Monday Musings: Styles I Spotted While Traveling and New Finds
Happy Monday, ladies. People-watching is one of the extra benefits I love about traveling. I’m constantly inspired by seeing how women put themselves together in different locations for varying activities. When I changed planes in Dallas, the gals boarding the flight looked a bit dressier than the gals boarding in Miami and San Diego. Overall, my impression was a lack of sameness which was refreshing.
I also saw a lot of athleisure in varying levels of formality. The other thing that caught my eye was how many women were embracing the new sling bags.
Outfit of the week
When sling bags got popular last year, I was positive it was a look I would never adopt. I’ve seen enough of them now that I’m beginning to see their appeal. They’re not that different from a crossbody but have a slightly sportier vibe. This one from Anthropologie comes in four colors in the woven texture that’s so popular for spring. I paired it with the perfect lightweight jacket (that’s what they call it), which comes in four colors, sizes XXS-3X in classic, petite, and tall. I really love it in blue, but I think this surplus color has a more casual vibe.
The cotton sweater is great for those who don’t wear wool and comes in four colors, XXS-3X. I was thrilled to find one of my favorite bootcut styles of NYDJ at Nordstrom Rack for 70% off in four washes. The hinged bracelets make a fun statement, and even more so when you wear one gold with one silver. The platform sneakers are very popular for spring and comfy for a day full of running errands. I added a bright pop of lipstick to go with the sweater.
I love hats and wear them often…all except for baseball caps. I’ve never found one that didn’t look dorky on me. I’ve spotted a lot of stylish women wearing them lately, so I want to find one that works for me. Yes, the shapes are all the same, but the vibe varies by color and fabric, so I’ll be on the hunt.
Not seen
What I didn’t see were many women traveling in dresses…and I was intentionally looking for them. I saw one or two women wearing skirts, but they were rare. Most women traveled wearing stretch fabric pants, jeans, or the always popular workout leggings with everything on display. I also don’t see many women in my daily life wearing dressed or skirts. Do you wear them? Do you want me to style more for you?
Easy Shrimp Appetizer
Our dinner group finally got together again over the weekend, and it was so fabulous. We’ve been dear friends and have been through the ups and downs of life together for over 40 years. Everyone brings something to contribute to the meal, but of course, the hostess and host are doing most of the work. I brought a shrimp cocktail appetizer.
I’m not a huge fan of the classic red cocktails sauce, so I make a hot wasabi sauce which is always popular. It’s dead simple, start with a medium container of sour cream, and whisk in a tube of wasabi paste to the hotness you like. See, I told you this would never become a food blog 🤣.
This is always a super casual get-together where the goal is to catch up, not dress up. One gal arrived in her slippers (smart cookie), and another changed out of her slippers into her Sketchers just before she came in. I looked down at her sneakers, she looked down at my sneakers, and we chuckled that for our feet, comfy was everything these days.
I wore a favorite slouchy cashmere boyfriend cardigan over a warm crew neck sweater and a blouse with comfy stretch pants and my new high-top platform sneakers.
The platform makes them extra cushiony, and the double-stacked sole gives me a 1 1/2″ height boost while being totally flat. I love flatforms!
Monday Finds
I do a tremendous amount of perusing on the internet, so I thought it would be fun to share what’s catching my eye. The best things at Nordstrom Rack sell out in the blink of an eye, so I thought I would share what I’m finding while they’re fully stocked. Some hit my shopping cart, and some aren’t my style, but you may like them, so here we go-
A FEW MORE FINDS AT THE NORDSTROM RACK
Back to dresses….do you wear them?
Thanks for reading and have a fabulous Monday.
I live in Florida, so dresses or skorts over slacks. Just ordered several stretchy skorts off Amazon – super easy & comfy paired with tennis shoes or sandles. I agree, just feel more put together in a dress or skort out in public.
I still like dresses, but don’t reach for them very often. These days, I prefer longer lengths, and I have my eye out for a midi skirt that could be dressed up or down. I don’t like wearing hosiery anymore, either, so I look for ways to get around that. I haven’t embraced the sling bags yet. I’m not that trendy. I enjoy your blog.
I mostly wear dresses at this point because they’re so much more comfortable! In the fall and winter I wear sweater dresses with fleece tights and boots, and light linen shirt dresses and loose cotton dresses with sandals in warm weather. When I wear pants now it feels so constricting! I recently bought two silk slip dresses that I plan to wear with a tied at the waist linen shirt this summer. The funny thing is that people always think of me as on the dressier side and don’t believe me when I tell them I dress for comfort!
I’ve been using a vertical roaster for chicken for more than 25 years and love it. If you use the kind with a center tube, you can fill it with aromatics or alcohol (e.g., beer, brandy, bourbon) to infuse the chicken with different flavors. Mine also has 4 vertical metal rods to mount potatoes to bake at the same time. So convenient.
Yes please continue to style dresses & skirts. I especially love wearing dresses during the hot months. They are nicer than shorts and cooler than pants. I finally have gotten used to not wearing pantyhose! I always pack them for traveling. I wear dresses &skirts less in the winter, if I do I add tights and boots.
