Love your colours for the spring. I have the same ones but included Turquose as well. I have been there with the knee injury for several years and it just kept coming back. I agree that you will likely need to get rid of the heels and go 2 inches or less - perhaps even 1.5. I have 2 pairs of heels for special occasion. I had a few more but purged them in the mighty purge marathon this weekend. It will be hard because you have lovely things but the knee health is worth it.

I always enjoy your musings. And I appreciate that you post them.
I just want to say that I am sorry about your knee. I love how proactive you are being about it. I agree that you should keep one or two pairs of shoes ( as sitting shoes ) for dressier or just fun occassions. Thankfully, we now live in a world where we can go to a party and dance with our shoes OFF.

I completely agree with your conclusion on thrifting or just cheap items in general. Unless it is OK to buy something fun that you know will be disposable at the end of the Season. I think that when one is younger, it is ok to look "experimental" and that means the fabrics and cuts lack quality sometimes because people want fast fashion. But at a certain age ( ours ) it is nice to feel "wrapped" in quality. Because we are quality women who have "arrived" in a way. Even if that means fewer things. It used to be that way in the days that I was growing up. I don't know if that makes any sense, LOL.

Getting used to a new body is tough. Getting used to a new body without any judgement is tougher. Being utterly neutral in accessing your body and how things will fit takes practice. Don't be hard on yourself.

Why are you going minimalist ? You don't stike me as a sartorial minimalist. You have so much energy and fun.....and I can see that expressed through accessories as you wardrobe stabilizes with fewer items but better quality.

Claire - absolutely fantastic comment about an item making "me look cheap". I hadn't thought of it that way but it is true. A really poor quality item or poorly fitting item can indeed make the wearer look cheap. Not the look I'm after!

Harmonica - I really appreciate your supportive comments and it is hard to comment on the threads these days. Pretty much impossible to keep up now, isn't it?

Glory - I didn't know you had a knee injury too? I dislocated my knee and tore my ACL about two years ago in a running accident and it has been a difficult injury to overcome. Physiotherapy has been my saving grace and you are right, pretty heeled shoes are not worth the pain or the slowing down of my healing process.

Isabel - wow! Great thoughts here. We have indeed at our age worked hard to get to where we are and we absolutely deserve to be wrapped in quality. I really like that way of thinking. As to your question about why am I going minimal? I honestly don't know - lol! I started out wanting to try it as it seemed on trend and for the most part, have enjoyed it. But I have been missing some of my retro elements and some of my jewelry so now need to figure out a way to marry these styles. You always have such great insight Isabel and I really appreciate it when you chime in

Thank you all. I have much to think about.

Totally hear you on 4, 5 and 6. The only thing I would add is that you might not want to just dump all your higher heels if you love them - you have been in flux and who knows whether you'll return to them occasionally. I have noticed that not all 3" heels are equal - some are more comfortable than lower heels for me, others feel like torture.

That's a great place to start, Shannon.

I'm another *ahem* older woman with wonky knees that I blame on my love affair with 3" heels that I always wore when I was younger. The standing, and the running up and down stairs carrying an armful of papers and books, though, finally took their toil when I also tore an ACL a few years ago. I recovered, to an extent, by faithfully doing my exercises but, if you are older, that knee never really goes back to the way it was before the accident. I'm also starting to feel the twinges of arthritis if I overdo the running or skiing.

Being able to stay active means more to me these days than wearing 3" heels, so I've resolved to stay with lower heels. I wish I had been a bit smarter when I was younger and realized that even a "comfortable" high heel can result in knee and foot issues when you get older. Mobility is something that you take for granted until you don't have it, so I think you are wise to transfer your affections to lower heels. As you say, Shannon, no matter how pretty the shoe, it's just not worth compromising the healing process.

Love your musings! Thanks for sharing.

#3, I am in agreement that no lovely shoe is worth your mobility down the road. Highest heels be gone (maybe one or two favorites relegated for sitting events)...

#6 I am taking a strong lesson on as well. I'm so guilty as charged.

The refined color palette sounds really fresh as well.