Happy Anniversary!

Three years ago today, a new clothing line was created with the woman over forty in mind. That has happened only a few times in history!

As a reasonably new blogger in 2013.

Covered Perfectly was one of the first companies I worked with during the early days of my blog. Above, I am shown in one of my first posts wearing the red Simple Comfort.

 

I am wearing the Simple V top above.

The cascading vest is a genuinely great accessory since you can wear it as a scarf or in several ways as a flattering third piece. I have layered, wrapped, tied, and belted under and over these vests.

The fun Color Block top is shown below.

Three years later, I am still wearing that red simple comfort top, and it has kept its shape and color beautifully.

I love how the draped front top can be dressed up for a great evening look or worn with a pair of leggings for a classic daytime look. I have also worn this one many times over the past two years.

The Simple V tunic is another great style. I love the fact that the neckline is not too low. 

The layered design is so adorable!

One of my blogging career highlights came when Pauline Durban, the owner and designer of those fabulous Covered Perfectly tops, invited me to come out to Los Angeles to model for her company.

With Pauline Durban and the talented author Mary Ann Simonetti at a photoshoot last year.

Below, I am wearing the Top with Piping.

The white simple comfort top is basic for me. It looks fabulous under all my jackets and vests or worn alone with a cool necklace. Notice that it is not see-through!

The cold shoulder top is a tank top with a sleeve. Just what we need to stay cool but covered at the same time.

Below we are together for another photo shoot. I am wearing the draped front top, and Pauline is wearing the wrap-over style.

Turquoise is one of my all-time favorite colors! Here I am wearing the simple comfort in turquoise.

The new Henley-style has the most flattering neckline! I love to wear this top with jeans.

From the most recent photoshoot.

I was thrilled to be at Pauline's recent sixtieth birthday celebration. She has such a great group of supportive and loving friends. I am truly honored to be among them.

Happy anniversary my dear friend! I wish you many more successful years for you and your company.

Pauline is wearing the black floral cascading vest over the white simple V. I am wearing the drape front top in black.

New Jeans

We recently spent the weekend at the Inn at Biltmore Estate.

We had a delicious brunch in the Dining Room on Saturday. I wore a Clara Sunwoo tunic sent by ShopMyFairLady.

These Klaveli ankle jeans with a split hem were discovered while I was shopping at the Paris Apartment Boutique in Knoxville last month. This style of pant is available in about forty colors and different styles too. I appreciate the simple flat front zipper, which makes them great to wear under smooth fitting tops.

The shoes are by Vince Camuto from last year. The bag is also old by BCBG via T.J.Maxx. The Balmain sunglasses are from Saks Off 5th.

We enjoy the elegant decor and the fabulous gardens on the grounds of the Inn.

A fresh rose on every table is a very nice touch!

We spent much of the day exploring the grounds of the Estate and shopping in the village.

To Necklace or Not

My friends at ShopMyFairLady have discovered a new casual line for us.

They sent me this navy blue crinkle cardigan by Focus recently. I am wearing a size medium over a size medium Clara Sunwoo mid-length tank top. The ankle skimmer jeans are old from Chico's. The BCBG bag is old from T.J.Maxx, as are the Kenneth Cole Reaction sunglasses. The Jessica Simpson sandals are old from Nordstrom (I think).

I wore a short necklace rather than a long necklace because this look needed a more structured lift to counterbalance the length, texture, and form of the jacket and the longer hip-length of the smooth tank. 

Many people ask me about the rules for wearing a necklace. What length? When to wear a necklace and when to not? What style? I base that decision upon the item I am wearing near my face. If the jacket is structured and dramatic like the jacket I wore in the post for yesterday, I let it stand alone. I wore a simple pair of small wide crystal hoops paired with bracelets and a bold watch to finish the look because a necklace would have detracted from the jacket. Accessories should complement, not clutter, your look.

I wore this necklace, which is structured and bold, for the same reason I didn't wear a necklace yesterday. It complements the texture and flowing nature of the cardigan. The same flowing shape and length in a necklace would have been too much flowing in one look. It would have visually pulled down my face, whereas this short more structural necklace lifts the eyes to my face.

I got dressed in minutes right after my morning run because I had to be at my warehouse on concise notice, thanks to my adorable accountant. I am wearing practically no makeup, and my hair is still wet from the shower. You will likely never see a more unplanned photoshoot! I got out of my car, handed Mr. Mickey the camera, and said, "Quick, take some pictures!" We were both super busy. (Conveniently, our warehouses are side by side, and we share a back parking lot.)

