Something Old, Something New & Spread the Kindness Link Up On the Edge #823
But nothing borrowed and nothing blue. Just a whole bunch of brown and white. With school beginning yesterday, I thought today’s outfit share should feature some of my former school colors. I never really liked any of my school colors during the years I was in school, but now many of those color combinations appeal to me. My elementary school colors were blue and gold (aka yellow), my high school colors were black and gold (also yellow), my college colors were brown and white, and my graduate school colors were red and white. But these days, you can mostly find me donning purple and white…my kids’ school colors.
Back in college, I thought brown and white was kind of a boring muddy combination that represented dirt and poo. As I have matured in the 30 years since college graduation, I’ve come to appreciate these natural colors much more. Now browns represent the beauty of the earth in all of its splendor. When I wear these neutral colors now, I don’t feel muddy and dirty. Rather, I feel more connected to the ground, to nature, and to the universe.
I wore this outfit back in early July when the hottest days of the season had a tight grasp on us. Long light layers kept me feeling cool and breezy throughout the multiple heat waves we experienced this summer.
This outfit is a combination of old things and new things from my wardrobe. First, let me talk about the new things. I picked up these adorable split leg trousers on clearance at Walmart during an early morning grocery trip in June. I really liked the brown botanical print on the sheer ivory background. They were an online return so there was only one pair in size medium. I’m usually never a size medium, but sometimes an elastic waistband gives enough stretch to fit my size large waist. I also almost never like split leg pants on my body. So I walked past the pants multiple times before deciding to just try them on. My mother always said if you like it on the hanger, try it on your body. There is no harm in trying it and you might surprise yourself. So I tried them on and definitely surprised myself!
They fit perfectly and the split leg feature didn’t bother me as it usually does. They are a very lightweight sheer chiffon material and I believe they were marketed as a swim wear cover up. Since I don’t adhere to strict labels, I am marketing them as funky summer pants that can be worn with a swim suit or with regular clothing or as pajamas, if that’s your thing.
I’m also wearing a new acquisition to my jewelry collection. A few months ago, I hit the necklace lottery on a thrifting adventure and the short ivory and brown choker necklace was one of the treasures I found for just $1.
Now let’s get to the old stuff. As much as I love a good neutral outfit combination, I still need to keep it interesting with a variety of prints in coordinating colors. The more prints and patterns in an outfit, the better…in my maximalist opinion!
The split leg trousers were begging for a long tunic so I added this “vintage” tunic that my mother made for me way back in 2005. I’ve been wearing this top in regular rotation for decades. It made its first appearance on the blog in 2016 and has shown up many times since then. And it’s still going strong! I always feel my mother’s energy wrapped around me like a warm hug whenever I wear this tunic. The ivory color, monochromatic embroidery, and eyelet details of the fabric made it the perfect partner for these new split leg pants.
Wanting to incorporate some more pattern mixing into this neutural colored outfit, I added this old brown and white paisley print kimono. It’s not vintage like the tunic but it is about 4 or 5 years old and still makes its way into my styling choices. I completed the outfit with an old tan straw hat, my dark brown Firkenstocks, my Highland cow earrings, and a bold raggy necklace that I picked up at a gift shop during our October 2023 road trip to Asheville, North Carolina.
The colors are more neutral than my usual vibrancy, but the earthy hippie vibe of this outfit is still very much me. Plus it’s always fun to try new things and see how they work with your old things.
With that I leave you with a first day of school photo of my boys. I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that my kids are in 8th and 10th grades. Didn’t they just start pre-K like last year? It sure feels like it. But here we are…with two teenage boys who are living their best lives! I’m excited for what lies ahead for them and I’m confident that they will both thrive and excel this year. To all of the students, teachers, faculty, and administration, may you all have the best school year yet!
Featured Favorites
Reader Favorite: Style Yourself Confident
Fashion Favorite: Nancy’s Fashion Style
Other Favorite: Curated by Jennifer
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
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.
