How to Wear Preppy Style in the Autumn / Fall #iwillwearwhatilike

How to wear preppy style in autumn / fall: Navy and white striped sweater, mustard yellow pants, navy blazer, tan accessories | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style

I don’t about you but I tend to think of preppy style as a look that I generally associate with the summer.

I’m thinking Breton stripes, chinos, blazers, boat shoes, gingham, pastels, red, white and blue… All totally summery. However this weekend I fancied wearing my navy stripe sweater (last seen here, with florals) and wondered if I could still do preppy style in autumn despite it being late October.

It felt only right to keep the palette mostly autumnal, so navy and mustard yellow seemed like a good bet – and tan accessories always work for me because they match my hair.

For such a bright and not-at-all-neutral pair of trousers (peg leg, probably my favourite trouser shape), they’ve been a pair that I’ll turn to time and time again. I call it The In-Built “I’ll Match Everything” System… (or TIBIMES for short).

(And yes, it’s a real thing…* It’s something I’m working on as a top secret invention. I’ll tell you more after I’ve had discussions with Mr. Dyson. It’s going to revolutionise the fashion world, I can tell you that.)

Anyway this is what I call a clean look – not exactly accessorised to the hilt, but just the right amount of items like the sunglasses (similar), bag and simple bracelet to stop it falling into plain territory.

Enjoy your Halloween evening if you’re having a party or taking the kids trick-or-treating – no dressing up for me (sadly), we had a big party last year and a Monday just doesn’t cut it in terms of party night for me I’m afraid, too busy…!

Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured next week!

 

DO WEAR CERTAIN STYLES OR ITEMS THAT ARE EFFECTIVELY ‘OUT OF SEASON’? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS!


*Just in case any of you were wondering, TIBIMES is not a real thing. Though I’m thinking it should be… 😉

How to wear preppy style in autumn / fall: Navy and white striped sweater, mustard yellow pants, navy blazer, tan accessories | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style
How to wear preppy style in autumn / fall: Navy and white striped sweater, mustard yellow pants, navy blazer, tan accessories | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style
How to wear preppy style in autumn / fall: Navy and white striped sweater, mustard yellow pants, navy blazer, tan accessories | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style
How to wear preppy style in autumn / fall: Navy and white striped sweater, mustard yellow pants, navy blazer, tan accessories | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style
How to wear preppy style in autumn / fall: Navy and white striped sweater, mustard yellow pants, navy blazer, tan accessories | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style
Hobbs sweater c/o (similar: in navy and grey, similar: in black and white, similar: in navy, cream and khaki) | Marks & Spencer blazer (similar) | ASOS trousers (similar) | French Connection heels (old, I LOVE these gorgeous t-bar platform heels) | Yosa bag c/o (similar) | ASOS sunglasses (similar) | H&M earrings (similar) | New Look bracelet | Nails Inc ‘Porchester Square’ nail polish | Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid ‘Nude Flush’ lipstick

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#iwillwearwhatilike | Not Dressed As Lamb
Thank you for joining the #iwillwearwhatilike link up! This started as a campaign on Instagram in August 2015 where women over 30 wore everything on a journalist’s list of “inappropriate” items for 30+ women (including leopard print, short dresses and oversized sunglasses. Yes, really). It was so popular that I decided to carry it on weekly where women of all ages link up their fabulous style, never mind what anyone tells them not to wear!

The link up goes live every Monday at 3pm UK time and will stay open for a week. Whilst the original article was of course aimed at the 30+, you can be ANY age to link up. The only criteria is that you’re wearing whatever you damn well like!

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An InLinkz Link-up

 

Featured favourites

My favourite outfits from last week’s link up:

(L-R) Tamera Beardsley | Alternative Ageing | Mary Murnane | Fashion Should Be Fun

To get yourself featured next week, make sure you’ve included a link back to Not Dressed As Lamb or my button in your post/sidebar!

58 Comments

  1. 5 November 2016 / 3:12 pm

    Love this look, as it's preppy but super cool. Those trousers are amazing Yvadney x #saturdayshare

  2. 3 November 2016 / 11:09 am

    I'm a huge fan of navy and mustard yellow but I must admit, I never even thought of adding tan, and it looks so good! And those shoes? Well, they're absolutely GORGEOUS!
    Suzy x
    http://www.suzyturner.com

    • 7 November 2016 / 4:53 pm

      hehe thanks Suzy, they're still a fave pair despite being several years old!

