Select Page

Modest Fashion: Fabulous Gray Fedora

by | Feb 3, 2017 | Fashion

grey-fedora3

A gray fedora is classic headwear at its finest.

I’m huge fan of wearing hats. I happen to be of the opinion that a girl can’t have too many. This fact is evidenced by the enormous collection of hats of various types and styles in my closet. (I may or may not have a slight problem.)

One of my newest hat purchases is a beautifully stylish gray fedora. The brand is Gap but the fedora came to me by way of ThredUp (like about 75% of my current wardrobe). I’m completely smitten with this hat. The width of the brim, the shape of the crown, the color, even the grosgrain ribbon band—it’s all perfection. To top it all off, it fits like it was made for my head.

*Sigh* I think I’m in love…

Styling this hat within my wardrobe choices is so effortless. It goes with practically everything I own, making it easy to mix and match with lots of different outfits. This hat is versatile, too. It can be dressed up or worn with more casual looks.

grey-fedora2

For this look, I chose to pair it with a long, taupe colored skirt, burgundy sweater, and soft ombre scarf. This outfit has so many elements I absolutely adore. The hat, the scarf, the colors—they play so beautifully off of one another.

The skirt has been one of my favorite items in my entire closet for a long time now. If you’ve read any of my fashion posts before, you may have noticed that I hang on to my clothes for years. When I find a clothing item I really like, I tend to wear it for many seasons. I choose good quality clothing that has a timeless appeal. My clothing choices are based on my personal style. I don’t generally follow trends unless I feel they fit with my personal sense of style.

Anyway, back to the skirt. It’s a great fit, I love the fabric and the color, and it’s nice and long, which I love. And the best part—I bought it at a thrift store! Bargain shopping at it’s finest.

This sweater is another item I’ve had for a while. It’s simple and can be accessorized easily. A wardrobe staple if there ever was one.

Oh, this scarf! What can I say about this scarf other than it is gorgeous? My ombre scarves are some of my most worn, with good reason. They’re just plain beautiful! This one is made from a soft, draping fabric with a silky feel. It’s so luxurious to wear. It came in a subscription box last year and I’ve worn it so much since then. The colors of this scarf just happen to tie the entire outfit together perfectly.

My hair is styled in a braided side bun, which worked well with the low brim of the fedora. If you’d like to try this hairstyle, you can check out my tutorial to learn how I did it.

grey-fedora1

I know I’ve gushed a bit about this outfit, but I just love how it came together. It made me feel so regal and elegant to wear it.

Plus, it included a gray fedora. Need I say more?

What I Wore

Skirt: thrifted (similar)
Sweater: (similar)
Scarf: (similar)
Fedora: Gap (via ThredUp)

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase something using one of my links.  Note that I only recommend products I believe in. Your support is appreciated!

Linking up with: Modest Mondays| Hello Monday| Classy Monday | Start the Week Stylish | Watch What I am Wearing | Style Sessions | Style Swap Tuesdays | On Trend Tuesdays | Turning Heads Tuesday | What I Wore | What I Wore Wednesday | Style Me Wednesday | Color and Grace | Who’s Wearing What Wednesday |  Style Spotlight | What Wives Wear | Thursday Moda | No Rules Weekend Blog Party | Friday’s Fab Favorites | Fun Fashion  | Fancy Friday | Fabulous Friday | Fashion Friday | Weekend Wear Linkup

FREE Valentine’s Day Printables

by | Jan 30, 2017 | Home & Family, Lifestyle

With a background in graphic design, one of my little known hobbies is designing decorative printables. I find it fun and relaxing to create something pretty to hang on a wall or add to a notebook. It makes me happy to express my artistic side this way.

