Chico’s Fashion Show Luncheon

Call to attend the next Fashion Show Luncheon!

Chico’s of South Barrington, Illinois hosts Fashion Show Luncheons together with Incontro A Tavola. This is typically done several times per year during the season changes in order to feature their new lines. However, it’s so much more! I have the good fortune of getting to participate as one of their models. For me, it’s as much about the other women I get to meet as it is about the latest trends for the season. As you know, FTF is as much about friends as about fashion! Additionally, it’s a day out that my mom and I enjoy together! To see the previous post click: HERE.

Valerie and I

Valerie is the manager of the South Barrington Chico’s. She has an amazing sense of fashion and assists all who enter her store to find the perfect look! I’m grateful that she reaches out to me to participate. Due to working, I tend to only be able to model during the July show.

Valerie, Manager of Chico’s South Barrington

Valerie and the Wonderful Staff of Chico’s South Barrington

Getting directions and last minute details before the show goes on!

Fall 2019 Trends

Each lady modeled one pair of pants or bottoms and switched out the top to show two looks. Additionally, we accessorized with Chico’s necklaces and bracelets! I chose the So Slimming BRIGITTE PAISLEY SLIM ANKLE PANTS. These pants have a built in panel to give a smooth middle along with pockets! The pattern of the pants is what appealed to me as well as how comfortable they are to wear! The pants paired easily with a micro fiber tank. I choose pink; however, many other colors could be paired with these paisley pants! The elongated denim jacket stole the show! All the women loved the longer length! I emphasized that it added great coverage in the back…LOL! I’d venture to guess that a lot of these denim jackets sold that day!

Look 1

The paisley print is a Chico’s original. You can find it in many items such as the duster on the other model, tank, tunics, scarves, etc.

SHOP THE LOOK

Look 2

For the second look, I took off the tank and denim jacket and paired the paisley pants with a sweater. The sweater is very soft with wonderful details on the sleeves and comes in three colors – regular and petite! It’s great when pieces can be worn multiple ways with varying looks!

I’m pictured here with Ella! We had the pleasure of modeling together last year! She’s rock’in this maxi skirt and turquoise necklace!

SHOP THE LOOK

I’m pictured here with Daller. I had the great pleasure of meeting her this year and we had an immediate connection!

The Audience

Every year I’ve enjoyed talking to the women in the audience that are there with their girlfriends eating, laughing and enjoying fashion much like I like to do with my gal pals! I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find women I know in the audience as well as making new acquaintances. I tend to get chatty with all of them but did manage to get into my second look this year – LOL! One group of women insisted on taking my picture with them and of course I obliged!

The Grand Finale

At the end of the fashion show, we make one more round through the restaurant. They cheer and clap for us! I’m including a brief video to share the excitement with you as well as my mom…some how we didn’t get a picture of the two of us and she is after all my biggest cheerleader!

After the luncheon fashion show, most head over to the store to take advantage of the great sales being offered as well as the prize give aways. As you can see by my back seat, my mom and I had a successful shopping trip! My mom made me do it…that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! HA!

The Fun Continued…

After the fashion show luncheon ended, I had the great pleasure of getting together with some local midlife bloggers(Chicago Midlife Influencer Group)! We met (most of us for the first time in person) for happy hour and spent several hours getting to know each other and sharing tips! I’m so pleased and blessed to be meeting so many like minded supportive and encouraging women through Fashion Trends and Friends! Plus they welcomed my mom with open arms! If you live locally and would like to join our next get together, leave us a comment. Plans are in the words for October 10th!

Myself, Lisa, Sue, Michelle and Linda
Chicago Area Bloggers/Influencers

If you aren’t already following these lovely ladies, I highly recommend you do so: (from left to right)

Lisa: Evolving 50

Sue: Fashionably 50

Michelle: Over Fifty and Blessed

Linda: L Glamor

Let’s Chat

Do you like to attend luncheons and fashion shows with girl friends? Leave us a comment! If you’re local, we would love for you to join the next fashion show luncheon! If you’re a local blogger and are interested in meeting others at future get togethers, leave a comment. The more the merrier!

