Having Fun with Layers - Dressy Valentine's Day Look - 5 Year Bloggiversary with a Giveaway

Today I am showing you a more dressed up Valentine’s Day look. Although, so many of us are choosing to not go out very often, or at all, there still is the opportunity to dress up for a date night right in your own home. Obviously, this is harder for those of you who have kids, but those of us who are empty nesters can do this a little more easily. If you are a young couple, there is no reason you can’t have a fun Valentine’s party with your littles and reserve some of your own special time once they are in bed.

Today’s outfit revolves around a beautiful blouse I recently acquired from Maurice’s clearance rack. I love everything about this blouse from the high collar, to the pattern and the flowy, sheer fabric. Just like I did for my casual outfit on Tuesday, I am wearing the same under layers consisting of the black tights and black tank top.

My long, black maxi skirt was a Meijer clearance find. It is a summer weight skirt of lighter material, but it is not sheer, so doesn’t need a slip underneath. The brand is Ava James. I like the textured pleats which gives it the look of crepe. It also has a comfortable elastic waistband and pockets.

You can see from the above picture that I drew on the gold, metallic splashes that are on the blouse for my jewelry inspiration. There is plenty going on, on the blouse, but I thought a few simple gold pieces would compliment the look just right.

I added the metallic, blush moto jacket as my over layer piece. This jacket, I’ve styled before on the blog. I got it a few years ago at Nordstrom Rack and it is a brand called Coffee Shop New York. You can see how I styled it with a camo shirt and with a Mickey Mouse tee.

In keeping with the gold jewelry and the gold flecks on the blouse, I decided to carry my small gold, clutch. This is a thrifted piece and perfect for those special occasions that require you to dress up. I don’t have very many of those any more. How about you? Do you still find occasions to dress up?

My shoes you have seen multiple times on the blog. They are Aerosoles and I got them on clearance at DSW. Again, I apologize for the dirty shoes. I didn’t realize how much cat hair is just laying around, and I have vacuumed several times since Christmas. Those darn fur balls. Ha, ha.

What did you think of this outfit? Do you like floral blouses? Do you prefer maxi skirts, midi skirts or a knee length or shorter? Are you doing anything special for Valentine’s Day? I don’t know if we are doing anything or not. As we get older, it has become less about the particular days and more about making every day special. Don’t forget about the giveaway. I’m including the rules again, below. If you haven’t entered yet, be sure you comment and subscribe.

If you want to be entered into the drawing to win either a $25 Target card, or a $25 Amazon gift card, please be sure to read the rules and enter. Entries will be taken until 12 midnight on Friday, February 12th. If you are not sure how to subscribe, just click the link at the top of home page that says, Subscribe and fill in the information. Being a subscriber does not cost you a thing. It just allows me to sent you a once a week email, to remind you there are new posts on the blog. You can either comment on today’s post, or on this past Tuesday’s post. You can also earn more entries by commenting on Facebook and Instagram. Have a fabulous Thursday!

Having Fun with Layers - Casual Valentine's Day Look - Celebrating 5 Years

Here I am again, celebrating another year of Faith and Fashion blogging. When I started this little hobby back in 2016, I had no idea how my sense of style would change and evolve. I also never realized how doing this 2 or three times a week every week for the last five years would help my ability to write. Starting this blog, in part to help me write regularly, has helped me to become a better writer. As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect. I am no where near perfect, but I do have more confidence, not only as a writer, but as a woman who knows something about fashion. As I have done in recent years I wanted to have a giveaway, so be sure to read all the way to the end, so you know what the drawing is for and how to enter. This year there will be two winners!

I decided to spend a few weeks talking about layering. I realize we are all looking forward to spring, but we are in the middle of the deep freeze here in the mid-west and I really don’t want to be trying to take pictures of light weight, flowy spring outfits. Well, I really would rather be doing that, but I would have to take everything to Florida to take pictures. Ha, ha. No chance of that happening right now. Instead, what I am going to do, is show you a few spring pieces that I have doctored up for the cold weather, and that means layering.

I love layers. I love being able to wear multiple pieces from my closet all at the same time and it has a very practical purpose. Layers keep me warm. I do understand that many women are menopausal and that means hot flashes, so layers are not as practical, but what I hope to do is show you layers that are easy enough to take off when those heat waves blow through.

Today’s outfit revolves around a light weight pair of floral pants that I recently purchased at Kohl’s.

When I saw these cute twill joggers on the rack at Kohl’s I thought, “I’m going to buy myself something that is new for the season.” Typically I wait until the end of the season to purchase new pieces and then wear them for the remaining weeks of the season, or put them away until next year, but these were on sale and I had a good coupon. I love the floral print and the light weight fabric, which makes them great for spring and summer. These are Sonoma brand.

If you are anxious to wear your new spring finds, but it is still cold, I would start with an under layers. I chose a pair of black tights and a black tank top.

Most under layers will not add a lot of extra bulk, but they will add warmth. If you are suffering with hot flashes, don’t add the extra under layers. You will be warm enough with the normal pieces.

I wanted to draw on both the dark, almost burgundy pinks and the light pinks in the flowers on the pants, so I chose a light weight thrifted SO sweatshirt. Layers do not have to add bulk, as I said before. This sweatshirt is a lighter weight fleece, making it much easier to wear something over the top.

For my top piece I chose a light pink, faux leather, Christopher and Banks moto jacket. The light pastel pink certainly makes me think of spring with all of its pretty flowers and of course Easter outfits and colored eggs.

