cool green dress

Arden dress | Carlisle Summer 19

Last week I wore this cool green dress for cocktail reception and then dinner while in Chicago previewing fall and winter collections. The dress is from the summer 19 collection and the fabric is a beautiful stretch Italian linen. I knew when I first saw the line sheets even before seeing the dress that it would be a sell-out, it was just that good. 

Emperor dress | Carlisle Fall 19

I know the sleeveless thing is an issue for many of my clients, there is a cardigan sweater that can go over yet then you kind of lose the beauty of the dress. If you’re okay baring arms here’s the fall 19 version: it’s called Emperor, sheath shape, and the fabric is cross-dyed taffeta in rich green. V-neckline and sleeveless just like the summer version. 

Black block-heeled sandals and nude clutch finished my look, the holiday version would be great with a classic pump. We’re back home now for a little and studying all things fashion prepping for upcoming trunk show. Save the dates of Tuesday, July 30ththrough Monday, August 12thto check out this dress and more in person. Can’t quite get there? We can do virtual style workshops, helping you with everything from sustainable denim to full on glamour. While shopping for fall shoes and boots in the windy city I was told the season is virtually over, so not true, we’re just getting started.

iPhone photo on the street…

day seventeen, moving forward

Wow, putting yourself out there in the social stratosphere can feel pretty overwhelming at times. Even on the best of days there’s second guessing. On hard days it’s really hard. Talked with my twenty-six-year-old daughter this morning and she said ‘mom, I delete my Instagram app now Monday to Friday simply so I can focus on getting done what I need to get done. Then on the weekend it’s just that much more fun to kind of scroll through and catch up with everyone’. I say smart girl.

Are our lives really that interesting? Is there oversharing? Where’s the line? And what about me posting pictures of myself? Crazy!

Anyways, here is where we are, and this is what I do so moving forward. I sell clothes. I style clothes. I wear and style clothes. I wear clothes to sell clothes so therefore the posting. Sometimes all I want to do is wear old jeans and my kids’ old college hoodies, and I do. I also believe women feel better when wearing better clothes. We can do better work when we feel good in our skin. I think we all can spend way too many hours staring into our closets wondering what to wear and I try and help with that.

These photos were taken by my second son and he too has a fear of sharing, and he’s in the very social generation. He documents trips and moments and life with his camera and for all of us it’s like pulling teeth for us to see his work. I try and tell him, ‘progress, not perfection’. I think it’s slowly working. Moving forward with one small step at a time, even when that one step can feel so overwhelming, bring you to your knees, or maybe even a complete standstill.

So here I am, wearing clothes from my current trunk show, photographed by my son, and he shared his work. Inside I’m smiling.

The outfit is a riff on uniform dressing, army greens. Some of my clients would object as the colors aren’t exact. I’m okay with it. The voile blouse has soft jersey insets and an edgy concealed zipper front. I think this is genius for women that have trouble with blouses, no gaping and pulling like you can get with a buttoned placket. The pants have front and back pockets, light gold hardware. Most of us love a column of black to get out the door, this combo just edges the look up a bit. Shoes are old Gucci, and love the block heel, so much better for on-the-go.

Besides selling and styling clothes I like to cook. The other night was scratch chicken noodle soup. No photo, camera battery dead. It’s got to get warmer out there soon.

Every day dress, clothes: dark olive on olive, food: scratch chicken noodle soup.

Day seventeen, moving forward, and check.

Trunk show now through Monday, April 29th.

day 10, a clean palate

grey velvet and white, and yeah those lamps at the doorway need some shades

In an effort to minimize, so far to go with that concept, for new house down south furnished in a flash I stuck with a color palate of white, grey, and dark brown, or one of my favorite words chocolate. Mostly white and grey, and we moved fast.

every day dress office Saint Petersburg FL, office chair from Office Depot Office Max

At Rooms to Go we picked up two white leather pieces, a sofa and a loveseat. The rest of the haul came from Restoration Hardware, and not embarrassed to say Restoration Hardware Outlet. Husband likes to move fast, no time to wait for special orders.

