Layering Love - Using a Scarf for Added Interest

There is no end to how you can layer an outfit. While I spent the last few weeks looking at how you can add warmth in a functional way, there is also the idea of adding warmth, while adding a textural element to the outfit. A great way to add texture is to throw on a scarf. 

I wore this outfit to church on Sunday. I love to get dressed up, but it is also nice to be more casual. I like that more churches do both. The scarf I am wearing is a large oblong one made of a medium weight material. To tie it, I wrapped the scarf from front to back, then crossed both ends over and brought them back to the front. I tied the front ends together. You can do all sorts of things to tie a scarf. Check out this link that shows a video tutorial for 15 Chic and Creative Ways to Tie a Scarf. 

This dark purple Loft pullover sweater is soft and comfortable. In addition to the ribbing on on the sleeve cuffs and band on the bottom, there is a type of shirring across the yoke and shoulders. Here is a different one, but very cute. 

You can see that I kept the colors of the outfit simple by matching pieces up with those in the scarf. This dark purple sweater goes perfectly with the purple in the scarf as does the light pink or blush color of the waterfall cardi. This thrifted cardi is Jennifer Lopez brand. Here is a current one with fur trim at Kohl's.

While I used a different bag when I went to church, I thought this burgundy Massini saddle bag goes well with the casual look of the outfit and the colors in the scarf. You can see more about Meijer's Massini brand on Stacy London's blog

These are one of my favorite pair of knee high black books. They have a slight heel and the detailing of the buckle and shape of the boot give it a more dressed up feel. I would wear these with a skirt or dress. These are Croft and Barrow brand. These are very similar and not a bad price. 

My skinny jeans are also a brand called Angel that I recently found at Kohl's. They are very soft and hold their shape pretty well. These must have been some sort of a trial brand, because I do not see them any more on their website. However, here is a Lee pair and a Rock and Republic pair. As with most clothing, I recommend going to the store and trying things on. Every pair of jeans fits a little bit different. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. 

For those of you who follow my faith posts, I am a little behind this week. I am hoping to get my faith post up tomorrow. Sorry about that. 

Have a great weekend everyone.

Holiday Outfit - Dressy Casual - Skirt

Here we are five days into December. Only nineteen shopping days left. For my husband it's two. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, there are only two shopping days until Christmas. Ha, ha. I usually get my shopping started  mid to late October. I'm pretty well finished now, except for a few stocking stuffers. I am guilty of spending too much and buying too many things, but the way I figure it, my kids are working hard to pay the rent, bills and other necessities of life. They aren't going to buy that pair of fuzzy socks, even though they love wearing them, because they don't want to spend the money. So, this mama, likes to give them a few of those luxuries that they wouldn't necessarily buy for themselves. I tried to pare it down this year as we are flying them all to Florida for a family vacation, but I will still have a few gifts to put under the tree, thanks to coupons and shopping sales. 

Here's my step by step guide for this week's holiday outfit. 

1. Comb your closet for a fun skirt that is not too dressy, but not too casual. 

I am wearing a Jones Wear Studio plaid skirt. In all honesty I cannot remember where I got this. Macy's sells Jones Wear and so does dressbarn, so it could have been either, but I have had it for a while. This type of plaid skirt is not popular today, due to the length, cut and style, but it was a popular style for me in the 90's. Why get rid of something that still fits and looks nice! Besides, plaid is trending right now, so I figure I can't be too far off the fashion wagon. Plaid is part of what keeps this outfit more casual, as well as the heavier weight fabric of the skirt. 

2. Find a blouse or sweater that coordinates with one of the colors in your skirt. (This could be reversed by choosing a solid colored skirt with fun printed top.)

I used the same silky Jaclyn Smith cream colored top as I wore in last week's post where I paired it with jeans. You can see that post here. The combination of the plaid, heavier weight skirt with the silky material of the top really makes this outfit a perfect example of dressy casual. 

3. Spend a little time picking out your shoes and your bag.

I went for a little more of a retro look with the shoes. These A2 by Aerosoles are comfy and stylish. I like the multi layered look. I think pairing these cute shoes with this outfit adds to the festive holiday look, but still keeps the outfit from being over-the-top dressy. 

I kept my bag simple, but I thought it went well with the color of the shoes and the colors in the skirt. 

4. Add a few statement accessories. 

Being a woman of layers and feeling cold easily, I decided I needed something to throw over my shoulders that would still keep the outfit chic and stylish. This berry colored scarf was the perfect width to make a shawl. 

I show it open in these pictures, but you could also tie it at the front for a cozier look. 

My jewelry is understated, letting the shawl and the skirt take center stage. 

Here are the looks side by side. You could easily remove the shawl if you get to warm. 

Do you think this works for a dressy casual holiday outfit? What is your favorite thing to wear at the holidays? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I've included a few shopping links for plaid skirts. These are affiliate links which means if you click on a link I get a few cents. If you purchase something through a link, I get a small commission. Every little bit helps. All opinions are my own.

Be sure to check back on Thursday for another layering love post. Also, if you love holiday movies, I'll be talking about lessons learned from another one of my favorites on the faith page. Check back tomorrow for that. 

Until next time, have a great day and thanks for stopping by the blog.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

 
 

 

Layering Love - What to do with a Light Weight Sweater

When the temperatures begin to fall I start to dress in layers. Much like a bear getting ready to hibernate, I add layers to keep me warm. Unfortunately, through the holidays I often add a layer of fat as well as clothing. To keep from looking like the Michelin Man, or the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man it is important to add layers that don't also add bulk. Bulky is fine if you are staying home, or if you pair skinny jeans with a heavy sweater, but there are days and times that we just don't want the heavier layers. 

Today's outfit is built around a light weight long sleeve sweater from Old Navy that I found thrifting. When I saw the word Joy written in gold threads across the front I knew it was coming home with me and would be a perfect piece for holiday dressing.

For this casual look I wore my Gloria Vanderbilt olive green skinnies. 

My shoes are Sonoma suede ankle boots with a low block heel. This olive colored tote bag is Style and Co brand and is also thrifted. I added the blue fringe dangle for an additional pop of color. 

