Monday, December 31, 2007

Okay I don't know what's up over at Coldwater Creek...

But they are having a crazy post-holiday sale...


60% Off...



Yes that's right - everything!

Now baby...THAT'S a sale! ;- )

And if you're yearning for more sales...

About.com Fabulous After Christmas Sales

Wondering how to get that polished look?....

Then hook it up with Ms. Allie over at Wardrobe Oxygen where she is holding a master class on polished style:

How Does One Get the Polished Look?


And while you're there do check out the following post as well...


Chronique Couture - Trés Chic for the Chronically Unique

In addition to all the time spent lately in hospital waiting rooms with my parents, I work in a hospital (on the admin side). So I have had many occasions to see women who are bravely and stoically facing down serious health challenges that take a toil on body and soul. I myself had been thinking about how to address their fashion issues - so I'm happy to learn that someone is already on it!

The site is lovely with many products that can give comfort and style whether you are facing illness or not!

So go on over and give the ladies at Chronique Courture some link love! ;-)

I Heart....



Common Cloth


I happened to catch an episode of the excellent series Ultimate Retail which featured the Toronto based designer sisters Melanie Talbot and Kristina Bozzo as they outfitted and opened their first boutique.

While the sisters state that their designs are intended for the working 20 something who wants a bit of an edge in their business ware, I think the wardrobe of women of all ages can benefit from a piece or two from their collection:



Great leather coat - love the collar!




I'd probably lose the blouse on this outfit (I like it, but for me it's a bit too young) and kick it with a sharp white or solid gray blouse.



I love this jacket - sleek and to the point! It's a jacket you'll be able to wear for the rest of your days!



Yes, yes I know - sleeveless and a bit short. But I love the simple lines and I know that there are 50+ ladies out there that can pull this one off! (And come on, you can always throw a lovely cream colored silk short sleeved shell under it!)




Great sleeve detail on this coat!



Just one of those great dresses that can take you from work to an after dinner drink in style!

Elegant edge is how I would describe their style and at a price range of $50 - $500, the line is definitely affordable.

Keep an eye on these young ladies -- I think they have quite a future ahead of them!

Friday, December 21, 2007

Hunmm only 3 handbags....

Is that possible?

Well, possible or not, sometimes it is necessary to keep the bag wardrobe down to three.

And over at The Budget Fashionista, Ms. Kathryn gives her usual great advice to a cash strapped young woman who still needs somewhere to carry her stuff...

Handbags: The Three Handbags Every Woman Should Own

If this is true...

Then I am a made woman! ; - )

Pantone's Color of the Year Is...

Blue is my color!!!! I have loved it pretty much since birth and, for what ever reason, I look striking in it and always have...so if this is THE color for next season, I'm going to have a very happy closet! ; - )

That is if they make anything in this fabulous color that I can wear! : - /

I don't know about you....

But getting a robe for Christmas was just de rigueur when I was a kid!

Over at Fabulous After 40 (aka Cafe Glam), their giving pointers on how to keep this tradition a stylish one..

Winter Robes, too young,too old and just right

I LOVE the kimono robe! ; - )

Once we're pass the holidays....

You still have to have those basics to refresh your wardrobe heading into the new year!

Not to worry! Ms. Angie over at youlookfab has got the must have list..

10 Must Haves This Season

What I love most about this list is that it is so doable at so many price points - important as we drag our post-holiday brokeness into the new year! :-/

(P.S. Be sure to click the link to her 3-coat complement post as well!)

Ms Angie is also schooling us...

On the how to...


Wear Chunky Knits

And The Slimming Scarf

Over at Wardrobe 911.....

Ms. Teresa has the holiday season covered...

what to wear: last minute shopping

Come on, confess - you'll be out there in the next couple of days polishing off that list! Might as well look good! ;-)

And if you get stuck while you're out there:

last minute gift guide

And once the madness is over and it's finally the 25th...

what to wear: opening presents

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Okay, unlike me....

When it comes to a handbag, you like the bling!

Well get on over to Kristopherdukes cause the girl is in a giving mood...

Win a Fendi Bag

So if you've got just the midnight blue dress that would rock that bag under your arm...go on over and tell Ms. K. how you're just too fab NOT to be rockin' that bag!

Good Luck!

Okay I confess...

I'm just a little bit vintage.

The clothes of the early 1900s delight me (think Rachel Weisz's outfits early on in The Mummy (1999)).

