Pantone Spring 2017 - Pink Yarrow

To continue my series on the Pantone Spring 2017 color palette I am now looking at a deep, dark pink. While Pale Dogwood reminded us of the beautiful lacy trees that bloom in early spring, Pink Yarrow moves us into the deep, dark hues of mid summer blooms. 

I know that my outfit is not. very spring like, but if you live in Northwest Ohio, you know that the days are not always pleasant. Sometimes it is still quite cool with wind that makes the temps even lower. Add to that rain and you have the perfect combination for still wearing long pants and long sleeves. Yesterday was the first of May and our temperatures are barely breaking the fifty degree mark. I'll take that over the twenties and thirties any day, but I still feel like I need to put on layers.

For this outfit I pulled out an older Worthington piece  I have had for many years, my dark pink blouse. While this is not my first choice for a comfortable blouse because it has no stretch, I still wear it from time to time. It has held its color and shape so well. (Similar color here.)

The Kale colored skinnies, you have seen before. They are Gloria Vanderbilt brand and I am glad I got this pair from Kohl's. I styled these for our original Pantone Sneak Peek with Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy, back in February. You can see my original post here. (Similar pants here.)

Over the top I decided to add a bit of texture and fun with a long gray sweater vest from a thrift store. You can see how I styled that vest in this earlier post on Denim. The vest is actually a sleeveless sweater dress for a person thinner than me. Ha, ha. I decided to use it as a vest. (Here is a cool patterned version from Neiman Marcus on clearance.)

To add a touch of print to my, otherwise, solid outfit, I wore my leopard print ballet flats and a skinny leopard print belt. 

I decided to use my cognac cross body bag to go with the cognac color in my shoes. It is not always necessary to have your shoes and bag match, but sometimes I still like to go by that rule, not because I have to, but because I am a person who likes an outfit that looks polished and finished. However, it is good to mix it up a bit, so just for you gals that like to not match things this outfit would look great with a blush colored bag, which is on trend right now, or even a pretty blue bag. Challenge yourself to think outside the fashion box. That is what I am trying to do, at least once in a while.

For jewelry I wore a beaded necklace that has a bit of a taupe color and for bracelets I used simple gray beads with a little tassel. 

What do you think of Pink Yarrow? Do you have any clothing pieces that are this color? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Below I've included a few shopping ideas for Pink Yarrow pieces. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jennie in the Ageless Style link up, Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish and Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness link up.  Wednesday linking up with Hannah and Sara of The Perfect Storm. Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style. 

Color Crash Course - Mad About Monochrome

Webster defines the word monochrome as relating to or made with a single color or hue. Black-and-white photography is a form of monochromatic imagery called grayscale, using shades of gray with or without black and white. Now that I think of it, if you look at a black-and-white photograph like the one below, it really does look like varying shades of gray.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

When we talk about a monochromatic outfit we are not only referring to those that might be black or gray, but to any outfit that contains a single hue. The monochrome look seems to be one that has been around forever and will continue to do so. The look is classic, effortless and can be dressed up or down. 

Today's post centers around two outfits that I put together to show you a casual and a dressy monochrome look. The first outfit uses hues of salmon or coral or possibly both. You can decide.

Many of the things I have read about pulling off the monochrome look say to vary the textures of the pieces. As you can see I have a pair of skinny jeans which creates a smooth look on my bottom half (minus the pudgies - ha, ha). I got these at Dress Barn back in my home town when I was out shopping with my bestie! They were on clearance, so I think I paid about eight dollars for them. I love those kinds of sales.

On the top, I am wearing an asymmetrical hem (shark bite to be exact) short sleeve tee that I recently purchased from Kohl's. There are still plenty of colors here. 

I also added my open weave tie front, short sleeve cardigan. I found this at a thrift store and pull it out every summer. It is a perfect topper for overly air conditioned restaurants, or for when the weather is just not quite warm enough. i love the texture of this sweater and the length is perfect if I am just having a bad "butt" day!

Rather than go for a contrasting color for my bag and shoes, I went for a more neutral, subdued tan that almost blends with the coral color. The loafers are thrifted and the leather and faux burlap bag I got when shopping a friend's closet.

I kept my jewelry understated, but shiny with the three strand gold necklace and the multi-strand beaded bracelet.

The next outfit might be something I would wear to a summer show or a nice dinner out. For this look I chose classic black.

This outfit consists of a long black knit maxi skirt that I got on the clearance rack at Kohl's a few summers ago. The weight of the material is somewhat thin, so you might notice underwear lines, but with it being black, I don't think it is that noticeable.

The top is a black lace short sleeve top that is rather short, but it works well for this all black look. I wore a black tank top underneath. I'm sorry, but I didn't change bras and you can still see a little bit of my purple blue one peeking out around the shoulders. If I was wearing this out in public, I would put a black bra on or a tank with fuller coverage. I just think it looks more polished if the bra straps aren't showing. It is one thing if that is the look you are going for. With all the pretty bras out there, why not show a little strap, but for a monochrome look, I personally feel black underwear would be better for this outfit.

For accessories I went with gold. Three gold bracelets. gold fringe statement necklace, gold woven clutch and my gold wedge sandals. Gold brings a touch of class and upscale to any outfit. 

Me striking a striking pose. Ha, ha. I have the silliest time taking my own pictures. I forget to smile, forget to put on make up, forget to stand up straight or focus on my good side. When my daughters are involved they coach me and I don't have to worry about where the focus point is, if the picture is blurry, was I squinting, am I standing in the wrong spot. I just pose and try to look like I know what I am talking about. Whoo, hoo! 

I hope you enjoyed this post on wearing a monochrome outfit. Monochrome is a great way to go if you love a particular color, if you want to elongate your body or if you are going for a classic, chic vibe that transcends all seasons. You can't go wrong with monochrome. 

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you. 

Have a great weekend.

Here are some possible monochrome looks to shop for. This post contains affiliate links, which means I get a little bit of an income if you shop through this post. All opinions are my own.

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style, and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge.  Friday linking up with Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots. Saturday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb.

Pantone Spring 2017 - Flame

If you follow the Pantone colors, you know that they come up with a palette every spring and fall that contains ten colors. This palette becomes the basis for what fashion designers and architectural designers use as their color schemes for clothing, accessories, paint colors and home goods, such as furniture, bedding and pillows.

Today's earthy hue is called Flame. This bold, deep orange is evocative of sunny days sipping iced tea and warm evenings sitting around a campfire toasting marshmallows. It also shouts of day lilies and fuzzy peaches warmed by the mid day sun.

