A Little Bit Classic(al), A Little Bit Rock-And-Roll
Saturday night was Symphony Night. My in-laws had been long-time subscribers and supporters of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra and, while they were both with us, would sometimes invite us to attend a concert with them. After my father-in-law passed away in 2006, we began attending regularly with my mother-in-law. Then after she passed away in 2011, we decided to continue renewing our season passes for the Classical series, as it’s an opportunity to see and stay in touch with family friends who are also LBSO “regulars.” Plus, we really enjoy the concerts!
We’ve been having an extended cold snap here in Southern California, so staying warm was a primary consideration. I layered it up but good. Keeping in mind the necessity of my leather overcoat, I went for warmth without the bulk. Here’s one of the reasons I’ll always be a fan of black: it’s easy to dress up simple pieces in a pinch.
Sweater: Eileen Fisher, a couple of years old. Similar shape.
Turtleneck: Silk, Ann Taylor, at least 6 years old. Similar. (This is another of those items I wish I’d bought in multiples when it was available.)
Tank (underneath turtleneck, for warmth): Eileen Fisher.
Pants: Eileen Fisher “Rock Star”ponte knit jeans. (Available in Plus and Petite too.)
Boots: Stuart Weitzman, about 6 years old. Similar.
Necklaces: Chanel, 2 or 3 years old. Similar. Pearls from Beladora II. More gorgeous vintage pearl necklaces here.
Bracelets: Stella and Dot. Here, and here.
But this (above) wasn’t the first version of my concert-going ensemble. I’d promised Adrienne at The Rich Life (on a budget) that I’d show how I style my NYDJ Coated Sheri jeans. I hadn’t worn these for a few weeks, and when I put them on, something just wasn’t right. I kept trying different tops/jackets, and snapped a few outfit shots. After glancing at the results, it became clear….
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| Yoiks! Pants. Too. Big. |
So Adrienne, this is how I *would* have styled them for a night out at the symphony. 🙂 I realized I’ve dropped close to ten pounds since I purchased them in the fall. Guess they’ll be added to the donation pile. (I don’t know if these are even alterable, and even if so aren’t worth the investment it would take.)
I switched over to my Eileen Fisher ponte knit jeans. By the time I got my outfit settled, I was close to losing the light.
The bag is my trusty Wallet on a Chain (Chanel). Because of the long necklaces, I didn’t want to wear it cross-body or even on the shoulder, so triple looped the chain and carried in hand.
I find that Classic looks can easily veer toward Stodgy (at least on me), so try to balance out those pieces with some that are more edgy/current.
Baby, it was cold outside! I needed that leather jacket. By the time the concert let out, it was close to freezing.
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| Shivering in front of the fountain. |
Still, I made le monsieur stop long enough snap a quick phone pic in front of the pretty fountain outside.
Hope your week is off to a great start! I’m linking up with Patti’s Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style.
Do you like to mix different styles (Classic/Trendy/Bohemian/Edgy) or do you prefer to keep it consistent?
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That is my favourite look ever on you, it’s just perfection and works so well with your hair. Fabulous x2!
Tabitha, thank you so much!
Just beautiful!
Love love love everything about your look! Classy with a modern twist. FABULOUS!
gracefully50, thanks so much! Modern classic is very much what I’m striving for.
Gorgeous top-to-toe, Une Femme. I am wearing EF today too, and her pieces just fit, flatter and last forever. Love, love the Chanel bag and how you’ve made it so versatile. And thanks for sharing all the good stuff with Visible Monday!
Patti, it’s really amazing to me how many years’ wear I’ve had from some of these EF pieces. They definitely have longevity (which contributes to a good CPW). Thank you, and thanks again for hosting Visible Monday!
Honoring your family by maintaing your symphony attendance must feel good for the soul. And I’m sure you were turning heads in the process, as chic as you appear in your photos. I love your mix of styles!
Judith, it’s felt in a way like we’re honoring their memory by continuing to support something that was important to them. And thank you so much!
You look fabulous and I love how you’ve worn those necklaces.
