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Night and day…

Met three dear friends for an early dinner that went on until after the sun set. Great food and conversation with some great women!

The dress is @adamlippes and I borrowed it from @renttherunway. The bag is @jcrew and a splurge but I regretted not buying it the last time they offered this bag and this color is SO me. I mean, look how great it is with these many years old suede heeled sandals? Meant to be!

This color combination makes me so happy, and this dress was comfy even after a decadent meal. We all deserve to experience comfort and joy with our wardrobes! 💛🩷

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4jnDf #ltkplussize #ltkmidsize #ltkover40 #midsizestyle #genxstyle #over40style
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If @thechicks are in town you can bet @debbiefaye78 and I will be there! So when we heard they were coming to @merriweatherpp we were so excited. And their concert did not disappoint. As always, a phenomenal show! If The Chicks come to your neck of the woods I highly recommend you go!

Okay I know you want to know about what we’re wearing! 

My sister’s caftan is from @anthropologie (bought this summer so maybe you can find on resale sites).

I’m wearing a @bananarepublic dress also from this summer with the @universalstandard denim chore jacket and a hat I got from a @madewell collab a year or so ago. I glammed it up with some gold chains and gold drop earrings, but kept it comfy for a night of standing and dancing with @birkenstock sandals.

This was my first big outing since my eye surgery, and with a pocketful of eye drops I felt good (and grateful we splurged for good seats!).

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4jcBL #ltkmidsize #ltkover40 #midsizestyle #genxstyle #usinthewild #concertstyle
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For years I’ve trusted @somaintimates for the right bras and the right fit but it had been a while since I visited a Soma boutique to try on all the styles they currently have for a large bust. I must say I was impressed! Knowledgeable staff, extensive collection in larger sizes, and some of the most comfortable and innovative bras in up to H cups! Each body is different but what I loved:

- The Stunning Push-Up: targeted for the DD+ customer gives amazing lift and great shape under fitted knits.

- The Unbelievable Lift Scoop Balconette: sexy, supportive, and so lightweight!

- The Embraceable Wireless: I’ve recommended this wireless bra for large busts for years and was in need for a new one! 

- The Stunning Support Smooth Balconette: this is the perfect t-shirt bra for large busts with padded straps and disappears under knits

- The Stunning Starlet Multi-Way Strapless: recently improved for more support and more comfort, this wireless bra stays put and gives fab shape

I also picked up some of Soma’s iconic Vanishing Edge panties which keep you line-free. The whole Vanishing collection is genius. I loved being able to donate my gently used bras at my local Soma boutique to give to those in need. We all deserve a lift and Soma strives to achieve that. It’s why I’ve been a fan and customer for years and am honored to partner with them. Soma is the perfect fitting bra solution. Visit the link in my bio to shop and to find your local Soma boutique! #SomaPartner #SomaBraFit #SomaStartsWithMe
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If I close my eyes you can’t tell one is still bloodshot 😜

Still recovering from my eye surgery but feeling more myself. Getting dolled up helps me feel me. Bright colors and bold jewelry have been signature Alison since I was a kid! 

Sweater: @favorite.daughter 
Earrings: Amazon
Necklace: @_jennybird (old)
Ring: @realmfinejewelry 
Bra: @lovebravissimo 
Lipstick: @glossier 
Pins as “cufflinks”: vintage

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4j0LM #ltkmidsize #midsizestyle #over40style #ltkover40 #genxstyle
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It was so funny and so quick I couldn’t not share! I bought this @hulkenbag a year ago and use it all the time. Carting shoot supplies, groceries, packing for road trips, and carting donations. This weekend @thenewdealcafe in @cityofgreenbelt hosted a community clothing swap so I made sure my family and I went through our summer wardrobes to gather that which we no longer needed or fit.

This wasn’t the first clothing swap and folks in town know my style (and my job) so there were some waiting for my arrival. Look how fast I cleared out this big bag! Speaking of the bag one other swap attendee said she got herself a Hulken after seeing mine in action!

