This past week The SC was honored and thrilled to be included in a feature in Look.UK, the best-selling fashion magazine in the United Kingdom.  Click The Pensionistas to view the article.  Jean and Valerie, The Idiosyncratic Fashionistas who were also in the piece, wrote about the feature HERE with their usual brilliant and witty commentary.

I decided that the only thing to do in celebration would be to lounge in leopard while savoring this fun and unexpected surprise.  To be in the company of the magical and phenomenal Jean and Valerie, Tziporah Salamon, Lynn Dell, and Linda Rodin has me over the moon and wearing animal print from head to toe.

I have been an ardent fan of leopard print going back to the 70′s  I see it as a positive addiction, like yoga, frequenting estate sales or collecting hats.  I never have a hangover, side effects or withdrawal after I overdose with this heavenly neutral.  Although I do have to admit that sometimes it does have me wanting to acquire more because I can’t get enough!

I’ve wanted to dress in total leopard for some time now, and today I took the leap with this 70′s polyester robe, vintage dangle earrings, bracelets, scarves as head wrap, and 40′s wedge peep toes all purchased over the years at estate sales.  Even the leopard print rug, leopard pillow in the shape of a heart and jewelry box (which of course holds my leopard jewelry collection) threw themselves into the act.

Lounging in leopard in the guest room.

Photos by Diana

The SC landed in another area of her home embellished with leopard in the form of pillows on the purple couch in the living room.  Whether as accent or full body adornment, leopard love adds playful pleasure to a time of celebration or just an extraordinarily ordinary day.

The SC is flying over to Patti’s Visible Monday HERE for another magical gathering at Not Dead Yet Style.

A tip of the hat to mothers and all who nurture others along life’s journey.

In recognition of this day, The SC wears a 60′s beaded straw hat with tall crown, purchased at a flea market last week. It called to me from the rack of vintage beauties as I entered the urban venue and it didn’t let go.  A hat that is destined for my hat room somehow magically finds its way into my heart.

This black wooden cane was used in the hat shop to capture headwear perched high above our reach. It continues to be used in my hat room for the same purpose, and today became an accessory that I couldn’t resist.

This 40′s jacket was purchased in the 70′s and not worn since the 80′s, but is ready for another life, accompanied by a vintage pearl and rhinestone pin.

Vintage lace is always ready and waiting in my closet to embellish and adorn.

Photos by Camille.

Vintage black suede heeled booties trimmed with leather and purchased years ago at a consignment shop complete the ensemble that is ready to walk out the door.  I think I’ll leave the cane at home.

Thank you to the warm, dynamic, beautiful and generous Sylvia of 40 + Style HERE for the feature.  I have been honored by her kind words and appreciate all that she brings to this growing and creative community, as she blogs about “Fashion, beauty and style inspiration for women over 40.”  Sylvia’s stated mission “Is to show that you can look gorgeous and experiment with styles and fashion at any age.  It’s all about having fun with style and fashion!”  She impresses me with each and every post.

I’m dropping by Patti’s Visible Monday HERE to join the growing number of bloggers who gather weekly at Not Dead Yet Style.  Stop on by for a visual treat!

In celebration of her 60th birthday, my dear friend Kelly held a croning ceremony and invited friends to her home in the mountains outside of Connifer, Colorado, which she shares with Susan, her partner of over 30 years.

For this event, The SC wore a vintage teal feather Eurona hat from Fabulous Fanny’s NYC, a large reversible shawl with floral embroidery and skirt with drape, both sale items from Mieko Mintz, and estate sale vintage green gloves, all on black background.

The ceremony was held on the anniversary of Nelson’s death, which allowed The SC to focus on the continuation of life on a day that held memories of loss. However, I was delinquent with my camera, and will tell the story without photos of the event.  Sometimes it’s important to accept that ‘what is’ is good enough and that total engagement in an experience doesn’t always include photography.

This was my first croning ceremony, but according to Barbara Hannah Grufferman HERE, who writes about The The Croning of America on the Huffington Post, there is a growing number of women, mostly over 50, who are participating in similar celebrations of aging and empowerment.