I added a few simple details like my fringe pendant necklace, which actually has some olive colored beads; a couple of beaded bracelets, my blush colored, thrifted New York and Co bag and my Spirit burgundy ankle boots.

I noticed after the fact that my shoes were all scuffed and covered with dust and cat hair. I’m sorry for the poor photos as well. My glasses were picking up the glare from the windows. I wasn’t going to go outside, as it is so cold and I was trying to get the best light, but didn’t take the glare into account. The joys of being an amateur photographer. Ha. ha. My daughter has been so busy and I haven’t want to add more work to her already full plate. That’s okay, because this is real life.

I hope you enjoyed this post on layering fun. Think about the spring pieces in your closet and how you could make them wearable in the cold temperatures by adding layers. What could you wear?

I’m including a few shopping links to get you thinking about spring. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Have fun shopping, and don’t forget about the giveaway. Just follow the directions and you will be entered to win one of two gift cards. Entries for the give away will close on Friday February 12th, at midnight. I will announce the winners of the give away on Tuesday February 16th.

Fall/Thanksgiving Outfits - Maxi Skirt and Pullover Sweater - Casual

To mix it up a little bit, I decided this week I would show you two outfits using a floral maxi skirt and a pullover sweater. I love maxi skirts, and I have a number in my closet, as you probably realize by now, because I am always styling them on the blog. When I was working, I would wear them every so often, but with being home, I don’t usually reach for a skirt. It is hard to clean and go up and down the stairs to do laundry if you are wearing a long skirt. However, I still like to show you options for styling a skirt, long or short. Today’s look revolves around two thrifted pieces.

For some reason I fell in love with this thrifted tiered maxi skirt the moment I saw it. Not only could I see the possibilities for spring and summer, but I thought it would be a wonderful piece for fall and winter. It is extremely sheer, and even though it has a lining, the lining is also sheer, so I do have to wear a slip under it. I imagined it with a dark sweater and ankle boots, so that is exactly what I did for this outfit. The floral pattern makes be think of greenery and berries for Christmas, but the gold speaks to the colors of fall, so why not wear it for Thanksgiving Day?

This thrifted olive sweater is the brand DIVIDED from H & M. It is simple, but soft and warm and I like that it is a little shorter than most of my other sweaters. Once in a while, you just need a different silhouette.

I also added this beautiful scarf with a watercolor type print. I used this scarf for my Color Play post on Seeing Red, last spring. You can see that post here. I thought the scarf went quite well with the floral pattern in the skirt as both of them have a similar color scheme. This is one way to print mix without getting too worried about whether the prints will clash. The prints are far enough from each other, but compliment each other with their similar hues.

Once again, I reached for my thrifted, leather, Fossil crossbody bag. It just goes with so many things and has held up so well. I just need to find a smaller wallet to use in it. Maybe I should add that to my Christmas list. Ha, ha.

My faithful, olive, SO ankle boots are making another appearance. I have no regrets for purchasing several pairs of these in various colors. They are on repeat in my wardrobe all fall and winter long.

The beauty of this outfit is in its simplicity and comfort. There are no zippers or buttons. The elastic waist on the skirt allows for plenty of Thanksgiving feasting comfort. The length of the skirt means you can go without hose or tights, but if you want an extra layer of warm you can add leggings or sweater tights to raise the cozy factor.

Is this an outfit you would wear on Thanksgiving Day? Have you ever created an outfit using the colors in a skirt? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment or two.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. I know this week is one of the biggest shopping weeks of the year and with the pandemic situation many of us will be doing most of our shopping on line, so make sure you shop early to ensure your gifts get where they need to go on time.

Have a great week everyone!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2020 - London Palette - Mandarin, Celery and Sheepskin

I am now able to start the Pantone - Autumn/Winter 2020 - London Palette series. I am not sure why the Pantone Color Institute moved to having two palettes rather than one, except that it is a way to bring in a broader audience to market to. Whatever their reasoning, having two color palettes to draw from to create outfits is a fun challenge for me as a fashion blogger. Some of the colors crossed over from New York to London, but I’ll be showing them again, styled with their London counterparts. Here we go.

Just as with the New York Palette, the London Palette has four classic colors. I tried to include one of the classics with each of the outfits, just so you know what they look like. With this first outfit, Sheepskin, which is a classic, neutral color, is reminiscent of Peach Nougat and Sandstone from the New York Palette. My jacket isn’t really a dark enough version of this pinky tan, but you still get the idea.

My bright Mandarin red skirt is a thrifted piece by a brand called Kim Rogers. It was not a brand I was familiar with, but seems to be sold at retailers like Belk and online thrift retailers like Poshmark. Once again, the tiered skirt is a fave of mine. I guess I was supposed to be a gypsy. I often imagine that I have gypsy relatives, because my dad always loved to travel and we have French blood via his relatives. Ha, ha.

My Celery colored top is a 3/4 sleeve sweater, and a thrifted Banana Republic piece. I decided to tuck it in and add the black belt to go with the black print in the jacket and my black boots. I feel like I should have tightened the belt a notch, so you couldn’t see the skirt at the top. Oh well.

This jacket was a fun piece I found thrifting. I like the bright orange flowers and the artistic sketching on it. It is a brand called Susan Graver Style. Susan Graver is a stylist for the retailer QVC. Once again, I learned something new and found a brand I never would have tried, if I didn’t thrift.