  3. 2 November 2016 / 9:51 pm

    You look amazing in this outfit. The pants and blazer fit so well. Love the Breton stripes all year round. You are right the tan accessories keep it in the season. Lovely! – Amy
    http://stylingrannymama.com/

  4. 2 November 2016 / 2:54 pm

    That is such an amazin outfit Catherine. And I am a total sucker for heeled two-tone loafers! They are my favorite. But blue looks perfect on you. Thank you for hosting!And of course I got your button on my blog xxxx Sabina

    • 7 November 2016 / 4:52 pm

      The loafers are a few years old but I still love them, Sabina…! Thanks sweetie x

  5. 2 November 2016 / 11:18 am

    I love this outfit. I would wear it in a heartbeat. And I have the items. So thank you for the inspiration.
    As for the link-up.. I always post on a Sunday and your link-up is open Monday afternoon. Which is my bussiest afternoon and evening of the week. So come Tuesday evening I always think : " not fair to put a link to Catherine's link-up now as so many of my readers have alreay paid a visit. That will bring her nothing". And no link back, then no adding to the link-up.
    Greetje

    • 7 November 2016 / 4:52 pm

      Now that's a great compliment… Thanks Greetje!

      Don't forget the link up is for YOU to hopefully get traffic and maybe find new readers, so don't think of it that way! So many people link up and never comment or add a link back to here in their posts (despite me asking them to do so), so don't worry about not feeling like you're giving anything back…!

    • 5 December 2016 / 5:36 pm

      I was brought up to honour agreements and terms. So, thank you for reassuring me, but I want to be gracious to my hostess.

  6. 2 November 2016 / 9:56 am

    I have those Asos peg leg trousers in mustard…and navy, black and purple! They are so useful, and the mustard ones are surprisingly versatile. I'm glad you discussed the term "preppy" because I really couldn't define it, I just had a vague idea of what it means. Anyway, you've styled autumnal preppy to perfection…I love the trousers paired with the striped top and blazer. The tan bag and shoes are fab too 🙂

    Emma xxx
    http://www.style-splash.com

    • 7 November 2016 / 4:50 pm

      Thank you Emma – yes I think I've seen your yellow trousers before and wondered if they were the same ones! Mustard pants FTW ;))

  7. 1 November 2016 / 7:38 pm

    I admit to having the same "hangup" about tending to reach for my preppier clothes in the warmer months, while until recently meant that I was only wearing them when I went home to the US to visit Florida, or in the summer, as Scotland has sort of a "debatable" summer. Thanks for the reminder that I needn't neglect some of my favourite looks!

    http://www.highlandfashionista.com

    • 7 November 2016 / 4:49 pm

      hehe I do the same Kristin – and yes, I can imagine that your dubious summer makes it even less likely that you'll reach for preppy items…!

  8. 1 November 2016 / 3:23 pm

    Such a gorgeous preppy look Catherine! The pop of yellow looks incredible with navy. It's not something that I thought to try before but I absolutely love it!

    Heidi || Wishes & Reality

  9. 1 November 2016 / 2:11 pm

    Dearest Catherine…I want that bag!! And those shoes!! And even though "colour" is still a wardrobe work-in-progress for me, your yellow trousers are pretty darn amazing, too!! 🙂 You've definitely taken what are typically preppy influences in the right direction for fall with this chic and cheery look!! XOXO

    http://www.StyleIsMyPudding.com

  10. 1 November 2016 / 5:36 am

    A preppy look suits you Catherine, especially when you pep it up with those fabulous shoes! You're so classy. Thanks for the link up party again this week x
    Anna
    http://www.annasislandstyle.com

    • 1 November 2016 / 8:09 am

      Aww thank you Anna, that's a lovely compliment!! xx

  11. 1 November 2016 / 5:34 am

    Great colour combinations, I agree you can wear this all year.Your secret project sounds interesting, good luck .Thank you for hosting.

  12. 31 October 2016 / 11:08 pm

    I love pairing some of my out of season items with in season ones. I just like playing. Love how you put tan accessories with the yellow and blue, I would have never done that, but I LOVE IT!! Thank you for hosting Catherine. Come on over and link up on Shoe and Tell.