10 pounds is a size smaller for sure so it’s no surprise that the pants are too big on you now.
It’s chilly and icy up here too…stay warm and cozy!
hostess, thanks so much! You’ve actually been one of my inspirations to pull my pearls out and wear them more often. We’ve had near-record cold temperatures here. I don’t mind, mostly, but our homes and wardrobes here aren’t as prepared for this kind of cold.
Love this outfit! ‘A bit rock and roll’ definitely works for you.
That’s Not My Age, thank you.
I’m in your camp with the black. It predominates my wardrobe so I also use my accessories for punch and character. I couldn’t agree more that too much “classic” tends towards stodgy. At my age I need something edgier in the mix. I think everyone should mix it up style wise or we end up looking boring. You’ve nailed it perfectly.
Have a great week…I hope it warms up. We are freezing here in SF!
A Well Styled Life, I do think black gets a bad rap sometimes. I love just a little bit of edge, makes me feel like *me*. Thank you so much! I won’t mind if it warms up just a little bit. 😉
That stodgy aspect does tend to creep in as we age & our bodies change. Mixing it up a bit, adding some punch keeps our spirits & our wardrobes up. When I see that in (& on) a woman, I know she cares for herself & enjoys life. It’s clear in your photos that both are true!
Anonymous, thank you so much! That’s a high compliment indeed.
Susan, you are looking muy svelte, congratulations on the weight loss. I’m inspired :). I see that the coated pants are too big, but I love that look on you. Please model the smaller ones when you have them.
Susan P, thank you! I’m not sure that I’m going to replace these at this point. Right now I’m trying to pare down the closet and really evaluate what’s there and what gets worn the most.
Love the EF – will always be grateful to you for turning me on to them.
The to-big jeans thing – I admit that this has happened to me. Sometimes I wonder if I’m buying them too big, really, because I never think I’m losing weight.
I did gain just a bit of weight on our London trip, maybe 4 or 5 pounds – my waistbands are just a little tight. So I need to get back on the treadmill.
Aunt Snow, I really don’t know what I’d do at this point without my EF stalwarts. Jeans tend to stretch out, I’ve learned. So even if they fit when you first buy them, they’ll look and feel bigger over time.
Wow. The difference between the two shots with clothes that are baggy and clothes that fit is astounding. No matter what we weigh – clothes that fit look better (and slimmer)
Anonymous, it’s really astounding, isn’t it? I used to wear everything too big, thinking it was more “flattering.” But there’s no substitute for good fit.
Thank you for reminding me to wear my long lariat pearls with black. I have a lot of reliable black pieces in my wardrobe too. At the risk of sounding too concerned about weight, I want to say that, at least for me, the stodgy matronly look seems to correspond with my weight. I need to lose some pounds. For that reasons, I am pondering what to wear to a daytime wedding in Key West this weekend. I am NOT shopping for something new. I tried on several things from my closet this morning. While all fit a bit more closely to my body than I would like, none are too small. None were black, but I am taking some trusty black pieces on the trip even though the temp will be in the upper 70s.
Today, it is cold in Dallas and I am wearing a pair of EF gray knit pants, a cashmere turtleneck (worthny.com) and an EF short alpaca jacket. I have to say that EF has become a real mainstay of my wardrobe. Would it be the same if I dropped 25 lbs? I’m not sure.
Susan, your lariat pearls sound wonderful. I’ve never been to Key West but hear that it’s lovely. Have fun at the wedding! I’m finding that EF is still a wardrobe mainstay. The pieces are just so versatile and comfortable (and travel well too).
Classic, chic, beautiful….I love to go to the symphony. They play in our amazing Majestic Theater which is a treat in itself. Have a wonderful week!! You look fabulous!
Pam, thank you! I think a beautiful theater adds to the pleasure of the performance.
You look great — perfect for an evening at the symphony!
