Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Long Sweater Vest

When the evenings start to turn cooler, I find that a long sweater vest is an extra layer that works for me. This one is from Chico's. It's a soft tone of blue-red that isn't too bright. I've paired it with a crossover tee in black and tailored gray slacks. When I want to try something trendy like these fun wedge boots in black, I look for a cute inexpensive option. I found these at Target. 



We were on our way out to dinner, so I switched to a small black and gold leather clutch bag. I'm wearing a red bangle with gold medallion details and gold with silver hoops.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Layers are Great!

Fall is in the air, which brings out the sweaters and jackets. This can be a great look for all figure types if you use layers to your advantage.

If you have long, lean legs, you can wear leggings or straight-leg jeans with almost any boot type. Just remember to balance the slender bottom half with a layered longer top half. 


Create a long slender line with one color in different tones. Add color around your face with a scarf and a long cozy sweater.


If you have a few extra pounds around the middle (don't we all?!), remember to keep those first layers smooth and sleek. The sweater may have to come off as the day gets warmer, so I normally wear a large scarf as well. Later in the day, it will be the outer layer I drape across my shoulders when I have to take off the sweater for the afternoon.

Petite Layers


If you are petite (5' 2" and under), a cropped cardigan or jacket and tailored pants will likely work better for you. Wear a smaller silky scarf and carry a more tailored messenger bag. The best jacket or sweater for you will end at your hip bone or just below your natural waist and close in a V shape. Steer clear of double-breasted closures.

Friday, September 14, 2012

An Evening Out

Mickey and I are on our way to an evening fundraiser. My jacket is a very lightweight wrap style with a collar, and I'm wearing a black tank under it. The lined black crêpe skirt is a bit shorter in the front and has a ruffle. The black satin sandals are by Sam & Libby. 


Over the years, I have collected pieces that are appropriate for evening wear. I mix and match them to create looks for the numerous evening events we attend. When I'm shopping, I always look for pieces that will work well with this mix. I can never find anything if I go shopping at the time of the event, so I've learned it's good to be prepared for anything with separates that can be paired together. (Actually, this philosophy extends to my daytime wardrobe as well.) 


I normally wear only one piece of major "bling" for the evening. Here I've added a dinner ring with a big pink stone mounted in antique silver. I always wear earrings because my ears are pierced, but they are very understated diamond wide half hoops. Resist the temptation to wear every shiny thing you own for the evening. That makes you look much older and too cluttered. The tiny evening bag is woven black satin with a simple silver ball closure. Always switch to a small bag for the evening.

Thanks for all your sweet birthday wishes yesterday. I had a wonderful day!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Frumpy No More

This is me in 1998, forty-two years old, five feet six inches tall, and weighing two hundred pounds. Those pants are a size 18.



My life was crumbling, and sadness oozed from every pore. I hated my job but was too deep in debt to start over in another. My then-husband was having an affair with a much younger and more fun woman. I was grieving for the children and family I would never have. In short, my life was a big mess! I cried every single day... sometimes all day long. 


When I hit rock bottom, I decided to change everything that I had the power to change. I started to eat more vegetables and fewer heavy late-in-the-day meals. I started walking. At first, I had difficulty walking to the end of the block. Soon, I was walking for a couple of miles every day. The weight started to come off, and I began formulating a plan to survive this difficult time. 

After the marriage ended, I moved to the New Orleans area. Of course, that was not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but it was an immensely better life than the one I left behind in Virginia. I made new friends and joined two gyms. My walks turned into five-mile runs, and my time in the gym filled the massive void in my life. 

This photo was taken at the peak of my bodybuilding obsession. I'm forty-five in this photo, weighing one hundred and thirty-five pounds. I'm still an empty shell of a human, but at least I look better!




In 2003, I left New Orleans and returned to my hometown in the mountains of east Tennessee. Some bumpy roads were still ahead, but I was home with my family and owned a successful business.

I'm telling you my life story for a reason. I hope you will read this and say if she can do it, I can! 

