Fringe Sandals

You probably already know that I collect cool shoes, so you can imagine how excited I was when I found these fringe suede sandals.

They take me back to those days when I was in seventh grade and wanted so badly to be a hippie, but, of course, my mother would have none of that.

The denim jacket is by Chadwicks of Boston. The tank and the cropped pants are from Chico's. The bag is by BCBG from T.J.Maxx. The suede sandals are by Steve Madden from Macy's.

Antelope Booties

My family rescheduled our Christmas brunch because of our illnesses. This year we enjoyed a New Year's Day brunch at the beautiful lakeside home of my cousin.

Are you familiar with Antelope Shoes? The company recently sent me their 706 Ankle Booties to try, and I must tell you they are perfection!

For the first time today, I wore them with leggings, a red tunic blouse, and a black fringe edge jacket.

The booties were very comfortable, and I received lots of compliments. The heel height is just right. Even my Mom thought so!

The leather is soft, and the soles have a small lug detail, making them great for walking on icy sidewalks.

This is "cousin" Barkley. He loves to give kisses and rarely ever sits still for more than a minute.

This is "cousin" Dreamy resting on her throne. She loves attention from everyone except for Barkley.

The natural light during east Tennessee winters is often gray and not very flattering; thus, you have seen all the kitchen shots recently.

If you require high quality, comfortable, and timeless style shoes, I highly recommend that you give Antelope Shoes a visit.

Jeans and White

On Saturday, we had a project to work on and a few errands to run.

Nothing special was planned, and it rained in the morning, so I wore ankle zip jeans with a white tank and an open weave sweater from Chico's. 

The statement necklace made from a series of gold and silver chains in different sizes is also from Chico. The bag is from Coach Outlet. The shoes are from T.J.Maxx.

A Family Gathering

For a very casual gathering of extended family, I wore jeans and a long-sleeve tee.

The tee, jeans, and necklace are all from Chico's. The boiled wool jacket is from Appleseed's. 

The Coach bag was purchased at their outlet store in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, last summer. The shoes are from Macy's, and they are worn with beige Hanes pantyhose from Target.

The gathering was hosted by my beautiful cousin Rhonda in her fabulous new home by the lake. My mother and I enjoyed watching the gulls and blue herons and geese from the huge windows that offer a panoramic view of the lake. 

Mickey and I had to stop on the road leading away from their home to wait for about forty whitetail deer of all ages and sizes to pass in front of and around us. I was thrilled to be part of that surreal scene.

I hope your new year is filled with happiness and great style.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mr. Mickey and I were among the guests at the home of my sister and her husband for the family Thanksgiving feast today. I am most thankful that I did not have to do the cooking!

This picture is from earlier in my breakfast nook wearing black So Slimming Ponte pants from Chico's. The long sleeve purple tee, purple sweater, and silver necklace are also from Chico's. The short black Nickels boots were from Belk last year.

Sitting by my sister's wood-burning fireplace is a great place to be on a cold, snowy day!

Mr. Beasley is perhaps the most pampered stray ever! 

He is not amused at having all these loud people in "his" house.

Let the feast begin!

I hope you were also able to spend time with family and special friends today.

Everyday Elegance

As our weather becomes cooler each morning, I often reach for a sweater and jeans on casual days.

This timeless combination can easily become frumpy if we aren't careful. I try to remember these tips whenever I wear or buy a sweater.

Color: The color should be flattering to your face, and it should look nice with jeans or khaki pants.

Fabrication: The knit should be so fine that you can ball it up in your hands. No big cable knits or ski sweaters unless you want to add bulk to your upper half. (Not I!) Many acrylics and other man-made fabrics pill and add too much bulk. Look for cotton, cashmere, or other fine gauge knits.

Buttons: I like a cardigan style sweater that has a V-neck. I only button a couple of buttons at the center, if at all. I also look for a style that falls straight rather than gathered or banded at the bottom, and I normally push the sleeves up. 

Crews and V necks in a pullover type sweater can also be a great addition to your wardrobe. You can wear them with a scarf, a vest or a jacket. I look for a neckline that falls below my collarbone in a fine gauge knit that does not add bulk, fits loosely, and ends at the top of my hip rather than below my bottom. If a longer sweater is worn with loose-fitting jeans, the look is too bulky (think frumpy). 

Layering: In warmer weather, I wear sweaters with a tank top and an interesting necklace or lightweight scarf. I layer them with a thin long sleeve tee and a long scarf for contrast and added warmth in cooler weather.

Storage: Fine knit sweaters can easily be stretched out of shape if you hang them on a hanger. It might be a good idea to invest in one of the storage solutions shown above, which can be purchased at Bed Bath & Beyond. These units can be added to the bar in a closet where there is room for them. A top shelf in your closet or a bookshelf nearby might be another storage solution. You can, of course, store sweaters in a deep drawer in your dresser.

Add sunglasses, a nice bag, and comfortable walking shoes along with a favorite pair of jeans, and I am ready to spend a Saturday looking through antique stores, having brunch at a sidewalk café, browsing through an old bookstore, or a stroll through the park checking out an art show.

Everyday Separates

Among the many questions, I have been asked are: "What do you wear for a normal day when you aren't going on a fancy date with Mr. Mickey?" "Do you have a signature piece of jewellery you wear all the time?" "Why do you wear heels so often?"

 

This is my outfit for Tuesday, July 9th. I am not interacting with the public or attending any meetings, so my outfit for today is a tissue weight tee by Chico's. The dark wash ankle jeans are from Coldwater Creek. The platform slides are by Callisto of California from Macy's.

From my knees to my ankles, my legs are too short compared to the rest of my body. When I wear cropped pants or ankle pants, this fact is further accentuated, so I wear a wedge or thicker low heeled shoe to balance things out. I am always more comfortable walking in a bit of a heel rather than a totally flat shoe. 

This silver and blue topaz ring is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. It was another gift from Mr. Mickey. You can also see the lovely beaded details of the top here.

Summer Casual

Summer casual looks can be comfortable and still look nice.

What do you wear when running a quick errand in the heat, but you still want to look your best? Perhaps you will be spending the day outside, walking and standing for much of the day.

I have always used myself as an example to help you find fashion solutions, so this post is no exception. Getting dressed for a casual summer day has been a bit stressful for my entire adult life. Removing my jacket makes me feel very uncomfortable. My arms are OK, so it isn't going sleeveless that bothers me. I have always been busty with no defined waistline, so a jacket of some sort is my secret to looking better and feeling more confident. 

White pants are a summer staple for me. I will be wearing light khaki or white on any day that it isn't raining. The reason is that I am much smaller on the bottom half, and I like wearing colors near my face. My face is also quite round, so I like to wear a V-neck top whenever possible. Loose-fitting tops with detail above the bust or a wrap style concealing the waistline work well for me. 

I have also started to experiment with brightly colored prints worn with white pants. I have to be careful where those blocks of color are located on my body. I do not want to draw attention to my bust or my tummy.

When I leave my home, I wear three jewelry pieces even when I am dressed very casually. A small pair of earrings, a watch, and one ring are details that make me feel well dressed. I have cool coloring, so those pieces of jewelry are normally silver-toned. Sunglasses are with me wherever I go.

There is a nice summer bag in a chair in my breakfast nook. It is neutral and full of all the things I need so that it is ready to serve me at a moment's notice every day. When I take a smaller bag for the day, I can take what I need from the larger bag as I am leaving. 

I like sandals with low wedge heels, so I look for a comfortable style in a neutral color to slip on and go but still look nice. I would only wear flip flops by the pool. 

When you know what works well for your body type and personality, it's so much easier to get dressed for any type of day. I hope that these tips will help you feel more confident to go out and enjoy your day no matter how hot the weather.