Retailers Are Selling Fleece Jackets

Uniqlo specializes in innovative outerwear.

All of us have a personal everyday style of how we see ourselves and sometimes what makes us feel like a million bucks wearing it. I'll tell you mine, and you can tell me yours. One day as I exited my Manhattan apartment building, a kind neighbor in his 70s said, "You're always dressed up and look so nice!" I was surprised and flattered by his compliment. The truth is I wear a t-shirt in some form; slacks or leggings; and a cardigan nearly every day from the fall to the early spring. In the summer I wear lots of casual dresses (some a fit and flare t-shirt style) that can be machine washed and dried, paired with flats or nice sneakers. Nothing fancy, yet coordinated basics.

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. 

The end photos are from Unqlo and the middle photo is from Kohls.

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.

Uniqlo and Pendelton at Macy's

But I'm just one person, one opinion. Fashion is a matter of taste. Fleece is in vogue! Would you buy a fleece jacket or coat?

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What Does Argireline Do?

As a consumer, I think I'm fairly knowledgeable about anti-aging skincare. I try to take care of my skin by using products backed by science, keeping it as simple as possible, and I learn new information every week. Only recently did I hear of acetyl hexapeptide 8 also known as Argireline on the market. It is sometimes called Botox in a bottle.

Serums and creams with effective anti-aging ingredients contain either: 1) Retin-A (prescription Tretinoin and its non-prescription derivatives, Retinal and Retinol), 2) Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid); 3) glycolic acid (a hygroscopic crystalline compound that is widespread in nature. Longer name: hydroxyacetic acid.) or 4) peptides (defined as two or more amino acids, a compound, linked in a chain). All 4 ingredients work to do different things for the skin.

C34H60N14O12S

Argireline is a peptide compound with a similar chemical structure to botulinum toxin (or Botox). It is used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles caused by repeated facial expressions. As it turns out, just like Botox acetyl hexapeptide 8 works by stopping the production of neurotransmitters, thereby relaxing the facial muscles and softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If you see acetyl hexapeptide 3 as the listed ingredient, know it's interchangeable with acetyl hexapeptide 8 to confuse us. :)

Argireline also stimulates the skin to produce more collagen, a protein that forms large eosinophilic fibers to rebuild muscles and this also diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Wham!💥and double wham!!💥😄

Research shows a 30% reduction in wrinkle depth when Argireline is used for 30 days, so acetyl hexapeptide 8 is promoted as an excellent, non-invasive alternative to Botox. Argireline also moisturizes dry skin and improves the skin's elasticity. Sometimes dermatologists talk about protecting or restoring your skin barrier (the outermost layer of skin that is bound together by lipids). Inside the skin cells are keratin and natural moisturizers. Moisturizing with oils, ceramides, and/or Argireline helps to keep your skin barrier healthy. Keeping your skin barrier moist and dewy makes you look younger.

Without a doubt, THE SAVVY SHOPPER recommends Argireline over Botox ... not even close! Think twice before injecting anything artificial and expensive into your face that only lasts 3 - 6 months! What a waste of time and money!! Not to mention you want some expression lines to look natural. The robot look is not beautiful!🤖

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Appalachian Spoon Bread

Photo: Haggicentric

Spoon bread is a popular Appalachian side dish probably of Native American origin. Lighter than cornbread, it's a cross between a soufflè and Yorkville pudding. Neither a bread nor a dessert, the dish goes well with a beef stew dinner or a breakfast with butter and syrup. The recipe below is traditional Appalachian and linked, but unfortunately uncredited. Here's how to make it the authentic way (yet feel free to substitute yellow cornmeal and baking soda if the ingredients are all you have in your cupboard. Yes, it will change the texture, but you can still eat it.):

Appalachian Spoon Bread

Ingredients:

Photo: Only In Your State

2 3/4 milk

1 cup white cornmeal

2 tablespoons butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon salt

4 large eggs, separated

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 pinch salt

Directions:

1) In a saucepan on a stovetop heat the milk and cornmeal, whisking constantly until thick and creamy. Turn the heat off and whisk in the 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 teaspoon of salt. Let the mixture cool a bit.

2) In a mixing bowl whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar and whisk the egg yolk mixture into the cooled cornmeal mixture.