That's probably why this skirt sets my little heart a flutter:

From TravelSmith





Kensington Sailor Skirt


It has that vintage feel, comes in both Misses and Plus sizes, has a tummy panel - I love it!

I'd hook it up with a crisp enough to cut white blouse (with an open collar, of course) and a pair of these shoes:

From Remix Vintage Shoes





Or maybe these:



Sigh...

Repeat after me....

Tights are my friend, tights are my friend...

Especially if you, like me, have a little bit of a vein problem. :-p

Even if you don't, tights just have a way of tightening (excuse the pun) up just about any outfit and, if you can find them in a color that matches your skirt, can give you the look of a longer, dare I say leaner, line.

If you, like me, are a fan of tights, here's the place that can hook you up:

We Love Color

What's even better than the fact that they have a crazy number of tights in different colors?

They come in Plus sizes too! Yahoo! (I love a retailer that carries the gamut of sizes for women.)

They also carry knee high socks in just about any color you can imagine!

And if you're feeling a bit adventurous (Or just want to jog your memory of your salad days) check out the fishnets, pattern hose (so this is where all those young women are getting their Pippi Longstockings!), and crazy gloves!

Have fun!

(A shout out to Lucky Magazine who listed this site in their Best Web Sites You've Never Heard Of article!)

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Before you purchase....

That $1,000 + handbag you might want to read this...

From Second City Style

Luxury. Beware the Lure of Luxury Branding. Dana Thomas' Holiday Shopping Warning. Second City Style Fashion Blog

I'm sure the quality of the workmanship is every bit as good if done by a well trained Chinese crafts person as by a well trained Italian crafts person.

So the question becomes - Why are they under paying the Chinese worker if their skill is just as fine? And if they are, why are they charging so much for their bags when they are paying more or less pennys for the labor?

Looks like folks are getting reamed on both ends of the process - the workers and the buyers! :-p

Yes I know...

It seems that I'm on a bag kick today....

But if you're looking for a good looking tote here's a way to do some good as well...



St. Jude's Children's Hospital - Vinyl Canvas Tote - $32.00


There are many lovely gifts in their online gift shop - so if the tote doesn't get you take a look at some of their other offerings: Hope Catalog

St. Jude, if you don't know, is a wonderful children's hospital and research center. So anything you buy on their site supports their important work.

Getting something good and doing something good - it doesn't get better than that!

Okay, I'm down....

With this!

From :

Open Suggestion

I don't even OWN a handbag worth more than $250 dollars and I still don't want my handbag rolling all over the floor!

I Heart....

Radley Handbags:

Soho


Lapsang Large Tote



Waldorf Large Shoulder



Foothills Medium Tote


Tulsi A4 Tote



As anyone who reads here has probably figured out, I have no love of "bling" bags. I like mine clean lined and elegant (okay, some might say boring, but I don't think the bag should be getting all the attention when you walk down the street! Might as well carry a billboard - at least there's some cash in it for you!) and Radley fits the bill with just the right bit of whimsy to give them just the right bit of humor.

Sadly, Radley doesn't love the colonies so much - they only ship in the UK and the Channel Islands (did you know there are islands in the English Channel? Nether did I until I Wiki'ed them. If you're curious too, here's the link Channel Islands).

They don't even ship to Ireland! Now WHAT is up with that?

However, thanks to the Internet,of course, there are some third party sellers like Gregory's Leather who do sell these bags and ship internationally. I haven't dealt with any of them as yet, so I can't swear by them. But if you find these bags as delightful as I do, they might be worth a check out!

As I listen to the falling ice....

I think longingly of spring and summer...

And wouldn't this be a great tote for those fair weather outings to come?




Inside



Fleurville Lexie Tote - $165.00


Yeah it's a bit pricey and, yikes, it comes with a changing pad. Despite that, I love the print on the blue bag - very subtle and the colors are tres chic!

So pitch that changing pad nonsense out (or give it to a new mom you might know - I'm sure a spare changing pad is always welcome!). Throw in your swim suit, towel, guide book, whatever, and you're hitting the road in style!

Once the ice melts that is! :-/

With the holiday almost upon us.....

There have been a butt load of sales - so many that I've just not bother to comment on them. I figure that you, gentle reader, are already well aware of all the sales!

But I must post this link from youlookfab:

Sale Alert!

Nice encapulation of some of the sales on some of the more popular retailers!

After the week I've had....



You better believe it!

Monday, December 10, 2007

I Heart....

This baby blue beauty of a purse...

This from the Luxist


Jack Georges Milano Flap Closure, Handbag of the Day

Please help...

If you can....

From Wardrobe 911

off topic: help find veronica "nikki" ruiz

I can't begin to imagine what a nightmare this must be for this young woman's family and friends. If you are in the SF area and can give any assistance in finding her, please do.

The mid-lenght skirt...

Or the Midi as we called it back in the day, takes center stage.

The Budget Fashionista gives the heads up:

Trend Alert - The Midi Length Skirt

Now you have to make sure that this skirt fits just right -- but if you do, it's a look that can do women of all ages right!

Over at the Sartorialist....

A lesson on how to do the black coat....

Black Coat Monday....

All these ladies are workin' their coats....but I particularly love the coat on the right in the first pic!

And speaking of coats...

Fabulous After 40 has a great post with on the street pics of 40+ ladies looking fab in their winter wear...

What to Wear in NYC

My biggest complaint regarding on the street fashion blogs is that they hardly ever seem to feature women over 40. Glad to see it's not because there are no fashionable "ladies of an age"!

But we already knew that - didn't we? ;-)

Ah it's that time of year again....

Time to discuss the yes or hell no's of holiday themed clothing!

Over at youlookfab Ms. Angie asks if all the candy cane, hollyed, snowman drenched sweaters she has experienced here in the States are An American Holiday Tradition (She's a Dutch gal who has lived all over the world - so she's just askin'!)

Meanwhile over at

The Budget Fashionista Ms. Kathyrn is opening the subject to the floor:

Holiday Sweaters (and Shoes?): Yea or Nay?

Now Ms. K. asks a valid question - is there any - dignified - way to wear clothes with a holiday theme?

Now I plead guilty to wearing my share of Christmas themed items. What can I say - there's just something about the holiday that seems to fit all that is over the top.

However, now that I am older, I'm not so sure I can pull the smiling snowman thing off with out looking a lot older than I am. Let's face it - it's just not as cute as it was when I was in my 20's, 30's, etc.

But I do think there's a way to indulge in a bit of holiday dressing merriment without looking like a felt billboard:

From Eddie Bauer :



Embroidered Snowflake Turtleneck Sweater


Snowflake Half Zip Mockneck Sweater



Printed Snow Cardigan Sweater



Embroidered Snowflake Hat



Embroidered Snowflake Scarf



From J Jill:

Whimsical Fair Isle Pullover



Curly Fleece Jacket


Okay, this one isn't technically a holiday themed piece - but what a great piece to show up in for those holiday family and friends visits!

From Ulla Popken:

Embroidered Holiday Chenille Jacket



From Coldwater Creek:


Embroidered Cardigan



Holiday Lane Sweater



Birds and Berries Cardigan


Snowflower Cardigan



Winter Scene Cardigan


Okay I know, those last few are tottering perilously close to too much. But the designs and colors are clean enough that, in my opinion, they don't go over!

Sunday, December 02, 2007

A Beijo Bag....

Just might be my birthday present to myself this year....

Adorable Allure



Faithfully Yours



Strike A Pose



The gorgeous bags above are designed by California-based designer Susan Handley, Beijo's founder. According to the website (Beijo Bags ) prices range from $69.00 - $89.00. The intention of this pricing structure is to ensure affordability and to leave less incentive for knock-offs (Makers of $1000+ handbags take note). They also have an interesting distribution model - the bags are sold at home parties (a la Tupperware) and trade shows only.

Check out the video with Susan talking about her favorite Beijo bags , What's in Susan's Closet?.

I like the thought she's put into each bag -- it's nice to hear a designer talking about bag design from the point of view of real women using the bag in practical ways.

My only concern about the bags are the lovely pearlescent finish - I'm tough on a bag and I'm just a bit afraid that finish might not be able to survive!


That being said, my fav?:

First Impression


As it doesn't appear that I will be able to make it to any of the trade shows, I'm going to try to contact one of the three sales repts in my area to see how I go about ordering one.

I'll let you know how it turns out!

A Symphony in Grey and Blue....

Over at the The Sartorialist a perfect outfit that would work for women of any age...

On the Street Greys and Blues...

Another great look....

From the The Sartorialist


On the Street - A Real Jacket

this is another look that can work well for a great many women across the age spectrum.

I like Scott's thoughts on this look and the comments from his readers as well!

Oh Isaac....