Earlier in the year, Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy and I, did a collaboration sneak peek of the Spring Pantone colors. To see my post click here. For one of my outfits I styled the same pair of pants that I used in last week's post and called it Flame. Just for fun I want you to see the difference in these two oranges.

When we initially did our sneak peek back in February, I thought these orange pants were pretty close to the actual Pantone color. Turns out I was wrong! See, I do mess up! Ha, ha. It's all good. I am still learning about color. Perhaps that is the reason I enjoy doing this series on the Pantone colors. The first orange really is more of a pumpkin color and has yellow undertones. Flame has more red undertones. So we could say, orange is orange is orange, but in reality, it isn't. 

The reason, I am spending a bit of time on this idea of color, is that I often hear people say, "I can't wear that color. It just washes me out." In reality, I think we can wear every color out there. You just have to know which version of the color is flattering for you. I probably would not wear the pumpkin orange near my face, but Flame, I can. However, I can wear the pumpkin orange as pants and it is no problem.

On to my outfit. This Flame utility jacket I purchased at Nordstrom Rack with the gift cards I received from winning a drawing on Jodie's Touch of Style.  I fell in love not only with the style, but with the color. 

I wore my dark wash skinny jeans, although I think any wash denim would look good with this orange. This orange would also look great with brown, khaki, olive and white. I rolled the jeans for a fun look and the lighter colored cuff adds some interesting texture. 

Since stripes are in I decided to wear my navy and white Loft tee. I found this at a thrift store. It is a nice weight and has an elastic bottom. I love that it is a tee, but hides my flaws. The best kind!

You can also see I kept the jewelry simple. Gold seemed to be a nice contrast, but I think silver would have worked as well. 

My navy blue bag, another thrift store find, is a Vera Wang. I love the dual tone and texturing on the bag, and, of course, the roominess. 

This was meant to be a transitional outfit, taking me from winter to spring. In Northwest Ohio, for me it is still pants weather, so I will be wearing this again. I went with a pair of ankle boots, but it could be just as cute with a pair of fun canvas sneakers or cute flip flops. 

What do you think of this orange? Do you think you like the pumpkin orange of my pants or this Flame color better? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. 

I hope you are enjoying this series on the Pantone Spring 2017 colors. I love to read your comments. Right now if you make a comment you won't know if I respond, but I always respond to your input. Just check back on the original post a day or so later and you will be able to see that. I am so thankful for your support.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I get a small trickle of income if you click on a shopping link. If you buy something through my post I get a small commission. That means a lot to me. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Here are some possible "orange" options.

Have a great Tuesday!

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Nicki of Sweet Parrish Place, Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Wednesday linking up with Sara and Hannah of The Perfect Storm. Friday linking up with JoLynne Shane in the Fashion Friday link up and Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style. 

Beautiful Blogger Bests - White with Denim

Classic looks are some of my favorite. Breezy tops, skirts, shorts of varying lengths, light weight jackets, are all clothing pieces I go back to when building a summer look. Today's post was inspired by a lovely blogger from the UK. Laurie of Vanity and Me is well acquainted with beauty and fashion, having made her way in life as a hairdresser. She is a mom, grandmother, wife and blogger. I would definitely describe Laurie's style as classic. She pieces outfits together that are stylish, comfortable and often striking, adding lovely statement accessories including jewelry, bags and shoes. 

My inspiration for today's outfit came from Laurie's post titled, Dress Down Day, from April 6th. If you click on the title of the post you can see her article in full. I hope you will visit her blog and give her some love. Her outfit formula was quite simple, white pants, white tank and a chambray shirt. Add some cute accessories, pin the hair up and done! What I love about this is, while it is simple it still looks phenomenal! The contrast of white with the blue is perfect for spring and summer. I also like that, Laurie added earthy accessories. With this type of outfit she could have added any number of colors, but the browns and golds keep the outfit from becoming overly girly. 

I decided to wear a tee instead of a tank top and I also went with capri pants instead of longer ones. The dark wash of my chambray shirt is similar to the one Laurie uses. I also kept my accessories to hues of brown and gold. 

I've featured this statement necklace before when I did an Awesome Accessory post here. I like that it has chains of differing lengths and ends with the pretty pendant. 

I also have on a gold colored narrow belt, but it gets a little lost under the tee shirt material. I think Laurie's belt was a much better choice and makes a statement in its own right.

These sandals were a recent purchase from Kohl's. I like the way they cross over the top of the foot, making the shoe feel more secure. These also have a very cushy foot bed with a slight wedge heel. These also have zippers on the heel making them easy to get into and out of. I think I will be wearing these quite often this summer. 

What do you think of this outfit? Will you be wearing white this summer? I'd love to hear your thoughts. When you comment on my posts, it helps my blog to grow. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. 

Please click over to Laurie's site and check out her blog. She will give you more Beautiful Blogger inspiration.

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. Friday linking up with Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style, and Laurie of Vanity and Me. 

Pantone Spring 2017 - Island Paradise

When Pantone created their Spring 2017 line up, the over all force behind the colors was the idea of nature. As I described last week, Greenery speaks to everything that is budding out now that spring has arrived. Trees, bushes and even the grass green up to their fullest potential. Island Paradise also brings the natural world into our homes and wardrobes.

Island Paradise exudes my idea of sunny days, blue waters and white sandy beaches. While I am not a sun worshipper, I do like to be near the water, gentle breezes caressing my face and the feeling of sun warmed sand beneath my toes. It creates the perfect harmony of peace and relaxation. This Pantone color gives me that same feeling. Just looking at it makes me feel happy and helps my stress level to decrease. 

I don't own many pieces that perfectly match this color. I have lots of navy, cobalt and denim, but not very much that truly speaks to this sunny blue. I found this sheer top at a thrift store and hadn't really worn it much. When I saw it hanging in my closet, I thought it might work well to create the feeling of the summery tropics.

Due to the sheer nature of the shirt I decided to wear it open more like a jacket or cardigan. I opted for a white ribbed tank top underneath. The beauty of styling a tank with a shirt like this is the outer shirt can be removed outside when it is really warm, and it can be put back on when you go into an air conditioned store or restaurant.

To keep the look fun and tropical, I paired the top with my Worthington pumpkin colored pants from JC Penney (possible options here). Worthington pants are a good fit for me, allowing enough room for my thighs and bottom, while not gaping at the waist. These are a light weight polyester blend with a side zipper, that allows easy movement. 

