Saturday Fun

As we often do on Saturdays in the summer, we drove over to Asheville to spend the day. 

I wore a light blue sequined front top and a long silver necklace, both from Chico's earlier this year. Those are my favorite white pants from Fabrizio Gianni. The sandals are by Rampage via Belk. The bag is by Cole Haan via T.J. Maxx.

We had fun window shopping and people watching at the Grove Arcade. Later in the day, we visited a museum exhibit and a couple of art galleries.

The dog watching is always fun too. This boxer was prancing around wearing sunglasses as if that were perfectly normal.

This flower garden on the street is always so lush and pretty!

We highly recommend the bread pudding at Chestnut!

Look who we ran into in Pack Square! My beautiful high school friend Susan and her handsome French husband C.A. were also in town for the day.

We took the long way home via the Blue Ridge Parkway, where we saw a black bear foraging for food near the roadway as well as this amazing sunset over the mountains.

Summer Staple

Great fitting white pants could take me through the whole summer.

 

I look for a smooth flat front or no waistband and versatile straight legs made from a fabric that can be dressed up for the evening.

Success! These Audrey Stretch Pants from Fabrizio Gianni fulfilled all my needs.

There is a side zipper, so there is no bulky closure in the front to show under silky tops such as this black layered one (old from Chico's).

The bag is old from T.J.Maxx. The necklace was a gift from Mr. Mickey. The shoes are by Steve Madden.

These pants are made in the USA from 96% cotton, so they are very lightweight and cool. They are also on sale right now at Fabrizio Gianni.

Electric Blue!

Do you take the day off from your regular routine and spend it with those you love, doing nothing special?

I am wearing a cool, comfortable pair of electric blue pants by Fabrizio Gianni. These pants are so soft and lightweight! They are made in the USA, and they keep their shape all day, even in warm weather.

I spent this beautiful day with my sister and two of our beloved cousins enjoying gardens, cottages, lunch, shopping, and ice cream in the park. We talked and laughed for the whole day. It's a therapy that truly soothes the soul to be with those you are most comfortable and happy with.

Since we would be walking for much of the day, I wore flat comfy sandals by Aerosoles and a tank top with a mesh sleeve lightweight Chico's jacket, which are all old.

With me are my life-long best friends and first playmates. My sister, Glenda, is wearing the black top and to my left are Donna and Sherry. I am sorry that more of my sweet cousins could not join us for this beautiful day in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Never Boring Basics

You have likely noticed that the foundation of my look is basic pieces with interesting accessories and toppers.

Basics can get boring if you never play with texture or color, so today, I am showing you how my super comfortable white jean style twill pants from Fabrizio Gianni and a white tank can be given a little edge with a dark wash denim jacket and a mint tote also from Fabrizio Gianni.

Living at a higher elevation with evening temperatures that dip into the sixties or lower means I never leave for the day without taking an extra layer. Since I was going out for a day of casual sightseeing activities, the tote and scarf were the perfect accessories. I can wear a scarf or use it to soften the texture of the tote. Tying a colorful scarf to your bag in warm weather is a great way to add a pop of color to your basic look without being too warm by wearing it during the day. The tote is also roomy enough to put the jacket into when I don't need it.

I always wear a tank with wide straps and a nice fit but not too tight. If I do need to remove my jacket, I can still be comfortable and appropriate.

This is my favorite summer tote! It is lightweight, and the mint color goes with all my basics beautifully while adding a pop of color. It is also roomy enough to hold all the things I need to take for a full day of activities.

I have numerous items from Fabrizio Gianni that I have enjoyed wearing many times. I appreciate that the items are made in the USA, and the quality is always very high. Their customer service is excellent!

Zacasha Tassel Necklaces

Many have asked about the statement necklaces I often wear.

The necklaces feature Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls.

Visit the Fabrizio Gianni site to see all the beautiful colors of this necklace.

Jeans and a Tee

How often do you wear jeans and a tee? That combination has become a global uniform.

Sometimes I like to wear a more sophisticated and feminine version of this look. These cotton twill stretch slim fit white jeans are from Fabrizio Gianni. The fabric is soft and lightweight but not see-through. The fit is perfection.

I am also wearing a fabulous tee with three-quarter-length sleeves and a very flattering neckline from Fabrizio Gianni. I love the fabric of this top! It smooths and skims across your body without showing all those jiggly bits.

The Halogen flats are from Nordstrom, and the BCBG bag and Kenneth Cole sunglasses are from T.J.Maxx.

Visit their site to see all of the beautiful basics in the Fabrizio Gianni line and learn about their great Shop and Dash program. All these top quality items are made in the USA!

Dinner on the Terrace

This was our view from the room at the Inn.

On the first evening, we had a light dinner on the terrace.

The view from our table.

We ordered the artisan cheese board and a couple of glasses of wine.

Mr. Mickey is a happy man!

Birthday creme brulee with fresh berries!

The staircase in the lobby.

I wore a flowing black and white duster, tank, and necklace from Chico's to dinner on our first evening at the Inn at Biltmore. 

The white pants are from Fabrizio Gianni. They are so soft and comfortable! They do not look or feel like jeans, but they do have that casual five-pocket styling. I love that I can wear them with a nice blazer or a jean jacket and they will still look great.

Khaki and Black

Khaki pants can be the perfect casual element.

When we go out to dinner with friends to a very casual restaurant, I find that a nice pair of khaki pants will usually serve me well. Denim sometimes seems too casual, and black always feels dressed up even when the pants are jeans.

Last night I wore a great pair of sleek pull-on khaki pants from Fabrizio Gianni. The wide waistband and no zipper mean the waistline is smooth and flat. 

The black V-Neck top is by Tahari from T.J.Maxx. The necklace is several years old from Chico's. The jacket is by Peter Nygård from Dillard's.

The shoes are old by Louise Et Cie from Nordstrom. The bag is from Finley House Couture in Blowing Rock, NC.

When I invest in pieces that fit well and are of good quality, I can enjoy wearing them in various ways over the years. Solid colors make it easy to mix and match.

Bag Color Tip

My Tahari by Arthur S. Levine jacket was found at Dillard's during their end of season sale last summer. It has become one of my favorite dressy jackets.

I once read a style suggestion that went something like this. "Buy a handbag the color of your hair, and you will carry it more often than any other." I really do carry my gray bags most often! This one by Calvin Klein is one of my daytime favorites. I found it at T.J.Maxx last fall.

The slacks and the shoes are from Saks Off 5th, and I am wearing a long sleeve black tee from Chico's. In case the weather turns cooler, I have a black trench coat by Fabrizio Gianni thrown over my arm.