First Dates After 50

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Now before you start worrying that my hubby and I are going to get a divorce let me reassure you there is nothing further from our minds. I was contacted by 2Seniors, a free dating website for people over 50, to write a post featuring tips for dressing for a first date as a senior. There is no guarantee that the one you marry when you are 24 will be the one you enter your later years with. Divorce and death happen, unfortunately at an alarming rate. While many of us could think, I will never date again, when we are suddenly faced with being single, our perspectives might change. This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Dating again after having a partner for many years can be a little intimidating. I want to offer a few tips and outfit ideas that might help you decide how to dress in a way that makes you feel, not only comfortable, but confident as you enter back into the dating arena. This post is specifically for women, but the tips themselves could apply to men as well. 

1. Accept your age. Let's face reality. We are not in our 20's any more. Most of us are middle aged or older. I stopped wearing short shorts and tube tops a long, long time ago. You are not going to do yourself any favors trying to look like the younger generation if that is not how you currently dress. Let me make a point. As fashion bloggers we are about encouraging others to wear what they want to wear and feel good about it. However, that being said, there are ways to look chic, fashionable and attractive without trying to squeeze our 50 year old bodies back into the jeans we wore in high school. In fact, that picture just makes me shudder. Ha, ha.

2. Know your style. Everyone has some sense of style. You might disagree with me, but even the people who don't look like they have any style are, in fact, promoting a certain style. Here is a great blog post from StyleWe - Ten Types of Fashion Styles. This article gives good descriptions of what each style is and also provides pictures. I personally draw from several different styles, including, Chic, Casual, Tomboy, and Preppy while pulling a little bit from Bohemian, and Rocker. Knowing your style can help you to dress for that date, whether you are single and looking for new love, or in a relationship and wanting to make an impression on your significant other. 

3. Be yourself, but add some change. As an older person who might be thinking about dating again you might think you need to reinvent yourself, but that can be an overwhelming task. It is better to remain true to who you are and your original style, but try adding something new or different to your look. Maybe you don't accessorize much. Try adding a statement necklace or a scarf to the outfit you are planning to wear. Go out and buy a great pair of heeled booties or a new bag. Not only will it bring your outfit up a notch it will give you a much needed boost. You may be recovering from a messy divorce or the death of your spouse. Treat yourself to something new that will flatter you and make you feel beautiful. Charming Charlie is a great retail place to look for a statement piece and not break your bank account.

4. Know where you are going on your date. Knowing where you will be going and what you will be doing is very important on a first date. Keeping your first date public is a good idea. Unless you are meeting someone that you have already gotten to know through work, church or other social gatherings, I think it is just wise to be out and about where other people are when you first meet someone, both for safety reasons and for your own well being. 

Knowing where you are going will give you the confidence to better choose the right outfit for that first date. If you are going out for dinner and to the theater, make sure you know what that means. Are you going to McDonalds and catching a movie? Then you probably don't need to reach for that black dress and heels. Are you going to a park to do some hiking? Better think about jeans and hiking shoes. All of these choices will be affected by what time of year it is as well. Winter will mean more layers and summer will warrant light, flowy fabrics so you are not embarrassed by sweat and body odor. 

5. Dress comfortably. When I say the word comfort I am looking at it from two different angles. First of all, you want what you wear to not be too small, too large, too hot, too cold, etc. The worst feeling is that you are going to melt because you are having another hot flash, or that you can hardly sit down after dinner because your Spanx are too tight. For the men out there, a button up shirt that is ready to pop is not attractive, and neither is your open fly. Have the courtesy to check yourself over, so you don't embarrass yourself or your date. 

The second meaning for the word comfort has to do with how you feel about yourself, the person you are meeting and the whole dating situation. If you normally don't wear low cut tops, then don't start now. If you hardly ever don a dress, then reach for those stunning black trousers that make your behind look fabulous. The point is you want to be confident in yourself and comfortable in your own skin. If you are not there yet, then maybe you are not ready for this jump back into the dating arena. 

The following pictures are from my blog and are just a few suggestions for outfits to wear on a first date. I've included a few shopping options for you to peruse as well. Just click on the picture and it will take you to the store site. These are affiliate links so I get a few cents if you click and a few cents more if you purchase an item through my site. Hopefully these will give you ideas of what might be in your closet and help you pull an outfit together that will not only make you look and feel fabulous, but make your date want to take you out again.

Dinner and the Theater (not McD's and a movie):

Meeting for Lunch and Small Town Shopping:

Meeting for Coffee then a Walk

Going to a Ball Game

Outdoor Summer Concert

Christmas Concert

These are just a few ideas. The key is to wear something that fits well, compliments your figure, skin tone and hair, and to wear a confident smile on your face. Be real. Be yourself. Plan and primp and you will be fabulous!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Fall Trends - Reds and Browns

Besides the Pantone Fall 2017 color palette, there are other colors that appear on the fashion scene each season. This fall there has been an outpouring of red and brown. Reds are popping up everywhere and in every piece and style of clothing. Whether it be a coat, a dress, a plaid shirt or a bright red clutch, red has become a go to color for the fall fashion season. In addition there is also an influx of chocolate brown. This rich, warm color can be worn by almost anyone and goes well with so many other colors, including red. 

Last week when I took pictures for the floral trend, I figured I might as well take a few pictures for the red trend as well. This week I was going to take a few pics for the chocolate brown, but Monday I got a cold and so today was a day of rest. I really didn't feel like doing much of anything. I did a faith post on the blog, looked at a few emails, ate lunch and watched a movie. I still had to pick my grandson up from school, but that is really all I did today. So I will include a few shopping links that show you the browns that are trending right now. 

I have a number of red pieces, but since it isn't sweater weather yet, I thought I would share my two red jacket finds. I have grown to love red, a color my mother has always loved. I never realized how pretty red can be in clothing. Red is stunning in a rose, or sweet in a valentine, but I've always associated red with fast cars and fast women. Ha, ha. Isn't that the way we are? We jump to conclusions without really researching things out for ourselves. Last year I wore a red sweater in a blog post showing you my OTK boots. The picture below is from that post. You can see the full post here. 

What started as having one red sweater has turned into a red obsession. 

This is my Christopher and Banks around town red jacket. It is a very simple piece with a full zipper and two roomy pockets. It is fully lined, but I tend to use it more as a work piece rather than a keep me warm outside piece. Fall is the perfect time to wear a jacket like this. They don't have this color at C & B right now, but they do have a pretty red quilted jacket here. 

The jacket is somewhat fitted, as you can see by this picture of the back. 

This next jacket I found at my favorite thrift store, Savers. It is a Worthington brand from J.C.Penney. A little longer, I expect that I will get some outside wear out of this coat. It is not real heavy, and doesn't contain any wool in it, so like the above jacket will be used for fall, but not long into winter. Here is a oxblood red moto jacket and a red pea coat, both from Penneys.

Once again, there is not a lot of fancy detailing on the coat, but sometimes simplicity is better. Both of these jackets will pair well with any number of scarves. 

