If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you know that my style is pretty much basic. It’s all based on my school uniforms from many years ago andon the way my mother dressed me as a young girl.
Ozone Park, Queens, NYC. Easter Sunday. 1959. The checked coat–perhaps this is where my love of classic clothing started. My mother was pregnant. Again. There were four more pregnancies to come.
Plaid. Blazers. Nothing fussy. Timeless. Classic. And fitted.
Plaid. And more plaid!
I prefer a uniform and understated look in my clothing.
blazer, white shirt, jeans = my usual weekend uniform
Flamboyance is not my thing. I’m not a dramatic dresser. Some women of my age group may think I’m boring in my choice of attire—and that’s fine because I don’t venture out of my comfort zone.
That goes for my choices in cosmetics too. Red lips? They were fine when I was younger, but as I’ve aged, my lips are not the one feature that has aged to perfection. Cheek color? I love a nice pink but very lightly. And although I love a dark eye, I stick to neutrals.
Contrary to popular belief, red lips do NOT look fabulous on all women. I prefer a more subdued look. I’ll keep the red for my nails!
Yeah. I’m a creature of habit.
But something happened recently that made me go out of my comfort zone.
I follow a young woman on Instagram. We started following each other after we were both featured in the Buzzfeed article about Fenty Cosmetics. (Click that link–she’s Number 4 and I’m Number 8) Her feed @kate_zilla is great! She’s so talented with makeup and her eye looks are absolutely gorgeous.
@kate_zilla you HAVE to check out her eye looks!
Anyway, she offered a collaboration of other Instagrammers to come up with glittery eye looks—glitter shadows had to be used. How could I not pass this up? For me it was a challenge to go out of my comfort zone with makeup. And I did.
However, I did it my way and kept it somewhat neutral. I used shadows that I had on hand that were never used. Here’s the look!
On my lids I have a mix of Wet’nWild gold glitter and Too Faced Tigers Eye. I also used Fenty Trophy Wife highlighter and two bareMinerals powder shadows…
The Wet’nWild glitter shadow is so old that I don’t even know if it is still in production. It’s coloricon C352B, Brass. The photo on the right are the two bareMinerals shadows I used. The top is cultured pearl–a very light pearlized pink. The bottom is True Gold. I used the cultured pearl under my brow bone.
I used Tiger’s eye on the corner of my eyes and to line the bottom of my eyes..
I finished off the look with a touch of Trophy Wife on my lids as well!
Some glitter and glitz for the day!
This is a look that’ll be used the next time Bonaparte and I go out to dinner!! I’ll light up the restaurant!
Honestly, I have to thank Katy for pushing me to out of my comfort zone with this. Earlier this morning I went to the nail salon and everyone said that my face looked very pretty. I’m sure it was because I had a different eye look that just popped out!
My face got a lot of compliments at the nail salon today. And this was taken after I had my lip and chin waxed so the face makeup is a bit wonky!
But that isn’t the only way I took a step out of my comfort zone. I purchased an item of clothing that I swore I would never purchase.
It happened when I was perusing the Shein website earlier in the week. In my viewing, I noticed a couple of kimonos. They looked really interesting. Now—I’m not going to say beautiful, because, to me, they truly were items that piqued my interest. Bonaparte’s aunt, Danièle wore kimonos and hers were very elegant and she looked chic. The strange thing about this particular article of clothing is that it can look a bit costume-ish if not worn the right way. And I abhor the look of a woman in costume when it isn’t either Halloween or a theme party!
This was the first one that caught my eye! And the price of $15 made it more interesting
But I kept going back to this one kimono that was gray (neutral) with designs that were more muted.
I couldn’t help myself. I was drawn to this kimono too!
Well, I ended up ordering both–for a grand total (shipping included) of $31.
The gray one was delivered the other day–I’m still waiting for the white printed one.
Worn with a fitted ballet neck tee, this really is a nice look…
This polyester kimono is made in the USA..and although can be machine-washed, I would air dry it!
The one I received– I “modeled” for Bonaparte today. When I explained that I went completely out of my comfort zone with this but liked it, he had nothing but high praise for it.
Actually, I HAD to model it for my husband because my damned selfie-stick broke and he had to snap the pics! I’m loving the way this looks with jeans and metallic heels!
It’s out of my comfort zone, but I don’t think it is over the top or flamboyant!
What I absolutely love about this kimono is that it’ll be perfect during those summer days at the office when the air conditioning is up a bit high, but I won’t need a sweater. This is also going to be great for air travel.
I also like the gray color because it’ll lend itself so well to wear with black leggings. I think this was a great choice.
What do you think?
Sometimes it’s fun to go out of your comfort zone. I’m still a blazer girl but every now and then changing it up can be a good thing!
Today is National Stripes Day! Always a celebration! I’m wearing stripes in a French mode and thinking of my Father-In-Law Dany and Bonaparte’s Stepfather Jean. Both loved those striped shirts!
Always inspired by menswear, I’m in my comfort zone in stripes!!
And in keeping with the spirit of classical music, I was listening to Liszt earlier in my car. I’m a sucker for those Hungarian Rhapsodies! Number 6
I would definitely be out of my comfort zone wearing ripped jeans. I look at them and think, “if I didn’t get them ripped and distressed doing something fun I don’t want them.” Can’t get over that feeling.
Hi Bobbi! I get that feeling with many articles of clothing. But I just love those torn jeans. I dunno know–it’s something that’s so comfortable to me and I enjoy the way they look!!! XOXOXOXOXO!!!!
Love that kimono! (and the short messy hair looks great) Actually kimonos are very popular here with the younger crowd and I sometimes think they look like they have forgotten the dressing gown on (or even the pajama sometimes), but yours have a nice shorter length and is more billowy. I think new things can be fun, and it´s never a good thing to rule anything in your life out, until you´ve tried it! I do have a glitzy golden eyeshadow, and it looks horrible on me, so I´m not gonna follow down that road…
Hi Angelin. You know, that’s one of the reason I wasn’t crazy about the kimonos–they look like robes and it’s a weird pj thing!! But it’s true, I love the billowy look of the one I chose. New things are fun and you don’t have to go too far out of the zone!!!!! LOL. That wet’nwild glitter must be over six years old and I finally used it!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
That kimono is gorgeous and looks great on you!! And I had no idea it was National Stripes Day, yet here I am in my navy and white striped top! Lol
LOL–Lori! So glad you had your stripes on!!! I’m glad you dig that kimono!!! XOXOXO!!!!
Not my thing but I have to say I LOVE It!!!
Thanks Linda!!! Glad you are digging it!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
Both make up and kimono look fab, go girl! Always good to try a change : )
Thanks Bone!!!!! It’s so true. Change IS good!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
Like the kimono but am really loving the shorter and lighter hair. Very youthful looking.
Thanks Rita. I’m absolutely in love with this Violet Wig!!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
Happy Spring and Easter! Wow you are so adventurous with the metallic eye, but I think it looks perfect for a dressy evening wear. I have droopy eyelids so I feel I have to be extra conservative with eye makeup. I have a metallic (barely) in taupe that I love.
Love the kimonos…..the grey is beautiful. I have a long silk kimono that I often wear on Sunday am for a nice brunch with my sweetie. Then I have two short silk kimonos, I bought one at chicos yrs ago for about 90 but I like the one I got at thrift store better for 6. Can wear them with anything……nice black slacks or with jeans……So feminine.
I want to be one of those beautiful older women with gorgeous white hair and flowing kimonos and pajamas and cute ballet slippers. Like a scene from a movie….ha ha. I have the white hair….check.
The kimonos….check. I need ballet slippers and perhaps a young man to slip them on for me…….sorry hubby!
LOL!! Christine! Happy Easter to you as well! The gray kimono is great for the price of less than twenty bucks. $90 for a kimono and I think Chico’s is ridiculously overpriced on a great deal of their merch. I’ll bet your thrifted one is far superior!! LOL. I just want to BE an older woman. Period!!1 XOXOXOXOXOXOXO!!!!!
The white print kimono is pretty but the gray print is really gorgeous!
Looks like I’ll have to check out that web sight because the price is great too.
Hi Bec. Yeah. The prices are great! I’m loving the gray print more and more because it’ll go so well with so many items for four seasons!!! XXOXOXOXO!!!!
PS…..the shorter hair is so cute……Like it messy……that just out of bed fukd look ……you can see what is on my mind today…….sorry….not!
Tee Hee! Thanks Christine! I love this wig so much. I ordered a second. I love a hot mess of hair!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
I have been tempted to order from Shein, but their absurdly low prices have always made me fear that the material and construction of the garments would be inferior. You look adorable in that kimono! It doesn’t look baggy or shapeless. And I have absolutely no idea why you are going to Weight Watchers! Your thighs look tiny. I admire your discipline.
Hi Marsh. Yeah. Shein can be challenging to order from–that’s why the reviews of the items are so important. The gray kimono looked like a winning situation since it was one size. Also–kimonos are loose fitting to begin with so they are pretty-much a safer bet. I’m thrilled with the gray kimono. I liked it online but I’m loving it IRL!! Well….I gained weight and wanted to nip it in the bud before it got worse!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
I think it’s absolutely fabulous that you tried something new and different Catherine. I think we all need that from time to time!! It keeps us young at heart and a little surprise is never a bad thing!
And can I say how FABULOUS the outfit is? OMG…totally amazing and youthful!! In a good way (really a great way) !!
You go girl!! Next thing you know, you’ll be sporting sock booties!!! LOL!!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
LOL! Jodie. Sock Booties. Yer killing me there girlfriend! But it’s so true. It’s a great thing to leave your comfort zone every now and then…and I find that I am really loving this kimono thing!! Are they my new blazers?????? !!!!! XXOXOXOXO!!!
Moving away from your comfort zone is what keeps you young! Keeps all the cylinders firing. Ya know when you see dames still sporting the same ‘look’ since their 20’s? I do know women who have ( it seems) worn the same hair style for years but on closer inspection the hair has changed subtlety over time. Going short and blonde is a big change for you in the wig zone and looks fab. The kimono is awesome. Still classic but with a softer feminine twist and great for the summer. Now I do wear the red lip but it looks ok on me.yeah, yeah it’s a hella upkeep watching the teeth and prepping to prevent ‘run off’ so it’s not an every day look but looks good ( for now) on special occasions. Now red nail polish was a stretch for me, but I now love it!!
Happy Easter to you and yours, we’re doing the fam brunch tomorrow ( have to be considerate of nap times now) our little bunny is five months old on Monday. Now being a grandmother, there’s something that REALLY pushed me out of my comfort zone!!! Just the idea of it seemed weird as I came to motherhood so late…but #1 didn’t want to be an ‘old’ Dad!!! Millennials!!!!!
Catherine you look so wonderful and cannot see why you go to WW. You are so skinny! I admire your taste in everything you do. Happy 🐣
Hi Linda. I got a gut! It’s got to go!!! Trust me, I don’t want to lose too much weight because as we get older, I think a bit of weight is a good thing. Happy Easter to you and yours!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
Happy Easter to you and your family Momcat! It’s quite for us. With mine scattered about the US and Roman spending the day with his dad, and B’s daughter and family in Aruba, we’re chillin! It’s quite nice to have one quiet holiday!!! I’m thrilled that you are enjoying the changes I’ve made. I’m still jelly of you for being able to wear the red lippy!!!! Have a great great Easter!!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
Oh my goodness you look absolutely
beautiful! I never really got the kimono look
but you have me reconsidering..I like yours
as it’s not too long! Sometimes it’s good to
go outside our comfort zone! Well done!
Thanks Sharon!! Right???? I never got into that look either until I decided to just go for it–the price was right and if it looked that bad, I could always give the kimonos to my daughter or my sister!!! Thank you!!! XOXOXOXO!!! PS. I say reconsider and go for it!!!
Wow! I simply ADORE the gray kimono. And it looks just gorgeous on you! I may consider getting one as well because it would likely still fit as I lose weight. (Not weight watchers, but low carb which has worked well for me in the past.) The kimono would also be a bit outside my comfort zone but then … the 70s is the time to try new things!!!!
Hi Tina! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The kimono is a GREAT weight loss journey article of clothing–it hides what needs to be hidden for now and will still fit later on!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
You’re adorable! I LOVE your classic style. Not a bit boring to me. Have a happy Easter.
Thanks Cathe!!!! Happy Easter to you and yours!!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
Catherine, you are full of surprises. 🙂 You rock the kimono! It’s a different silhouette from your preferred classics, but refreshing and beautiful on you. Love how you style it with the torn jeans. Stylish with a playful and an effortless vibe. I agree the short lighter hair is perfect. Yesterday was classical music, today rock and rock and rolling a kimono, can’t wait for the next post. 🙂 Have a great Easter! XO Amelia
Hi Amelia! Thanks so much. Yeah. I love the kimono but my blazers are NOT taking a back seat any time soon–lol!!! Glad you are liking the shorter hair!!!! Happy Easter to you too!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
How gorgeous you are! I think the kimono will look great with your striped tops too.
Hi Heidi!!!! Oh………. I think a very pale stripe and that kimono will rock!!! Thank you so much!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
Hi Catherine I am one of your regular readers. I am very new to blogging,so this is a TEST to see if this is where to contact you – it says in french “tapez votre reponse au dessus de cette ligne”. So as I have written before and never hear back. …….I think it may be that I tried to reach you in the wrong place. I live in Switzerland Geneva, but grew up in Cannes so am bilingual . There are so many questions Iwould love you to write about. Happy Easter , Bonnes Pâques. Maureen
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Bonjour Maureen!!! Question away! Your test passed and here you are and welcome aboard! OMG. You were so lucky to have grown up in Cannes! I feel badly that your past messages were never received!!! But, I hope to hear from you regularly. Thank you so much!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
You are rocking the kimono, the grey one is such a good length and very pretty, as is the lippy you’re wearing in the top pic. (Can you remember what it was?) Yeah, it’s a good thing to leave your comfort zone once in a while.
I also can’t see why you’d need WW as you look very trim. Bonnes Pâques! Xxx
Fiona. It’s the Meringue lippy from NYX. I’m wearing it alone with no other glosses!!!! Hey, that weight gain that is the elusive kind–that you really can’t see yet but you can feel it–that’s before the shit hits the fan so to speak. I’m glad I’m getting it under control!!!! Thank you though!!!!!!! Happy Easter!! XOXOXOXO!!!
I love your classic style and you know what works on you and wear it well! But it’s nice to try something new and find that it also works. Your glittery eye is terrific and fun for special occasions. I’m so glad you tried it and did it your way because I think that’s the whole idea. Get inspired and like Tim Gunn says, make it work! I am a LOVER of kimonos, they are my love language. Yours is adorable on you and fun. Shein prices trendy clothing right so you can’t go wrong. That wig of yours is so adorable on you – you look so chic from head to toe!
xo,
Kellyann
Hi Kellyann. Happy Easter! OMG. I have an autographed photo of Tim Gunn. I love him. And I love him even more because he’s such a gentleman. My son Roman was working on that Runway show he was on. Anyway, one morning Tim Gunn addressed my son as Ronan. When he realized he made an error with the name, he started apologizing profusely to my son. And my son said that Mr. Gunn is just an incredibly nice man. I always try to make stuff work–LOL!!
Trust me, I’m really beginning to love me a kimono and glittery eye!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
I ADORE Tim Gunn. He’s so awesome, and how great that you have his autograph!!! Frame it! 🙂 I think his message of “make it work” is so fabulous. I try to remember this in my everyday life and when I do I think of Mr. Gunn. I also love that he detests Trump.
I love the kimono! It drapes nicely, the color is FAB, and the print is beautiful. I take vintage silk kimonos apart and sew other clothing from the fabrics. The prints are so classic and wonderful!
Hi Vava!! Wow!!!! What kinds of clothes do you sew???? Thank you so much–I’m glad you like the kimono on me–and yeah, it does drape very well and it was so inexpensive!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!
I make blouses, skirts, and jackets from the vintage kimono fabrics. Sometimes I add Japanese styled embroidery designs on the fabrics, too. And even some hand beading from time to time. Just sort of depends on my mood. I sew for myself and once in awhile for my mother-in-law; it’s a fun hobby.
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