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

When the heat and humidity settle in for the summer, I often reach for a dress. A light, airy fabric in a flowing style is always the most comfortable option. The dress is here. I add a necklace to remove the focus from the cleavage when the neckline is low. A small pair of earrings always accompany a large necklace. If I wear large earrings, I skip the necklace and wear a bold bracelet. If I wear a hat, I keep all the other accessories around my face minimal. The one accessorizing rule I always follow is to avoid adding too much in one place. A similar coin necklace is here. (Use the code ..read more

With temps in the high sixties and no rain, it was a good day to wear my new gray cotton cardigan. It runs true to size and is a very easy-to-wear style, but don’t pair it with black since it sheds fibers heavily. I purchased a size medium here. After each wearing, I turn sweaters inside out and hang them on a felt hanger to air out for a couple of days. Before folding them away, I check for pills and use the fabric shaver here if needed. The jeans are no longer available, but these are similar, and the tee is here. The bag and heels are old, but similar items are here and here. The day’s ac ..read more

When I stopped eating processed foods and red meat in 2011, I lost more than forty-five pounds in less than six months. While this was a lovely bonus, feeling so much younger was the better accomplishment. A myriad of health issues that were affecting my quality of life melted away. My doctor was shocked when I showed up for a follow-up visit only six months later. She still tells me I am her inspiration for making healthier choices. When I visited my friend’s house for the first time as my newly healthier version, she asked me, “But how do you know what to eat?” It is a question I’ve been ask ..read more

Choosing three words to define personal style helps keep us on track as we shop or get dressed for the day. One of my three words is simplicity. The other two are classic and natural. I am most comfortable in two or three neutral colors with a few well-chosen accents. When I apply makeup, style my hair, or decide what to wear, my guiding principle is always to avoid the “too much syndrome.” For example, I enjoy wearing a dramatic necklace with simple necklines, but I do not wear dramatic earrings simultaneously. Bright (never dark) lipstick can light up the face, but I apply, blot, and repeat ..read more

Every six weeks is a reasonable timeframe for my haircuts; however, with all the doctor appointments, etc., it has been eight weeks since my last trim. So, it was good to be back in my stylist’s chair on Thursday. I was thrilled to meet a lovely blog follower who was also getting her hair done. She said her stylish 90-year-old mother told her about my website. My day was made! I always wear something washable and comfortable to my appointments, but I usually have a list of other things I must accomplish for the day. So, I still want to look polished and put together. The black jeans are here ..read more

Grooming, skincare, and makeup are integral elements to looking our best no matter what we are wearing. A full face of makeup isn’t always necessary, but sunscreen, moisturizer, and a little lip color can make a big difference in our confidence. Classic basics in neutral solid colors mean even a tee and jeans can look elegant if you add a few styling details. The elements of my look for our casual Friday lunch date are basics with a twist. The jacket has bold silver snaps with a more streamlined silhouette than the usual trucker jacket. The sleeveless tee has an eyelet detail at the neckline ..read more

The first gray strands appeared in my late teens, so I colored my hair until I turned fifty. During the subsequent grow-out time, I kept it very short, wore hats often, and used temporary color a few times to help with the new growth transition. If you want to keep your length, I suggest you work with a stylist to gradually adjust the color as it grows so that the demarcation line will be less noticeable. I’ll share the rest of this look and our lunch date destination in the next blog post later this week. My haircut is a mid-length layered bob with slightly angled sides to frame my face. The ..read more

The early morning hours have always been my favorite part of the day. There is a quiet time for meditation, gratitude, exercise, and reading before the day gets too busy. The above look is one I wore to dinner with friends on Friday night. We don’t go out to dinner often these days, so it is a special occasion and a reason to get dressed up when we do. All of the pieces I put together for this look are several years old, but maybe you have similar items in your closet. I always think about what I already have before I buy something new. I go shopping when I use things up, don’t have the item ..read more

Leather is trending this year, but it may be tricky to style, so I’m sharing some of my favorite tips. I purchased the faux leather Steve Madden jacket from Nordstrom last year and showed it for the first time here. Black is a classic color option for leather, but other colors are available this year. Since it is still well-represented in my wardrobe, I wear black, but I’ve learned to vary the textures when I wear a monochrome combination. The variation makes the look much more interesting. For example, smooth leather with Ponte knit pants, chevron tights, and suede pumps with a tweed bag inv ..read more