This coat has large buttons and again is more fitted through the waist with the addition of button detailing on the back. 

Here are some other red items out in stores now. 

Here are a few options for the chocolate brown color. I love the boots and the bags. You don't have to wear the color, you can always accessorize with it. That's why I say no matter what the color you can use it somehow to make an awesome outfit. Accessories are just as important as the clothes themselves. 

I hope you enjoyed this post on the trending fall colors. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Do you have any red items in your closet? Do you like to wear red? What about brown? How do you wear your reds and browns? I'd love to have your feedback. 

Have a great weekend!

Pantone Fall 2107 - The London Palette - Royal Lilac and Golden Olive

This is the final installment in the London series of colors from the Pantone Fall 2017 palette. I love the brightness of these two colors, especially together. For some reason they make me think of fall and of a Bohemian gypsy vibe. Maybe it is a flash back from the bright psychedelic colors of the late 60's and early 70's. Royal Lilac is a purple worthy of a king. Purple is one of my favorite colors and we rarely see it on the runways and magazines of the fashion world. Purples in those realms seem to tend more towards wines, burgundies or maroons.

Once again, let me say that when I look for these colors I try to get as close as possible to the color that is being portrayed in the Pantone palette. My colors do not always match exactly, but the point is to introduce you to the colors on the palette and show you ways to style those colors. Just like Toast and Copper Tan, Golden Olive was a difficult color to find. I had this top in my closet and the actual color seems a bit more green than what appears in the pictures, but not quite like the Golden Olive.

Out of all the color pairings that I did from the London palette, I like this one the best. There is something about the contrast between the purple and the mustardy yellow, that appeals to my inner gypsy. In keeping with that idea, I thought I would accessorize with a brown hobo bag and brown slouchy boots. 

For my jewelry I added a brown lariat choker and a long metal and bead necklace that tied into the purple skirt

One of the other things I like about this outfit is the comfort. The material of the top and the skirt is basically heavy weight tee shirt material, so it moves with me and there is no binding or pinching. This is also a great transitional outfit as the weather cools. The 3/4 length sleeves on the shirt, the maxi length skirt and the boots all provide full coverage for those chilly days ahead. 

What do you think of these two colors? Do you like them? Would you wear them? I hope you will leave me a comment in the comments section below. I appreciate when you do and it helps my blog grow.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link below, I get a few cents. Every lttle bit helps, so thank you for the clicks. Part of why I include the links is to show you real items that are currently available in the colors I post, or at least close. All opinions expressed are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Thanks for hanging out on the blog today. Check back on Thursday for another Fall 2017 trend.

Fall 2017 Trends - Fabulous Florals

I feel like we have talked about florals before, probably because we have. Floral patterns were trending in spring and they are still trending in fall. However, where spring florals were light and bright, fall florals are dark and bold. There are some fabulous fall florals out there right now and I will include a few shopping links in this post, to give you a few other ideas of what is available. As for my own collection of florals, I have nothing quite like what is trending, but I found a few pieces that I thought would transition well into the fall season. As I did last week, I will show you one outfit, a few flat lays and a few possible shopping options.

i have a few floral tops in my closet and chose this one for my outfit, because it seems a bit more fall like. The body is lined while the sleeves are sheer. the sleeves also have an asymmetrical hem line, and there is smocking on the upper part by the neck, making it an interesting piece. 

I paired the top with these recently thrifted J.Jill black jeans and my Clarks peep toe shooties.

I also had this black Franco Sarto bag in my closet. Here is a cross body bag from their site. 

I added a few fun pieces of jewelry to compliment the colors in the top.

Here are a few other looks that I put together as flat lays.

For this one the focal floral piece is the jacket, I opted to pull the blue out of the jacket by pairing it with a blue Christopher and Banks short sleeve sweater and blue heels. Because the jacket has so many colors it could be paired with lots of other pieces. 

This more casual look revolves around a mini floral print. I've had this yellow sweater for a while and it perfectly pulls out the yellow in the top. Styled with a pair of Rock & Republic boot cut jeans, a leather cross body bag and boots makes for a great casual fall outfit.

Here are a few other options of floral items. This post contains affliate links. All opinions expressed are my own.

I hope you enjoyed this look at another fall trend. Have a great weekend!

Pantone Fall 2017 - The London Palette - Blue Bell and Lemon Curry

Last week I looked at two colors with more of an orange hue from the Pantone Fall 2017 London palette. This week I am going to introduce you to one of the two yellow hues on the palette. Lemon Curry is a spicy yellow that can add a bit of zing to your fall color combinations. I decided to combine this yellow with Blue Bell, a light soothing color. The combination results in an outfit that has both pizzazz and peacefulness. 

My daughter had to teach me a few things about photography when she first sent me this grouping of pictures. The reality is that a camera does not see things the way the human eye does. Our human eye, unless they are unable to translate properly, see colors as they really are. A camera and the image it imprints onto a digital card is affected by lighting, exposure and other factors. 

When I saw these pictures, I texted my daughter and said, "This skirt does not look like it looks in real life." We went back and forth on it for a while and I finally told her to leave it alone. When we got together for my grandson's birthday party yesterday, she took the time to explain to me that a camera, no matter how fancy picks up what it thinks it sees, not necessarily what is really the fact. Who da thunk? Obviously the hombre skirt contains an underlying tone that the camera translates to more of an aqua blue, when in reality it is more of a navy or gray blue. Rebecca was able to adjust the pictures to make the skirt look more like the original color and I learned a few things about digital images. 

For this post, it doesn't really matter, because the blue I am trying to match with the Blue Bell color is the top tier of the skirt, rather than the bottom tier. 

Once again, for this color combination I shopped my closet. I've had this tiered skirt for a while and usually wear it a few times over the summer months, as it is light weight, but also lined. The tee I've had for a long time. I love the pattern, the fit and the longer short sleeves, but I hardly ever wear it. When I came across it looking for something yellow, I realized this would be the perfect piece to represent Lemon Curry.

Even though the top contains some black and white you can clearly tell is has the spicy Lemon Curry vibe. 

To pull the look together I wore Blue Bell colored jewelry including my pendant necklace from Kohls and my bracelet from Chico's. I decided to used a brown bag to keep the look more grounded and earthy.

For shoes, I chose my simple SO flats. Yes, I know I keep wearing these for various outfits, but they are just so cute and comfy!

What do you think of the pairing of these two colors? Which color do you like better?

I think these two colors are perfect for fall and transition easily from summer. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen. 

The following are few shopping links for possible items in Blue Bell and Lemon Curry. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Thanks for stopping by the blog. Hope to see you back again soon.

Fall 2017 Trends - Mad about Plaid

When I begin my research on the new season trends, I do a goole search. Often I end up looking at sites like Elle and Cosmopolitan to name a few. One has to weed through numerous articles hi-lighting movies stars, and runway styles to find things that are really useful. I try to approach these sites with an open minded attitude, because there are many trends I do no agree with, nor would you ever catch me supporting them on my blog. However, there are plenty of ideas to glean from these fashion authorities.