The above picture also gives you a good view of my blush flats and cross body bag. While the bag is not actually a true blush color, there is enough similarity that I think it works. Mind you, you  don't always have to match your bag to your shoes, but once in a while, I think it makes an outfit look crisp and finished. 

I kept my accessories simple with a single strand bead and metal necklace and one beaded bracelet. With the busy pattern of the blouse I didn't think it was necessary to add too much jewelry. However, I wanted to have a little something to show off, in case the outer blouse was removed. 

Overall, I think this is a great resort outfit, meaning I would take this on vacation to a warm place. I could see myself in this outfit walking on the beach with my hubby, breeze blowing the flowy blouse, pants rolled up, flats in hand, feet in the surf. It's probably a sunset walk, after a delicious dinner out.....ahhhhh, how relaxing!

What would you wear to go to a warm destination vacation? Did you like this outfit? Let me know in the comments section below. Or you can leave me a comment on Facebook. I love hearing from you. Have a great Tuesday!

Be sure to check back on Thursday to see this months, Beautiful Blogger. Until next time.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you purchase something through a link, I get a little commission. Having a blog does take time, so I appreciate any support you give. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Wednesday linking up with Sara and Hannah of The Perfect Storm. 

Awesome Accessories - A Spring Bag

I love purses, just like many of you love shoes or jewelry. I love it all, really! I just have to try to curb my buying for two reasons. I don't have that much money and I don't have that much room. It is a good thing that I live in a small house and that our income is not that of a Hollywood star or NFL player. Ha, ha. 

A fun purse can make an outfit even more interesting. Last summer I did a whole post on styling an outfit around a bag. The idea was inspired by Janeane of Designing From my Closet. You can see my original post here and her original post here. The thought is, if we can plan an outfit around a jacket, a pair of shoes or a scarf, why not plan an outfit around a bag. There are so many colorful, interesting bags out there, so why not make one the focal point of your outfit. 

I would first like to show you the bag, then I'll show you the whole outfit. 

Of all the places to find a bag, I got this cute little clutch on a Barnes and Nobel Bookstore clearance table. In all honesty I think it is supposed to be a case for writing instruments and other school type supplies, although B & N also sells Vera Bradley bags and wallets, so I guess this could have been an actual clutch. My thought is, there is plenty of room for a phone, wallet and a few other necessary items, so it makes a perfect spring bag. It even has a wristlet handle in case you need your hands free. Here is a look at the pretty pink lining.

Obviously, there are plenty of colors to chose from to plan an outfit. I decided to use the green in keeping with the Greenery color from Pantone and add my favorite color purple. 

I took these on Sunday, which was a beautiful day, but the wind was blowing, so my dress got a bit billowy. This is a maxi dress that I have styled before, in my Denim Days series last summer. The top and half of the skirt are lined. The sweater is a simple cardigan and the purple sash which matches perfectly was something I kept from one of my daughter's old pj's or bathrobes. 

Sorry that my toes aren't painted yet! I thought these sandals were the perfect foot wear for this type of outfit. Plus they have a purple tinge to them!

Here you can see the top of the dress without the sweater. I do have to wear a strapless bra with this one, although these days you could wear a natural colored bra with straps and no one would think twice. Or wear a bright colored bra and you'll be trending. I prefer the old fashioned no-bra strap look. 

For my jewelry I threw on this three layered gold necklace with beads that border on purple. The three layers all connect in the back. It is an easy way to provide visual interest to an outfit and with all three strands connecting in the back you don't have to worry about each individual one sliding out of place. 

Here is a quick close up of the sandals. These are your basic thongs, but I slip into them, then zip them up the back. Part of what drew me to them was the bling!

I hope this inspires you to think about that fun bag that is in your closet. You know the one. You loved the colors and how it looked, but now you don't know what to do with it. Plan your outfit around it. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you.

Have a blessed Easter!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style.  Friday linking up with Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style, Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, JoLynne Shane in the Fashion Friday link up, and Laurie of Vanity and Me. Saturday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. 

Pantone Spring 2017 - Greenery

I decided to put this color first before the Island Paradise, which was the one next in the Pantone line up, because I thought it made a possible Easter outfit. The Greenery color is one of my favorites from the Pantone Spring 2017 line up for its connection to nature. Looking out my window, I can see the first shades of green in the grass, trees and bushes. No two greens are exactly the same. I first talked about Greenery when Liz and I did our collaboration back in February. You can see that post here. I decided to use the same top, but paired it with a white skirt and a Greenery suede jacket that I found recently thrifting. 

I tucked the popover top in and added a belt that blends green and a bit of pink with the straw color. Tucking the top in and adding the belt give definition to my waist. I could also have left the top out and wore the belt over it. That would make another interesting look. 

Here you can see the belt better as well as the necklace and ring that I added for accessories. As always, I like to add visual interest to an outfit by adding texture. The belt, the skirt and the suede jacket all add their own texture. In addition to that the necklace with its gold metal sunbursts add a different but complementary element. 

I went for my pewter  tote bag and added my tan colored shooties. The subdued brown and tan shades add to the earthy look of the outfit, while the white skirt makes it stand out. 

You can also see a little of the detail on this fun maxi skirt that I found at Kohl's at the end of the season last summer. I love that this is a fully lined maxi, so I don't have to worry about wearing a slip underneath. As long as I don't wear red or black underwear this will be a great go-to skirt for a day of shopping, a night out with the hubby or a walk in flip flops on the beach. I love pieces that have that amount of versatility. 

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear something like this for Easter? What are you planning for Easter day? We will have a treasure hunt for my Grandson, visit with family and probably have the traditional meal of ham, deviled eggs and many other goodies. 

I always appreciate your input, so if you have the time, be sure to leave a comment in the comments section below. 

Have a wonderful Easter!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of the links, I get a little commission. All opinions are my own. I appreciate your support for my blog. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Wednesday linking up with Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness link up and Hannah and Sara of The Perfect Storm Blog. 

Piece Perfect - Spring Transitions

There are numerous pieces we could talk about for the season of spring. Look at what is on the racks at your favorites stores. Light weight blouses, flowy fabrics, pastels, bright floral prints and a variety of hemlines on both pants and skirts. However, if you have ever spent time in the mid-west in the months of March, April and May you know that going from winter to spring is not always easy to style. 

Layering is essential for me, especially until the temperature hits the upper sixties or seventies. However, as the temps begin to climb into the forties and fifties, I do feel less of a need for heavy layers. I turn more towards lighter weight long sleeve tops and pack away my turtleneck sweaters. I wear pants that end at my ankle with shoes that are more open.  

