The Fab 40’s in Holiday Colors
The theme for the Fab 40’s this month was perfectly appropriate for the season..Holiday Colors was what Ada picked for this late December post. This week that is wedged between Christmas and New Year’s Day is the best time to wear all of your last holiday outfits for the season. But when it comes to traditional holiday colors, I tend to wear them all year round because they are some of my favorite colors to wear…reds and greens and even blues, jewel tones and sparkly things will also do. Add in bits of black or white, silver or gold, and you’ve got yourself an outfit that is holiday ready but also perfectly suitable for any other non-holiday occasion as well.
I reached for an old favorite of mine for this style prompt…this cozy red plaid poncho. Whenever I wear anything red, I tend to combine it with black and white. It is my favorite color combination in the world. Since the poncho already has red, black, and white, it was an easy task to combine multiple prints into one outfit as well. I always love a bit of pattern mixing to keep things interesting.
But it is not just mixed up prints that help with the interest factor. You can achieve the same by combining different fabrics and textures as well. Like my new faux leather leggings with my old velvet combat boots. Put together with plaid, stripes, houndstooth, and gingham and I think it is a pretty great outfit for the holidays that I will likely wear straight through until the spring. I am not certain if you can spot all of the different prints in my outfit though. You have to look closely. My hat is black and white houndstooth, my gloves are black and white striped, my shirt is red and black gingham, and of course my poncho is red, black, and white plaid. And I went for gold jewelry to coordinate with the gold hardware on my boots.
This might be one of my favorite outfits that I have shared here this year. It is comfortable, stylish, and not so totally over the top that other women wouldn’t wear it! Ha.
That’s all I really have to say about the clothes. Now let me talk about the photos. There are a lot of them here because I was so happy with how this shoot turned out that I had trouble picking fewer photos.
These photos were taken in Brookside Cemetery which is just a few miles down the road from my house. It is the largest cemetery in Jefferson County, New York, and the resting place for many of the county’s notable people since the 1800s. Strangely, I can find no other information about this beautiful cemetery except for the 1864 plans for it.
I am thinking that the Jefferson County Historical Society might have more information, but that will require some further research on my part and they are temporarily closed for construction. Stay tuned. I will learn more!
I take a lot of my photos in this cemetery but I always feel weird doing photoshoots in cemeteries. I never want to be disrespectful to the dead who rest there or their friends and families who visit them. Fortunately, this cemetery is huge and there is so much beautiful landscaping all around it that you can capture gorgeous photos without knowing I am standing in a cemetery.
If you look closely at the cemetery plans above, you can see there are 4 quaint ponds all connected together by tiny little streams. I usually take my photos along the gorgeous tree lined entrance driveway into the cemetery because I feel like it is much less intrusive. But this time we decided to drive further in and around the cemetery to see what other wonders were hiding deeper inside. When we spotted the wooden bridge and the awesome creepy tree behind it, I definitely got more excited than necessary! But these are the things that keep me going. The special little things like a worn out old bridge straddling some stagnant mucky water and a big dead creepy tree in the middle of a cemetery. These little treasures that we discover when we just pay attention really do inject some extra fire into my soul.
What sorts of things have been bringing you joy this holiday season? Is it a cute new festive outfit that puts a bounce in your step? Or perhaps a new love that is lighting your soul on fire? Maybe it’s just getting back to the simple things that keeps you going? Or maybe a refocus of priorities is what will boost us into the new year?
Whatever things are bringing you joy, my wish for you all this holiday season is that you get more of that. More joy, more peace, more compassion, more kindness, more light, and above all else, more love. May you all be overwhelmed with love in 2022.
And now let’s look at my fabulous friends in their holiday colors.
The Fab 40’s is a group of four fashion bloggers from around the globe. Each month we choose a different theme and invite a guest blogger who is also in their 40’s to join us. This group’s goal is to take on style trends and show how we each interpret and incorporate them into our own lives. With four widely varied views, you are certain to find something that speaks to you each month and encourages you to continue to have fun with fashion after the age of 40.
Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood
Ada looks so cute in her burgundy plaid and denim outfit for a cool and easy casual outfit that can be worn for the holidays and beyond.
Suzy of The Grey Brunette
Suzy is a vision of holiday cheer in her silver maxi skirt and bold red jumper. I feel like she should be sitting atop a Christmas tree!
And me!
