Fashionistas, welcome to my fashion haus. Thought I would share 10 fashion trends this grandma is embracing in my OOTD (outfits of the day). I sing the praises of the Get Your Pretty On capsule wardrobe quite regularly but y’all, they very possibly saved my life when I first retired. A month after my retirement, I had to have cervical spine surgery. Which was a part of the reason I retired early and unexpectedly. It was actually my second surgery to repair issues left behind from the first surgery. So much fun.
I felt old - thanks, retirement. Wasn’t able to exercise or move around much immediately afterward. Had this angry scar on my neck that felt like a beacon to me. Lots of idle hours on my hands and no retired friends to spend them with. I didn’t know what I was supposed to be doing. And there didn’t seem to be much in life to motivate me out of bed. I can guarantee you - that had never been me!
Get Your Pretty On
Enter GYPO. I saw the very first style challenge Alison ever did advertised on Facebook. The price for the challenge was less than $20, very affordable. And appropriately enough, we would be styling spring fashion. Which felt like an opportunity to kind of be reborn. Rediscover myself. To build a wardrobe of clothes that didn’t scream elementary librarian (Dr. Seuss tees and crazy socks) or recovering patient (orthopedic neck brace).
Fast forward 6 years and here I am. Still singing the praises of the GYPO capsule wardrobes and style challenges. The GYPO Facebook community is so dear. I have made so many dear, virtual fashionista friends. And I have learned to put together outfits that make me want to jump out of bed and get dressed in the morning. My closet - you can visit it here - is relatively full of trendy, fun clothes I love. And limitless outfit combinations.
But I didn’t embrace all of the trends immediately.
10 Fashion Trends This Grandma is Embracing
I remember when my distressed denim was homemade and not store bought. Came from scrubbing the floors. Or back when I swore off button fly enclosures because they took too long to unfasten in the potty. When I refused to wear camo because I associated it with war (soldier’s wife) or hunting (animal lover). And took a hard pass on animal print because it reminded me of hunted animal pelts!!
Glad to say I have loosened up a bit in my old age. Check out these 10 fashion trends that this grandma/mimi/gabba has come to embrace.
- tortoise shell
- chambray shirt
- horizontal striped cardigan
- faux leather elbow patches
- cognac belt
- button fly
- distressed denim
- skinny jeans
- raw hem
- animal print
And here they are in one look - 10 fashion trends this grandma is wearing all in one look!!
Let’s dissect them one by one.
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Tortoise Shell Earrings
It wasn’t that I was opposed to tortoise shell. I just wouldn’t have picked up on the trend in my pre-GYPO life. My BFF gave me my tortoise shell earrings but you can find several cute styles on Alison + Aubrey.
Just ordered these earrings to go with this year’s popular fall colors, amberglow and samba.
Chambray Shirt
A chambray shirt has been on several capsule wardrobe shopping lists. But I really only bought mine (similar, similar) because I needed to add something else to my Loft purchase in order to qualify for a discount. It has been such a good buy. Have paired it with dress pants, jeans and even a black jumper. This one is light weight and sooo soft. I have a darker, heavier one from JCP that works well like a like wrap.
Striped Cardi with Elbow Patches
You know the old wives’ tale, right? Horizontal stripes make you look wider, heavier. Not being one to argue with old wives, I’ve avoided them like the plague Covid. Until GYPO dispelled that myth for me. And now I enjoy wearing them in dresses, tees, tops and…cardigans.
The elbow patches on this open front cardigan (similar, similar) are the first faux or vegan leather I sampled. Now I am wearing faux leather skirts, moto jackets and leggings, too. My Express faux leather leggings (similar, similar) were lots of fun to wear last year. Can’t wait to get back into them once temps cool off enough that they won’t melt.
Cognac Belt and Button Fly Jeans
Until GYPO, my fashion style could be defined as matchy-matchy. Black shoes? Black belt and bag, of course. Brown shoes? Brown bag and belt. But apparently that is another wives’ tale meant to be ignored. Brown and black accessories can be worn together and worn with black or brown clothing.
Why did we limit ourselves by believing these fashion fables?
Skinny Jeans
Like everything else, I didn’t run right out an buy skinny jeans when they first became a ‘thing’. For moi, it has been an acquired taste.
Last fall, my sweet friend Kellyann at This Blonde’s Shopping Bag gently suggested the skinny pants I was wearing were not truly skinny, and were even borderline baggy. She encouraged me to try Old Navy’s Rockstars for a genuine skinny fit. I followed her advice. Here I am trying them on for the first time.
Felt a little weird wearing something so tight. But Rockstars have just a little give that keeps them comfortable while retaining their shape.
Distressed Denim
When this trend first broke, I thought it ridiculous. Who was going to buy clothing with intentional distressing and sometimes even holes?? Heck, I had thrown out jeans where I had torn holes in the knees from scrubbing floors. Why in the world would anyone buy clothes like that??
