A Sneak Peak at Sam Saboura’s Spring Collection

Sam has truly outdone himself with this faux suede jacket from his new spring line, available at hsn.com on March 1st:

Blending lush-to-the-touch fabric with exceptional attention to detail and impeccable fit, this jacket is a must-have-piece for spring. Although my photos don’t do it justice, the color of this one is a gorgeous silvery grey that serves as a perfect neutral. It will also be available in dark brown, teak, and lilac.

Ruffle detail:

I cannot stress enough how amazing this fabric is. It feels like the softest, finest suede, and price is the only indicator that it’s not the real deal.

Kudos, Sam, for one of your most fabulous pieces ever!

Go Ahead and Show Off that Boomer Body

Anyone who has stumbled onto my blog even once or twice knows that I’m a big Anthropologie fan.

At least once a week, I hop onto the Anthro site to see what’s new. (Alas, the nearest store is a 50-minute drive from here, so I’m not on the actual premises nearly as often as I’d like to be….which is probably way too often.) When I find something that particularly appeals to me, I post it. Sometimes it’s an item I own…sometimes it’s an item I’d like to own. And just in case you’re wondering, I’ve never been let down when I eventually see the item in person.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest top to turn my head: the Tribal Rhythm Tank.

I like the longer length, because it appears to reveal the fact that there’s a body beneath it rather than looking boxy. I particularly like the way it shows off the shoulders, because dammit!…all those hours in the gym had better give me something to flaunt.

And just for the record, I don’t think women should be forbidden to bare their upper arms just because they’re past 50. We’ve earned every inch of these mature bodies, and parts needn’t be forced under wraps just because they aren’t as perfect as they once might have been.

Love of Style–Do We Ever Outgrow It?

For as long as I can remember, I have had a love affair with clothes. I was a tomboy as a kid, but that didn’t prevent me from wanting to be the best-dressed tomboy on the block.

Shopping absolutely makes my head spin–in a good way–and it truly is one of my favorite pastimes. A day spent with a girlfriend, hitting the stores and stopping for lunch, is just about my idea of perfection. Fortunately, I’m blessed with a husband who understands this, and he actually enjoys it (OK…maybe the word is “tolerates” it) when I show off my purchases in an impromptu fashion show.

Putting outfits together gives me an extreme sense of satisfaction, and I love it when my friends turn to me for style advice. But as I sit here on a rainy Friday, I’m struck by the question: How long will this last?

As a baby boomer, my sense of style manifests very differently now than it did when I was younger. These days, I’m very aware of dressing in an age-appropriate way, while maintaining interest and creativity. Even though many years have gone by since I was finally released from my all-girls-Catholic-high-school uniform…free to explore my style sense…I’m clear on the fact that what I wear still matters to me. Big time.

Yet I can’t help but wonder if, one day, that priority will be behind me. Will I wake up on a random Tuesday morning and not care a lick about what I toss on my body? Will I close my eyes, reach into my closet, and gleefully adorn myself in whatever I happen to grab? Will I–perish the thought–no longer care?

Fabbo Anthro Cardigan

I’m a sucker for pattern mixes and color blocking…always have been, and probably always will be. That’s likely why I’m drawn to the Soft Patch Cardi from…where else?…Anthropologie.

It’s not part of my wardrobe yet, but I suppose resistance is futile. The nipped-in waist and the hip-skimming length make the shape potentially very flattering, and I think it would look great with jeans for spring.

Ah, to buy or not to buy……

A Great Neutral Shoe

I’m a big fan of black shoes…OK, I have one pair of red stilettos I absolutely love, but that’s another post…but every now and then a neutral color is in order. That’s why I was so thrilled to find these on sale on the Barneys Web site, marked down from $375 to $153.53.

NB: These run about 1/2 size small.

My Blog Wordle

Thanks, Kim, for directing me to this. what fun!

The Journey

To all of my girlfriends who simultaneously seem to be going through confusion and uncertainty:

“One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.”

~ Mary Oliver ~

Another flattering top for skinny jeans

I recently found this top…the Kiara shawl by Graham & Spencer…at Bloomingdale’s:

I couldn’t find it on the store’s Web site, and this photo I tracked down online really doesn’t do it justice. Although the top is flowy, it doesn’t have the raggy, hippie look suggested in this shot. Instead, the bust is form-fitting and the sleeves are long and narrow, so there’s enough body consciousness to make it looked pulled together. The long, asymmetrical hemline covers the hips, so when worn over a tank top with skinny jeans, this top makes your legs look as if they go on forever.

In addition to the black and light grey pictured here, it’s also available in black and a beautiful purple color called prune.

Aqua Jewelry

Aqua makes some of the most interesting jewelry on the market today. The Three Row Metal Torsade Necklace, available at Bloomingdale’s, is a great basic piece that packs a lot of impact.

I love this Komorov dress available at Nordstrom. The fitted bodice and soft A-line make it easy to wear for most body types, and the color is almost universally flattering. Best of all, it’s marked way down from the original price.