It’s so great to know our old clothes are getting a good life and this bag makes carting them to the cafe so easy! I got my Hulken on Amazon, it comes in other colors and sizes too: https://amzn.to/48iTY4Y yep the bag is as great as all those ads you see on social media, I’m a big fan!
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I had to see… I asked my husband how often he thinks about the Roman Empire, and then asked our 14-year-old 😂
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#ad Go through my archives on Wardrobe Oxygen and one thing is clear: my family and I are a fan of @bombas socks! From their no-slip no-show socks to their iconic crew socks, Bombas makes great socks for the whole family while having a great heart.

Socks are the #1 requested article of clothing from homeless shelters. For every item purchase from Bombas, one is donated to someone experiencing homelessness. 

Save 20% on your first purchase at Bombas with my exclusive promo code: WARDROBE20

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4ipHy #bombas
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Happy gotcha day, Oscar! Four years ago he came into our life and we are so happy to have in our family!

Oscar was a rescue and came with some… quirks. Over the years we have come to understand him and he has come to trust us. He’s a diva, a snuggler, he could play catch for hours, and he’s my husband’s shadow. 

We’ve never had a small breed dog before and it’s a whole different experience. But we adore Oscar and couldn’t imagine our life without him! Thank you for coming into our life Oskie McGoskie! 🐾❤️
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I can see clearly now…

Actually I can’t, but things after my retina surgery are much improved! My next appointment is in a month and I’m cleared to get back into the world (with some restrictions to protect my eye).

With a sclera buckle, it changes your eye shape and now I am nearsighted again (I had lasik a few years ago). Once the eye is stabilized I can get glasses or contacts but until then I’m 20/20 in one eye and right now 20/60 in the other. But the eye is healing beautifully and I feel positive!

And I could see clearly enough to fall for this poppy-colored cotton jumpsuit from @pistoladenim. It comes in a few colors but this one is my favorite. I went with XL (im@a 14, sometimes 16) and likely could have sized down but I enjoy the relaxed fit and the drawstring waistband to create shape. And hello zipper closure making it super easy to get on and off!

My husband took this photo right after my eye appointment, I think it reflects my positive attitude and feeling of hope! 🧡

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4idXm
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Fashion Advice · September 14, 2007

We’ll Have to Agree to Disagree

This article may contain affiliate links; if you click on a shopping link and make a purchase I may receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

Tim GunnI love me some Tim Gunn. He's handsome, suave, intelligent and a man in the industry who still believes that style is more important than current trends. I have been a Project Runway fanatic for every season, but after reading several reviews wasn’t too eager to see his new show – Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style. I heard he was boring, stiff, and his advice had been heard 50,000 times before. I missed the first episode, choosing instead to have a lovely dinner date with my husband.

My mom saw it, saved it on her TiVo and has watched it several times since. She found it brilliant – brilliant enough to inspire her to dig through her closet and collect six bags for donation, calling me each day with her progress. This is something I have been begging her to do for years so I decided to mark my calendar to see the second episode of this show this week. If Tim Gunn can get my mom to finally donate those black velvet elastic-waist pants that my mom kept “just in case” then he was my hero.

After last night's episode, I must agree with the newspaper and internet reviews – I am not impressed. Yes, JeAnne’s hair and makeup was amazing and they found a few pieces to add to her wardrobe that were far more flattering. But really, I learned nothing new and I actually disagreed with much that was stated.

070906 gunn hmed 4p.hmediumThe Ten Items Every Woman Needs in Her Closet:
Basic black dress, Trench coat, Classic dress pants, Skirt, Blazer, Classic white shirt, Day dress, Cashmere sweater, Jeans, A comfortable alternative to a sweatsuit

“Hey babe, don’t you have a list just like this?” my husband asked. Well, kinda. Lots of people who write about fashion and style have their list of must-haves. Many of the things on my list are on Tim’s and many stylists around the globe. But Tim had a few I disagree with. I think the reason I do NOT include these items is because I am not a tall, thin woman in the city and I do not know a ton of tall, thin city women. I know very tall women who have a devil of a time finding the right length of jeans to wear to the grocery store; petite women with large busts who search endlessly for a suit that will fit their small shoulders and still fit over their midsection; women who couldn’t afford a trainer to assist in getting back their pre-baby figure but still want to find chic attire for work; women who have curvy figures and want to find casual clothes that don’t make them look like marshmallows.

