Forever Chic Style

  Beauty in a Bottle "Perfume heralds a woman's arrival and prolongs her departure." Beauty is hard to describe.  The very essence of what is beautiful varies from person to person, culture to culture and land to land.  Perfume is similar to the idea of beauty. It is subjective.  Perfume is a mystery, and its elixir is a marvel. The scent becomes its own magic.  It is the lingering scent that creates a moment or recreates a memory of a person.  Whether it is spice, floral or warm notes of lavender or vanilla, a scent can bring immense comfort and pleasure.  What does stand the test of time is a signature perfume.  Perfume was created in 1340 for the Queen of Hungary.  Thus, the story of fragrances commenced.  Perfume remains at the top of everyone's list of "feeling good."  Additionally, perfume sales in 2020 were close to $34B.   We all have experienced being around someone who smells divine.  The scent is memorable ...

  Dressing for Success        "Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman" Coco Chanel On a wintery day in the Pacific Northwest, I thought I would write about my favorite athletic wear - Lululemon .   I wear Lululemon   365 days a year.  Yes, I do!  Why you ask? Because the apparel is created of the highest quality fabrics, in an array of beautiful colors, styles and designs, super comfortable and made of dry-fit or sweat-wicking material.  They never pill, washes well, and keeps for years. Furthermore, these numbers remind me daily to work out and get moving! More importantly, Lululemon makes you look and feel great.  As Billy Crystal once said on SNL, "It is more important to look good than to feel good. "You look marvelous."   My Daily Routine    "The joy of dressing is an art." John Galliano When I wake up in the morning, I slip into a pair of Lululem...

  New Day, New Dawn, New Life "Give a girl the right set of boots, shoes, and she can conquer the world." - Marilyn Monroe January 2021 is here.  Yes. We have patiently waited, been thoughtful, diligent and now the year is upon us.  Wishing happiness to all of you as we battle on.  The end is nearing for the virus, which brings smiles to everyone.  It is an exciting time with revitalized energy coursing through our veins.  An era of promise hope and  much more.  Get ready to soar, achieve your dreams and spread goodwill toward others.  "What good is the warmth of summer with out the chill of winter?" - John Steinbeck Along the path, winter has arrived.  Rain, snow, sleet, and hail in the mix for some and in the future for others.  What I love right now?  Over the knee boots.  A must for the cold days of winter.  Here are my favorites for a winter wonderland of fashion.  Even if you are working from home, there is...

  Magical Moments      I hope everyone is getting a chance to partake in the light festivals displayed in our neighborhoods or cities. Our neighborhood has gone crazy with lights and decorations.  It is a site to behold and the spirit of the holiday is upon us.  Yesterday, I walked during the day with several friends, wearing masks, in Bellevue, Washington, admiring the twinkling lights, and red drummer boy statutes displayed on the street.  We chatted the entire time. During the holidays at night the street turns into  Snowflake Lane with colored lights, music and falling snow.  Before Covid there was a spectacular parade. Of course, in 2020, the performers and floats are not there.  Nothing can stop the holiday display.  The show must go on.  You can watch from your car or be distanced from others on the street.  With the holiday, the festivities, the lights, outdoor walks, the temperatures have dropped.  We need t...

  Holiday Razzle Dazzle How are you all doing?  Hopefully, you are decorating your homes, going on walks, and enjoying the neighborhoods you live in.  The outside house décor is off the charts this year.  Everyone is getting into the holiday spirit.  In fact, I believe there is a bit of competition going on between the neighbors.   I envision you taking pleasure in the home festivities and decorations within your home.  Perhaps you are having a cup of hot chocolate, gathered in front of a fire after a long day of meetings, school or whatever you are doing.   The stories I am hearing from friends confirms the holiday extravaganza is indeed full sleigh ahead.  Today, I went on a 3-mile walk with a friend.  Her house was decorated to the nines with holiday cheer.  We grabbed a latte at a locale stand where her daughter worked.  By the way, the best latte ever.  The owner who stopped by told us her twelve-year-old da...

  Tis The Season to be Merry The jolliest time of the year is upon us.  Let the shopping and merriment commence.  Of course, this  HO HO HO holiday will be unlike seasons past and instead will include the necessary precautions.  However, we can still enjoy the festivities with a new spin.  Our plans will be the opposite of last year, yet the joy of giving will remain intact.  In a way, it reminds me of Cindy Lou Who from the story, cartoon, and movie, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (2000) .   All the Who's down in Whoville were merrily singing on Christmas Day without ribbons, packages, boxes, and tags.  They were happy without the usual trappings of the holiday.  The Who's knew the importance of the holiday does not come from a store.  It comes from the heart.   The Grinch's heart grew three times this day.  The Grinch came down the mountain top and delivered the stolen gifts with a greater heart and an underst...

