winter 2026


Color of the Year 2026 Cloud Dancer

Cloud Dancer inspired from top left: Dior nail polish / handbag / pearl earrings / statement earrings / sneakers / Pantone /

Move over Mocha Mousse, there’s a new color of the year from Pantone in town! Cloud Dancer is the color of 2026, and I have to admit, I am surprised! I expected a soft green, or something not so. . .. neutral shall we say? But I digress. . .

Here we are. In 2026 it’s all about shades of white. Cloud Dancer is a soft, slightly off-white hue. It reflects new beginnings, a reset in mindset, and a clean slate. As people try to get off their devices and touch grass, we are seeing a shift of getting back to reality. Cloud Dancer by Pantone is a reflection of our society’s current mindset of resetting and moving away from distractions and clutter, a yearning for simplicity.

Cloud Dancer, and shades of white in general, are increasingly popular in fashion, interior design, and daily life. Although we saw pops of vibrant color on the runways for spring, the overall vibe for 2026 is clean and fresh. We will see a continuation of neutrals, with the occasional color infused for depth and variety. So, pull those shades of white out from the back of your closet and rock them in 2026!

For more information about the Pantone color of the year for 2026, Cloud Dancer, please visit Pantone.com.

A few fabulous items with the Cloud Dancer inspired vibe:

How will you incorporate Cloud Dancer into your wardrobe or daily life in the new year?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy


What’s in my winter travel suitcase

Winter suitcase from top left: holiday sweater / CZ earrings / scarf / holiday nail polish / long sleeve tee / classic jeans / sneakers / black boots / sweatshirt / black handbag /

It’s that time of year when we are traveling for the holidays and need to pack thick, winter gear! This often means packing less in order to bring a carry-on bag or moving into a larger suitcase we can check. Either way, it is important to remember to pack for the weather we are traveling to; especially us California girls who aren’t used to dressing for the snow!

I am off to Pennsylvania, so my puffy winter coat is part of my airplane outfit. In my suitcase, will be sweaters, long sleeve tee’s, extra socks, scarves, gloves, an umbrella, and shoes with treads; except for my black boots which I hope to wear on non-snow days.

Since a suitcase is a small capsule wardrobe for a week, I am keeping the color theme in berry hues with a little blue and black. I try to pack as little as possible with pieces I can mix and match. Of course, jeans and black pants can easily mix and match with everything. This makes for an easy travel wardrobe I can fit into my suitcase with room to spare; you never know when I might pick up some chocolate to bring home for the holidays!

What’s in my winter travel suitcase:

Stay tuned for my adventures from Pennsylvania!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy


Handbag wish list 2025

Handbag wish list from top left: grommet shoulder bag / belted tote / midnight blue shoulder bag / ivory tote / chocolate brown boxy bag / east/west brown satchel /

There are so many fabulous handbags out there for 2025, it is really hard to narrow them down into a shopping list! So, I picked six handbags I feel like I would get a lot of use out of and would also fit into my California Casual style. Of course, the anonymous handbag is hotter than hot, so that makes it easy for me to create a fabulous handbag wish list sans logos. But, it also gives me way too many handbags to choose from! I love so many!

This year, I am going to try and stick with neutrals and smaller to medium sized bags. I don’t really carry a lot, and if I do, I already have several large totes to choose from. Um, when I type that it seems like I have a shopping tote problem, but I don’t. You can never have enough totes! They always come in handy at some point!

The handbag trends this year include timeless styles which are truly investment handbags. We are looking at slouchy bucket bags, suede handbags, east/west silhouettes, the return of studs and grommets, boxy bags, small baguette styles, neutral colors, and quality without logos. Love that!

I already feel like I have some handbags which fit into these trends, so this year, I am filling out my collection with at least one more east/west bag, a boxy tote, and I need a grommet bag in my life. Love!

Which handbag styles are on your wish list this year?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy