CocoLion

I thought I would post some outfits from the past 30 days.  I felt happy with some of them, not happy with others.

First, the happy.
1.  I am usually never happy in flats.  But here, since the pants are already leg shortening, it just seems to work.  I get to have a long torso look in this dog-walking outfit (from LA, when it was warm).
2.  I tried a graphic tee with jeans vest from an outfit I had put on one of my pin boards, happy with the overall effect.
3.  Inspiration picture for #2 above.
4.  Dinner at a friend of my boyfriend's house, didn't want to be too fashion-forward nor too dressed up.  Good thing because the host wore sweatpants.

Second, the not-quite happy.
5.  Wore to dinner with forum member MaryK in LA.  Nothing wrong with it but it somehow feels too preppy for me.  What do you think, in general, about stepping out on your authentic style persona?  Is there a way to make it feel more "me"? Should I have removed the scarf?  A different pair of trousers/jeans?
6. What's wrong here, I need an Rx.  Is it the shoes, would a slightly lower vamp work?  The outfit look frumpy with the pants unrolled (too short).  Poor choice of shirt?  Does it need a belt?  It's nice to go belt-less.
7.  The above outfit looks a bit better from the side which makes me think the shirt is the biggest problem.

Please comment freely!!  I had a few other not-quite-rights this month but failed to take pictures. 

Here's what I wore to spend a fabulous day with some of the LA ladies of YLF -- Rae, MaryK and Adelfa.

The pants and sweater are from UO.  The top underneath is fairly old, it shrank but is perfect for this seater.  This outfit was very comfortable, I took sneakers along just in case but the Newbury's worked fine.  The second picture shows the outfit with a leather moto but I didn't need that either, the weather was in the 70s.

The picture's a bit blurry and perhaps a different lip shade would have brought more color to my face, but this look is not about conventional figure or color flattery.  I like that I figured out a way to wear a cropped top without baring any skin.  The pants have a  high waist.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

This morning when I saw Angie's blog entry about poncho style I did a double take.  Because yesterday I became officially (re)obsessed with ponchos.  "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" was on TV and while I only saw part of it, I was very taken by Clint's style in the trio of Sergio Leone movies.  There are some pictures in the latest entries of a Pinterest board of mine.

1/2.  I decided this was a very good, if a bit costume-y, outfit for my ranch lifestyle.  Shown with simple charcoal jeans and navy wrap worn poncho style.  The hat is from the 70s, it's actually even made in the USA, it belongs to my mother. 

3.  Tried with tall Newbury heels but I think the Western low heeled booties work better here.  And much more practical.

4/5/6/7.  Inspiration pictures.

Thanks for looking and commenting!  I'm now officially on the hunt for a woven poncho with minimal patterns, the ultimate bad boy booties, and a shearling vest -- maybe.

As I mentioned in my last WIW, I wanted to challenge myself to use Angie's ensemble series to create outfits this week.  Here's the continuation.

1/2.  Party outfit inspired by "Ankle Pants with Ankle Strap Shoes" 
3/4.  Casual layers inspired by "Casual Layers with Cuddl Duds"
5/6.  Holiday shopping outfit inspired by "Classic Fall Casual" ensemble.
7.  Showing my Secret Santa gift -- stud earrings!

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Now for the part you've been waiting for -- how to lose 10 lbs/10 years during the holidays!
- First, take a picture of yourself in front of a skinny retail mirror (picture 5)
- Second tip -- lean forward (picture 3) -- it will take inches off your thighs, and by pitching your torso forward your legs look miles long!! 
- Third tip:  never actually get a camera lens close to your face.  Instead, take a picture from at least 3 ft away (preferably 5-10) then crop out everything but your face.  (Picture 7) The grainy, blown up picture wipes away crows feet and turkey neck.  No retouching wand needed!  Also the use of flash fill is like a bit of botox or at least equal to a soft focus filter.  Seriously. OK just half serious.   ;-)

Thanks for looking and commenting!  Any further weight loss/anti-aging tips welcome!

This outfit (picture 1) was inspired by Angie's recent Casual Layers ensemble (picture 2).  Feeling bored with my work outfit routine, I decided to challenge myself by trying out as many Angie ensembles this week as possible.  

So most of you know I live a casual lifestyle in the mountains and work at my family's cafe.  If you live in N. California you might also know we had a big storm on Friday night.  The snow still hasn't melted -- quite unusual for us, our average December temperatures are around 54F.  Night time temps have been in the teens, nothing for you Northerners but our plumbing is not built for hard freezes like this -- we already had one pipe bur$t.  Anyway, I still can't drive to work, I had to walk (picture 3).  Not that it was unpleasant!

So - back to the outfit. It felt good using both the chambray shirt and the color block jacket, they had become orphans.  And I know the leg-shortening snow boots don't look as good as 4" pumps, but they got me to work safely. 

Oops -- I did forget to include the Zara tote in the outfit picture; I have the same one!

Had a great time in the city last week! 

