Island Time

It was a rare long weekend for us. We were able to get away and visit with our dearest friends at their beach house on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

We dressed for dinner and went out to a nice restaurant every evening.

Afternoons were spent sitting on the patio talking, having a glass of wine, and watching the wildlife across, on, and under the pond beyond the pool. No close visits from gators this time!

Our friends Bryan and Nancy surprised us all when they showed up on Halloween ... dressed for the occasion.

I took with me a variety of jeans, jackets, tanks, and tees but I had a wonderful time buying even more on our day of shopping.

Leaving for a day of shopping at Chico's on the island and at the Tanger Outlets!

This sculpture in the landscape by the pool is a tribute to all the critters we see around the pond.

Dressed for cool weather and lots of walking at the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance on Sunday.

Mr. Mickey's favorite.

My favorite! Sporty little number isn't it?

I hope you had a great weekend too!

Tartan Ruana

Ruanas are a very stylish alternative to sweaters.

I love the elegant look of sweeping one side over the other shoulder.

This Tartan Ruana is from Foxcroft. All of their items are very high quality. The styles are timeless and elegant.

I wore the ruana with black jeans, a silver-gray long sleeve tee, and D'Orsay suede heels.

On an earlier occasion, I wore the ruana with a black long sleeve tee and black pencil skirt with short boots and opaque tights.

It would also work very well with faded blue jeans and a black turtleneck.

Foxcroft Sweater Jacket

Foxcroft products are always top-notch and so easy to mix and match with other items I already own.

For over twenty-five years, Foxcroft has provided impeccably made, well-constructed clothing that makes their pieces so comfortable to wear. They create for the confident woman who looks for casual but versatile polished looks when she updates her wardrobe with new elements.

Head designer Laura Poretzky-Garcia gives classic patterns a fresh, updated attitude.

I will reach for this piece again and again. The sleek silhouette is an added layer that is soft and comfortable without adding bulk.

The close-up below shows the beautiful texture and colors of the front panels. The back and sleeves are solid black.

Lobster, Vintage Fur and Diamonds

We recently joined friends for dinner at Café Pacific. It is located in North Johnson City.

We have cool temperatures now in the evenings, so I wore a vintage fur-trimmed black cable front sweater by Ralph Lauren. I have a few jackets and high-end sweaters that were fabulous gifts from my friend Mitzi when she also recently downsized. When I wear a vintage piece, I keep the look sleek and simple and wear it with very modern elements.

The pants are pieced faux leather front leggings from Chico's. The Adea tank is my all-time favorite!

We had not been to Café Pacific in several years, so we had forgotten what a treat to the eyes and the palate it is to have even a small meal there. We share and order small plates often.

There was a delicious amuse-bouche from Chef Scott. Amuse-Bouches are different from appetizers in that they are not ordered from a menu by patrons, but when served, are done so free and according to the chef's selection alone. These are often accompanied by a complementing wine, are served both to prepare the guest for the meal and offer a glimpse into the chef's approach to the art of cuisine. This one is strawberries with herbs and a balsamic reduction with a passion fruit juice chaser.

The warm pieces of bread were served with whipped herbed butter and pesto olive oil for dipping.

The lobster bisque is a divine dish that is so rich we recommend sharing.

Everyone had a delicious seasonal salad.

Have you ever had a dessert amuse-bouche? This tiny bite was so full of fall flavor!

Now for the real dessert! We also shared this fabulous decadent chocolate dessert with fresh berries and a delightful light cream sauce. 

The shoes are by BCBGeneration via Dillard's. (Aren't they fierce?!) The antique amber watch, the ring, and the earrings were gifts from Mr. Mickey. The evening bag is from T.J.Maxx.

Many of you have asked me how to keep my weight down while going out to eat so often. Mr. Mickey and I share a few small plates and then order a salad as an entrée. I get to taste several different dishes without feeling I have to eat the whole thing.

Starting Over

Someone asked me a great question this week. "If you were buying a whole new wardrobe, what would you start with?"

When starting a capsule wardrobe, the points you need to consider include lifestyle, personal style, and colors that work for you. If you never attend a formal event or work exclusively from home, you might not need many dressy pieces in your wardrobe capsule.

The black, white, and red combination works well for me, but black is too harsh for many people. Brown, cream, and rust, or perhaps navy, ivory, and plum, might be better groups of colors for you.

A nice pair of slacks in a dark color would be one of the first things to buy. Next would be a good quality fitted jacket that you can wear with everything (remember not too boxy). A great jacket can make even a nice pair of jeans look appropriate for many events. Jeans are considered neutral but not too faded out works best for most of us.

Scoop neck long sleeve tees and tanks in your color grouping allow you to change your look. I chose scoop neck over V neck or turtleneck because they are more flattering to most face shapes. If you wear a jacket with a V neck top, it sometimes gives you two of the same V shapes. Contrasting shapes are more pleasing to the eye. If you add a necklace, remember this tip. Three necklines of the same form can look cluttered.

If you have been following me for a while, you know that I did indeed have to buy a whole new wardrobe in 2011. Not even my shoes fit after I lost 45 pounds. I wish I had known how to use this formula then. It would have saved me a lot of buying mistakes.

A straight black pencil skirt to wear with opaque tights and boots might also be a good look for you. The long cardigan would look great with jeans too. The purpose of choosing a capsule of three colors and essential pieces is that almost all the pieces can be mixed and matched to create many different looks without having to spend a lot of money.