I like a 3/4 length sleeve top for these transitional days. The first is a light weight tee with a pastel floral print. The second is a hooded pullover sweater. The tee I would wear under a cardi or jacket, which I'll show in a bit. The sweater is heavy enough that I can wear it alone or over a tank top or camisole.  Below each idea, I'll show a few alternatives.

These are two pairs of shoes that I consider transitional. They are both flats, but more importantly they are more open than the boots and oxfords I had been wearing in the winter months. 

The reason I consider these transitional is that they are made of canvas. Canvas is perfect for summer months, but not so much for the cold snowy days of January. 

Taking my 3/4 length sleeve tee, I added a pair of ankle jeans. This length of pant is great for spring. It still gives you full coverage on your legs, but allows your ankles to breath and feel the fresh, albeit often nippy, spring air. 

Since layering is still essential I added my fun patterned blazer. This is a lovely piece made with light weight fabric and fully lined. It is not heavy at all, but still adds a layer of warmth.

By the time I posted this the cute leopard print was sold out! Sorry!

Here is another possibility, just by swapping out the jacket with a open front 3/4 length sleeve cardi. I found this light weight cardi at a thrift store this past weekend when I was visiting my mom in Buffalo, NY. Besides the weight I was drawn to the circular texturing. The circles are half cut open.

Here is an easy work outfit. Light weight dress pants, 3/4 length sleeve pullover sweater, canvas sneaks and go!

These are just a few of the transitional pieces that can help you go from winter to spring with ease, comfort and style. 

Let me know what you think of this post. Did you find this helpful. I hope that when you look into your closet you can find inspiration for new outfits to put together a great spring look. Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the the comments section. Your comments help my blog grow. And if you are not a current subscriber, but would like to receive my emails once a week be sure to click on the subscribe button. I appreciate it.

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Thursday linking up with Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. Friday linking up with Jennie of a Pocketful of Polka Dots and Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style. 

Pantone Spring 2017 - Hazelnut

The next color in our review of the Pantone Spring 2017 color palette is a soft, nutty shade called Hazelnut. To see all of the Pantone Spring shades for this year click here. Many of the shades from this spring line up are pastels. Pastels are softer, subdued colors. Often, we feel that unless we are a blonde, tanned sun goddess we can't wear pastels. However, remember, you can where whatever you want. A lighter color does not have to dominate your outfit. Try wearing a pastel colored tee under a dark washed denim jacket, or with a bright colorful scarf. This still allows you to wear the lighter color, making you look the vision of spring, but brings the darker, brighter colors closer to your face. 

For this look, I wore my chocolate brown skirt, a printed 3/4 length sleeve tee that boasts a number of like minded colors, including Hazelnut. I added my open weave cardigan. Since perforations are a spring trend I thought an open weave knit is a good compromise. 

Here's a closer look at the sweater and tee. The necklace actually does more justice to the Hazelnut color than anything else I have on. However, I think the outfit overall give the perfect mix of Ferrero Rocher....chocolate and hazelnuts!

I decided to go with a blush colored bag to keep the look softer with the darker brown of the ankle boots and brown hose. 

I think this outfit is a perfect transitional work outfit. It still bears the dark colors we often gravitate towards in the winter, but speaks of spring's emergence in the hazelnut sweater, jewelry and blush colored bag. Not only that, but the boots, hose and light weight layers provide coverage against the still chilly, often rainy days of spring. 

Would this be a color you would wear? How would you style an outfit around a lighter color like this? I'd love to hear your comments below. 

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link, I get a few cents. If you make a purchase through one of my links I get a little commission. All opinions are my own. 

Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Rena of It's All Fine...Whatever..., Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. Friday linking up with JoLynne Shane in the Fashion Friday Link up and Laurie of Vanity and Me. 

Spring Trends - 2017

Every season we see a new parade of trends marching across the stage at all the up scale fashion shows. Many of the things we see on the runways are not necessarily trends that translate well to the everyday world of many women. We probably are not going to don our peek-a-boo tops for work (unless we work at a strip club...ha, ha) and our stripes may not be quite as gaudy or loud, however, there are a number of spring trends that are perfect for all of us actual women.

1. Stripes are stunning. You can wear them horizontal or vertical; seaside or oxford; wide or narrow; stripes are everywhere. Stripes are our friends. You might not think so, but let's do a quick review. Horizontal stripes have long been touted as making us look fatter, but narrow horizontals can actually make you look thinner. Vertical stripes tend to elongate our frames. My theory is this, you can wear whatever you like. I wear horizontals on the top and verticals on the bottom. However, If it is a piece I absolutely adore, I will forgo my usual way of doing things.

2. Florals are fragrant. Light florals, dark florals, floral dresses, skirts, tops, leggings, jackets and pants; basically you can easily find a bouquet of floral patterned pieces just about anywhere. I like floral patterns, but I am picky about how much, how large or small and what color combinations. There are patterns, that for me, are just too busy. I don't want to get dizzy looking at what I am about to put on.

3. Blush is beautiful. Pale pink is all the rage and is showing up everywhere from shoes and bags, to coats, tops and jeans. You won't have to look too far to see pale pink sneaking onto store shelves and clothing racks. Not all of you may feel you can wear this light color, but as with any color, never say never. Pale pink can show up as a cute cross body bag or a comfy pair of sneakers. Just a touch of it in your wardrobe can make you trend savvy.

4. Raging ruffles. They're back! Romantic ruffles. How do you feel about ruffles? I used to have a white silk blouse that had ruffles around the neck and down by the wrists. It was a regular pirate shirt. I loved it at the time, but once the trend came and went I let it go! I should have kept it. Ha, ha. I'm okay with ruffles, but I like to do them in moderation. 

5. Perfect perforations. Another trend that I like is perforations. These little decorative holes are showing up on bags, wallets, sandals and shoes. I also like to think of crocheted or knitted items as perforated clothing. They are basically clothing with little (or big) holes in them.

6. Cool khaki. Khaki is the new neutral, or maybe it is an old neutral, as it has been front and center before. This color works great as a pair of pants or shorts, or as a skirt or dress. The piece that I think of most often when I hear the word is the trench coat. 

I gave you a few samples under each category just to give you ideas. What follows are just a few outfit ensembles that I did by shopping my own closet. 

Blush jeggings, pin striped jacket, floral long sleeve button up, Pink Yarrow jewelry, gold sandals and clutch. Pattern mixing has gotten even easier with the smooth blend of stripes and florals.

