Showing posts with label J.Jill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label J.Jill. Show all posts

Monday, June 6, 2016

Packing For A Summer Trip

When we travel, I take a few items that work together instead of pack outfits that may or may not be successful when we arrive at our destination. A few great accessories always help to create unique combinations.


For several days, we will be traveling to attend a unique wedding. There will be lots of walking, sightseeing, shopping, exploring old downtown, and eating out. All of these events will be very casual.

One of my personal packing rules is always trying on everything I am taking to make sure it looks the way I think it will look. There is nothing worse than getting ready for that special event only to find that the shoes you brought to go with your pants are too low to bring the hem off the floor. Today I am sharing the looks I plan to create from the items shown above on the rolling rack.

Below, I am wearing the tunic with jeans and sandals, all from J.Jill. The satchel is from JMcLaughlin. The crinkle cotton tunic is so lightweight I could wear it even on a sweltering day.

My apologies for the odd colors in these photos. The camera takes on an agenda of its own when we have to shoot inside and use the flash.

The gala sand-washed tunic will work with all of the pants.



The white long sleeve tee is very lightweight, so I can wear it with the vest and the white jeans when we go out to dinner.



The pieces shown above can be worn in many combinations according to the weather and where we are going. I am just showing you a few of the ways I plan to wear them.

My look for the wedding will include the swing blouse by IC Collection over a tank by Clara Sunwoo and white pants by Lior Paris. All these items were a gift from ShopMyFairLady.com. The silver clutch is old from T.J.Maxx. The silver sandals are old by BCBGeneration.



The life-changing Ultimate Back Smoothing Bra & Body Shaper is by Shapeez.com. I will be buying the black one and will be wearing these for the rest of my life. This is the first bra/shaper item I have ever worn that is so comfortable you forget you have it on, and it actually smooths your midsection and back without being hot. Epic!

Here is a video also!


Monday, April 25, 2016

Compassion

Do you have a mission?


Beyond sharing style tips and encouragement for eating more plants, I want to make a difference in lives. I have experienced not knowing where I will be sleeping tonight or when my next meal might come. 

I was fortunate that when my time of need came, there was a wide circle of friends who offered shelter and helped me through the toughest time of my life. I know that the worst decisions ever made can be followed by the best ones.

It is now part of my mission to help women in need by being a part of several projects which offer a hand up through temporary shelter, training, and education.



J.Jill just launched its new "Compassion Connects Us All" social campaign where every time you use the hashtag #JJillCompassion, the brand will donate $1 to the Fund up to $350,000.


The lightweight J.Jill linen tote bag with an artisanal floral print at the front was designed to help women in need: 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of the exclusive Compassion Fund tote bag support to community-based organizations that help disadvantaged and homeless women become more self-sufficient.

J.Jill has donated more than six million dollars to over sixty organizations across the country.



All of the elements in this look were provided by J.Jill.

J.Jill's deep blue cardigan is lightweight, making it the perfect warm-weather topper to take with me everywhere. Air conditioning quickly becomes unpleasant for me, so I always take a cover-up of some sort with me, even in summer.

The perfect weight three-quarter sleeve tee is very nicely made. The design details make it more flattering and feminine than most tees.


The white comfortable cropped jeans are also from J.Jill.


Cognac has always been one of my favorite colors for neutral, go with everything leg-lengthening sandals. These Corso Como® for J.Jill stacked heel sandals are the perfect summer shoes.


Sunday, April 17, 2016

Relaxing At Home

If you stop by to visit me on any cold-weather Sunday afternoon, you will find me reading by the fire.


Currently, I am reading four books, which means there are books, stacks of magazines, and readers to be found beside every comfortable chair.

"Thank Me" frame style is shown here.

Mr. Mickey asked me to go with him to pick out his new glasses last week. It has been several years since I have bought prescription glasses because readers are all I need to wear. I didn't realize how expensive prescription eyeglasses have gotten. Wow! I could have eleven pairs of stylish readers for that price.

Bob Frapples is this frame style.

Eye-bobs is an excellent line of stylish, high-quality readers. They are very comfortable, and they arrive in a nice protective case and with a glass cleaning cloth. They recently sent me these two styles to try, and I like them very much. They are lightweight and very comfortable to wear. I love the larger lenses! All the types offered on their website are very modern looking.

Bob Frapples is the name of the frame below, and I chose the navy front with blue denim trim. 

This is the Bob Frapples frame style.

Thank Me is the name of the style shown below. I chose the black front with matte gunmetal trim.


This is the Thank Me frame style.

I always look for glasses with a square shape to flatter my roundish face.

