Comfy?

I enjoy discovering new lines to share with you.

I had never worn pieces from the Comfy line until Purple Poppy recently sent me this top. The tunic is very much in keeping with my style. The striped knit fabric is designed to flatter the waistline and flow softly across your curves.

I am wearing the tunic with Renaur cigarette leg ankle pants, which are also from Purple Poppy.

The sandals are old by Ralph Lauren. The bag is old by Nine West. The sunglasses are by Balmain via Saks Off 5th.

When I wear these long tunics, I pair them with pants that pull on, which means there are no loops, buttons, or zippers to create lumps and bumps under the smooth fabric. A great foundation is also imperative with smooth-fitting tops like this one. The Ultimate Shapeez bra is the coolest and most comfortable option I have found, and it gives you a nice smooth line under your clothes.

This type of look can be worn for business casual, out to lunch with friends, or anytime you want to look appropriate but not too dressed up. Accessories can be used to change the look and attitude to something more dressy. You could also wear this top with sleek black trousers and black heels. Add a turquoise necklace and bag to create an entirely different look. I love the versatility of neutral pieces!

Proportion is Key

You may notice that I dress in a lot of neutral solids.

Owning lots of patterns or prints limits the possible combinations. Solids are also more pleasing to my eyes and less memorable. 

When I add new pieces to my collection, they must be ones I can wear with the items I already have. Owning a wardrobe of components that work together makes my life so much easier. I am all about ease and comfort!

That only leaves me with the task of matching up the correct proportions. For example, long straight-leg jeans might require a more cropped, close-fitting jacket or top.

When the summer heat settles in, I switch to layers of sheer fabrics that flow across my body but add no volume or weight. The linen blend J.Jill cardigan I am wearing here is almost light, but it gives coverage and balance to my look.

I experienced 100% humidity at 100 degrees last week while in Memphis. I saw women of all ages in sundresses and sandals. Dresses are not my favorite thing, so I had no hesitation in slipping into a loose-fitting tank top, white slacks, and strappy sandals when I had to go out during the day. I dress for the weather, the event and then add the accessories that express my mood.

Cropped, close-fitting jeans can be worn with a loose flowing, more extended top. I pair shoes according to the cut of the pant leg. I always wear a higher heel with cropped style or ankle pants because they make my already short legs seem shorter. I usually wear flats with long straight-leg jeans that stop at the top of the foot.

If you are petite (5' 4" or less), you may find that longer tops are never a good look for you. Tops that end at your fingertips are usually as long as you would ever want to go.

We joined friends after work for drinks, so I wore this look. These jeans are a couple of years old by NYDJ. The layered V-neck tank is from White House Black Market. The bag is old by BCBG via T.J.Maxx. Finally, the shoes are by Sam Edelman from Dillard's.

Drive Your British Car Show

We recently attended the annual Drive Your British Car Show in Johnson City.

This year, Mr. Mickey drove his friend's vintage Bentley. There were many great cars there, but the show was cut short by rain this year.

I am always so happy to see my sweet friend Natalie. As the rain started to fall, we retired to the restaurant Gourmet and Company for dinner and many fun conversations.

I followed my formula for dressing on this busy day. Knowing silhouettes flatter your shape and which colors look good near your face helps you get dressed in two minutes.

A blue top and white slim-fitting jeans are an all-time favorite summer look. Nude sandals visually extend my relatively short legs. Throw on a long necklace that gives me that deep V-neckline, and I am ready for just about any event.

The perfect bra for these smooth-fitting tops is the Ultimate by Shapeez. Soma offers panties that do not show lines under your clothes.

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

I hope that these posts give you some ideas for putting together looks that help you feel more confident and get dressed fun again.

Dearly Beloved

We have returned safely from a most beautiful wedding!

The youngest son of our dearest friends was married to the love of his life this weekend. We were honored to be guests during this weekend of celebrations.

The wedding was held in the fabulous gardens at Heartwood Hall.

I wore a top by IC Collection over a tank by Clara Sunwoo and pants by Lior Paris. All these items were provided by ShopMyFairLady. The shoes are old by BCBG. The clutch is old from T.J.Maxx. The silver link bracelet was a long-ago gift from Mr. Mickey.

The handsome groom dances with his beautiful mother.

All of us gals dancing with the groom!

We wish you a lifetime of dancing together, Kerry and Wes.

Never having had my own children, I shower my love, concern, and pride upon the two sons of my best friend and, of course, their chosen mates. My heart was overflowing with joy and pride as we shared this special weekend with the family we love so very much.

Packing For A Summer Trip

When we travel, I take a few items that work together instead of pack outfits that may or may not be successful when we arrive at our destination. A few great accessories always help to create unique combinations.

For several days, we will be traveling to attend a unique wedding. There will be lots of walking, sightseeing, shopping, exploring old downtown, and eating out. All of these events will be very casual.

One of my personal packing rules is always trying on everything I am taking to make sure it looks the way I think it will look. There is nothing worse than getting ready for that special event only to find that the shoes you brought to go with your pants are too low to bring the hem off the floor. Today I am sharing the looks I plan to create from the items shown above on the rolling rack.

Below, I am wearing the tunic with jeans and sandals, all from J.Jill. The satchel is from JMcLaughlin. The crinkle cotton tunic is so lightweight I could wear it even on a sweltering day.

My apologies for the odd colors in these photos. The camera takes on an agenda of its own when we have to shoot inside and use the flash.

