Yesterday I showed you a style suggestion using slip-on sneakers as the starting point. Today I am going to the opposite extreme to show you how I styled one of my favorite pairs of “boots” with a casual look that is very much within my comfort zone.
It was close to seventy degrees here yesterday, so I dressed to remove the jacket later and left off the scarf I would usually wear. I also wore this Clara Sunwoo tunic here. The faux leather jacket is from Stein Mart a couple of years ago. The shoes are old from Vince Camuto. They are more comfortable than some of the flat shoes I own because they come up high on the foot and allow my weight to be evenly distributed over the whole foot rather than pushed into just the toe box of pumps, for example. Not all heels are comfortable for me, nor are all flats.
One of the many questions/comments from Facebook yesterday was a variation of, “Why do all your looks include a scarf?” Perhaps these side by side photos will help you understand. I have always been honest with you about this aging journey. The changes in my skin have been substantial in the last couple of years. The texture is different, and “wisdom” spots are showing up everywhere. (My dermatologist calls age spots “wisdom spots”) I am never in denial about these changes, and I have no intention of doing anything to attempt to turn back the clock. More makeup and expensive creams are not magic fixes. A scarf can pull together unrelated separates like no other accessory.
These colors, textures, and the edgy attitude of this look reflect my personality. I felt confident in this look yesterday when I visited a stylist to get a trim. Note that I don’t spend very much time styling my hair, so it will never look this controlled again. The selfie I snapped below before my visit is more in keeping with my less fixed style. Slightly wavy, messy, and lots of movement are a better fit with my personality.
You are a fabulous inspiration and I thank you for your honesty and advise. I don’t feel so alone in this over 50 or 60 year old ‘process’!
i like the idea of not fighting aging with skin products and procedures. I have a disability and counter it with all the medical help I can get plus I wear clothes that are cool for my age. That includes scarves, which are the best thing going. I think decent looking denim and certainly leather (real or faux) are cool fabrics and don’t even get me started on flat boots.
Another great look that I definitely could emulate….except for the shoes. Foot surgery many years ago eliminated stilettos from my closet, but I do think with the right length for the jeans, my flat booties would work well with this look.
This is such an honest and refreshing post!! I love your idea about the scarves, but honestly, your skin looks good! Also, I love the comments you made about your hair. I am not one to fuss with mine every single day either. It more or less does what it wants and I have to work with it, not against it. It’s always a push to get out the door in the morning to get to work anyway, and I like a fuss-free style. I do have to blow dry daily, but all the styling would stress me out! It never feels quite right to me when I leave they stylist, she does all the curling and fixing, then I get out to my car and start brushing like crazy! This is not to say my hair is a disaster because it’s not, but just that fussing isn’t how I want to spend my time! So thanks for your honesty. I like this look a lot, LOVE the shoes!!
I love your blog, it is so fun to read. The layout is fresh and interesting. I also just love your outfit. The colors in the top and bag and shoes are so appealing to my eyes! I am a casual girl at heart but that doesn’t mean I don’t like a little spark. I am definitely going to use your edgy look as inspiration to create an outfit for myself! Thanks so much! Peace! Cheryl
I love your many ways of styling basic pieces!
Most of my wardrobe consists of casual and daytime looks that could be worn for meetings or church, but I still love seeing your evening looks! 🙂
Reading your blog is like visiting with a friend who has great taste and style. Keep it coming!
Wishing you all good things in the new year.
I love that you are so real and honest with us Susan. It is so refreshing. Thank you.
When you meet me in person some day, I want to be exactly the person you see here on this blog. There is no benefit in using filters and photoshop to make myself look better than I do. Have a great weekend!
Susan,
This is so in tune with my personal style. I love it. And this edgy look is fabulous on you.
Merci. Thanks for making my day brighter by your beautiful images and sound text.
(As I said before, I’m french from Montreal, Quebec therefore, if my english has some blunt error in writing, please let me know what would be the correct way of saying such and such.
Take care and have a great day.
Another fun look! This one is for me.
