Wear Red Day

I am a proud member of the Go Red for Women Circle of Red. We organized a special presentation for Wear Red Day, which was on February 5th.

Another member showed up with a very similar look. Great minds!

Do you know that 80% of heart disease and stroke events may be prevented by lifestyle changes and education? Heart disease is the number one killer of women. To learn more, go to the American Heart Association's website at Heart.org.

During February, American Heart Month, participating hospitals in East Tennessee and across the country will pass out thousands of little red hats to newborns' parents as a part of the Little Hats, Big Heart's program.

The Little Hats, Big Hearts program raises awareness of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect.

Volunteers from across Tennessee and four other states have hand knitted over six hundred Little Red hats. In the photo above, our Chair, Maggie Ingram, and I explain the program to Pete Peterson, our city manager, just before the presentation.

The Arctic air has returned to my area, so I wore layers. The red dress worn as a tunic was supplied to me by J.Jill last year. The leggings are by Hue via Dillard's worn over Hanes pantyhose in the color jet. The boots are by Saks via Saks Off 5th. The oversize black and gray animal print knit scarf are old via Nordstrom. The gray quilted bag is from Express.

I only wear this dress as a tunic because of the above the knee length. This would be a good look for a pear or apple-shaped body. Wearing a necklace or scarf brings the focus up to your face. 

The tunic fits nicely above the bust and then relaxes into an A-line, which flows across your body, not accentuating any particular area. I love the fact that it has pockets!

Everyday Leggings

What do you throw on to run to the grocery store?

Yesterday, I wore leggings which are very comfortable and warm. I didn't even own a pair of leggings until last year. Now I have several pairs.

The long faux leather-trimmed vest and cowl neck sweater are old from Chico's. The bag is old by Calvin Klein via T.J.Maxx. It has become my everyday bag because it seems to go with anything. I read somewhere that if your bag and shoes match your natural hair color, you will wear them much more often than any other. 

The loafers are by BCBG via Saks Off 5th. Did you know that BCBG means bon chic, bon genre? In English, it means good style, a good sort. It is an expression used in France to refer to a subculture of the Paris upper class's stylish members.

Wearing long tops with leggings and flats is the perfect running errands attire for me in cool weather. I like the long and lean look and enjoy comfort. I still love to wear my heels, but when I know I will be walking a lot, I wear comfortable flats.

Our weather can change as much as forty degrees in one day, so layers are essential for me. Ruanas and vests are the perfect layers because you can take them off when you need to and still be well dressed but comfortable.

I like to wear a top that stops at about my fingertips over leggings. The extra layer over it can be shorter or longer. The ideal proportion is to visually divide your body in thirds (not in half).

Why Plants?

About five years ago, I stopped eating meat and processed foods. I lost weight, but that was not my motivation. 

When I visited my doctor for my annual checkup in 2011, she warned me about my fatty liver, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, the nodules on my thyroid, and noted that my gall bladder would have to come out. I had gallstones. 

She wrote prescriptions for three different medications that I would have to take for the rest of my life and made appointments to see two specialists. She was also concerned about my blood sugar since I was now a borderline diabetic. 

The flat shoes I wore that day didn't help. My feet still hurt a lot from inflammation because of arthritis. Just walking into her office was painful. I had seven sinus infections that year. At least two migraines per week (sometimes more) were normal for me during that time.

I read the book "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman while recovering from gall bladder surgery. Within a week, I started to lose weight and feel better. When I went back to my surgeon for my six-week checkup, I had lost twenty pounds. He was thrilled with my progress!

Later that day, I ran two miles on the path around that same hospital where the gall bladder surgery had been performed a few weeks before. I must say, I felt a little like Rocky when I did that!

Processed foods are deadly for me. I will not buy them. The only things you will find in my pantry and refrigerator are plant-based foods in the most natural and organic state. The changes I made in my food choices made a major difference in my health and the way I feel every day. I no longer take any medications, and my lab results are similar to those of a teenager. My doctors are amazed and motivated by the changes I have made and maintained over the years.

If we eat in a restaurant, as we sometimes do, I will order a salad, a side order of broccoli or some other steamed vegetable, and a glass of wine. I mostly skip the bread and share an occasional dessert when Mr. Mickey wants to have one. Three small bites are enough to fully enjoy it.

This is normally my breakfast.

The photo above shows what my breakfast looks like about 95% of the time. I use fresh fruit that is always changing with the seasons. 

One of my lovely followers shared this with me recently. Emily wrote: "I have suffered from chronic constipation (IBS) for years, and this recipe seems to have reversed this disease. I am very regular with no stomach cramps!!!! PTL!!! Thank you so very much for this wonderful recipe!!!!"

You will find the porridge recipe here when you scroll down to the bottom of the page.

This is normally my late in the day lunch.

A typical late lunch might be steamed veggies over a salad with a baked sweet potato. I often make a meatless chili or vegetable soup for lunch in winter. I use frozen vegetables without any preservatives or salt in my soup. 

Two meals per day are enough for me. If I feel hungry later in the day, I may have a piece of fruit or some hot tea. I sleep much better with an empty stomach.

This might be a different late in the day wintertime lunch.

I drink lots of filtered water with lemon every day. Many digestive issues are a result of not being adequately hydrated. I never drink sodas!

Eating highly nutritious plants, seeds, nuts, dried beans, and grains has allowed me to maintain a healthy weight for several years. This is the first time in my life that I have been able to do that. I have struggled with my chubbiness since I was a child. 

The best part of all this is that my immune system is powerful. I have not had a cold in years!

The many letters I get from readers who thank me for turning them on to a plant-based diet are so special to me. This one came just this week.

"Susan, when I found you on FB, I decided to follow you because you look so fabulous in skinny jeans. I am 64, and since menopause, I have gained a tremendous amount of weight. Anyhow, I wanted to tell you that I too found "Eat to Live" and started a new life on November 16. 

I have lost 25 pounds and have 75 more to go. I will continue to be inspired by you. We are both prolonging our lives. But I have to say what I want to do most right now is look as good as you do in your clothes. 

You are lovely, and I think you ought to talk more about your plant-based diet. It would be a great service. I have inspired two male friends to adopt this way of eating, and they cannot thank me enough! They have lost more weight than I have, and now they think I'm the greatest."

Sharing fashion tips and style inspiration with you is fun, but the most important thing I hope to accomplish with this blog is to encourage you to eat for your best health. Never underestimate the power of plants to help you regain your health.

Magic Pants!

Are you confident in your pants and shoe combinations?

It was almost seventy degrees in Asheville on Sunday! So I wore one of my favorite combinations to brunch at the Grove Park Inn. 

I feel very comfortable in a long cardigan or jacket, a tank top over great fitting ankle pants, and a pair of fun heels. This long cardigan is old from Saks Off 5th. The silver tank is old from Chico's. 

Have you worn Lisette L Pants? Hoda and Kathy Lee feature them on today's show often. These were supplied to me by Purple Poppy in Cape Cod. 

I enjoy wearing ankle-length pants because my legs are short. That means this length won't bunch up on the top of the short boots and funky shoes I like to wear, such as these Vince Camuto shoes. If the jeans I am wearing are too long, I may turn them up a couple of times to fit long and lean instead of creating that very unattractive bunching over the top of the shoe. To my eye, this event adds pounds through the muffin shoe effect. (Yet another muffin to think about!) 

I always want to wear pants that fit smoothly and stop no more than one inch above the top of the shoe or boot. Again, I do not want to create visual breaks on my legs to make them look even shorter because I have short legs. That's why I rarely ever wear cropped pants. When I do, I make sure they end at the slimmest part of my leg and not on my thick calves. I will also wear a killer pair of nude sandals with a heel or platform to elongate my legs.

I look for pants that are slim fitting with a smooth waistband. That is another reason these pants are winners! This color is dark slate, which will go with everything in my closet. I had never worn this brand of pants before, but as soon as I slipped them on, I felt as if I had lost five pounds. 

They have a wide comfortable waistband as well as a built-in fit-control feature that is fantastic. It smooths your tummy area without ever feeling constricted or uncomfortable. I can easily see why these are the favorite pant style for Hoda and Kathy Lee!

Many of you tell me you don't wear heels, so I am also showing you how to wear these pants with cute flats. Notice that I paired a shorter asymmetric jacket supplied to me by IC Collection via ShopMyFairLady with these bow detail flats by Vince Camuto. This pairing shows more of the full length of my leg. This proportion is also better for petite women. A more fitted jacket would also flatter the petite woman.

These pants were supplied by Purple Poppy, and the jacket was supplied by ShopMyFairLady.

The opinions are my own.

