Thinking About Dad
As I entered year 52 yesterday, my thoughts today go to my Dad. This is his 90th year and the last 10 have been filled this health challenges. Weekly I drive over to see him at the nursing home where he is living now. Everyday he wears a white shirt and tan wrinkle-free western style pants. He has pale blue eyes and I try to get him to wear a light blue shirt but he says, "No way, I'm a white shirt man."
My Dad worked as a farmer raising corn and feeding animals. During his most prosperous years, he wore grey work pants and grey snap buttoned shirts that my mom sent to a professional cleaner! He always dressed in a way that showed respect for how he presented himself to the world. Now when I visit him I do wear something nice, not as fancy as I have pictured here, but something colorful and engaging to return the respect he taught me about presenting myself to others.
vest--bcbg
knit top--bcbg
skirt--dalia collection
bracelet--bcbg
shoes--donald j pliner
links
plane pretty
not dead yet style
bonbon rose girls
my thrifty chic
style elixir
the pleated poppy
miercoles modo
Ann, Happy Birthday to you! Wishing you the brightest blessings this coming year.
ReplyDeleteLovely words about your father today. I feel I know a strong, gentle, humble individual. You must be very proud to be his daughter.
Sue xo
I just love this vest! And, as always, you've styled it in such a fun, unique way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ashlee--I purchased the bcbg pieces to wear with jeans, but I couldn't resist pairing this cobalt blue skirt with a rusty color background.
DeleteHappy birthday to you Anne and the best of helth for the coming years to you, your family and your dad.
ReplyDeleteI am most impress by the shape and body of the top, and the different textures.
Blue against the wood is magical.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Belated happy birthday Ann! I love the vest. The fit is spectacular!
ReplyDeleteAlso I love the fact that you are trying to get your Dad into a blue shirt to show off his eyes.
10 years of health problems... that is sad. They say on average that 85% of people will spend the last 10 years of their lives in and out of hospitals with health issues. I am glad that your father has retained his sense of self respect. That is often lost in nursing homes.
bisous
Suzanne
I've seen the 85% up close and personal during this journey with my Dad. This view has made me very conscious of how I'm behaving and eating in midlife. I've worked hard to turn around bad habits in hopes for missing the dreaded heart disease.
DeleteVery great your jacket is awesome!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Love the outfit. I have two jackets like this which I normally wear with jeans but I am tempted to try with skirts after seeing yours. Thanks for the inspiration! Marie S
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Marie. I'm glad this post was helpful for you. I think I will wear this outfit with gray tights and short black boots for fall. Maybe a cobalt colored coat.
DeleteI also wanted to mention that this top under my vest is a really versatile addition to any wardrobe. BCBG makes these lightweight patterned almost vellum like tops. This is the first time I purchased one of these and they are currently on sale. Especially great if you want a top under a jacket for summer.
DeleteHappy Birthday! Your Dad is 90 years old, bless him. Nicely well put together pieces. I'll have to check out BCBG for a top like yours. I can see it would be an easy layering choice. Looks like you've inherited your Dad's sense of style and class. He must have some wonderful stories to tell.
ReplyDeleteBarbara @ www.allmylivesnow.com
Happy Birthday and your dad sounds like he is quite a man!! This jacket is crazy fun...it is such a stylish, flattering fit and I love it with the pencil skirt! Great job!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam--they teasingly call him "the president" at the nursing home because of his executive attire!
DeleteWonderful blues, Ann! I enjoyed reading about your Dad, an old fashioned gentleman. Mine's been gone for ten years, and I miss him every day.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to you! And thanks for sharing it with Visible Monday.
Happy Birthday. I love your wonderful vest.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently planning what I will pack to go see my dad for his 90th birthday next week. I could see and appreciate your father from the few things you said. Their legacy is a strong one, isn't it? I particularly loved your outfit for this post as it reflects the wonderful name of your blog. Have a great week. XXOO
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to you Ann. Your dad sounds like a real dapper gentleman and I wish the best for him this Father's Day. Thanks for your lovely blog!
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you that you have your dad around and that you think about him when dressing to go see him!
DeleteI dress up and so do my daughters when we go to have weekends lunches or dinners at my mom's.
Happy birthday to you and that you have many more years of health, style and creativity ahead of you.
Happy, Happy Birthday to you, beautiful lady! What a nice tribute to your father today. It's obvious he instilled some great qualities in you.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHappy Birthday to you, Ann! You are a stunning looking lady and it is always a pleasure to visit your blog. Your dad sounds like a man with principles which he follows even in this advanced age.
ReplyDeleteI join the chorus - Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteWherever do you find your intriguing and striking locations? I love that sculptural wall. The orange rust makes your blues pop out stunningly. And I really like the detailing in the vest. Beautiful!
Thanks Melanie for stopping by and commenting. This spot is a new insurance building about a half mile from my house. I'm always looking for places to photograph when I'm driving, I have to be careful or I'm going to get in a accident!
DeleteHappy Birthday Ann! What a nice post to your dad. Love the mix of blues and the vest is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAlice
www.happinessatmidlife.com
Happy Birthday! Sounds like your dad has a signature style:). Your outfit is lovely and the cobalt of the skirt is a wonderful colour on you.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a very Happy Birthday. I love the sculptural lines of that incredible vest, the blue skirt shows if off magnificently. What a lovely tribute to your father too.
