Monday Musings: Styles I Spotted While Traveling and New Finds

Happy Monday, ladies. People-watching is one of the extra benefits I love about traveling. I’m constantly inspired by seeing how women put themselves together in different locations for varying activities. When I changed planes in Dallas, the gals boarding the flight looked a bit dressier than the gals boarding in Miami and San Diego. Overall, my impression was a lack of sameness which was refreshing.

I’M KNITTING A THIRD ONE OF THESE HATS USING PURL SOHO CASHMERE MERINO BLOOM AND WOW, DID I STRUGGLE TO CHOOSE JUST ONE COLOR.

I also saw a lot of athleisure in varying levels of formality. The other thing that caught my eye was how many women were embracing the new sling bags.

Outfit of the week

COTTON ROLL NECK SWEATER / LIGHTWEIGHT JACKET / NYDJ BOOTCUT JEANS / SLING BAG / PLATFORM SNEAKERS / HINGED CUFF BRACELET / LAYERED HOOP EARRINGS / LIPSTICK IN WATERMELON / BALL CAP

When sling bags got popular last year, I was positive it was a look I would never adopt. I’ve seen enough of them now that I’m beginning to see their appeal. They’re not that different from a crossbody but have a slightly sportier vibe. This one from Anthropologie comes in four colors in the woven texture that’s so popular for spring. I paired it with the perfect lightweight jacket (that’s what they call it), which comes in four colors, sizes XXS-3X in classic, petite, and tall. I really love it in blue, but I think this surplus color has a more casual vibe.

The cotton sweater is great for those who don’t wear wool and comes in four colors, XXS-3X. I was thrilled to find one of my favorite bootcut styles of NYDJ at Nordstrom Rack for 70% off in four washes. The hinged bracelets make a fun statement, and even more so when you wear one gold with one silver. The platform sneakers are very popular for spring and comfy for a day full of running errands. I added a bright pop of lipstick to go with the sweater.

I love hats and wear them often…all except for baseball caps. I’ve never found one that didn’t look dorky on me. I’ve spotted a lot of stylish women wearing them lately, so I want to find one that works for me. Yes, the shapes are all the same, but the vibe varies by color and fabric, so I’ll be on the hunt.

Not seen

What I didn’t see were many women traveling in dresses…and I was intentionally looking for them. I saw one or two women wearing skirts, but they were rare. Most women traveled wearing stretch fabric pants, jeans, or the always popular workout leggings with everything on display. I also don’t see many women in my daily life wearing dressed or skirts. Do you wear them? Do you want me to style more for you?

Easy Shrimp Appetizer

Our dinner group finally got together again over the weekend, and it was so fabulous. We’ve been dear friends and have been through the ups and downs of life together for over 40 years. Everyone brings something to contribute to the meal, but of course, the hostess and host are doing most of the work. I brought a shrimp cocktail appetizer.

wasabi sauce for shrimp

I’m not a huge fan of the classic red cocktails sauce, so I make a hot wasabi sauce which is always popular. It’s dead simple, start with a medium container of sour cream, and whisk in a tube of wasabi paste to the hotness you like. See, I told you this would never become a food blog šŸ¤£.

MY GIRLFRIEND ROASTED THE CHICKENS ON VERTICAL ROASTING STANDS, WHICH WAS A NEW DISCOVERY FOR ME. HAVE YOU TRIED THEM?

This is always a super casual get-together where the goal is to catch up, not dress up. One gal arrived in her slippers (smart cookie), and another changed out of her slippers into her Sketchers just before she came in. I looked down at her sneakers, she looked down at my sneakers, and we chuckled that for our feet, comfy was everything these days.

THIS QUINCE MONGOLIAN CASHMERE CARDIGAN IS INSANELY COMFY AND PRICED AT $139. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW QUINCE MAKES THE HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCTS THEY DO AT THESE PRICES, BUT I LOVE THEM!

I wore a favorite slouchy cashmere boyfriend cardigan over a warm crew neck sweater and a blouse with comfy stretch pants and my new high-top platform sneakers.

CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLOR HIGH TOP PLATFORM SNEAKER

The platform makes them extra cushiony, and the double-stacked sole gives me a 1 1/2″ height boost while being totally flat. I love flatforms!