Olive utility jacket, striped 3/4 length sleeve tee with embellishment, gold jewelry, frayed hem crop jeans, blush fold over bag and blush flats. Olive seems to be making a stand in the fashion world and will be sticking around as another versatile neutral. Distressed jeans are big right now too. 

Crocheted fit and flare sweater top, blush lace trim cami, fringe multi strand bracelet, gold floral necklace, perforated red bag, tiered floral tea length skirt, sandals. The fit and flare trend is back as well, meaning dresses and tops are more fitted through the bodice and waist, then flare out. The tiered skirt also seems to be making a subtle come back, which I love, as I have several of these. This is a great skirt for the summer, giving full coverage, but not needing a slip underneath. 

I hope to show you some of these outfits, in the flesh, at some point down the line. While I didn't cover all the trends, I hope that this was informative in letting you know more about what is going on in the fashion world this spring. 

Let me know what you thought of this post in the comments section below. Your comments help my blog to grow, so I appreciate the input. 

This post contains affiliate links, which means when you click on a shopping link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of the links, I get a little commission. All opinions expressed are my own.

Monday linking up with Rena of Fine! Whatever...., Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb.  

Pantone Spring 2017 - Pale Dogwood

If you have ever seen a flowering Dogwood tree you know they come in variations of white, pink and red. I love these lacy trees which bloom in the first weeks of spring before the mighty oaks and maples fill in the canopy. 

Today's Pantone color is called Pale Dogwood. It is a very light pink, almost a blush color. I will touch more on the blush trend for spring in my post Thursday.

For this outfit, I decided to go with a monochrome look. The pale pink jeggings are Chico brand that I found at a thrift store. I layered a long sleeved longer tee under my Gap pale pink pullover sweater, just to add some texture to the outfit. To make the outfit more interesting I added a rectangular scarf with a bold Southwest pattern on it.

To bring out the colors in the scarf I wore a turquoise pendant necklace and some turquoise bracelets. (These are not real...ha, ha.)

I could wear the scarf like a scarf as in the above picture.

Or I could wear it like a wrap or shawl, as in the following picture.

Here is a better look at the pattern on the scarf.

To finish off the look I grabbed my dark orange bag and threw on my combat boots. I thought the boots grounded the outfit and kept it from looking too much like cotton candy! 

I hope you enjoyed my take on Pale Dogwood. Would you wear this color?

Below are some shopping options. This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my site I get a little commission. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Sorry that one of the items was sold out by the time this was published.

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness link up, and Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. 

Color Crash Course - Print Mixing

It is a beautiful day today, but the wind chill is only seventeen, so as much as I want to go outside and take pictures, I am going to be a wimp and stay inside in a sunny window and use some pics from past posts. 

We hear many things about print mixing and a plethora of bloggers do a wonderful job of mixing all sorts of patterns and colors. What follows are some tips on learning to piece together an outfit that has a mix of patterns and colors that will leave you feeling confident and stylish. 

1. Choose a mix of bold/large patterns with more subtle/small patterns. 

In the above post from January 24th (click on the date and it will take you to the original post), I wore a maxi dress with a bold black pattern around the hem line. The dress also has a more subtle print throughout. To top the dress off, after adding a similar blue pullover sweater I added a black blazer that has small white polka dots. 

2. Stripes can be mixed easily with anything - 

If you are at all trendy, then you know one of the big trends this spring is the mix of floral with stripes. I'm seeing this pattern mix everywhere and it works. 

This was my post from Tuesday, the start of my series on the Pantone Spring 2017 colors. The tee from Jacket Society is the perfect mix of stripes and floral. But for another take on this trend see Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb for her interpretation on floral and stripes together using her own pieces. 

Here is a different idea for mixing stripes with another pattern. This outfit was from a Color Crash Course column. In this outfit the stripes are vertical on the brown sweater. The scarf provides the other pattern. One reason this works is because the scarf pattern is kept tight around my neck and face, while my body is elongated by the stripes on the sweater. They are not competing with one another, but complementing one another. That leads me to the third tip for pattern mixing.

3. When mixing it up, think color, color, color -

Most people who do pattern mixing well, would probably tell you it has to do with choosing a color that complements both pieces. For instance in the above outfit, the taupe is found in both the scarf and the sweater. The blue is also found in the jacket and pants, but I am speaking directly to pattern mixing.

In this post from last week the pattern mix is masculine chic with the blue background of my top bringing up the blue stripe in my plaid trousers.

This outfit from my Denim Days series late last summer mixes different size polka dots on the chambray shirt and pink jeans. Part of what makes this work is the varied size of the dots, but also the muted, soft colors mixed with the more subdued neutral accessories. 

This next outfit was from my Fall 2016 Pantone series and actually fits into two of my mixing tips, so I'll start with it in this color category.

Originally this was just the skirt and top, which is its own version of print mixing. I will address that under the next tip. I added the scarf for a post I did on styling a pashmina scarf, only because the green in the scarf matched the green of the top. Voila! Print mixing with similar colors. 

4. Consider mixing prints with texture - 

If you a bit hesitant about mixing prints, try mixing a print with a texture. 

My Lush Meadow top is a textured pattern. My maxi skirt is obviously a print. Part of what makes this work is the pattern shape. The diamond shapes on the top are similar to the diamond shapes on the skirt. The other trick to making this look work well is adding the belt. The belt divides the patterns and keeps it from looking too busy. Adding a solid piece, like a belt, vest, cardi or jacket can help tone the busyness of prints down and give the outfit a cohesive look.

In this picture you can see the textured lace pattern of the top works beautifully with the leopard print cardigan. Inspired by Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, you can see my original post here.  If you still feel a bit intimidated by mixing patterns. try envisioning this same look with a black lace top or a more neutral tan. You are still mixing prints because of the texture, but it will be more subdued. 

5. Go for a monochrome look - 

This outfit was based on a post by Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy (see her post here). Instead of trying to pull one central color out of two crazy patterned pieces, going for a monochrome look allows print mixing with a crisp, clean vibe. I seem to have this thing for polka dots that I didn't even know I had. Ha, ha. See my original post here. 

6. Try an accessory - 

If you want a more subtle look, try just adding a simple patterned accessory to your print. Check out the following ideas:

Patterned Scarf

Adding this scarf to my snake skin jeans is a perfect pattern mix.

Textured Bag

Patterned Bag

Textured jacket

Print mixing can be intimidating, but you probably are already doing it and you didn't even know it. Don't be afraid to mix it up. Print mixing can be fun and it can also make your outfit more colorful and interesting.

Even my daughter likes to print mix. She sent me this pic of her most recent attempt. She pulled this off by using the base color of both her top and her scarf as well as mixing the larger scarf print with the smaller dots on the top. 