I kept my accessories simple, because there is a lot going on in the print of the jacket and the texture of the skirt and bag. You’ve seen this necklace on the blog before. It is a unique piece I found at an artisan shop up in Grayling, MI a few years ago, when my hubby and I took a short trip up there. You can see it styled for another Pantone color palette here. I also added a simple charm bracelet with rusty fall colors and my thrifted fringe bag.

Since we are now fully into fall, I am regularly wearing my boots. I have quite a pile of boots, mostly ankle and knee high. These are Massini brand and are very comfortable. I’ve styled these on the blog before with a black pair of jeans, and a slip dress.

What do you think of these colors? I think if I had worn the colors by themselves without the jacket it would have looked like I was advertising for McDonalds. Ha. ha.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look at. These are affiliate links. It does not cost you a thing to click on a link and look at merchandise, but every time you click I get a few pennies. All opinions are my own.

Here is the London Palette in full.

Graphics and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Favorite Summer Patterns - Floral

I was going to do a post on what is trending for summer, but there wasn’t a whole lot on the list that really appealed to me and if I know my subscribers at all, most of it won’t appeal to you either. Things like bralettes and sheer fabrics, backless dresses and jumpsuits, mini skirts and halter tops have a place in the fashion world, but I just don’t think they are practical and this blog is about real life and real women, so if you prefer trendy attire, there are oodles of bloggers and Instagram accounts that cater more to those preferences. I hope that doesn’t deter you from following my blog, I just want to keep it real here.

Image by Shirley Hirst from Pixabay

Instead of doing a more trend oriented post for this 5th Thursday of the month, I thought I would share one of my favorite summer patterns. Florals, for a long time, were considered a pattern strictly for elderly women, but I have seen a definite move away from ageism and stereotyping to a more all inclusive thinking on patterns and clothing types for all ages. I have seen some rockin’ 70 plus women sporting mini skirts and crop tops and I have also seen some beautiful 20 somethings veering towards a more modest mindset donning floral patterns and midi skirts. I love the diversity of the fashion blogging world, because now almost anything goes.

Florals are everywhere and on everything. While this post is going to show you a few of my specifically summer pieces, I have florals for every season of the year. In fact, some of my favorites are ones in the darker, more brooding colors of fall and winter, but I couldn’t resist showing off a number of my lighter, brighter pieces that work well from spring, into and through summer.

Tees

Both of these tees were thrift store finds. Floral patterns on tees are an easy way to dress up an outfit. Just throw on some jewelry and your choice of bottom in a pair of shorts, jeans or a skirt and you are ready for a summer picnic or lunch with friends. You can find a plethora of floral patterns at thrift stores and whether you like small prints or large, I am sure you’ll find something suitable. I’ll include a few shopping links at the end if you prefer regular retailers as opposed to thrift stores.

Other tops

This babydoll top was a recent purchase at Maurices. I love the pattern, of course, but also the dark teal color and the tiered layers. It hides all my Covid weight gain. Ha, ha. This piece I can definitely wear into fall with a chunky sweater over top.

This sleeveless denim piece was a recent thrift store find. Denim and floral are two of my favorite things, so how could I not scoop up this pretty top?

Jacket

Once again, the combination of denim with floral is the factor that drew me to this thrifted piece. This is another one that will see wear, all year round. Often in the winter I will wear a jacket like this, just as an extra layering piece to keep warm. It will look great with a pale pink turtleneck, cream sweater or light blue long sleeve tee.

Maxi dress

You’ve seen this floral maxi dress make its debut appearance on the blog this past spring. You can see that post here. You really can’t go wrong with a maxi like this. Just throw it on, add a few accessories and maybe a shrug or sweater and you are all set for a date night with the hubby or a stylish outfit to wear to church.

Skirts

I have numerous maxi skirts and quite a few of them have some sort of floral print. I keep telling myself I need to get a few skirts that are just solid colors, but I am always drawn to prints. Both of these skirts are really good in any season. The one on the left is fully lined and the one on the right is LuLaRoe and a medium weight knit, so no need for a slip.

Pants

You can see how I styled these ankle pants on my Instagram post here. I need to think of some other ways to wear these. What would you do with them?

Bags

If you have been following me for a while, you know I love to style an outfit around a bag. The top one is a thrift find and the bottom one is Vera Bradley. I love the color combinations for both of these bags. Do you have a floral print bag?

Shoes

These are the only floral shoes I have, but I would love to get a pair of Keds x Rifle Paper Co sneakers. They have the cutest floral designs. I’ll include a few in the shopping links.

I hope you have enjoyed this look at some of my summer floral pieces. Florals aren’t for everyone, but everyone could certainly wear them. They come in all manner of colors, and sizes, and vary from realistic to abstract. Floral patterns are an easy way to jazz up an outfit and get inspiration for assembling an outfit right from your own closet.

I’m including a few shopping links for all things floral. I hope you enjoy shopping. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Have a lovely weekend. Stay safe and stay healthy.

