Very Casual

On rare occasions, I get to stay home by myself for most of the day. If the weather permits, I go for a long walk in my neighborhood. I always make an effort to get dressed for the weather and the event. I take into consideration my comfort on a psychological as well as a physical level when I get dressed or purchase any clothing. I have one pair of flip flops that I only wear after a pedicure. You will never see me in them at any other time.

Below is a typical example of a casual stay home look for me when the weather is cool. I have many tank tops that I throw on with a pair of jeans and then add a cardigan of some sort. This cashmere cardigan is one of my favorites of all time. It is from J.Jill. The jeans and the tank are from Chico's. The shoes are from Rockport.

Early in the morning, when the sun is just coming up, you will often see me walking in my neighborhood. I might be wearing leggings and a tee with slip-on shoes and a jacket. This jacket is from J.Jill. The top is old from Cali and York. The shoes are by Rockport.

If the weather is a little warmer, I choose a lighter weight jacket such as this one from J.Jill. I am quick to get a chill in the air conditioning, so I always have a jacket or sweater on hand. The tank top is likely from Chico's, and I think the jeans here are from J.Jill.

Another great casual look includes leggings or jeans and a super soft, comfortable top from Covered Perfectly. I love how these tops can take you from casual and comfortable to nearly any event. This piping top has strategic stitching and trim that makes me look slimmer and taller. The leggings are by Hue via Dillard's. The shoes are by Rockport.

On a cool fall day, you may see me going for a longer hike to enjoy the foliage. I am wearing faded but never torn jeans with a long sleeve navy tee from Talbot's with an old quilted jacket from Dillard's. The very comfortable khaki ankle boots are from Antelope Shoes.

My favorite form of exercise has always been going for a long walk alone with my thoughts and nature.

A three-quarter length sleeve tee and white ankle pants with a pair of New Balance walking shoes are my heat of summer go-to walking attire. Keep in mind that I also walk early in the morning to not be in full sun. I had skin cancer in the past, so I am careful not to go out in the sun without protection.

Blush Is The New Black!

Are you proud of showing off your rock hard abs? Me either! This week, I share some of the little tricks that I employ to play down my tummy area and other jiggly bits.

Wear black. OK, I know that isn't groundbreaking news, but here is how I use black to my advantage. Black soft flowing tunics, tees, and tanks are my most important building blocks.

For you, it might be black, navy blue, or even dark brown, but you need a dark base color that you can wear on your top half and then layer over it.

If you are interested in drawing attention away from a certain area of your body, this tip is golden. Light colors emphasize, and dark colors recede. Whether you are putting on makeup or getting dressed, you need to always keep this universal truth in mind.

So the magic, fool the eye tool I am using here is the black Covered Perfectly long sleeve top. The low scoop neckline lifts the eye up and cuts the area that is my middle. Black is the perfect neutral for me, so I can add any of my other favorite neutrals over it. This jacket in blush is from White House Black Market. It is also a great neutral that I can wear with any of the other items in my closet.

Another fool the eye technique is to keep the middle of your body very plain and then use an accessory to draw the eye up to a real showstopper. 

The old woven clutch and the watch by English Laundry are both from Saks Off 5th.

The BCBGeneration shoes are from DSW.

The distressed (but never torn) boyfriend jeans are old from Chico's. The sloppy turned up cuff is a youthful hipster trendy styling trick. Sometimes I do play around with one fun trend per look. Too many trends on me can look silly. I can't say that I will ever wear the distressing trend to the point of torn jeans or release hem items, but I do like the look of faded jeans sometimes.

Here is a little video to show you how I quickly changed a plain tunic into a fool the eye top. The top I am wearing in the video is the Simple Comfort V-neck from Covered Perfectly.

More Tummy Slimming Tricks

Many styling tricks are known and used by the most fashionable women. It isn't that they have perfect bodies. They just know how to guide your gaze to their best features.

Women over fifty often complain about the sudden thickening of the waistline. Welcome to my world! I weighed nine pounds and eleven ounces at birth; my thick waistline has been my nemesis ever since. This means I have been using tummy hiding tricks for a very long time.

One such trick is to half-tuck your shirt. When you leave a shirt with a straight hem entirely tucked or untucked, you create a straight, bold horizontal line, usually at the widest portion of your body. This line guides the eye to look there at your middle in all its glory.

