What's the Difference?

We all know someone who spends a great deal of money on their clothes but rarely looks polished. Why is it that some women can pull things from the 50% off the rack and look like a million dollars in them? 

My theory is that when you know what looks good on you and you wear those items in pleasing combinations, you will look amazing while you spend most of your time enjoying your life. (Not shopping for more clothes or working to pay for those clothes.)

In our society, it isn't acceptable to ask, "How much did you pay for that?" but many of you have written to say, "I could never afford to dress like you." I want you to know that you can shop at Goodwill and still look fabulous!

The picture above was snapped in my office on an average day during the week. Let's put taboos aside and talk about prices for a moment.

The sweater was about $21 at Stein Mart. I picked up the tank top there too. I think it was about $10. The pants are a tweed-like material by Anne Klein. I found those for about $24 at Ross Dress for Less.

This navy blazer is possibly the most expensive thing ever in my closet. It's by Austin Reed (sadly, the company has gone out of business now). The color, the fit, and the classic lines made it a great choice to wear with slim-fitting slacks, especially jeans. It was an investment, but I've been wearing it for more than seven years, so it has earned its keep. 

When you find the perfect garment, and you know you will be wearing it for the rest of your life, spend the money to get the best you can find. All of the other items were found at T.J. Maxx or Talbots at the end of the season. I rarely ever buy anything at full price. Having grown up in retail, I know to wait for a few weeks. It will be on sale, or it just wasn't meant to be mine.

This blouse was about $25 on the final end of the season clearance rack at Chico's, and the pants were found on a sale rack at Stein Mart for about $19 last year.

This jacket was purchased from a sale rack at Stein Mart. I also had a coupon that took 50% more off of the sale price. It cost me about $19! The tank top was from the same shopping day, and it was about $3.50. The pants are from the end of season sale at Talbots. The Tahari handbag is from T.J. Maxx.

This is another jacket purchased from the Stein Mart haul mentioned above. The jacket and tank top were from the Red Dot Clearance rack. With my coupon, the jacket was $17.49, and the tank top was $3.47! The black knit pencil skirt is old from T.J. Maxx ($16.99).


How do you know what to buy? 
Several considerations come into play when I walk up to a sale rack. The first thing that gets my attention is color.

Cool summer colors work best with my coloring. Solid colors can be worn more often and in more combinations than prints, which can be quite memorable. After I find a color I like, the next thing to consider is the fabric. How does it flow across my hand? Is it soft and supple? If the item is made of acrylic or acetate, I will leave it on the rack. Those man-made fabrics are often stiff and scratchy. Worn looking pills and sagging seams occur almost on the first wearing. Some polyester and rayon can be very elegant with beautiful movement and drape. Those and any natural fabrics always get my attention. 

Timeless details and simple lines are high on my list of requirements. The way the garment fits my body type is more important than the number on the size label.

The purpose of this blog is to show you how to look your best no matter what your budget is. I will continue to share style tips and best practices for certain body types. I hope to inspire you to look your best every day to have more confidence while you spend your time doing whatever it is that you love to do.

Have a fabulous weekend! 
Thank you for reading my blog. 

Fitting Pretty

A reader asked for tips for dressing well with petite proportions and an ample figure. Petite means shorter than five feet four inches tall. Some people assume that it means tiny, but the term applies only to height.

Solid tops in soft fabrics that hold their shape have a V neck, and sleeves that can be turned up will flatter you more than a floral shirt with long sleeves and a collar, for example.  Never tuck in your shirt and wear a belt if you are self-conscious of your waistline. A better choice will be a top that can be worn over the waistband. The hem of your jacket or blouse should stop at or near the top of your hip bone. Allow as much leg length to show as possible.

Pants that are tapered and more tailored will look better on you than wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, or flared Capris. Many stores now have a petite section where you can shop for classic pieces worn with several other items in your wardrobe.

Avoid horizontal lines or breaks in your look. Each horizontal hem or color break visually shortens you. For example, a shorter blouse under a jacket that is a bit longer will make you look taller and neater than when both items stop at the same area or the blouse extends beyond the jacket's hem, creating another horizontal line.

Carry smaller bags and look for shoes with a pointed toe. High heels tend not to be a good choice for most petite women. A better choice would be wedges or square heels that have a longer, more pointed toe area. This type of shoe always elongates the leg and makes you look a little taller.

Smaller watches or other jewelry such as buttons or small drop earrings will look best on you. Stay away from chandelier earrings, stacks of bracelets, and statement necklaces. Bold jewelry and colorful patterns in clothing will almost always overwhelm you. Scarves should be small and worn in a very sleek, simple tie or wrap if you choose to wear them. Avoid bulky sweaters and jackets.

Your key pieces should be solid colors that flatter your skin tone and work well together. Find a good tailor and spend the extra money to get pieces tailored to fit perfectly. You will always be glad you did.

I hope these tips prove to be helpful to you. Thank you for reading!

Day Trip

Do you love to take a day trip to a different city?