For my extra layer I added my purple Christopher and Banks moto jacket. I love these kinds of jackets. They are not too heavy, but add the perfect layer of warmth. These work quite well for shopping, where you are just running from the car to the store. I also, occasionally where one to work to keep warm in the cold office. 

To keep the look simple and not detract from the lettering on the sweater, I chose a short statement necklace. It has a little bit of purple in it and goes well with both the sweater and the jacket. 

Do you have a light weight sweater in your closet? This is one way you can wear it while still keeping warm. Lighter layers are the perfect way to add warmth without adding a lot of bulk. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Have a great weekend!

Holiday Outfit - Dressy Casual - Jeans

There are times during the holidays that an event calls for a look that is more than casual but not overly dressy. This is what I call dressy casual. This is often the perfect choice for a holiday office party, a dinner and shopping date with your significant other, or a party in someone's home.

Here are some tips for putting together a dressy casual outfit for the holidays using pieces already in your closet. 

1. Pick a pair of nice dark wash jeans.

For this look I chose my Rock & Republic boot cut jeans. What makes these jeans a more dressy choice has to do with the cut and wash of the fabric. A boot cut jean is figure flattering on just about anyone, as is a dark wash. A dark wash also looks more polished than a lighter wash. I also feel a jean without tears or holes is more dressy than a distressed look. As you can see these are more fitted as well. A baggier jean gives a look a more casual vibe. Another option for this outfit would be a denim trouser. Here is a version of what I am thinking. Here is a pair from Target

2. Select a blouse appropriate for the holidays.

My shiny cream colored blouse is Jaclyn Smith brand and I found it at a thrift store. A blouse like this can be worn out or tucked in. I chose to wear mine out to keep my look casual, but flirty. 

What exactly makes a blouse holiday worthy? I think the blouse needs to fit you well and serve as a back drop for fun jewelry or scarves. If you want to go with a holiday color like red, green or gold that's fine, but I would keep it a single color. If you don't have a blouse like this, a crisp white cotton blend would work as well. A longer tunic type blouse would also work. A button up or a blouse made from a shiny polyester blend gives a more dressy look. 

3. Choose a few awesome accessories. 

I decided to use burgundy for my accessory color and I chose to stay with that color for my necklace, bag and shoes. I feel that in this case, less is more. This would also work with a few layers of gold chains, a sparkly clutch and heels. I have styled this burgundy necklace from Charming Charlie before on the blog. You can see those posts here, here and here

This is a unique piece of wood and metal and makes the perfect statement against the creamy background of the top. You can see I also added my burgundy bracelet with the magnetic closure. 

This burgundy clutch was a recent thrift store find and I find myself reaching for it again and again. I think burgundy and maroon are a great color to add to many outfits for fall and winter. Especially in the form of accessories. 

4. Grab your heels.

There is just something about a great pair of heels that takes any outfit up a notch. High heels tend to make us walk with better posture and stand up straighter. I don't wear heels very often, but when I do, I feel like I am dressed up. Heels are no brainers with skirts, dresses and dress pants, but they look fabulous with jeans and just look how much classier this outfit looks with them. 

These berry colored shooties are Bandolino brand. Here is something with a lower block heel by Franco Sarto. Here is another pair with higher heels from Macy's.

This is an easy outfit to put together as it only has two pieces plus accessories. Once in a while a minimalist approach is the best approach, especially when the holidays can be hectic and fast paced. 

I hope you are enjoying this series on dressing for the holidays. Thanks for stopping by the blog. Be sure to check back on Thursday for an easy way to layer for a day at the mall. 

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

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Layering Love - What to Do with a Light Weight Skirt

I own a number of skirts that are light weight and for the most part only meant to be worn in warmer weather. I thought it would be fun to take one of those skirts and style it for cold weather. The beauty of a fuller skirt is that you can add multiple layers underneath and not create added bulges. 

For this outfit, which I wore for Thanksgiving day, I chose my black tiered skirt.

I think I am channeling my inner gypsy again. The combination of a tiered skirt, plaid shirt, Beatles sweatshirt and boots just feels like me. It is sort of eclectic and whimsical in a goth sort of way. 

Part of the reason I chose this skirt was for the bling. To me bling says many things, but especially at the holidays. To keep my warmer, I have a pair of leggings on underneath, which you can't even notice because the skirt is long enough and the boots are tall enough. 

For the layers on the top I chose a burgundy plaid button up that has elbow length sleeves. the sleeves are a bit too tight to button, so adding the sweatshirt over the top hides that problem. I like the pop of color against the gray and the black. I threw on the brown scarf to tie in with the brown boots. 

Though I didn't go anywhere except my kitchen, for the pics I wanted to show what it would look like with a bag, so added my berry colored tote. I also added a layer of beaded bracelets and a wrap bracelet to add to the gypsy look.

This was a fun outfit for me. It's an outfit that epitomizes my inner gypsy, my rocker-biker vibe and my love of all things blingy! I enjoy putting an outfit together that is a bit outside the box. For so long we were told to tuck in our shirts, never wear biker boots with a skirt and don't combine black and brown. Today, however, there is more flexibility in the fashion realm and part of the fun is learning to embrace the trends you like and try new things. 

I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Our family will be traveling to enjoy more extended family time over the weekend. Safe travels to all of you who are traveling and happy shopping to those braving the stores for Black Friday deals. 

Have a great weekend!

Holiday Outfit - Casual - Skirt

In this series on holiday outfits I wanted to give you options that you can use for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Although, by the time this series is done, Thanksgiving will be over. I can't believe it is on Thursday. I just took out my turkey this morning to start thawing. How many of you are cooking on Thursday? I really don't mind the work. When I have a special occasion I like to cook. When life is busy my spouse and I will eat out a couple times a week, so when I get the chance to cook, I do enjoy it. The clean up, not so much! Ha, ha

For this week's post I took a leopard print skirt and designed a casual and comfortable outfit that still looks chic and festive. 

Like I did last week, I'll organize this in a way that will help you build a holiday outfit from pieces that you already own. 

