What I’m Considering At Talbots!

Hey everyone! Like I said on Monday, I’m taking a bit of a shopping break before the best items come out this fall. In the meantime, I’m scouting some cute items that will work well for our shape. Just because I’m not shopping doesn’t mean that all of you are not shopping!

So, today I’m focusing on Talbots. Now, I recently re-discovered Talbots because I always thought they catered to an older market than my 52 youthful age. However, I have found some really fresh designs at the store (not everything, but some things) so it’s definitely worth stopping in, especially since they have a great plus-size section and many items with a softer silhouette that usually looks good on an apple-shaped beauty.

Just a little bit ago I wrote two posts (here and here) showcasing two really cute tops (here and here) that I purchased from Talbots. I’m certain I’ll have some more finds in the future but in the meantime, here are some items that will look good on us!

This looks like a really cute top. I have more than enough striped items but this one is navy and cream instead of the usual black and white. It has a cute hem and a flattering neckline and 3/4 length sleeves — all good attributes for a shirt that works for our shape.

I’m not usually a wrap-top shirt kinda gal because the v-neck is usually pulled open by my wide bust and the wrap/belt usually ends up under my bust which just emphasizes my girls. This top doesn’t have the belt, just skillful stitching and it’s more of a tunic length so it covers tummy and backside. Plus right now it’s only $21!

This vest looks really cute for fall and winter if the fabric will hang nicely over a big bust. Sometimes this kind of collar will hang nicely around my collar bones but pull apart over my bust and hang weird. It will really depend on how it fits in the shoulders and how the fabric will fall in the front. The alternative view below makes me think it might hang just fine.

Now, onto dresses.

There must be a “piping” trend this fall! This dress is available in plus-size or straight size and looks to be quite flattering. It’s made of ponte fabric which is really good for skimming and not clinging. And it’s only $29 right now!

And remember how it’s perfectly acceptable and on-trend to wear sneakers with dresses? This would be a fun, casual dress to pair with sneakers and bop around in. The color is so pretty and the cowl neck usually looks good with a large bust. Plus, it says it’s soft terry fabric so I always give extra consideration to an item that is soft!

Ok, so I could go on and on finding us other items, I’m just running out of time today! Good luck shopping and let me know if any of you try one of these items and how it goes. See you Friday!

Thank you for purchasing from the affiliated links in this post. I receive a small commission and you are not charged any more than if I didn’t. Perfect!

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What I’m Considering At J.Jill!

Hey everyone! Happy Monday! So, I’m done shopping for the summer since I have what I need and I probably won’t be shopping again for a couple weeks. In the meantime, I’m still looking online to see what the retailers have coming up for fall. I find that this is when most stores put out their best designs and it’s my favorite time of the year for clothing — not too hot and not too cold.

Since I’m a realistic shopper on a realistic budget, I’m not able to purchase everything I know would work well for our shape and then show it here. But just because I’m not shopping doesn’t mean you’re not! So I’ve scouted out some items that will fit, look stylish and become wardrobe workhorses for you if you have a similar shape to mine.

J. Jill is one of my favorite retailers (this is not sponsored) because they have high quality items that work well with our shape. They also have classic cuts and patterns that will last several years without looking dated.

Here are a couple of items that have caught my eye:

This really cute dress that has a sporty edge. Don’t be afraid that it’s too short! For one, the model is probably pretty tall and two, you could wear it with tights or leggings and then it won’t look short at all. Really, it’s true! Try it out next time you pop into a store and find a dress that seems a bit too short. The leggings or tights will give you coverage and you won’t even notice your legs!

This cute dress has textured stripes (I don’t believe that old “advice” about horizontal stripes) and it’s made out of our favorite fabric blend (rayon and lycra) so it will skim without clinging and have some stretch to stretch over our bodaciousness! The texture of the fabric will help hide any undergarment dents or hardware or seams.

Both of those dresses would look really cute with these leggings.

My black vest gets a workout all winter long because it’s a stylish look and it gives me the coverage I want (covering my sides and bust) without looking like a tent. This vest I’m considering adding to my collection because mine is getting worn looking and this one is a lighter weight so it could be a four season vest easily.

And then starting to think about cooler weather, this sweater looks really beautiful. Either the cream or black will go with everything. It’s also our favorite fabric blend and it looks to be a bit lighter weight so it will layer really well without over heating us!

Alright, I hope this helps a bit for those out looking right now. If you need a refresher of what to look for when shopping online, you can read this post for some tips and if you’re shopping in person at a store here is my post about how you can make that a successful venture too.

