Fall is for Foliage . . . and Brights and Big Denim

Sweater: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Coat: JouJou, Macy's

Shoes: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

 Jeans: Wild Fable, Target

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon; Shoes: Chase & Chloe, Zulily

Headband: Kohl's

Tights: Poof, Boscov's

Top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Skirt: Rewind, Kohl's

Jeans and bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Top: Jessica Simpson Style, Belk

It's gotten a little cooler, and when that happens, I like to go brighter.  Because nothing beats gloom and doom like a light show of color.  That said, by the time winter blows in, I'll resemble a radioactive, rainbow snow cone.  Until then, I'm ramping up with fruit motifs, a glimpse of faux fur, and some necklaces I made forever ago.  

On an unrelated note, the older I get, the more I love big jeans (as evidenced by the roomy and, yes, rhinestone-studded sparklers I'm sporting above).  Gone are the days when I'd pour myself into circulation-compromising skinnies and think, yep, you're worth suffering for.  This hit home last spring when my mom and I were out to dinner and I had to unbutton my jeggings grandpa-at-Thanksgiving-style to enjoy my crab imperial. 

On another unrelated note, here are the places I wore these outfits: Target, Michaels, the post office, and the doctor's office.  The doc's was where I debuted my big jeans.  

And then, of course, I went back to Target.

Fall From Space: Celestial Reasonings

Dress: So, Kohl's

Boots: Penny Loves Kenny, Amazon

Top: So, Kohl's

Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Bangles: B Fabulous; Ring: Mixit, JCPenney

Fabulous Felt Autumn Elegance Barrette

Dress: Jessica Simpson, Amazon

Choker and barrettes: Kohl's

Ring: Mixit, JCPenney; Bag: Privileged, Zulily; Boots: Penny Loves Kenny, Amazon; Tights: HUE, Amazon

Skirt: Rewind, Kohl's

Bag: Mellow World, Kohl's; Ring: Charlotte Russe; Red and yellow bangles: B Fabulous; Zigzag bangle: Strawbridge & Clothier; Green bangle: Burlington Coat Factory

Shoes: Chase & Chloe, Zulily; Tights: HUE, Zulily

Top: LC Lauren Conard, Kohl's

Now that we're into November, it's finally starting to feel like fall.  And not just because it's cooler and leaves are actually falling from the trees.  But because Halloween is behind us, with Thanksgiving just around the corner.  So, wearing gold and boots and leaf-themed things feels less like a bit and more like real life.  I even busted out last year's Thanksgiving dress and made a new leaf barrette complete with a crescent moon.  And you know what?  It turns out that autumn, although not my usual cup of tea, is very colorful.  And also very nice.  

 

Harvest Moon Barrette Brooch

So, welcome fall!  I'm finally happy that you're here.

I'll miss you come December when I'm dragged, kicking and screaming, into Christmas.

The Religious Experience of Bold Tunes and Tees

Sweater: Hooked Up, Macy's; Skirt: Almost Famous, Kohl's; Shoes: Anne Michelle, JCPenney; Bag: Zulily; Sunglasses: Amazon; Bracelets: So, Kohl's

Yummy Bear Necklace

Shoes: Katy Perry Collection; Sunglasses: Party City; Yellow bangles: B Fabulous; Mint bangle: Decree, JCPenney; Dark blue bangle: So, Kohl's; Light blue bangle: Burlington Coat Factory; Striped bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Bag: Francesca's

Dress (back view!): Rewind, Kohls; Tank: Worthington, JCPenney

Four Leaf Fabulous Necklace

Skirt: Tinseltown, Macy's; Shoes: Jessica Simpson, DSW; Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon; Striped bangle: Miami accessories cart; Dark green bracelet: Parade of Shoes; Yellow bracelet: Sonoma, Kohl's; Purple bracelet: Etsy; Blue bangle: B Fabulous; Neon green bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily

Lucky Day-Glo Necklace

Tee: Lisa Frank for Local Celebrity, Delia's

I was driving to the ATM to get tip money for the lovely ShopRite delivery people who help make my hermit life possible when I caught Joan Osborne's "One of Us" on the radio.  I was so happy to hear this '90s classic, especially the chorus "What if God was one of us?/Just a slob like one of us/Just a stranger on the bus/Tryin' to make his way home?"  When I was in seventh grade, our music teacher used to let us bring in our favorite songs to sing, which was pretty cool of him, and someone brought in this one.  When the "just a slob like one of us" part came on, our teacher balked, "I'm no slob; speak for yourself!".  Apparently, his coolness had limits.

Today's outfits have nothing to do with this.  Unless you count the tenuous connection of Lisa Frank and Ms. Osborne being '90s pop culture icons.

Which, of course, I do.  Because they're both passengers on this bus called life.

You too, whether you want to be or not, Mr. Z.

Colorform Storm

Sweater: Candie's, Kohl's

Scrunchies: So, Kohl's; Lady Arya, Zulily

Sweater: Express; Necklace (no name): The Tote Trove

Bag: Wild Fable, Target

Sweater: IZ Buyer, Kohl's

Skirt: So, Kohl's

Hat: Wild Fable, Target

Sock: Zulily; Shoe: Chase & Chloe, Zulily

Top: L'Amour by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney

Headbands: INC, Macy's

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Sweatshirt: Arizona Jeans, JCPenney; Pink necklace: H&M; Other necklace: (no name) The Tote Trove

Slim green, slim orange, and chunky yellow bangles: B Fabulous; Chunky fuchsia and chunky orange bangles: Mixit, JCPenney; Mustard bracelet: Cloud Nine, Ocean City; Necklace (no name): The Tote Trove

Dress: Rewind, Kohl's

Tourist Trap Charm Necklace

Shoes: Guess, DSW

Remember Colorforms?  Maybe you, your kids, or your grandkids played with them as way back as the '50s when they first came out, or as recently as yesterday.  I came to know them in the '80s, when I had a Rainbow Brite set.  And then I became reacquainted with them when I bought a Hello Kitty set on my honeymoon.        

This week, this sweater made me think of them again.  The turquoise, magenta, and yellow remind me of their adorable little mascot:

How could he not be happy, drenched in such cheerful color?  I like to think I'm like him in that way, playing with clothes like they're crayons, getting a fresh sheet of paper each day. 

Shakespeare said that all the world is a stage, but maybe it's a coloring book.