Actual Amy - Olive Pants, Graphic Tee and Cropped Denim Jacket

Hi everyone. I wanted to get back to doing my monthly Thursday columns. Every Thursday of the month I have a different column or fashion idea I will be talking about. I will show you outfits that revolve around the theme. Today’s column is called Actual Amy. This is the column where I will talk about outfits, I personally like to wear. We all have our own style. For some women it is classic, for others it is bohemian, and still others have a more eclectic style pulling pieces from all sorts of styles and making them their own. Here is a fun article, 33 Types of Fashion Styles…

I would say I am a little bit eclectic in my style. I like numerous styles and putting them together can be fun. I’m a little bit, Tomboy, Bohemian and Grunge. I also veer towards Casual, Military and possibly Garconne, which seems to be a masculine inspired type of fashion. What kind of style do you like? Do you stick to mainly one style, or do you like to blend multiple different styles? Be sure to leave me your thoughts in the comments at the bottom of this post.

These Merona pants were a thrift store find. They are a bit like utility pants with the squared off pockets both on the front and right leg. They are a little tighter than I would like since gaining a few pounds, but I am hanging on to them for the time being.

I like the look of olive with gray, so I chose my thrifted Paris tee. This is a fun graphic and it is so comfortable and cool on these hot summer days.

This distressed, cropped Rue 21 denim jacket is still one of my favorite thrift finds. It just goes with so many outfits. The cropped style has appeal because it doesn’t overwhelm an outfit, like a regular denim jacket might. I have numerous denim jackets and I love them all; just like I love my jeans.

My younger daughter gave me this pretty rose gold locket for Mother’s Day. Rose gold is a lovely hue for jewelry and a change from the typical gold, silver or copper colors. I added this mixed metals bracelet just to jazz things up a bit. I like to wear bracelets when I have a top on with 3/4 length sleeves or shorter.

I found this olive bag when I was digging through some stuff. Once again, I get these thrift finds, I stuff them away and then I forget about them. Ha, ha. Oh, well. It is like discovering something new when they resurface. This is Fossil brand. It is soft and roomy, and can be used as a crossbody bag, so I think this bag and I will be becoming fast friends.

I decided to wear my flat, black gladiator sandals. I like how the black in the tee and the black of the sandals balance the outfit. These are perfect for outfits where you don’t have to spend hours and hours walking, and still want to look summery.

What do you think of this outfit? What style type is your style type? I’d love to hear your thoughts so leave me a comment or two. I try to respond to all of your comments as quickly as possible, but once in a while I get behind and I apologize for that. I always love to hear what you are thinking.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look at. I hope you are doing well, staying safe and healthy, but also finding ways to enjoy life. Thanks for following along on the blog. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Spring/Summer 2020 - Cinnamon Stick, Grape Compote and Navy Blazer

Today ends my look at the Pantone New York colors for Spring/Summer 2020. Thursday I’ll be introducing the London Palette, so be prepared for more fun colors. Today’s outfit features the colors Cinnamon Stick and Grape Compote with splashes of Navy Blazer and Lark in my accessories. I felt like Cinnamon Stick was a reach for me, not because I don’t like the color, but because it seemed misplaced on a summer palette. I definitely think this rusty red is perfect for fall, but my brain has a hard time making it a first choice for summer. However, when I thought about pairing it with the medium purple of Grape Compote, I knew I might have something that could work for a casual, but fun summer day.

The focal point of this outfit is this Christopher and Banks tiered skirt that I ordered mid-lockdown to cheer myself up. I just love it and it is so easy to wear. It is fully lined, so again, no worries about slips or coverage. It also has an elastic waist, but because it is more of a band, doesn’t look so crinkled. I should have adjusted it a bit, as my paunch was sticking out. Ha, ha. I think I have finally hit that age, where the weight is piling on very fast and it is much harder to get rid of. I have started exercising again, counting calories and doing the 12/12 fasting thing, but I think losing weight is going to be a bit more challenging. I need to focus on better food choices and cutting back on carbs. How about you? Is the whole pandemic affecting your weight?

Once I decided to use the skirt, I looked for a rusty colored piece to epitomize the Cinnamon Stick Color. I think this Time & Tru tee from Walmart is probably a little too orange, but I liked how it ended up looking with the outfit and was a more summery choice than a heavy sweater, which were the only other pieces I had in this color.

My purple cardigan is an old Croft and Barrow piece, that I don’t wear a lot, but I hung onto because I don’t have anything that color. Now I am even more glad I did, because it goes so well with the skirt.

Seeing as the skirt had navy stripes in it, I added navy accessories with a simple bangle bracelet, bead necklace and my navy Grasshopper shoes.

I was going to grab my thrifted Simply Vera navy bag, but decided to go back to the Classic Palette and pull in Lark. My shoes have those decorative braids and my George patchwork top handle bag was just the right shade for the classic color.

What do you think of these colors? Purple has long been one of my favorite colors, but it’s funny that I don’t reach for it as often as my yellows or my blues. However, with this cute skirt, I may have to wear it a little more often. I can see this skirt being worn well into Fall with a few of my chunkier purple sweaters and some boots.

I hope you enjoyed this post and this outfit. I’d love to hear your thoughts so be sure to leave a comment or two. I do try to respond to all of your comments, so if you are curious, just check back in a few days.

I’m including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. If you click on a link I get a few pennies. If you purchase something through my links I might get a little more. I appreciate all your clicks. All opinions are my own.

Graphic designed by Rebecca Trumbull.

Transitional Spring Outfit

Before I get to my Pantone series I decided to do a few more posts featuring transitional spring outfits. If you are unsure what a transitional outfit is, let me explain by first giving you the definition of the word transition. Webster’s online dictionary gives several definitions for this word:

- passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another

- a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another

- a musical passage leading from one section of a piece to another

There are a few other definitions which are not as pertinent to our fashion content. The second definition seems to be the one that suits our needs the best, but I really like the third definition. Aren’t we a musical score, written by an Almighty Creator? The seasonal changes in our natural world and in the fashion world are akin to a piece of music changing and modulating from one section to another.

