(ABOVE) Pastel pink and navy, one of my favorite year-round combinations.
For YouTube Video & Outfit/Makeup Details Scroll to Bottom of Page
(NOTE: Some links that I provide in this post are affiliate links, which means if you follow that link and make a purchase I may possibly earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More information here.)
September 21, 2018 / Video Post Notes
COPING WITH NEGATIVES, TALBOTS TRY-ONS, AND A SURPRISING END TO THE DAY
A New Pant and Talbots Try Ons (One is On Sale)
I had lunch with a girlfriend at Waterside Shops last Friday, and while there I set my phone on a ledge to get a video of my outfit. My photographs in this post are screenshots from that video. It was a hot and humid day (somewhere in the low- to mid-90s Fahrenheit), so my goal was to look appropriate for fall, and in separates that would look polished and refined, yet keep me cool.
First, let me tell you about these cropped pants. They’re new and, although it’s difficult to tell in my photographs, they’re indigo blue, which is a wonderful alternative when you want a softer dark color than black. I bought them several weeks ago, and I love how easy they are to style and also how comfortable they are for a dressy, refined pant. Any shoe height works with them, and the wide leg means they fit loosely in the thighs, which translates to all-day, all-evening comfort. (They also come in black.)
After lunch, I stopped in Talbots. I wanted to see their new store–they moved to the walkway leading to Nordstrom. Now, both petites and misses are in one location.
I also was hoping to find a smaller size in a jacket I’d ordered. It’s a navy, winter-white, and wine quilted reversible jacket, and it’s so darn cute. I absolutely love it. I ordered a size 2 but, unfortunately, it doesn’t come in a size 0, and they didn’t have any petites for me to try on. (I really wanted the misses length anyway.) The great news is, it’s currently on sale. In this post and video, I try on the size 2 in the dressing room, as well as a tweed jacket I thought was pretty (the photographs are below).
Never Complain, Never Explain
If you view my video at the bottom of this post–and watch all the way to the end–you’ll see why it’s ironic that on this particular day I had decided to begin my video with a chat about wanting to be more positive when it comes to the negatives that happen in life.
I won’t get into it here, but I began the video by mentioning a quote I heard recently–“Never Complain, Never Explain”. I talked about the personal meaning both parts of that quote have for me, and how it dovetailed perfectly with a resolution I’d announced to my husband on my 58th birthday just a few weeks ago.
A Meaningful Irony
Ultimately, synchronicity must have been at work that day, because little did I know that just a few hours later my new-found attitude would be put to the test. Sometimes we can be having a perfect day, and then all it takes is one negative event to ruin everything…or not.
I hope you’ll watch my video.
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me here on my blog.
Have a great weekend!
~Janis Lyn Johnson
P.S. Thank you to Ahmose H, who left a comment on my YouTube video, letting me know the quote was “Never complain, never explain,” originally said by Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1981 (novelist and British Prime Minister).
Scenes From The Video
(ABOVE & BELOW) Talbots is still located at Waterside Shops. However, both their misses and petites stores have been combined into one location. They’re now on the walkway leading to Nordstrom.
(ABOVE & BELOW) I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this adorable sweater with gold crowns. It’s rayon and cotton, and in the color indigo-blue.
Cotton and Rayon Triple-Crown Sweater
(ABOVE & BELOW) Talbots’ T By Talbots department had a nice selection of leisure and athletic wear, including tops in a longer length. That makes me happy, because I like to cover my tush when I wear leggings. (For exercise, I take 30-minute brisk walks four times a week).
Cotton and Rayon Paisley Sweater
Cotton and Tencel Pearl -Embellished Sweater (Also in Indigo)
Faux-Leather Perforated Ballet Flat (More Colors Available)
(ABOVE & BELOW) I have this shoe in a pumpkin color from last fall. It’s so comfortable! It comes in narrow, medium, and wide.
Kid-Suede Driving Moccasins (Narrow, Medium, Wide Widths; Many Other Colors Available)
Dressing Room Try-Ons
1. TWEED JACKET
(ABOVE & BELOW) I’ve been looking for more blazers and jackets to add to my wardrobe, because they’re wonderful for dressing up jeans or topping refined pants. I thought this tweed one was very pretty. These dressing room photographs definitely do not do the colors justice. It’s much brighter in person (and these cropped pants are navy, not black).
2. QUILTED, REVERSIBLE JACKET
(ABOVE & BELOW) This is the quilted reversible zip-front jacket I ordered on line. It’s currently on sale, and is indigo-blue on one side and wine, winter-white, and indigo on the other.
(ABOVE) This jacket and cropped wide-leg pant would look lovely with these suede driving moccasins.
Reversible Quilted Jacket (Currently on Sale)
Pink Crinkle-Gingham Shirt (More Colors Available)
What I Wore
(ABOVE & BELOW) Gabriel Multi Pot, Florentina, on lips and cheeks (a burgundy rose with no shimmer). Gabriel Chocolate Brown Eyeshadow on my lids. According to their website, Gabriel makeup is certified cruelty free and gluten free. It’s made from 100% natural ingredients, with no synthetic chemicals or animal by-products. (I’m also wearing their foundation. See details below.)
