Showing posts with label style after 60. Show all posts
Showing posts with label style after 60. Show all posts

Monday, July 25, 2016

Casual Day

What do you wear when you are just relaxing at home with your family?


On Sunday, I wore an old Breton striped tee from Chico's with white jeans by NYDJ, which I found at T.J.Maxx last winter. I have the most successful shopping at T.J.Maxx when I go in at the very beginning of the season as they are just getting in new inventory. I look for everyday basics when I shop there.



The sandals are by Vince Camuto from last year. I am holding my favorite LancĂ´me 'Shine Lover' Vibrant Shine Lipstick in color Unconventional. We were on our way over to visit with my parents, so I didn't need a handbag, and I am wearing very minimal makeup.




This is a typical look for me when I am relaxing at home during the summer. It is an easy casual look that I can run errands in too.

I would wear this top and pants with a jean jacket and flat nude or silver shoes for another casual look in cooler weather. If I wanted to dress it up a bit, I could wear it with a navy blazer and khaki pants. Having a core wardrobe of flattering basics means you can layer and wear the pieces in a year-round rotation appropriate for the weather or the occasion.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Navy and White

Navy with white has been one of my favorite color combos since childhood.


Classic, simple pieces that can be layered and endlessly accessorized are the essential elements of my wardrobe.

As a young girl, I saved all of my babysitting money to buy my school clothes at the beginning of each year. This practice taught me always to invest in separates that could be worn together and in different ways. I rarely stray from that formula.



I have a roundish face, so straight lines are my friend. That means I love the square neckline of this new top from Covered Perfectly.


A dressier look for this top includes nude heels with a small chain bag and simple jewelry.

For a casual look, I changed the accessories to flat sandals, a hook belt, and a fun handbag.


I will also wear this top with scarves, jackets, and vests this fall. Khaki, gold, silver, white, gray, green, tan, orange, or peach are some of the colors that combine well with navy.


Many of the items I show you on my blog are old. If the items are current, I will always provide a link so that you can buy them. This fabulous top can now be purchased online at Covered Perfectly in several colors.



Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Summer Leather

Our evening temperatures still dip into the forties, so dressing for going out at night requires warmer clothes.


We had a lovely dinner with friends on a recent chilly evening.


This fabulous faux leather jacket is by I.C. Collection via my friends at ShopMyFairLady.com.


This is the type of faux leather that you can wear even in summer. It is made using small strips of faux leather meticulously sewn to a mesh under the fabric, as shown in the detailed photo below.


I.C. Collection is known for its artistic button closures and fine details. This jacket did not disappoint!


The asymmetric hem that dips low in the back is so flattering and timeless.


I wore a long-sleeve Covered Perfectly Simple Comfort top with slacks from a couple of years ago under the jacket. 

Fifty not Frumpy followers can get a 20% discount on up to two items for a limited time! Use the discount code FNF20 when you check out at Covered Perfectly. There are many 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. Hurry! Those long sleeve tops are going fast!



The shoes are by French Connection via Saks Off 5th. The clutch is from the boutique, Cloth inside the Grove Park Inn Resort. I always wear Chanel No. 5 in the evenings.



Monday, April 18, 2016

Oh Those Pants!

The endless blue sky and warm sunshine beckoned us to the mountains on Saturday.



We had reservations for the early seating for dinner at Rowland's in the Westglow Resort and Spa in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. We had a fabulous weekend there recently. That was such a lovely experience we decided to join them for dinner again. We will be seated at table eight in the sunroom as often as possible in the future. Rowland's offers the ultimate fine dining experience. We award it five stars!



I wore those fabulous Fabrizio Gianni pants I told you about in yesterday's post.


The light gray tank and ecru longline blazer are both old from Chico's. The necklace is from SM Bradford in Hilton Head, located in Harbour Town Yacht Club.


