Accessories can make a tremendous difference in how clothes look on your body. Without them, I never feel fully dressed. As we saw in the previous post (here), adding accessories can accentuate, balance, or camouflage parts of our figures.
As requested, I’m showing you another example of how to make what you already have work better in outfits. I own lovely Merino wool turtlenecks, which are versatile and warm but not necessarily flattering. I wore this look to church yesterday when the temperature was sixty-five and the sky held threatening rain clouds for most of the day.
Wearing an open sweater vest and adding a long pendant necklace helps create vertical lines, which visually diminishes my upper body’s expanse. Tucking in the thin sweater and wearing a belt creates better proportions, and pushing up sleeves helps make the legs look longer.
And thank you for your previous service in the military. It takes a special person to dedicate time to their country. Also grateful for your creativity with this blog. You continue to serve, educate, and benefit us all.
I am petite but have a lower tummy. I never tuck shirts anymore as I am extremely self conscious about tucking and a belt adding more bulk. What is a good style of shirt that still looks fasionable without making me look frumpy ? Thanks in advance. Love all your posts!
Avoid tops that cling to the tummy area. If the top falls softly and stops above the the hip and leg bend it will not actuate the tummy nor make your legs look shorter. Here and here are examples of the shapes I am referring to.
Susan, A huge thank you to you for your service! God bless America!
Thank you for your service, Susan! ♥️
To you and Mr Mickey, thank you for your service. Thank you and God bless to all those who wear a uniform in service to this country. Because of all those who serve, we remain free.
Thank you for your service!
Thank you and all the other veterans out there for your service & sacrifices for our country.
Is that a 22 inch or 27 inch necklace you are wearing here?
Wilma
I own the necklace I linked to in the 22″ length. The one I am wearing is several years old and it is adjustable.
Thank you for continuing to pass on valuable information. It certainly is helpful to see how much proper proportion impacts your look. Thank you for your service to our country. I appreciate your contribution and all who serve. Have a good week!
A big Thank You to you and Mr. Mickey for your service to our country!
A tucked-in shirt with an attractive belt makes a lot of difference in an outfit.
Thank you for serving.
Thank you for your service to our country! Any chance there’s a belt with a gold buckle you might suggest? The Nordstrom belt is attractive. Thank you Susan.
Here is a similar black belt with a gold buckle.
Susan, thank you for your service. It takes special people to sacrifice for our country.
Also again I really like your okay picture comparison to the better picture. I tend to wear the okay picture more but I see wear the better picture is truly better. I know a sweater vest might be on my list. It really makes a difference in the second picture.
I get so many good ideas from posts like these.
For all, thank you for your service and your sacrifices for our countries. We will never forget.
Christine – France
Thank you for your service.
Oh my gosh Susan what a difference accessories make. I had no idea! You sold me. I do have a question about belts. I never know if I should be wearing a thin or wider belt. Now, I even see chain link belts. They remind me of the 60’s styles. Any help would be much appreciated. I am really working on trying to find my style.
If you don’t have much room between your hip bones and your bustline, a more narrow belt would be best (less than two inches). If you have a short waist, wear a belt the same tone or color as your top. If you have a long waist you can wear wide belts and in the same tone as your pants.
Love this outfit too! Thank you for your service and time you devote to us on your blog, always appreciated!
Thank you to you and to Mr. Mickey for your service to our country! Happy Veteran’s Day!! Thank you for your continued inspiration!!
Thank you for your service
I’m new to your blog, Susan, and am so impressed with your personal sense of style. I can hardly believe that the “before” photo in your bio is really you. I’ve been following Kay Harms “Dressed for My Day” for quite a while and she suggested looking at other influencers, which is how I found you. I put “over 50 petite fashion influencers,” but I don’t think you are a petite size. Would you mind sharing your height? Thanks so much.
Welcome Kathia! I am 5′ 5″ tall.
Thank you, Susan, for answering my question so quickly. I’ve been scanning through some of your past blogs and comments on them and was shocked to hear someone say they thought you looked “younger and better” with short hair. I totally disagree! While many women over 60 couldn’t pull off longer hair, yours is gorgeous and very flattering. It helps that you are well proportioned, have a long neck and fabulous hair. I love it! It’s very glamorous and suits you perfectly.
Thank you.
Love this series you are doing! What a difference and so easy to update a dull outfit thank you!
Thank you for your service Susan. Today was my Mom’s heavenly birthday. She would have been 97. She was always proud to have a birthday on Veteran’s day and my Dad was a veteran.
Thank you for the post.
Hi to Mr. Mickey.
Patty V
Thank you for serving in the United States Navy!
I am a very visual person and seeing the “Okay” and “Better” comparison was very illuminating for me. Would love to see more posts such as this; really makes the point!
Thank you for your service.
I enjoy your blog. So many interesting ideas.
First, many thanks to you and Mr. Mickey for your dedication and service to our country. I’ve had the privilege of meeting and learning from so many of our wonderful veterans over the years. What a gift it has been.
Second, it is truly amazing to see how a tuck here and an add on there takes the whole outfit up several notches. You look fabulous!