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This post contains affiliate links, meaning when you click on an item or purchase an item, I may receive a very small commission for the click or purchase. These picks are NOT sponsored, are selected solely by me, and opinions are entirely my own.

Stylish Monday

Maxi Madness

Tips for Styling Maxis

Find the right length. There is a wide range of maxi dress lengths, from foot skimming to floor skimming. Getting the right length can keep you from tripping or getting caught in your maxi dress.

Aim to have the dress touch the top of your toes.
Make sure the dress hits at least at your ankles. This is about where most of them hit me as I’m on the taller side – 5’8″.
Give the dress a test run. Walk around in it for a couple of minutes to make sure that you don’t step on it and that it doesn’t trip you.

Consider color and print. Just as body shape, style, and fabric can affect how you wear a maxi dress, so can the color and print. Choose an optimal color and fabric for your shape to best wear your maxi dress.

Wear simple and small prints or a solid color if you are smaller.
Try bolder prints or larger floral prints if you are curvier. (This is me – bustier and curvier!) Solid colors will also work.

Most long dresses are loose-fitted and might make you look boxy. Solve that with a belt wrapped around your waist, right below your bust or around the thinnest part of your waistline.

A belt will also give a whole new feel to your outfit – making it look well-polished and chic.

Generally, skinny belts look better on skinnier figures.

How I Styled My Maxi Dresses

True confessions…I’m not a maxi dress wearing gal! I ordered two for the purpose of this blog post once I new this was going to be August’s theme. I’ve said it before and will say it again! That’s why I love doing this monthly theme with all of the other beauties! It pushes me out of my comfort zone and causes me to try new styles and trends that I wouldn’t necessarily wear on my own! I can’t encourage you enough to not limit your sense of style and step out of your box now and then as you just might find you like something you didn’t know you would like!

Button Up Beach Party Dress

I can’t tell you how thrilled I was when I put on this dress! I love how it fits me! It’s so comfortable! I feel feminine and summer time perfect in it! I wore it for the first time on a date night with Mr. FTF. We went out to dinner with my aunt and uncle and celebrated his recent retirement! This maxi can also be worn to work, lunch with girlfriends, etc. Since it has palm leafs, I wore my gold palm leaf earrings and necklace. White Marc Fischer wedges with gold accents seemed to be a good fit! Voila! Easy to style! It’s the perfect dress to twirl in and who doesn’t love to twirl?!

SHOP THE LOOK

This maxi comes in 33 print choices! There’s bound to be one you’ll like! You can’t beat the price – $39.99!

Floral Beach Maxi Dress

I saw this maxi all over Instagram and loved the colors and style. It’s from Amazon for only $29.99; and it didn’t disappoint! A cami would probably be necessary to wear this dress to work as it’s super low cut. I did try to pin it and think it also might be a good idea to take it to the cleaners and have them add a snap. You could wear this dress almost any where…date night, girl’s night out or lunch, summer party…the options are limitless.

SHOP THE LOOK

Midi Dress

The fact that Charming Charlie is closing it doors is such a bummer to me! I’m an accessory fanatic and have enjoyed shopping Charming Charlie since they opened! I had a gift card that I needed to use before they closed their doors for good. This dress is one of my final purchases! Can you guess why I liked it so much? If you guessed the colors, you’re right and you know me well! It also has adjustable straps, which I love! The vertical stripes add height and are slimming – winner winner!! You could easily wear a tank or a half tee underneath to make this dress more work appropriate; or wear a blazer. A half tee is a great solution to wear underneath tops, dresses, etc. to add extra coverage. See our previous blog post: HERE

I was thrilled to pair my BIG striped earrings with this midi. The wedges are also Charming Charlie.

SHOP SIMILAR LOOKS

Check Out How My Fellow Lifestyle and Fashion Blogging Friends Style Maxi or Midi Dresses

Cindy Scurry at Middle Sister Style Blog

Let’s Chat

How do you like to style maxi or midi dresses? Which was your favorite look? Leave us a comment! We love to hear your thoughts!

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Swimsuit Hack

Adjustable Cup Lining

FTF hopes you enjoy our product reviews, tips and vlog series! Technology isn’t our thing so our videos are pretty much the raw, unedited real deal! Hope you find the humor in our authentic selves!