Change it if you are unhappy with some part of your life or body. Take little steps every day. Soon, you will be running (if not literally, then figuratively). Think of food as the fuel it is. Don't let it be your comfort and your entertainment. If you want to be healthy and thinner, you must make wiser choices about the foods and quantities you eat daily. The other twenty-two hours a day are worth making a few changes in your food choices.


The photo above is a more recent photo taken just before my fifty-sixth birthday at one hundred and
forty-two pounds. Those pants are a size 4!

My life truly began at fifty. I've never been happier or more healthy than I am right now. Not that being thin is the answer to all life's problems, but when you can sleep well at night without being in pain or struggling to breathe, you can make better choices during your waking hours. Sometimes, things are better than they seem after a good night's sleep.

I hope my story touches the lives of people going through something similar. I share fashion tips and my personal tragedies and triumphs, hoping to inspire you to improve your life. 

Thursday, September 6, 2012

September Date Night

Cool Fall weather hasn't yet arrived here in east Tennessee, so I took one last advantage of the warm evening to wear a breezy summer look for Wednesday date night with Mickey.

 
I would not normally wear heels with Capri-length pants, but in this case, the long white tunic from Chico's paired with the khaki and white pants from Coldwater Creek almost gives the illusion of a dress. I wear a platform wedge shoe with Capri length pants in most cases.
 


The suede booties are by Nine West. I found them at Ross for only $24! You know I had to wear them right away.




The khaki and white straw bow trimmed clutch was purchased at T.J. Maxx this year.  I often wear silver or white gold jewelry because it is more flattering to my gray hair.
The link bracelet and ring were purchases from my travels and are old. I'm sorry I can't remember the designers.



The necklace is from Belk by Erica Lyons. Small crystal and silver hoops are also from Belk.



Next week is my birthday week! Look for numerous new posts. Mickey has lots of events planned to celebrate.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Last Days of Summer

Summer is starting to fade away, but the afternoon is still hot. Yesterday was consumed with preparing for a big family get-to-together for Labor Day. My cool and comfy daytime outfit includes khaki ankle pants and platform cork sandals, both by Adrienne Vittadini from T.J. Maxx.  

I'm wearing a white gauze Old Navy tunic over a Coldwater Creek cream tank top worn tucked in only in the front. The over-sized silver and crystal watch, sunglasses, and hoop earrings are from Stein-Mart, and the gold and silver link bracelets are classics I've owned for many years. The bag is from T.J. Maxx a couple of years ago.






As Mickey and I walked through the grocery store last night, we passed a woman with her twenty-something daughter who looked me over and said, "Love your shoes!" That made my day!



Thursday, August 30, 2012

Wednesday Date Night

Mickey and I have a fun tradition of getting dressed for dinner and having a mid-week date night. When he picks me up for our date we leave our stressful first part of the week behind us and relax with a light meal and a glass of wine. 

We visit with old friends or make some new ones and unwind for a couple of hours. This breaks up the week and relieves some of the stress of running our businesses and maintaining our homes. It also gives me the chance to wear shoes I might not otherwise wear!



The black and cream sheer blouse has an uneven hem that dips to a curve in the back. The cream tank has tiny straps that are adjustable. The cream linen type pants are the Natural Fit.




The secret to a happy relationship is to be with the one that makes you giggle!




Earrings by me. Most of the components can be found on the website VintageJewelrySupplies.com.




Always switch to a small bag for the evening. You really only need lip gloss, tissues, business cards, cash, and or a charge card. No need to lug your life around when you are only going to dinner. Evening bag by Kenneth Cole Reaction. I layered two fun "diamond" rings for drama.




A pedicure is a great time to relax and make sure you have healthy happy feet. For me, those toes are an important summer accessory. The OPI nail polish is the color Dutch Tulips.
 
Shoes by Impo.

Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great rest of the week.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Celebrating Stylish Friends


We are a group of friends who love to get together with Rose, the wonderful friend we all have in common. She and her sweet husband, Jerry, recently invited all of us along with our significant others over for brunch. 