husband thinks lampshades are way too big, mail order, whatever

First night in the new house we slept on a mattress on the floor, and second daughter Booie slept on a yoga mat on the floor. In a land of plenty it was fun in a weird strange way. Booie and I also spent a night with no power, and that was fun too. Candlelight and early to bed.

new art on the white walls and table for six that can go to eight
I’m furnishing the place in a few simple colors…
my new closet and there’s that pop of orange in an orange suede shirt with all other things black and tones of white
picked out all this stuff in a hot minute, speed dial with local delivery guys, love the pop of orange

Kind of like building a wardrobe based on a cohesive color story, furnishing this place with limited choice made it so much easier to make decisions. Of course, you always need to mix things up or throw in a curve ball, hence the Hermes orange cushions for outdoor seating area. Really like that little pop in what is otherwise Zen-like and serene.

keeping it clean in the new kitchen. pre-ordered bar stools at Perigold
do I kind of match the kitchen? haha

Today’s work outfit was tone on tone too. Black cashmere V-neck, black leather skirt, soft white scarf, taupe suede boots, keeping it all in the same family made it so much easier to get out the door.

Every day dress, clothes: neutrals, interiors: mostly grey and white, food: Prosecco in the office and take-out for dinner.

Day 10, check.

day 8, or is it 9

Instagram Stories at work today, Per Se by Carlisle sweater, Joe’s Jeans leather cropped boot, Golden Goose sneakers

Started the day in the pool at 5:30 am for lap swim, something I’m uncomfortable with yet I know is good for me and feels incredibly good when done. Followed that wet half mile with an hour of spin (including very hard push-ups) and try to get that double session in once a week. Other days its Tracy Anderson or maybe walking lunges and sit-ups or maybe even just walking. It’s a good day when that MyMotiv ring circles in at 16,000+.

Went for the annual physical and passed, with pretty good marks. Had some problems with the close-up eye screen hahaha and the nurse practitioner told me I could use my readers and then we were just fine. I honestly think that good health is closely related with making your bed, wearing good clothes, and eating good food.

Tomorrow I’m meeting again with Williams Media for another go-round of blog overhaul and marketing talk. They too are making me uncomfortable, yet like those laps in the pool it’s a very good thing. Have I used the word ‘good’ too many times? Posting to Instagram Stories twice a day is where I’m not passing. 🙂

Anyways, today I was all about black leather jeans with a little kick at the hem, a striped cashmere ‘jumper’ like by blog crush Alyson Walsh of That’s Not My Age would call my sweater, and a good pair of sneakers. If you don’t know of her jump on over to her here by clicking on this link: That’s Not My Age. Her post today about what to keep and what to chuck so timely with the city house cleaning overhaul going on. She also wrote a few books, her most recent ‘Know Your Style‘.

jeans and knits and sneakers forever

In these photos here I most definitely know my style: jeans and knits and sneakers forever, whatever the textile may be. We should all get and be and feel comfortable with what we wear.

Every day dress, clothes: leather and cashmere, food: leftovers, ha!. 🙂

Day 8, or is it 9? check. xoxo

day three

satin olive pant, dark olive jersey shell

I’m working trunk the entire upcoming month of April, minus a getaway to celebrate Easter and maybe a quick trip to Florida. Working trunk means being with women one to one in my downtown studio surrounded by 300+ pieces of luxury clothing items and helping them find styles that they love. This has been the professional piece of my life for almost nineteen years now.

Most women love having help in the dressing room. I think deep down we all have a need for affirmation in how we present ourselves to the outside world. For sure the clothes we wear speak about who we are, where we are, and where we’re going. As a stylist I help women refine their message with what they wear. I’ve been doing it forever, it’s always evolving, and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it. It’s in my DNA.

Wear good clothes, eat good food, love those around you.

Most days I’m in jeans and a tee, this is where I’m truly most comfortable, and as a creative it’s a look I can do. At the studio I tried on a pair of easy flowing satin and reverse satin pants in on-trend olive green with a little fitted jersey shell from the summer 19 collection, these two items definitely upgrade the denim and tee look.

meatballs in watery tomato sauce, whatever

Before I leave for the day, I like to have dinner prepped or planned out, it simply makes me feel good and gives me a sense of calm knowing what I’m feeding those I love. Yesterday it was meatballs in tomato sauce. Sauce was a little watery on the plate, whatever, we had five at the table, nobody complained.