We'd love to hear from you. Leave me some love in the comments section!

Have a great weekend!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style.    Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style, Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, 

Pantone Spring 2017 - Primrose Yellow

It seems almost silly to start a series on the Spring 2017 Pantone colors, as the Fall colors are already on their website. However, I have never been one to stick to the rules of fashion, once I discovered exactly what fashion is. Ha, ha. So for all of you who work on a "better late than never" mentality, this one is for you. 

I am starting my series on the Pantone Spring 2017 colors. These are being brought to you in the order they appear here on the Pantone website. The first color in this report for spring is the color they labeled, Primrose Yellow. 

Similar shirt at Jacket Society - here. 

When I saw this top and scarf on sale on The Jacket Society website, I knew I had to add them to my collection. We are seeing so many combinations of florals and stripes together and I think Nora was a bit ahead of the trend when she first posted this top on her site a while back. 

I love this combination of gray, yellow, black and white. I paired the top with my gray skinny jeans, yellow jewelry and pewter hobo bag. 

This baseball type top has an asymmetrical hem line being shorter at the sides and longer in the front and back. I tucked the front in and left the back out. I also wore my gray suede ankle boots to give the outfit added texture.

I used to think I couldn't wear yellow, but I think this bright, cheery color is a lovely addition to any wardrobe, even if you only get a few statement pieces of jewelry. It will bring a bit of sunshine to your outfit.

I hope you enjoyed this post on Primrose Yellow. Do you like this yellow? Would you wear this color or do you steer clear of yellows of any kind? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my post I get a little commission. Thanks for the support. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee of in the  Spread the Kindness Link Up. Wednesday linking up with Sara and Hannah of The Perfect Storm. Friday linking up with Jo-Lynne Shane in the Fashion Friday link up. 

How to Wear a White Blouse - Under Another Blouse

This is the last installment in my collaboration with Jodie of Jodie's Touch of Style. We have been showing you different ways to style a white blouse. It is so easy to get into a rut, wearing the same clothing piece in exactly the same way. Jodie has a flare for mixing things up and for trying a new idea! I was intrigued when she said she was going to do a series on wearing a white button up blouse in new and innovative ways, so I asked if I could participate and she said yes. 

Monday we styled our white blouses under a tee shirt. Wednesday you can see us all wearing our white blouses under a sleeveless top. Today's post will show you how to wear a white blouse under another button up top.

For my look I chose a tunic. I am sure this particular piece was meant to be worn as a dress and I might style it over leggings as some point, but I thought it was a fun tunic length top that could be worn open or closed, belted or not. For this post, I chose to wear it like a jacket over my white button up.

If you click on the picture below it will take you over to Jodie's blog. Jodie has the joy of styling not just herself but her step mom, Nancy and her mom, Charlotte. I have trouble coming up with one outfit! I don't know how she styles three women. I love these unique takes on how to wear the white blouse. Jodie pretty much has hers only peeking out the top of her pretty floral blouse. Nancy is cool casual in her white and blue. Don't you love those cute shoes and her rolled up jeans? Charlotte looks so stylish and on trend with her white blouse showing beneath her belted chambray. Ladies you do us proud!

I found these bright red pants at the thrift store. They are Worthington brand from JCPenney. Worthington dress pants are wash and wear and unless you cram them in a drawer they don't need to be ironed. They also fit smoothly around the butt and thighs, which I love. Sometimes when I try on pants, they fit around the thighs, but then they gape around the waist. These being a wider leg trouser I am going to be able to style them in some fun ways in the future. 

I decided to cinch my waist in with a skinny belt and also chose brown shoes to match the belt. I think this would have looked better with a higher heeled shoe. For a bag I chose my navy Vera Wang.

If you look closely at this top you will see besides the blues and red, it also has a touch of teal green, so I chose that color for my accessories.

What do you think about this series on wearing a white blouse in different ways? Has it made you rethink that blouse that is hanging in your closet? Jodie and I both agree, this has given new life to button ups of all sorts, as a great piece for transitioning from the colder days of winter to the warmer days of spring. We hope you enjoyed following along.

Have a great weekend! 

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something by clicking on a link, I get a little bit more. All your support is appreciated. We couldn't be bloggers without you! 

Friday linking up with Laurie of Vanity and Me, JoLynne in the Fashion Friday link up, and Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots. Saturday linking up with Rena of It's All Fine. Whatever....

Beautiful Blogger Bests - The Feminine Masculine Look

One of the first bloggers I started following was Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Catherine lives across the "big pond" in England and has been nominated for the coveted UK Blogger Awards. She has a huge following and it is no wonder! She's got sass, charm and a "I don't care what you think" approach to fashion. As far as she is concerned a woman can wear whatever she wants regardless of age. She approaches fashion with a flare for combining nontraditional colors and pattern mixes and makes it look fabulous! 

Photo from Catherine's post with her permission. 

The post that inspired me for today's outfit was from January 25th and is titled:  Wide Leg Trousers: How to Get the Katharine Hepburn Look. In Catherine's original post which you can see if you click on the title, she styles a lovely outfit that has a "masculine chic" vibe. The plaid wide leg trousers and black longer coat have a menswear inspired feel, but Catherine adds a touch of the feminine wearing a peach blouse with white polka dots, pointy toed heels and a sweet box handbag. 

For my look, I took a pair of wide leg trousers that I thrifted and paired them with a sheer blue and pink top. 

When I threw this outfit together I didn't realize the blue in the blouse matches the thin blue stripes in the pants. Hey I'm a pattern mixing fool! Ha, ha. 

I kept my accessories similar, so the belt and the purse matched and the necklace and bracelet pulled together the pinky orange in the top.

It was a balmy 31 degrees with a wind chill of 25 when we were taking these pics. Catherine wears a black coat, which looks lovely with her outfit. I opted for my JJill velvet gray jacket. 

For my shoes I wore a simple black pump. I thought this bag a good mix of masculine and feminine. It kind of resembles a mini brief case. At least that was the idea I was going for. 

I think the look on my face is saying, "Hurry up! I'm freezing!" I think I need to take a modeling class. Ha, ha. I'm seeing my Dad's side of the family in this picture. Isn't that funny? Do you ever do things or look at yourself and think, "Oh my goodness. I'm doing just what my mom/dad does/did!" Or, "I know that face! That looks just like Aunt Mildred!" Actually, that is just the face I am displaying and I did have an Aunt Mildred! Ha, ha. ha.

