lunch at avignonesi

 

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Six days in Tuscany so far and not even sure where to begin. Eight of us in total. Wine tasting and touring have kept us beyond busy and blessedly away from the internet. Decide to post about two of the heartbeats of this blog, what to wear and good food.

Day one in Monticchiello, lunch at the Cantina, and first bottle of wine was Avignonesi Il Marzocco Chardonnay Cortona. Loved it. Decided then that a visit to the winery was a must. Called from the villa the next morning and used best Italian to secure a same day tour and lunch reservation.

Dear friend dressed in Worth New York. Me, content writer and phototgrapher, wore a resurrected navy silk ADAM dress. We both wore low heeled Chanel boots and carried Chanel bags. No advance planning. Remember in high school when you and your friends all tried to dress alike to feel like you fit in? Some things remain the same…

Lunch was divine. Fashion and lifestyle tip while touring Tuscany in September? It’s hot during the day and you will be doing a ton of walking. Keep your footwear sensible but stylish. Fabric content and cut light but dress in dark colors. For mountain top breezes and short skirts make sure to wear your La Perla underneath. Unknown Italian men will thank you.

For more on Avignonesi, click here: www.avignonesi.it/.

For more on Worth New York, click here: www.worthnewyork.com.

 

 

 

 

dinner in rome

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Investing in beautiful clothing is a good thing. Dress you see here? Purchased ten years ago and still makes you feel alluring. Second time this dress has seen Italy. First time was eight years ago when younger sister was married in Tuscany. Oldest daughter, now twenty-two, actually wore it when she was fifteen to serve in the wedding party, can’t say the word bridesmaid. California sister has exquisite taste and let the wedding party choose our own attire, thank you Tracy. Looked and looked for a dress for oldest daughter to wear but couldn’t find anything better than what was already in the closet. Simple shoulder strap adjustment and all set. Dress, Lela Rose.

To keep things from looking too pretty added gutsy Loeffler Randall black leather booties with a substantial heel. Need the stability for walking cobblestone streets. Jerome Dreyfuss bag holds the camera and iPad. Invest in beautiful clothing, keep the good stuff and wear often, every day dress for dinner in Rome.

what to wear to rome

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Late night flight from JFK to Rome, Italy. Get through security, second time for the day, have some airport dinner, and ditch the dress. Slip into the women’s restroom and take off all of the day clothes. Put on some black skinny jeans with a good amount of stretch, black tank, layer a long sleeved tee over that, add a scarf and lightweight leather jacket, change the footwear to Jimmy Choo Youth Biker Boot, so comfortable, and we are good to go.

Stash the dress and Chanel Boy Boots back in the carryon, brush and floss the teeth, find an open outlet or two and juice up all tech gear. Board the plane, enjoy a glass of wine, and lights out.

Arrive in Rome, meet car, travel to hotel. It’s hot out there and husband wants to walk so out comes the dress, again, and jeans, tank, and tee are on the floor. Switch the footwear up so the feet feel fresh and out we go. Every day dress in Rome.

what to wear to jfk

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Busy, crazy day. Coffee meeting with Patti to discuss recruiting strategy was great. Thinking your juice cleanse will be what’s needed after this trip. Thanks for your help and inspiration.

Dressed in this new Bark Puzzle Tweed piece for running around all day and running to the airport for 4:43 pm flight. Chanel Boy Boot from last season was easy to slip on and off and made security a breeze.

Boarding now. Every day dress.

Bark Puzzle Piece Tweed Dress, Worth New York, Fall 2012.

last thursday night

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Simple post here: days have been busy with work and nights have been busy with fun. Last week Thursday good friends and neighbors invited us for dinner to celebrate the last few nights of summer 2012. Oh, what a night. Super GREAT time had by all. Had to get myself in bed by 8:30 pm Friday night. Thank you good neighbors. It was an excellent evening.

In keeping with their theme of summer nights even though fall fashion is all around us, did an outfit repeat of what was worn weeks ago to a party in July. Simply changed the shoes, darkened the nail color, and added navy cashmere wrap if needed, it wasn’t.

Have to say that this Carine Roitfeld collection for MAC is a winner. Shown here is one of the two nail colors; Underfire Red. Happy to report this one is man approved, husband doesn’t always go for or get the much loved Vamp.

Keep things easy, outfit repeat, every day dress.

 

clean out the fridge

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Okay, friends- fashion, food and lifestyle here: clothes, like groceries, have a shelf life.

Life comes at us fast. When feeling overwhelmed with the pace of it all we often dump our stuff on the floor and let the fridge go a bit.

With quickly facing a change of season it is prime time to clean the fridge and clean the closet. Closet can feel like a huge job, been there. My advice? To begin to get a sense of order start with the fridge. You know what to do. Follow Martha’s advice. Check that off the list, feel a sense of accomplishment, and move on to the closet.

Out goes anything you haven’t worn in twelve months. Anything you won’t fit into, big or small, and anything with stains or tears that can’t be repaired. White jeans and white tees really only look good for one season, maybe two at best, and need to be replaced. Donate what you don’t wear.

Figure out your favorites- real butter, half and half no low fat stuff, great coffee, great produce as related to great fitting jeans, silk blouses, and nice dresses. Buy frequently, use often, replace and replenish.

Your day will be easier when you get rid of the expired stuff. Food and fashion.

Today, for two hour committee walk through for Fall in Fashion 2012 luncheon, networking/recruiting phone calls, dinner at home and seventh grade math homework wore Worth New York’s Flannel White Streamliner dress from Spring 2012 and Manolo Blahnik kitten heel shoes. Husband loves the heel height, daughter’s don’t. Clean the fridge, clean your closet, and every day dress. xo

Talk to me, I like to write. It’s therapeutic and mind clearing. Every day dress has over 7,300 site visits. Thank you. Let me know what you would like to see more of.

 

seeing stars

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Yes, pretty much bought the entire Carine Roitfeld MAC collection. When a beautiful and intriguing 57 year old women pitches new makeup, count me in. Normally a Chanel fan but a switch up is good. Kind of like cross training and muscle confusion- to continually get results you need to keep things fresh.

Chose the darkest Full Face Kit- Jungle Camouflage. Super easy to use and mainly used fingers for application and blending. At the end took a shadow brush and kind of smudged the whole eye effort around. Lustre Tropical Mist lipstick with Stripdown lip pencil feet good on and balanced down the dark eye. Used Eye Brows pencil, Kohl Power Eye Pencil, Fluidline, and Brow Set.

To keep it interesting and to draw attention to the super dark eye makeup, used the Good Luck Star press-on stencils. Felt edgy and provocative, just as promised.  Will definitely repeat the look.

For Friday night dinner out wore Worth New York’s Black Plaid Asymmetrical Sheath, Fall 2012 Collection, Jimmy Choo shoes and Louis Vuitton bag. Fabric content of dress, 54% Viscose 24% Polyester 20% Wool 2% Elastane, provides great fit and ease of movement.

first day of school

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First day since early June 2012 that all kids were occupied. Oh, boy. Started the morning by picking up coffee for WNY Women’s Foundation Fall in Fashion Luncheon meeting and didn’t stop until after late 8th grade parent’s meeting and introducing myself to the new head of Elmwood Franklin School, a woman for the first time ever in the school’s history. Very good day.

What to wear on the first day of school was always a super big decision. So much so that I taught myself to sew and made many first day back to school outfits starting out in seventh grade. Still remember the navy skirt and khaki pants I made. Sewing skills last you a lifetime. Made prom dresses, made my dress, all five bridesmaids, and two flower girl dresses for back to school time September wedding.  Even remember the gray dress with yellow daisies I wore on the first day of kindergarten when I probably didn’t even talk yet. Husband can’t believe I remember events by what I wore; I can tell you explicitly the outfit I was wearing on our first date.

Yesterday, for first day of school, wore a dress. Of course. When your day goes non-stop a dress is the go to option. And when it’s an uber refined t-shirt shape that makes getting dressed even so much easier.

Upstate New York women mark your calendars for Friday, November 2nd. That day will bring us together at the Buffalo Club for the WNY Women’s Foundation Fall in Fashion 2012 Luncheon. Serving as one of the co-chairs this year and couldn’t be prouder- LOVE this piece of their tagline- We believe that when women and girls are secure, entire communities are stronger. You can visit their site at www.wnywomensfoundation.org. That’s my philanthropic project this fall. Been on this committee since it’s inception nine years ago and I can tell you what I wore each and every time. Every day dress.

Dress worn pictured at Hoyt Lake Rose Garden, Delaware Park, Buffalo, Worth New York Fall Winter 2011.

 

try this at home

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It happens every year, end of summer hits and the un-styled beach look has got to go. Sun-kissed strands need to be cooled down and do I dare write this errant grays need to be covered.

In keeping with yesterday’s post of fashion improvement at home, here is what one box of hair-color from the grocery and some black eyeliner can do. Needed to follow my own advice today. Put on some makeup, make dinner, walk the dogs. Summer takes a bunch out of me and I always need to regroup.

Totally into the tired look as well. Style icon Carine Roitfeld debuts a line of MAC cosmetics tomorrow, Thursday, that epitomizes her dark smoky eye and nude lip. She is 57 years old and totally rocks. She says she loves the tired look. I’m all about that right about now. Thinking I may need to chop some length and wear the hair to cover my face, too. Could use something to hide behind sometimes.

Google Carine Roitfeld and MAC cosmetics. Every day dress is just about ready to break 7,000 views. Thanks so much. See you at the MAC counter tomorrow.

ps. all product posts are my own opinion. this is a cottage industry here.

love your tailor

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Quick post: alterations are key. For all ages. Sorry, Land’s End. School uniform skirt, size 10, just didn’t cut it for fashion conscious seventh grader. Pulled out twenty-six year old Bernina sewing machine and put two pleats in the back and shortened the whole thing two inches. Same skirt, two different fabrics, both uniform issue, first altered, second, not. Happy daughter for first day of school Wednesday with the altered skirt. Love your tailor.