The Magic of Nude Shoes

Nude shoes are great in any season, but they are nearly perfect in warm weather.

Whenever I create a Polyvore set such as the one above, I look for basic pieces found in most stores, including thrift stores. I look for pieces that cost less than $50 and that can work with many other elements. (That's the way I shop in real life too!)

 Upon entering a shoe department, the first color I look for is nude. I wear that tone more than any other.

Nude shoes elongate the leg and complement almost any outfit. Nude means the color closest to the color of your skin.

I employ other tips wearing one solid color or similar tones on my body with other colors. This helps to make me look taller and slimmer. Every horizontal break of color or pattern on your body makes you look shorter and wider. 

I look for handbags with simple details and minimal hardware. A red handbag is almost always a good idea. I favor neutral solid colors in subtle combinations, so the red handbag is a great pop of color.

One or two simple, bold accessories serve me well. This is especially true when wearing a hat. Everything else in your look should be minimal when you wear a hat. Think of the woman who wears sunglasses, large earrings, a hat, a necklace, and a scarf all at the same time. That's just too much going on in one place. Clutter in your outfit is never a good look.

When I first started blogging, I often strayed from these rules, and the look became too much like a costume. As I get closer to sixty, I want to look polished and comfortable. This is not the time in life to be a fashion victim.

WEAR it Wednesday!

Today marks the launch of a new feature on the Facebook page for Fifty, not Frumpy.

My project for today is this ikat pattern cardigan. I bought it on sale at Chico's last fall. I have never worn it because it is too lightweight for cool weather, and it really needs to be worn with a tank top so that the arms aren't too snug. Now that I have tried it on with warm weather pants and sandals, I think I might wear it often. (I shot this image into an antique mirror hanging in my laundry room.)

We all have things in our closets that we rarely wear, if ever. I am on a mission to wear all those things in my closet or donate them to someone who can use and enjoy them. I had this in mind when I started "Wear It Wednesday." 

THE BROTHER BOYS

Yesterday's weather was a bit warmer during the day. 

My daytime outfit included a pair of khaki ankle jeans and an almond color tank from Chico's with a lightweight turquoise sweater from Dillard's a couple of years ago. The necklace is from Chico's last year. The sandals are from T.J.Maxx earlier this year. The handbag is from Stein Mart last year. 

For our evening out with friends, I switched to a warmer sweater and a different necklace both from Chico's. The bag is from Stein Mart a few years ago.

We joined two other couples at The Down Home to listen to the Brother Boys and Ed Snodderly.

The Down Home was founded in 1976 and has become a mecca for music lovers in Upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The primary emphasis is on quality music, and the performance atmosphere promotes listening rather than socializing. I was last there in 1977 so this was a fun revisit to one of my college time occasional hangouts. 

Ed Snodderly is a legend both here and abroad. He just returned from a tour of Europe to reunite with his friends the Brother Boys. 

Oldies But Goodies

Mother nature continues to taunt us with a warm spring day followed by a very cool cloudy day. 

I hope to convey several messages with this blog. One of which is you don't have to have a lot of money to look nice. I constantly shop in stores such as T.J.Maxx, Ross, and on the site Dalitka.

I get so many compliments on this hand-painted handmade silk kimono each time I wear it. 

Mr. Mickey loves vintage too! His favorite car will be twenty years old very soon. If you take care of your treasures and choose classic styles they will serve you well for many years whether it be a car or a lovely classic style of spring coat.

Philanthropy

I am very proud to be a Leadership member of The Women's Fund of East Tennessee, which serves as a catalyst to transform the lives of low-income women and girls in East Tennessee. This week we held our luncheon celebration at the Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville, TN, to award grants to the programs we earlier voted to support in our communities.

When you invest in a woman, you invest in a family, a community, and ultimately a region. By helping women and girls, we create stronger communities for all of us. I encourage you to join a Women's Fund near you to make a difference for your community.

It was quite cool during the early morning hours, so I wore this fabulous spring coat, which was a gift from Dalitika.

As the weather began to warm up, I removed the spring coat. The blue travelers style tank and pants and the jacket and necklace are all from Chico's last year.

The shoes are from T.J.Maxx earlier this season. The bag is from Coach.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the day was spending time with my dear friend Carol Transou and her delightful husband Bedford. They were so gracious to invite me to ride down to Knoxville with them. The event also allowed me the opportunity to visit with Bonnie Sampson, another very special lady who is also a founder of our group. 

After the luncheon, we drove through the neighborhood to enjoy looking at the spring flowers and lovely old homes.