Ok, good luck and I’ll see you all on Wednesday!

This post contains affiliate links which bring me a small commission every time you purchase something from one. I put 100% of that commission back into bringing you this blog!

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The Dress I Should Have Taken!

Hey everyone!

First off let me show you my new haircut! I love it! It’s shorter than what I’ve had in a while but it makes me feel so sassy! It’s also so easy to take care of and cuts my time to get ready in the morning by at least 10 minutes.

I’m lucky that my hair grows fast so I’m able to try new hairstyles fairly easily. I think nothing ages you more than wearing a hairstyle you had in high school. Even if your hair doesn’t grow fast, if you still have the same haircut you’ve had for over a decade, you might want to try something new to freshen up your look. It’s fun!

Summer time dress for women over 50! | whenthegirlsrule.com

On Wednesday, I showed you the purchases I had to buy while on vacation because what I brought wasn’t going to cut it. I needed easy, breezy clothing that could stand up to sweat and a breeze without clinging. This dress would have been perfect if I had actually brought it!

The material is “performance” material so it doesn’t show sweat at all and it wicks away moisture. It’s also stretchy fabric and skims without clinging.

You’ve seen me wear it before here and here.

And my favorite part of this dress is the collar and little notches on the sleeves. These are little design details that I appreciate.

Ok, I’ve been forgetting to do this lately but today I’ve remembered: my three gratitudes!

Summer time dress for women over 50! | whenthegirlsrule.com

One. I’m grateful for the little nip in the air in the mornings here. The grass is damp from dew and the bugs are slowed down by the colder temps. Mosquitos have been particularly annoying this month so I’m ready for colder weather to send them to their grave! Even in these pictures, I was constantly slapping at them!

Two. I’m grateful for my sister who keeps lending me books to read and even though I swear I will read it, I usually put it away on a shelf and forget about it. But, yesterday she lent me The School of Essential Ingredients and I’m going to make a more valiant effort to actually read it!

I’m grateful that my youngest daughter has moved herself into her house near campus by herself but still pops in for the occasional good meal and DIY project. She will be starting her new semester next week and is living in a house with three other young ladies. I know she’s glad to be living on her own and is so grateful to be out of that tiny hostel in Hong Kong. Boy, she really got out of there in the nick of time, didn’t she?

Alrighty lovelies, that’s it for this week. I’m off to pour wine for happy people! Have a wonderful weekend!

This post contains affiliate links which bring me a small commission every time you purchase from one of the links at no added cost to you! Thanks!

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My Dry Climate Purchases!

Hey everyone! Happy Wednesday!

I’ve always admitted that I am terrible at packing for vacations. It seems like it’s hard for me to imagine that the weather is different than what I’m experiencing at that moment. Like, if it’s winter here and I’m going someplace warm, I still pack for cold weather, even though I try not to! I feel like I’m packing appropriately for the trip but when I get there I realize I didn’t bring what I need.

I also have an idea in my head that I’ll be doing different activities than I end up doing. Like I’ll be strolling down Rodeo Drive on my vacation to the cabin in the woods in northern Michigan. I always try to be reasonable and realistic but I’m often way off the mark and wear only a couple items over and over again while the rest still remain folded in my suitcase.

And yes, this trip was no different.

Ok, part of it is the vibe of the area. Santa Fe felt very casual, breezy, low-keyed colors. See this video below which I think summed up the practical style I saw women wearing.

I, on the other hand, brought lots of bold black and white striped items, lots of double knit cotton, long pants and items that seemed more “office” appropriate than tourist or even hiking-tourist clothing.

So, the first day we were there we went shopping at REI. This is a place I rarely shop in but because Dave was leading this expedition, this was his choice. We both needed hats to protect us from the very intense sun. No hazy Michigan sun here!

And my black denim shorts weren’t going to be practical for hiking the dusty trails and I hadn’t brought any t-shirts. I don’t really care for them and they usually don’t fit well, but what was I going to hike in?

So, first off, I bought the cutest blue sun hat. Then I added the pink t-shirt and blue skirt for hiking. Yes, a skirt, but I had exercise shorts I wore under them. They were a fabric that wicks away moisture and were very comfortable to wear. I wore them every time we hiked.

Then I bought the dress that I would wear pretty much every other day.

It was a low-key color and the fabric was breezy for the dry wind that blew and whisked away any sweat or moisture. I felt covered enough wearing it alone, since the armholes were not too big and the fabric definitely skimmed without clinging but didn’t blow up and out in the wind.

