Fashion — Stylin' Granny Mama

May has zipped by and I have been putting the blog on the back burner. I have been busy with family related things. I knew when I came back to the blog after my illness, I would not necessarily be posting every week. Still, I feel somewhat negligent if I am not putting something out there. I appreciate all of you who continue to follow along, even though I am not as routine in my posting.

My husband and I took a vacation during my hiatus and even though we just got back a few days ago, it already seems like it was months ago that we were in the deep south checking out Savannah and a few places in Florida. We ended our trip in the mountains of Kentucky at a State Park. By that time I was finally starting to relax. Then we had to come home. Ha, ha.

I thought I would round up a few outfits from past blog and Instagram posts and talk about texture. I have addressed the idea of texture on the blog before, but it is always an interesting topic to go over. It’s easy to bring texture to an outfit in the cooler weather, when we reach for heavy knits, warm sherpa and soft velvet, but summer can be a little more challenging, especially if you can’t wear layers. Here are a few simple tips for adding texture to an outfit in the warmer weather.

Jewelry

I love all sorts of jewelry and I am by no means a jewelry snob. I love cheap and I love expensive. I find awesome pieces at thrift stores and I have received fine jewelry as gifts. When it comes to texture the chunkier the better. If you don’t prefer chunky beads try layering delicate chains or wearing longer necklaces with interesting pendants.

Shorter Layered - As I was going through these older posts I was thinking about how I don’t wear as much jewelry any more. When I was working, I wore jewelry every day. Ahhh, the good old days.

Longer Pendant - While I love my shorter statement necklaces, I reach for longer pendants much more often. To me a pendant necklace is a tad bit more casual and it has a lengthening affect on the torso.

Bags

I don’t know that a lot of us think about how a bag brings texture to an outfit, but it does. Especially with all the different fabrics and types of bags that are now available. Textures in bags are seen in the the types of materials used, the type of weave chosen and the embellishments on the bags.

Here are a few of my bags that I think give you a good idea of texture and add that finishing touch to an outfit.

If you are a thrifter, or like to shop clearance racks always look at the jewelry and bags; you never know what you will find. Many of the purses I have were thrift store finds, including the blue and yellow tote bags, the woven basket bag and the sequin clutch; all seen above. Jewelry treasures are also found at thrift stores as you also saw above in the owl, and brassy flower pendant, as well as the stained glass shorter pendant. Thrift store finds are always so unique and typically may be things you wouldn’t find at your regular retailers.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I’ll be sharing more next week when we look at how shoes and scarves add texture to outfits. Until then, I hope you have a lovely week.

I’ve included a few shopping links for bags and necklaces. These are affiliate links brought to you at no cost. If you click on a link, I get a few pennies. If you order through one of my links, I get a little more. I appreciate everything you do to support the blog. All opinions are my own.

These are the last three colors from the Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 New York Palette. Today’s colors are festive and fun, the perfect combination for a summer event. I always love a brighter, richer approach to color anyway, so these are probably two of my faves from this palette. Click here to see the actual Pantone colors.

Harbor Blue is a medium blue green giving it a teal vibe, but with a little less intensity. Dahlia is a beautiful shade of purple that reminds me of spring and summer flowers like Azaleas, Cosmos and Pansies. Northern Droplet is a light shade of gray much like an early morning fog over a mountain lake.

For my outfit today, I ended up using a slightly darker gray rather than a light gray. I don’t own a lot of light gray because it is one of those colors that doesn’t do me justice. It is also what I would term, a non color, meaning it doesn’t really do a whole lot for very many people. Certainly there are women who look wonderful in a light shade of gray, but it seems to me that a medium to dark gray is a better choice for most of us.

As of the posting of these photos it is still cool in the midwest. We have had so many gray and rainy days, I am honestly starting to think we are turning into the new northwest and joining our friends in Seattle. However, I did want to give you an outfit where I at least showed a little bit of skin on my legs, just to give the feeling of oncoming summer and warmer weather.

My Harbor Blue bomber jacket was a clearance purchase from ShopNational a few seasons ago. I love the floral textured pattern. The banding at the neck, sleeves and bottom makes it extra comfy to wear. It is a unique piece that I don’t wear a lot, but one that I will hang on to for its versatility and vibrant color.

My thrifted jeans are a brand called Stylus. This appears to be a discontinued brand that may have once been sold at JC Penney and Walmart. I like that they have a tiny bit of distressing near the pocket and above the knee.

My Bambi tee is a thrifted Sonoma piece. When I first got it I knew the print was of deer, but after closer inspection it is definitely Bambi’s silhouette. You can also see my silver necklace that my bestie gave me back in March when we were in NY visiting my mom. I opted for the olive canvas belt because there is a bit of olive in the scarf.

My beautiful scarf was gifted to me by a dear friend who was clearing out her home in preparation for their move to Tennessee. Every time I wear it, I am reminded of her and her husband who moved to be near their youngest daughter, her husband, and their first baby. I just love all the colors in this scarf and feel like it is the perfect piece for every season.

Style Tip: When you don’t know what outfit to put together, pull out a favorite printed scarf. Take cues from the scarf on putting the ensemble together by choosing pieces with matching or similar colors. It really helps for picking out outfits and I do this often, when I am going away for the weekend.

My Ked’s sparkly sneakers are quite old, and perhaps need another run through the washer. I chose my simple Aerosmith tote (a hand me over from my younger girl) for my bag.

Do you like these colors? Would you wear these colors together? Let me know what you think of this outfit by leaving me a comment.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Thank you for all of your support. Have a great weekend!

Creating Outfits with Texture - Part 1: Jewelry, and Bags

Pantone Spring/Summer 2022 - NY Palette: Harbor Blue, Dahlia, and Northern Droplet