Fading Fall Colors

Peak color has passed in locations higher than 3,500 feet, so we enjoyed a “go for a drive-date” to Kingsport on Saturday.

Kingsport has some lovely old buildings and neighborhoods, in addition to an enormous, beautiful city park. Read more about Bays Mountain Park here.

My look for the day included the very comfortable and smart-looking jeans I told you about here. My ‘Goldilocks’ loafers are here. I have purchased them in a few colors because they are super comfortable. The bag is from Dooney & Bourke last year. The only current color in this bag style is ‘Ash’ here. The Merino wool sweater is on sale here. The scarf and jacket are a couple of years old. Similar scarf here. Similar jackets are here and here.

Meze, mezze, or mazza is a selection of small dishes served as appetizers in parts of the Middle East, the Balkans, Greece, and North Africa. I am especially fond of this form of informal Mediterranean dining, not as an appetizer but as the only course. My version included fresh pita bread, vegetable dips, and a few cheese types from Fresh Market. Feta, sharp cheddar, pepper jelly, spicy black bean hummus, port wine cheese, Spanish almonds, feta stuffed olives, grapes, spinach, and artichoke dip were included in the selections.


I’ve recently been deep-diving into different basic items to share everything I’ve learned about styling, storing, and caring for that item, as well as a few current shopping links. On Thursday, the topic will be sweaters. More pictures of fun weekend adventures will also be included.

Shopping links in my posts may result in a small commission for me at no additional cost to you.

45 Comments
  1. Lovely pictures, thank you for sharing your adventures. Being a sweater girl myself, I can’t wait for your Thursday post. I hate how my sweaters seem to go “lifeless ” after only 1 season.

  2. I applaud your new innovative approach concerning “deep diving” into an item. Your analysis is consistently valuable, irrespective of the specific topic. I agreed with the other readers that you are an excellent writer!

  3. Hey, Susan!! As always, love reading your posts each week. Wondering about how the Slimsation Narrow Pant in Black Denim – M2604P-BKDM jeans run in size. Want to order but never am sure of the size and then returns can be a nightmare and costly. Thanks in advance for your advice on this.

  4. You look so lovely, Susan! Glad you guys are out enjoying life while staying safe. I can’t wait to see your post Thursday about sweaters!!!! Have a great day.

  5. I can’t keep myself from commenting about how much I enjoy Susan’s blog and agreeing with the above viewers about your adventures and sharing with readers. It is so refreshing to scroll through photos of a beautiful outfit and beautiful scenery of different places and appetizing foods without a dozen pictures of modeling the same garments and advertising between each picture. I am down to opening only Susan’s blog with my coffee and then sometimes returning during the day to have another look. I always get ideas for combining pieces or colors I hadn’t tried before.
    Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
    Kathy

  6. Just beautiful, Susan! My daughter and her family live in North Carolina and we visited awhile back and completely enjoyed the fall colors. We are hoping to visit again next spring after the covid crisis dies down. Thank you so much for a lovely blog, I look forward to it each Tuesday and Thursday.

  7. I’m eagerly looking forward to your post on sweaters. I have many wool and cashmere sweaters. I keep them in plastic zip bags after wearing and airing. That seems to work well for me. I’m sure you have some good ideas about caring for them.
    I love the Meze too! It seems like a treat that happens to be healthy too.

  8. You and Mr. Mickey have such beautiful excursions, and you do a great job of chronicling them for us. Thank you.

  9. Dear Susan,

    This color combination looks absolutely stunning on you. Love, love, love the jacket. Sweater girl too, can’t wait.

  10. I too am looking forward to your post on sweaters. After following so much of your fashion pointers , I have purges my wardrobe of all but 2 sweaters. I am certainly in need of your savvy advice for future purchases.

  11. Thank you for taking us along on your trip. I’m not getting out much so I always look forward to your posts on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Your pictures are lovely. That pink jacket looks stunning on you.

  12. Sorry, but not a good look! Jacket not a good color on you. Socks look really bad with your jeans and shoes. I expected much better from you. Have followed you for a long time, and have seen you look much more put together. Sorry….. but that is my observation…. You’re too beautiful for this look..,..

  13. As always thank you so much for sharing your delightful ‘trips’ with Mr Mickey. You both look so well after your bout of being so unwell .
    Mr Mickey is incredible having got over breaking his leg, and you Susan looking so poorly after you Pneumonia.
    I just love it when you take us your readers all over the wold to the beauty spots on your jaunts, just great. Thank you.
    Hey I did like today’s outfit combination of pale pink and black and the monochrome scarf gave it a smart edge. Your classic style works
    wonders for us ladies in our sixties, or any other age group of readers .
    Those loafers look super smart and comfortable too.
    I am sure you get loads of messages just like mine but sometimes I just like to thank you for all that you do for us your followers. Keep
    up this fantastic classic style. Lastly the food looked very nice indeed.
    THANK YOU again Susan.
    Best wishes Pamela from Wales U.K.

  14. Love the fall colors and your look. Please consider doing a post on wearing leggings of different types of fabric and tops to pair with. Thank you, Susan, for all the great advice and tips you share. I also enjoy a small plate dinner. Miss going out and dining that way. Until it cools down here in SW FL, that won’t be happening as I will not dine in at this point.

  15. I look forward to all the advice, pictures and stories of your trips with Mr Mickey.
    My wardrobe is slowly being replaced by your caring suggestions.
    Thank you so much
    Jacqui in Canada

  16. Good Morning, Susan! I couldn’t agree more about small plate dining. I wish more restaurants would offer healthy appetizers or more creative vegetable plates. I believe it’s their loss in customers!
    I love the blush with black to ground it for fall. It’s a beautiful jacket and works year round to my eye.
    I am a sweater lover also but adding a small shoulder pad gives me a better look (small shoulders and pear shaped).
    If possible would love your comments on this at some point!
    Love your blog and appreciate it immensely. Thank you!!

  17. I would never say anything , that was not kind. The manners. You look beautiful, as always. I love the outfits and places you go. Where do you stay? I a little scared of virus. Much love to you on your travels.

    1. The getaways I have been showing you are only afternoon drives. We are out and about for only a few hours. We are cautious about avoiding any crowds and wear masks if we are not in the car or seated at an outdoor table. Thank you for your kind words.

  18. Have a question about the pants you reference above. Are they the slimsation that is on my MY FAIR LADY’s website and if so do they run really tight in the calves. I have read that you mention that you have thicker calves so I am wondering if you find they are too tight. they look GREAT on you but I do have a slightly thicker calf so am worried they could be skin tight which is not a look I would want.

    Thanks Susan!!

  19. Hi Susan,

    Thank you for sharing your adventure to Kingsport, and Bay’s Mountain Park, wow, all so beautiful, loved seeing the gorgeous fall colors. I did listen to the video as well, what a nice touch of adding that in, You put so much love and thought into your dining experience, the Mazza, informal Mediterranean dishes you served looked so pretty.

    Sending you a happy day.
    Katherine in Arizona

  20. Beautiful pictures Susan. Thanks. Makes me want to keep my walks up in the park next to me. Beautiful time of the year. Enjoy your day and thank you for all the work you do to give us these very helpful and informative blogs. Have a wonderful weekend.

  21. I enjoy your blogs more than I say. Thank you for sharing your journey. My husband and I are so looking forward to retiring and enjoying this great country of ours. Blessings to you both.

  22. Susan I would like you to do an episode with pieces that are the midi length below the knee. Vests, Cardigans & how you make them an outfit, what you can match & wear with them. What you shouldn’t wear with that length. I have several cardigans & vests of this length & I don’t know if they are in style anymore or not. Thanks.

    1. The pieces you mentioned are perfect to wear with leggings and low or block heeled boots. Keep the under layer slim-fitting, dark and sleek; you will always look stylish.

  23. Your outing with Mr. Mickey sounds lovely and the pictures are gorgeous. I am so glad you are both on the mend and enjoying life! Your layout of that meze looks amazing. I love a meal of appetizers with champagne. I will save this one for when I can entertain once again.

    I love your outfit. Pink with gray and/or black is one of my favorite color combinations. I love those Sam Edelman Loraine loafers – I have three pairs so far, in black and in the black and grey leopard print and just bought a third pair in a deep red. They are really comfortable and so classic. I love to wear them with slacks for work or dressier events and with jeans for more casual looks. Once I realized that heels were no longer feasible for me, I did splurge on a pair of Gucci Jordaan loafers in a deep brown and they are gorgeous and so comfortable and I absolutely love those! Now that loafers are a preferred style, I have to say that the Sam Edelman loafers are a really good quality dupe and very comfortable. The cut makes your foot look elegant. Sam Edelman has a mule version of this loafer that I have in white and light tan, and like those as well. Sam Edelman is my go-shoe brand.

    Thank you for sharing your adventures and advice. Your posts are always enlightening and helpful!

  24. Oh! I’ve been wanting to try that spicy black bean hummus but no one else in the family will eat black beans in any form. Forget them! If Susan likes it…it probably rocks! Thanks

  25. Lovely outfit and pictures. You ALWAYS look “put together”. Thank you for all the great tips. Bless you and Mr. Mickey.

  26. I came across your exquisite site today while surfing the net. Thank you for sharing your life with those of us who appreciate its textures, substance and subtleties as you clearly do.

    I have seen your photos on the internet. You are the most exquisite woman I have seen in my life.

    For what it is worth, I grew up in western North Carolina near the Tennessee border. I remember east Tennessee well. I have not been there in years. I own a weekly newspaper in Virginia.

    Again, thank you for sharing the photos an text. I look forward to visiting your site regularly.

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I share tips and inspiration for using what you already have in contemporary ways. Defining words include effortless, classic, refined, discreet, and elegant. My style is chic, minimal, and timeless with a bit of edge.