Beginning on the morning of January 9th, I experienced an astounding 24 hour life-altering event. I had been hoping for a more peaceful and harmonious 2020. Instead, the year began with tragedy. The bush fires in Australia were disturbing, devastating, and overwhelmingly sad. Through Instagram I know people in Australia and their suffering and the trauma to animals touched me to my Style Crone core. I felt immobilized and helpless, and in a moment of desperation I began searching online for something that I could do to relieve my irrepressible anxiety and despair. Over the past months I had read

I spend most of my time in the living room. The colors have evolved into purples, shades of red, pink, and green, and of course, leopard print. I love to be surrounded by books, art, and hats. And I always have an orchid on the vintage coffee table that lives in front of the purple couch. I don't really have a style that I adhere to. I live with what I have collected over the years, what I love, and what makes me feel good. The stained glass window above the purple couch is original to the house, which was

It's the beginning of a new year and a new decade. I am ready to leap forward into the blank slate of 2020, focusing on kindness, hope, peace, and possibilities. It's not easy to maintain positivity with the formidable realities that confront us, and I don't want to be delusional in my approach to life at this point. Creating peace begins within me and the actions that I choose, with the intent to make the world a better place for the generations that follow. The Hat Attack for January is an unusual choice, in that it features a silver hooded

It's almost the end of 2019, and here I am, back to featuring my home, with today's focus on my dining room. Almost everything in this room was purchased second-hand, which is true throughout the house.  My home reflects my clothing collections in that regard. It's good for the planet and good for my soul. An example of recycling is the red velvet table cloth with fringed edges, which I found at an estate sale. It was a bedspread in a former life. I bring it out for the holidays, and it usually stays for the remainder of the winter.

Several weeks ago Daniel and I met at Camp Christmas, the campy immersive experience created by my friend, revered installation artist Lonnie Hanzon and his partner Terry Keopsel, in collaboration with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Lonnie and Terry have been friends since 1982, when Lonnie created jewelry for my hat shop. Since then I have watched he and Terry during each amazing era of their artistic evolution. I adore both of them and I view them as family. With this blog post I share a very small portion of Camp Christmas, which will be open through January

The December Hat Attack is a vintage Jack McConnell feather confection which I recently discovered at a vintage shop. The intricate feather and rhinestone designs on the surface of the green fur felt background of the chapeau are exquisite. Jack McConnell hats are highly collectible and I was thrilled to find this beauty in excellent condition. I plan to wear it for the holidays and beyond. I happened to have the perfect vintage mustard colored gloves, which played nicely with the mustard colored feathers on the hat. My vintage glove collection serves me well! There are advantages to having been

I was honored and thrilled to be asked by Ari Seth Cohen of Advanced Style to present with him at the Chicago Humanities Festival on November 9th, 2019. The theme of this year's festival was POWER, and our segment was titled, "On Style Over Sixty." The event was a peak experience for me, and I met and talked with many interesting and accomplished people. We were interviewed on stage by Allison Cuddy, a former host of Chicago Public Radio’s (WBEZ 91.5 FM) "Eight Forty-Eight" weekday news magazine show. She currently serves as the artistic director for the Chicago Humanities Festival. We also

The morning after a sudden Colorado snowstorm created the perfect backdrop for this gorgeous ensemble from Barbara and Company, a local clothing boutique with locations in Denver’s Washington Park area and in Boulder. This local business is a  store that feels like an exquisite gallery to me, yet warm, welcoming, and inviting. Owned by Kathy King, the store is a reflection of her creativity and dedication. She is a woman who is as passionate about beautiful and unique clothing as I am about hats! With this post I am honored to be sharing Kathy’s love and enthusiasm for fashion and style

November's Hat Attack is a vintage Dior turban which has recently joined my accidental Dior hat collection. Over the years I have been gifted several additions to this growing group of residents in the hat room, and I've found some myself at estate sales and vintage shops. This multi-colored beauty is perfect for fall, and happened to pair perfectly with these statement earrings that have been waiting for an outing and this embroidered scarf which I discovered at a flea market. It's time to bring out the gloves from my vintage collection, and all the chosen accessories for this post

Today I'm featuring the gorgeous hand-pleated scarf with devore stripes by textile artist Yuh Okano, who I met during my most recent trip to NYC. She was showcased along with a total of 12 female designers with over 100 years of experience at The New York Collective Show located in the Bryant Park area of Manhattan. Hand-dipped in a two tone dye, the scarf beautifully drapes and folds organically, and can be worn in a multitude of ways. I love its distinctive elegance and rich color, which harmonized with my orange kimono and "hershey kiss" shaped vintage felt hat. This piece

