Emerson Fry Caftans

I've long been a fan of Emerson Fry and her beautiful clothes but none more so than her caftans.  I've had mine for about 5 years and it has survived every closet clean out I've done.  It continues to be a favorite in my wardrobe.

 Wearing it to Sunday morning brunch in Las Vegas

The Grand Canyon

And yesterday running errands around town.

The older I get the more I love the loose, airy fit. Plus it is 100% chic.  I'm thrilled that it is now on her website all the time.  It wasn't always so. She'd run it in small batches and it was hard to catch.  It's made of organic cotton and hand blocked, low-impact dyes.  Plus, omg does it hides a world of sins.  I'm dying to purchase the Cerulean Blue one but will most likely put it on my Christmas list that is running in my head. You can check them out on my sidebar over there - isn't that easy!  I'm loving this new blog layout sick and I'm working like crazy to get my blog list restored.


Would you, do you wear caftans?  I highly recommend. xoxo

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who what wear bardot dress

Hello and I hope your Easter was as lovely as mine.

I lifted my shopping ban (3 months!) and purchased this dress. I wanted to share it with you because, 100% cotton, pockets and $35 is worth sharing.  It's from the Who What Wear Target Collection and it's pretty fabulous. These days it's hard to find cotton dresses with pockets at this price point.  I like it because you can wear it on or off the shoulders and belted or not.  Our summers are brutal here and this is the perfect answer to those days you need to look somewhat pulled together under blistering heat conditions.

It reminds me of this Mark D. Sikes dress.  His is $745 and does not include the belt. That will run you another $150.

That's all I have for now. x

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summer fashion vibes

Before I start talking about the fashion vibes around here I want to let you know that I'm not giving up on this blog.  It's been a long, hot summer and I've been incredibly busy but I really really want to keep this thing going.  I actually feel guilty when I post on INSTAGRAM instead of here because the blog was first and now it seems secondary.  I don't like that.  IG is fun, fast and easy and this is more work so I'm thinking it has just been the summer heat that made cheat on you. I promise to be better.

See that beautiful woman in the above photo?  I spotted her while shopping the other day and she mesmerized me.  We almost ran into each other while I was exiting a store and she was entering.  She looked to be in her 70's.  I loved her hair right off the bat and then I noticed how lithe and stylish she was.  To get this photo I was literally running to keep up with her, she was so fast.  She darted in and out of all the right stores, Neimans, Ferragamo, etc.  She didn't buy anything (either did I) and let me tell you it was hot that day, like 105. She was bare legged in loafers (love that!) but had a long sleeve tee on and yet was so chill.  Anyway, wanted to share that because you don't see women like that every day.  

My hair is getting long again and I'm going to try and not cut it.  I love being able to put it back and up and it's easier than styling it in a bob every single day.  My hair is really thick and a pain to style. I've joined Larry's gym this summer to swim and this is just easier.  So wish me luck.

Here I am looking rather stiff and unhappy but I wanted to show you this outfit I've been wearing. The tee is from Alex and B's store that they opened here in Redlands.  They make the Tee's and sweaters themselves and lots of other things too.  I got the vintage linen cropped trousers there also. I've been wearing this everywhere because it's so comfortable and surprisingly stylish.

I was minding the store for them in a vintage dress and loafers.  There is also a coffee shop in the store and will soon have a barber too.  It's a cool little store that was once a dairy in the middle of an orange grove.  It's chock full of amazing vintage finds and is quite reasonable. Come visit me there!

Hope you summer has been far more exciting than mine.  xoxo

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everlane luxe drape muscle tank dress review - summer classic

Thanks to you readers I was able to purchase this Everlane Muscle Tank Dress.  It couldn't have come at a more perfect time because the temperatures this summer have been off the charts.  Pair those temps with menopause and honestly, I've been miserable.  I can't remember ever being this hot.

When I saw this dress on their site I knew I had to give it a chance and I'm so glad I did.  Let's go over the pluses first.  Super lightweight yet not cheapy lightweight.  The fabric is 100% lycocell which really does have a luxury drape to it.  Just roll it up and it would pack like a dream - the perfect weekend getaway dress.  I love the cut, as it skims rather than clings, so important in this heat.  Love the neckline and the fact that you can really dress this up or down with jewelry or scarves.  It really is a summer classic.

