More on My Earring Obsession

Because of my earring obsession, I try and recycle/re-use/re-purpose WHENEVER I can.  Any bracelets, old earrings or necklaces I may cut up and re-use the beads, gems or stones for my earrings.  I have a box of goodies that helps me complete this task--tools of the trade, as it were. 

I start with some basic hoops to dangle my new creations from.  Sometimes I just buy beads from the bead store and hang them on my hoops.  Other times, I get more creative and create a dangly thingy. 

Tools of the trade



Today, I just used a small hoop and tied it with ribbon to the wooden bead.  The ribbon worked OK, but for the other danglies, I'll find a more suitable ribbon/thread/yarn.

danglies that need other ribbon

Crotchet hook helps to tie the ribbon.

Last week I strung some old beads on the rods and then created a circle on the end of the rod to hook onto my hoop.  The crimper helps for that-- 

the last ones on the bottom right are my "Zulu" earrings.  The orange piece is coral.

When you buy beads for hoops though, make sure the hole in the bead is the correct size.  I have bought many a bead that wouldn't fit on my hoop. 



the neon beads are from a necklace my son made in the first grade~

Here's a pretty good tutorial of basic earring making~

Happy Fourth!




 

No Make-up Days

incognito in my glasses~

Do you almost have just as much trouble dressing for chillaxing as you do for work/parties?  (My girlfriend used to call them the "no make-up days".)  The chillin' wardrobe for the over-fiftier can really make me feel old.  With shorts very limited, and not quite ready for house-dress material, dressing for at-home can be a struggle.

top~Marshall's--don't you love the back detail?

But when you love clothes as much as I do, and love the creative process of getting dressed, I make an effort to look good even when I'm just hanging around.  (Course I may run a few errands too!)  What works for me many times, is a tunic and leggings.  Here where the average temp is 55, this works well.  And I can adapt my leggings to warmer/colder weather by shortening or bulking up on them.







 Do you struggle with casual wear as well?  What works for your casual wardrobe?  Would you dare to post your 'at-home" shots??????

An Over-fifty Interpretation

I was inspired for my outfit today from Lucky Magazine.  Oh, I know what some of you are saying, it's cheating or that's copying or that's not creative.  Well, for those of us over fifty--it IS creative, because we must adapt what the 20 year old model is wearing to us.  And let me tell you, it's not easy.

 

This look was called skirts and sneakers but what I liked MOST is the striped shirt and the flowey skirt.  The instructions were to have a mini, flowey, bright colored skirt, large striped top, and sneakers that aren't too athletic.

I opted out of the sneakers as I was going to work--but I could do that another time.  I wore sandals to further the casual look.  The shirt was a bit TOO oversize, so I tied it with a ring.  The skirt was the flowey type but not as short as the model's (as much as you know I like  minis).  My skirt isn't as bright either, but I think it works.

Do we have a successful over-fifty interpretation of a look or what?

  

Matchy-matchy Me

I'm a non-conformist.  (dUH, Paula!)  The reason why I say this is because now that not matching colors is what's vogue; today I'm matchy-matchy.  I even matched the circles in my skirt with the circles in my shirt.  And I matched my earrings! 

sandals~ Nordstrom Rack
skirt, shirt, bolero~ Marshall's
earrings~ made

This is contrary to my asymetrical style, but both styles have balance.  And I am feeling very balanced today. Are you?

A New Workhorse

It's funny how sometimes I'm just about ready to toss an item, like this vest, and by chance gets to live another day.  As destiny would have it,  this little item is fast becoming a workhorse in my spring/summer wardrobe this year.  I can't believe how many times I have added it to an outfit at the last minute.  And to think it almost was on the chopping block.......

To give you a little history:  This "vest" originally was a jacket.  I chopped off the sleeves-- above is the vest last year.    After a few renditions of it, I think I mentioned on my blog that I was unhappy with the way it turned out.   But I couldn't figure out WHAT THE HECK was wrong with it.  Well, thank God for the brilliance of my blogger friend, Serene over at The Elegant Bohemian, who noticed the shoulders were still too long.    I trimmed them up this year--and whala!  This season's new workhorse was born!

Thanks Serene!  Isn't blogging great?  



