Elegant, beautiful, charming, witty, intelligent, and sophisticated, that’s Alison.
A new reader of the blog but with firmly established fashion sense and vision, Alison tells us she loves the big, crinoline ball skirt of this dress. Actually said she can eat as much as she wants while wearing it, love that idea, here at every day dress good food is right up there with great fashion, we’re all about that. She wore this to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery Gala last Saturday, my husband and many others thought it was great. That African cotton fabric is downright fabulous.
For black tie gala at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery this past Saturday dressed from the summer wardrobe. Yes, its November, yes, was totally thinking of course of some expensive thing in black, when it came right down to the forty minute wire I had a re-look at the invitation, it read Forget-Me-Not, makes me think blue, right? And it was Anselm Kiefer : Beyond Landscape. Might be a little serious so decided to lighten it up sartorially, put the husband in a good mood, and wear some blue flowers.
Your clothes are there to give you things: make you feel good, look good, cover you, help you feel right for the occasion. In essence, there’s really no season for that, getting dressed pretty much needs to happen every day. All white is chic, especially now in the winter months, white jeans a twelve month staple, and resort look-books and catalogues are in our mailboxes before most of us have pulled on our leather gloves and winter boots.
I’m going with there’s really no season. Shopped the summer closet for the November black tie event, added black suede sandals and a black leather jacket. Last time these separates were worn it was with boots in AZ and flat sandals in upstate New York wine country. Shoe choice can definitely change the mood. The jacket was simply to take the edge off all the floral and to give a little coverage coming and going. The bag was a little oversized, like to have the camera, phone, and nude lipstick at the ready. Most of the women were carrying small exquisite clutches, and many were looking drop-dead gorgeous in my all favorite black, really beautiful. And really sophisticated.
So I think here is my message, do not be afraid, for big or small events it’s okay to look within your closet and beyond the season.
We were guests, thank you Amy and Mark.
Feel good note: by shopping the closet was able to write a check in support from the business account, husband was a little impressed. 🙂 From working in development at an independent school for girls and from year’s of volunteer work, I know that’s one of the things these galas are about, raising funds for community needs and cultural institutions. And for that there’s really no season.
For 26 hour in and out travel to Washington DC, wore black skinny jeans, black tank, black cardigan, black flat boots; was there to help sister from San Francisco set up for an event and to see oldest son. She does events all over the country, told me to wear all black and flat shoes, I can do that. He’s a third year law student at Georgetown, serious.
For dinner out with oldest son, his girlfriend, niece, and husband at happening DC restaurant Le Diplomate, wore Peacock Pullover Jacket, Peacock Slim Skirt, black Wolford tights, and you guessed it, second pair of flat black boots. Always good to have a back-up, after 12 hours in any pair of flat shoes a change-up is good.
For next morning coffee meeting and breakfast, wore blue denim skinny jeans, black skinny turtleneck, and Peacock Pullover Jacket from the night before. That’s it, not much, in and out and layer it on.
Funny thing about blogging is that you never really know what might get someone’s attention. Recently crossed paths with beautiful yoga Gail, she’s into her family and a healthy lifestyle. Asked me about this pasta brie tomato basil dish, here it is:
Silver Palate Cookbook calls it Linguine with Tomatoes and Basil. We kind of just do it. Here it is verbatim from the book-
4 large ripe tomatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 lb Brie, rind removed, torn into irregular pieces
1 cup fresh basil leaves, rinsed, patted dry, and cut into strips
3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon best quality olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds linguine
Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for garnish (optional)
1. At least 2 hours before serving, combine the tomatoes, Brie, basil, garlic, the 1 cup olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large serving bowl.
2. Bring 6 quarts salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and the linguine, and boil until tender but still firm, 8 – 10 minutes.
3. Drain the pasta and immediately toss with the tomato sauce. Serve at once, passing the pepper mill, and the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, if you like.
Every day dress loosely adapted from The Silver Palate: Okay, so here are notes from the field: family and friends much prefers and it’s so much easier to use organic small cherry tomatoes. Multiple colors are good. Simply slice in half. In the heat of summer of course use the big guys, but then you have to seed them. 1 cup of fresh basil leaves is a little heavy, and we certainly don’t rinse and pat dry, simply stack those leaves one on top of each other into a tight little roll and slice into strips. 3 cloves garlic? Totally, but must be fresh and must be organic. The 1 pound of Brie? Sometimes I’m sneaky and use all the leftover Brie wedges from the night or two or three before. When it’s all shredded up you never really know. Linguine? Really never do the pound and a half, usually it’s the one 14 ounce box. Ever notice how the whole wheat is 14 ounces and the other is the straight pound box? It’s got to be whole wheat and it’s got to be De Cecco. Until I find a better one, that’s the one and only. Optional freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese? DUH, are you kidding? Absolutely yes on the freshly grated cheese.
Since it now gets dark at 5 pm, thank you Gail for asking about this height of summer dish. Really works anytime of year, now with those crazy growing seasons and shipping schedules, and makes great lunch leftovers. Decadent and healthy.