I limit statement accessories to one area per look. Too many accessories and a bag that matches your shoes can look dated. I normally wear ankle pants and cute shoes without socks. The Kenneth Cole Reaction clutch is old from T.J.Maxx.

I hope you find these tips for wearing ankle pants helpful. They have been around for several years, and I see them offered in many different styles each season. They are here to stay for me!

A Drive In The Country

After a hectic week, I look forward to long lazy Saturdays with no particular schedule.

On this beautiful day, we stopped in Jonesborough to walk through town and enjoy the sunshine before continuing our journey through the countryside to visit the Amish store. I like to go there a couple of times a year to buy most of my food in bulk. I stock up on dried beans, rolled and steel-cut oats, flax seeds, lentils, and various spices.

I was growing very weary of dressing for cold weather. Our morning started out with temperatures in the 30s, but as the afternoon progressed, I removed my short black trenchcoat and pushed up my J's sleeves. Jill cashmere tunic. It was pure bliss to sit in the sunshine for a moment and enjoy temperatures in the mid-60s!

J.Jill supplied this tunic. 

The opinions are my own.

Today I wore flat BCBG Leather Loafers and short soft crew socks from Ralph Lauren. The dark wash slightly boot-cut slim fit jeans from Loft are the right style for this type of flat shoe. 

When I wear flat shoes and socks, I chose a pair of pants that just touch the top of my foot and have a slight flare at the leg opening. The socks should match the pants. I like to keep the same tone to elongate the leg. For example, if I had worn tan loafers, my legs would have looked shorter. 

I am often asked how I decide which shoes to wear with each pant style. I will write more about pairing shoes with pant styles in tomorrow's blog post.

Jonesborough is the oldest town in Tennessee. It is always a treat to go for a walk there on warm sunny days.

Rolling meadows and the foothills of distant mountain ranges provide breathtaking views along our journey.

My early childhood spent on a farm in the western North Carolina mountains means that brief glimpses of farm life always bring me joy. These horses left the meadow at full gallop when they heard this farmer's truck arrive. They knew that dinner was about to be served.

The Nolichucky river winds lazily through the valley, creating prized fertile farmland.

I hope you have enjoyed sharing part of our peaceful day with us.

Inspiration

I am often asked where I get my inspiration for putting together outfits.

I may see pictures of young people in color and fabric combinations that spark my interest. For example, below is the beautiful young blogger Alyson Haley. Her look was my inspiration for the look above. You can see from this comparison that inspiration does not mean copying to the letter.

My interpretation includes a slim black turtleneck with a slim black blazer and a supple soft plaid scarf. I never want to add bulk to my upper body. A smaller, more structured bag serves me well. Faded straight leg jeans make the look more relaxed, and the sophisticated loafers bring the look back up a notch.

Having great style includes knowing what looks good on your body shape. I know that I would look like a sumo wrestler in the fabulous ensemble Alyson put together, but it flatters her delicate small frame beautifully.

I have always loved Ralph Lauren ads! They take me away to a world I can only dream about.

The rich colors and fabric combinations may get my attention, but my body requires thinner pieces with a more forgiving cut and smoother textures. So I will layer pieces differently to smooth my softer, rounder shape.

Price has nothing to do with style. I know women who shop at Neiman Marcus and still manage to look a mess. I also have friends who shop at Goodwill and always look stunning. The secret is in knowing what flatters your body and how to put things together to honor you.

Inspiration helps me create modern and youthful looks, but I know some changes are necessary to make the look work for my body shape. I hope this exercise helps you to look at your wardrobe and the inspiration around you in a new way.

Animal Print is a Neutral

I ventured outside for the first time in days!

I have adored animal print since the '80s. Each season, I think it might fall out of fashion, but it keeps coming back stronger. It is now considered neutral. While most of these prints are too golden for my cool skin tone, this top seems to work well for me. I find that some earthy neutrals will work if they have a reddish hue. The black and white tone animal prints are much more within my comfort zone. I usually reserve the brown animal prints for accessories only.

This animal print dress/tunic by Tyler Boe is from Monkee's of Johnson City. I modeled it in a fashion show last year and later purchased it.

I rarely buy them now, but a few animal prints and geo prints can still be found in my wardrobe.

I only wear this dress as a tunic with leggings. These reptile texture black leggings are labeled "Jack," and I found them in a small boutique on Hilton Head Island. The over the knee boots are old by Vince Camuto. They have a knit panel in the back, which makes it possible for me to wear them. My muscular calves mean most boots and all skinny jeans are out of the question for me.