Kelly’s ceremony, creatively prepared by Susan, was a beautiful recognition of a milestone and a celebration of wisdom and personal power. We were each asked to bring a token to attach to Kelly’s walking stick, which she brought back from a trip to Australia this past year.  I gathered a collection of trinkets and pieces from my jewelry collection and hung each meaningful symbol from a leather cord. One by one, we presented our gifts to Kelly, expressing what it meant to us, and how it honored her.

The group consisted of women from diverse backgrounds, life experiences and belief systems.  What we shared was a respect for the aging process and the intention to engage and support one another in viewing the crone as a woman of dignity, worth and compassion for herself and others.

Following the ceremony, we gathered for dinner and wine, laughing, telling stories and enjoying relationships that had developed over numerous years.  Many of us had worked in mental health, and had been caregivers across the decades.  We talked about plans for the future, how we wanted to spend our time going forward, and spoke of women who surely would have been at the gathering but were no longer physically present.

Photos by Diana

Instead of turning our backs on our inner crone and denying that this time can be filled with life enhancing experiences to be faced fearlessly with enthusiasm, we were marking and embracing the transition.  With support and community, this phase of life can be enjoyed as thoroughly and joyfully as any other.  We have wisdom and experience to share with a world in need of healing, and hopefully this concept will encourage a more accepting cultural norm for aging for generations to come.  Everybody gets old.

The croning ceremony invitation, with Kelly where she loves to be, in the midst of nature.

The walking stick adorned with momentos from friends.

It’s the beginning of the week, which means that it’s time for Patti’s festive and supportive gathering at Visible Monday HERE at Not Dead Yet Style.

My scarf installation gives me much pleasure, and was completed just in time for the party.  I had a vision of how I wanted my scarves displayed and it took many months of talking with friends, artists and builders for this project to come to fruition.  After the structure was built and painted, Rachel and Brittni, the students from the Art Institute of Colorado who have been creating magic in my home, arranged the scarves with perfection.  My vision has become reality!

I have been collecting scarves since the 70′s (almost 40 years), mostly from estate sales, flea markets, thrift shops, consignment stores and the occasional gift; the price for each piece ranged from a quarter to five dollars.  This display makes it easy to choose a scarf for an outfit and provides a piece of art to enjoy every day.  It covers a wall in the guest room and provides a soft and colorful surface with texture and detail to explore endlessly with the senses of sight and touch.  Sometimes I can almost hear them speak!

One of my yoga teachers stated this week, “Rigidity and strength are not the same thing.  Soften into the pose.”  Also true off the mat for blogging and life in general, as I learn to become more flexible, I found this quote helpful as I once again began to move forward into the light, and in this case, leaning into my beloved scarves with their new life and beauty on display.

Just as I was deciding to soften into the practice of austerity, I found this vintage blue 70′s St. John knit dress at an estate sale.  It fit perfectly and the price was next to nothing, so I put my cash on the table and quickly walked out the door before another tempting item drew me astray from my resolution. With this in mind, what was I doing at an estate sale anyway?

Accessorizing the dress are the St. John booties I found many years ago at a yard sale, along with the vintage purple hat with feathers that I purchased from a friend who was downsizing her vintage collection, and estate sale vintage purple gloves and vintage jewels.

Photos by Camille.

Close-up of booties with gloved hand.

The SC wore the vintage St. John outfit to the book signing by the dynamic and stunning Juana Bordas HERE, reading from her new book The Power of Latino Leadership, held at the Tattered Cover Bookstore HERE, one of the largest independent bookstores in the nation.  I’ve known Juana since the 70′s and it’s been exciting to follow her incredible accomplishments across the decades.

Juana, known for her spontaneity and passion, twirled her floral embroidered fringed scarf for the camera.

For some time now I’ve been wanting to launch a street style page, and photograph people wherever I go that inspire me with their outfits and their sense of style.  I met Veronica at the book signing, and I was fascinated by her beautiful wedge heels and her dynamic spirit.  Thus began Street Style Denver And Beyond HERE on Style Crone’s sidebar.  It gives me the opportunity to document and share the creativity around me and recognize those who bring visual delight to my life.

