Sweater Weather

I have gone a little crazy with red sweaters. Black is suddenly being overtaken by red in my closet.

Do you go through stages of being drawn to a certain color when you shop? I love shades of red because it goes with every pair of pants in my wardrobe.

At the end of the season last year I bought this sweater from Chico's. I am glad I did because I love the length of it with these Fabrizio Gianni leggings.

The bag is by Zac Posen via Saks Off 5th. The shoes are by Vince Camuto via Dillard's.

Casual Look

We went out for bagels and ran a few errands on Sunday so a comfortable casual look was perfect for the day.

The knit blazer is old from Chico's, as are the jeans and the tank and the necklace. Basic pieces in neutral solids can serve you well for many years and in a variety of combinations. I invest in the best quality I can afford and only buy what I love. This ensures that I can always reach in my closet and pull out three pieces that will go together and look nice either alone or combined with other pieces.

The flat shoes are by Born via Dillard's a couple of years ago.

Even when I am dressing in casual comfortable looks I still want to be presentable and polished.

A Sister Day

My sweet sister and I recently spent the day together shopping and having a delicious lunch at 128 Pecan in Abingdon, Virginia.

I am wearing flat shoes!

That's my fabulous friend Karen. She is the owner of Foxglove Antiques Etc. in Abingdon. I always find something special there. When I saw those bronze and marble lidded urn cachepots from across the room, I said, "Come to momma!"

There are so many beautiful objects and quite a large selection of design books in the shop.

The garden statuary behind the shop is not to be missed!

Below is a picture of my living room with the new additions to the mantle. When I see something that speaks to me, there is no doubt in my mind when I buy it. Whether it is urns or a fabulous handbag, I know immediately that I want it. If I have to talk myself into something, I walk away. This ensures that I am always happy with the objects I choose to bring into my life. I don't buy anything now unless it takes my breath away.

On this casual sister day, I wore jeans and a silver-gray tank and an old necklace from Chico's with an off-white blazer from Express. The crocodile-embossed leather satchel via Saks Off 5th. The flat shoes are by Halogen via Nordstrom.

Time Away

My vacations are taken in small slices since starting my company in 2000.

We enjoyed a couple of days of rest at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, during this windy and rainy first weekend of October. The hurricane off the east coast brought strong winds and lots of rain, even in Asheville. That means the lighting was dismal for the whole weekend unless I wanted to stand in the rain for a photoshoot. Which I did a couple of times!

My color selections for this weekend included gray, black, and white. All of the pieces were mixed and matched, which made for very light packing.

The gray jeggings and silver-gray tank top are from Chico's. The faux leather jacket is from Stein Mart. The Calvin Klein bag is from T.J.Maxx. The boots are by Nine West via Saks Off 5th. The black and gray animal print scarf is so old I don't recall where I found it. Even if I show you pieces that may no longer be available because they are old, perhaps you can find something similar in a shop near you or online if you want to copy the look.

Later in the week, there will be more photos of our peaceful weekend away.

Tomorrow I'll be telling you about a new giveaway for one lucky Fifty, not Frumpy follower!

Chico's Saturday Fun

I was a guest at Chico's in Johnson City for a few hours on Saturday.

The purpose of my visit was to share style tips with women who stopped by to ask me questions. I met some lovely ladies who already had such a great style.

Isn't this a great hairstyle?

I wore a faux leather-trimmed vest from the new fall collection. The silver-gray tee and the pants are also from Chico's but from years past. The necklace is one of my own designs layered with an old Chico's necklace.

Friends on Friday

Traditions are a great way to celebrate life often with your family and friends.

We love getting dressed up a little and having dinner on Friday evenings with our closest friends.

There is something special about being in the presence of those with whom you are most comfortable.

What special traditions do you celebrate that allow you to spend time with those you love most?

On this evening, I wore items that are all old. I started with a black tank base and loose-fitting crepe pants from Chico's Black Label Collection. The sweater and the jewelry are also from Chico's. The shoes were from Nordstrom last year. They are by Louise et Cie. 

When I buy basic pieces that can be interchanged according to the weather or the event, I get more use from my clothes because the individual pieces all work well in a variety of situations.

Chico's Event!

It was an honor to be asked to model again for my local Chico's this week. I enjoy working with these fabulous women so much!

For those of you who could not join us, I am happy to share lots of pictures from the show.

Everyone had a great time seeing all the new fall fashions, shopping, visiting, and having fruit punch and snacks.

Weekend Brunch

We always enjoy having brunch on the weekend.

The brunch in the Dining Room at the Inn on Biltmore Estate is fabulous!

The turquoise and amethyst stone necklace from Chico's goes well with my turquoise Sam Edelman shoes, so I wore them together again on Saturday morning. The royal blue cold shoulder top is from Clara Sunwoo via My Fair Lady. The pants are Travelers from Chico's.

There were so many beautiful flowers throughout the Inn, including a fresh rose on every table.

That's the Biltmore House off in the distance. 

We love being on the estate!

I get many emails each week asking how to eat out so often and not gain the weight back. The truth is, I do gain a few pounds when I indulge on these short trips. However, that being said, it is now Wednesday, and I am back down to 142 pounds. 

I taste all the foods that I want to try, but I eat only a small portion of each. I am never on a diet. My lifestyle is one of balance and pleasure. I thoroughly enjoy whatever I want to have in small quantities, and I am always mindful that food is fuel, not entertainment. I did have a croissant, a decadent dessert, and some lobster with pasta on this trip. After an occasional splurge, I return to eating some fresh fruit, lots of vegetables, whole grains, and raw unsalted nuts.