Warm 'n Cozy

I thought I had it all planned out.  Course you know what they say, ...best laid plans, etc.  I thought I would do a theme of leather blazers this week, but I woke up this morn NOT FEELING LIKE LEATHER.  I wanted soft and cozy.  So I dug out all my sweaters--they were sort of a motley bunch--pilled, wrinkled and tired.  Maybe one of my skirts could inspire me.  Naw, they were looking a little ratty too.  I was having a devil of a time getting ready!

My husband had given me this sweater for my birthday.  It is a cashmere/silk blend and I love the color--BUT this "slouchy" shape is giving me trouble.  I figure with its full shape, I will wear something slim on the bottom.



sweater~Victoria's Secret
skirt~Ann Taylor

 I love this skirt--the material is wool with a nap--almost like fur.  It has cute, silk ribbon finishing and fits great.  Soft and cozy.  I went for a pink/purple mix of tones today--a tad different, no?  Tamed the color party down with the neutral coat. 

Oh, and the little booties are really comfortable with the little kitten, 2 1/2 inch heel!!!  Love the sun blaring those wrinkles right off my face!

Slouchy sweaters--wear with skinny or full shape?

Colored Leather

I just finished reading The Thoughtful Dresser, by Linda Grant, thanks to my friend, Terri over at Ragz.  In it, among lots of other great stuff, was a part on a leather biker jacket being too young to be worn by an over 50 year old.  Personally, bikers are a bit too tough for me to pull off, yet I do see plenty of over 50's that look great in them.  I have feminized this look by finding colored leather jackets and wear them as blazers in the office, or as 'tween season jackets.  I love colored leathers!

 



jacket~Marshalls
skirt~thrifted
shoes~Nordtrom's the Rack



The skirt has a long history.  When I bought it at a thrift store about 15 years ago, it was one of those long, preppy skirts that was longer than a midi.  It was pretty ugly, but the fabric was gorgeous.  It is one of the softest wool challis I have ever been able to find.  I took the hem up, to about 2 inches below the knee--a good boot length.  In a few years, that looked sort of dowdy.  So last year, I took a few more inches off and whala!  I am in love with it all over again!

And just to be a little cheeky?  I did the socks and sandal thing again.  Love the monochromatic look!

Whadaya think?  Biker jackets for over 50? 

GONE FISHING

Gone Fishing Shopping

Happy Turkey Day!

What is the name of the skin that hangs from a turkey's neck?

A Wattle

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Fashion

Have you ever noticed the attire of Pilgrims?  Buckles on the shoes and buckles on the hats.  Will it shatter your childhood memories if I tell you that this is not the truth?

Several years ago, I worked with a brilliant woman, Nancy Rexford, who was an expert on costume.  She told me that all those pictures we identified with the Pilgrims were incorrect.  Buckles did not come into fashion until the mid 1700's.  What the pilgrims wore for shoes were similar to the ones below with a leather strap that tied.

by Duane A. Cline 1999

   Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

And to all--just a note--posting over the Thanksgiving holiday

may be a bit erratic.

Will be back in full form by Monday!

Do you ever pose so that the clothes look better?  That's what I had to do in this skirt--it has a real funny shape--it comes in very slim at the knees.  If I stood straight, the skirt had a sort of pouf shape.  What ended up happening here is I loved the feeling of the top part of my outfit, and went berserk all day long with the bottom!



sweater~Bluefly
blouse~Century 21
skirt~Lerner



The top part was so sensual, tho.  Don't you love when that happens?  The blouse is silk, and the bolero is an angora, cashmere and silk blend.  mmmmmm.  Felt great all day.

But as for the skirt?  It stuck to my stockings and made a project out of going to the loo.  I keep the skirt because it has great details and fits my jean pencil skirt quota.  Nonetheless, it maybe time for the thrift pile!

Oh, and is that clogs again?  Yup.

Do you have a love/hate relationship with some of your clothes?

Shrug Week

Ok, so there is Shark Week, and then there is Shrug Week.  I am in love with shrugs, boleros, or any other cropped typed of top.  I have a few, and will try and style them this week.  They just happen to work for me.  I think because an empire waist is so flattering on me and this makes a great topper.  They are even more important to me in the summer to hide the bingo arms....



bolero/shrug~J Peterman catalog
ethnic tunic~Marshall's
jeggings~Madewell



Details~The shrug or bolero ( I think the difference between them is in the amount of fabric on the bodice.  A shrug just covers the shoulders and a bolero has material in the front) is 100%wool, and is a marled brown.  It fits perfectly, and is NOT itchy.  It's about 10 years old, (J. Peterman has been out of business for a long time) and still has not pilled!  I love ethnic prints--I don't tire of them as they have a certain character.  My jeggings and my shooties--such a staple--who would've  thought?