The question, "What do you wear at home when you aren't going somewhere special?" is one that I often get. When I have a few hours to myself during those rare times, I put on something soft and comfortable and curl up with a book. Since early childhood, I have been an avid reader. 

The old cashmere cardigan I am wearing here is my all-time favorite from J.Jill. 

The slip-on style shoes are old by Sperry.


These soft crepe pull-on pants and the relaxed tee are both by Fabrizio Gianni. If you love fabulous basics that can be worn dressed up or down and worn for almost any occasion, these pieces are well worth the investment. The Fabrizio Gianni items are all made in the USA.


You will see these black pants on me often! Made from a luxurious stretch crepe, these pants can easily be dressed up or down. (As you will see in another post coming soon.) Mr. Mickey snapped these photos as we were relaxing before a long drive across the mountains for a special dinner date.

For those of you who asked. My hair is still silver/gray. Some lighting makes it look otherwise.



I mostly read to learn more about something that interests me. These are the four books I am reading right now.



Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Very Casual

Relaxing at home, watching kids play sports, or going to the Farmer's Market are times that call for comfortable casual clothes.


This week on the blog, I am breaking all my styling rules. Today it's no straight horizontal lines at the neckline. I am also visually cutting my body in half instead of dividing it into thirds. The horizontal line at the center of my body visually breaks me in half.  I would have looked even shorter and wider if the shoes were darker and the bag was carried under my arm like a shoulder bag. Since I have broad shoulders and an ample bust, I try not to add more width there visually with horizontal lines.

A woman with a long thin face, smaller shoulders, and a smaller bust looks great in a boatneck. This one is a gorgeous dark navy; it is the only reason I can carry it off.




I channeled Jackie O on her Isle of Capri visits when I put together this look. Large Kenneth Cole sunglasses and the straw tote are both old from T.J. Maxx. Also, note that my glasses are square to offset my roundish face, and Jackie often wore round ones for her square-shaped face.

When choosing an icon to emulate, it helps to pick one with a shape and a style of dressing that is close to your own. I have always admired Jackie's classic style, but her boyish figure was very different than mine. While the overall style is clean, classic, and timeless, her exact looks make me appear to be shorter and rounder. I have to make a few adjustments to flatter my shorter and more busty figure.

The top, the pants, and the shoes were all sent to me by J.Jill.


I adore these comfortable pull-on pants from J.Jill. They are perfect for my morning walks around the neighborhood and working at home in my office. I own several pairs of them. This top is made from a sturdy Pima cotton knit that is extra soft and comfortable without showing every roll and dimple. These Superga® classic sneakers feel even better than going barefoot! 

I have been a loyal fan of J.Jill as a source for elegant yet comfortable classic looks for more than fifteen years.



Friday, April 1, 2016

Very Casual

On rare occasions, I get to stay home by myself for most of the day. If the weather permits, I go for a long walk in my neighborhood. I always make an effort to get dressed for the weather and the event. I take into consideration my comfort on a psychological as well as a physical level when I get dressed or purchase any clothing. I have one pair of flip flops that I only wear after a pedicure. You will never see me in them at any other time.

Below is a typical example of a casual stay home look for me when the weather is cool. I have many tank tops that I throw on with a pair of jeans and then add a cardigan of some sort. This cashmere cardigan is one of my favorites of all time. It is from J.Jill. The jeans and the tank are from Chico's. The shoes are from Rockport.


Early in the morning, when the sun is just coming up, you will often see me walking in my neighborhood. I might be wearing leggings and a tee with slip-on shoes and a jacket. This jacket is from J.Jill. The top is old from Cali and York. The shoes are by Rockport.


If the weather is a little warmer, I choose a lighter weight jacket such as this one from J.Jill. I am quick to get a chill in the air conditioning, so I always have a jacket or sweater on hand. The tank top is likely from Chico's, and I think the jeans here are from J.Jill.



Another great casual look includes leggings or jeans and a super soft, comfortable top from Covered Perfectly. I love how these tops can take you from casual and comfortable to nearly any event. This piping top has strategic stitching and trim that makes me look slimmer and taller. The leggings are by Hue via Dillard's. The shoes are by Rockport.


On a cool fall day, you may see me going for a longer hike to enjoy the foliage. I am wearing faded but never torn jeans with a long sleeve navy tee from Talbot's with an old quilted jacket from Dillard's. The very comfortable khaki ankle boots are from Antelope Shoes.


My favorite form of exercise has always been going for a long walk alone with my thoughts and nature.

A three-quarter length sleeve tee and white ankle pants with a pair of New Balance walking shoes are my heat of summer go-to walking attire. Keep in mind that I also walk early in the morning to not be in full sun. I had skin cancer in the past, so I am careful not to go out in the sun without protection.



Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Packing Tips

When we travel, I take a core wardrobe of pieces in three colors. I can take a few pieces but have several possible combinations, from casual to dressy as needed.


The color choices for this trip were black, white, and gray. I wore this combination to breakfast on Saturday morning during our recent stay at Primland. J.Jill provided the gray cashmere sweater. The white tank is from Peck and Peck via Stein Mart. The pants are by Lior Paris. The shoes are by Vince Camuto via Saks Off 5th. The watch is by Michael Kors via Nordstrom. The rings were long ago gifts from Mr. Mickey.



I regularly get numerous comments about wearing heels. I am not encouraging you to wear heels. I find that shoes such as these, which have many straps, support the whole foot and the ankles, and are so much more comfortable than ballet flats or (horrors!) flip flops, which often give the foot no support. Mr. Mickey can attest that I can even run in these shoes when I need to.



The view from our table by the window at breakfast was nothing less than spectacular!


That is the observatory tower behind me. We spent the afternoon enjoying being pampered in the Spa at the resort. They thought of everything! There is a theater, library, and workout room as well.



I took two white jackets, one dressy one casual. I also took an ornate black jacket, gray sweater, one white tank, one silver tank, and a black one. The three pairs of black pants were of different fabrics and styles. I took two pairs of shoes in addition to these, which I wore for travel.



In addition to all the other amenities at the resort, there were many original art installations throughout the property.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Casual Look with Flats

Spring is in the air!


When I bought this Ralph Lauren jacket, I admit that I had a moment of regret because I didn't realize how distressed it was from the picture on the Dillard's website. End of season sale items cannot be returned there. I have since made peace with the purchase because it works well paired with longer tunics and very structured pieces. On casual days when the mornings are chilly, it is the perfect layer. When the temperatures start to climb, I can throw it in the back seat and keep going.




The Alfani Step 'N Flex flats are several years old from Macy's. I rarely wear flat shoes, so they stay new looking for years. The bag was made in Italy (no name), and I found it at T.J.Maxx a couple of years ago. I change my bags almost daily and keep them in dust cover bags, so they look new for years also. I do not typically match my bags to my shoes. It seems more modern to mix it up, but I was already on my way when I realized how much these matched.

I don't orchestrate my posts or style my looks for this blog. Mr. Mickey just takes photos of what I am really wearing for the day. Sometimes the location is as unglamorous as this one beside the loading dock of my building in the industrial park. 



It has taken me a while (years) to embrace the look of wearing a shorter layer over a more extended layer. I would not wear my shorter jackets any other way now.



The sunglasses are by Michael Kors from Saks Off 5th last year.



The linen mixed-stripes tunic is from J.Jill's spring collection. It seems to be sold out at the moment, but they have many other tops that are perfect to wear with jeans or leggings. The stretch cotton pants are also from J.Jill. These are the ideal pants to wear for all my walks around the lakes in my neighborhood this summer!

I bought a new pair of exercise shoes at Kohl's yesterday. Pictured below is my first pair of Asics taken on my afternoon walk. I like them!


There aren't many fabrics that breathe and keep you cool like linen. It wrinkles, but you just have to go with it. Our temperatures soared almost to 80 yesterday!



J.Jill provided the tunic and pants.


Time to start packing for our get-away!

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Transition to Spring

Our temperatures may start out in the morning at forty degrees, but it might be seventy-five by mid-afternoon. What to wear?



A trench coat can be the perfect topper during seasonal changes. I look ill in the typical tan trench coat, so I have a short black one and this white one for my cool coloring. I found this one on a sale rack at Stein Mart a couple of summers ago. It is by Evan Picone, and the black one is from Express.



This tank top by J.Jill was the perfect addition to wear with my gray cashmere sweater. Wearing classic simple tanks and sweaters in neutral colors layered with a pair of nice jeans is always a flattering and comfortable casual look for me. Both these items were supplied by J.Jill. I wore them with jeggings and a necklace from Chico's. The bag was by Ralph Lauren via T.J.Maxx last year.




I started out the day in my usual heels. These are by BCBGeneration via Saks Off 5th. When I know I will be walking a lot, I take a cute pair of flats with me for later in the day just in case. These animal print flats with a patent leather toe cap are by Rockport.



When Mr. Mickey stopped by to snap these photos for me, he brought these beautiful white flowers and the perfect anniversary card. It is the same one I gave him! We have given each other the same card on the same day several times during the ten years we have been dating.