1. Pick a casual skirt that you like to wear. I doesn't have to have a print, but prints are fun. In keeping with the time of year, maybe choose a piece that has darker colors or more fall-like tones. Length is up to you. Mini's, maxi's or something in between all work as the foundation for a festive holiday outfit. 

The thing that makes this Jones, NY leopard print, pencil skirt more casual is its texture. It is made of narrow wale corduroy. Corduroy is very close to a ridged velvet. The fabric has the same soft feel, so it is comfortable and movable. Another thing that makes this skirt more casual is the belt loops and front zipper. I have another leopard print skirt that I styled on the blog here, but I feel it is more dressy. It is a smooth chino type fabric with a structured waist that buttons on the side. i'll admit they look pretty similar and I will probably get rid of one of them at some point, but for now, I am guilty of owning two leopard print skirts. Ha, ha. 

Another great casual skirt that you could easily dress up for the holidays is a denim one. Denim is the perfect back drop for all sorts of pretty combinations that stay casual, but still say holidays.

2. Pick a festive companion piece. For my outfit I chose two companion pieces, an open weave pullover sweater with gold threads, and a denim vest with silver bling on the yoke. This sweater is Covington and the vest is Christopher & Banks

The bling gives the outfit a holiday feel without being a top that has the actual holiday on it. If you don't have a top with bling choose a vest or sweater in the season's color. A rich burgundy or maroon will work great for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Even a deep purple or rusty orange will give an outfit a holiday vibe. 

3. Pick your jewelry. If you have a more blingy top you might want to forgo the jewelry, lest you feel like a Christmas decoration, but if you think the more the better, then welcome to my world. The goal is overstatement versus understatement

I chose a brassy necklace that had a few beads that matched the Butterum color in the skirt. The brassy chain also goes with the brass buckle on my belt. Sometimes mixing metals can clash, but I think in this outfit it works because no one metal takes center stage. They all compliment and work together with other colors in the outfit.

If your outfit pieces have no bling, then you can layer on the jewelry. Try multiple layers of gold or silver necklaces, or mix them up. Gold and silver can look gorgeous on a backdrop of burgundy, dark purple or deep navy. Think about what you own and try different pieces until you find something that makes you say, "I really like how that looks." Chances are, other people will think so too.

4. Add a bag. To pull together the browns in the skirt and the necklace I reached for my Butterum hobo bag. It is roomy enough to fill with additional items for a trip to see the family for dinner or even to tuck a light weight shawl for someone else's cooler home. 

5. Don't forget your shoes. Once again I reached for my Impo gray suede ankle boots. You can see I also went for a dark brown pair of tights, for full coverage of my legs. 

I chose these as they are dressy, but not too dressy. They are warm and I thought the gray color went well with the gray sweater. You could also wear knee hight boots, over the knee boots or even a pair of Keds or Converse sneakers for an even more casual look. The classier your shoes are the more dressed up the outfit will look. Heels, to me always make a dressy statement. You'll see more of that in the next four posts as we get into dressier looks. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing this outfit in my holiday series and I hope it provided some inspiration for you to create a holiday look from your own closet. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Here are a few cute skirts and boots to shop for. This post contains affiliate links. All opinion are my own.

Layering Love - What to do with a Light Weight Dress

Just because the temperatures are heading down, the wind is picking up and the snow is starting to fly doesn't mean we have to put away all of our cute, light weight dresses. The way to extend the life of our wardrobes and find new, fun outfits is to think outside the box. A light weight knee length or shorter dress can easily be used as a tunic. The differences lie in the length and weight of the accompanying pieces and the types of accessories that you add to complete the outfit. 

This burgundy dress I found on the clearance rack at Kohl's just recently. I has elbow length sleeves, shirring at the neck and shoulders and an elastic waist. It is incredibly soft and comfortable.

For my layer of warmth on the top I added a polka dot black and white blazer which is Black Label - Evan Picone brand. 

For my bottom layer I chose a pair of heavier Joe Boxer brand leggings that I have worn on the blog before. Leggings provide more coverage and warmth than a a pair of hose or even tights, although a heavy pair of sweater tights would do the job.

Yes, I was doing a bit of print mixing! 

My Mossimo fringe bag was having a few issues, probably because I didn't have anything in it. Yes, sometimes I am a fake. Ha, ha. I thought silver jewelry worked great with the burgundy colors. 

I just picked up these Life Stride ankle boots at a thrift store recently. I was really disappointed to find out that my favorite thrift store here in Toledo closed. It is unfortunate when corporations make these quick decisions. A bunch of people are now out of work because of that decision.

The boots have a sort of burgundy look to them when you compare them to brown, but compared to the burgundy dress they really look brown. Funny how that works. 

Just by adding a few layering pieces you can turn a lighter weight dress into a great outfit focal point, even in the winter. Think about what dresses you normally wouldn't wear in the winter. Do you have one that you might be able to transform into a cold weather outfit, just by adding a warm, chunky sweater, some leggings and boots? I'd love to hear you ideas. Leave me  some love in the comments section.

I hope you'll join me again next Tuesday for my next casual holiday outfit, featuring a fun printed skirt. Have a great weekend!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

If you like this blazer JC Penney is having a sale right now on Black Label - Evan Picone pieces. Here are a few to peruse. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Holiday Outfit - Casual - Jeans

Welcome to my series on holiday style. I hope that these next few weeks will take you from Thanksgiving through the New Year in creative and inspirational ways. I grew up in a family that rarely dressed up, except for church on Sundays. Holidays were typically ultra casual, in fact sometimes on Christmas we stayed in our pjs or most comfortable sweats all day long. When I got married and we had children our holidays were always spent traveling so that we could spend time with our extended families. Living out of a suitcase for a week was always a challenge, not because I couldn't fit everything in, but because I had to plan ahead! What was I going to wear on each and every day of our time away? And how was I going to look presentable, but still be warm and comfortable?

Now that I am a fashion blogger, I want to dress in a more festive way, but still stay true to my comfortable, relaxed roots. For this series I decided to take a look at three different approaches to holiday dressing, (No! I do not mean stuffing.) The first two weeks will look at a casual approach, the second two weeks a dressy casual approach and the last two weeks will be devoted to a dressy approach. I will follow that with a post on a New Years eve look. So let's begin.

Certainly all of you own a pair of jeans. Some of you may even own a pair of cropped jeans, and/or a pair of distressed jeans. Jeans are a part of my style routine. I wear them all the time, for work, play, dressing up or down and everything in between. Maybe you are not a jeans kind of girl. but whether you are or aren't you can create a casual style using the following simple guidelines.

1. Pick a pair of jeans or casual pants that you enjoy wearing. For this outfit I chose my Vera Wang cropped distressed jeans. Here is a cute pair from Lord & Taylor. You could just as easily choose a pair of mom jeans or a pair of skinnies and just roll up the bottoms for a similar, fun look. 

2. Pick a fun sweater. It doesn't have to be a holiday sweater. I think it is fun to wear something with a holiday motif after Thanksgiving, but until then, any warm cozy sweater will do and over sized is even better. Here is one from Old Navy, Nautica and Target

I found this fair isle sweater on the clearance rack at Kohls. It is amazing the treasures you can find on the clearance rack for just about any season. This is Chaps brand, which is on the higher end of what I like to spend, so finding it on clearance with a good coupon was a win. I tucked it away knowing I would be able to use it this winter. 

If you are not familiar with fair isle, it is a knitting technique that uses multiple colors to create patterns. This sweater also has some silver threads knitted in, so it gives the fair isle pattern some subtle bling. My fave and perfect for a holiday gathering.

As you can see I had a tank top underneath, but it works because the pinky red of the tank matches the pinky red in the sweater. I am always cold in the winter, unless I am moving around, so I like to have an extra layer or two, but more on that Thursday in my Layering Love series. Ha!

3. Add a few statement jewelry pieces. Jewelry can be such a wonderful outfit booster. A fun piece of jewelry can take an outfit from dowdy to divine.

This pendant was another Kohl's clearance find. The bracelet I found on my first visit to Chico's. The two matched perfectly to one another and to the light blue in this sweater. Plus the silver trim goes well with the silver threads in the sweater. 

This brings me to another style question that seems to often come up...to match or not to match? This really is a matter of personal taste. I personally love to have at least a little bit of matching going on in an outfit. I feel that it makes the outfit look polished and gives it a classic, pulled together feel, BUT that is just my personal taste. There are many fashion bloggers who take pride in not being matchy and do a fabulous job at it! Do what is best for you. After all that is what this blogging thing is all about, helping you find your own style!

4. Grab a great bag. Since red is big this fall, I couldn't resist pulling out this Arizona Jeans brand Buffalo plaid tote. A Penney's clearance purchase last year, I got this as a possible Christmas gift, but decided to keep it for myself. Ha, ha. Here is an adorable one from dressbarn

A tote bag is a great way to transport things, especially if you are going to visit family at the holidays. Whether you are going just for dinner, for the day or for an extended weekend, a large roomy tote will give your room for all your essentials, a few little gifts and that book you are planning to read in the car while someone else drives. Oh, and don't forget that water bottle! The holidays can be a hard time to keep hydrated because there are so many goodies and fun drinks occupying our hands 

5. Don't forget the shoes. Just because you are going casual doesn't mean you have to wear sneakers, although a cute pair of hi-top Converse would be perfect with this outfit. I chose my wedge heel ankle boots from Impo. Here is a very similar pair from Macy's

I love these gray suede boots. They are super comfy, but also stylish. I wear these over and over during the cold weather. 

This is a look that I will most likely be wearing over the next few weeks as the holidays begin. It would be a great casual look for a holiday gathering, movie night or a day out Christmas shopping. I hope the tips I gave you will help you come up with your own casual holiday outfit. 

I would love to hear about what outfits you came up with. Leave me a note about them in the comments section, or leave me a picture on my Facebook page. I'd love to see your looks.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull

Below are a few shopping options. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you buy an item through a link I get a small commission. All opinions are my own. 

Layering Love - What to Do with a LuLaRoe Tee

I introduced you to Kaylee Barfell in a previous post on LuLaRoe. Kaylee throws these Facebook parties and posts pictures of LuLaRoe pieces which we are then able to shop and buy. She has posted so many amazing outfits and pieces. When I saw this Perfect Tee, I knew I wouldn't be able to pass it up, so I made the purchase. 

The beauty of the Perfect Tee is in its fit. The tee is more fitted through the bodice, but then flares out from the waist. It is a tunic length, so could be worn with leggings, but also looks fantastic with skirts or jeans. For this post today, I decided to style my Perfect tee with my light orange skinny jeans that I got at dressbarn on clearance. 

I wanted to show you the tee with two different layering options. Since winter is on the way, I know I won't wear just a tee by itself, so I wanted to show you how you could still wear your tee, but be a bit warmer. Sorry for the fuzzy pics. I was in a hurry and it was cold. Ha, ha.

Layering from Underneath.

For this look, I put a blue button up blouse under the Perfect Tee. For size reference in the Perfect I went with a medium, because it flares out at the bottom. Many times I buy a large in a top, not because I need it through the bust, but because I don't want all my bulges to show. With the Perfect Tee you don't have to worry about that. It fits just right in the bust area and I was able to get this blouse on underneath without bulges and wrinkles.

Here is a close up of the pattern. LuLaRoe has so many fun and colorful patterns. That is part of the draw. 

To keep the look simple I chose yellow beads for my necklace and bracelets, my blue SO flats and a gray clutch.

I had to add a twirl, so you could see how the Perfect is more like a swing tee.

Layering Over the Top.

For the second look I took the button up off and put my denim crop jacket over the top. I swapped out the yellow beads for a long green and gold fringe pendant necklace. I decided to wear my suede ankle boots and opted for a large yellow tote. 

What do you think? Do you like to dress in layers? Have you ever layered a blouse under a tee? Layering is a great way to extend the wearability of some of your summer clothing into the fall and your fall clothing into the winter. 

