Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2021 - New York Palette: Fuchsia Fedora, Leprechaun, and Coconut Cream

The colors I am showing you today were ones that surprised me a bit for a fall palette. The bright Fuchsia Fedora is not a color that I have very many pieces in, thus why I used it more as an accessory color. Leprechaun was also a different choice. I was thinking there would be a darker, more forest green color, but this bright, cheeky color is what appeared on the palette. However, that is one of the reasons I like doing this color series. It forces me to think outside the box.

Even though I wasn’t particularly fond of these colors for fall, I actually liked the way this outfit turned out. Even though the light jacket looks nothing like Coconut Cream, these colors and their combinations are just guidelines for us. Not rules…and just for fun….

I loved The Pirates of the Caribbean movie, and that whole idea of rules versus guidelines was amusing as it kept coming up in the movie and was used according who benefited the most. I guess we could take a lesson from that when we look at our closets. The combinations you put together are for your benefit. You get to decide what you like and what you don’t. You make the choice of what colors or prints to put together, and whether you want to buy into the trends or not. I think we can safely say those fashion “rules”, are really more like “guidelines.” My job as a fashion blogger is to give you ideas of how to make these combinations and hopefully inspire you to think outside your own boxes.

My LuLaRoe skirt was the perfect choice to build this outfit around. I actually had the thrifted striped tee already pulled out as a match for Leprechaun, and as I started figuring out which colors and pieces to put together, I remembered this skirt. I always have a little celebration party when pieces come together. When I try things on I do a little dance in front of the mirror and say, “This is it!” Ha, ha. The stripes in the tee are actually navy, but with the two prints taking center stage, you can’t really tell the colors are different.

My cream jacket by Sanctuary is a thrifted piece you have seen before on the blog. You can see it with a leopard print skirt and with my bright blue pants. It is actually more of a canvas than a denim, but it works much the same as a denim jacket providing light weight coverage for cooler weather and adding a casual touch to a dressier outfit.

You can see my Fuchsia Fedora necklace and bracelets. I think I have jewelry in just about every color under the sun, but you know, a girl can never have too many fun accessories! Is that a rule, or a guideline? Ha, ha.

My bestie, Stacey, gave me this beautiful, leather the Sak bag last time she came to visit. I thought the berry color went perfectly with the darker berry color in the flowers on the skirt.

These beautiful black suede heels never get to go anywhere, so I do like to bring them out and show them off on the blog. These are Aerosoles and I bought them a few years ago at a Clarks shoe outlet. I like that they are comfortable, have a reasonable heel, stay perfectly in place and look classy.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like them for fall? Now that I am thinking about it, I might need to revisit the idea of fuchsia as a fall color. I could see it with other fall colors like golden yellow, burgundy and rusty orange. Hmmm. I may have to get a little further outside of my color box.

Let me know what you think. I’m including a few shopping links for things of similar color. These are affiliate links and are brought to you at no extra cost. If you click on a link, I get a few pennies. If you purchase something through my site, I get a few more. I appreciate every click.

Have a great day!

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull with Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2021 - New York Palette: Illuminating, Fire Whirl and Ultimate Gray

Over the weekend, I became grandmother again. My oldest daughter had a little boy and we are very excited to meet him, as soon as we can. Obviously, with all the restrictions for visitors in the hospital, we were not able to meet him before he came home.

I am going to being this Autumn/Winter series, as I usually do with the New York Palette. It wasn’t until recently that the Pantone entity added the London Palette to its long list of color tools. Today’s outfit revolves around the two Colors of the Year, the sunny yellow, Illuminating and the classic gray, Ultimate Gray.

In all honesty I was having a hard time putting the outfits together for this series. I think most of it had to do with being plagued by this stupid sinus stuff and cough for so long. I am finally sleeping in my bed again, but I still have a wheezy, chronic cough. We’ll see how long it takes to get some sort of resolution, or maybe it has moved in permanently, but it is a pain. It is hard to have long conversations and I cannot sing at all, not that I really could before I got this cough, but it was better than now. Oh well, life is just that way sometimes.

The other problem I think I was having, was the weather. It was so hot, I was having a hard time really getting into styling fall outfits. I love fall, and am excited about that change, but it has just been slow to actually feel like the season to wear layers. Here in my area, by Wednesday, the highs are only going to be in the 50’s. That definitely feels like fall.

You can see that I only used Illuminating in very small doses with my yellow beaded necklace and bracelets. The Fire Whirl red tank top is a thrifted Loft piece. It is actually more of an a-line or swing silhouette, so I gathered the shirt underneath in the front, then secured the little “pony tail” with a hair band. The result is to give the top a more fitted look with a fun swirl at the front.

For this outfit, it worked out that Ultimate Gray takes center stage with just a few pops of Fire Whirl and Illuminating. My thrifted, plaid, Sag Harbor trousers are actually petites, so I expect they would be closer to an ankle pant than a crop pant, but I like the way it looks, especially with my darker gray Impo booties.

The next picture shows you a closer look a the Illuminating jewelry and the detailing on the yoke of the top. The gray moto jacket is a no name brand and I am not sure where I got it. I wanted to say it was thrifted, but for some reason, I think I bought it at a store. I really cannot remember. Is that bad? Ha, ha.

My tote bag was going to be a gift for one of my daughter’s one Christmas a few years ago and I ended up keeping it. Many times, I just end up buying too many items, so I have to return stuff, but this was a cheap purchase, I believe from Kohl’s and I really liked it.

Fire Whirl is more the color of my top, but I kind of liked the contrasting shades of red, as well as the two differing plaid patterns. It just gives the outfit a fun vibe.

What do you think of these colors? Would you pair these colors with one another? Do you have these colors in your closet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links, brought to you at no extra cost. If you click on a link, I get a few cents, if you purchase something through my site, I get a little more. Thank you for all of your support.

Photo credit Jessica Trumbull, with Rebecca Trumbull.

