Your BFF's Closet

Some of my favorite pieces in my collection were hand-me-downs from my dear friend Mitzi. A few years ago, we both lost weight. As she shrank out of some things, they still fit me because of my larger upper body.

This Ralph Lauren cardigan with a faux fur collar is a great piece to throw on with jeans and a Covered Perfectly Simple Comfort long sleeve top. I love that these tops can be tucked in since they are never bulky. 

I love the idea of a closet swap when you are losing weight. When I started my weight loss journey a few years ago, I wore some things only a couple of times before I shrank out of that size. My staff got lots of almost new pieces as my sizes changed.

Team up with a friend to swap clothes as you lose weight. It is a great way to stay motivated and not have to spend a mint on clothes as you change sizes.

These jeans are Girlfriend Ankle Jeans from Chico's. I wore Ralph Lauren crew socks with Calvin Klein booties. The bag is old from Finely House Couture in Blowing Rock.

Vest Love

For the longest time, I never wore vests. In the past few years, I have fallen hard for them.

This edgy, blazer style black vest is from Fabrizio Gianni. I am still working on putting together my wardrobe for my upcoming travels. This will be the perfect third piece for warmer climates. I have become very fond of sleek fitting vests because they can give a jacket's slimming look without being too warm or adding bulk.

Fabrizio Gianni supplied the vest and the necklace. The opinions are my own.

We shot these photos on a mild day last week. At this moment, we have six inches of snow on the ground, and we are expecting another foot of snow.

The necklace set is also from Fabrizio Gianni. I love the lightweight and delicate silver and gray colors of the Swarovski crystals and tassels. It also looks great against a black background. Winner!

The perfect straight-leg jeans were supplied by J.Jill. I call these my Goldilocks jeans. Not too tight, not too long, not too distressed, just right! 

The shoes are old by DV Dolce Vita. The Calvin Klein bag is old via T.J.Maxx. 

The perfect for layering under everything tunic is from Covered Perfectly. 

(I purchased this one.)

I now invest only in pieces of good quality and basic design in the few solid colors I truly enjoy wearing. That means I can pair these pieces together in many combinations. This simple tip has helped me to build a great wardrobe that serves me well for any occasion.

Cute Little Number

I will often be traveling during the next few weeks, so I am looking for pieces that will serve me well as I move from a cold climate to a much warmer ones. I prefer an easy, comfortable, but still well-dressed airport style.

I was thrilled to find this cashmere topper, which I can wear as a poncho or an infinity scarf. The pop of red makes me feel happy.

The fabric is very soft and supple, so it drapes beautifully.

The black turtleneck top and the jeans are from Fabrizio Gianni. The shoes are by BCBGeneration via Nordstrom. The bag is by Zac Posen via Saks OFF 5TH.

The Claudia Nichole cashmere topper comes in many beautiful colors. I had difficulty deciding which one to go with, but I am thrilled with this color, which is Poppy. I found it on the Purple Poppy website. The shop is located in one of my favorite places to visit, Cape Cod. This topper was supplied by Purple Poppy.

The topper comes in all these colors!

Traveling to Warmer Climates

Are you on your way to a warm-weather vacation or maybe a cruise? When I am lucky enough to head south or out to L.A. during the winter months, this post shows how I pack for the trip.

A shirt that buttons all the way down the front and is generous enough in fit not to gap at the bust when closed is a great find. I love the option of being able to wear a shirt open as if it were a jacket with a whisper-light tank top in summer. This shirt, tank, and pants are all from J.Jill.

The cuff bracelet above is from S.M. Bradford on Hilton Head Island. The sandals were by Dolce Vita via Nordstrom last year. The tote bag was from T.J.Maxx last year. The straw hat is several years old. 

I only look for items of good quality with simple classic details that are not memorable or trendy. I always try to invest well to wear my items for several years instead of just one season. Please note that I have been wearing J.Jill items for several years, so some of the things I am showing you might not be available now.

Denim and white with tan accessories have been a life-long favorite color combination. 

A note about sandals: I look for the type that has a strap at the back so that they stay on. I am not a fan of flip flops of any style. I wear those only on the day I have a pedicure.

These slip-on sneakers are by Sperry. They would be perfect for a day of shopping.

Fit has become much more important to me as my body ages. Sixty is a whole different ballgame than fifty! I now look for tops and jackets that skim the body and fall nicely from my shoulders.

Linen has always been one of my favorite fabrics to wear in the heat of summer. It wrinkles, but as my friend, The Duchess, used to say, "They are rich wrinkles, just go with it."

There aren't many other fabrics that breathe or feel more comfortable in the heat and humidity. Wear a stunning piece of jewelry and awesome shoes with linen for a more polished look.

The video below shows the items I would take for a five-day cruise. You might also take a bathing suit and a cover-up, a sundress or skirts. (I rarely ever wear those items, so in the interest of being totally honest with you, I only included things I would actually take.) 

The key is to take things you can mix and match for different combinations that are appropriate for the occasion. (The same as my wardrobe at home but on a much smaller scale.)

These products were supplied by J.Jill.

Casual Daytime Look

Does it really matter what you wear to run errands?

It never fails. If you go out looking less than your best, you will see someone you know. 

I was working on a project at my house a few years ago, and in the middle of the project, I realized I needed something from the hardware store. Without giving it a second thought, I pulled on a denim shirt over my white tee and khaki pants. I think I was also wearing some sort of tennis shoes, and the pants probably bunched up on top of them. I was likely not wearing much makeup, if any. Not a pretty picture!

While at the hardware store, I saw a pal from high school I hadn't seen for a couple of years. The last time I ran into him, I was looking much closer to my best. When he recognized me, his face took on a look of deep concern. He asked if I had been unwell. I assured him that all was well with me and then finished my transaction as quickly as possible.

Lesson learned! If I don't want to frighten small children, I need to tidy up a bit each day!

All kidding aside, I do shower, put on at the least a little makeup, and dress in something comfortable but still flattering each day. I do this for myself even when I am staying home alone. I feel more outgoing, positive, and confident when I am dressed for human interaction.

I was shopping at my local Belk department store yesterday when I got a call from Mr. Mickey. He happened to be in the area, so he stopped by to snap these photos for you. 

I was super excited to find this Ralph Lauren animal print belt I had admired earlier, now on sale for half off. 

Halfway through the morning, I had removed that heavy outer coat. The J.Jill cashmere cardigan over the turquoise blue Covered Effortless comfort top was enough layering for most of the day. (Both items were supplied by the companies.)

At this time of year, our temperatures may vary as much as thirty or more degrees in one day. Dressing in layers is the best chance we have of being comfortable for the whole day. If the sunshine had warmed us even more, I could have worn the cardigan over my shoulders for another look I really like.

The black ankle-length pants from Chico's are perfect to wear with flat loafers by BCBG. The socks are the most comfortable I have found. They are by Ralph Lauren via Dillard's, but I also found them at Belk. The hook belt is also from Chico's. The Calvin Klein bag is old via T.J. Maxx.

I wear these tops from Covered Perfectly often because they are so comfortable. They are made from an elegant MicroModal fabric that launders beautifully and falls right back into shape when you hang them to dry. They are perfect for layering since they don't add any bulk at all.

I will be wearing this new top during the warmer seasons because I love the color so much.

Fifty, not Frumpy followers can get a 20% discount on up to two items! Use the discount code FNF20 when you check out at Covered Perfectly. Only one discount can be applied per order. There are several styles to choose from, and the discount will apply on up to two items; after that, you can take advantage of the buy 2 get 1 FREE special.