Hello! It’s wonderful you’re here for my inaugural post on Style At A Certain Age! I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share what I wore during my recent trip to Charleston, South Carolina.  Packing for this trip was challenging for me for a couple of reasons: the forecast called for rain and cooler temps; plus, I haven’t done much sightseeing in the last few years which translates to I haven’t been wearing “going out” shoes for extended periods.   This all amounted to packing for comfort, style, and possible rainy weather. Fortunately, our hotel was centrally located!  So, I wanted to show you some of my best vacation outfits from the trip.

Evening Out

My husband Alex and I chose one of our three nights for a special dinner out. We chose a very highly recommended restaurant called 167 Raw. It’s a wonderful seafood restaurant, with super fresh seafood preparations, raw oysters, and chic cocktails. If you’re in Charleston, I highly recommend you make a stop at 167 Raw.

Little Black Suit

This ensemble is not a suit per se, as the blazer and the pants are not exact matches. But it works!  A black blazer is a wardrobe staple. I get a ton of use out of this blazer; it’s perfect for dressing up a pair of jeans and it works perfectly over a dress or with a skirt. 

Parke Blazer | Regent Blazer (similar) | Unstructured Blazer (similar) | Pintuck Camisole (similar) | Shirred Top (alternative) | Drapey Top (similar) | Cameron Slim Crop Pant in 4 Season Stretch |  Cameron Pant in Bi-Stretch Cotton (similar) | Vince Camuto Enella Sandal | Vince Camuto Saprenda Sandal (similar) |  Nine West Sandals (similar) | TSATSAS Tape Bag | Hobo Waver Wristlet (similar) | Hobo Brave Leather Clutch (similar) 

With a classic little black suit, you can get creative with your choice of top. A strappy camisole is a perfect option. Another great option to achieve this look is with a drapey top, tucked in.  I went with this top by Frame, from Nordstrom. It’s no longer available, but there is a similar version still available. 

Straight-leg cropped pants in a heavenly four-season stretch fabric from J.Crew are a dream to wear. These pants are so versatile. They dress up beautifully, but they also look great with a t-shirt and denim jacket. The straight leg cropped fit is perfect for a petite frame and J.Crew’s Cameron Slim Crop Pant fits true to size. 

My favorite shoe to wear with a little black suit is a strappy sandal, with a little bit of a heel. These Vince Camuto heels are super comfortable and easy to walk in for blocks! 

For a classic neutral outfit, you can go with almost any color handbag you like. For this special evening out, I decided to go with the quietly elegant black Tape Bag by TSATSAS. 

Shop the outfit (click below)

Sightseeing in Beautiful Charleston

Fortunately, we did end up with a sunny day to stroll around the historic Broad Street neighborhoods of Charleston. You can’t help but be immersed in the history of Charleston and our nation, as you walk the cobblestone streets amongst the 18th and 19th-century architecture. 

My favorite places to tour are the cemeteries and graveyards. This has a lot to do with the fact that cemeteries are quiet places; one can contemplate and get lost in imaginations of times long passed. The south has some of the most beautiful cemeteries; the spring flowers add color and the Live Oak trees draped in Spanish Moss really set the tone. 

Walking tour

For our self-guided walking tour, we had beautiful sunny skies and warm spring temperatures. It was the perfect day to wear a skirt! Spring is my favorite time of year, especially for fashion. There are so many options with skirts, dresses, shorts, and jeans – you can mix them up with a variety of shirt styles to create fun, colorful, bright looks. 

We started in the morning, so I have a denim jacket, which is my favorite go-to light jacket for Spring. I haven’t yet come across an outfit that doesn’t work well with a denim jacket! 

Madewell Denim Jacket | Gap Denim Jacket (similar) | J.Crew Factory Button-up | J.Crew Factory Skirt | Quay Aviator Sunglasses (similar) | Whirlpool Aviator Sunglasses (similar) |  Kingston Aviator Sunglasses (similar) | Puffy Crisscross Sandals (similar) | Crisscross Slide Sandals (similar) | Similar Olive-Colored Slides (similar) | Sydney Crossbody Bag | Transport Crossbody Bag (similar) | Transport Saddlebag (similar)  

Gingham is one of my favorite prints all year long. But somehow as soon as Spring arrives, gingham comes to the forefront of my mind. This olive and white gingham button-up feels especially appropriate for the shoulder seasons, the color is just perfect for Spring.