I'm so glad my dear Mickey took this picture of us standing on the steps. (When you live on a hillside at the lake, you have lots and lots of steps.) This picture speaks to me on many levels. We are all vibrant, healthy, attractive normal women from all walks and many stages of life. This is a true picture of women. 

One of the best things about this stage of our lives is that we now have some time to get comfortable with who we are, with friends sharing laughter and our stories. Whether you are my Facebook friend or one who lives down the street, I'm so grateful to have you in my life.






This blog and my Facebook page (Fifty, not Frumpy) are dedicated to women who might be over fifty but are still having fun with fashion and enjoying life. Here's to you, beautiful ladies! May the second half of your life be even more fulfilling and exciting than the first.

Thanks for reading!


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Easy Breezy Summer Afternoons



I'm wearing khaki ankle pants with a soft floral blouse from Coldwater Creek and Nine West shoes. The sunglasses and bangle bracelets are in brown tones and bone with brass accents.

I'm comfortable and casual for lounging by Mickey's pool in the pavilion with friends.

Yesterday we went for a drive to the mountains of North Carolina. When we arrived in Blowing Rock, it was much cooler than it was here in Johnson City. I visited one of my favorite boutiques, The Fig Leaf Ltd, where I bought this Damee swing jacket. 

It is a soft taupe/silver color with a bit of sparkle to it. The classic styling means I will be wearing it for years to come. I love the collar details, the three quarter length sleeves, and three large buttons. I'm also wearing black Travelers pants from Chico's and a black tee underneath the jacket. 

My earrings are large silver hoops with tiny Swarovski crystal details within the hoops.  The platform pony-skin sandals are by Vince Camuto. 

When wearing a dramatic style jacket such as this, I always keep all my other accessories minimal. It is enough of a statement on its own. One must be careful not to over-accessorize because that can make you look dated. 
 

Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great week.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Balancing Act



Do you have an inverted triangle body type? These pictures show two versions of the wrap top. They always make me look a little slimmer when the heat requires that I not wear a jacket or sweater as a third element. I have an inverted triangle figure, which means my top is larger than my bottom half. To balance this, I often wear darker colors on top and lighter colors on the bottom. I also avoid bulky materials of any type in tops and breast pockets on shirts or ruffles on blouses.


  
When wearing long pants, a maxi dress, or a long skirt, I often wear low flat shoes. When I wear a shorter skirt or cropped pants, I always wear at least a low heel. I prefer wedges or thicker heels since my calves are short and thick compared to my thighs. If I wore thin stiletto heels, the contrast would make my calves and ankles look even larger. 



Sunday, July 29, 2012

Tank Tops to the Rescue

An essential element in many of my looks includes simple tops as a first layer.

Tank tops come in all shapes and types of fabrics. Knit ones with a bit of spandex are great for the smooth line they allow. If the tank top is made from a soft tee shirt knit, the next layer will almost always drag across it rather than flow smoothly, so they are better worn with heavier fabrics like denim.

 
 

Tank #1 has tiny straps adjusted to allow you to move the neckline lower or higher. This is a great tank to serve as a modesty layer only for cleavage control and a foundation to give you a smooth back under jackets and cardigans. 

Tank #2 has wider straps and ruching detail at the neckline for a bit of softness. It can be used as a relief layer when your top layer becomes too warm. It covers enough to still be attractive when worn alone while your "private summer" passes.

Tank #3 is a lace number that should be made from silk or rayon, or nylon so that it is soft and smooth under dressy jackets and knit cardigans with ornate buttons (think Chanel style knits.) This one has a warm glow of cream white, which looks soft and feminine in candlelight.

Tank #4 is a soft tee shirt material worn under denim shirts or sporty knit jackets.

Tank #5 hugs your shape and gives you a smoother body under thin jackets and sweaters.

Tank #6 is my necessary cream color tank when white is just too bright, as in the photo below. (I now make sure I pack my cream tank when I take this sweater for a weekend get-away.)

 
I'm wearing a thin knit cardigan with fringe detail and a silky smooth tank (which should have been cream colored) underneath.

 
This is an Austin Reed navy blazer that has a low V-front closure. I always wear it with a white tank and either a scarf or a necklace when we go out to dinner.