Oh, Olive! Utility Jacket - Workwear Look

Depending on where you work, you might be able to be in your sweats or pj’s. So many people have been working at home through the Covid pandemic, that people have gotten rid of many of their business style pieces since they really have no need for them. However, many places have opened back up and have called people back into the office. When I was working as an assistant manager at a university bookstore, I could wear my jeans to work, and very often did, but I could also wear skirts or dresses if I chose to do that. Usually, when we talk about workwear style, we are talking about a business or business casual type of outfit consisting of blouses, nice pants, blazers and other similar pieces. We do have a more casual type of style that has moved into the work place in many business realms, allowing their employees to have more flexibility and comfort. I would say today’s look tends towards business casual due to the utility jacket and the tennis shoes, and I would have been perfectly comfortable wearing this to my previous job.

As I told you in Tuesday’s post, I am featuring the olive utility jacket as my olive piece. This is St. John’s Bay brand from JCPenney. This jacket is roomy, so I can wear multiple layers underneath if I want to use it in the cooler weather. Right now, it is a great piece for overly air conditioned restaurants, retail spaces and business offices. This piece also has adjustable tabs at the sides to make it more fitted, as well as a double front closure which includes a full zipper and buttons.

Fall Trend Alert - Lavender

Certain colors are always trending for each of the major seasons and fall is no exception. Surprisingly, rather than the typical fall hues of orange, brown or yellow, we are seeing pastels like lavender and blush. I’ll cover blush next week, but for today lavender is my color of choice. My thrifted eyelet top is Old Navy brand. I love this light weight piece.

You’ve seen my polka dot skirt on the blog before. Amazingly with my weight gain and redistribution (aka spare tires), I can still get it on. Ha ha. This older thrifted piece is a brand called Outback Red. It is a great piece for any warmer weather season, spring, summer or fall. Not a full length maxi skirt, it is more of a tea length. Another plus, it has pockets.

I kept my accessories pretty low key, except my layered necklace is fairly blingy. I added a few bracelets, my white cross body bag again and my Steve Madden sneakers that I got recently at DSW.

Do you like this outfit? What would you wear to the office? Let me know what you think.

I hope you enjoyed this look. I’m including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great rest of your week!

Oh, Olive! Workwear Look

Tuesday I showed you a casual look with olive pants and today I am showing you a workwear look that might be doable for the office. We are looking at the color olive as a neutral. I know many of us have olive in our wardrobes and are becoming more aware of what a great color it is. Tuesday, I showed you how well it goes with orange and white. Check out today’s outfit, which combines dark florals and black for a sassy look.

I found this fabulous dark floral Time and Tru dress while thrifting on one of our trips. I had started really looking over the dress racks at thrift stores recently after seeing Instagram gal, jbowenandcompany using a button up dress like a kimono. It makes a piece like this so much more versatile. When I decided to do this series on olive pieces, I knew this dress as a duster would be a perfect topper for a fun workwear look.

Once again, my olive Gloria Vanderbilt skinny pants are the focal piece. This time I paired them with another neutral, black. My black v-neck polo is a sleeveless piece that I found thrifting a few weeks ago. Black and olive has always been a classic combination. Throwing the dark floral piece over the top really makes the outfit pop.

You’ve seen these Clark peep toe shoeties on the blog before. They are great shoes, I just really have no place to wear them right now. I know many bloggers and Instagram babes who post outfits they are actually wearing, but some of us have a more laid back approach. I would wear these and this whole outfit if I had an office job, but right now I don’t. Still, it is fun to have choices, and to be able to show you all a few of my fun wardrobe pieces, even if I don’t wear them as often.

I thought adding the light blue bag would pull out the light blue in the duster and with the dark florals it still gives the outfit a summer feel. You could have done the same thing with the light pink, yellow, or white. For the same reason I went with the light blue pendant. Just that little extra pop of color adds more interest to the outfit.

What do you think of this outfit? Have you ever worn a button up dress as a duster or kimono? It is a great way to extend the use of your dresses. If you are like me, you don’t have too many excuses to wear a dress. I know some ladies wear them all the time, and if my legs were less blemished by veins, I probably would too, but using a dress in this way still gives me an excuse to get more dressed up.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I am going to include a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great weekend. I will not be posting next week once again, as I am going to spend the week with my mom while my brother and his family are out of town. I’ll be back the following week. Until then, take care.

Spring Outfit with Orange Pants

Just like I did for the blue pants, I wanted to show you a new outfit with my Worthington orange pants. For this one I focused on a work appropriate look. With many people finally returning to their jobs I thought it would be a good time to feature an outfit that would be perfect for the office, especially as air conditioners come back on.

I wish I would have thought to get close up of the details on this thrifted Maurices vest. I snatched it up, because I don’t have any summer weight white vests and I thought the eyelet detail and the texturing on the pockets made this such a unique piece. It has the utility vibe with the patch pockets and drawstring, but is dressier.

You can also see my H&M button down top. I found this one on the clearance rack a few years ago and just loved the botanical print with its flowers, butterflies and birds. I thought tying the front shirt tails made for a more summery look, but one that remains work appropriate. I also like the soft contrast between the stark white of the vest and the more off white of the blouse.

I added a double layered purple necklace and a few purple metal bangles to pull out the purple in the top.

I opted for more neutral shoes and bag. I thought the outfit had enough color with the bright orange pants and the flora print in the top. The neutral accessories give it not only a summer feel, but a polished and professional look. If I ever go back to an office job, I would definitely wear this. My bag you have seen on the blog before and is from Walmart and George brand. My perforated peep toe sandals are Sonoma brand from Kohl’s.

I was pleased with how this outfit turned out. What do you think? Would you wear something like this to work? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to enjoy. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great day, everyone and thanks for following along on the blog.

Spring/Summer - 2021 - Wide Leg Trousers, Fantasy Florals and Yellow Bags

It certainly seems that spring has settled in around here. I am fully aware here in the midwest, the temperatures will continue to fluctuate at least through April, so I am not breaking out the sleeveless tops and crop pants just yet, but sunshine is more present, the skies are that beautiful spring time blue, buds are on the trees and the grass is turning green. It is a wonderful thing to see these changes happening.

