Old V-Neck Tee Given a Much Needed Update

I'm getting the hang of this layering idea.  What a concept!  This rose pink tee is probably four years old.  The last two years I've contemplated getting rid of them (I also have this same tee in teal, brown, and kelly green)  Back then I used to buy multiples of items I really liked.  I am trying to get away from that.  :/  I don't like that the v-neck is super low - a cami or tank is required all the time, and it doesn't even look that great with a regular tank underneath.  I wore these with shorts all summer(s) and I got bored of the plain look.  This is the first time I've worn a long sleeve tee underneath and with a scarf.  This isn't my favorite outfit I've ever worn, but I am happy I figured out how I can use these old tees in a different way and in colder seasons.

These old Mary Jane pumps I had listed on Ebay two or three times this year but didn't sell.  They are cute and comfortable but the quality is eh.  These are four years old and the clothes I used to wear with them I don't have anymore.  I contemplated black shoes here but decided to go with the brown.  The toe is really, really round which makes them work well with my vericose veins.  I guess I'll be keeping these.

Old Navy deep v-neck tee rose pink

Caslon ribbed long sleeve tee charcoal - nordstrom.com

KUT From The Kloth boot cut cords espresso brown - nordstrom.com

Lauren Jeans Co. denim jacket Nolita wash - macys.com

BP. Nordstrom scarf fuchsia plaid

Another Line skinny belt chocolate brown - nordstrom.com

BP. Norstrom 'Taryn' mary jane pump chocolate brown 

Lauren ball drop earrings silver - Macy's

Cashmere sweater for a grocery trip? Sure!

Last night was my dad's 75th birthday and my two sisters, my two nephews, my two kids and my mom and dad all went out to his favorite seafood restaurant to celebrate.  Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to get my outfit photographed.  :(  I was wearing my Halogen dark denim pencil skirt, kelly green ruched top, new gray cardigan from Old Navy, silver croc skinny belt, black opaque tights, black flat boots, and a silver circle pendant necklace.  I'll just have to wear this again soon.

Today was a rather uneventful Sunday.  We have three VERY ripe bananas so I thought to make some banana chocolate chip coffee cake with an old recipe I haven't used in years.  We needed to buy some buttermilk for the recipe and some things for dinner tonight, so I got dressed for that shopping trip.  Here's my grocery shopping outfit for this uneventful Sunday.  Wearing white button-down oxford shirts are a new thing for me.   I've had this cashmere sweater for two years and I've never known how to make it interesting.  Thanks Style Underdog for the styling suggestions for this sweater! 

Charter Club cashmere cable v-neck sweater - Macy's

Lauren Ralph Lauren Roll Sleeve white shirt - macys.com

KUT From The Kloth Skinny Jeans Indigo Wash - nordstrom.com

Style & Co. skinny belt black - macys.com

Cole Haan 'Air Lyric' flat boots black with NIKE AIR technology - nordstrom.com

kate spade 'keswick caning' bauble necklace gold, black, cream (gift from kate spade)

COACH 'Carly' signature print brown - Nordstrom (gift for anniversary 2008)

Argyle Sweater Dress

This photo was taken at my mom's house today.  My mom's camera actually focuses correctly. 

The gray legging was a real stretch for me, and a couple of times I changed my mind and put on the black pair.  I wanted to do something different so I made myself wear the gray.  I do like that the legging is charcoal and is darker than the gray in the dress.  A necklace or bigger earrings would have been a plus here.  It's the print all the way down the dress and the silver mirrors on my shoes that made me shy away from big jewelry pieces.  Excuses, excuses!  I won't be afraid next time.

Argyle V-neck sweater dress black/gray - oldnavy.com

Hinge cami black - Nordstrom brand

Style & Co. skinny croc belt black - Macy's brand

leggings charcoal  - Nordstrom brand

BCBGirls 'Phoebe' flats black - nordstrom.com

clear red beads bracelet - Macy's brand

60s Inspired Mod Jacket + Another Meetup with Style Underdog

Today was just fabulous.  Style Underdog and I met again for coffee.  We had loads to talk about... outfit ideas for the both of us, looking through and laughing at Clinton Kelly's new book, talked about how we met our husbands, where we grew up, where we worked, and plans for getting together at my house for my husband's out-of-this-world grilled steak tacos.

It's nice having an adult take my photos.  Thank you Style Underdog!

New pose suggested by Style Underdog. 

Kensie empire waist metallic jacket silver - nordstrom.com (2 years ago - copied from a friend, of course!)

KUT From The Kloth Skinny Jeans Indigo Wash - nordstrom.com

Bettye Muller 'Cruise' peep-toe patent flat black - Ebay

Cole Haan 'Village' handbag black - Nordstrom

Layering + Scarf

I am wearing this TODAY, Tuesday, 11/16 and actually have it posted!

I've never been a layering person.  I tend to wear a top and jeans or a dress.  I know, boring.  That is changing  I'm working on it right now.  I've already posted this navy button-down shirt, but I'm trying it again with some changes.  This time I'm wearing a long-sleeve tee underneath (because I'm taking the kids to the park later this afternoon and it's going to be cold) and with a colorful scarf.  I'm not sure the charcoal gray tee is working just right.  I had to tuck in the gray tee because having it out looked sloppy.  It looks better now, but I'm still not sure I'm in love with this look, but I do like the teal against the navy.

I really wish I could get these photos to be in proper focus.

James Perse contrast panel roll sleeve button down shirt deep navy - Nordstrom

Caslon long sleeve ribbed tee charcaol - nordstrom.com

KUT From The Kloth wide leg trouser jeans delight wash - Nordstrom Rack

BP. Nordstrom ombré scarf teal - nordstrom.com

Kenneth Cole REACTION 'Ballet Parking' flats pewter - Macy's

Lauren Ralph Lauren drop ball earrings silver - Macy's

Busy Saturday: 1st Baby Shower, 2nd HS Playgroup

Saturday was quite a fun, busy day.  First, I attended a longtime blogging friend's baby shower, it was quite lovely.  I started out blogging about my wedding plans back in 2001, and a handful of OC wedding bloggers got together frequently, and we've been friends ever since.  It's a wonderful thing.

Baby Shower Outfit.  I think the brown boots work with this dress since the browns are not the exact same shade.

Finally - a decent close-up of my boots!

BCBG MAXAZRIA wrap dress chocolate brown snake print - Nordstrom (3 years ago)

Cole Haan 2.25" heels boots Woodbury brown - colehaan.com

textured silver cuff bracelet with gold circles -  Macy's brand

Argento Vivo gold leaf earrings - nordstrom.com

Once a month on a Saturday night a small group of our high school friends get together with all of our kids and have pizza and beer (the adults!).  It's a really fun, casual get together.

High School Friends playgroup outfit.  I am not sure this sweater is really working anymore.  It is supposed to be tunic length, but my normal size was WAY huge at the neckline including the back of my neck - there was so much gaping going on.  So I went a size smaller.  I think it was a mistake.  It doesn't even look like a tunic sweater.  It barely covers my butt so I can't wear leggings with this.  I think I might be done with this sweater.  Maybe I'm thinking too much.

Caslon tunic short-sleeve sweater charcoal - Nordstrom

Caslon long sleeve ribbed tee black (faded practically to charcoal due to overuse) - Nordstrom

Levi's 545 Skinny Leg jean French Press wash - macys.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors peep-toe flat calfhair - dillards.com

Lauren Ralph Lauren woven belt brown - Macy's

Perlina handbag teal (my usual pop of color) - Nordstrom

Argento Vivo gold leaf earrings - nordstrom.com

Fun with friends' COACH bags.

My high school friends are actually a little bit excited about my blog and we were talking about it at the party!  These two friends love COACH bags and they let me wear their awesome COACH bags in my photos for a little variety and fun.  Thanks D & S!

D's beautiful COACH bag that her amazing husband picked out for her.  By the way, this is the second or third one he's chosen for her.  I can't remember what number he's on.  He's also picked out two pair of beautiful COACH sunglasses for her.  What a guy he is.

S's brand new beautiful COACH bag.  She didn't even have the tag removed yet, but she took it off for the photo.  I begged her not to so she can enjoy that feeling of cutting off a tag for her first wearing of her beautiful new COACH bag, but she didn't want to wait.  Am I the only one who waits as long as possible to remove tags from new clothing, bags, accessories?