The gala sand-washed tunic will work with all of the pants.

The white long sleeve tee is very lightweight, so I can wear it with the vest and the white jeans when we go out to dinner.

The pieces shown above can be worn in many combinations according to the weather and where we are going. I am just showing you a few of the ways I plan to wear them.

My look for the wedding will include the swing blouse by IC Collection over a tank by Clara Sunwoo and white pants by Lior Paris. All these items were a gift from ShopMyFairLady.com. The silver clutch is old from T.J.Maxx. The silver sandals are old by BCBGeneration.

The life-changing Ultimate Back Smoothing Bra & Body Shaper is by Shapeez.com. I will be buying the black one and will be wearing these for the rest of my life. This is the first bra/shaper item I have ever worn that is so comfortable you forget you have it on, and it actually smooths your midsection and back without being hot. Epic!

Here is a video also!

How to Pose

For a short time, while in my twenties, I taught modeling to preteens at a charm school in Norfolk, Virginia. I have also been asked to model many times, but I do not consider myself a professional by any stretch.

Professional models give the photographer great shots one after the other. We sometimes take forty pictures to get four or five photos that are acceptable for the blog.

Many of you have asked me to share tips on posing for the camera, so this post is for you. I am happy to share what I have learned.

First and foremost is lighting. Always face the light source. The golden hour for perfect lighting is as the sun is setting. The worst time to take a photo is noon. When the light source is coming from directly overhead, your features will create harsh shadows and look more pronounced.

Look for the right background. My Covered Perfectly V-Neck top is black, so a light neutral backdrop allows you to see more of the details of what I am wearing. If I were standing in front of a dark bush or wall, there would be too little contrast.

Stand tall with good posture but relaxed. Imagine a string holding your head high and your body falling in a nice straight line beneath it. Whenever I model with someone, and it is their first time, they always ask, "What do I do with my hands?" Pretend your nails are wet. Relax your hands and keep them soft and natural when you pose. Every move should be fluid and small. The camera will capture it if you are stiff and unnatural in your poses.

Learn your best side, and practice how much a smile is enough. Straight on is best for me since I don't like my profile at all. If I am laughing too much, my gums will be showing. I have learned to look straight into the camera, relax, and give a small smile.

Create angles with your body. Put one foot in front of the other or out to the side, or turn one hip toward the camera. Put one hand on your hip or just bend one arm at the elbow and angle it out from your body. Create space between your arms and legs to avoid looking larger than you are. For example, if your arm is straight by your side, it will look more significant than if you angle it just slightly away from your body. If a part of your body bends, bend it.

Relax and have fun with it. When we are shooting, I am always moving, and Mr. Mickey is clicking away with each shift in movement. I hear a click; I move to a slightly different pose. It takes us less than five minutes to shoot fifty photos.

Remember that whatever is closest to the camera will look largest. For example, when I sit, I never cross my legs to the side and angle the upper leg away from the camera. That makes my thighs look huge!

In the photo above, my hands and feet look larger than they are because they are closest to the camera. That is the perspective. You can use this to your advantage if you understand how to manipulate perspective with your poses.

I keep my face, hands, and feet in line with my knees in these two poses so that nothing appears a lot larger than it is.

Below, my hands are closest to the camera, so they look bigger.

It is almost always better to be looking up at the photographer instead of down. Below is an example of a poor angle.

Two steps down so that I am more eye to eye with the camera is much more flattering. Slightly looking up at the camera is the best angle of all for a portrait shot.

I hope these little tips help you to have fun and get better photos for your book of memories.

In these photos am wearing one of my favorite easy casual looks. The top is the Simple Comfort V-Neck from Covered Perfectly. My waistline is relatively thick, so I used one of my favorite tricks to make it look more defined. That is an old hook and eye belt from Chico's that I am wearing low in the front to create a V rather than a straight horizontal line. For example, if I tucked this top in and wore a belt (horrors!), I would look twenty pounds heavier. 

The Jag Jeans have a smooth wide waistband with no zipper or loops to create lumps and bumps under my tops.

The shoes are at least three years old by Vince Camuto. The bag is a couple of years old by BCBG via T.J.Maxx. It is a great light neutral color, so I carry it often in summer. My favorite sunglasses are by Balmain via Saks Off 5th.

Special Occasions

We never need a special occasion to get dressed up to go out, but we had two important events to attend on a recent Saturday evening. 

Thankfully, I was able to find something in my closet that was appropriate for both events.

The first event was a fundraiser for the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra held at the Blackthorn Club. We enjoyed visiting with a few players and the string quartet that performed this evening. There are seventy players in our Orchestra. It is such a joy to hear their performances.

The flowers at our Club are always gorgeous. It is a surprise to see how much they have grown each time we visit during the summer.

The second occasion of the evening was the 90th birthday party of my sweet friend Ruth's husband, Vinnie.

I was so happy also to see my beautiful friend, fellow life-long model, and neighbor Mary.

Vinnie has always been a great athlete, a devoted husband, a loving family member, and a loyal friend. More than one hundred guests from all over the country came to enjoy a formal dinner, drinks, and dancing in his honor this evening. I loved meeting his Italian nieces from New Jersey!

On this busy evening, I wore a black tank, Travelers pants, and a Travelers duster, all from Chico's last year. The bag is old via Saks Off 5th. The turquoise and blue glass stone earrings are old from Stein Mart. The Kenneth Cole sandals are old from Dillard's.