Formal Evening

Short, skimpy cocktail dresses and plunging backless gowns are never my choices for evening attire.

 "Elegance knows when to cover up." 

-Susan Street 2016

At almost sixty years old, bare knees and cleavage are never the aging bits I wish to reveal to the world. Candlelight does not improve the view! Trust me on this one.

We attended the 23rd Annual Laureate Induction Celebration of the Junior Achievement Tri-Cities TN/VA Business Hall of Fame held at the Meadowview Convention Center last evening.

Earlier in the day, I visited my dear friend Myra who is also my hairstylist. She gave me a shorter layered look for Spring.

We picked up our closest friends Bob and Mitzi so that we could enjoy the evening together. Mitzi and I did not plan to dress almost alike!

I am wearing a swing coat* by IC Collection over a tank by Clara Sunwoo; both are from last year. I purchased them from ShopMyFairLady. The dressy pants are a couple of years old from Chico's. The suede fringe trim sandals are by BCBGeneration via Saks Off 5th.  The ribbon trimmed black clutch is several years old from T.J.Maxx.

(*Swing coats are fitted in the shoulders and then flare out from the bust line, creating a tent-like shape over the torso that swings as you walk. The hem of your swing coat can end anywhere from the waist down, and the sleeves may be full length or bracelet length.)

Here is a short video showing my warm-weather haircut.

A Styling Secret

Do you dress to hide your tummy every day?

Since my teens, my weight has gone up and down with every crazy diet ever presented. I wish I had realized earlier that diets are designed to fail. If you are not going to change your eating habits forever, all the weight will come back and will likely add more pounds when it returns.

All that losing and gaining weight has created areas that will never be taut again, no matter how much I exercise. For most of my adult life, I have dressed to conceal my midsection.

Thankfully, my weight has remained about the same for the last five years after permanently changing my food choice. That means I have been able to invest in many different clothing styles and enjoy wearing them with confidence. In the past, there was always that question in the back of my mind, "Will I even be able to zip this in six months?"

We recently enjoyed an excellent evening meal at Rowland's located inside the Westglow Mansion in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

As soon as I previewed the photos we snapped before we began our trip, I knew I had to go back and put on my secret styling weapon.

Before

After

The foundation I am wearing in the after the photo is by Maidenform from Macy's.

Each time I model or wear anything that shows my shape, I wear this support garment. It helps with my posture and smooths the middle line in front and back without giving me an oddly shaped bustline.

The bra pictured below from Soma is the best fitting bra I have ever worn.

The necklace and tank top are old from Chico's. The Balmain sunglasses and cardigan are from Sak's Off 5th. The silver clutch is old from T.J.Maxx. The side-zip white pants were supplied by Fabrizio Gianni last year. The Gianni Bini sandals are from Dillard's.

Walk A Mile

Our Mother's Day celebration included a fabulous meal prepared for our family by my sweet sister.

I carried an old BCBG bag and wore jeans by NYDJ and sunglasses by Kenneth Cole Reaction, all found at T.J.Maxx. I rarely go there anymore, but I got lucky on those visits. The plain white tank is by Peck & Peck via Stein Mart.

The oh so comfortable waffle texture casual jacket is by Focus, and it was sent to me by ShopMyFairLady.

The color and texture of this jacket are not typically found in my bag of tricks. My usual choices include smooth surfaces, bold, saturated colors, and sleek lines. I made this work for me by making sure all the other elements were structured and plain.

The sandals are from last year. They are by Vince Camuto via Belk. I found them on sale at the end of the season, so I bought two pairs. I know I will wear them often because they go with everything. Last year, I wore out a similar favorite style by Jessica Simpson.

The statement necklace is from an elegant store in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. This estate piece immediately captivated me! 

We always visit Finely House Couture and Carriage Trade Antiques when we are in Blowing Rock. You never know what unusual treasures might be waiting there. Our friends who own these shops possess impeccable taste.

