Here's another pic of the tapestry coat.... taken outside, lighting a bit better. (ignore the incredibly dorky loafers)

http://s386.photobucket.com/al.....at2005.jpg

Beautiful outfits, Shiny! I had a crazy summer and didn't have much time to check the forum, but I am loving seeing your creativity again!

I'm a HUGE fan of your DD's leather jacket. I have one on my list for shopping post-baby. And that last outfit is stunning. So flattering and interesting while also classic. Very nice!!!

Also - the red blouse is very nice and it IS convenient to have a few higher necklines around for work occasions. And I think that tapestry coat is a keeper.

Great outfits! The last outfit is my favorite. Fabulous blouse!
I like the red blouse too-- perhaps try it with a longer neclace to pull your neckline down....

Oooo Shiny, I LOVE DD's jacket with the plaid liining and I love how you have it contrasted with that soft, girly top. I don't mind the high neckline on you either. I think everyone breaks the neckline rules once in a while. It's just so inconvenient to have to stick to one style.

I actually LOVE the tapestry coat on you, Shiny. It’s a little avant-garde. It looks so arty, chic and sophisticated when worn with heels. Please wear it this season !

Adore that lipstick colour on you too. Very pretty!

Shiny, you are too gorgeous! Love the LBD with the boyfriend jacket and boots. The pink shirt IS perfect on you-- fits like a dream! My favorite outfit is the one with the Anthro top and the gorgeous little jacket. LOVE that outfit on you. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful photos!!!

Shiny, thankyou for taking the time to photograph and post your beautiful outfits. I know it is a big job. I enjoy seeing what you have put together each time.
I don't think any of the photos of you are "bad" as you say. You always look great.
Your LBD is beautiful with the boyfriend blazer. I'm so glad you found the perfect one.
Your new bag is gorgeous, I like it best with the shorter handle. It could be that my eye needs adjusting to a cross body bag that is not flat. Have you filled it up and carried it around that way for awhile to make sure it is comfortable for you before you take it to HK?
Your NAS and Anthro blouses are beautiful. You have a great sense of what works for your body and style.
I kept looking at that tapestry coat hanging over the chair in each picture before you got around to trying it on for us. I have a very soft spot in my heart for tapestry anything. I just think it is so beautiful. Like Angie loves pearls, I love tapestry. I am so glad Angie has given you the thumbs up to wear that gorgeous coat. Funny how well you wear cool colors, yet the gold coat looks wonderful on you. You have the golden hair to go with the gold in the coat. The coat has a beautiful line to it also. It gets my thumbs up all around, for whatever that's worth.
Isn't it fun to dig something out of the back of the closet and give it new life?!

Thanks Angie! I intend to wear the coat this fall. It's pretty lightweight, so I have only a month or two to get use out of it, but I've held on to it because it seems like a collectible type piece that may have a place long-term in my closet. I didn't wear it last year because I was on more of a silver streak. But with gold so big this year...

In the past, I'd wear it as seen in the second pic, with a Jcrew cable T-neck, or over a brown knit dress (which I think I may have culled out last year), or over a winter-white wool skirt with black cashmere sweater, neither of which fit me now (too big, not too small... they are on reserve in case my weight climbs again).

Do you think this will work over a black sheath dress? Any other suggestions you may have, let me know... I'm all ears!

Thanks San! I do like this coat a lot. I remember when I found it. It was at Macy's, probably... 7 years ago? I had no idea what I'd wear with it, or where I would wear it, but it just called my name ... you know what I mean! I call it my "Vienna" coat, because I wore it all over Vienna about 4 years back (that's where the second pic was taken), and it really fits the mood and style of that city. Otherwise, I mostly have worn it to the theater. It seems it is the perfect coat for a night out at the theater.