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

The Pantone Fall 2017 Recap

What I want to do for this week's post is give you a recap of all the Pantone Fall 2017 colors. Instead of taking up too much of your time, reviewing what was already said about each outfit, I think you are all smart enough to go back and revisit the original post on each color combination if you want to see and read more. 

For those of you who have been following me for a while, you already know my philosophy behind using the Pantone colors on my blog. For those of you who are new here, I love color and whether it be in God's creation, a painting or an outfit, I love to see how various colors combine and contrast to create stunning visual displays. Pantone gives me a spring board from which to choose color combinations for my outfits. That being said, here are the outfits from this year's fall colors.

The London Palette

Flame Scarlet and Otter 

Here is a look at the outfits side by side. 

What is your personal favorite? I'd be interested to hear. Mine is the Royal Lilac and Golden Olive. I loved the richness of both of these colors, the comfort of the outfit and the Bohemian vibe that I felt it portrayed. I also felt that I looked the best in these colors, which is a revelation since I have never thought of myself as looking good in yellow. So much for those ideas that we had in the past!

The New York Palette

Grenadine and Butterum 

Here are the outfits side by side. 

Which one of these color combinations did you like the most? Over all, I liked the New York Palette better than the London Palette. I felt the colors were deeper, richer and easier to find and work with than some of the London colors. If I had to pick one favorite I wouldn't be able to. I like the boldness of Grenadine and Butterum, the classic feel of Ballet Slipper with Neutral Gray, the perfect blend of Navy Peony and Marina, the tropical contrast of Tawny Port and Golden Olive and the fall perfection of Autumn Maple and Shaded Spruce. 

What is lovely about these colors is that you could pair any one with a totally different combination than I have and come up with an equally awesome outfit. How about Grenadine with Marina, Neutral Gray with Shaded Spruce or Autumn Maple with Navy Peony. That is the beauty of finding inspiration in the Pantone color palettes. There is so much you can do with them, long after these colors become obsolete. The Pantone Color Institute has already put out their Spring palettes! Yikes! For a sneak peek at those just click on the one you want to see: London Palette or New York Palette

To see any of my original posts on this series just click on the link above the picture. I hope you enjoyed this series on the Fall 2017 Pantone colors. 

I have decided to postpone my series on camouflage until the new year, so I will be starting a series on dressing for the holidays, next Tuesday. On Thursday I'll be starting a series on layering, which is one of my favorite things to do. I hope you'll join me.

Fun Fall Look - Shearling

For this Fun Fall Look today, I am wearing a pair of boots I recently thrifted, that combine the earthy tone of brown suede with the fun texture of creamy shearling. Shearling is basically the wool from a sheep after it is shorn. Most of the shearling you see in the stores this season is fake, but it is a fun texture that is widely popular right now and appears on coats, vests, hats, scarves and yes, boots. Most often the fuzzy texture is left a creamy white color and can be made of various man made fibers.

Because I wanted to show off the boots, I kept the rest of my outfit rather casual and simple. 

This berry colored tunic I bought a few years ago at Christopher and Banks. Here is a cute cowl neck version at Nordstrom

The  Apt. 9 vest I found on the clearance rack at Kohls. This is a light weight faux suede. I like the waterfall open front and this brown will go with many other colors. Do you like it paired with the berry? I think it works to keep the outfit more earthy. Here is a back view of the vest and the boots.

I chose these dark wash Rock and Republic skinny jeans for a look that slimming and in keeping with the darker colors of fall. I got these on clearance at Kohl's. I lost about 7 pounds over the summer, so they fit a little better now than when I first got them. It's amazing how just a few pounds can make a difference. 

I decided to mix jewelry just to keep the look more interesting. To go with the suede look of the vest and boots I chose the lariat choker. To go with the berry tunic I also added this fun fringe gold and bead pendant necklace.

I also added a number of bracelets that I recently brought home. They are just simple stretchy beaded ones, but even these can make an outfit look more fun and interesting. I love these layers of burgundy, berry and gold.

These Unisa brand boots were a great find. I love that they have a higher wedge heel and the gold zipper and buckle detailing on the outer leg gives them a cool vibe that can be dressed up or down. They seem pretty comfortable, so I expect these will get some wear this winter. Just remember if you are going to wear suede boots they should be treated for waterproofing and I would avoid wearing them when the salt trucks are out. Salt does nasty things to suede and leather. To keep your boots looking great wear your snow boots, rain boots or a boot that can be easily cleaned when the weather gets really messy. 

Do you have any shearling pieces in your closet? How do you wear your shearling? I hope you enjoyed this post. Below are a few affiliate shopping links that can give you other ideas for how to wear shearling. All opinions are my own.

I hope you have a great weekend. 

Pantone Fall 2017 - The New York Palette - Autumn Maple and Shaded Spruce

Believe it or not, this is the final installment in my Pantone Fall 2017 Series. Next week I'll do a recap of all the colors on both the London and New York palettes. After that I'll be starting a new series on camouflaging those problem areas, so keep coming back!

Originally I was going to pair the rusty orange called Autumn Maple with one of the blues, but after mulling it over,  thought what could be a better fall combination. mimicking nature, than orange and green; the very colors we see combined on the trees as they go through their metamorphosis. One of my favorite fall scenes is to see the dark green of pine surrounded by the bright oranges and reds of the changing leaf landscape. It is for that reason I combined Autumn Maple and Shaded Spruce in this rather bohemian outfit for today's post. 

You've seen several of the pieces in this outfit before. I wore the tiered skirt here and the black vest here and here. I also used the bag in this post here. i like to show you that you don't always have to go out and buy new clothes, even though that is way more fun! You can shop you closet and find new ways to reinvent a piece you already have. 

Though this skirt is not a solid color, orange is really what you see when you look at it. I thought it was the perfect companion piece for my Shaded Spruce Sonoma popover top. 

Here you can see some of the pretty perforated detailing on the top. I added a brown belt and lots of necklaces. The belt is velvet. I like a belt with this type of outfit as I feel it adds a touch of class to a more casual look. I tried my hand at the multiple necklace look. Did I pull it off, or do you think it looks to chaotic? I have mixed feelings. I also grabbed my berry fringe drawstring bag. I like this additional pop of color. What do you think?

