Sunday, September 21, 2008

Lucky New York Ladies....



I mentioned IGNES bags before back in August in my post: About a week ago....

The company was founded by siblings Maria and Ignacio Estrada. According to their site, the handbags are made using fine leathers that are obtained as by products of the meat industry, by a team of artisans in Uruguay to the customer's order. (For more on the company, please see their Who We Are page.

From what I can see on the web page, the bags are lovely and at prices that don't break the bank! So if you're in NY, go on by and decide for yourself!

Trust me, I wish I could!

The Thoughtful Dresser...

Gives her take on why all the &@#&! sleeveless dresses!!!!....

Sleeves: Decoding what the designers are saying

A New Handbag Site....

Handbag Planet is celebrating the opening of their new site with a contest!...

Win a Free Handbag

See more on this over at my Bag Sanity blog!

I Heart....

Christian Louboutin's Fall Collection:



SOS Ring Pump - $885.00




Motorani Cutout Pump - $695.00




Leopard Print Patent Pump - $595.00


If you must have a Peggy Bundy moment - this is how to do it!

And my favs of the favs?:




Gattaca Padded Pump - $875.00




Passementerie Pump - $895.00

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Okay Let's Face It....

The holiday party season is right around the corner!

Office Parties after work...

Dinner Parties....

Church Parties...

Family Gathering Parties...

And a lot of them will be dressy occasions for which your jeans and boho bag won't do!

Well here's my idea of the prefect bag for all those occasions - to go with that perfect LBD!....










Julia Cocco Opera Tosca Satin Evening Wristlet Clutch - $159.00


As you can see from the model pic, this clutch is just the right size for the few things you'll need to take with. And the look is just right - classic, but with just the right touch of bling!

Beauty is Timeless....

As this slide show proves...

Timeless Beauties

Monday, September 08, 2008

Heads up Ladies!....

Ms. Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen gives the scoop on a one day only sale at Banana Republic...

Today Only 30% Off at Banana Republic

So if you've been salivating at some of the BR items I've been featuring here, now's the time!

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Dang!....

I just must be in a movie state of mind...




Coco Chanel- A Lifetime Movie


September 13, 2008 ladies - bookmark it!

And even if the movie isn't great - the clothes will be fantastic! ;-)

Fab50Plus Speaks Your Language!...

With the help of Google Translate that is!

I've noticed, over the last 2 years, that I get quite a few visitors from over seas, who I am sure, as I do when I go to some of my favorite sites in other languages, wish they could read what I'm going on about!

Well wish no longer! (And be careful what you wish for!)

You will now see to the right a new gadget called Google Translate. Just pick your language and these blog will be translated into it - and read away!

A shout out of thanks to one of my favorite style on the street blogs Style and the City who has recently put this gadget on their site - I was thrilled to be able to translate it from French to English and actually be able to read the wonderful text that goes with the great pics!

And speaking of Style in the City....

Skip on over there to see some lovely street fashion photos of ladies from 7 - 77 sporting their street style!

Commandment 5: women you'll make them laugh!

Mr. Kamel has been doing a theme series of photos - the 10 Commandments of Style! So while you're over there take a minute to check them all out!

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Yeah, yeah everyone was over the moon....

Anticipating the Sex and the City Movie (personally, I'm feeling pumped about getting my copy of the DVD so I can enjoy the girls like I like it - on the small screen!)

But this is the one I'm looking forward to....





The Women


Based on the classic play by Claire Luce Booth and written and directed by Diane English of Murphy Brown fame, this has the potential to be a winner!

While I won't say I love the 1939 movie, I will say I'm fascinated by it and Ms. Booth acid observations on the power struggles between upper class women and those seeking to be upper class in a world where a women's status and power all derived from the men they married. (Check out the Wikipedia entry, The Women (film) for a fuller description of the classic movie)

Needless to say, the favor of the 2008 version is bound to be very different - from what I understand more focused on female friendships and their response when one of their number faces a crisis. But one thing I'm sure they'll share - the emphasis on fashion! The 1939 B/W movie has a famous fashion show scene that is done in Technicolor - as through just the introduction of fashion puts color into the world! And like the play and the earlier movie, there will not be a man insight - but they most certainly will not be out of mind!

And I love the muiti-generational aspect of the film - females from the young to the not so much are represented (its a who's who of some of our best actress across the generations!)!





Personally - I can't wait!

(And of course there are the tie-ins - Go on over to Dove: The Women for a chance to win two free tickets to the movie! And while you're there check out the great behind the scenes videos!

And speaking of Banana Republic....

Their BR Monogram Collection continues to impress...






Love the cap sleeve on this one!







Just one look tells you why this one is sold out except for size 16 - talk about a dress that can take you from AM to PM - Growl!

(And yes, I still curse BR for not making any of their clothes in my size. But, hell, when you're good you're good!)

