TOA

My pink leopard silk Japanese jacket by Bob Mackie?  $11.49--Building 19

First of all, I just have to say how thrilled and excited I am that Heather of Style Confessions nominated me for LINK LOVE over at Beautifully Invisible!!!  This weeks round-up has a twist--and that's me all over--twisted!  I am flattered to be named with some other impressive bloggers.  Thanks again, Heather!

Back to the meat of my blog today.  Hate to go on so, but I am still on this thing about "what makes you look old".  While pondering this question, beside me was the Vermont Country Store Catalog.  Since buying my wool, lace-like stockings from them, (last seen here) I have been on their mailing list.

And I have to say, it's almost a bible for what NOT TO WEAR--unless you want to look dated and old.  There are almost five pages on muumuu's, an assortment of pull on pants, perfumes from the 1920's (so you can smell old too); but my FAVORITE?

Yup, that's right ladies--TIRED OLD ASS SOAK.  Otherwise known as TOA.  Sort-of sounds good.  I wonder if it'll work in my hot tub? 

De-old-ladying

Don't you just love it when someone provokes thought?  Well, that's what Terri over at Rags against the Machine continually does.  Last week she asked her followers what it was about dressing that may make us feel old.



details~stitching on jacket, lining, and shooties.  Jacket by Tahari.

 And while I have a litany of items that can make me look old, (and the list grows daily) I had remembered I had taken these buttons off this cute, vintage style, Tahari jacket because it sort of made this jacket look, well...a little old lady.

Sometimes slipping into old age can be as innocuous as a set of buttons.  Be wary.



The Meaning of Life--er sort of.

Have I told you I am a bit of an old movie aficionado?  I was watching The Razors Edge the other night with Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney--which is a movie about the meaning of life. And after I was reading blogs the other night, I began to ask what is meaning of life?  Well, with respect to the blogisphere, that is!

Every now and then, I guess, I become somewhat retrospective and ask, what am I doing here?  I read my friends blogs--some are great writers, some great photographers, some very funny, some are good at baring their soul and still others are great poets.  I have to wonder: Where do I fit in in the mix?

It always seem to come back to this:  I really want to inspire women my age to have fun dressing.   So many of my friends have lost interest.  I can't blame them--it's hard to shop at our age.  There are a lot of things working against us--our bodies are changing, styles are catered to girls half our age, things don't fit right--I could go on and on.



This spot I chose because the only other flowers that are blooming in my yard are here!



Yet, everyday I am inspired by the things around me, whether it is art, flowers, other bloggers, fashion magazines--it gives me that little joy in life that partly makes me feel young again, but more importantly, makes me happy and fulfilled.

blouse~Victoria Secret--on sale--all silk-$19.99
skirt~love the high waist! Newport News

I know this could be interpreted as shallow--I mean its only clothes--but its the creative spirit that isn't superficial.  And I want to share it~



Daffodils and Shooties

I know you have been here before: styling dilemma.  And I was so excited about these shoes yet the vision didn't match up with reality!  (The gods of the low-heeled shooties answered my prayers).   There I was, running late--searching for the combination for my new shooties.

Shooties; cage sandals--whatever..~Designer Wearhouse, $35



The dilemma played out as follows:  tried white socks, cut white socks, white socks didn't work.  Couldn't wear tights--had decided to wear bare legs.  Tried fish-nets with longer, capri pants.  Looked like a can-can dancer from a Toulouse-Lautrec painting.  Took off longer capri pants.  Finally tried this combo--and with no time left--had to go with it.  Felt a little like a boxer though....

At the end of the day, I love my new shooties--very comfortable heel--but I FROZE!!! It only got up to about 42~ugh--and with my bare legs!

But the original inspiration for the outfit (bare legs and yellow shrug) came from my daffodils.  They have finally risen.

Not a Maxi

Although there are a few reasons to wear a longer dress--hairy legs or cold weather--they are not one of my favorites.  Since Everybody, Everywhere is doing maxis, of course that was all I could think of this morning while I was getting dressed!  And with the nor'easter blowing in, I thought I'd dig this skirt out of my closet.

As my skirt is not technically a maxi, this tea-length presents it's own problems for me.  The only way I can wear it is with boots, and the cowboy boots, err, well, just would have made it look too western--too hoedown.  My only choice was the heeled boots; oh the pain.

The only thing I'm really feeling here (nostalga) is this neckerchief that dates back to before high school~ an Oscar de la Renta--how do you like that? The skirt? Save it for another rainy day.

Mud Season = Clogs

Yup, its mud season here in the NE and ya know what that means?  CLOGS!  Hate to keep beating a dead horse here, but they are the most practical shoe for our muddy spring here.

I discovered this gem of information during the spectatorship of my son's sports--having to schlep to the field made a practical shoe imperative. Clogs fit the bill because the platform sole keeps you high and dry and the leather is usually durable.  Something our ancestors discovered years ago.  Clogs kept the wearer out of the mud, and whatever other debris there was on the road.

Of course, any platform shoe will do the same thing, but clogs tend to be more utilitarian in their style.  The tricky thing is not getting them TOO utilitarian looking!  Otherwise, I may look like I am tending sheep on the Swedish countryside.  The best clogs are the ones that are more refined--less clumsy looking.  And the wooden soles?  They may be too hard on my feet--so I look for something softer.

Any other shoe solutions to mud season?



Snow and Shooties

Because of THIS last Friday~

I was unable to wear THESE until this week.

All based on my sketch the week before.  

wool tweed jacket~thrifted
linen skirt~Marshall's
shooties~Anthropologie
wool stockings~Wolford
tee~Target

Yippee!!! Finally!!





Prayer to the Gods of Low-heeled Boots



In this week's sketches,  I was inspired to mix some of my summer clothes with my winter ones for a Spring look.  I've done this in season's past, and I try and combine DIFFERENT outfits from my newest acquisitions.

One of these combos started with my dyed sun-dress from last summer--a re-thrift.  It has the potential of working in a spring re-mix because this is a fairly substantial knit--which I think makes the summer components work.  The jacket is a wool boucle, designer sample size I nabbed at a discount store.  I did need some warmth underneath, and so my trusty body suit helped on that note.

The boots?  I decided they needed an update. They stay in my wardrobe because they have a comfortable heel at about 2".  After work, I searched for a black shootie with a nice, small heel.  Do you think that is possible?  Maybe...but unlikely.  What is up with these 5" HEELS OUT THERE???  SERENE????  Please help--gods of the low-heeled boots...