We enjoy going over to Asheville, North Carolina, when the weather is nice. It's an eclectic city with lots of different restaurants, specialty stores, and art galleries. There are many sidewalk cafés and other al fresco dining opportunities. Musicians and all types of street performers can be found on many corners. This fellow played an instrument and sang beautifully.

Everything but the kitchen sink was used to decorate the entrance to this sidewalk café.

There is still a chill in the air, and the wind was blowing for most of the day, so I was glad I wore a lined hounds-tooth jacket with black pants and a red tank top. It felt great to dress for a spring-like day at last. 

 

 

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great week!

Spring Fever

Do your sleep patterns change with the seasons?

Mickey snapped this photo of me as we left for dinner before going to the symphony last evening. I am shocked at the dark circles under my eyes. This is a result of sleeping for only three or four hours per night this week. When Spring approaches, my body emerges from my winter hibernation with zest. A little inner voice keeps telling me it's time to get up! I wish it would wait until after 2 AM to speak up.

This is the same teal jacket I wore a few weeks ago to brunch. Tonight I paired it with a black tank and lined silky black chiffon Chico's pants from a couple of years ago. We always have to walk quite a long way from the parking lot to the building, so I wore my low heeled Ros Hommerson shoes and carried a small leather-like clutch. 

Thank you for all your recent comments on my blog posts. I love hearing from you! 

Someone asked what I wear when I am just lounging around at home or working in my flower gardens. This is a good point. It may seem that my life is filled with dressy occasions; however, the truth is, I only have one or two special events per week that require me to dress up a bit. 

My normal attire is jeans and a shirt for working in the yard. My daily attire might be jeans or pants of some other type and a sweater, shirt, jacket, or blouse worn mostly open over a tank top. A friend stopped by unannounced early one morning to bring something I had forgotten at her house. She was in yoga pants and running shoes. When she saw me fully made up and wearing a jacket already, she asked, "Who are you dressed up for?" My answer was "Me!" 

Even if I am not feeling well, I get up, shower, and get dressed. I always feel much better afterward. 

I wear jeans often. They may be white, red, khaki, black, or dark blue, but the smooth, simple styling and wash and wear comfort of jeans fit my lifestyle perfectly. Mickey snapped the photo below when we stopped at the top of the mountain on our way to Asheville last fall.

 
It's important to get dressed for yourself too! I regularly purge clothing that is stained, ill-fitting, or unflattering from my closet. Even if I am writing my blog at 4am I am dressed in cotton, flannel back, or brushed back satin pajamas.  My favorite ones are by Miss Elaine. You can find these at most department stores. Pictured below is a style from Serene Comfort.

Thank you so much for reading. 

I hope you have a sunny, happy Sunday! 

Susan's Tips

We all have favorite pieces in our wardrobes that make us feel good when we wear them. It could be because of the fit, the color, the fabric, or the style.

Today, I'm sharing some of my favorites and telling you why they serve me well.

1. Jeans are almost a uniform for some women. When I buy jeans, I look for a dark wash with plain pockets and a straight leg. It is not a skinny leg but a smooth straight line that fits nicely down to the hem. A waistband that sits at my natural waist is more comfortable—no low rise jeans for me.

2. Tank tops are part of many of my casual outfits. I like the fact that they help to give a smooth line under jackets and sweaters. White is a good choice most of the time, but I look for a white that isn't brighter than my teeth.

3. Jackets are a great transition piece for this time of year when the weather is starting to change. I look for slightly fitted styles rather than boxy ones. Breast pockets are not a good idea for me since I'm already a couple of sizes larger on top than on the bottom. I look for a flattering color for my skin tone and one that can be worn with jeans. A simple neckline that forms a V is always a good choice for my round face.

4. I adore the animal print, but the print's normally warm tones are not a good mix with my cool coloring. Shoes, handbags, or other items worn away from my face are better choices for me. One piece of animal print per outfit is usually enough. If I wear flat shoes, I look for pointed toes and a fun color or pattern. Rounded toe ballet flats look ridiculous because I have thick calves and smaller feet compared to the rest of my body. The pointed toe helps to make me look taller and thinner. 

5. Handbags can make or break your look. I don't wear bulky shoulder bags because they alter my clothing line too much and make me look sloppy. A structured bag with top handles in a size that is in proportion to my height is what I normally look for. I am always amazed when it is so difficult to find a full-length mirror in some stores' handbag department.

6. Sunglasses are almost always part of my outfit for the day. I have several shapes, styles, and colors to fit my face shape and the mood of the day. There is always a pair in my handbag if not on my face.

7. Jewelry is a statement piece that can express your personality. I like to wear button earrings with a drop or a nice fitting pair of hoops in white gold or sterling silver because I have cool coloring and gray hair. When I say nice fitting, I mean the wire or post doesn't accentuate a sagging pierce. I wear either a statement necklace or fun earrings, not both at the same time. 

I hope these seven tips help you to put together a fun and comfortable outfit for today. Have a great Saturday!