I Heart....

Pretty much everything that Old Navy is offering this fall....

From the Women's Fall line...














(Yes, yes I know - the skirts are a bit short. But I know there are some 50+ gals out there that can make it work! ;-) )

From the Women's Plus Fall line...
















More and more I see Old Navy as an unsung gem of the Banana Republic stable!

Over at...

The Space Between My Peers, Ms. Rebecca takes us with her into the dressing room (now THAT'S a brave woman!...)

Friday Fashion Lab: In the Fitting Room

And The Thoughful Dresser....

Points us to a heavenly tribute to Yves St. Laurent...

Yves St Laurent - his legacy

Do yourself a favor and follow the link to the actual article - it is beautifully written.

And the book it refers to - U.S. gals can get it at Amazon...

Once again, all politics aside part deux...

More on how fashion has been taken to a new level in this presidential season!

From the incomparable The Thoughtful Dresser....

The piece we've been wanting to read about politics and fashion

Follow the link and read the whole article - Ow! Just like in the British Parliament (which makes our give and take in the Congress look like a kiddie camp) there's no holds bared! Do read the comments as well - interesting to hear what our sisters across the pond think of how their female politicos dress!

(And yes, this is my last post on this subject - time to concentrate on the issues!)

InStyle Mag...

Has this great feature every month called Instant Style

And this month their featuring looks that can go from morning 'till night! And everything their rockin' suits the 50+ gal...

Just a taste...








As you've probably guessed, the little arrows you see lets you mix and match the different elements of the outfits to your hearts content!

So go on over and have some Fall fashion fun without spending a dime!

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Sigh, Yes Fashion Week Does Start Friday....

But it looks like we "real" gals will finally get some reporting we can use!

From Ms. Allie over at Wardrobe Oxygen...

NY Fashion Week from a Real Woman's Perspective

I'll definitely be checking out her reports! And to make it easier for you, gentle reader, I've added a link to the lovely Ms. Sarah's blog StyleIt to the right.

Go Sarah!

Monday, September 01, 2008

Speaking of Blog Birthdays....

I guess I totally missed my own!

I can't quite believe that it's been two years + since I started this quest to see if it is possible to stay sartorially fresh as I grow ever older.

In that quest I've learned and relearned a ton about my own personal style - with plenty more to learn!

I've also had the pleasure of discovering and reading great fashion blogs and articles that continue to remind me that, while I might not be a baby when it comes to years, I'm still one when it comes to the world of fashion and style!

I'm looking forward, God willing, to another year of observing, learning and writing about style and fashion - from the 50+ side of the street!

And while I was over on About.com Fashion...

I found this great video...

How to Minimize Hips

I'm not a big fan...

In many ways of the longer skirt - but that's just because, let's face it, I'm short!

But if you have a love for this particular style, Ms. Cynthia over at About.com: Women's Fashion is giving out tips on how to do it right...

Fall Quick 'n' Cheap Update #2: Longer Skirt

Happy 5th Birthday Budget Fashionista!....

And, damn! Is it time for New York Fashion Week again? :-O

Top Five Fashion Week Posts: The Budget Fashionista’s 5th Anniversary

Forget about politics....

The lady knows how to dress....

From

Fabulous After 40...

Michelle Obama sure has style! How does she do it?

What I like about her style is that she really does the high/low mix well - from what I've heard she buys both designer pieces and stuff straight off the rack as I would do in general women's retailers. She keeps the lines simple, a good strategy post 40, but knows when to add a "bump" piece (like the black belt on that delicious purple dress)that takes it up a notch!

She appears to do what we all should - knows her body shape well and focuses on those pieces that work well with it but don't break the bank!

Now THAT'S fiscal responsibility! ;-)

I Heart.....

J.Jill...











J.Jill is one of those wonderful under the radar women's clothiers who specialize in a style of soft tailoring that looks great on a wide range of women. The clothes have great quality (which I felt, but was confirmed for me when the wonderful lady who does my alterations commented to me on the excellent quality of the pants she just altered for me!)

But trust me, it's a love affair that did not start out well! The first there was the fact that J.Jill, while offering a full line of plus sized styles, does not stock plus sized items in their stores (an appalling trend currently reflected in many but the large retail stores like Macy's). Then the first couple of items I ordered online simply did not fit and no amount of alternation was going to fix it!

To be honest, I almost gave up. But I liked the styles so much that I decided to give it one more go - and third time, I guess, is the charm! Except for waist and length (hey I'm pear shaped and short so that is almost always an issue) the pants fit me great in the hips and also to my amazement, the rise was perfect!

I've received many complements on my J.Jill pieces. More importantly, I feel and look great when I wear them - which is the most important thing of all!

So if you, like me, tend to be a sporty/tailored kind of gal, check J.Jill out!