The Perfect Saturday

We love to enjoy a long drive through the mountains on a beautiful day. We can feel our cares slipping away as we drive through the foothills and start to climb into the mountains beyond.

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My friend and award-winning artist, Monique Carr, has her work on exhibit. This past Saturday, a lovely reception was held at the Alta Vista Gallery in Valle Crucis, North Carolina.

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Mr. Mickey and I made plans to attend the reception and then to enjoy dinner at Rowland’s, one of our favorite restaurants of all time.

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I bought three of Monique’s paintings, and I could not be more pleased with how perfectly they complement my decor. One of the paintings is behind us, and another is a gift for Mr. Mickey. (Shhh, don’t tell him!)

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We enjoy having a glass of champagne in the living room and relaxing for a while before dinner.

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I wore a red jacket by Preston and York via Dillard’s. The scarf is by Versace from Saks Off 5th. The black long sleeve top by Covered Perfectly is my all-time favorite for layering with a jacket. The pants are old from Nordstrom. I wore black pantyhose and flat shoes from BCBGeneration during the day. Before dinner, I slipped on a pair of old Sam Edelman heels. I carried my Fabrizio Gianni black trench coat with me because the weather was suddenly much colder than it has been. The bag is old from Express.

16 Comments
  1. You look gorgeous! This is one of my favorite outfits that I’ve seen you wear. The colors look amazing on you.

  2. Looks like a perfect day all around. You look beautiful and very happy; the best accessory of all! Thanks for sharing.

  3. Susan, your meal was a work of art! Each plate was stunning. Thanks so much for sharing! I love to see your clothing combinations as well as your dates with Mr. Mackey! Because of you, I’ve become more attentive to my own wardrobe choices and I’ve been receiving compliments! That’s fun! Cheers! Carmen

  4. May I ask a question regarding your dining choices? After reading about your dietary “conversion” to beans, grains, etc. I wonder about having alcoholic beverages. I see that you do drink wine, champagne etc. which to me represents a lot of calories for little nutritional value. Please understand I am not criticizing. I’m just trying to understand how you decide to remove some items from your meal choices but include others. Thank you so much for sharing your very interesting life with us.

    1. I enjoy a glass of wine with dinner a couple of times per week and on rare occasions, I have a glass of champagne. We also share a piece of dessert occasionally. Not eating processed junk food or meat are my main restrictions. I eat small portions and limit my wine to one or two glasses with a meal.

  5. Oh my, Susan. Everything looks so perfect, the location, the amazing views, an outfit you are glowing in, some beautiful art, and what looks like some gob-smackingly gorgeous food. What an outing!

  6. Love your blog Susan and I learn so much from you!
    I have a fashion tip that works for me and I would like to share. As I reside in a larger city and often have a long commute to and from work, I wear flats while driving and then change into heels before I walk into my office.

  7. You look fabulous and that view and the meal……wonderful! You look so put together but I struggle with wearing hose. I used to wear them all the time but in the last many years have stopped for the most part. What is your take on hose especially with dresses and when to wear black hose…and when you chose black are you wearing sheer? Sorry for all the questions but after not wearing them for a while I don’t feel confident with my choices.Thank you Susan!

    1. I keep all the colors the same and wear hose with closed toe shoes if I am dressed up a little. I wear nude hose with nude shoes and dresses. At 60 years old, I have veins showing and not so firm skin and muscle tissue. I don’t feel comfortable showing my bare legs. These are my personal choices.

  8. A perfect Saturday, indeed! You are blessed with gorgeous scenery and a good companion to share it all. The food is just beautiful…yours looks like a vegetarian plate. I love your shopping from the closet lessons…one of my favorite lessons is column dressing. Original artwork, especially if you have met the artist, is perfect for adding personality and warmth to a room. Mums the word to Mr Mickey…

  9. So Lovely! I enjoy your posts over coffee, it is liking talking with a fashionable friend. Keep the posts coming.

  10. I love the way you wear scarfs. A good idea that adds much to outfit. Susan, you are an inspiration. Thank you for sharing the perfect Saturday.

  11. Susan — Thank you for visiting Alta Vista Gallery again! I always enjoy you and Mickey! His photos of my gallery are so lovely, as are his photos of YOU! Thank you again for supporting the art of Monique Carr and Alta Vista Gallery!

  12. Liking the scarves and low heeled shoes! This is a refined and polished look that is also comfortable for travel. Thank you for sharing your ideas.

    I think scarves are a wonderful way to bring together an outfit of solid colors and they are easy to store. I have a tradition of buying a scarf on a vacation as a souvenir because they take little room to pack, I use them often, and they remind me of our trip for years to come. It also focuses my search when I have limited time in a museum or gift shop…I go straight to the scarves!

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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.