
An update…
My last docent class is this coming Saturday. I have my graduation tour date set, and I’m firming up the theme. I’ve got the art pieces picked out. I just need an audience! I thought a Thursday afternoon in June would be fine for most everyone’s schedule. Guess what? My people are going to be gone on that date! Today, though, is the third Thursday of the month which means it’s time for another Ageless Style challenge. This month, I chose black and white. Last month, Leslie selected Graphic Tees. In the past we have worn fuzzy, pinks and red, winter blues and many other ideas. If you’re curious, you can find some of my looks here, here, here, and here. Next month’s prompt is Tropical Prints if you’d like to join us! Please do visit the other hostesses of the link party (oh, yes, there’s a link party) at their various sites!

Why black and white…
When I chose black and white as the theme for this month, I really didn’t have any particular outfit in mind. I do think black and white is a classic color combination. But, then I think purple and orange is a classic color combination! The thing about black and white is how you can put so many different colors with them, and they accept those colors with charm and grace, right?



Black vs. white…
Do you ever wonder how we got in the habit of thinking things that were white were good, and things that were black weren’t? Don’t know what I’m talking about? Think about a Western. Who wears the white hat? The good guys. Who wears the black hat? The bad guys. I hope we’ve moved away from this paradigm a bit, though.

Life…
Of course, there’s also the whole thinking in terms of black and white. Things are either this, or they’re that. As Nigel, ever the engineer, would say, “It’s binary…ones and zeroes.” I don’t think life is quite that easy, though. Life is definitely in shades of grey, isn’t it? Maybe it’s because I’m a Libra. The Libra side of me pokes its nose up and screams, “Hey, wait a minute! Have you thought about it this way?” I can convince myself I’m wrong on a daily basis!

Science…
Let’s leave the philosophical behind and talk about the science. Some people would argue if it’s in the crayon box, it’s a color. From what I can decipher from different articles, true black and true white are very rare and are not colors. I’m going to link a couple of articles here and here for you to read. Or, you can google it if you’d like. I’m just too tired to make sense of them right now. It appears the difference is how you are using black and/or white as to whether or not they are colors. Is it all Greek to you yet?



The outfit…
I have to tell you this black V-Neck Cross Back Jumpsuit from Clara Sunwoo is one of the hardest working pieces in my closet. If I’m not sure if I should dress up or dress more casually, this little beauty will work. I wore this to class at the Indianapolis Museum of Art one Saturday a few weeks ago. Underneath, I wore a vee neck tee from Old Navy. The belt is really a Talbots scarf wrapped around my waist. I futzed around with it to get the pretty pattern to show. The denim jacket is also from Talbots and is years old. Right now, they have a collarless version as well as short sleeve one. Why does Talbots always appear on SNL when the female character is kinda frumpy? Hmmm…

The Lewk!



I hate the thought of these boots ever wearing out. These are the Suzette boots by L’Artiste. They have to be my most comfortable pair, and I would wear them every day if I had to do so. The jewelry is all by Lagos. It’s the Caviar line. The ring was one of my Christmas gifts this year. I think all of them were Christmas presents at one time or another! They probably didn’t pop as loudly as some of my other jewelry, but it’s what I was wearing!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
You know, sometimes, we wear things just because we like them. That’s the case here. I just happen to like to wear black and white together. Normally, I would have worn a more colorful belt/scarf, but I wanted to stick very closely to the black and white challenge. So, can we talk? How are you doing with seeing situations as black or white? Or, do you see life in shades of grey? Could you make sense of those articles? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as soon as possible.



Thank you!
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!

Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits
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Bo ~ Bo’s Bodacious Blog
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Jen – Joyful Jen
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Joanne ~ My Slice of Life
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie ~ Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After
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Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom
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And, now, it’s your turn!
Please link up your favorite posts about denim, DIY, baking, gardening, fashion…you name it…as long as it’s family friendly! Here are links to all of the lovely ladies in the Ageless Style collaboration. Please do visit them on their various media. Link up with us, visit a couple of others, and leave a comment or two! No worries if you don’t have a blog, just look around! You may find a new blog just waiting for you!