When it pertains to fashion we enjoy moving from one season to another just as much as we enjoy the change of the nakedness of winter to the covering bloom of spring. We enjoy moving our heavy, dark winter clothes to the back of the closet, or the bins in the basement and pulling out our bright, light weight tops and fun colorful maxi dresses. What often becomes a problem is that period of time when winter has not yet loosened its grip and the chill in the spring air is too cool for our light weight layers. The transition is this time period we, in the midwest, now find ourselves in. We still need our sweaters and our booties, but we crave our bright colors and layers that allow the sun to caress our skin.

Today’s outfit is another attempt at styling a look around a scarf. I have so many pretty, colorful scarves, so I thought why not use them as focal points for outfits.

The beauty of styling an outfit around a colorful scarf like this is it is so easy to do. This scarf has several colors including a light and dark pink, a light purple, a light blue and the orange. I wanted to stay away from pink for this outfit so I chose the orange, light blue and purple to focus on.

My Worthington orange pants have made many appearances on the blog. You can see them worn with a green sweater, a floral dress, and a print top. Worthington is a JC Penney brand and I find them to be a good brand if you are looking for durable, decent fitting work/dress pants.

My light blue Sonoma tee was a thrift find. I typically wear these crew neck or v-neck types of tees as layering pieces under sweaters or long sleeve button ups during the winter, but for a transitional outfit like this it was perfect to wear on its own, or in this case with a vest.

The above picture gives you a closer view of the scarf. It is a large square, which I folded into a triangle. The point point of the triangle is at the front. The two other long, narrow points fold towards the back and then around to the front. I tied those into a double knot over the bib part of the triangle.

I chose this open weave black marled vest to go with the black lines in the scarf. This vest is Croft and Barrow brand from the Kohl’s clearance racks a number of years ago. (I am not sure what was going on with my pants, but please don’t judge my crotch ailment — ha, ha! Probably because they are a little tight, bleh!)

This Nicole Miller bag was another Kohl’s clearance find a few years ago. It has appeared on the blog numerous times. I chose it for its purplish color. I also opted for a few purple bangle bracelets to add to the purple vibe of the scarf.

I chose my tasseled Dana Buchman loafers as I thought they went with the vest and as you learned earlier this year, loafers are back in.

Do I have you thinking about those pretty scarves in your closet? Do you have a few that you feel qualify as spring scarves due to their color and weight? I think it would be fabulous if you built an outfit around one of those scarves and told me about it in the comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts on how you put a transitional spring outfit together, using one of your scarves.

As usual, I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links, which means when you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of my links I get a few more cents. I appreciate every click. All opinions are my own.

I hope you week is off to a good start.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another post on my Faith page, where we are working our way very slowly through Romans chapter 8. In addition if you follow my Fashion pages, Thursday will feature another transitional spring outfit, this time with a new maxi dress I got from a local retailer before the stay at home order went into effect.

Have a good day!

A Look Back at 2019 - My Favorite Outfits

As we begin another year, I like to look back and see what I have accomplished over the past year. More often than not, it turns out that I didn’t accomplish anything new or life changing, but I did survive all that life threw our way. I wish I could say, I lost the weight I wanted to lose, or cleaned out that bedroom that needed to be freed of clutter, but in fact, what happened was, I gained a few extra pounds and the room got even more cluttered. Real life!

My husband always says, he won’t make any New Year’s resolutions because then he won’t feel disappointed when he doesn’t stick to them. I guess I can see the security in that mentality, but some of us want to have a goal to shoot for, even if we don’t attain it. I like having a second chance, or a third or fourth. There is something encouraging in the idea that I can start over, reboot and try again. I’ll save those thoughts for another post, but today, I want to take a look back at 2019, showing you my favorite outfits and explaining why. If you want to see the original post, just click on the link.

January

Spring Trend - Head to Toe Neutral

Why I like it: When we are in the midst of the mid-west winter, we are also in the throes of darkness and gloom. For this Seasonal Affective Disorder sufferer that means fatigue, lack of motivation, brain fog, major carb cravings and just a general feeling of anxiety and discouragement. I have found that choosing bright or light colors to wear, gives me a tiny little boost in the middle of the sadness. This creamy neutral outfit is a perfect color to lighten things up. I also love the textural elements in the vest, ribbed knit sweater and patchwork tote bag. In addition I like the way my accessories pop against the neutral back drop.

February

Spring Trend - Scarf Prints

Why I like it: What is not to like about an outfit that is crisp, structured and perfect for a date night or a day at work. I love the mix of prints. The polka dot blazer and the colorful scarf print top are the perfect compliments to each other. Add a bright white pair of trouser/jeans and you have a winning combination. The blue bag and classic patent leather block heels help as well.

March

Print Mixing Mash Up - Printed Skirt - Outfit 2

I loved the way these pieces came together for this print mixing post. All of these pieces were in my closet, which goes to show you don’t have to spend lots of money to have a fun, stylish wardrobe, as well as be a print mixing queen.

