Casual Style for Everyday
We went to vote in the California primary yesterday. I don’t discuss politics, religion, or sex on my blog…or anywhere on social media. It’s just not my thing. I’ll be so glad when this election is over and I don’t have to dodge my friend’s political comments on Facebook š It’s not that I don’t have an opinion, it’s that I don’t choose to share it. What I will share are earth shaking things like what I wore and the RV we put a deposit on.
Our weather has turned typical for June in Northern California…which means nothing is typical. Last week the temps were hovering in low 100’s. This week we’re waking up to cool, foggy weather and reaching the 70’s, by mid afternoon. I’m constantly adding or peeling off sleeves.
When it hit 103 last week we decided to put a deposit on a 28 ft trailer. We’ve been tossing this idea around for years so our excitement is palpable.
My wardrobe will be very casual as we travel…but still maintain what I need.. to feel well put together. That means accessories and the polish they bring to my look.
I almost always wear a hat these days. My thinning hair demands it…and I like the squint protection they offer:).
Hats add attitude to any outfit. If you haven’t embraced, them I encourage you to try one!
A cardigan is perfect this time of year and I wear one most days.
We pick up our trailer in 2 weeks and plan to head north for a short trip. Its closet pole is only 10″ long. Eek! I have some planning to do. I won’t have room for many clothes so accessories will be more important than ever!
My husband’s retirement is proving to be unpredictable. I actually talked him into taking my blog pictures…this should be fun š
Do you wear hats?
If not, what’s stopping you?
Have a great day!
It will be very interesting following your rving lifestyle. We just purchased a 28′ airstream but it will be several months before we travel full time.
That sounds very exciting! Airstreams are beautiful!!
Hi Jennifer, I have been following your blog for a few months and like your style advice. I too need to wear hats to avoid sun damage and prevent a fresh crop of freckles eveytime I go out in the sun. Can you say which lip colour or brand of lipstick you use? I like yours, it is flattering and not too strong. Thanks for the tips on casual dressing while travelling, very useful.
Hi, Wendy! I’m wearing Jane Iredale Lip Fixation in “Fascination”. It’s a long wearing lip stain that doesn’t dry out my lips. I love her whole line.
AS an image consultant, do you recommend any specific hat style for short hair? Or just try different styles that fit my personality?
Hats are all about your personality. It’s important to choose one that matches the formality of your life and activities. Your hat needs to feel effortless. If you haven’t found that feeling in a hat…you haven’t found the right hat!
I am pushing myself to wear some of the many hats I have purchased over the years, but have stopped short of wearing…..I wore one to church 2 weeks ago and received many compliments! I think if I have some distinctive and smashing jewelry (earrings and a great necklace), I feel better about how I look in a hat……Hats cover a a myriad of ills, in hot, humid weather, and summer is the perfect time to get comfortable with them…
So true Suzanne! I’ve had to be honest with myself lately and get rid of hats that are too dressy for my lifestyle. Hats make such a loud statement, we need to be sure they’re projecting the message we want to send.
I love hats but never know what to do with my bangs. Push them up under the hat or leave them be?
Can’t wait to see your photos from your new adventures!
I usually push my bangs to the side. My goal is for the hat to take center stage. It’s line and shape is more important than my hairline.
Congratulations on the purchase of your new trailer! We have entertained the possibility of acquiring one when we retire in a little less than two years.
You my friend, encouraged me to purchase my first hat in over thirty years (other than a baseball cap) !
Happy Glamping!
w/L
I’m so happy you branched out from a baseball cap! They add such attitude to everything we wear.
I expect it will be my form of glamping š
I love your IG account (I’m @agelessstyle, by the way) and your blog not just for your style and panache but because you discuss things, like sun damage and thinning hair, that most bloggers don’t. I really appreciate both your candor and advice. I’m a big believer in hats and sunscreen, and never go outside without both.
By the way, I found a YouTube video that addresses “the dreaded back part” that so many older women develop as their hair thins, and it really works. The blog is called The Small Things Blog and the video is Hair Fix: Back Part. Just throwin’ it out there. Thanks again.
