Sometimes the best way to get the house dressed for the holidays is to just have a party. Inviting a smallish group of friends and neighbors over makes you get the tree up and the bar stocked. And, by doing it early you get to enjoy all your work and stock of  supplies for the rest of the season.

Since we’re pretty much only wine drinkers here’s what the expert caterers suggested we have on hand: Triple Sec, Gin, Vodka, Flavored Vodka, Rum, Tequila, Whiskey, Scotch, Bourbon, Dry and Sweet Vermouth. Those are the basics and now like the wardrobe here are the accessories: Grenadine, Lime Juice, Lemons and Limes, Oranges, Maraschino Cherries, Olives, Olive Juice, Tonic Water, Sour Mix, Bitters, Pineapple Juice, Simple Syrup, Soda, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Cranberry Juice, Ginger Ale. That’s it, don’t you love being given a great list and advised on what’s needed? Thank you Giancarlo’s, we’re ready to serve cocktails now too.

Decorations were kept simple, white candles and evergreens. To create instant and easy atmosphere I buy multiple boxes of  sixteen votives from Pottery Barn and group them around in odd numbers. Nothing quite like the magic of candlelight in the evening. Evergreen boughs from the grocery on top of white linen makes for clean and do-it-yourself, don’t really like the word but here goes, centerpieces. Isn’t there a better word than centerpiece?

Even did a little editing and took down the needlepoint stockings. Yes, those stockings took hours upon hours of handiwork by two generations of women in the family but like a good outfit sometimes it’s what you take away to create the mood and look you’re after. Needlepoint stockings weren’t mixing well with the cocktail hour. 🙂

Bonus points when you have a party: you also get the good advice to install a new Sonos System. Wireless HiFi for every or any room in your house, all controlled from your iPhone, or even the iPhone of one of your guests. We did Play:3 and Play:5, a couple times over, and it’s been happy dance parties in the kitchen.

Have a party. It gets your tree up, your bar stocked, and your house not wired.

Thank you Gabriela and Tony Walker & C0., you are a one stop wonder.

Catering | Giancarlo’s Sicilian Steakhouse & Pizzeria

Sonos System | Stereo Advantage

For weekday road trip decided on three shades of winter white. Baby it’s cold outside so first layer was a lightweight turtleneck. On top a pullover jacket with shorter sleeves than the turtleneck, liking the alternating lengths, and grounded it all with winter white trousers. White pants can be tough on even the best days so had the tailor remove and close the front pockets, so much less distracting than seeing pocket linings on those thighs. All three pieces purchased three different seasons and put together for one monochromatic look. Mixing tones and textures keeps things interesting.

Open toed suede sandals, cashmere wrap, and Céline pony bag showing a little love and wear and tear, much like the woman, finished the look. Easy to wear pieces, dressed up by being in all winter white, for a road trip on a cold December day.

all clothing and cashmere wrap | Worth New York

While wrestling with lights and ladders and greens and god knows what else, no need for the gym in December. Who has the time?

My friends that celebrate Hanukkah tell me the same, weeknight fancy dinners, many gifts.

If you’re fitting the gym in with the endless to-do list, tell us please, you might have the magic elf, do share.

 

Thinking that the favorite now is Dior. The French seem to have a way with keeping those things you covet and love just a little out of reach. Kind of reminds me of my first trip to Paris when I was so language shy I wouldn’t speak pretty much at all and came home thin thin thin because I had no confidence to ask for or order anything to eat. Looked, yes, ate, no. That was a long time ago.

With fashion we’re talking no online ordering, even at the sites of those places that carry those goods in their brick and mortar. Used to be able to order a dress online from Neiman or Bergdorf, not any more, perhaps making the loving and longing even stronger?

Photos shown were taken in Paris and Madrid in September. This time, we were served champagne. Since then have seen orange and pink together, far and near. Love Dior. Top of the Christmas wish list.

Every day dress.

 

 

Professional life took our upstate New York team and the entire Northeast division to Princeton NJ this week. Previewed all that’s new for Spring 2014.

Professional model, not so much: kind of missed the memo. When three of the four women were dressed in straw, I walked out in cherry. 🙂 Life happens.

I’ll stick to the day job of dressing beautiful women in beautiful clothing, growing the team, and writing about fashion and mostly lifestyle. Love all that I do, even modeling in Princeton NJ.

Every day dress for Spring 2014.

Bored with all black, slipped on red suede and distressed faded jeans. Even decided to tie it up with a bow. So not the usual. This was a work from home look. The bow blouse is again experiencing a strong fashion moment so what the heck. You stick around long enough and it all comes back. Paired this red suede shirt with dark denim and super high heels last season, this year distressed and mid-heel felt right.

I know, the thighs are a little full, the jeans a little young, and the face a little long.  If we wait until it’s all going on right we’d never get dressed.

Suede, denim, patent. Mix it up, try slipping out of the all black, and maybe even tying it up with a bow. Holiday time, bows are all over the place.

Every day dress.

 

 

 

 

Between now and January 2nd, so much to be done. For so many years, probably since I’ve been fifteen, the gym, or some equivalent, has been the leveler.

Thinking about quitting the gym, at least for the next 3o days. Hall pass. When traveling, didn’t see one European woman walking or running or doing errands in her workout clothes and they all looked pretty damn good. Used to think giving up sleep was the answer, wouldn’t wish that on anyone now. Americans seem to spend an inordinate time in exercise clothes with pretty much only increasing waistlines to show for it.

Like any other woman this time of the year it will be all systems go. If I trust in myself to rely on all the good stuff that’s been deposited, come January 2nd we can pick up and go.

Walking the dogs, hauling groceries, moving clothing and furniture, constant movement, yes. Driving 14 minutes each way to work out with weights for half an hour two times a week, not this month. Way too stressful. Heck, I’ll shovel snow off the driveway.

If you’re committed to your exercise routine for the next 3o days, I’m with you, all about that, have done that for decades. If, however, you’re about walking and working and loving and eating, come with me, I’m quitting the gym, if only for  a while.

Harper’s Bazaar December/January issue tells us one of the must-haves to be fashionable this winter is the metallic suit. The one they show,  jacket, $1,650, with matching skirt, $995. Simply gorgeous but ouch, Christmas is coming.

Every day dress is hosting a sale this weekend, like every other retailer out there. This is a sample sale, great pieces and complete looks. I’ve even got a metallic skirt suit, the one shown above, and at a cool 50% off. Take home both pieces for considerably less than just the skirt in this month’s Harper’s. Friends and family still get gifts.

Fall Winter 2013 Sample Sale

sizes 2 – 16

Friday Saturday Sunday

10 am to 4 pm

after hours by appointment

Buffalo

716-445-3033

no crowds, no stress, plenty of parking

rcollins@worthnewyork.com

Worth New York Jacket and Skirt

From my home to yours, warm wishes for a happy thanksgiving to you and all those you hold close. Enjoy. xo

One thing that I picked up quick in the JFK duty-free is Chanel’s Démaquillant Yeux Intense, Gentle Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover. This takes off all the tough stuff, layers of dark eyeliner and even not that I wear it often, waterproof mascara. Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact wearers. Left town so quickly forgot to throw it in the bag. Recommend highly, best eye makeup remover ever.

Demaquillant Yeux Intense