When I started on the journey that is 40plusstyle and began to connect with women in the 40+ community, one of the first women I ‘met’ was Judith, aka The Style Crone.
I was captivated by her unique sense of style as well as her poetic writing. She was going through a difficult time in her life at the time as her beloved husband Nelson had lost his battle with cancer. Her blog Style Crone was started with his encouragement as a way to cope with the disease and to celebrate those parts of her life that could still be celebrated, which was her unique style.
Judith is most known for her creativity with hats. She always incorporates a hat into her outfit and has the most astonishing collection. She has inspired me to wear hats myself, even though I struggle to find or wear hats that go much beyond the trusted fedora.
She loves to hang on to her clothes and combines the old with the new. Somehow she manages to create looks that are both vintage yet are firmly in the here and now. Never afraid of sparkle, color or animal print, she also loves to step out in black and white as she did on this special day when I had the chance to meet up with her.
The meetup was a few years in the making. I had planned to visit her on my last USA trip but our plans got diverted and we never made it to Denver. This time the city made it into the schedule and I was able to spend a whole day with her.
It was fun to visit an estate sale together where she usually finds many of her treasures. This time she found a fantastic round table which soon found a place in her phenomenal hat room.
She then took me to some of her favorite vintage stores as well as a few retail stores in Denver.
I also got to spend time in her beautiful house where I visited the famous scarf room.
Then there was the incredible hat room which holds many treasures. Of course I had fun trying on hats and let Judith be my hat stylist.
We chose this hat for our evening out.
The day was concluded with a visit to Nocturne Jazz where we had diner while listening to some fantastic jazz music. Apart from the addition of my hat I could not change into a different outfit, but Judith took her outfit from day to evening by adding a different top and jacket and stylish heels!
The outside of the Nocturne club provided the perfect photo op!
You never quite know how you will get along with a person you have never met. But meeting bloggers that you have been following for years is often very special as in some ways you ‘know’ the person very well. For years I have cried and laughed with Judith through her stories of grief, her celebration of style and hats and her stories of how she moved on with life.
From the moment I met Judith we did not stop talking and it felt like we had long been friends. She is even more wonderful in person and is as energetic, loving and beautiful as you imagine her to be. I’m so in awe with how she approaches life and deals with its hardships. She is continually looking for new challenges and how she can make life even more exciting and interesting. She has found a new love in her life and travels to places she always wanted to visit.
She embraces life wholeheartedly and does not let age (72) get in the way of anything. She and the other women I have met sofar on this trip have made me realise that you are never too old to do anything. You are never too old to pursue your dreams and each day should be celebrated!
I hope to follow Judith on her adventures for many years to come and hopefully we meet again some day…
To find out more about Judith you can read her style interview here on 40+Style or visit her blog Style Crone.
Thank you Judith for welcoming me with open arms and having such a fun day in Denver!
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I love Judith and her style. Her hats are amazing and wow, I thought I had many shawls and other accessories. But my collection is nothing compared to hers! Lovely!
Judith is lovely and elegant.
Hi Sylvia, this women is an epytome of style and class and her collections of scarfs and hats are remarkable. It is must be a big privilege to be invited to her home and share her treasures. I also love the choice of your hat
Anna
Oh what a lovely thing to happen. Thank you for this post. Judith embodies elegance and style. Always. And the way you describe her, is the way I envision her. Lovely photos. Especially the ones of you in hats.
Thank you so much, Sylvia, for sharing the details of the magical day that I spent with you. I too felt as though I had known you forever! To meet you in person was a gift and the memories will be with me always. I learned so much from you in the few hours that I was honored to spend with you.
You look fabulous and vibrant in the hat that you chose to wear to Nocturne! You own you look beautifully. I can’t decide which photo of you is my favorite.
Until next time!!!
Thank you so much for sharing your visit with Judith, as a hat girl I so enjoyed a further look at her enviable hat room. Judith’s sincerity and spirit shine through in her writing, an inspiration to us all.
Love you in the hat Judith chose for you.
I started blogging in 2009 and have met several bloggers in “real life” after having followed them for years. All the experiences were positive (even though I was always nervous as, as you said, you never know how it will go…). And one of them became a very close friend.
I just started following fashion blogs, and I have added Judith’s blog to my reader. I organized and rearranged my jewelry and scarf collection today – her scarf room is amazing! And I’ve decided I’m old enough (maybe too old, as in I should have done this sooner…) for my first hat! 🙂
Such a beautiful and deep post – really nice!
Yvonne xx
I think many people have had the fantasy as a kid of being locked in a department store overnight, right (right?!) but I can imagine being locked in Judith’s hat or scarf room for the night, secretly pouring over all her treasures.
This is a wonderful writeup Sylvia; you’ve articulated the things that make me adore Judith as well.
I love the photo of you laughing in the hat in front of the mural.
Looks like a great meetup!!
What a wonderful post! The photos are fantastic and look at you in that hat Sylvia!
Judith is beautiful and so inspirational for all the reasons you described.
I’m delighted you had the chance to meet her and to share it with us.
bisous
Suzanne
Such a lovely post Sylvia! Traveling from Singapore to Denver may have been logistically challenging, but oh so rewarding that you were able to make it happen! Spending time with Judith, on her home turf, and in her own home, was clearly a very special and memorable occasion! I would so love to see the coveted scarf room and hat room!!! Her current display of pink to orange toned hats is a callin’ me!
I love that last close up of you! Great coat, great hat, and awesome smile!
I have been a fan of Judith’s blog for several years now and was lucky enough to meet her in person a couple of years ago in NYC. Thanks for these delightful photos of Judith’s hat room and scarf wall. You both look so happy to have met in person.
Ah, Judith is a treasure – how wonderful you two spent a day together. She has a radiance that pictures cannot even capture, I agree. xo
All this is so beautiful but damn, that first ensemble is stunning!!!
I don’t have a good head for hats (made it tough when I was in the military!), but I really love the look of a pretty, well-constructed hat. What a fun room she has to display them. I actually have a room painted about that same color, and was thinking of changing it, but now I think I’ll leave it as is. Looks so pretty with all of her hats displayed.
Judith’s suit is so beautiful…so Audrey Hepburn. I love it.
Denver really is a great town…a western feel, but lots of city things to do. Glad you got to spend time there, Sylvia.
As women we are so lucky to have friends both old and new. Female friends are the best! They are there for both the good and bad on our life’s journey. Your travels have given you an entirely new group of friends. How great is that? I have so enjoyed your blog and photos and I am happy that you met so many interesting ,vibrant and stylish women!