Why I Won't Be Trendy This Fall

This past weekend, I discussed an article with Mr. Mickey which detailed some of the 2016 Fall trends. He asked me which of those I was going to wear. My answer was, "None of them."

From Winter 2015

The body of the jacket I wore above is bulky, but since the sleeves are sleek faux leather and I wore it open with a slim fitting black low neckline top and slim-fitting pants, this textured jacket worked for me in this case. If the sleeves were also bulky and I belted the jacket, I would look twenty pounds heavier.

While I enjoy wearing classic pieces on most days, I also appreciate the spice of an occasional edgy or trendy piece thrown in for good measure. The most important question to ask when adding something new to your wardrobe is always; "Will this look good on me?" Regardless of styles or trends, the first consideration should always be if the item flatters your coloring, shape, personality, and height.

I never follow a trend just to look current. If, however, the trend flatters me, I might consider it. Great style means knowing what looks good on your body. That means understanding how to use texture and proportion, style the pieces, and what tones complement your complexion.

Below are a few of the Fall trends that I will not be worn with an explanation as to why not.

Statement Chokers

I have a roundish face and a short neck. I should never wear anything that makes my neck appear shorter, and my face appears more round.

The Cape

I carry most of my weight front and center, so a cape would make me look like I was wearing a tent. If I wear a double-breasted jacket, I will rarely, if ever, close it.

Tan Colors
Tans and beiges make me look ill because I have cool coloring. I enjoy wearing trench coats, but I have a white one and a couple of black ones. Never a tan one.

Ruffles
Just no! Ruffles, lace, and gathers do not go with my personality. They add volume, usually around the face or bust, where I certainly do not need it.

Golden Brocades
Gold tones will never allow me to look my best. I do have a ruby and black brocade jacket that I may wear again if the occasion arises.

Puffy Jackets and Coats

Why on earth would I ever wear something that makes me look like a bumblebee?

Faux Fur Coats

Faux fur will always look better on the hanger than on my body. Fur adds volume. If you weigh 90 pounds, with a small bust, and you are six feet tall, you might look good in a faux fur jacket with skinny jeans. Any type of fur will always make me look like a huge marshmallow.

Shearling Coats

Shearling is by nature a dull warm color and bulky. Like corduroy, suede, and tweed, shearling is stiff and adds volume. I need to wear sleek, silky, smooth surfaces that add no bulk to my frame.

I use myself as an example in these "thinking out loud" posts. I hope these projects will help you to determine what looks best on you and what serves your needs for your lifestyle.

Cool Little Number

Dressing in this hot weather is a challenge for me. We don't usually have temperatures in the 90's for more than a few days. However, this summer has been very different.

Thankfully, I bought a few pairs of Clara Sunwoo palazzo pants from ShopMyFairLady.com earlier this year. They have gotten a lot of wear this summer. These are the coolest and most comfortable pants I own. I always go down in size because they do run large. These are extra-small.

This Covered Perfectly top with a square neckline is the right proportion to wear with palazzo pants. I have tried many other tops with them, but this one is cool and comfortable and slimming simultaneously. I am wearing a size medium.

The sunglasses are old from T.J.Maxx. The sandals were from DSW earlier this year. The bag is old from Express.

Saturday Exploring

If we don't have a special get-away planned for the weekend, we often go over to Asheville or the surrounding area to explore.

We've learned it's wise to stop in downtown Asheville to share an appetizer before heading out on our journey to unknown places. There may not be a restaurant around for miles when we find ourselves hungry on the top of one of the many surrounding mountains.

Laughing Seed Café is one of our favorite places to visit. We often share the hummus trio. During this visit, we also tried an apple, carrot, and ginger smoothie. My favorite thing to have with hummus is cucumber slices, so I always ask for a side order of those.

That's a spicy black bean hummus, vegetable pâté, and chickpea hummus. The pita bread is made in house.

Three things are constant with me when I travel, even if only for a day-trip. 

Always take a sweater, jacket, or wrap because, at some point during the trip, I know I am going to be cold. 

Visit every restroom. You never know when you will see another one. 

Always drink lots of water. Staying hydrated is so important for the digestive tract, eyes, skin, and muscles. Leg cramps in the middle of the night are never fun!

Wall Street in Asheville, North Carolina, is home to many interesting shops and restaurants. It's also fun to people watch, and there are usually several entertaining street performers.

Just strolling down the street and stopping to pet a dog or visit a shop along the way is great fun. Many dogs live with their owners in swanky lofts and condos in downtown Asheville, so most shops have water dishes out front. Well behaved dogs are often seen at sidewalk cafés waiting patiently for their humans to dine.

Around Wall Street's corner is the Chocolate Fetish, which is home to some of the best gourmet chocolates ever. My favorite indulgence is dark chocolate covered coconut mound or one of the fabulous truffles. Just one is enough to satisfy my sweet tooth for the day.

Many of the mountains in our area rise to five thousand feet or more above sea level.

The temperature in the valley below was 90 degrees. The temperature at the summit was only 70 degrees.

