Hit Your Style Sweet Spot: Dress for Holiday Shopping Marathon
Welcome to a new collaboration with Jennifer of A Well Styled Life and Pam of over50feeling40. We desire for all of us…the grandmothers, the professionals, the retirees, the volunteers… the fabulous women over 50 …to look and feel our best each and every day. After years of blogging for this audience, we have heard from so many of you about your discouragement and despondency when you look in the mirror every morning. But, we both know just how transformative style can be and we hope to encourage you with specific, step-by-step guidelines right here every Sunday. We would like to see all of us empowered with strength, joy, and confidence!
Each Sunday, we will bring to you a scenario we face each week and show you our step-by-step process as we decide what to wear…you will see on our individual blogs how we handle the challenge and seek our personal sweet spot for the day!
Hello, everyone, hope you had a wonderful week. Our situation to dress for this week is a marathon holiday shopping trip. Many of us will head out to accomplish a lot in little time and need to move quickly with purpose to check off names on the list…too bad there are no Christmas elves to really help us do this!
MY OLD THINKING: Who cares how I look while I am shopping. I will join those women who wear tattered jeans, old t-shirts, and pull over our eyes a baseball cap…we look like we are incognito…no one should know we are at the mall…all identity protected! Because I did not feel good about myself, shopping was always a difficult, maddening experience.
MY NEW THINKING: Shopping is a fun experience…NOT a necessary evil. I will dress my best in order to enjoy my time and approach it as an experience. I enjoy the decorations, music, peppermint lattes…all of it. Blogging has taught me to stop for pictures and look for moments while I am shopping…and the best moments are always the ones which stir me inside. Attitude is so important…we need to clothe ourselves first in a hopeful, joyful attitude this time of year and not an annoyed one.
MY OLD THINKING…Because comfort is important to any successful shopping trip, I thought old comfort clothes and grungy athletic shoes were the necessities. I did not know looking nice and comfort could go hand in hand.
MY NEW THINKING…Now, I know I can look confident and be comfortable at the same time. In Texas, layering is a must. I might leave for marathon shopping when it is cold and by late afternoon be in the warm sunshine. So, I layer from a soft, knit tunic top…to a knit vest…to a coat…and usually leave the coat in the car early on.
ABOUT SHOES….There are so many excellent comfort lines now and they give us great styling options. (return Thursday for a beautiful option)…here are the ones I have shopped in lately from SAS (SAN ANTONIO SHOEMAKERS) (right here in my city) and MEPHISTO.
ABOUT HATS…If you love them, and wear them…then be proud and make them a part of your style. Don’t use a baseball cap to hide under. I own two fun styles from SOFT SURROUNDINGS and love to pull them out during cooler weather! Like this wonderful BERET.
ABOUT JEANS: I love jeans and always will, but I have learned dark denim is a nicer look. Fit is very important with jeans.
NEW THINKING…I want to be confident when I shop and have fun. It goes better when I feel good about how I look and about my comfort level for the day. Be purposeful in your selections for shopping…you will have more fun and get the best service when you smile and are friendly! You also will feel better about trying clothes on after taking the time to fix up.
Now, let’s see what JENNIFER OF A WELL STYLED LIFE is wearing!
Linking to VISIBLE MONDAY…SHOE AND TELL LINK UP…OVER THE MOON LINK PARTY…MONDAY MINGLE…TURNING HEADS LINK UP
I agree about making shopping an experience, not drudgery! I especially like to go during Christmas when I don't need anything. No pressure, I just experience the decorating, music, shoppers and the latte! Love to add lunch with a friend. Especially like the jeans look you put together. I so agree about a darker wash, looks dressier while remaining comfortable!
I really like your dressing attitude! There was a time in my life, too, when I would head out shopping in "whatever," and it was never a pleasant experience. There are just too many mirrors when you are out shopping…. 😉 You truly can be comfortable and look good. You look great! Love the beret!
I went to the mall early the other day…got some coffee at Barnes & Nobles and just walked around enjoying the music and the decorations…it was fun. Thanks for your comments Karen!
I was the same way…I didn't really enjoy shopping until I started to dress up a little better. Thanks Andrea …have a great week!
I love this series, about old thinking and new thinking. We can change our outlook! And you look terrific, love the beret. xo
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Thanks, Patti…it took a long time for me to change, so it is never too late for anyone!
You perfectly prove we can look stylish and comfortable to go shopping! Great choices. This is so fun to do together.
I absolutely agree! I've also discovered that I often get better service when I've taken care with my appearance.
Elaine @ Following Augustine
I like the thought process. The outfit you suggested seems just right, and love your beret
Jessxx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
Thanks, Jess..wearing hats is a little new for me, but I really like this one! Thanks for stopping by.
It really does make a difference with service and perhaps that is not the way it should be, but it is what it is. I also think it communicates to the service people that we care about what we are shopping for…whether a gift or for ourselves.
It has been fun…and your stylish look today is amazing. I have got to try out the Eileen Fisher shoes!
You look lovely. Just saying. Lovely.
Carol
http://carolcassara.com/enough-gratitude/
you look lovely (as usual) but I am lusting after those glittery angels in the second picture! I love this series and all your outfit choices 🙂
((((adds TRENCH COAT to her must get list for sartorial success))))
<3
I love this series. As I sit reading and nursing a cold, I am wondering if you could write about how to hit your style sweet spot when you feel terrible and want to wear your fuzzy slippers and robe but have somewhere you must go. Thanks for this series.
I agree with you, you can look well turned out when shopping. We all have had the experience of running into someone when you thought you could just dash in unnoticed to a store and regret it!
You look perfect for a day of shopping! Comfortable shoes are a must.
A friend commented to me that people seldom dress up for anything these days- they even wear jeans to weddings. She lamented that nothing seems special anymore. I agree that how we dress does reflect our attitude about what we're doing as well as help create it. In Oklahoma we have to layer also which can be challenging. thanks for the suggestions.
I agree. Shopping should be a fun and comfortable experience. I hate shopping in sweats and sneakers especially if I go to a high-end mall. Love all of your choices for sure!
I just love your outfit and the hat is the crowning glory to your outfit. The jeans are a must of me as well.
The beret is sweet love it! I think most people think the word comfort is a bad word in fashion, associating it with sweatpants and sneakers. But as you said, one can be stylish and comfortable when out. You look lovely and yes, we need to enjoy the moments !
Thanks for linking up with Turning Heads Tuesday
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com