This video is in response to a challenge I received from someone who commented on a Facebook post.

Tribal Favorites

Warm weather casual looks have always been a challenge for me.

I am much more comfortable in my jacket and jeans with a tank combo, but I must create a cooler look to work with my figure challenges when the temperatures climb.

The perfect fit for my personal styling formula includes looks like this one.

The kick pleat detail on the back of the leg is so creative.

Wearing these wedge sandals from Dillard's a couple of years ago helped to visually elongate the chopped-off look that crop pants sometimes give my short lower legs. These stop at the point that my leg starts to get slimmer rather than on the widest part of my calf. That detail is always important to me when I wear any dress or cropped pants.

This look would also be great for a woman who has a pear shape. The zipper pocket details of the shirt lift the eye up and, if tucked in, would define the smaller waist of the pear shape. In addition, the black pants with simple lines are very flattering, and the dark color on the bottom formula is perfect for the pear shape.

Because I have an inverted triangle shape with a wide waistline, I rarely tuck in a top. This hemline is slightly lower in the back, which makes it very flattering for me. The fabric is whisper lightweight, so I can wear it even when our hot weather arrives.

The old clutch bag I found years ago at T.J.Maxx brought in the fun pop of red I really like with black and white.

If Only It Had Sleeves Part II

The crepe tank dress is a versatile and classic piece that many women have in their wardrobe.

I  have found the perfect tank dress with a not too high slit on one side and an effortless body-skimming design. When my tuille sleeves arrived later from If Only It Had Sleeves, I knew this would be the perfect marriage.

Tank dresses look great with jean jackets and fun little cardigans. The lack of sleeves means that I always layer in some way. This dressed-up version worked for a more formal evening.

I posted earlier here about the lace version of these perfect solutions for the problem of "If only it had sleeves."

Below is the model from the site showing how the sleeves look without the tank dress. Thankfully, they don't add any bulk under your clothes.

This look's accessories include a fabulous handmade clutch, which was a long-ago gift from a wonderful Fifty, not Frumpy follower. (Thank you!) The rings were gifts from Mr. M.

The shoes are old by Gianni Bini via Dillard's.

The sleeves were designed and are made by a company located in the United Kingdom, but they are happy to ship worldwide. You can see all their other products and colors here.

Classic Casual, My Way

Give me the perfect white shirt and a softly faded pair of jeans, and I am ready to attend any casual event.

It's no secret that I am a lover of the classics. From music to home decor and handbags, I am drawn to the elements that withstand the test of time.

When I began my search for the perfect summer handbag, I knew it needed to be classic, versatile, and durable. I am not interested in disposable fashion. I prefer to invest in one timeless, well-made piece that I can carry for several summers. When I saw this one from J. McLaughlin in Town and Country magazine, I knew it was the one for me right away. I was thrilled to learn that they had just opened a store in Blowing Rock, North Carolina!

Sometimes all you need is the perfect white shirt to get the day off to a great start. This one has enough substance to be worn layered over a slim-fitting tank, which is the perfect way to wear a classic white shirt with my button challenging figure.

The blended, smooth fabric looks crisp and feels comfortable. Sheer, lightweight fabric isn't as forgiving or soft flowing over a tank. I like that this shirt holds its shape to keep me looking freshly turned out all day.

No jiggly bits in sight! Success!

The cuff and faded ankle jeans are old from Chico's. The BCBGeneration sandals are from Saks Off 5th.

Today I am using my new light tent for the first time. This lighting system was a gift from my friends at Fabrizio Gianni. Now I can shoot detailed accessory close-ups for you even at 4 am! I am grateful to the whole Fabrizio Gianni team for this very thoughtful gift.

The earrings and dome ring are both from B'Dazzled in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Cali and York sent me the perfect white shirt. I am wearing a size medium over a white Clara Sunwoo tank top supplied by ShopMyFairLady.