White Jacket on Black Friday

Do you go shopping on Black Friday? Wild horses could not drag me to a store on this day! I am not a fan of crowds or shopping, so I stayed home, cleaned my house, and went for a walk because it was a warm sunny day in east Tennessee.

I did ride along with Mr. Mickey at the end of the day as he ran a few errands, such as going by the Mercedes dealership.

After completing my chores, I slipped into an average daily look for me. That is an old jacket from Express, the V-neck tee is from T.J. Maxx last year, worn with old boyfriend jeans from Chico's. The fringe suede shoes are by Steve Madden via Macy's. The bag is by Zac Posen via Saks Off 5th.

I do wear white pants, jackets, and blouses all year long on sunny days. That old no white after Labor Day rule has been laid to rest.

My hair looks a lot more controlled here because I used a new product by Moroccanoil. It smooths and conditions as it defines your curls. I haven't gotten used to using it yet. I forgot to fluff my hair after it dried, so this look is too controlled for me. I do like a bit more of a messy look. I will get the hang of it.

I will share my top ones with those who have asked me for tips on posing for photos. I don't always have these in my mind while we are shooting, but they make me look my best when I follow them.

1. Stand up straight and tall.

2. Don't shoot in the full sun. Move both the photographer and you to a shady spot. To avoid the fisheye effect, have the photographer stand a few feet away from you. Mr. Mickey was almost too close in the first photos, making my legs look shorter.

3. Turn your body away from the camera while you turn your face toward the camera and place your feet at different angles.

4. Lift your chin and smile an easy small relaxed smile. A big fake smile always looks like a big fake smile.

5. Look into the lens or slightly away from the camera.

6. Relax your hands and tilt your shoulders back slightly.

7. Practice looking confident and comfortable in front of the camera. It will always show in your pictures. Confidence is the greatest accessory!

Suede Trench Coat

A trench coat is one of those pieces that always feel stylish and elegant. Create one from supple faux suede in taupe, and I am absolutely smitten!

I wore this fabulous trench by IC Collection from My Fair Lady to brunch on Sunday. Everyone, even my fashion-challenged Dad, complimented me on my coat.

I enjoy the mixing of textures in subtle colors. For example, I am wearing a long layered crepe tunic in black over faux leather front leggings and a crystal bead and gold chain necklace, all from Chico's. The coat's faux suede relates to the suede and animal print touches on the shoes, which are old from Nordstrom. The woven front black leather clutch from Saks Off 5th shows well against the faux leather of the leggings and contrasts nicely with the coat's suede.

The roll-tab sleeves are perfect for this time of year when the weather is just barely cool enough to need a coat. The hems are not finished, making the coat a bit edgier, but this also gives it a smooth hemline.

The epaulets and a back overlay are other lovely details that make this coat special.

We had brunch at the Blackthorn Club, which is always beautifully decorated with abundant flowers for each season.

There are so many fabulous pieces at My Fair Lady. I had a tough time choosing what to buy when I was there earlier this month. Thankfully, their website is easy to shop from. Jon and Julie, the owners, and their very professional staff are extremely patient and helpful.

A Look Back

2014 was an excellent year for those of us who prefer the uncomplicated casual style. Below are some of my favorite looks from the past year.

A jacket with jeans seems to be my uniform.

Goofing around on my birthday getaway weekend in Virginia.

Thank you for all your kind comments and good wishes. Mr. Mickey and I are both feeling much better each day. We look forward to sharing more of our adventures with you in 2015!

Wear It Wednesday, Get Dressed

On a recent weekend getaway, we stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel as we normally do when we go to Knoxville.

On Sunday morning, we dressed to go down to the hotel restaurant to have tea and enjoy the breakfast buffet, which includes many fresh fruits.

The dark rinse jeggings are from Chico's. I wore them with a black long sleeve tee from Kohl's. The vintage St. John Country jacket was given to me by my dear friend Mitzi. The calf hair d'Orsay animal print shoes are by Sam Edelman via Nordstrom.

Bloody Marys on the Terrace

How do you get women to join their men at a car show for four hours on a Saturday afternoon? The answer: Hold it at the country club so that the gals can sit on the terrace in the shade and drink Bloody Marys. 

Before the car show, we stopped by the Johnson City Farmer's Market, where you can find many local artists and farmers displaying their wares for sale. I am buying a hand-blown glass paperweight as a gift for my parents from James Lang, an extremely talented glass artist.

After the car show was over, we shopped for a while in the nearby town of Kingsport, where there are many antique stores and other small shops and restaurants.

My clothes and necklace are from Chico's. The shoes are from Rack Room Shoes. The hat was purchased in Louisville, Kentucky, several years ago.

Saturday Afternoon

Readers often ask me what I wear on a casual day when I am just staying home or running out for errands.

On this windy, rainy day, I wore red slim leg pants with an animal print sheer tunic from Chico's and a nude foundation tank from Carlisle. Even though the tank is technically a foundation item, it is so pretty it can be seen peeking out from beneath a sheer blouse. The Kenneth Cole Reaction sandals in gold are from T.J.Maxx.

The old Post Office and Custom House in Bristol, Tennessee, is one of my favorite local buildings. It was constructed in the Beaux-Arts style of architecture and opened in 1901. It is now a private office belonging to friends Joe and Cindy Gregory, who began restoring it to its full glory in 1999.

Shopping in Asheville

On a winter Saturday afternoon, blue skies often mean a trip across the mountain to Asheville, North Carolina for Mr. Mickey and me.

We took a break from shopping in the Grove Arcade to visit Carmel's. One of our favorite treats is their homemade pimento cheese appetizer, a house-made blend of cheeses with jalapenos served with garlic crostini.

Later in the day, a cup of hot chocolate was just the thing to take away the chill.

It's always fun to visit the Screendoor to look through an eclectic mix of treasures, junque, and books.

No trip to the Biltmore Village is ever complete until we stop by Chico's for a peek at the sale rack. The necklace, long sleeve tee, vest, and pants I am wearing today are all old from Chico's. The coat is also old from Geiger. The short boots were Ralph Lauren via T.J.Maxx last year. The black Tignanello handbag is old from SteinMart.

I hope your shopping trips have been successful!