I topped the whole outfit with the quilted black vest, and my black ankle boots. I think this pulled the outfit together and broke up the differing color scheme. 

I hope you enjoyed this series on the Pantone Fall 2017 colors. Next week, I'll have a recap of all the outfits from this series. 

Check back Thursday for another Fun Fall Look.

Below are a few shopping links in case you are looking for Shaded Spruce or Autumn Maple. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Fun Fall Look - Plaid Poncho

Plaid is all the rage this fall, so when I found this plaid poncho at Charming Charlie, I thought it would be a great addition to my wardrobe. Poncho's are a fun piece that add a layer of warm and an interesting look to many outfits. I have a crocheted poncho which I have styled on the blog before. You can see that post here. While that poncho is more for summer and warm wether, this piece I am styling for you today is perfect for fall and winter. 

Purple, being one of my favorite colors, I was thrilled to find this poncho. Not long after when I was thrifting with my older daughter, i found this purple pair of jeans. The jeans are really long and will look great with heels, but for this outfit, I rolled the pant legs up and wore my purple velvet kitten heels.

A poncho like this can be worn like a light weight jacket or when the weather gets colder it can be used like a blazer or sweater as an over piece for warmth and interest. I am wearing the poncho the traditional way with the point going down the front and back, but the poncho could be turned so that the points go toward the wrists for more of a rectangular appearance. I forgot to take a picture of it that way. 

For my outfit I am wearing the poncho as a layering piece over a light lavender cowl neck sweater.

Wearing the poncho as a layering piece means I have the extra warmth if I want it. I simply pull the necklace outside the poncho to make it look like a finished outfit. 

You can also see I added a few bracelets and a simple gray clutch.

Do you have a poncho? How do you like to wear yours? I've added a few shopping links if you are interested in getting one for yourself. There are a number of styles and colors. 

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

Thank you for stopping by the blog. Have a great weekend!

Pantone Fall 2017 - The New York Palette - Tawny Port and Golden Lime

This week's color combination is a blend of a dark maroon and a more subtle green. Tawny Port is described on the Pantone site as "Taking the red family to new depths..." I think of it as more of purple than a red, but then purple is made up of red and blue. Golden Lime takes on a more tropical hue, so I though pairing these two colors would make for an interesting outfit. 

These pictures were taken at Wildwood Metropark here in Toledo. This is an amazing park and so close to home. It used to be the estate of Champion Spark Plug magnate Robert Stranahan. The park boasts the original Manor house and outbuildings, as well as acres of trails, a covered bridge and boardwalk. It is used for everything from family picnics to all manner of photo opportunities. In December the Manor house will be decorated for Christmas and thousands of people will come to take a tour. 

For today's pics we just found a piece of trail to take pictures on.

I've had this skirt, which is Jones Wear Brand, for a while. Honestly, I don't even remember where I got it. Ha, ha. However, it is a fun skirt with it's whimsical pattern and colors. It is fully lined and would be considered either midi or tea length, depending on what chart you look at. 

This open waterfall cardi is ANA brand. It probably leans more towards purple than what Tawny Port actually is, but I think It works well. The Tawny Port splotches in the skirt actually are more red. It is amazing how you can pair something with a color that has both red and blue in it's undertones and it will lean toward the color of the piece you have on.

This faux lace top from Croft and Barrow appears more green in person, but you get the idea. I like these types of tops as they give the appearance of lace, but you don't have to wear a cami underneath. This one is a silky, stretchy material, so very easy to wear and wash. 

You can also see I added a gold belt to bring out that color in the skirt as well, plus it adds a point of interest and texture as well as defining my shape. I chose this bluish purple agate necklace as the skirt has just a little bit of this color in it too. 

My bag is thrifted and you can see I've used it before in this post. This dark olive bag from Talbots has two handles. One allows you to use it as a top handle hobo bag and the other as a cross body bag. It is nice to have options. 

I was really stumped when it came to what shoes to wear. My casual side won out in the end and I went for the combat boots. These are thrifted and are Falls Creek brand. Falls Creek is a brand sold at Meijer

I thought this was a fun outfit for fall. It is comfy, cozy and for cooler weather could be made wearable by swapping out the short sleeve stretchy tee for a long sleeve top and adding heavier tights under the skirt. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. I've included a few shopping links for Tawny Port and Golden Lime. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Have a great week and don't forget to stop back on Thursday for another Fun Fall Look.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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

Fun Fall Look - Blanket Scarf

Until this last spring I had never owned a blanket scarf. Last fall and winter when I saw all sorts of my favorite bloggers showing off their warm, fuzzy scarves I kept thinking I need to get one of these. It wasn't until my hubby and I visited The British Tea Garden in Tecumseh, Michigan that I found the exact one I wanted. Our fun lunch date included delicious food and our choice of tea. They also had a cute little gift shop which I had to peruse while we were waiting to be seated. This is the blanket scarf I bought on clearance. 

What makes a blanket scarf different from other scarves. There are two main characteristics. The first is that the scarf is a large square. I believe this one is five feet by five feet. The second is that the material is heavier, but soft enough to wrap around our necks or shoulders. 

For this post I styled my blanket scarf for a casual look that could be worn on a date with my hubby or shopping with a friend. 

I've been seeing cropped pants everywhere, especially distressed denim with frayed hems. I guess I'm right on trend in that department. These Vera Wang pants are thrifted. I wasn't too keen on the whole distressed pants trend, but I have come over to the dark side. Ha, ha. Personally, this is as much distressing as I need. No holes revealing pasty flesh for this girl. Although small holes and a cute pair of tights would be okay. That's just me!

I thought it would be fun to pair the jeans with a dressier jacket/blazer that is also thrifted. I had been wondering how exactly to style this jacket, but when I saw the scarf next to it, I knew it would be the perfect pairing.

This jacket is not meant to be worn as outerwear as it is very light and unlined. It may have been part of a pant suit or went with a skirt. I like wearing jackets like this. They provide an added layer of warmth, especially when I work. Our office is chilly all year round. 

Under the jacket I wore one of my winter sweaters tunics. It has more of an open weave, so isn't too heavy. If I wore it alone, I would have added a cami or tank underneath. 

The following pictures show another way to style this scarf. 

For shoes I chose my black heeled ankle boots. 

I didn't go wild with my accessories as I wanted the scarf to be the focal point. A fun ring with fall colors and a gold bracelet were my only jewelry. 

I thought adding this red/berry colored bag would be a great pop of color against this otherwise subdued outfit. Another thrift store find, I love the color of this purse. It has the roominess of a tote, but also has organizational compartments for all the extras. Thrift stores are great places to find purses, even pricer name brands like Coach. Just be sure you know your brand before you buy. 

So that is a look at my blanket scarf outfit. I can't wait until it gets a little chillier so I can wear this cozy piece more often. Do you have a blanket scarf? How do you like to wear yours?

Here are a few shopping links for blanket scarves. If you purchase an item through my site I get a little bit of a kick back. While my blog is just a hobby right now, it would be awesome if it made a little bit of money too. Ha, ha. 

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

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend! 

Pantone Fall 2017 - The New York Palette - Marina and Navy Peony

I wan't sure about pairing the two blues together that appear on the New York palette, but after mulling it over, I decided to give it a try. Navy Peony is the only color that appeared on both the Pantone London palette and the New York palette this fall. While many of the other colors came close to being similar such as Grenadine and Scarlet Flame or Butterum, Toast and Copper Tan, Navy Peony seemed to be embraced all over. I have heard it said that navy is the new black and is a go to for styling an outfit that is classic and slimming. 

Marina is a lighter blue and reminded me of the beautiful fall sky on a sunny day. Going along with that idea, I decided to add white pants, keeping the outfit light and bright, but still filled with warm layers for a perfect fall transitional outfit. 

For my Navy Peony piece I chose an Isaac Mizrahi denim dress that I found at a thrift store. This dress was made for Target, but Mizrahi no longer has an affiliation with Target. I thought the dress, which comes with an attached belt would make a great jumper or, as in this case, the perfect cool weather longer length vest. It has a row of white buttons up the front and two roomy pockets at the sides. For this outfit I left it unbelted and open. Here is a navy longer length utility vest that would work. 

The Marina button up top is a thrifted Dana Buchman brand from Kohl's. I was looking for a few blouses that I could wear out or tucked in, but that didn't have a lot of bulk to them. This is a silky poly blend and layers well under the heavier vest. 

The pants I have styled before on the blog and are Gloria Vanderbilt boot cut jeans. I'll list a few other shopping links at the end for similar options.

We took these pictures at a local Toledo Metropark named Wildwood. We are very fortunate to have numerous beautiful parks throughout the Toledo area boasting great walking trails and historicbuildings such as this old school house which is still used for various events. 

To keep my outfit still connected to the changing colors of fall, I decided to add a few cognac or Butterum accessories. 

The boots are thrifted Aerosoles and the bag is thrifted New Directions. Here are a cute pair of similar colored boots from DSW. Here is a cute bag from Nordstrom Rack. This color is perfect for fall, not to too dark and not too light. It gives any outfit a warm, toasty feel. 

i also went for the browns in my simple bead necklace and hinged bead bracelet. 

What do you think of this color combination? Do you have many navy pieces in your closet? Be sure to take them out and start wearing them and you'll be right in style. I'd love to hear from you either in the comments section below or leave me a message on Facebook. You can also follow me on Instagram and Pinterest. I appreciate all your support.

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

Join me Thursday where I will be feature another Fun Fall Look. See you then.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Fun Fall Look - Floral Bomber Jacket

For the next few Thursdays, I thought it would be fun to show off some of my own fall fashion ideas, using some of the current trends. For each featured piece, I'll include a few shopping links for you to look at as well. That way if you are inspired by the looks I show you, you can find a similar piece for yourself. I try to keep the links connected to stores that offer clothing choices at a little lower price point and places, I feel, have trustworthy brands.

This week's look was one that I wore to my 35th high school reunion which was this past weekend. I graduated in 1982 from Alden High School in Alden, NY. I had never gone to any of my other reunions, as I was not all that popular in school and didn't think it was any big deal. This year, I decided to go and asked two of my closest high school buddies if they would go too. We had a great time and it was fun to give hugs and talk to people I had not thought about in a long time. Let's face it at this point in our lives we no longer care about the things that separated us when we were 16 or 17 years old. We are just glad to see each other and happy to have a similar connection in our history.

I opted to wear an outfit that wasn't real dressy. I was the girl in high school that always wore jeans and tees or flannel shirts.. I wanted to look put together and look my brand, without being fake. This is what I came up with.

I got this floral bomber from JC Penney. This is the exact one and it comes in a bunch of fun prints and colors and right now is on sale for $12.99. This is not lined and is not heavy. It really is a simple piece to throw over a tee or pullover sweater to add a trendy pop of color. The background is black and the flowers contain pink, green, blue and white. The cuff and waist are knit and it has a zip front closure. 

I chose my olive skinny cargo pants (Gloria Vanderbilt - Kohl's) and my Primrose Pink tee (Liz Claiborne - thrifted) as the basics with which to style the bomber. 

The only jewelry I wore was this layered beaded necklace in a shimmery dark navy.

For a bag, I decided on my medium blue, envelope clutch. I love the texture on this piece and while it doesn't exactly match the blue in the jacket, I think it complimented the outfit without being a distraction. 

And once again, my feet are wearing my SO flats. I bet you are getting sick of seeing these shoes, but I really can't say enough about their comfort and wearability for so many occasions and outfits. From casual to dressy to everything in between this little pair of shoes is a perfect choice. If you every are tempted to buy anything through my blog, this would be the item. 

I have a medium width foot, so if you are very narrow or have a wider foot, these may not work for you. The best thing is to go to Kohl's and try them on. 