    Cherie
    http://www.stylenudge.com
    STYLE NUDGE

    • 1 November 2016 / 8:09 am

      Quite often I'm just reaching for the accessories I like the most, Cherie – I worry about the colour afterwards!! Thank you sweetie x

    • 1 November 2016 / 8:08 am

      Isn't that funny, Jacqueline – Melanie sid the same! I just think boat shoes and gingham and pastels… Grace Kelly tripping about in the sunshine! ;)) Anyway thank you, so glad you loved it! x

  13. 31 October 2016 / 8:44 pm

    Love this whole outfit. The color combinations go together so beautifully! Thank you for the link party.

  14. 31 October 2016 / 7:59 pm

    Yellow and Brown don't automatically come to (my) mind when putting together colour combinations but you've made them work so spectacularly, Catherine. Love it. So striking yet not overtly so xoxo

    • 31 October 2016 / 8:55 pm

      I always think of the 70s when I look at yellow and brown together, Sheela – yet this really doesn't look 70s at all…!! Glad you love it, thank you xx

  15. 31 October 2016 / 6:59 pm

    Love the combo of navy, tan and yellow! It's preppy, but very fresh.

    • 31 October 2016 / 8:54 pm

      Thank you Susan – the navy really makes the yellow zing, doesn't it…?!

  16. 31 October 2016 / 6:26 pm

    I just read what a preppy look means! Haha, it must be a trend!

    • 31 October 2016 / 8:54 pm

      It's been around for years, Nancy – Grace Kelly was probably one of the earliest adopters of the look. In fact she's the preppy queen…!!

  17. 31 October 2016 / 6:00 pm

    I love your preppy autumnal look! I love stripes, and they work so well with this outfit! And how fabulous are your shoes!

    Thanks for the link up & have a great week!

  18. 31 October 2016 / 5:50 pm

    It's funny, with all the boho out there—I've hardly thought about preppy at all lately. And then you come along with this the same week as the Fab 40's. I loved the preppy look back in the day, and I probably gravitate towards it—but not so much seasonally.
    I do love the yellow pants—the fit is perfect and it is my fave color!
    jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    • 31 October 2016 / 8:53 pm

      I know, wasn't that a funny coincidence, Jodie?! I had no idea…! And thank you, it's unusual to find another yellow lover 😉

  19. 31 October 2016 / 5:36 pm

    Great preppy look, Catherine. What I love is the bright colour you've incorporated. I always associate this style with the American Ivy League universities and back-to-school. So it's a switch for me to think of it as a summer look anyway. Ha!

    • 31 October 2016 / 8:47 pm

      Oh course, I never thought of it that way, Melanie – you're right!! Though in the UK once it's back to school summer is definitely over, whereas in many parts of the States summer seems to go on forever, right into autumn…!! 😉

      Thanks my lovely x

  20. 31 October 2016 / 4:25 pm

    Love the sweater, so classy and chic!

    xo,
    Janise

  21. 31 October 2016 / 3:48 pm

    Pretty color combination Catherine. Love the yellow and navy. We have a long summer here so I am excited to be in fall clothes. Love the tan suede bag and those heels are so sweet!
    have a great week!
    See you tomorrow for Turning heads tuesday
    jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedsandstylish.com

  22. 31 October 2016 / 3:30 pm

    Classy and chic, dear Catherine. Here is still summer, still making the most of the cooler evenings.
    Much love, dear friend
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    • 31 October 2016 / 5:50 pm

      Now that's just not fair, Sacramento…! ;)) thank you hon x

  23. 31 October 2016 / 3:20 pm

    So cute! Love that blazer!

  24. 31 October 2016 / 3:15 pm

    Wow Catherine- such a striking outfit. I love the yellow trousers (of course)! The sunglasses and tan accessories work perfectly and those shoes are to die for. Thank you for hosting the link-up, love Liz x http://www.whatlizzyloves.com xxx

    • 31 October 2016 / 5:44 pm

      Hehe I thought you'd be fangirling after the trousers, Liz!! Thank you my lovely x

  25. 31 October 2016 / 3:11 pm

    Mega cute look, love the shoes!!
    -InMyJoi.blogspot.com

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