My husband and I got away for three nights to our favorite Ohio State Park, Mohican. We love renting a cabin down there and hiking a few of their many trails. It is just far enough away to feel like we went somewhere, yet we did not have to worry about out of state restrictions or quarantines. I see that New York finally lifted their travel advisory, so maybe the pandemic is finally getting under some amount of control. We certainly hope so. Time will tell.

As I said in my previous post, I wanted to take a couple of weeks and show you how I styled a few of the different Spring/Summer trends. Today’s outfit revolves around a pair of wide let trousers and a floral cardigan.

These thrifted wide leg trousers are a recent find and are St. John’s Bay brand. I personally am not a huge fan of the wide leg trouser look. Don’t get me wrong, I think they look beautiful on women with longer, thinner legs than mine. I personally prefer a boot cut, straight leg or skinny leg on my particular frame. However, I wanted to show you what a wide leg trouser might look like and this is a pair I will keep. I am going to think about some other ways to style them for future posts.

You know I love florals, so I was pleased that florals were again on the spring trend roster. I found this beautiful floral cardigan a while ago. I haven’t actually worn it, but I thought the colors went perfectly with the medium brown trousers. The sweater is a brand called Joseph A. The fabric is a light weight nylon mix and with the 3/4 length sleeves it will be great for summer.

Belts are back, ladies, so don’t be shy about showing off your waist lines. Whether you are straight, curvy, oblong or triangular, a belt not only cinches in your waist, but adds a fun detail to your outfit. I have been keeping my eyes open on my thrift store runs, but so far, no luck. I have had this brown belt with the blush embroidery detail, for a number of years. I really like it, but unfortunately it isn’t real leather and is already showing signs of wear.

You can also make out, I am wearing a long yellow pendant necklace. Long chain type necklaces are trending right now too. I have numerous longer necklaces, so now I have even more of a reason to wear them. It would be even better if I was actually going somewhere that I could wear them. Ha, ha.

For whatever reason, yellow bags are supposed to be trending this spring and summer. I have a number of yellow purses, so I was happy to have an excuse to get them out. This thrifted messenger style bag is perfect for carrying all the essentials plus a notebook or two. That is just what this writer needs. You never know when inspiration will strike.

You can also see I threw on a few beaded bracelets that I thought went well with the overall look.

These low wedge heels are Clarks and I got them a number of years ago. Low heels and flats are trending now too, so get out those ballerina flats. Platform sandals are also trending, so go figure. Ha. ha.

What do you think of the wide leg trouser trend? How about florals? Do you own a yellow bag? I’d love to have your feedback, so leave me some love in the comments section below.

I am including a few shopping links. These links are brought to you at no extra cost. I get a few cents if you click on a link and a few cents more if you make a purchase through a link. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Have a great day!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2020 - London Palette - Samba, Tawny Birch, and Sheepskin

Today’s neutral palette is interrupted by the bold, daring color red. Samba was in our New York palette and if you don’t remember which outfit that was you can see it again here. In the New York outfit I paired Samba with Fired Brick and Sleet for a chic work outfit with a bit of subtle print mixing. Today’s outfit, once again, would be perfect for the office or a date night with your significant other. In this time of Covid restrictions do you get dressed up to go out, or do you go out at all? Thus far my hubby and I usually get take out and either bring it home or take it to a park and eat it, so I’m afraid I haven’t been getting very dressed up, usually just jeans and a nicer shirt. It really depends on the day. I am not sure what we are going to do when the weather gets real cold.

When I was looking for pieces for this whole fall Pantone series, I knew I wanted to incorporate this thrifted, red, Calvin Klein, sleeveless sweater. I originally bought the piece thinking I could use it as a sweater vest, which, seeing as it is a larger size will offer enough room to put a blouse or long sleeve tee underneath. It will probably show up again either on the blog or in my Instagram feed. If you don’t follow me on Instagram make sure you do. I show you more of my day to day outfits there and occasional cute pictures of our cat and pretty scenery.

My Sheepskin colored cardigan was another thrifted piece. I thought it was a good balance between tan and beige and will be wearable with just about any color. This is a thrifted St. John’s Bay piece.

My Tawny Birch houndstooth patterned ankle pants have been on the blog before. These are Sonoma and were thrifted. You can see them styled in the Pantone Fall 2017 series, and in another series I did on vests.

Since I really wanted the red sweater to be the focal point of the outfit, I kept my bag and shoes a similar neutral tan color to the sweater and pants. Both thrifted, the bag is New Directions and the boots are Aerosoles. Then I added pearls. I thought this made for a great work look.

What do you think of these colors? Do you think the more neutral Tawny Birch goes well with the brighter Samba red? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I hope you enjoyed this look and that you are doing well. For those of you who follow my faith page, I hope to have the next installment of my series on Our Unseen Enemy up tomorrow. Have a great evening.

I’m including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Pantone Fall/Winter 2020 - New York Palette - Classic Blue, Ultramarine Green and Blue Depths

The Pantone Color of the Year is Classic Blue , so once again we are featuring this medium blue color in the Pantone series. Back in January I showed you this color paired with a furry bomber jacket and plaid skirt. You can also see this color with a multi-print midi dress and with a bright pink top. Classic Blue is a blue that just about anyone can wear. If you prefer not to have this pretty blue to close to your face you could carry it in a lovely bag, or wear it as a brooch pinned on your lapel. I’ll provide a few shopping links at the end with various options.

I didn’t really have anything that seemed to perfectly match the Ultramarine Green, at least not until after the fact. My button up is actually a thrifted men’s shirt; a brand called Zylos. It has very small greenish blue print with white and almost has more of an aqua feel to it. Oh well, I have long ago given up on the idea of trying to be perfect. Ha, ha. You can see a closer look at the pattern, and see my thrifted, fringe, pendant necklace. Actually, the necklace is probably a closer match to the Pantone green.

