Western Wear: Wow on Wednesday 01.2022

Fashionistas and clothes wearing friends, today I am joining my friend Gail for her Wow on Wednesday series.  Last week Gail hosted a #7dayskirtchallenge on Instagram in which I participated.  When she contacted me about being a part of her Wow on Wednesday post this week featuring a look I shared for the skirt challenge, I was really touched.

Never ever would I consider myself a style or fashion blogger.  But I do like getting dressed – it beats going around naked!!  And I like putting together outfits…sometimes.  Today I want to share an outfit that kind of came together well.  It’s the last look I put together for the skirt challenge.  Welcome to Western Wear: Wow on Wednesday 01.2022.  And that’s a whole lotta Ws.

 

Wow on Wednesday 01.2022

 

If you aren’t already following my friend Gail’s blog, Is This Mutton? I hope you will take a moment to check it out.  We have been teaming up for the Sentence a Day series for several years now and through those posts, I feel we have become real friends.  She has the dreamiest complexion and the most exquisite skirt and bootie collections of anyone I know.  Her walks in the Epping Forest near her London home are delightful to follow along on, no matter the season.  Check them out on Instagram, here.

Just a reminder:  Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After occasionally uses affiliate links which are usually italicized.  If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link provided I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

 

Versona

 

Shortly before Christmas, I discovered this new store in our Fountains at Farrah shopping mall.  It had gone into what was once Charming Charlie’s store front.  Was anyone else just crushed when Charming Charlie’s closed?  The name of the store is Versona.  Apparently, they only have brick and mortar stores in a few cities in North America – how El Paso managed to score one, I do not know!!  But I am glad we did!!  If you aren’t lucky enough to have a Versona near you, please check out their online store, here.

Versona has clothing, shoes, jewelry, bags and other accessories with a small boutique feel.  My first time in, I fell in love with this cute faux suede hat.  I always admire hats on other gals but never feel very self-confident wearing them myself.  But I am going to die trying to wear this one!!  PC treated me to the hat – what a prince, huh?

 

Western Wear

 

For Christmas, PC gave me gift cards to some of my favorite stores…including Versona.  This past weekend, I stopped in to check out their goodies.  This faux suede jacket on display in the window caught my eye.  Couldn’t get in the store fast enough!!  Grabbed one off the rack and went straight to the mirror to try it on.

 

I ripped off my very peri sweatshirt and replaced it with the jacket.  It was LOVE at first sight.  Quite accidentally, it even worked with the monochromatic winter white pants and cami I was wearing that day.  Began imagining how cute it could be with a denim skirt, a chambray dress.  Used my gift card to purchase it, a country music-inspired top, and a layered silver necklace.

Here’s how I styled my new jacket first time out of the gate.

Paired it with my Christopher & Banks midi denim skirt, and a very old Loft Outlet blouse that has escaped multiple closet purging.  The blouse kind of reminded me of the yellow rose of Texas or maybe Rosa’s Cantina as it has big orange and spice-colored blossoms all over it on a sheer black background.  Had to wear a black cami underneath. Think a Tex-Mex feel.

Had to add my Cavender’s cowboy (cowgirl?) boots and black tights.  Might have liked the whole look better with a bare leg but it was chilly willy on the day I wore this to church.  Besides, women in the old west wore woolen stockings, right?

Fringe Benefits

In the photo below I wanted to show you the cute fringe on the sleeves of the jacket.

PC asked me if I knew the purpose of fringe on clothing in the old west.  I did not.  Assumed it probably wasn’t just for fun but that was all I knew.  He explained that often Native Americans and pioneers would pull off a piece of fringe to use as a tie, like string.  Apparently, the fringe has another function according to Encyclopedia.com:  “Native American tribes of the Plains and elsewhere had long created garments with fringe, which served as a type of gutter that repelled rainwater from the wearer” [source].  Talk about fringe benefits.  So clever.

Lazy Cow Trail Head

Wore this outfit to church and then begged PC to run by the Lazy Cow trail head near our house for a couple of additional photos of this look.  I mean, what better place to show off a faux suede jacket, denim skirt and cowboy boots??

Don’t you love how the fringe continues across the back of this jacket and down the other sleeve?  Just so fun.

Looking forward to wearing this great Versona jacket in lots of ways over the next few months.  Have my eye on this pinch of cinnamon ruffled skirt…wouldn’t it be darling with the jacket?  Or paired with this neutral opinions maxi dress.  But I just have so few occasions to wear a dress.

However…

I’ve made ‘friends’ with Lucia’s kinder teachers on an app called SeeSaw where I can see messages from the teachers, assignments and journal entries from Cia’s school day.  Had offered to serve as a room mother or to volunteer to put together centers for the classrooms.  Lucia is in a dual language program where she has English instruction in the morning and Spanish instruction in the afternoon, so 2 different teachers.

Yesterday morning, I received a message from the Spanish teacher asking if I could sub for the English teacher.  Without thinking about Covid (what?? who am I??), I jumped in the car and headed over the mountain to sub.  Subbing can be a great excuse for wearing dresses!!

Not sure who was more excited.  Lucia or me.

I have even more respect for teachers during this pandemic after my sub day.  Exhausting.  And then the school asked me to work 10 days in the same assignment as the teacher had possibly been exposed to Covid.  As much as I wanted to help, I was just not up to 10 days.  Went home and drank a beer after one day in the classroom.  Might be an alcoholic at the end of a 10-day assignment.

Parting Shot

Northern end of a southern facing me.

Hope you will take a peek at the great things offered at Versona.com.  They have some great sale items right now.  Or shop in person if you have a store if you have one nearby.  Local friends, please check out our Versona at the Fountains at Farrah.

 

Your Turn

 

Have you ever shopped at Versona?  Do you have any western wear in your closet?  PC mentioned that maybe I should start featuring more western style clothing as it reflects my El Paso home and culture.  I know the style doesn’t appeal to everyone but it can be fun to try new trends, right?

Hoping to finally get that gratitude post about Brennyn and Declan written for tomorrow’s Thankful Thursday series.  And on Friday it is time for another edition of Where Blogger’s Live.  I think my word of the year (WOTY) found me this morning, so hope to share that with you in a post this weekend.   Would love to have you stop back by.

Thank you for spending some time with me today for Wow on Wednesday 01.2022.  Off to call Mom, fold clothes, iron, clean bathrooms, figure out dinner, exercise, run to Walmart, wash my car and blog read.  All the things I thought I was going to do yesterday when I subbed instead.  What are you up to today?

Hugs and kisses,