Amazon Swimsuit Haul

Did you catch our previous blog post on Julie’s Amazon swimsuit haul? Click HERE!

Let’s Chat

Do you have any tips or tricks for swimsuit modifications? Have you taken any swimsuits to be altered? Leave us a comment! We’d love to hear from you!

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Product Review

Moroccan Oil

If you’d like to see previous vlogs on product reviews, click HERE.

FTF hopes you enjoy our product review and vlog series! Technology isn’t our thing so our videos are pretty much the raw, unedited real deal! Hope you find the humor in our authentic selves!

SHOP THE PRODUCT

This product review and recommendation is our own opinion. If you purchase through our link, we’ll make a small commission at no cost to you.

Let’s Chat

Have you tried Moroccan Oil? Do you have a product you’d recommend? Leave us a comment.

Are there any products you’d like us to try and do a review? Leave us a comment.

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Subscribe to YouTube (HERE)

There will not be a blog post next week due to lack of internet services while I’m traveling! See you back here in two weeks!

Stylish Monday

How to Style Graphic T-shirts

After scouring the internet for tips on how to style a graphic T-shirt, I’ve come to the conclusion that anything goes. A graphic T-shirt can be dressed up or down. In my opinion, there isn’t a right or wrong way and the sky is the limit. You’re only limited by your imagination, creative styling and comfort! My comfort is to style a graphic T-shirt casually. I’m always looking to push myself out of my comfort zone and look to my fellow fashionable friends for style inspiration! Therefore, I think you’re really going to enjoy seeing how my fellow fabulous fellow fashionistas styled their graphic T-shirts!

Graphic T-shirt with Shorts

Two tickets to paradise…who remembers this Eddie Money song? Every time I look at this tee that song comes to my mind! This graphic T-shirt is from Old Navy. I was drawn to the colors and the summer vibe! I’ve paired it with white shorts but it would easily pair with jean shorts, white pants, black pants or shorts, a skirt, etc. The list could go on and on!

SHOP THE T-SHIRT

Graphic T-Shirt with Jeans and Jean Shorts

Who doesn’t love and immediately identify the Rolling Stones logo?! It makes for such a fun tee to style. The first Rolling Stone tee is from H & M. I was attracted to it because it was different from others I had seen. I paired it with my striped jeans and a red leather jacket from an extra edgy look! The second Rolling Stones tee is from Kohl’s. I had no intention of buying another except changed my mind when I saw the metal studs around the neck and the tongue being rainbow striped.

Rolling Stones T-Shirt: H & M
Striped Jeans: Stein Mart
Red Moto Jacket with Metal Embellishments: New York and Company
Red Booties: DSW

Rolling Stones T-Shirt: Kohl’s
Jean Shorts: New York and Company
Red Lace Up Sandals: Amazon

You know I had to strike this pose! Rock On FTF followers!

SHOP THE LOOK

Do you recall when MTV first came out? I sure do! I was a senior in college and my college roommates and I were clued to a small black and white TV as the same 10ish music videos would play over and over again! This T-shirt brought back all of those wonderful memories and as you guessed, I was attracted to the bright colors!

MTV T-shirt: Kohl’s Men’s Department
Yellow Cardi: Amazon
Pink Leather Jacket: Wilson Leather (my closet)
Jeans: New York and Company

SHOP THE LOOK

Graphic T-Shirt with Wide Leg Cropped Jeans

This next look is out of my comfort zone! I didn’t think I would ever wear or like wide legged, cropped jeans until I tried these on! They are high waisted and super comfortable! I knew right away they’d pair great with graphic T-shirts and be perfect for this cold and rainy summer we’re having. This graphic T-shirt grabbed my attention because it says Summer Time in bright, bold colors! You know that’s my jam! I recalled I had these sandals (how cute are the flowers and the bee?!) and thought they paired perfect with my new bright flower earrings! A look that’s quickly pulled together with minimal effort! I wore it on a recent date night with Mr. FTF – shopping, dinner and a movie!

