Sometimes I feel like a bit of a fraud when I think of what I named my blog. It should probably be "She Used To Accessorize Well." I have been toying around with the idea of changing the name of my blog to "Forever in Blue Jeans" as it more accurately defines how I dress every day. (Except for my maxi's which are as comfortable as jeans on a hot summer day.) Then I realized that what I wanted this blog to be was to show how I maintain style throughout retirement and that change should be expected. I imagine that my style will likely change even more as the years go by. I suppose that many of you who currently work outside the home will change your style when you retire just as I have. It is an interesting journey to be sure.
When we went to brunch this morning, I felt very Visible and comfortable in this outfit. After discussing vests with Anne at The Frump Factor, I decided to pull one of my favorites out of hiding. I also decided to debut my new Vince Camuto boots. I wasn't going to buy any new boots this season, but the moment I saw these in the fall magazines, I knew that they were ones that I would wear and love for years.
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| Vest: Orvis Blouse: Foxcroft Jeans: LRL Boots: Vince Camuto |
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| Vince Camuto Winchell Boots |
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| 80's Copper/Brass necklace |
This past week my glasses broke across the nose. Fortunately, the prescription of my old pair was close enough to wear until I can get a replacement frame. Did you know that the warranty on eyeglass frames begins when you purchase them? I thought it started when you actually received them, but was informed differently by the optical store. I had purchased them in the middle of July and did not get them until September 17th. I was a bit upset when they told me I was out of warranty. They did talk to the company that made them and ever so generously informed me that they they would honor the warranty. Although I was happy that they did agree to replace them, I wasn't too happy with their condescending attitude. It used to be that companies stood behind their products without acting like they were doing you a big favor to replace a faulty item. Ah how times have changed.
Please visit Not Dead Yet Style and Monday Mingle to see what everyone is wearing this week. I know it will be fun!
I love the new boots omg so much! I'm so glad you scored those when you did, they're such a cool pair of boots. You'll definitely wear them for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI think you still accessorize wonderfully. Just because you don't throw on a ton of jewelry does not mean you still don't rock your scarves, bangles, and shoes.
I officially hate buying any kind of optical wear. I'm all about buying as locally as possible, when it comes to glasses - I use goggles4u. The prices are super low compared to the outrageous stores. DH dropped ~$300 on a pair of Raybans from Lenscrafters. We bought one of the most expensive lenses and everything. They scratched within three months, and it would have cost $150 to get ONE lens replaced, and that was with a 50% discount (so they claimed).
For that much I've bought me three pairs of glasses and the DH three pairs. Oh, and we've been wearing our current glasses now on a year with no scratches on the lenses or frame issues.
Sorry for the rant! Eye wear is already such a frustrating ordeal, but adding in the cost and condescension I've face while trying to buy glasses in a store makes me rage.
Very lovely outfit and orange is a great colour on you. I think you can safely keep the name, because this necklace is true standout and makes the outfit special! Love your boots too btw
ReplyDeleteYou absolutely DO accessorize well. Your jewelry and color combinations are wonderful. I especially love the 'stacked' bracelets and rings. I love reading your posts, partly because I too am retired and have had a mastectomy(2007). But, I recently had reconstruction (July) - I had been terribly lopsided.
ReplyDeleteThe glasses SHOULD be still under warranty - because, of course, you couldn't have worn them out or damaged them in any way before you actually received them.
And the boots!! fantastic!
Like Sylvia and Megan said, I think the name is safe -- you do accessorize beautifully, Debbi. This outfit is just great with the vest and your awesome new boots. And of course the vintage necklace for a wow piece
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up!
I love how you accessorize and I think the name of your blog is very clever. Why change a good thing.
ReplyDeleteThe boots are timeless and play well with the orange vest and copper/brass necklace. You DO accessorize well!
You new boots are fabulous! Beautiful vintage necklace. And love the color of your vest. I also agree that your blog name still holds true. You always accessorize perfectly. You don't have to be drenched in pieces to accessorize well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lisa - accessorizing well can mean just one piece, but a good one. Like your necklace today. It's wonderful with that vest all by itself. And even if you never wore a single accessory, your smile earns you that title. (Which has been said by lots of commenters in the past.)
ReplyDeleteI like your insights into your fashion journey - I think it's like that for many bloggers. I had to cope with carrying on my blog through 5 months of unemployment in 2010/11 and it was difficult to keep motivated to dress up (there were a lot of cat pictures).
ReplyDeleteI think you should keep the name as well. To accessorize doesn't just mean to put on jewelry; it means to add a little sparkle in a metaphorical way as well. Our clothing is an accessory to our lives - enjoy what you wear, no matter what it is, Debbi!
Oh, and killer boots! Great pick.
The color of the vest is sooo nice and easy to wear.I also like your boots.They are a statement piece.keep dressing and accessorizing.
ReplyDeleteWow, you say that you are accessorizing less than you used to, but even now you always, always have some incredible party going on with your blings. I also gasped when I saw your boots. They are truly unique and gorgeous. Great orange vest - you look fantastic.
ReplyDeleteYour comments about your style transition are thought-provoking. I'm curious to see where your style road takes you.
I agree with your customer service comment. When did it become so distasteful to take responsibility for your company's mistake? And a simple apology also goes a long, long way.
I want your boots, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
ReplyDeleteYou do accessorize well, my dear friend.
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I'm not really a boot person, but I'm a sucker for anything orange. I love the vest! That should see you nearly to Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a challenge to look nice when you aren't dressing up to go to work, that adds authenticity to your venue. I have a peeve with bloggers who look like they put something on to take their blog shot, it's not real. Saying you're undergoing a style transition is important in remaining real.
Oh, those boots are wonderful. It is an interesting development to find your style in retirement. This is a great outfit, casual and very nicely accessorized.