The necklace is old from Chico's. The bag is old from Finely House Couture in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

The faux leather-trimmed black ruana is old from Carlise/PER SE. I enjoy wearing ruanas since you can layer them over a coat or any other item to provide stylish extra warmth when needed. Toss one side over your shoulder to look more polished.

Style Evolution

When you look back at photos of me from 2010, you will see a woman who was forty pounds heavier, very unhealthy, very stressed out, and very confused about my style.

I dumped the very frumpy wardrobe and forty pounds in about six months. It took a few more years for me to settle into a style that reflects my personality.

Style is unspoken communication. For a few years, after I lost weight, my style said, "I am dressing in what might be age-appropriate, but It feels as if I am wearing my mother's clothes and shoes." Crepe sole, round toe shoes make me feel ill. Boxy jackets and masculine-style-tailored slacks will never touch my body again!

One pop of color and one statement piece of jewelry (not three!) works much better for me. Wide lapels, or heaven forbid, two wide lapels plus a scarf is not a good look for me. The muted golden brown tones of the scarf and the too textured cardigan's color are entirely wrong for me.

Another what was I thinking moment! Up close and in person, this jacket looked like a subtle animal print. In photos, it looks like an ode to Duck Dynasty. After I stopped buying prints, my closet became my happy place.

Other, more subtle changes helped me to relax into a look that feels more authentic to my personality. I let my hair grow out a bit, and it is now cut into a stacked angled bob that is side-parted to be more flattering to my round face. 

My stylist added some very subtle lowlights underneath to give my gray more depth to softly frame my face. She also adds a chrome glaze to my hair and trims it every five or six weeks. I no longer blow dry it every day, so it is much healthier and fuller.

In my most recent photos, you will see a woman who wears what feels comfortable. My wardrobe doesn't just physically fit my body; it now reflects my personality. 

I have ditched the trying too hard hair, too much jewelry, and bulk adding details.

Clean, simple lines, classic pieces in solid neutral colors, sleek, structured bags and shoes, and slim-fitting (not skinny) jeans are my staples. I can now get dressed appropriately and comfortably for any event in about five minutes.

I hope this post helps you to see what a difference subtle changes in your style can make.

Your BFF's Closet

Some of my favorite pieces in my collection were hand-me-downs from my dear friend Mitzi. A few years ago, we both lost weight. As she shrank out of some things, they still fit me because of my larger upper body.

This Ralph Lauren cardigan with a faux fur collar is a great piece to throw on with jeans and a Covered Perfectly Simple Comfort long sleeve top. I love that these tops can be tucked in since they are never bulky. 

I love the idea of a closet swap when you are losing weight. When I started my weight loss journey a few years ago, I wore some things only a couple of times before I shrank out of that size. My staff got lots of almost new pieces as my sizes changed.

Team up with a friend to swap clothes as you lose weight. It is a great way to stay motivated and not have to spend a mint on clothes as you change sizes.

These jeans are Girlfriend Ankle Jeans from Chico's. I wore Ralph Lauren crew socks with Calvin Klein booties. The bag is old from Finely House Couture in Blowing Rock.

Vest Love

For the longest time, I never wore vests. In the past few years, I have fallen hard for them.

This edgy, blazer style black vest is from Fabrizio Gianni. I am still working on putting together my wardrobe for my upcoming travels. This will be the perfect third piece for warmer climates. I have become very fond of sleek fitting vests because they can give a jacket's slimming look without being too warm or adding bulk.

Fabrizio Gianni supplied the vest and the necklace. The opinions are my own.

We shot these photos on a mild day last week. At this moment, we have six inches of snow on the ground, and we are expecting another foot of snow.

The necklace set is also from Fabrizio Gianni. I love the lightweight and delicate silver and gray colors of the Swarovski crystals and tassels. It also looks great against a black background. Winner!

The perfect straight-leg jeans were supplied by J.Jill. I call these my Goldilocks jeans. Not too tight, not too long, not too distressed, just right! 

The shoes are old by DV Dolce Vita. The Calvin Klein bag is old via T.J.Maxx. 

The perfect for layering under everything tunic is from Covered Perfectly. 

(I purchased this one.)

I now invest only in pieces of good quality and basic design in the few solid colors I truly enjoy wearing. That means I can pair these pieces together in many combinations. This simple tip has helped me to build a great wardrobe that serves me well for any occasion.