My only negative about the dress is that it's a tad short.  I'm much more comfortable with my knees covered but in this heat I'm not complaining too much about it.  So if you are looking for a super lightweight easy to wear, classic style I'd say this is a winner.  The price is not bad at $45.  Sizes range from xxs to large.  If you use HERE code I will get credit and it will sign you up so if your friends or family purchase something from Everlane, you will get credit too.  It's a good program from a good company that is very transparent in their manufacturing practices.  They have an oxford shirt coming out soon that I can't wait to get my hands on and will do a review on that too.

Wherever you are I truly hope that you are much cooler than I am.  No, seriously, I hope you are having a wonderful summer and for those who wish summer would never end, I'm thinking it's never going to...x

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bathing suits for the over 50 set

We are in the midst of a drought here that will just not give and people, it is hot.  

Bathing suit hot.  And trust me, over the last few years buying a bathing suit has not been easy.  There are issues you know.  Support is key, coverage is key, comfort is key.  The suit I had was several years old and not doing its job.  So I started googling and the price of a really good suit can run into the several hundreds of dollars.  Yeah, no.

I wound up at the J. Crew website to see what they might have.  I chose this suit pictured above.  It supports, it covers and it is very comfortable.  I wore it in Vegas and felt great because there is ruching around the middle and the fabric is incredibly soft.  The halter strap attachment gave me lift and really I couldn't ask for much more.  It is priced at $98 which is a lot but worth it.  There are extras you can get too like long torso and larger bust sizes.  Little did I know that I would stumble upon this exact suit at Marshall's a few days later with a $24.99 price tag.  So you may try there.  In all my years of shopping Marshall's I've never ever seen J. Crew there, so good luck.   

Ok, know that this is super embarrassing to post a pic of myself in a 2 piece suit.  I almost didn't do it but I figured I can't be the only one with swimsuit issues.  This 2 piece is from Target.  I'm long-waisted and one piece suits have always been uncomfortable on me, until I found the above one piece.  These high-waisted bottoms provide the coverage I was looking for and the halter top is supportive and quite comfortable.  The price is great also.  Just $17.99 for the top right here and the bottoms are $19.99 here.

So I feel pretty lucky to have found not one but 2 suits that fit and I like.  Just because I'm almost 60 (yikes!) doesn't mean I can't go swimming too!  In public...with confidence (or some semblance of. :)
I wish you all a very happy 4th of July weekend.
xo

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getaway fashion

This past weekend we had the opportunity to zip off to Las Vegas for an extended weekend.  Mostly I was there for the Las Vegas Spa and Esthetician show, which was so good btw, but once that was a wrap we were free to do as we pleased. We decided to hop over to the Grand Canyon, as neither of us had seen it since we were children. What a spectacular place. We went to Grand Canyon West, just 2 hours from Vegas, to experience Eagle Point and the Skywalk. With a background of ancient Indian music playing, you take off your shoes and step out onto a glass overhang that I'm not ashamed to admit, scared me to death!  I'm not a fan of heights at all so you can imagine what it's like to look straight down 4000 ft while walking on glass. No cameras are allowed on the skywalk but they have photographers out there that will take a pic if you want.  Take a minute to look at the website and view the short clip for yourself right here.  It is breathtaking.

I chose to wear my Emerson Fry butterfly caftan and it was a good choice.  We were there early but it was still quite hot.  The lightweight cotton caftan kept me cool as a cucumber.

Our first night out I chose to wear this vintage Tori Richard for I. Magnin maxi dress.  Some of you may remember that I bought it back in 2013  at Miss Doris' estate sale.  All night I imagined her wearing it out to dinner with her husband sometime in the 1960's.

The next night I chose this 100% silk maxi dress from the 1960's.  It was made by Gino Charles for Bloomingdale's.  Again, some may remember it from the Palm Springs estate sale in 2014.  It was perfect for dinner with friends - I felt like princess wearing it. :)

Larry snapped this on our way back upstairs to our room.  For anyone interested The Delano used to be TheHotel at Mandalay Bay.  They've updated the interiors with lots of white.  It's drop dead gorgeous and if you plan far enough ahead you can get super reasonable rates.