These women do not need a trench coat. Rarely does a woman under 5’4”, with a D-cup bra or wear over a size 12 look good in a trench. Stiff fabric, double-breasted buttons and a self-belt are not forgiving attributes. If you are surrounded by socialites and supermodels, you may not realize how utterly unflattering this garment could be.

These women do not all need white shirts either. Yes, a white shirt can be classic, crisp and elegant. It can also be an utter mess. It requires maintenance to keep it crisp and brilliant, it needs to fit well in the shoulders, the arms, the bust. Without a custom fit, white shirts often look cheap or dumpy on the majority of women’s shapes. To accommodate the bust, many women end up purchasing a size larger and end up with buckling at the lower back, dragging over the hands, gaping at the neck and hitting at an unflattering length on the hip. Tucked in, it balloons out adding girth to the torso. To fit elsewhere, many women end up with too-tight white shirts, buttons bulging and underpinnings ending up showing through. Wrap shirts are flattering, but often gape at the neckline on larger frames. Wrinkle-free styles are often tailored more to fit business men than chic ladies. And there are so many styles out there with weird adornments like epaulets, breast pockets, quirky embroidery, zippers and lace that it confuses one as to what is stylish and what is not, what is flattering and what is not. White shirts get stained, creased, wrinkled and can look old quickly. Add children or an active lifestyle to the mix and your white shirt will have just as long of a shelf life as that pair of ultra-sheer pantyhose.

These women do not all need cashmere sweaters. A well-made, non-itchy sweater in a lightweight knit – yes. Cashmere? Well I have lived a couple decades without owning a cashmere sweater and I do just fine. Asking many of my friends and family – from high-powered attorneys to stay at home moms… none of them own cashmere and all of them have great style. A great quality knit that is heavy enough to be warm but light enough to skim the body and flatter is a wonderful thing and I do agree a necessity in a wardrobe. However that can be cotton, silk, hemp, merino… or possibly cashmere. Cashmere requires maintenance and special care. We don’t all have the time, space or budget to accommodate this. That’s why I own a ton of merino – throw in the wash on the gentle cycle, hang it up in a doorway to dry and it’s as good as new.

The rest of the pieces (blazer, skirt, dress pants, black dress, day dress, jeans, sweatsuit alternative) are simple enough that they could be interpreted to fit any woman’s lifestyle or body shape.

The biggest problem I have with many “style experts” is that they haven’t worked with enough women outside the industry. They don’t understand that the majority of females are not 5’7”, not a size 6, not penciling cocktail parties and gallery openings on their calendars.

JeAnne’s transformation was good. I loved the smoky eye, the glossy lips, the sassy haircut and color. Removing the severity of her look helped her lose five years and fifteen pounds. But really, a few things they put her in were NOT flattering. The white shirt with the seaming was tight and cheap. The halter dresses at Carmen Marc Valvo were gorgeous but made her arms and shoulders look even heavier than they were and did nothing to support her bust. Halter neck styles can be flattering and elongate a neckline, but they also add girth to arms, remove any shoulder definition, and make bra-wearing difficult causing the bustline to sag. The v-neck dance dress (the second black dress she tried at the salon) was sweet, elegant and most of all flattering yet she ultimately was left in the halter that had her back skin hang out, her arms be on display and then horrors of horrors, they did the WORST THING for dear JeAnne… they put a sheer wrap over her arms.

Ladies, I DESPISE this look.

What woman is comfortable constantly hiking up her piece of black chiffon to cover her triceps? A woman should feel comfortable in her attire, especially at a formal one where she already feels on display. To take a woman and make her put a piece of gauze over her arms to hide the girth is putting her in a mini-prison where she hunches over her seat at the table trying to hide her figure, or if she does dare to head to the dance floor, is restricted to slow dances and subtle swaying to keep the fabric in place. The useless wrap is the equivalent to shackles for any curvaceous woman. Hiding one’s arms in shame, holding her prisoner in her clothing. The bridesmaid who is already larger than her size-4 counterparts is punished into wearing an additional swath of hot pink satin across her shoulders. It doesn’t make her look smaller, just more obvious and more awkward. If JeAnne was put in the v-neck dance dress, people would be admiring her creamy decollate and her small waist, and not even notice her arms. At a mirror she herself would see her eye go to her reflection’s collarbone, her waist or her face in the dress and therefore walk taller and have more confidence and fun at an event.

