— Style —

AN AFFORDABLE BRAND FOR WOMEN OVER 50

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JENNIFER DENTON, ©1010ParkPlace, 2018
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It’s still crazy hot everywhere, but that hasn’t stopped us from thinking about the fall weather that’s just around the corner. While summer clothes can be fun, many of us prefer the rich colors and textures of fall clothes. Speaking of fall clothes…

I’m excited to share an affordable brand that’s designed with our age group in mind.

Because I’m selective about the quality of the clothes I wear, I can count the number of brands I’ve brought to you on one hand. So when Whistle River Trading asked if I’d like to choose something from their line to share with you, I studied their website and immediately fell for their “Ohio Pleated, Taupe, Flannel Jacket.” IT IS BEAUTIFUL and I’m thrilled to own it. Thank you Whistle River Trading!

Would you believe this beautiful jacket is on sale for $64.99? Hello! I think that’s a no-brainer!

This shirt/jacket is soft flannel on the outside, lined with satin on the inside, but heavy enough to substitute for a coat for most of the fall and early spring.

The buttons are engraved, and the pleats are meticulously stitched and aligned.

Like couture, it’s true craftsmanship, but much less expensive. I like how it hits lower on my hips which, for most of us, is more flattering. 

One of the reasons I love this jacket is because it’s AFFORDABLE, ELEVATED CASUAL… which is what most of you who participated in my recent fashion survey said you wanted.

This is one of those pieces you’ll get lots of wear from and have for the rest of your life. It won’t be long before you’ll start wearing it in the fall, and it will take you right through until spring.

For added flair I’ve turned up the collar… and it stays there… pushed back the sleeves and paired it with two, different accessory groupings. Since I don’t buy many clothes, in my Fashion Friday posts you’ll notice a lot of things I’ve owned for as long as 30 years! I just find new ways to wear them.

Wear this Whistle River Trading jacket with a pair of black or dark grey pants or blue jeans—tucked into your boots… or not—a cream colored sweater, t-shirt or blouse underneath. I’m wearing a short-sleeved, Gap t-shirt and black leather pants (my sale of the century deal… $1,600 Escada pants for $300 at Neiman’s). The black suede booties I’ve had for eons… can’t remember how long, but long… The concho belt was my late husband, James’s, belt. I have the buckle hidden in the back under the jacket. I’m also wearing my favorite Julie Vos bracelet, my antique cameo bracelet I bought from Anna Porcu in Italy last year and a leopard print scarf my friend, Hilary, gave me for Christmas.

I’m a Texas girl and bought this serape in Mexico when I was 18. The necklace is by Jacqueline Smiley of Western Vintage Revival, Atlas, Oklahoma. It’s an old, Mexican tile mounted in a beaded copper frame, suspended from a copper bead necklace. Unfortunately the tiles are hard to find, so she doesn’t make these anymore.

Fifteen years ago James and I found this old cowboy hat in an antique store in Bandera, Texas. I love the rattlesnake tail and the arrowhead on the front. There’s another rattlesnake tail on the back as well. And the holes and the sweat stains… No way you could recreate this hat. It’s the real deal.

Usually I’m a Medium–5’8” with broad shoulders, long arms, a 36” bust–but when I noticed a customer review (Do you read customer reviews… Always!) that said some of their jackets run a bit large, I had Whistle River Trading send me a Small and a Medium. If you’re hesitant, order two sizes and send back the one that doesn’t fit. 

SHIPPING AND RETURNS ARE FREE! Like I said… It’s a no brainer!

Whistle River Trading manufactures all of its own garments. Each one is cut by hand and made by artisans in Guatemala. Their factory has been in continuous operation since the company’s founding over 20 years ago, so their team members know they’re working for a company that pays competitive wages, paid vacations, annual bonuses and hosts an annual Family Day where they rent an entire park and charter the buses to take families there and provide catered food.

Aside from quality clothes, I want to support companies that value and respect their employees. Bravo to Whistle River Trading for loyally supporting generations of craftsmen and women!

Check out this beautiful jacket before they’re sold out! Go to their site, then to Shop Our Collections/Jackets!


34 Comments

  • Jen August 17, 2018 at 12:21 am

    These are some of my favorite Fashion Friday images we have created to date, and I love the way they tell a story! We had such fun that day, even in the Texas late summer heat! Working with you is always such a joy, and I cannot wait to see what we do next. 😉 After seeing the jacket in person as well…..I may just have to order one ASAP!

    • 1010ParkPlace August 18, 2018 at 12:12 pm

      Jen, You know that after this shoot, we’re going to have to step up our game! It’s gotten off the charts response. Yes, we make a great team!! Thank you, sweet friend. xoxox, Brenda

      • Jen September 4, 2018 at 10:22 am

        Absolutely!! Let’s do the next one in The Maldives. 😉

        • Brenda Coffee September 4, 2018 at 4:19 pm

          Jen, If we can each pay our own airfare, color me there, bathing suit and all…. Seriously!! Somewhere in those stacks of boxes in the garage I have a book called, “Venomous Sea Creatures” and most of them are found in the Indian Ocean. xoxox, Brenda

  • Terri August 17, 2018 at 6:20 am

    Beautiful post! Thank you for sharing Whistle River Trading, I visited their website – gorgeous jackets.

    • 1010ParkPlace August 18, 2018 at 12:46 pm

      Hi Terri, They have awesome clothes. The quality is unsurpassed. I just love this jacket! Thanks for stopping by, Brenda

  • Victoria August 17, 2018 at 8:48 am

    You look great Brenda. I wish I shopped better than I do. I buy things on a whim and they go with nothing I already have I like how you make different outfits from things you already have.

    • Brenda Coffee August 18, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      Don’t beat yourself up about that, Victoria. We all buy things that don’t go with anything else we own, and they just sit in our closet. Since you read my Fashion Friday posts, hopefully you’ll pickup some tips and lessons. Most important is to know what your style is… or what you’d like it to be. Like my style icon is Rene Russo’s character in the film, “The Thomas Crown Affair.” She’s chic, elegant, simple whether she’s going to the grocery store or out to dinner, and her color palette is mostly neutrals with a warm brown coat or a plum blouse here and there. If you missed them, here are two of my posts you might find helpful. “How to Find Your Style Over 50” https://1010parkplace.com/find-your-style-over-50/ and “10 Tips to be Fashionable Over 50” https://1010parkplace.com/10-tips-to-be-fashionable-over-50/ Regardless of your preferred color palette and style, when I use the word “fashionable,” I don’t mean looking like you stepped out of a magazine, but how to buy clothes, not just on a whim, but so over time, they all go together. I can’t afford to buy a lot of clothes, but when I do, they’re the best quality I can afford, also they last me for years. Hope these two blogs help!! xoxox, Brenda

  • Sue Burpee August 17, 2018 at 9:28 am

    Love that hat, Brenda! My husband has a cowboy hat that is just as battered, bought by his dad in 1948 at the Grey Cup game. That’s the championship game for the Canadian Football League held every November. That year Ottawa Rough Riders lost to the Calgary Stampeders, Calgary fans ran horses through the lobby of the prestigious Royal York Hotel in Toronto. Ha. Love that story. Hubby still wears the hat gardening and fishing.

    Love your leather pants too. I’m a leather pant lover as well. They go with everything! We should do a joint post on leather pants.

    P.S. Love your new shirt as well. xo

    • 1010ParkPlace August 18, 2018 at 1:20 pm

      Hi Sue, I got a real chuckle out of your comment. Fans running horses through the lobby of a great hotel is a radical thing to do, even now, but in 1948? Woah! I can see how that will be a legendary story told for generations to come. Love your suggestion of doing a joint post on leather pants!!! I’ll email you. Maybe we can find time to talk about it. Great idea!! xoxox, Brenda

  • Antionette M Blake August 17, 2018 at 9:52 am

    Wow, I am loving this look on you . I am still trying to wear all my summer gear before the end of September.

    • 1010ParkPlace August 18, 2018 at 3:06 pm

      Hi Antionette, I’m doing the same thing, however, when this great jacket came along… I had to shift gears! Thanks for stopping by, again! Brenda

  • LA CONTESSA August 17, 2018 at 12:43 pm

    OFF TO INVESTIGATE although I’m NOT the COWGIRL TYPE!!!!!!
    YOU LOOK SMASHING!!!!!!!!!
    Hope LIFE is GOOD and you have some FUN interviews ahead for FALL!
    I have more guests arriving TODAY!!!!!!
    AND you keep arriving in my JUNK MAIL!How do I fix that?
    XX

    • 1010ParkPlace August 18, 2018 at 3:11 pm

      Elizabeth, I view a lot of clothes as though they’re costumes. A cowgirl outfit can be my costume of the day, especially if I’m going to see a friend who lives on a ranch, or if I was going on safari in Africa, I’d wear this. If you use a Mac, go into your “Junk” folder, find one of 1010ParkPlace’s emails, click on it to highlight it, then go up to the navigational bar at the top of your email window and click on “Not Junk.” That will move the email into your “Inbox” and should fix the problem. More guests??? You party animal! Can’t wait to see photos and read about it. I’m off to visit your website now! xoxo, Brenda

  • CJ August 17, 2018 at 1:31 pm

    That jacket looks amazing on you! Thanks for introducing us to another option for affordable fashion.

    • 1010ParkPlace August 18, 2018 at 3:12 pm

      Thanks, CJ. I love this jacket. Still on the hunt for affordable fashion, but it has to be quality, or I’m not going to suggest it to you. xoxox, Brenda

  • Denise Lawver August 17, 2018 at 7:07 pm

    Brenda, Love the jacket! Just went to the website & purchased the red because in Nebraska it’s Go Big Red!

    • 1010ParkPlace August 18, 2018 at 3:17 pm

      Hi Denise!! My family on my dad’s side is from Nebraska and lives in Omaha, Lincoln and Peru, so I know all about “Go Big Red!” Way back in the day, my grandfather was the quarterback AND the coach of the Cornhusker football team. I need to find his college annual and post some of those photos. My grandmother was always on the sidelines and took the stats on both Nebraska and the team they were playing. A lifetime later, she would listen to the games on the radio/or watch on TV and sit with her pad and pencil and take down the stats… yards rushed, etc. You’ll love your red jacket!!! Thanks for letting me know, Brenda

  • Katherines Corner August 18, 2018 at 9:42 am

    Brenda, you look so lovely in this style my friend. Truly, love your sweet smile. Love the photo of you leaning on the rockery and laughing, it shows your joy. xo

  • 1010ParkPlace August 18, 2018 at 3:20 pm

    Thank you Katherine. I’m glad my joy shows through. I have so much to be grateful for. That day I was at my former neighbor’s home in the Texas Hill Country, so I got to see them, plus I adore my friend and photographer, Jennifer Denton, so we had a great day!! xoxox, Brenda

  • Beckye August 18, 2018 at 8:34 pm

    Love the jacket and the post! What a great company! Thanks for sharing!

    • 1010ParkPlace August 19, 2018 at 8:25 pm

      Thank YOU, Beckye!! I’m happy to have discovered this brand. xoxox, Brenda

  • Christine August 19, 2018 at 7:43 am

    Love that you are wearing black leather pants!

    • 1010ParkPlace August 19, 2018 at 8:28 pm

      Hi Christine! Thanks so much! I had black leather pants in my 20’s, but wasn’t sure about buying them in my 50’s. This is my second pair since then. I LOVE them. I have a friend who’s in her 70’s, and she wears her black leather pants. Do you have a pair? Brenda

  • Mamavalveeta03 August 20, 2018 at 1:19 am

    Could you possibly look any cuter? I love this look – you’re a lovely model! And that hat is GREAT!
    Sounds like a great company.

    • 1010ParkPlace August 20, 2018 at 7:29 am

      LOL!! You can stop by anytime and leave comments like this one! Thank you Val. xoxox, Brenda

  • Lucy August 22, 2018 at 7:16 am

    Hi Brenda!
    I just got a black short jacket lined with bright daisies from Whistle River Trading. It fits almost perfectly. The sleeves are just a little long but not really a problem because I’m folding them up anyway. They shipped my order within 30 minutes from when I purchased it and it arrived 2 days later. Love it!! It might even go to Tuscany with me. Thanks for posting about them.

    Lucy

    • Brenda Coffee August 22, 2018 at 2:07 pm

      Hi Lucy! That makes me so happy that you found something you like! I know the one you mean, and I paused on that one as well. It will be great for Tuscany!!! Yes, push up the sleeves toward your elbow or fold it back. I love that look! It’s also a good way to make men’s shirts work for us and look chic. I love to tie them at the waist and pop the collar up sometimes. Whistle River’s customer service may be the best I’ve seen. xoxox, Brenda

  • Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au August 22, 2018 at 8:44 am

    Hi Brenda – these look really great – not something I’ll be able to afford to buy from Australia, but it’s always nice to see clothes that look good on women of our age and stage.
    BTW can you have a read of the rules for #MLSTL – it’s only one post per week and it’s important to choose one that fits the theme and then comment and share on some of the others.
    Cheers 🙂 #MLSTL

    • Brenda Coffee August 22, 2018 at 2:10 pm

      HI Leanne, There have been a few Australian brands I like, but I have some of the same issues. One was too expensive and another said they couldn’t export to other countries…. Thanks for calling my attention to the rules! I thought it was just one post, but then when I saw the “add another link” it made me think we could do that. I’ll reread them right now! Brenda

  • Maria | passion fruit, paws and peonies August 23, 2018 at 8:37 am

    Hi Brenda – how nice to ‘meet’ you! I love your chic style! Thanks for introducing me to Whistle River Trading. I will go and have a browse xx

    • 1010ParkPlace August 23, 2018 at 1:31 pm

      Hi Maria, I just visited your site and am following your beautiful Instagram feed. So happy to connect with you, Brenda

  • Cindy August 31, 2018 at 8:48 am

    What a great looking jacket at a great price,,,

    • Brenda Coffee September 4, 2018 at 4:16 pm

      Thank you, Cindy! I thought so, too, Brenda

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