Just ordered that little cardigan jacket, been waiting for an affordable one to wear with jeans. I have a couple dresses that just hang in my closet year after year. I’m a Grammy who likes to crawl around on floor and playground equipment with my littles so I.m just a jean and ankle pants girl.
I wear casual dresses in warm weather and love them!
I just started following you and thoroughly enjoy your comments and your style. I enjoy wearing dresses and skirts in summer – winter not so much! I like that they give the option to add variety to my wardrobe. Usually I wear knee length skirts and dresses. Last summer I bought a midi length pale blue and white striped loose fitting sleeveless dress from Talbots. I feel it makes me look dowdy. The length is just above the ankle. I am 5’ 6 and 140 lbs. I would be interested in knowing how to style a longer dress. Choosing the right shoes can also be a problem. Hoping for some help! Thanks.
Welcome, Wendy. Just above the ankle can be tricky to style. Perhaps a loose belt would help?
I love dresses. Particularly in the summer. I’m size 12 to 14 a little sundress with a lightweight sweater or sleeves is really so easy. No thinking of what do I wear with these capris? Also as a shorter person (5’2”) I think dresses typically don’t chop you off. They give you a longer look. I will admit that I have trouble finding dresses that are long enough or that aren’t too long. I prefer them just below the knee. Oh and did I mention how cool they are in the summer?
Good morning – last year, I saw a lot of maxi dresses on young women, even in Maine. I own several dresses – ranging from one loose, very casual one to several LBDs. I don’t wear most of them now I’m not working and have been collecting to donate. I bought two Talbot’s skirts two summers ago and wear them with sandals or in one case, sneakers.
I travel quite a bit and prefer to wear a dress. Not only is the dress part of my wardrobe for the week(s) ahead, I can pair it with a jacket (flights are chilly – even in he summer) and a scarf and I have two additional accessories to coordinate with as I travel. I find the dress more comfortable than jeans, and I’m not a fan of wearing stretch yoga pants anywhere other than the gym or yoga class. Love your posts!
Yes to dresses! I wear them all year round in southwest Florida. It’s too hot for jeans in the summer and I don’t wear shorts out to lunch or dinner. I love dresses for travel, especially dresses with pockets.
Hi Jennifer,
I wear skirts more than dresses to work but I do have several dressy dresses for weddings and such. In the summer I love my t shirt knit maxi dresses to keep me cool in the SoCal heat. I pop a light sweater on if it gets chilly.
Loved you sharing about your long time group of friends. We have a similar group and it makes my heart happy when we have a gathering.
It’s so much fun to see them.
Good morning Jennifer!
Thanks for all the work you do bringing different styles and products to our attention! The last time I wore a dress was about five years to an evening wedding. It is a black simple Jjill dress I got on sale years ago and that is the only time I’ve worn it! I feel much more put together in jeans or pants and love a blazer. Last spring I was invited to a Kentucky derby party and felt like a dress was in order. So, I ordered some of the popular midi dresses with small prints and my husband said I looked like I belonged on Little house on the Prairie! I did look ridiculous! Ended up with white slacks and a tomato red silk blouse and a wide brimmed hat full of flowers. That felt right!
Agree with the others, you looked fantastic in your swimsuits! Brave woman!
Your outfit sounds fabulous!! Love it
PS, I saw tons of leather Fanny packs being worn and sold in Florence last year, both men and women, I bought three, two as gifts. They worked great across the chest, actually better than cross body.
I love to wear casual dresses! They are my go to for travel because they are so comfortable and easy to pair with a Jean jacket and sneakers if it’s a little chilly. Lose the jacket and change to sandals if it warms up. I don’t wear them in the winter, but for all the other seasons, casual dresses are my favorite choice. It’s so easy to look put together in a dress! I often find them at Title Nine, Athleta, Loft, Macys, and Gap Factory.
My lifestyle seems has become more casual and there seem to be fewer and fewer special occasions. Sadly, I don’t wear dresses or skirts today.
Every detail of your outfit of the day was a hit for me. The colors and style were spot on. I do wear a ball cap, mostly in the warmer months and mostly to control my longer hair. It’s quick and easy to pop on and go out on a windy day.
Your swimsuit blog was so inspiring!!
Thank you Jan
Yes to dresses. It’s very hot &humid in Louisiana & dresses are colder than pants for me.
Yes I have used vertical to cook chicken. Great product!!
Yes, I wear dresses. I had a “ aha” moment, when I saw a lady my size and shape trying on fit and flare dresses, I tried them on and bought two. They fit much better on my pear shape than pants. I use self tanner in summer, and tights in winter. Actually leggings are a lot like tights. The women in Europe do wear pantyhose, and there were lots of choices in stores.
I found that the LL Bean rayon knit wrap-style fit-and-flare dress fits very well. Mine is in petite sizing and the fit is just right.
I live in skirts and dresses in the Texas hot summers, not so much in the winter. Please keep showing casual skirt and dresses for the upcoming spring. I think you would have seen more skirts and dresses traveling if it had not been February.
I’m guessing you’re right
Yes to dresses. I want to wear casual dresses in warmer weather. Thanks for your blog.
I do too!