I tend to wear shoes with a bit of a heel because flat shoes can be killer for my high arches. Fortunately, a puppy helped me cull some of my flat shoes, just as I was considering getting rid of them. She also pruned an embellishment from a winter hat, in the belief that less is more. She was right.
This is one of my favorite looks on you! I’m not sure if you were going for “sexy”, but it just goes to show that you don’t have to show skin to look “sexy”.
Love scarves as a finishing sauce. I agree with you. I mess up my hair after someone has made it way too perfect. I also wear lots of bracelets. Keep the eye on the bright shiny things as opposed to the mature spots.
I am a scarf person and have quite a collection. Some originally belonged to my mother and grandmother and are older than I am (59). Rare is the day I leave the house without a scarf or necklace.
The edgy casual look is exactly the look I love for most of the time and you look stunning in it! The casual look you posted yesterday is a terrific way to look for doing chores and grocery shopping but I feel that today’s look of spandex athletic wear and sneakers for just about everything is inappropriate and unattractive (unless you are a twig) especially for life in NYC.
As to your wearing of scarves frequently, I disagree that you need to cover up – you are gorgeous woman!! However, the scarves always look wonderful on you and do tie the outfit together nicely.
Love the look. I never wore scarves until I discovered your blog as I was always fidgeting with them. Thanks so much for the wisdom (spots or not) that you share with us.
I love coming to this site because of your honesty and Gorgeous looks. As a 60+ gal I can sure appreciate – “less makeup more scarves”. I just have to buy some. .
Thanks for the Inspiration!!
Don’t want to be critical but I would/could never wear those heels. They’re way too high & look too young for an older woman. Just my opinion.
Jan G.
What should I do with the 124 pairs of heels in my collection?
Just give them away, dear! I’m sure there are a number of young 20 or even 30 somethings, who are trying to attract/keep a mate their age with whom to procreate, who would kill for those high heels. I expect that’s what any honest psychologist would tell us. I don’t mean to be harsh, but I agree with Jan. Certainly any podiatrist would (although the podiatrist wouldn’t even recommend them to a young woman). But bottom line is wear what makes you feel happy/psychologically comfortable. You’re not harming anyone, are you? Not sure if if it’s a great example to set for today’s savvy young women, though. I am sure, however, that there are some older women who haven’t thought it through, or who are in denial, who will vehemently disagree with me.
I like wearing beautiful shoes that flatter my legs and feet
That leaves all the more lace-up orthopedic oxfords for the rest of the world.
Everyone’s happy then!
Please KEEP ON wearing them…and sharing them with us — so enjoy your great, inspirational outfits and love-of-life style!
Susan thank you for making this journey on getting “more mature” not so scary but instead delightful and fun !! I absolutley love your outfit and adore the shoes. I would most definitley wear those sassy shoes.
Love this look! Love your ideas. I tend to be casual & this edgy casual is spot on.
My personality would add a longer shiny necklace. I like a little bling! If I don’t wear a scarf or plan to remove the scarf I always have a necklace (gold is my metal of choice) on. I think it helps to brighten the face a bit & visually elongate the body.
I also fight the aging process. I don’t do any surgeries or plumps or needles or whatever. But I have managed to really fade those wisdom spots & use an otc retinol to smooth the skin. I get comments all the time on how nice my skin is & that I look younger than my age. Even from my daughters friends. I think it is worth the very small amount of effort.
Keep up the good work!!
Where did you get the leather jacket? You look fabulous!
It is from Stein Mart a couple of years ago. Thank you.
Hi
I love your shoes and wish,wish, wish I could wear heels myself. I guess I will just have to live vicariously. I am from Australia and this is the first blog I have ever read. I am 60 soon and so happy to find a view that is not twenty something.
You rock those heels and you should just keep on wearing them as long as you can. I’m 67 years old and have had to give up the higher heels a few years ago due to varicose vein surgery. I miss them. My legs do feel better, finally, but can’t do the higher heels any more. I always love your outfits.
You are lucky to have wisdom spots. My dermatologist calls them “barnacles.” Only a male dermatologist would think of that, certainly a female would be more kind. I think this one skipped class when they did “bedside manner 101.”
Just a few comments, (I) like the way You style your hair. I envy you having the body in your hair instead of my straight flat hair, moving on, love this casual looks you are displaying lately. I am retired so most of my days I am in casual clothing but still want to look put together. Thank you.
I wish I could wear the heels you do, my hips rebel. On occasion I do wear a lower heel on my boots or shoes if I can find some good looking ones.
You are a lovely lady inside and out.
This look is how I see you Susan. Tailored but with a bit of edge.
You rock whatever you wear!! When I talked to you on the phone about a jacket on your sale site, you were just as kind as you sound in your videos! I’m seventy-one…and got a compliment on my flat boots last week…talk about edgy…they have small spikes on the side. My motto, wear what you are comfortable in and doesn’t embarrass you or your loved ones.
I just love your different styles Susan. I am 73 and 4 years ago I started wearing less make up. Many days I dress as to how I am feeling, otherdays I will dress according to what I am planning to do that day. I have even run to the supermarket without makeup but wearing messy hair and sun glasses. I no longer care what other people think as long as I feel good in my own skin.
Your post EDGY CASUAL is a stylish code but a life philosophy too.
You are a admirable woman .
Hi Susan!
I love your blog! I also love silk scarves but they can be tricky because, on me, they slip and slide around. Also, I’m always looking for new ways to wear them. Perhaps you could do a post about how you wear silk scarves and give us your tips and tricks.
Thank you,
Elizabeth
Love this look, love the shoes. I have never been able to wear really high heels don’t know why. But got away with mid high for a long time I think since getting older I miss wearing really stylish shoes the most. The scarves are a beautiful look. I live in South Florida. I try to stay cool, so no boots or scarves unfortunately.except as a cover up in “airconditioned zones” I really enjoy your look and your advice even in my 70 s . Looking forward to your next feature.
Hi Susan,
I thoroughly enjoy your posts and the self deprecating manner that characterises your writing. I’ve been paying attention to your suggestions about proportions, styling and jewellery and have learnt that “less is more” – a change for me as I am usually festooned with the whole shebang! Thank you.
Kind regards,
Mary
Looking great…reminds me a bit of Olivia Newton John in Grease! You both rock the look! I have added a similar jacket to my wardrobe as well. Enjoyed learning about another term for age spots; definitely like wisdom spots much better. Great post!
All this it , so beautiful
Have a nice day
Hello – a quick question about hair. My hair will do EXACTLY when your does, but then when I sleep on it, it flattens!
How do you ‘fluff up’ second and third day hair?
I get it wet in the shower each day but do not always use shampoo.
Hello I just turned 50 and just found your site off of your 50 not frumpy board on Pinterest. Let me just say I was appalled that women complained about you looking older than 50 or not telling them what to wear. My thought is if you don’t want advise about clothes than don’t read it and also you are absolutely beautiful and trendy at 50 and now 60. I hope I came velvet beautifully at every age like you have.
Blessings
,Jennifer
This post really spoke to me. I could relate to so many of your comments about skin care and dressing for our bodies and personality. I’m not wearing as much makeup but am taking much better care of my skin. Yours looks glowing. I’ve always worn scarves when I was working and still do. They can add so much to an outfit. Thanks for your inspiration.
I love your attitude about aging – there is not a darn thing we can do about it. It’s inevitable for all of us so we have have to make the best of what we’ve been given and enhance all of it with jewelry, scarves, accessories, whatever it takes to make the best of the process. Love your YT and Pinterest blogs.
Yesterday’s post more suits me. I am retired and never did walk well in heels. I would feel so dressed up in those shoes but I love them on you. Thank you for sharing your life and your style advice. I am still learning how to navigate Pinterest and am trying to read all of your posts.
Love it! Thank you! Trying to adjust to being my age, major weight loss & much need updating! I love your style!