For the month of September I am going to forgo my Thursday monthly columns to focus on styles that are trending for fall this year. I thought it would be fun to pick a trend then do a post with an outfit centered around each, as well as a few flat lays and possible shopping options. I hope you enjoy this series. Be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of each post. 

Today I am looking at plaid. Plaid is back and for a girl who grew up loving flannel shirts, I am glad. Plaid has been around since as far back the 16th century. The word plaid comes from the Scottish Gaelic word plaide which means blanket. My husband is Scottish on his mother's side. It is fun to look at the numerous plaid colors that represent each of the family/clan names from that time period. My hubby's great grandmother was a Robertson. The Robertson plaid is a bright red with navy and just a hint of forest green. This is a tie Mark's Uncle David got for him. It even has a tag that says Robertson.

I found this light weight plaid jacket at one of my favorite thrift stores, Savers. I make regular stops at this store as they have a great selection that is always changing. You can read more on thrifting in my two part series: Thoughts on Thrifting - Part 1 and Thoughts on Thrifting - Part 2. 

I love the vibrant red of this jacket. Red is trending for fall also, so look at me, I am being doubly trendy. Ha, ha. We'll look at the fall trending colors in a later post. 

To keep it simple and let the jacket do the talking I slipped on a red tee, my Christopher and Banks slimming slip on jeans, then added black beads, black heeled ankle boots and a black and gray bag. You could also draw on the white in the jacket or the red to bring out those colors as well. 

Here are a few other jacket possibilities:

In addition to jackets you can style an outfit with a plaid top. Here is a flat lay I put together to show you a possible outfit starting with a plaid top. This top screams fall for its lovely fall colors, but to keep it from getting to colorful, I went for olive pants, and a black bomber jacket. 

As a last thought I grabbed the Tawny Port clutch. See the Pantone site for a look at this New York fall color. 

Here are a few plaid button ups that are currently available.

The next look revolves around a plaid accessory. In this case it is a pretty scarf. Plaid scarves have always been a viable option for the cooler weather and this year is no exception.

I think this is a fun look for a date night with the hubby or a lunch date with the girls. Keeping the colors of the pants and top similar allows the scarf to be the center of attention.

Here are a few fun options for scarves:

What do you think of plaid? Is is a pattern you like to wear? Even if you don't like it in big quantities, even a little plaid can brighten up an outfit. 

Here are a few other plaid options:

As you can see there are plenty of options for adding plaid to your wardrobe. If you click on the pictures that show you other options it will take you to the site where you can see more details and tell you the prices.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link I'll get a few cents. If you buy something through the link, I get a small commission. All opinions are my own.

i hope you enjoyed this look at plaid. Be sure to check back next week, where I'll look at another fall trend.

Have a great weekend!

Pantone Fall 2107 - The London Palette - Toast and Copper Tan

Out of all of the London Palette colors, I felt these two were the hardest to find. They are also hard colors for many people to wear. Toast and Copper Tan are not truly tan, but also not truly orange or brown. As this is not a color I saw in the stores, I did some thrifting and found that even there these are not popular colors. In the end, I shopped my closet and this is what I came up with. You have seen all of these pieces before.

With this pairing, I am going for a more monochrome look.

This asymmetrical hem top I have styled before here. I love the detailing on this tee. The bottom is trimmed with lace and there are two side triangular insets that add texture and interest to the top. 

While the pants I am wearing are not truly the Copper Tan color, I felt, due to the yellowy orange stripes in the pants that it makes them seem more of a coppery hue. I styled these Sonoma ankle pants before in my summer InVestments series. 

In keeping with the neutral monochrome vibe, I decided to go with faux pearl jewelry that stood out due to its iridescent quality.

i felt the addition of the chocolate brown moto jacket kept the outfit from being too soft. The jacket adds an edgy vibe and epitomizes my style personality. Of course if I am going for that look, I had to add my favorite taupe SO brand ankle boots as well. 

Due to the fact that I love color, I felt it necessary to add at least one piece that made the outfit pop. The bright blue bag reminds me of the blue skies so prevalent on many midwest fall days. This bag that was thrifted is Nine & Co. brand. 

What do you think of these two colors? Do they seem like fall colors to you, or do you feel they are more reminiscent of a pale sunset on a summer evening? I hope you enjoy following along as I look at the Pantone color palettes for each season. 

Below are a few tops I found that are a similar color. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link I get a few cents. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for all your support. 

Thursday I am planning a series on this year's fall trends. For the month of September we'll take a closer look at what some of this year's fun fall trends look like from my closet! Stay tuned!

Styling a Piece from ShopSvelte

I was recently contacted by a Canadian retailer by the name of ShopSvelte. A  fairly new company, ShopSvelte, focuses on fashion centered around athleisure. Their clothing line is meant to be moved in. While their selection is small each piece is made from durable, form fitting, movement friendly material. All their pieces are made with a built in waist panel to help control the tummy bulges and flatter every figure. 

ShopSvelte gifted me a piece of my choice and in return I am writing this post. All opinions are my own and no money was exchanged for this review. 

For my gifted piece, I chose the slim cut jeans in a Large.  You all probably know by now, I am a jeans kind of girl. To be honest when these first arrived and I pulled them out of the bag I thought, "There is no way I am getting my big old booty in those jeans!" Ha, ha. However, as you can see by the pictures, the big old booty did fit! I think I would like to try an extra large just to see the difference in the legs. For me, I like a little bit of room in the legs, so an extra large may have been a better call. I normally wear a size 12 in pants, if that helps. 

Look 1: Casual sporty

For this casual look I threw on a fun sweatshirt and my sparkly gray Keds sneakers. 

As you can see these jeans are very form fitting. The stretch is amazing and there is absolutely no bagging or sagging. Warning! The next few pictures are of my butt and are specifically for the purposes of showing the fit of the jeans.

There are two pockets on the back. You can also see that they are high waisted, which is great for hiding all those tummy bulges and love handles. Here is a front view of the waist. No worries about bulging belts, or belt loops. 

Here is a view of the bottom of the leg on the jeans. They look like real denim jeans, even thought they are truly athleisure shape wear. 

Look 2: Casual dressy

I decided to show you two ways to style these ShopSvelte slim fit jeans, because I personally am not comfortable showing off my booty in a form fitting jean, legging or jegging. When I am walking on the street or at the mall I like people who see me from behind to think, "What a great outfit," rather than, "What a big butt!" Ha, ha.

For this outfit I chose a tunic length, button up top that I recently purchased from H&M. 

For this look, I swapped out my sparkly Keds for my light blue SO flats, a long silver pendant necklace, a couple silver bracelets and my pewter sparkly clutch.

Here are the two looks side by side. Which one do you like better?

If your style is athleisure and you like form fitting shape wear you will want to check out ShopSvelte. It seems to be a good quality product and the price range runs from about $55 to $85. I hope you enjoyed this review. 

If you are still not sure about ShopSvelte check out a few of these other blogger reviews:

Feeling LIke a Boss Lady by Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. 

