Dress For It!

My 60th birthday is coming up next month. I wouldn't take back 30 if it were available. This is the best part of my life, so I get dressed for it!

On a recent evening, Mr. Mickey and I joined friends in the courtyard of our favorite restaurant after work. I wore slate gray Lisette pants with a white sleeveless top from White House|Black Market and my off white Bowie Jacket from Saks Off 5th. The layered crystal beaded necklace is from Fabrizio Gianni. The shoes are by Vince Camuto. Even though the clothes I wear are often old, I mention the brand if you want to look for the item.

My favorite pieces are almost always classic styles in neutral colors, so you should be able to find something current in your price range that is similar.

The jacket is short in the back, so I always layer it over a high-low hemmed top since there is no junk in my trunk. 

A fashionable twenty-something told me I was "killin' it" with this look, which put a spring in my step for the rest of the day.

If you have followed me for even a short time, you know that Vince Camuto is one of my favorite shoe brands.

Love Those Basics!

The temperatures dropped today, so I could return to my comfort zone (a jacket). This white linen biker jacket is a couple of years old. I found it on a sale rack at Stein Mart back when I tried to build up my basics.

The tank top is a couple of years old from Chico's. The caper color pants were sent to me by Fabrizio Gianni last year. The scarf is a few years old. I found it at Ross Dress For Less. The sandals are at least three years old from DSW. I bought the Alberta Di Canio bag last year on sale at T.J.Maxx.

I tell you where I get all the items I am wearing to show that you don't have to shop only in high-end stores. Just look for the best quality pieces you can afford. Always make sure they fit your body nicely, no matter what your shape. You might be able to use what you already have in your closet in a new way if you see it worn differently.

My day started at 3 AM today. I am just now getting the time to share a post with you, but I wanted to show you what I did to my hair!

I just couldn't take all that hair falling into my face all day while I was working. I am much too busy to schedule an appointment with my dear friend and stylist right now. SO... I did the unspeakable and cut my own hair in the front (not the back!).

Do you make vision boards? I am always tearing pages out of old magazines to keep something that inspires me. I saw this page recently in the InStyle magazine. Lauren Hutton is seventy-two now. I saw her walking down Broadway one evening in New York several years ago. She is stunning!

I believe you can find inspiration from people who have great style no matter what age they are. I admire some women in their twenties and thirties, and I may take a bit of what they do and make it part of my next look in an appropriate way. I hope that is what you do when you see my looks. Take what you need and use my tips however you wish. I offer it all for free and with love for my silver sisters everywhere.

Dress the body you have today. That doesn't mean you have given up on your fabulous future body. It just means you are going to look great along the way while you are reaching your goals.

A Date Night Look

The photo below shows one side of my tiny shade garden.

When I owned my previous home, I spent many hours working in my huge flower gardens every day during the growing season. It soon became way too much for me to take care of alone, so I had to hire help to maintain it properly.

I am enjoying a downsized version of homeownership very much!

This tiny garden still allows me to enjoy watching things that I have planted grow. That primal urge to dig in the dirt comes to me every spring without fail.

On a recent Wednesday date night, I wore a top that is a couple of years old from Chico's. The pants by Fabrizio Gianni are from last year. The shoes are by Sam Edelman from last year. The necklace is an estate piece from Finely House Couture in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The sunglasses are by Michael Kors.

Blue has always been my favorite color, so mixing blues with white pants for summer still feels like a natural combination for me. I often look to nature for color combinations. Think of a vivid summer sky, white fluffy clouds, and the clear water of a lagoon surrounded by white sand and palms.

We had dinner on the terrace at the Blackthorn Club.

The flowers around the patio of our club are always majestic!

July 16, 2016, marks five years of Fifty, not Frumpy fun! I have enjoyed discovering what works for me and my lifestyle and sharing it all with you. I hope I have inspired you to only purchase what you truly love and to enjoy wearing it in many ways for years to come. These days I find that I am buying fewer items, giving me more time and money to enjoy fantastic adventures!

The small straw clutch is old from T.J.Maxx. I use accessories to change the look of my basics. Handbags, shoes, scarves, and jewelry are elements that can give your look personality. They can make my combinations of traditional things I have owned for years look more up to date.

A Styling Secret

Do you dress to hide your tummy every day?

Since my teens, my weight has gone up and down with every crazy diet ever presented. I wish I had realized earlier that diets are designed to fail. If you are not going to change your eating habits forever, all the weight will come back and will likely add more pounds when it returns.

