Comfy?

I enjoy discovering new lines to share with you.

I had never worn pieces from the Comfy line until Purple Poppy recently sent me this top. The tunic is very much in keeping with my style. The striped knit fabric is designed to flatter the waistline and flow softly across your curves.

I am wearing the tunic with Renaur cigarette leg ankle pants, which are also from Purple Poppy.

The sandals are old by Ralph Lauren. The bag is old by Nine West. The sunglasses are by Balmain via Saks Off 5th.

When I wear these long tunics, I pair them with pants that pull on, which means there are no loops, buttons, or zippers to create lumps and bumps under the smooth fabric. A great foundation is also imperative with smooth-fitting tops like this one. The Ultimate Shapeez bra is the coolest and most comfortable option I have found, and it gives you a nice smooth line under your clothes.

This type of look can be worn for business casual, out to lunch with friends, or anytime you want to look appropriate but not too dressed up. Accessories can be used to change the look and attitude to something more dressy. You could also wear this top with sleek black trousers and black heels. Add a turquoise necklace and bag to create an entirely different look. I love the versatility of neutral pieces!

Black Olive and Caper

I have always loved the color olive or caper as neutrals on other people. When I wear that color near my face, I look ill.

These comfortable soft, casual pants are by Fabrizio Gianni. This caper color is as close as I get to khaki because that is another color I cannot wear well. Since I have a cool skin tone, I try never to wear warm or golden undertones near my face. If you know the colors that work well with your skin tone, you will find it so much easier to put together a flattering wardrobe. The colors and tones will look good on you, but they will also work together well.

It took me about three minutes to get dressed. I was on my way to the bank and my office to sign checks on Friday. Even though this is an easy casual look, I was appropriately dressed for all the stops I had to make and even to join a friend for lunch later.

That is why I share these tips and inspiration photos with you. I want you to have the same confidence and ease of getting dressed each day.

One way to determine which tones of color would look best on you is to study your veins. If the veins on the inside of your wrist look green, you have warm golden undertones. If your veins look blue, you have a cool skin tone. If the veins look neither blue nor green, you are a lucky neutral who can wear almost any color.

My sandals were by Vince Camuto from Belk last year.

Breakfast At The Inn

We recently spent the weekend at the Inn on Biltmore Estate.

There is a lovely breakfast buffet in The Dining Room each morning. 

Our table by the window provided a beautiful view of the majestic mountain ranges. There is always a fresh red rose on your table and, in our case, champagne. 

Cheers!

I wore coated jeans and a silver-gray tank from Chico's with a Ralph Lauren polka dot silk scarf from Stein Mart and a Ralph Lauren jacket from Dillard's.

Your BFF's Closet

Some of my favorite pieces in my collection were hand-me-downs from my dear friend Mitzi. A few years ago, we both lost weight. As she shrank out of some things, they still fit me because of my larger upper body.

This Ralph Lauren cardigan with a faux fur collar is a great piece to throw on with jeans and a Covered Perfectly Simple Comfort long sleeve top. I love that these tops can be tucked in since they are never bulky. 

I love the idea of a closet swap when you are losing weight. When I started my weight loss journey a few years ago, I wore some things only a couple of times before I shrank out of that size. My staff got lots of almost new pieces as my sizes changed.

Team up with a friend to swap clothes as you lose weight. It is a great way to stay motivated and not have to spend a mint on clothes as you change sizes.

These jeans are Girlfriend Ankle Jeans from Chico's. I wore Ralph Lauren crew socks with Calvin Klein booties. The bag is old from Finely House Couture in Blowing Rock.

Polo Ralph Lauren Jacket

When something speaks to me as forcefully as this jacket did, I can not pass it by.

I was browsing through Ralph Lauren's offerings on the Dillard's website when I saw this classic military-inspired jacket. The burnished brass buttons and faded gold braids are in perfect harmony with the washed twill, slightly faded fabric. If the trim and buttons were bright gold, I would not have been drawn to it at all. Ralph Lauren has always been the master of details.

I will wear this jacket many times! It also looks great with white, black, caper green, or even khaki jeans. For the first time, I wore it out to lunch with Mr. Mickey on Friday with straight leg ankle jeans from Chico's last year.

The tee is the white Simple Comfort from Covered Perfectly.

The shoes are a couple of years old by BCBG via Ross. The brown leather Calvin Klein belt is old from T.J.Maxx.

The bag is by Zac Posen via Saks Off 5th.

Ralph Lauren Jacket

I recently invested in three Ralph Lauren Jackets at Dillard's. I wore one of them on Wednesday for our date night.

The classic herringbone pattern nods to menswear. The silver sweater is from Chico's earlier this year. The Versace scarf is from Saks Off 5th. The Ralph Lauren bag is from T.J.Maxx.

The French Connection booties are from Saks Off 5th. (I hate socks!) The awesome black jeans are by French Dressing Jeans.

I visited my stylist on this day. It is wonderful to trust someone so much that I can sit down in her chair and relax with a glass of wine and say, "Do what needs to be done." I also shopped a bit while I was there. I will show you what I bought later. The Charlemont salon and boutique are located in a 100-year-old home in Kingsport, TN. Brilliant!

Do you play with pattern mixing? Keeping the colors similar and the patterns small helps to keep the look from being too jarring.

I was a tomboy growing up on a farm, so I have always been drawn to classic menswear blazers. That may be part of the appeal of Ralph Lauren pieces. He takes a menswear-influenced jacket and makes it feminine and timeless.

Mr. Mickey showed up in the perfect color-coordinated look. We did not plan this!

We wish you a safe and happy New Year's celebration!

Lobster, Vintage Fur and Diamonds

We recently joined friends for dinner at Café Pacific. It is located in North Johnson City.

We have cool temperatures now in the evenings, so I wore a vintage fur-trimmed black cable front sweater by Ralph Lauren. I have a few jackets and high-end sweaters that were fabulous gifts from my friend Mitzi when she also recently downsized. When I wear a vintage piece, I keep the look sleek and simple and wear it with very modern elements.

The pants are pieced faux leather front leggings from Chico's. The Adea tank is my all-time favorite!

We had not been to Café Pacific in several years, so we had forgotten what a treat to the eyes and the palate it is to have even a small meal there. We share and order small plates often.

There was a delicious amuse-bouche from Chef Scott. Amuse-Bouches are different from appetizers in that they are not ordered from a menu by patrons, but when served, are done so free and according to the chef's selection alone. These are often accompanied by a complementing wine, are served both to prepare the guest for the meal and offer a glimpse into the chef's approach to the art of cuisine. This one is strawberries with herbs and a balsamic reduction with a passion fruit juice chaser.

The warm pieces of bread were served with whipped herbed butter and pesto olive oil for dipping.

The lobster bisque is a divine dish that is so rich we recommend sharing.

Everyone had a delicious seasonal salad.

Have you ever had a dessert amuse-bouche? This tiny bite was so full of fall flavor!

Now for the real dessert! We also shared this fabulous decadent chocolate dessert with fresh berries and a delightful light cream sauce. 

The shoes are by BCBGeneration via Dillard's. (Aren't they fierce?!) The antique amber watch, the ring, and the earrings were gifts from Mr. Mickey. The evening bag is from T.J.Maxx.

Many of you have asked me how to keep my weight down while going out to eat so often. Mr. Mickey and I share a few small plates and then order a salad as an entrée. I get to taste several different dishes without feeling I have to eat the whole thing.