Happy Friday, ladies! Can you believe Memorial Day is within sight?! Where is the year disappearing to? But I love this time of year when the temps are mild and spring has sprung. My hydrangeas are loaded with buds and I can’t wait for them to bloom! It’s time to open my screened porch or head outside on the patio and savor the sunset. Rest assured my best guy is beside me to usher in the weekend. And we have a light, healthy, easy appetizer on the menu: Salmon, avocado, and cucumber bites that are perfect for a warm summer evening!
This weekend I’m headed to Atlanta with the fam to watch the Braves! Then next weekend, I head to our beach home in Tybee for a week’s worth of fun in the sun. Can’t wait! Give me a swimsuit, beach chair, umbrella, and Yeti cooler, and I’m set for the day. I’ll have all the behind the scenes on Instagram Stories so follow along!
The Summary
Today's featured item is a pencil skirt from Talbots
The skirt is modeled, and I pulled together 2 alternates
The skirt is shoppable via a text or image widget
Each alternate is shoppable via a text widget
We've got a light, easy, and healthy appetizer as well as a cocktail
Today’s outfit of the day is easy peasy to throw together. A denim skirt is a great substitute for blue jeans and I love to slip into one when the temps start to soar. A classic navy blue polo looks fantastic with so many things but the star of this show happens to be the striped canvas belt that gives this simple outfit a little extra something.
This time of year the weather can be fickle so it’s always a good idea to have a third layer on hand whether it’s a denim jacket, bomber jacket, cardigan, or simply a button-up shirt layered over a tee. Today, I reached for a patched denim jacket from my all-time favorite designer Ralph Lauren. It’s a modern take on a classic wardrobe staple.
We just launched our new, quarterly e-Magazine for Spring. Inside this issue, you will find travel, recipes, cocktails, makeup tips, and spring cleaning tips.
The price of the magazine is $5.99. Click this link, the one below, or the image below to order a copy.
Happy Tuesday, ladies! You may remember a few weeks ago I ran a mega-post: My Favorite Graphic Tees and How To Wear Them. In that post, I picked my top 10 graphic tees for 2022. One of my personal favorites---as a mother---was Mother's Day Is Every Day. So, I'm featuring it today.
Although a bit early, it's worth saying today: Happy (early) Mother's Day. To all of the mothers and grandmothers, today's post is a fun celebration of you. All of the love, joy, and tears you've invested in your children---it was and continues to be worth it.
The Summary
Today's featured item is a graphic tee from J.Crew
The shirt is modeled, and I pulled together 2 alternates
The dress is shoppable via a text or image widget
Each alternate is shoppable via a text widget
Scroll to the bottom of the post to see the details of our new Spring e-Magazine
I love, love, love graphic tees. They're such an easy way to imbue our personalities into our wardrobe. Plus, they go with just about everything. Pair them with pants, jeans, shorts, even a skirt. You really cannot go wrong.
Graphic tees are an easy way to add color to your outfit. But as I showed you this weekend in 5 Ways To Subtly Add Color To Your Outfit, so are accessories like a belt.
A denim jacket is an essential wardrobe item. And I'm loving this denim Jacket from Ralph Lauren. The details are exceptional and really add visual interest to this outfit.
We just launched our new, quarterly e-Magazine for Spring. Here are the details on how to order your copy.
The price of the magazine $5.99. Click this link, the one below, or the image below to order a copy.
We're processing payments through PayPal, but you DO NOT have to have a PayPal account to purchase. After clicking the PayPal link, you can choose CREDIT or DEBIT instead of PayPal.
After you've purchased a copy, you will be redirected to a receipt page where you can download the magazine. DO NOT close the receipt page before you download the magazine.
Purchases are non-refundable, but if you have trouble downloading your copy, email beth@styleatacertainage.com for support.
Travel week starts this Sunday, April 24th. Get excited! We’re kicking it off with Travel Essentials, then we’ll share outfit inspiration for brunch, shopping, exploring, and more!
