Fabulously Fashionable 50s

Absence Makes the Heart Grow...

2010-09-27T21:17:00.001-05:00

Fonder, I hope! I miss all my bloggy buddies, sorry I've been offline for a while. I try to catch up with all of you on Google Reader, just to feel the love.

Since my last post, I've been running around like a crazy lady, but I've got a few photos to post, and I'll try to recall the provenance of the outfits.

I think I'll go in reverse chronological order:

September 18: I wore this to Chelsea's engagement party (WHAT a FUN time!):
Dress: INC; Shoes: Me Too; Sunglasses: Oliver Peoples

And, this is what Chelsea wore to the party (isn't she adorable?):
Dress: H&M,; for other details, you'll have to check out Chelsea's blog

September 17: I wore this blazer / tank with jeans to run around San Francisco with Chelsea:
Blazer/Tank: Akris; Jeans: Joe's Jeans Muse; Shoes: Me Too (again)

September 6: Blazer: Elie Tahari; Tank: H&M; Skirt: Isda; Boots: Nine West

September 1: Blazer: Armani Collection; Tank: H&M; Pants: ??; Shoes: Mephisto

August 30: Suit: Piazza Sempione; Tank: Akris; Shoes: Jimmy Choo

and for another pose that's just fierce (ha ha ha):

Well, I think that's enough for now! More to come. Glad to be back, I hope all is well with all of you!

Welcome Home Jimmy!

2010-07-30T07:22:00.000-05:00

Well, they finally arrived - my new Jimmy Choos! (Or, as my daughter says - my new choos.) These shoes are absolutely beautiful, I foresee a lot of wear in my future.

Victoria Beckham says "that extra half inch" adds something super to a look - or in this case "that extra two inches" - these are definitely the highest heels I've worn!

As soon as they arrived I started thinking of where to wear them and what outfit to build them around - they are so neutral they will go with almost anything! Last night I wore them with my Trina Turk dress. Here are a couple of quick snapshots of the shoes - I didn't get an ensemble picture last night but I will post one soon.

Today I will wear flats so my feet can decompress from the altitude! I'm off to the Scholar Shop - we are restocking the store today for the Grand Opening tomorrow. If you're in St Louis, stop by and take a look!

Teaser - New Shoes

2010-07-22T10:28:00.001-05:00

While we were in Las Vegas my husband took me to Jimmy Choo at the Palazzo Shops and bought me my first pair of Jimmy Choo shoes! I am SO excited about these shoes. The pair I bought are so brand new they aren't even on their website yet, but here's the closest I can find to them. Mine are a tobacco brown suede that is just amazing.

The teaser is that we had them shipped home, so I won't get the actual shoes for a few days, but I will try to keep it together until they arrive.

BTW, we had a blast on vacation - but it was SO hot that sitting by the pool at 5:00 pm was still scorching hot. We spent a LOT of time in the air conditioned gym and spa - which was just lovely.

Parade of Dresses

2010-07-14T22:32:00.002-05:00

I am leaving for a trip - we're going to a wedding in Colorado, then a few days of fun in Las Vegas. While I was thinking over my options, I decided to try on a variety of dresses and take photos, so I'd get a good idea of which ones would work best for the trip.

My first challenge is to dress for a wedding to be held at a Buddhist center outside of Boulder, CO. After the ceremony, we go back to an Inn for the reception. The ceremony will be at 9500 feet, and heels are not recommended. I haven't figured out the shoes yet, but it's likely that I'll wear flat sandals or flip flops to the ceremony; and heels to the reception.

Here's the dress I picked out for the wedding:

Details: Dress - Tommy Bahama; silk and linen blend
Sandals: Charles by Charles David

The collage below is an abundance of summer dresses, a virtual Parade of Dresses (hence the title). I tried on more than are shown here, the discards are the ones that will go back to the Scholar Shop for someone else to treasure. This exercise was helpful, I got an overview of some of the gems in my closet. Since I took photos, I now have an independent eye for the dresses, which helps when I'm deciding what to wear for different occasions.

Can you guess which ones are going to Las Vegas? I tried to organize them in the collage so I could identify them easily, but I ran out of patience, so here's the mishmash.

Details (left to right, beginning at the top left row):
Orange Dress: Laundry by Shelli Segal; Patterned Sleeveless Dress: Trina Turk; Yellow/White Dress: Nanette Lepore; Silver/Blue Dress: Tommy Bahama; Red/Cream Flowered Dress: Nanette Lepore; Gold Spaghetti Strap Dress: Velvet; Black Halter Dress: Calvin Klein; Black/White Printed 2 piece Dress: Trina Turk; Tropical Print Dress: Muse; White/Black Printed Dress: Carmen Marc Valvo; Blue Tropical Print Silk Dress: Lilly Pulitzer; (a couple of repeats...) and a white top with blue skirt that I wore today. Whew, I'm tired just reading about it.

Seersucker

2010-07-13T16:14:00.000-05:00

My husband and I decided to go downtown and check out Taste of Springfield - and it was blazing hot - so I decided to wear this sundress. This is an Isaac Mizrahi for Target and was just the right weight for wandering around outdoors in the summertime heat. The sandals are Cole Haan, which I wore because they give a little more support than basic flip flops - besides who doesn't love jeweled feet?

(Note to self:Now that I've seen the photos, I think I need to adjust the straps so that the dress sits a little lower, but overall I like the look.)

Details: Dress: Isaac Mizrahi for Target, via The Scholar Shop
Sandals: Cole Haan, via the Scholar Shop

I've included this out of focus (sorry - I have no idea what setting I had on my camera) shot so that you can see how the sundress becomes work appropriate when you add the matching blazer.

This is just a quick post, as I take a small break from work. Ta ta for now!

Hot in Springfield

2010-07-11T17:09:00.003-05:00

By Hot in Springfield - I mean literally HOT! The temps have stayed in the 90s, with the heat index reaching in the 100s. I continue to reach for cool dresses, with a wrap or jacket for the air conditioning.

This was an outfit I wore to a lunch meeting. As I said, it was scorching hot, so I chose this silk jersey Trina Turk dress, and a light denim jacket to pull on when I'm inside. I like the sandals, they have a slight platform which makes them fairly comfortable. However, the slingback shoe is always a problem for me, they just won't stay on my heels.

