Hello and Happy 2020! I am so happy and excited to be here sharing my first post of this new year/new decade! 2020 is starting off great by being asked by one of my favorite bloggers, Cindy Hattersley, to join her and a wonderful group of bloggers to do a post on the collected look. All of these fabulous gals will be linked at the end of this post and you simply must check them out to see their take on the collected look. We are all so different and I really enjoy following them and getting great inspiration from them all and I think you will love them too! So let’s get to it shall we?
Let’s talk about why the collected look is here to stay! Nothing says chic like having your own personal style. I have always admired women who can take something very simple, a turtleneck and trousers for instance and make it all their own by adding accessories from their travels or family heirlooms that tell a story. Telling your story by how you dress is so exciting to me. Fashion should be fun and storytelling is just that. For me, that is the collected look.
So how do we accomplish “the collected look”? Most of us have too much in our closets and we need to go through and purge! But after you purge you will see all the gems of things you LOVE and may have forgotten about. Do you remember where you were when you got an item. Did your mother, father, aunt, best friend, husband, boyfriend or child give you a gift? To have something with personal meaning included in your outfit is the true key to the collected look.
Vintage watch from my Aunt Ethel, Bangles from Julie Vos, Necklace from Deb Pagano (Queen Bittar), Earring Old Anthropologie
The Real Golden Girl
Vintage purse found in a Mississippi antique shop, David Yurman Bracelets, JCrew Earrings
Carolina Herrera Caftan
The Real Golden Girl
The queen of the collected look is of course Iris Apfel. Not all of us are as adventurous to mix and match in this eclectic way. However, if you study her, she has a sense of fun in her style that anyone (yes, I am looking at YOU) can put into their daily wardrobe. More is more and less is a bore may not be your cup of tea but I know you have SOMETHING in your closet perhaps stashed away that will make you smile and feel wonderful wearing. As my mom used to say to me, “What are you saving it for?” Pull out the good stuff, the fun stuff, the “oh it’s too fancy stuff” and put it on in a different way. A great example is something shiny with something rough. Put on the sequin jacket with some jeans and boots. Put on a jean jacket with EVERY shiny pin you own! (Or just one or two if you like that more!) If you don’t like it just take it off and try it with something else. The key I believe is to feel good and have a genuine smile when you see yourself in the mirror! The real estate in your closet is not to be taken up by things you never intend to wear again. The purge or use lesson once again!
Jewelry is my favorite way to tell my story, remember this post? I have a ring given to me for my 8th grade graduation as well as my engagement and wedding rings, pearl earrings given to me by my parents the Christmas before I was married ( I cried so hard that morning!), pearls that belonged to my mother and my Aunt Ethel and all the jewelry from my husband and children. I love the unique jewelry that I have collected on trips. Sometimes dainty is in and sometimes bigger is better! I think a beautiful strand of colorful beads that cost just a few dollars can add so much to a look as seen here. On the other side of the coin are my Chanel pieces which I have been collecting for over 20 years! A true splurge but I LOVE them! My current obsession is the jewelry line from Julie Vos! Her designs just speak to me and I cannot wait to see her spring line.
My “collections” include kaftans see post here, purses including designer, vintage and thrift and many other pieces of clothing (coats, hats, sunglasses, shoes, boots and more) but without jewelry these pieces just cannot tell my story. The jewelry brings it all to life. For me it all begins and ends with jewelry! Without it I feel completely dull and naked. Not a good look at any age, lol!
I love the fun styles and the philanthropic heart of Kendra Scott
The Real Golden Girl
Are you inspired to tell your story with your own personal collected look? I hope you will take some time today just for you. To really look at what treasures you have hiding. Tell your story! After all, you are a true original and YOUR story needs to be told.
Now please let me introduce you to my AMAZING friends! You simply must see their take on this theme. You won’t be disappointed.
Sandra from Apart From My Art (I adore her zest for life, talent and humor)
Mary Ann from Classic Casual Home (So much great information and inspiration for your home, makeup tips & recipes)
Annie from Most Lovely Things (Her Motto Says It All…..Live Simply * Live Beautifully)
Kim from Northern California Style (A blog that shows a bit of everything we are all thinking about! Style, being present, Food, Travel Girlfriends and so much more)
Cindy from Rough Luxe Lifestyle (Cindy is talented in design, fashion, fun, life and connects so many of us over 40 gals. She is just a wonderful follow!)
Eugenia from The Age of Grace (Eugenia has wonderful tips on health, style and living with grace which she does beautifully. She is one of the kindest and most beautiful souls inside and out that I have “met” in this social media space)
Janet from The Gardeners Cottage (Janet lives in a cottage built in 1890 for the gardening staff of a large estate. She shares vegan cooking, gardening, style, second-hand as well as new shopping and she gives us a look at cottage life that I find sooooo charming)
And lastly, my wonderful friend Elizabeth from The Vintage Contessa (Elizabeth is extremely special to me as she was one of the first to notice ME and reach out! After she saw an instagram post of mine she commented and a true friendship was formed. Little did I know how lucky I was! Her life is one that should be in a movie on the big screen! A world traveler, who married her “Italian”, lived in Florence, raised two sons, took chickens to the Louve, moved back to California, owned a shop, made a home that is truly a world of wonderment and is now living a beautiful and colorful life with her family, friends, and many animals including Mr. Banksy, a full sized pig, who has the run of the place! Interesting does not even begin to tell the tale of this gem. Elizabeth was kind enough to feature me in an amazing series she and Cindy do, called Ageless Style. You can read the post here )
As always, thank YOU so much for stopping by! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments.
XOXO, Kim
Kim you are the best! You rocked this post. I think we were channeling each other. This was absolutely wonderful. You nailed the look and how to get it. Thank you so much for joining us. Let’s collaborate again!
Cindy, you just made my day so happy! Thank you! I am so grateful that I was included in this collaboration. Thank you. I would love to collaborate any time my friend. There is so much to learn and enjoy together.
XOXO, K
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL POST!
YES, without jewelry I TOO FEEL NAKED!ESPECIALLY with our CARLA CAFTANS you were so kind to share with us!!!
The instagram picture you put up this morning was the first time I contacted YOU about THAT green velvet coat……do you recall?I bought it!!!
I adore FINDING YOU in CYBER SPACE and look forward to meeting YOU one DAY SOON!YOU do a BEAUTIFUL JOB of wearing your PASSIONS and sharing with the rest of the world!KEEP AT IT GOLDEN GIRL!
YOU ARE ON FIRE!
XO
Elizabeth, How lucky I was and am that you reached out that day! I will always remember it. You are a life force for how to live and enjoy life. I adore you!
XOXO, K
This is a very inspiring post with so many creative and beautiful ideas to share! I’m impressed with how you pull it all together with your amazing pieces of jewelry and the stories that come with them. This has been a great way to share so many beautiful and unique women! Well done!
I’m the one Contessa mentioned who cooks Real Italian and offered a delicious anti inflammatory salad to the mix today!
Hi Diana!
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment! I am so glad you introduced yourself. I must try out your anti inflammatory salad recipe! I love real italian cooking! Wasn’t this a fun collaboration. I say it over and over that meeting such interesting and vital women from all over is the very best part of this journey. I hope to get to know you more!
XO,
Kimberly
Kimberly!
It is so nice to meet you! I love how you took the time to introduce everyone,,,that is so thoughtful! And I love your approach to collected fashion through jewelry. I’m thrilled to be introduced to Julie Vos! You have so much style and the fact that it’s so meaningful make it even that much more interesting! I love how you mix your old favorites with new and then add jewelry to bring your looks to life!
xo
Annie
Hi Annie!
It is so nice being part of this collaboration. Thank you so much for including me. I am thrilled that you liked the post. You made my day by leaving this kind comment. What a wonderful group of dames!
XO,
Kimberly
Kimberly, Just loved your post. I thought the same about collected style and your post is even better. So wonderful all your collected and sentimental pieces and how you bring them together to create your look. I adore this. Thank you also for the kind shoutout. You are lovely and inspiring. So fun to do this together. I am looking forward to following you!! Hugs
I loved reading every single post. What a smart group of gals you are. The way you connect women of our age group is amazing. We all have similar feeling about style, to be true to ourselves. I loved seeing your style and I hope we will get to know each other better. Isn’t this fun! I look forward to following you and being inspired by all of you!
XO,
Kimberly
You look simply fabulous in your caftans. You have a Southern Beauty look about you. Isn’t it wonderful how different we all look? Are you tall? I’m one of those that say “I’m too short and too large in the girls “to be able to wear a caftan. I love your collection of beautiful objects. Nice to meet you through this group.
Hi Sandra!
Can I just tell you how much fun you are to follow. A true dame after my old heart. Your sense of style is enhanced by your love of life. Your jewelry has me swooning and that you share it and don’t keep it to yourself tells me everything I need to know about you. I am 5 ft 4 inches tall and a bit round at the moment but that is A OK for today. Carla can adjust a caftan for anyone of any size. Give her a chance, I think you will love it! I love mine and now have a “collection” I think I need a fashion horders anonymous! Wishing you a great day! Can’t wait to see what you are up to next!
XO,
Kimberly
Kimberly, You are just gorgeous inside and out. How kind to take the time to introduce us!
Well, I am cleaning my Yurman jewelry TODAY! I might try to get my hair into an elegant little bun like yours, too.
The hat and white caftan combo is stunning! Thank so much for doing this with us. You definitely have the Collected Look down!
Mary Ann
How sweet are you to leave this comment. Truly feeling so lucky to have connected to wonderful women who are kind and so giving. Together there is so much to learn from and to have fun with. I thank you so much for the opportunity. I hope you have FUN trying something new, you are inspiring me as well in style for myself and my home! Let’s stay in touch Mary Ann. One day I hope to meet you!
XOXO,
Kimberly
Kim,
I should have read your post to get an understanding of The Collected Style group post😳
Nevertheless, Kim’s what a pleasure you are and your kind words not about me but all the grand dames.
And your Collected Style, so much to love, the caftans, casual comfort, hat chic, and elegance.
Eugenia, I loved your post. We should not all be the same that would be so boring. I love reading your posts. And I meant every word. You are one of the kindest people I have met on social media! You do YOU! You are beautiful inside and out.
XOXO,
K
Gorgeous! Love your style. It’s so much fun.
Hi Jen! Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you will share with me your collected look too!
Have a great day!