Two weeks ago Friday husband and I hosted about 32 for oysters etc. and cocktails in Washington DC. Mixed company: family; all ages, graduate students, college students, lawyers, bankers, entrepreneurs, mostly Ethan’s fraternity brothers from Wake Forest. Location: Hotel Monaco, outdoors. Occasion: Law School Commencement, Ethan.
If you google 20 40, you get a bunch of results about vision. Here we’re talking about what was worn. Oldest two daughters, both in their twenties, wore minimal, modern dresses of the same designer. Every day dress, on the short end of forty, tweed boucle and red leather.
It can be a fine line sometimes on what to wear. Like vision, it can kind of sneak up on you about what’s needed and when. 20 40, stretch printed neoprene for the twenty year olds, tweed boucle sheath dress for short end of forty.
Last Friday in May, not yet the weekend, and there’s always so much stuff to do. One way to get through it is to put on your boots. Patterned silk shirtdress with leather wrap belt, done.
Yesterday’s New York Times ThursdayStyles had a great little article, New Footprints, about the fashion significance of sneakers and included the fact that Karl showed sneakers with each one of his spring couture and fall ready-to-wear looks.
Yes, sneakers are chic. Wore them with a dress to oldest son’s law school commencement two weeks ago. That was on a Sunday afternoon, outdoors, on a lawn, with the family, and we walked miles through Georgetown.
During the work week they’ve been pulled off a few times too. Have to admit that at times they feel a bit too casual even though they make it easy to get stuff done.
So, on with the boots, and flat ones at that. Paired with a dress, the look goes anywhere, probably not the courtroom though.
Let’s not forget Dior showed boots with Cruise recently in Brooklyn.
Runway showed silk blouse untucked, worn as a tunic, and a scarf tied at the neck. Great look.
Decided to tuck the shirt in, rolled up the sleeves, and added a small grey snake-skin belt, black suede shoes, a ring on the pointer finger, not the usual, standard watch and two bangles, and bright pop of color with the bag. As ready to wear pants are always too long, hemmed these just above the ankle and nixed the small cut-out v on the outside. Hemming is a DIY project, that home economics class in the 6th grade continues to be of value.
Make it your own, the clothes you wear show some of your personality to that big outside world. This look worked for a lovely lunch with a dear friend, meeting with a colleague, and cooking dinner for five. Daughters and I talk about how your look for the day can make or break your mood.
While it would be easier to wear a complete column of black, changing it up a little makes it a heck of a lot more interesting.
Several women I dress love a twinset, and for good reason. Practical, conservative, and not as straight up as a jacket. Here’s more info on the twinset lifted right from Wikipedia:
The classic twinset is knitted in wool or cashmere, though modern interpretations can be knit from synthetics such as acrylic. The under-sweater is usually worn tight-fitting, with the cardigan unbuttoned to reveal accompanying jewelry, most typically a string of pearls.
Twinsets have been associated most closely with women’s work wardrobes during the 1950s and 1960s, particularly in secretarial work or teaching, but were occasionally viewed as too casual for more conservative workplaces where dress suits were preferred. However, their popularity was largely driven by Hollywood stars such as Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn who were frequently seen wearing them on and off the set.
The twinset is often chosen by costume directors and designers in the modern film industry to portray a character’s conservatism or frumpiness. For example, Joan Cusack in the 2004 film School of Rock wears a grey twinset with pearls, intended to indicate how conservative she is. On the other hand, interest in the twinset returned thanks in part to the pink set worn by Elizabeth Hurley in the 1997 film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
The twinset, in a variety of lengths and sleeve styles (set-in or raglan, short- and long-sleeved for both cardigan and pullover), has remained commercially available to the present day through numerous design houses, manufacturers and retailers. Its current appeal is to older women and to “retro”-styled younger women drawing from ’50s and ’60s-inspired influences such as the AMC drama Mad Men.
Here’s a look worn a week or so ago on the porch of the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford PA. Guests dressed a bit for breakfast so conservative in the morning would be good. And, the word ‘Resort’ kind of calls for a color, aqua and clover work. Couldn’t do the pearls but mixed in the Rockstuds instead. Yes, again the skinnies are a little tight, this travel thing can get the best of you. All okay, pushing back from the sticky buns and getting the body moving a little more. Lots of weeds to pull in the garden this time of year. 🙂
Every day dress does a twinset, a little unusual but felt kind of fun.
Here at every day dress we think all women are 10’s, regardless of size and that size is really just a number, not much else.
With that said, are you about an 8? If so I have this Navy Ottoman Stripe Satin Back Crepe Cutaway from the Worth New York Spring 2014 Collection in size 8 and it is just too good to send back. Who out there needs a little wardrobe star? This Cutaway is completely sold out and has gone to recut in all sizes, 0 – 16, for approximate delivery around June 30th. Think of all the places you could go? Ordered mine sight unseen, way back in February, actually ordered it in white as well, and it has been a wardrobe staple star. It can (and has) gone dressed up and sexy or downtime/daytime with blue jeans. With a jacket or not it is perfection.
It’s a slim fit and bra friendly (really) with ribbon and snap lingerie straps. If you’re interested, message or call me at 716-445-3033, or comment here on this post, I can be confidential.
ps. If you love it and are not about an 8, message or call me, we can get you on the recut list. This is a year round piece for your wardrobe. Every day dress.
Navy Ottoman Stripe Satin Back Crepe Cutaway | Worth New York
A few easy ways to fancy up your burger if you too are grilling out in your backyard this weekend:
saute some mushrooms and lay them on the burger before you melt the cheese.
grill the buns, maybe spread a little salted butter on them, butter is love
arugula, the best thing going now on any sandwich, love it
ketchup, in small personal ramekins will make anyone feel special
Can’t help myself, in addition to thoughts on dressing women in beautiful clothing I can’t stop thinking about the next meal before the current one is even done.
Still think about this burger from Sticks restaurant, The Inn at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach Resorts, with my sister a month or so ago. Miss you Tracy, wishing you and yours a Memorial Day weekend of special times and good food. Come on out to the east coast and I’ll cook for you all.
Last weekend we all gathered together to celebrate oldest son’s commencement from Georgetown University Law Center. Yes, America is cool.
If you are looking for something great to do this Memorial Day weekend and you happen to be in DC, check out the National Portrait Gallery and the exhibit American Cool, now through September 7th.
Snapped these photos on the iPhone, wasn’t really supposed to, event photographer thought us taking selfies with Bill was significant and took our pic.
After ridiculous amounts of travel, actually bought a pair of brown clogs yesterday. Feet can’t take it. For sure, there is power in the shoe, but with fashion being all about the sneaker and the Birkenstock, why not the clog?
Which do you prefer? The brown clog or the brown Louboutin?