I love Trina Turk's designs. Tory Burch is more popular, but I like the individuality of the Trina Turk look. She uses beautiful fabrics and the cut of her clothes tends to be very flattering to my figure.

Details: Dress: Trina Turk via The Scholar Shop
Jacket: White Denim Marc Jacobs via The Scholar Shop
Shoes: Charles by Charles David via DSW (I think)

I hope you're enjoying your summer!

Summer Lovin'

2010-07-01T13:13:00.000-05:00

I am lovin' summer! When the temps hover in the high 90s with a heat index in the 100s, I reach back to my southern roots for fashion inspiration. This hot day (a couple of weeks ago) I decided on a cool summer dress, with a softly structured jacket for the air conditioned indoors.

I really like the shape of this dress, and because it's made of some kind of jersey, it packs beautifully. The self belt hits at a flattering spot and the skirt is swingy instead of clingy; which is kinder to my hips. Oh, and bonus round - the shape of the bodice gives me the look of cleavage - which is hard to achieve with my figure!

Details: Dress: Laundry; Jacket: Marc Jacobs; Shoes: Charles by Charles David

I know I look kind of cranky in the photo - but it is solely due to taking photos in the noon time sun - the angle of the sun in my eyes makes me squint!

Here is a view of the dress with my new favorite jacket of all time - a cream colored denim Marc Jacobs that Ruth found for me at The Scholar Shop (I know you're probably sick of hearing about that store, but I have an addiction, I can't help myself).

I look even crankier in this picture!

On a side note, my dermatologist recommended a product called Renova - and gave me a couple of tiny sample tubes to try. I think it's doing an amazing job (it's a Vitamin A product), and I'll post some complexion pictures soon. It is pricey, and not covered by insurance, but you use just a tiny bit mixed into your moisturizer at night. (This is not a paid endorsement or review, I've just tried the product personally and so far I like it.) Has anyone else tried this - or something like it?

What I am looking for is something that gives me back some of that youthful glow without invasive procedures. I tried some microdermabrasion facials last year and ended up with scabs - NOT the look I was going for.

I hope you all are getting ready to enjoy a long, holiday weekend!

Disney - Last Day

2010-06-28T20:22:00.000-05:00

Vacation pictures - aren't they awesome? We look happy, tan and rested - because we ARE! This photo was taken as we were preparing to depart for the airport on our way home.

Details:
Top: Moth from Anthro
Tank: H&M
Jeans: Adriana G.
Arm Candy: Husband

I know this photo is from a couple of weeks ago, but I have taken some new ones. I am trying to catch up on posting. I like to draw out the suspense, so I'll try to limit myself to one post a day for awhile. Let me know what you think...

First Guest Blog!

2010-06-26T23:59:00.001-05:00

Mary - at Writing Without Periods - recently asked me to "guest blog" on her site for her Sensational Woman Saturday feature. It was such a compliment to be asked - AND I had a lot of fun with the questions she posed. Her blog is a hip, funny, sassy, interesting take on life after periods. As I am a huge fan of menopause (no more periods, ladies!), I am interested in how other women experience the journey.

Please visit Mary's blog and let us know what you think.

I'm Feeling Flashdance!

2010-06-17T21:50:00.000-05:00

The structure of this top takes me back to the days of "Flashdance" (or at least the 80s). I LOVE the graphic - the eyes and lips remind me of Andy Warhol as channeled by Jean Paul Gaultier for Target. It's fun to wear, I wore it with skinny black slacks and a tank top. I could have gone with heels or flats, but the heels won out today.

I've shopped at Target a few times with their new "pop up" lines - this was the Jean Paul Gaultier line they produced about a month ago. There were about a dozen pieces, but this was the one that caught my eye. A lot of bloggers have loved the Liberty of London line, but I wasn't ready for the florals. There were some adorable Zac Posen pieces recently, but they weren't age appropriate (maybe the late teens/early twenties set).

Details: Top: Jean Paul Gaultier for Target; Tank: H&M; Slacks: Norma Kamali; Shoes: Cole Haan.

2010 Jun 15-2

2010-06-15T23:30:00.001-05:00

2010 Jun 15-2, originally uploaded by Fabulously Fashionable 50s.

I am not sure if this photo posted properly, so I am trying it once more before bedtime...

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana?

2010-06-15T20:03:00.002-05:00

Something about the color orange calls to me, I seem to feel more cheerful when I'm wearing orange. Sunny color, sunshine, mood lifter, all good things...

You can probably tell that I'm quite tan after our vacation in Florida. I wear sunscreen, but we spent a lot of time out by the pool; and every morning I spent 30-45 minutes on a run/walk in the Florida sunshine. I've been exercising outdoors since spring began here in the Midwest. I usually set out around 7:00 or 7:30 am, trying to beat out the thunderstorms and heat here! I'm enjoying the outdoors - I walk in a beautiful park with lots of trees and ponds - I've had to dodge the geese and ducks (with their baby goslings and ducklings) on more than one occasion! I also work out with weights 3 times a week. Consistent, regular exercise makes me feel good - it's not just the benefits I get physically, I get an emotional boost as well. My very favorite exercise is "hot yoga" - a vinyasa flow yoga class in a room heated to 90-95 degrees. Unfortunately, six months ago or so my shoulder went wonky on me - some kind of impingement - so I haven't been able to do yoga in months! I hope to get back to it soon!

Anywhoo - back to the whole point of this blog - the clothes! I found the orange top (by Moth - a brand we find at Anthropologie) at The Scholar Shop (of course). The white tank is from H&M - and I have been wearing one of these almost every day! The cropped khakis are Talbots - but I bought them at TJ Maxx (because I really, really hate to pay retail). The sandals are Donald Pliner - I bought them at a E&J's Shoe Warehouse an amazing discount shoe place in St Louis.

By the way, the title is a reference to the classic knock-knock joke: KK - WT? Banana - banana who (repeat until your audience's eyes glaze); and finally end with the punch line above.

Playing catch up!

2010-06-12T16:27:00.001-05:00

I can't believe that spring is almost over. Here in the heartland we are having WILD weather days - we've had some crazy thunderstorms with lightning, thunder and high winds.