I’m so happy to connect with you, Karen! Isn’t the internet fabulous? I try to keep it real on my blog because I love how we all learn from each other. Sharing a “white washed” life has never appealed to me.
I’m so looking forward to seeing you rv-ing. Im glad you took the plunge. Well you introduced me to hats so I’m with you on those. I love that neat little one you are wearing here.
Thanks, Annemarie…hats are so fun! My favorites (on me) are clean lined and simple.
We have my father’s RV and are planning a trip this month as well…maybe we can meet up if we’re in the same region.
Love the hat on you. I am on the hunt for a white or off white floppy straw hat. Might be time to head over the Napa Valley hat shop again.
Hope all is well!
xo, Adrienne
That would be so fun!
I adore the Napa Valley hat shop. Several of my favorites are from there. Let’s make a date to meet, shop for hats and have lunch. xoxo
Maybe I haven’t found the right hat. I haven’t liked them on me at all.
I also currently live in Northern CA. We’re in Paradise with plans to move to Astoria, OR in July. Yes! Out of the heat and back to the water!
Your RV sounds like a great time for you both! Good for you! We just sold our little trailer and I cried. We had some great fun with it. Looking forward to another trailer when we get settled. We’re eager to explore our new area!
Thanks for your site! I found you on Pinterest and am a subscriber. I’ve been encouraged at 56 to “up my game” and dressing up more for the day. People have noticed!
Welcome, Robin! I’m so glad you’re here. Lucky you…Oregon is stunning. Part of why we’re looking forward to traveling in an RV is to discover where we might want to live in retirement.
I love hats on other people! They make me look squatty.
Squatty doesn’t sound like a look you’re aiming for Diana! Perhaps it’s the styles you’re trying on?
I love wearing hats and have a very large collection.
I love your hats, Jo!
Congrats on the RV. I glad you keep your blog politics-free….makes for more enjoyable reading. I love the earrings you are wearing. Can you tell me where they are from? Thanks!
Thanks, Brenda! My earrings are priceless. They belonged to my Mom, who bought them on a trip we shared to Ireland, many years ago.
Definitely a hat girl, myself. I have a rustic weave Ann Taylor straw hat that I love. It tells people I wish I lived on a rolling country estate where I grow flowers and walk around in wispy cotton dresses.
Until the country estate comes through, I wear it with casual looks to keep the sun off my face.
I have a collection of tightly woven straws that are more appropriate for the city. I need to develop a lifestyle of spectator pumps, navy-with-touches-of-white dresses, and pearls so I can be one of the Ladies Who Lunch and wear my good hats.
Hats inspire me.
I adore your comment, Sharon! Hats inspire me too. They tell stories, just as all our clothes do. I agree about those “fancy” hats. I own them and don’t live the life for them. A challenge for sure.
I try to limit my blog posts to the Important Stuff, too! Too much noise out there; I try to keep it peaceful in my corner.
I love your hat; I don’t feel very confident about choosing one, though.
Enjoy your new RV! Sounds wonderful.
I’m hearing many women struggling with how to choose their best hat. I think I need to write a post with suggestions. Thanks, we are very excited!
You hit a high note when you said HATS. I love them and wear one when ever I can. So classy, fun, & stylish. Of course they can save old skin from more damage done to ourselves when we were young. Think of Colorado for your RV ramblin. It’s beautiful this time of year! Cheers
You’re so right Lesley! Hats are classy and fun :))
Hi Jennifer, Congratulations on the rv. You have some fun adventures in your future. I enjoyed your post on adding accessories to casual outfits. Personally, I’m not a hat girl only because I don’t like wearing hats indoors. Hat hair doesn’t suit me! š When you’re out and about do you remove your hat when you go into stores or a restaurant? I do think it’s something you need to experiment with. Living in the desert southwest and already having tackled bcc’s and a melanoma, I try to limit sun exposure. Maybe it’s time to give hats another try. (You and your husband are about two years ahead of us on the retirement road, so I’m really enjoying your blog. Thanks so much.)
