I have been welcomed into a wonderful group of fashion and lifestyle bloggers that focuses on styling preloved clothing and accessories in themed monthly posts (third Monday of the month). I hope that this showcase of secondhand items and outfits provides some shopping and style inspiration for anyone who is interested in creating great looks in a way that is sustainable for our planet and our pocketbooks. Today's topic is Summer Birthday Party...and I knew I wanted to "cele

Shelbee at Shelbee on the Edge is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the hand-colored etching "The Leader of the Luddites" published in 1812 by the printmaking firm Walker & Knight by an anonymous artist. As she put it: "While I don't condone violence of any sort, I still love what this illustration represents...opposition to technology taking away human jobs...I also love that this image offers some fun sartorial inspiration as well!"

Marsha at Marsha in the Middle is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the color lithograph "Stork Gather" by late 19th century Dutch artist Theo van Hoytema. She learned of this artist from another blogger, and she chose this particular artwork because "storks are beautiful, and the colors just spoke to [her.]" Of course, she had me at birds! source: https://marshainthemiddle.com I found it very easy to pull in pieces to interpret this a

Today I'm continuing with my summer closet edit... -Grey tipped blazer post is here; -Navy short-sleeved jacket post is here. The third item leaving my closet is this pretty blue t-shirt that I've had for 8 years. It's still in good condition after 19 wears, but this particular Henley style top is a bit of an awkward fit on my body, and now that it's a little snug, I don't love the way it looks across the chest because the fabric pulls oddly. I am not sorry to say goodbye to

This post is dedicated to the memory of our friend Iris from the Where Bloggers Live group. I think she would have appreciated this artwork! Salazar at 14 Shades of Grey is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the "Irises" folding screens by early 18th century Japanese artist Ogata Korin. In keeping with the summer season most of us are experiencing, she wanted "something summery and nature-themed" and thought this would be fun to interpr

I have been welcomed into a wonderful group of fashion and lifestyle bloggers that focuses on styling preloved clothing and accessories in themed monthly posts (third Monday of the month). I hope that this showcase of secondhand items and outfits provides some shopping and style inspiration for anyone who is interested in creating great looks in a way that is sustainable for our planet and our pocketbooks. Today's topic is Fringe...which is a tricky one for me because I don'

I am fortunate to have joined a talented group of bloggers for the Global Writing Challenge. Each month, we write about a very broadly defined topic, and the responses are quite varied. We recently welcomed two new members to the group: Amy and Cat. The newly revised group includes Deb’s World, Marsha in the Middle, Suzy Turner, Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After Again, Cat's Wire [Cat], Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa [Amy], and me. This month, I selected the topic o

Shelbee at Shelbee on the Edge is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the dye sublimation on wood "Triumphant Salute" by contemporary artist Matt Beyrer. She wanted to pick an artwork to "honor our nation's fallen soldiers on this national day or mourning" and chose this artwork because it had an emotional impact for her, and she thought the colors were beautiful...which is absolutely true. source: https://shelbeeontheedge.com/ Since mag

Today I'm continuing with my summer closet edit (the first post saying goodbye to my grey tipped blazer is here). My second item is this navy short-sleeved jacket that I've had for 6 years...I actually bought it at the same time as the grey tipped blazer so maybe it's unsurprising to discover that this is another woven zero stretch topper is also a bit too tight and uncomfortable this summer. It's unfortunate that it's leaving my closet with a cost per wear over my $1 goal,

With the official start of summer right around the corner, I have been looking at some of my warm weather clothes to decide whether to keep them or remove them from my closet. I have started my evaluation with my dressier work items [I am currently on a break from working, as discussed here]...not because any of them are too "business-y" to wear outside the office, but because my priorities are different now. I also haven't worn some of them for a couple years, so it makes s

Marsha at Marsha in the Middle is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the painting "Promenade" by early 20th century German Expressionist painter August Macke. She chose this artwork because she had heard of Expressionism but didn't know anything about it, and her search turned up this painting that she found delightful. source: https://marshainthemiddle.com/ The bright greens of the trees appealed to me, so I pulled out my thrifted Eloq

I have been welcomed into a wonderful group of fashion and lifestyle bloggers that focuses on styling preloved clothing and accessories in themed monthly posts (third Monday of the month). I hope that this showcase of secondhand items and outfits provides some shopping and style inspiration for anyone who is interested in creating great looks in a way that is sustainable for our planet and our pocketbooks. Today's topic is my choice of Hemlines...I thought that the Necklines

Salazar at 14 Shades of Grey is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the painting "Allegory of Astronomy" by 18th century French artist Joseph Fratrel. She chose this artwork because she was in the mood for a more classical piece after our recent modern artworks, and her love of anything astronomical/celestial plus Star Wars Day on May 4 ("May the Fourth be with you") made it the perfect option. source: https://14shadesofgrey.wordpress.co

I have been welcomed into a wonderful group of fashion and lifestyle bloggers that focuses on styling preloved clothing and accessories in themed monthly posts (third Monday of the month). I hope that this showcase of secondhand items and outfits provides some shopping and style inspiration for anyone who is interested in creating great looks in a way that is sustainable for our planet and our pocketbooks. Today's topic is Belt It...and right away I was feeling the challenge

Salazar at 14 Shades of Grey is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the 1994 textile wall sculpture "Whirlpool Frog" by Australian artist Annemieke Mein. She chose this artwork because it's still March (celebrating International Women's Month), she loves textile art, and "had to pick it" due to the spring-like image. source: 14shadesofgrey.wordpress.com Weather this March in Minnesota has been especially crazy with temperatures under f

I have been welcomed into a wonderful group of fashion and lifestyle bloggers that focuses on styling preloved clothing and accessories in themed monthly posts (third Monday of the month). I hope that this showcase of secondhand items and outfits provides some shopping and style inspiration for anyone who is interested in creating great looks in a way that is sustainable for our planet and our pocketbooks. Today's topic is Necklines...and I immediately knew I wanted to exper

Shelbee at Shelbee on the Edge is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the 2020 illustration "Frida Kahlo and Her Pet Deer Granizo" from the book Pets and Their Famous Humans by New Zealand artist Katherine Quinn. She chose this artwork to continue Marsha's trend in celebrating International Women's Month, selecting a "female artist's depiction of another female artist." source: marshainthemiddle.com I picked out items for my base outfi

Today I am continuing my brown color combos series...which may surprise you if you think this color is only suited to fall and winter. But the Pantone spring/summer colors for 2026 include a dark, rich brown among its neutrals; coffee bean is "a deeply roasted bold brown with a smoky, chocolatey and nutty appearance." Pantone specifically calls out their neutral selections as "seasonless shades: a range of trans-seasonal neutrals [that] underpin the foundation." While 202

Today I am continuing my brown color combos for fall/winter outfits series with maroon, a rich dark red that makes a match made in heaven with earthy brown tones. I have 2 maroon + brown outfit examples to inspire you in ways to wear the season's trendiest color. This combination may strike you as fall forward rather than a choice for the current winter-becoming-spring season, but wearing non-traditional colors during a season feels modern and is a way to show your own perso

Marsha at Marsha in the Middle is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the 1895 painting "The Sense of Sight" by English artist Annie Louisa Swynnerton. She chose this painter to get a jump on Women's History Month for March, purposely picking a "not so famous female artist." She succeeded there for me because I had not heard of Swynnerton before! source: marshainthemiddle.com For my interpretation, I chose to focus on the clothing worn