I’ll watch again because I love Tim Gunn and I loved how he ensured she was outfitted with proper underpinnings (#1 in my book), didn’t trash her entire closet and dressed her for her actual lifestyle and personality. Maybe with experience, they too will learn to understand the myriad of women’s shapes and lifestyles and this show will be more useful to its viewers.

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Comments

  1. ThickChick says

    September 26, 2007 at 7:13 pm

    PS: Couldn’t agree with you more on the dresses part…my significant other (who has a good eye for fashion) and I were fuming about the halters they kept putting her in! Hello! She has big boobs and heavy arms! She looked SO SO SO much better in the other styles. Anyway, had to add that.

    Reply
  2. ThickChick says

    September 26, 2007 at 6:55 pm

    Hi Allie,

    I prefer my Clinton and Stacy any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Watching Tim Gunn’s show made me long for the snark on TLC.

    Anyhoo, I agree with 99.9% of what you have to say.. except gotta tell you… I’m 5’5, a curvy size 8/10 and look pretty incredible in my $49.50 trench from H&M…then again, it’s single breasted and belted… I don’t go for that double-breasted crapola.

    Reply
  3. gilda says

    September 22, 2007 at 2:09 am

    i love tim gunn and i watched this, and although i agree with some of your points, i have to agree with him on a lot as well.

    to give tim a chance, he’s on a tv show which i feel a lot of things are scripted and i don’t know how much leeway he has to really do whatever he wants.

    but like the wrap dress that jeanne wore, that was mentioned, wrap dresses are always flattering but the print was not.

    and i’m below 5’4 but i have to say i LOVE how i look in a trench. i keep my clothes rather crumpled cos i hate getting hot and bothered ironing, but i do have like 5 white shirts which i wear often and i do think we all need at least one. i guess it’s just the basics for a working woman that tim was aiming for.

    Reply
  4. Shorty says

    September 22, 2007 at 12:57 am

    I actually rather adore Veronica’s hair. Very refreshing to see a chic woman on tv with no-nonsense hair, as opposed to the I-just-got-done-spending-two-hours-in-a-makeup-chair hair. Her clothes, on the other hand, are a bit… odd.
    As far as Tim Gunn putting that woman in a halter top, I think that was her choice. The impression that I got was that the women got to choose all the items, with the exception of the designer bag and jewelry. So while he’s not directly responsible, he is guilty of allowing her to choose it.

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    September 19, 2007 at 4:38 pm

    I was bummed out because I didn’t think I got this channel. But lo and behold when I was channel surfing this morning there it was. And Tim Gunn’s show was on!

    Whoo hoo! Another “transformation” show to add to my list.

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    September 18, 2007 at 1:31 am

    Totally agree with you re: non-staple status of white shirt, trench coat, and cashmere. About the wrap: I’m rather surprised with the comments. I love full-sized wraps/shawls myself and wear them all the time, dancing or grocery shopping, no difference, but am always attacked/ridiculed by everyone. Friends say I don’t look BAD, just PRETENTIOUS. In any case, just want to confess that with any kind of outfit I would be the first one to want to wear a wrap, I think it brings attention to me in a good way!

    Reply
  7. Kind of Crunchy Mama says

    September 17, 2007 at 9:21 pm

    Hah! I thought of you when I watched the first episode and thought how you would disagree with his list.

    And ditto on Veronica Webb. Someone needs to give her a makeover.

    Reply
  8. Kasmira says

    September 17, 2007 at 3:17 pm

    I was so pleased to see you tackle THE LIST of items every item is supposed to have in her wardrobe. I’ve seen it so many times that I just accepted it as gospel. You’re right though. It really only applies to thin, child-less, city dwellers.