This Focus cardigan is light as a whisper! I love that it can be worn with any of my jeans and a tank top to look polished and put together while remaining cool and comfortable. It will become a summer staple for me this year.

Later in the day, I went to my favorite sushi place for a quick lunch after all the urgent tasks. There is a beautiful young Japanese girl who is often our server there. She barely speaks any English at all, and yet she told me, "You look so elegant!" I hugged her and almost cried. I certainly did not feel elegant, but her sweet comment made my whole day.

Stripes

I love the look of stripes but rarely find a style that flatters my inverted triangle shape.

I wore this look to brunch at the Grove Park Inn. Later in the day, we attended a Chamber Music concert by The Harlem Quartet.

The IC Collection line is made in the USA and sold at ShopMyFairLady.

The pants are by Lior Paris. I am wearing a Clara Sunwoo tank under the jacket. The bag is old from Express. The French Connection shoes are old from Saks Off 5th.

Wine, Women and Shoes

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of working with my dear friend Krista who owns Monkee's of Johnson City. 

Krista asked me to spend the day modeling and visiting with the attendees for a Wine Women & Shoes® event to benefit the Wellmont Foundation.

The legendary Virginian Golf Club was the location for the special event. My personal attire for the day included a royal blue Clara Sunwoo top from ShopmyFairLady.com. The cigarette leg white pants are by Renuar, and Purple Poppy provided them.

The necklace is from S.M. Bradford on Hilton Head Island. The shoes are from last year, and they are by Vince Camuto. The bag is from Express.

I loved seeing my sweet friends again and meeting loyal followers of the blog. It was thrilling to hear "I follow your blog!" so many times during the day.

It was an honor to be in the company of hundreds of generous women who donated their time and money to help others who might not afford the early detection necessary to outlive cancer.

I made a great discovery today when I met Alexandria W. Alli from F&W Style. She is the designer of a fabulous line of handbags of excellent quality. The rich colors and textures are so classic and elegant. I will be buying several of her designs!

I modeled an emerald cape sleeve dress with black leggings accessorized by a hand-beaded necklace and carried a small beige clutch bag. These items are from Monkee's of Johnson City.

Several of the young women who modeled with me on this day are breast cancer survivors.

Proceeds from this event will help the Wellmont Cancer Institute improve access and affordability for breast cancer screenings.

Wine Women & Shoes® sophisticated events feature SHOEMMELIER-style wine tasting, auctions, fashion marketplace, and often a fashion show created for women who enjoy fine wine, great style, and female camaraderie – all to support a noble cause.

Slash

After seeing me in this top, Mr. Mickey gave me a new nickname.

He says I need a stage name to go with my "Rockstar" image. (Judi Mancuso told me on Facebook this week that I was a Rockstar. LOL!) Alas, my most outstanding musical talent involves listening, so I will not be headlining for any rock bands under the name "Slash."

We joined a large group of dear friends for dinner on Friday evening, where the top was a big hit. It shows a little skin while remaining fully covered. The fit is just loose enough not to show jiggly bits, and the asymmetric neck and hemlines are clean, modern details.

I wore my most enormous crystal hoops, no necklace, and a stack of related but different silver-colored bracelets and a bold watch only.

The shoes are by Charles Jordan via Saks Off 5th. The studded grommet leather box clutch is old from T.J.Maxx.

Purple Poppy provided the Last Tango black top. It is a size medium. I paired it with smooth fitting side zip white pants provided by Fabrizio Gianni last year.

Nothing New

Do you style items in the same way each time you wear them?

I have tried this IC Collection jacket closed in the past, but it looks better with my face shape when worn open. The convergence point creates a high round mandarin collar when it is closed, which is not a good look for me. I am wearing it here with a low scoop neck tank from Chico's. The jacket would also look great with a column of white or gray as the base. 

The IC Collection jacket was provided by ShopMyFairLady. The IC Collection line is made in the USA.

The fabulous pants were provided by Fabrizio Gianni. They are the perfect pants for travel. The fit is comfortable, and the fabric looks fresh even after a long car ride. The pants are also made in the USA.

I wore these shoes with this look because they relate so well to the jacket design. The shoes are by Bar III via Macy's last year. The watch is by Michael Kors via Nordstrom. The clutch is old from T.J.Maxx.

IC Collection jackets are works of art. I appreciate the architectural elements such as high-low hems and asymmetric fronts with ornate focal point buttons. The luxurious fabrics are comfortable and flattering. These are the pieces that stay in my wardrobe for a long time. I wear them again and again. 

These flowers were in the Crown Plaza lobby, where we stayed on our recent visit to Knoxville. I wore this repeat look to dinner at the Orangery.