MY CLOTHING
TOP: Vineyard Vines (similar J. Crew) / PANTS: Talbots.
MY ACCESSORIES
BAG: (similar Longchamp) / SHOES: (similar Tory Burch; alternative cognac leather flat t-strap, woven mule, black-heel-sandal) / EYEWEAR: Kate Spade (also here and Amazon) / HAT: Slogger’s Sun Hat (I also often wear this Sun & Fun Lifeguard Hat).
MY JEWELRY
WATCH: Michele / BRACELET #1: Talbots (similar) / BRACELET #2: David Yurman
MY MOISTURIZERS/MAKEUP (All Natural/Organic Ingredients)
FACE MOISTURIZER: Nourish Organic Face Cream, Argan & Pomegranate / LIPS-EYE AREA MOISTURIZER: Nourish Organic Shea Butter (under eyes, top of cheekbone) / FACE MAKEUP: Gabriel Dual Powder Foundation, in Bamboo and Medium Beige, applied with BareMinerals Flawless Application Face Brush (also available here) and Sigma Flat Angled Kabuki F88 Brush / CHEEKS: Gabriel Multi Pot, Florentina, applied with EcoTools Cruelty-Free Stippling Brush / LIPS: Gabriel Multi Pot, Florentina / EYELIDS: Gabriel Chococlate Brown Eyeshadow (applied with brushes from EcoTools Cruelty-Free Six-Piece Eye Set) / LASHES: Pacifica Aquarian Gaze Water-Resistant Mascara in Abyss , combed out with a Folding Eyelash Comb With Metal Teeth.
(Some links in this post are affiliates. More information here.)
YouTube Video
Pink Crinkle-Gingham Shirt (More Colors Available)
Tory Burch Vachetta Leather Flip Flip
Woven Cognac Leather Mule (More Colors Available)
Cognac Leather Block-Heel Sandal (More Colors Available)
Longchamp Cognac Leather Shoulder Bag (More Colors Available)
David Yurman 18k Gold Bracelet (More Colors Available)
Indigo-Blue Enamel Bangle (More Colors Available)
Sorry to hear about your car troubles, Janis. You handled it with grace. Your posts never fail to inspire me!
Laureen, thank you. I’m so lucky it was only an alternator (and therefore battery) issue. Whew! ~ Janis
Eija Storgård wrote to me about wanting to leave this lovely comment during the weekend, when the comments section was temporarily not working. Thank you, Eija!
“Thank you for this❤️. I can so relate to what you said about negativity. I’m very much like you in that regard, and I’m too trying to be more positive. I’m turning 49 in a week, and I’m going to start a project 50, and really pay attention to things in life that will improve not only my wellbeing but maybe affect my family positively as well. I loved the list at end after your car broke down.”
Kind regards,
Eija Storgård
While the comments section was broken this weekend, Alicia wrote to tell me she wanted to leave this sweet comment. Thank you, Alicia!
“Janis, I enjoy watching all your videos, I thought the end was so ironic….. When we try living good in the present moment we learn that joy never leave us no matter whats going on.!!! at the end of the video you look absolutely radiant and joyful… !!! like never before… Joy, comes from our soul.. I live in Florida, but in summers we come up the mountains in NC.. I love this place….. thanks, Alicia “
Your honesty in your chats, about your journey in certain aspects of life, is endearing. I think it’s encouraging to others to know that someone else is tackling some of these things, especially since you are calm and classically ‘put together’, yet unpretentious. I’d visited your blog many times over the past couple of years, but rarely watched the videos until lately. I love the reminder ‘don’t complain, don’t explain’ ….like ‘keep calm and carry on’.
Janis: I absolutely love all of your videos and I thought it was amusing/ironic that you commented that you were a glass half-empty kind of person. I watch your videos for your upbeat outlook and pleasant disposition! You’ve got me shopping at Talbots more, too, as everything you wear looks so good, I’m hoping it will do it for me, as well. Along those lines – like you, I decided I was tired of all the chemicals in my hair and stopped coloring it. Unlike you, my hair is not a brilliant silver, but a muddy, uninteresting mix of brown and grey that makes me look kind of drab. However, what’s wrong with being as natural as possible? Do you have any tips for letting it grow and fending off well-meaning friends, relatives and hair dressers who want to “make me look my best?” Thank you for all of your inspiration.
I just bought Gabriel Florentina multi pot on your recommendation & I love it! So nice on my lips, cheeks, & eyes. (I have hazel eyes.) Thanks & keep doing what you do. Love from Austin, Texas, Donna
Donna, I’m so happy you liked the Florentina multi pot. Thank you for letting me know! Hope you’re doing well over in my birth state 🙂 ~ Janis
I just want to share with you and say thank you for reminding me that
the dress with foral with a black back ground is so simple yet so beautiful. I needed a dress for a summer wedding and found a beautiful dress. Now for some shoes, I have a clutch. So I’m set… thank you!!