Look Of The Week: Red Accents
There’s a lot to be said for a wardrobe of neutral, classic pieces. They’re sophisticated, and easy to style. But if your neutral outfits need a boost, accessories can be a fun and easy way to add color and create visual impact.
If you’re adding multiple points of color with accessories, I’d suggest sticking to one color or color family. I’ve noticed that chic Parisian women do this, and it helps keep the look pulled-together.
Thursday miscellany
We’re getting a bit of much-needed rain this week. I love it, but Bella’s not a fan. She stands at the back door, looks at the rain, turns and looks at me like, “Mom, make it STOP!” 😂
I had my annual physical last week and all my bloodwork came back great, except for my cholesterol. It’s not as high as it has been in the past, but my doctor wanted to start me on statins, which I really don’t want to take. A few years ago I was able to lower my cholesterol substantially with a (mostly) plant-based diet, so told her I wanted to try that for a few months first. We’ll check bloodwork again in a couple of months. Fingers crossed…
After hearing David Lynch had passed away a few weeks ago, I started watching Twin Peaks again. I’d forgotten how good it was! You can’t try to make sense of it all; you just have to strap in and go along for the ride.
It’s also fun to re-visit some of the fashion. The long skirts! The patterned sweaters! While we often think of the 90’s in terms of minimalist fashion, the costumes were still very 80’s-influenced. (The TV show aired in 1990-1991.)
One year, I was the Log Lady for Halloween. It was an easy costume to put together, and I had fun staying in character.
For a few years during the pandemic, David Lynch used to call in a daily weather report to our local NPR station, KCRW. I always enjoyed those, and recently learned that he also videotaped them. You can watch on YouTube HERE.
Do you ever go back and re-watch older TV series?
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Love the note to stay in same color palette for the pop in a neutral outfit — a la Chanel’s dictum, likely good to ask myself if it would be best to remove one of the pops of color as I tend to go for it, sometimes.
Also — yes! to watching old tv series; this is one of the joys of streaming for us — and we find we turn most to comedies given the heaviness of this timeline.
Ask your doctor for a cardiac scan. If your cardiac risk is low, you may not have to worry about cholesterol.
Love the red woven leather bag! Re statins and cholesterol, I think you are wise to try a plant-based diet for a few months. I frequently refer to Dr Gregor and his site, Nutritionfacts.org. They have a good video series on statins — and if you prefer reading (skimming!) over listening, there are transcripts for each video.
I echo the endorsement of Dr. Greger and the Nutritionfacts website. I don’t have high cholesterol but I had scary, on-going GI problems a year and a half ago that wouldn’t resolve. My healthcare provider made some recommendations, one of which was to increase fiber in the diet. Most Americans don’t get the recommended amount. I started counting fiber intake which, naturally, meant eating a lot more whole-plant foods every day. While making adjustments to my diet and still trying to get control of my health issue at the beginning of last year, I happened to watch the documentary series “You Are What You Eat” on Netflix. It’s about an interesting twin study done recently on Vegan diets. I was intrigued by one of the healthcare professionals they interview for it, Dr. Michael Greger. Looked him up online and as part of my dietary overhaul, started aiming for his “Daily Dozen” servings of plant foods every day. I almost never get all the servings but aiming for them is a good way for me to sort of center a plant-based whole food diet. I am a numbers person and having a concrete number of servings to shoot for just helps me! I’m not completely vegan but do have vegan meals frequently. I eat beans almost every day now, that alone was a big change. I also cut way back on alcohol and refined sugar. Getting the proper amount of daily fiber fills you up and for me anyway seems to eliminate cravings. My taste buds seemed to resensitize to actual flavors other than sugar, fat and salt so that real whole food is quite satisfying. It’s had to explain but I am aware of feeling well-nourished now. I wasn’t trying to lose weight at all but lost 15 pounds over the course of about 6 months, I’m back to what I weighed in my 30’s, and the change has resulted in all around health benefits including resolving the GI symptoms. Sorry if I’m gushing, I just had such positive health results I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about fiber! For weight loss, equally as deserving of attention as ozempic/monjaro/etc IMO. Cholesterol has not been my issue, but I hope you too get the results you want from a dietary adjustment.
BTW, first time commenting…I enjoy your website very much Susan-you’ve inspired me to go gray, I’m about halfway!
Love the outfit combination today. This look never goes out of style!
sometimes I think doctors just give women over a certain age statins to cover themselves. They have me on 20m. as low as you can go. I am trying to go plant based. Tough when I am not a fan of beans.
Yes a Dr Gregor recommendation from this side of the pond. He is respectable and peer reviewed, I worked in public health and so always check credentials!