SHOP THE LOOK

Mix & Match

The last looks I’m sharing demonstrates how to style a graphic T-shirt multiple ways! The “California Dream’in” T-shirt appealed to me because of the rainbow colors and the silver lettering! The first look is the T-shirt with a pair of shorts from Old Navy. Next, I shopped my closet for this silver skirt and simply switched out the shorts. I was surprised how comfortable I was in this look as it is something I would not typically wear. Lastly, I had to totally bling myself out with the sequin graphic “Don’t Worry Just Sparkle” T-shirt … so appropriate for me as you know the blingier the better in my world! I swapped out the silver slides for a slightly dressier pair of silver sandals. Another look I wouldn’t normally have put together for myself! That’s why I love these collaborations so much as my fellow fashionistas inspire me to style things differently!

SHOP THE LOOK

Check Out How My Fellow Lifestyle and Fashion Blogging Friends Style Graphic T-shirts

Let’s Chat

How do you like to style graphic T-shirts? Which was your favorite look? Leave us a comment! We love to hear your thoughts!

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Amazon Swimsuit Haul

Part 2 of 2

Last week, we shared my Amazon swimsuit haul. If you missed our Part 1 vlog: Click HERE. Several suits posed a challenge for my body type; and I returned them. Other suits with some slight changes proved to be winners. So here goes…the winners that I kept along with some others I purchased since our vlog. The best part is that they are all of great quality and none of them are over $30.00!

Palm Print Suit & White Bottoms

This tankini top was a winner from the beginning! The print is very trendy right now as is the ruffled arms. A plus is that the straps are adjustable and there is a minimal cup, which I like for coverage. You can easily take your arms out of the sleeves to avoid crazy tan lines. The bottoms that came with the suit were green and fit me oddly causing my crack to show…eeewwwww! I order the white bottoms separately. The white bottoms have great coverage when wet and are high waisted to hold your midsection in and eliminate muffin top. The rouging has a slimming effect. They fit true to size. The white tasseled coverup and sunglasses are new this season for me. The Marc Fisher sandals are from DSW.

Photos Taken By: Cindy of Perfect and Posh

Setting: Beautiful Malibu while on our girl’s vacation!

SHOP THE LOOK

Blue and White Two Piece Suit

This suit is way out of my comfort zone as I haven’t worn a two piece suit in I can’t remember how long…probably my late 20’s. Since my weight loss, I decided to be BOLD and go for it. I think the high waisted bottoms give good coverage as well as the ruffled top. A very minimal amount of skin is showing! These bottoms are similar to the white bottoms with rouging. I’ve added my sun hat, which was gifted to us from Chico’s at the first Fierce 50 get together. Fierce 50 Girl’s Weekend: Click HERE. The adorable beach bag was gifted to me from Cindy on one of our girl’s trips to Cape Cod. The blue sandals are from my closet.

I could mix and match the white bottoms with this top – giving me another look!

Pictures By: Mr. FTF in our neck of the woods! We were able to get pictures done despite the cold and rain! It was one and done so the pics are not the best due to lighting and my lack of savvy to edit them better.

SHOP THE LOOK

White Tankini Top & Palm Print Bottoms

The print on the bottoms is what attracted me to the suit. However, the top was way to flimsy for a chesty girl like myself! I could easily see a mishap…LOL. I gave the top portion to my step-daughter and it looks great on her! This tankini top has great coverage and an adjustable strap. It can be paired with the blue and white bottoms from the two piece. It can also be paired with the white bottoms for an all white suit. This enables me to mix and match for many additional looks. It reminds me of “Garanimals”! Do you remember those? LOL

SHOP THE LOOK

The tankini top comes in 8 colors/prints!

White One Piece & White Lace Coverup

This all white suit with cut out center is new since the creation of our vlog. It actually is my favorite of all my Amazon swimsuit finds! The detail is amazing – cut out center, ribbed sides with buttons, sweetheart top, comes with two sets of straps and very comfortable! The lace cover up felt a better match than the tassel cover up. I feel like a million bucks in this suit! It is slightly pricer at $31.99, which in my opinion is still amazing considering suits can be crazy expensive. It runs true to size.

