My Favorite Denim Pieces

For the last few week I have been looking back at some older posts, due to scheduling conflicts and my own lack of motivation and energy to bring you a lot of new content. I do apologize for that, but this does offer you a look at different pieces that are worth investing in due to their reusability. Since we as fashion bloggers, thrifters and purchasers of fashion are wanting to be more conscious of how our choices affect the environment we are learning that sustainable fashion is important for the future of our world.

Sustainability at its finest starts even before the actual manufacture of clothing. While more companies are jumping on the sustainability wagon, we must admit there are literally tons of used clothing going into landfills, that could be part of this sustainability loop. Thrift stores are part of this loop and are helping to give new life to second hand pieces. Bloggers, Instagrammers and others are working their accounts to show you new ways to wear the clothes that are already in your closet, or at least encourage you to shop second hand.

This week I decided to focus on the favorite denim pieces in my closet. Denim has always been my go to fabric for every day outfits. Whether you like jeans, denim skirts, or denim jackets, everyone can get onboard with having a few work horse denim pieces in their wardrobe.

Piece 1 - Cropped Denim Jacket

This is one of the first cropped pieces I found that I really liked and still use repetitively. There is something about the silhouette of a cropped denim jacket that to me, makes it a little more versatile. I feel like it dresses up better than a standard jean jacket, but some of that might also be the wash. A darker wash will always look more dressy as opposed to a lighter or more acid washed piece. You can wear a piece like this with a casual dress, a classy maxi dress, leopard print, a longer tunic and jeans, and a pair of utility pants.

Picture by me.

Piece 2 - Denim Skirt

Since jeans are my first choice for most of my causal outfits, I am not going to include them in this post, but I will say, that most of my favorite jeans I have picked up at thrift stores. The ability to try on different styles, silhouettes and brands, many of which I wouldn’t have ever thought to shop, have provided me with several pairs that are on repeat during most of the year. If you are more of a skirt or dress kind of girl, then a denim skirt is a great casual alternative to jeans.

Just so you know, the first skirt is from a few years ago and I got rid of it, because I outgrew it. The last two pieces were just unique, so I picked them up, but my most used piece would be the darker wash pencil skirt in the middle number of photos. If you are looking for a denim skirt, that is the wash and style I would recommend. I recently thrifted a longer light wash one, so we’ll see how that gets styled this summer. Stay tuned.

Photo by me.

Piece 3 - Denim Vest

Another piece that I really love is a denim vest. So far I only have one and that is my Christopher and Banks piece, but I would like to find a few others including a longer one that ties and a more traditional vest shaped piece. These are things I add to my thrifting list and keep and eye out for. If I never find one, no big deal, but if I do, I’ll grab it.

Unique Denim Pieces

Since my love for denim extends to all areas of my wardrobe, I also wanted to include a few unique pieces with their own special embellishments or characteristics.

Embroidery

Any sort of embellishment on denim is fun, but I do love embroidery.

Chambray

While not technically denim, we group this with denim due to its similar washes and uses. Whether it is a button down, a popover or a dress, chambray is a great denim substitute for the warm temperatures of spring and summer.

I hope you enjoyed this look back at a few of my favorite denim pieces. I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit where not specified, Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring Outfit with Orange Pants

Just like I did for the blue pants, I wanted to show you a new outfit with my Worthington orange pants. For this one I focused on a work appropriate look. With many people finally returning to their jobs I thought it would be a good time to feature an outfit that would be perfect for the office, especially as air conditioners come back on.

I wish I would have thought to get close up of the details on this thrifted Maurices vest. I snatched it up, because I don’t have any summer weight white vests and I thought the eyelet detail and the texturing on the pockets made this such a unique piece. It has the utility vibe with the patch pockets and drawstring, but is dressier.

You can also see my H&M button down top. I found this one on the clearance rack a few years ago and just loved the botanical print with its flowers, butterflies and birds. I thought tying the front shirt tails made for a more summery look, but one that remains work appropriate. I also like the soft contrast between the stark white of the vest and the more off white of the blouse.

I added a double layered purple necklace and a few purple metal bangles to pull out the purple in the top.

I opted for more neutral shoes and bag. I thought the outfit had enough color with the bright orange pants and the flora print in the top. The neutral accessories give it not only a summer feel, but a polished and professional look. If I ever go back to an office job, I would definitely wear this. My bag you have seen on the blog before and is from Walmart and George brand. My perforated peep toe sandals are Sonoma brand from Kohl’s.

I was pleased with how this outfit turned out. What do you think? Would you wear something like this to work? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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

Have a great day, everyone and thanks for following along on the blog.

Why You Should have a Pair of Colored Pants - Orange

I thought I would do one more week on colored pants. This denim wearing diva, never imagined in all my years that I would learn to love brightly colored pants, but I have. I do remember when I was young, being a child of the sixties and seventies, I had a pair of bright red, cuffed bell bottom pants that I loved to wear to school. I am not sure what drew me away from the bright colored bottoms, except maybe that feeling of not wanting to be noticed or seen. I still struggle with that bit, but now I don’t worry so much about what other people are thinking or looking at. That is not my problem. I do try to dress modestly, but I love my bright colors and think they help to make me happy. This week I want to focus on my orange pants.

