Casual and Chic

I often have people ask me why I don’t dress more often in casual outfits.  Quite honestly, I am one of those women who just loves the whole process of putting looks together…. creating the outfit…. deciding on the jewelry, the shoes, the purse, the sunnies and reading glasses, and last but not least my fun hats!! This usually leads me towards looks that are not always considered to be the typical casual  look.

However, after being asked this again quite a few times recently, I decided to intentionally start to cultivate what MY casual style looks like.  I have been looking at lots of IG and web sites and collecting different ideas that fit my personality and style.   I am still working on it ….. and I Have to admit that I am a work in progress in this particular area of casual fashion!

This weekend, I put together this casual look for lunch and running errands!!   It’s an easy and comfortable look!  Monochromatic in shades of gray!

I started the look with this new gray jacket that I got from Walmart!  I have been really impressed with some of the fashion additions that they have brought into the brick and mortar store as well as online.  The jacket is from the line, Athletic Works.  The material is an ottoman ribbed fabric in a 81% Cotton, 16% Polyester, and 3% Spandex blend.

The jacket  is also  lightweight and unlined. The sleeves have cuffs and a zip enclosure. The zipper is a gray hue and has a cute gray circle pull! I love the length of the jacket as it does a fabulous job of covering my front and back in my gray tights!  With other pants, I can choose to leave it open! …..an added extra would be the fabulous pockets that are there to stash my gotta have items! It is also machine washable!

For this look, I paired the jacket with my lightly darker gray tights and a cute gray …. you guessed it turtle neck and my tapestry ankle boots!

Now with an eye to bringing a few pops of color into the monochromatic look, I added a blue and silver necklace, blue earrings and and my fun blue hat!!  One could just as easily gone with silver jewelry and it would have looked great as well!

I love the jacket and look forward to styling it with different elements of my wardrobe as I continue to develop my casual section of my wardrobe!  Don’t forget to check out some of the great fashion elements that they have at Walmart!!  You just might find something that will help you to expand your outfit options at a really affordable price!!

i hope you have had a fabulous weekend and are all celebrating and honoring Dr. Martin Luther King today for all of his contributions to  our country as one of our greatest civil rights activists!  What a change he helped to bring to us all!!

Lets all take this week on with style, grace and grit, my sweet sisters!!! ❤️

 

Hats in the Belfry!

I just absolutely adore the drama of a hat!! For me, my hats are one of the ways that I like to enhance my personal style! There is an old saying that  goes ‘if you want to get ahead and get noticed, then get a hat’.  Indeed the word ‘ahead’ means just that one head further forward.

Interesting enough, at the turn of the 20^th century in 1900, both men and women changed their hats depending  on the activity that they were engaged in.  It was very common for  ladies of some social standing to change their hats several times a day. Etiquette articles  even suggest that it would’ve been a disgraceful act for a lady to venture out of the house without a hat or even gloves for that matter. I so would have loved  living during that time!!!

Then, things changed. Between 1914- 18 during the Great War, the lives and roles of men and women shifted dramatically.  With the men off fighting the war, the women had to make a move into the workplace and thus needed a more practical style of dress as they took the place of the men.   Times and fashion changed even more when in the 2nd World War , as people were often rushing to bomb shelters.  The hats that were worn at this time tended to be more utilitarian and often  were knitted or a  were a scarf used as a turban head wrap.  While hats were still popular in the 60’s, they began to lose their  style status as a must have accessory.  That brings us to the present where not many women see a hat as a fashion must have!

In spite of the changes, there are a number of us who still take delight in wearing a chapeau! I  proudly count myself as a one of these ladies!!  I adore watching the hat  fashion in England,  seeing the Queen in her various stylish hats,  and knowing that she has such affection of them!  There, hats are worn at christenings, garden parties, weddings, and funerals. The main event for hat wearers is the Royal Ascot Derby. Ladies’ Day at this event is considered to be the “Oscars for original hat design.” Wacky hats are prominently on display each June. I dream of attending it someday!! It’s on my bucket list!!

 

One of the things that I love about wearing a hat  is that they draw one’s eyes immediately to your face and bring about eye contact with the other person which is something that I love to have when I encounter those around me. I do not intend to be invisible ever!!

I was really excited when one of my sweet friends, Jay Guerry, gifted me with  this awesome vintage Betmar  hat!!  He always finds such fun and stylish elements for me to add to my wardrobe! Often adding to the wonderful hats in my belfry!  Betmar hats have certainly been providing women with beautiful hats since 1933 during the Great Depression.  The name, Betmar chosen was taken from Betty Marks, the first designer for the hat company. Within six months Betmar blossomed at key department stores around the country. Betty Marks continued making great designs into the 1950s, and her protégé, Miss Arleen, carried the name and reputation forward for many years. Betmar hats  are sold today in more than 15 countries and are a leader in women’s headwear fashion.  I am so excited to add this beautiful lady to my collection!!

This hat is a natural straw hat with a red fabric trim from the 1950’s!! ( Back when hats were totally cool) The brim of the hat can be positioned however you choose!  I love it when  I have a hat where that is an option,  because you can change the look of the hat very easily!

I wanted to style my look around the hat!! So I chose a red jacket from my closet and my new red slacks from TJ Maxx!   I decided to bring out the color of the hat with my belt and my vintage crocheted shawl!  The look is casual and fun!!!

I also have three other new hats that I will be styling with in the near future! I can’t wait to share them with you!!  More hats in my belfry!!!👒

Keep styling and smiling, my sisters,  and while you’re at it, wear a hat!!!💚👒