Oh, and just check out these earrings!  They are Indian fabric covering half-moon wood covered disks.  They are so light and they show up in my hair--a problem for me lately.  AND they have a different fabric on the reverse side!  They were a museum purchase last week--don't they have the best little gifts?  (a little reminder for Christmas gifts...)

Peabody Essex Museum $24.

Any other bolero/shrug fans out there? 

Not So Profound

Sometimes cleaning my closet becomes a journey.  A journey down memory lane, or a what-the-hell-am I-going-to-do-with-this journey.

This cage dress is one of those journeys.  Its been in a miscellaneous box in my closet for about 10 years now.  Back then, I wore it over a navy blue silk slip dress, but I am not feeling that right now.  I really don't want to give it up, one reason--its beautiful crochet work.  And secondly, it's so unique, I just can't part with it.

It does evoke some memories of another cage dress I had back in the sixties~



Alice, my paperdoll, with my flashback

This one was more of a lace cage than a crotchet cage dress.  Both were around in the sixties.  I loved this dress--it was my favorite color, and so stylish!  The only bummer?  I couldn't wear it to school, as it didn't meet the length requirement.  (We had to kneel down on the floor, and hem had to touch the floor!)

Lots of stuff happened while I cleaned my closet--and I know it does for a lot of women.  Sentimentality keeps us from getting rid of a lot of stuff.  I am tempted just to take a picture, and then pass this on.  Although for this one I don't think it's a sentimental attachment--yet--it still sits in my misc. box.

Can someone help me? Any ideas for this jewel?

Friend Friday--Copy Cat

Friend Friday--Copy Cat!

1.  What are the 'unwritten rules' about copying content that we bloggers should all abide by?


The same ‘unwritten rules” apply for any artistic content. At the very least, credit the source—even if it isn’t an exact copy—cite your inspiration. A link is even better!


2. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. But when is a post imitation and when is it copying?

To me, imitation is using parts; copying is using the whole thing. We all get inspired and take pieces of what we see around us. Sometimes it may be unconscious. Sometimes a great thought may come simultaneously to two people. But if the imitation/inspiration is consciously done, then please cite the source.


3. Taking another blogger's idea (perhaps for an outfit, or DIY tutorial) is pretty common in the blogging world. Do you think it is necessary to credit the original source?

Yes, for me, it’s about being professional. After all, almost everything has been done sometime before!


4. How have you improved your blog by comparing it to other bloggers?  Have you made changes due to something you have seen others doing?


Absolutely! I have my paradigm blogs—and I hope I have thanked the blogger personally for the idea or inspiration, which I would do via email.


5. Have you ever had one of your posts copied by another blogger or publication? How did you handle the situation?

Maybe—but I am pretty new at this so I wouldn’t assume it was my blog they were imitating! If it did happen to me, I would probably address the issue privately via email. If it happened again, I would make mention of it in another way.

Silk, Purple Stockings and Leather Jacket

First of all, let me give give credit to the people that gave me the inspiration for this outfit today!  Serene and Style Underdog for their maroon stockings of yesterday, they gave me the purple stockings of today.  Vanessa gave me the idea of layering a skirt under a dress (she did skirt over a dress, but you know what I mean).  All this in lieu of tomorrow's topic on Friend Friday.

Back to the silk thing.  The tunic/dress is my silk for today.  I didn't realise it but, what a great transitional material it is!  It is warm, but light and doesn't stick does to your stockings like cotton.  Some people say that silk is too hot for the summer~so here you go--try it in the spring and the fall!  I love the mix of the summery with the wintry.   

I had this vision this morning of this tunic top with my purple tights--I just thought it would be a really brilliant color combination.  And, I managed to get another good color combination on the shoes and the stockings~ taupe and purple.  Boy, did I get a lot of judgemental looks today at the museum!  All those old ladies (wait a minute---how old am I?) were just freaking out.  Really.

And the other good thing?  This leather jacket, that I temporarily stole from my son, was $19.99 at Marshall's last Christmas.  Actually, the motorcycle jacket was inspired yesterday by Jessica Quirk--her jacket fits her better tho~

Do you think purple stockings are more daring than maroon?

 

Second Day of Silk

It was a dark, rainy morning.  Seriously, it was so dark out this morning, I had to use the flash AND a lamp to take these pictures!  These November mornings with the sun so low in the sky, makes it tough to take pictures inside.  Hopefully, I can make an interesting background tomorrow.  Today I look like a teacher about to give a lecture on this scroll.....



sweater~madewell $$$$
skirt~ thrifted

I love silk.  I love all natural fibers, for that matter.  This skirt is a really nice silk twill that  doesn't wrinkle.  A lot of natural fibers tend to wrinkle more than the synthetics which may bother some people, but it doesn't bother me!  I also loved this print--its sort of art-noveau--and for a thrifted piece, it was a little pricey ($30.)  Bought it anyway, much to the chagrin of my husband, who happened to be with me that day.  Sometimes the fabric makes all the difference.

A lot of times while shopping, I just feel the fabric.  I can generally tell just by the touch, if it is synthetic or not.  Years ago, designers would use only the best fabrics, which most of the time were made of natural fibers.  Now, I am really disappointed when I find a beautiful designed dress-- made out of 100% polyester!  That is usually a deal breaker.

The sweater is 100% wool, and my tee underneath is 100% cotton--along with my tights.

Sorry all, but I tried taking a picture of my earrings, which are handmade by a local artisan.  None of  the pictures came out--just too dark.  (note to self--take separate pictures of earrings...)

Oh, and I didn't mention my clogs on purpose.  They crop up in my outfits a lot and I have so many other shoes!  Why do I do it?  They are just so practical in the rain!

Do you mind wrinkles (in clothing that is)?  

 



Chocolate Martinis and Birthdays

I got a message yesterday from IFB on holiday blogging, and how bloggers can take some time off.  It's going to be a long stretch from Thanksgiving until Christmas and I am going to try and plan ahead.  And then it came to me.  I'M TAKING MY BIRTHDAY OFF, friends, so see you tomorrow.  I'll have a chocolate martini for you~ 

Silk Skirt Week

Just sort of playing around, but I thought this week I would do a theme.  Maybe it'll help to rotate some of those clothes I haven't worn in a while.  So this week the theme is SILK SKIRTS.

While watching football yesterday, I sketched some outfits, and noted some items that have disappeared from my rotation.  Its funny how I could remember items bought years ago, but will find these sketches helpful, because I won't be able to remember a thing in the morning!

Back to today's outfit.  What I learned today was that you really can mix neutrals!  Growing up I was taught not to combine black and blue or black and brown; white and beige, or beige and grey.  Now I find it looks good!  Surprise, surprise!  On the other hand, I discovered I couldn't combine any kind of green, and my green body suit is a no!

sweater~Bluefly
skirt~Banana Republic

Oh, and more details.  These clogs are just so comfy~don't mean to say it over and over again but....  And love my textured stockings.  Note the grey and beige combo~

Where you taught not to mix beige and grey?





Profound Thought~Advanced Bloggers



Bust of a Woman, 1970
Picasso~

 With thoughts from Friend Fridays' questions, I really began to think about the strange and unusual over- 50-blogger.  Out of the blogger demographic, they don't tweet, some fb and maybe even fewer belong to IFB.  What's an advanced blogger (as in Advanced Style) to do?

Sometimes I feel like I'm having a party, and the google address is wrong.  (tee-hee)  I know they are out there--those over fifty women--maybe they have a little more time now, maybe they are looking for things to simplify their lives, maybe seeking some creativity. I understand though, we are all frustrated by the changing technology, we are tired of trying to keep up and have become world weary.  And haven't we seen it all before?

And fashion has really put us over the edge.  Many women have just given up--gotten off the fashion train, as a fellow blogger said.  The reasons?  Maybe because of years of frustrated shopping; maybe because we had no time as we were raising families.  And what designer is making clothes for the 50 year old?  And so we get stuck in what looked good on us 20 or 30 years ago.

Consequently, most women my age aren't tuning into cyberspace for fashion.  But I hope, with time and effort, they will come.  They will see there can be a lot of FUN in dressing at our age.  There is a lot of positive encouragement to be had here in cyberspace.  I love talking with women my age and discussing fashion/style/shopping--or any women for that matter!  Its a great way of connecting. 