My Classic Blue pants were a thrifted piece from shopping a friend’s closet. They are Ruby Road brand and I have styled them over and over on the blog. You can see them with a light blue sweater and scarf, Beetroot purple top from last spring’s series, an olive velvet jacket, a plaid bomber jacket, and a multi-print kimono.

I also threw on a few beaded bracelets, just for fun. Sometimes wearing a scarf or jewelry isn’t so much to help with the outfit as a whole, but just to enjoy something I have. Since I rarely go any where other than the grocery store, I occasionally throw on some bracelets, just because I have them and they are pretty.

I thought this outfit would be perfect for my round Nine West snakeskin print bag. It think it adds an element of fall color to this more classic looking outfit.

My shoes are my old stand by thrifted Relativity loafer heels. If I had an office job, I would probably wear these a lot. They are a nice height for a stacked heel and fairly comfortable.

What do you think of these colors? Do you like the Classic Blue, or do you prefer the darker tones of Blue Depths? Do you like the color Ultramarine? As it is in the graphic, it seems to be more of a forest green color, which I do like. I like how these three colors worked together into an outfit that would be perfect for a day at the office or a date night with your significant other.

My life would not be complete if I didn’t leave you with a silly picture to make you smile. When I was trying to pose, I almost fell down. Ha, ha.

I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope you’ll leave me a comment or two. Life is lonely around here, so I love to hear from my internet and long distance friends.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to peruse. These are affiliate links. That means when you click on a link I get a few pennies. All opinions are my own.

Graphic and photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Chambray Dress - Look #3

This is the final look from the sunflower fields at Hirzel Farms. My Massini chambray dress has proven to be a versatile piece and very easy to combine with accessories and toppers to create new and different looks. I think you could do a similar thing with any solid colored dress. For today’s outfit, I wanted to show a look that was more ready for fall.

This pretty, open weave sweater was a clearance find from Kohl’s. I have a number of Liz Claiborne pieces and I really like the feminine, lacy look of this cardigan. The sweater has no closures, which is fine, but what I have noticed is if the piece isn’t folded or hanging just so, the front tends to fold back. I solved that little problem by adding a small brooch to keep it closed and laying flat.

I added the leaf print scarf as another way to add interest. The colors of the sweater and scarf were very similar, so I like how this looks. This is an infinity scarf, which I like when I don’t want to worry about how to tie it.

Since the leaves on the scarf are black, I added this recently thrifted Scarlton bag. Amazon has a lot of these vegan leather bags. I have many purses that are not real leather. They are sufficient for looking nice and serving the purpose a purse serves, but what they don’t do is last. I have several real leather bags that I bought second hand that look brand new. Many of my non leather bags start showing signs of wear after only a few seasons. We’ll see how this vegan leather bag holds up.

My ankle boots are my old, trustworthy, Sonoma suede boots. The neutral color was perfect for this look.

What did you think of this outfit? Do you have a chambray dress, or any other solid dress that you could do looks like these? Leave me some love in the comments.

Here are the three looks side by side. Which one is your favorite?

I hope you enjoyed these sunny pictures. It was fun to take pictures with these yellow beauties. Isn’t God’s creation amazing?

I am including a few shopping links, so be sure to take a look at those. These are affiliate links, so every click you do gives me a few pennies. I appreciate every click. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Summer Outfit - Leopard Print Skirt - Dressy

I decided after finishing up my Pantone series, to do a few weeks of summer outfits, using pieces from my closet and showing how to wear them two ways; a dressed up version and a more casual version. Today’s summer piece is a thrifted leopard print, asymmetrical skirt that I scored at a Goodwill back before the pandemic ever hit. This is a Who, What Wear piece, which is typically found at Target.

These photos were taken at the beautiful Botanical Gardens here in Toledo, which are very close by. I tend to forget they are there, which is ridiculous, because they are so nice for walking, taking pictures, clearing your head and they even have a huge playground, which is now reopened. I may have to get my grandson over there on a day when it is not too hot.

Here you can see up close the uneven hem of the skirt. The skirt is very light weight, but unfortunately when I put it on, it became full of static. I ended up putting a slip on, which helped a little bit, but static was still an issue. I guess I need to add fabric softener next time I wash it.

Here is a better view of the skirt from the front.

For more of a dressed up work look, I added my polka dot Black Label -Evan Picone blazer. I have styled this on the blog before. You can see me wearing it with a burgundy tunic dress, a blue maxi dress, and a scarf print blouse. Because I knew we were going to be taking pictures at a location that might not have their bathrooms open yet, I decided to make my changes from dressy to casual as simple as possible so I could just do it at the car. When I was completely done with one outfit my daughter and I would drive back to her house where I would change into the next outfit. Yes, we get creative. Ha ha.

The thrifted, off white, St. John’s Bay tank top, was an easy top to just throw different jackets over without any fuss or muss. You’ll see that in Thursday’s post.

I kept my accessories fairly simple since I had some print mixing going on. My necklace used to belong to my daughter, and when she didn’t want it any more, I grabbed it. I like the ribbons and dangling beads. It makes for a unique piece. I opted for a simple wood bracelet and a off white clutch type cloth bag.

These Kenneth Cole - Reaction - black wedge sandals were also a thrift find and I have used them on the blog before. You can see them worn with two outfits styled around a bag. and an outfit with shorts.

Do you own a leopard print skirt? Is it one you could wear in the summer. I have two other leopard print pencil skirts. One is corduroy and great for cold weather and the other is a more medium weight, so could be worn in any season.

Did you like this outfit? Be sure to check back on Thursday to see how I used this same skirt and tank for a completely casual look.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit 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!

Spring Trends 2020 - Color Play - Neon

When playing with color I have found the biggest obstacle to overcome is the fear that something won’t go together; that it might look silly or clownish if I have too many colors boldly blasting their way down the street. Obviously, right now, it really doesn’t matter what we are wearing because most of us aren’t going anywhere. I still like to get up, shower, put on make up, do my hair and at least put on a pair of jeans and a top and sweater or sweatshirt. A few days I have even put on jewelry, just because I could. It really doesn’t matter if anyone else sees us. It comes down to what makes you feel happier and more comfortable during this difficult time.