The rings are from B'Dazzled in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The Balmain sunglasses and clutch bag are both from Saks Off 5th. The shoes are by BCBGeneration via DSW.


When I wear a bold statement necklace like this one, I turn down the volume with all the other elements of my look.


Saturday, April 16, 2016

Building Blocks

Have you ever thought of the pieces in your wardrobe as architectural building blocks?


Do most of those blocks work together to create a cohesive look, or are they scattered bits of unrelated pieces with little in common? Think of a building designed and built using classic lines and details that relate to each other and include balanced proportions. The elements of a building that complement each other combine to create a whole that is pleasing to the eye.



This look serves me well throughout most of the warm weather months. I enjoy wearing flowing tunics with interesting hemlines and three-quarter length sleeves. These tops work well with most of my straight leg pull-on jeans. I look for pants with a smooth wide waistband so that lumps and bumps from regular jean style pants don't show through the fabric of the tunic. The long, lean line created by the straight legs balances the fullness of the tunics.


Add a bold necklace or a stack of related but different bracelets and some eye-candy shoes, and I am ready to go anywhere.


Notice the details. I have created a bookend effect by repeating the turquoise blue in the necklace with the same shoes. A bookend effect can also mean matching your hair color with your shoe color. Bookending means that you are beginning and ending your look with a similar color or tone within a color.


The gold reptile effect on the heels relates back to the straw clutch's gold bamboo effects and the gold details in the necklace.

The Vince Camuto shoes are old from Ross. The Lily Pulitzer clutch is old from Finely House Couture.



Combining various hues within a color can create a very soothing effect. For example, tan, paprika, and ivory are all in the brown family, and they look rich and elegant when worn together.

You can always combine the hues of a color combination with one of your neutrals. For example, my cool skin tone base neutrals include black and white. Your warm skin tone base neutrals might be brown and ivory.



The navy blue Clara Sunwoo top was sent to me by ShopMyFairLady.


Note the odd closure of the necklace visible in this photo. I tied the too long necklace strands in a loose knot and then closed it. It hangs too long, resting between the girls in a most unattractive way. We busty gals must be careful with necklaces and bags that are worn across or between the breasts. Unfortunate choices can share way too much information. I prefer not to draw even more attention to that area.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Denim Jacket

If I never try anything new, you might start to yawn.


This week on the blog, I am breaking all my personal styling rules. So today, it's never close a double-breasted blazer.


This White House Black Market denim trophy jacket looked OK, even buttoned because of the closure angles and the buttons' placement. (I didn't keep it fastened all day.)



I am not a fan of denim trucker-style jackets because they just don't suit my body shape. In addition, boxy jackets are challenging to carry off when you are busty. This blazer, however, is right up my style alley. The angled lines and tailored style are flattering for my body shape.


I paired it with a slate gray tank and white So Slimming jeans from Chico's. The bag by Zac Posen and the Balmain sunglasses are both from Saks Off 5th. 

The shoes are old by Sam Edelman. Keep in mind that animal print is considered neutral. I wore these mostly tan ones with white pants. If they were primarily black with brown, I would have treated them as a dark neutral and paired them only with darker pants to extend my short legs' line.



Saturday, April 9, 2016

I Traded Old for Bold!

Did you go boldly into middle age without skipping a beat? Not I!


Most of these photos were taken yesterday as I carried out my usual Friday responsibilities. I had no meetings or appointments, so I could throw on a pair of jeans and a tank with a black linen biker jacket and a pair of sandals.

Personal style is the interpretation of a suggestion.

And then there is this.


The photo above was taken in 2010, shortly before I turned fifty-four. I weighed about forty-five pounds more than I do now. I was very sick and suffering from deep depression. I was still traumatized that I had turned fifty a few years before and couldn't figure out how to dress for this new phase of life. I thought I had to follow a new set of rules and wear different clothes as I aged. That depressed me even more! I wanted to dress age-appropriate, but I knew no guidebook for that.