Enough of my familial silliness! Do you think this outfit says, masculine chic? Is it too masculine? Leave me a comment in the comments section below. I love to have your input, good and bad! 

Be sure to check back on the blog tomorrow when Jodie and I will be finishing our series on styling a white blouse in a variety of ways. 

Until then, have a great day.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

This post contains affiliate links. All opinion are my own.

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style. Saturday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb. 

How to Wear a White Blouse - Under a Sleeveless Shirt

This week I am doing a collaboration with Jodie of Jodie's Touch of Style. If you haven't discovered Jodie's fabulous blog, I hope you will check it out. Jodie, provides three generations of style for women in the 50's, 60's and 70's, but so many of her outfits can translate to younger women as well. She loves to help women look their best and is never afraid to try something different. She was the one who inspired me to come along as we rethink how we style our white long sleeve blouses. On Monday we showed how it can be worn under a tee shirt. Today we are going to take a look at styling the blouse under a sleeveless top. 

For my version of this I first tried a striped tank top, but the stripes looked a little wonky in the photos so I decided to go for the solid red instead. 

You can click on the pictures below and it will take you over to Jodie's site where you can read how these three lovelies styled their white blouses. I really like how each of Jodie's models have a different take on this idea. Jodie shows off a cute button up sleeveless with ruffles. That detail,  combined with her khaki colored jeans and peep toe booties make for a very stylish look that could be worn to work or to the mall. Nancy looks so cute with her floral pants and bright Pink Yarrow (see Pantone Spring 2017) tank top, and Jodie's mom is ever her elegant self wearing her light pink top with a pretty gray knit skirt and heels. Be sure to check out their post for the details!

I kept my look low key casual. I love the look of gray with red, so I wore my light gray skinny jeans.

To add a little bit of sass to my outfit I donned my Converse high top sneakers. I also added some red jewelry and a dark Kale (see Pantone Spring 2017) colored bag. 

It is fun to try new things. Wearing a long sleeve blouse under a sleeveless top is pretty much like wearing a vest. The sleeves and collar on the blouse are given ample exposure, but the sleeveless top can give the outfit a pop of color, a different fashion vibe and even a back drop for a pretty scarf or statement necklace. It can also extend your seasons allowing you to wear a summer top late in the winter or into the fall.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Don't forget to hop on over to Jodie's blog and read the whole scoop on how they styled their white blouses under a sleeveless top. You'll get even more great ideas about fashion! 

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my Beautiful Blogger Bests column where I will be featuring an outfit with masculine flare. Also, check back on Friday for the final installment of this white blouse series. 

Have you ever worn a long sleeve blouse under a sleeveless blouse? What was the occasion? Would you consider styling an outfit like this? I'd love your feedback. Also, if you do leave a comment you can always come back a day or so later and I will have left a reply. Sorry that right now I don't have a way of letting you know that I replied to your comments, but I always do! 

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking on a link I make a few cents. If you purchase something through one of my shopping links I'll make a little bit of a commission. I appreciate the support. All opinions are my own.

Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Wednesday linking up the Sara and Hannah of The Perfect Storm. 

How to Wear a White Blouse - Under a Tee Shirt

This week I am teaming up with Jodie of Jodie's Touch of Style to show you ways to style a simple white button up blouse. A long sleeve button up blouse is a piece most of us have in our closets. However, if you are like me, you only think of wearing it under a blazer or a cardigan. When Jodie told me she was going to show different ways to style a white blouse, I was intrigued. I told her to count me in for a collaboration and our posts this week will show you what we came up with. 

Today's challenge was to style the blouse under a tee shirt. In the photos below you can see Jodie styled her blouse under a striped long sleeved tee, while Nancy (Jodie's step mom) and Charlotte (Jodie's mom) styled theirs under a short sleeve tee. Nancy is wearing a solid colored polo shirt, while Charlotte is wearing a graphic crew neck. Aren't these three ladies the bomb?! Just click on the picture to see the whole post on Jodie's site. Be sure to give them some love!

I decided I would style my blouse under a graphic tee. Little did I know I was going to find the perfect piece when my husband and I went on our little get away last weekend.

With this fun graphic tee being the focal point, I decided to go biker chic for my outfit! 

I decided to add my burgundy fringe bag to bring in some color.

To complement the look I threw on my brown faux leather biker jacket. 

I finished with a few pieces of edgy jewelry.

Here is a closer look at the boots and bag! 

I hope you enjoyed this post on styling a white button up blouse under a tee shirt. Be sure to stop by Jodie's blog and check out the full post on how she styled her white blouse on three generations of lovely women! Also, check back on Wednesday to see another way to style a white button up blouse.

I appreciate your comments and it helps my blog to grow when you leave me some love. If you follow my faith page, I will be posting Monday's Mulling it Over post tomorrow, where I will be continuing to peruse Ephesians 6. 

This post contains affiliate links. All comments and opinions are my own. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness Link up, 

Awesome Accessories - The Statement Necklace - Long

Last month in my Awesome Accessory column I talked about the short statement necklace. You can see that post here. This month, I want to continue that thought, but look at what a longer statement necklace might look like. You might wonder what makes a necklace a statement piece. Obviously, it needs to make a statement! What that means for you, might be a little different than what it means for me. However, there should be something about the piece that makes it stand out and not get swallowed up by your outfit.

Where as a short statement necklace is worn closer to the face and usually includes an element of striking color or style, a longer statement necklace can be colorful, but it is often more about texture and design. Let me show you a few of my own necklaces that I would classify as long statement pieces.

This particular necklace makes a statement, not by its bold color, but by the combination of texture, note the faceting on the beads, and the shape. If you look at the larger metal links they are not perfect circles. They are somewhat squashed looking. In addition, the necklace is not designed to be symmetrical, so some of the bigger beads are higher and some are lower. It is not the same on both sides. I also like this necklace, because it isn't a bold color and will go with many outfits, both dressy and casual. 

This piece is not fancy and doesn't show much flare, but I feel it makes a statement because of it's odd shape and unique color. Cut from an agate you can find these almost anywhere. My daughter got me this for Christmas a couple years ago. It is trimmed all the way around with tiny faux diamonds, which add another element of texture and bling. Here is a close up. 

I love the little streak of light blue and the hole in the middle. It is just a very unique piece.

This piece makes me think of something out of a fairy tale. The color of the beads as well as the filagree on the pendant give it a feel of richness and value, while the additional silver chains make it feel more delicate and feminine. 