I really appreciate the side by sides in this post and the previous one. It makes things so clear. I am from Canada. I want to say that I think it’s wonderful that Americans say “thank you for your service”. We don’t say that here. We should.
Love these types of newsletters!
Hi Susan, love your necklace and overall look here. Your hair is also looking fabulous!
Thank you Susan and Mr. Mickey for your service for our country. Thank you for your wonderful help in helping us find our style and sharing great fashion advice and helpful tips. Thank you so much also for the fruit cake recipe you shared with us.
Very clever and so flattering, well done!
Thank you for the above Photos. I love Turtle necked Jumpers but they don’t flatter my figure. Your idea about the Jewellery is a good one. Also pushing sleeves up. Thank you. Dorothy
Susan Thank you for your service!
Susan, thank you for your service to our country as a veteran and thank you for continuing to help other women become their very best in style and confidence.
Thank you for another great post. The link to the vest is not working for me. Could you please send a direct message? Thank you.
I will check that link and send you a message as soon as I get back to my computer.
You really look lovely! Your inner beauty and beautiful smile are your best accessories. The vest, belt and jewelry are nice too.
Susan, thank you for serving our country.
Hi Susan,
I remember you mentioned way back where a necklace should hit. Is it right below your breasts?
I have a necklace like yours but mine is on black leather and is onyx. I love yours, do you recall where
you purchased yours?
Thank you
I avoid wearing necklaces that are too short and tight around my neck or ones that land right on the bustline. The ideal neckline or necklace is the length of your head. If your head from top to chin is nine inches, your perfect neckline or necklace length would be nine inches below your chin.
I bought the necklace with the black adjustable cord from Chico’s a few years ago.
The third piece of clothing, accessories and pushed up sleeves really elevates this pretty outfit.
Could suggest dressy casual Thanksgiving and Christmas outfits for family gatherings?
Take a look back over my old posts here on the site. Many of those looks could be appropriate for such outings.
Hello Susan,
I noticed Beautycounter has returned with a few products, but not my favorite yet–Countertime Cleansing Oil. Do you have any information when they will be in full production? I thank you for your service to our country and all your inspiring posts which I have enjoyed for many years!!
I’m sorry, but I don’t know anything more about Beautycounter than what is listed on their site.
Thank you for your service, Susan!
Susan, I am going to make your fruitcake tomorrow. I could only find one size of applesauce. How many ounces do you use? Thank you.
Use two cups.
Thank you!
As always, this blog was informative and so very helpful to me. I just love the two pictures you do, to show us the difference on a so called “good” look to one that is definitely better and the reason for the choice.
On your necklace you are wearing in this picture, when I went on her site, she did not show that necklace. Did she make this one just for you? I would be interested in purchasing the one like you are wearing as I have a couple of the ones she shows. Perhaps they are the only one’s she is giving 25% off this week?
Anyway, thank you again for a great blog.
Clara from Iowa
PS I couldn’t copy the first picture of you but you had the same one with the comparison I was able to copy and print for my travel album.
I linked to a similar necklace since the one I have is a few years old and no longer available.
Oh Susan, your timing is always perfect. I have several mock neck sweaters that seem to make me more dowdy the older I get. I just popped a vest over and I just lost 15 years. ( and 10 lbs) Thank you you are a Godsend. I don’t wear grey , but I have other colors which are more flattering. Have to swap out the silver for gold also, but the idea itself is perfect .
I really like the “good and better” feature. I used it today to minimize the tummy and it works. So, many thanks…….. and keep doing these!
Also, thanks for info, in the comments, on how to get the length of a necklace.
Susan,
What a great post ! The comparison photo says it all. Eye opening!
I have a full bust and I love turtlenecks but they don’t love me…as when I wear the “before “ look I do feel like I’m all bosom. The sweater vest makes a world of difference. I am on the hunt for some sweater vests.
Thank you for your service to our country .
Thank you for your military service and for your help here to give us confidence in our daily life.
These last 2 posts are so helpful! Please continue doing for those of us who are style challenged
Love love love the last two posts you have done. I hope you continue with more of these. Thank you for all the work you do for us.
Susan,
Absolutely love your jewelry choices; it’s remarkable that there is another blogger who has numerous pieces of the “French coin” jewelry and the prices are much higher than those made by “Beauty in Stone.” My only problem is making the decision as to which piece(s) I can’t live without! Thank you for offering the discount; it makes a difference to this “senior citizen.”
Thank you so much for the comparison pictures. As a visual person, these are so helpful for me. When purchasing an open vest, what length would you suggest? I am 5 ft 4, busty but not overweight. I love the light blue sweater in the Banana Republic brand you are wearing, but I’m looking for a vest to wear. Thank you!
Look for a vest that stops before your legs connect to your hip. Making sure you don’t cover any of the length of your legs should be a top priority for petite ladies.
After reading this post, I ordered the vest the next day from Belks. The vest arrived today and I am delighted with the look, feel and length of it. It was chilly here today so added it to my outfit! Love adding quality basics with a modern look to my wardrobe. You have a great eye! As one Veteran to another….thank you, for your service and Mr. Micky for his!