Fabulous New Print Vest!

I am so excited to announce the arrival of the new animal print vest from Covered Perfectly!

I have worn these vests in many different ways in several videos and here on the blog. I love this great piece's versatility, so I always take one with me when I travel.

I got so many compliments when I wore this one last Friday. These vests can be worn tied, belted, layered, as a scarf, and even as a blouse. They have been a lifesaver for me during the heat of this summer because they hide my least favorite parts, but they are light as a feather.

These cascading vests look great worn with any of the simple comfort tops, but I have also worn them over dresses and even a bathing suit as a cover-up.

This new style just arrived, so grab yours before they sell out. These prints are often limited editions.

Cool Little Number

Dressing in this hot weather is a challenge for me. We don't usually have temperatures in the 90's for more than a few days. However, this summer has been very different.

Thankfully, I bought a few pairs of Clara Sunwoo palazzo pants from ShopMyFairLady.com earlier this year. They have gotten a lot of wear this summer. These are the coolest and most comfortable pants I own. I always go down in size because they do run large. These are extra-small.

This Covered Perfectly top with a square neckline is the right proportion to wear with palazzo pants. I have tried many other tops with them, but this one is cool and comfortable and slimming simultaneously. I am wearing a size medium.

The sunglasses are old from T.J.Maxx. The sandals were from DSW earlier this year. The bag is old from Express.

Cocktails in the Courtyard

What do you wear while visiting with friends over cocktails in a courtyard when ninety degrees at eight in the evening?

I chose a very lightweight knit tank dress and chiffon cascading vest from Covered Perfectly with minimal jewelry and sunglasses.

Metallic leather is considered neutral. I always enjoy wearing silver sandals since they bookend with my silver hair. (Bookending is repeating the same color at the top and the bottom to pull a look together.)

If I had worn black sandals, I would have looked even shorter. I attempt to make myself look taller and thinner by avoiding numerous horizontal color breaks.

This vest is one of the most versatile items I have ever owned. This evening it served as a light, elegant top layer. I would never feel comfortable wearing this tank dress on its own, but I do enjoy wearing it often as a first layer.

Filmy lightweight layers have been components of all my most comfortable looks this summer. They are soft, feminine, and elegant without making me feel even hotter.

The sunglasses are by Dolce and Gabbana. The silver and black earrings are several years old. The shoes are old by BCBGeneration.

A reader asked me this week why I don't show more new items on the blog. I rarely go shopping anymore, and I stopped accepting products to review because it became too overwhelming.

I hope that sharing how I put together my basics in different ways will help you build a wardrobe that serves you well no matter the price or number of pieces you own.

Navy and White

Navy with white has been one of my favorite color combos since childhood.

Classic, simple pieces that can be layered and endlessly accessorized are the essential elements of my wardrobe.

As a young girl, I saved all of my babysitting money to buy my school clothes at the beginning of each year. This practice taught me always to invest in separates that could be worn together and in different ways. I rarely stray from that formula.

I have a roundish face, so straight lines are my friend. That means I love the square neckline of this new top from Covered Perfectly.

A dressier look for this top includes nude heels with a small chain bag and simple jewelry.

For a casual look, I changed the accessories to flat sandals, a hook belt, and a fun handbag.

I will also wear this top with scarves, jackets, and vests this fall. Khaki, gold, silver, white, gray, green, tan, orange, or peach are some of the colors that combine well with navy.

Many of the items I show you on my blog are old. If the items are current, I will always provide a link so that you can buy them. This fabulous top can now be purchased online at Covered Perfectly in several colors.

Black and White Geo Print

If you find a print or pattern in my wardrobe, it will be a stripe, high contrast geo print (geometric pattern), or an abstract one in bold jewel colors.

My new favorite cascading vest from Covered Perfectly is the perfect print for me. This high contrast black and white with abstract spots is one of the new items introduced last month.

When I travel, I always take one of these vests with me. They take up no space in your luggage, and you can wear them in many ways to change the look of basics.

I am wearing the vest here over the white simple comfort top. If you wear tank tops, it wears beautifully over those on a hot day to give you a little coverage. I hate showing off my middle in clinging tops, but I don't mind showing my arms.

When I strolled out to greet Mr. Mickey wearing this, he said: "That is one of the best looks you've worn in a while." He loves this combo!

This video shows you how I wear the cascading vests and shares some tips for traveling light.

Covered Perfectly on the 4th of July!

One of my favorite new tops from the Covered Perfectly line is the Allyson.

With keyhole details at the neckline and a very forgiving fit and flare silhouette, it is a great top to wear with jeans.

I wore this on the 4th of July. I cannot decorate or wear holiday sweaters, but I will wear red on festive occasions.

