WINTER NEWSLETTER
2021
WHO ARE WE

When we are young women we are searching for our own style and identity. (Remember those high school years?) We try to emulate the people that we admire and we try on their style and behavior to see if it fits.

But as we grow older we find ourselves and become women of substance. Women who have accumulated a large body of knowledge...women who continue to grow and produce great contributions in this world. Whether through creating amazing families, beginning new businesses, contributing our creativity in the Arts, or volunteering out time and knowledge.

Clearly rooted in who we are we can now refine our style and learn from each other without giving up our own identities. We are multidimensional women of substance altering and redefining aging.



FEELING IRRELEVANT

Even though they may have achieved so many things in their lives many women begin to feel invisible as they get older. They feel like they have lost their identities and are no longer relevant . This is often due to the fact that they are basing their identities on an outdated version of themselves. Like your computer you may need to upgrade your operating system. The best gift you can give yourself is to re-invent yourself every decade. Life is pushing you along every decade teaching you new things and giving you new experiences. Use everything you've learned in the last decade to re-invent yourself for the next one.

"As a Man Thinketh He Is" could not be more true. Believe in yourself, cultivate what you like about yourself and that is what others will see.
Feel Good Links
8 Ways To Feel Beautiful From the Inside Out
10 Tips to Age Beautifully
15 Habits That Will Grow Your Happiness
FACELIFTS
Good or Bad Idea?
So many of you have asked me if I have had any work done? You can have all the Facelifts in the world and still not have style. I do not like Facelifts there are too many bad ones! An older woman with a Facelift looks like "An older Woman With a Facelift". For me personally if I had a facelift I would never know what the real me would have been like as I aged. My natural curiosity to see what life will bring always seems to guide me.

Cherish who you are now. You can never recapture your youth but you can make up for it by adding Style. In order to age gracefully you must be able to let go of the old image you have of yourself. Do you have a fear of what will be left if you let that go? If you let it go you will find the person you are now at this time in your life. Someone who knows who she is and does not need to look younger than she is to know her worth.

But that's just me and everyone has different needs and opinions so if you have been thinking about a facelift be informed. Here is very valuable information from the Mayo Clinic.
How to Pull an Outfit Together
So you have bought that pair of slacks that you love. They are the new Wide Leg with Pleats and a great Self Belt. Now how do you make them into an eye catching outfit? I am going to take you through the steps that occur for me when I am doing just that.

So the things I would consider are Proportion
Color
Fabric

Because these pants are wide leg and therefore have a flow to them I want a trim or tailored top. Otherwise I risk looking like one big flowing blob!
Black Ribbed Top
Shopping my Closet I found this ribbed black sweater that picks up the black check in the pant. The trim fitted top enhances the flow of the pants. I believe that you should keep your jewelry all in the same color family to make a more dramatic accent. This style will work with either a heel or a flat. Although in some cases with a flat you my have to turn the hem of the pant up just a tiny bit. This style pant is meant to be worn on the long side whether with a heel of a flat.
Tailored Blouse
If a fitted top is not for you any tailored look will do. Again shopping my closet I found a tailored satin blouse in Burgundy that works with the checked fabric. The "Basic White Shirt" would also work. I chose the Burgundy heels just because I had them but black would be just as good. The important thing is that the tailored top again keeps the balance with the loose fit and flow of the pants. Also because I always wear silver I keep jewelry in the same color family. Both of these examples keep focus on the self belt.
What Not to Do
But what happens if you pair these pants with a loose boxy top?
You lose the Proportions and the Style! The whole looks loses it's movement and the focus on the self belt and the pleats. It really won't matter what jewelry or shoes you pair with it because the things that gave the pants style have been diminished Some heavier women make the mistake of thinking that dressing loose or boxy is the most appropriate for them. It does not matter if you are a bit heavier the proportions still matter and will still work.
Please let me know if you would like to see "Pulling an Outfit Together" as a regular feature in my Newsletters. There are so many different things to consider in every type of outfit and how you pull it all together is the crucial factor.
"Shackets" Fashion
Winter & Spring 2021
Understandably, there has been little interest in keeping up with new Fashions since most of us are not going anywhere. Not to mention the frivolousness of fashion trends when people are dealing with so many serious issues. But I do believe that as the vaccine becomes more wide spread and our lives return to normal we will all want to be thinking about less serious things. The lighthearted idea of deciding what new clothing to buy will be a welcome relief.

One piece of clothing you might want to consider is the "Shacket". This is a combination Shirt and Jacket. This is a trend that really appeals to me because of its practicality and comfort.

These sites shown here and Madewell, Banana Republic, Bloomigdale's, Macy's and Nordstom are all showing them.
My Two Favorite Picks from my Amazon Store
This coat has been amazing. I have worn it almost every day this winter. It has everything I look for in a winter coat. Beginning with warmth it is Down filled. It has a detachable hood and detachable fur around the hood. It is a longer maxi length which I am always looking for when it is cold. The quality and details are more than are found in coats twice the price. At $108 it is definitely a Winter Pick!
This Color Blocked Sweats set ends up in my Winter Amazon Picks because it has large pockets, a shirt tail hem and jogger cuffs on the legs. It is not only soft and comfortable but has more style than the usual sweats. It comes in 30 different patterns and colors. I chose this Navy and White color blocked set because it has a unique style and the colors will go right though Spring. At only $36.98 it is my second Winter Pick!
Many of you who have asked for more music favorites in my Newsletter so here is a favorite of mine I would like to share with you. Growing up in the suburbs of a Buffalo NY no one "cool" listened to Country Music. But in my later years it has become one of my favorite genres. I am drawn to the honest lyrics and the love of God, Family and Country. This duet by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill that they wrote for their daughters will always be an enduring favorite of mine. I hope you enjoy this Video.
As always thank you so much for reading my Newsletter. Please feel free to contact me anytime with questions or comments. Be sure to subscribe to find my next Newsletter in your inbox this Spring.