Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Adjusted Expectations and Overdressing

Perhaps not as much "back in it, on it and all over it" as I had hoped to be this week, but things are looking up and getting done. Just dragged away by an unusually tasky week again, so I hope you'll continue to be patient. I'm anxious to have more time to get around to see all my favorite blogs, and will begin catch up some tonight. Our little town has it's very largest wine festival happening this coming weekend (less fun than you might imagine in our industry) so I'll be able to carve out more time after that. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed.

Dan's birthday was Saturday, so we celebrated Sunday by driving north to a bigger Big City to dine. I had a little time to shop at the Pinnacle Hills mall Promenade, self-described as a "retail lifestyle center."

Well.

I had been there a few years back when it was new and tony, and at that time it boasted some nicer stores (Gap, Coach, Aldo, Fossil, Banana Republic, Loft, Sephora) but over time it's switched its focus to a younger crowd with the same-old Forever 21, Charlotte Russe and Payless Shoes as we have here. Sad ... all the interesting shoe stores are gone, and although it's still a pretty outdoor mall, post-modern and charming, only a couple of the better stores remain. I left Dan and his Kindle happily entertaining a hoppy IPA and a plate of calamari and took off on a tour around by myself.

 I was so overdressed. I chose this lacy little maxi with comfy-but-cute chunky sandals, a tote and minimal jewelry to take me shopping, but I stuck out like a sore thumb with everyone else in cutoffs, flips and tanks or tees. I was also the only old lady out and about, and most disconcertingly, the only woman shopping alone. Aside from a few moms with baby-buggies, everyone else was in a pack or in pairs.
Odd.



I was still empty handed after an hour in and was heading back to collect Dan for dinner when I found a Soma Intimates store. ( Does anyone else instantly think of the happy-drug called Soma from Aldous Huxley's Brave New World ... "a gramme is better than a damn" ? ) Arkansas is lousy with Victoria's Secret stores, but I didn't know we had the more upscale Soma. I've been looking for a good molded-cup minimizer bra to keep the boobage in check for a long time but have had no luck. Bingo! On a "twofer" sale, in my size and color and with a brilliant fit. Doesn't get better than that.

Before dinner and quick-like-a-bunny, I put on mixed-pair dangly earrings (fun!), changed into dressier coral d'Orsay heels and took the clutch out of my tote ... and voilà ! Fancier for dinner! Again I was overdressed, as I so often am, but I felt fabulous and Dan was pleased.



Everything just tastes better when I'm wearing heels and a pretty dress.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A final note: I was pleased and surprised to find that this is my 100th post.  Time flies when you're having fun.
Thank you all for letting me feel like I have something
worth talking about!



33 comments:

  1. You look stunning! Brilliant, even! I would never have thought "coral" if I'd had your hair color but you pull this whole look off so exquisitely! Happy belated to Dan, and to heck with being overdressed. You show them mallrats how it's done!

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  2. There is so much to talk about here. I've had the same experience in a mall in Vancouver, WA while attending a hands on screen print training. The mall was so boring I thought I was on another planet! I ended up finding only a mediocre bracelet that I rarely wear. You did pretty good finding a perfect bra. My perfect bra is a Coobie with added stuffing. LOLOL
    I love your last comment about feeling you have something important to say. I just love that right there about this blogging stuff. The support we gain from other women around the globe. It's such a treat!

    Thank you for your sweet comments!

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  3. And, like I said, "there's so much to talk about!" I forgot to mention how good you look in your cascading orange. I saw a great post on Pinterest just yesterday that said something like, "I'm 55, always overdressed, and fuck it!" Being overdressed is way better than under, don't you think?

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  4. You look great, love the dress and what a fab color! I'm all for overdressing. We all work hard and getting dress beautifully can be a reward. More power to you!


    blue hue wonderland

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  5. Yes, time does fly quickly. Congrats on your 100th post! Love your day to evening look. You look like a burst of citrus fun. I'm quite sure your hubby found you delicious to look at. I hope he had a marvelous birthday.

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  6. Congrats on your 100th post! This is a beautiful outfit. I often feel like I am overdressed, but realize more and more that too many people seem to care less about their appearance. Well, I am going to stick to my style and if I am the best dressed in the crowd, well then so be it!

    Thrifting Diva
    www.thriftingdiva.com

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  7. You look lovely in Coral and that dress sure looks cool and comfy for sipping coladas by the bay. I was overdressed once and got wasted on cheap wine because I felt so out of place, so I know what you mean. But your dress is just right for wherever your feet takes you and it got Glam with the heels. Congrats on your 100.

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  8. HappinessatmidlifeJuly 23, 2014 at 2:24 AM

    What a pretty maxi dress. I am pretty much over dressed when it comes to going out with the family. And congrats on your 100th post!


    Alice
    www.happinessatmidlife.com

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  9. Well done on your 100th post and you do always have something well worth talking about and you do so with much panache. Your coral maxi sheath dress looks both cool and elegant, love the way it dresses up or is more casual. As usual those heels are stunners.I agree that it is far better to be overdressed than under, I always am , I think it just says I care about the way I present myself and it makes me happy.Hope the wine festival goes well and you reap the benefits of all the effort involved.

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  10. I LOVE this dress and the colour!


    It is always better to be overdressed and stand out than be underdressed and blend in. Plus you class up the joint wherever you go.


    bisous
    Suzanne

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  11. Hello my beautiful Jan in coral red, wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
    I I am with Suzanne, always over the top, yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    Why didn´t you join Share-in-Style?, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    Miss youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

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  12. Happy hundredth! That coral maxi looks fabulous on you, the colour is gorgeous. Everything does taste better when you feel great about yourself. Dan's a lucky man! xxx

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  13. Thanks for visiting my blog. The color is so beautiful and the little magic trick with other shoes are super. You look good - very good.