Of course I had to throw in a fringe necklace. I love these because they are simply so much fun and they are fun to touch! I chose this one over my other fringe necklaces, not because any one of them couldn't have been a statement piece, but because this particular one seems to stand out above the rest. I just love the look of this elegant necklace. The color is demure and the gold chain and cap on the fringe give it a posh feel. I also feel a little retro when I wear it. 

You have probably seen this necklace in several of my more recent blog and Instagram posts. My other daughter got this for me this past Christmas from Charming Charlie. I think what makes this necklace a statement piece is the contrast of the berry wooden shapes and the gold chain and links. It really stands out.

This unique piece I picked up at a thrift store. I instantly fell in love with it when I saw it. It is in a class all by itself with the rope like chains, metallic flower and the dark beads embellished with gold colored floral caps. Once again, the color is more muted, so can be worn with many different outfits. Here is a close up of the flower and beads. 

I hope you enjoyed this post on the long statement necklace. Do you like longer or shorter statement pieces? I'd love to know your thoughts. Just leave a comment below. 

Have a great weekend. 

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a shopping link below I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of the links, I get a little bit more. All opinions are my own.

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style, Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood and Laurie of Vanity and Me. Friday linking up with Jo-Lynne Shane in the Fashion Friday link up, Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge.  

A Bit of Travel. A Bit of Fashion.

This past weekend was the start of my husband's spring break. I decided to take the week off of work as well, so for the first weekend we spent three nights at Mohican State Park in central Ohio. It is a beautiful area and the state park boasts not only a meandering river which is filled with tubers, kayakers and canoers in the summer, and a beautiful lodge set on a hill overlooking the picturesque river valley, but twenty five lovely little cabins with all the comforts of home. It was in one of these Mark and I stayed. 

It was a much needed time of rest, relaxation and refreshment. We slept, ate, hiked together and then while Mark went out and enjoyed his hobby of metal detecting I stayed in a read a good book. 

Here are some pics of the beautiful scenery.

The scenery is even better in the spring, summer and fall, but we considered ourselves fortunate that we were able to take walks on the trails and that the sun was shining. 

I know this is normally a fashion post, so I couldn't go the entire weekend without taking a few pics for today's post. On our way down to Mohican we go right past Mansfield, Ohio which is a moderate sized town. It is big enough to have a mall, a number of restaurants and other stores like Kohls, Barnes and Noble and Target. We stopped for lunch then did a lap around the mall where I found a fun bomber jacket on clearance at J.C.Penney. 

This is the second bomber jacket I bought. The first one, which will probably come up in a post somewhere down the road is light weight and doesn't have the fun patches. I got an extra large in this version from Penney's. While a large fit perfectly, I wanted a little more flex room. Plus they only had the large size in olive and both my husband and I liked the look of the black better.

When I packed I had no idea I would be purchasing this jacket. I happened to pack a red cardigan which goes perfectly underneath and added my retro beaded fringe necklace. Yes, I do pack jewelry, even when I am going to be in a rustic cabin in the woods! I wouldn't be Stylin' Granny Mama if I didn't. Ha, ha. And yes, I did bring my curling iron as well! My husband will tell you I can go rustic with the best of them: we did camp in a tent on an island in Canada's Algonquin Provincial Park, on our honey moon after all, but, when I have electricity, I will make all efforts to look my best.

You can see some of the patches here. I think they really give the jacket that WWII bomber vibe. This Arizona brand jacket is made from 100 percent polyester. It is fully lined and has soft knit bands around the neck, cuffs and bottom. It also has roomy pockets with snap flaps and a sleeve zipper on the one arm.

I can already think of many ways to style this jacket. It would be fun with a skirt and tennies, dress pants and heels or boot cut jeans and oxfords. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing some pics from our weekend away and liked the new jacket I got. I included a few links to various styles of bomber jackets. I really like the floral ones, especially for spring. 

Have a great Tuesday.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link, I get a few cents. I appreciate your support.

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee in the Spread the Kindness Link up, Jennie in the Ageless Style Link Up, and Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Wednesday linking up with Hannah and Sara of The Perfect Storm. 

Piece Perfect - The Basic Shift Dress

I have learned so much from other bloggers. One of the things I see repeatedly on other blogs is the clothing piece we refer to as a shift dress. A shift dress is basically a straight dress, that typically falls just above the knee. The dress is not fitted, allowing room to breath and hiding a boat load of flaws. However, I think today we have many dresses that would fall into the shift dress category albeit not adhering exactly to the true definition. 

I found this blue dress at my favorite thrift store and thought, why not give it a go. 

This is not the typical shift dress as it is more fitted through the waist. However, I can style it in similar ways to a true shift type dress, and the price was right. Ha, ha.

I want to show you two transitional outfits using this dress. These outfits can take you from the cold days of February to the warmer days of April.

Outfit 1 - Gray Days with a Pop of Color

For this simple look, I added a pair of gray leggings, gray ankle boots and a gray open front fly away cardi. The awesome thing about a shift dress is that it is so easy to style around. From throwing on a sweater or jacket, to pairing it with tights or leggings, it can take on a completely different look. Also, with this particular shift being a solid color I have so many options of how to accessorize.

Because we are already thinking ahead to spring and because I wanted this outfit to be a transitional outfit from winter to spring I decided to add my Flame colored accessories. For more on the Spring 2017 Pantone color line up see my collaboration post with Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy, Pantone Sneak Peek. (If you click on her website it will take you to Liz's post. If you click on the sneak peek link it will take you to my post.)

I love how the orange really pops with the dark charcoal gray and the rich navy.

To add just a bit more color I added this Vera Wang floral deep tote bag. 

Outfit 2 - Greenery is on the Way

As the temperatures start to climb we will want to lose our heavy leggings and ankle boots for bare legs or (for me) nude support hose and fun flats. I decided to wear the shift like a jumper and styled my Greenery popover blouse underneath.

One of the nice features of this dress is the heavier knit fabric. It allows me to style something under it without showing off wrinkles or other flaws, such as my pudgy middle. The darker navy fabric helps hide the flaws as well. 

To add a touch of whimsical elegance I added this long statement necklace. The white flower reminds me of Snowdrop flowers which were always the first to appear after a long winter back in Buffalo, NY where I hail from.

I kept my other accessories simple using a cognac colored bag and flats. 

Here's the whole outfit.

One of the things I liked about this dress is the pockets. They would come in handy for your phone or keys and so on.

This dress will probably show up again down the road when summer gets here. Do you own a shift dress? How do you style it?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have a great weekend.

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Wednesday linking up with Sara and Hannah of The Perfect Storm Blog. Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge.