White Topper

We joined our dearest friends for dinner on a recent cold rainy Friday night.

I wore a winter white jacket from Chico's last year over a Covered Perfectly long sleeve simple comfort top and reptile textured faux leather leggings labeled simply, Jack.

The faux leather-trimmed ruana is old from Carlisle Per SE. The gunmetal box bag is old from T.J.Maxx. The boots are by French Connection via Saks Off 5th.

When you dissect many of my favorite looks, you will find that the individual elements are basic pieces. That allows a statement pair of shoes, a jacket, or a bold piece of jewelry to pull the look together and make it more current. The most cherished pieces of my wardrobe on their own are not memorable.

Second Love

We recently spent the weekend at the Inn on Biltmore Estate.

On our last evening there we had a lovely meal in The Dining Room.

Earlier in the day, I shopped in the Marble Lion, a boutique located inside the Inn, where I found this intricately embossed faux leather jacket at half off! If shoes are my first fashion love, then certainly jackets are my second.

I am wearing a surplice wrap top from White House Black Market with Travelers Pants from Chico's. The suede Sam Edelman shoes are a couple of years old. The handbag is from Saks Off 5th. 

This textured faux leather jacket is by Erin London. I almost didn't even try one on because the medium size had already sold. I was delighted that the small fit perfectly. It pays to ignore the tag and just try on what appeals to you.

Occasionally we have a small piece of grilled wild-caught salmon for dinner. 

This was a special evening, so we also shared this beautiful crème-filled flaky phyllo dough and tart cherry dessert.

These flowers were on the front desk. Turning to face the lobby in all its grandeur.

Frumpy to Fabulous

I recently spent almost twenty-four straight hours in an airport or on a plane. Watching people is my favorite thing to do when I am in such public spaces. I find myself guessing things about the journeys and the lives of the people I see there.

I believe that how you present yourself to the world and how you carry yourself tells a story. My heart went out to all those women I saw who wore something very similar to the sad look below.

It showed on their faces that it had been many years since they had made themselves a priority. I recognized these women so quickly because I was one of them a few years ago. 

It was customary for me to get up and put on anything to get me through the day. If I could zip the pants, they were good enough, and if the shirt (sometimes a man's tee shirt from K-Mart) covered my tummy, that would do. If it was cold outside, I put on a jacket but didn't think about it if it went with anything else I was wearing. I was too tired and sad to care about what I looked like anymore.

Something unexpected happened when I changed my diet to correct health problems. I started to lose weight and feel a lot better, physically and emotionally. I began to care about my clothes again. I began to enjoy putting together outfits and looking for just the right jacket. My outlook on life improved, and my spirits lifted. I felt like going for a walk and working in my flower gardens again. I smiled more and slept better because I was happier and much healthier emotionally and physically. More importantly, I could now do more things to help others because of my improved health and attitude.

Below is a typical, very casual look for me now. I might be staying at home because it is snowing and cold, but I still get dressed. I am now acutely aware of how it lifts my spirits to get dressed and take some time for myself. These days I never spend the day in a man's tee-shirt over sweatpants. That would be very depressing!

The red turtleneck top was supplied to me by Fabrizio Gianni. The Allison Daley vest from Dillard's is several years old, and the ankle-length jeans are from Chico's. The boots are a couple of years old by Ralph Lauren via T.J.Maxx. 

Breakfast At The Inn

We recently spent the weekend at the Inn on Biltmore Estate.

There is a lovely breakfast buffet in The Dining Room each morning. 

Our table by the window provided a beautiful view of the majestic mountain ranges. There is always a fresh red rose on your table and, in our case, champagne. 

Cheers!

I wore coated jeans and a silver-gray tank from Chico's with a Ralph Lauren polka dot silk scarf from Stein Mart and a Ralph Lauren jacket from Dillard's.

Vital, Vivacious, and Visible after 50

Andrea Pflaumer, the host of the video series Vital, Vivacious, and Visible after 50, recently interviewed me for the series.

Andrea Pflaumer is a former dancer and dance writer and, as a freelance journalist in the San Francisco Bay area, has written extensively about shopping and fashion. 

She is the author of two books: Shopping for the Real You: 10 Essential Steps to a Better Wardrobe for Every Woman – Fashionistas, Fashion-Phobes, and the over 50, and She’s Got Good Jeans, including how to shop for, where to find, and how to style the perfect jeans for your body. You can buy her books here on Amazon. She blogs here and posts regularly to her style and color archetype Pinterest pages here.