    Reply
  9. Amy says

    September 17, 2007 at 2:09 pm

    100% agree with you on the wrap thing. My best friend got married 2 years ago. We’ve been best friends since we were 3 and we were 30 when she finally got married. She thought it would be a great idea to go with strapless bridesmaids dresses since her wedding dress was strapless. Which was great for her since she’s thin, not so great on me. I knew they would look great on her other two bridesmaids but completely attrocious on my size 24 DDD-chested self. I very politely told her that if that is the dress we are wearing then I will not be able to stand up for her in her wedding but would be willing to help out with anything else. She said, “oh, it will be fine, we can get you a wrap.” All I could do was picture every other wedding I’ve been to where there’s the one “plus-size” bridesmaid wearing the wrap around her shoulders. What makes it look even worse is when no other bridesmaid is wearing one so it’s totally obvious that she’s self-conscious about being in the crappy dress the bride chose. I always feel bad for that girl. I also think it makes the bride look self-centered, like they went into the bridal shop with a, “I don’t care what you look like as long as I look good and your dresses match the crappy colours I chose.” These are the brides that have never had a weight problem or are the type to wear whatever they want even if it isn’t for their body type or it’s too tight. My theory: Just because it comes in your size, doesn’t mean you should wear it.
    **hops off soapbox**

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    September 16, 2007 at 4:24 pm

    I love Tim Gunn too and would gladly chase after him like a brazen hussy if he were, er, straig

    I think he has spent too much time in the model world and is still trying to grasp real women and real lives. He gets it right some of the time (investing in proper underwear, being appalled by leggings, refusing to let the first episode woman buy a long strapless dress as her one and only dress) but I do think with JeAnne he missed the mark a little.

    There were definitely far better dresses for her at Carmen Marc Valvo which would have let her wear a bra. I agree with you Allie that a white shirt and trench in particular are pretty difficult items. And because I’m a fair skinned redhead I have problems with black period, but most women can wear black.

    In the first episode the women chose a white sundress with a sweater and flat shoes as her dog walking outfit. I don’t know about her dog, but I know mine and you might as just roll in the mud with them as dress like that to walk them. And at the dog run…

    I have to disagree about cashmere. I love it but so much is such cheap quality even with the high prices and taking care of it is a pain. I do put mine in the laundry, in the delicate cycle, and lay flat to dry but oh, I’m dreading wash day.

    I do think the purse and the necklace they gave really helped her get motivated.

    As an almost plus size I was also hoping they’d get creative in where they shop…

    Your list is much better Allie, but I wish you’d give me a black alternative!

    Thanks for all the work you do on this blog

    Christine

    Reply
  11. Marty: says

    September 16, 2007 at 5:49 am

    I liked the first Tim Gunn show better than the second. As to the 10 items: I agree with all you said. I don’t like cashmere because it itches; my crisp white shirt is only crisp for an hour and then it has traces of makeup around the collar; a trench is fine if you’re walking around in NYC on a rainy day, but very uncomfortable and too warm if you’re jumping in and out of the car running daily errands. I love suggestions for the real lives of real women.

    Reply
  12. Anonymous says

    September 15, 2007 at 4:28 pm

    totally agree with you as i am now a size 12 ( sometimes a 10) not every woman looks good in what tim gunn says but then his life is very narrow in regards to everyday people excellent blog sharon

    Reply
  13. Amanda says

    September 14, 2007 at 6:30 pm

    I completely agree with you, and was thinking the same things as I watched the show last night. The white shirt is not a staple (I have a few dress shirts that are different colors and look much more unique than white). Although I will agree with Tim on the pattern of JeAnne’s favorite wrap dress. That chain link pattern was not doing her any favors and the length of the hem and sleeves was way off.

    P.S. I love your blog and your advice!

