<p>roshke - that’s just darling. I’m going to have to add Talbot’s to my shopping sites. </p>
<p>I recently found a great shoe at Talbots, btw. And a necklace. Too lazy at the moment to hunt down the links but it’s back a few pages. I think Talbots has wonderful accessories.</p>
<p>Gourmet, we are all breathless waiting for you to present The Brilliant Navy Shoe. We know you will . . .</p>
<p>Gmom, Here’s a very cute navy sandal from Kate Spade. I don’t know if you are against wearing suede in warm weather - it wouldn’t bother me. </p>
<p>[kate</a> spade | designer women’s heels - villa cove](<a href=“http://www.katespade.com/designer-shoes/designer-womens-heels/cove/S942359,default,pd.html]kate”>http://www.katespade.com/designer-shoes/designer-womens-heels/cove/S942359,default,pd.html)</p>
<p>These are navy as well:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.katespade.com/designer-shoes/designer-womens-heels/maribelle/S740713,default,pd.html?dwvar_S740713_color=410&start=17&cgid=shoes-heels[/url]”>http://www.katespade.com/designer-shoes/designer-womens-heels/maribelle/S740713,default,pd.html?dwvar_S740713_color=410&start=17&cgid=shoes-heels</a></p>
<p>And one more:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.jildorshoes.com/product.cfm/hurl/lassie-sandal-navy-patent/PI=81301[/url]”>http://www.jildorshoes.com/product.cfm/hurl/lassie-sandal-navy-patent/PI=81301</a></p>
<p>I like the retro feel of those Jildor shoes.</p>
<p>Looking at the sandals we are all posting: does anyone else feel that her heels have begun to look, well, weird?</p>
<p>I know that I have callus “issues” and deal with them, er, appropriately.</p>
<p>But the shape of my ankle-to-heel from the back has changed over many years so that the bottom of my heel is wider and sort of funny looking. This seems to be emphasized by sling backs, hence my affection for d’orsay styles for dressy occasions.</p>
<p>Any one else? Or am undertaking a bizarre obsession?</p>
<p>Gourmetmom, I am laughing at the “retro” REI dress, I *still *wear the original sewed by my Mom from ca. 1975. It’s held up amazingly - made from some African fabric. Nice to know it’s actually fashionable again!</p>
<p>Slightly off topic, but a story to share with my virtual friends.</p>
<p>I have been looking for a dress with my mother-in-law for her to wear to my step-daughter’s wedding. My MIL is just the best. Great sense of humor, active, and very fit for someone who is 86. She was once about 5’10, now she is about 5’ 8" and wears a size ten. </p>
<p>Yesterday, I spotted a gown that looked perfect for her. Periwinkle, boat-like neck, cap sleeves, a jacket with 3/4 length sleeves. She tried it on and said she thought it fit, but it seemed a little “funny” in the top. At first I thought maybe the material was just bunching because she is slightly stooped over, but at second glance it just seemed lumpy. </p>
<p>Now my MIL is loud and funny. She started to laugh and say, “What are these, what are these?”</p>
<p>It turns out there were the pre-formed bra inserts in the top - the problem was - her breasts were sticking out BELOW the cups, so as she said (Loudly) - she had two sets of boobs!</p>
<p>I have to say, she had the whole shop laughing. </p>
<p>Fortunately, the seamstress said it would be no problem to remove the inserts - because as my MIL proclaimed, she couldn’t possibly hoist her own into the inserts - and when the alterations are finished she will be happy with just one set of breasts. </p>
<p>Dressing Young tip #who knows what… laughing at life keeps you looking young!</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing, wip, your MIL sounds like a dear. My own wore black to our wedding 32 years ago. Enough said.</p>
<p>wnp, that is a great story!</p>
<p>I looked for strappy sandals in navy in every store I visited. There were some casual styles, but I have not seen any dressier options. 
I hope to be able to get to the Bravern and check the offerings in their stores.</p>
<p>Now that’s a great MIL.</p>
<p>Here’s the dress in another color - it is much prettier in periwinkle. </p>
<p>[Mother</a> of the Bride or Groom evening dress with jacket. Dress style #312. |Fashion to fit designs](<a href=“fashiontofitdesigns.com”>fashiontofitdesigns.com)</p>
<p>This woman still lifts weights, uses a rowing machine and a treadmill three times a week at the gym.</p>
<p>How pretty that dress is - very young for an 86 year old! Your MIL sounds wonderful.</p>
<p>wnp, that is a fantastic dress! Your MIL sets a great example for ladies who wish to be dressing young after retirement :)</p>
<p>Gourmetmom, I went to several stores at the Bravern (Jimmy Choo, Ferragamo, and Neiman) to look for navy sandals. Alas, the only pair of navy shoes I saw was a pointy-toe Prada d’orsay with a plastick-y looking bow. I saw plenty of nude, silver, snake print, wildly colored, white and black shoes, but navy footwear seems to be MIA these days. On the other hand, there was no shortage of navy dresses and separates.</p>
<p>I wandered into a new store selling a British brand, Karen Millen, and fell in love with what I saw. Perfect for anyone striving to dress stylishly without going too broke. 
