Super low temperatures, white out driving conditions, and the need to get out of the house during the month of January calls for a uniform of sorts. 95 percent of the women I’ve seen in the last two days have been dressed pretty much in head to toe black. Totally on board with that, to add an extra layer of warmth searched out fur collar and cuffs that were purchased many seasons back and added them to today’s ensemble and last nights, not together of course.

Today did Wolford black tights, super old black turtleneck that’s been resurrected from the closet archives, new long black knit zippered skirt, wide black belt, stylishly odd glittered hair calf ankle boots. Added the silver fox fur cuffs to wear while working a Spring Trunk Show. Total dichotomy. It’s more fun and motivating to wear the new Spring line while working with clients but just couldn’t do it. We have space heaters plugged in at the show space and to get a coffee at two buildings away you have to basically scurry. Went with what some would call the granny or librarian look but I when I put my glasses on to read fabric contents in the fine print I felt both smart and stylish in an odd kind of way. Smart and stylish is good, even when odd. One of the clients we saw today thought my skirt length was particularly dowdy, we’re honest with each other that way, I was liking it. Heck, it’s cold out there.

Last night for dinner out wore a variation of the same: black Wolford tights, those are the best, black leather skirt, same black turtleneck as today, silver fox collar, and liquid metal silver cuffs. Might as well keep the cool tones going as the temperature is only about 10 degrees.

Fur’s not for everyone, but if you have some pull it out now and mix it in with your day-to-day look. If not when it’s this cold in January, when?

Every day dress pulls out the stowed away fur accessories. Now’s the time.

All clothing and accessories | Worth New York

Tights | Wolford

Boots | Chanel 2013

 

Alright people, life is not always fancy and sometimes you just want to tuck in with a big bowl of pasta. Husband requested fish tonight. When at the market thought no freaking way, it’s in the single digits out there and I don’t think I can look at or prepare a piece of cold stinking fish (only kidding), these days in the single digits can get to you.

Fell back to the Braised Turkey Meatballs with Quick Tomato Sauce that I picked up from Chuck and one of his recipes in the Williams-Sonoma catalog. This works every time and is adaptable to all situations. Doubled it, added 1/2 cup ground organic beef, used fire roasted tomatoes instead of San Marzano, dried sage tonight instead of fresh, they were all out and there was no way I was going to any other market to secure the fresh stuff.

Photo taken with the iPhone, and, truth be told, violated all principles of every day dress: worked at home all darn day and did a little run-around. Never showered until dinner, never dressed until dinner, and never put on lipstick until dinner. Life happens all around us.

Recipe below is really good: (photo and recipe courtesy Williams-Sonoma). Totally adaptable, flexibility counts.

Braised Turkey Meatballs with Quick Tomato Sauce

3 Tbs. plus 1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 yellow onion, grated

1/2 large carrot, peeled and grated

Kosher salt, to taste, plus tsp.

1 lb. ground turkey

1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs

1 egg, whisked

2 tsp. chopped fresh sage

1/2 tsp. ground pepper, plus more to taste

2 cans (each 28oz.) whole San Marzano tomatoes, with juices

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp. dried oregano

Grated Parmigiano-Reggaino for serving

In large saute pan over medium-high heat, warm 1 Tbs. oil. Add onion and carrot, and a few pinches of salt; cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl, let cool. Add ground turkey, bread crumbs, egg, sage, t tsp. alt and 1/2 tsp. pepper, gently mix well with hands.  From into 12 meatballs. In same sauce pan over medium-high heat, warm 2 Tbs. oil. Brown meatballs 1 minute per side. Transfer to plate.

Put tomatoes and juices in food processor. While pulsing, slowly stream in 1/4 cup oil through feed tube until tomatoes are pureed but still a bit chunky. Stir in garlic and oregano, season with salt and pepper. Pour tomato sauce into same pan, warm over medium heat. Add meatballs. Cover, reduce heat to low. Simmer until meatballs are cooked through, about 3o minutes. Divide meatballs and sauce among individual bowls. Sprinkle with cheese. Serves 4. Or 8, if you double, which I always do.

Tonight I added pan sautéed local chicken sausage, 6 links, cooked, then cut in half. Gave it a nice kick.

 

 

 

To get good results we all know it’s the work up front that delivers. Sometimes years, sometimes weeks or months, and oftentimes because life moves so darn fast it’s a super concentrated six hours.

Here’s what happened yesterday at every day dress:

Saturday morning wake up, drink coffee, decide what to serve for dinner at seven for eight. All good friends, all part of what’s turned into our yearly wine tasting trip. Two times to California, last trip to Italy, and up next France September 2014. Make a list, hit the gym, make and serve breakfast for six, we now have two Costa Rica exchange students in the house, and off to the market by 1 pm.  Plan a French Bistro style menu: Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic, Moroccan Couscous, Salad with Warm Goat Cheese, Chocolate Orange Mousse. Actually wanted to do and bought the ingredients for Cheese Straws and Rosemary Cashews for hors d’oeuvres but never got there so fine wine was the only precursor. All recipes adapted from Ina Garten’s Barefoot in Paris.