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    September 14, 2007 at 6:03 pm

    Oh I HATE those stupid sheer wraps! It’s like saying HELLO I hate my arms, I think I’m fat and I have low self-esteem. Might as well wear a mumu

    Reply
  15. Leah says

    September 14, 2007 at 5:55 pm

    Hi Allie

    I have not watched all of this episode yet but I wanted to agree with what you have said. I wrote a review of the first episode and I liked some of the variation from “What Not to Wear” but I agree that a lot of the basic info is “out there” on your blog, in Trinny and Susannah’s books etc…

    In the few minutes I did watch I was disappointed to see them poo-poo the wrap dress. I liked it on her. I think wrap dresses are the perfect work dress for all women but especially women who need to create a waist. I can’t believe they put her in a halter dress. I love halter dresses but I barely fit in an A-cup and I like my shoulders. At a certain age we all must give up the halter and the sleeveless and this is especially true if you have lost a lot of weight – one’s skin is not tight after this. I was also disppointed that they didn’t focus on the one really bad outfit at the beginning, the boxy suit.

    I also have a difficult time finding white blouses that fit. I love the look but I think most blouses I try on were made for super-skinny women with huge implants since I have a small waist and most blouses that fit me at the waist have enough fabric for a D cup.

    I think YOU would have done a much better job shopping with this woman. I love your cute wrap dresses and your sister’s dress is really flattering too.

    Cashmere – I totally agree!!! All of the cashmere sweaters I own get shapless and look bad and they are not cheap cashmere either. I love Merino wool sweaters because they maintain their shape and smooth appearance and fit my shape better. Cashmere feels good but it just doesn’t look as refined as merino or even cotton.

    Reply
  16. The Lay Judge says

    September 14, 2007 at 4:31 pm

    I was also very much looking forward to seeing Tim Gunn’s new show, but was slightly disappointed. I distinctly remember your list and I appreciated your comments above with regard to it and how different things work for different women. All in all, I prefer watching ‘What Not To Wear’ and reading your columns!

    Also, was it just me or did Veronica Webb’s hair style leave a little to be desired? She’s gorgeous, don’t get me wrong, but it didn’t seem to work for her.

    Reply

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Sep 23

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Night and day…

Met three dear friends for an early dinner that went on until after the sun set. Great food and conversation with some great women!

The dress is @adamlippes and I borrowed it from @renttherunway. The bag is @jcrew and a splurge but I regretted not buying it the last time they offered this bag and this color is SO me. I mean, look how great it is with these many years old suede heeled sandals? Meant to be!

This color combination makes me so happy, and this dress was comfy even after a decadent meal. We all deserve to experience comfort and joy with our wardrobes! 💛🩷

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
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Sep 21

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If @thechicks are in town you can bet @debbiefaye78 and I will be there! So when we heard they were coming to @merriweatherpp we were so excited. And their concert did not disappoint. As always, a phenomenal show! If The Chicks come to your neck of the woods I highly recommend you go!

Okay I know you want to know about what we’re wearing! 

My sister’s caftan is from @anthropologie (bought this summer so maybe you can find on resale sites).

I’m wearing a @bananarepublic dress also from this summer with the @universalstandard denim chore jacket and a hat I got from a @madewell collab a year or so ago. I glammed it up with some gold chains and gold drop earrings, but kept it comfy for a night of standing and dancing with @birkenstock sandals.

This was my first big outing since my eye surgery, and with a pocketful of eye drops I felt good (and grateful we splurged for good seats!).

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Sep 19

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If I close my eyes you can’t tell one is still bloodshot 😜

Still recovering from my eye surgery but feeling more myself. Getting dolled up helps me feel me. Bright colors and bold jewelry have been signature Alison since I was a kid! 

Sweater: @favorite.daughter 
Earrings: Amazon
Necklace: @_jennybird (old)
Ring: @realmfinejewelry 
Bra: @lovebravissimo 
Lipstick: @glossier 
Pins as “cufflinks”: vintage

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4j0LM #ltkmidsize #midsizestyle #over40style #ltkover40 #genxstyle

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Sep 11

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Happy gotcha day, Oscar! Four years ago he came into our life and we are so happy to have in our family!

Oscar was a rescue and came with some… quirks. Over the years we have come to understand him and he has come to trust us. He’s a diva, a snuggler, he could play catch for hours, and he’s my husband’s shadow. 

We’ve never had a small breed dog before and it’s a whole different experience. But we adore Oscar and couldn’t imagine our life without him! Thank you for coming into our life Oskie McGoskie! 🐾❤️

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Sep 8

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I can see clearly now…

Actually I can’t, but things after my retina surgery are much improved! My next appointment is in a month and I’m cleared to get back into the world (with some restrictions to protect my eye).