About two weeks ago went to the man that’s been cutting the hair off and on since I’ve been about fourteen. He’s seventy now, every day dress here forty-eight.
Wanted to go shorter last time I was there, three or four months ago, he said not yet. Always try to keep the hair pretty much low maintenance.
Maybe there’s something going on: Jennifer Aniston all over with her above the shoulder cut. Can count three women friends without even thinking that have gone shorter.
Really liking the new length, on all women I know that have made the cut.
One new shape that’s been calling my name is this sort of square above the elbow luxurious double face wool box top. Company I work for calls it a Pullover Jacket, completely understand as it seems to give anything you pair it with the finish a jacket provides. Bought this piece over a year ago, it’s been a slow but good go mixing it into the daily wear.
Most often team it with tropical weight wool trousers and a mid-heel. Photo here shows the darn skinny jeans which I tell myself constantly change it up but they’re just so easy when the day is non-stop.
Colleague and friend bought this piece from the Winter 2013 Collection in Peacock Blue- she’s been wearing it with green and navy tartan trousers and patent menswear inspired flat tuxedo pumps. Très chic.
For running around chose color block: pulled out the Céline bag from last season and pulled on the new turtleneck, it’s getting cold out there. Céline bag is the pony skin, and with pony skin comes natural wear and tear, and in the professional realm, they call it balding. Kind of a strange word, balding, but gotta love it, can’t get around it, kind of like aging.
Kind of like the out of focus photo with third daughter, eases the sometimes hard edges of aging. Can’t have it both ways, with age comes many great things, and for all of those great things many many thanks.
Casual Saturday running around with two youngest daughters, happy.
Last week Friday I sent twelve women down the runway, aged twenty-one to seventy-three, and they are all beautiful women. We were there in support of the WNY Women’s Foundation, at the 10th annual Fall in Fashion luncheon.
Fashion models, we all think of 5’10” and above and 125 pounds or so and below. Not here, at every day dress. All women can have and wear beautiful clothing. We were there wearing size 2 to size 16, and all looked great. Some had height, some had legs, all had presence. Thank you Worth New York WNY Women’s Foundation models.
Being the mom of four daughters and all of them loving clothes and not one over 5’5” yet, I get it. Having loved fabrics and shapes and fine details for as long as I can remember, I get it.
Beautiful women wearing beautiful clothing in support of women and girls, a very good thing.
Photos shown here were snapped behind the scenes in a very quick hurry by yours truly, every day dress. To see the real deal runway shots by the professionals, click here: WNY Women’s Foundation, and once there click 10th Annual Fall in Fashion, and then click to view event photos by Joseph Cascio. Event was an overwhelming success due to the support of many beautiful women. Thank you all, beautiful women.
Being involved in a significant community event every twelve months is an ongoing personal goal. For the past two years the annual Fall in Fashion luncheon in support of the WNY Women’s Foundation has been the event of choice. To celebrate, bought new shoes to wear to last week Friday’s big day. Rebecca Minkoff was there, event was completely sold out with a wait list, and wanted to look and feel good.
Served as one of three co-chairs. The last four weeks has been crunch time and with that many early mornings, late nights, all kinds of meetings in between and general runaround. Used to do this kind of thing while raising babies and playing house; now the volunteer effort gets mixed in with mentoring and tending four adult children in three different big cities, parenting two teen-aged daughters, caring for the home-front, running a business, managing and growing a sales team, and writing the blog.
There have been plenty of good fashion moments in the last month, missed them. With all this going on, something’s gotta give. Every day dress gave.
So, every day dress readers; here’s the fashion fix: Aquazzura shoes. Have been eyeing these for several months and finally hit submit at NET-A-PORTER after one of those long nights. Read about designer Edgardo Osoria here at AQUAZZURA FIRENZE. Thinking I like anyone that’s worked with Salvatore Ferragamo and Roberto Cavalli.
Can’t show a picture yet of the body and the dress and the shoes worn for the event, was so darn busy that look will have to be recreated. Husband tells me there are still dark circles under the eyes. Yes, big events do me in. Have been carb loading the last there days. 🙂
Women at the luncheon that read the blog told me they love the food stuff so here instead is the very simple Monday night dinner made tonight while still recovering from big event effort. Roast chicken, roasted asparagus, and roasted red potatoes all in a 325 degree oven, all on jelly roll pans, couldn’t be easier. A little butter for the chicken, olive oil for the asparagus, and olive oil and chopped garlic for the potatoes, all with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Add a loaf of fresh garlic bread, good salted butter, and a bottle of chilled white burgundy. The only condiment is some sweet balsamic vinegar. Hard goods include white candles, fresh white hydrangea, and cloth napkins. Three candles on the table, three on the buffet. Husband and two teenaged daughters are happy.
Funds raised from Fall in Fashion directly benefit the women and girls of our community so they too can have the tools and resources needed to give their families a warm dinner. At the end of the day, breaking bread with loved ones is really what it’s all about, new shoes or not.
Every day dress recharging. Fundraising events are big work.