Bring the groceries home and don’t leave the kitchen except to set the dining room table until 6:55 pm. At 6:55 pm run upstairs, take off the apron and throw it on the floor and slip on black one shouldered knit sweater with the skinny blue jeans that were worn all day, and the day before that. Light the candles, open the wine, guests arrive, and we all talk travel plans for our upcoming trip. Ed and Liz, Pat and Jennifer, we missed you guys, we look forward to more dinners like this with you when in France.

Decided on sunflowers for the table and cut them short and stuck them in three blue and white pots, anchored with believe it or not wine corks. Last minute decision, didn’t have any floral form or tape. We’ll be staying in the French countryside so wanted to set the mood. Was really getting into the wine theme as I hung actual grape-vine leaves that were preserved and dipped in copper, silver and gold on the chandelier and used them at the last-minute to serve as napkin rings. Picked those up in December at the fun and delicious winery Gundlach Bundshu in Sonoma CA. If you like them here’s the link: Grape Leaf.

When it’s prep work like this, it’s not really work at all.

One Shouldered Sweater with Cuff | looks great, feels good, easy to work in

Worth New York

Not fashion thighs, lifestyle thighs. They’ve been written about before, and yes, they stay. Women, love your body.

They’ve run and walked miles, been the base for carrying children and many things great and small, and hopefully have a long and strong history in front of them.

I’ve dressed women for over a decade and before that led infinite exercise classes. Your body is a very good thing. Love and respect, in every form, oh, those thighs.

xoxo

Yesterday, Monday, the last thing I felt like doing was cooking dinner for six. What did I do? Made it happen and cooked dinner for six. (Thinking I completely understand the need for animal hibernation during the month of January).

Women, I know, make it happen. After a full day of work and the runaround, roasted pork tenderloin, asparagus, red potatoes, caesar salad and cinnamon applesauce. Finished it off with a cake, birthday celebrations can go on all month, right? Wanted to do chicken parmesan with house made blue cheese sauce but for some reason there’s been a run on the organic chicken breasts. Pivot, pork tenderloin it is.

When you feed and clothe those you love, they’re yours for life. Go on out and make it happen. After the inertia it’s a good thing.

Primrose and votives on the table and the day is good. Every day dress. All photos courtesy iPhone.

Resolved: during the work week getting out of the blue. I’ve kicked the yoga pant habit for the runaround, now it’s time for the blue jeans.

Working from a home office is the ultimate luxury. And, when your day’s not full of client meetings but more administrative, it’s easy to get into the blue jean habit. I know only too well.

So, for 2014 trying for a bit more of a work look. Gray ankle trouser is just as easy as a black denim skinny and really looks and feels a bit more professional. My beautiful clients dress Monday through Friday, so should I.

Every day dress, getting out of the blue.

all clothing | Worth New York

Shoe | Aquazurra

Bag | Vintage Hermes | Heritage Auctions

Coffee | Dunkin’ Donuts | Half-off 3 – 7 pm 🙂

Many clients tell me I’m not buying one more black dress, jacket, skirt, pant, whatever it may be, I’m not doing it.

My thinking? If it works, why not refresh? Black dress, jacket, skirt, they are all good things. We’re not talking people, relationships, etc., simply the stuff you wear.

If it works, refresh. Shoes shown were worn with love and believe it or not chewed by the dog, gotta love him. The replacement? Purchased on sale, last month.

Leopard print flats, same designer, many years later. Wardrobe neutral, every day dress, refresh.

Shoes | Christian Louboutin

 

Blizzard of 2014, day 2, white out.

Recreating a look worn in Princeton NJ early December for our Regional Spring Preview meeting. Wore a suit as CEO was present. All white felt right even in winter. Kind of like the idea of wearing a suit. I think at times we might be getting a little too casual, myself included.

While in San Francisco getting ready to fly back east, Denver Broncos were checking in, all dressed in suits. Not sure if they won or lost but they sure looked great.

Every day dress, white out.

Optic White Ponte Pintuck Jacket and Skirt | Worth New York

 

 

It’s sweater weather, here’s current favorite: Black Dolman Pullover.

Wore this thing all weekend long and wore out it out tonight to a political fundraiser. Of course had it zipped up a bit more.

During the weekend wore it untucked over the skinnies, with the leather skirt tucked it in. This is a sweater for all women, all ages, all shapes. Sold this to my super-fit young friend and while she didn’t wear it four days in a row like me she loves it too. A little sexy, a little covered, a little easy. How can you not love it?

Ordered this back in October and had to wait for it but so worth the wait.

I’m thinking that off the shoulder is a great comfortable look and that this sweater will see me through to Spring with the white jeans.

Black Dolman Pullover and Black Leather and Rib Impression Reversible Skirt | Worth New York Winter 2013

It’s a New Year and I’m looking to grow my team of women that like to be busy and love wearing and sharing great clothes. If you’re interested, even just a little, let’s talk.

Every day dress. Every day is a great day.

 

With record low temps just about everywhere, keeping the mood up with bright lipstick and the warmest parka ever. Had to venture out to update the iPhone, now with all the snow we’re not going anywhere far for a while.

Back in the home office all this week working on Spring Summer wardrobes, moving samples, and growing the team.

Wishing everyone a warm safe place the next couple of days.

Lip | Chanel Rouge Allure 102 Palpitante

Parka | Parajumpers | available locally at Tony Walker & Co. and Après Ellicottville NY