Monday, September 2, 2024. It is Labor Day. And I’m off from work. Looking out our living room windows, I can see that the tree on our front lawn is fading in its glorious deep green to a faded version that reminds you in a few weeks, the warm hues of Autumn will be upon us. The browns, and reds, yellows, and oranges will be present as the leaves made the descent upon the grown. With that will be the autumnal scent of rotting leaves—which I like. The nature scents such as freshly mowed grass and rain on concrete fill my senses with pleasure.
That deep summer green is fading as the leaves get ready to turn to Autumn leave the trees barren.
It is SEPTSUMMER. My least favorite month of the year. Despite the fact our wedding anniversary is tomorrow (we’re celebrating Saturday with a dinner at our favorite restaurant), and in 20 days it will be the first day of Autumn/Fall, I just don’t like September.
Don’t even get me started on Pumpkin Spice. Blech! It’s disgusting.
First, the weather remains hot, humid, and hazy. It is not sweater weather yet—it is “sweat her” weather. My husband turns the off because evenings and mornings are cool. But from 10:00 AM until sundown, it is hot as balls. Honestly, I feel as though I am being held hostage in a sweaty jock strap. (Not that I really know what it would feel like—I’ll just assume)
Yes. It is the heat and I’m tired of it.
And as hot as it was, we did not go to the beach this weekend because I have my skin check this week. The last thing I want is to saunter into my dermatologist’s office with a trace of sunburn. It’s not good.
No beach this weekend. Or until 2025. My life is one, long, skincheck!
Throughout the summer, I went minimalist with the makeup. The “French” tan I got in Theoule this summer made a great brownish foundation (and you wonder why I’m afraid to go to the dermatologist). As my working hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, I couldn’t be bothered to apply a full face. My morning routine ended up dwindling down to mascara, eyebrow pencil, and, when not lazy, lip balm. Otherwise, it was chapped lips all day.
Me. Today. Mascara and Brow product. My tan has faded into it’s ruddy, Irish genetics. And I’m too lazy to slap makeup on!
That’s the thing about aging. You change your atheistic. Are you in agreement? I’m not talking of turning into someone who no longer cares but you turn into someone who no longer cares how others see you. It’s more about how you see yourself.
And so, the subject will now turn to clothing and how my “style” has begun to change as I approach my last six months until I face 70 years.
When I worked in Corporate, which I had for decades; exception being my time as a stay-at-home-mom, my mode of dress was professional to office casual. Always wanting to appear businesslike, it was an easy task.
Now that I work at a State Hospital, there is no need for me to dress like a banker. On the other hand, since I’m not in the Units, there is no need for me to wear scrubs. I can pretty-much wear what I want.
No longer do I wear this as work attire..
Or this–but I think I will anyway..
These clothes will collect dust because I’m so lazy that I can’t even bring myself to have the energy to selll them on Poshmark.
However, I do want to maintain a level of personal style. And that personal style has become more casual. Looking back at my school uniform, which helped to pave the way for my style, the elements during the school year were: Blazer, shirt, skirt. I remain in that frame of mind seasonally. Once the weather gets cool enough it is blazer/jacket/sweater. Shirt or pullover. Skirt/pants/jeans. Those elements are my comfort level.
Blazer/Shirt/Pants. Trust me, this outfit is too dressy for the state hospital!
In addition, as I age, affordability is more important to me. I no longer want to spend over $50 or $60 or upwards for an item of clothing. Shoes and bags? Well, those are my vice but I am over spending a fortune on either. For me, it is more important to spend money on traveling to see my grandsons or travel in general.
Sometimes I can be so full of shit. I want to buy this Polene bag when we head to Paris in November. Hopefully, I can get away to see my grandsons in October!
Actually, I changed my mind regarding the above-pictured bag. After researching quality issues and poor customer service, it’s a hard pass.
Which brings me to this. I purchased a few items for the oncoming cool-to-cold weather. Hopefully, in October, I will no longer be wearing sundresses and can dress in ensembles that appear to be more put together.
Trust me, I’m tired of dressing like this. I fear it’ll be November and I’ll be running around in sun dresses!
I’ll be honest with you here. I ordered quite a few items from Temu. While I realize several people have issues with the company being from China and perhaps questioning the quality of the goods, I have had no issues. Besides, Dior uses fashion migrant workers to assemble bags and shoes that are approximately 38 USD in value and charge prices that border on thievery. Who is in the wrong?
That said, I’ll give you a look-see at my recent purchases from Temu. I did purchase a new pair of jeans at J. Crew Factory for less than $50 and two pairs of Bass Weejuns. Loafers are replacing heels in many instances.
Let us look! Shall we?