Sometimes I find it challenging to dress for the days with the unstable weather forecast. I have my wonderful Marc by Marc Jacobs black rain boots - with a heel. I found a cotton trench coat recently at The Gap - for about $25 on mega-sale. It's just waterproof enough - without being too heavy and hot for the season. So, you'll see a lot of both of those pieces in my most recent pics.

I'm enjoying the lighter colors and shades of the season. You'll note, however, there is one "shades of grey" outfit. I remember that day was a gloomy, chilly, gray day with rain - and rather than fight the mood I just wallowed in it. This is very similar to an outfit I wore in the winter, when I layered it with wool instead of cotton.

Details: Cotton Sweatshirt Blazer: J Crew; Grey Sleeveless Turtleneck: Michael Stars; Skirt: Theory; Tights: Hue; Boots: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Another rainy day started out sunny and nice - but called for (with success) torrential rain later in the day. That day I went with the sunny outlook and layered pinks to stay cheerful. When the rain came, I swapped the sandals for the boots and added the trench.

Details: Tee Shirt: ?; Wrap Sweater: McLaughlin; Skirt: MaxMara Weekend; Sandals: Donal J Pliner; Trench Coat: The Gap; Boots: Marc by Marc Jacobs

I thought I'd post a guest appearance - my darling husband. In this photo he's wearing one of his Canali sportcoats, and a new Polo golf shirt. Isn't he handsome? He's a big supporter of my blog and my fashion journey.

Finally, here's another fun outfit. I found this cute Milly skirt at the Scholar Shop, and layered it with a cream cardigan and a brown tank top, finishing it all off with a skinny belt. I liked it when I wore it, but the belt hangs funny in the photos, so now I'm not so sure.

Details: Cardigan: Banana Republic; Tank Top: H&M; Skirt: Milly; Belt: ?.

I hope your slide into summer is going well! I love the summer season - it's slower and sweeter and the sounds always take me back to my grandmother's house in Houston in the summertime.

Quick Update

2010-05-17T10:46:00.000-05:00

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

2010-05-12T22:03:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-12T21:39:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-05-10T21:53:00.003-05:00

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!

2010-05-09T18:25:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-07T20:48:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-06T16:14:00.000-05:00

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!

Mad Men(ish)

2010-03-24T11:56:00.001-05:00

The silhouette of this suit immediately brought to mind the style of the TV show "Mad Men." (I don't actually watch the show; I tried watching the first season - and, although I enjoyed the style of the show, I found the subject matter a tad depressing.) Anywhoo (as my father-in-law would say), when I came across this suit at the fabulous Scholar Shop in St Louis, it caused my heart to beat faster. When I saw who made it AND that it was my size AND that it fit like a dream - well, THAT was a pretty good day!

This is a super transitional suit - great for fall and spring. The sleeve length lends itself to this time of year, the two piece structure works great for the season, and for cool mornings I throw on the chocolate brown leather trench I've had for years. AND you'll note that the nude patent leather Kate Spade pumps work like a dream with this outfit!

I had an event that called for a business suit, so this fit my needs perfectly.

Details:

Suit: Carolina Herrera - thrifted via The Scholar Shop, Clayon, MO
Shoes: Kate Spade - thrifted via The Scholar Shop, Clayon, MO
Coat: Via Spiga - had it for years, can't remember
Bag: Cole Haan - thrifted via The Scholar Shop, Clayon, MO

I know this photo doesn't show details of the suit, but it does show the bag, the shoes and the coat!

These photos are driving me crazy - I think it may be time for a new camera...

Sunshine, you are my Sunshine...

2010-03-22T17:02:00.000-05:00

Oh how I love sunshine! We've had a few days of cold, drizzly, not-quite-springtime weather and finally - today - the sun came out. My mood improves immediately when the sun is shining. I was inspired to try taking a few photos outside - as spring arrives the garden will become a nicer backdrop.

Plans changed today and I have casual meetings, no work events, so I opted for jeans. I wanted to go back to the fun and thought provoking Inspiration Calendar to get some ideas for today's outfit. I've loosely interpreted the Tweed & Leather for today - with the tweed Moschino blazer and the leather No. 704b boots.

Details:
Blazer: Moschino via The Scholar Shop, St Louis, MO
Tank: H&M - St Louis Galleria
Jeans: James Jeans - Bella, Springfield, IL
Boots: No 704b - DSW, Houson, TX

Ok, maybe the sun was in my eyes in this one!

Here are a couple of pics from my St Patrick's Day outfit. I had a meeting, so I didn't want to go obnoxiously green this time. I opted for a blouse under a dress. I'm not sure that I loved the outfit, but it worked for the event. These Kate Spade pumps are my absolute favorites - they are a round toe, chunky high heel in a nude patent leather. Because the heel is so substantial I can wear them all day with no problem. The color is so neutral they go with everything - so you'll be seeing them again!

I did get my hair cut, and I'm loving the shorter look again. As the weather turns warm I'll probably keep going shorter!

A few more outfits I forgot to post

2010-03-14T18:35:00.002-05:00

I guess I've fallen behind on my blogging...

Here are a couple of more outfits that I found on my camera.

Details:

Blazer: Michael Kors (LOVE it!) - The Scholar Shop
Dress: BCBG - Napa, CA Outlet Store
Boots: 9 West, remixed

Details:
Sweater: BCBG - The Scholar Shop (CUTE buttons)
Tank: H&M - St Louis Galleria
Jeans: James Jeans - Bella, Springfield, IL
Boots: Nicole Miller - DSW

Details:
Blazer: Marc Jacobs - The Scholar Shop
Tank: unknown
Jeans: Joe's Jeans Muse Wide-Leg - Bella, Springfield, IL
Shoes: Joie - Neiman Marcus Outlet - Ft Myers, Fl

Spring is on the way

2010-03-14T18:15:00.000-05:00

We were driving around today running errands; and looking around the rainy, gray day - I began to see signs of spring. There is a green haze on the lawn at our house and the trees glow with new buds. I can almost believe that winter has finally ended.

The outfit (worn earlier this week) was inspired by the early signs of spring. The skirt and top are so soft and cozy; and the colors are harbingers of Easter eggs, don't you think? I love the way the belt picks up colors from the boots, the top and the skirt. Since I love the boots, I'm always looking for ways to wear them with different outfits.

This is the longest I've let my hair get in a while. The next pictures I post you will see my locks shorn for springtime!

Details: Work with Meetings

Top: Banana Republic via The Scholar Shop
Belt: The Scholar Shop
Skirt: Blue Suede Banana Republic - The Scholar Shop
Boots: Nine West - The Galleria, St Louis, MO

Last Vacation Post

2010-03-02T22:20:00.001-06:00

I found one last photo from the vacation pics - I was wearing my glasses and didn't get a lot of great shots, but I wanted to post this one.

I love the colors in this DVF top - the bright green - white - dark blue/black print is classic DVF. Top: Diane von Furstenberg - Tank: H&M - Capri Pants: Isdi

I miss the beach! I loved walking on the beach every morning. When we got home it was cold and snowy, which makes me miss the beach even more. It has finally begun to warm up here, I am beginning to believe in spring.

But in the meantime, this is what I wore when we got home. I was really feeling the cold the first few days.

Details: Coat: Free People - Blazer: Lilly Pulitzer - Turtleneck: Michael Stars - Jeans: James Jeans - Boots: No 704b

Vacation Togs

2010-02-16T20:31:00.001-06:00

Well, we fled the snow and cold and arrived in sunny Florida last week for a much-needed break. The temperatures are in the 60s, and we have had sunshine every day (even the day it rained). I've finally thawed out, and we are relaxed and happy.

I did a good job of under-packing this trip - for a change. I typically over-pack, but I really wanted to travel lightly. That means no accessories and only 3 pairs of shoes (4 if you include the sneakers for the gym). So, outside of workout wear, I tried to plan my packing so that the pieces could be coordinated together. I like light colors in Florida, so I base my packing on khaki/sand and some light accents - orange and pink. I also like a black / white or black / tan combo, so I was able to pack a few key pieces that would work with those colors.

These three outfits are examples of my vacation look. (I think I need to change up my pose a little, it's looking a little repetitive!)

Details: VACATION!

Valentine's Day - dinner out with hubby
Sweater/Tunic: Tommy Bahama, Tommy Bahama Store, Houston
Tank Top: Dana Buchman
Khaki Jeans: Tommy Bahama, Tommy Bahama Store, Houston
Sandals: Christian Louboutin, gift from Ruth

Sweater: Michael Kors, can't remember
Tank: The Gap
Khaki Jeans: Tommy Bahama, Tommy Bahama Houston
Sandals: Christian Louboutin, gift from Ruth

Dress/Tunic: H&M, St Louis
Leggings: TJ Maxx, St Louis
Sandals: Yellowbox, DSW

National Wear Red Day-Kind of...

2010-02-06T10:05:00.000-06:00

In honor of National Wear Red Day - I tried on two red tops this morning, they both went in the donate bag. So I went with this blazer I found at The Scholar Shop recently, as it has touches of "red" (aka hot pink). I love the sharp shoulders and the boning detail in the lining. The black turtleneck is remixed, and I am definitely getting my money's worth out of that baby! Ditto for the jeans and boots.

I haven't checked the fashion inspiration calendar in a while - it's fun to try out the suggestions. I think Kimberly is a lot of fun - I love her blog, she is SO creative!

Details:
Blazer: Rena Lange, remixed
Turtleneck: Juicy Couture, remixed
Jeans: Joe's Jeans, Muse, remixed
Boots: Uggs, remixed

I know this photo is out of focus, I just liked the pose!

Speaking of poses, I am amazed at how much more comfortable I am in front of the camera after just a couple of months of taking self portraits. The practice has come in handy, as I had a modeling assignment recently in St Louis. My face, along with those of 3 other women and one man, will be on the side of a mammogram van soon! I can't wait to find it and take a photo of me in front of me on the van! No worries, I'll post that when I find it!

It's Been Too Long!

2010-02-04T10:47:00.001-06:00

Don't you hate it when life gets in the way of fun? I've been absent for too long, but I'm glad to be back! I had all kinds of cute outfits on over the last couple of weeks, but no time to even take a snapshot. Whew... that's done for a while.

I've named today Brown Day, because that's just the way I roll... And, because I decided to wear Brown... (okay, not funny, but at least I'm trying.)

I have been wearing heels almost every day for the past two weeks, so today i wanted an outfit that would work with flat boots. I love these distressed looking brown boots I found at DSW in Houston. They are not only super-cute, but they're super-comfortable. I've worn them with leggings, but I wanted to try the skirt/tights look today.

I stopped in at the Scholar Shop in St Louis yesterday, and my BFF Ruth found this amazing BCBG sweater for me. I thought it would work really well with the brown skirt/tank top combo, and I am loving it today! I like the ruggedness of the boots and the texture of the tights, it keeps the outfit from being way too matchy matchy, even though it is all shades of brown.

I missed blogging, and I am SO glad to be back.

Details:
Brown Day!
Cardigan - BCBG - via the Scholar Shop
Tank - H&M
Skirt - INC, gift
Tights - Spanx
Boots - Steve Madden Luxe, DSW

Gray day, gray outfit

2010-01-21T11:38:00.001-06:00

Okay, I'll admit it. Some days you cannot fight the trend. The weather is still monochromatic, gray and dreary. So rather than buck the trend, I'm embracing it! Today's inspiration calendar was a dress with a statement necklace. Well, that didn't inspire me, so I pondered my closet. I bought a Flora Kung black/gray/white silk dress a while ago at the Scholar Shop, intending to wear it as a tunic. I paired it with skinny black jeans, black turtleneck, and gray "biker" ankle boots. Looking at the photos, I'm not sure the gray boots were the right choice, but overall I like the look.

I've topped it off with a new coat I got from Rue La La (an invitation-only shopping website - if you want an invite, leave me a note in my comments). It's by Free People, it's hard to see the details in the photos, but it's a slouchy black wool, double-breasted, with a sweater collar and cuffs. The retail price was $198, I got it on Final Sale for $69. I've been looking for a coat this length all season and I'm happy with this one.

Of course, that purchase takes us back to yesterday's post about shopping. I realized recently that I'm feeding the shopping monster by subscribing to so many different shopping website email updates. I've started unsubscribing to some; those I want to keep active I've reduced the notifications to once per week. I don't want to be a mindless consumer. I am striving to buy things only if I love them and want to keep them for a while. It's harder to do that when I have chosen to be bombarded with shopping opportunities. I was really struck by this yesterday, when I got a shipping notice from one of these invitation-only sale sites and I couldn't remember what I bought! So, that's my current goal - to slow down and think about things before I buy them. I'll keep you posted on how that's going.

