When you find the right jean jacket, you can wear it in various ways for many years. I have a light wash Levi’s jacket and the one shown here by Ruby Rd. This is the one I wear most often because it is a fitted style with a bit of stretch, and the color is darker. I layer it over longer tops to give the illusion of a more slender shape.
My shirt is old from Express. The jean jacket was from Ruby Rd a few years ago. The jeans are from Everlane. The domed satchel is by Dooney & Bourke. The loafers were by Franco Sarto last year.
Good morning Susan! I so enjoyed your post today! I LOVE the outfit you showed And thanks for sharing the video! I loved it as well. It is truly amazing what you shared about the gentleman on the airplane. It’s sad some people still think that way. I’m so proud and happy for you and all you have accomplished. You do us all a great service with your blog and all you share, teach and inspire us with. I hope you will continue to do so for many more years! I love you sweet lady! Happy New Year!
Thank you for your lovely comment. What an excellent way to start the day. Happy New Year!
I enjoyed your story and getting to know a little more about you! Many blessings in this new chapter of your life and may you enjoy your well-deserved rest!
What a wonderful post this morning Susan. I so enjoyed hearing your story and seeing the fabulous jewelry you used to make. Thank you for sharing.
I too am looking forward to interesting changes this year. I went back to work a few months ago after being retired for almost 2 years. And it surprised me that at 64 I would be working again. And I really enjoy it!
Happy New Year and cheers to changing, growing and learning every year.
Happy New Year Susan! Thank you for your interesting post today. I love that “everyone has a story” and I always find them so fascinating. I appreciate that you shared yours with us.
Thank you for wonderful video; I will share with my Air Force officer daughter who will be shocked by your plane story. It is a wonderful thing that current young women are getting more respect for their work.
Happy New Year. Amazing stories you have to tell and thank you for sharing. You are quite the inspiration to all of us who follow you. Speaking of inspiration, this year I am on the hunt to add a pair of neutral-colored shoes and a bag, to my collection. I have been inspired by your look of the beige/taupe/tan on the feet in order to elongate a look. (There should be some great sales after the new year.)
Wonderful, powerful video today. I look forward to your blog every morning and find it inspiring and motivating! Thank you for sharing so much of your thoughts and life with us!
I really want to thank you for this opportunity. Working for you for the past 12 years I have learned so much. You are truly a blessing, not only to my family but to all with whom you touch with your kindness and generosity. In other words ,I love you to pieces
I’m blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for your sweet words and for sharing your Daddyville with me. I love you too!
I’m happy for you that you are able to semi-retire. Too many people think retirement is the end of life but I’ve found it to be a wonderful time. I hope you have a great time with the extra hours you have available to do whatever you want, but I do hope you keep up with the blog. Happy New Year.
Susan, you are and have been inspiring to all your readers with an ability to engage us on a level far higher than just fashion. Your story was also proof of progress for women in my lifetime plus a gentle reminder that vigilance serves women well. Thanks for your ever timely message.
Great story time, Susan! Thank you for sharing.
Such an inspiring post! I so look forward to your posts and what you have to say. Happy New Year to you and Mr. Mickey.
What a wonderful video you made. It is women like yourself that provide inspiration to be the best we can be in every way. I also appreciate the effort you put into every blog and video that you share with us. Congratulations on the next fabulous phase of life.
Good for you!! You’ve worked hard and are now reaping the benefits of that determination and hard work. This was such an inspiring video. It seems with each post and video, I’m able to take a bit of inspiration to incorporate in my own life. Best wishes in your new adventures and Happy New Year!!
Just finished watching your video and thank you for sharing. I feel energized for 2019! You are a great speaker (add that to your list of talents). By the way, so glad to hear that you are NOT getting a face lift! You are a smart, beautiful and elegant woman.
I really enjoyed your video sharing this morning. If I were to describe you, I would use the word “class”. I thank you for your blog and have learned so much about styling a basic wardrobe and adding accessories to make it work for any occasion. Your candid answers about your time away was very interesting and I am happy to hear about your business. My husband just sold his Yacht Brokerage and we are also entering into another stage in our life. Looking forward to 2019! Happy New Year.
Happy New Year! Your blog is such an inspiration to me. I have followed you for years and you have helped me get thru the transitional period from working to retirement and also getting older it was NOT as easy shopping for clothes. I enjoy your positivity on life amidst adversity you have overcome. Thank you for helping others! I am proud you were able to respond with pride to the gentleman on the plane.
What a lovely video. Thank you for sharing. You seem like such a nice person, I look forward to your posts.
Love you Susan. Enjoy your semi-retirement. You have certainly earned some down just for you time.
Best wishes.
I’ve often wondered why you don’t wear any of the jewelry you have made. The pieces you showed are beautiful.
I have sold or donated almost all of the jewelry I made during my career. (Necklaces often sold at fundraisers for hundreds of dollars.) I’ll try to find some pictures of some of the pieces I made.
Love the outfit! Beautiful! What a great example of how to wear a denim jacket. Your purse and shoes are also a great example of how to match them to your hair.
The jewelry is stunning! Such creative talent!
The nerve of that man on the airplane!! My jaw dropped when you were sharing the story. My goodness. He must have swallowed his brains along with the wine.
Happy New Year, Susan! Looking forward to what you share in 2019!
Thank you for the story. I’ve been following you for some time as well as ordering from your shop. I congratulate you for all your hard work and being so independent. I would not have been amused by that man. I would not call him a gentleman. I’ve been upgraded a couple of times to first class myself and was just a working woman at the right time and place. Thank you for all your hints. Helen
I enjoy all your posts and have made that same comment many times in the past. This post was particularly well-timed for the start of a new year. I’m a generation older than you….well 18 years is a generation I guess. We’ve had similar life paths, including two divorces, although I was a life-time teacher and wasn’t lucky enough to meet my Mr. Mickey. LOL . I’ve learned much from you.and appreciate the time and thoughtfulness that you put into your online communication. A detour to see you on a trip to Nashville from CT is still on my bucket list but I’ll let you know in advance. Happy New Year.
I don’t know if it is just me or your site but the wording at the far right is a bit cut off? Maybe something weird on my end. For example “My shirt is old….” in the 2nd paragraph the last work Ruby is cut off and this happens multiple times throughout.
Other than that – I have to say I follow several blogs by various ladies and I find myself “skimming” through some of them instead of actually reading them word for word but with yours….I’m always anxiously awaiting what you will have to say and share with us next….always reading every word! Thanks for always keeping it interesting and useful!
Please tell me what you are viewing the blog post with (iPhone, PC, tablet) and what browser you are using. You are the first to report this, but I will try to fix it.
You are a remarkable and accomplished woman. Thank you for sharing part of your journey.
Susan, you are stunning in an elegant way. I’ve learned so much about coordinations since following you. I have similar skin coloring as you do so your color choices have been particularly helpful to me. You even inspired me to allow my natural hair color to take over, which has resulted in many compliments. Thank you so much!
Wow! So many exciting and well earned changes. What an amazing lady you are to have overcome such challenges so beautifully. You look elegant and classy as ever! Happy 2019!
Thank you Susan for your video which was interesting to watch. I love this blog and long may you continue doing it! 🙂 Oh, I also love the outfit you put together. The jean jacket plus the handbag and shoes in particular but the whole effect is fabulous. (as always). Best wishes.
Susan, thanks for all you share with us on your life. It is both interesting and informative. Is the dome handbag gray that you are showing? It doesn’t show that Dooney & Bourke offers it in that color. Regarding the man on the plane, since you are always so fashionably elegant, maybe he thought he was complimenting you. You look like money, and it could easily be mistaken for inheritance. Also, many do not realize the hours and risk for entrepreneurs. Happy New Year to you and Mr. Mickey.
My bag is the light taupe color. Thank you for your comment.
Dear Susan,
I so appreciated your video today. Your honesty in sharing your life journey is refreshing in this age of media. I believe I may have been less kind in my response to your seat mate! How dare he? I don’t own my own company, but I do have a successful career in research and development for a large consumer goods company, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, even though I am happily married and raise two children, different than your path, but we all walk our own paths as women. I’m still shocked at the question in this day and age. Thanks for being wonderful you an sharing yourself with us. I enjoy your blog immensely and your fashion tips are perfect for me!
Susan…..I just watched your “storytime” video and Loved it! You are a very sweet lady…..I can just see that. I’m proud of you and all you have accomplished, thank you for sharing this with us women. Looking forward to seeing what is in store with you and your blog in 2019!!
All the best,
Holly
Thank you. You are inspiring.
Happy New Year!
I loved the video you shared with us today. Thank you.
I loved your video today! I’m glad to hear you say you and Mr. Mickey are content with your relationship and don’t see a need to be married. I am 70 and my friend is 74. We like a lot of the same things, including travel. I enjoyed learning about your businesses. And was as appalled as you with the man on the plane. Sounds like you handled him well.
I like your look today with the denim jacket and polka dot blouse. Thanks for all your inspiration.
Hi Susan, So happy you are back! Today’s post is a great look, and best of all, you look so happy! I enjoyed the video too! Your gracious personality really shines through, and you are an uplifting inspiration! Thanks so much for taking the time to post!
You are just precious and I’m so honored to be your friend since we were silly 13 year olds! I think you’re amazing and I’m so proud of you! You’re beautiful and yet so down to earth! Sending love and hugs!!
I love you, my dear sweet friend.
Glad to hear what is going on in your life. I first “met” you through your company, VJS, years ago, and I was always surprised that you answered the phone yourself! Hopefully, it will continue selling the wonderful jewelry filigrees and components that I have have come to rely on in my designs. Happy New Year and enjoy your semi-retirement. I’ll see you in your blogs. Take care,
Margaret
Regina is planning to keep the company going strong for the next thirty years, so you are in luck. Thanks so much for shopping with me over the years.
Susan
Thank you so much for sharing. You and I are almost the same age so I really relate to some of your stories.
I look forward to your posts each week.
Thank you for your video which I viewed on January 2nd. . I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the many aspects of your life, especially your hard work and present happiness. Keep up your joy in the new year and God bless.
Susan I just love you! You are an amazing woman and I feel so proud and privileged that I am getting to know you. I wish you the very best with the transition of your business.
Have a very healthy & happy new year!!!
Patricia
Dear Susan,
What a lovely video. Thank you for sharing so many facets of your life with us.
You look absolutely gorgeous in that colour.
Regards,
Carol Spears
a fan from Vancouver Island, BC
I’m excited that you’ll soon have even more time for the blog and finding the amazing pieces for your online shop. I pray that 2019 is the best yet for you and Mr Mickey. Your authenticity is so rare in the blog world. It requires a lot of courage on your part and allows us to really utilize the information you share with us.
Most people don’t realize why the things they purchase through a catalog don’t look the same on them. They can’t see all the bulldog clips holding in the waist on the backside of a garment during a photo shoot. They don’t understand that an apple body type appears different than an inverted triangle in the same jacket. Many don’t realize that the catalog model is 6′ tall and a size 2.
Susan, you’ve taught us so well and I don’t know how you continue to amaze us with fresh thoughts and information, but you do. Thank you.
What a wonderful and inspiring post. The happiest of New Years to you Susan.
Thanks for all you say and do.
What a wonderful video, Susan. Your remarks on womens’ progress are spot on, and you are truly an inspiration to all of us. Be proud of yourself for what you have accomplished over the years ( the perfection and intricacy of the jewellry you made are a reflection of what you have striven for ) May 2019 bring you happiness and serenity, and continue to bring your many followers the pleasure of your advice. Gillian
Thank you for telling us a little more about you. What an inspiring story…and that man on the plane! Oy! I’m glad you spoke your truth clearly to him…I hope he never made that assumption again…..I’m sorry that was insulting but you pressed on and did some good in the world!
You are also living my dream getting to go to the Biltmore as often as you do.,..thanks for sharing the gorgeous pictures with us.
Such a nice chat w/interesting information. Thank u, Susan
Thank you Susan for the informative video. I think we share a few things in common as I like to make jewelry and have cleaned out and helped sort and purge women’s closets. I guess a pair of fresh eyes helps sometimes in seeing new ways to wear items of clothing that women think go with nothing in their closets. I’m wondering if you ever sew? I love to sew and wish I made more time to enjoy it.
Happy New Year and looking forward to more of your blogs.
I used to sew a lot before I started making jewelry. Happy New Year!
I love your message today. thanks.
Happy New Year! Thank you for your inspiration! Even though I am 61, I still have a lot to offer. I have so much I want to do. My husband is 64, he drags me down, he is a pessimist and says he is old and doesn’t want to do anything anymore. It’s a difficult time in a woman’s life when you suddenly realize you’re both on different paths.
Happy New Year! Thank you for your inspiration! Even though I am 61, I still have a lot to offer. You inspire me to be my best. I am so grateful.
Thank you for sharing the video. It is so nice to learn more about you. You are such an inspiration to me and thank you for all of your hard work in preparing your posts. Here is to many more blessings this new year!
Your comments are always welcome. Please don’t think that I am ignoring you. It may take a while for me to get back to the computer. Many spam and porn comments show up here, so I read each one before publishing them.
You are a stunning woman and a wonderful inspiration to us all. Best of luck with the transition of your business. Looking forward to continuing to learn with you in 2019!
I loved the outfit you styled today, and thank you for the story you told. It was great learning a little more about you. You looked radiant and beautiful in your video as well. You are an inspiration to me!
Thank you so much for sharing intimate parts of your life again, Susan! And Lord knows you don’t have too! What an interesting life you have led. How creative and how hard you have worked is incredibly inspiring, especially since you are obviously a woman of CLASS and grace. So happy that you and Mr. Mickey are enjoying your time together and friendship. That’s very special. Shocking to me what some women write to you (No, you do not even need a facelift). And I share your passion for the Express Portofino blouses! I really like them! I am going to try the polka dot with the jean jacket! Again, I am your email pal from California trying to age gracefully and with class; you’re helping me to do that. And I truly appreciate you sharing your life and doing your blog. Glad to hear you are going to slow down a little. Even though I have been retired for a little over a year, I still feel like there is something else the Lord has planned for me to do.
Take care – Pam
Susan, do you wear your white jeans all year? And could you do black jeans with this great outfit?
On the day that I wore these off-white jeans, it was warm and sunny. I do wear white jeans all year on days that are dry. Black jeans could work as well with the same top and jacket.
Good for you Susan! You are an inspiration for women!
Thanks for being such a wonderful inspiration!
What a great video!
So interesting to hear your history and how your determination and work ethic have made you who you are today. Thank you for showing us an example of how we can design a life worth living even if it means taking an unconventional path. I am on such a path myself and can use all the inspiration I can get. I don’t know how you were able to sit next to that “gentleman” on that flight and not slap him for insulting you so. I’m afraid self control is something else I need to work on. Good luck on your next adventure.
Simply love this comfortable looking outfit
Hello Susan, I discovered your site on Pinterest and LOVE it! I love your style and shopping tips. While I was already doing well with my own wardrobe, I’ve learned quite a few tips to tune it up a bit.
Thank you for sharing your insights. I look forward to each new post.
Lisa N.
So. California