Summer Shoes

Hundreds of you have left comments on the blog mentioning that you cannot wear heels. I am asked daily for sources and suggestions for attractive, comfortable shoes with low heels or wedges.

I shared the photo above on Facebook yesterday. Several people asked about the shoes. They are by Anne Klein iFlex, and I found them at T.J.Maxx earlier this year.

Shoes can send your otherwise great looking outfit right over the edge and into the river of frumpy. Imagine a cute top and jacket worn with jeans, and then you get to the feet, and there is a beat-up pair of trainers.

If you must wear "tennis shoes," as many of us women of a certain age refer to those comfy shoe-muffins, look for the sleek styles in colors such as black or silver-gray, or tan. You can also add bright colors to show your fun personality. Some of the more up to date styles blend nicely with streetwear now.

Highs and Lows

Highlights & Lowlights, that is. 

I visited with my beautiful friend Myra in her salon, The Charlemont, again today. I gave her carte blanche with my hair color today since she gave me such a great cut last week.

This is my drab, dull gray hair before.

This is my dynamic new color three hours later!

Myra did a fabulous job!

I am wearing a lightweight white tunic from Lucky Brand over a NikiBiki tank (I LOVE these tanks!) from The Charlemont and NYDJ (Not your daughter's jeans) from the Fig Leaf in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.  The gold hammered cuff is from Chico's. The shoes are old from Nordstrom by The Louise et Cie Collection.

Maxi Dresses

Light and airy maxi dresses continue to be an excellent choice for warm weather dressing.

I wore this black one a few summers ago, but it was still a comfortable option for the garden tour Mr. Mickey and I were going on. Wearing the hat and sunglasses made me appear fresh as a daisy even though it was about 90 degrees that day.

There are many maxi dress options on the racks again this spring, so I thought I would share some tips that have worked for me when wearing them.

Choose a bra strap, friendly style.

Edit your accessories carefully when wearing a maxi dress.

A shrug or featherweight cardigan can be removed if you get too warm, but it's nice to be able to cover your arms if you want to.

I am not a fan of shawls. They are always falling off and threaten to trip you at every step.

Flat sandals or wedges usually work better with casual maxi dresses and palazzo pants because it is easy to trip when high heels get caught in the extra fabric.

Happy Anniversary!

It has been two years since Pauline Durban, the President of Covered Perfectly, contacted me to ask if I would like to style one of the tops from her newly launched collection.

As soon as I opened the package, I was in love! The fabric is so soft and supple. The first item I tried was the Simple Comfort. It wasn't long before I was placing orders for more of the fabulous tops. They are perfect to wear alone or under jackets and those long dusters I favor. 

In honor of her company's second anniversary, I wanted to share a bit more information about my friend Pauline with you, so she agreed to an interview.

S. Do you have a background in the fashion industry?
P. I don’t, my background is in business. I spent many years in newspaper advertising, working my way up through the ranks.

S. What inspired you to start Covered Perfectly? 
P. Sheer frustration… I just didn't feel comfortable in any of my clothes. As I have gotten older, I needed clothes to cover parts that I didn't want to reveal. I tried shopping, but it was difficult to find what I was looking for. Hence, Covered Perfectly was born. I wear them every day, even when it’s 100 degrees here in southern California.

S. What advice would you offer to women wishing to start their own business? 
P. Do your research. I made a lot of expensive mistakes at the beginning that could have been avoided.

S. How do you decide what body styles to add to the line?   
P. I try to go with flattering designs. You don’t have to look frumpy just because you want to cover up. I design most of them based on what I like personally; plus, I have pretty vocal customers. That’s why we added the Simple V. Personally, I didn't wear V-necks until this one. Now I love it.

S. The sheer Cascading Vests are fabulous. Will you be adding brighter jewel-tone colors? 
P. Finding, good quality chiffon made in the US has presented a challenge. As soon as I find more fabric, I will be adding them.

S. Tell us more about that special MicroModal fabric you use. 
P. When I was searching for fabric, I knew I wanted it to be super-soft. As we get older, our skin seems to get dryer, so having a soft fabric against your skin is important. I also wanted something that was going to be able to last, which this does.

S. As a breast cancer survivor, what important information would you like to share with all women? 
P. Self-examination is vital. That’s how I found my lump. If something doesn't feel right, get it checked…never, never ignore it!

In a market flooded with fashion choices, it is truly commendable that Covered Perfectly continues to grow and thrive. That growth is a testament to the excellent quality and wonderful customer service! The choice to use materials that are woven and dyed here in the USA and then manufacture the finished products here in the USA is almost unheard of in this industry. 

I am impressed with all aspects of the Covered Perfectly line. It was an honor to be flown out to Los Angeles recently to model for the spring line. I enjoyed visiting the production facilities and the warehouse. It is an awe-inspiring company, and I am proud to call Pauline Durban my friend. 

Covered Perfectly Giveaway

When the wind is blowing, you just have to go with it.

We are on our way out to dinner. I am wearing a black-draped front top from Covered Perfectly under a duster from Chico's. The earrings, cuff, pants, and belt are also from Chico's.

The bag and sunglasses are from T.J. Maxx, and the shoes are from Saks Off 5th.

Accessories can enhance or detract. In the case of this draped front top, I wear larger earrings with movement and a cuff instead of a necklace because of the neckline's shape. Wearing a belt and a necklace at the same time can create too many horizontal breaks. Overdoing the accessories can definitely make you look dated. Wearing two or three stunning accessories makes a much more current statement than wearing all the pieces in your collection at once.