Last Day at the Beach

This top is actually a bathing suit cover up--I really liked it because it is nylon mesh and really dries easily.(Marshall's) I was originally going to make it into a bathing skirt--but I liked it as a cover up; altho it really covers up nothing!!!

oh, and do you have one of those items YOU JUST CAN'T GIVE UP NO MATTER WHAT THE STYLE??? Well, one of mine is biker shorts. Yup, love 'em, and every year I have to search for a pair that is long enough...and I know they are dated, but non-the-less CAN'T GIVE THEM UP!!! I do only wear them to the beach and working out tho!

Share with me that item you just CAN'T GIVE UP!

Uninspired

After perusing the September Vogue, I decided it is a very uninspiring season~same old stuff (guess it comes with age--seen it all before!). I'll have to dig into my own personal style to refresh my wardrobe.

First on the agenda for the seasonal refresh: my inspiration board (I do have a few items-best look of the season for me is the retro-fifties look)

Second: I shop my closet; pick the items I'd like to focus on, figure out where the gaps are and get rid of any items that don't make it anymore (for whatever reason--fit, style, or worn out)

Third: I make my list of items I need--the basics, the "must-haves" (the trends). ps I don't always find what is on the list, but I do try and budget what I may need to spend money on and what I can cheat on.

Fourth: Go shopping! I try and only shop for one season at a time~otherwise I get overwhelmed!

This year I am redecorating my closet, so this will be a particularly involved project. I hope to get rid of a lot more stuff tho!

Oh, and I'd love to have someone post their daily outfits on a blog with me! I want to see what someone else is wearing!!!

Profound Thought No. 2

Stand up Straight. Yeah, I know, I sound like your mother but it is SO TRUE! Everyone, especially as we age, looks better and more confident if we just straighten up a bit; and it makes an outfit look that much better! Great accessory--good posture. I have to remind myself.....

And I have been re-reading Nina Garcia's "Little Black Book of Style" and to pull off great style, you need confidence, and add a little bit of FUN and whala~Style is born.....

Minimalism

A new trend for the fall getting a lot of buzz is the Minimalist look~and a lot of 50+ are loving it because of its clean lines, soft fabrics and neutral palette. http://www.unefemme.net/2010/08/minimalism-made-simple.html

There is no extra cheese here to put us in the foolish realm!



That being said, I'm not a minimalist gal myself, but I DO like some of the pieces...but I would be adding--more like the suggestions they had in Lucky Mag~ http://www.luckymag.com/style/howto/styling/2010/09/minimalist#slide=6



And as a total rejection of this trend, how about THESE ladies? Gotta love THEIR STYLE!http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-york-times-take-on-advanced-style.html
They show a lot us a lot of confidence and FUN!

A Look from the Inspiration Board

So I was dying to try out my new shooties and go for the look on the inspiration board. I LOVE these shooties--they are the softest leather, with a nice LOW heel~AND I got them on sale at Anthropologie. Got many compliments on them today; especially from younger girls.

Think it works for an ol' gal like me?

I'm wondering if they will work with a skirt.....

The Red Shoes

I had a vision.....RED SHOES

Back to the evolution of my outfit for the October wedding- it had to have red shoes....

I am so excited I found them! They look ROCKIN' with the outfit--but I am going to leave you in suspense till the day..stay tuned for the pics...

ps Can you believe TJ's for $15.00????

pss Might have to endure a little pain; these shoes are about a 3" heel.....

Anyone else finding it hard now wearing heels?

What I WON'T Be Wearing

Heralding in the new season, are a lot of SCARY style pants out there, IE, camo, harem, cropped, "sweatpant trousers", cargo, slouchy, etc. How about a pair of camo, cropped cargo's???? Not for us over 50! More: http://www.luckymag.com/blogs/luckyrightnow/2010/08/piece-were-coveting-olive-gree.html

What I'm excited about are TONS of jean stretchy legging/skinny styles, which I couldn't find at all last year! I know leggings/skinny jeans aren't for everyone, but with some editing, they can be a staple of any one's wardrobe.

Are we a Yea or a Nay on leggings/skinny jeans?

Layers

Layering will be the way to go over the next few months--cool in the mornings, shedding clothes in the afternoon, then bundling up at night. I know this vest will be a go-to source through out the fall! This former jacket was also a thrift find-- and I took off the sleeves. Skirt was a thrift find also, and I debated whether I would buy a floral skirt or this graphic print. Geometric designs, for me as I've said, feel not so aging.

Next time I will NOT tuck in the shirt. Old habits die hard....

Please ignore the confused look in front of the camera!

The Rebel

One thing that really motivates how I will dress for the day is color. Today, it was 61 in Boston--rainy and grey. So being the old rebellious hippie that I am, I HAD to dress in a bright color. The pink jacket is a thrift find (I cut the sleeves off), a purple silk sweater and cropped jeans with platform sandals.

Pink can be a tricky color for us over 50--too much pastel and you slip into RV land. The brighter the pink the better and I try and toughen it up--here I did the sandals and really pushed the color quotient with the purple. I was a bright spot in a world of grey today!

For more on the pink issue, see http://www.stylegoesstrong.com/feelin-great-68

Profound Thought No. 1 *

When I started this blog, I was concerned that it might be a little self-absorbed, like many of the fashion diary posts. So I began to ask myself, Is Fashion Superficial? Each morning I look forward to the creative process of getting dressed; its my time of day to be the artist~and using color, texture, proportion (and maybe some fashion) I put my outfit together. It makes me feel good and if it provokes others--all the better! Not so superficial......

