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).

Chico's Fashion Show

It was so great to meet some of you at the show on Friday. Thank you very much for being there!

My sweet friends, Jeanie and Rose, were as inspired to shop as I was. We had such a fun day!

I love informal modeling in the boutique. It's great to see how things look and move on a person who is not a professional model and then buy what you liked afterward. Instant gratification at its best! All these models did such a great job.

My Birthday in a Castle

Mr. Mickey gave me a royal weekend away for my birthday.

We stayed at the fabulous Graylyn Manor House in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

This is a view of the fireplace in the great dining hall.

The back view of the estate in the setting sun.

A fountain held huge koi fish.

A winding staircase led to a lower courtyard beyond the indoor pool. There was a rehearsal going on for a wedding which was held on the grounds on Saturday evening.

The hand-carved imported mantel in the sun-room embellishes one of eighteen fireplaces in the 46,000 square foot mansion.

The chess set in the grand entrance hall had splendid details.

This is another winding staircase found at the front of the building. The thick stone steps were built into the outer stone wall so that there was no support needed on the inside.

Hand-painted tiles were used in this fountain in the sunroom.

On the evening of my birthday, we dined in a private dining room with wonderful service and ambiance. My tiramisu dessert came with a candle and a serenade. 

The Mews was once the stable for horses and chickens.

On Saturday, we visited the Reynolda House, which showcases one of the world's largest American art collections. This was the home of R.J. Reynolds.

Later in the day, on Saturday, we visited nearby Old Salem, a historic district settled by a Moravian community in 1766. We had a delightful lunch at the tavern.

We also visited the hat-makers shop. 

This wood fired kiln was in one of the back yards.

Pumpkins were everywhere! Can it really be fall already?

In the afternoon, we returned for a delightful guided tour of the mansion with our Butler, Terry.

I am standing at Nathalie's writing desk.

The hand-carved wood panels in the library were brought over from France. They were carved in the 1600s and were still in perfect condition.

On our last evening, we dined at a wonderful Italian restaurant nearby the estate.

We lived like a King and Queen for the weekend!

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.

Covered Perfectly

Have you discovered Pauline Durban’s Covered Perfectly line of wonderful tops? 

I have found these to be one of the most comfortable items of clothing I have ever worn. I will be purchasing lots of items from this collection! The prices are also very reasonable.

The three quarter length sleeves and softly scooped (not too low) neckline are just my style! 

The buttery soft fabric floats across your body.

I appreciate the fact that this top is great for layering. They are offered in basic (not trendy or seasonal) colors. This means they blend well with many other items in your closet all year round.

I added this navy blazer for later in the evening. The jeans are from Not Your Daughters Jeans. The cuff and hook belt are both from Chico's. The bag is from Coach. The shoes are exclusive to Nordstrom.

Check out Covered Perfectly tops for great pieces you will wear with everything!

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!