Quick Update

Well, I had an amazing whirlwind trip to San Francisco this weekend; to visit my daughter and her fiancee. Chelsea and I spent all day Friday shopping at Union Square. We were so busy that we only took one photo - in the dressing room at Anthropologie (and, yes, we both bought the white top)!

So, here's the photo - taken with the iPhone, so it's a little blurry - of me and Chelsea as twins (except that she's younger, and taller, and ...). Isn't she a cutie patootie? I miss her already...



Details:
Me: White top: Anthropologie
White Tank top: H&M
Jeans: Joe's Jeans in Muse

Chelsea: White top: Anthropologie
White Tank top: Don't Know
Jeans: Can't remember

I'm back in the Midwest after a looooong day of travel yesterday (just think of the movie "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" - I hit them all). It's rainy and gray here today, so I'm keeping it casual in old jeans, cowboy boots (hey, I'm from Texas) and a light sweater. If I get a chance later I'll take a picture or two.

I am also digging on my Gap cotton trench coat I found for $24 last week in St Louis at The Gap at the Galleria. I'm also a HUGE fan of their stretch cotton panties. They were on sale for $4 per pair, so I stocked up.

I hope you all have a happy Monday!

Take 3: DYBW

First, my apologies, I am an inexperienced blogger and I have no idea how to post the DYBW banner on my blog. So, wander over to Academichic and take a look at the challenge these fashion maniacs have created!

Here's Take 3: I'm combining Hair & Eyes in today's post.

I've got two photos of different outfits. - yesterday's blazer / turtleneck combo also serves to showcase my hair and blue eyes - how handy is that?



And here's another outfit that showcases my cute hair - the black & white combo makes my hair pop a little more! Of course, who doesn't love a peace sign? I know I do!



I am going to be off to visit BrightsideDweller tomorrow! I can't WAIT to hang out with her and have quality mother/daughter time.

DYBW - Take 2

Today is actually Day 3 - so I'll post 2 outfits for DYBW. I'm enjoying the blog posts from the challenge, and - although I know I am biased - but really, you have to read BrightSideDweller's latest blog about her booty. She is unbelievably amazing!

So, Take 2... Like Chelsea - I love my booty. I've grown to appreciate it over the years, especially as my husband gives me constant positive reinforcement about what a cute butt I have. I'm not sure that this outfit displays it to it's best advantage, but I'm working with what I got...



I like this picture because of the flowers; and it's another look at my booty. I'm not sure I like the whole direct sunlight in my eyes thing, but oh well! It's a beautiful day out there.



Details:
Blazer & Sleeveless Turtleneck: Akris
Pants: Ralph Lauren
Shoes: Mephisto

Dress Your Best Week!

The Academic Chics are promoting Dress Your Best Week - which I find an interesting and thought provoking concept. It is interesting because we were taught as girls to be modest, so talking about the things we like about ourselves feels like bragging. Thought provoking because it gives me a new perspective when gazing into my closet to figure out what to wear for the day to enhance my selected feature!

Today I am celebrating my legs. They are shapely and strong and take me places I want to go. My legs are one of my best features, which is why you'll see them a lot this summer, mostly in dresses and skirts.

Today's outfit is all about celebrating spring-time weather! I needed the blazer indoors, but we've had some balmy, sunny days lately - so I opted for a blue and white printed sheath dress, with a blazer tossed over for comfort. I like the detail on the blazer - there is a bee embroidered on the front and a dragonfly on the back, with a little ribbon tie. I wore the tan high-heeled Charles by Charles David sandals, which I think elongates the leg.



It looks like the weather will be changing - so I'll get to dress differently for the other parts I've identified:

1. Legs
2. Booty
3. Hair
4. Pretty Feet
5. Blue Eyes (since I'm not sure how to dress for blue eyes - I may combine that one with an overall "nice figure" post... we'll see!

Dress Your Best, Everyone!

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope that all the mothers out there are having a lovely Mother's Day. I have big plans to celebrate with my daughter at the end of this week in San Francisco. I am so excited that we get to spend time together close to Mother's Day and her birthday - I am all smiles this year!

I got my hair cut super short last week - and I am really enjoying it. This is the cut I got a few years back and, although I've strayed some since, I think it's back to stay.

