The Women's Fund of East Tennessee Luncheon

Yesterday I joined some extraordinary women at the Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville for our 5th annual luncheon for the Women's Fund of East Tennessee.

The Women's Fund is a catalyst to transform the lives of low-income women and girls in East Tennessee. I am very proud to be in the Leadership Society. 

As an organization, we learn about the needs of women and girls in our region and determine focused funding areas with the greatest long-term impact. We explore and recommend grant recipients based on area organizations' proven success and their ability to create positive, transformative change.

Together we analyze the outcomes of our investments to ensure accountability and success.

Mr. Mickey snapped these photos for you at the World's Fair Park, where we went for an early morning stroll. The Sunsphere can be seen in the background. It is a hexagonal steel truss structure, topped with a gold-colored glass sphere that served as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair.

Later in the morning, we visited one of my favorite establishments in Knoxville, The Paris Apartment. It is a delightful place to shop for clothing, accessories, gifts, and fabulous items for your home. You can also enjoy lunch with friends in the French style bistro and tea room.

I wore a navy blue set by IC Collection, sent to me by ShopMyFairLady.com.

The crystal hand-beaded tassel necklace was also sent to me by ShopMyFairLady.com.

We always look forward to attending events at the elegant Cherokee Country Club overlooking the Tennessee River.

It was such a delight to visit some of the other women from Johnson City who attended the luncheon.

Our collective efforts significantly contribute to accomplishing great things for women and girls in our region.

With my dear friend, Carol Transou, above. She introduced me to The Women's Fund several years ago.

If you are in Knoxville during the springtime, don't miss the chance to drive through some of the beautiful neighborhoods where stately older homes stand sentinel over the river surrounded by breathtaking azaleas in full bloom. Too soon, it was time to begin our long drive back to Johnson City.

The look I wore today would be perfect for any special event such as attending a wedding or any more formal gathering. It is very comfortable and yet elegant at the same time. This set is available in black as well as the navy I am wearing. The top has side pockets! The photo below was taken in poor lighting, so the navy shows as black. 

Bonus shot!

Considering the sheer mesh details on the pants' legs, I chose to wear minimalist nude sandals by Sam Edelman via Nordstrom last year. For the same reason, I did not wear bracelets or a watch, which would have only served as clutter. 

Summer Leather

Our evening temperatures still dip into the forties, so dressing for going out at night requires warmer clothes.

We had a lovely dinner with friends on a recent chilly evening.

This fabulous faux leather jacket is by I.C. Collection via my friends at ShopMyFairLady.com.

This is the type of faux leather that you can wear even in summer. It is made using small strips of faux leather meticulously sewn to a mesh under the fabric, as shown in the detailed photo below.

I.C. Collection is known for its artistic button closures and fine details. This jacket did not disappoint!

The asymmetric hem that dips low in the back is so flattering and timeless.

I wore a long-sleeve Covered Perfectly Simple Comfort top with slacks from a couple of years ago under the jacket. 

Fifty not Frumpy followers can get a 20% discount on up to two items for a limited time! Use the discount code FNF20 when you check out at Covered Perfectly. There are many styles to choose from, and the discount will apply on up to two items; after that, you can take advantage of the buy 2 get 1 FREE special. Hurry! Those long sleeve tops are going fast!

The shoes are by French Connection via Saks Off 5th. The clutch is from the boutique, Cloth inside the Grove Park Inn Resort. I always wear Chanel No. 5 in the evenings.

Building Blocks

Have you ever thought of the pieces in your wardrobe as architectural building blocks?

Do most of those blocks work together to create a cohesive look, or are they scattered bits of unrelated pieces with little in common? Think of a building designed and built using classic lines and details that relate to each other and include balanced proportions. The elements of a building that complement each other combine to create a whole that is pleasing to the eye.

This look serves me well throughout most of the warm weather months. I enjoy wearing flowing tunics with interesting hemlines and three-quarter length sleeves. These tops work well with most of my straight leg pull-on jeans. I look for pants with a smooth wide waistband so that lumps and bumps from regular jean style pants don't show through the fabric of the tunic. The long, lean line created by the straight legs balances the fullness of the tunics.

Add a bold necklace or a stack of related but different bracelets and some eye-candy shoes, and I am ready to go anywhere.

Notice the details. I have created a bookend effect by repeating the turquoise blue in the necklace with the same shoes. A bookend effect can also mean matching your hair color with your shoe color. Bookending means that you are beginning and ending your look with a similar color or tone within a color.

The gold reptile effect on the heels relates back to the straw clutch's gold bamboo effects and the gold details in the necklace.

The Vince Camuto shoes are old from Ross. The Lily Pulitzer clutch is old from Finely House Couture.

Combining various hues within a color can create a very soothing effect. For example, tan, paprika, and ivory are all in the brown family, and they look rich and elegant when worn together.

You can always combine the hues of a color combination with one of your neutrals. For example, my cool skin tone base neutrals include black and white. Your warm skin tone base neutrals might be brown and ivory.

The navy blue Clara Sunwoo top was sent to me by ShopMyFairLady.

Note the odd closure of the necklace visible in this photo. I tied the too long necklace strands in a loose knot and then closed it. It hangs too long, resting between the girls in a most unattractive way. We busty gals must be careful with necklaces and bags that are worn across or between the breasts. Unfortunate choices can share way too much information. I prefer not to draw even more attention to that area.

Symphonic Mischief

We attended a black-tie optional fundraiser for our beloved Johnson City Symphony Orchestra last evening.

The event took place in the Johnson City Country Club's ballroom.

Marilyn Robertson served as the President of our Symphony for the past two years. She worked tirelessly to promote and keep our Symphony funded.

Sarah was our entertaining mime jester for the evening!

At the end of the evening, some of the mystery bags had not yet been sold, so Mr. Mickey and I bought them all.

I wanted this kayak so badly! I lost the fierce bidding war to a lady who lives in Canada. She and her husband plan to buy a matching one so that they can explore all the coves in the bay near their home.

The beautiful Johnson City Country Club is more than one hundred years old. There are many crystal chandeliers, columns, ornate fireplaces, and a beautiful wooden dance floor in the ballroom. The grand bay windows overlook the terrace and the rolling hills of the golf course beyond. I have been attending events in this beautiful building since I was a young girl. It never ceases to soothe my spirit to be in this grand space.

Charlie is the club's current manager.

My look for this evening included a fabulous jacket by Damee from ShopMyFairLady. The double collar has wires inside the edges so that you can adjust the ruffle effect. I bought it last year, but the weather turned cold before I had a chance to wear it. This jacket is an elegant example of the type of sheer topper that I often wear over tank tops in warm weather to remain covered but still keep cool.

This easy type of dressing serves me very well all year round. The simple black tank top is by Clara Sunwoo via ShopMyFairLady. It has a neckline that can be worn with the V or the scoop in the front. The travelers pants are from Chico's. The suede fringe trim sandals are by BCBGeneration via Saks Off 5th. The box clutch is from Cloth, a boutique located in the Grove Park Inn Resort. I added small crystal drop earrings, two fun bling rings, and a crystal link bracelet as accessories.

Special Occasions

What do you wear to a wedding, cocktail party, or gallery opening?

My all-time favorite pieces for evening or special occasion, come from a few select lines, all of which are available from ShopMyFairLady.

This fabulous silver and white IC Collection jacket and black Mesmerize ankle pants work together perfectly for almost any special event. The ankle pants I am wearing are from last year, the styles they have now appear to be longer. I am also wearing a black Clara Sunwoo tank under the jacket. All these items are made in the USA and available online at ShopMyFairLady.

IC Collection is famous for its decorative button closures. The fabrics and tailoring details are always elegant and flattering on this almost sixty-year-old body. You can rest assured; I will never show up for a special event in a strappy little cocktail dress. I must dress for my personality as well as the occasion and the weather. I would be too mortified to even walk across the room in a strappy cocktail dress. I much prefer more covered attire for special occasions, well actually any occasion.

My accessories for this evening included a simple matte silver box clutch from T.J.Maxx.

My jewelry included small rhinestone earrings, a chunky bright silver link bracelet, and a fun bling ring from Stein Mart. All jewelry is several years old.

The fringe trim suede sandals are by BCBGeneration via Saks Off 5th.

Mr. Mickey picked me up right on time for our Friday night date. After snapping a few photos for you, we were off to one of our favorite elegant bar areas located within Wellington's restaurant at the Carnegie Hotel here in Johnson City. We love to sit by the fireplace to relax and chat for a while.

We take every opportunity to get dressed up and enjoy an evening together. When the waiter brought our glasses of champagne, he asked what we were celebrating. We answered, "It's Friday!"

Warm Weather Game

As the temperatures climb into the eighties during most afternoons, I am wearing tunics often.

One of my all-time favorite looks for warm weather is a long, swingy lightweight tunic. By adding a long necklace, I am breaking up my middle's expanse with the deep V created by the necklace. This tunic's subtle print also moves the eye over that area without stopping on my trouble spots. When wearing a print, always be mindful of where the blocks of color and pattern land on your body. The wrong placement can actually draw the eye to a problem area.

I almost always wear a statement bracelet or watch and sometimes even layer on three different pieces on the same wrist with a three-quarter length sleeve. 

The ring is just a bit of fun, bling I picked up at some forgotten place in my travels. The clutch is old from T.J.Maxx. The sunglasses are by Michael Kors. The shoes are old favorites by Calvin Klein.

I took my camera with me on one of my walks to share some of the beauty of springtime.

I hope you are enjoying the tummy hiding tips I share with you on the blog this week. There will be a few more tips tomorrow, but honestly, if you study my looks, you will notice that I always try to downplay that area of my body.