New Shoes in Wine Country

I fell in love with these shoes the moment I saw them!

After trying on several outfit options from my closet I knew I didn't have the right pieces to wear with them on a July evening. Below is the outfit I almost settled on but I knew it could be better. Off to Chico's we go!

The shoes are edgy and modern so the red jacket is too conservative and subdued to wear with them.

When I saw this sweater and necklace I knew they were the right pieces. The gold cuff was just the icing on the cake.

When we arrive at our favorite restaurant there is always a valet attendant to open our doors. The service at Artisanal is superb!

We stopped at the Banner Elk Winery on our way home from dinner last night. Many people do not know that there are some really good wines coming from North Carolina.

This fire pit and pond beyond are in front of the tasting house and gift shop.

This is The Villa, a luxury Bed and Breakfast on a hill overlooking the winery.

The bag is from Stein Mart. The shoes are from Nordstrom. All other items are from Chico's.

Home and Garden Tour

The homes and gardens in Blowing Rock and Linville, North Carolina, are some of the most charming in all of the high country.

On Friday, we visited Blowing Rock for the St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church tour of homes and gardens. The event is one of our favorites, so we try to attend each year.

The first home on tour was abundantly English in both the gardens and the home.

This home is one of seven the family owns.

There were also French and Italian influences on the grounds, in the main house, and in the three guest houses.

The foggy side lawn view includes a glimpse of the Moses Cone Manor on a distant mountain. Grandfather Mountain can be seen on clear days from the front lawn, but it was obscured by fog today.

Later in the day, we took a short drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Linville. The buildings in this community are often covered with bark and bordered by thousands of beautiful flowers and trees.

 

The Eseeola Lodge is always a good place to stop for a refreshing beverage and dinner.

 Dahlias are among the most perfect flowers, and they seem to thrive in the climate of Linville.

Window and rail boxes overflowed with colorful flowers.

Even the parking lot is bordered by flowers.

My outfit for the day includes a Travelers Collection

sweater, white tank top, and white side zip ankle pants, all from Chico's. The handbag is from Stein Mart. The Adrienne Vittadini shoes were from T.J.Maxx last year. The sunglasses are Oscar de la Renta from Stein Mart. The lariat style necklace is one of my own designs in silver and rose quartz.

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.

 

Knoxville in the Rain

We have had record amounts of rainfall in our area this summer, but that doesn't keep Mr. Mickey and me from taking fun trips to neighboring towns.

This weekend we took a trip down to Knoxville, Tennessee, about a hundred miles south-west of my home. Even with the rain, we still had fun shopping for antiques in one of my favorite places, Willow Creek Gallery.

During the first part of the day, I wore khaki ankle pants from Chico's with a tank top from Stein Mart and a lightweight red jacket from Chico's. The bag is by Coach. The sandals are Kenneth Cole Reaction via T.J.Maxx. 

 

We enjoyed our stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which is very convenient to downtown and the shopping areas off of Kingston Pike. The odd spots in this photo are raindrops on the lens ... of course. 

In honor of our visit to this famous French restaurant, I wore side zip black ankle pants from Talbots and a black tank top from Stein Mart, along with a sheer black jacket with a soft ruffle at the front. The jacket is many years old. The shoes are also old by Sam and Libby. The ribbon detail clutch is from Stein Mart. 

We had dinner at The Orangery, which is a landmark in Knoxville. Being a great lover of all things French, I was thrilled just to be in the midst of all the building's statuary and architecture. The food and service were both superb! We will return as soon as possible.

The World's Fair was held in Knoxville in 1982, which is why this fabulous park was built.

I wore white ankle pants by Peck and Peck from Stein Mart with a Chico's skinny sweater over a white Chico's tank for the trip home. The shoes are also by Kenneth Cole Reaction via T.J.Maxx.

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!

Everyday Separates

Among the many questions, I have been asked are: "What do you wear for a normal day when you aren't going on a fancy date with Mr. Mickey?" "Do you have a signature piece of jewellery you wear all the time?" "Why do you wear heels so often?"

 

This is my outfit for Tuesday, July 9th. I am not interacting with the public or attending any meetings, so my outfit for today is a tissue weight tee by Chico's. The dark wash ankle jeans are from Coldwater Creek. The platform slides are by Callisto of California from Macy's.

From my knees to my ankles, my legs are too short compared to the rest of my body. When I wear cropped pants or ankle pants, this fact is further accentuated, so I wear a wedge or thicker low heeled shoe to balance things out. I am always more comfortable walking in a bit of a heel rather than a totally flat shoe. 

This silver and blue topaz ring is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. It was another gift from Mr. Mickey. You can also see the lovely beaded details of the top here.

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.