April

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2019 - Turmeric and Sweet Lilac

The thing I like about this outfit is how it made me think outside my norm. I would not normally think of pairing this bright orange with this more pastel pinky purple. Those colors always make me think of Easter eggs. Ha, ha. But of course, some of our fashion norms or rules or even preferences are meant to be broken, or at least experimented with. I think adding the dark navy vest and shoes kept the outfit from being to little girlish.

May

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2019 - Toffee and Mango Mojito

Why do I like this outfit? Leopard print skirt, check! Bright colored tee, check! Creamy denim jacket, check! Fun basket bag, check! It is casual and fun. You could change it up by wearing a black tee or a black jacket. You could wear tennis shoes or heels instead of loafers. Each little change you make, can change the whole persona of the outfit, yet you still keep the classic leopard print skirt.

June

When Summer Doesn’t Feel Like Summer

Photo credit Amy Christensen

While this outfit picture was taken in June, the weather wasn’t begin very cooperative. It was cool, thus the layers. I really liked this look. The bell sleeve floral top, the crocheted ruana and the light wash denim gave the look a boho feel. Adding the fringe bag and cognac suede booties nailed it. This is definitely an outfit I am comfortable in.

July

Denim Daze 2.0 - Ruffled Chambray Top - Dressy

When I found this skirt at Christopher and Banks, I had to have it. I was in the midst of watching Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, and absolutely loved the 20’s vibe and costumes in the show. This skirt made me think of those 20’s styles and I thought it would be a great summer piece. It was perfect for this 4th of July themed outfit.

August

Wearing White - White Sleeveless Sweater

I love this combination. Seeing as this was an outfit for transitioning into fall, I thought it worked very well. The white sleeveless sweater is a perfect topper for the swingy a-line printed skirt, but I really like the way the sweater gives the outfit that fall vibe. The colors go well together, even though the skirt and top didn’t contain any colors remotely similar to the sweater.

September

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Creme de Peche and Rocky Road

Even though these colors did not exactly match the Pantone colors, I really liked this outfit. The rusty color of the pants and boots were right in tune with fall color trends and the addition of the light peach eyelet top and gray jacket with ruffles gave the outfit a flirty, feminine feel. The leopard print bag and necklace with fall colored beads were lovely compliments.

October

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Cranberry and Chicory Coffee

This is a great work wear look, or even a date night combo. I think the outfit elongates my whole body making me look slim and trim. The dark brown trousers and dark brown boots create a long line for my lower half. The dark color is also trimming. In addition to that, I like the longer open front cardi. It is a lighter weight, which doesn’t add bulk. The snakeskin bag, leopard print pendant necklace and the floral lace on the cami added just enough printed interest to keep the outfit from getting boring.

November

Outfit Inspiration - It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

I just really like everything about this picture. It really says, “Christmas time is here.” I wanted my outfit to be Christmasy, but not over the top. The creamy thrifted “Joy” sweater is one of my favorites. I also love the pairing of the rusty yellow cognac color with bright red. The finishing touch was the Christmas scarf in my hair. It really gave the look a retro feel.

December

Outfit Inspiration - It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This is just such a me outfit. I love plaid. I love shearling and I really like how the gray looked with all of it. Turning up the cuffs on the jeans and wearing the tan, shearling lined boots gave the outfit a fun casual flair, while the snowflake tee and Believe pin kept the outfit on the Christmas theme. I’m going to have to wear this plaid blazer a few more times this winter, just for fun!

So there you have it, my favorite outfits from 2019. If you want to read the original posts, just click on the titles of each and it will take you there. Did you have a favorite outfit from my blog, this past year? If you did, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I hope to have a new series up and running by next week, on layering light for these drab, gloomy days of winter. In addition to that, I am going to revamp my weekly columns, so every Thursday will be a specific area of fashion that I am wanting to post about. I hope you will join me for what’s ahead.

Have a great week.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull, unless specified under the picture.

Spring Transition - Layering with a Vest

There are other ways to keep warm in the spring, besides adding jackets, although with our crazy weather, a light weight jacket is a perfect option. This week, however, I wanted to include a vest in the spring transition mix. Wearing a vest is a great way to add a layer, not only for warmth, but to add interest to an outfit. 

There are all sorts of vest options, ranging from heavy weight knits to lighter chiffon styles, as well as those that are more structured. Vests range in size from short to long, streamline to those with extra material made to cascade down the front. For today's post I am using a longer knit vest.

This long, brown knit vest is a piece I picked up at a thrift store. It is a brand called Fever. It has a belt, so can be belted for a different look. I usually wear it open, although, I think it would have worked just as well for this outfit if it had been closed and belted. I keep the belt attached and have one side tied to the belt loop to keep it from slipping out. Doing this keeps the belt with the vest and gives me the option of tying it, should I desire. 

These plaid ankle pants I have styled on the blog before. You can see that post here. I am a firm believer that as many pieces as possible, in my closet, should be able to be worn over and over as different outfits. Obviously a pair of pants is still a pair of pants, but one time it can be styled with a long knit vest and the next time with a chambray shirt. One time it can be worn with boots and the next time with sandals. Try to look at those pieces in your wardrobe as the beautifully versatile things they are, and start imagining all the many ways you can change them up to style whole new outfits. 

The royal blue, short sleeve embellished sweater is a favorite from Christopher and Banks. I like that I don't have to worry about jewelry, although in this case, I did add a simple bead on a leather strap. The bead has brown, gold, navy and bright blue flecks and really pulls the whole outfit together. 

