Favorite Looks for 2015

Looking back over the blog posts for 2015, some looks stood out as my style and comfort favorites.

Fun in the Winter Sun

Studded Tweed and Faux-Leather Jacket

Black and Blue

Weekend Fun!

Jewels of the Vineyard

Fabrizio Gianni Jeans

Friday Date Night

Wearing Long Tunics

Dressed For Dinner

Covered Perfectly Vest and Tunic

Les Misérables

Casual Elegance

Out On The Town

Fifty, not Frumpy Anniversary!

 What Do You Eat?

Trip to the Beach

Eat Smart Even On Thanksgiving!

Spirits of the Season

The Comfort Zone

As I edit my wardrobe and shop less, my style has evolved into comfortable and easy.  A combination of mostly solid neutral color pieces that fit my body and personality makes up a wardrobe that serves me well. Unique accessories add the finishing touch that makes each look my own.

I hope that these examples have helped you to create your own wardrobe of easy, comfortable looks. More importantly, I hope that my healthy eating tips have encouraged you to make better food choices. Fashion is a fun way to express yourself, but a strong and healthy body is priceless.

Ralph Lauren Inspired

"How do you decide which pieces to put together?"

The process of getting dressed in unrelated comfortable separates (the way I usually dress) can be a little tricky. 

On Sunday, we were going to visit friends and then for sushi. I started with these Ralph Lauren boots, which I found at T.J.Maxx a couple of years ago. Next, I chose jeans that would just cover the top of them without bunching. These are ankle jeans from Chico's.

The length of your pants is a totally individual choice. There is no "proper" length for women these days.

Thinking of those classic Ralph Lauren looks you see in his fabulous ads, I next chose a garnet turtleneck from Fabrizio Gianni. I topped it off with a large, very soft gauzy faded blue and black design scarf from The Paris Apartment Boutique and a faux suede blazer from Chico's.

It helps to have an inspirational picture in your mind (if not in your hand) of the finished look as you start getting dressed. Following this tip means it takes less time to get dressed because someone else has already worked out the details. You can then use the idea to pull similar pieces from your wardrobe, and off you go, looking great.

The Comfort Zone

Our temperatures finally dipped enough to wear my all-time favorite look on Friday.

There was a little swagger in my walk all day.

This look fits my personality to my core, but it isn't appropriate for our weather or the event very often here in east Tennessee. When I slip into a faux leather jacket with jeans and boots, I feel like my twenty-year-old self with better judgment.

The jacket is an old favorite from Stein Mart. The double-strand Akola Project necklace is from Monkee's of Johnson City. The gray jeggings are from Chico's. The black cashmere tunic by Vince and the French Connection boots are from Saks Off 5th.

Success!

When you send me emails sharing that you have lost weight, your blood tests are better, you can now play with your grandchildren, or you are no longer diabetic, I am reminded why I continue to share my life with you via this blog.

In 2009, I was so uncomfortable at one hundred and eighty-three pounds, I could barely squat down to visit with this hungry little squirrel looking for a handout. Notice how carefully I cropped the picture at that time so as not to show my girth. I was in denial! 

Fast forward to 2012 on another visit to Brevard, North Carolina. My fashion sense and confidence are improving, and I have lost more than forty pounds.

It was easy to slip into the habit of eating mindlessly and then dressing in whatever was stretchy and comfortable every day. I lived this way for a few years, and my health suffered greatly because of it. (Not just my physical health but my mental health as well.) I had so little confidence that I didn't even want to leave my home. I was deeply depressed for several years.

If you have visited my blog before today, you know that I now have lots of wonderful friends, loads of confidence, and a fun-filled life that I could not even imagine ten years ago. Being healthy, both physically and mentally, has allowed me to fully enjoy life and overcome the depression that dominated my life for several years. 

Sharing fashion tips and style inspiration is a fun part of publishing this blog. I like everything in my closet now, and getting dressed for any occasion is a snap. My style has evolved as I research and share with you what I learn. Dressing this almost sixty-year-old body with style and grace is an entirely different project than dressing my thirty-year-old one. I firmly believe that the most important thing I share with you is the inspiration to learn to eat to properly fuel your body for your best health.