In honor of Valentine’s Day (which is coming up quickly!), I’ve designed some pretty printables I think you’re going to love. These are free printables for you to print out and enjoy. Use them any way you like. They’re my Valentine’s gift to you, all my friends here at Mud Boots & Pearls.

valentines-printable1

 

valentines-printable2

 

valentines-printable3

 

valentines-printable4

Blanket Scarf Bonanza

by | Jan 27, 2017 | Fashion

When you live in a cold winter climate like New England, a blanket scarf is the perfect accessory for keeping warm. It’s versatile and fashionable—a blanket scarf is incredibly useful.

I’ve talked about my blanket scarf obsession before. I’ve acquired several of them since last fall, and now my collection is complete with gorgeous, soft scarves I can wear on all those chilly days winter throws my way.

I’d thought I’d share a few images of how I love to style my blanket scarves. I did a post a while back about 5 ways to wear a blanket scarf, but I’ve got a couple of favorite ways I wear mine most of the time. I also have a few outfits that look especially suited to wearing a blanket scarf with. You really do have to plan an entire outfit around a blanket scarf! Keeping things proportional is something that is important to keep in mind.

This first scarf is one I got last fall. It came in the fall Fab Fit Fun box, and it’s simply fabulous! It was especially perfect for wearing during the holidays. The color way and pattern are so classic. This particular scarf is from Modcloth, but these can be found almost anywhere now. They are extremely popular and very much still on trend.

blanket-scarf-classic-style

blanket-scarf-belted

Next, this scarf is one I received as a gift from my mother for Christmas. The colors are so pretty. It goes beautifully with grey, which I love. I’ve styled it with a wool cap and long cardigan for a cozy, wintery look.

blue-green-blanket-scarf

blue-green-blanket-scarf-hat2

blue-green-blanket-scarf-hat

This final look incorporates a lovely subdued pink blanket scarf with hints of purple throughout. The color combination of this scarf is completely different from the others, making it unique (and ultra feminine). It is much subtler and softer, so it goes with some of my softer colored wardrobe items. I’ve really had a lot of fun finding clothing combinations to incorporate this scarf into.

pink-blanket-scarf

If you’re looking for an accessory that looks great, adds a lot of interest to an outfit, and keeps you warm and cozy during the cold winter months, you should definitely try a blanket scarf. I am really loving mine!

What I Wore

Outfit 1
Blanket scarf: Modcloth (via Fab Fit Fun)
Skirt: upcycled (via ThredUp)
Shirt: Banana Republic (via ThredUp)
Earrings: (similar)

Outfit 2
Blanket scarf: gift (find one similar here)
Skirt: upcycled (via ThredUp)
Shirt: Ann Taylor (via ThredUp)
Cardigan: Old Navy
Cap: (similar)
Earrings: (similar)

Outfit 3
Blanket Scarf: Zulily
Shirt: Novae
Skirt: Crazy Horse (another ThredUp find)

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase something using one of my links.  Note that I only recommend products I believe in. Your support is appreciated!

Linking up with: Modest Mondays| Hello Monday| Classy Monday | Start the Week Stylish | Watch What I am Wearing | Style Sessions | Style Swap Tuesdays | On Trend Tuesdays | Turning Heads Tuesday | What I Wore | What I Wore Wednesday | Style Me Wednesday | Color and Grace | Who’s Wearing What Wednesday |  Style Spotlight | What Wives Wear | No Rules Weekend Blog Party | Friday’s Fab Favorites | Fun Fashion  | Fancy Friday | Fabulous Friday | Fashion Friday | Weekend Wear Linkup

Braided Side Bun Hair Tutorial

by | Jan 23, 2017 | Beauty

braided-side-bun-pin

Looking for a quick hair style that’s simple to do but looks dressy and oh so chic? Look no further. I’ve got a hairstyle that’s perfect for date night, a formal event, even a not-so-dressy event like everyday life!

This style is also perfect for little girls. My daughter does this to her own hair and when she does, it always looks adorable!

This hair style works best on shoulder length or longer hair. For this style, you will need a comb (or brush), an elastic or hair tie (should be the same color as your hair so that it blends in), and a few bobby pins.