But I thought you might like a sneak peek today. So I’m sharing What to Pack for a Casual Dinner - Resort Style. Dining out on vacation is always a highlight of the trip but sometimes we want to keep our outfits casual but chic.
Do I have an outfit for you! It’s simple, comfy with a dash of bling. What’s better than that! Oh yeah, it’s oh so affordable from one of my favorite brands from Nordstrom called Open Edit. I partner with Nordstrom every month so you might say I’m a regular shopper. And I scour their online site regularly. Some of you might remember I introduced Open Edit last December with a cool pair of brown faux leather pants and a cable knit sweater.
The Summary
Today's featured item is a pair of wide-leg pants from Nordstrom
The pants are modeled, and I pulled together 2 alternates
The pants are shoppable via a text or image widget
Today, I’m sharing drawstring wide-leg pants that come in four colors (you might want to snag all of them!) and the cutest pair of slingback flats with crystal embellishment. Wardrobe basics come in handy when it’s time to pack for a trip. A white blouse ( similar here, here, and here) typically makes its way into my suitcase as well as a denim jacket (similar here, here, and here).
Curbside pickup (no muss, no fuss. Nordstrom brings your merchandise to you while you wait in your car)
The Nordy club earns 1 point per dollar, status based on spend, and enjoys perks to beauty and style workshops, curbside pickup, and the first to shop select brands
A big thank you to Nordstrom for this sponsored post. And thank you, lovely readers, for supporting the brands that allow me to bring you fresh ideas.
Remember, Thursdays are a 2 post day. Earlier, Kelly styled a shirtdress from J.Crew and gave us sizing tips for petites. Click the title or image below to read the article.
Happy Wednesday, ladies! I've received a lot of requests over the past few months for a post on graphic tees. Well, here it is: my 2022 Spring best graphic tees edition.
You can't get much more fun and expressive than graphic tees. From bands to animals to words and phrases, there are just about as many graphic tees as there are personality types. More, even.
I've done two things today: First, I've gone through the archives and pulled 5 old outfits featuring a graphic tee. I've used those outfits as a model to pull together outfits with currently available items.
Second, I"m trying something: for each outfit, I've put together a budget alternative of similars.
Finally, at the very end of the post, I've rounded up my 10 favorite graphic tees this Spring presented in no particular order. So, make sure to check them out!
The Summary
Today's featured item is the graphic tee, styled 5 ways
The outfits I've modeled are all old, but I've put together similars for each
For each outfit, I've put together budget alternatives, a new feature we're trying out
My top 10 graphic tees for Spring 2022 are at the end of the post, so don't miss them!
The 2022 Spring Best Graphic Tees Edition
1. With a denim shirt
One of the easiest ways to wear a graphic tee is by pairing it with a denim/chambray jacket. Any wash will work with just about any, if not every graphic tee. Give it a try.
I love Spring fashion. From the colors to the sweaters to the accessories—there are so many fun options during transition seasons. But if I had to pick one—the most essential Spring clothing—it would be the denim jacket. Perfect for layering, lightweight, and easy to carry, a good jean jacket goes with just about anything and everything. Truly classic, truly flexible, and worth every dollar. Today, I’ve got another roundup for you—a trip through my recent archives.
Most essential Spring clothing
Today, I’ve put together 5 different outfits all featuring a denim jacket. I pulled the outfits from:
The idea, here, is fashion inspiration—hopefully, one or two items will inspire you to pull out your denim jacket and try something new. And if you’re in the market for a new jean jacket, scroll to the end of the post. I’ve rounded up a little more than 10 different jean jackets you might be interested in.
A graphic tee & matching denim
Outfit 1
The first outfit is denim-on-denim. (Yup, it can be done, even with the same basic wash.) I broke up the monochromaticity with a color pop. I went with red(s), but you could do anything here, really. Yellow, orange, green, purple—it’s totally up to you. (I loved the graphic tee from yesterday’s post, I had to feature it again.)