Since neon is once again trending on the runways this spring and summer, I decided to look to Pinterest for some inspiration. As most of you know, when you want to find something on Pinterest you just go to the website and search. I put in neon outfits and got all sorts of ideas, some of which were definitely way outside my style zone. Since I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for, I made up my own outfit. This is what I came up with.

This outfit would be perfectly acceptable at most work establishments and certainly helps to brighten up a drab, gloomy day. These bright red thrifted Faded Glory pants made their blog debut a few weeks ago in last months Color Play post.

This pale neon yellow short sleeve v-neck sweater was a Gap thrift find a few years ago. It is a very comfortable piece and I purposely chose the oversized look. As I told you last week, I have been getting into more oversized pieces. They are comfortable and if chosen carefully don’t add the illusion of extra pounds, but actually hide some of the more prominent bulges. Ha, ha.

My pale neon green jacket is a thrifted Christopher and Banks piece. The 3/4 length sleeves make it a great piece for spring and even for summer, when you need a little something extra for overly air conditioned offices and restaurants.

I thought the addition of this scarf was the perfect way to pull the pieces together. You could think of the this outfit as a type of color blocking, where you wear two or three plain colors next to each other. The addition of a printed scarf and bag add a touch of visual interest.

I have had this large tote bag for a long time. I don’t even remember where I got it, although I think it may have been something JC Penney’s carried in their luggage department a number of years ago and they were phasing it out. I believe I got it quite cheap. It is very roomy and easily fits my computer bag, notebooks and other writing necessities. Now that I think about it, I need to switch over to this bag from my buffalo check tote that I am currently using.

I threw on a few neon orange bracelets, just for fun.

Once again, I am featuring loafers, as they are trending right now. These are a thrifted pair of Nine West brand. Kohl’s started carrying Nine West brand clothing and shoes last fall, so I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled these out and realized they were that brand. I’m trendy and didn’t even know it. Ha, ha. I’ll include a few shopping links at the end if you are interested in adding a cute pair of loafers to your shoe collection.

Would you wear an outfit like this? Do you like neon colors? If you want to add neon to your wardrobe, but don’t want to go all out, look for a bright neon scarf, sweater or bag. I’ve provided a few shopping links below for a few fun neon items.

These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Spring Trends 2020 - Polka Dots

If there is one thing that is prevalent this year for spring trends it is patterns. From polka dots, to plaid, to pinstripes, to florals and tropical greenery, and more, patterns abound. Being a girl who likes color, I am all in when it comes to wearing patterns. It is an easy way to add visual interest and colors to an outfit, with just the addition of a printed top, skirt or scarf.

Today’s outfit revolves around polka dots. Yes the cheery dots are back and bolder than ever. Most of what was on the runway featured larger more bold polka dots, but any dots will do and if you are feeling really bold, why not go for a head to toe polka dotted outfit, like the one featured in this post?

I think everything in this outfit I have used on the blog before. With the ever increasing emphasis on recycling of all sorts, it is a great practice to only purchase pieces for your closet that are going to get used over and over.

Let me tell you about this outfit from head to toe and provide links to other posts where I have used the same piece.

Polka Dot Top

This “top” is actually a short dress/tunic that I got on clearance at Charming Charlie a few years ago. The dress is too short for my taste, but I thought it would be cute with cropped pants in the summer, or used like this, tucked in, so it looks more like a regular popover blouse. It is fully lined, so no worries on having to wear a cami underneath. You can see I styled a similar look with a different polka dot skirt and a navy eyelet jacket here.

Abstract Polka Dot Skirt

I call this George brand, high waisted, pull on skirt, abstract polka dot, because the dots are more squishy than perfectly round. I really like this midi length skirt and midi’s are the trend for spring and summer. Go figure, we go from midi skirts to hot pants. No hot pants for this girl. I’m sorry, but hot pants are only made for ladies with long, slim, pretty legs, and mine have none of those qualities. Back in the day, but not any more. This skirt is fully lined, but very light weight, so perfect for spring and summer. I originally posted this skirt with a striped crop top and jean jacket. You can see that post here.

Classic Blue Cardigan

This ANA cardigan has been a warmer weather staple in my closet for many years. I can’t seem to find another post using this sweater, but I know I have worn it on Instagram. If you don’t follow me yet, on Insta, just look me up. You’ll see more of my every day looks over there and pictures of our cat, Plato and a few other things here and there.

Trendy Bag and Necklace

Large tote bags are making a come back, at least for the spring and summer. Like I said in my introductory post on the Spring Trends, I like a fun, large tote bag, especially for traveling, because you can throw extra things in there like a book, notebook and a bottle of water. This tote was a clearance find at Kohl’s and I love the texture details and the gold design. 

Another Spring Trend is chunky chain jewelry. I got this necklace a couple season’s ago and haven’t worn it that much. Now I have more of a reason to.

Classic Blue Heels

I’ve worn these bright blue Croft and Barrow heels numerous times before on the blog. For a while I couldn’t find them. I had packed them away in a shoe box, inside another box. I’m not sure what I was thinking. Ha, ha. You can see how I styled them with a denim skirt, a floral dress, a maroon skirt and white jeans. They are very versatile shoes and I noticed when we did these pictures they are starting to show signs of wear, so I need to be on the look out for a replacement pair.

Are you a polka dot fan? What do you think of this outfit? I’d love to hear you thoughts.

Thanks to everyone who supports the blog. I’m including some shopping links. These are affiliate links, and all opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Have a wonderful day.