All good things must come to an end and I wore the caftan home.  Even though Las Vegas is over-crowded, hotter than hell with traffic to match we still had such a great time.  Just the little mini break we needed.  xo

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who what wear target collection

Pencil Skirt $28

Linen Tee $18

Who What Wear is the only fashion site I bother with.  Founded by Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power in 2006, these 2 ladies have turned what started out as a blog into a multi-million dollar enterprise. I love the site because it's easy to read and has equal amounts of high-end fashion and fashion more suited for the average working woman.  I couldn't wait to see this collection that they collaborated on with Target.  There really is something for everyone.  Sizes range from 2-24 and nothing is overpriced.  I bought 5 pieces that fit my lifestyle and this what I came up with.

Scarf $15

I fell in love with this pencil skirt because it has such a vintage feel to it.  The blue, black, white and mustard colorway is gorgeous and goes with just about everything.

I love it with my chambray.  If I decide to keep it, I'll have to have it hemmed because it's just too long to walk comfortably in.

Birdcage Skirt $30

This is what they call the Birdcage skirt.  So cute and super comfy.  Cute with boots and sweater in the winter and it will be perfect in the summer with a tank top, sandals and straw bag.

I love the linen tee shirts.  I adore the neckline and the sleeve length is absolutely perfect.  They also have a few scarves in the collection.  Although this one is polyester it's still super soft - not stiff at all.

There is so much more to the collection than what is shown here.  If I had more space and money I would have bought more.:)  Have you bought anything yet???  You can see the entire collection right HERE.   

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ralph lauren purple label jacket

Ralph Lauren clothes all have different colored labels signifying different styles and quality of his clothing.  Anything that has a purple label on it from Ralph Lauren comes from his "Collection" line, meaning it was on the runway and the prices are astronomical.  You can take a peek here just for fun. The jacket probably originally sold for between $2k-3k.  Last December M and and I were out in the desert going through thrift stores and I stumbled upon the above jacket.  It fits perfectly and was in perfect condition.  Six dollars, no lie.  I went home and scrolled through his runway shows and found it paired with this sequined skirt.

Made of 100% wool and lined in silk, it is quite luxurious.

Made in the USA.

Here it is in a crooked photo with thrift store ripped jeans and thrift store brown kitten heels. So classy.  lol

I am continually amazed at what I find in yard sales, thrift stores and even antique stores.  This definitely goes down at one of my best finds.  On another note, Country Living Magazine has been contacting me lately with lots of little details.  My house will be in the April issue which means it'll be on the news stand in March.  I'm excited and terrified at the same time. x

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another great target tee...

Please forgive this lousy picture but I'm on my way to work and just wanted to let you know that there is another great Target tee for $12!  I've been wearing this soft 3/4 length sleeve tee non-stop. Mostly like this with jeans and booties and my faux leopard  belt but also with a short black skirt, tights and boots.  It's super versatile, well-made and I see me wearing it all year long.  Throw a coat over and I'm good outside too.:)  Just thinking of you! x

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chateau marmont

You may or may not remember this little top I got at an estate sale last December.  HERE is that link if you want the details about it.  It's old and weighs a ton and was a little dusty so I gave it a bath in cool water and gentle laundry detergent.  This one to be exact.  In so doing I shrunk it a tiny bit which really bummed me out but it needed cleaning.

I wore the vintage Balmain coat with it.

So you all know M right,  If not here is a link that will aquaint you. M has a nephew, Tosh who is a model and his partner, Carmine is the manager of the Chateau Marmont restaurant. I actually share a birthday with him.  M set up dinner plans for us to go celebrate with them.  The first thing I thought about when she called to tell me this was of course...what will I wear?!  The Chateau is about 80 miles from Redlands but it may as well be a million because 1. It's a place where the rich, famous and trendy hang out and that makes me nervous. 2. It's far.  We spoke daily about what to wear or not wear and in the end this is what I picked.  I loved wearing it and didn't care what anyone else was wearing (thankfully) because most people dining came in jeans, tee shirts and tennis shoes. Whatever.

We were both really excited to go mainly because we were getting a tour of her nephew Tosh's home. M comes from a long line of extremely talented decorators.  Everyone in her family has gorgeous homes and are excellent entertainers.  We were not disappointed.