SHOP THE LOOK

Let’s Chat

Shopping on line was so easy through Amazon. (This is not a sponsored post and is solely my opinion!) I like the fact that I get things quickly through Prime. I can try things on in the privacy of my home. Returns are super easy when necessary. Best of all – great quality and great prices! Winner Winner! My one recommendation is to read reviews on sizing! All the suits featured in this blog run true to size but that is not always the case.

Which suit is your favorite? Do you have a favorite place to shop for swimsuits? Leave us a comment! We’d love to hear from you.

Let’s Get Social

This post contains affiliate links, meaning when you click on an item or purchase an item, I may receive a very small commission for the click. These picks are NOT sponsored, are selected solely by me, and opinions are entirely my own.

Amazon Swimsuit Haul

Part 1 of 2

FTF hopes you enjoy our Amazon swimsuit review and vlog series! Technology isn’t our thing so our videos are pretty much the raw, unedited real deal! Hope you find the humor in our authentic selves!

Hope you come back next week for Part 2 of 2 to see how I mixed and matched tops and bottoms along with a few other suits, coverups and Amazon finds! I plan to get brave and take some pictures in the suits…sure hope summer arrives as I need the weather to cooperate so I do not freeze while in my suits!

SHOP THE SWIMSUITS

Let’s Chat

Did you have a favorite swimsuit? What’s your criteria for a great swimsuit? Leave us a comment!

Do you have a product you’d like us to try and do a review? Leave us a comment! Lori and I have so much fun making our vlogs!

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4 Surprising Ways Your Clothes Impact the World

Guest Post by: Helen Johns

Never underestimate the power of clothing. Apart from influencing our appearance, clothes can dictate our moods, confidence and physical performance. Unbeknownst to many, what you wear can also transform the world in significant ways.

Your Clothes Create Employment Opportunities

The fashion industry makes millions of dollars in profits and is a stable constituent of the world economy, meaning your insatiable fashion needs are not all for nothing. In the long chain of things, you will help to put food on an individual’s table, such as a fabric manufacturer, a designer, a spinner, a model or a vendor, among others.

The fashion industry now has a value of more than $2 trillion. Fashion employs millions of people in the labor market, which is a good thing, but there are also huge ethical problems such as slavery and child labor in the textile and garment production industry. Many brands are now recognizing these issues and putting measures in place to tackle forced labor and abuse in the fashion industry. ASOS, in example, runs an online training program on modern slavery for its employees.

Your Clothes Can Help the Environment

Statistics show that 100 billion pieces of clothing are made in the world every year. Clothes production has more than doubled in the last decade and our endless demand for fashion can cost the world a significant amount of resources. According to the WWF, it takes 2,700 liters of water to make just one cotton T-Shirt.

If you love being eco-conscious, you can start sourcing your clothing from an environmentally conscious brand. For a piece of clothing to qualify in this category, sustainability must have been observed at all stages of the production process.

Power Clothes Fuel the World Economy

A lot of the world’s economy is run by people dressed for success. How your outfit makes you feel on a particular weekday can, to a great extent, affect your work output. With the right confidence-inspiring attire, you will be able to make a positive contribution to your country’s economy (and the world’s in general). Studies show that power clothing activates the hormones required for dominance, and so it’s not incredibly farfetched to claim that the right clothes may actually have an impact upon the world’s economy.

Clothes Give the World An Identity

One way that culture passes down from one generation to the next is through clothing styles. Our unique clothing allow us to express our identities and summarize our beliefs, desires, and interests in a nutshell. Clothes can therefore potentially bring clarity in a world of different affiliations, beliefs, and interests.

Fashion plays an indispensable role in our lives. The right clothes could be your source of confidence, positivity, and strength to take on the world. The best clothes not only endow you with beauty but also give you a unique sense of identity.

Let’s Chat

How do you think fashion impacts the world and those around us? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Please leave us a comment!

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Stylish Monday

Summer Whites – How to Wear White and Tips on Styling White Jeans

Do you adhere to the age old fashion rule of wearing white only after Memorial Day and stop wearing white after Labor Day? Who makes up these fashion rules any way? We say wear white all year long! My fashionable friends and I are sharing how we style our whites for the summer months!

