Fashionistas, talking today about how I styled some popular winter trends 01.2020. In particular, the sweater dress and faux fur. Have you embraced these looks yet? How have you styled your faux fur and sweater dress this season?
Popular Winter Trends 01.2020
You know that I loved the pieces of the Get Your Pretty On winter 2019 capsule wardrobe, right? It was the perfect mix of new trends I might not have tried on my own with basics I already had in my closet. The sherpa or faux fur jacket on the GYPO shopping list was out of my comfort zone. As was the solid sweater dress. Oh, and the plaid trousers that I have yet to wear, after putting on 4 pounds over Christmas. But if not for the winter capsule wardrobe, I would still be wearing the same ole same ole. You know?
Today, I want to share a couple of popular winter trends 01.2020 that are GYPO-inspired. Inspired because I probably wouldn’t have put these pieces together or in my shopping cart on my own.
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Walmart Sweater Dress
Mentioned this dress, here, as one of my Prime Purchases a few days ago. It is such a steal! At $12.99 with 2 day delivery and in store pick up, what have you got to lose? The fabric is the perfect weight. Available in 5 great colors. The Time and Tru cowl neck sweater dress (similar, similar) is true to size, or perhaps runs just a little large. Alison styled the dress 3 ways. With a camel colored wool coat, tights, boots or booties. Then with an animal print cardigan, tights and booties. And last, with a black vest, tights, animal print or snakeskin shoes.
I styled it with my black faux leather moto jacket (similar, similar), herringbone tights, boots, a silver and black belt and a layered silver necklace.
So sad! A couple of weeks ago I found the zip-up faux liner and hoodie that goes with this moto jacket. It was hanging by itself in my closet. Had forgotten all about it! Zipped that baby in and have been so glad to have the hoodie on cold days. And then…it kind of magically unzipped itself out of my jacket. When PC helped me try to zip it back in, we realized the zipper was broken. Boo. So now, I need to see about getting the zipper repaired. The jacket was pretty inexpensive, though, so don’t want to spend a lot of money repairing it. Might just be in the market for a new moto.
As I said, this sweater dress comes in several great colors, and each one has a fleck of other shades in it. My photos don’t really illustrate how pretty this gem slate fleck color is.
There’s lots of talk about age-appropriate clothing for women of a ‘certain’ age. I even read an article that suggested women in their second half of life shouldn’t wear jeans. Which I think is ridiculous. How ’bout you? But I do struggle with determining the appropriate hemline for this grandma of 3! Belting this dress gave it more shape but also made it shorter. Too short?
Papaya Faux Fur Jacket
Speaking of age appropriate…are there stores you won’t shop because they seem inappropriate for gals your age, my age, our ages?? Papaya is – make that – was one of those stores for me. At our outlet mall, the Papaya store is across from Old Navy so I pass by it every single time I go to the outlets. But I had never ventured in there. They display the prices of their clothing in the window, for heaven sake! And they’re cheap – or inexpensive, at least. Plus, according to their “Who are we” page on the Papaya website:
Our business primarily focuses on the junior and petite apparel markets. We help millions of young women across the U.S. to look and feel their best by offering an extensive selection of clothing and accessories to coordinate the perfect outfit for any occasion. [source]
Clearly I am not a young woman, a junior or petite. But I wanted a shearling faux fur jacket. And had looked everywhere with no luck in my price range. Even H&M disappointed me. They wanted almost $60 for this one, which is now on (big) sale.
PC saw a shearling jacket in the window at Papaya and convinced me not to be a store snob. So we went in. So glad we did.
Here’s the look I put together with my new Papaya shearling faux fur jacket (similar, similar). Alison at GYPO paired the shearling jacket with faux leather leggings and bright colored or Fair Isle sweaters underneath.
Does this pleated leopard skirt (similar, similar) look familiar? It was the one from H&M that PC poo-pooed when I tried it on for him. So I hung it back up, then promptly went back to buy it the next day while he was at work.
I styled my shearling faux fur jacket with the pleated skirt, an H&M white pearl-embellished sweater and Unisa peep toe shoes. Love these beaded bracelets from my BFF Sharon!
With my sweater dress, I wore tights. With this skirt, I wore panty hose. But am I the only gal in the world still wearing panty hose? My legs would freeze in the winter if I didn’t, though.
That’s how I styled my shearling faux fur jacket. Now the question is, do I need 2?
Hoping to open my fashion haus more often this year. And pledging to wear dresses or skirts at least once a week. I love getting dressed up and should do it more often. Wearing my popular winter trends 01.2020 in different ways until the season is over.
