Today was one of those days when it was an effort to get dressed. As I really needed to leave the house, blue jeans, bare feet, and a hoodie just wouldn’t do.
Thankfully, the company I recruit for makes some pretty amazing separates. Separates that create countless outfits, across multiple seasons.
Today’s outfit inspired by the absolutely exquisite Valentino Spring Summer 14 ad campaign and runway. I looked, and reworked what I had, to get out the door. Kept the hair simple and jewelry minimal. Missed the fringed handbag, did a small tailored bag that’s at least a decade old, can’t remember.
Remember when it was Spring and time for a new pair of patent leather Mary Jane’s? As the streets were dry, still cold out, couldn’t resist pulling out the patent Rockstuds. Instead of the shoe with the white ankle socks, wish I had those so Chanel, paired these with dark navy denim rolled at the cuff, white silk blouse, and new Navy Iridescent Satin Sashed Coat. Patent up, indeed, we’ve all been waiting.
Some say the Rockstud has come and gone, no way here at every day dress. If it’s a shoe with a heel that you can walk city blocks and drive 150 miles without a blink, wardrobe classic for sure.
Patent up everyone. It’s time. Hibernation has to be over, right?
Makeup and nail note: have been pretty focused on the work thing and couldn’t manage the eyeliner and manicure and get out of the house on time all at once. Went for the Jenna Lyons clean face bright lip with a flick of mascara, husband told me it looked pretty darn good. Happy.
While it would be seriously seductive to have a linen closet full of Frette and Porthault, it’s just not that easy to put that stuff in the every day rotation. To quickly dress the bed, shopped the department store.
As the wardrobe is mostly black, and white, with a bit of color here and there, went the same way with the sheeting. It’s Spring, really, and have an urge to clean and spruce things up. It’s still mighty cold to wear the new white anorak so decided to just dress the bed.
Side note, twenty-one year old daughter that still can’t find the dishwasher when at home messaged me this photo late this afternoon: She calls it ‘treat yourself Mondays :)’ Every Monday she buys herself fresh flowers and wine for the week. Said that I blogged about the idea that keeping fresh flowers around helps your mood. She agrees, even if they are simply from CVS. Booie, inspiration goes two ways, and you helped my mood today, thank you. xoxo
Oh, and work colleague wanted to know what was for dinner tonight: if you have a lean protein, green vegetable, a good carb, salad greens, parmesan cheese, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, kosher salt and pepper, dinner’s done. Balsamic and rosemary chicken, roasted broccoli, wild rice, caesar salad.
This one’s for the fit, size 2 or 12 and beyond. You might be CEO of the big corporation and managing many or CEO of the home front and mentoring those you hold close, yoga teacher or yoga student. If you’re day is non-stop here’s a good capsule:
black dolman sleeve sweater, zips asymmetrically to expose or not.
black harley pant, not you’re yoga pants, actually a pant, with zip pockets.
black bandeau, a little foundation underneath it all.
black push-up sleeves jacket.
Every woman out there should have something like 3 of these 4 pieces, we’ll let the bandeau top slide.
Add a low heeled boot and mid-heel slightly sexy sandal and you are all set.
Sun up to sun down and sun salutations between. Have actually slept in the first two, the sweater and the pant, on separate and more than one occasion(s), without regret. Machine wash on cold lay flat to dry. They keep on looking great. Photos taken late Thursday night in home office after a non-stop day.
Last spring was all about dress as coat. This season it’s been dress as shirt. Sleeves are rolled up, been working like crazy. Crazy good. 🙂
Wore this silk dress over dark denim at a marketing event two weeks ago. Felt great even with all other women dressed in ski clothes. A silk dress as shirt over dark denim can take you pretty much anywhere.
The best things sometimes take place when nobody’s looking. Last night, home alone with just the husband, cooked steak and greens and served it in the dining room. Sonos system played Pandora Van Morrison, candles lit, wine poured, and life is good. We could have skipped it, mid-March slump, but made the effort, showed intent, totally worth it.
Know that what you do day-to-day is noticed by those around you. Second daughter messaged this via iPhone, Sunday night, in her Boston MA apartment with the caption ‘dinner for one LOL’. Steak and greens, all around. Doesn’t need to be fancy.
Every day dress, make the effort, live with intent. Love you Booie.
Styled one of my younger clients in a long white high low dress with of the moment, ankle-wrap, mid-heel, faux snake skin sandals, finished off with private collection clutch.
Not really a mall shopper, went anyways and we wrapped it up in less than two hours. She needed to be dressed that night for a black and white semi-formal, 7 pm. Like all of us, had plenty of appropriate black in her closet. After this long winter, she wanted to feel fresh and wear something new. Knew what I was doing, had been down this road many times. She was hesitant, thought the high low hem has been overplayed, every day dress had her try other options, and at the end it was back to the first pick: BCBG white dress and Michael Kors Open-Toe Sandal. She needed assurance, offered plenty, thanked me often, and after the party reported she felt great and most importantly had a great time. The clothes you wear do make a difference.
Even if you’re a classic dresser, sometimes you’ve just got to get out there and have a little fun. It’s only a dress. Wear it, own it, dance all night, and when you’re done with it, it’s okay.
Mixing up a little high low, even when you’re classic, can make for a good night. Every day dress.
Inspired by a woman met while working on the road in Rochester, NY, decided to pink it up. You know those first impressions? She walked in wearing a bright pink Donna Karan New York coat over her mostly black outfit. She had on heels, smiled brightly, and oozed good energy. Her look still makes me think about her today. As good energy begets good energy, I followed suit.
Wild Rose jacket, picked up at a sample sale as it’s not the usual pick, white silk blouse, black leather and ponte pant, flat boots. Couldn’t do the heels as it was moving and packing day, and 73 mile drive each way. Yes, very spoiled by short commutes here in Buffalo.
Wearing color needs and shows a little confidence, maybe that’s why so many of us wear the non-colors. Color is memorable, and also takes thought. Bought a leather jacket in this exact Wild Rose and have yet to wear it, not sure what the wait’s for, it was fun to wear something bright. If you too are a little color shy, let’s join together, fake it till we make it with the confidence thing, and pink it up. They’re only clothes, and we can change.
Thanks, Stacey, absolutely loved your look and your energy.
When the keeper of the house and all things food is down and out for a few days, it’s a good thing to rely on your local Co-operative Market for soup and sandwiches. You can make it special by adding cloth napkins, candles, and pink tulips. Sometimes you have to just rely on others for the cooking.
Worked a solid morning and had to lay down for the afternoon. Best I could do fashion wise was last year’s Chanel sneakers and some grey skinnies for the ‘what’s for dinner’ run to the market.
Tying this in every day fashion wise absolutely love that Karl showed sneaker clad women in the aisles of a sprawling supermarket for the Chanel 2014/15 Fall-Winter Ready-To-Wear collection. What modern women doesn’t honestly spend a good part of the day down low on her feet and out at the market? Click here for your view: www.chanel.com.
Photo by Oliver Saillant
Sneakers were the footwear of choice for Karl Lagerfeld’s most recent collection in Paris. Feeling so on trend here in upstate New York. 🙂
Every day dress, down and out and relying on takeout, last year’s Chanel sneakers putting Spring in my step. Can’t wait to feel better and get to the big city to see what’s new.
