<p>I like the nubby fabric as it seems a bit more casual - less professional not more. I’m envisioning the skirt with a sweater and boots and the jacket with jeans. I also mentioned my purchase to a friend and she insists that we’ll get all dressed up and go to her old-fashioned ladies club in the City. I’ll break out some pearls. </p>
<p>Yes, BB, you are remarkably well informed about fashion and have a wealth of knowledge about sources too. You are good to help out the clueless.</p>
<p>I like the midi length. I think it’s flattering for just about everyone.</p>
<p>Over the years, have come to realize I prefer a slim fitting dress with a blazer to a skirt/jacket suit. Have no idea why. But over the years you start to notice what you pick-out from the closet and what you pass over.</p>
<p>workingprogress - I’m glad you’re bringing up makeup. I’ve been very, very bad for about a month – have bee putting nothing (not even sunscreen) on my face. Just lazy and the heat/humidity makes me not want to bother.</p>
<p>What’s interesting, no one seems to notice. . . .</p>
<p>I rarely wear my suits & have finally, reluctantly parted with many of them because they are so rarely worn. I am down to three that I’m quite fond of that are all very different and do get used from time to time. I admit I wear the blazers more often than the suits. Do not have that many fitted dresses but am slowly trying to change that. 
I’m much more particular about what I choose to add to my wardrobe because it functions quite well currently, so it has to be absolutely perfect to be added (since I’ll have to discard something else to make room).</p>
<p>^I’ve noticed that most professional women in my neck of the woods have stopped wearing traditional suits (although you might see a few in winter). I work in an accounting/finance area and there’s also a huge law firm in my building. At most they might wear a dress with a blazer. I was just thinking the other day that I’ve been seeing lots and lots of sleeveless sheath dresses and floral, lightweight skirts and dresses. Of course, it’s been near 100 here every day for weeks.</p>
<p>I rarely wear a traditional suit these days. I don’t think it’s the most flattering style for my body anymore.</p>
<p>OK ladies – thanks for all the ideas and inputs about wearing shorts. I am empowered and emoboldened. I just bought some J. Crew shorts (size 2, 5 inch inseam). Because when I was in line at the grocery store, I saw a woman younger than me, with flesh hanging out all over, and black undergarments under an ill-fitting white tank top. And she did not have Michelle Obama’s arms, by a longshot.</p>
<p>“Yes, BB, you are remarkably well informed about fashion and have a wealth of knowledge about sources too.”</p>
<p>Thank you, but I’m not a fashion expert - I’m still learning form the CC fashion gurus. I definitely know a lot about at pencil skirts, since I’m a huge fan of said skirt style :)</p>
<p>wnp, thank you so much for posting the review of the cover-up wheel! Gosh, I really need one now. As I was washing the deck railing today, I jerked my head to look what the dog was up to and bonked the side of my forehead on the wooden hammock frame! And to add insult to injury, I just tossed my Laura Mercier concealer because it was more than 6 month old! Arrgh. Thank goodness I have bangs!</p>
<p>
in more ways than one! 
That sounds just like something I would do/have done. And it hurts!</p>
<p>mafool, pun was intended. LOL. </p>
<p>Since there has been a lot of discussion of swimsuits and places with guaranteed warm weather in December, I thought I’d post this interesting article that I found while randomly looking things up on the net:</p>
<p>[Baring</a> all is out as bikini styles signal return of modesty | Life and style | The Observer](<a href=“Baring all is out as bikini styles signal return of modesty | Women's swimwear | The Guardian”>Baring all is out as bikini styles signal return of modesty | Women's swimwear | The Guardian)</p>
<p>So far, I have not seen too many retro swim suits in the local stores. I definitely welcome the trend and will consider trying some on. :)</p>
<p>A very timely article on the midi length from this weekend’s WSJ:</p>
<p>[Midi-Skirt</a> Madness - WSJ.com](<a href=“Midi-Skirt Madness - WSJ”>Midi-Skirt Madness - WSJ)</p>
<p>OK, since the subject of the thread is “dressing young”, this is very fitting for posting here:</p>
<p>[Heather</a> Locklear, 49, Steps Out in Skin-Tight Dress](<a href=“http://tv.yahoo.com/news/heather-locklear-49-steps-skin-tight-cleavage-baring-175056514.html?nc]Heather”>http://tv.yahoo.com/news/heather-locklear-49-steps-skin-tight-cleavage-baring-175056514.html?nc)</p>
<p>She is going to be 50? No way! :eek:</p>
<p>Not a fan of the midi length, it has always seemed “dowdy” to me. JMHO.</p>
<p>As for suits, I no one wears them in my office. The auditors (who usually dress up more than we do) don’t even wear them.</p>
<p>My favorite length is sort of rare to find – tea length. It hits right above the ankle, sort of like a cropped pant.</p>
<p>Bunsen, I’m seeing the retro swimsuits around. I think they’re cute. Belly buttons are overrated!</p>
<p>sewhappy, agree about the belly buttons being overrrated! Does this mean the belly button bling fad will be fading away?</p>
<p>^^^speaking of belly button bling:
I do not like the look of low-slung pants, snug knit top, and the belly-button-bling bump under the knit top.</p>
<p>tacky</p>
<p>I really like skirts that hit just BELOW the knee. Most knees are not the most attractive part of the anatomy and just as well covered. Not fond of seeing belly buttons either. Also really don’t like low cut pants where you can see things better left covered. DO like the waist to be SLIGHTLY below the waistline, as it’s more comfortable to wear than something that is constricting the waist, especially for those of us who do diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing.</p>
<p>Belly button bling has always been odd to me, as is nose piercing with a jewel appended and piercing of bodily parts other than ONE piercing on the lobe of each ear. Sorry, am traditional that way & don’t have piercing myself at all.</p>
<p>Is it something about menopause hormones (or lack thereof) that is making me suddenly lust for this coat?</p>
<p>[Faux-Fur</a> Coat - Garnet Hill](<a href=“http://www.garnethill.com/faux-fur-coat/womens-fashion/outerwear/coats/174049]Faux-Fur”>http://www.garnethill.com/faux-fur-coat/womens-fashion/outerwear/coats/174049)</p>
<p>Sewhappy-Do you need an intervention over your addiction to Garnet Hill? I love the coat but could never see myself being bold enough to wear it.</p>
<p>sewhappy, I think that’s partly why that broomstick skirt is making me so happy. It’s that tea length.</p>
<p>Faux fur coat</p>
<p>^
I used to have a coat like that, that I got at an estate sale- it was more of a Lucy Ricardo swing coat style but it was great until the lining just got too icky & I tossed it.</p>
<p>But it was fun to wear.</p>
<p>Sewhappy, I had a coat made of similar faux fir 25 or so years ago. Just like EK, I acquired mine second-hand and wore it to shreds. Can’t imagine wearing anything faux fir here in Seattle - it is too rainy in the winter. But if you have the right weatherfor it, faux fir is very popular!</p>
<p>Vanity Fair released their 2011 Best Dressed list. No big surprises there - Kate Middleton is on the list. And so is the head of the IMF (not, not THAT one). Christine Lagarde was interviewed by CNN the other day, and I was in awe of her amazingly well put together yet simple look: a grey dress with a matching blazer, minimal “bling”, impeccably applied makeup, patent leather pumps and… nude hose. Very classy.</p>
<p>[Kate</a> Middleton repeats on Vanity Fair fashion list - Yahoo! News](<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/kate-middleton-repeats-vanity-fair-fashion-list-184103931.html]Kate”>http://news.yahoo.com/kate-middleton-repeats-vanity-fair-fashion-list-184103931.html)</p>