(ABOVE) A rainy-day, no-makeup fall outfit with my much-used Louis Vuitton Multi Pochette Accessoires and a lightweight black, packable rain coat, jeans, and rain shoes.
For YouTube Video & Outfit/Makeup Details Scroll to Bottom of Page
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UPDATED October 20, 2022 / Video Post Notes
SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU; RAINY-DAY, BLACK & WHITE SKINNY JEANS OOTD
Things Happen; We Move On…
If you are reading this post after Tuesday, October 11, 2022, then the original essay that I worked on for I don’t know how long and ultimately published in this space on Friday, October 7, 2022, is not here anymore. I discovered that it, the photographs, the links, and the comments were all missing on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Today, a week later, still no one seems to know what happened to any of it.
I have a lump in my throat as I tell you this, because I was so proud of what I wrote to you in that essay–and so grateful for the comments that were left on it during the days after. For months I had been trying to piece together the right words to communicate what I felt. I wanted to tell you how sorry I was and still am that, two-plus years ago, I left JLJBackToClassic without any explanation. I wanted to tell you how grateful I was and still am for your many emails and comments following my disappearance, expressing your care and concern for me.
In that one essay, I finally had been able to capture just exactly what I had wanted to say to you and exactly how I wanted to say it…only to have it all disappear into the ether four days later, along with all the comments that had been left on it.
The cause, I was told, was a hardware upgrade by the company that hosts my JLJBackToClassic website; what’s more, for some unknown reason none of the backups taken after my post was published include that particular post. It’s as if it was never there.
Initially, when customer support from the company that hosts my website attempted to fix the issue, even more blog posts and content disappeared. The result was, for one week all that appeared were blog posts from the middle of 2018 and earlier. Everything I’d ever written or posted at JLJBackToClassic since then was gone.
After being on the phone and emailing back and forth with the company’s various customer support personnel several times a day for seven days, I was finally informed last night at 9:45 p.m. that, although they were able to retrieve everything else from backups, they were not able to retrieve my October 7, 2022 blog post because, according to the final customer support representative with whom I spoke, “backups are not a complete science”. Some posts and data within a website may not get captured in a backup, he explained. That not a single backup captured my October 7 post is particularly disheartening, but it is what it is.
Thank You For Your Sincere Care and Concern
Before I go on, I want to tell you again how grateful I am to all of you for your empathy and loving support. Even when you had no idea if I was ever coming back, you continued to leave comments, send emails, and subscribe to my blog, YouTube channel, Instagram, and Facebook. As I explained in my YouTube video, all of it made me cry “in a good way”. When I was at my lowest and wondered if I would ever get back to “normal” again, your continued support gave me the hope and motivation I needed at the time.
Why I’ve Been Gone
The reason for my absence has been a health issue. I began experiencing symptoms during the last few months that I posted in 2020. I kept thinking I’d get better, and that I’d post again soon, but I didn’t get better. I kept getting worse. Finally, it became so challenging that I felt I needed to focus entirely on finding a solution and healing. It wasn’t and isn’t life threatening–it’s a chronic health issue–and although I am much better now, I’m not going to talk about it at this time, because I just don’t feel I have enough answers to be helpful to others who might be dealing with a similar issue.
What Happened To My Body…I Look So Different
Although I have been feeling well for a while now, I was afraid to come back to JLJBackToClassic, because I look so different. This health issue took a toll on my body–not to mention my hair. I hope you will be able to overlook the changes–not to mention the many questionable hair styles you will be seeing on me for sometime in the future.
My Black & White Rainy Day OOTD
Now, switching to a more fun topic: fashion. My outfit in this post is a color combination that always works–black and white with brown/tan–particularly on fall and winter days. To me, wearing black and brown together just feels like fall and winter, probably because that time of year (up north, at least) tends to be overcast, creating darker hues than on a sun-washed spring or summer day.
The challenge with Florida’s fall, and sometimes even winter, is that it can be quite warm, even hot, so I choose lightweight pieces that keep me cool. My exception is jeans. As long as I’m not going to be outside in the heat for more than the time it takes to walk in and out of stores/ a restaurant, I wear jeans year-round–even when it’s hot–because they are such an easy, comfortable item of clothing.
