Happy Memorial Day

Hello and thanks for stopping by my blog this week!

Happy Memorial Day to those of you in the US,

 and I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend, all around the world 

The Memorial Day holiday kicks off the unofficial beginning of the summer season

It is hard to believe that summer is almost here,

since throughout April and May this year we have had unusually chilly and rainy weather

in this part of the country

I wonder what happened to spring. Did Mother Nature skip it this year?

Anyway, for this post I am wearing two outfits in red, white and blue

in keeping with the colors of this patriotic holiday

My first look has a nautical theme, which is a favorite of mine,

 especially during the summer months

We live on an island that is on a peninsula, so water surrounds us-

so nautical is truly a way of life!

 Wearing a navy blue and white striped blouse is a modified boat neck style

with shoulder buttons and a navy blue yolk

Paired with a white linen skirt, the perfect warm weather color and fabric,

 in a button front midi style

This skirt has big flapped patch pockets-a detail that gets extra stars!

Sailor Di

Carrying a red pouch style drawcord handle bag

This kind of bag reminds me of something to carry a picnic lunch in-perfect!

 

I chose jewelry to go along with the nautical theme of the outfit

A red enamel anchor shaped necklace, silver tone link cuff bracelet 

and faceted dome stud earrings

To complete this leap into summer, 

I got out my blue and white striped lace up espadrilles to wear 

Here's another casual holiday outfit in patriotic red and navy blue

Wearing a red 3/4 sleeve knit top paired with dark wash flared denim jeans

 Going a bit nautical, and a bit 60's/70's throw back, with the wide flare jeans!

Carrying the same bag as the first outfit

Butterflies are big for the spring and summer season this year, as are all things Y2K

This butterfly pendant is from the 1970's, though

It is silver plated and I purchased it from a vintage shop in it's original box

 It has two other interchangeable pendants for the chain, an owl and a fish

The other jewelry pictured is a much loved and worn silver tone knot bracelet

and large hoop earrings

Ring and braid detail leather belt

and a festive red and blue striped hair band 

Metallic perforated stacked wooden heel slides to finish the look

A Memorial Day holiday outfit from the past, 2019

Some sweet bakery treats for the occasion!

Hope everyone enjoys their week!

 

Florals

Hello and thanks for stopping by my blog!

With spring in full swing, and the earth ablaze with color once more,

it seems natural to wear some serious floral prints!

I wear florals all year long, but the spring and summer months

are prime time for flowers, so this week features two outfits covered in blooms 

First, a favorite fit and flare dress by Betsy Johnson

 It has all the spring colors! Red, yellow and green on a pale blue background

Worn layered over a pale blue split neck flutter sleeve blouse

I always wear this dress layered, because it has a very deep V neckline  

A riot of a floral!

Carrying my round straw bag with a sea shell design

I will be using this bag a lot for spring and summer

It seems to suit many warm weather outfits, and can be worn two ways

It has a cross body strap that detaches, for when you need both hands free!

I chose a few simple pieces of silver tone jewelry for this outfit

 because there is a lot of busy-ness in the print of the printed dress!

A shiny chain link heart charm bracelet and flower shaped stud earrings seemed enough

Wearing white bow skimmer flats

to finish this fun look

I ordered this next dress online from Nordstrom Rack

It has a lot of nice details that I adore,

like a delicate ditsy floral print and short puffed sleeves 

 It also has a long asymmetrical hem with two swishy tiers of ruffles

So what's not to love?

 It's the color I'm not so crazy about

 It's a wash out on me, but would be great on someone with a warm skin tone  

It is difficult to interpret shades of color on the computer

Sometimes the color name is helpful, 

and gives clues about what the shade will look like in person, 

but not always

 This dress is more of a rusty brownish red than I thought it would be   

I think a might try styling it layered under a jacket or sweater in the fall,

since the color has more of an autumnal vibe, alway 

I chose gold tone jewelry to accessorize 

My initial necklace, a curved open cuff bracelet 

and open circle earrings

Carrying my tan and brown embossed vintage clutch

 and adding a taupe color belt

Taupe suede cross strap block heels to finish the outfit

 Here's the multicolor floral print dress from the first outfit

layered over an ivory bow blouse from back in the spring of 2019

I love the giant pink peonies that are blooming noe

as big as saucers!

Hope everyone enjoys their week!