27 Comments
Rena
I’m with your mom on trying something on even when you’re not sure about it! Those pants were clearly worth the gamble, and I really like how you mixed them with pieces you’ve had for years. The story behind the tunic makes it especially meaningful. Thanks for hosting, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Rena
https://finewhateverblog.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Rena! My momma was a pretty smart woman! I maybe didn’t realize it when I was a kid but I do now. LOL I hope you are well, my friend. Have a lovely weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
I love browns! But your school colours don’t appeal to me either. Back to a routine Shelbee! I wish your boys a very happy school year. And thank you for the feature!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, my friend! I really hated the school colors that had the gold/yellow! But now those colors are growing on me. Have a great weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Amy Johnson
It is such lovely outfit for transitioning into fall. Happy School Year!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Amy! Have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Gail Is This Mutton
Enjoying your earthy hippie vibe! My high school uniform was also black and gold.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Gail! Ooh, I hated the black and gold. It made me feel like a bumblebee!
xoxo
Shelbee
Barbara De Mul
hey Shelbee! how fun, a vision in ‘tortoise’ , kinda… I also chuckled a bit when you went full purple in your previous post, it is so rare to find good strong shades in it (just like red) that you need to grab ‘m while you can. Have a great Indian Summer, my friend.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Barbara! This outfit is very tortoisey! I like that imagery. Oh, I am definitely having a moment right now with all the purple! Have a lovely weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Di
Those pants are so much fun, and look extremely comfortable! I love your pattern mixing in this outfit, and your kimono is exceptional! it is so long and Squishy and flowing. I have some clothing pieces from my grandmother and my parents and other family members that I cherish and wear on occasion. I also feel very close to them when I wear them. Your boys are young men now! I cannot believe how much they’ve grown over the years of your blog’s first day of school pictures. I hope they have a really fun and successful year at school. Happy Labor Day weekend to your whole family!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
You are so sweet, Di! Thank you so much. I love tapping into the energy of old things including clothing. You really can feel it especially when it belonged to a loved one. I can’t believe how my kids have grown either. Where did the time go? Happy Labor Day weekend to you as well, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
I know my high school colors were blue and white but I have no clue what either of my college colors were! So, of course I googled it and it sounds like maroon and navy are the main colors for the University I went to and Blue and Black are the colors of the community college. Looking back I do vaguely remember wearing/buying some maroon/navy merch mostly for other family members.
It’s funny how our apprechiation for colors and shades changes over time just like we do. I too enjoy earth tones more now than I used to. Your outfit is very pretty.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Joanne! It sounds like you weren’t that into wearing school fan gear! LOL I only wore my school colors for sporting events. Other than that, I really didn’t have very much school spirit at all. Haha. I definitely bought more school merch for my family members when I was in college than I ever bought for myself. It is really interesting how much our tastes in fashion and colors change over the years. I hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Cat
Oh, I really like that outfit (although I wouldn’t be brave enough for the split)! So flowy and pretty!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Cat! The split was really great for this super hot summer and the long layers covered it up perfectly. I hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
I loved reading about your school colors! Mine were Blazer blue (a very bright almost royal blue) and white, then maroon and gold, then burgundy and cream (IU) and finally back to royal blue and white! I graduated from high school in 1976 so our gowns were…you guessed it…red, white, and blue! They were hideous becuase there is just no way to make a graduation gown look good with three colors! I don’t know if they ever varied again. My kids’ gowns were all maroon and gold.
I love this neutral look…Shelbee…is something changing here? Hahaha!!! My problem is trying the things on and then talking myself out of them! Love all the additions of accessories, too!
