An Evening Out

Mickey and I are on our way to an evening fundraiser. My jacket is a very lightweight wrap style with a collar, and I'm wearing a black tank under it. The lined black crêpe skirt is a bit shorter in the front and has a ruffle. The black satin sandals are by Sam & Libby. 

Over the years, I have collected pieces that are appropriate for evening wear. I mix and match them to create looks for the numerous evening events we attend. When I'm shopping, I always look for pieces that will work well with this mix. I can never find anything if I go shopping at the time of the event, so I've learned it's good to be prepared for anything with separates that can be paired together. (Actually, this philosophy extends to my daytime wardrobe as well.) 

I normally wear only one piece of major "bling" for the evening. Here I've added a dinner ring with a big pink stone mounted in antique silver. I always wear earrings because my ears are pierced, but they are very understated diamond wide half hoops. Resist the temptation to wear every shiny thing you own for the evening. That makes you look much older and too cluttered. The tiny evening bag is woven black satin with a simple silver ball closure. Always switch to a small bag for the evening.

Thanks for all your sweet birthday wishes yesterday. I had a wonderful day!

September Date Night

Cool Fall weather hasn't yet arrived here in east Tennessee, so I took one last advantage of the warm evening to wear a breezy summer look for Wednesday date night with Mickey.

 

I would not normally wear heels with Capri-length pants, but in this case, the long white tunic from Chico's paired with the khaki and white pants from Coldwater Creek almost gives the illusion of a dress. I wear a platform wedge shoe with Capri length pants in most cases.

 

The suede booties are by Nine West. I found them at Ross for only $24! You know I had to wear them right away.

The khaki and white straw bow trimmed clutch was purchased at T.J. Maxx this year.  I often wear silver or white gold jewelry because it is more flattering to my gray hair. The link bracelet and ring were purchases from my travels and are old. I'm sorry I can't remember the designers.

The necklace is from Belk by Erica Lyons. Small crystal and silver hoops are also from Belk.


Next week is my birthday week! Look for numerous new posts. Mickey has lots of events planned to celebrate.

Last Days of Summer

Summer is starting to fade away, but the afternoon is still hot. Yesterday was consumed with preparing for a big family get-to-together for Labor Day. My cool and comfy daytime outfit includes khaki ankle pants and platform cork sandals, both by Adrienne Vittadini from T.J. Maxx.  

I'm wearing a white gauze Old Navy tunic over a Coldwater Creek cream tank top worn tucked in only in the front. The over-sized silver and crystal watch, sunglasses, and hoop earrings are from Stein-Mart, and the gold and silver link bracelets are classics I've owned for many years. The bag is from T.J. Maxx a couple of years ago.

As Mickey and I walked through the grocery store last night, we passed a woman with her twenty-something daughter who looked me over and said, "Love your shoes!" That made my day!

Wednesday Date Night

Mickey and I have a fun tradition of getting dressed for dinner and having a mid-week date night. When he picks me up for our date we leave our stressful first part of the week behind us and relax with a light meal and a glass of wine. 

We visit with old friends or make some new ones and unwind for a couple of hours. This breaks up the week and relieves some of the stress of running our businesses and maintaining our homes. It also gives me the chance to wear shoes I might not otherwise wear!

 

The black and cream sheer blouse has an uneven hem that dips to a curve in the back. The cream tank has tiny straps that are adjustable. The cream linen type pants are the Natural Fit.

 

The secret to a happy relationship is to be with the one that makes you giggle!

Earrings by me. Most of the components can be found on the website VintageJewelrySupplies.com.

Always switch to a small bag for the evening. You really only need lip gloss, tissues, business cards, cash, and or a charge card. No need to lug your life around when you are only going to dinner. Evening bag by Kenneth Cole Reaction. I layered two fun "diamond" rings for drama.

A pedicure is a great time to relax and make sure you have healthy happy feet. For me, those toes are an important summer accessory. The OPI nail polish is the color Dutch Tulips.

 
Shoes by Impo.

Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great rest of the week.

Easy Breezy Summer Afternoons

I'm wearing khaki ankle pants with a soft floral blouse from Coldwater Creek and Nine West shoes. The sunglasses and bangle bracelets are in brown tones and bone with brass accents.

I'm comfortable and casual for lounging by Mickey's pool in the pavilion with friends.

Yesterday we went for a drive to the mountains of North Carolina. When we arrived in Blowing Rock, it was much cooler than it was here in Johnson City. I visited one of my favorite boutiques, The Fig Leaf Ltd, where I bought this Damee swing jacket. 

It is a soft taupe/silver color with a bit of sparkle to it. The classic styling means I will be wearing it for years to come. I love the collar details, the three quarter length sleeves, and three large buttons. I'm also wearing black Travelers pants from Chico's and a black tee underneath the jacket. 