Love, love, love gingham. And while I think most of us wear gingham button-downs, how fun are gingham pants? A medium-to-dark wash jacket goes best in my opinion, but I could imagine putting darling outfits together with a light wash one.
The next outfit pairs a denim jacket with a sweater/pant combo. We’re still having days in the 60s, so layering is a must. I went with a blue combo for my sweater and pant pairing. You could stick with neutrals are experiment with color as I did. Just have fun with it!
Love stripes for Spring. Truly classic. For this outfit, I paired the cutest striped, collared sweater with a pair of white denim. Very few things say “Spring” more than white denim, and they work perfectly with a jean jacket in any wash.
Loving this midi skirt from Talbots. Simple and elegant, it works incredibly well with a denim jacket. I kept things simple with a white popover, as I really wanted to highlight the skirt/jacket pairing. Swap the popover for a button-down or tee. You can’t go wrong.
I love Talbots. That’s no secret. And apparently you, my readers, do too. Almost every month, without fail, Talbots is the most popular retailer on the blog. Hands down. So, we’re gonna try something new today. I’ve spent the past few days combing through Talbots’ Spring new arrivals, and I’ve put together a capsule wardrobe. From 14 different items, I’ve put 5 different outfits together. The items include:
Should be classic and wearable next year, and years to come.
Most of you are familiar with what I mean by “classic”. Think lots of neutrals, fits, cuts, and styles that defy trends. While bold and bright colors are in this year, I shied away from them today in favor of whites, blacks, and tans for example.
So without further adieu, let’s see what I came up with.
The first outfit stars a navy twill blazer. A navy blazer is part of any classic wardrobe and works perfectly with the simple combination of an olive drab neck tee and slim jeans in a medium wash. And how about these leather mules? Absolutely loving them.
The second outfit begins with a neutral base: I paired a black and white smocked blouse with black wide-leg trousers. The trousers are about as “edgy” as this wardrobe gets today, but I have been and will continue to be a fan. The wedges continue the matchy-matchy feel of the outfit.
Denim jackets are true heroes of any classic transition wardrobe, including this one. So to add visual interest, I added a light-wash denim shirt jacket. It lightens the outfit up dramatically. (Imagine the difference if I were to have gone with a dark-wash.)
The third outfit is preppy through and through. I’m bringing back the navy twill blazer from outfit 1. This time, though, I paired it with a blue popover and white denim. Add a pair of navy loafers and you’re a full-on prepster, if only for a day.
Outfit 4 demonstrates keeps the base from outfit 1 but swaps the jacket, shoes, and bag. It features a tan utility jacket and snakeskin espadrilles. (Remember, animal skin functions as a neutral.) This outfit really demonstrates the impact accessories and outerwear can have on an outfit.
Compare outfit 3 with this one: the only thing different is the jacket. Instead of a blazer, I’ve gone with the utility jacket. And what a difference it makes. The outfit stops feeling “preppy” and starts feeling more, “I’m ready to take on the world thank you very much.”
And that’s the fun of capsule wardrobes, really. If you begin with a small but classic set of tops, bottoms, shoes, and jackets, you can create so many different combinations that vary minimally but are dramatically different!
So have some fun with my capsule wardrobe and think about how you would do it differently.
Make sure to catch up on our DAILY LOOK. We post a dedicated photo to our daily outfit every Wednesday-Sunday. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture.
Happy Sunday, ladies. We’ve got a fun one for you today. After two years, I’m taking my first real vacation. I’m heading to Mexico this week for a few days at the beach. And I’m excited. Travel posts used to be fairly common things over here at the blog. But due to obvious reasons, we haven’t had an opportunity to do one in a really long time. But with things opening back up, I imagine some of you have already booked trips for the year. Whether you’re traveling regionally, heading cross country, or flying out of the country, I’ve got 5 travel outfit ideas to help you pack.
5 travel outfit ideas
In a lot of ways, today’s post is a companion piece to last week’s Spring jacket roundup. Each of my five travel outfits features one of the coats from that post:
Trenchcoat
Denim jacket
Moto jacket
Blazer
Windbreaker
So in addition to the 5 shoppable outfits I’ve pulled together, I’ve also reposted some pictures and widgets for each jacket type. So whether you’re traveling or not, there’s something for you.
A trench coat
Outfit 1
The first outfit is a monochromatic pairing of black pants from Nordstrom and an oversized sweater from Banana. My trench is classic khaki, keeping with the neutral base of the outfit. Keeping in mind that animal print functions as a neutral, my scarf adds visual interest and takes an otherwise subdued outfit over the top.
My second outfit pairs a mock neck shift dress from Ann Taylor and a denim jacket. Couldn’t be simpler while still maintaining that classic style. I’m loving espadrilles this Spring. They’re comfy in all the right ways, especially when I’m on my feet at the airport. And I couldn’t not have a little fun on my way to Mexico: this hat just says, “I’m on vacation”.
The next outfit is just as simple as the first two. (Detecting a theme, here?) I’ve pulled together a pair of jeans mid-rise taper jeans from Ann Taylor and a tan sweater. The moto jacket takes center stage here but is softened considerably by my sneakers.
Layers, layers, layers. The key to traveling is packing layers. Temperature changes from your departure and destination cities are common. And if you have an early (or late) flight, you’re going to want to be able to reach for a jacket.
The most casual of the 5 outfits, our last travel idea combines a windbreaker and joggers. For better (or worse), gone are the days of “dressing up” to get on a plane. But that doesn’t mean that casual can’t look put together and stylish.
Make sure to catch up on our DAILY LOOK. We post a dedicated photo to our daily outfit every Wednesday-Sunday. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture.
Happy Friday, ladies! We made it through another week, and we're heading straight into the weekend. Today, we're talking what to wear with a denim jacket---one if, if not the most essential Spring jacket. In addition, we're trying something new. And I'm really excited about it.
We've partnered with local Kentucky business owner M.K. Hennigan from In the Curious Kitchen for our menu. We met M.K. earlier this year at The Southern C(oterie) Conference, and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to collaborate. M.K runs an online cocktail kit and gourmet shop---and I think you're gonna love what's on her menu.
I love a good graphic tee, and they're the perfect way to add some levity and tailor your wardrobe. Because bright bold colors are in this year, I couldn't pass up another opportunity to wear pink---my favorite color this Spring.
Today's cocktail is an Old Fashioned---one of my personal favorites. Everything but the bourbon was provided by In The Curious Kitchen. And by "everything but", I mean everything but. The kit includes two glasses, cherry bitters, boozy cherries, and a lot more. You can order the Old Fashioned Drink Kit directly through M.K.'s store.
Pimento cheese
In The Curious Kitchen also sells made-to-order pimento and beer cheese, because no Southern evening would be complete without. And if you want to make your own, M.K. was kind enough to provide her recipe below.
In the spirit of keeping things super simple, I made my "homemade" baked ham & cheese sandwich to complement M.K.'s pimento appetizer. I went with swiss, but go with your favorite cheese! The secret sauce is M.K.'s Bourbon Honey Mustard---a perfect addition to an old favorite.
Over here at SAACA, we love to platform women entrepreneurs of all ages who take a chance to pursue their passion. What makes MK's story so interesting is that she left her day job and started In The Curious Kitchen later in life---a time when many of us are thinking of taking it a bit easier. A huge risk, but a huge inspiration.
I'm MK Hennigan - Welcome to my kitchen! I love spending time in the kitchen, and my curiosity drives constant experiment. Inspired by my deep Southern roots and the women in my family, I turned my passion for all things culinary into In the Curious Kitchen. This is the place where comfort food takes innovative twists and turns. Where generations-old recipes are updated into creative small bites, family meals, and delectable desserts, this is a place where the family's traditional entertaining ideas evolve into today's fast-paced lifestyle.
MK
courtesy of MK Hennigan
courtesy of MK Hennigan
courtesy of MK Hennigan
courtesy of MK Hennigan
In case you missed it
Today we talked what to Wear with a denim jacket. Make sure to check out our:
Make sure to catch up on our DAILY LOOK. We post a dedicated photo to our daily outfit every Wednesday-Sunday. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture.
