Lifestyle Archives • Page 30 of 100 • Every Day Dress by Rebecca Collins

on the fence

Greenville, SC

Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Three days, three states, four schools; college visits with 18-year-old daughter, 5th child of six. She’s not sure, she’s feeling the pull of the west coast, we want her east. First four all stayed east, these last two, time will tell.

Style wise we’ve personally let the hair color thing go, and we’re on the fence about that. No cut or color in over three months. Like the 27-year-old daughter that’s constantly checking out ring fingers, that’s her stage now, wondering where her peers are relationship wise, we’re checking out root lines. Grey hair on women is kind of a thing now, see Alison Walsh of That’s Not My Age and UK Vogue editor Sarah Harris, and we’re on the edge.

Loved when the husband went grey, sure it was an adjustment, honestly I think for him more than me, and at 62 I think he’s hot.

For me, really don’t love the salon time, and the residual hair-line halo that hangs around for a day or two, and that inevitable window when you need to get back for the retouch.

Yet style, every day style, is our thing. Nothing too precious, but enough to feel good, lift ourselves and those around us, and contribute to a better looking place. Kind of thinking there’s a place for women in there with uncolored hair. Don’t get me wrong, love a beautiful color, on women of all decades. It’s just one of those things in the realm where everything is possible we’re thinking of opting out.

Now in FL, getting ready to hit those 10K steps

What we know: daily movement is a must, wherever we are.

classics, over time

We’ve been doing stuff, like roasting chickens, and grilling caesar salad, and wearing our wardrobe classics: long merino skirt, Breton stripes kind of thing bodysuit, a leather jacket. and a striped scarf.

Also going on, a pile of beans, and weeknight dinners:

a pile of beans, who really cares

sweet potatoes

add a lean protein and some time in the kitchen and you’ve got dinner baby

grocery roses, $20, DIY

cut flowers on the table at the restaurant, always add votives

double dates xoxo

a finger or two in the frosting, always

twins!! celebrating 27…

the men watching sports, on the iPhone, in the wine cellar haha

While talking about the blog with second son, graphic designer, expressed how I didn’t want this to be a place where readers felt worse after visiting. You know, an endless visual parade of all things new you need to buy, or etc.

We like new, no problem there. It’s the constant and endless acquisition that gets us.

So, here we are, digging down a little in the kitchen and digging down a little in the closet.

so, he did get the bunny in the window, and here is its head, on a platter, for breakfast, lol

Every day dress, classics, over time.

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.

mellow yellow

Snow day in the BUF, so we’re staying put and doing fun things in the kitchen like making omelets, and vegetable stock.

Never knew a proper omelet was all about the proper heat, and stirring, and stirring and shaking, and that the eggs should be barely done. And that to be an omelet you don’t even need to put anything in it, it’s all technique. We’re all about learning new things.

Baking we’ve done for decades, and funny thing is no one really eats the stuff anymore, it just kind of sits.

Thinking we’ll have more success with some good soup from some scratch stock.

Every day dress, we’re pretty mellow, loving the March snow day. xoxo

about the waist

Everyone’s kind of talking about it, the return of the corset, or about the waist.

We don’t go full in yet like to feel relevant, so dug out the leather obi belt from the fashion closet. Wore it with white denim, a sleeveless jacket, and then put another jacket on top. Oh, and white is in, now.

Kind of makes you sit up a little straighter, and kind of makes you do a few more sit-ups. haha.

Every day dress, about the waist. Nothing new here, just pulling on some closet basics. Off to lacrosse drive-around. xoxo

learning new stuff

mise en place for first step of minestrone

Life-long learning, we’re all for it. Enrolled in some online stuff and while we love clothes, shoes, and bags, decided to upgrade the culinary skills.