 
Here's another outfit, including a silky white tank and the navy Austin Reed blazer.

The black and white jacket needs just a bit of modesty at the neckline, so I'm wearing tank #1 here.

 
There is a white silky tank #5 under the thin gray bomber style jacket.


Tank #4 is under a quilted knit casual jacket worn with dark wash denim and comfy luggage tan booties for a recent trip to the mountains.

Thank you for reading! I hope these tips help you expand your wardrobe and have fun creating different layered outfits with the essential white tank top.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Enjoy the Journey




My page 'Fifty, not Frumpy' on Facebook has been a huge hit, with as many as 8,500 views per week. My sets on Polyvore geared to women of a certain age had more than 40,000 views in the first six months of being a member. The feedback and interest shown have inspired me to create a web site and devote my blog to the very popular conversations and pictures we share for those who are having fun with fashion later in life. Let's celebrate who we are now and make the most of our assets and have fun with fashion.

The fastest-growing demographic on Facebook is women over fifty-five, but the style and fashion tips geared toward us are still very few. My goal is to share various outfits with links to similar items if you wish to buy them. I'll provide tips and tricks I've learned to use in making today's looks work for me as a more mature woman.




My look for the Tour of Homes in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, had to be cool and comfortable for the heat of the late July day but also allow me to keep warm when the cool evening air settled onto the mountains. My option included a very soft knit black maxi dress with wider straps, which allowed me to wear a black bra for proper support. I wore a soft knit raspberry-colored cardigan with bronze bead trim as a coverup. When I bought it and the clutch bag I'm wearing as a cross-body bag, I thought I would be using them for evening wear; however, they seemed perfect for this daytime dress.




I kept all my accessories simple since I was wearing a hat and sunglasses; otherwise, my look would have been too cluttered.




The sandals are comfortable and low with embellishments that complement the details on the hat and the bag.




Later in the day, when the heat was high, and everyone was sporting their wet hair and looking wilted in their damp clothes, I still felt comfortable and confident. I was flattered that so many people gave me compliments. One guy even whistled at me! That hasn't happened in many years.



This is my sweet, wonderful gentleman friend and partner in adventure, Mickey.

Thank you for reading! I hope the tips and ideas I share with you give you inspiration for making fashion fun again.


Saturday, July 14, 2012

Star Style

Meryl Streep has always had great style and grace. Her feminine yet powerful attire is always appropriate for her and seems so effortless. She is my inspiration for today's post.


 

Tone on Tone Dressing

Wearing the same color in different tones from head to toe is lengthening and slimming and projecting elegance and great style. Always wear a tunic over leggings. The hemline should reach mid-thigh (well below your bottom). A bit of heel is better than a totally flat shoe. Wedges rather than thin heels are easier to walk in and also more attractive with leggings. Open your collar and add a silk scarf or an interesting necklace inside the neckline. Turn up your sleeves to just below your elbows to look taller and thinner, as well as being cooler. Fabrics that flow and move easily across your body are more comfortable and attractive. Tight clingy fabrics will never make you feel confident.

Handbags

A handbag or a clutch is usually more attractive since they do not alter the line of your clothes as a shoulder bag does. The proportion of a bag should complement your size. A large woman carrying a tiny handbag looks a little silly, don't you think?

Jewelry

Button earrings with a dangle or a drop are infinitely more attractive on almost all women. If you are wearing a bold statement necklace, the earrings should not compete with it. Either don't wear earrings with it or wear only small studs or hoop earrings.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses should fit your face shape and size. For example, square sunglasses frames will look better on you if you have a round face. The color of the frame and the lens's tint should complement the color of your hair and your skin tone.


Thank you for reading. I hope my tips are helpful to you.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Boutique Earrings

Boutique Earrings

More than two hundred boutiques and galleries, as well as several high-end Department Stores, carried my jewelry line during my career. The biggest selling item ever for me was earrings. I created hundreds of styles, such as those pictured here with clip backs and lots of dangles. The color was a selling point, as well as design. I created styles in denim, animal print, lime green, and every color combination one can think of. Customers still ask the boutiques for earrings in this style, but they are challenging to find because designers create those little wire through the ear styles that look great on most younger women and not so great on most mature women.

