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Styling a Floral Skirt with the Thrifty Six: Summer Birthday Party
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
sallyinstpaul
3 days ago


Style a Colorful Skirt and Cardigan Combo for SIA: Leader of the Luddites
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!"
sallyinstpaul
Jul 15


Add a Pop of Color to a Neutral Summer Outfit for SIA: Stork Gather
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
sallyinstpaul
Jul 1


How to Wear a Denim Skirt in Summer with 30 Wears: Dark Wash Straight Skirt
Today I am featuring a denim skirt from Lands End that I like for its dark wash, knee length, and simple, classic silhouette. I consider this my warm season denim skirt because the length is perfect without tights. For cold weather when tights are the order of the day, I wear my somewhat shorter, more traditional "jeans-look" Levi's denim skirt (see Part 1 and Part 2 of my Levi's 30 wears post). A denim skirt is a great substitute for jeans in the summer, and it is more polis
sallyinstpaul
Jun 24


A Navy and Yellow Summer Outfit for SIA: Ogata Korin
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
sallyinstpaul
Jun 17


How to Wear a Fringe Scarf for a Colorful Classic Style with the Thrifty Six
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'
sallyinstpaul
Jun 15


Tell Us About...Sunshine-Inspired Outfits and Handmade Jewelry
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
sallyinstpaul
Jun 11


8 Black and White Skirt Outfit Ideas for Summer
Jodie and her crew recently styled black and white skirts 3 different ways, and it made me wonder how I have worn black and white skirts in the summer. I found 8 OOTD in my archives to share with you today to keep this summer outfit inspiration with this item going. (And I see no reason that these ideas wouldn't work with black and white pants, shorts, skorts, etc.!) First, a short introduction to the black and white skirt you'll see in most of my outfits...or a re-introduct
sallyinstpaul
Jun 8


Combining Black and Brights in Summer for SIA: Matt Beyrer
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
sallyinstpaul
Jun 3


A Fresh Green and White Spring Outfit for SIA: August Macke's Promenade
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
sallyinstpaul
May 20


A Black and White Summer Print Mix Outfit with the Thrifty Six: Hemlines
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
sallyinstpaul
May 18


Styling a Celestial Jewelry Set for SIA: Joseph Fratrel's Allegory of Astronomy
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
sallyinstpaul
May 6


Designing Paper Beads and Paper Jewelry for SIA: Paper Sculptures
Shelbee at Shelbee on the Edge is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the paper artwork portfolio by American artist Karen Hawkins. She chose this artwork because we have had 10 selections in a row that were colorful and she was ready for a more neutral piece. You know that she had me at "paper." Of the artworks shown on the artist's website, I selected this wall hanging from her "book cover + paper collages" section because I liked the
sallyinstpaul
Apr 23


Add an Old Belt to Dress Up a Scarf and More Creative Uses for Belts with the Thrifty Six: Belt It
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
sallyinstpaul
Apr 20


Tonal Dressing to Mix Dark and Light Colors in a Spring Outfit for SIA: Allen Street
Marsha at Marsha in the Middle is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the 1905 painting "Allen Street" by American artist George Luks. She chose this artwork because she wanted to find an art movement she had not heard about, and she couldn't resist the fun name Ashcan movement that runs counter to the typical "high brow" vibe. She particularly liked the colors in this painting. source: marshainthemiddle.com Because I am a color lover
sallyinstpaul
Apr 8


How to Wear Bright Blue Pants with 30 Wears: Cerulean Blue Jeans
Seeing Mica's recent 30 wears post for her olive tank top reminded me that it's been a while since I've done a 30 wears post, so today I am featuring a pair of cerulean blue ankle jeans that I bought at Lands End. This was an odd purchase for me because I bought them in a Lands End store! I had some returns to make for an online purchase, and while I was at the store, I decided to take the opportunity to try some things on. The vivid blue color of these jeans were just so
sallyinstpaul
Mar 30


Layering Necklaces with a Cowl Neck Top for the Thrifty Six: Necklines
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
sallyinstpaul
Mar 16


Brown Color Combos: Rust & Green/Teal/Mint
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
sallyinstpaul
Mar 2


Start a Romantic Casual Outfit with a Color for the Thrifty Six
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 Romance...perfect for mid-February as many of us cel
sallyinstpaul
Feb 16


Start an Outfit with a Scarf for SIA Edward Burne-Jones
Salazar at 14 Shades of Grey is the curator for this round of Style Imitating Art (SIA), and she selected the circa 1870s painting "The Garden of the Hesperides" by English Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones. She chose this painter because she loves the Pre-Raphaelites, and she picked this particular artwork because of the " spring-like subject matter (the Hesperides are the nymphs who tend to Hera’s orchard, where the Apple of Discord that started the Trojan War cam
sallyinstpaul
Feb 11
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