The wind was a definite factor to consider before getting dressed!

The only thing I’d change about this outfit is I would wear my bra that doesn’t have seams on the cups. I forgot to bring it, so I just soldiered on with the seamed one.

My blue sandals held up really well for strolling through museums or walking around town. I do have some pretty funny tan marks on my foot though!

So, how do you all pack for a vacation? Realistically? Ideally? Free for all? Or do you plan on doing some shopping when you get there? Maybe that’s my real motivation!

Alright, this was a few more vacation photos. On Friday you will see my new haircut that was inspired by this vacation. Stay tuned!

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My Santa Fe Trip!

Hey everyone! I’m back from vacation plus my extra week of online-detox. I avoid news after a mass shooting and I really wanted to take time off social media and staring at a screen last week so alas, no posts. I really should just plan on taking time off in the summer since it seems I do this every July/August.

So, anyway, we had a wonderful time in Santa Fe! I would definitely go back because there is so much to see and do. Gosh, this country is really beautiful and full of natural wonders and I only saw a few. But, what I did see was overwhelmingly beautiful. Seriously. It was hard to take in all the beauty at once. I had to keep stopping and pausing to take it all in. Let me show you!

First off, let me show you the perfect AirBnB we stayed in. It was a historic home in the very traditional adobe style. You can see the full listing here for professional photos but here are mine:

The entrance to our adobe home which is surrounded by coyote fence (the tree branches/trunks) with this gorgeous bell
Super cute little kitchen
dining room
close up of kiva fireplace
other view of dining room
close up of artwork on the wall
There seems to be tons of equestrian art in this region of the country
The backyard lit up at night

I loved coming back to this home at night. I hope it’s a loved little home because it makes me feel sad if it’s just used as a rental. Someone needs to “gift” me that house so I can love it!

Coffee shop

We alternated our days with a hiking day followed by a museum day. That way we could stay active and see nature and work up a sweat balanced by slow strolling through museums or galleries or just walking around town.

Just a random wall and doorway in Santa Fe

Santa Fe has a Museum Hill that has several museums all in one place, plus the botanical garden. This is really convenient to get to and park, but the museums were so informative and beautiful and interesting that I could only take in one a day. Too much to learn and see and do that I tried to soak in as much as I could without being overwhelmed.

First the botanical garden which has art statues scattered throughout.

This whole trip I was obsessed with how many honey bees and butterflies there were on the sage and lavender. I kept taking videos of them and sending them to my sister ( a beekeeper who has had sad luck with bees) because the plants were full with pollinators and it was hard to walk by them without worrying a swarm would encircle you. I’ll spare you all my videos, just imagine a purple bush swarmed by moving insects and you’ll get the idea!

And this is Kokopelli. He is shown so much more fierce than the version we all saw in the 80’s!

Of course, having birds nest in your bells takes away some of the fierceness!

Oh my gosh this is going to be a long post!

So, we went to Bandelier National Monument which is a national park that is preserving the cliff dwellings of ancient people who built homes and food storage into the cliffs and accessed them by ladders.

And I don’t have many pictures from here because I had my phone taking videos when I thought I was taking pictures so I have a lot of videos of the ground or my hand!

Dave climbing into a cliff dwelling where I was already huddled ready to push back the ladder! Just kidding!

We went to the Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Again, I had to do these on two separate days because there was so much to take in.

And I thought this was really interesting. I’ve never seen it at a museum before.

And this picture was so arresting!

This was an art installation to bring attention to the large number of murdered and missing indigenous women in New Mexico

And these photos were taken on our way to Ghost Ranch — from our car!

Usually photos taken from a car are awful, but the landscape was so beautiful that it didn’t matter where we were taking them!

We did a lot of pulling off the road to take pictures

And on our way up to Taos:

The Rio Grande gorge which is much more beautiful than this picture shows

We also did some wine tasting on our way up to Taos and the wine was surprisingly good. Plus, since I work at a winery I could get the industry discount. Needless to say I brought home a few delicious bottles that I will be enjoying this fall.

Ok, more random photos.

Discriminatory! Ha ha! Actually there is a bar called the Cowgirl and I’m assuming that’s what they mean!
We actually did honey tasting too!

There are lots of art galleries in Santa Fe and here is just some of the incredible art work we saw.

Work by Geoffrey Gorman:

And they have lots of landscaping art around town too.

See what I mean about all the equestrian art?

And don’t forget cocktail art!

