Shopping With Mr. Mickey

When Mr. Mickey takes me shopping, we go to Chico's or perhaps Kohl's, Stein Mart, or T.J.Maxx.

I shopped in Stein Mart on Friday, where I found this fabulous faux leather jacket in a plum color.

On Thursday, I found this black leather belt with silver hardware in T.J.Maxx.

A few weeks ago, I was shopping in Asheville, NC. I wore pointed-toe black flats that day because I knew I would be walking a lot. Halfway through the day, I had to stop in Ross and buy these strappy black shoes with a heel because the flats were so uncomfortable.

The black jeans were purchased at Chico's earlier this year.

The bag is perhaps ten years old. I think I bought it at T.J.Maxx. The long sleeve white tee is from Kohl's.

We stopped by the MeadowView Marriott to have a late lunch after our shopping day for Mr. Mickey. Above is a view of the entrance rotunda looking up. Below is the entrance hall to the convention center part of the hotel.

Behind me is one of two waterfall features near the entrance.

The ring and earrings were special gifts from Mr. Mickey.

You may ask, "What does Mr. Mickey buy when he goes shopping?"

Congratulations, my dear! 

May your new purchase take us on many wonderful adventures.

Animal Print Heels

Friday evening is the perfect time to unwind and relax over a leisurely dinner with good company.

The long jacket with a black tank and leggings are from Chico's. Normally I would not wear leggings with heels, but these have a texture like the heavier Travelers material from a few years ago.

The Chanel inspired bag is from Express.

The Guess animal print and leather shoes are from T.J.Maxx. The ring is from B'Dazzled in Blowing Rock, N.C., and the octagon shape sterling silver with clear stones earrings are old.

Ming Wang at Dinner

Our weather is still cool and rainy so for Wednesday date night I brought out the mink scarf and a Ming Wang jacket worn over my Adea tank.

The jacket is from the 2013 Ming Wang collection. The wide-leg slinky knit pants are from Evan Picone via a great sale at Dillard's earlier this year.  The mink scarf was a long-ago gift from Mr. Mickey.

The Steve Madden heels are from Nordstrom and the small evening clutch is from T.J.Maxx. The rings are from Stein Mart. (The square stone is purple like the jacket.) The black and silver earrings are from B'Dazzled in Blowing Rock, NC.

Wear It Wednesday - Jeans

Jeans are one of my all-time favorite items of clothing. That being said, they provide a lot of frustration for me as well.

The jeans I am wearing above are the least favorite pair in my closet. The trendy gray/brown "dirty" tint to the wash and the slouchy fit is not flattering.

Mr. Mickey and I were going out for bagels and coffee, so I thought I looked OK until I saw this picture. The jeans are now in the To-Go Bag!

Trends in jeans are not always a good idea for us ladies of a certain age. These Junya Watanabe jeans are $1,165!

While they might look cute on an eighteen-year-old, they certainly would not be right for this fifty-eight-year-old.

These Atlantic Sea dark wash jeans would be a much better choice for most of us.

The slim straight leg allows me to wear heels or flats with them—jeans by Chico's.

If you wear loafers or other flats or perhaps boots with your jeans, you might enjoy a boot cut pair of jeans. Note: I wear athletic shoes with jeans or yoga pants ONLY when running or walking for exercise in the neighborhood. 

These jeans are Levi's.

In most cases, jeans with a jacket or a nice sweater are perfectly acceptable in most situations. I would never wear jeans to a job interview, to a court date or a business meeting, to a gallery opening, or to the symphony. Nor would I wear them when giving a dinner party, to a wedding, or a funeral.

Some of my favorite jeans are Talbots, Chico's, Not Your Daughter's Jeans, Michael Kors, Kut from the Kloth, and Levi's. I look for straight legs, a dark wash, and no embellishments. When buying jeans that stretch, I buy a size smaller than I normally wear. After I have them on for an hour, I am so glad I did.

I usually add a third element, such as a jacket, a vest, or a cardigan, when I wear jeans. I feel more appropriate and also much more comfortable.

Not all my jeans are blue. I love black jeans most of all, but I do have lots of white and on occasion, I have worn brown or red. The tone on tone patterned jeans below was out of character for me, but I like them.

Speaking of white jeans or white jackets... I wear them all year long in dry weather. No white after Labor Day is an incredibly outdated fashion rule.

The Fabulous Adea Basics

Adea equals well-made basics that last. 

On this rainy evening, I wore my Adea black tank with black leggings and a muted gold swing jacket.

I tried many different items over this tank and found that everything floated across it with no clinging at all. The fabric is buttery smooth, and sleek. It is so comfortable against your skin you will forget you are wearing anything at all. The straps are wide enough to hide your bra straps, which is always a necessary feature for me.

The camisole was so comfortable throughout the whole evening. It did not lose its shape at all.

This fall, Adea is launching a new, reversible camisole! Wear it as a v-neck or a scoop neck, whatever your outfit or mood requires. The reversible camisole will be available in two lengths, standard, and tunic lengths, for more layering choices and is made from Adea’s long-lasting, breathable, wrinkle-resistant fabric. The inch-wide straps also offer coverage for most bra straps, so the camisoles work as tank tops too. The Adea reversible camisole is a must-have wardrobe essential for women – travel with it, wear it to work, lounge with it at home as a v-neck one day, and scoop the next! Made in the USA and Italy. www.myadea.com

These tanks, camisoles, and layering tops made from Italian-made fabrics transform into timeless silhouettes that contour to your body for a modern, feminine fit. They are soft, machine washable, and include UV protection 50+. Adea uses an intelligent, stretch microfiber that gives all of their products the luxurious feeling of a second skin. Great for lounging at home or when you're busy at work, for running around town or around the globe, these pieces will become an indispensable part of your wardrobe. 

After adding some carefully chosen accessories, I was ready for our evening out.

Mr. Mickey and I had dinner at Gourmet and Company and then attended the first performance of the concert season by our Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, celebrating its 45th year.