Les Misérables

Last evening Mr. Mickey and I attended the gala premiere and fundraising event to benefit Theatre Bristol and the Paramount Center for the Arts.

Excellent French cuisine with champagne was provided by K.P. Duty.

Dining music was provided by NFusion.

There is a great display of antique movie house items in the lobby.

We had a perfectly wonderful evening. The performance was world-class and included almost sixty cast members. They received a four-minute standing ovation!

I wore a black mesh sleeve top from last year and black Black Label wide-leg pants, both from Chico's. The silver clutch is from T.J.Maxx. The Sam Edelman shoes are old from Nordstrom. The earrings are old from Stein Mart.

Covered Perfectly Vest and Tunic

You have been asking me about the Covered Perfectly tunics ever since I was in California to model for the line earlier this year.

Today I thought I would show you the two pieces I get the most questions about.

I am most often asked, "Can you see through the white tunics?". The medium I am wearing fits well, but the fabric is so densely woven, the black leggings I am wearing do not show underneath the white fabric even in natural daylight.

The second question I am often asked is, "What other ways can the cascading vest be worn?"

I forgot to bring a belt for this shoot, but you could wear the vest belted for a slimmer silhouette. I also like to wear it knotted low in front.

You can also wear it as a scarf. Hold one of the armholes in one hand but the rest of the garment around your neck, and thread it all through the armhole. Viola! You have a lovely scarf!

The tunic is so comfortable and lightweight you can wear it even on the hottest day.

The easy-care fabric can be machine washed and hung to dry.

Never Boring Basics

You have likely noticed that the foundation of my look is basic pieces with interesting accessories and toppers.

Basics can get boring if you never play with texture or color, so today, I am showing you how my super comfortable white jean style twill pants from Fabrizio Gianni and a white tank can be given a little edge with a dark wash denim jacket and a mint tote also from Fabrizio Gianni.

Living at a higher elevation with evening temperatures that dip into the sixties or lower means I never leave for the day without taking an extra layer. Since I was going out for a day of casual sightseeing activities, the tote and scarf were the perfect accessories. I can wear a scarf or use it to soften the texture of the tote. Tying a colorful scarf to your bag in warm weather is a great way to add a pop of color to your basic look without being too warm by wearing it during the day. The tote is also roomy enough to put the jacket into when I don't need it.

I always wear a tank with wide straps and a nice fit but not too tight. If I do need to remove my jacket, I can still be comfortable and appropriate.

This is my favorite summer tote! It is lightweight, and the mint color goes with all my basics beautifully while adding a pop of color. It is also roomy enough to hold all the things I need to take for a full day of activities.

I have numerous items from Fabrizio Gianni that I have enjoyed wearing many times. I appreciate that the items are made in the USA, and the quality is always very high. Their customer service is excellent!

Zacasha Tassel Necklaces

Many have asked about the statement necklaces I often wear.

The necklaces feature Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls.

Visit the Fabrizio Gianni site to see all the beautiful colors of this necklace.

Casual Bohemian

When I was a teenager, this was very much my signature look. However, my jeans were low rise bell bottoms. (Don't laugh!)

This beautifully embroidered linen and rayon top was sent to me by J.Jill. It is so much cooler than a knit top!

The jeans are slim ankle jeans from Chico's. The shoes are old by Anne Klein Sport via T.J.Maxx. The bracelet was a gift from my friend Lois.

This was our late lunch on this casual lazy day. This sandwich includes Rudis organic ancient grain bread with some veganaise, sprinkled with garlic powder, organic lettuce, heirloom tomato, avocado slices, balsamic vinegar, and a tiny drizzle of olive oil. The wine is Apothic Red.

While I am showing you a look that was one I wore in my youth, I was not this slim when I was sixteen. When I was a Junior in high school, I weighed about twenty pounds more than I do today. My weight was never consistent until about five years ago, when I switched to a mostly plant-based diet. I read the book "Eat To Live" by Dr. Fuhrman, which taught me what to eat and why. My weight has remained about the same since I lost more than forty pounds at that time. This is a life-long record!

Jeans and a Tee

How often do you wear jeans and a tee? That combination has become a global uniform.