Every day dress: clothes: olive green, food: meatballs.

Day three, check.

yes, we’re hiring

me, far right, posting to Instagram last night while youngest of six smiles on

Last night dinner for four turned into dinner for eight, as usually happens, and after a glass of wine or two I posted twice to Instagram announcing we’re hiring, maybe a little desperate.

We’ve got a total hands on hands in can do vibe, and it’s not ever perfect and honestly I move fast and at times fly by the seat of my pants. I’ve thought of adding to the team and have tried a cleaning service, they never used water and kind of forgot to vacuum, a cleaning guy, he kind of just disappeared.

So, my new thing is listening to podcasts while buzzing around the house, dusting, vacuuming, folding towels, ironing, and it’s okay. My favorite is Pardon My French with Garance Dore, but I’ll also search around and listen to others too. Jillian Micheals, the fitness phenom, plugged care.com, and it made me take note. In the middle of prepping and cooking dinner logged on and while dragging and dropping our family profile of 8 humans and 3 dogs I kind of freaked out and dropped that idea, thinking we’re a little much to walk into.

Yet I am looking for help. We’re planning our biggest celebration ever, an outdoor wedding reception this August, and I need a hand, an assistant. The ideal match would have and love a flexible schedule and be open to on the spot learning and doing.

If you have an interest in no two days being exactly the same and have a love of actually getting your hands dirty while being around food, flowers, clothes, shoes, makeup, photos, house, garden, and more, this could be your gig. If you’re in Buffalo, we could get started as early as April, or for the right fit at anytime at all, and work together through mid to late August. Message to my Instagram, or email here to rebecca@everydaydress.com. Formal resume not necessary, coffee meeting, yes, sense of humor, obviously.

Every day dress, yes, we’re in need of a hand.

 

 

5 and 10

always love a LBD and little black suit

men’s white shirt, black cashmere v-neck, blue denim, love always

travel outfit: silk, denim, leather, suede, cross-body, tote

Spring 2017 and we’ve got a couple of milestones to mention: 5 years here at the blog, every day dress, and 10 years at the company, Worth New York.

Love both, although we’d be kidding ourselves if we didn’t recognize the changes:

oldest and youngest

Blog started as a result of really not finding many women of age out there writing about style, and what they might be wearing. Now, and even then, there are many good sites, and as a way to introduce myself to others when working in sales as a stylist, recruiter and trainer, for the above said company.

Blog has evolved to more of a lifestyle place, and to less of wearing and showing what’s new. We still love new clothes, and all the accessories that go with them, it’s just that we’re more into less now, yet better, and probably wearing things more often.

The professional piece, with Worth New York, we wouldn’t trade for a minute. Perhaps we’ve hit pause for a little, to fast forward, or not. 5 of those 10 years we spent building a team, and now we’re more about sharing our knowledge, and inspiring others. Working with women, a beautiful product, and the support, training, and inventory of an ever evolving national luxury fashion company, irresistible. We’ll be working a spring summer trunk at the end of the month, launching into our 11th year of dressing gorgeous and talented women.

all food above, prepped and cooked in small Bayfront condo

We’re also focused on the kitchen, and food, and feeding the family. We’re learning to be more disciplined while cooking, using more whole foods than not, and to consuming and wasting less. It’s a process for sure, and it feels right, and good.

white linen shirt, best cover-up 

Helping women look and feel good, that’s really been our thing in one way or another since we started at a women’s only fitness center at the age of 17 teaching group classes. Perhaps we simply like feeding them now, too. Oh, what a run: fitness, fashion, and now food.