This linen-cotton pull-on skirt from J.Crew Factory is a no-brainer for me. I have this skirt style in a few colors and this cream-color version is by far my favorite. As a neutral, the cream color will work with nearly every top in my closet. It’s lined and so comfortable – plus it has pockets! You will definitely see this skirt on repeat all Spring and Summer long. 

These Vehla Dixie sunglasses are my new favorites. I love the lightweight tortoise frames. I especially love the lightly tinted, sage-colored lenses. 

I haven’t walked for miles in closed shoes since the pandemic, so my feet have become more sensitive to shoes (anyone else have this issue?). So I went for an ultra-comfy pair of crisscross sandals.

These olive green sandals are from last summer, but I’ve given you similar styles.

My Favorite Crossbody Everyday Bag

A crossbody or shoulder bag is a must for a day seeing the sights. My favorite, most-used bags are all from Madewell. I absolutely love their leather goods, they make well-priced, quality bags, shoes, and belts that last for ages.

This is the Sydney Crossbody Bag. It has a removable shoulder strap for versatility. Its rounded, structured hobo shape is updated for this year, and its classic styling will be a go-to for years to come. 

Shop the outfit (click below)

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In case you missed it

Those were some of my best vacation outfits from Charleston.  If you’re looking for more fashion inspiration, make sure to check out Beth’s 5 ways to wear white sneakers this Spring.  

And remember, Thursdays are a two-post day.  Make sure to check out the one piece of Spring clothing Beth can’t live without.

I love Talbots.  That’s no secret.  And apparently you, my readers, do too.  Almost every month, without fail, Talbots is the most popular retailer on the blog.  Hands down.   So, we’re gonna try something new today.  I’ve spent the past few days combing through Talbots’ Spring new arrivals, and I’ve put together a capsule wardrobe.   From 14 different items, I’ve put 5 different outfits together.  The items include:

• jackets;
• tops;
• bottoms;
• shoes; and
• bags.

Here are the rules I tried to follow when selecting items:

• Must be Talbots.
• Must be new arrivals.
• Should be classic and wearable next year, and years to come.

Most of you are familiar with what I mean by “classic”.  Think lots of neutrals, fits, cuts, and styles that defy trends.  While bold and bright colors are in this year, I shied away from them today in favor of whites, blacks, and tans for example. 

So without further adieu, let’s see what I came up with.

Talbots Spring New Arrivals

Nappa Wedges | Perfect Tote | Nappa Loafers | Espadrille Flats | Vachetta Mule | Bateau Neck Tee | Drawcord Shirt Jacket | Twill Knit Blazer | Denim Shirt Jacket | Button Detail Popover | Smocked Blouse | Wide-Leg Pants | Relaxed Jeans | Slim Ankle Jeans

Shop the capsule wardrobe (click below)

Talbots outfit 1

The first outfit stars a navy twill blazer.  A navy blazer is part of any classic wardrobe and works perfectly with the simple combination of an olive drab neck tee and slim jeans in a medium wash.  And how about these leather mules?  Absolutely loving them.    

Twill Knit Blazer | Bateau Neck Tee | Slim Ankle Jeans | Perfect Tote | Vachetta Mule

Shop the outfit (click below)

Talbots outfit 2

The second outfit begins with a neutral base:  I paired a black and white smocked blouse with black wide-leg trousers.  The trousers are about as “edgy” as this wardrobe gets today, but I have been and will continue to be a fan.  The wedges continue the matchy-matchy feel of the outfit. 

Denim jackets are true heroes of any classic transition wardrobe, including this one.  So to add visual interest, I added a light-wash denim shirt jacket.  It lightens the outfit up dramatically.  (Imagine the difference if I were to have gone with a dark-wash.)

Denim Shirt Jacket | Smocked Blouse | Wide-Leg Pants | Nappa Wedges | Perfect Tote

Shop the outfit (click below)

Talbots outfit 3

The third outfit is preppy through and through.  I’m bringing back the navy twill blazer from outfit 1.  This time, though, I paired it with a blue popover and white denim.  Add a pair of navy loafers and you’re a full-on prepster, if only for a day. 

Twill Knit Blazer | Button Detail Popover | Relaxed Jeans | Nappa Loafers | Perfect Tote

Shop the outfit (click below)

Talbots outfit 4

Outfit 4 demonstrates keeps the base from outfit 1 but swaps the jacket, shoes, and bag.  It features a tan utility jacket and snakeskin espadrilles.  (Remember, animal skin functions as a neutral.) This outfit really demonstrates the impact accessories and outerwear can have on an outfit.  

Drawcord Shirt Jacket | Bateau Neck Tee | Slim Ankle Jeans | Espadrille Flats | Perfect Tote

Shop the outfit (click below)

Talbots outfit 5

Compare outfit 3 with this one:  the only thing different is the jacket.  Instead of a blazer, I’ve gone with the utility jacket.  And what a difference it makes.  The outfit stops feeling “preppy” and starts feeling more, “I’m ready to take on the world thank you very much.”  

And that’s the fun of capsule wardrobes, really.  If you begin with a small but classic set of tops, bottoms, shoes, and jackets, you can create so many different combinations that vary minimally but are dramatically different!  

So have some fun with my capsule wardrobe and think about how you would do it differently. 

Drawcord Shirt Jacket | Button Detail Popover | Relaxed Jeans | Nappa Loafers | Perfect Tote

Shop the outfit (click below)

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In case you missed it

If you’re looking for more classic wardrobe ideas, make sure to check out our essential series: 

• essential tops; 
• essential bottoms; and
• essential jackets; 
• essential accessories that every woman should have in their closet.

Daily Looks

Make sure to catch up on our DAILY LOOK. We post a dedicated photo to our daily outfit every Wednesday-Sunday. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture.

Hey, gang!  Today we’re continuing with our Spring Preview series with a focus on Spring colors 2022.  Simply stated, Spring colors this year are bright and arguably bolder than recent years.  “Very Peri”—the new shade of periwinkle—took Pantone’s 2022 color of the year.  But bright yellows, orangey-reds, and blues are on-trend.  Stylecaster has colors like 

• tangy lime; 
• hot orange; 
• cerulean; and
• radiant yellow

as in-for-Spring.  If you poke around other fashion magazines and websites you’ll see similar palettes.  

Spring colors 2022

Today’s post is super simple:  I’ve rounded up 5 bright colors I’m loving this year and dug into the archives to show you different ways to style each color.  Those (general) colors are:  

• purple; 
• yellow; 
• pink;
• orangey-red; and 
• blue. 

Anyone who follows me regularly knows I love neutrals.  But I have and will continue to embrace color any chance I get.  No doubt “bright and bold” can sometimes be difficult to incorporate into our wardrobe.  But remember, there are a lot of ways to introduce color pops into your classic wardrobe.  If you’re not a fan of colorful tops or bottoms, try a handbag or scarf.  If you’re on the fence about “yellow”, try pairing yellow shoes with a pair of black or white pants.  

Have fun this Spring looking for new and interesting ways to introduce color into your closet.  And as silly as it sounds, remember: a little color goes a lot further than we might think in a world that often seems dark. 

2022 new arrivals 

For each featured color, I’ve rounded up 12 new arrivals I’m loving from 3 retailers: 

• Talbots;
• Ann Taylor; and 
• J.Crew.

I’m really enjoying each’s Spring collection.  You can shop my picks by clicking on the widgets at the end of each section.  You’ll see many of my picks in the upcoming weeks. 

Purple 

Shop purple (click below)

 

Yellow 

Shop yellow (click below)

Pink

Shop pink (click below)

Orangey-Red 

Shop orangey-red (click below)

Blue

Shop blue (click below)

In case you missed it

Our Spring preview series is in full swing.  In case you’ve missed any of our posts, make sure to check out 

• 5 shoes trending this Spring; 
• 5 must-try hairstyles this Spring; and  
• 2022 denim trends you will love (and hate). 

Daily Looks 

We just posted a new DAILY LOOK, so make sure to check it out. Daily Looks is a really simple feature:  a dedicated photo feed of my daily outfits. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture.