Ingunn's Challenge: Final Week

I managed 4 of the challenge outfits this week. The layered buttondowns have proved tricky. I tried twice, but none of the pictures turned out. The outfits were not working well anyway. I'll have to keep on that one.
1: Coat belted: first outing of a $15 leather trench from consignment close out. It has a self belt that I switched out for the black one. I liked this look but the high contrast might be shortening. What do you think of this coat? Tell me if it is too dated.
2/3: Borrowing from the guys. This thrifted Brooks Brothers blazer has a masculine vibe, as do the brown oxfords. I was not completely at home in this look. I wanted to add more girly shoes.
4/ 5: Shirt layered under a turtleneck could also qualify as From the guys as the turtleneck was my son's. I also tried the collar tucked inside the turtle but buttondown is hard to see.
6:7 Dress as Skirt: photo 6 is the merino wool dress on its own. 7 is the dress with a pullover sweater on top. For the photos I forgot to put on my Nike exercise wear "leggings" and the dress looks way too short for me here.
Ingunn, thank you for this challenge. It was fun and especially expanded my ideas of how to layer.

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WIW: my take on Angie's tomato, light blue and white

Today I managed a warm enough version of Angie's ensemble of tomato, light blue and white. It felt messy but that was not the colors, probably that the jeans were too long for these flats, worn because they are white.
Jeans are old NYDJs.
Light blue cashmere sweater thrifted to felt down. I grabbed it out of the project box.
Long white shirt from fab member San.
Flats are Cole Hahn
Does this work on me? Is the sweater working or should it go back in the box for felting?

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Ingunn's Challenge: Week 3 Lace, Matchy-matchy and more

I keep losing long posts so will try doing this in stages. This was a challenging week as I didn't have good examples of several of the challenges. Here are my attempts (not in order due to photo loading).
1: Colorblocking. I tried with a red vest over grey knit top and black Kut Diana skinnys. Does this work on me? I will repeat for casual cold days.
2-4: Lace with buttondown. Getting dressed I forgot the buttondown part and grabbed a warm wool blend BR sweater instead. VC lace tube skirt, McQueen moto worn indoors
5: Denim on denim. Gap Jean jacket over Kut Diana boyfriends, BR striped tee
6/7: Cropped top over skirt or trouser: the hard part was the trousers. These are old thrifted BR wool flares with EF short pullover over a Nexx silk shirt. All soft light neutrals. Is this a mess on me? I wasn't sure. I'm not used to the volume of flared trousers.
8-10: Matchy matchy attempt 1. A houndstooth extravaganza. The trousers looked false plain grey from a distance, so I didn't think it worked.
11/12: Matchy matchy attempt 2: all light greys. Textures are varied with suede DV booties, coated NYDJ, cashmere pullover. I also used a silvery leather bag and shiny silvery grey puffer coat. Are the jeans too short even with the booties? I like the color, comfort and the way these jeans work into outfits but am considering donation due to the length.
I appreciate all comments as to what you like and suggestions for improvement or other ways to create outfits with any of these pieces.

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Playing With Citron, Olive & Cognac

I'm late coming to Angie's latest ensemble idea but most items in these colors are in my summer wardrobe. Still, I had to try.
The olive in both outfits is a pair of H&M olive skinnys. Cognac is an old Gap leather blazer, leopard booties and belt. The first photo shows citron with one of DS's graphic tees. In the rest I am playing with a watercolor oversized silk tee that has a bit of citron in the print. I'm not sure that any of this works . Suggestions are very welcome.

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Ingunn's Challenge: Week 2

Ingunn, some days were quite challenging for me this week. I did not do them in order but managed something for each day from the challenge this week.
1: Full skirt outfit. This is about as full as it gets..A-line rather than a pencil skirt.
2/3: Dress over pants and a long cardigan over that. Under the sweater dress is a brown lace tee.
4-6: patterned/colored tights. This is also a grey out. I wanted to brighten it up so added a bunch of necklaces. Too much?
7/8: animal print ( top and belt). The top is sheer so I wore it over a long sleeved grey and black striped tee. The animal print in both top and belt is grey/black/blue.
9/10: Winter white. I have on a very pale grey chambray shirt under the sweater. I should have gotten a photo of this outfit topped by a winter white alpaca cardigan and grey-white nubby scarf.
Your comments and suggestions for improvements are much appreciated. Nothing in these photos is new this season. If there are items that, next closet edit, should be donated or kept or replaced, please let me know your thoughts. Are these sweater dresses too short for me worn as shown?

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Ingunn's Challenge- Week 1

I wanted a challenge to beat the January blues and Ingunn provided a great style challenge calendar for inspiration. These outfits are my response for this week. I started on Tuesday with a pattern mix/graphic tee.
1-3: worn with plaid Jolt pants. ON plaid shirt over graphic tee left behind by DS. Also showing patterned socks. Worn outside I wore old Munro black ankle boots. I don't care for the shirt worn out but the pants were too high waisted for a good semi tuck. I liked the shirt tail hem of the panda tee but is this look odd on me?
4-7: Daytime sparkle. This was provided by F21 shirt with metallic silver dots, star earrings from a craft fair, and my DV distressed metallic booties. War and cosy on a frigid day.
8: Dress with sneakers. It was too cold for sneakers so I substituted oxfords. Dress is a thrifted BR merino wool worn over Nike workout pants as leggings. Does this work on me? I am open to suggestions.
9-10: No black. I hesitated to post this outfit due to poor posture but it was too dark to get new photos. This was a super layered soft neutral and pink outfit. KUT blush jeans, tee from DS under thrifted pink cashmere hoodie under thrifted Uniqlo open cardi. SE Putty Petty booties. I also wore a distressed silver belt and carried a silver bag. Kind of messy but casual. Suggestions are welcome.
Thank you, Ingunn, for this challenge. It was something I looked forward to this week.

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Old People Smell

Just when one thinks they know all the humbling and embarrassing things that happen as one ages, along comes the indignity of Old People Smell.
You know what I'm talking about. Not nursing home smell but your granny's house ( or your granny), not wanting to get hugged by the great aunties or have to sit next to Grandpa.
Recent studies have shown ( I can't seem to copy a link but just Google "Old People Smell") that it starts at 40 and there's not much that can be done. It seems that a good 40th birthday gift is scented candles and a decade's supply of air freshener. The article I read says that it's just a byproduct of body breakdown and hygiene, home cleanliness, pets, regular fresh laundry, etc. don't help.
Now, I'm there! In the trenches, determined to fight OPS. I need your suggestions.
I remember older women of my life that seemed to adopt a signature smell...rose, gardenia, baby powder, lavender, BenGay. The old men reeked of Vicks Vapor Rub or Old Spice. What have been successful smells with the oldsters in your life? Should I invest in clean smelling products, strew the lavender and rose petals? What works short of taking up smoking?

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WIW: copying Diane G's Puffer outfit

When I saw Diane's new Pearl puffer and grey plaid pants, I knew what I wanted to wear today. Diane, thank you for the inspiration. My plaid pants don't show up very well and I had removed the hood from the puffer.
Plaid pants: Jolt
Puffer: Laundry by Shelli Segal
Boots: Aquatalia
The plaid pants were part of Ingunn's daily challenge outfit. It all worked well for a cold casual day going out for Taco Tuesday and a trip to the gym.

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