I walked out with a skirt:
[Tailored</a> Cotton Skirt](<a href=“Skirts | Skirts For Women | Karen Millen US”>Skirts | Skirts For Women | Karen Millen US)
If the weather holds up, I think I will get a lot of mileage out of this skirt this summer.</p>
<p>BB,
regarding Karen Millen: how is the sizing?</p>
<p>BB - Also, would you say that material was a cotton poplin? Would the similar pants be good khakis, do you think?</p>
<p>I have finally decided on wearing the light purple Adrianna Pappell flutter sleeve dress for the wedding (unless I find something else soon! ;)) I am keeping the navy Tadashi Shoji dress for a winter gala. I love that dress the most but everyone agrees that it is too wintery. I will be returning the darker purple Pappell dress as well as the new lacy dress from Nordie’s. Now on to shoes! The cute floral shoes that were linked a few pages back are not availale in my size. BB…D1 bought her orange shoes! Not sure which ones she got but she is very happy with them. She did say she let the heel height determine what she bought as she will be descending stairs on her entrance. I have a shower to attend on Father’s day so now I am looking for an outfit for that. H just wants me to return all of these clothes that I won’t be wearing!</p>
<p>NM - that sounds great!</p>
<p>I have to admit, when I was out shopping with MIL I was feeling kind of sad I didn’t actually go out looking for a dress for myself. I just bought something I happened to see while shopping with D. Maybe you should just send me your leftovers! Good luck with shoes. I think we should all just send BB our shoe sizes and just let her go to it!</p>
<p>I still have a month - but I am so busy the next two weeks with work that I won’t have any time to look. You can always tell when I am busy with work - I am writing reports and I take mini-breaks by looking and commenting on CC!!!</p>
<p>mafool and Alumother: here are some of my thoughts about my purchase (which I’m wearing today).</p>
<p>Karen Millen sizing. The sales person informed me that their clothes run small by our standards. I tried quite a few things on, and it looks like the sizing is based on the British system (just like Burberry). Im size 42 Italian/6 US/10 UK (56 and about 125 lb), and size 6 KM fits me well.</p>
<p>Fabric. It feels substantial and not cheap (98% cotton/2% lycra, I think), but maybe too heavy for those 90+ degree days. IMO, the quality exceeds that of the Burberrys Brit and even London lines. The skirt is fully lined in nice, smooth acetate fabric with a touch of lycra that feels soft against the skin. Every stitch on the skirt looks neat and professionally done, and even after sitting for a few hours, there are no wrinkles on the front of the skirt (just a few tiny ones on the back around the slit). I would buy their khaki pants in the same fabric.</p>
<p>I tried a few dresses on as well. Same deal: very well made, nice fabric. I loved this dress:</p>
<p>[Embroidered</a> Shirt Dress](<a href=“Dresses | Shop Women's Dresses for all Occasions | Karen Millen US”>Dresses | Shop Women's Dresses for all Occasions | Karen Millen US)
I would have bought it in a non-white color.</p>
<p>[Lauren</a> by Ralph Lauren ‘Natasha’ Sleeveless Shirtdress | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lauren-by-ralph-lauren-natasha-sleeveless-shirtdress/3183547?origin=category&resultback=479]Lauren”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lauren-by-ralph-lauren-natasha-sleeveless-shirtdress/3183547?origin=category&resultback=479)</p>
<p>Didn’t someone want a chambray shirtdress? This Ralph Lauren dress is new at Nordstrom. Cute. I’d like it better with sleeves.</p>
<p>wnp-great story and I love the dress!</p>
<p>RL has made versions of that dress for years! I have one that has a straighter skirt, but the fabric, the collar, etc. are identical. I’ve worn it with a brown leather braided belt to give it more structure around the middle - some self fabric belts curl and kind of die there at the waist. The armholes are cut in slightly, which is very flattering and feminine. It’s a great dress.</p>
<p>Bookiemom - it would look nice with a tissue weight cardigan to cover the arms - almost any color would work. I read some of the laments on the other page about sleeveless tops and dresses. While I still wear sleeveless thanks to extreme Pilates, I don’t like all of the strappy and very sheer dresses out there. At my age, some structure - and appropriate undergarments - looks best.</p>