These orange pants were a clearance purchase at JC Penney about four years ago. They are Worthington brand, have a side zipper and an extra seam towards the front, giving the leg a long, lean line and less bulk around the middle, for a more streamlined look. The waist sits near my natural waist, so a little less of the spare tire problem. Here are past posts from the blog where I used these pants.

Outfit 1 - Orange with Sheer Light Blue Top

I love the summery vibe of this outfit. The light blue, sheer top over the white tank combined with the bright orange pants seems very fitting for dinner under the palm trees at a tropical resort.

Outfit 2 - Orange Pants with a Dress

This is one of my favorite outfits with these pants. It just happened that I found this dress at H&M and that the orange in the dress matched perfectly with the pants. I have no problem with women wearing shorter dresses. I know lots of women who will wear them with bike shorts underneath, so nothing is revealed if they blow up or if they bend over. I personally do not have the legs to wear a shorter dress, so wearing pants with a dress has become something I do more often. It is a fun way to display a short piece without any worry of revealing veiny legs or other leg flaws.

Outfit 3 - Orange with Bright Purple and Gray

Who would have thought to pair bright purple with orange? Well, I did and I think it turned out perfectly. I think the light gray jacket over the top helps to pull this whole look together. The pretty leaf necklace ties the orange pants to the purple top. This is a trick you can do to bring cohesiveness to an outfit that might seem a little outside the color box.

Outfit 4 - Orange with Dark Green

Once again, you see a color block pattern, but one that is complimented by the printed accessories in the form of a leaf print scarf and a Vera Bradley tote bag. Since this was a more casual look, I added a hem roll to the bottom of the pants. This would be a great outfit to wear for an early fall shopping trip.

Outfit 5 - Orange with Marled Black Vest

Vests are a great way to transition from cooler seasons to warmer ones and warmer ones to cooler ones. They keep our cores warm, but our arms from being bound under bulky sweaters or coats. The focal point of this outfit, was not the pants, but the scarf, but I drew on the colors in the scarf to create the complete look.

Outfit 6 - Orange with an Asymmetrical Vest

The solid colored orange pants are the grounding point in this outfit that is filled with busy prints. The floral tee, the open weave asymmetrical vest and the patchwork bag would probably be too much, if the pants were also printed. The bright orange once again announces that summer is just around the corner.

Outfit 7 - Orange with Teal, Gray and Yellow

Here we are, back to fall. Orange is a no brainer for fall outfits, but we often reach for rust or darker versions of orange. However, I think I have shown that this bright orange is perfect spring through fall. You probably could even dress it up for winter with a chunky fisherman sweater and some suede ankle boots. This particular pair of pants is lighter weight, so if I wore them in the winter, I might put a pair of tights underneath.

So what do you think of orange pants? For all practical purposes I think more women would choose a bright blue pair rather than the orange, but what I wanted to show you is that there are so many different ways to style a bright colored pair of pants and still have a classy outfit that you can wear for a night out with the hubby, a lunch with friends or to a summer picnic. Pick your favorite color and get a pair of bright colored pants now.

I plan on showing you another outfit on Thursday with these same pants that has a more work oriented feel. Be sure to check back then.

I am leaving you with shopping links for a variety of bright colored pants. I hope you find a pair that will be perfect for you. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring Outfit with Bright Blue Pants

I thought I would come up with another outfit using my thrifted, bright blue, Ruby Rd. pants, since I was just talking about them on Tuesday. It was a beautiful day, so I managed to snap a few pictures for this post. They are never as good as my daughter’s pictures, but that is okay. This is real life, right? I never want to come across to you all as having it all together. There are so many bloggers and people who post on Instagram and it is easy to feel like we don’t measure up to their fabulous outfits, looks, or homes, but I know reality. It is messy, hard, busy and many times overwhelming. So I am trying to be as real as possible and not so great pictures are my reality, and so is my wide bottom. Ha, ha.

I wanted to create a look that was casual with just a touch of sass. My Star Wars tee belonged to my oldest daughter and she didn’t want it any more. I’m all for fun graphic tees and certainly am a Star Wars fan. I am actually a bigger Star Trek fan, but Star Wars is a close second.

Funny story about my thrifted silver belt. I chose the silver belt and my silver SO ballerina flats to jazz the look up a little bit, and it went with the silver lettering on the tee. When I went to pull the belt through the first belt loop a ton of the silver flaked off. I had silver dust all over my pants and my rug. Needless to say, I threw the belt in the trash when I was done with the pictures. I was disappointed, as I had great plans for that belt. Oh well, like I said, real life.