Svelte Shape Wear Jeans Review by Marcie of Marcie in Mommyland. 

Enhancing the Shape of You by Tenille of Feisty, Frugal and Fabulous.

You can also follow ShopSvelte on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Have a great weekend.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Pantone Fall 2017 - The London Palette - Navy Peony and Primrose Pink

For this week's post I am looking at the Pantone London color palette combination of Navy Peony and Primrose Pink. The Pantone site describes Primrose Pink as a gentle shade and Navy Peony as a strong and dependable color that takes some of the burden off black for a fashion mainstay. 

Navy has long been touted as a neutral, pairing well will just about any other color, even black. Navy worn on the bottom can make us look long and lean, while navy worn on the top can hide a world of flaws. One of my favorite clothing pieces is my Ralph Lauren navy blazer. You can read my post on that here. 

For today's outfit I shopped my closet and came up with this navy skirt that seems to show off the Navy Peony color perfectly. This embellished skirt I got a while back from dressbarn. It is an a-line shape and falls just at the knee. 

For the top I am wearing a Liz Claiborne tee that I got at a thrift store. Primrose pink is a light pastel pink. It is a little unusual to see a color this light on the fall Pantone palette, but I think this soft pink can be a great color to help us transition from summer to fall. 

I thought the outfit looked a little bland with just the navy and pink, so I added a scarf with a variety of colors including blue and pink, to pull the outfit together and add interest. I styled this wide oblong scarf as a shawl. 

Here is a photo of what the scarf looks like open.

Because the scarf had just a touch of green in it I decided to carry my green clutch. Green is another color that will show up later when I do the New York colors. Be sure to check back for that. 

I chose navy for my shoes, and jewelry and I also wore navy hose. 

What do you think of these two colors? Do you have some of these larger scarves that you like to wear as a shawl?

I hope you enjoyed this look at two more of the Pantone Fall 2017 London color palette. Check back next week for two more colors. 

Be sure to check back Thursday for a look at a new retailer that I'll be featuring.

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

Color Crash Course - Mint Green and Teal

For today's Color Crash Course I thought I would style a transitional outfit. As we near the end of summer and the beginning of fall we see the changes all around us. The leaves begin to turn and drop or if you have a cottonwood, they just drop! Ha, ha. The temperatures begin to cool off and the sun's time in the sky shortens. 

While I love all of these changes, what I think I love even more is that I get to move away from my warm weather clothes and start wearing my cooler weather clothes. However, we all know that cooler weather does not happen over night. Usually, we still have plenty of days in the mid to upper seventies and even a few edging into the eighties. For that reason, I like to think layers. 

As I have told you when I started this blog, I am a woman of layers and that includes my outfit style. For a transitional season like fall, I still want to wear shorter sleeves, but I will add a sweater or jacket to combat the early morning chill on my way to work, or the later evening coolness when the hubby and I are coming home from a night out.

Today's outfit combines the warmth of mint with the coolness of teal. These two colors both come from the green family, but teal edges towards blue and mint edges towards yellow.

This mint, ruffle sleeve popover top is a Lauren Conrad brand from Kohl's. The jeans are Gloria Vanderbilt. Looking at these pics, I began to notice the pants seem a bit big and baggy. Though I love the way baggier pants feel, I really do not like the way they look. I will save that thought for another post! 

This jacket I got on clearance from Christopher and Banks. I like the fall colors and the fit. It is also fully lined, so I will be able to use it as a jacket while the weather is just starting to turn cool. 

The colors in the jacket allowed me to add my maroon necklace and maroon Pumas. I finished off the look with my Fossil cognac cross body bag. 

You can turn just about any of your summer styles (except maybe a swimsuit - ha, ha) into transitional outfits if you think layers. Do you still want to wear those capris? Try adding a pair of ankle boots and top it with a bulky sweater. Want to still wear that light weight tee? Add a denim or camo jacket with a pretty colored scarf. Be creative. You'll be amazed at how many more outfits you can come up with if you just take the time to play with your clothes. 

I hope you enjoyed today's post. Leave me a comment in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you.

I am hoping next week to get back to a more regular schedule. If you follow my faith page, be sure to check back tomorrow for a post on change!

Have a great weekend!

Pantone Fall 2017 - The London Palette - Flame Scarlet and Otter

This year the Pantone Color Institute decided to share two color palettes for fall. Both the London and the New York palettes have similarities, such as Navy Peony and differences. However, I feel that both palettes feature rich colors that easily transition us into fall. You might feel that these colors are not for you and when I first looked them over, I was not excited, but as I began to ruminate on them and look for pieces in my closet and at the store that would best represent each of these colors, I grew excited to see how each of these palettes would translate to real outfits that an actual woman would wear. 

To keep this series to a minimum I decided to challenge myself to come up with outfits that use two of the colors at a time. This week I am featuring a bold, rich red labeled Flame Scarlet, paired with a warm hue called Otter.

I've styled these Worthington brand trousers before on the blog. You can see that post here. This light weight open weave sweater is a great piece for transitioning to fall. Days can still be warm, but mornings and evenings can be cool. I just put a similar colored tank underneath.

I opted for black accessories and kept them to a minimum. I felt the black was a suitable contrast for this two toned outfit. A single strand beaded necklace and a beaded bracelet were my only jewelry. 

I dug this black top handle bag out of my closet, all the while wondering why I have so many purses and bags that I don't use! It is like clothes and shoes. I keep intending to come up with other ways to style all these different pieces, but life!

As you can tell by the fact that this post is a day later than I normally post, that my life is crazy busy. I have been back at work putting in about 30 hours a week, picking up my grandson from school and then trying to spend time with my spouse in the evenings, after which I simply have no energy left to work on the blog! Oh well, that's me...Hi! My name is Amy and I am an actual woman!

My shoes are a simple black pump that I've worn on the blog before. 

I like Flame Scarlett paired with Otter. What do you think? A bold color with a more subdued neutral? Or do you like to pair two bold colors? Maybe you like a more neutral palette all over. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. You feedback is very important to me. 

Below you will find some shopping suggestions. These are just options so you know what is available in these colors. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a shopping link I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my blog, I get a little commission. I appreciate all your clicks. 

I hope you enjoyed this look at the first two colors of the Pantone Fall 2017 London color palette. Thank you for stopping by the blog. 

Beautiful Blogger Bests - Thinking Fall with a Cable Knit Sweater Vest

This week I am featuring a beautiful blogger from down south. Tania Stephens was born in Tennessee and currently lives with her hubby in Southwest Virginia. Tania is a fireball. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She works at a lumber yard, is an active member in her women's club, has deep faith, and has an enormous following for her blog, 50 is Not Old, which she started in 2015. It is easy to see why Tania is so popular. She is a real, actual woman and she tells the best stories. She has a classic style and loves jewelry and handbags! Who doesn't? Ha, ha. You can read more about Tania on her About page. 

