You Make Me Blush!

This blush jacket was added to my collection several months ago. It has surprised me how well it works with all my neutrals.

White jeans and a tank can be a perfect base for you if you wear white near your face, and you don't mind white pants. Inverted triangle body shapes love the balance that comes from wearing white pants with a darker top.

I wear white jeans all year round if the weather is dry. That rule about not wearing white after Labor Day has been put to rest. A third of my wardrobe is white, so I wear it often. It is the fabric that we need to think about during cold weather, not the color. I wear heavyweight white jeans in the dead of winter because they are as warm as any other denim.

Perhaps cream would be a better option for you, but one color of top and bottom with a contrasting color over it can be very slimming. It is always an effortless way to get dressed. Wearing a light color in hot weather helps keep us cool. It may be a sheer cardigan or vest that becomes my third layer in summer, but a column of color works well for me.

The beauty of a column of one color with accents of another is that getting dressed is a snap no matter where you are going. Great fitting white jeans or jeans styled pants such as these by Fabrizio Gianni are worth the investment. I have worn these often for over two years, and the fit stays true after every wash.

Pocket placement is crucial in the jean design. If the pockets are in the wrong place, they can accentuate the parts you may not want to, and they can make you look wider than you are or bring attention to the fact that your bottom is lower than it used to be. Always take a look in a three-way mirror before you buy jeans. I never wear embellished or torn jeans.

Someone asked me about rules for wearing belts recently. I do wear them but with limitations. I would never in a million years tuck a top into a pair of jeans and wear a belt at my natural waistline. Your natural waistline is where your body bends when you move from side to side or bend over. Mine is very high, so that means I have a short waist. I can only wear a belt with a partially tucked in top and lower rise pants. Alternatively, I can wear a low-slung belt over a tunic to mimic a lower waistline.

To make your short waistline look longer, wear a belt the same color as your top. If, however, you have a long waist, wear a belt the color of your pants.

The blush jacket is old from White House|Black Market. The tank top is from Chico's. The pants are by Fabrizio Gianni. The bag is from Express. The shoes are old by Sam Edelman. 

Shop Your Closet!

Carefree dressing means something different for everyone. I like the concept of having a few versatile pieces that all work together and can be worn dressed up or down to serve my needs.

Have you had to change the slices of your wardrobe pie over the years?

I have a very busy social and work-life right now. I do not attend many casual functions or relax at home very often. That means my wardrobe pie may be sliced differently than yours. 

For your clothes to serve you well, you need to be realistic about your life. For example, if you have a closet full of office-appropriate garments that you never wear anymore because you have retired, maybe it is time for a good purge.

I have purged my closet several times since I lost forty-five pounds a few years ago. I certainly didn't get it right at first!

I now own mostly separates in solid colors, and I hang them in my closet by type. My tank tops are together from lightest to darkest. My blouses are hung together lightest to darkest and so on. When I walk into my closet, it is easy to "shop" for the day's look. 

I also similarly store my accessories and shoes to tell at a glance what I have to choose from.

As I am getting dressed, I think first about the weather. I never wear white or light-colored pants on a day that might include rain. The pants will become permanently stained from splashback as you walk. Thankfully that silly rule about not wearing white after Labor Day has been put to rest.

Shop for the colors that flatter your complexion and silhouettes that complement your shape so that the items work together.

This old top from Chico's is an excellent example of a piece that I have worn in many ways. I like it because of the simple neckline and unique hem. The three-quarter-length sleeves help me appear taller and slimmer. The asymmetric hemline also breaks up the horizontal line so that the eye is not drawn to the hip area, nor does that break line cut my body in half, making me look shorter and broader. Wearing a dark color on top visually minimizes my largest half.

This top fabric is also three-season material, which means I can wear it for most of the year.

This same top could be worn with slim black pants and heels with fabulous jewelry out to dinner or a formal function.

I could just as easily pair it with faded jeans and a pair of flat sandals to be worn to a casual function.

When the elements of your wardrobe serve you well, you spend much less time saying, "I have nothing to wear!" and lots more time living your life and looking great while you are at it.

That's why I share what I have learned. I hope my tips prove helpful to you as you build a wardrobe that works well for you.

Dinner and the Symphony

One of our favorite date nights is to have dinner at the best restaurant in town, Gourmet and Company, and then attend the Johnson City Symphony performance.

I wore a Covered Perfectly long sleeve tunic because the neckline is so flattering. I paired it with slacks from last year and a jacket I recently got online from the Dillard's end of the season sale. 

The reptile embossed bag is from last season via Saks Off 5th. The simple black pumps are Saks Fifth Avenue Made in Italy, via Saks Off 5th.

Tomorrow on the blog, I will be delving into the little details of an outfit and how they can help you look your best.

Always A Leather Jacket

When in doubt. Wear a (faux) leather jacket.

I bought this glittery tank and leggings at my friend's boutique, The Charlemont. The leggings are not those thin little nothing leggings that are more like tights; these have good control, a wide waistband, and are made from a dense fabric that is not shiny or see-through.

The suede pumps are old from Saks Off 5th. The faux leather jacket is one that I got at Stein Mart last year. The clutch is from S.M. Bradford Co. Hilton Head Island. I wore crystal earrings and a couple of crystal rings to complete the look.

You need not spend a lot of money buying something for a special event you may never wear again. If you have a good selection of basics, you can get dressed for any event that comes your way.

Accessories and attitude make all the difference!

Happy New Year!

Saturday Events

Mr. Mickey and I spent this past weekend at the Omni Grove Park Inn for the 27th annual comedy classic weekend.

Once again, all the items I am wearing came from Chico's except for the shoes. This is a Travelers Jacket, which I modeled earlier at an in-store event here. Chico's items fit me well, travel easily, and mix and match perfectly. The shoes are by Sam Edelman via Nordstrom last year.

Earlier in the day, we went shopping, had lunch, and sat by the fire in the great hall to watch people.

In the afternoon, we attended a workshop with all the comedians who had performed the evening before. It was great to interact with them and get to know each of them on a personal level.

Saturday Afternoon

Readers often ask me what I wear on a casual day when I am just staying home or running out for errands.

On this windy, rainy day, I wore red slim leg pants with an animal print sheer tunic from Chico's and a nude foundation tank from Carlisle. Even though the tank is technically a foundation item, it is so pretty it can be seen peeking out from beneath a sheer blouse. The Kenneth Cole Reaction sandals in gold are from T.J.Maxx.

The old Post Office and Custom House in Bristol, Tennessee, is one of my favorite local buildings. It was constructed in the Beaux-Arts style of architecture and opened in 1901. It is now a private office belonging to friends Joe and Cindy Gregory, who began restoring it to its full glory in 1999.