I’m not linking up because I have over 170 emails (most from bloggers) so I need to wade through those. I’ll be there next week, though!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Marsha, thanks so much, my friend. I like the idea of your red, white, and blue graduation gowns for the 200th birthday of America, but I bet they did look a little over the top. I feel like the simpler the gown, the more academic it looks for such an important occasion. I was wearing my new purple LINTICO dress the other day and Archie kept telling me it looked like a graduation gown because the color is so close to our school colors. It made me laugh! I don’t think much is changing with my style. I just like all the colors from bold and bright to soft pastels to warm earth tones and simple neutrals. Since I’m a style chameleon, I dress according to what I’m feeling each day! Good luck with all those emails! That’s a lot to sift through!
xoxo
Shelbee
mireille
Oh, you made me chuckle with dirt and poo! I do love me some neutrals nowadays and love earth tones. My oldest turned 20 this past week which just sounds crazy. My youngest told me yesterday that he hope I don’t have to use a cane when he himself turns 30… I told him I will try to be in shape and keep moving for the next 20 to 30 years! Love all the flowy components of your outfit today!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Mireille! It makes me happy when someone else gets a laugh out of my dumb jokes! Hahaha. And now I’m laughing that your youngest hopes you don’t need a cane in the future! Kids are so funny. For some reason, my youngest thinks I’m lazy and have no pain threshold because I do things like rest when I break a toe! LOL I set him straight the other day and he didn’t like it! Ha. He also calls me an “unc” and tells me that it causes him physical pain to watch me navigate technology! But does it pain him when I’m cooking all his meals, driving him everywhere, and doing all the other mom things that I do? Kids!
xoxo
Shelbee
Barbara Chapman
Happy beginning of the school year, Shelbee!! I still feel like I should be at school but am grateful to have retired a bit early. I just couldn’t take the walking up and down long hallways (all cement) after the fall that tore up my right hip’s ligaments. It is mostly recovered after almost two years of stretching/strengthening/walking and resting, plus a lot of ice. 😉
I love this outfit you put together! The soft browns with whites are perfect for fall. I guess I didn’t realize this was three pieces even though I saw your bare leg in one photo, lol! The white tunic is lovely and I am glad that you have good memories of your mom making it for you. Funny, as I grew up, I ended up working at a fabric store in my early 20s, so I made c lothes for my mom. I’d make things for my family for Christmas presents, so one year I sewed a plaid jumper for my mom. Another year, I sewed a bouclé scarf with multi colors so it’d help keep her warm at school. Fun memories!!!
I think I have shared before that my daughter loves caftans and she loves to wear them over pants and blouses at work. I love the look but really only have one, which I wore for a Rebekah installation as part of the IOOF State meeting a few years ago.
Happily featured your post, as you know, at this week’s Share Your Style #513 for you! <3 Hope your boys have a great school year and that they enjoy their classes, teachers and friends. p.s. Pinned several photographs from both posts, as always.
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aww, Barb, thanks so much, my friend. I am not a very good seamstress but I used to make simple things for family gifts as well. I think handmade gifts are the best even if they do come out a little imperfect! But my mom was really good. All I had to do was describe what I wanted and she would bring it to life for me. If I practiced more on my sewing machine, I could get there, but my patience runs thin with it. most days. LOL Thanks for featuring my post! I think I missed it so I’ll hop to have a look soon!
xoxo
Shelbee
Trina
You look like a beautiful Flower Goddess! I always love what you wear girly xoxox
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Awww, thanks so much, Trina! You are so sweet!
xoxo
Shelbee
Trina Morgan
You’re so welcome Shelbee! xoxox
Muhammad Irfan
Hi Shelbee,
The tunic your mother made in 2005 was my favourite detail in this post. Wearing it alongside a new find gives the outfit a lovely personal history. Your description of feeling close to her when you wear it shows why a handmade gift can remain meaningful long after the occasion has passed.
Thanks for sharing this interesting article.
Regards,
Muhammad Irfan
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Muhammed, thank you so much! I will keep wearing this special tunic until it falls apart on my body! I only have a few things from my mother which gives each of those things even more meaning. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee