Starting Over

"Starting Over" - I saw that movie about 15 times back when Burt Reynolds was in his heyday of romantic comedy. I'm starting over to blog a bit of fashion just to remind myself what is in the closet without going in there and actually sorting through.

I ordered online last night before free shipping expired on Talbots and JC Penney had no more bargains. The JCP doorbusters eluded me but the only thing I really needed was some corduroy pants. I decided a bit better quality, or at least a higher pricetag might mean a better fit. We'll see.

JCP has $10 off $25 or more through today only. I deleted all except an unlined denim blazer reduced to less than $15 and a sweater for less than $15. Postage was $6 but the $10 off left me $4 ahead instead of spending $40 more for things I did not really want so postage would be free.  The sweater I ordered was listed as teal blue, but the comments claimed they received a navy color marked as teal. I hope it will be a darkest blue.

Talbots had corduroy ankle pants on sale. I bought those and a matching cord jacket in dark grey along with a ruched neck tee in a sort of rose color and a satin-trim tee in ivory. If I buy their ankle pants, the length is perfect without hemming to wear as regular pants. I'm excited about the scrunch neck tee. It disappeared from Talbot's site but not from my order and showed as in stock when my order was confirmed.

Talbots photo of gray cord jacket.

I ordered some boots from Shoe Woo that I held in my shopping bag all through Christmas. I entertained myself by searching for comments from people who had actually bought Nine West boots. It is hard to determine whether they are comparing with Target's boots or upscale boots from fancy stores. Shipping was a flat $5. The last shoes I ordered from Shoe Woo came really fast.

You Have a Beautiful Mind

... that's what the test results said when I took the online Test at http://www.beautiful-minds.com/HowHealthyIsYourBrain?

Apparently eating fruits and vegetables and reading and playing games online are very good for the Brain. Occasional exercise doesn't hurt, either.

Are Black Shoes Appropriate with Navy?

8/22/2010: I just read a long blog with many comments on whether or not to wear Black and Navy together.  My casual Sunday outfit today was mostly navy and I wore these shoes:
From Talbot's, they are called 'pewter'but look gold to me.

I wore them with Talbots Drawstring Pencil Skirt in navy, their Lattice Smocked]Tee in yellow and a New Dimensions short Smocked Cardigan from Belk in navy.

Smocking on the tee, and the smocked

cardigan has elbow-length sleeves. I like a longer sleeve

which hides a lot of  uppper arm 'bat-wing' common to older ladies

 and unattractive at any age. Besides, I have a farmer tan as well.

The smocked tee is very very thin, cotton with a touch of modal.

The smocking is lovely. The sleeves are raglan style.

Update 6 years later: I still have the skirt and the short cardi and the shoes. 

The yellow tee has become a pajama top.

Armadillo Shoes

We missed our chance for a really avant-garde fashion when we dispatched recently-caught armadillos to the armadillo graveyard across the highway. Buffy got in trouble for crossing the highway to bring back a somewhat petrified armadillo shell to use as a dog toy. I buried it; she dug it up.
Anyhow, here's the link to Armadillo Shoes by Alexander McQueen.

http://www.shoeshoeonline.com/alexander-mcqueen-armadillo-shoes#more-3967

The shoes sold for thousands and few were made. Difficulty in walking made them less popular than they might have been despite the price. Maybe nobody told the models that armadillos when frightened run away on their little piggy-like tippy toes.

I've seen armadillo purses on e-bay. They hardly have the panache of alligator bags from the '40s.

We still have the trap set if you want to sign up for your very own armadillo. We don't ship, you will have to pick him up. Ewwwww!

Essential Shoes

1. Plain Black Pumps  -- my preference is Etienne Aigner, has been for years.
2. Sneakers  -- running shoes or Keds.
3. Casual shoe or bootie with heels. Heeled sandals work in the South in hot weather.
4. Tall boots  -- mine have flat heels and are black. I'd like some with a comfortable heel a little higher.
5. Everyday shoes -- I wear running shoes with socks for yard work, something that laces up and has support. Inside, my faves are flip flops or leather thongs.
6. Casual flats.
7. Slippers -- my preference is thong sandals rather than indoor slippers because I'm prone to going to bring the garbage can back to the house in my slippers, or out to check on the pets. For indoor personal use, the thongs can be a bit gaudier than I would wear to the grocery store or even the beach.
8. Neutral pumps -- taupe, not bone or white. Bone and white are summer pumps; neutral can go through the winter. I would not mind a pair of snakeskin pumps in a neutral color rather than smooth matte leather.

Bosom Buttons

The answer to too much cleavage: Bosom buttons are a decorative crystal button with a pin-through back. The pin goes right through the fabric, holding the button in place. Neat!

They are available online at a cost of $25 for a set of three, crystals and/or pearl.

I think I have one of these buttons somewhere; didn't know what it was. Have to find it, and a back.

The Way We Wear

A blog about clothes for the woman of a certain age.