Sunday Best-Link Parade

Celebrating and appreciating. That's what I like to do on Sundays. Today will be quick because I'm working on a big project so I'll mostly let other people do the work. Meaning I want to share with you some of the links I bookmarked and enjoyed this week.

First of all, congratulations to Paula at Fashion Over Fifty for her one year anniversary.

Kristina at Pretty Shiny Sparkly announced an Arm Party for this Wednesday! How could you miss an Arm Party?

In case you need some spangles for your Arm Party (how many times can I say that?), there's a great tutorial going around for cool bracelets at Ornamentea or you can check out this adapted version at Honestly...WTF.

I cannot get over these adorable bloomers from Collette Patterns and the pattern is free and downloadable. I don't know if I can get away with wearing these, but I'd like to make some for my daughter.

Also today is J's birthday! Check out her blog at J's Everyday Fashion. She does a great job recreating outfits.

And last but not least, some sage advice on lipstick and life in general from Advanced Style.

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday. I will be sewing and fitting. I'll probably tell you more about my project later. We'll see how it goes today. Yikes!

Orange You Glad I Didn't Wear Blue Jeans?

I managed another casual day without jeans. This is actually way more comfortable than jeans. It's basically like wearing an oversize t-shirt.

Orange dress-(FIDM Scholarship Store)

Gingham shirt-(Jet Rag $1 day)

Belt-(FIDM Scholarship Store)

Necklace-(Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation, I think)

Flip flops-(Gilly-Hicks)

I got this shirt from a place called Jet Rag in Hollywood. On Sundays they dump a bunch of junk on the ground of the parking lot and sell everything for $1. Most of the stuff is craptastic but if you really look you can sometimes find something good. Also, the necklace, I believe, I got when I was a kid and somehow managed to keep it through all my travels and moving.

My daughter was kind enough to take pictures again before she went Back-To-School shopping. Everytime we do our little photo sessions she says, "Mom, stop posing. Just stand normal." Echhh. That's so BORING! So of course I had to do this:

Pretty awesome, huh?

My daughter is very stylish (I take all the credit) and she said she wanted some photos of her for my blog. So here she is:

Hey! How come she gets to pose?

K.I.S.S.

K.I.S.S. stands for Keep It Simple, Sugarpants (I don't like calling people Stupid)

I'm going to FIDM to do some grading. I wanted to be as comfortable as possible. This is actually a black t-shirt dress with the striped shirt over it. It's usually air-conditioned  in the building enough that I should be nice and cozy.

I decided not to wear any jewelry or anything. It all seemed like overkill and I don't want bracelets and things getting in my way.

Black t-shirt dress-(thrifted)

Black & white striped top-(self-made)

Belt-(old. don't know where I got it)

Sand...(oh, you know this by now)

This is from my new film "The Cat Stays In The Picture".

Business Casual for Casual Business

In an effort to wear something other than jeans on my casual work days, I decided to wear my pinstripe pants with a graphic t-shirt. I like it. The pants are pretty comfortable and I hardly ever wear them for work anymore.

I remember a few years ago I saw a girl in Starbucks with pinstripe pants and a casual shirt and flat shoes.  I thought she looked so cool. Granted she was tall and thin, probably a model, but I went out and got pinstripe pants right away. (from the thrift store of course)  Now we would call her look Street Style. Back then it was just something I saw at Starbuck's.

Gap t-shirt-(thrifted)

Nine and Co. pants-(thrifted)

Necklace-(thrifted)

Sandals-(You must know this by now-Marshalls)

I also posted this Spunky Chateau's Thursday is for Thrifters. Check it out.

Inspiration-Retire or Desire?

I found this story so exciting and cool. This 60 year old woman who never modeled before was discovered by Steven Meisel and launched a modeling career. I love stories of people reinveting themselves or following their dreams. What would you do if you could do anything? Are you already doing it?

It used to be that when people got to be 50 or 60 they were supposed to retire and fade into the background and let the young folks take over. That's just not true anymore. First of all most of us can't afford to. But also, who wants to sit around and fish all day? I don't. It's a human instinct to want to expand and contribute.

Maybe you feel you deserve to relax and take it easy after a certain age. I totally understand that, too. What do you think about the Golden Years? Retire or Follow Your Desire?

 via http://nextracks.blogspot.com/

At the tender age of 60, Cindy Joseph is the new poster girl for boomers re-inventing themselves around the country’s fastest growing demographic. “For me a model was 18 years old, 18 feet tall and 18 pounds,” Cindy jokingly told me when I caught up with her working in her garden in Yonkers, just north of New York City.

Never a model in her youth, she is defying one of the most unforgiving age barriers of any profession by acting her age and throwing away the hair dye. “I’m so happy to be done with the insecurity of youth and know who I am, know what I want, know how to handle myself,” she told me between takes on a photo shoot with photographer Chuck Baker.

