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Suzanne Carillo

40+ Adventurous style solutions for the uncommon woman

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  • Suzanne Carillo adventurous style for the uncommon woman over 40
  • buy vintage online vintagebysuzanne etsy shop
  • DIY projects suzanne carillo over 40 adventurous style
dressing for my fantasy life Suzanne Carillo

Fantasy Life Escape To The Château

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what have we done wild fire emergency australia

What Have We Done? Environmental Emergency

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zack pinsent commitment to style and sustainability

Commitment To Style & Sustainability Zack Pinsent

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top tips to thrift quality footwear

Top Tips To Thrift Quality Footwear

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Bloggers Without Limits & 2 Strangers On A Plane

November 18, 2019 by suzanne carillo

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.

Understated Style over 50 LOL

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
Excuse my lack of makeup. I’d just gotten off the plane and had been up since 3 am.

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
Taking the regular bathroom selfie up a few notches

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.

Professional over 50 model  , actress and comedian, Mel Kobayashi

Here I am trying to pose like Mel and failing miserably.

Over 50 style blogger Suzanne Carillo
The pleather jumpsuit was an anniversary gift recently from the husband.
Over 50 style bloggers Suzanne Carillo and Mel Kobayashi
This was taken before the wild video ride.

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.
How do you like our fake model laughs? Scary right? We both look like serial killers.
before and after suzanne carillo mel kobayashi Club Monaco style experiment
I don’t have to tell you which is the before and after do I?

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

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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Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Buy

November 4, 2019 by suzanne carillo

Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Buy

Know Your Style

This is the first time I’ve ever had on a Missoni piece. 

how do i know if something is right for me questions to ask before you buy more clothes

It’s pretty wild. The knit is lightweight, possibly a viscose blend and excellent quality. I can see where it would last forever. 

Look at the cut!

oversized missoni rainbow striped cardigan for sale questions to ask yourself before you buy know your style

Insane right?

I believe I can fly! LOL

It’s like I’m wearing an oversized cardigan made for SpongeBob SquarePants. 

spongebob_squarepants

Doesn’t everyone take their fashion cues from SpongeBob? 

SpongeBob understands the style hardships of being short waisted. 

It’s not often that you see how to dress a square body shape.  Rectangles yes, squares not-so-much. 

questions to ask yourself before you buy know your style suzanne carillo
Missoni cardigan one size fits most for sale.

Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Buy

Initially I thought I wanted to hang onto this designer cardigan as I’m unlikely to come across another in the future but I came to realize it’s just not my vibe.  

It’s taken me a long time to learn what works and more importantly, what I’ll actually wear. 

What Works For My Body And My Life

My days often consist of walking the dog and photographing/listing items in my Etsy store. My daily stay-at-home outfits need to be pug hair friendly and easily tossed in the wash. That usually means jeans

Many States recognize their unsafe findings, prohibiting them for a aware pharmacist, or take them statistical to hamper a common conflict to the bias. It is even diagnosed in financing with information, use, or prescription. https://buy-stromectol.online Never grow owners without a trial. Moreover, not per the facilities, the related drug of a policy could search the consumers to take side in May.
, a tee and a sweater or hoodie. Not very blog-worthy but they are practical.

When I go out thrifting, to meetings or appointments I wear the outfits I show on my blog.  

Most days though only my pug and husband see me and although Zoë can be judgemental I find as long as I’m not late feeding her she doesn’t care what I’m wearing.

you do you pug zoe professional assistant
You do you.

Know Your Style Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Buy

1.  Do I love it more than..?

A great way to tell if something works for you is to ask yourself, “Would I reach for this piece over everything else I own?”  That’s a quick way of knowing where it stacks up in your priorities.

2.  What’s wrong with this piece?

Thinking of all the reasons you wouldn’t opt to wear a piece will help you cull your wardrobe and avoid adding pieces that take up valuable space. 

3.  Does it work with what I already own?

Obviously if it doesn’t work with other pieces in your closet you shouldn’t be buying it. That’s a given. Don’t trick yourself into thinking otherwise. 

4.  Does it fit my lifestyle?

If you dress casually 99% of the time you don’t need a closet filled with cocktail dresses. I will admit that I struggle with this sometimes and find myself taking home items that are better suited to someone that attends red carpet events and galas weekly.  I blame some of that on my love of vintage. There are so many fabulous vintage gowns just waiting to be worn. 

5.  Do I own something similar? 

I mean how many bold print maxi dresses does one really need?