ReplyDeleteA lovely outfit, Ann. I love this outfit, the skirt is gorgeous and the sweater too. Although the vest is gorgeous, I would have liked to see the look without it. Shoes and bracelet are two cuties.
ReplyDeleteI love this vest! It is super cute :)
ReplyDeleteTiffany Ima
Style Honestly
Happy Birthday Ann! Your father sounds charming and wise. Today's post is a true Father's Day tribute.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful you look in these photos in your varying shades of blue. Your vest and bracelet are especially unique.
Very Happy birthday, Ann! And let me say that you look very young and stilish!Your skirt has a beautiful bright colour.The bracelet is nice as the sandals (which seem to be also confortable).
ReplyDeleteYour father, as many people of his age, has got a sense of dignity that is not so common nowadays. I remember my father in law who kept in the closet an elegant suit to wear on the day of his dead.
Happy birthday Ann! I wish you all the best.
ReplyDeleteAnd all the best for your father! He is a respectable wise man.
I love your elaborate pictures and your fantastic vest.
Sabine xxx
Happy Birthday to you.
ReplyDeleteLove your outfit. Love the sweet words about your Father even more.
Thanks so much for sharing. Happy Birthday. Thanks so much for the post. It appears you've allowed me to be aware of a present moment in your life. Father's Day. Thank you. My father is still here and I spent a wonderful day with him. My mother passed two years ago, and he still misses her, as well as I do. I hope you had a wonderful day with your father. As far as your outfit, you look fabulous! I always love the texture, patterns and cuts of your clothes.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Ann! You look lovely as always in blues and textures ...I especially love the highly structured jackets and vests you've been sporting lately. They really suit you and add an element of extra coolness when you want it! Love the minimal little sandals ... pretty tootsies!
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you are to still have your dad with you. Mine has been gone for a while now, but he was a real, honest-to-pete cowboy, and had the skills to prove it. He wore Levis and Pendleton shirts that my mother tailored for him every day of his life. I miss him every day.
Lovely post in so many ways, Ann. Thank you!
I'm really touched by the response to this post. As much as I like clothing, I think this time I shared who I really am in my heart.
DeleteLove hearing about your Dad. My brother spent some time on a ranch in Wyoming as a ranch hand so do know something about the honorable cowboy man.
Like you Jan, my mother passed several years ago and I miss her every day.
Gorgeous outfit! And I love your hair :)
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Tori's blog hop. If you have a sec, I would love to hear your thoughts on my latest: http://fashchronicles.blogspot.com
Love the texture play you did here! You look great in blues. That's a lovely story about your dad. Sometimes it's the little things that stand out. My grandfather is 96 and up until a year ago was in excellent health. His "uniform" even in retirement was Dickies and a plaid or striped shirt tucked in (both perfectly starched and pressed by my grandmother who has since passed). Funny how I will always picture him in this way. :) Thanks for sharing and hope you had a nice birthday.
ReplyDeleteLauren
Style of One's Own
hi Ann! Thank you for your nice compliments about my Anniversary, etc. Your Dad sounds like a man that is not wanting to stop working (in his head anyway). My parents were older when they passed on but neither had long stays outside their home. In fact they both passed on in their home they created for us as a family. I am so grateful for that. So grateful ~ ~ ~
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, too!
How important to honor your father and his views on presenting yourself to the world. I am sure you continue to make him proud every day.
ReplyDeleteblessings,
Alyssa
Loving the classy and polished outfit! You look great
ReplyDeletethank you for stopping by my blog:)
happymedley.blogspot.com
Your dad sounds like a one of a kind! You look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Style Sessions.
Lauren xx
www.stylelixir.com
Happy Birthday and cute clothes, i love the blue.
ReplyDeletegreetings and energy to your Dad
I am a spanish-bassed blogger but equaly if you want to share with me here is my link
www.mamiandbaby.net
the theme is mostly motherhood ;)
bye
Gorgeous outfit! If you get a chance, please link up your outfit to my What We Wore Party: http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-we-wore-2.html
ReplyDeleteEl traje es hermoso!
ReplyDeleteToda una modelo !!!
wendy de Proyecto Pastelito
Wow, that's such a cute story! I love it when people try to look good to the world, no matter what their circumstances! Looks like you dad's dapper looks rubbed off on you too!
ReplyDeleteI really like the way the structure of the vest goes with the skirt here, and the color combination is quite nice as well! Cobalt blue is one of my favorite colors.
xx
Sophisticated Lace
I love blue it looks very good in you!! Love the story I love my Dad very much too.
ReplyDeleteLike the outfit! and the pictures are totally wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story to go with an equally lovely outfit.
ReplyDeleteI love that story Ann!! and your outfit is as always very classic, professional yet chic. You always find the right contemporary piece to make a classic outfit look modern and fresh and in this case is your moto striped vest. THAT is a great skill.
ReplyDeleteMysmallwardrobe.com
Beautiful blue skirt!
ReplyDeleteLove how you styled your beautiful skirt. I love the vibrant color of it.
ReplyDeleteIf you get a sec, check out my latest post 'Edgy Chic'.
Have a wonderful day.
Sofia
stylishlyinlove.blogspot.com