All that losing and gaining weight has created areas that will never be taut again, no matter how much I exercise. For most of my adult life, I have dressed to conceal my midsection.

Thankfully, my weight has remained about the same for the last five years after permanently changing my food choice. That means I have been able to invest in many different clothing styles and enjoy wearing them with confidence. In the past, there was always that question in the back of my mind, "Will I even be able to zip this in six months?"

We recently enjoyed an excellent evening meal at Rowland's located inside the Westglow Mansion in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

As soon as I previewed the photos we snapped before we began our trip, I knew I had to go back and put on my secret styling weapon.

Before

After

The foundation I am wearing in the after the photo is by Maidenform from Macy's.

Each time I model or wear anything that shows my shape, I wear this support garment. It helps with my posture and smooths the middle line in front and back without giving me an oddly shaped bustline.

The bra pictured below from Soma is the best fitting bra I have ever worn.

The necklace and tank top are old from Chico's. The Balmain sunglasses and cardigan are from Sak's Off 5th. The silver clutch is old from T.J.Maxx. The side-zip white pants were supplied by Fabrizio Gianni last year. The Gianni Bini sandals are from Dillard's.

Classic Casual, My Way

Give me the perfect white shirt and a softly faded pair of jeans, and I am ready to attend any casual event.

It's no secret that I am a lover of the classics. From music to home decor and handbags, I am drawn to the elements that withstand the test of time.

When I began my search for the perfect summer handbag, I knew it needed to be classic, versatile, and durable. I am not interested in disposable fashion. I prefer to invest in one timeless, well-made piece that I can carry for several summers. When I saw this one from J. McLaughlin in Town and Country magazine, I knew it was the one for me right away. I was thrilled to learn that they had just opened a store in Blowing Rock, North Carolina!

Sometimes all you need is the perfect white shirt to get the day off to a great start. This one has enough substance to be worn layered over a slim-fitting tank, which is the perfect way to wear a classic white shirt with my button challenging figure.

The blended, smooth fabric looks crisp and feels comfortable. Sheer, lightweight fabric isn't as forgiving or soft flowing over a tank. I like that this shirt holds its shape to keep me looking freshly turned out all day.

No jiggly bits in sight! Success!

The cuff and faded ankle jeans are old from Chico's. The BCBGeneration sandals are from Saks Off 5th.

Today I am using my new light tent for the first time. This lighting system was a gift from my friends at Fabrizio Gianni. Now I can shoot detailed accessory close-ups for you even at 4 am! I am grateful to the whole Fabrizio Gianni team for this very thoughtful gift.

The earrings and dome ring are both from B'Dazzled in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Cali and York sent me the perfect white shirt. I am wearing a size medium over a white Clara Sunwoo tank top supplied by ShopMyFairLady.

Slash

After seeing me in this top, Mr. Mickey gave me a new nickname.

He says I need a stage name to go with my "Rockstar" image. (Judi Mancuso told me on Facebook this week that I was a Rockstar. LOL!) Alas, my most outstanding musical talent involves listening, so I will not be headlining for any rock bands under the name "Slash."

We joined a large group of dear friends for dinner on Friday evening, where the top was a big hit. It shows a little skin while remaining fully covered. The fit is just loose enough not to show jiggly bits, and the asymmetric neck and hemlines are clean, modern details.

I wore my most enormous crystal hoops, no necklace, and a stack of related but different silver-colored bracelets and a bold watch only.

The shoes are by Charles Jordan via Saks Off 5th. The studded grommet leather box clutch is old from T.J.Maxx.

Purple Poppy provided the Last Tango black top. It is a size medium. I paired it with smooth fitting side zip white pants provided by Fabrizio Gianni last year.

Oh Those Pants!

The endless blue sky and warm sunshine beckoned us to the mountains on Saturday.

We had reservations for the early seating for dinner at Rowland's in the Westglow Resort and Spa in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. We had a fabulous weekend there recently. That was such a lovely experience we decided to join them for dinner again. We will be seated at table eight in the sunroom as often as possible in the future. Rowland's offers the ultimate fine dining experience. We award it five stars!

I wore those fabulous Fabrizio Gianni pants I told you about in yesterday's post.

The light gray tank and ecru longline blazer are both old from Chico's. The necklace is from SM Bradford in Hilton Head, located in Harbour Town Yacht Club.

The rings are from B'Dazzled in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The Balmain sunglasses and clutch bag are both from Saks Off 5th. The shoes are by BCBGeneration via DSW.

When I wear a bold statement necklace like this one, I turn down the volume with all the other elements of my look.