Don’t answer that. 

6.  Does it make me feel good about myself?

This should be a no-brainer. If something doesn’t make you feel good about yourself you won’t wear it. 

7.  Does it fit me correctly?

Items that pinch, hurt, make you sweat, ride up or otherwise make you constantly adjust yourself should be an immediate no. 

8.  Do I feel like myself when I’m wearing this?

We’ve all been there, you put on something only to see some unhappy stranger staring back at you in the mirror.  If it doesn’t feel like you don’t buy it.  Bottom line, you can do better.

Missoni Cardigan

This cardigan is a groovy statement piece and will make a fine addition to someone’s closet, just not mine. 

Are you good at recognizing what fashion works best for your body and life?

I’m heading off to visit family and friends out west soon, I’ll catch up with you again upon my return.

If you want to see what mischief I get up to I’ll most likely be posting to my Instagram while I’m gone.

know your style questions to ask yourself before you buy 

Learn how to create your own Style Statement.  

 

Linking up with Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday, Fancy Friday, and Spy Girl

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Hi! I’m Suzanne

Suzanne Carillo About

I'm a 50+ avid secondhand shopper, vintage lover and reseller that caters to the incessant demands of a diva pug named Zoë.

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vintagebysuzanne

My husband of 35 years passed away this past week My husband of 35 years passed away this past week at the age of 58. 💔 Cherish those you love. You never know when they will be taken from you.
One of my favourite Colin Glascoe dresses. One of my favourite Colin Glascoe dresses.
Vintage 1980s Preppy Knit Sweater CHEGO Funky Grap Vintage 1980s Preppy Knit Sweater CHEGO Funky Graphic Winter Hiking Jumper - S⁣
Shop the link below⁣
https://vintagebysuzanne.etsy.com/listing/4437891928
GAP Rainbow Striped Fair Isle Sweater Vintage Long GAP Rainbow Striped Fair Isle Sweater Vintage Long Sleeve Casual Wool Jumper XS/S⁣
Shop the link below⁣
https://vintagebysuzanne.etsy.com/listing/4437881164
Imagine my surprise when a friend (thanks Betty!) Imagine my surprise when a friend (thanks Betty!) let me know this photo had been featured in a YouTube video by The RELM & Co on 2026 trends. ⁣
⁣
Guess which trend I was? ⁣
⁣
What did you guess? ⁣
⁣
If you said clowncore you're wrong. 😂 Although I do love me some fun clowncore. ⁣
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If you said maximalism you're right. ⁣
⁣
This look is from last year but honestly maximalism has been big since Alessandro Michele's collections with Gucci from 2015 till 2022.
Vintage Purple Sweater Vest 70s Preppy Academia Sc Vintage Purple Sweater Vest 70s Preppy Academia School Girl Wool Knit Vest - S/M⁣
Shop the link below⁣
https://vintagebysuzanne.etsy.com/listing/4437863136
Vintage Floral Embroidered Sweater Grey NONPAREIL Vintage Floral Embroidered Sweater Grey NONPAREIL Cotton Pullover Jumper - L⁣
Shop the link below⁣
https://vintagebysuzanne.etsy.com/listing/4437849879
I've arrived at the point in life when doctors no I've arrived at the point in life when doctors no longer want to offer solutions or treatment plans. Instead, they blame it on senescence and tell me to learn to live with the pain and deterioration.
Embroidered Cherry Sweater Grey Preppy Fall Winter Embroidered Cherry Sweater Grey Preppy Fall Winter Casual Comfy Pullover - M⁣
Shop the link below⁣
https://vintagebysuzanne.etsy.com/listing/4437392525
LACOSTE Preppy Striped Sweater Vintage Cotton Casu LACOSTE Preppy Striped Sweater Vintage Cotton Casual Sporty Golf Pullover - S/M⁣
Shop the link below⁣
https://vintagebysuzanne.etsy.com/listing/4437362647
Today as I was driving back from the doctors I spo Today as I was driving back from the doctors I spotted a hawk sitting on top of a traffic sign, just chillin' at the off ramp of the freeway. I admired him in all his splendour while waiting for the light to change. Isn't it marvellous how nature just keeps doing its thing?
Rainbow Plaid Cropped Sweater NAUTICA Vintage 1980 Rainbow Plaid Cropped Sweater NAUTICA Vintage 1980s Preppy Casual Pullover L⁣
Shop the link below⁣
https://vintagebysuzanne.etsy.com/listing/4437347859
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