Here’s a little of what we’ve been up to, the past three days at least:

setting up for poached eggs

barely yet greatly set

lunch for one, new nail color, Essie bikini so teeny, and a jam jar with a smash of Walt Chardonnay

homegrown kitchen counter basil

resulting basil walnut pesto, skipped those pine nuts this time

veggies prepped for dinner

couldn’t resist, pussy willow for the front hall from the grocery, $15

if it works, do it again, this time black suede Birkenstocks, OPI boyfriend jeans nail color

Every day dress, learning new stuff. xoxo

homemaking

We’ve been trying to get in the kitchen, buying baby bok choy and stuff to step up our culinary skill set. Instead we’ve been doing the school run drive around, and it’s all okay.

Husband reads all the time, and reads a lot about happiness. This morning while I was ironing he said the latest research shows that homemakers are the happiest. Can’t tell you how excited I was to not go anywhere today and just do laundry. 🙂

So, since we need to eat I’ll try and tackle that new green vegetable now. And, as we need to dress this is the look we put together today for the run around. We mixed up some floral print, a kind of conservative blue cashmere jacket, and a little camo. Momma won’t like it, she’s so over the skinny jean thing and these are in camo, yet we’re wearing good shoes.

Every day dress, today it was all about homemaking. TGIF everyone, have a great weekend. xoxo

not giving up

When you put yourself out there you can get knocked around a little, whatever, we’re not giving up.

A couple of style notes:

bought this lace top with oldest daughter early December while in NYC. Never even looked at the label, simply liked the piece. Young, chic client came in last week and was showing me pictures of a few things she recently picked up, all by London label self-portrait. At home, checked my blouse, self-portrait. Wore it for the first time last night, felt fun and stylish, even with the ubiquitous denim. Kind of really loving their fresh, feminine vibe. Young daughters were like, ‘mom, yeah, self-portrait, they’re on SHOPBOP‘. Thinking I need to leave campus more often. 🙂
about that denim, can’t shake it off. While driving kids around all day thought why change what works? For now, it’s denim.
still love and wear all suede Aquazzura shoes we bought seasons ago, they look and feel good on the foot, and heel height at 3.5″ isn’t killer. You can find similar style here: net-a-porter, and there’s now a boutique at 939 Madison Ave, New York, NY.
thinking we might need a little cut and color, yet might put that off for four weeks or so. Some of the family is giving up things like wine, and chips, and we have absolutely no discipline in that area. We’re also super-inspired by one of our favorite bloggers Alyson Walsh of THAT’S NOT MY AGE. She talks about growing out her blonde on her Instagram feed, and check out her take on grey hair by clicking on This week’s style inspiration: grey hair on the cat-walk, Oxfam at fashion week and Kristin Scott Thomas.

Every day dress, here’s to all women everywhere, not giving up. xoxo

slow french taupe

We’ve been working a slow spring trunk, and that’s okay, we’re all about being patient with the patient. Enjoying some one on one time with special clients, and learning new things.

The french taupe color story we’re finding interesting, and loving this fuller pant shape.

Even pulled our wider-leg (note the higher waist) denim from the closet, paired it with a ruffled sleeve silk blouse and some old Chanel boots for our Saturday work look. Felt a little French.

And the bag? The one in the middle is heart-stopping Dior, the white and the black are perfect stand-ins. Same size, equal style, different zeros. Love all three.

Our work is all about dressing women, up and down.

Every day dress, slow french taupe.

a little funk

balsamic, olive oil, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper

8 minute soft-boiled eggs, prosciutto

chicken with 40 cloves of garlic, tastes way better than it looks

Sunday afternoon late lunch

She’s recovering, although it might take a little. We’re in a little funk, so doing what we do: making the bed, putting on a little makeup, walking the dogs (or spending time out in the garden with them), making some dinner, spending time with those we love, enjoying a glass of wine. A little curve ball, so we’ve battened down for a little, it will get better.

Scary stuff when your kid is in the OR, and we like to share, the good and the scary. We don’t push the site, if you’re here we suppose it’s because you might like to cook, and feed and care for others, or enjoy good clothes, or maybe even a little of each.

Linnie fishing, Booie wining

miss you peanut, xoxo

cozy dinner for 3

We’ve ducked out of the office for a little, her sister’s are all in FL, soaking up some vitamin D, and don’t want to leave her home alone. We’re at the table, enjoying meals for three.