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!

Shake Rattle and Roll

Whenever we are in Abingdon, VA, Foxglove Antiques is one of the first places I visit.

There are so many items here for the home and garden that make my heart sing.

I am visiting with Karen McClanahan, the beautiful owner of the shop. I only purchased a couple of books today. After downsizing a few years ago, I now have to curtail my purchases. Otherwise, I would have needed a truck today.

As Karen and I were chatting, another store owner popped in, and the conversation turned to shoes.

All of the items offered at Foxglove Antiques are top-notch and include many periods and styles. It is such a pleasure to see all of the elegant pieces. 

My look today includes a silver necklace and a long cardigan in silver and white from Chico's. The jeggings are from Ann Taylor. The tank is by Peck & Peck from Stein Mart. The bag is from Express. The sandals are by BCBG from Macy's. The sunglasses are by Tommy Hilfiger from T.J.Maxx.

We were in Abingdon to attend "Shake Rattle and Roll" at the Barter Theatre. This show is a fabulous tribute to Elvis Presley by Scot Bruce and his extremely talented musicians. This was such a great performance! It was a packed house, and everyone had such a good time.  Scot did an awesome and respectful tribute that was funny at times but brought tears to my eyes at others. Just as Elvis did so many years ago, I saw him perform with my girlfriends as a teen in the seventies.

We attended the matinée performance of "Shake Rattle and Roll" and later had a wonderful dinner at Figaredos Bistro on Main Street.

Wearing White

Wear white all year long!

From the early nineteen hundreds, an old etiquette rule that you should only wear white between Memorial Day and Labor Day still persists today. That is an outdated idea from wealthy women who lived in the city during the winter and summered in their second homes by the sea or in a lodge on a mountain. Most people now dress for the weather, not the calendar.

Straight leg off white jeans are paired with an off white tank and a fabulous metallic white Cali and York sweater.

When you wear one of these delicate sweaters, you get the added bonus of coverage without the weight and formality of a jacket. This one was perfect for an early casual dinner at a new local cafe'.

Since the sweater is almost sheer, I opted to wear the same pale creamy white colors underneath for a long, lean unbroken line from the metallic sandals up. 

Another tip: Pushing or rolling up your sleeves and wearing a scoop or V-neck top makes one appear taller and more slender. 

The bold statement necklace stands out, so I kept all the other accessories minimal.

Wearing jewelry or bags that tend to pick or snag can be disastrous with a delicate sweater such as this one.

These photos were shot by Mr. Mickey in Jonesborough, the oldest town in Tennessee.

 

Being small business owners who are also very involved in the political process, Mr. Mickey and I always try to support new businesses in our area. We visited a new cafe' in Jonesborough called the Black Olive last evening. It is a lovely family-style Italian restaurant with great service and a huge menu. We wish them success!