Details: Work, no meetings
Coat: Free People - RueLaLa.com
Turtleneck: Juicy Couture - Marshalls in Houston
Tunic: Flora Kung - The Scholar Shop in St Louis
Belt: Lucky Brand - The Lucky Brand Store in St Louis
Jeans: Vanilla Star - TJ Maxx
Ankle Boots: No 704b - DSW in Houston

I think this is my Victoria Beckham pose (haha):

Here's a picture of me wearing the coat (thanks for asking, Chelsea!):

Here's a closeup of the coat:

Frizzling Day

2010-01-20T11:24:00.001-06:00

No, it's not Snoop talk - it's freezing drizzle outside, so I'm naming it Frizzle!

Today's Inspiration Calendar is Stripes with a Vest. However, I don't own a vest, so I've improvised. I layered the striped funnel neck sweater under a sweatshirt blazer, and topped it with a scarf. I decided to try the layered tights I've seen other bloggers wear, so I'm wearing opaque black tights with a pair of black fishnets under a black skirt. The Uggs reappear, as they have a stable rubber bottom so I don't fall on my butt out there today.

Unfortunately my camera battery died after one photo, so I didn't get to experiment with the scarf off, or the blazer open, or...

Details:
Sweater: Linq, Ebay
Blazer: J Crew Outlet, Napa, CA
Skirt: Theory, The Scholar Shop
Scarf: I can't remember
Boots: Uggs, remixed
Tights: Black and black fishnet, Target

As I mentioned, I'm enjoying the inspiration calendar as a - well, inspiration - to plan my outfit for the day. Many bloggers have mentioned falling asleep to outfit planning, which I've done for years. So nice to have validation that I'm not the only obsessive one out there!

I've been catching up on my blog-reading. There was an interesting post by Secondhand Shopaholic about obsessive shopping which I could definitely relate to. My friend Ruth calls it lust; sometimes when you're lusting over an item you need to walk away. If you are still thinking about it a day or two later, and the item is still available; then you can decide whether to buy it - when you're not in the throes of passion. I don't think I'm the only one that can get into an altered state of mind when I'm shopping. It helps if you shop at stores where they make the returns easy. If I experience buyer's remorse - I need to be able to take things back!

I tend to buy multiple items of staples, like tanks, layering t-shirts, tights, etc. Every three months or so I take a look at my dresser and my closet and purge items I'm not wearing. I am past the three month mark right now and I can tell - it's hard to find clothes and I get slightly anxious about having too much stuff.

I hope you all have a fun day, and hope that it's not frizzling where you are!

P.S. I just read this post by another favorite blogger, Fashion for Nerds. It's right on topic for what I was talking about regarding shopping.

Mix Navy & Pants: Inspiration Calendar

2010-01-19T11:33:00.000-06:00

Day Two of the Inspiration Calendar Mix. The challenge is to mix navy and pants, and I hardly ever wear navy. However, you may remember that last week's shopping extravaganza produced a midnight navy jacket from The Gap. I'm wearing it as a blazer today, with a French cuff Ralph Lauren blouse and pinstriped Tahari slacks.

The one color I find challenging to wear is navy, it always seems blah on me. However, this midnight navy blue color is more intense and I like the look. I'm wearing it as a blazer, with a trench coat over the ensemble for the rain/fog today. I like the length of this worn as a blazer, I think it adds oomph to the outfit.

Are there any colors you find difficult to wear? I used to think pink was a bad color on me, then I found different hues of pink that work really well. I also heard that blondes should wear black, and I still wear a lot of black, but I've branched out in my color choices.

Today was supposed to be sunny - but instead we get a repeat of the monochromatic grey fog and rain. I could really use a dose of sunshine, these are the days I miss sunny California the most!

I hope you're all having a sunny day, at least on the inside - if the weather won't cooperate!

Ha ha, this one makes me laugh - you can tell by my expression that I'm sick of the weather!

Inspiration Calendar

2010-01-18T10:51:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite bloggers, Kimberly, has developed an inspiration calendar, which I'm going to use as a tool when planning my outfits over the next few days. I find that I work well with parameters, so this will give me a focus.

Today's outfit may have veered off topic slightly - the look for the day is Light & Dark Mix - and although I think tan & black qualifies, I didn't get anything lighter into the mix. My main focus today when getting dressed was wearing my new boots! I bought these during last week's shopping binge in St Louis - they were on sale at Nine West for about $90, and they meshed nicely with my current tall boot obsession.

Details: Work, meetings
Swazer (sweater/blazer - named by my lovely daughter Chelsea): Iisli - The Scholar Shop
Tank: H&M
Skirt: Banana Republic - ancient
Tights: Target
Boots: Nine West

(I'm experimenting with Picasa, and have liked the collage effect others have used.)

I wore these boots for the first time on Saturday. I also wore jeggings for the first time since the early 90s, nice flashback! I love the way the jeggings fit with the tall boots, I'll be wearing them again! I decided after the day was over that I don't really like this oversize wrap sweater, but I decided to post anyway in the spirit of full disclosure. The T-shirt / wrap sweater didn't really work well together either. Oh well, you can't hit it out of the park every day!

Details: Work, casual
Wrap sweater: H&M (on sale)
T-Shirt: Lucky Brand, 2007
Jeggings: H&M $20
Boots: Nine West

Butterflies are Free...

2010-01-15T13:53:00.000-06:00

You have to be of a certain age to get the reference in the title - it was a TV Movie with Goldie Hawn and Eddie Albert Jr. Anywhoo - I had to be in St Louis, MO yesterday, so I spent a little time at the mall before heading home to Springfield, IL. So many of my favorite bloggers have mentioned H&M, and I decided to take a run at it. I loved the layering pieces they have in the store. I'm wearing a grey turtleneck and oversized T-shirt with the aforementioned butterfly (with sequins, no less). I also visited the Gap and found this cute wide wale corduroy trench in midnight navy blue. Brag on the bargain - the coat was originally $118, it went on sale a couple of times and yesterday it was priced at $42.99 - then they had an additional 50% off sale items - so the net result was I paid $21.50 for this beauty! I found the cool motorcycle ankle boots at a DSW in Houston when I visited in December.

