Fashion & Flair: Simple Pleasures

Oops... I just noticed that my arms have become less than Greek. When did that happen?

Today, wherever... whenever I see a chic pantyhose-like arm covering top... I grab it.

These tops don't add any bulk around the middle or in a suitcase when traveling.

These thin, thin, thin pantyhose for arms will hide wrinkles and don't wrinkle.

Like finding a perfect silver dollar on a beach, I usually spot and score one of these treasures

every time I cruise through a resale shop or the flea market.

Hooray for this discovery because now... all of my strapless and sleeveless shirts and dresses have been advanced to the front of the closet. Until Donna Karan or Spanx start making arm “must have” covers... I've got us all covered!

Finally, this arm covering concept is beginning to catch on. At last, I'm seeing them in all of the fall magazines.

These are my two favorite finds. A tank or a teddy underneath and I'm good to go.

What a beauty. Last week, when I saw this this handsome Gucci bag I was nearly obsessed with it.

Bamboo handle and all, I was delighted when I found this one at a local vintage store. Here's a tip: if you need to update or freshen up a handbag... you can purchase bamboo purse handles at most craft stores.

OK, clearly I love and respect Miuccia Prada. She is always at least a year ahead of the fashion curve. That said...I couldn't resist having fun with one of her Fall ideas of wearing a glitzy top over a cashmere sweater.

Even though I am a member of Screen Actors Guild, I was cracking up inside as I took these photographs. Yup, this LOL attitude was a wild-n-crazy challenge.

In the world of fashion, Mark Jacobs is another HUGE star. He goes way beyond pushing the envelope... he rips it open and jumps off the edge... laughing all the way to the bank . When I saw this picture of him out on the town in his pajamas... I thought: “I can do that too”. So I did.

How nuts is it that some gift tissues cost nearly a dollar a piece. If tissues are more wrinkled than my arms, they aren't reusable and so you can't save a tree. Well now you can! Just fist-wrinkle them and get to wrapping. Save a tree and save a dollar for happy hour.

How cool & hot are these POW, POW, POW cartoon looking gowns! And what's even more cool & hot is seeing Google Glass used in mainstream fashion.

Again, laughing my head off on the inside, I couldn't resist copycatting this image.

Other than Martha Stewart (who calls it Art Yuck-oh) who doesn't love the Art Deco Era. Like this delicious Gatsby chemise, there's a good chance that you can re-create a silhouette that you admire by combining pieces in your closet with a resale shop score or two.

My scores were the red and black Ferragamos and this “see through” pantyhose-like knit shirt. The paillette embellished top has been hanging in my closet for years. OMG.... I'm lovin' this combo.

Did your mother have a lingerie drawer full of half slips? I love my flirty girly collection. My sister found a few last week at what she calls (with a twinkle in her eye) "Salvatore Armani" (Salvation Army). Maybe next season, Prada or Jacobs will start wearing half slips over skirts and out on the town.

Last week, I was wowed with this POP OF POWER ensemble in a fall fashion magazine.

The next day, I found this at Salvatore Armani. I'm rifling through my closet to find a POP OF POWER to compliment this otherwise uninteresting "trying to be '50s retro" coat. OK:”let the challenge begin”.

CUTE as a button has never been my trajectory. Lady like hasn't ever been a goal. That said...this lady like look is pretty cute. Perhaps....maybe I'll give it a try for my next “ladies who lunch” afternoon in San Francisco. Why not be Jackie Kennedy ....just for one day.