White Jeans

White jeans are a fashionable, versatile closet staple in any woman’s wardrobe. You can style white denim to look chic for the office, date night, and casual weekend wear. That’s not to say that white jeans are foolproof, though. In fact, many stylish women have been foiled by not thinking everything through before heading out the door in white jeans. (Hello, your underwear is showing!) We’re here to clue you in to the things you absolutely need to get right before you strut your stuff in white denim, so you can be sure to look your best.

5 Tips

No matter how thick your white denim pants are, do take the precaution of wearing nude (not white or brightly colored) underwear beneath them, to prevent unwanted glimpses of your underthings.
Curvy women (that’s me!) will look great in slim or straight leg jeans that closely skim over their generous proportions. You’re looking for a fit that’s snug enough to show off your womanly silhouette, but not overly tight (which can look tacky on any figure). Your best white jeans are a slim pair that follow your curves closely, without squeezing too tightly, and hug your legs lightly through the thighs, falling to narrow or medium hems.
Dressing in white from head to toe is a great solution, as this monochromatic palette is surprisingly slimming and looks good on just about everyone.
If you have a tummy or wider hips, you can wear a tunic top that flows gently over your less-favorite areas, to smooth or camouflage them. You can also wear white bootcut jeans that help to balance wider hips, and can be more forgiving on pear shape figures than skinnier styles.
Pocket Placement — black, blue, white or any other color — is critical to the fit of a pair of jeans. The bottom point of the pocket should fall where your hamstring meets your butt, and the smaller the pocket the bigger it will make your butt look.

How I Styled My White Jeans

The good news is that once you’ve found that perfect pair for you white jeans and/or pants the styling is easy!

This look is from last year. However, I’ll totally wear it again this summer! These white jeans were from Target and I loved them as they were the perfect thickness and fit! They no longer fit so I’ve gotten a new pair. This kimono and sleeveless tank are from Chico’s (last season). The beaded belt is a treasure I got in Costa Rica.

Another look from last summer – a column of white! Silver and white were trending last summer; and I think still look great together. The embellished tee is Michael Kors as are my kicks. The embellished white denim jacket is from a boutique in Arizona. The round straw bag is from New York and Company. I saw a similar bag at Target recently.

These white jeans are new from Stein Mart. This top is from Express. The purse is from Amazon. The snakeskin boots are from Payless. All are recent purchases. I wore this outfit on a date night with my hubby. We went out to dinner and then to see my son-in-law’s band.

This whole look is from Stein Mart – jeans and top. The Chinese Laundry sandals are from DSW. All were purchased recently. The accessories I already had. White pairs great with red and blue so this was the perfect look for Memorial Day. It would also be a great look for July 4th or just any time in the summer!

These are the same white jeans from Stein Mart. The kimono and yellow top are new from Charming Charlies. The blush slides are from my closet from last season. I think the kimono pairs great with the jeans. Kimonos are great for hiding mid-section flaws and a bigger booty! Lemons continue to be trendy. The yellow, white and blush work well together. Had to include a back picture so you could see the lace inset…love the detail!

SHOP WHITE JEANS

Check Out How My Fellow Lifestyle and Fashion Blogging Friends Style White

Let’s Chat

What tips or tricks do you have for picking out a pair of white jeans and styling them? How do you like to wear white? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Please leave us a comment!

Let’s Get Social

Tips for Aging Well

and Other Thoughts on Living Your Best Life!

Hope you enjoy watching our brief vlog on things we wished someone would have told us and preventive tips!

FTF hopes you enjoy our product review and vlog series! Technology isn’t our thing so our videos are pretty much the raw, unedited real deal! Hope you find the humor in our authentic selves!

SHOP THE PRODUCTS

Sun Block

Self-Tanner

Strapless Bra

Hoop Earrings

This post does contain affiliate links, meaning when you click on an item or purchase an item, I may receive a very small commission for the click. These picks are NOT sponsored, are selected solely by me, and opinions are entirely our own.

Let’s Chat

What tips or advice do you have for aging well and living your best life right now? Leave us a comment! We love to hear from you! Thanks so much in advance!

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