The look I was inspired by just shouted fall to me. As the weather starts to get chilly we can break out our cozy sweaters and reach for our jackets. This post was from September 26, 2016 and is titled, Cable Knit Sweater Vest. You can see Tania's original post by clicking on the link or by clicking on the picture. 

I love simplicity and that is what this outfit says to me. What is more comfortable and simplistic than a pair of jeans, long sleeve button up and a cozy vest? Add a great pair of boots, a colorful bag and some fun jewelry and you are ready to go. I love how Tania's vest, boots and jewelry all tended toward a more neutral color against the dark wash of her jeans. Her white blouse and bright blue bag make the outfit shine. 

Here is my version.

You can see here my sweater vest is orange, so I have a bit more color. I also tucked my jeans into my boots, where as Tania rolled hers up. A different style of boot calls for a little different handling of the individual pieces. 

Since I wore orange, I decided to accessorize with orange jewelry too. This is the only white button up I own and while I like the casual style of the blue chambray stripe, I think I need a plain white one. I probably should have tucked it in as well. I was feeling rather sloppy! Ha, ha.

Here you can get a better look at my boots and my green thrifted bag. I thought green would be the perfect pop of color against the dark wash jeans and the orange sweater and accessories. 

As always, I am thankful for the many other bloggers that continue to inspire and motivate me dress in a style that is all my own, but that can learn from others. Be sure to stop by Tania's blog and give her some love.

Have a great weekend. If you follow my faith blog, be sure to check back tomorrow for my Mulling it Over post on Ephesians 6:16. 

I appreciate each one of you and all the support you give me. If you have a chance leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you. 

Photo credit (mine) 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, 

Pantone Fall 2017 - An Intro to Two Color Palettes

This fall, the color institute known as Pantone published their usual ten color New York palette. However, this year they also published the ten color London palette. So what is a fashion blogger to do? Why, feature all twenty of these colors. Don't worry, I won't be featuring one color a week for the next twenty weeks. That would take me into January. Ha, ha. 

For this series on the Pantone colors, I will be combining two colors a week. There are a few colors that overlap on both the London and the New York palettes, and many of the colors while having different names are very similar hues. 

New York Palette

I decided to start the series with the London colors. The graphic above and below was put together by Rebecca, my photographer, web helper and daughter, using Pantone's color coding. The way you see the graphic will be the way I pair the colors. For example, Flame Scarlet will be paired with Otter, Primrose Pink with Navy Peony and so on.

London Palette

You might wonder what got me interested in the Pantone color palettes in the first place. I love color. I love flowers in the summer, changing leaves in the fall, orange pumpkins at Halloween, Christmas lights at Christmas and the soothing colors of nature such as a blue sky, green trees and red cardinals. With my propensity toward color it was only natural when I became interested in fashion that an interest in fashion color choices followed. 

Pantone is the fashion and design industry's go to for color choice. I am not sure what the whole process looks like, as far as how they come up with the colors for each season and how those translate to fabric versus paint or graphic design, but if you start paying attention to the Pantone colors, all of a sudden you will begin to see those colors in the new season's line of clothing, home furnishings, graphics and even architectural designs for offices. 

Here are some sneak peeks at what I have coming up, starting next week, with the Pantone Fall 2017 London color palette.

You can probably tell from looking at the graphic that this was not the easiest grouping of colors to work with. There are lots of pale colors as well as yellows which many people cannot wear. This palette was definitely a challenge, but I find that even more fun. Besides, it is helping my brain stay active to try to figure out how to combine pieces and colors in a ways that will be pleasing to the eye. 

I hope you will join me the next five Tuesday's for my Pantone Fall 2017 London series on the blog. Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check back on Thursday to see who my Beautiful Blogger Bests choice will be. Until then have a great Tuesday. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. 

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

Awesome Accessories - Arm Candy

This month's focus in my Awesome Accessories column is on bracelets, or what I like to call arm candy. I love to wear jewelry of all sorts. I do not have pierced ears and due to problems with wearing certain types of metals I can't wear clip ons either as they bother my ears. So many times, I will wear a necklace and bracelets. There are so many types, styles and colors of bracelets that if you are not typically a bracelet wearer just follow along and maybe by the end of this post you will be.

I thought I would arrange this post, by categories or types of bracelets. Bracelets seem to come in a variety of styles and are made out of every material imaginable from gold and silver, to plastic and fabric. Bracelets can be stiff and rigid or flexible and stretchy. As with anything fashion related, trying on different styles can help you decide what you like to wear best. 

1. The Tennis Bracelet 

The tennis bracelet is made up of a single row of small diamonds or gemstones. It originally got its name in 1987 during the U.S. Open. During a match, tennis star, Chris Evert asked the officials to stop the game because she had lost her diamond bracelet on the court. She was allowed time to search and ever since bracelets of this type are called tennis bracelets.

I do not own a real tennis bracelet, but here are a few choices:

2. The Simple Chain Bracelet

I am calling these simple chain because they are a single strand with some sort of clasp. Most of mine have a claw clasp that hooks into a link on the opposite end of the chain. These can be gold, silver or some variation of mixed non precious metals.

As you can see, these come in various styles. The thing I like about these is their simplicity. I'll often where one or two of these by themselves or pair them with a bangle in the same color. 

The only complaint I have about these is that it is hard to get them clasped by your self. Some clasps are easier to maneuver with one hand than others, so if you are trying these on at a store be sure to try the clasp. Another good reason to always try bracelets on, is that not everyone has the same size wrists. Better to try an item on and be sure it fits, than to purchase it, get it home and find out it doesn't.

3. Bangles

Bangles are simple bracelets made from metal, wood, plastic or other more rigid materials. These bracelets are typically without a clasp and just slip on or off over the hand to the wrist. 

4. Hinged Bangles

In addition to the regular bangles there are bracelets called hinged bangles. These are easier to put on and take off because one side of it has a hinge. When closed the bracelet looks like any other bangle. Hinged bangles come in a wide variety of styles, metals and colors.

5. Wrap Bracelets

Another type of bracelet that offers a different look and a different way to put on is the wrap bracelet. I have two types of these. The first is formed by putting beads on a wound metal wire. The wire has some amount of flexibility while still maintaining its original shape.

The second type is made from various materials. It winds around your wrist then clasps with a magnet type clasp.

That is all I have time for in this post, but I will do another post in the future on more arm candy.

Have a great weekend!

Small Business Spotlight - Kaylee Barfell and LuLaRoe

I first heard about LuLaRoe from fellow blogger Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. You can see her posts here and here. I have heard the name thrown around for a number of months now. As you well know I am a thrift and clearance sale shopper. Having always had to adhere to a limited budget my spouse and I have been able to travel and have what we need by being frugal, so spending lots of money on clothes has never been an option. However, as a fashion blogger, I also realize I need to be open to new things. The first time I ever shopped at Nordstrom Rack was after I had won $100.00 in gift cards from Jodie at Jodie's Touch of Style. 

My photographer and daughter, Rebecca of Rebecca Trumbull Photography is all about networking. She has made many area contacts and gotten to know a number of small business entrepreneurs in the Toledo, Bowling Green and Findlay area. I had started musing over the idea of using my blog as a way to encourage women, especially those who are trying to do the best they can by their families and their businesses. Hopefully, this will be the first in a long series of posts on area small businesses.

Rebecca and Kaylee first met at a networking event put on by a Mary Kay consultant. They clicked on many levels and now, not only encourage each other in their businesses and "barter" services, but have also become friends.

When you first meet Kaylee you are instantly put at ease. She is friendly, humble and real. She's also full of energy and sass. She welcomed Rebecca and I into her home and into the inner sanctum of her LuLaRoe business.

She has a whole room dedicated to her business, complete with hanging racks and bins full of LuLaRoe product, as well as a mirror and mannequin donning a very cute combination.

I came with a list of questions for Kaylee and she answered all of them, even the ones she wasn't sure of the answers to, by pulling out her tablet to look things up. She gave me a brief history of the LuLaRoe company and how it works. Founder DeAnne Stidham developed her business at a crucial time in her life as a single mother with seven children to provide and care for. You can read more of her story here. LuLaRoe is basically a clothing retailer that offers quality clothing sold through independent consultants.

When I asked Kaylee what drew her to the LuLaRoe business she said it was that she wanted to be home with her children, but still be able to bring in an income. Kaylee has her LPN and is working on finishing her RN, but felt that at this point in their lives, her blended family needed her more than just before or after work. LuLaRoe provided the flexibility and income she desired.

After we got through my list of questions Kaylee gave us freedom to peruse, feel and try on as many pieces as we desired. Here are some of the pictures that Rebecca took, when she wasn't busy trying things on.

One of the fun facts about LuLaRoe product is that every style has a name. Dresses have names like Nicole, Ana, Julia and Carly. Skirts are labeled Cassie, Lucy and Jill, to name a few. You can also get tops named Perfect, Classic and Irma. The pieces are generally soft, fluid and easily wash and wear. Many of the items look like they would be great for travel as they would fit easily in your suitcase and come out wrinkle free. 

Here are a few pics of me trying things on.

Here I am wearing a Perfect tee and a Maxi.

Here I am showing off a pair of leggings and another Perfect tee. I like the Perfect tee as it had a swing fit through the trouble areas, but a closer fit through the bodice and arms.

I wish I would have thought to take more pics of all the different products, but as it was time flew by and it was getting late. However, you can see all the different pieces available by looking on the LuLaRoe website. Each consultant carries different pieces, so your particular consultant may not carry what you are looking for, but they will be able to put you in touch with someone who does or get it for you.

At the end of our fun evening together, Kaylee graciously gifted me a Maxi. The following are pictures of how I designed an outfit around this pretty patterned maxi skirt.

i had this green top that went perfectly with the green in the skirt. I opted to leave it out and add a belt. To bring it all together I added the reddish necklaces. Here are some other ways you can wear the maxi.

Folded waist:

High waist:

As a dress:

I have heard good and bad things about LuLaRoe, but as with anything I think we need to examine the product ourselves and make our own decisions. I give Kaylee a lot of credit for wanting to spend more time with her family and LuLaRoe has made that possible for her.

If you are in the Toledo, Bowling Green or Findlay area and are interested in learning more about LuLaRoe you can contact Kaylee here on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lularoekayleebarfell/  or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lularoekayleebarfell/

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it will inspire you to look around at your local small businesses. They need your patronage and your support. Thanks for stopping by the blog. Have a great day.

While I was gifted the skirt, all opinion are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Amy's make up Rachel Christensen.

Piece Perfect - Summer Sweaters

Since I just finished my series on wearing vests in the summer, I thought it would be a good idea to write a post on wearing sweaters in the summer. Everyone has had that experience where it is hot outside, but the moment you walk into that overly air conditioned restaurant your teeth start to chatter. While our bulky winter sweaters wouldn't be appropriate for this warm summer weather, it is good to have a few light weight options for when we know we are going to be in the air conditioning. 

For these pictures I decided to wear two key pieces, a pair of dark wash skinny jeans and a navy shell. By doing this I am emphasizing the sweaters and the accessories, showing you how you can easily change a simple, monochrome look by switching sweaters, and adding different shoes, bags, jewelry and scarves. 

These are four of my favorite warm weather sweaters.

1. Navy cardi with bling.

Before you say my picture was off center I was trying to get creative with my photography. Ha, ha. For this outfit, I kept the entire outfit monochrome navy and added my blush SO flats and my blush bag. 

Talk about silly faces. I do notice when I am doing my own pictures, I am not always attentive to what I am doing with my face. Ha, ha. Oh well, it is entertaining. 

This 3/4 length sleeve cardi I found some years ago at a thrift store is very light weight and it has a spattering of sparkly sequins that embellish the neck area. 

2. Tan open front cardi.

I decided to pair this light weight cardi with a pretty scarf. The scarf has a tiny print on it with light yellow, blue and pink flowers. I added a long pendant necklace and a bracelet that pull out the blue in the scarf.

I matched up my black clutch with a new pair of Clarks peep toe heeled booties. I got these at an outlet mall on a recent trip back to Wisconsin. The store was having a buy one get one for ten dollars on all their clearance shoes. If you are familiar with Clarks brand you know these are not cheap shoes. They are well made, comfortable and have gotten more stylish every year. I was pleased to find these and another more casual pair that I'll show in another post.

3. Cream waterfall cardi.

This next sweater is a cream waterfall cardi with 3/4 length sleeves. That sleeve length is perfect for summer. It provides enough coverage for an air conditioned environment, but not so much that you forget what season it is. 

For this casual look I wore my flat black espadrilles, carried a black canvas tote and added a few pops of color with my turquoise pendant necklace and turquoise bracelets.

You can probably tell in this picture that I am seriously thinking about letting my gray grow out. The last time I went to my beautician I discussed the idea with her. She suggested I try a few highlights to make the contrast between the gray and my natural hair color less noticeable. I haven't decided if I like it or not. I like the highlighting, I'm just not sure I am ready for gray. What do you think? Do you color your hair? Are you letting yourself go gray?

4. Bright pink open weave cardi.

This last sweater I am sharing with you was a thrift store find. I have had it for a while and never seem to reach for it, so I decided I needed to pull it out and play with it, to see if I really want to keep it. 

I do find the handmade look of a piece rather appealing. I don't know if it is because I grew up with a mother who made many of my clothes when I was young and also crocheted beautiful afghans, or if I was inspired by one of her sisters who made all sorts of creations with yarn, or if it is just some of my bohemian gypsy blood, but I love pieces with this sort of texture and charm.

I was having a hard time figuring out how to style this, until I came across this sea foam green infinity scarf. I suddenly remembered this lovely tote that I found when I shopped a friend's closet.

See how the bag has both the green and the pink? I love when that happens. Never say never to a bright colorful bag. You might be surprised how many outfits you can design around it. You can read my posts on creating an outfit around a bag here and here. 