I will continue to share what works well for me and use myself as an example. I hope that you will also be inspired to find what works well for your body and that you can start to enjoy better health and more joy-filled life.

At the link below is a new hearty soup recipe I recently found. I added it to my collection of basics and enjoyed this one as my late day meal. I often add frozen or fresh vegetables near the end of the cooking time. The grain farro is a wonderful substitute for pasta. (I soak the farro along with the dried beans.) I also experiment with the ingredients and spices to add variety and new flavors according to what looks good at the grocery store on the day I visit.

The Melis Family Minestrone

Brunch at The Inn At Biltmore

We always enjoy the weekend brunch in the Dining Room at the Inn On Biltmore Estate.

The drive along Highway 26 from Johnson City to Asheville is always a pleasure.

Anyone who has ever traveled this scenic highway likely remembers this fabulous house along the way.

The mountains seem to change colors depending upon the time of the day.

Photo from the website for the Inn on Biltmore Estate.

There are always beautiful fresh flowers to greet you when you arrive at the Inn on Biltmore Estate.

At this time of year, there are so many Christmas trees you will quickly lose count!

A fabulous gingerbread house was on display in the lobby.

I normally find something I have been searching for while shopping at the Marble Lion located inside the Inn.

I love this view from the Library Dining Room.

The perfect way to spend a sunny winter afternoon, sipping champagne with Mr. Mickey while reading the New York Times.

My style tip for today is to pair something edgy with something classic. This rather plain cardigan with tiny red rhinestones on the sleeves is from Chico's last year. On its own, it could be considered rather plain, dare I say frumpy. When I pair it with faux leather leggings and spicy cut out booties, it serves as an elegant touch that makes this look more appropriate for my personality. I feel more comfortable and true to my style when edgy touches are mixed with my classic pieces.

The silver necklace and top are from Chico's this season. All the other items are old, but you might find something similar in your closet or in the stores where you shop if you would like to copy my look.

Leather and Lace Jacket

Black leather jackets are fun to wear, and they go with almost anything, but they might be too harsh for your coloring. If you have soft golden coloring or paler colors look better on you, you might enjoy something on the lighter, softer side.

This jacket offers great possibilities for you! The combination of lace cutouts and faux leather makes this the perfect softer look for those who want the edginess of a leather jacket but not the harshness of black.

The sleeveless turtleneck sweater was a gift. The ankle jeans are from Chico's. The shoes are by Halogen via Nordstrom. The bag is by Cole Hann via T.J.Maxx.

Dressing For Holiday Events

In December, I always get lots of requests for ideas for what to wear to holiday parties and other events.

My formula for getting dressed for these events isn't that different from the rest of the year. The secret is held in how you put your basics together to make them appropriate for the event. I never rush out to buy something for a special occasion.

Look carefully at each of the items I am wearing. The sweater is usually worn with a pair of faded jeans and short black boots. The black pants are ones that I wear when I want to look a little more special. I wear these Covered Perfectly tops all year round with every type of look. They are genuinely the best tops for layering with jackets, sweaters, and ponchos or vests. They don't add bulk to your frame, and they are made with the most luxurious knit fabric ever. 

We met our friends for dinner before we attended the Symphony last evening. I got dressed in five minutes, with virtually no stress. If you have great basics that serve you well, you can always put them together in appropriate ways for any event. Accessories change everything!

I am wearing a vintage Ralph Lauren sweater with a faux fur collar over a Covered Perfectly long sleeve simple comfort top and Lior Paris black pants.

I bookended my look. That means I repeated the coppery brown tones of the faux fur collar in the copper beaded shoes, which are also several years old. The colors near my face are repeated in the colors of my footwear. That is called bookending. It can also mean wearing shoes in the same color as your hair. This trick pulls a look together and balances it so that it always seems to work well.

The reptile texture clutch bag is from S.M. Bradford Co. Hilton Head Island. My hair is almost hiding the silver earrings with small crystal stones. Two blingy crystal rings are the other accessories that make this look special for an evening look.