camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40

Inspired by Not Dressed as Lamb: Denim, Camo, & Combat Boots

October 24, 2019 / 35 Comments
camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40

I just love when I see a fashion blogger go outside of their norm and present the unexpected. I thrive on the unexpected. It keeps me on my toes. It prevents me from becoming too complacent. It forces me to stay on top of my own game.

camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40

Please don’t interpret that as my being competitive. The only person I compete with is myself. And that competition is quite fierce so it’s kind of all I can handle right now. The blogosphere is a huge place and we don’t really have to compete with each other to make a statement. In fact, I find it so much more fulfilling when we inspire, empower, motivate, and support one another instead.

camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, fashion over 40
camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, fashion over 40

There is one blogger who stands out among all the amazing blogger friends I have made in the past four years. She is always helpful, always kind, always supportive, and always willing to share what she has learned along the way. I have reached out to her numerous times with questions when I was a new blogger and she was more than willing to offer me advice and suggestions regardless of how tiny my following was compared to hers. Because for her, it’s not about the numbers, it’s about the connections and empowering women everywhere at any age to live their truths authentically and proudly.

camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40
camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40

She has coined the hashtag #iwillwearwhatilike on her mission to oppose the term “age appropriate” when it comes to fashion and lifestyle and I am more than happy to embrace that philosophy. Because she has blazed the path for women everywhere to wear whatever we like at any age, I have been more empowered to be myself in a bolder, sexier, sillier, more genuine way in my 40’s than I ever did in my 20’s and 30’s. And I cannot give her enough thanks for that.

camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40
camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40

Of course, I am talking about Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. She was one of the very first fashion bloggers that I started following when I was just contemplating the idea of starting my own blog. I always found her style unique and fun and whimsical with a side of super feminine flair. She is a master at bold color combinations and unexpected pattern mixes as she challenges all of the rules put forth by the fashion industry. She has led the way for many of us women in midlife to take more risks when it comes to our clothing and our self expression. She has taught me to push forward through my fears, to stand strong in the face of judgment, and to stick to my guns. And all of this she has done simply by leading by example.

camo jacket, fashion over 40
camo jacket, white button down, boyfriend jeans, fashion over 40, combat boots

And as much as I adore her style and appreciate every single element of her outfit creations, her style is not the same as mine. Nope, not at all. But that doesn’t mean I can’t take inspiration from her. It may just be a single article of clothing that triggers an idea or maybe an interesting color combination that makes my creative juices to start to flow. But every once in a while, a blogger will surprise us with an outfit that may not be so true to their typical style. And Catherine did just that in her post a few weeks ago, How to Do Masculine Chic with Denim, Camo, and Military-Style Boots. It was an outfit that was unexpected to me being styled by Catherine, but it was an outfit that was absolutely, totally, 100% my style. I knew immediately that I had to copy it!

Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb

Of course, I didn’t have the exact same pieces as Catherine, but what fun would that be anyway if I created an exact identical replica of her outfit? That would just be silly. She has already done that for us. As much as I admire Catherine, I don’t want to be Catherine. I am quite content being Shelbee. But Shelbee can certainly be inspired by Catherine, can’t she? And inspired I was.

camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40
camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40

So I grabbed my favorite boyfriend jeans, a white button down shirt, and my trusty old camo cargo jacket. I have about 15 different pairs of combat or military-style boots but none have red laces, so instead I opted for my star print boots to mimic the stars on Catherine’s bag. Then to add the bit of red that Catherine has in her shoelaces and her bag, I opted for a red blanket scarf (because it’s cold and windy as hell here lately, folks) and a red dumpster in the background! And there you have it, my take on Catherine’s outfit created entirely from pieces that I already had in my closet (and a dumpster that I found out in my travels).

camo jacket, blanket scarf, fashion over 40
star print combat boots
camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40

That’s the best part about finding inspiration from other bloggers…we don’t have to run out and buy the next new trend because we probably already have most of the pieces in our closet. Because bloggers are just regular people. We are not super models with unlimited clothing budgets. We are not the rich and famous. We are everyday folks living everyday lives shopping in the same places as everyone else. We just have a passion for making interesting combinations and sharing them with the world in the hopes that we can inspire someone.

camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40
camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40

So thank you to Catherine, for all you do to inspire me. And thank you to all of the other amazing bloggers out there, putting your own twist on things and inspiring me with your style, your passion, your words, and your kindness. I am grateful to be among you.

camo jacket, combat boots, boyfriend jeans, blanket scarf, fashion over 40

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

Shop my look…

Outfit Details: Jacket-Kohl’s / Top-Foxcroft / Jeans-Gap / Scarf-Old Navy / Bralette-Torrid / Boots-JustFab / Necklace-Charlotte Russe / Earrings-Gift

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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