Unfortunately, Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks, Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood, and Mireille of Chez Mireille will be leaving this group going forward into the new year. We are sad to see them go but totally understand how life transitions this way. I wish you all much success in your new directions! If there are any other bloggers in their 40s who are interested in joining us to keep this group alive, do let us know.
Wishing you all a blessed New Year that is filled with joy, love, and happiness.
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Poncho-Shelbee’s Shoppe / Shirt-Old Navy / Leggings and Socks-Torrid / Boots-Shoe Dazzle / Hat, Gloves, and Jewelry-Old
24 Comments
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin
Those boots are amazing!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Tamar! I have had them for a few years and they are super fun and comfy, too. They are a bit too big on me though so I have to wear extra socks.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
I really love your hat!!!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks, Jennifer! It is a fun one!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
Those photos are very pretty! I love cemeteries too, love to read the stories in the stones. So much history. Love the outfit too! Those leggings are sexy and the poncho looks very warm and comfortable. What gave me joy last week was our walks in the nature reserve. The sky was blue, sun was shining, freezing and we saw a deer and a wild boar.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Nancy! I was really happy with this outfit! I have the same poncho in olive green that I should style with these leggings, too. Because it works! Your nature walk in the reserve sounds so lovely! I have never seen a wild boar in real life. That’s pretty cool! Wishing you a joyous new year, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Angie
Hi, Shelbee – First of all, I want those boots! <3 Then, I noticed how cool it is that your red socks peek over the top of those boots. Then, I noticed the deft addition of the black & white prints in the hat and gloves. Finally, I thought "and those faux leather leggings!" And one final word: great photography! Happy holidays to you – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Awwww, thanks so much, Angie! I don’t know if you noticed the red and black gingham on my shirt underneath the poncho! Ha. I got 4 prints in one outfit and that always makes me happy! Wishing you a blessed new year, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
What beautiful photos! I tend to wear red with black and white too (or denim). I love how the red pops against the black.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Joanne! Oh, I do like bright, bold red paired with denim, too!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Looking so very nice. Love the outfit and the shooting location.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick! I hope you have a wonderful New Year, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
I can see why you love this outfit! I think my favorite is/are (which is correct) the gloves!! They remind me of “Nightmare before Christmas”! But, everything just works together beautifully! I always put red, black, and white together. It just seems like the perfect combination, doesn’t it? I live beside a cemetery. I keep thinking about taking pictures there, but it’s very small. It used to belong to the family who owned all of the land the neighborhood is built upon. I wouldn’t have been able to resist that bridge either! Have a joyous start to the new year!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Marsha! Oh my gosh, the last 5 outfits that I have shared have been in this same red, black, and white color scheme. Clearly, it’s one of my favorites! It’s a combination that seems to appeal to my inner punk Goth girl. You should definitely look for some photo spots in the cemetery. It sounds like a really cool cemetery with lots of interesting history. I am just super careful to always be very respectful and not sit on or pose with headstones. Although that’s probably okay to do, I just don’t feel cool doing it! I hope you had a magical Christmas and I wish you all the best in the coming year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
I adore this look, Shelbee! Love the striped black and white gloves paired with the red plaid, and houndstooth beret. The cemetery is such a cool place for photos if these are an example. I can see why you are so pleased with them.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Michelle! I love challenging myself to combine as many patterns as possible into one outfit and not look like a clown! I managed 4 prints in this one, but I think I can do better. Haha
Yes, this cemetery is an absolutely beautiful place!
xoxo
Shelbee
Maureen
These are beautiful photos Shelbee! The location is pretty interesting too. I love your poncho and how it mixes so well with your hat and gloves. Your boots are so fun too! This holiday season what brings me joy is that everyone I know is well, alive and healthy. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that life is short but I am always thankful for another day to be able to spend with friends and loved ones.
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Maureen, thank you so much! And what beautiful things to be joyful about, my friend! I, too, am so very grateful for each day that I am given another opportunity for living. My family is healthy and safe and loved and that is enough to keep me going in the direction of happiness! Wishing you all the joyful things in the new year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Rebecca Payne
Thank you for ALL of your posts in 2021. Happy New Year
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Rebecca! Wishing you a very blessed New year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Naomi
I love the boots! All of the outfits are beautiful.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Naomi!
xoxo
Shelbee
Alexandra
Very pretty, cozy outfit!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Alexandra!
xoxo
Shelbee