As for the bag, I would not wear the cross-strap most of the time. I just like having the option if I get tired of holding it. I did test it out last night - it worked well for my back. I have never been one to load up too much stuff in my bags. I like the look of a big bag, more than the functionality. I keep the contents pretty sparse: wallet, lipstick, comb, cardigan or scarf. If rain, a tiny umbrella. If traveling, possibly a water bottle, which would be the heaviest item. But, my DH will likely carry a messenger bag on the HK trip, as he does on all our trips, and he doesn't mind carrying the heavy stuff. ;-)

I think I need a smaller bag - clutch or cross body (or something that could work either way - that has a gold zipper, or at least a neutral one (pewter or bronze). But maybe I'll take this along for lugging airplane reading material, etc... and buy a purse when I get there. :-)

Shiny.. I'm a big fan of your style! Love every outfit, but the first one.. that lovely bag and the brown sexy boots.. WOW

Love all the outfits, especially the moto jacket- do not mind the neck at all and that tapestry coat!!Wow, I may come over and steal that one, perfect on you.
The boyfriend blazer works so well with the dr4ess. Inspiring and adorable as always!!!
Did I notice a gorgeous paint color behind you in the kitchen???

You go girl! :-)

That boyfriend jacket was a great buy! Looks great on you and you're getting so much wear out of it. I love the tapestry jacket. I'd love to see it with a sharp, white, woven, collared shirt and some pearls. What about pairing it with some textured pants? Something tweedy. Making the colors in the combination work would be the key.

Yes you did Jean! We love the kitchen color!!! Just have to change out the matting on the back of our mendela - get the purple out of the house because it's not working, as you predicted. And go accessory shopping with you! :-)

DH is now working on painting the den, then the bedroom is all that's left. Only thing is, I do not like the blue in the dining room. You know I had my doubts about the blue. It's not that it's blue, I just think it's the wrong tone - something is off about it to my eye, it's muted or something, compared to the french horn and red. So we'll probably play with that. I'm also considering maybe just painting that wall in the red, like the living room? Do you think that would work? Because I love the red!

Anyway, it took Bill no time at all to paint that accent wall, and he is happy to repaint it over and over again until I'm happy...

That tapestry coat would probably look wonderful over a black sheath dress. Try black slacks too. Ponti de Roma pants perhaps?

I will play around with it... I also love Alecia's idea about a white shirt.... I may try a white shirt tucked into black pencil skirt. Keep it simple, let the jacket be the star?

I think you are destined to wear black leather. You can rock it. Also, love your hair when it's tucked behind your ears as in the last photo.

Thanks, Kyle. I like my hair that way too. I think I am destined to break up with my hairdresser soon, sigh. I keep giving him another chance.... but he's just not listening to me. I wanted this last dye job to be a little darker - it's so light right now, in certain lighting, I fear it makes me look like I've gone silver. And my hair is getting damaged too. Or maybe it's just a tad too ashy? But he ignores what I ask for, and does what he wants, and then when I complain, he brushes it off and says, "But you were MEANT to be this blonde... and you could go even blonder..." Grrrr....

Also, the cut is not quite right. I keep asking for it to be shorter, funky, more piecey, more angled, etc... and to me it's getting more Martha Stewart-ish instead. I'm finding it harder and harder to work with, and I'm having more bad hair days than good!

You look amazing! I love the use of jewelry!

Shiny, I don't think your neck looks short at all, and I love that blouse on you! I also love it with your daughter's jacket & how the plaid cuffs make the outfit just that much more interesting.

Incredible coat!

Have you tried searching for near-exact photos to the hairstyle you want (or the color) to give your stylist a better idea of what you are looking for? Or does he just flat out ignore what you are asking for? I'm sorry you aren't getting exactly what you're requesting. :(

Seems like blond is hard to work with? Last time I had my hair done I wanted it to be a bit darker too, and supposedly she low lighted it, yet it looks exactly the same. I don't understand it one bit! I like my stylist, she cuts my hair really well, but it is really frustrating when you ask for something (and pay lots of money for it!) and it doesn't turn out right!