Wigs

I like wigs.  I've liked them since high school.  Mainly because I have crappy hair.  They are great for a bad hair day too, or on the boat or after a work-out.  This is my newest wig--looks very strange not attached:

It has 2 wires that wrap around the comb that you put into a ponytail.  I love these clip on type wigs--they aren't itchy like a full wig.  I have a couple of other ones:

Looks a bit like furry pets, no?  But these were a bit heavy to wear--by the end of the day, I'd have a headache.  You can probably see part of the clip on one.

There have been a lot of wigs in my life.  In high school it was the "fall"--it had a headband, and long, flowy hair.  Then there were these cute little short hair wigs that we all wore because we all had long hair.   And my love for wigs continued into my adult life.....with many more variations.

Any one else out there wear wigs? 

Invisibility



dress~ Marshall's, $25.
jacket~

 There has been some discussion lately from Patti over at Not Dead Yet Style on the invisibility of women over fifty.  While I am not  generally an invisible person, I know what she means.  Most of the advertisers choose to forget about us--even though we are a significant income pool.  Magazines focus on the young and sometimes it seems we are just forgotten.



gladiator sandals~TJ Maxx.

 Rather than feeling helpless about this conundrum, I decided I would do my part to keep others my age from slipping into invisibility.  Whenever I see a person my age or older that looks particularly good that day, I make sure I compliment them.  One day it was at a graduation.  An older women had her hair done in this absolutely perfect bun.  I was fascinated by her hair.  She had this adorable, sequined pink shawl and coordinated pink dress.  I cut my way through the crowd and told her she looked lovely.  In the mass of graduates and parents, I think I made a grandmother feel a little less invisible that day.

One Accessory

I try and live the simple life--I really do.  I do yoga, appreciate nature, and try and not make too many demands on the environment.  Somehow though, try as I may, fashion always seems to put a crimp in my keeping-it-simple.

For example, I pride myself in keeping my accessories to a minimum.  I really just wear earrings.  No necklaces, no watches, no bracelets.  I use one bag till it wears out.  This one accessory thing really helps getting ready in the morning.

The problem is, I think it has become an excuse for an obsession.  And I think I'm simplifying!  Who am I kidding!  I just keep on buying earrings!




dress~Marshall's, $25.
earrings~nuts, $20.


Oh, and sunglasses......

Mini-Skirts Over Fifty

I am one of those people who breaks a cardinal rule of fashion:  No mini skirts over fifty. (well, could be thirty-five--I don't have the actual rule book.) 



From the back, low on the horrification scale.



But Sherry at Girls Day Out looked through my blog and couldn't find me in my minis.  That's probably because I take most of my blog pictures for work and I wear my minis for casual wear.  So even though I break the rules, I do have some guidelines; no minis at work, no minis where there are lots of girls are younger than me, and keep it to friends and family--so as not to horrify too many people.



skirt~Nanette Lepore~thrifted at Modern Millie

Why do I wear mini skirts you ask?  Because I love them.  Just one of those fashions I can't give up.  And the legs ARE the last to go--and mine aren't so bad.  Got to accentuate the positive.

 
And when people have that look of horrification on their face when they see my short skirt, maybe somewhere an over-fiftier will look at me and say to themselves, ..."hey, if she can do it.....".  It may not be a mini-skirt, but maybe it'll provoke some thought and courage for them to wear that orange, sleeveless blouse, or wear those shorts, or maybe even a backless dress.  You can do it--I know you can.

Shorts: Do you Dare?



top:  Michael Kors, Macy's
shorts:  White Stag, thrifted $11.
shoes: Aerosoles

Shorts, Shorts, Shorts.  They are everywhere this year.  Too bad many of them are 2" inseams.  Not for us over 50er's, that's for sure!  Over at Pam's, over50feeling40, there were many women who commented the other day that they don't wear shorts anymore.  I was the same.  That's sort of sad.  I don't like not being able to wear something.



I vowed this year I would somehow work shorts into my wardrobe.  I found these at a thrift store; they are White Stag.  They were capris with a weird shape, so I hacked off a lot and then hemmed them.  My vision was to pair them with a lacy bohemian top--too bad this Michael Kors one (that I USED to love) makes me look preggers now.  That'll be in the second hand pile today!  I will try another white one next time. 

I love the look of the longer walking shorts with wedge shoes--it gives the shorts a new look.  Not so I-just-got-off-the-golf-course-look.  Shorts for the over50 set? Walking shorts is the way to go~agree?