Birthday Celebration!

The new website is at http://susanafter60.com/.

Mr. Mickey treated me to a wonderful weekend away at the Westglow Resort and Spa to celebrate my 60th birthday. I wore a tank top and jeans with flat shoes for traveling. 

The Westglow is situated on the top of a hill overlooking fabulous mountain ranges from every angle.

We stayed in the Grand Master Suite during this visit. Every elegant room in the mansion is decorated with different fabulous antiques.

I turned 60 this year. When I was much younger, I would have considered that a depressing thought. However, now that I have arrived, I feel as if my life is just beginning. The difficult training part has been successfully completed, and now I am ready to start enjoying my life.

I found the white linen-like jacket on a sidewalk sale rack at Stein Mart last month. It is by Calvin Klein. The Michael Kors jeans were also purchased at Stein Mart last year.

The gray tank top is a couple of years old from Chico's. The scarf is by Halston Classic, and I think I got that one at Nordstrom. It is a large chiffon square that I folded on the diagonal to form a long thin scarf. Then, I just draped it around my neck for a pop of color and pattern.

The bag was from Express last year. The shoes are by Circa Joan & David via Saks Off 5th.

When I purchase simple basics in solid colors, I can wear them in various ways and for years to come.

This will be the final post on this Fifty, not Frumpy blog site. You can now find me at SusanAfter60.com. 

Dressing For The Heat

When hot weather comes, I reach for a hat.

A hat is the most essential part of any hot weather look since I can't look my best with dripping hair plastered to my head.

I am wearing a packable hat, which is several years old from Betmar.

Tips for wearing hats: I always need to choose a hat with a high crown and a wider brim. Hats that fit close to the head, such as ball caps and cloche style hats, do not flatter my roundish face. A woman who has a long thin face and neck would look great in a cloche style.

The brim of your hat should not exceed the width of your shoulders.

The hat should rest comfortably on your forehead with no bangs showing, not on the back of your head. I comb my bangs back with my fingers, put on the hat, and then brush the lower part of my hair toward the front with my hands.

Ladies do not remove their hats while dining, but a gentleman should always remove theirs and place them on an empty chair (never on the table.)

Loose-fitting light-colored clothing that flows across my body is also most comfortable in hot weather. I rarely wear a sleeveless top, but when the temperature rises to 100 degrees, it is time to reach for my most minimal clothing and sunscreen.

These palazzo-style pants are old by Clara Sunwoo, and I found them at ShopMyFairLady.com. If you buy Clara Sunwoo pants, you would be wise to go down in size. They do run large. I am wearing an extra small here.

The BCBGMAXAZRIA draped blouson top is made from lighter than air layers of almost sheer fabric. It is from Saks Off 5th. I am wearing a size medium.

I love to wear a draped surplice top because it hides the jiggly bits. If I wear a jacket, I layer it over a much more fitted tank. There is something to be said for balancing the visual weight of the pieces you layer.

This look would also be great using a loose-fitting maxi dress or a sundress with flat sandals. I am wearing old black platform sandals by Charles Jordan here. The wicker bag is from J.McLaughlin.

Sunglasses are another essential element of this look since I am not wearing makeup other than a bold red lip. The sunglasses are by Dolce and Gabbana.

Makeup running down my face or smudged around my eyes is not a good look. On days when I know I will be mostly out in the heat, I skip the other makeup and just go for red lips.

I color in my whole lip with a lip liner, then add a layer of lip color. Next, I blot and reapply the color, then blot again. The idea is to stain my lips rather than have the color sliding around and creeping into lines and creases.

Hats make a bold statement, so sunglasses are the only other element near my face. Earrings, a necklace, sunglasses, and a fancy hat all worn together looks a bit too eccentric. I also like for my hats to be unadorned and almost masculine in style.

Confidence is the best accessory!

Everyday Leggings

What do you throw on to run to the grocery store?

Yesterday, I wore leggings which are very comfortable and warm. I didn't even own a pair of leggings until last year. Now I have several pairs.

The long faux leather-trimmed vest and cowl neck sweater are old from Chico's. The bag is old by Calvin Klein via T.J.Maxx. It has become my everyday bag because it seems to go with anything. I read somewhere that if your bag and shoes match your natural hair color, you will wear them much more often than any other. 

The loafers are by BCBG via Saks Off 5th. Did you know that BCBG means bon chic, bon genre? In English, it means good style, a good sort. It is an expression used in France to refer to a subculture of the Paris upper class's stylish members.

Wearing long tops with leggings and flats is the perfect running errands attire for me in cool weather. I like the long and lean look and enjoy comfort. I still love to wear my heels, but when I know I will be walking a lot, I wear comfortable flats.

Our weather can change as much as forty degrees in one day, so layers are essential for me. Ruanas and vests are the perfect layers because you can take them off when you need to and still be well dressed but comfortable.

I like to wear a top that stops at about my fingertips over leggings. The extra layer over it can be shorter or longer. The ideal proportion is to visually divide your body in thirds (not in half).