Special Occasions

We never need a special occasion to get dressed up to go out, but we had two important events to attend on a recent Saturday evening. 

Thankfully, I was able to find something in my closet that was appropriate for both events.

The first event was a fundraiser for the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra held at the Blackthorn Club. We enjoyed visiting with a few players and the string quartet that performed this evening. There are seventy players in our Orchestra. It is such a joy to hear their performances.

The flowers at our Club are always gorgeous. It is a surprise to see how much they have grown each time we visit during the summer.

The second occasion of the evening was the 90th birthday party of my sweet friend Ruth's husband, Vinnie.

I was so happy also to see my beautiful friend, fellow life-long model, and neighbor Mary.

Vinnie has always been a great athlete, a devoted husband, a loving family member, and a loyal friend. More than one hundred guests from all over the country came to enjoy a formal dinner, drinks, and dancing in his honor this evening. I loved meeting his Italian nieces from New Jersey!

On this busy evening, I wore a black tank, Travelers pants, and a Travelers duster, all from Chico's last year. The bag is old via Saks Off 5th. The turquoise and blue glass stone earrings are old from Stein Mart. The Kenneth Cole sandals are old from Dillard's.

Formal Evening

Short, skimpy cocktail dresses and plunging backless gowns are never my choices for evening attire.

 "Elegance knows when to cover up." 

-Susan Street 2016

At almost sixty years old, bare knees and cleavage are never the aging bits I wish to reveal to the world. Candlelight does not improve the view! Trust me on this one.

We attended the 23rd Annual Laureate Induction Celebration of the Junior Achievement Tri-Cities TN/VA Business Hall of Fame held at the Meadowview Convention Center last evening.

Earlier in the day, I visited my dear friend Myra who is also my hairstylist. She gave me a shorter layered look for Spring.

We picked up our closest friends Bob and Mitzi so that we could enjoy the evening together. Mitzi and I did not plan to dress almost alike!

I am wearing a swing coat* by IC Collection over a tank by Clara Sunwoo; both are from last year. I purchased them from ShopMyFairLady. The dressy pants are a couple of years old from Chico's. The suede fringe trim sandals are by BCBGeneration via Saks Off 5th.  The ribbon trimmed black clutch is several years old from T.J.Maxx.

(*Swing coats are fitted in the shoulders and then flare out from the bust line, creating a tent-like shape over the torso that swings as you walk. The hem of your swing coat can end anywhere from the waist down, and the sleeves may be full length or bracelet length.)

Here is a short video showing my warm-weather haircut.

Special Occasions

What do you wear to a wedding, cocktail party, or gallery opening?

My all-time favorite pieces for evening or special occasion, come from a few select lines, all of which are available from ShopMyFairLady.

This fabulous silver and white IC Collection jacket and black Mesmerize ankle pants work together perfectly for almost any special event. The ankle pants I am wearing are from last year, the styles they have now appear to be longer. I am also wearing a black Clara Sunwoo tank under the jacket. All these items are made in the USA and available online at ShopMyFairLady.

IC Collection is famous for its decorative button closures. The fabrics and tailoring details are always elegant and flattering on this almost sixty-year-old body. You can rest assured; I will never show up for a special event in a strappy little cocktail dress. I must dress for my personality as well as the occasion and the weather. I would be too mortified to even walk across the room in a strappy cocktail dress. I much prefer more covered attire for special occasions, well actually any occasion.

My accessories for this evening included a simple matte silver box clutch from T.J.Maxx.

My jewelry included small rhinestone earrings, a chunky bright silver link bracelet, and a fun bling ring from Stein Mart. All jewelry is several years old.

The fringe trim suede sandals are by BCBGeneration via Saks Off 5th.

Mr. Mickey picked me up right on time for our Friday night date. After snapping a few photos for you, we were off to one of our favorite elegant bar areas located within Wellington's restaurant at the Carnegie Hotel here in Johnson City. We love to sit by the fireplace to relax and chat for a while.

We take every opportunity to get dressed up and enjoy an evening together. When the waiter brought our glasses of champagne, he asked what we were celebrating. We answered, "It's Friday!"

Dinner on Saturday

Last weekend we visited the more than 100-year-old Omni Grove Park Inn located in Asheville, North Carolina.

These photos were taken in the Palm Court atrium floor located above the Great Hall of the Inn. It was a very dark and rainy day, so finding enough light to take good photos was challenging.

We like to dress for dinner. Life is theater, and I always want to be dressed for my part!

Even though it appears from these photos that I am dressed in a sea of black, there is a lot of textural interest that isn't showing up.

I always add different textures when wearing a monotone look. Monotone means wearing one color from head to toe. It is a way of looking longer and leaner, but you will want to add interest to these looks. 

I am wearing a sequined black sweater with a low double-breasted blazer, both old from Saks Off 5th with sleek ankle length dressy slacks that are old from Chico's. 

The jacket and the shoes are by French Connection.

From this close up shot, you can see that there are several different textures and details in this combination. The bag was purchased earlier in the day at Cloth, the boutique on the Inn property.

This last photo was taken by one of the fireplaces in the Great Hall. These fireplaces are so large that a man can stand up in them. Notice the large logs in the cart behind me. It takes two men to load them onto the andirons, which were hand-forged in Asheville and weigh more than 500 pounds each.

Farewell to the Inn

We had a fabulous meal in the Dining Room during our last evening at the Inn at Biltmore to celebrate Mr. Mickey's birthday.

I wore a silver and white sweater duster over a white tank and white jeans, all from Chico's. The various necklaces are silver with crystal and silver with turquoise. I often layer necklaces and bracelets for a more dramatic look.