3) In a separate mixing bowl use an electric mixer to beat together the egg whites, 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar, and a pinch of salt until the egg whites form peaks, then fold the egg whites into the cornmeal mixture.

Photo: Only In Your State

4) Pour into a large buttered cast iron skillet (or buttered dutch oven).

5) Bake in a 350-degree F preheated oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven.

Eat the spoon bread warm and the leftovers cold the next day. Soft, moist, filling, and delish! This is a keeper recipe and that's why it's on the blog, so we can all return here to make it now and again.

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I Can't Watch Mel In Melbourne Anymore

Rodeos, starting at $585+, are Hermès bag charms. Mel collects them.

It happened today. Finally, I deleted Mel In Melbourne's link from THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S sidebar.

Her many luxury buys on YouTube are starting to alarm me, and nobody is asking how she's paying for a ton of unboxings worth thousands and thousands of dollars each and every week! Her collection of the most exclusive luxuries easily adds up to 1/2 million dollars+, and yet every single week, she buys another Hermès, Chanel, Dior, or Louis Vuitton bag, outfit, jewelry, or pair of shoes. Then there are her repeated trips abroad to Hawaii, Dubai, South Korea, and Europe to shop while raising two children with a husband, who buys one Rolex watch after another. Something isn't adding up and IMHO it is a total lack of transparency.

Unless an ordinary person is in organized crime with luxury goods falling off the back of a truck, how does one pay for so many high-ticket items? It's a vital, indispensable part of the story that isn't being told. Therefore, the most interesting piece of the puzzle is missing leaving a huge hole in Mel's YouTube channel, and after a period of time, the unboxings get rather boring. I mean, what is the value to followers that Mel In Melbourne is, again and again, excited about acquiring yet another Birken, Kelly, or Rodeo in a new color? It's insane!

Mel is an engaging influencer and if meeting her, I think I'd like her if she's anything at all like her YouTube persona. Also, I don't have to be a luxury bag collector myself to enjoy an informative browse, or to learn about luxury goods. Likewise, if visiting a mansion, I know I'm not a lord of the manor, and when looking at a Rembrandt, Van Dyke, or Van Gogh, I don't expect to tack the paintings up on my own walls. But more and more I'm becoming a minimalist of material goods for a myriad of reasons. For one, 1% of the world's population uses about 80% of the world's resources, while much of the world lives in abject poverty. In 2022 the number of people entering poverty is rising. The imbalance makes excessive, over-the-top spending not right! Dare I say even a little vulgar.

After watching a year of Mel's videos, her overconsumption is not aligning with my own values of being a more mindful shopper. I might indulge in a once-in-a-while splurge, but then stop buying after my need is met. I can't eat cotton candy every day of the week either!

IMHO, Mel must level with her viewers to stay relevant. I waited long enough for the answer to how she is able to afford her ongoing non-stop shopping sprees, plus I'd like to know why nobody else on social media talks about it? To boot, we only see the you-go-girl type of comments under her videos. Really?

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Trend Alert: Chunky Necklaces

Matthew Williams for Givenchy

While researching upcoming jewelry trends, I stumbled upon another craze predicted to come our way in 2022: Chunky Necklaces, but to be fair, chunky necklaces were also predicted to be a fad in 2020 as I reported here, so where have today's fashion editors been? I can only guess that with everybody staying home during COVID the trend got delayed until now. I also think regardless of what year it is, a chunky necklace is always timeless as a statement piece.🙂

It's a great reason to do a roundup of several beautiful and very wearable Chunky Necklaces designed by Givenchy's American creative director, Mathew Williams.

Photos courtesy of The New York Times of Givenchy during Paris Fashion Week.

Associates say Mr. Williams is calm, nice, and collaborative ... always asking his crew what they think of new designs. Many people who have worked with him say he really cares about the work, the design and is a bit of a Renaissance man who brings his interests of art and science to the worktable. He researches fabrics, materials, and their origins.

The left photo is from Saks and the right photo is from Givenchy

The left photo is from Mantle magazine and the right photo is from Neiman Marcus.

The left and right necklaces are available at Neiman Marcus. Many of the Givenchy necklaces come in silver, gold, or 2-tone.