So here’s to 5 and 10, and to the next 5 and 10, and to women everywhere that jump in, try new things, hang in there, take a risk, take a gap, reinvent.

grocery tulips in a coffee mug in the condo with the laptop

morning walk, those 10k steps, wall flowers 🙂

Love and peace to all.

and for fun, totally want this red leather biker and tulle skirt, hello Kathy! (saved and copied from Instagram)

ps. do not google 5 and 10, especially urban dictionary. 🙂

all photos taken while in Ruskin, FL, on the iPhone

a bit of a gap

one shouldered cashmere, Worth New York | burn marks on right arm, classic culinary perks

Last May, one of our mentors (we’re talking to you, Wendy), talked a bit about her ‘gap’ year at a high-profile event here in BUF, and we were listening. Our heights and accomplishments not equal to hers by the usual measure, yet her message was clear: it’s okay to work hard, do some good stuff, check a few things off the ambition checklist and then re-evaluate, take stock, and begin again. We here at every day dress love women that are constantly designing, whatever that may be or have meaning to them, uniquely.

We’ve had a bit of a gap, perhaps not a true gap year, never say never, yet definitely a gap.

While we love beautiful clothing and dressing women (hey, I’ve done that since I’ve been about 12, starting sewing my own clothes and little accessories for others), we also truly love cooking and feeding others.

we love white flowers and white votives

and not arranged too precious, and wine on the counter

rustic beef stew had two bottles of beer and red wine and yes, we did take the eyes out of those potatoes

flowers by Lexi, elegant and simple

weeknight family dinner

So, now we’re working on adding a little credibility to our culinary hobby: we’ve made stock and uploading photos and being graded on our work, all for a certificate if we pass 538 tasks and a final exam come July. Two youngest daughters say it’s the best thing that’s ever happened and bonus I’m always on time for lacrosse drop-off and pick-up now having taken a breather from corporate life.

all this for stock and they say it’s easy lol

you need to have warmed clear stock and cold gelatin omg

chopped stems and crowns we can handle, and that onion is easy to dice, slice, whatever

they hide yet like the results, building a culinary notebook, even have the hole puncher out!

it’s really better tasting than it looks, #truth

Yes, Lace & Day, this is what goes on underneath the apron 🙂

we’re okay with the eyelid droop as long as we are serving some good wine 

Yeah, the blog has had a bit of a gap, 9 days since last post!, professional life definitely has a gap although we’re still loving quarterly trunk shows, and LOVE keeping in touch with our women.

mise en place for vegetable stock

in the copper pot

minestrone is now one of our weekly things, pic from the iPhone 

beet, pumpkin seed & feta salad, good thing I roasted and saved those October things, iPhone photo, yet really delicious

Even though we’re a bit off we’re really not that off, food and good clothing, definitely a life-long passion. xoxo

May we all have opportunity to pursue what brings us meaning, and joy.

Okay, off to walk the dogs now for about an hour, that definitely gives our day meaning, and joy.

 

 

the subtle power of good clothing

hand cut vegetables and bouquet garni

going with carnations instead of the expected roses, on Valentine’s Day

So, Tuesday night we were cooking up some short ribs, parsnip puree, green beans and creme brûlée. Wednesday night I was standing gurney side as they were about to wheel our eighteen year old daughter, fifth child, into emergency surgery at 10:56 pm.

Oh, how life can change on a dime. Picked this child up after a phone call from the school nurse, drive sixth child out to her drivers ed class and husband comes home to find fifth child on the floor, in pain. Quick trip to the ER, three or so morphine shots later and the late night surgery crew is saying ‘you look way too dressed up to be here’. We were wearing our regular stuff, yet they noticed, and took us seriously. When your kid is being wheeled in for your not quite sure what and you put your faith in the powers above, it’s a good thing to feel good in your clothes.

Wednesday office outfit that went until Thursday late afternoon

Laid down in those clothes, in the surgery waiting room. Slept in those clothes, in two chairs pushed together at the end of her bed. Woke up in those clothes and was thankful for another day, and Tim Horton’s hospital coffee, a breakfast sandwich, and a sour cream donut, we we’re running on empty.

Really, what you wear can speak volumes, oftentimes without you even saying a word. We write here about good clothes, good food, and sometimes about drinking good wine, and if it came down to the end I’d want to be wearing a good outfit, having enjoyed a good meal, and definitely a good glass of wine, all with the people I love, that’s really the gist of us here at every day dress.

That outfit gave me strength. She’s on the mend. xoxo

what we wore on Friday, for four hours at the office, when what we really felt like doing was never leaving the couch

Every day dress, the subtle power of good clothing.