Skinny (or slim-fitting) jeans are especially flattering, because the lean cut elongates the legs and, therefore, the figure. Black skinny or slim-fitting jeans are even more so. When it’s raining, like it was when I filmed this, they’re particularly useful because they don’t show splattering from the pavement like lighter-wash jeans do.
This packable rain jacket is perfect for our current, still-hot temperatures, because it’s very lightweight. In fact, it folds up into a little travel pouch that comes with it.
Something else I love about this jacket is that you can loosen or tighten it at the middle, with the drawstring, creating the exact shape you want. If black, however, isn’t a color you want or need, it also comes in a variety of other colors, too, including a pretty pastel pink (see me wearing the pink one in this July 2020 blog post). Oh, and also, the hood is detachable.
Thank you again, all of you, for your kindness, support, and acceptance. You will never know how much it means to me.
Hugs,
~Janis Lyn Johnson
ABOVE & BELOW: I am so impressed with the 14k gold and diamond jewelry I discovered at Kendra Scott. This pave-diamond ring is one of the birthday gifts from my husband that I chose, and I love it as an everyday, wear-anywhere piece of jewelry. It’s so understated and lovely. Here I’ve paired it with 14k gold hoop earrings adorned with tiny gold beads and pearls (see similar style earrings here). I bought the gold bangle at Talbots about seven years ago.
(ABOVE) To help keep my monogram canvas Louis Vuitton Multi Pochette Accessoires bags clean inside–and to preserve their shape–I use this felt organizer trio.
(ABOVE) I use my Louis Vuitton canvas Multi Pochette so much that I also acquired the Empreinte Leather Multi Pochette Accessoires. I purchased the Louis Vuitton Recto Verso Card Holder separately.) To help keep these two leather bags clean inside–and to preserve their shape–I use this felt organizer duo.
ABOVE: I’m not wearing makeup today, just a little Zuzu Luxe Lip Gloss in the color Tango (pink toffee/warm shimmer) on my lips. BELOW: Zuzu Luxe Lip Gloss swatched on my arm (while raining!).
Zuzu Luxe Lip Gloss in the color Tango (pink toffee/warm shimmer)
ABOVE: Here I am two summers ago, wearing the same Cole Haan Packable Rain Jacket in pink. It’s available in a variety of colors!
MY CLOTHING
JACKET: Here / JEANS: (similar mid-rise, high-rise) / SHIRT: (similar here, here).
MY ACCESSORIES
BAG: Louis Vuitton Multi Pochette Accessoires (Pre-loved Fashionphile) / KEY POUCH: Louis Vuitton (Pre-loved Fashionphile) / SHOES: Here (similar black duck shoes with felt lining, navy duck shoes with flannel lining)
MY JEWELRY
WATCH: Michele Diamond Watch / RING: Kendra Scott 14k Gold Pave-Diamond Band Ring
MY MAKEUP BRUSHES & MAKEUP (All Natural/Organic Ingredients)
LIPS: Zuzu Luxe Lip Gloss in the color Tango.
YouTube Video
(ABOVE) If you are seeing this message, then I have published the video and it should be appearing above. However, if for some reason the video isn’t appearing above–and you have refreshed your page and cleared your cache–you also can view the video at my JLJ Back To Classic Channel on YouTube.
Kendra Scott 14k Gold Pave-Diamond Band Ring (Available In Yellow, White, Rose Gold)
14k Gold and Freshwater Pearl Hoop Earrings
Cole Haan Packable Rain Jacket (Comes With Pouch; More Colors Available)
Cole Haan Packable Rain Jacket in Color Seaweed (Comes With Pouch; More Colors Available, Including Black)
Lacoste Classic Fit Women’s Polo Shirt (More Colors Available)
Brooks Brothers Women’s Polo Shirt (More Colors Available)
Black Mid-Rise Jeans (More Colors Available)
Gunmetal High-Rise Jeans (More Colors Available)
Women’s Navy Duck Shoe With Flannel Lining
Women’s Black Duck Shoe With Fleece Lining
Louis Vuitton Monogram Key Pouch (Pre-loved Fashionphile)
Louis Vuitton Multi Pochette Accessoires (Pre-loved Fashionphile)
Felt Insert Organizer Trio for Louis Vuitton Multi Pochette Accessoires (I ordered the pink)
Louis Vuitton Recto Verso Card Holder (Pre-loved Fashionphile)
Louis Vuitton Empreinte Leather Multi Pochette Accessoires (Pre-loved Fashionphile)
Felt Organizer Insert Duo For Louis Vuitton Empreinte Leather Multi Pochette Accessoires (I ordered black)
Hi Janis! Good to see your beautiful smile again!