Your thoughts~

* from The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery

I Dyed

To coin a phrase from Rachel Zoe, "I Dyed" (she says "I died") . This is my dye job that worked! It turned the rather poopy black and white print sundress (that was a second hand find) into something better than it was!

Oh, and I dyed the shoes too!

Thanks to Jessica Schroeder of the web page, www.whatiwore.tumblr.com, for the overdying idea--had only dyed plain fabrics before.

Barbie at the Beach

Don't we all wish we could look like Barbie at the beach??? I would probably like to go back to the roaring twenties when they had those bathing suits that covered your whole body; but barring that, he is another example of a bathing skirt that really hides the ugly stuff~look for them on sale now--Land's End http://www.landsend.com/pp/IslaMoradaRingFoldoverMiniSwimMini~209008_59.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::BLA&CM_MERCH=IDX_00006_0000000208_0000000644&origin=index

I actually got this one from Marshalls (much less expensive) and I have one smaller (shorter!)also.

Inspiration Board

I love an inspiration board--I have a small bulletin board in my closet. It helps me to refresh some of my older clothes and encourages me to try something new!

I am a skirt girl, hence the skirts--bit too short for OUR age, but I can edit that! What caught my eye on these are (from L to R) the color combination on this outfit and the cute neck piece (that is a necklace), next, I love the idea of a hoodie under a jacket, love those wedgie boots but I would make the skirt longer. The model on the far right was showing the new abstract prints--which I love--and easier NOT to look like an old lady (like florals can--see my Cirque post--old lady print!) Top row photos are all from Lucky Mag Sept 2010.

More later on the second row~

Choose some pictures of your own to inspire and help keep your wardrobe fresh. How do you want to be looking this fall?

Evolution part 2

Back to my wedding outfit! It was suggested that I try my obi in another color--so lacking in another real obi, I tried the black belt with another color shrug.

I am also going to try some scarfs wrapped as obies (?) for more color variety!

So what do we think?

Breezy Summer Style

This has been a great just-throw-it-on outfit this summer. The top was from J.Jill eons ago, and there is nothing like a linen shirt for the summer. Skirt was another great find at Marshall's-its is a linen blend and very cool and comfortable. It has a dropped fitted waist--so it looks a little tailored, and I think balances out the loosely fitting top--even though both pieces are full.

The shoes are a little bit fugly, I know, but sometimes you just have to go for comfort! I actually LOVE those shoes--they are Naot's and work great in the fall also.

How to wear a Sundress

Its hard to find a sundress that's for grownups! Many are too flimsy, or straps are too thin or top is too low. One solution I have found, is to wear a short sleeve cardigan or shrug to help hide the top part of the dress--which is usually where the problem lies.

I love this outfit--the dress was a find at Marshall's. I had to do some alterations--take down the hem and take it in at the back but its been my go-to outfit for dinner and special occasions. The print is fun--and florals can be tough for us over 50--one false move and its geriatric ward. (I think I made that mistake with my other sundress--see the dress I wore to Cirque! But that is going to change....)

Evolution of an Outfit (Oct Wed)

I have a evening wedding to go to in October. I found this dress at a vintage store--its from Talbots and with a little help, I think it might work!

My original vision was to have a shrug, obi belt and some wild, maybe colorful shoes. I tried the obi and the shrug--

Tomorrow I will try some of my shoes just for effect (because you know I will need new shoes!) and maybe another belt and another color shrug.

Stay tuned and help me out!

Trip to Museum

As you can see, had the most wonderful time at Cirque!

More about the outfit--great all around blouse I can always throw on and look good. My staple jean skirt--a must-have for me--its a go-to piece any season!

Cirque du Soleil

At left, I tried again with those damn green espadrilles! No luck tho, I even changed the laces but to no avail--THEY JUST DON'T WORK! I am going to try and dye them now!

At right, is the end result. But on closer examination, I think the print is a little poopy. So I think I'll dye that dress too--it was a thrift shop find, so no pain if it fails!

Can't wait for the show!

Funky but chic

So this was the first try...hadn't worn these shoes all summer and although I don't usually do matchy-match, I tried them with the green shirt.
I'm still trying to do the funky but chic, but it is harder! Looks like I'm trying out for the ballet...

I changed the shoes for something less colorful, shall we say? It lost part of the funk, but it still looks modern, I think.

I'm going to try and tone down the shoes; maybe dying them, or changing the straps..something!

FALL TRENDS 2010

One of the upcoming fall trends that an over 50'er can do, is the camel blazer. Seeing it all over the place, and this is on my list! Maybe a blazer that is a little longer so it can go over leggings....

http://www.style.com/trendsshopping/trendreport/072610_Trend_Reports/TheLongView/

Also in Lucky Mag, Sept. 2010 Issue (will post link when available!)

Impromptu Lunch

Got ready in a rush today for a quick impromptu lunch, and at first sight, I thought, pretty good--classic striped tee and canvas "a" line skirt (that was a little long so I cut it and frayed it).

But thank God the paparrazzi wasnt after me today because they would have had a field day--you can see my pink bra beneath the now crooked looking tee. oops!

OLD LADY

This should be in the DON'T photos in Glamour (I think)--just put the block across my eyes. Scarry, but at our age, one mistep and its granny time.

The problem. I think. is the blouse--its a little scandinaavian/heidi type. I like it because it is fitted, has stretch, short sleeves and is longer in the front. And although the skirt is modern (Victoria's Secret) it is not a good combo. Have to try again! (Actually, I have worn this skirt with a jean jacket and got many compliments so there is hope for it!)