a good coat

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Whatever your daily office/runaround look is, here its usually a creative black turtleneck and denim while in the midst of winter, a good coat can be a game changer. When it’s reversible, double outfit points.

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Add some block-heeled boots and you’re good to go. Dressed up and out the door.

Every day dress and wear a good coat.

Fawn to Winter White Melange Doubleface Reversible Coat | Worth New York

 

the island vibe

Today was a full on office day, phone calls and catching up with clients, colleagues, friends.

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Caught a bit of the island vibe from Ann, she’s traveling to Turks & Caicos, one of our favorites, for the first time this Saturday.

We talked a bit about what she might pack, a woman after my heart she’s a straight carry on for sure.

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Bikinis, sandals, a big hat, some white jeans and a maxi dress. Lightweight and packable sneakers for the morning walk and the afternoon bike ride to town to get some chilled wine.

As for the dress, this would be my pick:

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Some of my favorite night-time island vibe memories have been had wearing a long print dress. Over and over, you only need one.

The airport’s been updated, make sure on your flight out to head straight upstairs. Watch the planes come in and out, catch one last drink.

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travel look | white everything, two handbags inside a tote aka KonMari | laptop in the carry on

Every day dress, the island vibe. Have a ball, Ann, see you in February. 🙂

off and all in

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Second daughter reminded me last night over a shared bottle of wine that January is really just a month full of Mondays. Excellent.

We’ve been all in with the family and off the blog for a week or so, life happens, as it should.

Traveled to the west coast with the husband for five days, turned everything off in my world (two quick Instagrams) except for him, heaven.

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With two well-tended high school daughters at home the work is real to get out of dodge. Same with re-entry. Thanks Booie for holding down the fort.

Every day dress, we were off and now we’re all in. Everyone’s gotta do it.

getting clear

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Midway through first month of the new year and we’re all about getting clear: no detox diet or dry January, simply cleaning up and clearing out. We’re doing what we love; family, fashion, food, and in no particular order.

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The lights and the glitter and the evergreens, gone. Bring on hyacinths, houseplants, and clear coffee tables. Cleaning closets, going to the gym, and working white accessories into the daily rotation.

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Casual nights with house-made pizza and Prosecco, all about getting clear.

Every day dress, getting clear.

 

 

just getting started…

 

Kind of ironic, the big guns are all about Pre-Fall 2016 and we barely know what’s for dinner tomorrow night and it’s the second Monday in January. That’s why we’re the every day here, we simply make the most of what we’ve got going on. Gotta say it’s a strength and weakness, everyone’s all about planning ahead, we’re pretty much about all that’s good, right about now.

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We’re set up in the showroom for Spring 16, and we’re just getting started. Navy always looks right, and kind of coveting a leather sweatshirt and some wide-legged olive khaki green palm print silk pants, can it get any easier?

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It’s finally cold here in BUF, and we’re into white denim and wearing our over-the-knee boots as much as we can.

Every day dress, and we’re just getting started. Hello 2016.

embrace yourself

 

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So, in the spirit of the New Year let’s all try to show a little more self-love. Why not celebrate what we’re good at? I’m good at picking shoes, and bags, and clothes, for women of all ages. It’s not life-saving like health care, but it sure is fun and bright.

The pair above was my pick for one of my youngest clients, she wanted new heels. Shoes to wear with denim, and dresses. With a 4.7″ heel we won’t be wearing these, yet they are a perfect match for her age and style.

A little foot candy is always a good thing.

Every day dress, embrace yourself. xoxo

Shoe | Jimmy Choo | Anouk

 

 

 

the cost of a sweater

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We’re back in the office, it’s empty until Thursday, we’re prepping for Spring 16 and a new product ship-in. Early in Fall Winter 15 friend, colleague, client and I were discussing the cost of a really great sweater. Her thoughts were spend the money on a good dress, mine are kind of put it into a  sweater.

We’ve been wearing this sweater since the first cool nights in August. Now that it’s really cold out there it’s in almost constant rotation.  Paired it today with a flat sequin silver skirt, even though the party’s over we can all still wear our sparkle stuff, just be sure to dress it down. In lieu of skin or a heel pulled on some black leather over-the-knee boots, outfitted for the day.

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When you factor in cost per wear of a really great piece with the ease of getting dressed and out the door when all you really might want to do is stay home and clean house, the cost of a really nice sweater is of absolute full benefit.

There’s a bit of a black eye in there, matches the sweater, dropped a weight on my face at the gym last week, no kidding. Oh, the perils of training.

Black Leather Trimmed Cowl Neck Pullover | Worth New York Fall Winter 15

Horsebit-detailed leather over the-knee-boots | Gucci

 

 

 

(always) getting organized

Oldest daughter that flew out to Hong Kong yesterday mid-morning basically got to skip the first Monday of the New Year and went right to Tuesday, yikes, that’s like double Monday.

We here started with what we’re always doing, getting organized. Conference calls and planning sessions, and now that I have two direct reports professionally, one in sales and one in recruiting, seriously looked at some calendars.

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First choice for sure would be any of the fashion picks from Smythson, my new sales manager uses this Fuchsia one; lovely, and effervescent just like she is.

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I liked the size and the theme of the one at Barneys, slightly bigger and it has a map of Soho.  It’s a little more expensive, yet if you’re going in why not go all in.

While I don’t do resolutions, this year I’m moving towards writing more things down, so a new calendar is so needed, even though I do all the electronic stuff.

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A favorite colleague emailed me after our conference call and suggested the American Express Appointment Books, one for the desk and one for the clutch, thank you, Christine.

Since I’m that woman who carries a really great bag yet rarely has any extra cash, always seem to spend it on great food to cook and clothes and shoes, and it’s January, I’m going for now with the one above, it’s free, lol.

Maybe we should rethink the resolution thing, (always) getting organized, and, every day dress.

seventeen

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Fifth child’s birthday is always New Year’s Day, this year she’s seventeen. As usual, it was dinner in: family and friends gathered round breaking bread. We turned up the heat with some three-chili harissa chicken, added a little of the morning’s bacon fat to the corn bread, made some beans in a great little vegetable broth, sautéed all kinds of greens, and put twelve grapes on skewers for a champagne cocktail in hopes of twelve months of upcoming sweetness.

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We’re always flying a little by the seat of our pants, woke up on New Year’s Day and realized we just didn’t have enough chairs in the house to fit everyone around one table, so off the rental company we went, and threw in square plates and black napkins. On the spot decided on a silver and black theme and had kids and houseguests glitter up some silver place cards.

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No resolutions or best of here, we go for the every day: every day make the bed, get out of the gym clothes, put on a little make-up, spend time with those you love, make some dinner, enjoy a glass of wine. Tomorrow it’s the first Monday of a new year, and I’ll be driving eight minutes down the road to our design studio. Oldest daughter just boarded a flight so she can start her week in Hong Kong, god speed.

Happy Birthday Lizzie, and wishing everyone near and far a year ahead full of all good things. xoxo