Blame it on COVID fatigue, but my Fresh Focus item this time around is the black floral dress that was featured a few months ago in Would You, Could You? Puffer Jacket & Hiking Boots. No, not the fatigue that one might suffer as a symptom of COVID. Simply the general weariness of not being able to move about without fear of catching this virus.
With the restart of the Fine-Whatever Link-Up, the theme for the first Saturday of the month is Fresh Focus. In these posts, I feature detail or element of style that has caught my eye and attempt to put a new spin on it. The idea I’d originally had in mind for this post gave way to my black floral dress after I put together this look on a whim as I got ready to venture out into the world to run a few errands.
I’ve not been wearing dresses much lately so opting to wear one was a bit unusual. Even The Husband was so surprised as he watched me getting dressed that he asked why. I had no answer for him other than I been looking in my closet for something I hadn’t worn recently and this dress seemed like a good idea.
In the WYCY look for this dress, I wore it with hiking boots as that was what had been in the inspiration outfit. For today’s first look, I opted for my studded snakeskin booties that have previously appeared in Instagram: A Cautionary Tale About Scams and Fresh Focus: Flared Jeans. For warmth against the slight chill in the air, it’s my black cape vest to the rescue. This swingy vest is easy to wear and adds a flowy layered look that I adore.
Did you catch that sly mention of “first look”? It seems that, besides my studded snakeskin booties, I’ve got another pair of shoes that would be so cute with this dress. And that would be my yellow sneakers that are a similar hue to the Illuminating, one of the Pantone colors of 2021. This realization led to putting together a second outfit for this post. These cuties first showed up on the blog over a year ago in October Reflections โ 2019 when they were paired up with my sparkly pineapple tee.
Besides the switch out on footwear, I swapped the vest for a black denim jacket. Another sporting option would be to pair up this black floral dress with white sneakers and the black/white striped jacket I shared in Hello, Yellow! โ Magnificent 8 Collaboration.
Lest you think I was out and about conducting myself in an unsafe manner, I had a mask close at hand. One of the perks of retirement is that now I don’t have to wait until the weekend to do photoshoots. When lots of other people are out and about. So it was on a recent lovely weekday afternoon that my photographer and I found a nearly deserted locale for taking photos.
Let’s Wrap This Up
Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. My featured blogger from last week is Imogen, the insightful expert on all aspects of colour and style blogging at Inside Out Style.
Where is your focus these days? Do you stay only with what’s current or do you look at what has worked in the past? What details are staples in your wardrobe?
Stay well and letโs keep in touch! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, pin โฆ all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program where I earned a few cents for each click.
26 Comments
My focus at the moment is color. I’m doing a lot of research and experimentation. It’s fun, and color makes such a difference to how we feel.
Colors are fun to play with.
My focus has been trying to make friends with neutrals. Your dress is so pretty!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Embracing neutrals can really help to stretch your wardrobe.
When my hubby asks that I tell him that I have cute clothes and I might as well wear them, LOL!!!
I adore this with the yellow sneakers AND the booties!!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Absolutely! And at least he’s noticing.
I have been focusing on rotating what I wear in my closet. Reorganizing things is helping me reach for different items. I did go thrifting last week and found some great tops so I will create some outfits with those. I really like the 2nd outfit with the sneakers. That yellow! I go back and forth wearing neutrals and colors but when I see color it just makes me smile! BTW, you are my featured blogger for tomorrow’s February Sunday Showcase =)
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thank you for featuring me in your post.
Although I’m a big ankle boot lover, and I love those snake print ones, those yellow sneakers are so cool!
I definitely wish that I could wear ankle boots all year round but they don’t seem right for hot summer months.
Rena, this was a fun fresh look at some wardrobe items! I always love a dark floral print and both ways you styled this dress are so great. The pattern mix with the snakeskin boots is so perfect and the yellow sneakers give it such a cute casual vibe!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
These outfits were fun and easy to put together. I was surprised by how much liked the dress with the booties.
The dress looks so wonderful on you! I hope you have a great week ๐
https://www.mariannyc.com/wellness-products-for-2021/
Thank you
You look great! I really like your dress, the prints and style are gorg! And I think the snakeskin in the shoes is a nice touch that goes well with the prints of your dress! Thank you for hosting this link up!
Life is a Shoe
What lovely compliments. Thank you.
The dark floral print of your dress is so pretty! Both of these styling ideas are fabulous! Love the edge the snakeprint booties give the look and the sneakers are so fun! Thank you for the linkup!
Jill – Doused in Pink
I honestly think that I would wear this dress for a week and not repeat my shoes or jacket.
Talk about a beautiful dress! And you styled it so perfectly! Love it both with the snakeskin booties and the yellow sneakers.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thank you.
That’s a wonderful dress, Rena – and I LOVE those white booties! I love that you just dressed up “because”.
Sheila, thank you for the compliments and the support. ๐
That dress is so fun! I love both ways, but the yellow sneakers are so adorable!
Thank you. I think it’s a fun dress as well.
That dress is super cute. I like it styled both ways. The sneakers make it casual, but the boots make it funky.
Thank you, Daenel.