We’re continuing this week with our Back to the Basics series. This month, we’ve covered a lot of ground and walked through the
Today week, we’re going to deep-dive into the essential jackets you should have in your wardrobe:
jean jacket;
utility jacket;
leather jacket;
trenchcoat;
wool overcoat
puffer vests; and
scarves.
(True, scarves aren’t jackets, but I couldn’t resist.). The continued purpose of this column is simple: we’re here to help you establish a wardrobe that’s built on top of the basics. Think of it as building the backbone of your wardrobe.
We’ll dig down into each category, and I’ll give you examples of essential trench coats, for example. The way to read this post is simple: in each section, I’ve given you photos of different ways I’ve styled that coat, with an assortment of links from tried and true retailers to shop the item. So let’s get started: here are the most essential jackets any woman should have in their wardrobe.
Jean jacket
The most versatile jacket you can own, you can wear a jean jacket in any season. They’re the perfect transition-weather coat. Wear them with:
jeans;
skirts;
pants; or
dresses
Pair them with:
sweaters;
button-downs;
t-shirts
And layer them with other coats. It’s hard to think of something a denim jacket does not go with. Get one in a classic wash, or pick one up in yellow, red, or orange. You probably don’t need another jean jacket in your wardrobe, but then again, you just might. Some retailers that consistently stock denim jackets:
Field jackets, or military-style jackets, are generally multi-pocketed. Traditionally olive (or drab) green, long-time readers will know of my love for the quilted field jacket. The first quilted jacket came into existence in the mid-’60’s thanks to an American living in England. Mr. Guylas introduced a quilted vest in a timeless palette of olive and navy for hunting expeditions. Wear a field jacket with:
jeans; or
pants.
And make sure to give them a pop of color with a colorful sweater or button-down. Make sure to check out:
Add a little spice to your wardrobe with a classic leather moto jacket. Perfect with your favorite pair of denim and a pair of Frye boots, the leather jacket is a staple in any classic wardrobe. But don’t be afraid to go modern chic with a dress and heels. Nordstrom always has an excellent selection of women’s leather jackets.
Burberry reigns supreme when it comes to a khaki trench. Historians claim Thomas Burberry invented gabardine fabric in 1879. In 1901 he designed and submitted an Army Officer’s raincoat to the United Kingdom War Office, and so the military trench began.
I absolutely love trenches and wear them in khaki, but also keep a lookout for fun prints. Pair them with a sweater and denim for a classic preppy look. Or, if you want to class things up a bit, dress them up with your favorite evening dress and a pair of strappy heels. You can never go wrong with Burberry for a classic trench, but retailers like J.Crew have more cost-effective options.
If the north winds are blowing in your neck of the woods, then a wool overcoat is a must. This is the coat that you can throw over your jeans, trousers, skirts, and even dresses. A wool overcoat is one of the hardest-working items in your closet if you live in a climate that faces freezing temps and snow all the way through March. Choose a classic style in a flattering neutral shade, shoulders that fit well, and mid-size lapels.
Puffer vest
Practical and warm, the puffer vest is a casual staple of my wardrobe. Ranging in different types of colors, they come plain or can be adorned with, say, faux fur. Puffer vests are perfect transition-weather outerwear like denim jackets and really shine in the fall. I mostly lawyer them with sweaters, but they really shine with a crisp, white button-down. Orvis and Northface are always well-stocked with puffer vests and jackets.
And then there are scarves. I absolutely love scarves because they are literally the easiest way to inject color and visualize interest into your wardrobe. Scarves come in every shape and size, from a cashmere scarf to quilted merino wool. Simple advice when buying a scarf: have fun. Talbots and Ann Taylor are always my go-to for scarves.
Chic casual is always in and sometimes difficult to find inspiration for. And don’t forget our definitive denim guide for great jean suggestions to pair with your coats.