Black and white always make me think of smart dressing, but I don’t think alot else about it.
Thanks, Rosie! I don’t either, but I just can’t write about what I’m wearing. I always have to write something else!
Great outfit!
I don’t wear black and white myself simply because I don’t have anything in white except for one graphic tee which happens to be a bit too see-through for my taste. I really resented the makers for only having it in white. Wearing black has always been one of my favorite choices, but when I started wearing my home and my outside “uniform”, all of the pieces came in color.
I also don’t see black and white, but think there’s a lot of grey in between.
I love how you likened the colors to good vs bad….funny I never think about that when styling the colors.
Xoxo
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! I don’t either, but you know me! I have to write about something other than the outfit!
Thanks, Cat! I have lots of white tee shirts of different styles because I always manage to ruin them by spilling something on them. I don’t wear very much black (except for this jumpsuit). There are a few things I see as black and white, but I mainly see grey (I think).
I love black and white! It’s always so chic!
Thanks, Amy! I really do like them together, but I don’t usually wear them.
I love the look of black and white together! I look horrendous in white though. I wear black, a lot. It must be that Gen-X, former alternative side of me. Lol.
And of course you are a Libra!! Every single person I have immediately clicked with is either a Virgo or a Libra. Literally, all of my friends were born in September or October. (I am a Scorpio)
Thanks, Erin! I have heard people can wear either white or ivory. I can wear both, but I like white best. I would like to think, if I had been Gen-X (rather than a Baby Boomer), I would have been one of those alternative, Goth girls. There’s something about that look that really appeals to me.
That’s funny about our signs. My mom always told me I was a Scorpio which I thought was kinda cool. But, then, somehow I looked it up and found out I’m a week too early for that. And, I am truly a Libra…I see both sides generally!
Hi Marsha,
Another great look on you. I tend to not wear black, I find it makes me look drained but I do love a white tee.
Thank you so much, Linda! I have, luckily, always been able to wear black. As I went grey, I did find certain colors I’d worn before just didn’t work. Strangely, that didn’t happen with black.
No frumpiness here!! Thats funny about SNL, I didn’t know that. Love that jumpsuit on you, and you styled it perfectly. That shimmery jacket is perfection with it . I can’t wear jumpsuits as I am long waisted, they don’t seem to work.
Black and white or black and cream is one of my favs to wear.
Have a great weekend!
jess xx
Thanks, Jess! I have noticed, over the years, whenever they’re featuring a mom who’s a little off, she’s usually wearing Talbots. This past week, they actually said “Talbots!” I have had jumpsuits in the past, and the crotch was almost to my knees! I think they’re a little difficult to find the perfect one!
The white denim jacket adds just the right lightness to make this a wonderful summer outfit!
Thanks, Sally! I think this may be the first time I’ve worn a white jacket and felt it looked right!
What a good looking outfit Marsha! I am liking black and white more and more.
Thanks, Nancy! I have always liked them together, but I don’t know that I’ve ever worn an outfit that was just black and white.
Black and white is always a winning combo and that CSW jumpsuit is such a great closet staple! Love your styling with the layering and belt!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill! I was looking back, and I’ve worn the jumpsuit several times on the blog already! It is amazing!
I love this classic color combo and this chic look! The white jean jacket is the perfect topper to this beautiful jumpsuit!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you, Kathrine! I have had and donated two other white denim jackets. I decided I was keeping this one and wearing it! I do like the way this look came out!
I love a classic black and white look! I just wore one yesterday actually. You can’t go wrong with it!
Thanks, Laura! You are so right! It’s an easy combo that you can do so much with!
I’ve posted a lot of black and white recently on IG. I guess now that I’m transitioning from my winter to summer at-home outfit, that’s to be expected. Link-up already closed, here’s mine: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJj8pJWPedT/?img_index=2
There was a mix up on the link up which couldn’t be fixed. I love the polka dot dress…you should send it to Salazar for the Pumpkin SIA!
Thanks, Anne!
I do love black and white, Marsha, and you wear it well!
Thank you so much, Christie! I am lucky that I can wear white close to my face.
Hi, Marsha – This is a beautifully creative outfit! The jumpsuit looks like a maxi dress that you dressed down. Of course, I love the boots. Thanks for provoking our thoughts on black & white! – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Thanks, Angie! I love how wide the legs are. They just swish along when I walk. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I can’t just write about fashion, it seems!
I love a good black and white combo and you look wonderful! That black jumpsuit is adorable!
Thank you, Laura! I do love black and white together. It’s an easy combo! I have worn this jumpsuit so many times. It’s so versatile!
Greta styling. Your jumpsuit is so versatile. And can probably be worn just about year-round. Pairing it with the white denim jacket was a great way to spring-ify it. Love your fun, edgy boots…but of course, I do. We have very similar taste in pretty booties and shoes. I remember learning somewhere that black and white aren’t really colors but not sure that is accurate. But I guess in light, white is the presence of all colors. Too late in the evening to try to figure that out, too late in my lifetime to want to figure that out!! Ha!!
Anyway, you look amazing. You look like you are feeling good, too. And your hair looks so full. Hope Nigel is feeling almost back to 110% so that you guys can have a great summer.
Thanks, Leslie! I have worn it in the winter. I didn’t have it last summer so we will see. I have to wear something under it though the website shows it without! I can’t remember when or where I learned that about black and white. I think what I learned was black was the absorption of all colors, and white was the reflection of all. But, what I found on the internet didn’t way exactly that. And, that is exactly why I put the links in to the articles. They were a bit beyond me!
Mike’s surgery is this Thursday. I’m hoping it’s an easier one than the last one. I almost think it’s worse since we know what’s coming. I’m just hoping recovery goes faster. Thanks again, my friend!