Color Your Wardrobe

Lunched at a neighborhood bistro the other day with my gal-pal Lela (not her real name--must protect the innocent). She looked fabulous. Not the Betty Buckley Broadway Concert star glamorous, but the "over 50" looking good, looking really good! And we were just eating.

We don't meet or talk often so we had a lot of catching up to do. Her family is fine. The dog accompanied her and her husband on a visit to grandma in Florida. And she just got a sweet deal on a new car, in Dallas, of all places! Did I say she looked fabulous?

Lela has recently veered off her career path of 20+ years and has a new job. She loves it. And she looks like she loves it. I couldn't stop complimenting her on her outfit. The color was bright... Nope. Not going to reveal the color. I couldn't do it justice without a photo. Should have used my cell. It made me smile. It was fresh and very flattering. And her new lightened hair color literally topped it off.

I was inspired by Lela's new-found flair with color. (She had confided in me that she was tired of black.) After lunch, I went home and changed out of my dark ensemble. The best I could do was exchange my black pants for something in a shade of white. Yes, there are many shades of white!

Anyway, I have been rummaging around for tips on adding color to my wardrobe. Stumbled on www.50fabulous.com and a contributing stylist who could be my new best friend. I like the way she thinks about women over 50. She was raised in Brussels and lives in the San Francisco area so I will have to translate her style code into Fort Worth-ese. Just kidding. Her style is definitely universal. More about that later.

Thanks Lela!

Dear Betty Lynn (Buckley),

I saw you the other night. Not surprising, since we both live in Fort Worth, Texas. But we were both working that night. You were onstage at the Modern Art Museum singing your heart out and telling wonderful stories about your journey through Broadway. I was checking tickets, passing out programs and selling your cd's. Not a bad volunteer gig, especially since I got to see your show free.

I enjoyed the casual atmosphere and your banter with the audience. Seth, your accompanist, back-up singer, long-time friend, and all-around talented funny guy set the tone when he energetically stepped on stage wearing jeans, an open shirt and sport coat. But Betty, when you entered, you looked like you were caught in an Abby Bradford time warp. Betty Lynn, you can do better than that. Just look at these pictures!

I know you can take criticism. You admitted that Stephen Sondheim didn't like the way you re-interpreted his songs. Fortunately, you weren't "mortified" enough to ban his songs from your repertoire. You sang the selection from "Into the Woods" beautifully, sticking to the original score.

As a woman over 50, I want to see other woman over 50 looking good. It just makes me feel... well, good. And I know from experience, if we feel good, we can do anything, overcome anything, and make a difference when we choose to do so! Besides, you're a celebrity--a star--you're supposed have a hint of drama in your wardrobe.

So Betty, for your show tonight, could you search for a touch of Norma Desmond in your closet?

Last show of the series tonight.

Monday, July 27, 2009 - 7PM

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

http://www.lyricstage.com/

972-252-2787

If you miss Betty tonight, she'll be back August 29 - 31.

Want to hear more from Seth? He hosts "Live From Broadway" on Sirius/XM Radio.