| Here is a peek into my closet. |
Monday, October 13, 2025
What Is A Shacket?
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Uniqlo's Pocketable UV Protective Parka
In 2010 I devoted posts to (1) What Every Woman Should Have in Her Wardrobe and (2) What Every Man Should Have in His Wardrobe. If I did a good job, my recommendations are still relevant. Today I'll add another essential article of clothing you could call an investment piece as it's so versatile. Once you have it, you can't go without it!
You'll wear it all autumn and spring. You'll also carry it if you need a light layer of protection against windy evenings on the beach; rainy days or nights out on the town; or indoor events with air conditioning. And best of all, you'll have it for many years to come since it's well-made.
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Sales On Blazer's At Lands' End
A blazer is one of those no-brainer traditional pieces that should be in every woman's (and man's) wardrobe. It elevates an outfit and acts as a light layering piece to take you from the late summer into the fall. Depending on the style, you could also wear it in winter under your coat to complete an outfit, as well as, for warmth once you get to the office.
Monday, February 26, 2024
Lands' End For Blazers And Tunics
Forget fast fashion, turn to Lands' End for classic pieces you'll keep for years. I have LE wool blazers and cashmere sweaters that will never wear out, as well as, cotton tunics that need to be replaced after about a decade of frequent wear. I also favor LE cotton and linen summer dresses and its spandex swimsuits. LE's price points are higher than Old Navy and Uniqlo, but the promotions are fabulous to lower the costs.
The merchant's blazers and tunics are cut for a woman's body. Oversized if you prefer it, yet fitted to avoid a boxy droop. I also like the practical details of the flattering collar, front buttons, and pockets.
| The fabric is 60% cotton and 40% model. |
A blazer and tunic are a must-have in every woman's wardrobe for a winning casual smart appearance. Both layering pieces are a tad more festive and chic than a sweater to dress up leggings or jeans.
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| LE brought out its tunic for spring in 100% cotton. We are very lucky to live in an era that accepts a casual smart look, letting us show up to a great many events both polished and comfortable! We don't have to sacrifice either style or freedom from pain or constraint to look like we care enough and have made the effort to spruce ourselves up to attend a dinner, performance, or work function. |
Lands' End is the ideal place to go for classic layering pieces, you'll wear for decades. They're stylish and excellent investments!
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Macy's Black Friday Specials To Beat the Cold
| Style Republic |
Macy's Black Friday Specials are on. If you want to buy exceptional holiday gifts for family and friends at a fraction of the usual cost, be sure to start your shopping for big savings now. The following are 8 Black Friday Specials to Beat the Cold for under $50: (available in several colors)
1) Style Republic - 100% Pure Cashmere Women's Ribbed Cuff Beanie - Why settle for acrylic, nylon, or rayon when for the same moola you can get super soft and warm cashmere hats and scarfs? Cashmere feels so fine against the skin, it's the warmest fabric, and it lasts years longer than manmade materials.2) Club Room Cashmere Crew-Neck Sweater, Created for Macy's - Classic and practical menswear. They'll last for decades.
3) On 34th Women's Sweater Blazer, Created for Macy's - It's polyester so you can mindlessly machine wash and cool dry it. As an alternative to a sweater, a blazer is a versatile piece that can be casual or dressy while keeping you warm. At times I like to wear a blazer for its pockets especially if not wearing a jacket.
4) Charter Club Women's Packable Hooded Puffer Coat, Created for Macy's - Puffer coats are very popular nowadays. Lightweight and machine washable, I own a jacket-length puffer coat for fall and early winter before it gets super cold, and a goose-down long puffer coat for January and February. Last year I bought a long puffer coat for my mother too. Although puffer coats weigh next to nothing, they are as toasty warm as animal furs and by far more budget-friendly. A jacket-length puffer coat is perfect to keep the chill at bay without layers before the temperatures drop to freezing.