Monday Finds

I do a tremendous amount of perusing on the internet, so I thought it would be fun to share what’s catching my eye. The best things at Nordstrom Rack sell out in the blink of an eye, so I thought I would share what I’m finding while they’re fully stocked. Some hit my shopping cart, and some aren’t my style, but you may like them, so here we go-

THESE VINTAGE HAVANA PLATFORM SNEAKERS HAVE AMAZING REVIEWS FOR STYLE, QUALITY, AND COMFORT. THEY’D BE IN MY CART, BUT THEY’RE SOLD OUT IN MY SIZE. NOTICE THE STAR DETAIL ON THE LACES!
I LOVE THE COLOR OF THIS COLE HAAN PACKABLE RAINCOAT
I LOVE THE SOUND OF THESE WEDGE SANDALS WITH ARCH SUPPORT AND MEMORY FOAM INSOLE WITH ANTIMICROBIAL LINING. THE REVIEWS OF THIS SANDAL IN OTHER COLORS ARE VERY POSITIVE. THEY’RE MARKED DOWN EVEN FURTHER IN THESE TWO COLORS.
I LOVE THIS VERSATILE LITTLE CARDIGAN WHICH IS DISCOUNTED TO $34.97
I LOVE DIAMOND QUILTING ON THIS CLASSIC/MODERN KURT GEIGER SHOULDER BAG
THIS RAIN PARKA HAS GREAT DETAILING AND BE PERFECT FOR SPRING SHOWERS
I LOVE THIS PALE PINK WALLET ON A CHAIN WITH ITS COLOR-COORDINATED CHAIN. THESE ARE SUCH A GREAT SIZE TO WEAR AS AN EVENING BAG

A FEW MORE FINDS AT THE NORDSTROM RACK

Back to dresses….do you wear them?

Thanks for reading and have a fabulous Monday.

128 Comments

  1. CathšŸ‡ØšŸ‡¦ says:

    Just planning my clothes for a week long small ship Caribbean cruise.
    Linen for sure, tops and pants, but choosing three print cotton dresses that show off my curves for dinner ( smart casual). Walking about smaller towns that we visit will be in a breezy dress most likely. I have a couple of kimono & pants options tooā€¦ editing of my wish list has to be done prior to packing day.

    Regarding my legs, I have my scrubby gloves and exfoliant ready for Tuesday before I apply a three day self tanner for my legs. Due to lots of swimming and snorkeling, I need to apply right up to the top of each legā€¦ a challenge to get it right. Just enough to add some colour and perhaps help hide the ā€˜road map ā€˜ of veins Iā€™ve had for years.
    Loved your swimsuitsā€¦ you looked great! And Iā€™d love to see you explore dress options in the future, Jennifer.

    1. Your travel wardrobe sounds great! What cruise line are you going on?

      1. CathšŸ‡ØšŸ‡¦ says:

        PONANT is a French cruise line. There are larger sister ships , and a new polar explorer . My favourite are the 5 almost identical ā€˜explorerā€™ ships in their fleet which have just 92 cabins, all with balconies. Beautiful decor, delicious food, meticulously clean, and service is excellent.
        As a Canadian, I like that two ships are named for explorers we recognizeā€¦Le Champlain, and Le Jacques Cartier. I book early on , when there is a 25-30% savings, and always look for no solo supplement offers, only choosing an explorer ship, if I need an adventure and my husband doesnā€™t. For a week long cruise , and checking fares early on, expect to start at about $4200+US, pp for a Deck 4 cabin, unless the cruise is in Northern Europe where it is usually more. Excursions are extra
        ( in ā‚¬), unless it is a Smithsonian collaboration, at which time all excursions are included in the fare, and have excellent speakers. You literally do not open your wallet on board, unless paying for spa sessions or excursions which you have added.
        My initial cruise was a solo trip with Smithsonianā€¦Lisbon to London last spring, which was amazing. Just 84 passengers, mostly American. One guest speaker (from Sidney,BC ) and myself were the only Canadians that time.
        I am already booked on a late May cruise, London to Glasgow, as a solo, and look forward to seeing my Scottish cousins once I disembark.
        Have a lookā€¦ US site is in USD , while the original site shows ā‚¬.

      2. Thank you; they sound amazing. I wil look into them. We do prefer smaller ships

  2. Yes to dressesā€¦..mine are maxi these days but I wear them alot in the spring and summer. Great blog as always!

  3. When traveling I wear Athleta Brooklyn ankle pants which to me look a bit nicer than leggings. I have to wear a shoe or sneaker with support or else foot fatigue sets in and then Iā€™m done for. In this hot desert climate of SoCal I wear dresses and skirts to keep cool most of the year. Jennifer, all ball caps are not the same. Iā€™m an avid golfer and I have a small head. Iā€™ve sampled quite a few caps because they are always a fun souvenir to buy when traveling and playing other courses. Some caps have a wider, stiffer bill which donā€™t work for me or a deeper center that comes down too low on my forehead. Kate Lord makes a wonderful micro-fiber hat that I love and my club here sells them with their logo imprinted on it. I like this hat so much Iā€™ve ordered them without the logo.

    1. I love the Brooklin pant too. They’re comfy and look nice.

  4. When I retired, the skirts and dresses went away. However, for a wedding in Phoenix, last September I had to have a dress, found an adorable one on Amazon for around $35….used it for elegant night on a recent cruise. So while I love jeans and t’s…..having a go to dress isn’t a bad idea. I love Quince, the cardigan is darling , style & color…..

  5. I love dresses and skirts, always have. Now that I live in far southwest Florida they are even more on my radar. Much cooler than pants when the temps are in the 80ā€™s and humidity is in the 90% range. Lately most dresses have a waist that hits my rib cage rather than my waist. Very uncomfortable and not an attractive fit. There also has been a focus on above the knee styles which do not work for me any longer. To sum up, yes, I would like to see you feature dresses as part of your overall plan.

    1. I’ll be trying to find good ones for us.

  6. Marlene Demko says:

    One and done!!!!! Please style casual and ā€˜go anywhereā€™ dresses. Love your info. Ps. You looked great in the bathing suit post.

  7. Hi
    Thank you for your blog. I say yes to dresses and skirts in the summer and last spring. Here in Southern California it is still cold ( for me) so pants for now. I see all the bloggers and Instagram influences pushing the “spring” clothes , but wow I am cold. It snowed in Southern California yesterday. Truth about the Rack. I had a pair of ellen fisher tennis shoe in my bag for one day and then they sold out. Oh well.
    Thanks
    Candice

  8. Shellia McCormick says:

    The knitting needles were the first thing that caught my eye. My husband and I used to do lots of traveling by plane and we were headed home from Dallas one day and they took my bottle of makeup because it it was over the size limit. While sitting in the waiting area, I noticed the girl right across from me was knitting. We struck up a conversation about them taking my little bottle of makeup, and she made it through with knitting needles. We laughed about the fact that she could do so much more damage with sharp things than I could with a bottle 1/2 full of Lancome makeup. It is what it is, as they say.

    1. You are so right, and we’re eating with plastic forks!

  9. Elizabeth L says:

    I wear longer length simple A line dresses layered over leggings or EF slim stretch crepe pants in cooler months (& love that look when traveling for its versatility). In warm months linen dresses (sleeveless or s/s) are a staple (from Garnet Hill & JJill mostly) -although I hate my bare legs Iā€™ve come to accept their imperfections. I find skirts less flattering & comfortable now that my 70 year old shape has become, ahem, less defined.
    And I agree, you looked terrific in your swimsuits & are to be applauded for sharing them with us.

  10. I wear dresses occasionally, mostly tee shirt style, in summer and spring. Midi length is my preference, as I have one leg with some very visible veins. I’ve considered having a procedure to correct that, and I wonder if any of your readers have had success with that? I don’t have varicose veins; they’re just unsightly and make me self conscious. Midi dresses often have a deep side vent that defeats the purpose of wearing a longer length. I wish the vent was in the back!

    1. You could easily get that seam closed. I whipped stiched one closed on a J. Crew shirt dress many years ago. Self-tanner is also helpful in camouflaging them.

      1. True, Jennifer! I had that done with one tee shirt dress and moved the vent to the back. I figured if I couldnā€™t see the backs of my legs, I wasnā€™t going to worry about anyone else seeing them. šŸ˜‚

  11. The older I become and this year itā€™s my 69th the more I enjoy dresses. I have several J.Jill that I love and are so easy to wear. Looking forward to spring temps so I can wear them again. LOVE all the fabulous finds in this post!