So surprising that our temperatures have been getting close — although we’ve been just on the other side of freezing, with lots of ice on the ground. I notice that you don’t wear gloves at that temp — I’m never without mine from about mid-October here. Never. . . .
materfamilias, thanks so much! It’s very unusual for us to get nighttime temperatures near freezing for multiple days. I thought about gloves, but the ones I have are a bit heavy for our weather, and for my outfit. Fortunately I had pockets I could stuff my hands into!
You always look so sophisticated. I like an edgy rocker look myself but for some reason always end up classically dressed.
Marla, thank you. Are there items that read to you as more “rocker/edgy” that you could mix with your classics?
You look terrific – great look on you.
Kathy, thank you!
I love an all black look and the necklaces and bracelets were the perfect accessory choices.
Thank you so much for taking a photo of your outfit with the NYDJ for me to see. They do look too big on you.
I will likely be returning my pair of Sheri jeans because they are a little big on me too – and I don’t think the cut works well on my shape.
Sounds like a lovely way to spend an evening out on the town!
Thank you again!
Adrienne
Adrienne, you’re very welcome. I’m on the fence about whether to replace these in the next size down. They’re fun, but I’m not sure whether the coated jeans are a passing trend or whether they’ll have longevity. Right now I’m trying to hold the line on replacing wardrobe pieces; I’m using this weight loss as an opportunity to pare down.
If I were you I would not buy them again. The coating has come off of both of my pairs. The black came off a lot and the Terra Hide color is wearing off on the seat. I am not very happy with them for what they cost. I do love the Sheri but the Jade Leggings, which to me are more jeans than leggings, are my favorite. They really fit nicely in the legs.
Great look – clean, classic, not fussy. I really love all the pearls hung together. And I didn’t think the NYDJ jeans looked too big. Maybe you could do something like roll the cuff up and wear them casually.
Anyway, you look perfect, and I hope you enjoyed the symphony!
Val, thank you! The symphony program was a good one this time, Rossini, Saint-Saens and some Debussy.
What a great outfit for the LBSO.
Of course I love the layered necklaces and the wallet on a chain bag is the best! I’m going to try that.
Belle, thank you! This long rope of pearls is so versatile. The wallet on a chain as well…the Sales Associate showed us 7 different ways it can be worn, but I don’t remember all of them.
I’ve been interested in those NYDJs for a while so it’s great to see them on a person I trust, even though they are big on you. This ensemble is fabulous, so chic and so you!
Alison, I do think they’re quite nice if they fit right. 😉 And thank you very much! I do think this hits my Style Sweet Spot.
Such a great outfit and so instructive re fit, as first pants are cool and second pair too big- but will delight someone. And- ta da! Pearls! Love the layered styling, you look sassy.
Duchesse, thank you! This long rope of pearls is very versatile, and the irregular shapes keep them from being too Dowager Countess. 🙂
Great ensemble, Femme! You def rock the EF black pieces. Funny, I was in San Fransisco last Friday visiting a well known leather store. A woman walked in, and for a second I thought it could be you. She was from So Cal and was having her late MIL’s vintage coats altered. No, you are much more attractive and polished. Thanks for being my favorite blogging Femme d’un certain age!
Marguerite, thank you so much! No that wasn’t me, but I’d sure love to get up to SF again soon…
Great ensemble, Femme! You def rock the EF black pieces. Funny, I was in San Fransisco last Friday visiting a well known leather store. A woman walked in, and for a second I thought it could be you. She was from So Cal and was having her late MIL’s vintage coats altered. No, you are much more attractive and polished. Thanks for being my favorite blogging Femme d’un certain age!
I really love this outfit. I have a thing for black and a thing for classic simple outfits. Love the boots and the spiky bracelet that gives that outfit a bit of edge.
Lisa, thank you! I have a thing for both simple styles and black too. I don’t know why I always fight it and second-guess myself.
Are the pants worth taking in? You know I love alterations!
Wendy, nah. If I could even find a good alterations person here, I’d probably spend less by getting the jeans on sale. Last thing I had done was $25 just for a simple machine hem. >:-(
I am madly in love with those boots. Also admiring the ropes of necklaces. You look fantastic, Susan!