If you decide to create these earrings, here are a few tips to remember. Clip backs with cushions are a must. Create an interesting button top with filigree or other looped findings as a base. Add an uneven number of dangles that graduate from the center to the shortest on the outside. (I've added as many as eleven rows of dangles on one earring. They sold to the first person who saw them.) Always use small jump rings to attach dangles so that the strand has motion and will hang straight. Adding a chain as part of a few of the strands keeps the design from becoming too bulky. Use long beads and flatter spacer beads, rondelles, and bi-cones to have variety and interest in the design. Pops of color can come from large seed beads.

Look at the color combinations in the stores you sell to. If there is a trendy jacket that combines silver and gray, make some earrings that would look great with that jacket.

Now that I am in my mid-fifties, I understand perfectly why women my age look for button earrings with or without dangles. We like to hide those earlobes that may be stretched a bit. It's always nice to find a dangling pair of earrings to wear with simple necklines. It draws attention away from a neck that may not be as smooth as it was a few years ago.

I was recently speaking with the owner of one of the boutiques that bought a lot of my work when I was still designing. The owner and staff told me that they have many customers who want this type of earring, but they can rarely find them. The owner said she looks on Etsy for them! She sells the earrings in her shop for $75 and up.

Don't miss out on a great customer because you don't have any of these earrings to offer. Make a few and see what happens. The feedback you get will tell you if you are on the right track. Always watch for body language and what people actually say as they are looking at your work. When someone smiles and picks up a piece to study it, make a mental note. Even though they may not buy the piece, it brought a positive reaction.

Have a great summer!

Saturday, May 26, 2012

You Are Not Alone

One of the best things about turning fifty-five was finding the confidence to dress to please me again. My earlier corporate wardrobe was influenced by my peers, meetings, and the fashion industry I worked in until my early forties. 

Later in life, experiences and being self-employed took their toll on my appearance. I gained weight and lost social skills from spending many years working almost around the clock and being alone most of the time. I had become a sloppy dresser who tried to hide all the things I didn't like about my new body. While I knew a great deal about my industry, I had lost touch with fashion trends and even what was right for my now not so great body. 

Many women have a similar experience when their children become adults and go out on their own. You've spent so many years devoted to them, you may have lost your "self" in the process. If you are also newly single during this time, the journey becomes even more confusing and overwhelming. You are not alone! You will survive this, and you will be stronger. 

Getting dressed without added stress might not seem very important at this time in your life, but I know from experience it is. I was someone who stood in her closet in tears and exhausted from trying on clothes for a special event, only to become more frustrated with every discarded piece. I can tell you it makes the difference in showing up and participating in life or staying home and eating ice cream alone.


Today's anything goes fashion trends don't even work for some young toned bodies, so they aren't likely to flatter those of us who have had our fiftieth birthday party either.




Some of the hot trends we might not want to try are stacked platform high-heeled shoes with ankle bands. Honestly, I can't think of any reason for anyone to consider these, but here is an extreme example for you. High skinny heels tend to make our calves look even thicker. Walking in high heels isn't easy. If you must wear them, be confident in your stride and wear cushioned insoles to help with the pain. When your feet hurt...everyone can tell at a glance.

Another trend that isn't right for most of us is the tiny top with skinny or no straps. Anything that shows too much of our upper arms and waistline may not be a good look for us. Tops are essential to your total look. Spend most of your clothing budget on nice blouses, jackets, and lightweight cardigans worn open with a great fitting tank top to reveal only part of your body. I love the variety that comes from owning pieces that work together to create many looks rather than dresses. Prints and patterns are very limiting and memorable. Try solids in colors that flatter your skin tone and can be worn together.

Accessories will allow you to dress up or down that great white shirt and black pants for any occasion in life. You really don't need a lot of clothes.

Great for the evening!


Out to Lunch!









Strictly Business

Hear me, Roar!