When we got there, they of course had a beautiful tray of food and ice cold champagne to revive us from the long drive.  Here are some snaps for your enjoyment.

I have decided in my next life I want to be a gay man.  They live life so fully and with such joy. They seem far happier than any hetero-sexual person I know.  They have a fun sense of humor and zest for life and frankly I'd like some of that in mine.

Our gorgeous and gracious hosts...Carmine and Tosh.

Okay, so from there we drove over to the Chateau and were treated like royalty.  The food and wine was delicious and the waiters fawned over us.  No wonder people like being rich.

After dinner we were going to get a tour of the hotel when I mentioned one of my favorite movies, Somewhere, with Stephen Dorff which was filmed there.  Have you seen it?  I didn't think so, no one likes it.  Netflix gives it one star but I think it's touching and quietly powerful. I think I've watched it at least 8 times.  Here is the trailer.  I think Sofia Coppola did a brilliant job and I'm sorry most people didn't get it.  So we get a tour of the suite where the movie was filmed.  I knew every square inch of this suite from the stripper pole bedroom scenes to Elle Fanning cooking in the kitchen.  It was so fun.  Here are some pics.

So that was my birthday.  Nice, right?  M, thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a wonderful wonderful night.  xoxo

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everlane drop shoulder tee review

The Drop Shoulder Tee is a great tee.  It's only the 2nd Everlane tee I've tried but I like it a lot. You can read my Ryan tee and tank review here.  If you recall my only issue with the Ryan was that I preferred to wear it backwards. You don't have to wear this one backwards:)  My favorite part about this tee is the sleeve.  It goes all the way down to the elbow and is finished with a nice wide hem. The bottom is finished with the same hem.  The neck is not huge either which is good if your decolletage looks anything like mine.  They call this color Clay but in real life it's a pretty brown.  I should have fancied up the styling here but I was in a hurry and honestly this is how I look most days.  I've washed the tee twice and hang to dry and it seems quite durable.  The cotton is even produced here in the USA.  I ordered a small and like the looser fit.

Other details...

The Madden Girl Krespo bootie is pretty much sold out everywhere but This boot, also made by Madden Girl is quite chic and on sale.  It's such a comfortable shoe if you are on your feet all day.

The handbag is also vegan, made by Deux Lux - similar here.   This handbag will last forever, it's so well made and does not look cheap/flimsy like some vegan handbags can.  It comes with a long detachable strap so you can wear it crossbody style if you want.  I wore it all through Europe and it was perfect for travel.

I was able to purchase this tee with credits I earned from you!  If you'd like to use my code here it is...

Click Here

If you'd rather not, go directly to their website Here.  Everlane has really upped their game making beautifully made and downright luxurious clothing but still keeping the price low because they've cut out the middleman.  If you'd like to read about how the tee's are made, click here.  It's pretty impressive.  

So that's it.  Happy Friday to you all, enjoy your weekend.  I'll be working.  x

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what to wear on thanksgiving

Me-Too flats. So Comfortable for being on your feet all day.

Is it too early to discuss Thanksgiving Day Fashion?  I didn't think so.  I had an appointment on Tuesday that required me to pull myself together for the day and this is what I wore.  It was a long day and at the end I realized that this would be perfect for Thanksgiving day. This year we will be hosting and as all American's know it is a really really long day.  Dinner will be served outside like this again, so I gotta be comfy because of all the in and out.  So the other day I wore this $2 brown vintage floral blouse, remember when I bought it at that great Palm Springs estate sale?  

I wish I could link to beautiful vintage blouses that cost $2 but I can't. You have to dig through piles of crap to find them. But this gorgeous one at Ann Taylor Loft is on sale and I'd wear it in a minute with cute jeans. What are you wearing, will you be comfortable and is all that work worth it? x

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ahhhh autumn

Autumn has definitely arrived here on the top of the mountain.  The last few days have been heavy on "color hikes" searching for the most spectacular colors of changing leaves. Tomorrow we have a great hike planned that is supposed to be incredibly rich in fall color. In the meantime I'm dying to get home to decorate and organize for my favorite season.  For the time being though, all I can do is take a look back and share some of my favorite fall photos, a little bit of fashion, food and decor...

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

butternut squash soup

similar cardigan at  The Limited

Will be back soon with some gorgeous fall color.  x

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