Kind of wish I could say the outfit was great, the hair and house clean, the make-up on and the manicure and pedicure done. Not so. Took down the tree, the garlands, the wreaths, and all that goes with it.

We are easing into the new year. Traveled many miles, been many places, fed many mouths, east coast-west coast, and, like life, it goes on and on.

A few photos and notes from the last twenty-four hours:

Homemade croutons with butter, olive oil, kosher salt and garlic from day old bread are better than potato chips.

Kale is allover, I like it straight and for crowds mix it in with romaine for a more modern caesar salad. Rosemary Balsamic Chicken with wild rice and broccoli at the ski house.

You can cook and serve dinner in a leather shirt. 🙂 Leather gets better with age and you really only need to wipe it off with a little water and white vinegar to spot clean it.

Hydrangea can be rehydrated by recutting stems, soaking in bowling water for 3o seconds or so, and soaking in a sink.

Cook two tenderloin at once, you never know how many might show for dinner when you have kids, house-guests, etc etc. Then on a Saturday night after traveling all day again you can make the Barefoot Contessa’s Filet of Beef Bourguignon. I didn’t pan-fry, simply slice after the thing was cooked and re-heat in all that good wine broth. Put a little tri-color pasta underneath. Her’s looks better than mine, that’s okay, kept everyone happy at the table. Everyone at the table is good.

Even though this post is called easing into the new year, with other’s you love around you have to do that, I am also going with the feeling of make it happen. Make it happen posts coming next.

Wishing everyone the feeling of easing into the new year, and, come Monday or whatever day works for you, the feeling of make it happen.

Nothing like a camouflage tank, black bra, and long pendant when your cooking finally at home, and don’t have to go anywhere for the entire evening.

Every day dress, easing into the new year. Thank you all for reading. Husband tells me what happened last year or even yesterday doesn’t count. One of my hopes for 2014 is to inspire women to dress, cook, love, a bit every day.

xoxo

Last photo courtesy of Melanie Acevedo | Barefoot Contessa 

 

 

 

 

Clients sometimes ask if it’s okay to mix metals, as in wearing a silver belt buckle and gold jewelry. Here, at every day dress, of course.

Last week in CA wore snake-skin printed jeans, long sleeved tee, black suede shoes, silver suede and silver buckled belt, gold and black earrings, gold bangles, silver watch and platinum rings, and gold hardware on the bag. Especially when traveling, mixing metals is just how it goes sometimes. Haven’t figured out yet how to bring the whole closet, and really don’t want to, mixed metals it is. Plaid blanket wrap and snakeskin printed pants, why not?

Jeans | Alice & Olivia

Tee | Vince

Belt | Worth New York

Wrap | Missoni

Inspired by a kind of classic après ski look, chose a bowed silk tuxedo blouse, from my sample sale of course, shimmied out of the skinnies and put on some grey flannels, and wrapped it up with a suede rhinestone belt.

Dinner was classic too, rosemary roasted beef tenderloin with a red wine shallot reduction, quickly blanched haricots vert pan sautéed at the very last-minute with roasted brussels sprouts, and the always loved classic mashed potatoes. Not shown, chocolate cake.

For the new year I’m back to simple white hydrangea for the table. Still have the holiday tablecloth, oh well.

Been hanging with the family and friends and it’s been beyond. Wishing everyone a happy healthy new year.

Easing back into the work blogging schedule, and back at it heavy come Monday. If you like the classic tuxedo blouse, and picking up something like that for your closet at 50% off, I’ll shop samples for you. Curated home or office visits available. I can make your post holiday wardrobe happen fast.

Every day dress, every day cook. Rebecca@everydaydress.com.

 

We always go for pizza on the last night in Sonoma CA at The Red Grape. There were eleven of us in total, this is the short list of the bag lineup on the banquette, snapped with the iPhone:

Rebecca Minkoff for the 73-year-old.

Vintage Hermés for the 48-year-old. (Heritage Auctions via Barneys San Francisco).

Pale pink patent Louis Vuitton for  the 23-year-old.

Favorites?

Sometimes a little silk floral dress and matching cardigan is all you need. Received so many compliments on this look, lost count.

Here’s the look:

Black leather long-sleeved blouse, goes all day and night, this would so be a t-shirt in warmer months

Skinny blue jeans, this time turned up at the cuff

Felted fur cape, I know a little glam, oversized chunky cashmere sweater would be good too

Flat boots, if you must a mid chunky heel at the most, growing grapes is agriculture

With all the gray black navy mixed in a camel bag and camel and gold bracelets

Dark eye makeup, make your statement there

Nude mouth, you will be tasting, dark lipstick on the rim you don’t really want to do

Every day dress, wine tasting in December.

Took the ubiquitous Christmas sweater, haha, and dressed it down with black Nikes.

December is total endurance training. If you too feel like you’ve been on the non-stop treadmill, the clothes you wear need to support all day sessions.

For two nights in a row of dining out in Sonoma CA, wore the same outfit. When traveling with family and friends I’m never shy about wearing the same outfit twice. They don’t even notice; everyone is more concerned with what you might be cooking them for breakfast or where that night’s dinner reservation is.

First piece of the outfit is a Wolford bodysuit, those things last forever and always look good and feel even better. On top of that goes leather and ponte pants (new this season) and then a belted jacket with sweater sleeves that packs and travels well, and is chic, warm, and comfortable.

New favorite shoe is hands down the Aquazurra black suede. Wore those into town last night and walked home in the dark on country roads two miles, no problem.

Hope everyone out there had a wonderful Christmas day with family, friends, and loved ones.

Tonight, in Sonoma CA, we’ll all be under one roof. Doesn’t happen all that often anymore, my blessings are infinite.

Wishing everyone the incredible feeling of under one roof.

For two parties, one in Buffalo NY and the other in San Francisco CA, wore the same outfit. Two different climates, both house parties, blue lace and blue velvet, fit the bill. Not the usual combination but the cutaway tank and the velvet pants have the same ease as a  t-shirt and skinnies. Life is busy, let’s keep it simple.

Four daughter’s have yet to catch on to wearing the same party clothes over and over, I think it makes sense.

Can’t wait to wear the macrame cutaway with white jeans, that’s coming soon. On the hunt for the perfect white shirt to wear with the blue velvet pants for downtime coming up. This Christmas thing is crazy. Haven’t found the white shirt yet, in the meantime might have to borrow husband’s or one of two son’s.

One outfit, two parties, every day dress.

Hang in there all, we’re almost there.

Blue Lace Cutaway, Blue Velvet Pant | Worth New York Winter 2013

Bag | Dior

Shoe | Aquazurra