Seeing Red - Red with Leopard - Leopard Print Blazer

I have always loved the combination of leopard print with red and burgundy, so for this outfit, I chose a leopard print blazer to go with a pair of red trousers. If you think you just can’t wear red pants, never say never. It really isn’t so much about color, but about fit. As you saw in last Thursday’s post I wore a pair of bright red jeans and while the fit around my middle was a little tight, the fit through the hips and legs was perfect. Don’t say no to a bright color on your bottom, until you at least give it a try. Be bold! Be confident! Color is our friend.

I will be showing you a few rather funny pictures in a bit. The sun was bright, which I absolutely needed, but after so many days of gloomy gray my eyes were having a hard time adjusting to the brilliance. Even in this picture, my forehead is showing its wrinkles as I squint and my eyes all but disappear. Ha, ha.

These Worthington trousers are a bit too long and I probably should hem them up, but who has time to sew? Actually, the other day, I did get out my thread and needle to fix one of my hubby’s shirts. I have a few other things in the mending pile, so maybe I will add these to the list. Worthington is a brand I have bought numerous times over the years, either from JC Penney or thrift stores. They seem to be a great trouser for times when you need something other than jeans. For instance these make great office attire. They are stretchy, but never look wrinkled or faded. They are medium weight so are good for any season and they are easy to take care of. They also drape well. I have several pairs that I have styled on the blog before. You can see this red pair with a long button up tunic and a open weave light brown sweater.

This gold dot blouse seemed to be natural choice to keep this outfit looking classy. I decided to tuck it in, but you could also leave it out. These days to tuck or not to tuck isn’t even a question any more. It really is up to you and is acceptable either way. This is a brand called Monteau and I got it a few years ago at Macy’s on the clearance rack.

I got this leopard print, Libby Edelman blazer, at JC Penney on the clearance rack. You can see how I styled this before on the blog, here and here. It is more of an unstructured piece and the sleeves are a little bit wonky, almost like they are meant to be worn rolled up rather than down, but I make it work. Have you ever bought a piece like that, where it had some sort of weird hem or problem, yet you make it work because you love the piece? I figure, it is a good reminder of who we are in God’s eyes. We all are a little wonky and have our issues, but He loves us anyway.

Gold was my color of choice for the accessories including a clutch, bracelet and layered statement necklace.

For shoes I wore my thrifted Nurture brand mid calf boots. They have a lower heel and the pants would have draped better with a higher heel.

I promise you a few silly images, so here they are.

I think in the first picture my face is trying to adjust to the sun. The second picture I don’t know what to do with my feet and the third picture I look like I am sinking into the ground or am bent over because I hurt my back. Ha, ha. Anyway, I thought you might get a good laugh out of them.

This one is a little better. Ha, ha.

What did you think of this outfit? Would you wear red with leopard? What sorts of leopard pieces do you own? Leopard print is here to stay and I would have to say, so is the color red.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. Every click you click gives me a few pennies and I appreciate every one. While I don’t write my blog to make money, I do pay for my Squarespace account and of course have to shop every now and then. Ha, ha. Thank you for all of your support.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Seeing Red - Thrifted Thursday - Burgundy Skirt

Today’s column is the first of a new one I am going to feature the first Thursday of the Month. Since I am such an avid thrifter and because I see so many other thrifters featuring their treasures on a regular basis, I thought it would be fun to come up with an outfit once a month that is entirely thrifted. I thought this outfit fit into my February theme of Seeing Red because it features my burgundy faux leather skirt.

This skirt is Worthington brand. I have styled this on the blog before. You can see it styled with a velvet floral top here; a burgundy lace top here; a floral top here; and a gray sweater tunic here. This just goes to show, a faux leather skirt is a versatile option for your wardrobe. It works great as a work wear piece or dressed up for a classy night out.

I love this cognac yellow, cowl neck sweater. It is Charlotte Russe brand. Since it is a wider, more relaxed fit, I decided to do the front tuck. I have seen numerous vloggers, (video bloggers) who use this method to create a waist line on an outfit, with a more bulky or voluminous piece. Since I added a jacket over the top, leaving the back untucked was no big deal, as you can see below.

This olive green jacket could be a shirt dress, a very short one. Ha, ha. However, my days of mini skirts are long gone, so I am using it like a light weight jacket. This is Fashion Bug brand. With its large square pockets, metals snaps and casing belt, it definitely falls into the utility jacket category.

I kept my accessories simple. The fun brass and bead flower pendant I found thrifting a few years ago. The cognac, leather, Fossil cross body bag is perfect for carrying the essentials when shopping. I could have went with some cognac colored ankle boots, but opted for the black ANA loafer heels instead. I thought it made the outfit look a little more professional and office ready. My dark colored hose are the only thing not thrifted in my outfit.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like this combination of colors? I really liked the way the yellow, burgundy and olive compliment each other.

If you don’t go thrifting, I would strongly recommend you give it a try. It is a great way to help our environment, other people and our own pocket books.

I’ve included a few modestly priced shopping links, if you are more of an online shopper. These are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Flat Lays in the Flesh - Animal Print

On Thanksgiving I will be starting a holiday series that I think you might find inspirational and interesting. That is all I am saying about that right now, just to whet your appetites. Until then I thought it might be fun to revisit a few of the Fall Trends 2019 that I talked about through the medium of flat lays. If you don’t know what a flat lay is, it is simply a way to show an outfit by laying out the pieces on a flat surface, rather than showing them on a person. I find so many flat lays look amazing, but I am always left wondering, what does the outfit look like on an actual person. I hope you don’t find this too repetitive, but I decided to take four of the flat lays I did for my Fall Trends 2019 series and show you what they look like, in the flesh. Let’s get started.

This first outfit features a snakeskin jacket that I found thrifting last spring. This was the flat lay from the original post, which focused on the fall trend of animal prints.

Photo by Amy D. Christensen

This is what the outfit looks like in the flesh.

It was only about 10 degrees outside and as much as I like to play the tough chick, I decided, forget that nonsense, so my daughter/photographer turned her spare bedroom into a studio. She is so good at being flexible and working with what we have. She does such a great job with natural light. There was no flash in any of these pictures.

