beautiful blue sky, and we walked milesblack dress, white sneakers, white bag outside of Carlisle | Per Se showroomThe Burberry building caught our eye, great looking, and nice things inside
Predictably one of my favorite color palettes is black, white, and shades of blue, (hello Caroline). For touring around the beautiful city of Chicago wore a black silk maxi dress, white sneakers, and carried a white bag, it felt right for a summer city look. That long dress endured 17k steps, up and down and all around the miracle mile, river walk, and even held up for the late afternoon flight home. I’m not afraid in the least of outfit repeat, wore that same dress the night before with a pair of sandals for dinner down in Lincoln Park at North Pond.
the view outside our roommorning room servicewe had a suite, home away from homeI spy three handsome men :), and he is all of them
We stayed at The Langham, and absolutely loved it. Great gym, spa, food, room, service and location, would return in a heartbeat.
If you’re in Buffalo you can shop the L’Agence dress locally at Tony Walker & Co., everyone on the floor is helpful, my particular favorite is Lexi.
Every day dress and black, white, and blue while in Chicago.
Last week I wore this cool green dress for cocktail reception and then dinner while in Chicago previewing fall and winter collections. The dress is from the summer 19 collection and the fabric is a beautiful stretch Italian linen. I knew when I first saw the line sheets even before seeing the dress that it would be a sell-out, it was just that good.
I know the sleeveless thing is an issue for many of my clients, there is a cardigan sweater that can go over yet then you kind of lose the beauty of the dress. If you’re okay baring arms here’s the fall 19 version: it’s called Emperor, sheath shape, and the fabric is cross-dyed taffeta in rich green. V-neckline and sleeveless just like the summer version.
Black block-heeled sandals and nude clutch finished my look, the holiday version would be great with a classic pump. We’re back home now for a little and studying all things fashion prepping for upcoming trunk show. Save the dates of Tuesday, July 30ththrough Monday, August 12thto check out this dress and more in person. Can’t quite get there? We can do virtual style workshops, helping you with everything from sustainable denim to full on glamour. While shopping for fall shoes and boots in the windy city I was told the season is virtually over, so not true, we’re just getting started.
Yesterday I flew to Chicago to attend today’s Carlisle | Per Se fall 19 preview. I’ll be in workshops and sessions learning all about the clothes my clients and I will be wearing beginning late July. Fall clothes are great, it feels like back to school and a completely fresh start.
Packing, as usual, not the favorite part of travel. Once the stuff is in the case and you’re at the airport then the fun begins. Getting the stuff for the trip in the case can leave me standing in the closet thinking oh what to wear and oh what to bring.
A good dress never fails me, it’s one and done, and all you need is a pair of shoes and a bag. Shown here is a Per Se dress from spring 19 that I’ve been wearing on repeat. Of course, it’s striped, and of course it’s navy. The shirtdress style is so easy, it’s got a no pants feel. My second daughter loves no pants days, those are days for herself when she does what she wants and wears what she wants, and usually those days don’t involve pants. I think its brilliant.
When I’m struggling with what to wear or what to pack, throwing on or throwing in a dress solves the problem. For sure I’ll be looking for the best dresses of the fall season and placing orders. A great dress or three can be the lifeline of a good strong wardrobe.
boom, just as I got a little comfortable with my super simple French expressions, we were on our way out
Exactly as I was feeling somewhat confident third week in with my super simple French conversations, boom, we packed up and flew to Spain. Super thankful sixth child is French fluent, and four of our other kids can speak Spanish. Me, not so much, and definitely felt challenged and my brain had to work overtime.
Three weeks in the south of France surrounded by all of our kids, pure heaven, husband and I would go back in a heartbeat.
French dress, French handbag
While packing I threw in my one and only Chanel ready-to-wear piece, this dress I wore last summer for oldest daughter’s country-side wedding reception. Danced all night and put myself to bed, still wearing the dress. The next morning, I slipped it off, probably dropped it on the floor, and maybe the next day hung it on a hanger. There it hung, no steaming no cleaning until I just recently popped it in a large zip-lock bag and stuck it on the top layer of my case. Good clothes don’t need to be precious; I believe they are meant to be worn, loved, enjoyed.
Thinking I’ve got a pretty decent handle on French clothes and food, really need to spend some time concentrating on the language. Oldest son did some Spotify podcasts while driving before traveling, and he was spot on.
Now that I’ve waxed on about adding color, getting back to basics with a men’s white cotton button down shirt and wide-legged washed denim.
white shirt, white denim, white bag
Our house here in Provence while absolutely beautiful has spotty to no internet, and we have to leave the property to get any kind of service at all. No complaints, simply living our best French life.