I also wrongly believed that gaining weight was part of the aging journey. The aches, pains, health problems, and a weak immune system that came along with the weight gain were also attributed to the process of aging.


I gave away all my jeans and high heels in my late forties because I thought I needed to dress for this new stage of life in a different way or risk looking foolish.

I remember standing in a shoe store looking at a fierce pair of strappy high-heeled sandals and wanting with all my heart just to wear those shoes one more time. An evil little, wretched voice in my head whispered, "You are too old for those."

I realize today that depression and weight gain were part of a grieving process. I was mourning the loss of the person I wanted to continue being.



I will turn sixty in a few months, but I am not depressed about that milestone. The difference is my attitude mixed with a bit of wisdom. I know now that I can keep my lifelong personal style with a few tweaks.

I am wearing an old black linen biker-style jacket from Express. The Erin London silver-gray tank top is from the Marble Lion boutique located in the Inn at Biltmore Estate. The jeggings are from Chico's last year.

The bag is by Zac Posen via Saks Off 5th. The shoes are by Sam Edelman via Nordstrom a couple of years ago.





I went to see my friend and stylist this week. She gave me a fresh chrome mixed with pearl glaze and a trim. I am good to go for another five weeks.



Rock on, sisters! We've got this!


Friday, April 8, 2016

Blue And White On Date Night

White pants are a wardrobe staple for me. I wear them all year round.


In the winter, I wear white denim jeans often on sunny days. When the weather finally warms up, I start looking for lighter weight fabrics in classic styling to wear with great looking jackets and tunics. I normally buy a size larger in white pants than in darker colors unless the sizes run large.



I am wearing a pair of ankle pants sent to me by Purple Poppy by Renuar. They have the slimming wide waistband shown below that I appreciate so much. When I wear a sleek tunic or tank, I never want closures and loops, creating lumps and bumps under the fabric. Masculine style pants are never flattering on me. 

Always check to make sure you can not see through the fabric, and always wear nude color undies with white because white undies will still show through. This link is to a Spanx foundation garment from Macy's that I often wear under sleek fitting tanks and tunics. It isn't heavy-duty, but it does give you a nice smooth line around your tummy area.


The swing jacket is from IC Collection. I bought this one at ShopMyFairLady. The tank top is from Chico's. I buy these in several different colors because I never know when to complement whatever I am wearing. A styling tip; when jackets converge to create an unflattering neckline, I leave them open to create a long, lean line instead. A lower neckline is always more flattering for my face shape.



The shoes are old by Thalia and Sodi via Macy's last year. The box clutch bag is old from T.J.Maxx.



Mr. Mickey and I love to visit Gourmet and Company to sit in the lounge area or on the warm weather patio. The elegant and comfortable, quiet atmosphere is the perfect place to relax and visit with friends even if you aren't having dinner there.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Black Olive and Caper

I have always loved the color olive or caper as neutrals on other people. When I wear that color near my face, I look ill.


These comfortable soft, casual pants are by Fabrizio Gianni. This caper color is as close as I get to khaki because that is another color I cannot wear well. Since I have a cool skin tone, I try never to wear warm or golden undertones near my face. If you know the colors that work well with your skin tone, you will find it so much easier to put together a flattering wardrobe. The colors and tones will look good on you, but they will also work together well.

It took me about three minutes to get dressed. I was on my way to the bank and my office to sign checks on Friday. Even though this is an easy casual look, I was appropriately dressed for all the stops I had to make and even to join a friend for lunch later.

That is why I share these tips and inspiration photos with you. I want you to have the same confidence and ease of getting dressed each day.









One way to determine which tones of color would look best on you is to study your veins. If the veins on the inside of your wrist look green, you have warm golden undertones. If your veins look blue, you have a cool skin tone. If the veins look neither blue nor green, you are a lucky neutral who can wear almost any color.




My sandals were by Vince Camuto from Belk last year.