I decided on my ivory Simply Vera Wang cross body bag for my purse choice. It is quality leather and simple enough to go with any outfit. For my shoes I went with my newer Sonoma perforated peep toe heeled sandals. 

Here is another shot of the whole outfit.

This is a great outfit for work, or even for a lunch date with the hubby or friends. What do you think of this outfit? Do you own a pair of plaid pants and you have been wondering how to wear them? Do you like to wear vests? I'd love to hear from you. I always appreciate the input and I always respond to your wonderful comments. I learn a lot from you all so keep up the feedback.

I've included a few shopping links below. Please feel free to click around and see what options are out there. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Thanks for stopping by the blog. 

Have a great day. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. 

Spring Transition - Floral Dress

When dressing for spring in the mid-west, one must think in terms of layers. Either the layers need to be in the form of things like jackets or sweaters that can be taken off, or they need to be in the form of light weight fabrics that will be easy to wear even as the day warms up. My first two posts in this series centered around outfits with jackets. The first was a light weight quilted jacket from Christopher and Banks. You can see that post here. The second used a light weight bomber jacket for the top layer. You can see that post here. 

For this post, I am leaving the jackets behind and wearing a light weight, long sleeve floral tunic. The dress/tunic is from H & M, but I found it in a thrift store. I love the navy blue back ground and the orange, blush and light blue print. I am pairing the tunic with my pumpkin orange pants from JC Penney. I wore my same blue SO flats that I wore in my Outfit Inspiration post from last Thursday. For jewelry I kept it minimal since the top is so busy. I'm wearing a beaded choker. My bag is from Kohl's last summer season. A large woven tote, it is perfect for the beach or for travel, when you want to throw in a book or magazine. 

When the weather warms up just leave the pants behind and throw on a pair of flip flops and use this as a swimsuit cover up. I could also see this paired with white cropped pants and a pair of Keds or Converse sneakers. There are lots of options when you have a dress/tunic like this and it will cross seasons. I'm sure I will be wearing this often. 

Would you wear a piece like this? Do you have a dress in your closet that you are not sure how to wear? Try thinking outside the box, by pairing it with jeans or leggings. 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. 

I've included a few shopping links for other pretty tunic type dresses. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Outfit Inspiration - LuLaRoe

Last August I was introduced to LuLaRoe by a friend of my daughters, who was a styling consultant with the retailer at the time. I purchased a few other pieces from her since then, and while she has moved on from the business to finish her nursing degree, I think the idea of a small business selling modest clothing for women and girls is a great idea. You can see my original post here, as well as this other post on a different piece, here. 

One of the other pieces I purchased was a dress. I was a bit hesitant to try the Julia dress (each style has its own name), because it has a more fitted silhouette. However, I'm trying to get outside my box (see my Thursday Outside the Box column) and be open to other styles and pieces that I haven't tried before. 

This lovely number has a blue colored background with aqua and white diamond shapes as well as white dots in the foreground. At first I wasn't sure how to style this, but once I pulled it on and felt how comfortable it was, I knew I wanted to evoke a casual, date night look. 

The LuLaRoe website describes the Julia in this way:

“The Julia dress is a form fitting, knee- length, knit dress with mid-length sleeves and a high neckline. Its simple silhouette makes the Julia dress a great canvas for layering and accessorizing. This dress is a staple for every season’s wardrobe. It is feminine, flattering, and you may not ever want to take it off.”

I think this perfectly defines this dress. I love the longer sleeves and it is so comfortable, I almost feel guilty wearing it, but not that guilty! Ha, ha.

I am wearing an extra large, because I prefer to not have a body con fit. You can see from the two photos below, the material, which is a mid-weight knit skims my hips, but clings in the right places. 

I went for my cropped slightly distressed denim jacket to wear as a topper. I think the jacket adds an extra dimension of interest and texture to the look and makes the outfit seem slightly edgier. 

Once again I reached for my textured blue clutch, which I felt paired well with the blue in the dress and the denim jacket. 

For jewelry I added a light yellow pendant necklace and a darker yellow bangle. 

While I could have went for a wedge sandal or a heel, I decided to keep the look casual with my blue SO flats. 

i was pleased with how this outfit turned out and I am excited to try a few other combinations with this dress. I think a chambray shirt tied at the front would look cute too or a cropped sweater or tee. I think there are many possibilities. 

Do you like this look? What do you think of this dress? Do you like to wear more form fitting dresses or do you like silhouettes that are more swingy and flowing? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

I hope you all have a great weekend! 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

Thursday linking up with Nicole of High Latitude Style. Friday linking up with Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Jo-Lynne of Jo-Lynne Shane, and Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots. 

Old Becomes New - Multi-print Tunic

For those of you who are just joining me on the blog, this Thursday column is focused on pieces that have been hanging around my closet that I rarely reach for. In March and April I devoted two posts to a suit wear jacket that I had thrifted from a few years ago. You can see those posts here and here. My final decision on the jacket was to get rid of it. I feel as though I gave it my best shot to style it various ways, seeing whether it gave me that "this is it" feeling. It never did, and after reading so many of your helpful comments, I decided to let it go. Cue Elsa! (That is Elsa from the movie Frozen, for those of you who still might be living in a cave, like me!)

This post I am devoting to an east 5th tunic that I got at JC Penney a few years ago. I love the colors, but for some reason, just wasn't sure how to style it. 

When I pulled it out, I almost immediately thought of my Apt. 9 faux lace black ankle pants. The reason I decided on these had to do with the weight of the fabric and that there were no pockets or buttons that might stick out. They are light weight, so perfect for a transitional spring outfit. 