I wore my wedge espadrilles for this outfit. These are another very comfy pair of shoes and they look cute! Cute and comfy? The perfect combo!

I hope you enjoyed this post. My goal as a fashion blogger is not to get you to buy certain clothes, but to challenge you to look in your own closet for pieces that are underused. Do you have any of these types of sweaters that you neglect to reach for. How about taking them out and rethinking how you could wear them?

If you need some added inspiration, I've included a few affiliate links. These are possible shopping options for you. Maybe you don't have a light weight sweater like these and would like to purchase one. These affiliate links can give you ideas. If you click on a link I get a few cents. If you buy something through the link, I get a small commission.

Thanks for stopping by the blog. Have a great weekend.

InVESTments: Wearing Vests in the Summer - Short Knit

For the final installment in this series on wearing vests in the summer I wanted to show how to style two different shorter knit vests. While knits can be great for keeping us warm in the cooler months, we don't have to leave them in our closets over the summer. By choosing lighter weight pieces to style them with, we can still have fun wearing our cozy vests. Both of the following looks are more casual.

Look 1 - With Shorts

This light pink, zip up vest is another of my Christopher and Banks finds. I went for a subdued look with the khaki Bermuda shorts (Christopher and Banks), and taupe ankle boots, bringing in a pop of bright pink in my short sleeve sweater and bag. 

The vest has a subtle textural pattern over its entirety. The short sleeve sweater (thrifted, Ralph Lauren) also provides texture. Different textures allow pattern mixing without having to worry about clashing colors. 

I kept the jewelry simple with my gray pendant necklace and a few gray bracelets. 

A friend gave me this Vera Bradley bag for my birthday a couple years ago. It's the perfect companion for this outfit. 

I could have worn sandals, which would be expected for a summer outfit, but in keeping with thinking outside the box I opted for my SO brand ankle boots. 

Look 2 - With Capris

This knit vest by Chaps, I got at Kohl's at the end of the winter season. Isn't it a great summer piece? I styled it with a navy tee (Christopher and Banks) and white capris (Coldwater Creek)for a crisp warm weather look.

You can see the vest detail in this picture. The different weave, the cardigan feel, and the shawl type collar make a cozy statement, no matter when it is worn.

I chose to only add this light yellow flower pendant necklace for jewelry.

I've used this bag numerous times on the blog. It just adds a touch of class to so many different outfits. 

This time I went with sandals. They seem to dress up this outfit just enough.

Here are the two looks side by side. 

Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments section below. I always love to read your feedback. It helps me know what you like, as well as gives me a boost! Ha, ha. 

Be sure to check back Thursday for my look at a few summer sweaters on the Piece Perfect column. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Below are some shopping links. These are affiliate links which means if you click on them, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through a link, I get a little commission. I appreciate all your support in this manner. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Thoughts on Thrifting - Part 2 - How To

Last week, in the first part of my two part series on thrifting, I talked about essential things to look for in a good thrift store environment. Things like location, organization, lighting and cleanliness are all factors that can make thrift shopping more pleasant and easier to maneuver. 

This week I want to focus on the science of thrift shopping. It has taken me a number of years to really pare back on over buying when I go into a thrift store. With the relatively low prices and the abundance of product, it is very easy to walk out with a whole bag full of fun clothes. Blogging has certainly helped me to discover my own style, as well as learn what the better brands are and how to put an outfit together. The following are just a few of the things I have learned over the years as a thrifter.

1. Know the store you are shopping in. It is always good to check out a few stores before you decide which ones you actually want to spend more time at. Know how things are laid out, how the clothing is arranged, where the bathroom is (if they have one) and where the dressing rooms are. 

2. Know your purpose for thrifting. What are you looking for? Clothing? Home goods? House wares? Kids toys and games? Tools? Know what you want to look for and what stores will most likely carry the items you want. Maybe make it a thrift store day and go to several stores. Knowing what your needs are before you start out, will make your trip more efficient and help you to not over buy or over spend.

3. Make a list. You might think this is the same as number 2, but I think making a list is a great way to keep you focused on what it is you are going to the store for. How many times have you gone to the grocery store for one item and end up grabbing several things and forget the one thing you went in for? Guilty! For thrifting, I have a running list. This means that I have a little note pad where I write things down as I think of them. Right now I have a list that includes a couple of olive colored pieces. I have grown to love that color and know I want a sweater of some sort for the colder months. Rather than going into the store with no idea what to look for, the list keeps me on task. Not that I don't get easily distracted by other things, but I have a better chance of leaving the store with less stuff. Ha, ha. 

4. Don't impulse buy. Are you the woman of steel? Are you never tempted by those end caps at the store that have items you don't need? How about those clearance racks? I really cannot go into a store without looking over the clearance. However, I am better now than I used to be. I used to buy a top because I thought it was cute, or pretty. Now I may try on dozens of cute and pretty things, but only buy those that look and fit perfectly and that I know will accent my style. Compulsive buying will only lead to a closet full of clothes that you don't know how to wear.

5. Don't be afraid to try on lots of things. My advice is don't go thrifting when you are in a hurry. Be prepared to spend time looking through the racks for your list items and trying things on. I usually get a cart full before I go to the dressing room. When I have a lot of time I might go through and pick tops I want to try on, then go to the dressing room. Then I will look through skirts and pants, then try them on. Once you try stuff on sort them into piles. The absolute no's go back on the rack. The maybe's I hang on the outside of my cart and the for sure's I take off the hanger, fold and put in the cart. The clothes in the maybe pile, I look through very carefully and try to imagine how I would use each piece. I also check for stains and tears. Anything that is not in perfect condition goes back on the rack.

Another piece of advice under this category is to try things on that look a little different or strange on the hanger. Once in a while I pick up a piece and think, "That is so not me," but maybe I love the color or the pattern, so I throw it in the cart to try on. Amazingly, I have found some fun stuff that I would have simply passed over, if I hadn't tried it on. This helps me as a fashion blogger, because it pushes me outside my box. 

6. Don't be disappointed if you don't find what you are looking for. Thrift stores are constantly getting in new items. It is good to go back every so often, list in hand and keep searching for that treasure you are looking for. 

These are a few of my favorite finds:

Navy Ralph Lauren blazer:

Loft striped tee and navy Vera Wang bag:

J.Jill velvet lined jacket:

Distressed cropped jeans:

And don't forget shoes:

In addition to regular thrift stores in your neighborhood there are some awesome online thrift store options as well. Two of the bigger ones are Thread Up and Poshmark. if you are more of an on line shopper, be sure to check out these sites!

I hope you enjoyed these posts on thrifting. Thrift shopping is a great way to save money, find unique pieces to fit your own personal style and have fun. 

Next month I'll be back to my regular schedule for my monthly columns. Thanks for stopping by the blog. Feel free to share this with others you think might like to learn about fashion for women over 50. I appreciate all of your support. 

Have a great weekend. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen. 

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style.

InVESTments: Wearing Vests in the Summer - Denim

I've been taking you on a tour of my vest collection and showing you ways to style these fun pieces for warmer weather. Today I am styling two denim vests to show you how these can be used with various pieces, including capris and a skirt.