ReplyDeleteI've been retired 5 months and have committed to maintaining my style and not falling into schlumpiness. But as you have found, style changes. I've gotten more casual, less business like, but for now, I still wear the jewelry (unless I'm cleaning house). Its indeed a journey, one I am enjoying. So we'll travel it together. I love your look today. Boots are awesome and so is the vest!
ReplyDeleteNice outfit. The boots rock. And I share your lament at how businesses have lost their desire to please customers. Let's build a time-machine and go back to the past...
ReplyDeleteI think your blog is a very personal journey and I think you dress very well in retirement...
ReplyDeleteas someone who is looking to retire in the next few years I like seeing you dress up everyday.
It's not like you are wearing slippers and a bathrobe 24/7 so I'd say you are paving the way for many of us!
Love those boots! I'd like to see those with leggings and tights with a skirt...oh I might just need to go online and buy them!
"As long as I can have you here with me, I'd much rather be forever in blue jeans." Love that song! LOVE your outfit, too!! So stylish. I totally understand being more casual at home; it just makes sense. But I still think you accessorize well. :)
ReplyDeletewhatever you wear you are perfectly styled! you have already found your own particular style. i hope that i will find mine too and will get more colorful and brave when i will retire. i still have approx. 12 years to work it out. your boots are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing boots! And they look great with the vest, et. al. I don't know what your talking about with not accessorizing well. I guess I'd need to see a before picture to understand what you mean... Just check out that awesome necklace!
ReplyDeleteSuper snazzy boots! And you certainly do still accessorize well; that copper necklace is a knock-out.
ReplyDeleteYour ability to accessorize well is both developed skill and a talent you own, whether you choose to implement it or not. There is no doubt that you can still choose to rock your extras, as it is clearly evidenced in today's VM outfit. How edgy are those boots?! Absolutely working for you. When you are little and cute it does one good to put on some boots that say "I might not be as sweet as I might look..."
ReplyDeleteI love the Vince Camuto boot.
ReplyDeleteThose boots are really COOL!! love the orange and copper accents!!
ReplyDeleteDebbi--you always look fabulous!
And another thing ... have you lost weight? That's rhetorical for public blog purposes, of course, but you should be hearing that question a lot when you wear these pants! They look super, and I'm encouraging you to wear this closer-fitting-in-the-leg style more often.
ReplyDeleteLove the boot Debbie!
ReplyDeleteIzzy got the exact same pair as a gift from Vince C
Several Montreal bloggers received a pair and there was a styling contest as to how to style the boots
You made an excellent choice they are so edgy and trendy and go with everything!
Ariane xxxxx
Love how the boots look with the vest...so chic. I love their style, biker chic. You are fabulous for treating yourself to them. You are the least likely person to ever be a fraud on this planet. We all have our down days with sweats and pj's. I even have to change for work in the evening after I wear a cute outfit all day that I blogged. Don't sweat it Debbi. Lots of love, dawn suitcase vignettes xo
ReplyDeleteI know my style is always evolving and I hope it will continue to do so, no matter my season of life. It will be fun to see how your style changes thru this season for you, Debbi! So far, so good -that necklace is divine!!! ~Sarah
ReplyDeleteI am a HUGE fan of your new boots!!! And the orange vest. I find personal style fascinating--how it is influenced and evolves over time. How it changes from ages, professions, life changes, etc. When I was in high school 12 years ago, I was a punk rocker. Seriously, you wouldn't recognize me now. It's crazy. I, for one, think you are a very sweet and stylish lady!
ReplyDeleteGreat boots! You look really great in this outfit. Hope brunch was delicious!
ReplyDeleteI think that necklace is reason enough to keep your blog title as is. I know the trend of jewelry is all "more is more" nowadays but really I think one really strong piece is all you need.
ReplyDeleteGreat outfit! Those boots are amazing!
This outfit really makes you stand out, you're so beautiful in these colours! The boots are incredible! I love how the gold detailing on the boots correspond with the gorgeous necklace!
ReplyDeleteAh I love the boots keep the title it does suit you. I too have been retired for under two years and I am fighting slumpiness. I get up get dressed and the next thing you know I am sucked into digging a whole for some gardening thing my hubby decides to do. So in the house I go to get undone and into digging clothes... I'm way too available....
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the way life changes and our response to it. I have just started a new voiceover job that keeps me pretty much on call M-F, which means I can only stray a little way from my house where I record. All of a sudden, I don't need to get dressed at all, really, except if I go to one of Joey's shows. I also have much less time to sew and create outfits. I'm feeling quite ambivalent about all this. I'm struggling to find a new rhythm so I can dress, sew, and blog without feeling stressed.
ReplyDeleteBTW, your outfit is marvelous. The colors suit you perfectly and the boots are a dream come true!! I might have to investigate. :-)
I would really love to see that vest with brown pants or a brown skirt.... or olive!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your DISH win!
ReplyDeleteLove your look! I pulled a pair of my boots yesterday for our first frost day of autumn, back in the closet they went and a shorter ankle pair became my choice . . .
First time visit . . . Off to read more . . .
Happy Retirement, welcome to "less stress life."
You look adorable. However, I can't wear what you wear. I am short and much older. I can't wear jewelry that heavy or the boots, cute though they may be. Being short, chubby, and gray haired and 76 in two weeks, will NOT allow me to wear certain things. How on earth does someone my age dress?? Do you happen to know anyone my age that dresses well and has great idea's? As cute as you look, I am afraid I am just too old. :(
ReplyDeletep.s. I had to smile when I read your remarks about not wearing the same jewelry that you wore to work. :) I had that very same realization when I retired eleven years ago. No blue jeans either!
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding me with those boots! WOW!! LOVE and NEED! You look so cute. I love your hair like this! Kiah
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