Pine nuts in a pine vodka with pine needles and a dehydrated grapefruit
Fennel pollen and froth and fennel gin

The town is so walkable and the doors are so very pretty. Enjoy this little stroll through Santa Fe!

A very typical street in Santa Fe. Not sure why it’s dirt though in this part of town. Old west feel I expect!
Of course there is a polar bear here
We did a lot of this!

This post has taken me so much longer than I anticipated! I tried to spare you all of the pictures but there was a lot to see and take in. I loved it and I really hope to go back some day.

I’ll be back on Wednesday with the usual clothing themed content. See you then!

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Definitely A Flowery Dress!

Hey everyone! I’m on vacation as you read this but I wrote it last week before I left since this is the first time I’ve joined a group of ladies who blog as a group called……………………….

…… And they “get together” the first Tuesday of every month so I couldn’t miss my first group event could I?

So, the theme is picked by someone different each month and this month’s theme was tropical or flowery sun dress. Now, I haven’t worn a sun dress since 7th grade when I could wear a strapless bra under a sundress that was tied up with a string on my shoulders and I have not purchased one since then so I didn’t go with a literal interpretation but more of a interpretation of the theme of showing off a sunny day dress. Oh, and I chose the floral interpretation rather than the tropical choice.

Sunny day dress! | whenthegirlsrule.com

You’ve seen this dress before (like here and here) and right now it’s sold out though this one looks really similar.

Sunny day dress! | whenthegirlsrule.com

I like this dress because it’s lightweight and it has that puff-paint texture so it minimizes lumps and bumps with that texture.

I never realize how short this dress is until I photograph it. However, I have to say I’m also surprised how toned my legs look. I’ll take that!

Sunny day dress! | whenthegirlsrule.com

These shoes are comfortable and feel secure on my feet. Two pairs of my old sandals just blew out this week so these are getting more wear.

Sunny day dress! | whenthegirlsrule.com

Alright, so now you get to meet the other ladies in the Ageless Style group and see how they styled this theme this month. Take a look at their lovely corners of the internet while you’re there too!

Daenel ~ Living outside the stacks bloginstagrampinteresttwitter

Debbie ~ Fashion Fairy Dust bloglovin, blog, instagram, pinterest, facebook, twitter

Jennie ~ A Pocketful of Polka Dots bloginstagramfacebookpinteresttwitterbloglovin

Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style blogfacebookinstagrampinterestbloglovintwitter

Julia ~ When the Girls Rule blogfacebookinstagrampinterest

Kellyann ~ This Blonde’s Shopping Bag bloginstagrambloglovintwitter

Lisa ~ Coast to Coast blogfacebookinstagramtwitterpinterest

Paula ~ Dimples on my What blogfacebookpinterestinstagramtwitter

Shelly ~ The Queen in Between bloginstagrambloglovinpinterestfacebook

Shugunna~ Nzuri N* Simplicity bloginstagrampinterest

Alright lovelies! I’m posting on Instagram if you want to see images of our vacation in Santa Fe. If not, I’ll see you all when I get back next week!

This post contains affiliate links which bring me a small commission every time you purchase from one of them. Thanks!

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Easy Breezy Summer Dress!

Hey everyone! Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I hope you were able to enjoy some beautiful weather like we were!

Easy Summer Dressing for women over 40! | whenthegirlsrule.com

As I said on Friday, I like to find dresses for the summer that don’t require a “third piece” for me to feel comfortable in them. This dress is definitely easy to wear without a sweater or jacket!

Easy Summer Dressing for women over 40! | whenthegirlsrule.com

You first saw it here when I was wearing it unbuttoned on the bottom over shorts. It was a super cute look! Now, I’m wearing it as a breezy dress though I would not wear it on a windy day without some acceptable bloomers!

The short sleeve version of this dress is sold out but they have the exact same dress in four colors only it’s sleeveless. Exact same cut though — even the pockets. Sleeveless will make it easy to layer under though if you do want to wear the “third piece” over top.

Easy Summer Dressing for women over 40! | whenthegirlsrule.com

I’m wearing my really comfortable new sandals that I will be taking on vacation next week and my mustard purse that is holding up so well for being used a lot and about 2 years old. Plus, the purse is on sale right now!

Easy Summer Dressing for women over 40! | whenthegirlsrule.com

Ok, onto my three gratitudes!

One. I am grateful that my vacation is coming up! I’m so curious to see what that part (New Mexico) of the U.S. looks like. I am anticipating lots of brown and sand and snakes!

