Cute Little Number

I will often be traveling during the next few weeks, so I am looking for pieces that will serve me well as I move from a cold climate to a much warmer ones. I prefer an easy, comfortable, but still well-dressed airport style.

I was thrilled to find this cashmere topper, which I can wear as a poncho or an infinity scarf. The pop of red makes me feel happy.

The fabric is very soft and supple, so it drapes beautifully.

The black turtleneck top and the jeans are from Fabrizio Gianni. The shoes are by BCBGeneration via Nordstrom. The bag is by Zac Posen via Saks OFF 5TH.

The Claudia Nichole cashmere topper comes in many beautiful colors. I had difficulty deciding which one to go with, but I am thrilled with this color, which is Poppy. I found it on the Purple Poppy website. The shop is located in one of my favorite places to visit, Cape Cod. This topper was supplied by Purple Poppy.

The topper comes in all these colors!

Be My Valentine!

Staying in on this cold winter holiday weekend was our first thought. However, when our best friends returned from a month in Arizona, we wanted to have dinner together and get caught up.

Mr. Mickey showed up with chocolate-covered strawberries, flowers with a teddy bear, and a card. Isn't this the perfect card for me?

Wearing the warmest items of clothing I own resulted in another all-black look. The necklace and handbag give the black background points of interest.

The straight leg black pants and turtleneck top are from Chico's. The jacket is by French Connection from Saks Off 5th. The necklace was a gift from Mr. Mickey. The bag is from Ross. The suede and reptile texture boots are by Vince Camuto from Nordstrom. The trench coat is from Fabrizio Gianni.

Minimalism

The style shows for 2014 are showing a return to the minimalism of the nineties.

It's all part of the fashion cycle. We are draped in layers of jewelry, scarves, and lots of colors for a few years. Eventually, we get tired of it all and go back to navy, black, gray, and white with straightforward lines and minimal accessories. I have always embraced a certain amount of minimalism in my personal style.

  

I feel most comfortable in clean lines and solid colors with only one or maybe two bold accessories. It seems a lot of you also gravitate to minimalist looks. My Polyvore sets have been viewed more than four and a half million times!

I created this necklace as a special order this week and posted it on Facebook. The responses I received included offers to create for stores and hundreds of people asking how much. This is an effortless pendant necklace style on only one strand with two simple beads and caps as part of the strand. It is timeless and regal looking. I can imagine the President of a company wearing this with an elegant black suit as easily as a young woman would wear it with jeans and a tee and high heels. 

The point of this post is to encourage you to wear (and create if you are one of my clients) accessories that celebrate individuality and personality. One or two bold pieces are all you need. Matching necklaces, bracelets, and earrings are sure to make you look overdone and dated.

A bold, elegant necklace can be as simple as this large pendant piece with a simple bail and a bold silver chain. I've seen it offered as such a necklace for as much as $60.

Some may say that minimalism is bad for the economy. Still, during the nineties, I sold enough of my own jewelry designs to quit my retail manager job and almost double my salary the following year.

Opportunity is always there. Be flexible. Open your mind and your eyes to what is appealing at the time. Respect that trend and then do what suits you and your own style.

Details Make The Look

Our Friday date nights are usually spent with a group of friends having dinner laughing and talking until late in the evening.

The look for this evening includes a fuchsia linen-like jacket from Stein Mart with a cotton knit tank in cream from Dillard's and tan side zip pants from Talbots. The sandals are by Kenneth Cole Reaction via T.J.Maxx. The clutch is also from T.J.Maxx last year.

This mixed metal statement necklace has served me well with many different looks. It is lightweight and versatile. I found this one at a gallery in Asheville, North Carolina but you can find similar ones in T.J.Maxx, Stein Mart, Kohl's, and other such department stores.

These bone and brass bangle bracelets relate to the natural shell buttons on the jacket. I found these at a shop in New York a few years ago.

The handbag and shoes are from T.J.Maxx. I always change to a smaller clutch bag for the evening.