I created this collage to demonstrate this point. All of the pants and tops are the same size. In the center, I replaced the crew neck tee with an open jacket. (Imagine a low scoop neck shorter black tank under the jacket in the middle.)

Do you see how varying the hem length of your top or layers of tops create the illusion of being more slender?

A bold horizontal line or break at or near the waistline makes you look shorter and wider because it visually cuts your body in half. That is why I am a fan of wearing or creating the illusion of asymmetric or broken up hemlines in my tops. The diagonal line is so much more flattering than a single straight horizontal one. A jacket, cardigan, or vest is worn open over a shorter or longer tank is a look you see me often wear for this reason.

To get this effect, just tuck a little of the hem of the shirt into your waistband and let it fall softly back in place. This styling trick makes your legs look longer and removes the focus from your waistline. I also love a V-neckline for its ability to lengthen. 

The three-quarter length sleeves are the next slimming trick. Showing your forearms further breaks up the straight line created across your middle by your clothing. When your sleeves and your hemline end simultaneously, it creates a solid, horizontal line.

Even my hair is cut in a diagonal line, as you can see from the photo below. Hairstyles should be considered in a full-length mirror because balance is imperative for your overall look. A good stylist understands this and will give you a cut that creates balance and harmony from head to toe. (Imagine a petite woman with long full bushy hair that visually seems too heavy for her small body to carry.)

I hope that these tips help you to get dressed with more confidence every day.

The top was provided by Covered Perfectly. The jacket and jeggings are old from Chico's. The Ralph Lauren bag was from 6pm.com last year. The Vince Camuto sandals are several years old from Nordstrom.

Most Recent Trip To L.A.

Modeling for Covered Perfectly is such fun!

This photo was taken at the local airport as I began my twenty-three and a half hour journey. Tornado warnings throughout the south caused long delays at every stop. I did not look like this when I arrived in Los Angeles!

For travel, I wore a white jacket found on sale at Stein Mart last year. I paired it with an old silver-gray tank and ankle jeans from Chico's. The flat bow detail shoes are by Vince Camuto via Saks Off 5th. The black Coach tote is about thirty years old. The luggage is from T.J.Maxx.

I am filled with anticipation and excitement each time the city of L.A. comes into view.

The very talented makeup artist Lex Mejia made me look camera-ready even though I was still jet-lagged from two days of very little sleep or food.

I wore the red Simple Comfort top in size large to show up for work on the shoot day. (The tunic was supplied by Covered Perfectly .) I normally wear a medium if I want to layer a jacket or cardigan over the top. I have been wearing this top for about three years, but it still looks new. I machine wash it in cold water and hang it to dry.

The poster behind us is used at trade shows.

It was such a great pleasure to meet Colleen! She won the contest to model and spend the day with us at the shoot. She is a natural!

All of the models were delightful to work with!

The lovely lady below is Kimberly. She volunteered to help for the day. Pauline has such a great group of friends!

We are both wearing the Zebra Cascading Vest over the black Simple Comfort tunic.

On Saturday evening, many of her friends gathered to celebrate Pauline's fifteenth birthday. (Can you figure that one out?) She is the owner and designer of Covered Perfectly tops, which are made in Los Angeles.

I wore the Draped Front black top, supplied by Covered Perfectly, with leggings to the party.

It was an exceptional treat to get to know Maria, Pauline's long time friend who now lives in Spain. I almost learned to understand the Essex English accent while I was there. They were such delightful roommates!

I wish you many more birthdays, my dear friend!

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; after that, you can take advantage of the buy 2 get 1 FREE special.

Your BFF's Closet

Some of my favorite pieces in my collection were hand-me-downs from my dear friend Mitzi. A few years ago, we both lost weight. As she shrank out of some things, they still fit me because of my larger upper body.

This Ralph Lauren cardigan with a faux fur collar is a great piece to throw on with jeans and a Covered Perfectly Simple Comfort long sleeve top. I love that these tops can be tucked in since they are never bulky. 

I love the idea of a closet swap when you are losing weight. When I started my weight loss journey a few years ago, I wore some things only a couple of times before I shrank out of that size. My staff got lots of almost new pieces as my sizes changed.

Team up with a friend to swap clothes as you lose weight. It is a great way to stay motivated and not have to spend a mint on clothes as you change sizes.

These jeans are Girlfriend Ankle Jeans from Chico's. I wore Ralph Lauren crew socks with Calvin Klein booties. The bag is old from Finely House Couture in Blowing Rock.