Occasion: Work, casual Friday (and not as warm as I had hoped, darn it)
Details: Turtleneck & T-Shirt - H&M
Jeans: Joe's Jeans
Boots: No. 704b - DSW
Coat: The Gap

Warming Trend!

2010-01-13T10:22:00.000-06:00

We may get temps in the 30-40F range today! How exciting is that? Anyway, today's outfit is inspired by the many bloggers who are layering wrap dresses, tights and sweaters. Yesterday was a brown day, today is black and grey. Since it's almost warm outside, I quickly snapped a few photos outside before I got too cold.

Details: Work with meetings

Dress: Norma Kamali for WalMart (OK I know people HATE WalMart, but at $20 this dress is an amazing find. I ordered it online and the jersey material is soft and silky. The black / white / grey leopard print is an awful lot of fun, and it's amazingly flattering..)
Turtleneck: Juicy Couture, remixed
Cardigan: Banana Republic via The Scholar Shop
Tights: ?
Boots: Ralph Lauren via DSW circa 2006

Boots-Tights-Skirt v1.0

2010-01-12T10:01:00.000-06:00

I've seen so many other bloggers wearing the boots-tights-skirt combo that I decided to brave the cold and give it a try. So far so good; my big coat keeps my legs, etc. warm when I dash from the office to the car. I like the tonal look, so I built up from brown suede boots, brown patterned tights, and a brown tank top; topping it off with a caramel colored (maybe more of a khaki) blazer. I added some peachy freshwater pearls to pop it up a notch.

Details: Work - Meetings

Blazer: Tahari - Nordstrom ?
Tank: Express
Skirt: INC - gift
Tights: Spanx - Neiman Marcus outlet
Boots: Stuart Weitzman - St Louis shoe store, can't remember the name
Pearls: Gift
Coat: Calvin Klein - Filene's Basement
Scarf: Burberry

(Sorry about the blurry photo - I am still experimenting with my camera)

Closeup of the boots:

Outfit Log - Crawlling around today

2010-01-11T16:17:00.000-06:00

Today I will be crawling around on the floor putting together computers for the campaign's phone bank. So, I thought I'd better wear jeans and a top that will cover my butt if I'm bending over (no plumber cracks for me)! The sweater/jacket is a cozy, flexible piece that will keep me warm yet mobile while I'm putting things together. As I said in an earlier post, I'm still in my Uggs since we may get to the 20F range today.

So here's today's outfit, starting with the overcoat, scarf, sunglasses.

Details:

Coat: Armani - remixed
T-shirt - TJ Maxx
Sweater/Blazer - Ralph Lauren Black Label - The Scholar Shop
Jeans - Joe's Jeans, remixed
Boots - Uggs, remixed

Another snow day!

2010-01-07T11:42:00.000-06:00

The weather-folks are getting it right this time. The snow started falling last night around 9pm, and it's still coming down. I finally broke down and bought a snow shovel this morning, and today I'm carpooling with my husband in the 4WD SUV.

I'm over my cranky pants (see previous post). I realize that writing and sharing about it helps ease the feeling. I have always wrestled with the ability to acknowledge negative feelings - thinking that if I feel negative then I must be negative. Well... not so much. I keep forgetting that once I've acknowledged the feeling - I'm no longer fighting it - and it becomes much less powerful - and I get through it. Easy peasy, right? Lifelong learning...

Today I needed a bright pop of color to contrast with the whiteout conditions outside. I've had this beautiful orange cashmere V-neck Theory sweater for years, and I decided to try pairing it with a black button-up shirt and pinstriped slacks. Oh, and yes, I am wearing the Uggs! I may not come out of these bad boys for the next 10 days. We're supposed to get wind chill temperatures in the minus 15-20 range (yes that was -15 to -20 F). BRRRRR.....

The overcoat I've had for probably over a decade now. This coat was one of those fashion finds that stays with you. I had just moved to Washington, DC from sunny southern California, and I had no coats except for ski jackets. I was cruising the Filene's Basement store in DC and found this charcoal/black double breasted wool/cashmere Armani overcoat for $150. The original price tags were still on the coat, I think it retailed for $2,500. And I'm still wearing it 12 years later!

Details:
Work - snowstorm - meetings
Sweater: Theory
Blouse: Facconable, Scholar Shop
Slacks: Tahari, Marshall's
Boots: Uggs
Coat: Giorgio Armani
Scarf: Burberry
Button: Quinn for Illinois campaign button

Cranky pants - not the fashion kind!

2010-01-05T15:48:00.000-06:00

Some days I'm wearing my cranky pants. Don't get me wrong, I know how lucky I am. I love my life and I'm a happy person, generally speaking. But today is one of those out of kilter days. I know that it probably started when I weighed in this morning - and my weight is up. I've been wrestling with 2 pounds for a couple of months, but this morning another pound crept into the equation.

So - that started my grumpies. Then I was on a conference call for about 45 minutes with half a dozen people - half of whom treated the other half like idiots ("I have idiots on my team" - bonus points if you know the movie). That was 45 minutes of my life I'll never get back. The only positive note was that I was multi-tasking - so I got my makeup on and dressed for the day during the call (please God - don't make video conferencing part of my future). So I started my day with a grrrrrr.

Things have improved since then. I've contacted the local yoga studio to see if they offer individual instruction - the class schedule is fairly limited, so I'm hoping I can get some individual class time. If not - I've got the inimitable Rodney Yee at home, and I'll spend more time with him.

I also had lunch with my sweet husband. He's always supportive of me and makes me feel good about myself. I've been accomplishing a lot at work this morning, and now I've taken a break to catch up with some of my blog reading. You all inspire me - not just about fashion - but by talking about your lives and your ups and downs. So, no photos today - I didn't have time this morning what with that very important call - but I'll work on getting some more shots soon.

Oh - wait - I do have one photo to post. My absolute favorite slipper - this was happy birthday to me in December - and with the below freezing weather we've been having these are WAY better than my usual flip flops!