If our exploring gets more off-road than this, Mr. Mickey may have to put brush guards on his sedan!

Much later in the day, after a long drive on numerous mountain roads and through quaint small towns, we returned to Asheville to have dinner at the Lobster Trap. Their lobster roll is the best I have ever found outside of Maine. The roll is made in a local bakery, and the lobster is perfectly prepared. It is indeed delicious, but I can never finish all of it.

We drove through a brief summer storm along the way home. Rain is becoming a rare thing here in East Tennessee, so it was wonderful to hear it on the rooftop. I love the sound of rain falling on a tin roof!

I wore one of those Portofino blouses from Express. It is one of the only button-front shirt styles I have found that works with my top-heavy figure. I have it in several colors, and I buy a size larger than I usually wear.

The pants are old from Fabrizio Gianni. The sandals are old by Jessica Simpson. The bag is several years old.

Easy breezy classic separates always seem to work well for me.

Friday Night Adventure

Friends recently bought one of those luxurious Weekender Mercedes Campers. They have nicknamed it "The Beast." Three couples got together on Friday night to enjoy a long drive in the camper so that we could have dinner in Banner Elk at the Chef's Table.

I wore a crepe tank dress with a waterfall cardigan for this evening's adventure. The bag is old from Saks Off 5th. The shoes are old by Vince Camuto.

The fabric of these dresses is so soft and lightweight. It is also very stretchy. I love this dress's basic design, which allows me to wear it with so many other items in my wardrobe. 

There was some question as to whether I would be able to climb into the "Beast" while wearing heels and a dress, but I showed them it could be done.

Almost every vista in the Banner Elk and Grandfather Mountain communities includes the Sugar Top condos.

We visited a fun gallery along our stroll to the restaurant located in the village of Banner Elk.

The Chef's Table is a third-generation farm-to-table restaurant located upstairs in the village square.

Everyone's food was excellent!

Sea Bass

Shrimp and Grits

My Own North Carolina Trout

Mr. Mickey says I am the only woman he knows to make a cardigan and pearls look sexy. Thanks, Mr. M!

Styling notes: I chose to wear a short necklace that just filled in the bodice instead of a long necklace because I needed something to lift the eye with all the other long proportions. Also, I wore nude shoes since black would create a visual break on my legs and make them look shorter. 

Eat Well Be Well

I changed my eating habits five years ago for health reasons, not because I wanted to be thin. Losing more than forty-five pounds was a nice side-effect, but that was not my motivation.

Breakfast

I eat the power porridge above almost every morning, topped with whatever fresh organic fruit I have. Find the recipe here.

I have breakfast a couple of hours after I rise and lunch late in the afternoon on most days. Two small meals a day is enough. I go for a long brisk walk every day that the weather allows. I am very active all day. I rarely sit still for more than an hour without moving around. I sip water throughout the day, and I never ever drink sodas.

Late Lunch/Early Dinner

The picture above exemplifies what I have for a late lunch each day. Start with a bed of organic baby greens. Then, add steamed broccoli, peas, a little baked sweet potato, or any vegetable combination you like. I almost always add about a cup of some type of beans. (If you don't cook your own dried beans, buy the kind with no salt added and organic if you can find them. Rinse well and store extra in the fridge.) Some things need to be baked or cooked to digest them well. For example, I steam broccoli for about three minutes.

The plates I use are about the size of my outstretched hand.

I do not regularly eat bread, croutons, cheese, dressings, or oils. I might have a minimal amount once a week because I enjoy high-quality items. (Processed cheese is not something I ever eat.) I always skip the condiments, which may be high in sugar.

When fresh organic fruits and vegetables are not available in the winter months, I often use frozen organic fruits and vegetables. I especially like sauteed onion, mushrooms, and garlic cooled and added to a large green salad. (Again, you can save extra in the fridge.)

Now, on to the following picture.

Caution!

I bought this snack mix at the health food store to serve with wine to guests. Looks healthy with all those nuts, seeds, and sesame sticks, right?

Wrong!

I don't know what was added because it was bought in bulk by a particular order with no label (not from bins). For a few days, I was guilty of having a handful after each meal with a cup of hot tea as a dessert. After about a week of this bad habit, I had a headache, my joints and muscles ached, my sleep was often interrupted, my mind was very foggy, and my digestive system was wrecked. I felt as if I had been poisoned. I felt almost as bad as I did five years ago when I started this healthy eating journey. I finally realized that the mix pictured above must contain all those ingredients I cannot digest. Within two days of ridding my body of even this small amount of processed food, I am back to my healthy, happy, sleeping, thriving self.

Almost all processed foods contain high fructose corn syrup and preservatives at a minimum and many more chemicals on average. Some say to read the labels, but I avoid buying or eating anything with a brand. Instead, fresh, organic whole food is what I consume most often.

I have seen stock boys reach into bulk bins with dirty hands to steal a few nuts while working. Kids can't resist those that are at their eye level. I only buy bulk items if it is something I will wash or cook before eating.

As with my fashion choices, I keep my food choices clean and straightforward. What I share helps you discover what works best for you.