It all starts with a coat

Hi guys, sorry it's been a while, but I'm here now to let you know I'm starting a new blog, post, column called Make me over.  Here's the thing,  Braxton and I went to our favorite "antique" store last weekend and found this fantastic coat (more on this later) which he bought me for valentines day.  Thank you sweetie!   I love love love this coat, buuut, nothing else in my wardrobe (including myself) is worthy of it.  So, the challenge is on, I'm giving myself one year to make me over with your help.  I will need clothes, perhaps a new hair cut, and definitely new glasses (more on this later as well), all on a fairly tight budget.  I will only shop in the stores that are available to me here in Roanoke Virginia, that means all the usual suburban mall stores (Hects, Marshalls, Pennys, etc) as well as thrift and consignment stores.  I've never been able to find shoes in my size in a store ( I wear size 5.5) so I may have to order those.  Are you with me so far?

I guess I better share some stats:  I'm in my forties.  I have a generous sprinkling of silver in my hair, which I would like to keep for now.  You could say I'm 5 ft. 2in., but you'd be wrong.  I could say I'm 5ft., but I'd be lying.  Braxton says I'm "fun sized" and he's always right, so let's leave it at that.  I've never had scales in my house but I think I'm about 106 lbs., which puts me on the curvy side of a perfectly acceptable weight range for my height.  I really can't believe I'm sharing all of this!

 I've always eaten well and exercised, which shows, I've never had any "work" done, which shows. In other words - I probably look my age.

 Even though these pictures would suggest otherwise, I almost never wear pants, or red sneakers for that matter, although I do always match my nails to my shoes. (Just kidding).  I will  be looking for dresses, skirts, sweaters, and blouses with a slightly retro feel, because I think that's best for my figure, and it's what I like.

 The plan is this: I'll go shopping with camera in hand, taking lots of pictures, then YOU will help me decide what I should purchase.  Please, I would really love for this to be a dialogue rather than a monologue,  I would love your help on this, as clearly I am not a fashionista, just a little lady in need of a makeover.

Are you with me?  Thanks, I knew you'd help!

Now about the coat, yep, that's real fur, at least I'm pretty sure it is.  I wikki'd "mink", and apparently domestic mink can be almost white.  The whole fur issue is something I've thought about for a while.  Is it ok to wear vintage fur? or am I just kidding myself.  I don't want to be seen as endorsing an industry that is cruel and unneccesary, yet, I obviously didn't buy this from a furrier, I bought it second hand.  What would you do?  Would love to know.

Looking forward to your comments.
Peace,
Yancey