Your Turn
Have you tried any popular winter trends this season? Do you have stores you just won’t venture into because they aren’t price-point- or age-appropriate? My BFF gave me the prettiest earrings from Talbots for Christmas. Wore them yesterday and got several compliments. But I never go to Talbots because while I love their beautiful things, I know I can’t afford them. Then again, surely they have sales? End-of-season sales, maybe? Might be time to check them out.
Tomorrow I will be cleaning cabinets and drawers and the pantry in the kitchen. Wish me luck!! If you don’t hear from me again, you’ll know I was buried by an avalanche of canned goods and cereal boxes!
Thank you so much for coming by. Your comments make me smile. And reassure me that I am not always talking to myself.
Hugs and kisses,
Juhli
You styled these so well for what suits you! About the sweater dress being too short when belted – only if you are uncomfortable when sitting. I think it looks nicer not belted though but that has nothing to do with the length but with the belt interrupting the look.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you!
I am going to try my purple version of the sweater dress without a belt and see what I think. I have gained about 5 pounds (boo) and the dress will probably fit better! Ha! Felt like it was a bit big before I pigged out at Christmas.
Nancy
I think dresses and skirts above the knee look very good on you. And I love the faux fur outfit! Wow! What a gorgeous jacket and skirt.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, my fashionable friend. You are the queen of dresses and feminine looks. Feel so humbled by your sweet comments.
Dara
I got the Walmart dress, thanks for letting me know it was on sale! I wonder if I need a belt with it. I do have a moto jacket and I think it would look great together! I got the dress in gray, btw!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yay, so glad you bought the sweater dress. Isn’t it a bargain? Plan to wear my purple one to church this weekend. Want to style it differently so need to put my thinking cap on. Maybe with gray boots and a scarf? Hope you will share pics of you in your dress. I am sure you will look fabulous!
Deb
Love the way you have styled these outfits – that skirt is beautiful, I can see that it would go with so many different things.
I need to know though – what is the difference between ‘tights’ and ‘panty hose’? Over here we just have ‘tights’ which can be either thick opaque or very fine denier – I tend to wear opaque tights if my hemline is above the knee and sheer flesh coloured tights with longer dresses.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I love learning new ways our English language varies from Great Britain to the United States. Panty hose or stockings are what we call the sheer, dressier hosiery. Similar to the stockings women wore with garter belts years ago but now, of course, with a panty built in. I think panty hose are generally nude, or black or a light gray/smoke color, sometimes patterned with little dots or even fishnet.
Over here I would say we use the term tights for stockings that are made of denser material, knit. Often textured. Opaque. My tights have a cable knit pattern or are ribbed or herringbone. And the tights I have are darker…not nude, but dark gray, brown, black.
Thank you for the sweet compliments, friend.
Kimberly F. Malkiewicz
You have a gorgeous figure! Most sweater dresses wouldn’t look good on me, plus I’m not a fan of dresses, so it’s likely this trend will pass me by. On the other hand, you know I love your leopard skirt(!), the shearling looks so good with it. Regarding short skirt lengths–I feel too self conscious in them, so not for me. Just above the knee is about what I’m comfortable with.
I read the article about not wearing jeans after 53 yrs. old. Well, it was in GB and I don’t think other countries have embraced them as much as us in the good ol’ US. I do agree with having problems finding the right fit!
How is your granddaughter doing?
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Wow, what a fabulous thing to say!! Thank you ever so much. I am afraid I have gained a few pounds over the holidays but the scales are headed in the right direction as of this week. And yet, I made a cheesecake today and didn’t want to go to the gym!
I think you are write about the rest of the world not being as blue jean happy as we are in the U.S. Their loss!! Ha! I do think jeans can look as nice as dress pants when they are well styled. A dress code prohibiting jeans in the school district from which I retired about broke the hearts of all of the district’s employees. We finally convinced the district to let us wear them on Fridays.
Jill
You wear both of these trends so well and your styling of both of these outfits is beautiful! Love the pleated leopard skirt with the faux fur jacket!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you! It felt good to dress like a lady!! Need to wear my dresses and skirts more often.
Jo
I love what you’ve done with these outfits. I especially love how the leather jacket works with the sweater dress. Work it girl!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, my friend. I felt kid of stylish for a grandma!!
Laura Bambrick
Walmart has had some amazing finds lately! I used to not even look twice there, but I’m pleased with a few things I’ve purchased there over the past few years now! That sweater dress is so pretty on you! I don’t think your hemline is too short at all. The boots always help it not seem as short too. As long as you are comfortable, go for it!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, my darling fashionista friend!! The boots and the tights helped me feel more covered up! The Time and Tru line at Walmart seems to be a lot like A New Day at Target. Have found a couple of great things, too.
