talbots and the art of the scarf
october is here in full force, ladies. besides pumpkin spice lattes or spooky front porches, october is also breast cancer awareness month. and if there’s one disease that needs to be eradicated, it’s cancer. many of you know i lost mr. style to liver cancer in 2019. so any chance i get to shed the spotlight on cancer, i’m on board. there are so many of us that have dealt with or are dealing with this heinous disease. i don’t think there’s a single one of us who does not have direct experience with cancer. which is one reason i love to partner with Talbots and the Art of the Scarf to raise money for Susan G. Komen.
it would be impossible to put into words what we all have gone through in our individual battles, at least in any meaningful sense. but i do know that even when we feel powerless and like we cannot go on, we must—and do—wake up each and every day and continue our fight.
denim | silk shirt | blazer (old similar here) | scarf | handbag | belt (old similar) | shoes (old similar)
Talbots and the Art of the Scarf
when Talbots reached out to me to partner against the fight against breast cancer, i immediately agreed. breast cancer is something that affects 12% of women a year. i know statistics can be abstract and impersonal, but i want you to think about that for just a second.
1 out of every 10 women you know will be directly affected by this disease in their lifetime. women like you and i; our mothers; our sisters; our daughters; our aunts; our cousins; women from our jobs; from our book clubs; from every aspect of our lives will face their personal battle. and that battle will forever change us and everyone we come into contact with.
breast cancer awareness
today, i’m proud to announce that i’m partnering with Talbots to raise money to support women in their personal battle against breast cancer. Talbots commissioned three internationally renowned female artists to create a limited-edition collection of one-of-a-kind scarves. each scarf is pure silk and a 41″ square. in the spirit of helping women, Talbots will donate 10% of the net proceeds from each scarf sold from September 21, 2020 to October 31, 2020 in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Care Helpline.
i’m wearing the scarf designed by Ali Mac. this scarf illustrates the beauty in women supporting women. the flowers symbolize friendship, love, and growth. and that’s exactly what we need. it’s our collective strength and determination that we must trust in to see us through our darkest moments. it’s important to continue to fight against breast cancer. and it’s important to do it together.
today, to showcase the gorgeous silk Ali Mac scarf i’m wearing a casual chic outfit that starts with the modern ankle jean from Talbots, a silk blouse from Everlane, a classic Talbots red velvet blazer (old similar here) gold belt (old similar here) gold Ferragamo pumps (old similar here) and a quilted handbag also from Talbots.
today—maybe more than any time i can recall in recent memory—i want to hear from you. no doubt our battles with cancer are highly personal. but if you’re willing to share, even in part, i know it will serve not just as an inspiration to me, but for others as well. and don’t forget we aren’t in this fight alone. i love the fact that Talbots and the Art of the Scarf are helping with the fight against breast cancer.
Good morning Beth! Yay for Talbots in their support of breast cancer awareness.
Those are lovely scarves. I love your outfit.
Two weeks ago today my dearest friend from high school(44 years ago!) underwent a mastectomy. Thankfully her lymph nodes were not involved. She has a great attitude and is doing well.
I lost a nephew to kidney cancer four years ago. My brother’s only son. He died at 39 on my brother’s birthday.
An insidious disease.
Let’s all get on board for the fight of our lives.
My best to you ,because everyday is a struggle to go forward.
Loves!
breast cancer is such an important cause. and i’m thankful there are many out there raising money and awareness.
take care!
I lost my baby sister to triple negative breast cancer after her valiant 3 year battle in 2017. She was the youngest of 5 siblings and the absolute best of all of us. I watched her fight in the most positive way. A piece of me died when she did. I miss her every day.
such a vicious disease. it is so hard to see our loved one’s battle and sometimes lose this fight.God Bless!
If I can’t be a sterling example, let me be a horrifying warning. May 2019 I had a mammogram. I get one every year. I have ‘dense breasts’ so I opt for the 3D mammogram. Like every other year, this was clear. Yay! However in September I felt an undeniable large painful LUMP. I knew what it was. And after another mammogram, an ultrasound and biopsy, so did my doctors. It was a 4 cm tumor, triple negative ( the worst, most invasive, most tenacious cancer ) And I was so shocked. HOW could a mammogram be clear in May and I have a 4 cm tumor in September? Cancer does not grow that fast. So they showed the May mammogram, and the September mammogram. The difference? None. It was not visible on either one. One doc said ‘there may be a slight thickening of the tissue in the September film, but nothing I would call suspicious – I’d just flag it to keep an eye on it for next year’. The ultrasound however clearly showed the ominous area and the MRI further detailed what was there. So , now a year later, I know I had Stage IIB triple negative, with thank the Lord, no positive lymph nodes. 5 months of dose dense chemo, a mastectomy, an expander, Radiation and now oral chemo for 6 more months. With pandemic travel so difficult, I have limited time with friends and family. Cancer is hard at any time, but especially NOW. One of the most important keys to our recover, mental and physical is connection with others. Friendship, support and visits. All tough to come by in Covid. If you know anyone going thru cancer treatment, reach out. Visit on the porch. Call. Zoom. Text. Send a card. She may not feel like talking all the time, but I can tell you she will feel better if you reach out.
And ladies? DO NOT rely exclusively on mammography. Use your hands, get to know your breast and if ANYTHING at all seems different, do not ignore it. Get an ultrasound. Some states require insurance to pay for ultrasound screening for women with dense breasts. I did not know this. Mine was not one of those states. Check if your state is.
thanks so much for sharing your story. prayers for you and your family.
Praying for you!
Thanks for this information… I will definitely be more vigilant now!
đź’•hope you continue to feel better
BETH, who wrote your column today? Your high school English teacher would be appalled! …. sentences beginning with AND, semicolons for no reason, etc.
Your columns are usually well written, but today was a glaring exception.
the blog has always started sentences with and. but i am so sad you focused on grammar instead of the message. as always the blog is edited by a Ph.D.
You are right — focus on the message.
and it is such an important message.
A loving article on cancer and you went after grammar? Wow
I’ve been battling large cell granular T cell leukemia since February. It has decimated my immune system, so full quarantine has been a must. I just turned 60 and am happy to be alive to celebrate another birthday. Suddenly getting older doesn’t seem quite so bad and I count my blessings every day.
each and every day is a privilege. God Bless!
Beautiful post, Beth. Every time I look at your face on the blog, I admire how you are getting up everyday and keeping on. You are inspiring to so many.
I also admire that you are walking the walk and trying to make a difference. I lost my 53 year old sister in law to cancer in 2015. She was a wonderful person, and it devastated her 6 brothers and her partner. Lives crushed in the wake… This cause, and suicide prevention are important to me. Peace to you today and every day. ❤️
thanks so much for sharing your story. you are so right about how lives are crushed in the wake of this insidious disease.
we all look forward to the day when cancer is eradicated. God Bless.
My daughter is a ten year breast cancer survivor. Diagnosed at age 40 at her very first mammogram, the year young women were advised to wait until 50 if no family history. We had no family history of breast cancer, so that is bad information that is out there. Now, our younger daughter’s risk is 50% as is mine because of a direct family member’s diagnosis. Needless to say, it is the most difficult thing I have ever experienced. I would have taken her place 100% if I could have. Her children were 7 and 4 at the time. It was an aggressive cancer (HER positive) that often strikes young women. Thankfully, she had an outstanding oncologist who worked with this particular cancer and successfully treated her with targeted gene therapy. Please encourage your daughters and young women in your circle to get an early mammogram. Any donation you can make to cancer research is much needed. Thank you for the opportunity to highlight this insidious disease.
thank you for sharing your experience with this dreadful disease. i’m happy to hear your daughter is doing well. but i’m certain there were dark days while she went through treatment. both emotionally and physically. God Bless.
what a great post today. I love that Talbots is doing something positive to help with cancer.
I agree we all can list someone who has had connections with cancer.
In 2000 my sister-in-law had a double mastectomy and chemo. A long time survivor. I then was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in 2002 and after a lumpecromy, radiation and 5 years on lo dose chemo am recovered!! Then my 29 year old daughter in law was diagnosed with breast cancer too! Again a positive outcome as after lumpectomy and radiation and chemo and 5 years on lo dose chemo she is cancer free and happier than ever.
Through all this I have learned more about breast cancer than I wanted but am so thankful for all the help that is out there.
and there have been so many advances with cancer treatment thanks to wonderful foundations like Susan G. Komen. i’m so happy that each of your family members came out on the other side healthy and whole.
Beth, wonderful heartfelt message about cancer of all types. But yea especially breast cancer. I am a breast cancer survivor and my 40 year old son has battled colon cancer. So far he is cancer free. Yes, cancer is a terrible disease!! And so many lives are touched and lost from it.
good for you, paula! and your son too. there is hope after the diagnosis. and i’m happy your family was victorious.
Hi Beth, my 25 year old daughter, mother to a 3 year old daughter and 1 year old identical twin boys found out in June she had breast cancer. She has had 1 mastectomy, will complete her chemo treatments Wednesday and will be scheduled for her other mastectomy and reconstructive surgery in January ’21. This has been the toughest year of my life as a mother watching her go through this and wishing I could trade places with her. She is a rock star and has been so amazing through the process! The hardest part has been our inability to be with her through so much of the process due to COVID – it’s been almost unbearable to watch her go in to the appointments/treatments and through the process alone to some degree, though she knows we are here for her. You just have to say a lot of prayers and keep going. Blessings to you and your journey and thank you for your wonderful posts and style!
prayers for your family but especially your daughter’s family. i can’t even imagine the anguish you endured having to sit on the sidelines. God Bless, Pam.
Beth, thanks so much for styling this scarf. I love it online, but my local store doesn’t have it so I couldn’t “play” with it to see what it will do.
I lost my little/only sister to breast cancer 20 years ago … she’s still so close that at times I can almost feel her. Cancer is such a terrible enemy. I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve prayed for your journey so many times and I’m amazed at your ability to keep moving forward. You’re a testimony to strength and graciousness.
it’s so hard to lose them but our loved ones live on forevermore in our hearts! God Bless.and thank you for your prayers.
I was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer in June 2017. My breast cancer was diagnosed finally when I was hurting so badly my Dr ordered an MRI of my lower back. I had had a mammogram and it was deemed normal. They only saw something after the MRI told the devastating story that my pain was from the cancer already in my bones. I was expecting I.V. therapy but my Dr prescribed Ibrance a capsule for post-menopausal metastatic breast cancer. It performed beautifully for 24 months when a new tumor showed up in my spine. I had radiation and it disappeared, thank God. At that time I worked for HCA and ended up at the Drug Development Center that is part of Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in Nashville. I have been on an investigational drug since September 2019.
Having cancer certainly gives you a new perspective on life. You try to make every day have meaning. I retired in December and now try to listen to what my body is telling me. If I need to rest all day I do. The world can make it one day while I rest. People ask me how I can remain so positive. What other choice is there? I want to enjoy what time I have left. I am currently not in pain and I am so thankful for that. I would recommend for any woman to explore your options. And I would recommend the Drug Development Unit in Nashville to anyone suffering from Cancer. Treating cancer with new options is what they do.
there are promising cancer treatments and so many advances in the field. i’m so happy to hear you have responded well to your drugs. and, yes, listen to your body and take good care of yourself.
Hi Beth, I love this look! And the scarf is perfect! I am a two time cancer survivor and, unfortunately, I often feels it dictates my fashion style. In 2005, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a left side mastectomy with reconstruction. However, 15 years later, I sort of laugh that one side of me is 49 and the other side is 64. I’m always trying to compensate for aging differences. In 2015, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer. After 28 sessions of radiation, over 400 hours of chemotherapy, and surgery, I am cancer free, but I have a colostomy that significantly affects my ability to wear certain styles, such as waisted jeans with tucked in shirts and belts. I wear leggings, jeggings, flowy blouses, vests, anything loose fitting that hides the bulge of my ostomy equipment. Maybe, someday, I will be able to let it show, but not yet. In the meantime, I am so blessed to be alive, I have a wonderful husband, the best daughter (and son-inlaw), two beautiful grandchildren (the first was born 5 days after the my last chemo treatment in 2016), had the best career ever (retired school district Speech Language Pathologist), and we now live in our retirement dream house in Santa Fe, NM. COVID delayed some of my medical checkups but last month, I had my annual mammo/sonogram which were A-okay and did all the bloodwork for my oncologist who declared me to continuing to be cancer-free. I have earned my way and don’t have to have another colonoscopy until 2022! I have not let cancer interfere with my life. I go to the gym (masked with very limited attendees), ride bikes with my husband, sew, bake, enjoy cooking gourmet meals, and sneak in special visits to see the grandchildren in IA as we can (even though it means a 14-day quarantine when we get home). Cancer is horrible, but life is good! My thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by any illness.
colostomies are tough. mr. style had a temporary one in 2000 due to a bad bout of diverticulitis. God Bless. and take good care of yourself.
Beautiful post Beth. My thoughts are with all the warriors fighting and living with cancer. I have a dear friend who battled stage III breast cancer and I will never forget her scorched skin after radiation-plus she came to work after her treatments. I think of you daily Beth knowing you have suffered a heavy loss. Loved the red blazer!
I love the blazer and scarf look. Also, I thought your post very supportive of everyone out there who has had or is having a hard time, You have a generous spirit to reach out in this way, sometimes it is very hard to do, keep on going!
Lovely outfit. Those colors are gorgeous on you.