Ageless Style Series-Elizabeth Kirkpatrick aka “The Contessa”

I apologize for doing back to back fashion posts but I had my hip replaced one week ago today and this timeline creeped up on me.  I am doing great (graduated to a cane today) Almost two years ago when I was recovering from my last hip replacement I was searching for something to post about and I came across the uber stylish Linda V Wright, an American living in Paris.  The post still remains one of my most popular.  Why?  Because Linda "owns her own style".   She dresses for herself in what she feels most comfortable and does it with confidence and class. You can read that post here. About a year ago I contacted some of my stylish blogger friends and set out to do a series on Ageless Style.  My friend Elizabeth of the Vintage Contessa decided (with a little coaxing) to partner with me in this endeavor.  Every other month Elizabeth and I are going to feature someone who we feel has "ageless style".

To start the series off Elizabeth and I are interviewing each other. I had to dig to find pictures of myself.  I am not fond of having my picture taken. Elizabeth and the camera are very good friends. She is one of the most genuinely beautiful women I have ever met and very comfortable in her own skin. Who says you can’t combine leopard with more leopard?

Elizabeth and I  share some similar loves, vintage and artisan jewelry, and individually designed clothing. Elizabeth is not afraid to layer and more is always more in her book.

Here is my interview with Elizabeth.  I hope you enjoy it.
CH-How Would You Describe Your Style?
EK-A BIT THEATRICAL………..FLAMBOYANT.
COMPLETELY MY OWN.

CH- What inspires your signature style?
EK-GRACEFUL………FLOWING……..LONG garments.
COLOR……….I am BIG ON COLOR!
CH-What accessory Can You Not Do Without?
EK-ALWAYS HAVE A FEW BANGLES on the wrist………..but they do get in the way of cooking a MEAL so come evening OFF THEY COME!
CH-Favorite Color
EK-THIS IS HARD……..DEFINITELY NOT BLUE.
I adore that European mustard gold green color THAT is VERY hard to find here in the STATES! If I see someone wearing it I usually will STOP them in their tracks to find out MORE!
CH-Do you have a signature piece that defines your style?
EK-I used to have OLD CURTAINS made into long flowing coats.With BIG POCKETS SO I could collect the CHICKEN EGGS if I wore it as a robe!I have a GOOD sense of color and NEVER leave the house without being ACCESSORIZED.That could mean a scarf…….a BASKET for a PURSE.A NECKLACE THAT FRAMES MY CHUBBY FACE!  A HAT.I tend to layer it on………….MORE IS MORE even for the GROCERY STORE!I make people SMILE………some will even stop me with a lovely compliment which of course makes me feel good and I think it makes them feel good. I have noticed in these past few years if I take the time to dress; my DAY will be more REWARDED.I just feel better………..it helps ones MOOD.

CH-Do you have a style icon?
EK-I ADORE CARMEN DELL’ OREFICE always have even as a teenager.Did you see her modeling in PARIS on instagram this last season? SHE IS INCREDIBLE AT AGE 85.
OF COURSE, I ADORE IRIS APFEL also.I think SHE AND I would have a BALL together.We both think outside the BOX.She traveled extensively for her work and was CREATIVE enough to see the VALUE in MARKET pieces way back when.BEADS, VESTMENT pieces for priests,etc.
CH-What are your beauty essentials that you couldn't do without
EK-MY FACIAL GAL……….she is the REAL DEAL from POLAND and has turned my dry skin in to a soft chubby glow.Her products are from SPAIN.
CH-Do you have repeat offenders in your closet if so what are they?
EK-SURE I DO…….the GARDENING PANTS I have had for 25 years.The t-shirts that are not long enough for me but you just need for that extra layer under the sweat shirt. I do have a few pieces that I CANNOT TOSS YET………I will NEVER fit into them again in MY LIFE TIME but I LOVED THEM and SO they STAY taking up SPACE that I desperately NEED in the closet!
I AM NOT A PRACTICAL TYPE ……very SENTIMENTAL and CREATIVE.
I am saving my OLD PERRY ELLIS CAMEL HAIR coat for one of MY SONS!!!!!!!!!
Just in case they ever go to NEW YORK in THE WINTER!
SILLY?YES………...
CH-What advice do you have for women over 50, or over 40?
EK-OH 40……….those were THE BEST YEARS SO FAR.
YOU ARE FEARLESS, YOU know what YOU like and YOU know what YOU WANT! If you have children you will STAND UP FOR THEM NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION CALLS FOR. YOU HAVE ARRIVED………..life is not intimidating and YOU SHOULD KNOW YOUR DIRECTION BY NOW! YOU RADIATE.
50………comes with a PUNCH to some; more than half your LIFE is OVER.YOU reflect on what you have accomplished and where your headed.YOU ARE YOU, doubtful you will change at this STAGE of LIFE.Most likely LIFE will not get BETTER and hopefully it will not get WORSE.YOU ENJOY EACH DAY.Complain a little bit………as things on THY BOD start to CHANGE!I found myself looking in the mirror saying ,“WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN!”YOU either SUCK IT UP and KEEP MOVING or you head to the FILLERS AND BOTOX! I think you can see I do not DO ANY OF THOSE BEAUTY TREATMENTS.I want to see what I have earned………..the GREY HAIR, THE WRINKLES……….it’s ALL GOOD.Much MORE BEAUTIFUL than the over done faces we are seeing in the MEDIA. Be TRUE to YOURSELF………..AGING is a GIFT! Let it take it’s course. Look at it as a NEW ADVENTURE……………there is SO Much for the OLDER WOMEN NOW. WE ARE IN DEMAND!
CH-Do you have any style rules that you live by?
EK-ZERO.
CH-What are your favorite online go to sources?
EK-I am not one to SHOP on line much……….I still need to see the garment and try it on as I am pretty tall and most things are not long enough for me.I do SEARCH for KAFTANS or CAFTANS from time to time.MY dear FRIEND SANDRA SALLIN got me on EBAY searching out ANGELA CAPUTI accessories…………..I found out in a HEART BEAT that can be DANGEROUS!!!SO EASY TO PUSH THAT BUTTON,But so much JOY when that parcel arrives!!!!!!
CH-Do you have a particular designer that you are drawn to?
EK-I REALLY ADORE the BRYN WALKER LINE here in NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.They make basically the same designs year after year but in NEW FABRICS! The LINEN and VELVET and FLEECE are my FAVORITES.The pants are long enough and I can fit into a MEDIUM or a LARGE or an EXTRA LARGE so when the SALES come around and THEY HAVE GOOD SALES I can usually SCORE SOME WONDERFUL PIECES as SIZE is not a NEGATIVE HERE!THEY MAKE CLOTHES WITH COLOR and DO BLACK AND WHITE pieces BEAUTIFULLY TOO. I have said for years I should TOSS all my other clothes………….and just have a BRYN WALKER CLOSET. THAT HASNOT HAPPENED YET and I doubt it will…….. HOWEVER,I do like THE IDEA.
I hope you enjoyed my interview with Elizabeth. Elizabeth is interviewing me on her blog here . If you don’t read her blog the Vintage Contessa I encourage you to do so.  Grab a glass of wine or a cup of coffee you will want to start at the beginning and enjoy.  Oh and did I mention she has a pet pig?

In June I will be interviewing the lovely Adrienne Shubin of the Rich Life in the Wine Country. ‘