I’ve styled this thrifted, white, Sanctuary, jean jacket one other time on the blog. You can see how I styled it with a leopard print skirt. This jacket is not truly denim, it is a thicker cotton material, but doesn’t have the same characteristics of denim. However, I really like it and it is a good piece for the warmer weather and something different from the traditional jean jacket.

I didn’t take a picture of my little silver clutch, but you have seen it on the blog before. I chose it because it went with the belt and shoes. I do like things to match, but it is okay to not have things match as well. Many of our old fashion rules have gone by the wayside. I always go back to the idea, do what is best for you. If you like things to match, then make them match. If you want to wear purple shoes, carry a red bag and wear a green belt, you go girl! As bloggers, we are only here to give you inspiration, not tell you how you have to dress.

I want to know if you have gotten yourself a pair of bright blue pants? Ha, ha. Actually, they are a little hard to find, but if you thrift shop, be sure to check there. Thrift stores will often have loads of brightly colored pants, because they are no longer trending.

I hope you enjoyed this post and one more idea on how to style those bright blue pants.

I’m including a few shopping links just for fun. These are affiliate links brought to you at no added cost. If you click on a link I get a few cents. I appreciate every click. All opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Why You Should have a Pair of Colored Pants - Bright Blue

I am going to take a temporary hiatus from the Pantone series until my daughter and I can get together for a real photo shoot. I just think the pictures look so much better when she does them. She is the professional after all. In the mean time, I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about a few different clothing pieces that I think are essential to every woman’s wardrobe.

This week I would like to look at colored pants. I know many of us like to wear darker colors on the bottom to draw less attention to that part of our body. We usually have black, navy and perhaps a dark brown. Those who are a bit more bold might venture into the neutral category with tan or beige colored pants. Some will even dare to wear white in the warmer weather. If you are like me, you wear jeans more than anything else, even in the summer time, but I want to encourage you to purchase a pair of pants in a bolder, brighter color.

Today, I want to look back at a few of my outfits from the last few years of blogging. I want to show you why having a pair of bright blue pants is a way to expand your closet and give you additional outfit ideas. I got these pants from shopping a friend’s closet. They are not my favorite pair of pants due to the fit of the waist, so I usually only use them for blog pictures. However, if I ever come across a pair that fits better, I will definitely make the investment, so I can wear them on a more regular basis.

Outfit 1 - Bright blue with light blue.

If you have been following my blog since the beginning you will probably recognize these outfits. The beauty of a bright blue pair of pants is that they look so classy whether you are dressing them up, like this outfit or dressing them down. I love this combination of bright, bold blue with the lighter pastel blue of the sweater and scarf. The bright blue still makes my lower half look slimmer and doesn’t draw extra attention to that area. See the original post here.

Outfit 2 - Bright blue with a print.

I like having the option of pairing a pretty print top with something other than jeans and these bright blue pants were the perfect compliment to this top and the bomber jacket. Remember, things don’t have to match, though I personally love it when things have some color in common. I think it makes an outfit look more polished and cohesive, but that is just my personal opinion. You can see the original post here.

Outfit 3 - Bright blue with a print kimono.

Once again we are pairing the bright blue with a pretty print. An observation I want to make is the color blocking trend. Color block is not one of my favorite ways to style an outfit, but when you do something like this where you take two solid colors and top it with a fun, summer time print, you come up with an outfit that would be perfect for a graduation party, a picnic or a dinner date. Obviously, you could do this with a white, black or navy pair of pants, but doesn’t the bright blue just make this outfit so much more fun? See the original post here.

Outfit 4 - Bright blue with olive.

I am all about olive. I think olive is such a great neutral and it really goes with any other color. I love the cozy vibe of pairing bright blue with the more muted military olive. This is a great combination for fall as the weather is changing, and becoming cooler. The bright blue still gives the outfit a summer feel, but pairing it with olive makes me think of shorter days and crispy leaves. See the original post here.

Outfit 5 - Bright blue with color blocking.

This outfit was an attempt at color blocking. Again, it is not my favorite thing to do, but once again, I think the bright blue pants takes this outfit up a notch. You could definitely do a similar look with navy, black or white, but the bright blue adds a dimension of color and pizzazz to the look that other colors will not. There are occasions that call for black, especially when you want to look more elegant and classic, but for most of us the events we are going to attend are more conducive to a look that is a bit more relaxed and fun. See the original post here.

Outfit 6 - Bright blue with dark blue.

The last outfit I want to share pairs my bright blue pants with a navy blazer. I like this combination. Just like the pairing of the bright blue with pastel blue, this look creates a pretty contrast between two completely different blues. This is a great look for the office. The bright blue is not garish or overdone when paired with the navy blazer. The whole look epitomizes polish and professionalism. If I still had an office job, I would definitely wear this look. See the original post here.

Do you have a bright blue pair of pants in your closet? If not, does this post make you think differently about wearing them? I am going to include a few shopping links for bright blue pants, just in case you are now convinced you need a pair. Ha, ha. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.