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Simple post here: days have been busy with work and nights have been busy with fun. Last week Thursday good friends and neighbors invited us for dinner to celebrate the last few nights of summer 2012. Oh, what a night. Super GREAT time had by all. Had to get myself in bed by 8:30 pm Friday night. Thank you good neighbors. It was an excellent evening.

In keeping with their theme of summer nights even though fall fashion is all around us, did an outfit repeat of what was worn weeks ago to a party in July. Simply changed the shoes, darkened the nail color, and added navy cashmere wrap if needed, it wasn’t.

Have to say that this Carine Roitfeld collection for MAC is a winner. Shown here is one of the two nail colors; Underfire Red. Happy to report this one is man approved, husband doesn’t always go for or get the much loved Vamp.

Keep things easy, outfit repeat, every day dress.

 

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Okay, friends- fashion, food and lifestyle here: clothes, like groceries, have a shelf life.

Life comes at us fast. When feeling overwhelmed with the pace of it all we often dump our stuff on the floor and let the fridge go a bit.

With quickly facing a change of season it is prime time to clean the fridge and clean the closet. Closet can feel like a huge job, been there. My advice? To begin to get a sense of order start with the fridge. You know what to do. Follow Martha’s advice. Check that off the list, feel a sense of accomplishment, and move on to the closet.

Out goes anything you haven’t worn in twelve months. Anything you won’t fit into, big or small, and anything with stains or tears that can’t be repaired. White jeans and white tees really only look good for one season, maybe two at best, and need to be replaced. Donate what you don’t wear.

Figure out your favorites- real butter, half and half no low fat stuff, great coffee, great produce as related to great fitting jeans, silk blouses, and nice dresses. Buy frequently, use often, replace and replenish.

Your day will be easier when you get rid of the expired stuff. Food and fashion.

Today, for two hour committee walk through for Fall in Fashion 2012 luncheon, networking/recruiting phone calls, dinner at home and seventh grade math homework wore Worth New York’s Flannel White Streamliner dress from Spring 2012 and Manolo Blahnik kitten heel shoes. Husband loves the heel height, daughter’s don’t. Clean the fridge, clean your closet, and every day dress. xo

Talk to me, I like to write. It’s therapeutic and mind clearing. Every day dress has over 7,300 site visits. Thank you. Let me know what you would like to see more of.

 

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Yes, pretty much bought the entire Carine Roitfeld MAC collection. When a beautiful and intriguing 57 year old women pitches new makeup, count me in. Normally a Chanel fan but a switch up is good. Kind of like cross training and muscle confusion- to continually get results you need to keep things fresh.

Chose the darkest Full Face Kit- Jungle Camouflage. Super easy to use and mainly used fingers for application and blending. At the end took a shadow brush and kind of smudged the whole eye effort around. Lustre Tropical Mist lipstick with Stripdown lip pencil feet good on and balanced down the dark eye. Used Eye Brows pencil, Kohl Power Eye Pencil, Fluidline, and Brow Set.

To keep it interesting and to draw attention to the super dark eye makeup, used the Good Luck Star press-on stencils. Felt edgy and provocative, just as promised.  Will definitely repeat the look.

For Friday night dinner out wore Worth New York’s Black Plaid Asymmetrical Sheath, Fall 2012 Collection, Jimmy Choo shoes and Louis Vuitton bag. Fabric content of dress, 54% Viscose 24% Polyester 20% Wool 2% Elastane, provides great fit and ease of movement.

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First day since early June 2012 that all kids were occupied. Oh, boy. Started the morning by picking up coffee for WNY Women’s Foundation Fall in Fashion Luncheon meeting and didn’t stop until after late 8th grade parent’s meeting and introducing myself to the new head of Elmwood Franklin School, a woman for the first time ever in the school’s history. Very good day.

What to wear on the first day of school was always a super big decision. So much so that I taught myself to sew and made many first day back to school outfits starting out in seventh grade. Still remember the navy skirt and khaki pants I made. Sewing skills last you a lifetime. Made prom dresses, made my dress, all five bridesmaids, and two flower girl dresses for back to school time September wedding.  Even remember the gray dress with yellow daisies I wore on the first day of kindergarten when I probably didn’t even talk yet. Husband can’t believe I remember events by what I wore; I can tell you explicitly the outfit I was wearing on our first date.

Yesterday, for first day of school, wore a dress. Of course. When your day goes non-stop a dress is the go to option. And when it’s an uber refined t-shirt shape that makes getting dressed even so much easier.

Upstate New York women mark your calendars for Friday, November 2nd. That day will bring us together at the Buffalo Club for the WNY Women’s Foundation Fall in Fashion 2012 Luncheon. Serving as one of the co-chairs this year and couldn’t be prouder- LOVE this piece of their tagline- We believe that when women and girls are secure, entire communities are stronger. You can visit their site at www.wnywomensfoundation.org. That’s my philanthropic project this fall. Been on this committee since it’s inception nine years ago and I can tell you what I wore each and every time. Every day dress.

Dress worn pictured at Hoyt Lake Rose Garden, Delaware Park, Buffalo, Worth New York Fall Winter 2011.

 

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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?