Sometimes I like to wear a more sophisticated and feminine version of this look. These cotton twill stretch slim fit white jeans are from Fabrizio Gianni. The fabric is soft and lightweight but not see-through. The fit is perfection.

I am also wearing a fabulous tee with three-quarter-length sleeves and a very flattering neckline from Fabrizio Gianni. I love the fabric of this top! It smooths and skims across your body without showing all those jiggly bits.

The Halogen flats are from Nordstrom, and the BCBG bag and Kenneth Cole sunglasses are from T.J.Maxx.

Visit their site to see all of the beautiful basics in the Fabrizio Gianni line and learn about their great Shop and Dash program. All these top quality items are made in the USA!

Alone?

I receive letters from readers who ask for tips on traveling and just navigating through life now that they are newly alone late in life.

I have spent many years of my life alone, so I am very comfortable with my own company. My first tip is to become your own best friend. Speak kindly to yourself. When you look in the mirror, do you say, "You look great in that top!" or are there more unkind thoughts? You would never speak that way to someone you care deeply about, so you should always think of yourself with kindness and positive terms.

Enjoy getting dressed nicely even if you aren't planning to go out. Sometimes when you look great, you suddenly realize you need something from the grocery or decide to go for a walk. Sitting home in your pajamas almost guarantees you will stay home alone.

Treat yourself to breakfast at a nice restaurant. There is an elegant hotel here in town, and I sometimes get dressed well for no reason and go there for breakfast. It is a pleasant break from my normal routine. If it feels strange to dine alone, take a prop. I keep a small notepad in my bag at all times. You will never know if I am working on a speech, that novel I've been writing, or my grocery list.

Go shopping! You aren't required to buy anything, but watching people is always a treat. That holds very true in Asheville. This beautiful lady is Lynn. She helped me so much on a recent trip to the Chico's in Biltmore Village. The mesh jacket, tank, and jeans I am wearing are all from Chico's.

Sidewalk Cafés are a favorite! I usually get to visit with a puppy or two, and that always makes my day brighter.

Sign up for a tour! Below is a pubcycle in Asheville. You get exercise and fresh air while you drink your beer. There are guided walking tours, bus tours, and even Segway tours in Asheville. Your town may have secrets you have yet to discover. 

I have gone alone on bus tours, tours by small plane, helicopter, and by boat. I have taken a tour of Biltmore alone and then spent the day walking around the grounds. 

I have walked the streets of Nova Scotia, Canada, Málaga, Spain, and Athens, Greece alone. Sometimes it is better to do things alone so that you can travel at your own pace and stop to enjoy doing whatever gives you pleasure without detaining someone who may not be interested in the same things.

So when you see a lady sitting alone at a Sidewalk Café. Smile and stop to visit with her if you like. I'll bet she is having a grand time!

If you have more tips or encouraging thoughts for our sisters who may be moving through life alone for the first time, please comment below or send me an email. I will share more of them in a future post.

Farewell to the Inn

We had a fabulous meal in the Dining Room during our last evening at the Inn at Biltmore to celebrate Mr. Mickey's birthday.

I wore a silver and white sweater duster over a white tank and white jeans, all from Chico's. The various necklaces are silver with crystal and silver with turquoise. I often layer necklaces and bracelets for a more dramatic look.

Historic Day!

Mr. Mickey and I are on our way to an elaborate champagne brunch in the Inn's Dining Room at Biltmore.

We spent the whole day getting pampered in the Spa and lounging by the pool.

Below is the Library Lounge.

There is a baby grand piano at the end of the fabulous lobby before you get to the Library Lounge. We were entertained by Fred, the talented pianist, each evening.

There is a majestic panoramic view of mountains from almost every exit and window of the Inn.

The gardens were so fragrant! It was magical sitting here in the evening after dinner.

Fresh roses were on each table and on the vanity in every bath.

June 6th was the birthday of a truly great man (Mr. Mickey), but it was also the day that American Pharoah won the Triple Crown! We stood at the back of the tiny bar area so that we could share in the excitement. Did you cheer as if you had lost your mind? All of us gathered there in front of that TV certainly did!