  12. Francesca B says:

    I just love skirts and dresses and wear mostly midi size now and sometimes maxi. Dresses l love too! Love your finds at Nordstrom Rack especially that pale raincoat. I went into Anthropology the other day and almost bought that quilted bag as the colors are beautiful but in the end went for a bright green mini bag with three different straps which looked great fun for travel and for the year.
    Old friends are such a gift. Yesterday stuck inside dealing with our third day of heavy rain, l impulsively rang a dear friend l travelled to Paris with along with our teenage daughters years ago, and it was wonderful to hear her and talk about where next we wanted to go. The international craft fair in Santa Fe is up there on our bucket list.
    Happy week Jennifer šŸ™‚

    1. Santa Few is so magical! Happy Monday, Francesca.

  13. Hi Jennifer! Love the outfit of the week…very cute. Would love to see you in the whole thing. The sweater is adorable and great in the pink color. Thanks for the cotton, not wool offering. I don’t care for sneakers on me at this age. Occasionally I’ll wear them, but they just don’t look good on me. Same with baseball caps. I was on the hunt like you and finally found one that I like though, and I think it looks better than most because of the color I found (lavender), so that may be the key.
    Bought the cute ivory and white sweater for $34. Wow! What a find! Too bad the shipping added almost $10. Bummer!
    As for dresses and skirts, definitely not in the winter. I have a few skirts for winter wear that just sit in the closet. If I ever wear them it will be with opaque tights and high boots. I do have summer dresses and skirts, but they’re usually not the first thing I reach for. I must have (self) tanned legs to feel comfortable wearing anything that exposes my legs! Sometimes it’s just too much work to do that, so I default to pants.
    I wouldn’t mind seeing your styling of dresses/skirts though. It helps expands our horizons.

  14. Wondering what shrimp you buy? The last time I cooked shrimp, it was a disappointment. (I know you are careful in the products that you buy. )

    1. We always buy wild caught. These are from Argentina at Win Foods.

  15. Seems a lot of us would love a post or 2 featuring dresses, particularly more casual dresses for the warmer months. As we have several spring into summer trips, I have already been on the hunt for them. My problem has been trying to find a style that is both age appropriate (no Little House on the Prairie) and doesn’t feature tons of ruffles and frills that seem very on trend, but better on younger women. I prefer a classic but casual style and, like others here have mentioned, a midi or maxi length. I have been trying to find what we used to call shirtwaist dresses that button up the front rather than the dresses that border on caftanesque in their volume, as I prefer something that has some shape to it. Searching so far is proving very frustrating, so any help you could provide will be greatly appreciated by many of us! Thank you for all the time, effort and caring you put into this blog.

    1. Iā€™m on the hunt, stay tuned!!

  16. Janice in Ky says:

    I love dresses and skirts for warmer weather. Makes getting ready so fast and simple and much cooler than pants and shorts. Iā€™m on the lookout for dresses with elbow or short sleeves. At 73 my upper arms are flabby and like them covered up. I do wear my blue Jean jacket a lot with my dresses. Also I think when you wear a dress you spend just that extra little to look extra nice and feel better about yourself.
    Nearly always get compliments when wearing a dress. Win win.

    1. Dresses do get more compliments.

  17. I do like dresses and find I tend to wear them more in the summer. I have 4 sleeveless tank style dresses that I love. When I wear them in winter, I add a sweater and tights. I also am a fan of slip skirts with a tshirt or tank top for summer.

  18. I have only a few dresses, but don’t wear them much. I find it too cold and windy in winter, and in summer I freeze indoors from air conditioning here in Texas. I am not liking the looks of my legs as I age, so this is a good reason not to show my legs. I am 5’2″ and most dresses are too long and do not care to spend the money to alter.
    I see young women that are 20-40, wearing dresses on weekends at restaurants that are short way above the knee and tight like spandex. The women I see and know that are older than that, seem to be wearing some kind of pants and tops.

  19. I just bought 2 dresses and one skirt, all midi length for an August trip to France. Looks nicer than Bermuda shorts or capris on my 76 year old legs. Throw on a jean jacket and a cute pair of sandals and Iā€™m ready for whatever the day holds.

    1. I agree. I also think Capri pants are very unflattering.

  20. I rarely wear dresses anymore or skirts for that matter. While traveling I usually wear jeans or leggings with a comfy top. I buy almost all my jeans at the Rack. They have great prices and I can always find my size. I love that cardigan jacket. If it’s at my Rack I will definitely purchase it to wear with jeans.

    1. I always do better shopping online at the Nordstrom Rack. My local store is hard to navigate plus the shipping is free

  21. I live in Florida, so dresses or skorts over slacks. Just ordered several stretchy skorts off Amazon – super easy & comfy paired with tennis shoes or sandles. I agree, just feel more put together in a dress or skort out in public.

  22. I still like dresses, but donā€™t reach for them very often. These days, I prefer longer lengths, and I have my eye out for a midi skirt that could be dressed up or down. I donā€™t like wearing hosiery anymore, either, so I look for ways to get around that. I havenā€™t embraced the sling bags yet. Iā€™m not that trendy. I enjoy your blog.

  23. I mostly wear dresses at this point because theyā€™re so much more comfortable! In the fall and winter I wear sweater dresses with fleece tights and boots, and light linen shirt dresses and loose cotton dresses with sandals in warm weather. When I wear pants now it feels so constricting! I recently bought two silk slip dresses that I plan to wear with a tied at the waist linen shirt this summer. The funny thing is that people always think of me as on the dressier side and donā€™t believe me when I tell them I dress for comfort!

  24. I’ve been using a vertical roaster for chicken for more than 25 years and love it. If you use the kind with a center tube, you can fill it with aromatics or alcohol (e.g., beer, brandy, bourbon) to infuse the chicken with different flavors. Mine also has 4 vertical metal rods to mount potatoes to bake at the same time. So convenient.

  25. Yes please continue to style dresses & skirts. I especially love wearing dresses during the hot months. They are nicer than shorts and cooler than pants. I finally have gotten used to not wearing pantyhose! I always pack them for traveling. I wear dresses &skirts less in the winter, if I do I add tights and boots.

  26. Just ordered that little cardigan jacket, been waiting for an affordable one to wear with jeans. I have a couple dresses that just hang in my closet year after year. Iā€™m a Grammy who likes to crawl around on floor and playground equipment with my littles so I.m just a jean and ankle pants girl.

  27. I wear casual dresses in warm weather and love them!

    1. I just started following you and thoroughly enjoy your comments and your style. I enjoy wearing dresses and skirts in summer – winter not so much! I like that they give the option to add variety to my wardrobe. Usually I wear knee length skirts and dresses. Last summer I bought a midi length pale blue and white striped loose fitting sleeveless dress from Talbots. I feel it makes me look dowdy. The length is just above the ankle. I am 5ā€™ 6 and 140 lbs. I would be interested in knowing how to style a longer dress. Choosing the right shoes can also be a problem. Hoping for some help! Thanks.

      1. Welcome, Wendy. Just above the ankle can be tricky to style. Perhaps a loose belt would help?

  28. Rebecca (becky) Emery says:

    I love dresses. Particularly in the summer. Iā€™m size 12 to 14 a little sundress with a lightweight sweater or sleeves is really so easy. No thinking of what do I wear with these capris? Also as a shorter person (5ā€™2ā€) I think dresses typically donā€™t chop you off. They give you a longer look. I will admit that I have trouble finding dresses that are long enough or that arenā€™t too long. I prefer them just below the knee. Oh and did I mention how cool they are in the summer?

  29. Good morning – last year, I saw a lot of maxi dresses on young women, even in Maine. I own several dresses – ranging from one loose, very casual one to several LBDs. I don’t wear most of them now I’m not working and have been collecting to donate. I bought two Talbot’s skirts two summers ago and wear them with sandals or in one case, sneakers.

  30. I travel quite a bit and prefer to wear a dress. Not only is the dress part of my wardrobe for the week(s) ahead, I can pair it with a jacket (flights are chilly – even in he summer) and a scarf and I have two additional accessories to coordinate with as I travel. I find the dress more comfortable than jeans, and I’m not a fan of wearing stretch yoga pants anywhere other than the gym or yoga class. Love your posts!

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