 

Very Peri in the Mix

Hello, and thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

Periwinkle, and all shades of violet and blue-violet 

are flooding the shops and are all over social media now

   Pantone naming Very Peri as their color of the year

has really boosted the color into the limelight

It seems to me, Very Peri has been a little slow to catch on, though

 I have not actually been seeing much of it on the streets, so far this spring 

This week, I am featuring two outfits I assembled

 with pieces already in my closet in this lovely shade of blue-violet

 In the first outfit, I am wearing a periwinkle featherweight cropped cardigan

I have had this cardigan in my closet for several years

As pretty as the color is, I have struggled to incorporate it into an outfit

Now that periwinkle is so popular,

 I may be able to find some new pieces to mix with it

Worn here layered over a classic white collared shirt 

 with black and white geometric patterned straight ankle length trousers

 

My bright pink bag was a great purchase

I have carried in often to add a pop of color to many outfits!  

This Kate Spade scarf/tie is double sided, with contrasting prints

  I purchased it with a lot of possibilities in mind

I thought I would wear it as a neck scarf, 

but it has been a bit of a closet orphan like the sweater

These shades are perfect for spring this year, and hairbands are trending

so it seems perfect for the outfit-spades and polka dots!

I chose gold tone jewelry to compliment the outfit

An initial necklace, a simple hinged bracelet

and faceted ball stud earrings

Classic two tone block heel sling backs to finish the look

Next is a dressier outfit, with both the blouse and skirt shopped from my closet

A blue and white floral wrap style top with short puffed sleeves

and a full, two layer periwinkle eyelet skirt 

I chose summery gold tone and white enameled jewelry

to go with this outfit

The flower and leaf collar necklace is vintage, from the 50's

Worn with my favorite Betsey Johnson half daisy earrings and bow bracelet

 Another favorite accessory-

carrying my pink heart shaped bag

 

 White cross strap heels with braiding to finish the outfit 

A look from the past-spring 2018

This is the same Periwinkle cardigan as the first photo

in one of it's few previous wears 

 Very Peri in the garden

Hope everyone has a good week!

Spring Blazers

Hello and thanks for stopping by my blog-

I hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day!

Blazers and all types of jackets are great layering pieces for this time of year

Blazers are almost universally appropriate, 

and there is a style to flatter every every body! 

Oversized blazers are very much on trend for spring

 I have collected a few over the past couple of seasons,

but they are a little tricky for some of us to wear, including me 

So for this post, I an styling two jacket styles that I am wearing currently

They are alternatives to the oversized fit but stylish and classic forever 

For my first outfit, I am wearing a wheat color blazer

with a bit of a 70's retro vibe

It has the puffed sleeve caps that were popular then and back again, now

 and a slightly fitted cut

The blazer is made of a textured cotton weave that is perfect for the bridge seasons

I wore it on the blog last October, mixed with fall colors-it is truly versatile

It's hard to miss that there is a whole lot of orchid going on in this outfit! 

The orchid tank top and super full orchid midi skirt get a bit of a tone down 

under the neutral jacket

I choose bold jewelry to balance the bold color

A daisy chain mixed metal statement necklace,

 silver tone multi band open cuff, and dome stud earrings

Carrying my vintage reptile embossed bag

I usually tuck the cord shoulder strap inside

but it can be worn both ways

I have been wearing this cute knotted headband a lot this spring

Brown and beige asymmetrical strap sling backs

to finish the look 

A cropped boxy Chanel style jacket is a 

 tried and true classic that never goes out of style

This one feels spring like in a pink and white tweed

 with white braided trim on the pockets

Worn with ivory tailored trousers from J Crew

Why did they use a tortoise shell button on these pants?

I need to change it to a white one 

Accessorizing with a vintage pink and lavender feather design neck scarf

For jewelry, I chose a gold tone knot bracelet 

and pink pave flower shaped rhinestone earrings 

Carrying a pale lavender croc embossed mini handle bag

I have had these shoes for a while

but I haven't been wearing them much until lately 

I love the color, but the heel is high

  Getting them out today, because I found them to be a perfect match for this bag

 

Blazer love. A bright turquoise blazer from spring, 2018

I still have this one, and need to wear it again, soon

It's such a bright and cheerful color!

It's been a very wacky spring, weather wise this year

 Very unseasonably cool

Much rain, high winds and temperatures in the low 50's!

It's more like typical March weather for this area

The flowers, flowering trees and bushes are so confused

I'm happy to see the Azaleas 🌸 are blooming and beautiful,

 in spite of the mixed signals Mother Nature is sending   

Hope everyone has a good week!