timeless classic style begins with a core neutral foundation: blacks, whites, grays, and the like. once you’ve established that base, you can weave in colors, prints, and patterns seamlessly, creating visual interest. but sometimes the most striking outfits are monochromatic ones. seems odd on the face of it, but i’m a big believer that an all-white or all-black outfit can be successfully pulled of. today, we’re gonna show you how—we’re talking how to wear black.

how to wear black

one of my favorite outfits from this past winter was an all-black one. i updated it for summer with a pair of black shorts from Banana Republic and a blouse from Nordstrom. to break up the monochrome every so slightly, i’ve pulled in a pair of black & white espadrilles (super comfy by the way) and a (similar) wicker bag.

how to wear shorts

it’s no secret that when summer rolls around, i pull out my shorts. shorts are a controversial subject amongst women of a certain age. my thoughts? if you like them, wear them. if not, that’s OK too. i’ve pulled in a few comparables today, including 10″ and 13″ shorts to give you some options.

gearing up for summer

we’re geared up for summer over here on the blog. the weather has warmed up here in Athens, and i’m happy to be outside and moving around. i’ve been spending a lot of my time in the backyard gardening, and as my knee continues to strengthen, i’ve even been able to take oscar for walks. with all that’s going on, it’s worth checking in on you: as spring ends, how are you preparing for summer? what are your days looking like?

are you ready for summer? with all that’s been going on in the world, it’s easy to forget it’s right around the corner. spring came and went, much of which was spent under quarantine. it’s easy to lose sight of—easy to forget—simple constants and milestones like the passing of seasons. it’s unclear what this summer will look like. although some of the country is slowly beginning to reopen, it’s hard to imagine this summer will be filled with, say travel like years past. and that’s going to take some getting used to, no doubt. but as we’ve said on the blog: we have to look upwards first and forward second. in the spirit of positivity, today we’re going to herald in summer in only the way we can over here on the blog: we’re going to run through our top 4 summer wardrobe essentials that will serve you well June, July and August.

jumpsuit

there’s always a lively discussion when it comes to jumpsuits. some women can’t be bothered with them. but i’m a fan. just like a dress, they are one and done. and they’re perfect for those hot summer temps that are on the horizon. jumpsuits look fabulous with a blazer. but they can fly solo just as well, which is why a jumpsuit makes the 5 summer wardrobe essentials list.

banana republic jumpsuit

stripe jumpsuit

beth from Style at a Certain Age wears a black jumpsuit, gold sandals, gold belt, and gold clutch handbag

white pants

whether it’s white denim, white chinos, or white straight leg trousers white is more than all right all summer long. white pants are crisp, and clean, and cool.

beth from Style at a Certain Age wears a denim duster, striped tee, white denim, suede sandals and wicker handbag

white denim | white trousers | white chinos

beth from Style at a Certain Age wears Ann Taylor floral tie neck blouse, pleated pants and suede slingbacks

what i wore in florida

summer sandal

get your tootsies summer ready with a pedicure ‘cuz it’s time to slip into a pair of summer sandals.

beth from Style at a Certain Age wears a floral top, denim joggers, gold metallic block sandals, and carries a drawstring crossbody handbag. Walmart we dress America

boden gingham pants, talbots embroidered sweater, talbots white shirt, jack rogers sandals

summer dress

summer days and summer nights call for a summer dress. let’s make sure our wardrobe has more than a few on hand. maxis are perfect for the evening. sundresses for beach chic vibes. and let’s not forget a shirtdress for lunch with the girls.

beth from Style at a Certain Age wears a dress from JC Penney

stars and stripes

although the country is slowly starting to open back up, we’re still spending a lot, if not the majority of our time at home. and there’s nothing wrong with wearing blue jeans, tees, and sneakers. believe me; i’m reaching for that combination a lot more these days. last week, we revisited jeans after months of athleisure wear. today, we’re going to build on that post and talk five ways to elevate your blue jeans into a timeless and classic look. we’re gonna start with my base outfit below and build five new ones from it by addition, subtraction, and slight modification.

girlfriend jeans | shoes | similar shoes | similar tee | sweatshirt

outfit 1

add a blazer, leopard shoes & belt

in our first look, we’ve kept my original jeans but built the outfit around the mighty blazer. a blazer will elevate any look, and when you add the leopard pattern with these (similar) shoes and belt, you’ve got a timeless classic.

blouse | blazer | similar jeans | similar shoes | belt

outfit 2

add accessories

for our second look, we’ve kept the blouse but swapped out the jeans for skinny ones. the whole idea here, though, is to add accessories. a belt can be an attention grabber and add life to any pair of jeans. swap out your daily jewelry for something a little more eye-catching. and don’t forget to add a color pop by using a sweater as an accessory.

blouse | jeans | similar shoes | sweater

outfit 3

long-over-lean

for our third look, let’s keep the skinny jeans but add a poplin popover for that classic long-over-lean look. such a simple and clean look, but remarkably comfortable as well. one of my favorites. (and you didn’t think i’d forget that pop of color. how about these (similar) shoes?)

poplin popover | jeans | similar shoes

outfit 4

with a chunky cardigan

for our fourth outfit, we’ve kept our base but simply added a chunky (similar) cardigan. talk about reusability. it looks like we’ve got a few more days of cooler weather here in Athens, and i’ve definitely reached for this cardigan more than once. super comfy without loosing that timeless classic look.

jeans | poplin popover | similar cardigan | similar shoes

outfit 5

add a pop of color

and finally, don’t forget about colored jeans. whether you’re going with black, white, red, or some other color entirely, the fashion possibilities they afford us are endless. i’ve stuck with a neutral today: gray jeans. and i’ve built the entire outfit around the safari jacket—one of my personal favorites.

jeans | safari jacket | tank | shoes

thanks for joining us, ladies. i hope today’s post gives you some inspiration on how to take your jeans and restyle them in a way that gives you that timeless classic look we’re always striving for over here on the blog. if you’re looking for more inspiration or want to see how these outfits look in 3D, be sure to check out our new YouTube video.

it’s been an exceptionally cool spring here in Athens. so, there hasn’t been too many opportunities to wear shorts. wear shorts you ask? yes ma’am. i indeed love to wear shorts on a hot summer day. shorts can be a controversial topic for women of a certain age, but i have been and continue to be an advocate for them. so much so that not wearing shorts make my #2 style rule every woman should break.

today, i’ve rounded up some of my favorite outfits involving shorts over the past few years. there’s a lot of different ways you can style them and here are just a few ideas.

with a linen popover

today’s outfit is all about color! punchy, tropical splashes of blue, green, orange and yellow. perfect for spring and summer. i don’t know about you but wearing bright colors and bold prints really brightens my mood and lifts my spirits. it’s hard to feel bad or sad when mother nature’s clouds part and the sun shines warm and bright.

this linen popover is from J. Crew and like most, if not all, of their prints, this top could boldly go with so many other items in my closet…i’m thinking khaki chinos or white denim. i love to wear shorts when the weather warms up, but they aren’t for you, cropped pants would be a great option. J. Crew has so many that would be perfect with this popover top. i’ve made sure to link what i’m wearing, as well as some additional similars that will brighten your day.

i kept my slide sandals neutral light pink suede today, so the focus is my top and shorts. [read the post…]

popover shirt | shorts (7″) | shorts (10″) | similar sandals

with a matching cabana blazer

i’ve decided on a shorts suit. a striped cabana blazer with matching shorts. while this ensemble looks fantastic when worn as a suit. each item will mix and match perfectly with my summer wardrobe. the loose fit of the blazer is perfect for those warm Georgia temps that have already arrived. i popped on a gorgeous bamboo tee called dawn draper from Southcott Threads. [read the post…]

beth from Style at a Certain Age wears striped shorts, striped blazer, white tee, nude block heels

with a military inspired jean jacket

bermuda shorts are a must-have for spring and summer. and beach vacations. this pair is from Talbots. the length hits just above the knee which is perfect. i’m wearing black shorts, but they are available in nine colors.

another classic essential for the coming months is a striped tee. this red striped tee is from Ralph Lauren. it sports a graphic logo. and what goes well with shorts and a tee? why a comfy pair of tennis shoes. this pair is from Ann Taylor that i’ve been wearing non-stop since they arrived at my doorstep. [read entire post…]

beth from Style at a Certain Age wears a military inspired denim jacket, red stripe tee, black bermuda shorts, and white tennis shoes

with a classic summer blazer

if you are looking for one classic summer blazer that will serve you well this white linen blazer fits the bill. dress it up with a tweed dress and kitten heels. or dress it down with drawstring shorts, split neck top, and seersucker sandals. of course, white goes with everything. but this little number comes in island turquoise and flax.

