Here's a romper that transcends age.  I officially name it the "wide leg romper". The style is misleading, looking more like a dress, the perfect sundress that's mini but not minuscule. This little cutie, the Palma Romper from Anthropologie allows you to go romper all you like without the fear of losing your dignity and it has more than it's fair share of stylish details.  But best of all it's currently on sale at 50% off and is still available on-line as well as in some stores.

At first glance it does appear like a dress as it's flared and wider than a regular romper. It has the length of a mini dress, but since the bottom half is in effect shorts, it doesn't ride up when you bend or move about.

The crisp cool cotton has a floral palm style print in a soft tan and ivory on a black background. There are front pockets, slightly elasticated creating a ruffle top to the pocket opening. The V neck has a button front. The top button is designed to remain undone, and the back has a cute cut out and small elasticated welt for comfort and ease of movement.  It fits lose, so is extremely comfortable, a perfect summer outfit for the soaring temperatures in Arizona, and a great piece to take on holiday.  If you're wondering what to wear under it, the best thing if you can, is to go bra-less. The fabric gives nothing away, it will be your little secret!

Here I paired it with heels to go out in the evening with some friends for a girlfriend's birthday celebration. The tan suede shoes were the statement accessory and also offered balance as they picked out the color in the print.  I kept the bag, choker and sunnies black so not to distract from the romper. 

As always, I like to see how many other ways I can style something to make it a valuable wardrobe asset. To create a more relaxed look, pair the romper with white Superga classic sneakers. These are my all time favorite sneakers. I've been wearing them since I was in my twenties - almost four decades, and they are still going strong despite the trends that come and go. If you don't have a pair of these already, you might want to consider getting some, as they've recently hiked up the price to almost $100. The link below by clicking the thumbnail icon is still at the old price of $65. This casual alternative is an adorable look for the daytime, especially if you're on vacation and have a day of sightseeing planned. Take a denim jacket (blue or white) to throw on if the weather turns cooler, and a hands free cross body bag (in this case black or tan would work), and you have a whole new look.

Here's to wearing a romper well into my fifties, even if it is disguised as a dress!

Have a lovely weekend and thank you for stopping by!
​Karen xox

There's something summery about clothes that billow in the breeze, loose fitting yet drape the body just enough to float airily and swing effortlessly as we walk. This Valerie Stevens blouse, courtesy of Stage Stores has it all, plus it's perfect for the soaring Arizona temperatures, and the best part - it's currently on sale for $9.99.  Click on any of the pictures below to take you right to the store whilst it's still available.

The split back is a high trending style right now, but not always the best trend for us midlife ladies. This top has a double layer, so as the back splits open, the under layer keeps us covered... perfect!  In addition, the double layer adds interesting detail as it's tiered at the front. There's a small zipper at the back, but I don't use it as the neck opening is big enough to pull over the head without opening the zip. What I really love is how the shoulders cut away slightly which gives a really dainty and feminine look. 

To amp up the glam factor, I added an embellished fabric collar necklace. It's also white, but has some different textured beads and bling to add sparkle. It lends a little something special to break up the long line of the top. This is an old necklace from a few years back when the collar necklaces were really big! I love being able to combine an older trend with a current look. You could also add a colored necklace to tone in with another part of your outfit. A long tassel necklace would look lovely, or a chunky gold chain around the neckline - gold looks beautiful with white.

These skinny cropped pants work the best from what I had in my wardrobe, and I like the overall look with heels as they add balance. When a top is longer as this one is, it can make legs look shorter, so a pair of heels counteract that. The Chanel clutch bag added some indulgence! Since everything else was inexpensive I don't feel in the least bit guilty!

This same Valerie Stevens top also comes in a Medallion print and a Black and White print... all on sale!  Thank you to Stage Stores for the wonderful addition to my summer wardrobe.

​Have a wonderful week lovelies!
Karen xox

White jeans are the go to when all else fails no matter the time of year.  If it's cold outside they're  considered winter whites and a wardrobe staple during the warmer months - the essential summer whites. Easy to wear, easy to pair with any color, can be dressed up or down and look glamorous, chic and cool. 

Going in search of jeans can be a daunting task, not least of all the "great white" jeans. Here are my favorites, some that I own and some that I'd like to own! I hope you'll found some ideas worth trying.

These are my newest acquisition from Anthropologie. They're soft, fitted but not tight, so very comfortable, and the kick flare is great for the warmer days of summer since the looser fit throughout the lower leg provides a cooler feel than super fitted skinny jeans - good air circulation!

​They can be dressed up as shown here with a pretty top and heels, but look just as good with flats and a t-shirt. They're also a great price at $88 and come in several other colors, including a beautiful summer pastel mint. Size down, they run large.

Paige has been a popular brand of white jeans for a number of years. These jeans are a classic.  They're mid rise, slim throughout but not tight. They're just a bit skinnier than straight leg jeans but not drainpipe skinny. They look cute rolled up and cuffed if you want to create a more casual style and work equally well worn long to the ankle. Pair with a fitted blouse or a t-shirt for a classic look or with the latest off the shoulder trends to amp up the style. They're the jeans you can wear anywhere and will support any style, the essential white jeans! They're costly at $189, but since they cross all the trend boundaries, a sort of hybrid if you like, they're a good investment.

Not only are these my skinniest jeans, but I only wear them when I'm feeling my skinniest - they are super skinny! They're high trend and have tons of detail from the destructed knees, frayed hems and patches of deliberate wear and tear throughout the thigh. They look great dressed up with heels and a glamorous top as well as a weekend casual laid back look as shown above.

​Despite their name, they're not really low rise, they're more of a mid rise, 8.5 inch rise to be precise.  I can't stand low rise jeans, they always feel as though they're falling down ha ha! As we all know, perfectly placed holes and destruction in a pair of  jeans often come with a high price tag, these are $178!

​In the following picture I'm wearing these jeans as "winter whites"! The picture was taken in December way after Labor Day of course... so, rules are meant to be broken, well fashion rules at least!

Another super skinny pair, but with no fraying or destruction.  For me, some occasions just don't qualify for wearing holey jeans. Here, I was dressed casually for meeting some girlfriends for coffee but  didn't want to feel "threadbare" as we were meeting at a fancy resort hotel, so I decided to leave the bad girl jeans at home. This pair is from The Gap, are super comfortable and priced very reasonably. Given that The Gap often have generous sales going on, the chances of getting them for less than their normal retail price (about $69) are pretty good. 

The Gap are a particularly good source for jeans, especially in this scenario - when you tell yourself you don't need another pair of white skinny jeans, but your other voice says of course you do, the ones you already have are ripped, and you need a pair without rips! You can easily justify a second pair when the price isn't going to hurt your wallet.  Plus, they have lots of different cuts for different shapes, so it's not too difficult to find a pair that fit and feel great. 

This is a pair I would love. I'm a big fan of Mother jeans and the current high low hem trend - so much so, I wrote a blog on how to make your own high low hem jeans, aka step hem jeans - click HERE to go directly to the blog.

These jeans are super soft and feel thinner than a lot of denim so are ideal for the soaring Arizona temperatures.  I also love that they're cropped, especially given the current shoe trends with  many summer sandals having ankle straps.  The fancy hem line draws attention to your ankles so you really get to fully show off your shoes. These are one of my favorites, but are costly for a high trend style that may be short lived, coming in at $198.

Madewell is a brand that offers reasonable prices for good quality and a comfortable fit.  Despite the image above they are not as pin thin as they look. They are cut with a realistic figure in mind, and run fairly true to size.  They don't carry any super high trend designs choosing to play it slightly more conservative, but offer a good cross section of main stream styles, washes and cuts.  They're definitely worth looking into. The high rise skinny jeans are a great buy for $125 and I personally love a higher rise, it makes me feel pulled together!