The black knit knee length vest is a brand called harve benard which I got on clearance at Kohl's. I feel like this vest is fairly versatile, because it is an open weave and not too heavy, so can be used in most seasons.

Here you can see the bold, fun print. I wore a fringe bead necklace that blended in. I think next time I will go for something green. Speaking of the green, that was exactly why I chose my green axcess bag.

For shoes, I chose my comfort plus heels. 

What do you think of this tunic? Would you keep this, if it was in your closet? I'd love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two. 

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Spring 2018 - Recap

Now that my series is over, I thought I would show you all of the outfits together for a fun review. Just a refresher, the Pantone Color Institute puts out a palette of colors twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. These colors are the basis from which designers, both fashion and interior, draw their inspiration for fabrics, clothing, paint and furnishings. I always consider it a challenge to draw outfit inspiration from these colors, even the ones I may personally not like. Let's face it, not all colors are necessarily pretty in everyone's eyes. However, I think it can be good for our brains to think outside the box and try new things. 

These were the two palettes. Many of the colors overlapped and I made reference to that in the posts. I personally think these two palettes were perfect for spring. Most of the colors were bright or light, with a few more earthy tones, which combined rendered great spring outfits. 

Here were my outfits. If you click on the picture it will take you to the original post.

I was glad that Pantone added the four classic colors of Sailor Blue, Harbor Mist, Warm Sand and Coconut Milk. These colors are perfect for grounding an outfit and keeping it from getting too over the top with color. Is there such a thing? Ha, ha. 

I think out of all of the colors from both palettes my favorites are Ultra Violet, (no surprise there, since I love purple), Arcadia, Pink Lavender and Ash Rose. All but Arcadia fall into the purple range. What can I say, I love purple! If I ever had a sports car it would be dark sparkly purple. Ha, ha. 

I hope you enjoyed this series. Let me know in the comments what your favorite colors were from this spring's two palettes. I always love to hear what you are thinking. 

Join me on Thursday for my Outside the Box column. You never know what I'll be showing off there. If you follow my Faith page, check back tomorrow for more on my Mulling It Over series as we delve further into 2 Timothy 2. 

Have a great Tuesday!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.

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

Pantone Spring 2018 - Introduction to the New York and London Palettes

This spring, the Pantone palette is full of pastels. Both the New York and the London palette have a number of overlapping colors that instantly say spring. I am excited about introducing this series to you and even though the colors have been on the Pantone website since last fall, I feel that the end of February and beginning of March are the perfect times to introduce spring colors. 

I'll confess, up until a few days ago, I couldn't even think about spring. As much as I want it to be here, I know there are still cold days ahead. However, with a forecast of temps in the forties and fifties, I think I can finally blog about spring, knowing that it will soon be here in all of its splendor.

The above graphic as well as the photos in this post are done by Rebecca Trumbull. Rebecca, not only takes amazing photos of all varieties from pets, to weddings, to seniors, to models, she also dabbles with managing social media accounts. If you need someone to manage your social media Rebecca might be a good choice. She is organized, has strong business savy and knows her way around the internet. (She didn't ask me, or pay me to advertise, I get something better, she's my daughter!)

As you can see by comparing the two palettes there are seven overlapping colors that appear on both palettes. These are :

Cherry Tomato - an orangey red described as "...impulsive....demanding attention...courageous..."

Blooming Dahlia - a peachy salmon.."subtly alluring...with understated appeal."

Meadowlark - a pretty yellow, described by Pantone as "glistening with joy and illuminating the world around us."

Pink Lavendar - lavender with a little more pink and a little less blue. Described as, "..soft and romantic...that charms with its soothing sense of quiescence."

Ultra Violet - Medium purple with a "complex and magical" hue. This is Pantone's choice for Color of the Year. 

Almost Mauve - this ultra light blush is perfect for using as a neutral and pairing with any other color. 

Lime Punch - appropriately named, this color makes me think of citrus fruit and warm sunny days. 

In addition to these duplicate colors each palette has five other colors:

New York Palette

Little Boy Blue - the color of sunny skies and a feeling of "expansiveness". 

Chili Oil - think spicy for this deep reddish brown. 

Arcadia - a green with blue undertones, reminiscent of tropical waters.

Emperador - a rich chocolate brown.

Spring Crocus - described as a "...witty and flamboyant...fuchsia shade...."

London Palette

Palace Blue - not quite royal, but "...sparkling with energy...."

Ash Rose - a more earthy darker pink.

Nile Green - reminiscent of sage and honeydew melons.

Spiced Apple - similar to Chili Oil, but with a deeper brown.

Rapture Rose - a pinky red "...that brings flirtatious charm to the Spring 2018 palette."

In addition to each palettes' twelve colors, this year they added four Classic Colors which can be used with any palette choice for a foundation from which to build an outfit. These are the same for both New York and London and are:

Sailor Blue - dark navy.

Harbor Mist - light to medium gray.

Warm Sand - tan with more yellow tones.

Coconut Milk - white to off white. 

The following photos are some sneak peaks at my series that will start next week, where I will feature outfits using two or three of the palette colors as well as a classic color. 

I hope you'll join me next week as I begin my Pantone Spring 2018 series. Check back on Thursday for my Old Becomes New column. 

Have a great day. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Shelbee in The Spread the Kindness link up and Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style.