Each time I go out to Los Angeles for a Covered Perfectly photoshoot, I can't wait to see all the new styles.

As soon as I slipped this top on at the shoot, everyone around me said: "Oh, you have to get that one!"

I always take advantage of the Buy Two Get One Free offer when I shop at Covered Perfectly. I'll show you the other two choices later. Stay tuned!

The princess seaming and the slightly belled sleeves make this top very comfortable and figure-flattering. I received many compliments!

I wore the new Allyson top from Covered Perfectly with old Anne Klein white jeans from T.J.Maxx with a colorful clutch bag from Finely House Couture in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The sandals are a couple of years old by Jessica Simpson.

Travel To L.A.

I am back from a week in Los Angeles modeling for Covered Perfectly and visiting with my friend Pauline Durban, who started the company.

Mr. Mickey took me to the airport early in the morning on Sunday. I wore the black and white Wendy, Covered Perfectly top with black Tribal pants to travel. The silver flat sandals are by Michael Shannon from DSW shoes. The handbag is old by Cole Haan, and the luggage is by CALPAK. Both items are from T.J.Maxx.

I spent one of the days I was in L.A., roaming around the mall at Sherman Oaks. It was over 100 degrees each day, so outside activity was kept to a minimum. 

I wore old Vince Camuto sandals and an old wrap over the top from Saks Off 5th. The off white color looks excellent with Lior Paris khaki pants from ShopMyFairLady.com. I like these pants so much because they have a smooth wide waistband to wear with all my Covered Perfectly tops. There are no lumps, bumps, and zippers to show under the luxurious knit fabric. Since I never fully tuck in a top, that is the only type of pants I buy these days.

It was great to catch up with my talented and beautiful young friend Lex Mejia, who has been the makeup artist for Covered Perfectly shoots for years. On the day of the shoot, I wore the black Fit and Flare over leggings by Hue.

Above is one of the photos from this shoot. I am modeling the great-looking Simple Comfort Patterned, a new Covered Perfectly top. This is a great gray top to wear with white, blue, or black blazers or vests with jeans. You already know I love that!

An unbelievable amount of work and days of preparation goes into a shoot. When it is over, we breathe a sigh of relief and take a day off to have lunch on the beach, at eye level with the Pacific Ocean!

The Sunset Restaurant at Malibu has a bank of windows that open to a fabulous view of the beach. You can feel the ocean breeze on your face as you dine.

Pauline says, "Can you guess who had what for lunch?"

On another night, we had dinner with a couple of friends at a delightful restaurant in Brentwood. Pauline asked the server for mayonnaise to put on her slightly dry turkey burger. She replied, "Oh, we don't have mayonnaise. We are a vegan restaurant." I am surprised Pauline didn't ask her from what plant they got that turkey burger?

While in Malibu, we visited with one of Pauline's longtime friends who lives on a hill overlooking the Pacific.

I was fascinated with her friend's gardens. Agave is such a majestic plant!

Below is her friend's sweet blue-eyed pup!

A fabulous starfish was on a bench outside her front door.

Below is the entrance to another mall. I love all those palm trees in California!

After a long and productive week, it was time to return home to Tennessee. I snapped this photo as we were about to land.

Mr. Mickey was there to pick me up. Can you imagine all the attention he got as we walked through the airport carrying a card, candy, and flowers to meet me?

I wore my old Chico's top with the silver do-dads over black Lior Paris pants to travel home.

Family Time

On Sunday, my family celebrated Father's Day at the home of my sister and her husband. 

We always take a walk around the grounds after one of my sister's fabulous meals. In preparation for that tradition, I wore a casual look with flat sandals by Nine West from last year. The belt is old from Chico's. I prefer to give an illusion of a waistline with a hook belt worn low since I have a high thick waistline. The Anne Klein white jeans and the BCBG bag are old from T.J.Maxx. 

The Simple Comfort red top from Covered Perfectly is three years old, and it still looks great! These tops have a perfect neckline for me. I love that I can layer them or wear them alone. I am wearing a size large because I like them to fit a little loose if I am wearing them without a jacket or vest.

Fifty, not Frumpy followers can get a 20% discount on up to two items! Use the discount code FNF20 when you check out at Covered Perfectly. There are several styles to choose from, and the discount will apply on up to two items, or you can take advantage of the buy 2 get 1 FREE special!

My sister lives in the midst of woods, so there are abundant deer and other wild animals. This deer came strolling by the French doors of the dining room while we were having lunch.

I took this female hummingbird's photo from the back terrace.

The back walkway leading to the terrace is lined with hydrangeas and boxwoods.

Her shade garden is always a delight to behold. Grass would not grow beneath the trees, so she created an oasis with hosta, ferns, and other shade-loving plants.