Her flowing gray hair and “discovery” by top fashion photographer Steven Meisel led to a contract with New York’s prestigious Ford Models. They’ve launched an entire division called “Classic” for accommodating the rush of advertising clients trying to catch the age wave and silver tsunami sweeping over the youth market. Seventy-eight million boomers control more that 70 percent of the country’s discretionary income, according to recent marketing surveys.
“Particularly with the economy we’ve experienced,” Paulete Ellson added while surrounded by headshots and fielding calls in Ford Models’ cavernous booking and operations room in New York City. She books only the “Classic” models like Cindy whose ranks have more than quadrupled the past 10 years as “gray” increasingly becomes the “new blonde.” According to the U.S. Census 2010 figures, nearly 10,000 Americans are turning 65 every day.

“It’s not about aspiring to youth anymore,” claims Cindy who is a head-turning example of why “gray” is increasingly becoming the “new blonde” for advertisers. “We’re people enjoying who we are and what we are. We’re enjoying our lives and so we’d like to see peers in ads.”
Cindy is leveraging her new found success into yet another new career in the cosmetics business. She is literally betting her modeling fees on a new line of organic cosmetics, appropriately called BOOM. She created them to enhance rather than cover up the more confident look she believes comes with age. “I thought wow, wouldn’t it be awesome to make a cosmetic line that was pro-age instead of anti-age.”

Granted, not many of Cindy’s contemporaries have the natural beauty to re-invent themselves as top models in New York, regardless of their age. What attracted me most to Cindy’s story for my Nextracks series about boomers re-inventing their lifestyles and careers, is how naturally it came about after she was “discovered” while emerging from a New York subway station and looking for work.

“The very day I cut off the last bit of hair dye I was using to hide my gray hair, I was approached by a casting agent in New York,” she told me while showing off her first magazine ad for Dolce & Gabbana.

She also shared with me how she didn’t have the self-confidence when she was in her twenties and thirties to deal with the rejection that is the more common outcome of the almost daily casting calls she has to go on.

“I go in and what you see is what you get,” she says sarcastically before starting to laugh at herself. “I tell them I’m happy with it. If you want it, I’ll sell it to you.”

From a four-story billboard in Times Square for Target to Oil of Olay magazine ads, more advertisers are buying Cindy’s look of experience and confidence. “If you look at the baby boomer generation, every single decade of our lives we have re-invented what’s gone on before. We’re not sitting on the front porch knitting and rocking ourselves away.”

It's All In My Head

I think this outfit was a lot more flattering in my head than on my body. Oh well. Too late now. I'm typing this in jeans and a t-shirt after changing out of these work clothes so I'm too comfy to care.

I love the pieces but the skirt hits me slightly below the waist so I think it makes me look thicker than I would like. Also I'm still wearing flats which kind of blows. Could be better,could be worse and there's always next time. I will be casual until next Monday so we'll see what happens with that.

Banana Republic blouse-(thrifted)

Old Navy skirt-(thrifted)

Belt-(um...maybe Marshall's long ago?)

Bangle bracelets-(dunno-had since the '80s)

Other bracelet-(FIDM Scholarship Store)

Red necklace-(gift from sister)

Same old sandals-(Marshall's)

Visible Monday-Shimmery

Happy Visible Monday! I had a really great Goodwill run a couple of days ago. I got this denim dress which I love. It's good for summer or winter. It's stretch denim which is even better. I was limited in my choices for work today because my toe is still swollen and hurting. These sandals are the only decent shoes I can wear. Can't wait to wear heels!!!

I love this jacket because it has silver threads woven through it so it has this subtle shimmer. It's hard to tell from the photo. You have to just trust me.

I went with shimmery neutral jewelry to match.

And here's the dress without the jacket.

American Rag dress-(thrifted)

Jacket-(thrifted)

Sandals-(Marshalls)

Rhinestone necklace-(vintage)

Pendant necklace-(thrifted)

Bracelets-(FIDM Scholarship Store, yard sale)

Sunday Best-The Little Things

My Mom is doing the coolest thing ever. As you know if you read my first post, I actually officially turn 50 soon. August 12th to be precise. It started freaking me out. For the first time I could see signs of ageing on my face (and neck). I put on some weight a few years ago and my eyesight is going. 

What?

So it's not the number itself. It's all the things that go with it that made me start to panic. I started this blog to come to terms with this next phase and to figure out how to still feel stylish and cool and sexy.


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Also, the same month that I turn 50, my daughter turns 16.  I didn't really want to plan two big parties and I tend to feel uncomfortable in big loud gatherings anyway. (For some reason being onstage in the spotlight with my voice amplified is okay. Weird, huh?) Also, my sister and best friend are out-of-town for the summer. So I was kind of ready to just ignore my birthday altogether even though I knew I would probably regret it later.

Then, exactly one month before my birthday, my Mom started bringing me presents. Little things. Lovely things. I got a bouquet of flowers, which unfortunately I didn't get a picture of but they were beautiful.

Then she did this. Bought some herbs that I like to cook with and repotted them:

Basil

Rosemary

Sage

Chives

Thyme

And I got these beauties:

She's also buying me tickets for my daughter and I to go see Harry Potter. (I'm a huge Potter nerd btw just haven't had time to go yet)

And she's getting me maid service for a day. Woo hoo!