beth from Style at a Certain Age wears a classic summer blazer, drawstring shorts, seersucker sandals, and striped linen top

February came and went. that was fast! i cannot believe Spring is right around the corner. before we leave February totally behind, let’s do a recap of the month’s top posts as chosen by you. it was travel month over here on the blog and the top outfits to travel with this winter took most of the spots in the list. here they are:

1. there’s no place like home | ruby red slippers

it’s travel month over here on the blog. one of my favorite months. we kicked things off yesterday with some tips and tricks for airport travel. and today, i’m showcasing an outfit geared for traveling when it’s cooler outside. i’m all about the color pop today. and in that spirit, i’m featuring a pair of classic red shoes—something everyone should have in their closet.

but before i set off this weekend, i wanted to take a moment and (preemptively) reflect on my favorite thing about travel: coming home. as much as i love jet-setting, there really is no place like home. we spent last month touring my home. and as the blog continues to grow, i thought i’d do a little bit of a roll call. i’m curious where you all—especially my new readers—call home. let me know in the comments below!

[read entire post…]

2. airport style for winter

come February it’s time to plan a vacay and get out of dodge for a few days. a winter getaway is always a good idea whether you’re headed to a ski resort or you’ve decided to sip a piña colada on a sandy beach. no matter what your travel plans are let’s talk about airport style for winter. because half the battle is getting to our destination. so let’s talk how to dress for the airport.

anyone remember the good old days when we were dressed to the nines when it was time to board our aircraft? skirts, pumps, hose, jackets were commonly worn to fly the friendly skies. kiss the past goodbye, ladies, because it’s all about comfort in 2020. can you blame us? what with the airlines giving us little wiggle room in coach. many of us travel with a carry-on so we’ll have to hoist our bag into the overhead bin with ease. then if you’re seated by the window you have to squeeze past two seats before you buckle up and settle in for your flight. of course, business and first-class still offer luxurious seating but even if we upgrade our seat selections comfort is still key.

[read entire post…]

airport style for wiinter

3. how they held up | Florida: an outfit retrospective

for those of you that have been following my blog or my social channels, you know i’ve been in Florida the past few days. don’t worry, all this week i’ll be showing you what i wore in Florida and how i wore it. but being here has made me a bit nostalgic for trips past. for my long time followers, you know that mr. style and i have traveled to Florida many times over the past few years. and while i’ve had to make this trip without him, i’ve got junior style with me to enjoy this week.

[read entire post…]

today, i wanted to do something a bit different. i want to show you what i wore in Florida in days past— a retrospective of sorts. some of these photos have popped up here and there over the past few months, but after collecting them all into one place, I’m curious how you think the outfits have held up.

hello florida

beth from Style at a Certain Age wears a Gretchen Scott shirtdress while visiting Panama City Beach

similar dress 1 | similar dress 2

what i wore in florida

4. travel diaries | what i wore in Miami

is it winter where you are? cold and dreary? my son told me this weekend that Athens, GA has gotten more rain than Seattle this winter: 24″. i haven’t checked as to whether that’s true, but i can tell you, i was more than glad to escape the rain and head to Florida for a week. if it’s winter where you are, and you’re looking for a mild escape, join me today as i show you what i wore in Miami.

all this month we’ve talked travel over here on the blog. yesterday, i gave you an outfit retrospective of my Florida trips over the past few years. i’ve also compiled some lists of tips and tricks on how i stay healthy traveling, as well as my tried and true packing strategies.

for those of you who follow me closely, i put together my Florida lay flats last week. and today, i’m going to show you how they actually look.

[read entire post here…]

5. travel diaries | how i wore it in miami | Vizcaya Museum day trip

as we speak, i’ve started packing and getting ready to head to the Miami airport. by this evening, i’ll be back home in Athens, GA. i’ve had a wonderful time here in Florida with junior style. sad to go, but happy to return home to oscar and ollie. we’re off to a great start this week on the blog, and we’re we’re showing no signs of slowing. i’ve got some more shots of how i wore it in Miami, Florida; specifically shots of my day trip to Vizcaya Museum.

in case you’re just joining us, its travel week over here one the blog. we kicked things off on Sunday with a Florida outfit retrospective. yesterday, i posted my first collection of outfits i wore in Miami. and today, i’m featuring the outfit i wore for some day touring.

[read entire post here…]