Spring 2016 Style Refresh – Revitalize Your Look By Mixing Classics Irreverently

This has been week one of busting out of my rut! I bought a bunch of fashion magazines – which is a terrific way to get ideas but at the same time if you’re determined to not spend any money (like me) it’s very frustrating! It’s really hard to get excited about clothes that I’ve owned for 10 or 20 years when there’s all this new fresh stuff on the market! Look at this now. I’m determined to use what I have before I purchase anything else. I’ve always leaned toward classic pieces. Now I just have to use them a bit more… irreverently. Although, I do enjoy refreshing my wardrobe now and then but, when I do, I always make sure that I’m bagging a bargain. Those looking to make savings when shopping for clothes could check out Raise for discounts on their favorite stores and brands like Macy’s, Target, Nike, and more!

Wide leg pants and mixed up prints is on trend. Mixing prints is kind of tough for me because I’m not much of a print person. I really tend to favor solids but I have this pair of herringbone slacks. Back in the day, I would’ve paired them with a black cashmere twin set and a tasteful, single strand of pearls and black loafers. Statement kicks are popular right now and I was due for a new pair of running shoes. I got these New Balance in a bold fluorescent coral and wore them with the slacks instead of the more traditional black loafers. A well loved ancient T-shirt and Tumi athletic inspired cross body bag give it more of a street style edge. I was pretty happy with this look, it was very comfortable and I liked the way the look came together. I would rather have a brighter T-shirt or something with a graphic on it – I’d love a vintage punk or rock ‘n’ roll tee with this look but working with what I have.

I totally wimped out. Fell right back into my rut. Yoga pants and a T-shirt with tennis shoes. Boring. Safe.

Decided to try the cold shoulder trend with a T-shirt that I’ve had for about a year and have never worn. (Again, I am weird with patterns and would probably wear a solid color a lot more.) It felt sexy but not too revealing – very easy to wear so I think that cold shoulder trend is definitely a fun one to play with. Wide leg jeans that were impossibly tight. Ass flattering yes, but not something I want to wear every day! Then again, those tight jeans may have contributed to meeting someone new when I sure wasn’t looking to 😉 Cowboy boots are a longtime obsession! I have more than I like to admit. A fave with denim is a sort of a cornflower blue color because I feel it lengthens the leg. On the short side of average, every little bit helps!

After a couple 90 days I was ready to bust out that slip dress and sneakers – a look I am super excited to play with. But it started raining so I had to quickly switch up. I hadn’t planned well for this contingency. I didn’t love this look. These wide leg, high-waisted pants just felt too wide in the leg and too high waisted – I think a flat front would be better, pleats add so much volume. The sheer lace blouse just felt too tight and don’t even get me started on that green bra (I’m not sure what I was thinking) that awkwardly matched my glasses. Style is about taking risks and sometimes that means you fall flat on your face. At least it wasn’t yoga pants.

Super pleased with my vintage 1970s St. John Knits dress! I’d forgotten how comfortable it is. Rain boots would’ve been adorable with this look but since I don’t own any, I wore my biker boots. I’ve substituted them for rain boots for years. I probably wouldn’t want to land in a puddle with them, but hey – I live in Southern California! I love a bright jacket on a dreary, rainy day – especially since I don’t own a car and walk everywhere! I want to make sure that people see me at a stoplight! This one is Ralph Lauren. The orange purse is a little matchy-matchy, but old habits die hard.

I wore this skirt on a date last night, low on the hips with a backwards cashmere cardigan that was unbuttoned and tied at my waist to give a plunging V in the back. I forgot to get a pic because I was on a date. I loved the look and will totally do it again so I can show you. I’m digging the matte sequins for daytime! Cowboy boots keep it dressed down and the chunky turtleneck keeps it cozy since it’s STILL raining. Big sunglasses are a must after 3 glasses of wine and a “let’s keep this date going” cocktail that involved both bourbon AND bacon… I tried out the mismatched earring trend (keep them small!) with a tiny, sparkly hummingbird in one ear and a simple diamond stud (totally a CZ) in the other and really liked it! And artist friend made me this purse from an album cover and the actual record and it’s right in style now with the whole embellished bag thing (because I refuse to put stickers on my Vuitton bag – no matter what the mags say).

Sunday it finally stopped raining. These camo pants are super low slung and right on trend with the homage to 90’s skater style. (At least they are now that I removed the ties at the ankles that made them harem pants.) The day glo running shoes are going to be my style go to this season! Check out if you looking for heating service san diego ca. I repurposed the cropped cashmere from my twinset and added a statement necklace and my new favorite purse that’s been in my closet for almost a decade. I haven’t worn a cropped shirt in years, but it feels fresh again now. This was my favorite look of the week!

That’s my rut-busting week of looks! I am loving reconnecting with my love of fashion and hope that some of the suggestions I have will help you find your own unique sense of style!! Mix it up, look at things with new eyes and express yourself!