Hi, Susan. I have been streaming Mad Men and Weeds. Very enjoyable.
Good morning, Susan. I do not say this works for all, but psyllium fiber lowered my cholesterol
40 points. My primary care doctor is skeptical of statins for those over 80 – 82 here – cardiologist advises them so I can live 20 years more – I thanked him for making me laugh. Bon courage!
Statins are contraindicated for the elderly. 85 and up. Had a really hard time getting the doctor to d/c my 93 & 98 yr old parents statins. My husband is on a low dose now and is having difficulties adjusting. I think he’s a risky character so feel he should stay on them. I worked in cardiac care and women at low risk didn’t require statins Reference: Framingham study Most doctors use it to determine risk factors if they want to prescribe statins. Honestly from what I’ve seen cardiac arrhythmia is probably a greater risk in 65+ women than blood cholesterol.
Wise choice Susan to try an alternative method before the meds but as a nutritionist I echo all who say up the fibre, soluble and insoluble. Bran buds are the bomb!! Beans, lentils, chick peas, rolled oats, chia, and my favourite, ground flax seed.
We are loving watching 30 Rock again. It’s good to laugh during these crazy times.
My daughter LOVES 30 Rock, and whenever she visits, she makes me watch several episodes. She says it was way ahead of its time, and that there’s a 30 Rock episode that’s relevant to nearly everything happening in the news these days.
Seinfeld forever!
I have heard that high cholesterol is very hard to avoid once we are postmenopausal and do not produce estrogen. Unfortunately I think it is too late for me to start an estrogen patch. Of course we are all individual. Someone I know is vegan and still has high cholesterol. My favorite old show is “The Office.” I wish you well with lowering cholesterol through diet.
I tried red yeast rice and my cholesterol dropped from about 220 to 176. However, the internist said that statins keep arteries supple but red yeast rice does not. I gave in and take a statin.
I can do understand you don’t we any to take statins. In my family three people took them and it had consequences. For instance my mum developed rheumatism because of the medication. Those pharmacists push their drugs to no end.
Anyway… Good luck with the diet.
Greetje
A calcium cardiac scan- which is a cardiac cat scan can determine the amount of plaque you have and determine whether or not a statin is advised. It is usually not a covered test but isn’t very expensive. Information is power- consider asking about one of those!
I’m the same with cholesterol, and have found success in lowering it with Red Yeast Rice, though this is not for anyone with liver problems, apparently. Wishing you the best as you navigate the fallout from the fires. We’re new to the area and are now displaced but in a safe place with family. I am learning to live with a small capsule wardrobe – the kind you suggest for travel. It really does make life simpler. Love the red accent idea. I’ve always loved your blog. Wishing you blessing during these strange, strange times.
Recently, my husband and I watched the entire Foyles War series. The last episode aired in 2013. I think it started in 2004. We will watch this again in a few years.
Yes! Foyle got us through hard times.
Foyle’s War is an excellent series!
Also recommend “How not to Die”, “How not to Age”, “How not to Diet” by Michael Gregor. I found lowering my intake of high fat cheese (which I love) – cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, etc. helped lower my cholesterol.
Hi Susan,
Does or can khaki work in the palette of an Autumn ?
Thanks.
Yes, khaki is in the Autumn palette!
Thanks Susan.. I like khaki but thought khaki (vs. tan) leaned cool.
As to cholesterol…
Mine jumped 50 points in a years time (66 y.o.). MD wanted statin, I don’t. Asked for time to clean up my diet(though not bad, there is room for improvement). Retest in April
….good luck to us both !
I love a pop of red. It’s such a sophisticated color. I have red bags and a red/white/blue silk scarf that I never wear. I bought it because I loved the motif but now it feels like I’m making a political statement.
Love the red accents, don’t wear all that much when it’s not the holidays.
Came late to The Office (US version) about five years ago and still watch episodes as comfort watching.
I too have avoided statins by keeping my diet low meat and getting regular exercise. My last physical my “bad” cholesterol had crept up to borderline high again. I wasn’t surprised since I had a challenging year and knew I’d let my diligence on my diet slip. Knowing that I want to avoid statins, my doctor advised to get my diet back on track as well as to focus on getting enough fiber daily. Increasing fiber has been surprisingly easy! My doctor also suggested the scan another commenter mentioned, if the results are good, the worry about cholesterol is removed. It’s worth considering! Wishing you the best, we all need to reduce our meat consumption for so many reasons!
We’re rewatching Law & Order to escape. Who knew Dun Dun would be such a comforting sound?