Braided Side Bun
Step 1

Comb or brush hair to one side of the head, keeping the length of the hair over the shoulder.

braided-side-bun1
Step 2

Separate 3 small sections of the hair just above the temple on the side of the head you brushed you hair toward in step 1.

braided-side-bun2
Step 3

Using the sections you just separated out, start braiding down the side of the head, adding additional sections from each side of the braid as you go. (Just do a normal french braid, only it will be positioned at the side of your head instead of the back.)

braided-side-bun3
Step 4

Once you’ve incorporated all the hair into the braid, continue to braid until you reach the ends of the hair, then fasten it with an elastic or hair tie.

braided-side-bun4
Step 5

Begin coiling the length of the braid around and the neck, just below and behind your ear, creating a bun. Be sure to tuck the end of the braid underneath the bun to hide it.

braided-side-bun5
Step 6

Secure the bun well with bobby pins. Check for any stray hairs or anything else that might need to be adjusted.

braided-side-bun6

And there you have it—a beautiful and elaborate looking hair style that only took you a few minutes to do!

braided-side-bun7

braided-side-bun8

braided-side-bun9

Wear a Scarf for Instant Elegance

by | Jan 20, 2017 | Fashion

scarf-elegance-wide

A scarf is a great way to add a touch of elegance to any outfit. If you’ve read even a few of my fashion posts—or if you’ve ever seen my Instagram feed—you’ve probably noticed that I like to wear scarves.

Scarves are such simple but versatile accessories. Every girl should own a few.

scarf-elegance-tall

This outfit is a super simple one. However, it dresses up nicely with the addition of a pretty, colorful scarf. A plain long-sleeved tee and knit maxi skirt can be made elegant with an cotton ombre scarf in a complimentary color scheme.

The tee is nothing special, other than the fact that the color is a beautiful lavender. Otherwise, it is a basic wardrobe staple. Everyone probably has something similar. The fit of this particular tee is great; I really like the flattering cut and the way the hem scoops down a bit. It’s from Ann Taylor (though it came to me via ThredUp); almost all of my most flattering clothes are from Ann Taylor.

I sure do love my knit maxi skirts. This one came from Old Navy years ago. This skirt major player in my everyday wardrobe. It’s been a workhorse since I got it several years back. It’s held up really well and it goes with everything.

And it’s grey—THE neutral of the season. I guess that means I can say I’ve been wearing grey since before it was cool….

Last but not least, the scarf. Ah, this lovely scarf came into my possession via the local thrift store for about $2. It’s such a pretty color combination. Vibrant lavender fades into a soft, mossy green. This scarf makes me feel almost regal when I wear it. It’s flowing and elegant and it beautifully compliments almost anything I pair it with.

scarf-elegance-close-up

This outfit goes to show you that you don’t have to spend a fortune to look elegant and put together. A few well chosen accessories paired with some wardrobe staples can make for a lovely look.

(I took these photos in the midst of a snow storm. I liked how the camera captured the snow coming down.)

Do you have a favorite scarf you love to use to bring more elegance to an otherwise simple outfit? If you don’t, you should find one and try it. It’s fun, trust me!

What I Wore

Skirt: Old Navy years ago (similar)
Long sleeved Tee: Ann Taylor (mine came via ThredUp)
Scarf: Thrifted (similar)
Boots: L.L. Bean

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase something using one of my links.  Note that I only recommend products I believe in. Your support is appreciated!

Linking up with: Modest Mondays| Hello Monday| Classy Monday | Start the Week Stylish | Watch What I am Wearing | Style Sessions | Style Swap Tuesdays | On Trend Tuesdays | Turning Heads Tuesday | What I Wore | What I Wore Wednesday | Style Me Wednesday | Color and Grace | Who’s Wearing What Wednesday |  Style Spotlight | What Wives Wear | No Rules Weekend Blog Party | Friday’s Fab Favorites | Fun Fashion  | Fancy Friday | Fabulous Friday | Fashion Friday | Weekend Wear Linkup

Pin It on Pinterest