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It happens every year, end of summer hits and the un-styled beach look has got to go. Sun-kissed strands need to be cooled down and do I dare write this errant grays need to be covered.

In keeping with yesterday’s post of fashion improvement at home, here is what one box of hair-color from the grocery and some black eyeliner can do. Needed to follow my own advice today. Put on some makeup, make dinner, walk the dogs. Summer takes a bunch out of me and I always need to regroup.

Totally into the tired look as well. Style icon Carine Roitfeld debuts a line of MAC cosmetics tomorrow, Thursday, that epitomizes her dark smoky eye and nude lip. She is 57 years old and totally rocks. She says she loves the tired look. I’m all about that right about now. Thinking I may need to chop some length and wear the hair to cover my face, too. Could use something to hide behind sometimes.

Google Carine Roitfeld and MAC cosmetics. Every day dress is just about ready to break 7,000 views. Thanks so much. See you at the MAC counter tomorrow.

ps. all product posts are my own opinion. this is a cottage industry here.

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Quick post: alterations are key. For all ages. Sorry, Land’s End. School uniform skirt, size 10, just didn’t cut it for fashion conscious seventh grader. Pulled out twenty-six year old Bernina sewing machine and put two pleats in the back and shortened the whole thing two inches. Same skirt, two different fabrics, both uniform issue, first altered, second, not. Happy daughter for first day of school Wednesday with the altered skirt. Love your tailor.

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Blog has been slow, life has been fast. Lots to do before back to school for youngest daughter on Wednesday and second youngest daughter on Thursday. Older kids are settled in great apartments in Georgetown, Boston, and Buffalo. Rent and tuition are pretty steep.

Here are some random photos from what has been going on. Friday night had dear friends, city and country neighbors, aren’t we lucky, for tuna niçoise, fresh bread, great wine, homemade blueberry pie and don’t you know it homemade whipped creme. Actually had to do it twice. First batch practically turned to butter. Second time around with a little vanilla and real sugar was perfect. Eggs for the salad are from our hens in the country, totally free ranged and organic. For a small health conscious group a composed salad for a summer dinner is a great thing. Practically the entire entree can be prepared ahead and the tuna fillets take about only a minute on each side on a hot grill.

Here’s me being totally transparent. Never in my life have I used the pre-made pie crusts available for purchase from the grocery until this weekend. Always use Martha’s pâte sucrée. As I was in a hurry and was rushing city to country I threw a few boxes of pre-made crust in the cart as a back-up. Must say they made my day pretty much easier. The trick is to use an egg wash on bottom crust before you put the filling in and then again on the top crust. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of sugar. In a pinch I am now a fan.

Saturday night hosted fifteen dinner guests poolside post golf. Decided to keep things easy and made two blueberry pies, two whole beef tenderloins, the easiest thing in the world to make for dinner parties, added that summer pasta dish, linguine with brie, tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil, and caesar salad. Finished the evening with a great campfire and good for the soul music on the iPhone dock, thank you Pandora.

To make things easy I often correlate good food with good clothes. Blueberry pie two nights in a row? Yes. Same great outfit worn again and again? Yes. Get a few things together that work well for you and repeat, replace, and replenish. Every day dress.

Enjoy this wonderful last weekend before back to school and routine with family and friends. xoxo

 

 

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As Summer 2012 turns to Fall, I hope all of you out there have had a place to go to let your hair down, so to speak. For me, it is an idyllic hideaway- the place where every day dress is whatever you want: a long maxi sundress on the lower deck or the same outfit you have worn three days in a row- vineyard vines shorts and jcrew white button down shirt, un-ironed of course.

Cook food that is easy. Silver Palate ‘linguine with tomatoes and basil’ unplugged. Use what is local. 2 pints homegrown cherry tomatoes, pleases those that say they don’t eat tomatoes, can you believe that, homegrown basil, garlic, good olive oil, kosher salt, two pieces brie, rind removed and torn into bite sized pieces, and the ultimate best, DeCecco whole wheat linguine. Toss it altogether, Linnie, you don’t really need a recipe. Locally made Mineo & Sapio chicken sausage with spinach and feta, arugula salad, fresh bread, french and california white wine.

Plant some mums. It’s time. There were pumpkins for sale at the local market today.

Celebrated Monnie’s 73rd birthday with cupcakes. She looks pretty good, can still rock sleeveless, and wears Worth New York, of course. Whatever the occasion, make an effort, put on some nice clothes, light some candles. Every day dress.

Monday is back to spreadsheets and phone calls. Enjoy.

ps. husband says he wants to do a guest blog post on wine…so excited…what do you think out there?

 

 

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Linda Fargo, senior vice president of Bergdorf Goodman, my absolute favorite store, says in the September 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure with respect to what to wear while traveling, ‘If I don’t look right, then I just don’t feel right.’ While traveling Fargo says she favors skinny jeans, black stretch-wool blazer, statement coat, extra-roomy purse, and boots she ‘can get in and out of quickly.’

Couldn’t agree more. Part of what I do is to make women feel comfortable in what they are wearing for where they are going. Clients range in age of 12, my youngest daughter, to 80+, mom’s friend that has just discovered the beauty of comfortable and luxurious clothing and is loving life so much more because of it. All four daughters and many women I know will tell you that the right outfit can make or break the time had at an important event. My tag line is that all of life’s events are important.

Channeling Linda Fargo, a beautiful woman I have seen in the flesh on several occasions, is one travel uniform pick for wherever your fall travels take you.

Flannel White Stretch Cotton Frankie Pant- this is the miracle pant for good-looking and great feeling legs. Comfortable, slimming and stylish. Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that white jeans are it for this fall. Shy of white? Do default Black. If Linda Fargo can wear skinnies while traveling, we can too.

Black Cotton Jersey Jewel Neck Pullover- so basic yet so chic.

Black Washed Leather Biker Jacket- super great look Atlantic or Pacific.

All clothes Worth New York Fall 2012.

Add boots, bag, and carryon. Look right so you feel right. Every day dress.

 

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If you are a mom, you work. The number of hats you wear and the number of other’s you report to is irrelevant. What I am thinking of today is the beauty in the August 2012 issue of Town and Country magazine, for many reasons:

• Photographer Tierney Gearon captures her good friend Lulu deKwiatkowski and her family for ‘Life with Lulu’. She says ‘Lula and her husband have a parenting philosophy similar to mine, which is to live and work with your kids’. She adds that she ‘loves their creative spirit. Instead of dividing the two, they combine their work with their lifestyles’. Me, I adore this.
• The photo spread ‘Those Bold City Girls- A classic remix plays out on the sidewalks of New York: white jeans and cutoffs paired effortlessly with cashmere and shearling, leather and gold’. Totally inspiring me to do a post on flannel white denim, not white white, with sweaters and jewelry and maybe a little fur for Fall 2012 soon. Stay tuned.
• Again here, the Worth New York two page ad spread in the front of the August issue. Worth New York allows women to combine work with life and family. For me this helps pay this philosophy forward. I help women dress so they too can wear all their multiple hats while looking and feeling great. I recruit, train, and mentor women that have a desire to work their own business. With the income I earn I can employ a single mom with very young children and give her the opportunity and flexibility she needs to make her life work. For her this means 9 am to 3 pm during the school year and much more flexibility as needed during the summer when her kids are home. She helps me and I help her. It is a very good thing.

As August moves to September, here is some of the work I did this weekend as a mom to celebrate daughter’s 12th birthday, in order. Friday night grocery trip for all drinks and gear to bake cakes and make mac and cheese. Come home and bake three boxes of Duncan Hines marble cake mix to make two three-tiered birthday cakes and two batches of Ina Garten’s decadent mac and cheese. Saturday morning back to the grocery for three sides of wild salmon, 12 lbs of chicken wings, 30 organic beef burgers, one watermelon, one honeydew, organic grapes, local zucchini, local broccoli, olive oil, unsalted organic butter, gorgonzola and crumbly blue for homemade blue cheese dip, carrots, celery, kosher salt, organic romaine lettuce for caesar salad, parmesan cheese, whole wheat rolls, pinata, tons of candy. Saturday afternoon drive out to the country with all that stuff, two kids and two dogs and husband. Get there, unpack, cook dinner. Sunday morning organize delivery of bounce house, dunk tank, cotton candy, sno-cone, and popcorn machines from two different rental companies. Start cooking like mad and frost two cakes. Shower, dress, smile. Oh, and do about fourteen loads of laundry, no kidding, and run the dishwasher eighteen times. Every day dress.

Happy Birthday, peanut. Missing you Georgetown Law School son, Boston College daughter and Boston working daughter. Not the same without you guys. So proud of what you are doing.

So, here’s to all moms and the work we all do. It’s almost September. If you too are interested in combining work with life and would like more information about the paid work I do from home, email me at recollins@worthltd.com.

Happy Monday.

In photos I am wearing Paige Kylie Crop jean, Joie silk striped blouse, and Worth New York necklace.

 

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Hottest summer on record. You still want/need to wear light-weight fabrics to keep cool but see new Fall clothes and make-up colors all over the place.

Here’s my suggestion: take your lip and nail color darker now. Everything seems to be about a ‘cherry red lip’ for Fall so pull yours out of the drawer or set yourself up with a new one. Keep wearing your favorite white linen pants but pair with light neutrals to keep the look clean and not hot. Camel shoes will keep the cool mood going to the end.

Add a new Fall color with an accessory. This ultra luxurious Amber Cashmere Jersey Oblong, 100% Cashmere, 47″ x 71″ is lightweight and warm at the same time. Has great movement and texture. This wrap will totally satisfy your quest for something new now while the fashion season shifts towards Fall.

All clothes Worth New York. Shoes Manolo Blahnik. Nail and lip color Chanel Vertigo and 73 Clandestine respectively.

Fall 2012 Cashmere Jersey Oblong also available in Rust Tie Dye, Deep Flint Tie Dye, Blaze, Parakeet, Tamale, Blue Yonder, Olive Colorblock, and Deep Olive Tie Dye, and Black Grey and White Tie Dye Plaid.

One of the best parts? Total luxury in one size fits all. Simply choose one or two colors. No need to think about the fun fat from having had a great summer.