Why?? Because they are fun. They add a little spunk, a little sexiness, a little skin without being too revealing.
Raw Hem
My feelings about raw hems were similar to how I felt about distressed denim. Who’s gonna pay for frayed hems?? How long are my pants going to last with the hems already coming undone??
Never say never because I’ve jumped on this bandwagon, too. Lots of times, I find that the hem isn’t truly raw. More like medium rare. There will be stitching above the raw edge so that the pants don’t unravel into shorts.
I look at distressing and raw hems as just another way to add fun and interest to my clothes. Since I am no longer working - at least not now - my clothes can be more playful and less rigid. So can I!!
Animal Print
Animal print is a great way to wear black and brown together. Something I would never have done in the past. And to add some playfulness to your look. A skinny belt was the first animal print I purchased. Way to jump into that trend with both feet, huh?? Gradually, I began adding animal print tees and tops. Then cardigans and kimonos. Shoes and booties. And have just become a snakeskin handler, too.
These Jimmy Choo tennies are adorable but about 25x what I paid for my Old Navy tennies above. The unexpected color in the animal print of these Chinese Laundry tennies kicks them up a notch.
Here are some other ways I have been sampling animal print and camo. Check out a couple of options to my animal print skirt below; this pencil skirt and this midi skirt. Picked up the pink animal print top below at Target last week. It features another popular trend this fall…puffy sleeves. Sleeve details are very big right now!!
So what have I learned through the GYPO style challenges and by following my favorite fashion bloggers?? To loosen up a little. Throw out those old tired fashion rules I grew up following. Try new trends. Some might not be for me but many of them can be modified to keep my wardrobe timely. And never ever say never.
Your Turn
These are just 10 fashion trends this grandma is embracing. There are others - tulle skirts, graphic tees, high-waisted pants, joggers. I could go on and on. And maybe I will do another similar post soon featuring some of those things.
Have you ever done a Get Your Pretty On capsule wardrobe challenge? If not, you can use my affiliate link to register for the fall 2020 challenge that just started this week. Our outfit formula for today is graphic tee + cardi in a rich fall color + boyfriend jeans + white tennies. Here’s my interpretation.
Subbed in black wedges for the tennies because date night. I love that cardi color, don’t you. And my graphic tee reads: Quarantine made me un poco loco (a little crazy). Which isn’t exactly accurate. I was already conductor of my own crazy train long before Covid. But it is more fun to blame a virus.
In a comment below won’t you let me know what fashion trends you are embracing this season.
Thank you for joining me in my fashion haus today. Tomorrow I hope to share some of the things I am grateful for in a Thankful Thursday post. And you won’t want to miss Friday Favorites the day after.
Hump day hugs and kisses,
I just broke down and got my first pair of distressed skinny jeans. I remember making distressed jeans in high school because it was the cool look then but so much easier and cheaper to make them myself.
I made my own distressed jeans by cleaning house in them!! I love them now and don’t mind buying them. So comfy and fun.
Juhli says
Fun post and I’m glad I finally joined the Get Your Pretty On capsule challenge. I wasn’t aware from her marketing materials and program descriptions that ther was so little emphasis on shopping. I’m glad to see it is a shop your closet, use your best colors, modify the look emphasis.
I have learned so much, become more confident, made good friends, and had such fun with the challenges. It is amazing how much you can change existing pieces in your closet by pairing them in a new way or adding an accessory. So glad you have enjoyed the challenge.
Man, this whole post is exactly me too Leslie. I have said never SO many times and have had to eat my words over and over. It just goes to show we should be more open to styles and items!!!
Except for the chambray shirt…I’ve had a love of those for years and happen to have (ahem) more than one in my closet…LOL!!!
My latest “never say never” items have been the cropped, wide leg pants (especially because I’m vertically challenged) and shorts (I’m old with imperfect legs). But it’s time to embrace most styles and have fun with it.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Yes, I had sworn off shorts a few years ago and here I am this year, older than ever, and wearing shorts more confidently.
Now I have a new pair of cropped, wide leg pants in chocolate brown and I don’t know what kind of shoes to wear. Ugh. Help me!!
Deb says
Well, you are a good advert for trying new things! You don’t know what you like or don’t like until you try it, right? It’s nice to be surprised!
I am finding the GYPO group really interesting to see and I can kind of guess what the days prompt has been by the photos people post. I am planning to go through my clothes this weekend, fold the summer ones away at the top of the wardrobe and see exactly what I have to work with for the Autumn. I am sure there are a few gaps in there that need filling 😉
I took a basket of my purged tee shirts and a couple of sweaters and got some money for things I absolutely didn’t care at all about. Still could purge a lot more, probably, but I really do wear almost everything remaining. Did you go through your closet??
