Wearing Long Tunics

There is always a trick to wearing trends and making them work for your body type.

I love wearing white pants since I do not wear shorts or skirts. That being said, not any old pair of white pants will always work. I have several lengths and fits of white pants, and each serves a purpose.

Nothing makes me feel more feminine and well put together in summer than a long flowing tunic in a vivid color such as red, turquoise, fuchsia, cobalt blue, black, or white. Add the punch of a few pieces of bold jewelry, and I am ready for any event.

The trick to not being overwhelmed by a long tunic is to wear slim fitting jeggings or cropped pants that are not too short. They should stop at the narrow part of your calves. A nude shoe with a bit of wedge or heel always helps to balance out the longer top.

The top is from Chico's. The pants are from Ann Taylor.  The shoes are by Nine West. The earrings are from Stein Mart.

Balance and proportion are always key when putting together a look. If you are petite (5' 4" or under) and want to wear a tunic, it should not be longer than your fingertips while your arms are straight at your sides. A little shorter will likely be even better. Never wear wide-leg pants with a tunic.

The Dogwood and Cattails Ball

When the invitation states Black Tie there is always some trepidation in accepting.

For the gentlemen, there is no such hesitation. They can wear the same tuxedo for many years and always look dashing.

For ladies, there is a long list of considerations. Where did I wear this dress last? Do I show my arms or not? What color do I want to wear? Do I need a jacket? Is this neckline too low?

My beautiful friend, Anne Reel, and her husband Jim sponsored a table and invited us to join them. This is the first year we have attended this ball, but it was so much fun we now plan to attend every year.

The Dogwood and Cattails Ball benefits the animals of the Humane Society of Washington County's Spay/Neuter Assistance Fund. Adoption and fostering program and the emergency medical fund for animals.

The theme for this year's Ball was Mardi Growl, with New Orleans Mardi Gras music, food, and decorations.

 

There were many handsome and well-behaved dogs in attendance but this serval cat from the Brights Zoo in Limestone, TN captured my full attention. A serval is a medium-sized African wild cat.

He was so playful and tolerated his tuxedo quite well.

To give you an idea of his length, his human is about 5'6"!

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We took this photo to show how the dress looks without the jacket. I could have easily removed it at any time during the evening, but I did not. The dress is by JKara from Dillard's.

Friday Date Night

We often get together with friends on Friday nights, but it was just the two of us on this night. We had a salad for dinner with a glass of wine to discuss our plans for the weekend.

I wore a deep blue brocade swing coat in a lightweight knit fabric with a black tank and dressy ankle pants. All items are old from Chico's. The shoes are by Sam Edelman via Nordstrom last year.

The necklace is by one of my very talented clients, Kathleen Mannix. She combined vintage pieces with some of the components from my website VintageJewelrySupplies.com to create this one of a kind necklace.

J.Jill's Linen Collection

As the weather gets warmer, our search for comfortable clothes always becomes more of a focus.

This beautiful linen big shirt from J.Jill will be worn very often this summer.

It can be worn alone or with a tank as a lightweight jacket.

The shell buttons, rounded hem, and gusseted side vents make it very updated and feminine.

While I lived at the beach for twenty-five years, I wore J.Jill items frequently. They have so many perfect pieces for an easy casual lifestyle, and the quality is always excellent.

J.Jill's May Collection

What do you wear to a pool party?

Whenever I know I will be outside in the warm, humid air of the south for any length of time, I wear a hat, sunglasses, and loose-fitting, soft, lightweight garments. Tip: When wearing a hat, keep all of your other accessories minimal and away from your face.

This beautiful navy and turquoise knit maxi dress from J.Jill is perfect for a party by the pool or sightseeing on a hot day.

The side slits offer comfort and ease of walking without showing too much leg.

Mother's Day

I am blessed to still have both my parents. Spending part of the day with them and preparing the evening meal on Mother's Day was an extraordinary time.

Mother and I are above, and that's my sweet father below.

I wore white cropped jeans with an aqua tank and a watercolor print sheer top for this casual family time. The cuff and clothing are all from Chico's. The shoes were by Jessica Simpson via T.J.Maxx last year.

Meet For Drinks

Mr. Mickey returned from his Tennis trip a little early, so we had time to go to our favorite restaurant and have a glass of wine since neither of us was very hungry.

We enjoy visiting with others while we sit and chat over a glass of wine. We always see people we know but haven't seen for a while when we sit in the courtyard or the lounge of our favorite restaurant, Gourmet and Company.

For this casual evening out, I wore leggings from the Zenergy Collection at Chico's. They have a wide waistband, which is very comfortable. Get a size larger if you buy these; they run small. I also wore a Microfiber Contemporary Tank under the jacket, both from Chico's. I don't work for Chico's, nor do I get any compensation from them. I actually shop there because the clothes are of excellent quality and they always have the basics I enjoy wearing and some statement pieces that will work well with my existing wardrobe.

 

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.