Look 1 - Medium Wash

For this first look I wore a medium wash vest from Christopher and Banks. Here is an embroidered option here and a dark wash version here. 

To keep the look casual I paired the vest with my olive colored capris. I really like the look of blue denim with olive. Olive has become one of my faves for a different color to turn to for a neutral. When you think about it, olive really pairs well with many other colors. These thrifted capris are Sonoma brand with a modern fit, which simply means they sit a little lower on the waist and have a roomier fit through the hips and legs. Here is a utility style from Kohl's.

The top I wore was a sleeveless Izod popover, with a fun tropical floral design in pinks and purples. Here is a possible version from JC Penney. I thought the sleeveless top worked with this sleeveless vest. It gives the outfit an edgier vibe. 

I kept the accessories simple with a stretchy cuff bracelet from Chicos and a silver necklace. Here is another pretty option for the bracelet. 

My tote is from Charming Charlie and is a very light sage green, which I thought went well with the whole outfit. They don't have this version any more, but here is another pretty one. 

I finished off this casual look with my bright blue Keds. Keds are a great sneaker for summer. They are comfortable, cute and reasonably priced. These I found thrifting, but I've brought a few pairs at Kohl's. They don't have anything this bright, but here is a cute striped version. 

Look 2 - White

For the other denim look, I went with a white St. John's Bay vest that I got at a thrift store. This time I paired the vest with a blue striped tee and a navy and white maxi skirt.

You can see I was doing a little print mixing for this outfit. I thought the colors went well together and the narrow stripes on the tee, didn't overwhelm the geometric pattern on the skirt. This skirt was from Christopher and Banks also. 

For my bag I chose this fun little straw number. Straw handbags were on trend this summer and I came upon this little treasure when my husband and I were on a weekend away, while I was perusing a second hand shop.

For my accessories I went with my "stained glass" necklace and two bracelets. I like the contrast of the gold with the blue and white. 

Keeping the look casual I wore my navy Candies canvas sneakers. My husband reminded me the other day that I have numerous pairs of navy or blue sneakers! Ha, ha. I think I counted four pairs, but no two pairs are the same! 

Here are the two looks side by side. 

Do you have a denim vest in your closet that you have neglected to wear? These are versatile pieces that you can wear all year long through all four seasons. 

Have a great week. Be sure to check back Thursday for another post on thrifting. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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

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

Thoughts on Thrifting - Part 1 - The Stores

Since I am a bit behind and unorganized during the summer, at least this summer anyway, I am foregoing my Beautiful Blogger Best column this week. Believe it or not, watching a six year old every day does not leave me a lot of time for working on the blog. Usually, by the time he goes home in the evening, I do not have any brain cells left to put together dinner, let alone a blog post for the next day. In lieu of that, today I am writing a post on one of my favorite fashion activities, thrifting.

Stocksnap - Matthew Henry

My husband is a detectorist. He owns a metal detector and loves to hunt for treasures buried beneath the ground. His favorite finds are rings, especially gold or silver, but he loves to find any type of ring, even a child's adjustable one. I guess you could call me a "thriftorist". Ha, ha. I made a new word. Just like my husband loves to find treasure, I love to hunt for treasure of the fashionable type in thrift stores.

In my town there are several thrift stores. Savers is the largest and the one I go to every few weeks. I have found they have a large selection of gently used items and their prices are fairly reasonable. They also have frequent sales and rewards programs that motivate a treasure shopper like me to stop in more often. We also have Goodwill, Salvation Army, and a number of others like Plato's Closet, Clothes Mentor and The American Cancer Society thrift shop. There are also a number that I haven't yet checked out. As far as treasure hunting goes, I have plenty to choose from.

When looking for the best stores to treasure hunt in you might want to consider a few thoughts. 

1. Location. Since thrift stores are dependent on their own finds and on donations, finding stores in high trafficked locations will usually yield better used goods. Most of the thrift stores that I shop in are nestled with other retail stores. That being said, you can occasionally find uniques treasures in second hand retailers in out of the way places. 

2. Size. I won't be so bold as to say that the bigger the thrift store the better, but the same reasoning I used for location holds true for size as well. Many of the larger thrift stores give you more options. Savers has everything from furniture and electronics to bedding and shoes. My grandson loves to peruse the toys when we go in there, knowing he will be able to find some little treasure that grandma will buy for him. Don't get me wrong, there are some amazing and unique small thrift stores. My Shop on Rugby Dr., is an example of a small boutique that features used upscale women's clothing and accessories here in Toledo.

3. Organization. This is a huge thing for me....not that I am so organized, but that I like my shopping environment to be. Clothing should be organized by type. For instance, groupings such as long sleeve blouses, skirts, and cardigans, are all helpful as I hunt for treasure. If the store is organized by a broader category, such as long sleeve tops, it will take longer to look through all the tops to find that one button up that I am searching for. It is also helpful when a store organizes their clothing by size, at least by small, medium, large, and so on. 

Another way various stores organize their racks of clothes is by color. I really like this, especially if I go in with a specific color item in mind. That way, I only shop those sections with the colors I am looking for, instead of combing through racks and racks of clothes. While it is true, you have to look for your size in the color you want, it does make shopping for the Pantone series that I do, much easier. 

4. Lighting. I don't know about you, but when I am shopping I like to have a bright environment. I want to be able to see the colors I am looking at, as well as be able to read the tags to check out sizing, materials and washing instructions. I also want to be able to check the item over for tears, stains or deformities. 

On a weekend trip earlier this summer my hubby and I checked out a few thrift stores in the area we went to. The one store was beautifully organized, but the lighting was very dim. While I did find a few things that I bought, I kept wanting to ask a staff person if they could turn on the lights. 

5. Cleanliness. While every thrift store has a bit of a second hand air to it, it doesn't have to look and feel like a dump. Floors should be fairly clean. I've been in thrift stores where I wanted to wash my shoes after I left. Changing rooms should be well attended, meaning the staff is removing clothing left behind and picking up things that were left on the floor. Believe me, people can be very rude when it comes to changing rooms...even at regular, full priced retailers!

Clothing should be clean. That doesn't mean it has been washed. Stores do not have the capacity to wash every item that comes in their donation doors. However, they can be particular about what gets put out on the floor. Find stores that take pride in the pieces of clothing they put out.

It is also helpful if the thrift store has a bathroom. I drink a ton of water and having a bathroom on site means they will get to keep my business. 

Thrifting is a great way to save money, find unique pieces that are just right for you and have fun. I love to thrift with my daughters and my best girlfriend back in New York. Of course it always involves lunch! You can find jewelry, purses, shoes and, of course, clothing for a fraction of the price you will pay at a regular retailer. 

Next week I'll be back with another post on thrifting where I'll talk about how to turn compulsive buying into shopping science. 

Did you like this post? Did you find it helpful? Are you a thrifter? I'd love to have your feedback in the comments section below. 

Have a great weekend!