In the meantime, here's a quick snapshot of another way I styled the Chanel jacket I posted earlier in the week. I have worn this charcoal Max Mara Weekend sheath dress previously, but I really liked the way it looked with the Chanel and the shoes. And, I love the Oliver Peoples sunglasses - I had originally bought them as glasses but never liked the way they looked - I had polarized lenses put in to replace the prescription lenses and now I love them!





Here's the same dress, layered with a sleeveless turtleneck and felt blazer from Akris:

Casual Spring Day at the Scholar Shop

The days I go to work as a volunteer at the Scholar Shop in Clayton, MO I need to wear flats, but I still like to look cute (of course). I've taken a page from my BFF Ruth, and turned to skinny jeans with a loafer and cute layers to accomplish all the above.

Today I've turned to my old faithful skinny jeans - from Old Navy a few years back. They've got a zipper at the back of the bottom hem and I like the dark rinse. I pulled on a white H&M long tank top; and layered a cashmere blue and cream sequined Rebecca Taylor sweater over it. On my feet - blue suede shoes, of course! These are loafer mules from Mephisto - one of the most comfortable brand of upscale walking shoes that I've found.

So, I think I've accomplished what I set out to do - comfortable and cute, and able to work hard at the Scholar Shop!





Details: Jeans - Old Navy
Tank: H&M
Sweater: Rebecca Taylor
Shoes: Mephisto

Stay tuned tommorrow (I think)! I've written my first guest post and if it's posted tomorrow I will set up a link. I've also got some new photos with my back to summer shorter hair cut, along with a few more outfits.

Next week is pretty busy, but I'm going to try to keep posting regularly. On Thursday, I will be visiting my favorite blogger (and beautiful daughter) of all time - Bright Side Dweller - in San Francisco. Hopefully, we'll be able to take some photos and post some side by side blog entries. She tells me she is joining the ladies at Academichic in their venture next week "Dress Your Best Week." I love that they've got us thinking of how to accentuate the positive (glass half full, anyone?) instead of hiding the negative. This should be a lot of fun! What parts would you accentuate to Dress Your Best?

Welcome Home, Miss Chanel

We have been having amazing spring weather, temps in the mid-70s to 80s, and lots of sunshine. I have said it before, but I am in much better spirits when the sun is shining!

I haven't bought a new camera yet, and the one I'm using is somewhat primitive, which discourages regular photo sessions. However, this week I made a decision to take the time and get some photos.

Rather than post them all in one big clump, I'll parcel them out a little more judiciously. That will give me the opportunity to chat more (and to quote "Young Doctors in Love" - "I just love fu*&ing chatting!").

The first outfit is my latest find from The Scholar Shop in Clayton, MO (St Louis). This absolutely breathtakingly beautiful suit is Chanel, from the 05C collection. The suit was at the shop for some time, as it was priced on the high side for our store. I looked at the suit a dozen times (we dubbed her "Miss Chanel" while she was waiting in the store for someone to take her home and love her). I tried the suit on, just so I could get it out of my mind in the event it didn't fit. Alas, it fit like a dream! Miss Chanel was stuck in my mind like a country music song, I couldn't stop thinking of her! Eventually, she went on sale and I decided to bring her home with me.

The suit is made from black tulle over black and white CC logo silk. The tulle is then woven with a warm white thread to form a black and white "tweed" pattern under which you can see the black and white logo silk. The jacket is trimmed in the famous Chanel couture Lesage trim and then fringed with hand tied bows all over. The jacket has a notched collar, two pockets with a CC plaque at the front and the weighted silver chain at the bottom hem. The sleeve cuffs are adorned with silver metal camellia CC buttons, magnificent!

Here is a closeup of the jacket:



This is how I wore it the first time - just this past weekend:



... and one more photo from the back:



Is it just me, or do you get the same zippy feeling when you're wearing something that makes you feel stunning? For me, when I put on a special outfit it really makes me feel good. I know it sounds shallow and maybe self-indulgent; but it puts an extra sparkle in my eye and a spring in my step (to use two cliches at a time, instead of just one). Now, if I were a gazillionaire and wore Chanel and all the other luxury labels all the time, maybe I wouldn't get that feeling, maybe it would become normal. Whatever - I do get a kick out of it now and - until I hit gazillionaire status I will appreciate it!