Death. The topic that is considered taboo in our culture. The subject that many of us would do anything to avoid talking about. That, and it's sister grief. I have become very comfortable thinking and talking about this transition. It's an important part of life and I've had lots of experience with the great equalizer. If we have been born, at some point we will die. It is the reason that I launched Style Crone. This past September a dear friend died of Alzheimer's Disease. She was two years younger than me. I met her in 1987, during the time

October's Hat Attack was created by my friend Brooks LTD, a talented Denver clothing designer who I have modeled for over the past several years. She made this fabulous bow headpiece for her participation in Latin Fashion Week Colorado. Brooks was one of the brilliant designers featured in this fashion show, and I modeled the headpiece, along with the elegant ensemble that she created, which harmonized with the "bow." Brooks informed me that she was thinking of me when she designed this piece, which humbled and thrilled me. As soon as I put it on, I fell in love! It

I enjoy the River North area of Denver for many reasons. The restaurants, the art galleries, and the constantly changing urban landscape. However, the blocks and alleys covered with street art keep me coming back for more. The photos that I'm posting today feature pieces from my vintage collection and have a romantic feel, and I took pleasure in the contrast that was created with the murals that were in process during this photo shoot. For the 10th year, this downtown Denver neighborhood is hosting graffiti artists from all over the world to paint in the CRUSH WALLS street art

Welcome to my home, as I continue with a virtual tour of my sanctuary. Entering the front door on a daily basis gives me much pleasure, as I am surrounded by furniture and home accessories that I have collected over many years. Call this area a foyer, entrance hall, hall, hallway, entrance, entry, entranceway, entryway, vestibule, or reception area, it's how I gain access to the rooms that I hold dear. Most everything in my home, including my clothing and accessory collections, has been discovered at an estate sale, yard sale, thrift shop, or consignment store. The antique armoire in the photo above

September's Hat Attack features a hat that I've owned since the 1980's during the hat shop days. I'm celebrating the many pieces of headwear that has been with me for decades. I never tire of this beauty which is made from straw cloth and is adorned with a rhinestone pin and feathers. This blue chapeau was created by milliner Joan Carney, who at times worked out of our shop when visiting Denver from Boston. I've tried to track her down over the past few years. but have been unsuccessful. I loved her work and this is an example of a

Several weeks ago I blogged about my front garden, and talked about how I planned to feature all the areas of my home on Style Crone. Today is the second episode in this series. The front porch has been recently redesigned, with the help of my friend, the talented artist Sarah Ashford. At this point in my life, I seldom do anything new to my home without her input. We have been friends for many years, and I trust her taste and opinion. Orange is one of my favorite colors, as indicated by my ensemble, and the gifted tapestry which

Several months ago I was introduced by a friend to yoga photographer Alina Hokanson. She is also a talented and skilled yoga teacher, and I admire what she does in her work and in her life. One thing led to another, and at the drop of a hat, we had decided to collaborate. Our first "yoga shoot" took place in downtown Denver in the area adjacent to the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art. The photos published on this post were taken by Alina and I enjoyed every moment of the process. Because she teaches yoga, she has the knowledge to

One of the most exciting and thrilling things I've done as Style Crone is facing the Wendy Brandes Jewelry Ad Campaign.  As a back story, I met Wendy, who had been blogging since 2007, in the blogosphere after I launched my blog Style Crone in 2010.  The Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog was fascinating and I was hooked on her blog as soon as I found it. Wendy was an exceptional writer and her jewelry was exquisitely unique and filled with meaning. Photo of Wendy Brandes from her website Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog In the past I've written about Wendy and her

Last week I was in Aspen, Colorado, with Mr J for a short visit and of course I found a milliner, as I usually do, wherever I go!  I found Susan Carrolan Millinery on Instagram, and reached out to her before my visit.  We connected in her studio just outside of Aspen, and had a wonderful time talking about hats, our mutual love of millinery, and how she moved from NYC to a mountain town located in the Colorado Rockies. August's Hat Attack was discovered in Susan's studio, and I was immediately attracted to its unique splendor. This hand dyed Panama

Nothing screams summer like a vintage floral print maxi.  I discovered this beauty at a vintage shop, and accessorized with orange.  I've had this vintage silk floral print pillbox for many years.  Though I've always loved it, it didn't fit perfectly with an ensemble until now. I've had this happen before.  All of the sudden I discover a hat, and then it seems to be my favorite for awhile. I uncover numerous pieces that it works well with. This hat been waiting for the perfect time in my life to explode on the scene. The floral print looks like a