The best thing about these jeans is the front pockets are reinforced to create a flattening effect across the tummy, and who doesn't need that after a glass of wine and some happy hour nibbles! In addition the fabric gives a smoother appearance than some other white denim brands due to it's opaque rather than sheer consistency.

Click on the thumbnail pictures below to take you directly to the stores that sell the jeans featured in this article, I've also added a few other similar suggestions.

Thank you for stopping by
Karen xox

When a dress works in a casual setting, a smart setting and a few more in between you've got a pretty good deal. This Zara dress is the perfect style to turn into a host of different looks effortlessly and effectively and it's less than $50.  But, you can just as easily take a  plain dress you may already own and turn it into a stylish chameleon with a few tricks and inexpensive accessories.

Living in a warm climate generally lends itself to casual attire, Arizona is no exception. It ranks high on the list of flip flop wearers despite there being no beach!  However, there comes a time when a closet full of casual clothes isn't going to suffice.  A pair of tailored pants is all you need to take you from meeting with your accountant to dinner with the girls!

French women have long been known for wearing silk scarves in the most stylish manner.  Today the scarf seems to have regained popularity especially the little neck ties.  I've recently found myself enjoying some silk scarves I've had in my closet for thirty years or so, as well as new ones more recently purchased. So here I share some of those looks and how I've used the scarf to change up an outfit.

A casual spring, summer and fall ensemble made up of two perfectly easy to wear items that are so on point not just from a trend perspective but also on price.   A flat buttery soft slide shoe with decorative bow detail and a cold shoulder flow easy tee shirt.  If you're not a pink fan, no worries, this tee shirt also comes in six other colors, and the shoes are also available in black.

This latest trend of high low hem jeans, also known as the step hem is not something I saw coming!  Initially it seemed bizarre, but as with all things fashion if seen often enough, it inevitably catches on.  The drawback is how expensive this style is to purchase, I've seen prices ranging  from $150 to well over $200.  So, I decided to take a very old pair of jeans and risk the alteration experiment.  I'm glad I did, it was easy, they turned out well and pretty authentic looking.   

My obsession with the kimono began a few years back, when I saw one of the "Real Beverley Hills Housewives" wearing a brightly colored sheer floaty cardigan on the show and I knew I had to find something similar.  It took a year to find one I really loved, and this is it. 

Here's a simple outfit that works for a casual get together, lunch or dinner.  It has a rustic feel to it with the black and tan color scheme. The saddle bag and tan suede shoes add to the somewhat "country" theme, but the leopard print sends it "down town" along with the ballet style lace up sandals.

Upon observation, it seems the most recent styles from last summer through to the present have transitioned from off-the-shoulder to cold shoulder, to bell sleeves, to drama sleeves -  and I've enjoyed every minute of it!  All of the above are still going strong, but the latter is the new kid on the block.  Here's my favorite find thus far to throw spotlight on this newcomer.

There is always somewhere good to be in Arizona at any time of the year, despite the soaring temperatures in the summer.  It's a state with it's own climate control.  A couple of hours north or a couple of hours south, we've got it all covered, just find your comfort zone.  At this time of year, you want to be right here, Scottsdale and Phoenix, the places to be, weather included.  With so much going on, from music festivals to rodeos, art shows to championship golf tournaments and everything in between.  It's alive with life, the State's own entertainment capital.

A jumpsuit is a great way to elevate a casual style and to offer up a change to the jeans and  tee shirt look.  For the casual style jumpsuit, cotton or chambray denim fabrics are very popular.  Whether you prefer plain or patterned,  they're super comfortable, tres chic, and make a bold style statement.  There are a few key notes I would recommend when wearing a jumpsuit so to keep the overall look in proportion.

With spring just around the corner and finally the reduction in layers of clothing, it's fun to start exploring the parts of your closet you closed down and said goodbye to as fall came upon us last year.  It always brings a renewed sense of inspiration to formulate new outfits or different pairings with existing clothes as we are tempted by the new seasons colors and styles.