Dinner With Great Friends

At the end of a very long Yard Sale day, we joined dear friends for a delicious meal at Gourmet & Company.

The wind was blowing another storm our way, so we had to hurry the photo session. 

This is me with four hours of sleep. Not a pretty sight. 

I receive some comments so often, I thought I would address them here today.

1. "I can't afford to buy that." 

The items I show you were often purchased from a sale rack at the end of the season. This is a great way to expand your basic wardrobe without breaking the bank. I show you general suggestions for what to wear to specific events and how to put together a look from items you may already have in your closet. If not, you can keep the ideas for the next trip to the store you do like to shop in.

2. "What if I am 68...72... whatever age?"

In my opinion, the looks I show you are timeless and can work for women of any age with a little tweaking to show your own style. 

3. "I can't wear heels."

This is an easy fix. Just wear a heel height that is comfortable for you in a similar style. 

4. "What do I wear to a summer wedding?"

 The look above is excellent for any warm-weather evening event. The jacket gives some coverage and style without making you feel too hot. Look for similar open weave designs, sheer mesh, or some other vented fabric that adds style and coverage but not weight. You can wear these toppers over tank dresses or tank tops with a skirt or pants to give your look a bit more polish.

I hope my tips are helpful to you. The items I am wearing today are all old from Chico's.

Are You Ready For Spring?

Here in the eastern portion of the US, we are looking forward to spring weather. Basics that take me through all seasons include great fitting straight leg jeans, a nice white blouse with few design details, and a lightweight navy blazer. I am ready for lunch with my friends, shopping, or running errands for my company after adding a few great accessories.

A structured bag and shoes with support are necessary. A good watch and a nice pair of sunglasses that flatter the shape of your face all convey a message of confidence and subtle elegance even when dressing casually.

Airport Style

Flying is one of my least favorite things, so I am using Mr. Mickey's beautiful daughter, Robin, as an example for today's post.

Robin, who is 51, lives in New York but was here for a funeral earlier this week. She is on her way to the airport in this photo.

Robin has a really great style of dressing all the time, but her airport style makes so much sense to me. She layers on very thin items that add no bulk but keep her warm/cool as she passes through different climates. Lightweight layers allow her to remove items as she needs to, but her look remains very modern, and she looks well dressed at all times. Her small carry-on bag held everything she needed for her short stay.

The long black coat from Ronen Chen has lots of details around the hem, but it did not add bulk to her look. The pieces she wears always include interesting details such as asymmetric hems or necklines so that something else underneath with different lines or a different color might be peeking out. She is very trim and in great shape, so this style of dressing suits Robin very well. She always looks stylish and sporty. Never overly fussy or like she put a lot of effort into her look. I love that!

As you know, I am a big fan of effortless dressing. I much prefer a look that takes four minutes to put together so that you can get on with your life. A well planned and edited wardrobe can allow just that. Robin has mastered the art of owning pieces that flatter her shape, work with many other items in her wardrobe, and fit her lifestyle. That is the key to effortless dressing.

Previous posts have included Mr. Mickey and also his beautiful daughter Regina.