Showing posts with label style after 50. Show all posts
Showing posts with label style after 50. Show all posts

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Oh So Slimming!

I wore a So Slimming ™ collection Ponte skirt from Chico's to dinner last night. 



This turquoise silk jacket I bought at Stein Mart earlier this year had never been worn. Now that cooler weather has arrived, I paired it with a black tank also from Chico's. 

The Ponte Collection  dress from Chico's is great fitting and very comfortable. I tried it last week but didn't buy it because I felt it was too short for me. Now that I see these pictures, I realize that I could wear the shorter dress with opaque hose and a bright jacket and still look appropriate. 

Earlier this year, I promised myself not to buy anything else black, but as a base with a brighter color near the face, it can still work with my softer coloring. I love how comfortable all the pieces are in the Ponte Collection, so I will be at Chico's again later today.



Some of you have written to ask why I so rarely wear a skirt or dress. My calves and ankles are thick and too short compared to the rest of my body, so I am usually more comfortable in pants. I can never wear tall boots for that same reason. All my boots are the short version.

We all have our little tips and guidelines that we follow to look and feel our best. In sharing some of mine, I hope you will be inspired to try new combinations of the things already in your closet and perhaps make your next shopping trip less stressful. 


I found these T-Strap heels by BGBGeneration at T.J.Maxx last month. I am wearing nude Calvin Klein hosiery.

Since the rain was pouring down this evening, we shot these photos in my living room. That is not what I had planned, but sometimes you have to go with the flow (pun intended).

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Dinner with Mr. Mickey

One of our couple traditions is to have a date night on Wednesday. It gives us a chance to unwind, get caught up on the busy first part of the week, and plan our weekend ahead.



For this date night, I wore soft, fully lined black crepe pants, a black tank, and a lightweight, almost sheer blue jacket, all from Chico's last year.



The shorter necklace is from Nouvique, also worn here, and the longer necklace is from Chico's. The black strappy sandals are old from JCPenny. The black ruffled evening bag is also old.




I don't work for Chico's, and I don't get free clothes from them, but you might think so. Clothes that last for more than one season and keep their shape after going through the laundry are worth the investment. In my area, there are only a couple of stores in which I shop for that reason.

Tomorrow is my fifty-seventh birthday. There are a few messages I would like to share with my teenage self if that were possible.

1. Happiness is an inside job.
2. Find out what you can accomplish on your own before you commit to a relationship or marry. 
3. Become a vegetarian now for the best lifelong health and weight control possible.
4.You would be wise to buy one timeless top quality black pair of pants that you can wear for many years, rather than to buy five pairs of cheap pants that will only be worn for one season at most.
5. Imagine an event that you might actually be attending. Go to your closet and put together an outfit for that event. Your wardrobe should allow you to participate in any activity without causing stress or emergency shopping when it comes time to get dressed. Plan your purchases accordingly throughout your life.


Wednesday, September 4, 2013

A Private Invitation Updated

You are invited! I am conducting a Style Seminar at Chico's Biltmore Village in Asheville, North Carolina, on September 19 at 7PM. 


The store will be closed during this time and reserved for just us! 




We will discuss style trends for fall, line, proportion, color, accessories, and layering.

You know how much I love Chico's! 
I hope you can join me as they reserve the whole store for us this evening. I am looking forward to meeting you!

Sunday, August 18, 2013

The Glass Onion

Mr. Mickey and I often turn dinner reservations in a nearby town into a day trip full of other activities. Saturday was one of those days.



I dressed for a warm day in the city, followed by dinner at a restaurant we haven't visited before.



We spent part of the afternoon in Asheville sipping a beverage at a sidewalk cafe, watching the local characters. This is one of our favorite street performers. He plays, sings, and dances all at the same time.




Sister Bad Habit is always a fun one to see zipping about.


These performers made their own instruments to create their haunting melodies. We bought one of their CDs they were so good!




We shopped in the Grove Arcade, which has an amazing entrance. Gargoyles are a recurring theme throughout Asheville.



The flowers on many of the streets were amazing!



This is an apartment building across the street from The Grove Arcade.




As twilight approached, it was time to take Asheville's short drive back to Weaverville for our dinner reservations at the Glass Onion.



We tried several different items from the menu, and each was a great delight to the eyes and the palate. 


We shared a delightful dessert of a profiterole filled with lemon cream and topped with blueberry reduction. It was so excellent!



The husband and wife (this is Natalie with me) owners have always been head chefs at fine restaurants in New York until they decided to take the plunge and open their own restaurant here in the western North Carolina mountains. We are so fortunate that they did!

We loved the casual elegance, wonderful food, attentive service (but not too much), and visiting with the other diners around our table. It was a lovely and entertaining evening centered around exceptional food. We look forward to returning very soon to try some of the other entrees.



The white ankle pants are by Jones of New York. The tank, cardigan sweater, and necklace are from Chico's. The bag is from Stein Mart. The sandals are by Bjorndal from Rack Room Shoes.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Navy on Sale!

One of the last colors to leave the rack in most of the stores I shop in is navy blue. I often hear women say, "I don't know what to wear with navy" or "I would rather wear black."

 

Last night Mr. Mickey took me to dinner at our favorite restaurant in town, Gourmet and Company. Chef Jacob is so very talented and an all-around great person. His family owns a farm, so in the summer, he brings in fresh produce growing in the fields that morning. Last night he came out to visit with us and sent us on our way with fresh blackberries and blueberries from his farm. Yummy! 


My jacket is from Chico's summer sale. The tank top is also from Chico's. The navy side zip Hollywood fit pants are from the summer sale at Talbots.
 

These are my new favorite sunglasses by Oscar de la Renta via Stein Mart. The shape and color fit my face shape, and the color is dark but not black. Perfect! The clutch bag, necklace, ring, and silver bangle bracelet are also from Stein Mart.


The blush color Bandolino shoes are so old I don't remember where I bought them. The ankle strap doesn't show here, but they do have an above the ankle small strap. When in doubt, always wear nude shoes. Navy blue also looks good with oxblood, cognac, bronze, or any neutral color shoe. Nude is considered the color closest to your skin color, so whenever I find a pale pair of shoes that fit well, I buy them, knowing I will wear them often.

 


Saturday, July 13, 2013

Blue and White

White with blue is such a happy combination of colors.


For my Friday night date with Mr. Mickey, I wore white side zip ankle pants by Peck and Peck from Stein Mart last year. The white tank top and blue jacket are both from Chico's.



The handbag, large face watch, and silver dome ring are also from Stein Mart. The large sapphire ring is vintage.




The neutral suede summer booties are by Nine West from last year.




On a totally unrelated note: I am so happy that my stargazer lilies bloomed this week. They smell wonderful!






Sunday, July 7, 2013

One Sunny Day

Saturday was a rare sunny day here in East Tennessee. We have seen rain almost every day for the past few weeks.



We took full advantage of the beautiful weather by visiting one of our favorite small towns. Abingdon, Virginia, is about an hour's drive from my home. 



Many Abingdon homes and shops date from 1778. 


You can catch a glimpse of fabulous gardens and moss-covered courtyards as you stroll along the tree-lined streets.


Breezes were starting to blow in another round of clouds by the end of the day.


Most buildings have been restored to their former glory, including such details as ordering the handmade glass from Germany to replace windows.



There are already so many wonderful shops and restaurants, and more are opening in the coming weeks. Many events and festivals take place here, including world-class antique shows. Music, artisan crafts, and wine, which are among the best in the region, can be found here in Abingdon.




After our day of shopping, we had a lovely dinner at Sisters located in the Martha Washington Inn. The gardens at the Martha are fabulous at this time of year.

Thanks for sharing our fun day with us!

The floral tee is from Chico's. The white Peck and Peck ankle pants are from Stein Mart, as is the handbag. The shoes are by Kenneth Cole Reaction via T.J.Maxx.


Summer Casual

Summer casual looks can be comfortable and still look nice.



What do you wear when running a quick errand in the heat, but you still want to look your best? Perhaps you will be spending the day outside, walking and standing for much of the day.




I have always used myself as an example to help you find fashion solutions, so this post is no exception. Getting dressed for a casual summer day has been a bit stressful for my entire adult life. Removing my jacket makes me feel very uncomfortable. My arms are OK, so it isn't going sleeveless that bothers me. I have always been busty with no defined waistline, so a jacket of some sort is my secret to looking better and feeling more confident. 


White pants are a summer staple for me. I will be wearing light khaki or white on any day that it isn't raining. The reason is that I am much smaller on the bottom half, and I like wearing colors near my face. My face is also quite round, so I like to wear a V-neck top whenever possible. Loose-fitting tops with detail above the bust or a wrap style concealing the waistline work well for me. 

I have also started to experiment with brightly colored prints worn with white pants. I have to be careful where those blocks of color are located on my body. I do not want to draw attention to my bust or my tummy.

When I leave my home, I wear three jewelry pieces even when I am dressed very casually. A small pair of earrings, a watch, and one ring are details that make me feel well dressed. I have cool coloring, so those pieces of jewelry are normally silver-toned. Sunglasses are with me wherever I go.

There is a nice summer bag in a chair in my breakfast nook. It is neutral and full of all the things I need so that it is ready to serve me at a moment's notice every day. When I take a smaller bag for the day, I can take what I need from the larger bag as I am leaving. 

I like sandals with low wedge heels, so I look for a comfortable style in a neutral color to slip on and go but still look nice. I would only wear flip flops by the pool. 

When you know what works well for your body type and personality, it's so much easier to get dressed for any type of day. I hope that these tips will help you feel more confident to go out and enjoy your day no matter how hot the weather.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Happy Independence Day!

On this Independence Day, Mickey and I were asked to ride in a parade in the neighboring town of Elizabethton, TN.


 

We were told that we would be driving for one of Duck Dynasty stars, but it was "Elvis" who rode with us through town because the fellow portraying a member of the show "Duck Dynasty" said a pickup truck would be more his style.








This is truly one of the nicest young men and best fathers I have ever met. His son is in the picture below. What a great family! It was an honor to meet them and spend part of the day with them.









Our new friends walked behind the pickup truck, gave out candy to all the children, and posed for pictures with the Duck Dynasty fans.




Mr. Mickey said, you need to see my Mickey Mouse watch. He has one of the largest collections of antique Mickey Mouse toys in the world. Did you know he was named after Mickey Mouse?



We needed to dress in red, white, and blue for the parade, so this is my patriotic look for today.

I am wearing a Tencel chambray tunic from last year over a white tank top from Coldwater Creek. The red pants are Nine West jeggings, and the shoes are by Adrienne Vittadini, both from T.J.Maxx. The hook belt is by Chico's.