This velvet coat like items, is a personal favorite. I wear it over a very thin lightweight cashmere sweater, and then this beautiful multi string necklace. I wear this during the day time as well as at night otherwise it does not get worn much. I have always like the idea of dressy with not dressy in the same outfit, I have dressed like that for years. I would probably not wear the necklace if I were to wear this during the day for a work attire. Perfect with my 505 Levi's from Kohl's.
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Daytime accessories.
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This is a great evening look, however if it's more dressy I would chose one of my evening bags and not this big one.
 
 
This is my favorite fall/winter blazer/jacket. In the fall it's an outerwear in the winter it's a blazer. It's wool tweed, double breasted men's wear inspired jacket. I wear it with almost every shirt in my closet but I love this look for fall. Black and white gingham shirt plays off the tweed jacket, the scarf is a real beauty, being full of fall colors. The necklace just adds a little sunshine to the day. Pink belt plays off the scarf and the jeans are 505's  by Levi's with a flat roll at the hem. If the days turns warm I still have a great look with the shirt and the scarf. Oh Yeah. 
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This rocks the look and so does the red purse with the cordovan colored shoes. Either works it's a fun look.
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The red purse works with the scarf colors so do the shoes.
 
 
  The whole purpose of this series is to teach you how to mix and match. How to mix textures, colors, prints and strips, how to combine accessories, with the outfit. How to make an outfit look dressy and yet with different shoes and purse it becomes everyday. Experiment with your clothes, have fun with them, be a little daring. Make sure you do it on a day when you feel confident, or practice some of your outfits before you leave the house on days when you don't have to be some place. If you feel foolish or out of place don't wear it out and about. At least once a week experiment with your clothes. 
  If you tend to buy things in a color palette, certain styles and always go for the same thing, then that is probably your style. If you bored with it shake it up. 
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J Crew knit sweatshirt that is more like a sweater and one of my favorite go to fall items. A black and white gingham shirt, and a very old Banana Republic belt that I wear as a necklace, animal print belt from Crew as well. Levi's 506 from Kohl's.
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Dressy
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casual
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Dressy and just plain fun.
 
 
  Today I was feeling old, I had just gotten several fashion magazines and it made me feel old. I thought why am I writing this, why do I care, is anyone even looking at this. Then I snapped out of and realized that there a lot of women of a certain age, that care, about how they look. Not so much if they are "in fashion" but whether they look great, age appropriate and feel amazing in their own skin and the clothing they are wearing. So I carry on sharing my ideas and sense of style. The bonus at the end of this photo session you will see a photo from the new J. Crew catalog, it's Linda Rodin a famous stylist, fashion icon, and now the owner of a beauty line. She's older and she cares, and she wears J. Crew and Levi's. 
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I made this jacket out of a couple of men's cotton knit tees that were on sale. I used ideas and directions from one of the Alabama Chanin sewing books, It's verse applique. The shirt I made too, it's a small lightweight cotton print. The jeans are Levi's 505. Red belt from J. Crew.
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This is a detail of the sleeve and part of the back. I used the tee shirt design printed on the front and embroidered around them.
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The jacket is sorta casual and sweatshirt-ish. so I would wear it with boots.
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Linda Rodin for J. Crew.
 
 
  I hate to admit it but it is starting to feel like fall, with cooler nights and shorter days. It's not fall that I don't like it's winter. I mean I live in Minnesota, enough said. So it's already day seven of my little project. So here goes with another idea for an age appropriate outfit, worn with denim jeans. Again please don't copy these looks, but take inspiration from them and develop your own style from what you see and learn here. 
  I am not afraid to wear color, it keeps me sane actually, so this orange red sweater (Tippi by J. Crew) which is a recent "hot" fashion color is just what the doctor ordered for me. Paired with my Levi's Trucker vest, adorned with vintage cameo pins. Depending on what I want to wear for jewelry I might change the pins for another collection of them, or have nothing at all if I am wearing a bold necklace. Do not over accessorize.  The belt is a antiqued gold from Paris that I have had forever, the jeans are  Matchstick by J. Crew. I would do the bold bigger fold up cuff on the bottom of the jeans for this look. 
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Brown bag and black biker boots. Perfection.
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Brown bag and boots works too.
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Brown bag and Italian boots make it a bit more dressy but still very casual.
 
 
 Sunday I love Sunday it's the day the world sorta takes a break or at least it seems to, things seem a bit slower. You go to church or whatever your morning routine is and then you get to play, go for a bike ride, walk, hike, golf , etc. So it's a good day to dress up and then really go casual. This vest is so old, but so current for now with it's trim and bead work, paired with a white J Crew shirt and jeans it works for dressy and casual. This time it's the Eco Levi's with a soft pink belt which you would not see if the vest were completely buttoned. I would but a two roll at the bottom of the jeans, as I would want them to look more styled and formal. 
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Hobo Red bag and J. Crew high steppin' boots, for church.
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Brown bucket bag and biker boots for later, you can hike in these they are so comfortable. Yes you can wear a brown purse and black boots, yes you can.
 
 
  I have to apologize week-ends are always so busy and I never thought I would not be able to post yesterday but alas it did not happen. So here is Day Six and Day Seven back to back. 
 This is my favorite sweater of all time, it's from J. Crews collection from two years ago. It's Merino Wool, even the lace is wool. I wore it this past January when I got married. I always save it for going out when jeans are ok, but I want to look a little more dressed up. The necklace is always a favorite I have two of these J. Crew Bubble necklaces the red and a blue grey. I love how big it is and the red makes me happy. The jeans are Levi's 505 from Kohl's. 
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Hobo red bag and these Farylrobin shoes are so comfortable even to dance in. I love the retro feel without looking like I bought from a museum.
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Red Hobo bag with my Italian boots. Either of these purse/shoes combos work for me in terms of looking dressy. They are both very stylist and yet I can dance up a storm. I love Fridays.
 
 
 Hydroquinone   This can be found in skin lighteners and facial moisturizers, it's a known neurotoxin and allergenic. Do you want his in your products?
 
 
   This is a great outfit for all year really. Here in the land of ice and snow I would probably wear a cotton camisole underneath, for added warmth. The top is from J. Crew a few seasons ago, but it's still very relevant very French. I have a skinny red belt with the jeans but it won't show as the top is longer. I have added one of my favorite necklaces it's a J. Crew Bubble Necklace in red. The jeans are 505 from Kohl's they are in a dark wash, which I love (I think it makes me look skinnier). The roll at the bottom of these jeans would either be the fold over twice roll with the heels and then depending on where the hem hits for the ballet flats I would do the softer, less structured roll.  I would then add my red HOBO bag and either the red high heels or the black ballet flats. Tres Chic and appropriate for almost anywhere, shopping, work (if you can wear nice jeans), dining, theatre, out and about. 
 
 
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I have these J. Crew white denim jeans to add to the pile. I wear them all year. In the winter they are more apt to get dirty faster from the slush, but they work with some of the clothes I have. The rule of no white after Labor Day no longer applies.
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I do wear these jeans they show a lot of living. I am careful though that when I wear them I also have on really well cared for shoes, purse, and clothing items. I do not want to look like a slob, or like I do not care. I do love these jeans.