Amy's Creative Pursuits: back to school outfit

Showing posts with label back to school outfit. Show all posts

Thursday, August 21, 2025

"Transitioning to Fall" with Ageless Style

Ageless Style is a monthly style challenge and link up for women of all ages. Each month we pick a different theme and style an outfit based on that theme. This month's theme is "Back to School" and was picked by Bo!

We are halfway through August right now and even though we have a lot of hot days ahead of us, summer vacation is over for most kids and a lot of adults with seasonal jobs will be returning to work. During this transitional time, I like to focus on transitioning my wardrobe from summer clothes to fall. Even though the weather is still warm, I like to look "fall" by wearing fall colors.

This classic burgundy shift dress is so old I can't believe it hasn't fallen apart by now. My daughter actually found it for me on a clearance rack at Charming Charlies...which has long since gone out of business but the dress lives on! I have shown it so many times before on this blog. Here are some of the many ways I've styled it that show how versatile this dress is!

With a Shacket and Tall Boots

With A Kimono

With a Cardigan and Scarf

With a Head Scarf and Lace Up Flats

With a Denim Vest and Lace Up Wedges

Is this dress versatile or what? Solid color basic pieces like this dress are the perfect starting point to creating unique outfits. The burgundy color, short sleeves, and short length of the dress make it a wonderful dress for fall because the color of the dress is a fall color, but the dress style is summer. I can add layers that can keep me warm on the cooler mornings/evenings, but can also be taken off in the heat of the day.

On the day that I wore this outfit, we were on a late summer trip to Springfield Illinois. It was a hot day, and we were doing a lot of sight seeing so I wanted to be comfortable, yet cute.

I wore a dark brown felt hat to protect myself from the sun, carried a saddle crossbody bag for security reasons and ease of carrying while sightseeing, and comfy loafer shoes.

So what about you? How are you getting ready to go back to school/work or transitioning your summer clothes for fall? I'd love to hear from you.

Now be sure to check out the other ladies "Back to School" outfits and be sure to link up with us as well.

Have A Great Day! Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits

Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook

Bo ~ Bo's Bodacious Blog

Blog / Instagram /Pinterest / Bloglovin'

Jennifer ~ Overflowing with Thankfulness

Blog/ Instagram / Pinterest

Joanne ~ My Slice of Life

Blog

Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style

Blog | Instagram | Facebook

Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle

Blog /Instagram

Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom

Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Ageless Style - Back To School

Ageless Style is a monthly style challenge and link up for women "over a certain age". Each month we pick a different theme and style an outfit based on that theme.

Hello and welcome to a new Ageless Style challenge and link up. This month's theme was chosen by Leslie and she picked. "Back To School". Leslie challenged us to:

"Plan an outfit that would be something you would have worn for the first day of school. Did you dress up? Dress to impress? Or go casual and comfy? Maybe you had a new backpack or purse? New glasses? New 'do? New shoes? I think what I would hope we could all do is just have fun with this prompt."

As has been the case with most of my style group challenges lately, I found this challenge to be, well, challenging. I honestly don't remember what I wore when I was in school. For grammar school, I remember we always went back to school shopping, but it was never extravagant. Just a few new pairs of pants, a new pair of shoes, and a couple of tops. I don't remember trying to impress anyone in my dress. I came from a lower middle class working family so there was never a lot of "extra" money lying around to buy clothes just to impress people. The only thing I remember wearing all the time was denim. In high school, the Levi brand was the most popular. I remember spending $20 on my first pair of Levis (ha ha, they'd cost about $80 now) and thinking that was a fortune! I could only afford one pair, so I wore that same pair EVERY SINGLE DAY of school, because to wear any other brand would be considered "uncool". I can still remember my dad saying "You paid $20 for a pair of jeans! Are you nuts?" Ah, times were certainly different then.

So for this month's challenge, I decided to do "An ode to denim". I didn't want to dress up like I did in high school, that would be silly. I don't wear Levi jeans anymore (although I think I might have one black pair in my stash), but I still do have a love for denim. My love for denim has broadened over the years to more than just jeans. I now own denim jackets, denim tops, denim skirts and dresses...you get the idea. Therefore I pulled this old chambray (softened denim) dress out of my closet. You've seen me wear this countless times on my blog. It's one of my stand by favorites. It is so comfortable to wear and very easy to style.

I was going to have my picture taken by our small town's high school but hubby suggested this cute old one room schoolhouse in a nearby park instead. I thought it was a great idea.

It was a warm day on the day these pictures were taken, but because it's supposed to be a fall post, I grabbed a lightweight taupe jacket to wear over the dress. I also switched my bag from the white one I usually carry all summer long, to this brown one.

For footwear, I chose comfy ballet navy blue flats; also more appropriate for fall instead of sandals.

For jewelry I went with natural colors of blues, taupes, and browns.

I also learned a little trick in styling this shift dress. It comes with a matching fabric belt. I've always worn this dress with the belt tied in front, no belt at all, or a leather belt. But this was the first time I tied the fabric belt in back. I absolutely LOVED it this way and couldn't understand why I never thought of this before. As most women know, shift dresses can sometimes make you look heavier because they have no shape to them. But by tying it in the back, I cinched in the waist, making it more form fitting.

What a difference tying the bow in the back made. It looks like I actually have a waist. When I tied it in the front, the bulk of the bow fell right on my tummy accentuating my tummy.