Casual Daytime Look

Does it really matter what you wear to run errands?

It never fails. If you go out looking less than your best, you will see someone you know. 

I was working on a project at my house a few years ago, and in the middle of the project, I realized I needed something from the hardware store. Without giving it a second thought, I pulled on a denim shirt over my white tee and khaki pants. I think I was also wearing some sort of tennis shoes, and the pants probably bunched up on top of them. I was likely not wearing much makeup, if any. Not a pretty picture!

While at the hardware store, I saw a pal from high school I hadn't seen for a couple of years. The last time I ran into him, I was looking much closer to my best. When he recognized me, his face took on a look of deep concern. He asked if I had been unwell. I assured him that all was well with me and then finished my transaction as quickly as possible.

Lesson learned! If I don't want to frighten small children, I need to tidy up a bit each day!

All kidding aside, I do shower, put on at the least a little makeup, and dress in something comfortable but still flattering each day. I do this for myself even when I am staying home alone. I feel more outgoing, positive, and confident when I am dressed for human interaction.

I was shopping at my local Belk department store yesterday when I got a call from Mr. Mickey. He happened to be in the area, so he stopped by to snap these photos for you. 

I was super excited to find this Ralph Lauren animal print belt I had admired earlier, now on sale for half off. 

Halfway through the morning, I had removed that heavy outer coat. The J.Jill cashmere cardigan over the turquoise blue Covered Effortless comfort top was enough layering for most of the day. (Both items were supplied by the companies.)

At this time of year, our temperatures may vary as much as thirty or more degrees in one day. Dressing in layers is the best chance we have of being comfortable for the whole day. If the sunshine had warmed us even more, I could have worn the cardigan over my shoulders for another look I really like.

The black ankle-length pants from Chico's are perfect to wear with flat loafers by BCBG. The socks are the most comfortable I have found. They are by Ralph Lauren via Dillard's, but I also found them at Belk. The hook belt is also from Chico's. The Calvin Klein bag is old via T.J. Maxx.

I wear these tops from Covered Perfectly often because they are so comfortable. They are made from an elegant MicroModal fabric that launders beautifully and falls right back into shape when you hang them to dry. They are perfect for layering since they don't add any bulk at all.

I will be wearing this new top during the warmer seasons because I love the color so much.

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. Only one discount can be applied per order. There are several styles to choose from, and the discount will apply on up to two items; after that, you can take advantage of the buy 2 get 1 FREE special.

You Could Be The Next Covered Perfectly Model!

I would love to meet you and spend the day on set with you at the next Covered Perfectly photoshoot!

My dear friend Pauline Durban, President of Covered Perfectly, is shown with me and Mary Ann, who was the winner last year.

We had so much fun working together! Mary Ann and I became quick friends and continue to visit with each other online.

If you will be in southern California around the end of February and would like to enter this contest, please visit the Covered Perfectly website.

If you are looking for elegant basic tops that you can wear all year round, you will love these! I wear these sleek Covered Perfectly tops under everything in cooler months and alone when the weather allows. I especially enjoy this particular neckline because it is so flattering for my round face. I can accessorize it with almost any necklace or scarf, and it looks great under all my jackets and sweaters.

 

Last evening Mr. Mickey and I were the guests of my sister and her husband for dinner. My sister is very comfortable in the kitchen (unlike me!), so we enjoyed a fabulous meal.

 

For this casual family evening, I wore a black Covered Perfectly long sleeve Simple Comfort top with a cascading cardigan from Foxcroft and old jeggings from Chico's with booties from Antelope Shoes. 

The cardigan was supplied by Foxcroft, and the booties were supplied by Antelope Shoes. The opinions are my own. 

I hope that you are enjoying special times with your family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

The Most Versatile Vest!

This is the new cascading vest from Covered Perfectly.

I appreciate that there are so many ways you can wear them!

Belted or not. Tied or not.

I took this gray leopard cascading vest with me on our recent weekend away. Since I was going away for such a short time, I packed very few pieces to take with me. I am so glad I took this. I started to wear it as a vest for breakfast.

However, I added a cashmere sweater from J.Jill over it because it was rather chilly that morning. I actually liked the look since the sweater is as long as the vest in the back, so it just looked like a long scarf.

I also wore it as a neck scarf to dinner later that evening.

This video shows you a few of the ways you can wear these versatile cascading vests.