My earrings are large silver hoops with tiny Swarovski crystal details within the hoops.  The platform pony-skin sandals are by Vince Camuto. 

When wearing a dramatic style jacket such as this, I always keep all my other accessories minimal. It is enough of a statement on its own. One must be careful not to over-accessorize because that can make you look dated. 
 

Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great week.

Balancing Act

Do you have an inverted triangle body type? These pictures show two versions of the wrap top. They always make me look a little slimmer when the heat requires that I not wear a jacket or sweater as a third element. I have an inverted triangle figure, which means my top is larger than my bottom half. To balance this, I often wear darker colors on top and lighter colors on the bottom. I also avoid bulky materials of any type in tops and breast pockets on shirts or ruffles on blouses.

  
When wearing long pants, a maxi dress, or a long skirt, I often wear low flat shoes. When I wear a shorter skirt or cropped pants, I always wear at least a low heel. I prefer wedges or thicker heels since my calves are short and thick compared to my thighs. If I wore thin stiletto heels, the contrast would make my calves and ankles look even larger. 

Tank Tops to the Rescue

An essential element in many of my looks includes simple tops as a first layer.

Tank tops come in all shapes and types of fabrics. Knit ones with a bit of spandex are great for the smooth line they allow. If the tank top is made from a soft tee shirt knit, the next layer will almost always drag across it rather than flow smoothly, so they are better worn with heavier fabrics like denim.

 

 

Tank #1 has tiny straps adjusted to allow you to move the neckline lower or higher. This is a great tank to serve as a modesty layer only for cleavage control and a foundation to give you a smooth back under jackets and cardigans. 

Tank #2 has wider straps and ruching detail at the neckline for a bit of softness. It can be used as a relief layer when your top layer becomes too warm. It covers enough to still be attractive when worn alone while your "private summer" passes.

Tank #3 is a lace number that should be made from silk or rayon, or nylon so that it is soft and smooth under dressy jackets and knit cardigans with ornate buttons (think Chanel style knits.) This one has a warm glow of cream white, which looks soft and feminine in candlelight.

Tank #4 is a soft tee shirt material worn under denim shirts or sporty knit jackets.

Tank #5 hugs your shape and gives you a smoother body under thin jackets and sweaters.

Tank #6 is my necessary cream color tank when white is just too bright, as in the photo below. (I now make sure I pack my cream tank when I take this sweater for a weekend get-away.)

 

I'm wearing a thin knit cardigan with fringe detail and a silky smooth tank (which should have been cream colored) underneath.

 

This is an Austin Reed navy blazer that has a low V-front closure. I always wear it with a white tank and either a scarf or a necklace when we go out to dinner.

 

Here's another outfit, including a silky white tank and the navy Austin Reed blazer.

The black and white jacket needs just a bit of modesty at the neckline, so I'm wearing tank #1 here.

 

There is a white silky tank #5 under the thin gray bomber style jacket.

Tank #4 is under a quilted knit casual jacket worn with dark wash denim and comfy luggage tan booties for a recent trip to the mountains.

Thank you for reading! I hope these tips help you expand your wardrobe and have fun creating different layered outfits with the essential white tank top.

Enjoy the Journey

My page 'Fifty, not Frumpy' on Facebook has been a huge hit, with as many as 8,500 views per week. My sets on Polyvore geared to women of a certain age had more than 40,000 views in the first six months of being a member. The feedback and interest shown have inspired me to create a web site and devote my blog to the very popular conversations and pictures we share for those who are having fun with fashion later in life. Let's celebrate who we are now and make the most of our assets and have fun with fashion.

The fastest-growing demographic on Facebook is women over fifty-five, but the style and fashion tips geared toward us are still very few. My goal is to share various outfits with links to similar items if you wish to buy them. I'll provide tips and tricks I've learned to use in making today's looks work for me as a more mature woman.

My look for the Tour of Homes in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, had to be cool and comfortable for the heat of the late July day but also allow me to keep warm when the cool evening air settled onto the mountains. My option included a very soft knit black maxi dress with wider straps, which allowed me to wear a black bra for proper support. I wore a soft knit raspberry-colored cardigan with bronze bead trim as a coverup. When I bought it and the clutch bag I'm wearing as a cross-body bag, I thought I would be using them for evening wear; however, they seemed perfect for this daytime dress.

I kept all my accessories simple since I was wearing a hat and sunglasses; otherwise, my look would have been too cluttered.

The sandals are comfortable and low with embellishments that complement the details on the hat and the bag.

