Wear It Wednesday ... The Skin You're In

Looking your best starts with glowing skin.

When I posted this photo a few weeks ago, there were numerous comments about my skin and my courage to be in a closeup with a woman who may not even be twenty yet. That's me with Abby Hathorn who is also a blogger at VintageInspiredPassionista. (There is no filter on the camera and I do not even know how to use Photoshop.) My skin is not as firm and smooth as Ms. Hathorn's, but I will be fifty-eight in three months and is about twenty years old.

I have also been asked many times about my skincare routine for the whole body, not just the face.

Our skin is constantly shedding and flaking off as new cells replace old ones. We often add oils and lotions to our skin, which also produces its own natural oils. The cells that should flake off can't, which leaves our skin not looking so smooth and clear. The skin can look a bit ashy instead of clean and bright or even break out because of trapped oils.

The secret weapons for my best skin include a natural bristle body brush, clean washcloth, olive oil, or coconut oil.

This natural bristle brush comes with a detachable handle and can be found in most drug stores as well as Walmart. I use the brush on my body before each shower. Sit down and relax while gently rubbing the brush in small circles over your whole body except for the face. Start with the feet and always work toward your heart. This sloughs off dead skin cells but also helps with circulation.

Hot water on a clean washcloth massaged into my face each morning feels wonderful. I use hot tap water as warm as my hands can tolerate and massage my face with the cloth until it starts to cool. Repeat this eight times. Follow with eight cold massages. Splash with cool water and then dry. 

Before bed each night, massage olive oil or coconut oil onto your face and body. After about five minutes, it has been absorbed, and your skin will feel smooth and soft. 

I use many items from the kitchen for skincare because I experience the least amount of reactions, such as redness and puffiness. A great exfoliant for the face (avoid the eye area) is sugar or salt mixed with your favorite cleanser. I often wear a hat when I am outside for long periods.

What you put in your body is important too! 

This pretty cut glass pitcher full of spring water and the juice of two organic lemons or cucumber slices is the first thing I see when I open my fridge. This is the water I sip all day.

Other items in my fridge are what contribute to healthy skin and body. Fresh fruit, unsalted natural nuts, seeds, and plain Greek yogurt are other items you will almost always find in my fridge. (Lower right corner... I wash grapes and keep them in a colander with a wet paper towel over them to keep them crunchy and fresh tasting.)

Get six or seven hours of sleep each night. Drink a glass of wine occasionally if you wish. Eat mostly fresh fruits and vegetables. Go for a brisk walk each morning for about a half-hour.

Now you know all my secrets!

Wear It Wednesday

Many of you have asked, "What do you wear when you aren't going someplace special? What's your go-to look for every day?"

I work from home, so I literally could work in my PJ's all day, but I wouldn't be very productive. I shower after my walk and get dressed for the day, even if I know I won't be going out. If I run to the grocery or over to my warehouse to meet with my staff in this look, it is acceptable. 

My summer casual daily wardrobe includes white, khaki, black, or lightweight denim cropped pants or ankle-length pants. (No shorts.) I normally wear a sandal with low wedge heels with cropped pants such as these pictured above. If the pants were longer and looser, I might wear a flat sandal. (No flip flops.)

I also wear earrings, one ring, and a watch. I don't feel dressed without accessories and a lovely handbag. Details make a big difference in looking well put together.

Pictured above are Aerosoles sandals found at Ross, an Anne Klein bag found at T.J.Maxx several years ago, Kenneth Cole sunglasses from T.J.Maxx, and silver small hoop earrings, and a Seiko watch found at Belk many years ago. 

I really like a lightweight tee such as these I found at Belk on sale for about $12 this week. They are roomy and soft without being so thin that every bump and lump shows through them. 

I chose the V neck version, but they did have other necklines available. 

I bought several colors, including the purple I am wearing and navy, white, black, blue, red, teal, and pink. These tops are 100% cotton, so they are very soft and comfortable even when in the heat and humidity. These are the Belk brand "Kim Rogers."

These clothes can also be worn when I go for my early morning walk in the neighborhood each day. I prefer to buy regular clothes that I can wear for other functions rather than work out clothes which I see way too often in public. Could it be that work out knits are the summer version of sweat pants? 

If the day is cool and rainy, I can throw on a lightweight jacket like this one from the sale rack at Chico's. My goal is to be comfortable when I am going casual but still look nice.

Wear It Wednesday... Color

Do you wear khaki pants?

I love the look of ankle-length pants with nice sandals. However the shrunken cropped length isn't as attractive.

The winter weight pants worn below have held up well. They are from Talbot's a couple of years ago.

No matter what material I buy khaki pants in, they almost always lose their shape and or shrink two sizes the first time I launder them. 

Why is it that we can put a man on the moon, but we can't make a decent pair of women's khaki pants?

The jeans below shrank two inches the first time I washed them according to the label!

Most of the pants above are long gone from my wardrobe because they shrank so much. The ones in the pictures below are also in a bag going to my sister, a smaller size. (She probably has thirty pairs of khaki pants now!)

On the day I try them on in the store, and the first time I wear them, they fit fine but rarely the next time. I only wash in cold water, take them out of the dryer way before they are dry, and hang them to finish air-drying. I have also tried taking them out of the washer and letting them completely air dry. I have tried taking them to the dry cleaner. Still, they are not the same fit that I bought them for.

I will buy the next pair in size too large and see what happens. If you see me walking down the street holding up my pants, you will know why. 

Wear It Wednesday is the day I pull out questionable pieces from my closet and try to make them work or else donate them to someone who will make use of them. Reducing clutter in my closet makes getting dressed much more pleasant. Too many questionable pieces can result in wearing the same thing all the time and the feeling that you need more choices when you already have too many.

Wear It Wednesday

This white background jacket is lovely in its construction and design but it has always seemed wrong for my shape.

The Travelers tank and pants, as well as the jacket, are old items from Chico's. The shoes, bag, and jewelry are likely from Stein Mart. They are all old, so I don't actually recall where I bought them. Even though I rarely wear this look, I will hang on to it for now since it gives me a dressier daytime look for those events requiring it.

 

Wear It Wednesday is the day I pull out questionable or rarely worn pieces from my closet and try to make them work or else donate them to someone who will make use of them. 

Reducing clutter in my closet makes getting dressed much more pleasant. Too many questionable pieces can result in wearing the same thing all the time and the feeling that you need more choices when you already have too many. 

Don't miss the second blog post coming later today. We had a wonderful evening, and I can't wait to share it with you!

Wear It Wednesday Part II

The color of this silk soutache jacket led me to buy it at Stein Mart last year.

Perhaps because I had only tried it on with more formal black pants and a black tank, it seemed too boxy and matronly in the past. Wearing it with white jeans and a loose-fitting white tank from Chico's and cutout booties from Nine West via Ross seems more youthful and modern.

I still love the color, so I will keep this one for now.

Wear It Wednesday is the day I pull out the questionable, rarely worn pieces from my closet and try to make them work or else donate them to someone who will make use of them. Reducing clutter in my closet makes getting dressed much more pleasant. Too many questionable pieces can result in wearing the same thing all the time and the feeling that you need more choices when you already have too many.

Wear It Wednesday

We all make questionable choices in life. It still happens to me occasionally, like when I got carried away with the sale price of this top at Chico's and bought it even though I knew it wasn't "me."

I am rarely comfortable in prints, but I thought perhaps the subdued colors of this one might work on a casual day. I feel like an old hippie each time I try to wear it. From the splash of bling across the bust to the unfortunate placement of the patterns, it is wrong for my shape and my personality. It is on it's way to the famous to-go bag.

Look for Part II of Wear It Wednesday, as I will be posting another picture tomorrow morning of the questionable item I plan to wear for date night tonight.

Wear It Wednesday

Each Wednesday, I go through my wardrobe and try again to make something work for me that is rarely, if ever, worn.

If I can't make the item work for me... out it goes. I have a shopping bag in my closet to which I add those things that never seem quite right. The shopping bag goes to the local Women's Shelter this time. (I rotate donations to a different charity each time.) If you decide to follow my example in paring down your closet to only what you really wear, please remember that underwear, shoes, and jewelry, as well as bags, can make a world of difference to a woman who is starting over after an abusive relationship. She needs clothes for interviews and work, so white blouses and dark slacks or skirts are always needed.

Let's start with this white blouse. I bought it at the big Dillard's haul earlier this spring. I have never worn it because it has a ruffle with a facing that never stays where it should. It was such a low clearance price I couldn't resist, but buying something you never wear is not a good deal.

Then there are those navy slacks I bought at Talbot's a couple of years ago. One leg is a bit tighter than the other in the calf, so I always feel lopsided when I wear them. Someone with normal calves would never notice this, but my calves are ample. 

These slingback shoes have rarely seen the light of day, but they worked with this look today. 

I will keep the blouse for now, but the shoes and the pants are on their way out.

WEAR it Wednesday!

Today marks the launch of a new feature on the Facebook page for Fifty, not Frumpy.

My project for today is this ikat pattern cardigan. I bought it on sale at Chico's last fall. I have never worn it because it is too lightweight for cool weather, and it really needs to be worn with a tank top so that the arms aren't too snug. Now that I have tried it on with warm weather pants and sandals, I think I might wear it often. (I shot this image into an antique mirror hanging in my laundry room.)

We all have things in our closets that we rarely wear, if ever. I am on a mission to wear all those things in my closet or donate them to someone who can use and enjoy them. I had this in mind when I started "Wear It Wednesday."