Thanks, Jan! If it’s very hot and my hair has smashed down, I keep my hat on indoors… no matter the size of my hat. Let’s be honest…hat hair suits no one š Melanoma and sun damage is serious business. I’m so glad you’re protecting yourself!
Adventures to come, and minimal wardrobe. How will you do it? I’m waiting to see it all unfold (couldn’t resist that pun). Congratulations on your new well-styled life!
I am so excited for our new adventure! I love living with a minimal wardrobe …I will be sharing the fun.
Thank you so much for not discussing politics, religion or sex on your blog. I wish more people followed your smart decision making. I have friends who have left FB because of it and I think people today can be so rude. I guess us baby boomers grew up in a time where if we had nothing nice to say we didn’t say anything at all. You look great!
It is my pleasure Annette š Graciousness never goes out of style and it’s how I prefer to live and blog!
Hi, Jennifer,
Yes, I do wear hats! I love them! Like you, I have thinning hair that tends to wig out in hot, humid or windy weather, so a hat is a great way to pump up your look and cover the hair. I recently convinced a friend who thought she didn’t look good in hats to purchase one at a swap meet. She looked great in that hat, and she enjoyed it so much she wore it all day! Anyone can look great in a hat if you choose the right one. By the way, I always get compliments and my cute hats, and no one thinks I’m trying to cover up anything–it’s just become a part of my style.
That’s the trick Kathy, wearing your hat all day!! Wearing hats is such a confidence builder.
Your blog has inspired me to try a few hats! They’re really fun and much better than a baseball cap on bad hair days. The only downside to me is taking them off and being left with hat hair. But overall, they’re a fun accessory!
Looking forward to seeing your traveling blog posts!
I’m so glad I have inspired you. Thanks for letting me know Kathy! The secret? Shhh…leave your hat on all day.
I love that hat, Jennifer. Concur about politics on Facebook…I had to temporarily “unfollow” some friends during our election last fall. I didn’t want to read anymore diatribes. I can’t wait to hear about your RV adventures. You will have a blast!
Thanks, Sue…we are so excited:)
What stops me from wearing hats — except out on the beach of by a pool — is that I have yet to find one that looks smashing with very short, pixie style, hair. Any suggestions?
I struggled to wear hats when my hair was pixie short too. The sideburns poked out and my bangs looked choppy. My solution was to tuck my hair away so it barely showed.
We just bought an RV and started travelling too. In fact, we went to Hilton Head and I met Susan from Fifty Not Frumpy a few weeks ago. I’m so looking forward to what you will be wearing! This is perfect timing for me. Thanks.
Wow, that’s fun Debbie! We’ll discover together, how to look our best while living in an RV:)
my hair is even thinner than yours and i live in a very humid climate (south louisiana). i’ve never liked the way i look in hats but you are inspiring me to give them more of a try. i buy them but then don’t wear them but i think maybe you’ve convinced me to take the plunge.
Take the plunge Susan! It’s just a matter of trying on hats until you find your most flattering shape. I am happy to help you decide..send me some snaps and I’ll tell you yay or nay and why.
Lucky for you–you look great in hats! I look forward to hearing about you rv adventures!
Thanks, Jo. I do believe every woman can wear hats well.
You know I want a hat…wish you could bring that trailer down here and shop with me. You look so good in all of yours!
I do know…send me pictures and I’ll help you choose your perfect hat!
Hi Jennifer,
These are the best photos of you I have ever seen, your husband has found his new career!!!
Congratulations on the purchase of your trailer, you will have a ball despite a 10″ pole in your closet! I have learnt to hang hangers on the cross bar of hangers in our RV which is also 28ft.its surprising how much you can fit in.
Can’t wait to hear of your adventures.
Warm wishes,
Carol from Australia
You’re so kind Carol! I love the idea of hanging from the hanger crossbars!! Thanks for the tip. Please pass along any wisdom you have.
Love the cardigan. Is it still available?
It’s from Stella Carakasi…here is a link and it’s on sale!!
Have fun in the trailer – I am sure you will. The outfit looks great and you suit a hat for sure.
Thanks, we are pretty excited š