With a sclera buckle, it changes your eye shape and now I am nearsighted again (I had lasik a few years ago). Once the eye is stabilized I can get glasses or contacts but until then I’m 20/20 in one eye and right now 20/60 in the other. But the eye is healing beautifully and I feel positive!

And I could see clearly enough to fall for this poppy-colored cotton jumpsuit from @pistoladenim. It comes in a few colors but this one is my favorite. I went with XL (im@a 14, sometimes 16) and likely could have sized down but I enjoy the relaxed fit and the drawstring waistband to create shape. And hello zipper closure making it super easy to get on and off!

My husband took this photo right after my eye appointment, I think it reflects my positive attitude and feeling of hope! 🧡

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https://liketk.it/4idXm

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Sep 5

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I’ll be a bit quiet on here and other channels because I had eye (retinal) surgery this past weekend. I was having what I thought were ocular migraines but come to find out I was experiencing lattice degeneration, which is thinning/holes in the retina. I had surgery Saturday for my right eye and later on they’ll work on the left eye, which isn’t as bad and can be remedied by laser, in office.

I share not because I’m Mrs. Frizzle meets Iris Apfel as I recuperate at home, but because this whole thing has been a lesson on trusting my gut. And I want to remind you to do the same.

As we get older our bodies can feel like strangers. Things are constantly changing and it’s easy to just assume your annual physical will catch anything wrong. But if you slow down and listen to your body you’ll know when things are just a sign of aging and life and what seems unusual. That nagging issue may be something more serious.

And if you’re seeing flashing lights, floaters, spiderwebs or other odd eye things get checked out ASAP. It may be nothing but take it from me, it may actually be something. ❤️

Okay, going back to my big sunglasses caftan recuperation life!

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Aug 30

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Ladies who lunch…

While in Savannah, I made sure to get lunch reservations for me and E at @theoldepinkhouse she loves the color pink, historic homes, and ghost stories so it was a perfect choice! 

Built in 1789 on Reynolds Square, there are stories of guests seeing ghosts, cutlery and wine bottles moving along with an elegant and truly delicious dining. 

While we didn’t see any apparitions, we did have a lovely lunch with impeccable service and after toured all floors of the home. I highly recommend a visit if you’re visiting Savannah!

My dress is from @cosstores (no longer available); hat is @furtalk and bag is @talbotsofficial (no longer available).

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Aug 29

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Scenes from a week in Savannah… 

The three of us (and our dog Oscar!) had a warm and humid but wonderful time exploring Savannah, Georgia earlier this month. Our daughter visited this gorgeous city last summer with her @girlscouts troop but wanted to return to experience more. We let her choose our adventures and play your guide and it was awesome. We cannot wait to visit again, though next time it won’t be August 🥵

For more of our trip check the “Savannah” highlight on my profile page!

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Aug 28

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Stripes are always right…

Y’all know I love stripes and when @universalstandard came out with their Breton-stripe dresses and tops I HAD to try them! As expected, the quality is stellar, the fit boosts my confidence, and I appreciate the range of colors (5 different stripes to choose from) and sizes (00-50). For reference, I’m wearing XS but preferred S for the top and I usually wear a 14 or XL in other brands.

The tote is @able and it’s a soft yet durable leather that just looks better with time. This color (cognac) is one that transitions nicely from summer to fall. 

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4hkEF 

#usinthewild #bretonstripes #midsizestyle #midsizefashion #size14 #over40style

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Aug 27

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The family that wears @printfresh together stays together 🥰

Use code wardrobe_oxygen for 15% off your order of size-inclusive organic cotton sleepwear, dresses, bags & more https://glnk.io/qk04/wardrobe-oxygen

I’ve been raving about my Printfresh pajamas for years, my family also wanted to try them. Thank you Printfresh for gifting these for our annual three generation girls’ getaway to Rehoboth Beach, DE. We had a great time and being all matchy matchy in our pajamas was a fun addition! 🐅🍃🥰

#printfresh #printfreshpajamas #printfreshpartner

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