Our choice of clothing, hairstyle, and other appearance details are considered a means of nonverbal communication. Since I am naturally reserved, I’ve always especially enjoyed putting together my outfit no matter what the day might hold. It’s so easy to let my outfit do the talking! For example, today’s first look is one I wore to take Mr. Mickey for a thyroid biopsy. (Thankfully, benign!) Have you noticed that you feel incredibly comfortable when you wear something authentic to your style? The black jacket worn as a top is about three years old. I bought it and the jeans from Banana Republi ..read more

As a young woman building a wardrobe for her return to civilian life, I believed I couldn’t afford anything but drastically marked-down items. After wearing a US Navy uniform for the previous four years, I was clueless on so many levels. My uniform experience taught me a lot about the versatility of neutral colors and high quality, but let’s be honest. I craved colorful, modern fashions. I wanted it if the garment was a bold color, had big shoulder pads to go with my big hair, and reflected the style trends of the early eighties. Because of my minuscule budget, I thought sale racks were my on ..read more

A denim jacket is often mentioned as a must-have in capsule wardrobes. However, in many cases, the item shown is a classic-style trucker jacket. If you are a little top-heavy like me, that style may not be your best choice. My jacket is a couple of years old. This year’s version here has a frayed hem. The jeans are here, and the tank is here. A similar belt is here. The shoes are here. My bag is a few years old, so a similar small black bag is here. The sunglasses are here. I wore the look above to enjoy a late lunch at Riverfront Seafood in Kingsport. Mr. Mickey pointed out that about half t ..read more

This is Part II about my three-day, two-night getaway to Abingdon, VA. Part I is here. I had a haircut appointment on Wednesday morning, so I drove to Abingdon afterward. My look for the day was a long-sleeve white tee, black knit pants, and a denim jacket. I’ve included the shopping links near the bottom of this page, so please keep reading. Day 1 Hair Appointment and Travel In addition to my hanging garment bag, I used a large basket tote to hold pajamas, cosmetics, medication, a round hairbrush, a book, flip-flops for the Spa and room, and sneakers for long walks. I wore the low-heeled slid ..read more

Dressing for those days when the temperatures change by thirty degrees within a few hours can be challenging. Winter items suddenly seem too dark and heavy for a sunny day. We recently went out to lunch on a beautiful sunny day. I employed some of my favorite early spring dressing tips to remain comfortable throughout the day since our lunch dates can often become a whole day’s adventure. It was the perfect day to wear a white scoop-neck tank with an ivory cardigan and tan open-toe shoes. The pants are made from a lighter-weight fabric than denim. Layers in lighter colors feel more appropria ..read more

How often do you get dressed, look in the mirror, and think, “This is a good look for me!” I encourage you to break down the elements of that look so that you can repeat it as a successful formula. A successful formula is one that makes you feel confident, sassy, and comfortable… the best version of yourself. Jeans here – Top here. (Other items are old.) Color, fabrics, textures, and seasons need not be considered. For example, my best formula is a slim-fitting top with a plain low neckline tucked into flare-leg full-length pants with an open third layer. The same formula can include a cashme ..read more

We spent the weekend at the Omni Grove Park Inn, celebrating the 18th anniversary of our first date. We hope you enjoy seeing these snapshots of our fun getaway. We packed old favorites in black, gray, and white to mix and match as was appropriate. We enjoyed a lovely lunch on Friday while waiting to check in at 4 pm. My striped cardigan is here. The trouser-jeans are here. All the other items are more than a year old. Mr. Mickey is the only man I’ve ever known who wears button covers. We enjoyed lunch at Edison’s, which is located inside the resort. I had the pasta dish and added grilled ..read more

The sun was shining, and it was about forty-five degrees as I dressed to go to the bank, my storage unit, and the grocery store. Unlike how I used to get dressed, today I reached for a top, pants, and a jacket, and they worked together seamlessly. After putting on some makeup, I was dressed and ready to go in five minutes. A few years ago, getting dressed meant trying on five or more outfit combinations. The frustration of a new top I bought on sale not going with any of my pants was a regular occurrence. After changing my strategy, I buy only items in my color palette and the silhouettes I k ..read more

Sometimes, it’s easier to make what you have work in different ways than to shop for new items. New pieces are showing up in stores and online, but not much has captured my interest. These photos share some transition-to-spring looks that feature white jeans. The exercise shows how adding one thing, like a pair of white jeans, may be all you need to make your wardrobe spring-ready. The fuller leg and higher waist look modern and flatter my shape, so I know I will wear them often. The jeans (here) are the only new item in these images. I’ve styled them with tan block-heeled shoes, which are at ..read more

Getting dressed each day is a chance to celebrate life and our style and to add joy to our surroundings. I don’t save things for someday, so I try to wear everything in rotation and enjoy the items even if I stay home for the day. Saturday – We had nothing planned since it was raining and cold that day. Formula – Warm sweater or sweatshirt with soft knit pants. The half-zip sweatshirt from Banana Republic Factory is a few years old (similar sweatshirt here.) The short boots are also old, by Sam Edelman (similar booties here), and the knit pants are here. We had Chicken soup for lunch, read bo ..read more