Details: Uggs "Fluff" slippers, Mosser Shoes - Springfield

New Year's Eve

2009-12-31T11:13:00.002-06:00

New Year's Eve isn't a big holiday for me, if I'm awake at midnight I'll kiss my sweet husband; but otherwise, big whoop! Today I'm at the office again, working on my year end chores. [Note: the previous sentence is code for writing and reading blogs all day.] It will be in the 30s today, with the big chill coming in tonight. So today I decided on a basic black V-neck cashmere sweater (with a fun message ringing out the old year on the back), blue jeans, black short boots and my favorite peace-sign scarf.

BTW, I started off the morning thinking I would go with leggings, a turtleneck, and a dress, layered over boots. But when I was trying all this on, I got so hot I couldn't STAND it! Nope, not a hot flash, it's just not cold enough today to wear all those layers! Tomorrow is supposed to be wicked cold, with the low tomorrow night of 1. BRRRRR.....

As you can see, I'm still experimenting with poses. I am using Flickr to upload and "fix" my photos, and that is getting easier to do. I'm still not great at getting my blog page laid out the way I want it, but it's nice to have a goal to work towards.

I hope everyone out there has a safe and Happy New Year's! See you in 2010.

Details: Work, no meetings, home early!
Sweater: Matilda, cashmere, rhinestone detail on back, Filene's Basement, 2004?
Tank: Express
Jeans: Joe's Jeans, Honey, remixed
Boots: Unisa, remixed
Scarf: Steve Madden, San Francisco Steve Madden store 2009
Jewelry: Same pieces I always wear

Snow Day!

2009-12-30T11:42:00.000-06:00

A snowy day in Springfield. I'm going to the office to get the end of the year stuff done. I wanted to feel warm and cozy today, so I've opted for knee high brown boots, skinny jeans and a long sweater. I tried taking the photos in my sunroom, where the walls are painted a vivid blue. What do you think of the background (next time I'll make sure I take the little fan out of the picture!)? I love the red chaise, I think it will make a fun spot for more photos.

Details: Work - casual - SNOW - no meetings

Sweater: Brown BCBG angora/wool - TJMaxx last year
Tank: Brown tank - Express
Jeans: Skinny jeans with zippers at the ankle - Old Navy 2007?
Boots: Steve Madden Luxe - DSW in Texas (aren't they cute?)

Working Week - It's been busy!

2009-12-17T10:19:00.003-06:00

I've been running around like crazy this week, but some of the outfits were pretty cute!

Wednesday, December 15th. Occasion: Work, meetings, dinner meeting

Details: Pants - Tommy Bahama - Tommy Bahama Store, Houston (a few years ago)
Tank top: Cashmere - Boston Proper - The Scholar Shop
Blazer: Rena Lange - The Scholar Shop - fun black, white & red houndstooth pattern, with some sparkle. I love the lining, too
Booties: BCBG Max Azria via TJ Maxx St Louis

Thursday, December 16th - Work - Luncheon Meeting - Dinner out

ha ha ha, I HATE my expression in this pic, but it shows the look pretty well:

and here's the "booty" shot:

Details: (all Scholar Shop unless otherwise noted)
Dress: Max Mara sleeveless charcoal grey shift
Turtleneck: Akris Punto, sleeveless, light blue
Blazer: Akris Punto, light blue
Shoes: Joie black platform pumps, Neiman Marcus Las Call Store, Ft Myers Beach, FL - I absolutely LOVE these shoes. They are surprisingly comfortable due to the platform, and I wore them for about 12 hours yesterday!

Would the color combo in this outfit be called grlue? Yesterday was not the ideal day for bare legs (it was 16 when I left the house), but I couldn't do tights with the outfit, and I hate nylons; so for fashion's sake I froze my legs off! I did have my long coat, so it wasn't too terrible!

I am thinking of getting a new camera for my Christmas present, as the quality of the one I'm using is pretty low. Any suggestions on a reasonably priced digital (maybe SLR)?

That's all for now. I hope I can get a photo of today's outfit before the end of the day.

Working it - on a Saturday

2009-12-12T21:16:00.003-06:00

I usually stay pretty casual on Saturdays, but today I knew we'd be going out for dinner after I spent a few hours at the office playing catch up. So, I decided to kick it up a notch - with high-heeled booties, cozy cashmere sweater and dressy jeans. I tried belting the sweater, since I've seen so many bloggers with that look. The bag is another favorite, in bronze. It glams up any outfit I pair it with.

Close up of the booties:

Occasion: Working on Saturday, casual dinner out
Sweater: Cashmere-Saks Fifth Avenue-Tan with black spots: The Scholar Shop
Belt: The Scholar Shop
Jeans: Joe's Jeans-The Honey-Clayton Wash: TJ Maxx
Booties: Michael Kors-DSW

Dinner was at Maya Fusion, a new Mexican restaurant in Springfield, IL that opened a couple of weeks ago. The food is fresh and delicious. We eat healthy, so at Maya we get a grilled tilapia salad and a chicken tortilla soup (without all the tortillas). I splurge on the chips and salsa, SO yummy!

Tomorrow

2009-12-10T21:46:00.000-06:00

Sorry, no outfit post today, but I'm trying to decide what to wear tomorrow. I'm registered with a modeling agency in St Louis, and I got a call for an audition tomorrow. The casting call says "casual or business casual," and the commercial is for a hospital, so I'm racking my brain for ideas.

I wear a lot of black / white / neutrals, which I think will work for a video audition. I know not to wear patterns, as they can fuzz out the camera. I was thinking a pop of color, maybe a red sweater under a black blazer? Any suggestions are welcome.

So, I'm off to peruse my closet. I know you're not supposed to wish me luck, but "break a leg" works!

xxxooo Ellen

Birthday Duds

2009-12-10T11:52:00.002-06:00

Ha ha, no NOT my birthday suit! (Sometimes I make myself giggle.) Yesterday was my birthday, so I took a drive to St Louis, MO to visit with Ruth and my peeps at The Scholar Shop. Ruth and I went shopping together, we spent about 3 hours at GW (Goodwill) and TJs (TJ Maxx), then to the Scholar Shop for some real love.

Before I headed out, I decided to try a few outfits, to see how they would work for future events. When I uploaded the photos to my computer I really started laughing - my humidifier was on in the bedroom - so I got the awesome "smoke machine" effect in some of the photos! LOVED it!