Thank you all for your supportive, kind and empathetic comments of last week, and thank you BuzzFeed Fashion HERE for the inclusion.  And my shoes are linking up with the marvelous Bella’s ‘Shoe Shine’ at The Citizen Rosebud HERE.

Patti is a woman who continually shares creativity and visual pleasure, and I’m linking up to her Visible Monday HERE at Not Dead Yet Style.  Thank you Patti, for creating this weekly gathering which brings connection and community to countless like- minded bloggers.

A week ago Sunday took me to the Wynkoop Brewing Company to an art exhibit by Lindy Lyman HERE.  Flourishing Forth, The Colorado Years 1974-2013 is a retrospective of her work in painting, mixed media and sculputre. I was informed of this colorful and uplifting exhibition by Carol Markel, the remarkable blogger, milliner and artist of Femme et Fleur HERE.  Lindy was a student of Carol’s husband Richard Cramer at Elmira College, graduating in the class of 1967.

However, as the week unfolded, I was overcome by an unexpected force that grabbed me with a now unfamiliar strength that was surprising and powerful.  Anniversary dates are known to be difficult, but somehow I felt that I had everything under control and that by keeping busy, I would avoid the painful memories of Aprils past.  After all, it’s been two years since Nelson’s death, and shouldn’t I be immune from intensity by now?  Immobilization is not my favorite place to be, but that’s where I found myself intermittently over the past week leading up to April 20th.  I felt as though I was sinking in quicksand and the only part of myself above the ground were my hands grasping to find something to hang unto. But really, what I needed to find was something internal to pull me up and out.  So I sat with the stillness, leaden.

A quiet desperation took over my days, which frightened me with its relentless weight.  So off to yoga I went, hoping to soothe myself or at least find reprieve from the grasp of unwanted emptiness and the feeling of being lost.  Lost without a path ahead.  Was this a fork in the road or was I taking a step back into the depths of the abyss?  Loss can only be digested in small servings.  Otherwise we would die from the shock of it.  I think about those in Boston, and other parts of the world, who are devastated and beginning their journey through the wilderness of grief, and I mourn for them.  I weep for them.

I felt wooden and unprotected.  A tree with no bark, exposed to the elements, the cold wind blowing in from the north that assaulted the fresh and newly formed blossoms ready to open to the world.  Were my roots deep enough to hold me in place during the storm that was not predicted; the weatherwoman within had been caught off guard.  Something more to let go of.

As often happens when I’m looking for an answer, through the miracle of google, I found Pat Betram’s blog HERE, and a blanket of comforting relief changed the tone of the week and offered me self acceptance.  Her words resonated with the confusion that I was attempting to deny, but I now knew would be more helpful to radically embrace.  The other amazing fact is that Pat is from Colorado, she is an excellent writer, and I have found a new blog to follow.

Now that the anniversary has passed, I reflect back on how my week began with art, meeting new and interesting people, and the rich beauty that entered my life on a Sunday afternoon.  I can go back to that place in my thoughts, after another passage through darkness. I can feel that those blossoms opening up to the world have not frozen.  I have been changed from loving and having been loved deeply, and that is what brings me back every time I descend into feelings of hopelessness and longing.

I often think about how I launched my blog under the umbrella of style and and the composition of outfits, and how this has helped me live out loud with caregiving, death, grieving and transformation.  I am so grateful that have I found all of you, because I have felt so much support and caring from all who read and comment on SC.  Perhaps those who blog about style and aging, or are interested in this topic no matter their age or gender, embody the characteristics of compassion and empathy.  Style truly does heal, and I couldn’t have found a more perfect crowd to hang out with, no matter the circumstances of my life. You continue to be a lifeline and I thank you from the bottom of my Style Crone heart.

Black/red fabric hat – Britgitte NYC, black/white striped jacket – consignment store in Florida, vintage red fabric gloves- estate sale, all on black background.

I’m linking up late to the party at Patti’s Visible Monday HERE at Not Dead Yet Style, which has become a meeting place for all who want to proclaim visibility.