Blogging is a creative outlet for me and has enriched my life.  Help me spread the word.    

Turtlenecks-Its a Wrap

sweater~Victorias Secret
silk skirt~Marshall's

I broke out today!  I've been doing this series on my turtlenecks, and trying to dress conservatively for work and then......THE ARTIST IN ME BROKE OUT!!! And I just went sort of wild with color!

This is the third and last of my turtlenecks.  I was hoping it would work as a Kate Moss-looks-like-she-just-threw-it-on piece.  Do I think it works?  Maybe not in the Kate Moss way, or in the Audrey Hepburn way, but in a practical way.  (ho-hum)


What made me even happier was it stopped raining, and I was able to wear my shooties!  I am loving these babies and they are a lot more versatile than I thought.  With stockings, my feet are toasty, even though temps are only in the 40's.  I might be able to wear them into the Holidays????  One can only hope...



  

What have I learned?  Turtlenecks are ok in moderation.  They look richer in a ribbed knit.  While I won't be buying any more,  I'll try to re-use these.  Maybe I can think of better  remixes......

Is it possible to take the turtleneck off a sweater?



Friend Friday

This is my first Friend Friday and I am excited!  Hope I get the Linky-Blinky thing right this week; I flunked last week!

Topic: Blogger Self Promotion



1. How do you promote your blog?
I post a couple of links a week on facebook to my blog. I mention it to friends and acquaintances; I do have a business card with my blog on it. I am a member of Twitter, but I don’t see many people my age tweeting. I actively seek out other blogs in my demographic, and make friends.


2. In your experience what has been the most effective form of self promotion?
Not Facebook or Twitter. One facebook friend visits my blog! The most effective is making real connections with people—finding friends in the blog world; good, old honest networking.


3. Do you think there is a wrong way to promote yourself and your blog?
Does the end justify the means? Sometimes. From my demographic though, I don’t think people want all the noise—the constant facebook reminders, the tweets, the newsletters. I think this is offensive for my age group, which is over 50, by the way.


4. When is comes to others pushing their product what annoys you?
When “the push” comes off as bragging, when its been done a million times before, when it doesn’t go away.


5. In Dressful's post on this topic earlier in the week she said,


"It's impossible to respect someone who wants all the attention, but adds nothing worthwhile to the conversation." Do you agree?
Absolutely! I read Dressful’s post, and it started off with the annoyance of blog promotion in “comments”. Maybe there is a correlation between blatant self-promotion and unoriginal content. Regardless, painfully true is the fact there are no shortcuts. It takes hard work from the content you post, to the connections you cultivate. But I’m still lovin’ it!

Love Your Closet

After we redecorated our bedroom earlier this year, I was pining to do my closet over "California Closet" style.  I did all the planning, etc., but I was filled with anxiety over having to totally reorganize my closet!

Being inspired to not shop with the Kendi's 30 for 30, and with Serene of The Elegant Bohemian declaring that you should LOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES, I will add you should Love your closet also.

I love my closet now without the California Closet!  How did I do it?  Some minor details, really, but some silly things I love.  Like boxes.  And hooks. Oh, and silly little stickers.

How would you start to Love your closet?  Maybe by doing some little details, that YOU love in your closet to help organize it.  Of course, first you may want to purge those things you DON'T love. 



My silly little stickers and boxes!



I have a bureau in my closet--it works brilliantly!

I find it very cathartic to clean out my closet.  I find forgotten items. I give away things I don't love anymore.  And I simply.  It feels great!

Anyone else feeling good about purging your closet? 

Turtleneck--Take 2



Simple. That's the goal of this turtleneck journey.  The idea of just throwing on a top, skirt and stockings appeals to me.  Winter in New England means LOTS of clothes, so I am trying to delay this process for as long as possible by keeping it simple.

It started with the sketches of three turtlenecks.  First turtleneck outfit is here; not a failure but I wasn't wild about it either.  Adding some femininity to the second attempt may be the ticket.

So I ramped up the girly stuff by using a fuller, printed skirt and added the sexier heeled boots.  (I tried it first with flat boots--ew boy, total frump!) I stayed away from a necklace--it was too expected.  Sometimes you just need white space.   (art term) 



tneck~Lord & Taylor
skirt~Banana Republic
boots~TJ's



Oh, and some details on the turtlenecks.  One is merino wool, the other is silk and cashmere.  Can you tell which one is which?