I’m diggin’ these jeans. They are ankle length when rolled down and I just like the way they look!
I am certainly no photographer but these jeans will suffice from late Autumn into early Spring..
I’ll spend the money on pragmatic shoe styles. No longer interested in heels over two inches, it’s the loafers for me.
The “Lady Jacket” below was $16.99 from Temu. The quality is steller and…I am going on record with this. It fits better than my J. Crew Lady jacket that cost a lot more a few years back. I stinking LOVE this jacket!
Say what you want about fast fashion but this was better made than the J. Crew jacket..
I’m looking forward to the cold weather just to wear this.
The sweater below? At ten bucks it was an easy purchase. So easy I purchased another one in black. I’m also going on record with the brand’s sweaters. I have a few from two years ago and they are holding up incredibly well!
And another thing. This sweater doesn’t bunch at the titties! The fit is stellar!
Here it is worn with the cargo pants I purchased and with an old pair of J. Crew Dulci pumps. I love the cargo pants with heels athestic!
Speaking of cargo pants. I purchased two pair. Black and tan. Neutrals. These will be perfect for working at the hospital. I can’t justify dressing in my past “corporate” clothes anymore.
The tan cargo pants. I can eat a few meals due to the drawstring waist. Trust me, I won’t get “Tight Pants Syndrome” wearing these!
These will be packed for our visit to Paris later this year. No more overdressing for me!
The outfit below? I wore it to work this week because the A/C is being iffy. My husband was practically begging me to wear a jacket because he felt the air was “frizzing” (his French accent for “freezing”). I wore the blazer and took it off immediately as I entered the hospital. It was hot as balls!
Why am I smiling? I want the cold weather to arrive and it is nowhere to be found!
On the other hand, I had my five-year routine colonoscopy this past week. My anxiety level was off-the-charts because of my polyp history. One small polyp was found (when mentally I figured there would be at the least 32 polyps), the doctor reminded me of my hemorrhoids and my diverticulosis which I have had for years and sent me off with a “see you in five years”.
I ALWAYS wear a dress to my colonoscopy. Not because I want to look nice but because if I have the urge to go after that prep, it’s easier to slide the panties down!
Add to that, on the way home from having that hose shoved up my ample ass, my cell phone rang. It was my dermatologist reminding me to make an appointment for my skin check. I swear the anxiety never ends. I went this week. Regretting swimming and sun bathing in France where the sun is much stronger and I was in a secret competition to become as caramel-colored as the natives.
The skin check was fine! I was relieved!
Waiting for Godot? No! Waiting for my dermatologist. My husband suggested heading to the beach last week. I passed. The last thing I needed going for a skin check was the faintest burn from the sun!
Last night, we celebrated our wedding anniversary by heading to our favorite restaurant for dinner. It was cool and rainy. But it didn’t stop me from wearing a sleeveless dress. In fact, I wore a wig with a lot of hair because it’s my husband’s favorite!
Alden by Estetica is my husband’s favorite wig. I’m fond of it as well. In the winter, it keeps my head warm.
And so, with the first week of Septsummer behind us, I anticipate the arrival of cool and crisp weather sometime at the end of October. For now, I’ll be wearing summer clothing.
Tell me, do you feel the same way? About fashion and about the seasons. Have you had your colonoscopy? Your skin check? Let us discuss!
So sick of the humidity and heat in lower Alabama!!!!!
You must be as happy as I since the Philly area weather has been cool and lovely since September 3! You look fab at any age, but especially at nearly 70!
Hi Sharon. It’s been cool in the morning and evening but mid-day, it’s still hot! I like to spend my lunchtime walking around the campus of the hospital and I was sweating two days this week. My husband is freezing and my life is one hot flash!!!!!!
Loved this rambling. I’m older than you…80…and it’s been some years since I was interested in fashion but not style. You have Temu and I have consignment/shopping. It’s taken a while for me to not buy the best of what I see but rather what I actually need and then donate the rest (good shopping karma).
No more colonoscopies for me (age), and ever since having skin cancers, I never ever go without sunscreen nor do I sunbathe.
Here’s to the soon-to-be-here glory of Fall.
Hi Frances. Wait. After a certain age we don’t need colonoscopies anymore? Ageing is good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The fashion stuff. You must be aware from past blog posts of my love for J. Crew. I’m toning that love down to like and down to “do I really need this”? J. Crew has gotten ridiculously expensive and is not worth the money they charge. I find a few things at J. Crew Factory but only on sale because Factory prices have escalated as well. Let’s hope for the Fall Glory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My doc insisted I do a colonoscopy at age 81. I tried to talk him out of it. But to no avail. Turns out I had 5 polyps Keep doing them. Forget age. If in good health you could still live long enough to get cancer
Doctors should suggest but not insist. At age 75-79 with a colonoscopy your 8 year colon cancer risk is still 2.84%. It’s not zero. Without a colonoscopy it is 2.97 or a difference of .13%, which is very small. Now there are still many cancers that you can get without screening tests, like what the Queen died of.
I also find it interesting that doctors will screen for particular cancers but ignore Alzheimer’s, where the risk doubles every 5 years from age 65. Age 65, 2%, by age 85 it’s 1/3 of the population in that band.
I’m with you on the pumpkin spice – disgusting!!
Hi Tracy. Right??? Ugh. That fake taste goes right through to my sinuses!
Haha- I think most everyone is done with summer! I’ve been wanting cold weather since probably the first of June! I’m a Pumpkin spice lover but my family isn’t!
I do love September as a transitional month. Loved both the short and longer wig on you. I’m a minimalist person with make-up now. If I go out and want to, I dress up and do make-up. But day to day, who has time for that any more?! I just bought my FIRST Temu purchase, after reading about it from you and others. If you notice, most of the exact same clothes are for sell on Amazon, and probably other places. I got a couple sweaters, and love the styles and fit so far. And you’re right about Dior- and other manufacturers! Great blog, always enjoy reading.
Thank you Liz. For me, October is the transitional month because it finally starts to get a chill in the air! Yeah. Temu has a ton of stuff that Amazon sellers offer and with Temu, the price point is better! The makeup. I don’t bother with foundation anymore. Last night when we went out to dinner, I applied eye makeup, blush and lipstick. The thing is, I like my older face and don’t want to hide it under caked-uo foundation. Dior–right? A few years aback (like a decade ago) one of the magazine type shows on the French Channel did an expose on Chanel–doing the same stuff that Dior is now doing. So my train of thought is nothing is truly sustainable anymore. But what you can afford! I can’t afford Dior or Channel.
It looks as if Temu’s prices have gone up a lot though- (maybe everyone’s catching on!)
It looks as if Temu’s prices have gone up a lot though- (maybe everyone’s catching on!)
Catherine, I’ve become a Temu junkie! Mostly because I’m cheap, but they have different styles I don’t see everywhere else. The sweater and dresses I got are beautiful. As is the “ gold” necklace. The 3 colour concealer pot I got is the best I have ever used. I think it was $3. Expecting a big order next week. Excited!
Lynn–BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Exactly, Temu has stuff I have never seen anywhere else. Oh…I need to look for that three-color concealer!! Enjoy your big order!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As I’m writing this, the temperature is in the lower 50s. Of course, by Tuesday, it’s back to the 90s in Central Indiana with matching humidity. I freaking hate summer! It’s my least favorite season! You will find me huddled under a throw (because the husband likes the temperature cold in the house) nearly all summer.
I’m a few years younger than you and no longer give a sh*t about what people think of me so I’ve been rocking the shorts, jiggle and all, wherever I go. My comfort is more important to me than their opinions. It took me several years to realize I wasn’t teaching anymore so I kept buying “teacher” clothes. What a goof!
I have been lucky and can do the ColoGard because of family history and no polyps. My husband was on an every two year schedule for several years, but he’s now down to every five years. I did have a biopsy this summer, but it was benign. The scar is fading nicely. Remember the iodine and baby oil…yep…that was me!
You look fabulous in those jeans…what I wouldn’t do to have legs like yours. Mine are true ham hocks! Oh, well, they’re strong and that’s what counts.
Happy Anniversary and here’s to many more!
Hi Marsha! And thank you for the anniversary wishes! Whew, I enjoy summer but despise September. Absolutely despise. Even when the kids were young and off to school, I still couldn’t stand September. It was so hot for them in school, all that Back-to-School shit they advertise in JULY is depressing. September is just an extension of hazy, heat, humidity.
Don’t get me started on the friggin’ influencers dressed in winter clothing in the middle of September and drinking hot lattes. I’m running around at home in a raggy tee shirt and panties–LOL. Autumn’s chill cannot arrive fast enough!
Happy anniversary, Catherine! 💕🥂
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy anniversary! Like you, I just had the train up butt (1 polyp, five years) and the skin check, which was fine. I am religious about sunscreen and hats since chemo makes you more likely to develop skin cancer, and I’ve already had facial surgery and a graft because of a basal cell carcinoma. That was painful enough to make me protect my skin from now on! And it does work, nurses are always commenting on my skin whenever I have to bare it, and I am 72. They should know! I have no neck or shoulder sun damage and very little on my arms. None on my legs. So do that sunscreen. Fake tan is fine, and who needs it in the winter anyway?
I may give Temu a try, just hate returning stuff but I guess if it’s cheap enough, I could just donate. What size in the sweater did you take, if I could ask?
I absolutely positively hate pumpkin spice except in a damn pumpkin pie!!
Hi Susan, The worst part of the colonoscopy isn’t the prep–its the anxiety! Luckily, I don’t have to return for five years but I’ve been good about sunscreen and my skin is in whatever decent shape it will be in after years of baby oil and iodone!
Yeah..give Temu a try. It pays to really look the goods advertised over with a good eye but I’ve been happy with everything I’ve ordered so far!
Happy Anniversary!
I’m retiring from teaching in December and now casting a critical eye on my work wardrobe; much of it will be donated quite soon and I’ll be shifting into more casual wear, which I am looking forward to.
However, like you, I still prefer to look ‘nice’ and the black pants/nice sweater combo will probably be my best friend this winter. I also have a couple of pairs of ‘atheleisure’ pants that I’ll rotate in – I found those, in black and in dark green, can be moderately dressed up while at the same time being comfortable. I also have a couple of pairs of cargo pants which I love, for some reason. Yours are wonderful!
By the way, the Paris wardrobe looks great! I’m going for a week in December and planning on only carrying on…what else does one need but a nice coat (worn on plane), a couple of pairs of black pants, and a few sweaters? In any case, have to leave plenty of room for the shopping I’m planning on doing 🙂
Hi Debra. What week are you going? We’ll be there the first week. I was thinking of selling clothes on Poshmark but I don’t want to deal with people complaining or returning stuff. In donating to the hospital, I can’t donate anything with zippers because some of the female patients look at zippers as eating material. No drawstrings for obvious reasons so my donated goods are limited. Most likely, they will go to Goodwill.
Congrats on retiring. My divorce cost me every cent of savings so I’ll be working forever. I can’t be bitter or sad about it because it is what it is. Lol. I don’t think I’ll do the carryon but I am looking for a nice leather tote!
I’ll be in Paris December 13-22. It’s my first time there during the holidays (after 20+ years of visits!) and I’m quite excited.
I’m doing a hard side carryon that will hold clothes on the way to Paris and gifts (plus my pharmacie purchases) on the way home. I have one of those nylon ‘packable totes’ that will be my suitcase (I’ll check the carryon).
I’m sorry about the retirement thing, though I have flirted with the idea of working part-time at a boutique or some place fun just to keep busy (and have some spending money). My teaching job is, during the semester, sometimes a 24/7 thing and that I just can no longer do.
I love September-but I am in the Adirondacks so the warm weather is bearable and enjoyable. I went to Tod’s loafers years ago but still keep my high heels for an occasional wear. I can’t believe I was one of those NYC career women who refused to wear sneakers to work. I walked miles in heels-no wonder I got bunions. We are at an interesting age now-our last year before our seventh decade! Geez, never thought I would be here-all those years ago in BSHS. Loving my wisdom, lamenting the physical breakdowns. Cheers to us!
Hi Cathe!
Happy anniversary! Hope you had a great evening.
I hear you about fashion and clothing. I think I have my fill of cashmere sweaters and expensive suede boots. Pretty sure I’m good for purses. I might need a new winter coat but nothing exotic. I’d rather spend the $$ on experiences or my kids or grand kids. Guess we start changing priorities as we sit on the edge of 70…( maybe Stevie Nicks could rewrite the song for us?….)
Cathe….I have made a few purchases from Temu and have been satisfied with the items. In fact, last year I bought a cute top and paid $6.97 and actually found the same top on Amazon for $28. Unbelievable. As for makeup, I do put it on every day. I don’t like my freckles or should I say sun damaged skin from my teenage years, so I do like to use foundation to even out my skin tone. Plus, I just feel better with makeup on this 69 year old face. I have been retired since I turned 55 after working for the same company for 34 years. I chose to retire at 55 so I could babysit my grandsons after they were born and loved every single second and the bond we created. They are now 11 and 14. Time has flown by. My clothing choices are casual but I refuse to dress like a granny, if you know what I mean.
Toni
That lady jacket from Temu looks amazing on you! I’m 68 and have no reason to spend big buck on clothes anymore, but I’ve been doing late-night shopping on Mercari and love it (but hate their recent fee hike). Found a perfect pair of white Anthropologie wide leg pants for $40 that are my fave now. And searching for linen tops got me an entire summer’s worth of sleeveless colorful buttoned shirts for around $15 each! I used to wear t-shirts and leggings all the time but now I really enjoy wearing something a bit more stylish that I bought for a song. I do spend money on makeup though – Jones Road and Victoria Beckham. I will be one of those really old ladies that still rock a smoky eye until I die.
nice article