Spirits of the Season

One-Stop Wines & Liquors was the proud underwriter of the Spirits of the Season event so that 100% of the ticket price went to the American Cancer Society.

I chose a silhouette of long over lean, meaning the top and the jacket are longer and fuller and the pants are snug fitting with high heeled ankle boots to elongate the legs.

To achieve this look I chose a pair of black leggings worn with black suede and snakeskin short boots with a black animal print lace overlay tunic. For the accessories, I added a couple of silver and crystal accent necklaces and small crystal earrings along with a crystal accent dinner ring.

The black top and leggings are from Chico's. The black topper is by Geiger from Masengill's Specialty Shop.

We enjoy attending these fundraiser events because it gives us a chance to visit with friends we don't see often enough. The American Cancer Society events are a favorite because they give you the chance to do just that without speeches and auctions.

I always enjoy visiting with my beautiful friend Dottie.

There were many spirits to taste and great foods to enjoy in the elegant Johnson City Country Club ballroom.

The Vince Camuto booties are from Nordstrom. The clutch is old from T.J.Maxx. The ring is old from Stein Mart. The necklaces and earrings are several years old. That's the beauty of buying classic basic elements, you can wear them for many years and in many combinations.

Jacket With An Attitude

Wearing one edgy item with basics shows you know what is going on in fashion without looking too trendy.

I found this biker style faux leather jacket embossed with a reptile texture at Stein Mart a few weeks ago.

Mr. Mickey and I went out to dinner to celebrate eight years and eight months of dating.

The black ponte skirt is from Chico's last year. The earrings are from B Dazzled in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and the ring was a long-ago gift from Mr. Mickey.

I found the shoes at Saks OFF 5th. They are very comfortable, so you will be seeing them often.

Wear It Wednesday - Textures

You already know that leather is a big fashion statement this fall.

Have you seen people wearing three or more leather items at once? Too many leather pieces at once can come off as very harsh for most of us. Especially if those items are black.

Combining lighter and darker pieces in suede, leather, fur, or animal print calf-hair is a much more flattering look for most people.

For example, a long cozy sweater with leather leggings would look great, but the same leggings with a leather jacket would be too harsh. Mix up the textures for a more interesting and wearable look.

Island Time

It was a rare long weekend for us. We were able to get away and visit with our dearest friends at their beach house on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

We dressed for dinner and went out to a nice restaurant every evening.

Afternoons were spent sitting on the patio talking, having a glass of wine, and watching the wildlife across, on, and under the pond beyond the pool. No close visits from gators this time!

Our friends Bryan and Nancy surprised us all when they showed up on Halloween ... dressed for the occasion.

I took with me a variety of jeans, jackets, tanks, and tees but I had a wonderful time buying even more on our day of shopping.

Leaving for a day of shopping at Chico's on the island and at the Tanger Outlets!

This sculpture in the landscape by the pool is a tribute to all the critters we see around the pond.

Dressed for cool weather and lots of walking at the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance on Sunday.

Mr. Mickey's favorite.

My favorite! Sporty little number isn't it?

I hope you had a great weekend too!

Tartan Ruana

Ruanas are a very stylish alternative to sweaters.

I love the elegant look of sweeping one side over the other shoulder.

This Tartan Ruana is from Foxcroft. All of their items are very high quality. The styles are timeless and elegant.

I wore the ruana with black jeans, a silver-gray long sleeve tee, and D'Orsay suede heels.

On an earlier occasion, I wore the ruana with a black long sleeve tee and black pencil skirt with short boots and opaque tights.

It would also work very well with faded blue jeans and a black turtleneck.

Foxcroft Sweater Jacket

Foxcroft products are always top-notch and so easy to mix and match with other items I already own.

For over twenty-five years, Foxcroft has provided impeccably made, well-constructed clothing that makes their pieces so comfortable to wear. They create for the confident woman who looks for casual but versatile polished looks when she updates her wardrobe with new elements.

Head designer Laura Poretzky-Garcia gives classic patterns a fresh, updated attitude.

I will reach for this piece again and again. The sleek silhouette is an added layer that is soft and comfortable without adding bulk.

The close-up below shows the beautiful texture and colors of the front panels. The back and sleeves are solid black.

Lobster, Vintage Fur and Diamonds

We recently joined friends for dinner at Café Pacific. It is located in North Johnson City.

We have cool temperatures now in the evenings, so I wore a vintage fur-trimmed black cable front sweater by Ralph Lauren. I have a few jackets and high-end sweaters that were fabulous gifts from my friend Mitzi when she also recently downsized. When I wear a vintage piece, I keep the look sleek and simple and wear it with very modern elements.

The pants are pieced faux leather front leggings from Chico's. The Adea tank is my all-time favorite!