Yesterday she went to an Estate Sale and came home with this beaded scarf:

Oh my God!!! It's so beautiful! On my birthday day I think we're just going to have some cake and hang out a little and then I'll go to the comedy club and hang out some more. That sounds like a perfect plan. I always think birthdays should last at least a week anyway. The little things make me very happy. Including my Mom. (She's 5'2") Thank you, Mommy! I love you!

Things My Blog has Taught Me

My blog has taught me that I have shopped much better for dress up clothes than for casual clothes. Unfortunately most of my work requires casual wear.

So since I'm taking photos almost daily I want the working at home outfits to be as interesting as the working at the college ones. I wear jeans a lot but I'm going to try to change it up a bit and find other ways to be casual and comfortable. Not today, though. :)

Here's what I wore today:

Tank-(Mervyns)

White bias ruffle t-shirt-(FIDM Scholarship Store)

Black cardigan-(FIDM Scholarship Store)

Gap jeans-(thrifted)

Necklace-(vintage)

I thought the original picture was too blue so I used the Cinemascope effect here with Picnik (after cropping it of course)

Here I used warmify, film grain, and then sharpen in Picassa 3. I think I like Cinemascope best.

Cheeky

Does This Look Funny?

I did a couple of sets at the comedy club tonight. It was fun. I usually wear jeans and a nice shirt to perform in. I didn't get a lot of pictures but here's what I wore:

And backstage:

Forever 21 shirt-(FIDM Scholarship Store)

Jeans-(Macy's)

It's late and my brain is tired. Good night, Lovelies.

Can You See Me Now?

I'm trying to get up the courage to wear this dress more often. It's a polyester 70's dress that I found at the thrift store. It still had the old-timey sales tag on it. I was planning on wearing this if I go out later. "If" meaning that I finish my sewing project and that my toe feels better. (I kicked it against something and am hoping it's not broken) :( 

I added this to the Thrifting Challenge at Everybody Everywear.

Also submitting this to Thrift Thursday. However, everyday is Thrift Thursday for me.

and p.s. thanks to my daughter for taking the photos. It's becoming one of her chores.

70's dress-(thrifted)

Necklace-(thrifted)

Inspiration-Redefining Beauty

Who are your role models? Who inspires you? I mean people living and thriving right now. Here are some of mine:

Yo, Helen Mirren on the BEACH, Biatch!

Meryl Streep

One of the most talented, beautiful and graceful actresses in Hollywood

Hair Inspiration!

That's right. Madonna. Love her. It's a Leo thing.

 Guess these are just the blondes. I'll have to do brunettes and redheads another time. My main female hero over 50 is my Mom (she wouldn't let me take a picture of her). She's also (fake) blonde. She's 73 and still scuba dives. My mom is incredibly youthful and loving and I  am inspired by her every day.

I found a very interesting article from a marketing company regarding the consumer power of Baby Boomer women. I think you'll be impressed.

Also, did you know there's a National Association of Baby Boomer Women? Here's the blog.

Feel good about yourself. You're important. You matter. You are beautiful. Thank you.

Back In Black

Today's been a little crazy and it's not over yet. I taught an early class today at FIDM and woke up 5 minutes before I wanted to leave! Gaaaah!!!! Luckily, because of this blog, I had already figured out what to wear the night before. I made it to work with 15 minutes to spare which was fine. Whew!

So granted, this isn't fancy and bright like yesterday, but I was soooo comfortable. That was today's priority. Just got home a couple of hours ago and now I'm running off to watch the student showcase at the comedy club in a few minutes so it's a pretty long day without much sleep.

This dress is stretch cotton and the sandals are ridiculously comfy.

H&M dress-(thrifted)

Belt-(FIDM Scholarship Store)

Necklace-(vintage)

Bracelet-(LA county Fair)

Sandals-(Marshalls)

Thank you all for making me feel so welcome. There is a lovely, gracious group of gals here and I applaud your beauty and style!

Visible Monday

Okay, I'm participating in Visible Monday! Fun. It's a good day for that because I teach today and I will actually be in the vicinity of people instead of home hibernating and slobbing out. I have to admit, I don't usually feel invisible since I let my hair grow out white. People look. Luckily I don't have to hear what they're thinking. "Hey, look at that rocker chick...wait-a-minute. That's an old lady! She tricked me!!!!" Hah! Yeah! In your face!!!!

(ps I know I'm not old, but I am around a LOT of really young people)

I bought this beautiful Nanette Lepore dress at Goodwill for $8. I'm not kidding. It's one of the prettiest dresses I've ever owned and fits nicely which isn't always easy for me. I have mostly neutral colors in my closet I've noticed so this is a welcome pop of color. I want to add more color. I think a lot of people are feeling that way. What about you?

I seriously need help with posing!

Nanette Lepore dress(thrifted)

Sofft shoes-(Marshalls)

Necklace-(vintage)

Bracelet-(vintage)

Lipstick-(oops. I forgot it)

Can't wait to see what the rest of you wear today.