You wear each of those looks so well. I’m not a fan of animal print but those little sneakers look so much fun! Love the faux leather skirts too & those earrings.I’ve never done a wardrobe challenge of any sort, but you’ve made me wonder what I’ve missed out on!
Oh, you would really enjoy the fashion challenges. The relationships you build with some of the girls is so uplifting and real, even though it is across the miles.
Cute. I haven’t shopped in so long lol. I like the idea of a capsule wardrobe. I’ve been trying to think that way….what can I buy that I can wear a variety of ways. Where I work, I need to dress pretty casually and not in clothes that are too nice…I work at a postal annex so I’m always dealing with people packages, shipping, etc..so I mostly wear jeans and tshirts.
Covid needs to go away so I have more opportunities to go out and about looking “cute”.
Just treat yourself to a new cardi or some new graphic tees that feel fun and can freshen up your closet.
Those elbow patches are too cute with the stripes and I am never giving up my skinny jeans! Lol!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Me, either. But I like the high waist wide legs jeans, too!!
Nancy says
I’m loving the earrings! And the one you want to order. And that jeans with the buttons look so cool. I love cognac belts and boots and defenitely need a belt.I’m glad you found GYPO!
Thank you, I have been thankful for GYPO every day.
Kellyann Rohr says
So happy GYPO pulled you out of that slump- retiring and recovering from surgery is a lot at once! I think dressing in clothes and seeing how good you look is the best form of self care - it’s why i get dressed even if I am going nowhere! So glad you tried the actual skinny jeans because you got some great legs there Leslie!
xo,
Kellyann
Thank you for convincing me that my skinnies really weren’t. That winter retiring and having surgery was tough. I was so lost. It has really taken me this long to get comfortable with retirement but I am finally there.
Lysha says
You are just the cutest! I love them all, but especially the outfit with the skinny jeans.
Thank you so much. This was kind of a fun post!
Kimberly F Malkiewicz says
You are really working all of those previous “don’ts”! It’s interesting to read about your health journey. Honest to goodness, dealing with my knee this summer made me feel 20 yrs. older-like I just wanted to sit down in a nursing home. Sad, huh? I’m counting on the knee replacements and the excitement of a new home to get me *out* of the slump. Anyway, you are completely rockin’ the vegan leather, I’ll bet it gets PCs attention! I’m loving you in camo, animal print, heck, all of it! Take care, my friend!
This has been such a difficult time under the best of circumstances, but with your knee issues, life has just been more challenging than ever. So glad you guys were able to snag that house. Hope you will enjoy fixing it up and making it your own.
Dara says
Very fun! I love the striped cardi. I basically only wear Old Navy Rockstars!
I am sold on the Rockstars, too!!
A great post of how you’re now trying new things Leslie and the story of how you found this to help you get out of a slump. And they all look so good on you too! I have a thing about animal print and have said never but as you say - never say never!! Good on you my lovely friend.
Thank you!! I still feel a little guilty wearing animal print but I think it is so obviously faux and not all intended to replicate a real animal’s fur, that I have been able to embrace it.
How fun that you are wearing all those trends in one outfit, and it really works because I didn’t even notice until you said something.
Ha!! Thank you!!
Jessica A Jannenga says
Leslie!
I am excited that you are embracing these trends! I cant tell you how much leopard and snakeskin I have! LOve those tortoiseshell earrings and those darling sneakers. I want a pair of button fly jeans, I hear great things about Madewells jeans that are also high waisted ( want to try) I have a fair amount of faux leather too, and may I say, woot woo on those legs in the faux leather skirt. It really is fun to add some trends to an existing wardrobe! Looking great!
Enjoy your week!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
Thank you so much for the sweet compliments. So tickled to have you stop by. Still drooling over your maple leaf kimono. You are my fashion muse.
Em says
This! All day long!
I am all aboard this post, Leslie! The time you spend in your Fashion Haus has been a big inspiration to me…I even signed up for the whole year of capsules. Unfortunately, since I stay home except for the occasional curbside pickups, I haven’t taken full advantage of the world you opened up for me regarding the challenges. I know I will care again when this time is behind us and then I will give my debit card a workout.
I also appreciate the trends you mentioned and wouldn’t have thought they were for me, but I’ve definitely gained more confidence about trying these new things and usually feel good about myself when I do.
Hats off to a VERY cool Mimi/Gabba! Well done!
Thank you so much, Em. This fall’s challenge doesn’t have too many out-of-my-comfort zone pieces - a jumpsuit that I bought and hope to wear this weekend. But otherwise most everything was pretty tame and familiar. Was glad to be able to shop my closet for a lot of things. Are you guys seeing an increase in cases up there. Our numbers have taken off again. Exhausting.