Picture 1 -- at the San Francisco Opera to see the Barber of Seville with my boyfriend.  I bought him this lavender shirt, he had the tie.  I love this color on him.  (Yes that's THE coat from Vince -- shoes are Enzos from NAS.)  Looking at this picture I think a structured clutch is a wardrobe hole.

Picture 2 -- Zara dress worn to opera.  I got this in LA at the Angie meet-up in September.  I've already worn the same dress to the opera twice.  No one looked askance.  

Picture 3 -- Walking about Hayes Valley.  I had wanted a full big scarf look based on Angie's post, but from the picture you can see it fell apart.  Everything here is from last year or older.  Leather jacket is one of my favorite pieces ever (Zara).  Jeans -- R13 cross overs.  Cream Henley from Daftbird.  And my all-time favorite Western style booties from Vintage Shoe Company.  They stopped making them, wah.

Thanks for looking and commenting.  And if you have any scarf-taming tricks please do share.

1 -- What do you think about this BR stretch wool blazer?  Today made casual with boyfriend jeans and a white tee.
2 -- Here is the same blazer worn to a Food Show on Tuesday.  In hindsight a non-faded pair of pants would have worked better.  As you can see the sleeves are rather long.
3 -- Back to today, I switched into my FP navy sweater instead of the blazer in #1, I think navy is better on me.
4 -- But I was still uncertain so I later switched into my grey skinnies as the boyfriend jeans seemed a little stumpifying even with the tall booties.   Not sure which version I liked better!  Disadvantaged lighting in #4.

So -- back to the question, is the blazer a Yay or a Nay?  Thank you!!

I wore this on Wednesday to eat Japanese food and do some local shopping with my guy.  I realized this is a go-to look for me (and probably lots of other women) and I haven't changed it for some time.  I think I am mentally ready to change things up, but am also feeling content right here and not sure where I want to go next as I seem to keep buying things with the same look (my recent cardigan k/r thread). 

Sweater from last year -- Vince.  It is horribly pilled!  I will never buy another 70 wool 30 cashmere sweater again.  I have cheap cashmere that cost me 25% of this and it looks much better, but I do like the cut of this cardigan and it matches the jeans really well.  This is a deep brownish-green that reads as almost black but is a nice color on me (although you can't tell from the photo).

Jeans from 2 years ago -- Rag & Bone

Wedge oxfords from 3 years ago -- DV

Print top is from last year -- Velvet

The only thing that is from this year is the iPhone.  With one of those pricey but not chic Lifeproof waterproof cases.

Picture #2 -- this jacket came home with me from TJs.  It's from Young, Fabulous and Broke.  For the Middle-aged, Content but less-Broke me.  What do you think?  Very wearable and my boyfriend liked it but I'm not sure it's taking me anywhere exciting.

ETA -- the necklace is new!  I forgot.  From Kenneth Jay Lane, I like the pretty color it delivers near my face.

I got this fox sweater on the cheap at Old Navy.  It called to me because of a childhood nickname, kind of silly and I shall spare you the details.  ;-)  I like the camel color, which I am starting to learn is a good neutral on me.  

And in picture 2 you are seeing a rare work outfit.  Parsley recently posted an outfit with a longer blazer and wondered if that jacket style was still relevant.  My advice was to pair it with trendy items.  Well I have ignored my own advice and here you see me wearing a trio of pieces around 3 years old.  My thinking was that, as I was unsure about these pieces, I could try demoting them to my work capsule.  Yes my work wardrobe contains demoted pieces because they get stained being a server.  I do not feel comfortable wearing valuable or new things at least.

I am happy with how this turned out, clogs, apron and all.  Happy to have a different look (it is so slow now I am less concerned about looking the food service professional).  Although I've moved onto different looks for my non-work outfits, I am happy to give these older pieces one last bit of life.

Last season I decided camo was too young for me.  But you all thought it could be done.  Here are two camo pieces, both inexpensive so all good if I tire of the look quickly (which I am suspecting will happen).
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....at-55-long

1 -- Knock-off Equipment camo shirt from Aqua (Bloomingdale's brand).  Worn with Paige blue-black lightly coated skinnies and Rag & Bone Newbury booties; Amy Kestenberg backpack.
2 -- Reversible camo jeans (inside out is washed black) from Target.  Almost identical to Sold jeans, well made for $35.  Here worn with a screaming quantity of potentially age-inappropriate elements:  camo, skinny cropped skinnies, backpack, low rise of jeans, and logo graphic tee.  I went to the grocery store in this and they did not offer me the senior discount in this even though it was senior discount day.  Slightly disappointed not to save $2.50.
3 -- Is this a bit better with a plain tee?  I liked the neckline better of the T Rex top but this might be a little less age inappropriate.
4 -- My government shutdown present to myself.  Chan Luu American Flag bracelet.  My boyfriend thought this was a hilarious excuse to shop.

Thanks for looking.  What about you, are you jumping on the camo bandwagon?