Manicured hands and feet, as well as makeup in complementary colors such as the deep, rose-colored lip butter I am wearing all work together.

Many years ago one of my friends pointed out the reason I can pull off so many different looks is that I start at the hair and work it all the way to my toes. (I was in my thirties at that time.) I still think about how each piece relates to each other as well as to my size, shape, and coloring. For example, if I had worn fuchsia high heel sandals with this outfit it would have had a totally different and less polished effect. The jacket has a casual attitude that needs toned down accessories in a more neutral palette.

Have fun combining your own unique looks today. I hope you have a great weekend.

Thank you for reading!

Go Natural!

The shell buttons on this fuchsia linen jacket inspired my choice of accessories for date night.

Three-quarter length sleeves are the perfect choice for this time of year. This fuchsia linen-like fabric is also great for the cool evenings of early spring. The jacket style is rather casual with pleated details and shell buttons, making it a good choice to pair with jeans and the tan pants I am wearing here.

I often take my cues for accessories from the details of a bag or jacket. For example, the buttons on this jacket are made from shells, so I chose accessories made from natural elements. The back of the jacket features the same gathered details with buttons.

The bone and brass bangles have been in my collection for years. The necklace is one that I bought from the clearance rack at Belk a couple of years ago. It was damaged and was much more "in your face" bright silver. Since I own a jewelry supply company, that was no problem for me. I replaced the missing chain and added a regal element to the pendant, and antiqued the silver to tone it down a bit. The pendant also includes a mother of pearl shell.

The tank top is from Coldwater Creek, and it is a softer white, not bright white. The pants are tan side zip pants from Talbots last fall.   

The jacket is by Peck & Peck from Stein Mart. It was on the 30% off rack last week. The Etienne Aigner shoes are several years old.

Saturday In Abingdon

Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Highlands, Abingdon, Virginia is home to historical attractions, many musical events, fine lodging, and dining. Here you will find the Barter Theater, the Martha Washington Hotel and Spa, the Heartwood Artisan Gallery and so much more.

For our day in Abingdon, I wore gray side zip pants from Talbots, a twill fuchsia jacket, a white tank top, and a chiffon animal print scarf all from Stein Mart. The bag is by Tignanello.
 

The Heartwood Gallery showcases the work of the finest regional artisans including furniture makers, potters, jewelry designers, fiber artists, and many more.

When we have plans for dinner in a neighboring town I usually dress for the daytime activities but take with me other shoes, jewelry, a jacket or wrap, and an evening clutch to switch to for dinner.

 For daytime, I wore low wedge comfortable black Alex Marie shoes from Dillard's last year. I had my hair cut again on Friday but I haven't had time to "customize" it yet. Do you do your own texturizing around your face? I invested in a pair of texturizing shears years ago. They are more forgiving if you just can resist trimming the front of your own hair when you are past due for a cut. 

Barter Theatre was founded during the Depression by an enterprising young actor named Robert Porterfield. He and his fellow actors found themselves out of work and hungry in New York City. Porterfield contrasted that to the abundance of food, but lack of live theater, around his home region in Southwest Virginia. He returned to Washington County with an extraordinary proposition: bartering produce from the farms and gardens of the area to gain admission to see a play. These days they are happy to accept cash or credit cards instead of a pound of potatoes for entrance.

The Martha Washington Hotel and Spa across the street is one of our favorite retreats and places to enjoy fine dining. 

There is a grand piano in the main floor ballroom of The Martha Washington Hotel. I read music but I can not play by ear or memory.  I am in awe of those who can.

I've switched to a different fuchsia double-breasted jacket, Ros Hommerson shoes, blingy jewelry, and a small leather clutch for dinner. This jacket is also from Stein Mart. 

Relaxing in front of the fire in the library at the Martha.

More bling and a small leather clutch for the evening.

The Spa is world-class... so is their fine dining restaurant "Sisters at The Martha". 

 

 The first course... lobster fritters and a lovely Sauvignon blanc.

Red Jeggings

Saturday was a beautiful day! 

For shopping and running errands, I wore red jeggings. Yes, me in jeggings! (They are leggings cut like jeans.) I found these at T.J. Maxx. I wore them with Ralph Lauren cognac brown booties (via T.J. Maxx) and a blue Tencel material tunic from Coldwater Creek. 

The suede animal print bag is more than twenty years old. Proof that if you buy timeless classics, they will serve you for many years. I normally do not wear a shoulder bag, but this small style is good for hands-free shopping. 

I purposely kept all my other accessories minimal and in a gold-silver combination. The large face watch is from Stein-Mart, and the large silver with gold hoops are from B'Dazzled in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Thank you for reading! I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

Invest in Your Style

 

The confident well-dressed woman understands that her core wardrobe will serve her well for years to come if she invests in quality, classics, and colors that complement her own coloring. She updates her look with a few trending items each season to stay current. She does not feel the need to dress in all the current trends from head to toe.

Dressing in too many trends at once actually makes you look older and as if you are trying too hard. Rather than sporting a color-blocked peplum top with skinny jeans, an animal print bag, and platform shoes, try adding a colorful animal print scarf and red flats to update your look. It's a subtle way to say, "I know the current style, but I also know who I am."

Thank you for your kind comments on my last blog post!

Friday Date Night

Friday is always date night for us. We get dressed up and visit our favorite gourmet restaurant. Even if we just share an appetizer and have a glass of wine, it is a ritual that we both enjoy very much. It is our time to relax and share the events of the week, our hopes and dreams. One must always have dreams!

This week I wore a jacket I bought earlier this year from the half-off sale rack of a swanky boutique in Asheville. It is now too big for me, but I layer it with a tank to make it work. Here I'm wearing it with wider leg black crepe trousers and a black tank with a draping neckline, which is a bit dressier than a form-fitting one.

Shoes and Earrings Relate

When you are getting dressed, do you ever think ... these earrings go great with these shoes?

It's true! Shoes and earrings are related. All the components of your outfit make a small statement that adds to the total look and tells your story for the day. 

Jewelry tells a story for me because I was a designer for so many years. I went on market trips to NY and Atlanta with boutique owners so that I could start creating appropriate jewelry for the lines they were buying long before they arrived in the stores.  Accessories that are not so much matching but complementing in color and attitude complete a look.

Think about the attitude of the pieces you are putting together. For example, the navy strappy sandals say evening wear, as do the navy drop earrings. The T-Strap suede shoe says fashion-forward and a little daring... so do the suede hoop earrings. 

Accessories from head to toe should speak the same language.

The Formula

Do you have a formula for the way you dress? 

Long ago, I realized that if I wore smooth flowing fabrics in a soft palette of colors, I would be able to layer items or combine them in different ways to create outfits for many occasions. 

My closet includes basic pieces that can be worn with different accessories to elevate them from daytime work wear to elegant evenings with friends. I won't buy a wardrobe of clothes which serve only one purpose (such as evening wear). A silk blouse I might wear with jeans to run errands during the day can also be worn with a black pencil skirt or crepe pants for dinner with friends. Accessories are the key that makes these combinations work for me.

Large scarves, wraps, or shawls are a great way to add dramatic color and 'temperature control' as is often needed at this stage of life. Sunglasses are a daytime staple for me. I never leave without them. Earrings with a button top and dangles or hoops are much more flattering than those little wires that pass through the hole in your ear. A large link bracelet or a stack of bangles (or both!) are great accessories to add to almost any outfit. If I wear a statement necklace, I balance the drama by wearing minimal other accessories. 

Structured handbags and clutches are much more flattering than big shoulder bags that make you look lopsided and sloppy. 

Interesting but comfortable shoes are a must! Life is way too short to wear boring shoes. 

This is my formula for shopping and getting dressed every day. These tips serve me well and have helped me get ready for any event for most of my adult life. 

If you have high contrast coloring, such as dark brown eyes with an olive skin-tone and dark silver-gray hair, and a bold, outgoing personality, your formula might be very different from mine.

I hope that sharing my ideas for dressing will help you put together easy, fabulous outfits so that you can get busy enjoying life.

Wearing Tights

I love the look of chunky booties with tights and a pencil skirt for daytime in the cooler months. When the proportions are right for you and the skirt isn't too short, you can still turn heads in a good way.

 

Proper fit is always important but especially so in a skirt. If the skirt is too tight or short, you will not be comfortable or appropriate. Wearing a skirt with tights during the day in the cooler months is a great fresh look. Tights are opaque legwear that allows us to get away with so much more than sheer stockings would. I normally wear sheer black stockings for the evening only. Wolford makes the top of the line tights, which are well worth the investment. (They create lots of other fabulous items we need too!)

Here I've paired a graphite skirt with a loose-fitting graphite long sleeve tee and a scarf. The scarf brings in the other colors to add. Burgundy is the color for us! It's very flattering to the face and can be worn with all neutrals.

Confidence looks good on you!

Celebrating our fiftieth birthday often means a rounder body is a gift we receive. Hormones and lifestyle play a part in this new body shape, but we still want to look nice and dress in a flattering and comfortable way. I've been chubby for most of my life, so these tips are ones that I have always used to conceal a tummy that will never be flat no matter how much weight I lose.

1. Wear a top and pants or skirt in a similar color. Always wear a scarf, an open jacket, a blouse, or a sweater in a different color to add a vertical line. The top should never be tucked in. If it stops just below your tummy, that's an excellent thing. Look for pieces that have smooth finishes that flow across your body rather than clinging to it. Avoid anything quilted or bulky. Pants and skirts should fall from the widest part of your body. If your thighs are that point, pants should skim your body to that point and then flow smoothly from there. Skirts should end at the slimmest part of your leg, which is normally just below the knee. Pants should stop at the bottom of your heel. If you wear Capri pants, always wear a platform wedge shoe to add visual length to your legs.

2. Look for silky smooth scarves. The idea is to add a nice long vertical line, not bulk. Don't tie the scarf around your neck so that it ends with even tails in front. Avoid horizontal lines across your body. If the scarf is long enough, try looping it over itself to create a V below your bust. A V shape neckline is usually more flattering than a round one.

3. A thicker, low heel rather than a totally flat shoe will be more flattering. Carry a bag that isn't too small or puffy. A sleek and structured bag looks much neater and doesn't add width to your silhouette. Be cautious with shoulder bags that hang by your hips, giving you more width where you least want it.

Hold your head up high and smile. Confidence is your best accessory!

Long Sweater Vest

When the evenings start to turn cooler, I find that a long sweater vest is an extra layer that works for me. This one is from Chico's. It's a soft tone of blue-red that isn't too bright. I've paired it with a crossover tee in black and tailored gray slacks. When I want to try something trendy like these fun wedge boots in black, I look for a cute inexpensive option. I found these at Target. 

We were on our way out to dinner, so I switched to a small black and gold leather clutch bag. I'm wearing a red bangle with gold medallion details and gold with silver hoops.

Layers are Great!

Fall is in the air, which brings out the sweaters and jackets. This can be a great look for all figure types if you use layers to your advantage.

If you have long, lean legs, you can wear leggings or straight-leg jeans with almost any boot type. Just remember to balance the slender bottom half with a layered longer top half. 

Create a long slender line with one color in different tones. Add color around your face with a scarf and a long cozy sweater.

If you have a few extra pounds around the middle (don't we all?!), remember to keep those first layers smooth and sleek. The sweater may have to come off as the day gets warmer, so I normally wear a large scarf as well. Later in the day, it will be the outer layer I drape across my shoulders when I have to take off the sweater for the afternoon.

Petite Layers

If you are petite (5' 2" and under), a cropped cardigan or jacket and tailored pants will likely work better for you. Wear a smaller silky scarf and carry a more tailored messenger bag. The best jacket or sweater for you will end at your hip bone or just below your natural waist and close in a V shape. Steer clear of double-breasted closures.