1st Attempt To Copycat Style Underdog

Back in July Style Underdog wore this lovely summer outfit and this was the first one of hers that I went running out to hunt down these pieces for myself to copy.  I never have really known how to wear crisp white button-down oxfords and belts, and this I knew I could do.  I love how she looks here.  I didn't even discover this post until October because I got distracted from being current with her blog, so I knew it was going to take some work to find the skirt.  After several days of phone calls to many different Macy's across the country to locate this lovely gray INC skirt, I finally found one but it was two sizes too large.  I never buy clothes that are too big and get them altered, but the salesperson at Macy's does alterations and she said it would be an easy thing to do.  So I bought it (on clearance I might add - yay!), and the alterations came out awesome!  The belt wasn't the exact one as SU's but I found one online that was very similar.  Again my size was difficult to track down but it was done after a couple days worth of hunting.  Did I mention I'm really good at hunting down sale/clearance items?  I'm REALLY, REALLY good at it.

To make this more of a fall look instead of sandals I'm wearing boots.  I wish my son would have remembered to focus.  This is the only decent photo.  I'll have to wear this again and get better photos.  I forgot to wear my purse - it was the teal one of course.

Lauren Ralph Lauren roll sleeve shirt white - macys.com

INC crinkled drop waist skirt gray (EXACT copy of Style Underdog's skirt) - Macy's

Lauren Ralph Lauren woven leather belt brown - Macy's

Cole Haan boots 2.25" heel Woodbury brown - colehaan.com

clear red beads bracelet - Macy's brand

Argento Vivo silver leaf earrings - nordstrom.com

Bunco Party Outfit

After meeting with Style Underdog I realize I really need to get posting more often.  I am on a mission to get myself photographed daily.  What I really need to do is set up the darn tripod!

I belong to a Bunco group and the November party was Thursday night.  This color and pattern is a little bit out there for me, but I've been wanting to get away from wearing too many solids.

*Kelly by Clinton Kelly printed empire waist A-line dress multi - QVC.com

black opaque tights - Nordstrom brand

Cole Haan knee high boots 3.25" heel with NIKE AIR technology black - colehaan.com

Cole Haan handbag black - Nordstrom

Alexis Bittar gold donut necklace - nordstrom.com

*Clinton Kelly has a new line of clothing on QVC.com.  I was a little skeptical of buying from QVC, but the dress is really awesome and totally reasonably priced, and we all know I LOVE Clinton Kelly so I thought I'd try.  It is kind of fun owning a dress he designed.  He said this dress is his favorite piece from the line - that this cut of dress is so flattering on any body shape and he just couldn't find it out there.... so he designed it.  It also comes in black and solid purple.  It does run very large.  He suggested to go down in size.  I did go a size down but I needed to get some alterations anyway.  The neckline was opening up way too much that my bra was showing, so I had a snap put in.  Also, the sleeves needed to be shortened and the hem needed to be shortened --so it hits just at my knee.  It was below my knee originally.

Meetup with Style Underdog!

Today was so much fun - I met up with Style Underdog!  She is so witty and fun.  We talked our ears off about clothes, shoes, jewelry, and The Style Nation over Starbucks gingerbread lattes.  I brought a little bag of clothes and belts that I had some ideas to wear together but was unsure... since I don't really know how to wear belts very well I needed some advice to make some outfits more complete.  She helped me so much.  She is a star-stylist, and I think she should be a stylist on Good Morning America or Oprah or a What Not To Wear type show that specializes in styling 40+ women.  Seriously.  She is that good.

I wasn't originally wearing this brown skinny belt when I first saw Style Underdog.  I asked her if it would look okay with the wow necklace.  I was unsure since the necklace is so big I thought the belt would be too much.  But she was right.  I needed the belt!  Thank you so much SU for the advice.

 

 This was the best full length shot of me, I kind of like this pose.

 Style Underdog and me.