Amber, thank you very much! I’m still in love with these boots, and they’ve held up amazingly. I’ll be very sad when they’re beyond a cobbler’s skills, but that day is hopefully far off.
You look anything but stodgy. I love seeing you in more figure-flattering clothes, and I also love seeing style bloggers pile on the necklaces. You really look super cool but in a not too cool for the symphony kinda way 🙂
Lynne, thanks so much! The symphony (like everything else) has definitely become a more casual affair in recent years. Not many people dress to the nines anymore, but I like to take it up a notch from what I’d normally wear on a Saturday night. I love wearing layered necklaces, and want to do it more often.
This and your leopard scarf outfit are my favorites. I love your accessories. (I can’t believe how cold CA is! I so miss our visits to Pasadena–your outdoor pictures always are reminders of happy visits.)
frugalscholar, thanks so much! We occasionally get a really cold day or two here, but usually it doesn’t go on quite so long. Pasadena is lovely, all of the big old trees!
Congrats on the weight loss! If you’ve lost 20 or more pounds then alterations would not be advised but considering the initial cost of the pants, altering them would cost a fraction of that and allow you to get a bit more wear out of them. I’m always on the side of fashion frugality whenever feasible!
Beautifuldreamer1066, thank you! For as little as I’ve worn them, I’m not inclined to alter the pants; around here decent alterations can be quite pricey, and it’s hard to find people who do it right.
Dressed to the perfection. And congratulations for the weight loss!
Thank you very much, mette!
Susan, love your outfit! I have the exact same bag! and I love it!!
I do not know how to mix my friend… the best I can do is wear a giant scarf as a Bohemian touch!! But you manage to look chic and fresh, never stodgy!! LOL
Love, Cecile
Cecile, thank you! Aren’t these great little bags. A big scarf is a nice way to “loosen up” a classic ensemble.
Susan, I know JUST what you mean about classics. Even when I was 19, I favored very tailored classic things, but I find the older I get, the more I have to shake them up with something splashy because they tend to emphasize the fact that I AM IN FACT a middle-aged woman. You look lovely! I’m with you–I love being able to grab something black and let it be my canvas.
I just purchased a black beaded tunic top to wear with velvet pants to the symphony–$3 at Goodwill with the tags still hanging on it. I was giddy with joy!
Crystal, thanks so much! I think it’s important to keep our “classics” updated and *modern.* Cuts, fabrics and silhouettes change over the decades. You top sounds fantastic, what a great find!
There’s a fine line between chic minimalism and boring – and you are always on the winning side of the line. I love this look. And the sharp jewellery adds a lovely pinch. I love going to the symphony. I’m glad you didn’t write that anyone was wearing jeans… it happens sometimes here in Vancouver.
Melanie, thank you so much! Actually one does occasionally see someone in jeans. Not often, but the range of sartorial choices spans the gamut. The one and only time I’ve been to the opera (here in LA) I was aghast to see people in jeans and tee shirts.
LOVE THIS OUTFIT!!! <--- I needed to use all caps and many exclaims to make my point. It is just right- modern and classy and edgy but not over the top. In short a perfect night on the town ensemble. Classic. Rock N Roll. Awesome.
Bella, you are so sweet! Thank you so much!!! <---there's my exclamation points back atcha. Mwaaah!
I adore this outfitand it looks so fine on you. The pearls are a perfect touch and it looks very modern and very chic.
Debbi, thanks so much! I adore these pearls and wear them as often as I can.
I really like your style. Your outfits always look so well thought out, but this is one of my favorites. It’s appropriate for the symphony, too; you look elegant and edgy, and not a hunt of frumpiness.
As much as I love the cold, I’m glad the weather has warmed up in the last few days. It’s been nice to get a breeze going through my apartment without needing to pile on the sweaters.
I *think* I like to keep it consistent.
(But Coco Chanel was such a modern rebel.)
I *think* I like to keep it consistent.
(But Coco Chanel was such a modern rebel.)