Shelbee on the Edge
Leslie, I love these looks you created! As for the hemline of that adorable sweater dress, you have amazing legs so I say show them off! Who cares what age you are? It is all so silly, this age appropriate nonsense. When I was in my 30’s, I started dressing all frumpy like because my older sister told me I was too old to dress the way that I loved to dress. Oddly, she was the one who later encouraged me to start a fashion blog and now in my mid-40’s I dress more like a teenager and that is my comfort zone and where I feel great. So like you, I used to steer away from stores that were geared toward younger women, but now those are the places I prefer to shop (when I am not shopping second hand). I think it is a matter of what clothing makes you feel most like yourself…and I feel like a kid so that’s how I’m gonna dress!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, sweet Shelbee, thank you for the kind comments. I don’t know about amazing legs…but they get me from point A to B and that is pretty amazing!! I would never ever have guessed you were in your mid-40s. Thought you were late 20s!! What a fabulous complexion you have. And fun sense of style.
Cathy Edwards
You look adorable in everything. Ignore what is “age appropriate”! We all have our sense of style and what feels good to me, you etc.
I wanted to congratulate you on your beautiful grand baby. She looks like an Angel. I wish you and your loves health and happiness. My daughter is having our first grand baby at the end of the month and we are swooning. I will keep you posted!
So enjoy your posts!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, Cathy…are you a grandmother yet? You are going to just love that title and all that it encompasses. Thank you for the kind words of congratulations on our baby Camila. She is a keeper. Kind of red headed with blue eyes. Looks a lot like my dad. I know he is smiling down on her.
Thank you so much for the kind words. Your comment warmed my heart. So thankful you find something in this silly blog that keeps you coming by! XO
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
I just love that PC encouraged you to go in and try on that jacket! I have a similar one and call it my teddy bear jacket… Aut has one, too. 🙂 I don’t think I’ve ever been in Papaya, but I’ve walked past it! I think Forever 21 is one of those stores I’ll always love, yet I feel silly in there sometimes.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, I love Forever 21, too, but I get strange looks when I stroll through there. I pretend like I am shopping for my granddaughters! Ha!! Their prices are so reasonable for pieces that you aren’t going to wear constantly. Like this shearling coat from Papaya. Not top quality, I am sure but it hasn’t disintegrated yet!
Daenel T.
I get a lot of “Only you would wear that…” So I’ve learned to turn a deaf ear to people giving out fashion advice. So do you and be happy. I love love love that sweater dress on you. And it annoys me that I never think of belting things until I see it on someone else and then I’m like oooooh, I could do that. LOL
The shearling coat is cute. I have a vest that I need to figure out how to style.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I am seeing more shearling on sale and thinking maybe I can add another piece of two to my wardrobe before winter ends. Would love a fluffy pink!
Thank you for the sweet words. I felt like the sweater dress was just a bit loose so belting it seemed to give it more shape. But also made it shorter. Can’t win for losing!!
Tarequl
I think your dresses made very good on you
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you so much!! What sweet words.
Amy Johnson
I love your leopard print skirt and your sweater dress. I do avoid stores that are “Age Appropriate”, but mostly because I can’t afford them. ha ha! Talbots and Chicos are great stores, but my, they are expensive! Why are most stores tailored for older women so expensive? I’ve always said we need a “Forever 21” for older women…except we’ll title it “Forever 51”! haha! In all seriousness, I don’t know why we tailor stores by age anyway. I can walk into a “young” store and find lots of clothes to wear. It’s actually harder for me to walk in an “old” store and find something I could wear. I like some items in “Christopher Banks” and they are not as expensive as Talbots and Chicos, but their stores always have lots of large size, and barely any small sizes, so I rarely shop there either. So frustrating!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I have only been in a Talbots maybe once. And then I think it was to apply for a job. Felt waaaay out of my league. And didn’t get the job. I am sure they couldn’t imagine hiring someone in Walmart clothes to sell their pretty things.
Christopher Banks is pretty reasonable. And most of their things don’t scream senior citizen. But I do buy for my 92 year-old mom there, too!!
Thank you for the sweet words. I am trying hard to wear dresses and skirts to church every Sunday.
Kellyann Rohr
Whaaaat??? Women in the 2nd half of their lives shouldn’t wear jeans?? Is that me? I guess so unless I am planning to be 140! Ha! That’s crazy!
What isn’t crazy is that great deal you got on your sweater dress, gotta love Walmart! Love the leopard skirt and the shearling jacket. Good for you and for your PC for shopping for what you want even in a place that isn’t where you want – what have you got to lose?
I think you look great!
xo,
Kellyann