Hi, Diane! Thank you. It’s wonderful to see you, too. 🙂 ~ Janis
So happy you have returned! Stay healthy. Looking forward to your next video.
Thank you, Jeanne! 🙂
It’s such a treat to see you again. I’m very sorry to hear of your health challenges. And very glad you’re doing better. No judgment about your hair changes. I’ve been through hair loss twice in the last ten years. Caused by medication I had to be on. Very frustrating. But we are so much more than our physical appearance. You look healthy and beautiful as always. Best wishes for continued improvement in your health!
Oh my goodness, Mahala, I’m so sorry you’re had to deal with hair loss twice. Thank you for reminding me that we are so much more than our physical appearance. You are so right. Wishing you all the best. ~ Janis
Hi Janis,
So happy to connect! As always, you look great!
I enjoy your posts so much.
So glad you’re feeling well too!
From an old friend of Jean B.
Cathy
Oh my goodness, Cathy, it’s wonderful to hear from you. Speaking of sweet Jean B, I was thinking about her recently. Something reminded me of her, and I found myself just missing her again so much. She was such a strong presence in the world. I wish she was still here. I hope you are doing well. I am so happy you enjoy my posts. You’ve made my day! Thank you for taking the time to say hi. ~ Janis
Welcome back! I’m sorry you were so sick, but so glad you’re better! I am also someone who has dealt with strange chronic health problems. They cause as many mental problems as physical problems, I think. May you continue to get good help and heal well. Never lose hope! We are all in this together.
Lisa, I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with chronic health problems. And I definitely agree it causes mental as well as physical issues. Thank you for your healing wishes. I appreciate it! Wishing you the same. ~ Janis
What Diane said! I’m happy to see you back again, and to hear that you’re doing better. I believed that life had somehow blindsided you (as can happen to anyone). I’m so happy you’re now healing. And you look absolutely beautiful, as always.
Judith, “blind sided” is such a good term. I appreciate your kind acceptance and understanding–and your sweet compliment. Thank you:-) ~ Janis
I have missed you, former greetings from Ireland now in sunny Spain, Welcome back. I look forward to your YouTube channel.
kind regards,
Ann
Hi, Ann! Spain is such a beautiful country! Thank you for watching my videos. I so appreciate it! ~ Janis
Janis! Missed you so! And really happy you are back! You look stunning as always, darling. Nothing can mask that inner beauty of yours. Did not know you were suffering and am so happy to know you’re surviving what must have been an horrific challenge. Hope to see you soon! Much love, Missi
Missi, thank you so much for saying hi here. I am doing so much better now, and looking to the future! Also, I wish you a swift recovery from the storm. I am so sorry your beautiful home was damaged by it. Ian was horrible to our sweet town and Fort Myers/Captiva/Sanibel. Much love back ~ Janis
Janice, I am so very happy to know that you are feeling better. We all go through changes, and I hope your health journey continues to be a positive one.
I knew when you stopped posting, there was a reason. Your kindness and integrity comes through the videos.
I always enjoy your beautiful style and seeing where you go. Lunch out is so very good for us all. We need that!
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and will continue to pray for your good health.
Cathy, thank you so much for taking the time to come here and leave your kind comment. I appreciate your healing prayers! ~ Janis
Cathy, thank you so much for your beautiful comment. Wishing you and your family a happy and safe holiday season as well 🙂
Janis!! I am so happy you are back! Much love.
Thank you, Christine! Hope you’re having a wonderful start to the new year.