Two. I am grateful to be asked to join a lovely group of bloggers called the Ageless Style Link-up where we interpret a different theme every month on the first Tuesday of the month. Look for my first link to that next week!

Three. I am grateful for my birthday today! Yes! 52 years young! Here is to 52 more!

So, I will be taking the rest of this week off and next week since I’ll be on vacation. I will post next Tuesday though for my new Ageless Style gang, but other than that I will be relaxing and enjoying some time off!

So, that’s it for today ladies. Have a wonderful Monday!

Thank you for purchasing from the affiliate links in this post. Your purchases bring me a small commission with no added cost to you! I put 100% of that commission back into this corner of the internet!

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What I Look For In A Summer Dress!

Hey everyone! Happy Friday! Do you have some fun plans for the weekend? My sister will be popping by on Sunday so I definitely have fun plans!

Dress for women with large belly! | whenthegirlsrule.com

Before I started this style journey, I remember seeing a woman, who was not slim, wearing a pretty body conscious dress (i.e. fairly form-fitting) that she looked great in. She had curves but she wasn’t hiding them with fabric, just showing them off in a really pretty dress. She was probably a size 12 or 14 but still had a nice figure, though bigger than what we usually see, and embraced her curves rather than being ashamed. It opened my eyes to clothing possibilities I thought were out of reach for me and made me start to look at clothes that were more form-fitting than I ever would have thought were options. Like this dress.

Dress for women with large belly! | whenthegirlsrule.com

You first saw me wear this dress here and I wore it with a sweater over the top of it. Now, I like the coverage the sweater gives me, but I don’t like the added heat in the summer so I’ve been trying to find (and get used to!) dresses I can wear all on their own. However, a couple of things have to happen though before I feel comfortable wearing a dress sans the “third piece” like a sweater or jacket.

Dress for women with large belly! | whenthegirlsrule.com

First off, it can’t cling below my belly. I accept it’s going to outline the top of my midsection and my bust, but I don’t want it to outline the bottom of my belly or show my belly button dent. It needs to skim over the widest part of my midsection and then fall straight down without dipping back in below my belly button.

Dress for women with large belly! | whenthegirlsrule.com

Also, I don’t like it to cling to my sides so that it shows rolls. If it can just skim by the rolls and dents without outlining them, then I’m comfortable.

For the rolls on my back, I can’t do anything about them, so I just accept that they are a sign that I am well taken care of!

Other than that, if it has a pattern then it camouflages dents and undergarment seams better. If it has a pretty neckline and nice length of sleeves then I’m on board, though I’m working on getting over my sleeveless shirt hang-up.

This dress has all of that criteria, plus a fabric that stays dry (kinda like athletic wear) and doesn’t wrinkle easily. Two other good attributes for hot, sweaty days. I’m wearing a size XL. Shoes available here.

I was looking through my old posts and I found these two dresses from the past that also fit the solo dress criteria.

Spring Dress Cuteness! | whenthegirlsrule.com

I feel comfortable wearing either of these dresses minus a “third piece”.

Best Dress For An Apple Shape! | whenthegirlsrule.com

The first dress you saw here and the second dress you saw here.

Alright, I have to run to work so I can’t write my three gratitudes today but I am grateful for all of you! Have a wonderful weekend!

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My Nordstrom Sale Picks!

Hey everyone! How’s your week going? We are having the most beautiful spring weather this week! Such a relief from last week!

So, I don’t do this very often but I thought I’d scout out some items from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale that look like they would work for our shape and alert you to items you’ve seen here that are on sale.

Let’s get started!

Winner of the most comfortable shoe contest is 35% off! And available in three colors.

NYDJ jeans are on sale. I have several pairs of them and they have great stretch and the waist actually fits! I do wear the magic belt though with them because the waist is wide enough for my silhouette!

White Jeans Over 40! | whenthegirlsrule.com

The really light and cool sneakers that are made of mesh fabric are 40% off!

This cozy sweater is now 25% off.

Work Outfit for Over 40, plus-size woman! whenthegirlsrule.com

This ponte knit top looks really nice. The ponte knit is usually heavier fabric so it skims without clinging. This would look really nice under a vest when the temperatures start to cool down.

This top looks pretty. A textured, stretchy top with a pretty neckline. I may be putting this into my shopping cart!

Are you needing a black skirt? Here is a stretchy knit that looks really pretty and would work with sooooo many other items.

And this jacket looks so adorable!

Ok, ladies that’s it for today! See you all Friday and happy shopping!

This post contains affiliate links which bring me a small commission. I put all of that commission back into this blog!

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