Mr. Williams judges fashion by whether or not he would wear it. This American brings a touch of European urbanism to the House of Givenchy. The chunky padlock necklace is his creation. Givenchy's newest Creative Director "likes the idea that fashion can give us some sense of escape, beauty and ''imagination of the future,'' yet he also embraces ''tradition ... warmth, comfort, ease ... security ... (out of) knowing there's so much chaos around us.'' His work is also practical and accessible, with a trace of softness -- all of which are sure to become his signature at Givenchy. What I love about the chunky necklaces is there's something clean about them, and you would wear them off the runway as the design isn't over-the-top, excessive, or ridiculous. The top necklace is gorgeous! With Matthew Williams at the helm, Givenchy is the fashion house to watch!

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Trend Alert: Ear Stacking

Celebrity photos: Cosmopoltian - go here 

 A glance at the fashion runways gives us a clue about a fashion jewelry trend about to break in 2022: Ear Stacking. It appears celebrities and runway models are already rocking the trend. 

Photo: Cosmopolitan

Clip-ons are available for those who don't want to add multiple ear piercings. The higher up you pierce your ears, the more it hurts to do it.

Ear stacking can be expressed in your own style from dainty to chunky. Many of the photos feature another of this year's jewelry trends -- loops. But do loops ever really go out of style?

I wear earrings every day, and I won't lie: Although I like the look of ear stacking, I aim to keep my life simple by sticking with wearing a single pair of earrings per day. I have no desire to fuss with multiple earrings. I'd have to buy more earrings, as well as, style them. Yikes, how much time does THAT add to dressing in the morning?  

The places for ear stacking are from the bottom of the ear up, namely the lobe, upper lobe, helix, conch, rook, daith, tragus, and forward helix. Click here to learn where these parts of the ear are; how long it takes the piercings to heal; and how to stack your earrings. Fashionistas are bound to try it.

Enjoy the read from a knowledgeable source because for sure I will not be adding other piercings to my ears and therefore cannot speak from experience. 

Diamond studs will always be a girl's best friend. But the more the merrier? Clearly more expensive. You decide.

Like me, you may not flock to every fad, but now you know what's coming our way, jumping from the runway to main street.

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White House Black Market Roundup

Matte Jersey Twist Front Dress

White House Black Market isn't only an online retailer, the upscale fashion merchant who opened in 1985 operates over 440 boutiques and 6o outlets across the USA, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It's the perfect place to find a holiday or gala dress with shoes and accessories to match.

Above are 3 different women styling a classic Little Black Dress, in fact, the same super versatile Matte Jersey Black Studded Dress which flatters all body types from curvy to slim!

Another helpful feature of the website lets customers shop for an entire look. Under a dress, blouse, blazer, or trousers are 3 different ensembles, and you can click on the coordinating shoes and /or accessories for purchase if you need them. What a fun browse for style ideas! [You can go to the website by clicking on the little black dress to see a 3rd way to wear it.]

The prices on White House Black Market are surprisingly affordable for some very cute fashion that I would describe as classic modern style sometimes with an edge.

Have you chosen your party attire yet?

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New York Celebrates Halloween 2022

All Photos: New York Simply - go here - They added a disappointing note: Many of these photos are from 2021! I took my own photos in 2021 -- click the 2nd link directly after the blog to see them -- then watch the video for 2022 decorations if you wish.

Cry me an East river, will you? I couldn't walk around my Upper East Side Manhattan neighborhood this year to photograph its Halloween decorations. I've been sooo busy, so instead, I'll link you up to 20 images uploaded by New York Simply to capture the 2022 walk that never was. Despite all, we need our Gotham City Halloween fix, don't we?

On Halloween Night I'll be doling out candy, a ton of Tootsie Rolls and Smarties. Chocolate is unsafe to bring home as we want to save the candy for treat-or-treaters. I like Smarters and Tootsie rolls but can stop after eating a roll.🍬

If you wish to see my photos of Halloween Walks Past on the Upper East Side, click the links below.🎃👇

All Photos courtesy of New York Simple

Stay safe ... when in doubt, don't. Stick to areas you know well, and like a New Yorker, always be aware of your surroundings. We only want to attract harmless scares.

Happy Halloween, Spirits & Friends!

Here's a YouTube video with Upper East Side Halloween sights for 2022. Somebody did the work for me when I couldn't do it myself this year. Thank you uploader! ...

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