Forgive me for doubting you!

I made an off hand comment in an earlier post that I had been less than impressed by Isaac M.'s holiday dress offerings at Target this year.

Well shut my mouth....





Handkerchief Back Dress - $39.99




Ponte Dress with Bow Bing Cherry - $39.99


I saw both these dresses yesterday at my local Target and they are both gorgeous! They look and feel more expensive than $39.99 - and there was many a lady there of all ages giving them the serious once over and contemplating where they might wear them over the holidays!

Mea culpa, Isaac! Mea culpa!

Ah the Holidays.....

And with them the obligatory holiday parties! At..

Work
Home
Family
In-Laws
Etc...
Etc...

Well do not despair! (Easy for me to say -- I've dodged the bullet on all those fronts - everyone, including my job, is going for a much more casual holiday celebration this year!) There are plenty of great tips and guides on the Web for making it through the Holiday season with your dignity and sanity intact on the clothes front!

Over at youlookfab Ms. Angie has a cornucopia of holiday fashion advice.

But do yourself a favor and start off with her Cheat sheet: the holiday party. Trust me, you'll save yourself a lot of grief when shopping for that must have party outfit!

Once Ms. Angie has you properly prepped, slide on by the following for a few more holiday dressing tips and suggestions:


Over at Wardrobe 911 Ms. Teresa gets you prepped:

How to wear: velvet jackets

Velvet jackets are all over as usual this holiday season - learn how to wear it well!

what to wear: casual holiday party

Great outfit - comfortable with just enough glint for the holidays! But I'd probably opt for a top more like this with my 50+ self...I'm not sure my shoulders could bear that much bearing! ;- )



ALLOY CHARMEUSE SQUARENECK - $32.50 - $34.50, sizes X-Small - 3XL


(Yes I know, Alloy.com is actually targeted at ladies much below 50. But they have many an item that would work well for the 50+ lady - the above being a case in point. I'll post more on Alloy later! ; - ) )



The Glam Gals over at Fabulous after 40 are giving tips on finding the perfect little black dress...

7 Top Tips for How to Buy and Wear the Perfect Little Black Dress





If Plus Dressing is your challenge, The Pretty Pear has some lovely suggestions. I especially like the tux pants!


So very glam!



If dressing your petite frame is the challenge, The Budget Fashionista has you covered:

Petite Fashion: The Holiday Dress

Even if you have the dual challenge of being plus sized and petite (Baby, I know your pain!)

Now get out there ladies and make the 2007 holiday a glam one! ; - )

Okay, that girl over at....

Kristopherdukes is friggin' breakin' my heart with her outrageous shoe finds:

Miu-Miu Pumps with Jeweled Heels

And I don't even LIKE this whole brick sized jewels on everything trend that's going on right now!

And can you believe it -- they come in red too!



And then there are these lovelies...

Jimmy Choo Platforms

Ms. K's shoe choices are one of the very few things that make me wish I was 20 again! ;-) ('Cause trust me, I don't wish I was 20 again very often - ick!)

I Heart a Man....

Who knows how to say "My bad!"...

Or at least, "So okay, maybe I don't know everything..."

Dissent at the Blog of the Manolo

As for Crocs -- I work at a hospital and I know how indispensable these shoes are for the medical staff. So I always ignore the snarky comments that have become somewhat de rigueur on fashion blogs regarding this shoe brand.

But it's great to see the lovely Manalo willing to say in essence, "Hey, just 'cause I don't like 'em doesn't make that the last word on 'em!"

Now THAT'S a MAN! ; - )

Bravo Manalo!

I got to thinking....

About the whole Facebook thing as a portal to giving you, gentle reader, access to view my favorite Zazzle galleries.

As I played around with it some more I realized that there was no way to see my Facebook without creating a Facebook profile of your own.

So I've come up with an alternative approach. Click the following link and you will go directly to my Favorites page on Zazzle:

Fab50Plus Zazzle Favorites

Sadly, Zazzle does not give you a lot of control over the favorites page, so I can't rearrange how the graphics appear. But you can narrow down somewhat by clicking on the type of item you want to see (Cards, mugs, etc.)

I think this will make it a bit easier! And if you're a Facebooker, you can still find my favorite galleries by clicking the Facebook link to the left.

PLEASE NOTE: If you click the Home link on my favorites page this is what you'll see:












In order to get the Favorites page to work, I had to create something myself! :-/

Go figure!

Saturday, December 01, 2007