I felt confident and comfortable in this outfit for my reunion. Some people were dressed up and some wore jeans, the point is to be yourself and wear an outfit that looks neat, clean and put together. 

How about you? Have you gone to your high school reunion? What did you wear? 

Have a great weekend!

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

Pantone Fall 2017 - The New York Palette - Ballet Slipper and Neutral Gray

This week's color combo is a blend of soft shades of pink and gray. When I first saw the Pantone Fall 2017 color line up for both London and New York, I was surprised to see light pink featured on both palettes. Looking back I now realize that blush, which is all the rage right now, really is a very light version of pink. Light pink seems to be another neutral that can be paired with just about any color. For this look I chose to pair Ballet Slipper with Neutral Gray.

I really am in love with this neutral combination. There are so many shades of gray out there, think names like oxford, charcoal, heather and steel. The beauty of this gray is in its ability to go with any other color. It really is a neutral. I personally don't wear oxford gray very often. I feel it is too light. Steel gray is sometimes too blue and charcoal can be too dark for some people. Neutral gray seems like a perfect go-to choice when looking for a gray to pair with any color.

I put this outfit together thinking it would be a prefect choice for a work day. The Neutral Gray crop pants from New York & Co. are fairly light weight and work well for these still warm days that we are having here in the mid-west. I've styled these before here and here

To capture the Ballet Slipper pink I found this Neiman Marcus silk sweater set at a thrift store a few months ago. This is one reason I shop thrift stores so often. I would have never shopped Neiman Marcus as they are way above my pay grade, however I was able to find this beautiful set in a trending color for only a few dollars and it is in great shape. I have never had a sweater set before, For some reason they never appealed to me, or maybe I thought they weren't my style. However, when I saw this and then felt its smooth softness, I knew it would be the perfect addition to my wardrobe. 

To give the outfit more of a fall feel, I decided to add a bag and necklaces that herald a coppery orange color. 

Once again, I chose my SO ballet flats. For work I almost always wear a flat shoe. Heels just aren't as practical for moving heavy textbooks. Here is the same style and it comes in a variety of colors at Kohl's.

What do you think of these colors? Do you think they are too summery or do you feel they work well for a transitional outfit?

While we tend to move toward darker colors for fall, I think it is important to remain open to new ways of looking at our wardrobes and the colors we are used to wearing for each season. Either one of these colors would pair well with the rusty oranges, deep wines or dark pines that we are used to seeing in the fall. Be creative and try pairing your pink top with those burgundy skinny jeans. Or pull out that chunky neutral gray sweater and wear it over a dark green pair of leggings. You'll suddenly find you have even more outfits than you thought. 

I always appreciate your comments. Be sure to leave me some love below. Also check out my Instagram and Pinterest pages too. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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

Fall 2017 Trends - Textures

A few weeks ago, I was reading a post from Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy. You might recall that Liz and I did a collaboration back in the spring on the Pantone 2017 Spring colors. You can see our posts here and here. Earlier in September Liz posted an article entitled, Texture is Trending this Fall at dressbarnClick on the title and it will take you to her post. Texture is, indeed, trending this fall, not only at dressbarn, but all over. Liz inspired me, like she often does, to do my own post using a few textured pieces that I already had in my closet.

Texture 1 - Lace

Lace seems to be around to stay. I've been seeing it in stores for a few seasons now, so I decided to show you one of my favorite lace pieces. 

For these pics today, I decided to wear the same pair of Daisy Fuentes pants from Kohls for each outfit. It appears that Kohls no longer carries the Fuentes line. Here is a similar look. 

This lace top I bought a number of years ago. It is Apt. 9 brand (Kohls) and is made of a stretch lace that is easy to get on and off. I just threw a tank top of a similar color underneath, but it would look pretty with colored camis or tanks as well. The Victorian neckline is not at all binding. These types of necklines are also in this fall. 

In this picture you can see the detail on the top. It really can be an elegant piece to wear, whether you dress it up or down. 

I decided on the gold, woven clutch as a little bit of extra texture. 

Here are some shopping options for lace tops. I love that middle one from Anthropologie.

Texture 2 - Knits

Cozy knits are once again the rage this fall. I am looking forward to cooler weather so I can start wearing more layers and snuggle into the warmth of all manner of sweaters, scarves and boots. 

For this look I pulled an oversized pullover out of my closet that I got a few years ago from Charlotte Russe. I love the color of this sweater. It is also heavy, but not overwhelmingly so. The perfect choice for this time of year when temps are just starting to fall. After our week long heat wave here in the mid west, the weather looks to be heading in the fall direction soon. 

For this look, I also added a faux fur infinity scarf, recently thrifted. Fur is another texture that is trending right now. When I spotted this little leopard number (pun intended), I knew it was going home with me. Leopard is still in. Let's see, leopard and fur in a scarf - sold!

You can't see them, but I am also wearing my leopard flats from Christopher and Banks. It looks like is is time to do some raking.

Here are some shopping options for cozy knits and fur.

Texture 3 - Velvet

Velvet is another trend that seems to be making a big come back. We saw it last fall/winter and here it is again. Almost every clothing store add that I see has several styles made in velvet or what we would call faux velvet. You can find, dresses, tops, jackets and more made in this soft, shimmery material.

For this shoot, I chose a Christopher and Banks top that I got at the end of the season last year, so this was my first opportunity to wear it. 

Velvet is always a classic look and just like lace you can dress it up or dress it down. This particular top has an embellished neckline, so I chose to not wear any necklaces. I did, however, throw on a couple of bracelets. You can also see the sleeves are slit, which adds interest. 

Since I was going for a more monochrome look, I added my silvery clutch and pewter heels, to keep the look simple.

Here area few shopping links for velvet tops and shoes. Aren't they fun?

i hope you enjoyed this look at some of the texture trends for this fall. Which is your favorite and why? I'd love to hear from you. Leave me a comment in the comments box here on the blog, or you can leave me a comment on Facebook.

Don't forget to check out my Pinterest and Instagram pages as well. I try to add new things at least once or twice a week. 

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

Thanks for stopping by the blog and have a great fall weekend!