Here's what I ended up wearing yesterday:
Occasion: Shopping and schmoozing with friends, birthday dinner at Maya Fusion with husband and friends, staying warm in COLD weather
Details: Sleeveless black/cream houndstooth silk ruffled blouse, Trina Turk, The Scholar Shop
Merino wool cardigan, Banana Republic via The Scholar Shop
Joe's Jeans Muse Fit, TJ Maxx
Ugg's Boots (sheepskin lined with a rubber sole and 1/2 inch heel), Mosser's Shoe Store, Springfield, IL

I was an Uggs fan for years, then decided I needed more structured footwear. When I found this new style, it fit all my needs, especially the need for warmth (the low last night was 7 degrees). They're still a little "blocky" at the toe for me, but I was all about staying warm. I waterproofed them and you will be seeing a lot of them on this blog this winter!

Before I finalized my daily outfit, I tried something new with this dress from The Scholar Shop. I belted it, hiking it way up (a la Chelsea http://brightsidedweller.blogspot.com/2009/09/outfit-log-flouncy.html) and turning it into a tunic. I think I'll like it better with leggings and boots or heels, but I was getting in a hurry and went ahead with the photos. The dress is a silk jersey, and I layered a black sleeveless turtleneck underneath.
Details: Dress/Tunic Silk jersey, The Scholar Shop
Turtleneck: Sleeveless Michael Kors, Macy's
Belt: Lucky Brand Store, St Louis, MO
Jeans: Joe's Jeans, Muse Fit
Boots: Uggs

For the finale - CHANEL!

One of the reasons I am such a fan of The Scholar Shop is this dress. The shop has an annual bag sale - you can fill a brown grocery bag with items from the store for $25 per bag. The first year I found the store, this CHANEL dress was the first thing I put in my bag. Then I piled in St John suits (most of which I sold on ebay) and tons of other goodies. But, the Chanel dress was the prize, don't you agree? I have two holiday parties next week to which I plan on wearing this gorgeous dress - one at the Governor's Mansion in Springfield, IL and the other in Houston, TX (the only person who will see me at both is my husband, so I think I'm safe to wear it twice).

Details: Dress, Chanel, The Scholar Shop
Shoes: Anne Klein, black suede peep-toe pumps, DSW

(Now admit it, you love the smoke effect!)

Fun Blazer

2009-12-08T11:28:00.001-06:00

I just picked up this blazer from The Scholar Shop, and I love the color and textures. Since it's a subtle red - cream - black nubby tweed, I decided on a black palette to enhance the blazer.

I'm still working out the kinks in my photo sessions, I don't have my "model" expressions down pat. I'll continue to post dork pics until I get used to posing!

Occasion: Work, no events
Details:
Blazer: Moschino, The Scholar Shop
Tank: Express, remixed
Pants: Paniz, The Scholar Shop
Boots: Cole Haan, The Scholar Shop

I like the straight leg silhouette of the pants. They have a high waist, which balances nicely with the proportions of the blazer. I'm wearing a capri Spanx underneath to give a smooth line.

First Snow of the Season

2009-12-07T14:37:00.000-06:00

When my husband whispered in my sleeping ear, "honey, it snowed last night," I got a big grin on my face. Since I grew up in the balmy climate of Houston, Texas, to me snow is a rare occurrence to be treasured. Now I know my Midwest friends may disagree, but I enjoy snowy weather.

For the first snow of the year, I decided to go with the snow bunny look - a monochromatic white/cream look, from top to bottom.

Occasion: Work, no events
Details: Sweater with fur detail: The Scholar Shop (thanks, Ruth)
Tank: Express (I buy them in bulk when they go on sale)
White corduroys: Banana Republic from 4+ years ago
Boots: Canadienne from Neiman Marcus (snow boots with a heel, LOVE that)

Scholar Shop

2009-12-04T21:54:00.003-06:00

My favorite resale store EVER, is the Scholar Shop in St Louis, MO. I started volunteering there a few years ago, after finding the store when I was out shopping near the St Louis Galleria.

This is me and my fashion guru/friend for life, Ruth. Ruth has an eye for quality and helps you discover what look works best on you. Amazingly, at 73, not only is she beautiful (uh uh, no plastic surgery) and stylish, but she volunteers 5 or 6 days a week at the Scholar Shop in Clayton.

The shop features gently used clothing, shoes, accessories and collectibles from area residents. The proceeds from the store go to fund interest free loans for secondary education for area students.

I have found some amazing treasures in the store, including designer labels like Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer, and St John, among others. The prices are amazing, and they often have special discounts.

It's a no-brainer, stop by and take a look. Not only are you getting amazing prices, your shopping dollars help fund a wonderful cause.

http://www.scholarshopstl.org

There are two locations:

Clayton, MO
8211 Clayton Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63117
314-725-3456

and

Webster Groves, MO
7930 Big Bend Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63119
314- 961-2525

First Blog Post - Casual Friday

2009-12-04T18:15:00.002-06:00

I must admit, I'm a little nervous about putting my fashion foot out there, as most of the bloggers I follow are in their 20s and 30s. I will be 51 next week, and I still love playing with clothes and shoes, and finding a great outfit that makes me feel good about what I'm wearing that day.

Onward...

Today's outfit was inspired by the weather. I wanted to feel cozy (snow flurries this morning) and comfortable, yet look polished. I just had these Joe's Jeans hemmed, so I put them together with a tan tank top and tan wool sweater/blazer.

Details:

Joe's Jeans - Honey fit - Clayton wash: TJ Maxx - St Louis, MO

Tank Top: Dana Buchman

Blazer: Iisli - The Scholar Shop, Clayton, MO

Boots: Unisa

Earrings: Jewelry Show in Collinsville, IL

Necklace: My own - my wedding band and the heart from my husband

Ring: My engagement ring

I have loved the blazer / jeans look since the 80s, and now that it's back I'm a happy camper. I like the sweater details and the fit of this blazer; with the slight puff to the sleeve, and the length in the back. The tonal look of the tank top with the blazer keeps the look fresh. Unless I'm working at the Scholar Shop, I tend to wear a heel of some kind, and these boots have a 2-1/2 inch heel that is comfortable for all day.

As a side note, I am exploring the whole self photo-shoot thing, with a tripod and a timer. I noticed with these photos that the first pic, with my feet in the classic T position, is the most flattering in this outfit.