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Stylish Sporty Fall Finds
No doubt about it, fall has arrived in the Western Hemisphere. With a change of seasons, perhaps you need to add a few new casual pieces to your fall wardrobe? Old Navy is located a couple of blocks from where I live, so it's impossible not to float into the store often when passing. I continue to be amazed by the quality of the retailer's leggings at ultra-affordable price points making them a steal!
The merchant tends to tweak their offerings from year to year so when you find a style you like and they go on sale, it's a good idea to buy a few pairs. You may prefer mostly cotton fabric but next year find mostly polyester or modal as choices. The waistband may change or the flare could be discontinued.
To the left are all the selections of leggings this fall, which consist of different styles, textures (meaning weaves and fabrics), and lengths.
Although 8 offerings require studying each one, a good selection is great for different body types or activities. Two Old Navy leggings I love right now include:
1) High-Waisted Ankle Leggings For Women - Although I prefer jet black, there are other colors too. They sit just below the belly button and are 96% cotton and 4% spandex. Super soft and smooth for comfort, and opaque. Lightweight yet not see-through, I highly recommend them for fall and early winter. They are warm, but not too warm for the sometimes 75-degree F days of autumn. They are fitted through the hips and waist and narrow at the ankles. At times I wear these smooth and lightweight leggings with black ankle socks under a dress in winter instead of tights for warmth with comfort, and nobody is the wiser!
2) Extra High-Waisted PowerChill Leggings For Women - They sit slightly above the belly button and contain 53% cotton, 22% polyester, 13% modal, and 12% spandex. These are light and airy, but also a tad heavier than my 1st recommendation above. Great for Pilates, yoga, or a workout. They are fitted at the hips and thighs and narrow at the ankles. The fabric offers 4-way strength with stay-dry, sweat-wicking technology. They also have an elastic waist that has an inside pocket. Unlike pair #1, they'll be warm enough to take you through the winter months and in the jet-black hue can be dressed up with ballet flats and a blazer. They also come in shorter 7/8 lengths.
3) Dr. Scholl's Women's Time Off Platform Sneakers - I'm recommending these with caveats. Not only are they cute and feminine with leggings, jeans, and dresses, but the platforms provide a measure of arch support and stable heels. Customers love how comfortable they are for walking. For sneakers they are also well priced, but here's the rub ... customers report if you wear them a lot for walking, they won't last longer than 6 months to a year. The shoes' material tends to separate from the rubber, so don't pay the full retail price but wait for a generous sale. I'd buy the Time Off Platforms on sale for $40, but not at $69 or $100. Even at the lower price, I'd be disappointed if they didn't last. To be competitive, Dr. Scholl needs to resolve this manufacturing weakness to make these stylish and supportive sneakers as durable as Nikes and Converse! Sneakers are made for walking … but sometimes a cute style we know to baby is tempting, no?
Saturday, November 12, 2022
Retailers Are Selling Fleece Jackets
| Uniqlo specializes in innovative outerwear. |
| Photos: Uniqlo, one of my favorite retailers for quality basics |
So now we're entering the fall and winter seasons and what I see retailers (such as Macy's, Kohl's, Uniqlo, and Old Navy) selling are warm fleece jackets. Uniqlo designs them to be windproof and toasty warm. I'd never judge another person who favors fleece outerwear -- different strokes for different folks -- but you'll never see me wearing it. Fleece looks too casual for my liking. My personal style tends to be what gets called casual smart. Whatever I put on in the morning, I like for it to carry me through the entire day to avoid the hassle of changing attire (other than for a gala event), so I buy clothing like slacks, dresses, and jackets that can be dressed up or down with a simple change of shoes and/or perhaps by adding a scarf or piece of jewelry.
Although there's nothing wrong with fleece, per se ... it's too casual and too limited for my personal style. I don't feel dressed up enough (or casual smart) in fleece, and I'd also have to buy another jacket for a night out on the town. I'd rather invest in a multi-purpose wardrobe including outerwear. It means one jacket I never get tired of wearing that makes me feel like a million bucks every time I put it on, plus it carries me through an entire day into the evening.



