Visible Monday - Tropical color in HOT dry Kansas

My internet has been out for a couple of days and I have been going through withdrawal. Until access is not available, you don't realize what a big part of your life it is.

Today, is once again Visible Monday organized by Patti of Not Yet Dead Style. It is a wonderful way for anyone to not feel invisible in this all too appearance critical world. 

As you will be able to see in today's outfit, I do have a bit of muffin top. My pants are not really tight, I just have a large middle and I refuse to wear "shapewear" which to me is nothing more than a girdle in more modern terms.  Whenever I wear anything that is too tight around my middle, I get nauseated. I have always had this issue, even when I was really thin.  I know some women love shapewear and I am not against it for everyone, just me. 


Jacket: Dillards
Top: Chico's
Jeans: DG2 -HSN
Shoes: Think Julia



Necklace: Vintage

Bracelets: Kate Spade Ric Rack

I absolutely love my Kate Spade Ric Rack bracelets. I have them in several colors and they just work with so many outfits.  My jacket is several years old, but one of my summer favorites. I used to wear it with black pants and a black tee to tone it down when I wore it to work.

I look forward to our Accessory Swap outfit pictures tomorrow. It was organized by Pam at Over50Feeling40 and links to all participants blog's will be available on Pam's blog tomorrow.

Drab outfit for a drab day

It finally rained today, but only a very small amount which just made it more humid. Our part of the state is officially in a severe drought. I doubt the rain did much other than settle a bit of dust. Today I put on an outfit that looked like I felt. Drab. I just could not get up the energy to put together something more colorful.

I like all the pieces I have on today, but I do not usually wear them all together. The shoes are some fun camouflage Airwalk Hope shoes I got at Payless. Pretty comfortable and they are part of Payless' Good Shoe Project which donates a pair of shoes to a child in Central America for each pair of Hope Shoe purchased.

Jacket: TanJay Dillards
Top: Chico's
Jeans: BandolinoBlu
Shoes: Airwalk Camouflage Payless



Necklace: StyleMint



Bracelets: Left - Talbot's
Other Three From Jewelry closet

Do you ever dress according to your mood?

What kind of animal is that?

I love to wear this jacket. It is a combination of leopard and zebra print with a bright pink lining. Being as it is not a real animal print, it probably would not please Stacy and Clinton but it sure makes me happy.

My necklace is a vintage Elizabeth Taylor for Avon. It is a Goldcoast Coin Necklace inspired by antique coins collected by Ms. Taylor. Each "coin" is engraved with an E that has the look of an ancient script.  Elizabeth Taylor was an extraordinarily talented women who created a wonderful jewelry collection for Avon.

One thing I know Stacy and Clinton agree with me on is the finishing touch of a jacket. It takes an otherwise plain outfit of jeans and a tee tank and pulls it together to make an outfit that I feel good about wearing for a lunch with a friend.

Many women today have spent most of their adult years working outside the home. I hope that my outfits show that being retired does not mean you have to be any less stylish than you were when you were working.  When I was working, I only wore some of my work wear on the weekends. I tried to keep it "nice" for work. It is so nice to wear whatever I want now without worrying about it. Another nice benefit of retirement is that I can wear jeans whenever I want!  

Jacket: Chico's
Tank: Chico's
Jeans:: BandolinoBlu
Bracelets: Kenneth Cole (I think)
Shoes: Think! Julia Black Patent Sandals



This is our female Airedale, Jada.
We call her our wooly sheep-girl because her coat is so thick and curly.



Elizabeth Taylor for Avon necklace.
It is a fairly heavy and well made piece.


Today I made an investment in a new Canon DSLR camera. I am hoping we can figure out how to use it properly. Last summer I took a class on How to use a Digital camera. I did not realize that it was primarily for DSLR users and not just point and shoot digital camera's. Unfortunately, I don't remember much the teacher showed on DSLR's. At least I will be able to take my own pics using a tripod. I actually had gone to find a new battery for my Sony camera. I was horrified to find out the battery was $57.00. We had been talking about getting a nice camera, so I decided to just purchase it now.  No new clothes for me for a while.

Red, White, Black & Blue

To be honest, I did not have this outfit on for very long. It was 111 in the shade and it was stifling outside. Thank goodness for air conditioning. It has been in the high 80's even early in the morning. We have been close to breaking the all time high of 114. Some records just should not be broken.

I really liked this jacket and have worn it a lot. However, I am finding that by taking outfit photos, some of the things I thought looked really good just don't. This jacket has too much fabric at the bust and is too boxy. I think that I can find something else in black that is more flattering.

A project I want to undertake is to try on and photograph all my jackets to see which really do look the way I want them to. That will really help me to reduce my work wardrobe down to a more usable retirement wardrobe. I only want to keep the clothing that really makes me feel good when I wear it.




Jacket: CJ Banks
Top: Dressbarn
Jeggings: JMS Walmart
Shoes: Payless
Belt: ?



Zebra bracelet - Dillards, Red & White - Talbots



Necklace: Chico's

 I really like the shoes I am wearing. I found them at Payless in the children's section. They are black ballet shoes with silver colored studs on the toes. Payless children's sizes go up to 6, which is the equivalent to a size 8 woman's shoe. I have a wide, rectangular foot. Children's shoes are made with more toe room, which is perfect for me. I have to wonder though, why would you need more toe room as a child and then suddenly not need it as an adult? Feet don't change shape that much! Mine have always been better suited to the box than the shoe.  If you wear a size 8 or below, try Payless children's shoes for some inexpensive simple shoes.