This Liz Claiborne snakeskin jacket has a little bit of stretch to it, making it very easy to move in. I paired it with a thrifted Banana Republic sweater for this outfit, but you could easily swap in other pieces like a button up blouse, a graphic tee or a lighter weight turtleneck for all manner of stylish vibes. A jacket like this is a work horse in your wardrobe and can be dressed up with a skirt or dress and heels; or dressed down with distressed jeans and sneakers.

I went for a work wear look, pairing the sweater and jacket with my Gloria Vanderbilt cargo skinnies and my Impo wedge ankle boots.

I chose the yellow tote bag to enhance the sunshiny vibe of the outfit, making this a good combination for a cloudy, fall day. This was another thrifted piece.

I thought layering a few fun necklaces would make for an added statement. In the original flat lay I only had the shorter necklace, but just recently I found the long pendant necklace at JCPenney on the clearance rack. They don’t match, but I think the combination works well against the yellow back drop.

Do you think this flat lay turned out to be a good outfit? Do these pieces work well together? Why or why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two.

I’m leaving you with a few shopping links for fun animal print pieces. Remember Christmas is coming soon and there might be a person or two on your list, who would love an animal print piece. These are affiliate links, which means if you click on a link, I get a few pennies, and if you purchase something through one of my links I get a few more pennies. Ha, ha. I appreciate every penny I get.

Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by the blog.

Photo credit (unless otherwise stated) Rebecca Trumbull.

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

Hi everyone. The days are flying by and we are almost to Halloween. I haven’t even gotten out my decorations yet! That is how far behind I am. Maybe I should just skip Halloween and start decorating for Christmas. All the stores are doing it. Ha, ha . Well, I don’t think I’ll get that crazy, but this time of year does seem to go awfully fast. Do you get that feeling?

Today’s colors are what the Pantone Color Institute label a “vital red that adds a pungent punch to the palette,” and a “robust and tasteful” brown that, “introduces an element of heartiness.”

I was able to pull these pieces from my closet and decided to add the off white cardi that mimics Rutabaga from the London classic color palette.

This Cranberry cami was a recent thrift purchase. Most of my camis are pretty tight and I wear them as layering pieces under long sleeve tops and sweaters. I do not wear them to be seen, but it occurred to me that it would be nice to have something I could have more visible under an open sweater. It is Maurice’s brand. I am becoming a fan of Maurice’s. I see pieces every so often at thrift stores and recently I bought what has become one of my favorite pairs of jeans on the clearance rack. What really drew me to this cami was the pretty lace detailing.

These trousers are Worthington brand from JCPenney. Do you know how hard it is to find brown slacks? Now maybe that has changed. I have seen rust, and that more yellowy brown called cognac, but real brown is hard to find, especially a dark brown like this one.

The off white open front cardigan is Chaps brand and another clearance rack find from Kohl’s. Chaps has some nice pieces, but they do have a higher price point than I would normally pay, thus my reasoning for waiting for them to go on clearance. If I thought a particular piece is really worth paying full price for, I would buy it, but for the most part there isn’t anything that I absolutely have to have. I could shop my closet for months and come up with all sorts of new combinations, because I have so many clothes. Truth!

I kept the accessories minimal with my gold leopard print medallion necklace, a few gold bracelets, my snakeskin clutch, a brown belt, and brown boots. I thought this was a good outfit for complimenting with animal prints.

These are two colors that I can get behind. I love the combination and think these two work well together. What do you think? Do you have any of these colors in your closet? Do you wear camis a lot? Do you wear them more for layering or to be seen? I’d love to hear you thoughts, so leave me a comment or two in the comments section. I appreciate hearing from you and all your support.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to peruse. I hope that you find these helpful. Every click you do, gives me a few cents and I appreciate every one. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo and graphic credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Have a great day.

Pantone - Autumn/Winter - 2019 - Peach Pink and Biking Red

These are the last two colors from the Pantone - Autumn/Winter - New York palette. Peach Pink is reminiscent of coral, which never really seemed like a fall color to me, but I must remember that the old rules don’t apply…at least to some things. I know many people buy into the old adage, the rules are meant to be broken, but I don’t always believe that is the best mindset to have, and that mindset trickles down to our children and our grandchildren. As far as rules, I think that many of them are in place for our protection and our benefit. Rules like, look both ways before you cross the street, floss your teeth once a day and eat your fruits and veggies are not bad. Actually, they are for our well being. Rules about color, really no longer apply, so I am okay with wearing white after Labor Day and wearing coral in October. Why not?

The other color in this ensemble is a dark red. It reminds me of the Brick Red from my Crayola Crayon box. How many of you remember those wonderful boxes of crayons? I used to obsess about having all the similar colors arranged by shade in my box. I didn’t want to hunt around for Brick Red, so I put it in the “red” section. Ha, ha.

As you can see, once again, my colors were not perfect matches. You will see I did a little better with the London Palette, which I will be introducing on Thursday.

The heavy gauge sweater is Candies brand from the Koh’s clearance rack at end of last winter’s season. I find this is the best time to shop for those pieces you want for the season, if you don’t want to pay full price. I have found most of my non-thrifted clothing pieces this way.

My Peach Pink tank top was a thrift find from a few years ago. It is Eddie Bauer brand. You’ll be able to see the ruching on the neckline in an upcoming picture.

My Paloma gray pleated skirt was also a Kohl’s clearance find a few years ago and is Apt. 9 brand.

My chunky wood ring necklace is making an appearance again. I love this necklace my daughter gave me for Christmas. It is so handy for making a statement and pulling the colors in an outfit together. A necklace like this works much the same way a scarf will, but without the added heat around your neck.

My little thrifted Houndstooth bag works both as a satchel and a cross body. The shoulder strap is inside the bag, but can easily be taken out and attached so I can wear this for hands free activities.

I really like these black Aerosole heels. They are comfortable and stay on my feet with no slipping or sliding. I decided to add the dark tights at the last minute for two reasons. The first was to keep the leg more monochrome and thus make the legs look longer. The other was to make the outfit seem more ready for fall weather. The day we took these pics it was hot!

What do you think of this outfit? Is this something you would wear? Do you like these Pantone colors? Why or why not? I’d love to hear from you, so leave a comment or two.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Photo and graphic credit, Rebecca Trumbull.

Have a great day.

Wearing White - 3/4 Length Sleeve Tiered Blouse

This is my final post in this wearing white series. I feel this outfit really epitomizes the fall feel and it also showcases some of the fall trends that are floating around out there on the internet and in the fashion world. There are so many trends, and depending on who you get your information from, you’ll see some overlap and some very different ideas as to what is currently trending for fall. I’ll be talking more about that for a few posts starting on Thursday.

Today’s outfit features a white 3/4 length sleeve tiered blouse that I found at a thrift store. Just disregard the snarky look on my face. Ha, ha.

Here is a picture without the vest, so you can get a better look at the top. This top is a brand called Spense. You can find this brand at JC Penney, Nordstrom Rack and a few other retailers.

I didn’t notice until looking at this picture that you can see through the blouse a little bit, so it might be good to wear a cami underneath. It don’t think it is a big deal with the sweater vest over the top. I love the detailing on this piece. Each tier and the flounce on the sleeves are edged with a crocheted embellishment, giving the blouse an extra boho vibe.

I paired the blouse with my Worthington leopard print skirt, which I have styled on the blog before. You can see this skirt paired with a pink blouse, a cropped denim jacket, a teal green sweater, and a white denim jacket. You know a piece was worth investing in when it is worn over and over. Leopard print is still showcasing its fierceness this fall along with other animal prints like snakeskin, zebra and more.

To pull the whole outfit together, I chose this crafted fringe vest. I honestly cannot remember where I got this. Ha, ha. No matter, I like it and reach for it often. Fringe is another trend that seems to be making its own cross seasonal stand in the fashion world.

Accessories for an outfit like this can varied and colorful. You could go classic black or brighten up the look with variations of burgundy, red, blue or green. I wanted the focus to be my white blouse so I kept the accessories more sedate going for gold and brown.

Why not wear a leopard pendant with a leopard skirt?

I’ve had this gold bag for a very long time. It was thrifted and is a brand called emilie. Metallics are another trend that are big this fall. Be on the look out for pieces that shimmer and shine. If you are like me, you already have something in your closet that has a fun metallic sheen. I’ll be talking more about that on Thursday.

I just got these boots from DSW. They are Baretraps and I think they will be getting plenty of use this fall and winter.

What do you think of this outfit? Did you like this series on wearing white? I hope that you found some inspiration here on the blog.

I’ve included a few shopping links, just for fun. Every time you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through one of my links, I might get a little commission. All opinions are my own.

I hope you are having a good week so far.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Wearing White - Basic Tee with Print

Before we start spending time talking about the changes that come with the advent of fall, I wanted to spend the last few weeks of summer talking about how to wear white as transitional pieces. When we start thinking about changing our wardrobes from summer to fall, we are often hesitant to make that change completely. Fall can be like playing the lottery, trying to guess which outfit to wear for the temps and weather changes. Here in the mid west we usually still have warm weather well into September and sometimes even October.

My husband, who likes to hunt, always says if you want it to stay nice longer into the fall just go out duck hunting! The perfect fowl weather is…well…foul. Rain, low clouds and no wind make for perfect water fowl weather and cooler temps help as well. As has often been the case when my husband has bought duck stamps in the past, the weather suddenly turns sunny and hover’s at about 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Ha, ha.

As I said last week, I am trying to build a few outfits around my white pieces, partly because white is not a color I reach for regularly. I do like to wear white jeans occasionally, but my tops, skirts and sweaters rarely get worn. For a blogger, unworn pieces represent a challenge, so this little series will stretch my imagination and hopefully yours as well, for how to style those whites into great transitional outfits.

For today’s outfit, I started with a recently thrifted white tee with a hummingbird print. This tee is Time and Tru brand. I seem to be coming across this brand from Walmart quite a bit lately. My white tee from last week’s post was this brand as well. You can see that post here.

These striped cabana pants are from Christopher and Banks. They are a linen blend, so feel relatively cool in the hot weather and while they wrinkle some, they are not as bad as a piece that is 100% linen. The smocked waist line is comfortable and makes for ease of wear.

I added my denim vest from Christopher and Banks to bring cohesion to the outfit. This vest has gotten a lot of use on the blog over the last three years. It is pieces like these that become the work horses of our wardrobes and can be worn all year round. You can see how I styled it with polka dot jeans, a printed maxi skirt, over a sleeveless top, with a leopard print skirt and with a denim dress and a chambray shirt. You can click on any of those to see some of the other ways I’ve styled this vest.

This blue pendant necklace seemed to go perfectly with the other blues in this outfit. I like this simple statement piece. Pendant necklaces can be great additions for any variety of outfits. If you like layering, as the temps get cooler, layer a longer pendant necklace like this one under a scarf closer to your neck. Infinity scarves work well for this idea.

Once again, my bright blue Keds are making an appearance. These were thrifted, but are worn often if I want my color factor to pop a bit. For this look I was going for a monochrome effect, thus the addition of the blue shoes to elongate my silhouette.

Because I was trying to make this more of a transitional outfit, I thought it appropriate to add a bag in a more fall color. This bag also ties in to the maroon color in the tee. I found this soft, supple bag while thrifting. I told my hubby I wouldn’t bring home any more purses, but somehow this one jumped into my cart. Ha, ha.

Do you own a white tee that also has a print on it? I think it is a great way to introduce white into your wardrobe, but still enjoy a little bit of color. I know not everyone likes to wear white up by their face, so I will be showing you a few other outfits with white on the bottom, or paired with a neutral for a more toned down look.

I hope you are off to a good start this week. I am going to go visit my mom, for the weekend on Thursday. We’ll have some girl time and celebrate her 93rd birthday together. More changes are coming down the pike and I will share those with you as I am able.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.