  What I Love This Week? Cashmere Scarves      First - Thoughts It is the middle of November and much has transpired in the last few weeks. The holidays loom in front of us and are bound to be different.   Another shut down is upon us as the number of Covid cases are skyrocketing in our area and perhaps in yours.  As an avid tennis player, who took great precautions.  I am stunned upon hearing how many of the clubs in my neck of the woods have had outbreaks.  Of course,  it makes sense, when the weather turns, people of all ages, come inside.   My main concern now is for the sick to get well quickly.  And those who are not sick, to follow the measures laid out to prevent further breakouts and create a peace of mind.   We cannot continue with the notion that it will never affect me, nor will I ever change my scheduled plans or actions because others are getting sick.  For instance, at the grocery store yester...

Baby It's Cold Outside "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." Ralph Waldo Emerson The damp, dreary, wet and snow filled days are upon us for the upcoming months.   The change in the air is palpable along with early darkness falling across the land.   2020 has indeed been the craziest year for everyone with the horror of Covid, lockdowns and a roller coaster election.   After a nail-biting, hair-pulling, stress filled election this week with no clear resolution, it is best to remain steady and calm.   Life is indeed a wild ride with ups and downs, twists and turns.  You would not want your life to be dull, would you?  This year, more than any other year, in my lifetime, 2020 is one of complete societal pandemonium.  If someone had told me on New Year's Eve, that everyone's life in 2020 would be completely turned upside down, we would have looked at them and thought they were off their rocker.  Or maybe had imbibed a...

  The World of Confidence "Get your game face on!"  There are no ugly women, just lazy ones." -  Helena Rubinstein, Founder of Helena Rubinstein Incorporated If you are like me, you love to wear makeup no matter what you are doing daily.   A dusting of eyeshadow, liner, foundation, eyebrow pencil, mascara and a strong lip always commands attention.  In the days of Zoom , MS Teams, the power effect from taking more time with your makeup is essential. After all, it is "lights, camera and action" for many these days when the cameras are on.   Do you not want to appear confident, fresh and in control?   Yes, it is easy to abstain from applying makeup, in our current land, but are not you worth it to focus on your assets for YOU!  I guarantee you will feel better about yourself, self-confident and ready to take on any task.  It is fascinating that those who stand out these days are the ones making the effort.  It is okay to b...

  What I Love This Monday? YSL - Tattoo Lip Stain The end of October is finally here with Halloween as the finale to this month.  Hopefully, everyone is having a wonderful season filled with pumpkins, beauty outside, fireplaces going, warm clothes and so much more.  Halloween will be different this year, but we can still celebrate in our own unique way.  Lately, I have been thinking about lipstick and how I love to wear color daily.  Masks have prevented us to see our beautiful smiles though the eyes do give you away when you grin with enthusiasm.   Thus, lipstick may not be something you are wearing.  What if you love to wear lipstick?  In thinking about masks and lipsticks, we need a solution that does not stain.  I have found that YSL has a terrific lip stain that lasts and does not rub off onto your mask.  As you all know, regular lipstick rubs off and suddenly you are dealing with a mess.   I like to drive without a ...

  Classic is Key L'Agence Recently, I cleaned out my closet and donated seven bags of apparel.   The items ranged from high quality constructed blazers that I have owned over a decade along with other clothes that no longer fit.  It was difficult to let go of so many beautiful and well cherished pieces.  However, I know someone out there will love the blazers, skirts and suits that were donated.  They will be used rather than languishing in my closet and collecting dust.  At the end of Finding Nemo (2003) .   Nemo and his pals state, "Now What?"   When you are done purging the aftermath in a wardrobe can be unnerving.  You may find yourself in Nemo's predicament and think  "Now What?"   "Where are my blazers for those occasions I need them?" Of course, over the last 8 months we have been primarily house bound and without need of fancy apparel.  For me, I have lived in shorts, tees, jeans, cashmere pullovers, tennis s...

  What I love this Week? - Red Lips for Fall & Winter I have been remiss in writing for the last several weeks.   A holiday writing break for me.  I enjoyed a spell in Lake Chelan with friends, walks with my husband, time with dear friends (masked) and reveled in the change from summer to fall. Moreover, the beautiful trees with orange, gold and red, along with brisk air and many Charlotte's intricate spun webs in the garden filled my heart and mind with happiness.  How can one not see the beauty in the world?    Now, I am back and ready to share my favorite things once again to my readers.    There is so much to be grateful for every day.  Don't you think?   It is easy to get caught up in the ugly and hate that unfurls like wildfire in our country.  Isn't it better to fill our minds with love, hope and kindness?  Everyone seems on edge perhaps from the lengthy uncertainty of Covid 19 or the increasingly ugliness of ou...