Is it vanity or sharing ourselves warts and all?

Patti at Not Yet Dead Style posted today about vanity and personal photography. Tammy at Silverstyle posted about vanity a while back.  I have been thinking about the same thing for the past week or so. I read several blogs discussing positive body image. One from Medicinal Marzipan, State of the Union, Body Positive Blogs, had some interesting thoughts. Several statements made on Medicinal Marzipan really bothered me and have been in the back of my mind for a while.  (Please read the article as there is much more than what I am writing about, and it is a much bigger subject than I choose to address here.)

"Body positive photo blogs are not inherently detrimental, but comparing yourself to others is."

 I totally agree with this statement. We all have our flaws and many of us think that others are judging us on them.  Maybe they are, but then again, maybe they aren't.  Patti said she worried about her hair. I think her hair is beautiful.  What she may see as less than perfect, I see as a very lovely part of her.  

The other statement made on Medicinal Marzipan follows:

 "Posting pictures of yourself online IS inherently narcissistic, but you don't have to let it make you crazy."

There is a lot more to the article, but the statement above really got to me. & Am I really so vain and seeking attention and validation?  I don't think so, but this subject has been on my mind almost daily. Before I ever started my blog, I spent a lot of time reading blogs trying to decide if I wanted to participate. I read blogs from women who are very young, young, middle aged, 50+, plus-sized, ethnic, and from different countries around the world.  I saw women that I admired and some who really inspired me with their life's journeys. Genuine, caring women who were sharing themselves with many others.

Sure, I try to post pictures that don't make me look like a dork. (I can get some pretty strange expressions on my face sometimes.) I don't erase any wrinkles or change myself to look "thinner".  I do adjust color and crop backyard junk out of the photo. ---Let me interrupt for a funny story. Today I went to my Mother's house and she asked me to show her my blog, since she is not really good on the computer. When I called it up, on her monitor, I looked really thin! Who knew that a computer monitor setting could make me look thinner?

I haven't arrived at the answer as to whether or not it is vanity to post photos of me in what I am wearing. I wonder though, is it vain for a model to have her picture taken for a magazine or walk a fashion runway? I like to think that what I am trying to do is to help other women realize that they are not alone with their body or age issues and hopefully share some ideas about accessorizing.

Everyone I have encountered via my blog or their blogs has been wonderful. I feel like a part of a very wonderful community of admirable women.

By the way, the reason there is no photo of me today is that I did not change from my exercise clothes. Like Pam at over50feeling40, I have been dealing with the heat for far too long and I just could not get up the energy to dress up today.

Visible Monday - Blue Monday

Visible Monday, started by Patti at Not Dead Yet Style, is a weekly challenge for everyone, but especially those of us over 50 who choose to show that we are not invisible.  The number of over 50 women is growing every day. As young women, we helped change the world how the world viewed women; as seasoned women hopefully we will change the way that women over 50 are seen and heard.

The song "I am Woman Hear Me Roar" has been playing in my head as I write this. For those of you born after 1973, it is a Helen Reddy song that was used as a voice of the women's lib movement.  In 1973, I was told that I could not have a job because I was a woman and men could not handle a woman telling them what to do. Today, women work in fields we did not dream of in 1973. Back then, the technologies we take for granted today were the stuff of science fiction.  We have the opportunity now to change how women in the future will be perceived. At least I hope we do.

Necklace: Chico's

Bracelets: Left Chico's, Right Vintage & DKNY watch

Jacket: Chico's
Top: Anne Klein
Jeggings: JMS
Sandals: Think

In reviewing my photos, I notice that I usually either roll up my sleeves or just push them up, which is kind of a messy look. I have started thinking that I may tailor the length of my sleeves to either just above the elbow or 3/4 length. I am not sure how to determine which would be better. Any suggestions?

Creamsicle - Orange & Pink

Yet another hot as hades day. If there were a real creamsicle involved I think it would have melted in seconds.  The top I am wearing has hot pink and orange mixed together and reminds me of a creamsicle. There is more pink in the top than the pictures show. Interestingly, I had not noticed that the front of the top has a large area of white that shows up like a bull's eye. I think that from now on, I am going to take a camera with me to buy new clothes. It is amazing to me how much shows up in a photograph that does not in the mirror. 

You have seen Harry, my Airedale Terrier, before, but this is FarleyJoe's first appearance. He is my old boy. We adopted him in 2000 and I don't know how old he was when we got him. He is the sweetest boy anyone could have and is definitely a "momma's boy". He looks a bit like a well loved teddy bear. He cannot handle a day at the groomers, so I trim him myself with scissors. Blame his pitiful grooming on me. Jada, our only girl, was inside and could not be coaxed out. Smart girl. All three are rescues and are our treasures.


FarleyJoe was barking at me as was Harry until he picked up his ball.
Harry wanted to play, FarleyJoe wanted him to leave me alone.



Jacket: Coldwater Creek
Top: Chico's
Shorts: Chico's
Shoes: Think



FarleyJoe, the best, sweetest dog in the world.

Bracelets
Top 2: Chico's
Next 2: Dillard's (One is on top of the other)
Bottom: JCPenney



Necklace: Chicos
The top of the pendant is actually pink and matches the top.
It looks purple here, but it is not at all.