Later in the day, when the heat was high, and everyone was sporting their wet hair and looking wilted in their damp clothes, I still felt comfortable and confident. I was flattered that so many people gave me compliments. One guy even whistled at me! That hasn't happened in many years.

This is my sweet, wonderful gentleman friend and partner in adventure, Mickey.

Thank you for reading! I hope the tips and ideas I share with you give you inspiration for making fashion fun again.

You Are Not Alone

One of the best things about turning fifty-five was finding the confidence to dress to please me again. My earlier corporate wardrobe was influenced by my peers, meetings, and the fashion industry I worked in until my early forties. 

Later in life, experiences and being self-employed took their toll on my appearance. I gained weight and lost social skills from spending many years working almost around the clock and being alone most of the time. I had become a sloppy dresser who tried to hide all the things I didn't like about my new body. While I knew a great deal about my industry, I had lost touch with fashion trends and even what was right for my now not so great body. 

Many women have a similar experience when their children become adults and go out on their own. You've spent so many years devoted to them, you may have lost your "self" in the process. If you are also newly single during this time, the journey becomes even more confusing and overwhelming. You are not alone! You will survive this, and you will be stronger. 

Getting dressed without added stress might not seem very important at this time in your life, but I know from experience it is. I was someone who stood in her closet in tears and exhausted from trying on clothes for a special event, only to become more frustrated with every discarded piece. I can tell you it makes the difference in showing up and participating in life or staying home and eating ice cream alone.

Today's anything goes fashion trends don't even work for some young toned bodies, so they aren't likely to flatter those of us who have had our fiftieth birthday party either.

Some of the hot trends we might not want to try are stacked platform high-heeled shoes with ankle bands. Honestly, I can't think of any reason for anyone to consider these, but here is an extreme example for you. High skinny heels tend to make our calves look even thicker. Walking in high heels isn't easy. If you must wear them, be confident in your stride and wear cushioned insoles to help with the pain. When your feet hurt...everyone can tell at a glance.

Another trend that isn't right for most of us is the tiny top with skinny or no straps. Anything that shows too much of our upper arms and waistline may not be a good look for us. Tops are essential to your total look. Spend most of your clothing budget on nice blouses, jackets, and lightweight cardigans worn open with a great fitting tank top to reveal only part of your body. I love the variety that comes from owning pieces that work together to create many looks rather than dresses. Prints and patterns are very limiting and memorable. Try solids in colors that flatter your skin tone and can be worn together.

Accessories will allow you to dress up or down that great white shirt and black pants for any occasion in life. You really don't need a lot of clothes.

Great for the evening!

Out to Lunch!

Strictly Business

Hear me, Roar!

 

Fashion Tips For Us

If you are on the plus side of fifty, you may feel a little overwhelmed when making new choices for your wardrobe. Many of the fashion articles and store displays seem to be geared to the twenty-somethings. Those styles may not be appropriate or comfortable for our bodies, so we must make adjustments to create a flattering and comfortable style but keeps our look current. It's also a plus to use what we already have in our closet and update it with a few key fashion pieces.

I've named the photo set below "Street Style" because it represents my formula for getting dressed for the daytime. Layers allow you to be prepared for cooler restaurant temps, a sudden spring rain, or a ride in a convertible. Push up the sleeves of a lightweight cardigan in a flattering color for your skin tone and wear a body-skimming tee underneath. This gives you a flattering deep V neck, and pushing up your sleeves to show the forearm always adds height and takes away pounds visually. Layering in lightweight fabrics allows you to feel confident that you aren't showcasing those extra pounds around the middle that we find so very difficult to get rid of.  

I often wear a hat in the summer for several reasons. My hair is not as full and thick as it once was, but I also like covering my hair when it will likely stick to my head with perspiration. (Never a good look!) Some rules will always apply when wearing a hat. Your other accessories need to be less in number and scale when you wear a hat. If the weather becomes too warm later in the day, I can take off the cardigan and drape the scarf across my shoulders. Try on several styles of hats to find the one that is flattering to your face shape. Remember, round plus around is never good when it comes to faces and accessories.

Sunglasses in shapes that flatter your face and protect your eyes are a wise investment for anyone. I have several styles and always make sure I have the correct sunglasses and shade of lip gloss before leaving for the day. Lip gloss or lip color of any type should blend with the color of your top. Image a beautiful red blouse with lip color in the orange tones. (Clash!) I like to wear earrings and bangles in my accent color in hot summer weather. A necklace, earrings, sunglasses, and a hat all at once are way too much going on in a small area.

Platform sandals are much more flattering with cropped pants or walking shorts because they visually add length to your lower leg to balance out the fact that cropped pants shorten the length of your leg.  A nude color leather with accents such as jute, straw, or cork is great summer neutrals with white or khaki pants.