skirt, a pair of olive crop pants, in a Pantone outfit, and in a holiday outfit. It is one I return to again and again.

I thought it would be fun to give you the rationale behind each of the pieces I have chosen for this series, and why I styled them the way I did. This vest has several characteristics that I love.

1 - The color. I love denim in all washes, but for a vest, jacket or top, I often go for a medium wash. I’ve seen denim vests in light, medium and dark washes, but for me the medium wash seems to be easier to style with a lot of different options as far as colors, textures and patterns.

2 - The fit. I have a variety of vests. Many of them are knit with cascading fronts, or puffy for when the weather cools down. For a denim vest I like a more fitted profile. This one is pieced together with panels, rather than being one whole piece in the back or sides. These seams and the panels give a more fitted silhouette.

3 - The bling. What takes this simple denim vest up a notch is the bling. The sparkly studs on the yoke are the perfect compliment and make it quite simple to dress this cutie up or down.

The next piece I chose for this outfit was the thrifted floral tee. I knew I wanted to jazz up the outfit with a print and with some color. There is a little bit of blue in the top that matches the denim blue of the vest perfectly. I just love the cohesiveness of at least something matching in an outfit.

Once I picked out the top, I immediately thought of these jeans, which I have worn on the blog before as well. These thrifted Gloria Vanderbilt jeans are fun with their bright pinky red vibe and of course, the polka dots. They also match the shirt.

The tee, honestly, became the driving force in picking out the rest of this bright, casual outfit. I had blue and pinky red, the last color I wanted to accent was the green, thus the jewelry and the bag.

If you have a hard time putting outfits together, it is often easier to pick a piece with a few different colors in it and then use those to guide you to your next pieces. You can use a floral top like I did, a printed scarf or even a bag with multiple colors. Once you choose that piece, then find a skirt or pair of pants that comes in one of the other others, then a top or scarf, etc. Even your jewelry can be part of the color combination. When you are done, you will have an outfit that is cohesive and looks fantastic. For those of you who like to follow a recipe when you cook this method of picking out an outfit will work especially well for you.

For shoes, I am sure you could have guessed, I chose my blue SO flats.

I like the bright, happy look of this outfit and I think it would be perfect for lunch or shopping with your girlfriends, or for me a casual date night with my husband. I would even wear an outfit like this to work.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you own a denim vest? Do you ever wear it? If not, why not? I hope this provided a bit of inspiration for taking that denim vest out and putting it to work for you. Be sure to check back on Thursday for the dressed up version of this sparkly vest.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Summer Pieces - Floral Jeans

Florals seems to be here to stay, just like animal prints and I am glad. Both florals and animal prints are great patterns around which to build an outfit. Today I am showcasing a pair of floral jeans that I have had for a number of years. I was surprised that these still fill as I have gained more weight than I want to admit. That’s what happens when it rains and the Seasonal Affective Disorder continues to hold me in its grip. I am tired, so I have a hard time getting out of bed. Exercise eludes me, both because it is raining and because I am tired. In addition the craving for chips and sweets adds to the weight gain. But enough about that and all my silly excuses. The struggle is real girlfriends!

These jeans were a Kohl’s clearance find from a few years ago. These Lauren Conrad ankle jeans have a fun, but subtle floral pattern with touches of white, blue and purple. They are a great piece for pattern mixing, but for this outfit, I chose to keep the other pieces solid.

This open knit, front zip cardigan is from Christopher and Banks. To zip it right now is a little snug, but I’m fine with wearing a cardi open, just like a blazer or light weight jacket that is more for layering. I love the rich orchid color and as you can see I found some metal bangles that were an exact match.

This pastel tee borders on blush, but has a more purple tinge to it. This was a thrift find and I love the embellished bling neckline. It is a brand called Cynthia Rowley. She is an America fashion designer based in the West Village of New York City. Click on her name to see her online site. Her pieces are deliciously feminine with ruffles and florals. They are not something most of us can afford, but it is fun to look and to know that I scored a fancy designer label at the thrift store.

I found this cute owl necklace thrifting and knew it had to come home with me. In this next photo you can see the necklace and the embellished neckline on the tee up close.

I decided to keep the colors similar so chose my blue Keds and blue Rosetti bag. You’ve seen these bright blue sneakers before on the blog. Another thrift store find, I am getting to the point where I can’t wear them for as long a period of time. As we age, our bodies change, as you well know. Our noses and ears tend to get more elongated and I think our feet do as well. I used to take an 8.5, but now I need a 9 in most shoes. I also have a bunion that is starting to bother me, so I need to wear shoes that have a little more room in the toe area. Oh the joys of getting older, but my husband always says, “Well, the alternative isn’t so good either.” Ha, ha.

Would you wear floral jeans like this? Do you prefer to wear pants that are solid or do you like to wear fun prints? I know some people prefer to not draw extra attention to their lower half, but I think printed pants keep things interesting. Tell me what you think.

I’ve included some shopping links as usual. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Be sure to check in next week. I’ll be starting my Denim Daze 2.0 series. Until then, have a great weekend.

When Summer Doesn't Feel Like Summer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until next time, have a great day.

Summer Pieces - Bright Floral Blouse

Summer seems to be the season that I like to wear colors that are brighter and bolder. I know that most fashion rules have been thrown out the window. We now wear white all year round, older women can wear things that younger women only used to wear and colors don’t have to be season specific any more. With that said, please don’t make not following the rules become a rule. I like colors that are season specific and while I will wear white all year round, I do not always feel comfortable in things that the younger generation is wearing. Let’s remember, fashion for each of us is unique to, well, each of us. Wear what you want, but allow other women to bask in the security of a bra or the modesty of a tunic over their leggings. Fashion should be what makes you comfortable and for many of us that revolves around clothes that are classic, comfortable and modest. But I digress…back to color.

This bright, neon piece was a thrift store find. Actually, everything in this outfit is thrifted except the bag and the jewelry. When I saw this bright top flashing its beautiful boldness at me, I had to try it on. I would call this a popover blouse. It has long sleeves that can be buttoned up, a v-neck with a button placket that only has a few buttons, and can be tucked in or left out. I decided on a front tuck, which has been my go to this summer.

You might wonder, why do the front tuck, rather than tucking the whole blouse in. Personally, I like the way the front tuck looks. It gives me a waist, lets you see the front of my pants, but doesn’t take as much time to arrange. It also allows for a bit of air circulation and many of you who are going, or have gone through menopause, know how important air is when you are having a hot flash. The front tuck also allows you to wear a belt and still have it seen, without having too much shirt inside your pants. Ha, ha.

I chose gold for my accessories. The floral necklace has a bit of a purple hue, which is also why I chose the bag and the sandals I did. It is always fun to me, when all my accessories come together. I know it is not necessary to have our accessories match, but I still think it is fun to do, once in a while.

Remember back in the spring, when I did a post on spring trends? One of those trends was neon colors. This pretty blouse fits the bill perfectly, but doesn’t seem overwhelming, like some neon colors can. I think the backdrop of white really helps keep the blouse bright, but not obnoxiously so.

What do you think of this blouse? Would you wear neons like this? What are some other ways you can think of to wear a blouse like this? I hope you’ll give me some feedback. I always look forward to hearing from my cyber girlfriends! You gals are the best. Thank you so much for supporting my little blog.

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Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.