Three days ago, while traveling to Ménerbes France we stopped roadside to photograph this fantastic field of poppies, I adore single color floral arrangements, and this was beyond.
blue painted shutters, white jacket
For the day-trip I wore black denim and tank, a silk hair scarf as a belt, and a white fringed jacket. It was okay, didn’t feel out of place yet didn’t feel the best. Travel is tough, you want to look good and like you fit in. Picking the right stuff to bring can cause anxiety.
All black always works for day of travel and layers up the success rate. You never know when and where you might find yourself.
on the road with this crew for four weeks
This trip we will be on the road for four weeks plus, so the packing thing was a big deal. First stop Spain, daughter and I packed two small bags. For the France leg we had two large bags sent via luggagefree.com and they were at the house when we arrived, genius. The two large bags were split between five of us, me, husband, and three of four daughters. We will ship them out ahead of our departure in mid-June to lighten up what we carry day of travel home.
all about blue
always inspired by blue and white
Back to the wardrobe: while walking about Ménerbes we took photos of this beautiful blue sports car. I love the blue and grey paint tones of the shutters and the limestone on the streets and the buildings. In this wide world of color why do I so often wear black?
While working black works, I’m surrounded by rails of garments in all different color stories and the focus is on helping my clients find what they should wear where, and I can’t be distracted by what’s on my body, I want to blend in.
Same with day of travel because I consider that work too. Getting to a place dependent on others means I want to blend in and not be distracted as well. Not in a haphazard or unthought of way, the black denim and the black sweater are usually pretty nice, and I always wear good enough shoes.
It’s in the countryside and the resort towns where I long for more color. For me black is default, and there’s so much more out there.
Two days ago, we went to Saint-Rémy, the village where Van Gogh had himself institutionalized for over a year. If I couldn’t wear color, there I’ve definitely lost my way.
greens and bluestrying out color
Went out on a limb and pulled from the case khaki green skinny jeans, a blue floral linen blouse, and a blue cashmere V-neck sweater. The blues didn’t match, that was the point.
buying asparagus, apricots, and cherriesmarket daymama and daughtersbought this blue ring from her, 20 euros
It was market day, and there was a woman with two young girls. She was selling jewelry of her design, from the back of her van. I bought a blue ring. I’m always inspired by women working alongside of their kids. I asked her if I could take her picture and she smiled and said yes.
So here in France I’m thinking about clothes and thinking about color. Travel makes you do new things.
Sure, we’re traveling, and one day runs into the next, never really ever knowing what day or time it is. I do know it was Memorial Day weekend, and had I been stateside I would have planted a zillion red geraniums to get the house & garden ready for summer 19, all the while giving thanks and thinking of those who served. This year we’re going for bold crimson red, last year it was all about white, black and shades of blue, all kind of patriotic. Love being able to switch up the mood with annuals.
red white and blue
As for the wardrobe, some things are perennials, like a good dress and coat. These photos were taken a few weeks ago by the husband, we had a fancy wine tasting dinner to go to. Both pieces are closet classics and have been around for a while. The white knit dress, Missoni, was a Christmas gift from him four years ago, bought in San Francisco CA. The navy coat, one of my favorite pieces from my time with Worth New York, comes in and out of the rotation and always feels timeless, classic, and fresh when brought out again.
The block heeled sandal, Gucci, I think maybe three seasons old now, absolutely love, and with cost per wear factored in along with mobility and stability from the solid heel, definitely a sound purchase. Red, navy, gold.
As a stylist I’m feeling more about clothes that go the distance, and ones that you can build a history with. I know at times we all love a quick little fashion fix and can get tempted by fast fashion, it’s really the pieces that endure we should spend our time and money on, just saying.
Now in Eygalières, and we’re settling in to life in the French countryside.
our very own gardenpool with a viewmorning coffee spotvery early morninghome base
First morning I took these photographs of the garden before anyone else was awake, and then did an hour of exercise, it was divine.
rolled neutralsbought a khaki green tablecloth and napkins in St. Remy and cut white roses from the garden.
Of course, I’m up to my usual, buying linens and candles, and these I picked up in nearby Saint Rémy. I was undecided between the khaki green or a very soft pink, and at the end chose the khaki, I guess if you look at my case of rolled clothes it all makes sense.
youngest of the bunch, she’s pretty good at speaking Frenchboth wearing a variation of florals
We are now a party of six and expected four more to come. Summer holiday in Provence, the light is absolutely brilliant.
Oh, packing and what to wear. A safe bet is a dress, and a sweater. I like to now wear a sneaker with a dress.
hotel lobby in Madrid Spain
It’s taken years to get here, wearing a sneaker with a dress, and now it feels right. This dress is a two-year-old, or is it three, DVF. The print sometimes makes me nervous, yet a black dress with a black sweater might be severe. The sneaker is by Golden Goose. I was first intrigued with this brand when in NYC while shopping at Barneys probably five years ago. Kind of loved the vintage look but at that time I always wanted new. Again, it’s taken years to get here too, wearing and loving something that looks and feels aged. Kind of think I better get used to that, hello wrinkled face.
