I’m back from a whirlwind trip to BC to visit family and friends.
When I arrived this vibrant woman was waiting for me at the airport.
![](https://suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
Of course it’s the one and only Mel Kobayashi from Bag and a Beret.
Bloggers Without Limits
Mel and I understand each other perfectly. We know that anything worth doing is worth over doing. The main question when we get together is how much trouble we can get in. There are no limits as long as it’s fun or funny but ideally both.
![over 50 bloggers mel kobayashi suzanne carillo](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![over 50 bloggers mel kobayashi suzanne carillo](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bloggers-without-limits-suzanne-carillo-mel-kobayashi.jpg?resize=640%2C508)
![over 50 bloggers mel kobayashi suzanne carillo](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/bloggers-without-limits-suzanne-carillo-mel-kobayashi.jpg?resize=640%2C508)
Middle-aged Tweens
Mel invented the acronym MAT (middle-aged tween) and that is the best way to describe our time together.
![Mel Kobayashi Over 50 style blogger and model](https://suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
![Mel Kobayashi Over 50 style blogger and model](https://i2.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/mel_kobayashi_bagandaberet_blogger.jpg?fit=639%2C1024)
![Mel Kobayashi Over 50 style blogger and model](https://i2.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/mel_kobayashi_bagandaberet_blogger.jpg?fit=639%2C1024)
Laughing is our number one priority when together.
Mel has so many wonderful creative ideas and one of them was, “2 Strangers On A Plane”. You know, when you’re on a plane and are forced into awkward conversation with the person sitting next to you? We’ve all been there right? I agreed to film the debut episode with Mel as her guest.
On the first day of filming I risked losing my voice from laughing so hard.
We filmed in the tub because it had the best light in our hotel room. We sat next to each other on a little ledge and the tripod was placed at the opposite end inside the tub. It was cozy!
We improvised pretty much everything and laughed until we cried. The usual over fifty thing to do.
That video turned out to be mostly unusable due to lighting issues.
Day two started out with the video below which some of you may have already seen on Mel’s Instagram.
Apparently there is an audience for middle-aged tweens. It has been viewed some 8,800+ times and counting. Who knew?
*Warning* There is talk of Kegels and other wildly inappropriate topics by two women over fifty.
Here is Mel showing how easy it is to be a professional model.
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![Professional over 50 model <p style=](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/over-50-style-blogger-bagandaberet-mel-kobayashi.jpg)
Here I am trying to pose like Mel and failing miserably.
![Over 50 style blogger Suzanne Carillo](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![Over 50 style blogger Suzanne Carillo](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/suzanne-carillo-style-blogger.jpg?resize=640%2C989)
![Over 50 style blogger Suzanne Carillo](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/suzanne-carillo-style-blogger.jpg?resize=640%2C989)
![Over 50 style bloggers Suzanne Carillo and Mel Kobayashi](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![Over 50 style bloggers Suzanne Carillo and Mel Kobayashi](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/suzanne-carillo-mel-kobayashi-style-bloggers-over-50.jpg?resize=580%2C692)
![Over 50 style bloggers Suzanne Carillo and Mel Kobayashi](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/suzanne-carillo-mel-kobayashi-style-bloggers-over-50.jpg?resize=580%2C692)
We walked through Nordstrom on our way to the hotel and we expressed how much we’ve both pulled back on our personal style, leaning towards simpler lines and classic, basic styles. Then I caught our reflection while walking by a full length mirror and burst out laughing.
Who are we kidding?
We might be drawn to simple silhouettes and neutral tones but we’re not wearing them. In our minds we’ve gone mainstream but our personal style choices tell a whole other story.
Case in point, we stopped by a Club Monaco for an experiment.
We chose outfits in classic styles and beautiful fabrics and modeled them to see how they would make us feel.
Many people judge our styles to be over-the-top and extravagant.
I’ve heard others say they could never wear what I wear because they’d feel like they’re wearing a costume.
Turns out it’s the exact same for us but in reverse.
![Club Monaco style experiment, two bloggers change their personal style drastically, how clothing changes how we see ourselves.](https://suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
![Club Monaco style experiment, two bloggers change their personal style drastically, how clothing changes how we see ourselves.](https://i1.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/over-50-bloggers-mel-kobayashi-suzanne-carillo.jpg?fit=622%2C1024)
![Club Monaco style experiment, two bloggers change their personal style drastically, how clothing changes how we see ourselves.](https://i1.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/over-50-bloggers-mel-kobayashi-suzanne-carillo.jpg?fit=622%2C1024)
![before and after suzanne carillo mel kobayashi Club Monaco style experiment](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![before and after suzanne carillo mel kobayashi Club Monaco style experiment](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/before-and-after-suzanne-carillo-mel-kobayashi.jpg?resize=640%2C960)
![before and after suzanne carillo mel kobayashi Club Monaco style experiment](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/before-and-after-suzanne-carillo-mel-kobayashi.jpg?resize=640%2C960)
Okay Mel looks great in everything, that is clear but can you see the look on my face? That’s me feeling like a total imposter in my clothes. Proof that confidence is everything when it comes to personal style.
![over 50 style bloggers suzanne carillo mel kobayashi bag and a beret](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![over 50 style bloggers suzanne carillo mel kobayashi bag and a beret](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/over-50-style-bloggers-suzanne-carillo-mel-kobayashi-bag-and-a-beret.jpg?resize=640%2C995)
![over 50 style bloggers suzanne carillo mel kobayashi bag and a beret](https://i0.wp.com/suzannecarillo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/over-50-style-bloggers-suzanne-carillo-mel-kobayashi-bag-and-a-beret.jpg?resize=640%2C995)
And here we are back to our normal selves. Whew.
Have you ever tried to step out of your personal style and try something new?
How did it make you feel?
In case you missed our Gucci Girlfriends Gigglefest meetup see it here.
Linking up with Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday, Fancy Friday, and Spy Girl
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