This blog as an expression of my style. My friends have always come to me for fashion advice and I simply love helping others feel and look fabulous. 

Many of you in your 40s/50s and beyond struggle with weight gain, changing bodies and whether a style looks good. Or perhaps you are simply in a style rut and need a new way to wear what you already own.

No matter your age, you deserve to look and feel beautiful, sexy and fabulous every.single.day. 

This is a place for you to feel supported, to get great advice on clothing, accessories, shoes and fashion trends. Oh yeah, I happen to be a foodie and oenophile (lover of wine), a workout fanatic and adventure traveler, so you will also receive loads of juicy tips, guidance and stories in my posts about those topics. Of course, my journey started in a much different place and space than where I currently reside.

Childhood

My story begins on a farm in Kentucky. For me, farm life meant we had everything we needed from farm grown produce and fresh meat. In addition, life on a farm results in a strong worth ethic and love of the outdoors and knowing weird things like how to milk a goat.

Most importantly, although my parents weren’t perfect, I knew I was loved, unconditionally.  

My parents loved children and we were entertained with a varietal zoo of animals. Although somewhat idyllic, everything is not always as it seems.

My father had a drinking problem and money was always short. I was one of those kids on the free and reduced lunch program at school. The embarrassment I felt at wearing shoes with holes was real. 

Freudian psychology holds some real truths for me and I believe we are shaped by our childhoods.  Struggling and hearing my mom stress over money made me yearn for something more.

My mother came from more and it was her sense of style that led me to write this blog. My mom’s closet was off limits, but occasionally she let me look at her beautiful cashmere sweaters wrapped in tissue paper or try on her strand of pearls. She had amazing taste and invested in quality pieces. 

Of course, living on the farm, those items were relegated to the back of the closet and rarely saw the light of day. 

Expensive, designer clothes were never an option for me. But I always had an eye for fashion and wanted so badly to afford whatever was in style at the time.

At 13 years old, I worked washing dishes at the local restaurant. One of my proudest moments was saving my tips to buy my first pair of Levi’s jeans. 

My mother’s sense of style and my desire to dress fashionably (on a budget) has made me very resourceful. I’ve learned to shop the sales rack, search for quality and always wear nice shoes. 

Along the way, I developed grit and determination to work hard for what I want. And what I wanted was to find work that I felt passionate about and that would make a real impact.

A Mountain

My journey has taken me from teacher to fitness trainer to nonprofit executive building wells in Africa.  That’s where the mountain comes in.  

I never dreamt that I would spend time traveling in rural villages of Africa. During my entire childhood, my family only took one vacation, to Look Out Mountain Tennessee and Ruby Falls.  

After finding myself in Africa, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro was a bucket list item.  I decided to make the climb a fundraising event and invited others along. Altogether, we raised $25,000. 

Honestly, it was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, but truly an experience of a lifetime.

This fashion blog is part of my dream to tie my passion for style and helping women to see all their amazingness. It also ties to my sense of giving back and continuing to support water projects and helping others, especially women and children. So whatever income I generate from this blog, I will share with those in need. 

I would love to hear from you. Sign up now and I’ll send you my free Shop Your Closet Guide and show you how to create 9 new outfits out of items you already own. 

In the future, you’ll receive other juicy guides along with my blog posts as soon as they are released. 

xoxoxo

Susanne

50+  Pairs of shoes I own

21  Countries I’ve visited

37  Nieces and Nephews

2  Mountains I’ve climbed