Last week you saw the beginning of my New Year’s commitment to add a 70’s edge to my style, complete with faux fur leather jacket, turtle neck and gold medallion. This week I’m feelin’ groovy and adding a dressier Valentino touch as I enjoy our beautiful mild Winter weather.

Once again I’m in Gap’s Long & Leans, which apart from my jodhpur jeans, are a favourite to belt with a tucked-in top. I think it’s because those pairs of jeans are roomier than my bootcuts, and I prefer a tucked-in top look on my body with roomier bottoms. I added a new fawn studded belt and new fawn ankle boots (both courtesy of my Dad for birthday and Christmas).

I’ve had the black pussy bow blouse for years and it’s a favourite that you’ve seen before. I usually leave the ties knotted instead of tying a bow because the fabric is quite thick. I was inspired by Valentino’s one-sided bows that he pops onto some of his jackets and handbags. So I tied one of those bows instead and here is the result. I like asymmetry so the bow works for me, but I also get that the effect might not be your cup of tea.

To soften the harshness of the black against my pale face I add white specs. The bow acts like an accessory so there is no need to add jewelry other than a wedding ring and watch.  Of course, my beloved Valentino handbag was the prefect way to complete the look.

The 70’s inspiration is more subtle than it was in the previous outfit. It’s also closer to my usual style because it’s dressy, simple, crisp and not very earthy. The subtle changes created by adding in fawn coloured belt and boots, wider cut jeans and a tucked-in top have refreshed my style. Feels good!

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This one is especially for members of Team Heels. Although I’m on Team Flats, I do wear low heels and very occasionally go up to three inches (my sitting shoes). All my heels, unless they are wedges, are chunky and stacked. I do not have stiletto heeled shoes because I prefer the stability and overall look of a chunkier stacked heel. I am Team Stacked Heel.

Ironically, my small, regular width, bony feet look good in a stiletto heel since the proportions work in harmony. As much as I like stacked heels, I have to keep the style of the shoe fairly refined in order to pull off the silhouette. If the heels and style of the shoe are too chunky, the shoes look like they are wearing me.

Over to you. Are you Team Stiletto or Team Stacked Heels? Tell us why. No batting for both Teams. You can sit this one out if you don’t wear heels or if you like both styles equally.

I am not a trouser and dressy slacks gal at all. Apart from jeans, skinny micro check pants, and slouchy harem pants, I don’t wear trousers. I much prefer to wear dresses and skirts when I need to be dressy. But I do have a charcoal baby pinstripe suit that you have seen me wear before. I’ve had it for years and still enjoy wearing it both in classic and unexpected ensembles.

After talking about impeccable Theory suits with an international online client on Saturday afternoon, I really felt like wearing my own suit again. We were going out to a little French Bistro with dear friends that evening and that was the perfect opportunity. I paired it with a sleek black turtle neck which I tucked into the suit trousers leaving the suit jacket un-buttoned. I liked the contrast of the charcoal pinstripe with the black. To dress down the suit, I matched it up with a very casual fawn coloured studded belt (looping it through the belt loops), and my fawn Frye ankle boots. The exact boots and belt are pictured.

I was going to wear my gold medallion over the turtle neck, but left it off to keep the look simple. Instead I finished off the ensemble with a chunky pearl cocktail ring, white watch, white specs, and grey clutch with metallic eyelet beadwork.  I felt very “Ralph Lauren” all night.

Eventually I’ll post a picture of the outfit but in the meantime I have added below items that are similar to the rest of my ensemble. My suit comes in handy, and I do enjoy pairing it with unexpected items. I’m inspired to try more interesting combinations with my suit when we go out next weekend. Hmmm. I must be getting into this season’s trouser vibe after all.

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Hubby Greg knew that I wouldn’t be married to my original wedding ring. So over the last 14 years of marriage, I’ve changed my wedding ring style several times. I hope that doesn’t shock you.

When we got engaged in 1996, Greg selected a gold and white gold wedding ring with a few small, centered diamonds. I was never into the idea of wearing an engagement ring AND a wedding band, so I had two gold wedding bands fused to either side of the engagement ring so that it became a single chunky piece. I absolutely loved it and wore it for a few years with a mixed metallic watch. I have this thing that my wedding ring and watch need to match.

When simple platinum jewelry became all the range in the late 90’s I changed my wedding ring look to a plain, platinum wedding band. I got the same ring for Greg and wore that for a few years. I also changed my watch look to just silver.

My Mum passed away in 2000 and at that moment I really wanted to wear her wedding ring, which is an engraved gold wedding band. I did that for a year or so and wore a mixed metallic watch to match the gold ring. After a while I went back to wearing my plain platinum wedding band with silver watches.

In 2003 I stumbled across a ring that stole my heart. It’s a 1938 vintage estate piece, white gold, pave in design with microscopic scattered diamonds. I’ve been wearing this wedding ring for the longest time and it’s been the favourite so far. And it works well with my white and silver watches.

I am still on the lookout for a chunky brushed gold watch. When I find it, I’ll both wear it with my Mum’s gold wedding ring or the original gold and white gold wedding ring that Greg gave me.

It might seem odd that over the years I’ve changed my wedding ring style and that I am now in a position where I can swap out wedding rings and watches with the rest of my ensemble. But I guess that’s my wedding ring persona! I don’t want to swap out my husband but I do want to swap out the ring.

I’ve already been thinking about my next wedding ring, although I won’t be adding it to my collection any time soon. It will be a Mikimoto pearl and probably in white gold.