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  14. Fabulous dress, fabulous shoes. Both the daytime shoes and the dinner shoes. I like it very much that you mixed your earrings. Fun. And girl.... you can never be overdressed. Come on! You were just looking good. The fact they are all underdressed in cut-offs and flip flops, doesn't mean you are overdressed! Were you wearing a cocktail dress? No. Just a fun dress. Don't ever think that again. The world would be so much nicer if everybody would just pay a little more attention to adornment.
    Love the clutch and the shoes with the dress. I can see why Dan was pleased.
    And I agree that it doesn't get any better than when you find something you really need, in the colour you want for a bargain price. Such happy moments.
    Greetje

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  15. Hi Jan. The maxi dress is fabulous. And both handbags look like "wanna have too".
    Hmmm. I think I love the second a little bit more. Have a good time.
    Sunny

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  16. What a beautiful beautiful dress! I love how you styled the maxi dress on your dinner date with the husband.


    I don't remember how a real huge mall looks like! Either I don't have the budget to scour the shops or it's so hard to go "malling" with a toddler. He has his own agenda that I have to consider.

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  17. Congrats on your blog centennial! Your coral dress is beautiful, and I'm impressed with your versatility. You are a whiz at the quick change from daytime to damn fine!!!

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  18. Happy Birthday to Dan and congrats to the 100th!
    You look so lovely in your maxi dress! Coral since lately is a favorite color of mine. Why not dress up to go shopping? The mirrors in the changing rooms are merciless, why not show them a pretty lady? :-). "Brave new world" I red ages ago, I should read it once more, now we are living in a brave new world actually.
    Sabine
    http://achtstundensindkeintag.blogspot.de/

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  19. I think more people should be 'overdressed' this way, looks very elegant yet comfortable. Congrats on your 100th post!

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  20. Well naturally, a great dress and good shoes add the perfect seasoning to anything! Love the colour and simply glamorous shape of this frock, and the quick change of accessories for the evening was inspired. No wonder Dan was delighted - happy birthday, Dan!
    And happy 100th to you, lovely Jan, long may you continue to be overdressed, fabulous, and feisty! xxxxxx

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  21. lifestyleover40.comJuly 25, 2014 at 4:30 AM

    You are looking lovely in your coral dress and the lovely heals. Sara

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  22. Very lovely dress, the color is right for you and give you a taller look. Congrats on your 100th post.


    Catherine
    Joly Look

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  23. and it really suits you well!

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  24. I'm glad you felt fabulous because you sure look it! I no longer believe in the concept of overdressed. The rest of the world is just under-dressed most of the time and that's too bad. If the internet is to be believed, there are all those people prancing around Fashion Week wearing ridiculous get ups and then there are people in cutoffs and tank tops. I am sometimes apparently the only woman in town wearing a skirt. Or at least the only woman under 90. Jeans or yoga pants are the uniform of the west coast woman. I like my jeans but I cant' imagine only ever wearing jeans when there are so many lovely skirts and dresses to wear!
    xoxo

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  25. You look amazing in this dress! Love the color, so perfect for summer!

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  26. Wine festival??? That would be perfect for me!! I love wine! Of course not that much to get very badly drunk. I love to enjoy this taste very slowly and to take time to relax :)
    You look amazing in your awesome dress. The color, the cut and the length are beautiful! Very nice also the shoes and the clutch. Very pretty dear :)

    have a wonderful weekend
    Dana
    http://danalovesfashionandmusic.blogspot.de/

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  27. PinkCheetahVintageJuly 26, 2014 at 1:38 PM

    You look great in the lace tank dress! I might be weird, but I enjoy shopping even when I'm alone. Malls have gotten rather dreary in general lately. I've heard a lot are not doing well business wise. Let me know where the book is off to next when you get a chance :)

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  28. You look great in this colour! As for overdressing well isn't it always better to be overdressed than under dressed? I'm glad to see you even went to the effort of changing shoes and accessories for dinner - I'd do that sort of thing and yes it makes the food taste better! Congrats on your hundredth post!

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  29. I love that dress!! Especially your dinner look! I right now spend a lot of afternoons at this mall here in China. It's not pretty, shopping is out of the question as they don't carry my size, but otherwise I would be stuck at work (I live at the school where I teach during my stay here) and I feel a little like working 24/7 otherwise. So the ugly and totally crowded mall is my only choice!

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  30. Debbie Baker BurnsJuly 27, 2014 at 3:34 PM

    Better over than under dressed! Love Sephora. I could stay there for hours...just like a bookstore. Thank you for your sweet comments...I am moving NOW so we can be friends...LOL!! Debbie @ ilovemylemonadelife.com

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  31. There's no such thing as overdressed my friend. Why do you think I wear sequins to work in a school?! Ha! This dress is absolutely beautiful. The color is stunning on you. Beautiful as always! Oh, and congrats on your 100th post. :)
    Debbie
    www.fashionfairydust.blogspot.com

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  32. Happy 100th post! And you look great. Now, as a fellow (former) Arkansan I can honestly say that I know exactly what you are talking about on the overdressed question. Arkansans (even in the biggest of the big cities - Little Rock) do not as a rule dress up, but you are not overdressed, they are underdressed. Yes, it's hot, but a little effort is still called for. I really, truly detest flip-flops and if I see a person here in Europe walking around in flips-flops in the big cities I know without a doubt they're Americans. I'm just back from a weekend in Paris and saw no shortage of them. My dear, you look stunning! The dress, the earrings, the clutch...you're perfect for Paris. Come on over!!!

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  33. Congratulations on your 100th post! I love this look...especially the evening one.

    http://thriftmeover.com
    http://whosaprettygirl.com

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