We had not been to Café Pacific in several years, so we had forgotten what a treat to the eyes and the palate it is to have even a small meal there. We share and order small plates often.

There was a delicious amuse-bouche from Chef Scott. Amuse-Bouches are different from appetizers in that they are not ordered from a menu by patrons, but when served, are done so free and according to the chef's selection alone. These are often accompanied by a complementing wine, are served both to prepare the guest for the meal and offer a glimpse into the chef's approach to the art of cuisine. This one is strawberries with herbs and a balsamic reduction with a passion fruit juice chaser.

The warm pieces of bread were served with whipped herbed butter and pesto olive oil for dipping.

The lobster bisque is a divine dish that is so rich we recommend sharing.

Everyone had a delicious seasonal salad.

Have you ever had a dessert amuse-bouche? This tiny bite was so full of fall flavor!

Now for the real dessert! We also shared this fabulous decadent chocolate dessert with fresh berries and a delightful light cream sauce. 

The shoes are by BCBGeneration via Dillard's. (Aren't they fierce?!) The antique amber watch, the ring, and the earrings were gifts from Mr. Mickey. The evening bag is from T.J.Maxx.

Many of you have asked me how to keep my weight down while going out to eat so often. Mr. Mickey and I share a few small plates and then order a salad as an entrée. I get to taste several different dishes without feeling I have to eat the whole thing.

Starting Over

Someone asked me a great question this week. "If you were buying a whole new wardrobe, what would you start with?"

When starting a capsule wardrobe, the points you need to consider include lifestyle, personal style, and colors that work for you. If you never attend a formal event or work exclusively from home, you might not need many dressy pieces in your wardrobe capsule.

The black, white, and red combination works well for me, but black is too harsh for many people. Brown, cream, and rust, or perhaps navy, ivory, and plum, might be better groups of colors for you.

A nice pair of slacks in a dark color would be one of the first things to buy. Next would be a good quality fitted jacket that you can wear with everything (remember not too boxy). A great jacket can make even a nice pair of jeans look appropriate for many events. Jeans are considered neutral but not too faded out works best for most of us.

Scoop neck long sleeve tees and tanks in your color grouping allow you to change your look. I chose scoop neck over V neck or turtleneck because they are more flattering to most face shapes. If you wear a jacket with a V neck top, it sometimes gives you two of the same V shapes. Contrasting shapes are more pleasing to the eye. If you add a necklace, remember this tip. Three necklines of the same form can look cluttered.

If you have been following me for a while, you know that I did indeed have to buy a whole new wardrobe in 2011. Not even my shoes fit after I lost 45 pounds. I wish I had known how to use this formula then. It would have saved me a lot of buying mistakes.

A straight black pencil skirt to wear with opaque tights and boots might also be a good look for you. The long cardigan would look great with jeans too. The purpose of choosing a capsule of three colors and essential pieces is that almost all the pieces can be mixed and matched to create many different looks without having to spend a lot of money.

Wear It Wednesday - Choices

A few years ago, I was about fifty pounds over my ideal weight, and I was ill quite often. My fashion choices were plunging into the depths of frumpy old lady styles. I had given away all of my jeans and cool shoes because I was convinced I should start dressing in a more mature style.

A print knit top with ugly khaki slacks and a strange summer weight scarf to top it all off was my look for our tour of the Barnsley Garden ruins in the early spring of 2010. Check out those sensible shoes.

In 2011 I read the book "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. It gave me the information I needed to help me make healthier choices at mealtime. 

Over the next few months, I lost more than forty pounds and found my confidence again. My health improved dramatically. I returned to wearing my lifelong favorites, including jeans and solids in neutral colors. I now have many styles and colors of jeans and wear them with attractive shoes almost every day. I am honoring my true self.

The top photo was taken when I was four years younger, but the extra weight and clothing style makes me appear ten to fifteen years older.

The choices we make at every meal, and each time we get dressed, reflect our self-image. Your clothing selection is silent communication with those who see you, but those clothes also send messages to your inner self. Each time I saw myself in a picture or caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror during that earlier time, I was filled with self-loathing. My inner voice would always say, "What has happened to you?" 

It makes a monumental difference when I am at or near my ideal weight and wear clothes that feel comfortable. Not just comfortable on my body but also clothes that reflect who I really am. I grew up on a farm in western North Carolina, so I was always a bit of a tomboy. Floral prints, dresses, and ruffles are entirely against my nature.

The moral of this post is, wear what makes you feel comfortable. Wear what reflects your true self. Don't try to fit anyone's perception of what is right for you. Be your best self, and celebrate who you truly are every day.

The black jacket, white tank, and jeans are from Chico's. The belt is from T.J.Maxx. The shoes are by Nine West from Ross. The bag is from Finely House Couture in Blowing Rock, NC.