Not Your Daughter’s Baubles

I know, I know, the line usually goes something like “not your grandmother’s pearls” – but in thinking about jewelry, I believe there comes a time in our lives when we move out of the disposable jewelry and clothing category and step up to the investment clothing and real jewelry category. I’m not saying that we limit ourselves to just wearing precious stones and own just one or two pieces that we wear every single day; but I do think that, as women, we want to not only make a statement with our jewelry – we also want to leave the right lasting impression with it all.

Eyeglasses, Warby Parker, Great Customer Service & Good Deeds, Indeed

I have been talking about them since their inception — Warby Parker that is. The main attraction for me is their business model which is a take on the one-for-one model. The other big reason is my love of eyeglasses — lots of glasses. Long ago I figured if I have to wear specs they should enhance my personal style not just be a mindless add-on. Over the years, I have owned and worn hundreds of pairs (of glasses that is) and the overall style of the WP inventory appeared to be a good fit with my style aesthetic. (Oh god, did I just use the word aesthetic?)

Throwback Thursday: Birthdays, 2014 & Way Back to 1949

This past weekend I ventured into my sixty-sixth year of life. Yes, you read that right…sixty-six years! I spent the day eating way too much good food, laughing and just goofing around with family and friends at a Christmas get together that also included a bit of a birthday celebration. With a December birthday, one becomes quite accustomed to spending the day celebrating Christmas, St. Lucia Day, Hanukkah or some other fete that happens around that time of year. Not a new thing to me, it seems that my first birthday was celebrated along with my brother’s fourth – he was born in October, so perhaps in 1949, it was just easier and more cost-effective to share a day in common.

Throwback Thursday: 1995, Stripes, Brave or Not

Oh boy…am I being really brave or am I being really stupid? Honestly, I don’t know the answer to that question. What I do know is that I am wearing the same shirt in both of these pix. Yes, the exact same shirt! In 1995 with Agatha, the Norwich Terrier, who charmed my world when I lived in New York City and made the journey with me here to the Pacific Northwest; and, me today snapping a selfie almost twenty years later – at least the shirt has conquered the test of time!

Pantone Fall 2014: Aurora Red

Don’t you just love the word “verve?” Something about it makes me smile. While reviewing the Pantone Fall 2014: Fashion Report, I came across a line that describes Aurora Red – “a more sophisticated red that adds verve and spark” in comparison to the Pantone color Sangria which is described as “an exotic red that evokes a sense of glamorous adventure and faraway destinations.” I swear, when I read these color descriptions I always feel like I should be in the caverns of a winery doing a bit of wine tasting.

Throwback Thursday: 1967, Family Reunions & Playsuits

One of the things I love most about photography is how in one pix, you can capture a brief moment in time – life is made of millions of moments and sometimes we get too sidetracked to really appreciate the moment. I love that when I look at these two snaps – the quality of the image really doesn’t bother me. I am just so happy to have them in my possession.

Ponytails, Teachers and Tomboys

Me c.1955

It’s coming on birthdays – mine to be exact! Yes, as I celebrate yet another year of life I am looking back at a few people who were instrumental in helping to mold me into the person I am today. One of those was Miss Poppert, a second grade teacher. While she wasn’t my second grade teacher, for some reason I took a fancy to her and she to me during that year. I remember that she was a very stylish gal. Tall, very pretty, fabulous clothes and big jewelry; and she seemed to “get me” in some way that few other adults understood.

34 Degrees? Hooray -- Cozy Sweater Weather!

Sing along with me..."it's the most wonderful time of the year" – yes, I know those lyrics were actually penned for Christmas – but I’m singing them today because I love the crisp cold sunny mornings and clear-sky twinkling star evenings of fall. Such a rebel, me! 

Fashion, Trend & a bit of a Throwback Thursday

“Trends are in and out in a flash; fashion comes and goes; but style always stays.” Not quite sure where I heard that and I know I have probably really made a mash of it – even so, it is a good and true comment, at least for me. With all the energy around New York Fashion Week it’s hard to avoid the buzz.

Say it isn't so!

This morning, one of my worst nightmares came to life. Okay, so that’s a little dramatic; but stick with me here. On my Twitter feed there was a tweet from an accessories rep group that went something like this – “…I would never want to do a collaboration with a 50-year-old women who wears clogs.” My first reaction was to step into a smack down on Twitter.

The 60s Revisited

There is so much talk in the world of fashion about the 60s these days I decided I had to comment about it in some way. Yes, I can't lie (why would I start now?) I was in high school in the mid-60s. So if clothing and jewelry from the 60s is "vintage" guess that makes me "vintage" too! I have always thought of vintage as stuff from the 20s, 30s, 40s and maybe the 50s -- but now we can add a few decades to that term -- meaning that for me -- everything old is new again! Well, let's say all of my jewelry from that era is new again -- can't say that I am new again because we know that not to be true.

The Real Red Carpet

Something about all the red carpet hoopla over the last few months intrigues me. I know, I know...it's a huge industry this business of fashion. I just find it interesting that it takes much more than a village to dress one celebrity these days. Yes, I'll admit, it is kind of fun playing dress up; and in another life, I did get to be dressed by "stylists." Oh, not in the glamorous kind of way -- but in the soccer-mom-next-door kind of way. Yes, its' true, I worked as a commercial print model (oh and commercial actor) in NYC. Surprised?

Mixing it Up with Joan Rivers

Today, I was listening to Joan Rivers on QVC and it hit me -- I have been collecting her jewelry for 19 years. Yes, 19 years and I am not afraid to admit it. I started with "just the enamel bangles" and that lasted about one visit.