Style Underdog, me and Frank.  ;)

Caslon ribbed long sleeve tee charcoal - nordstrom.com

KUT From The Kloth wide leg trousers Delight Wash - Nordstrom Rack

Cole Haan 'Air Carma' peep-toe patent pumps black with Nike Air Technology - Nordstrom

kate spade 'Keswick Caning' bauble necklace black, cream, gold - gift from kate spade

silver and gold circles textured cuff bracelet - Macy's brand

Another Line patent skinny belt chocolate brown - nordstrom.com
Perlina snakeskin teal handbag - Nordstrom

Friday - favorite printed top

This is one of my favorite printed tops.  I tend to be a solids girl, and I'm trying to get out of my comfort zone of too many solids and start wearing prints.  I've had this top I think three years now.  The ties add such a feminine touch.

Looking at the photos of me in these jeans I realize they should be replaced with a darker denim withOUT any whiskering or bleaching whatsoever.  I am too old to have bleaching or whiskering on my denim plus I have no desire to have the  bleached denim look.  I remember buying them wishing they had no whiskering.  I loved the fit.  Now I'm regretting buying them because I can't stand the whiskering!

Onto a more positive note.... these flats are one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe.  Silver mirrors on a simple black flat.  Instant glam.  I've had them three years I think?  People always notice these flats.

KUT From The Kloth Skinny Jeans Indigo Wash - nordstrom.com

Sweet Pea by Stacy Frati printed floral mesh blouse - Nordstsrom

BCBGirls 'Phoebe' flats Black Techno - nordstrom.com

Cole Haan 'Village' small leather handbag black - Nordstrom

Liz Palacios crystal drop pendant necklace gunmetal - nordstrom.com
Lacoste tortoise shell sunglasses - Kaiser optometry

 *ALL of these items were on SALE!*

Mad Men Halloween 2010

This year for Halloween I wanted to wear the same Mad Men Betty Draper style dress but change up the hair.  My current favorite character is Megan, who is Don's newest secretary.  I LOVE her brunette long hair twisted up into a 60s bun with the bouffant thing going on.  My hair isn't quite long enough to pull it off exactly, but I wanted to have my stylist try anyway.

 Megan, Don's current secretary.

And this is Jane, another secretary on the show with the hairstyle I'm going for this year.

My hairstylist suggested I buy a hair extension pony tail to add length to my hair to add volume since my hair barely hits my shoulders.  I bought one, but it turned out not to be a pony tail, it was a horizontal piece of hair that didn't work.  So I couldn't use it.  My hairstylist was able to pin my hair into a bun without the extension and it worked out great.

 Getting my hair set to give it volume.

My hairstylist also did an outstanding job doing my 60s style make-up using false eyelashes, cat-eye black eyeliner, red lipstick, rosy blush, and light color eyeshadow.

 Super 60s side-swept bangs.

 Amazing 60s bouffant look.

 My favorite photo.

Sadly, this is the only photo that didn't turn out blurry this year.  And it sucks that my eyes are red.  I'm hoping my friends will have better photos.   I will share them when I get them.  The other change besides my hairstyle this year was my shoes.  Last year I wore closed-toed shoes that were a cream shade that matched my clutch.  They hurt my right foot so badly I had to take them off.  So I had to buy a pair of neutral peep-toe pumps.  I couldn't find the lighter shade of cream at the price I was willing to pay, unfortunately.  These are good enough and I can wear them all year round.  It was a fun Halloween.

I was definitely born in the wrong decade!  I am enjoying dressing like this a bit too much!

Mad Men Halloween 2009

Mad Men is my absolute favorite show.  Last year I bought a gorgeous vintage 1959 Saks Fifth Avenue house brand cocktail dress to wear for Halloween as a "brunette Betty Draper". Here are some photos of Betty Draper.  See the photos of me below  to see how I pulled off her look.  I'm showing you the Halloween 2009 photos in this post so you can see the changes with my hair I made with the costume for Halloween 2010.  The vintage dress I bought was so dang expensive I'll need to wear it for a few years to get my money's worth!

 Betty is on the left.

The vintage dress I bought from etsy.com last year.

Getting my hair done.

The completed project with Betty Draper style hair, 60s style make-up, vintage clutch, vintage pearl necklace and matching clip earrings.  The only things non-vintage here are my shoes and hair ribbon!

So this was last year's version of my Mad Men costume.  Next post see the hair change.