dress and coat

red geraniums poolside, Bienvino Spain

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. 

Red white and blue, forever. 

soft florals, brilliant light

Now in Eygalières, and we’re settling in to life in the French countryside. 

our very own garden
pool with a view
morning coffee spot
very early morning
home 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 neutrals
bought 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 French
both 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.

dress, sweater, sneaker

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. 

travel clothes and a lipstick

I like to spend a lot of time on my feet and when traveling pack as light as possible. My clothes have to be multi-purpose. Footwear is the biggest deal, and I think a pair of boots in really any location is a good choice. I wear them on the plane and pull them out when the weather is cold or inclement or simply when I need to feel grounded.

A black V-neck sweater (first choice cashmere for softness and comfort) is a must have, I’ve been on the go for five days and this one has seen probably ten wears, maybe more, as sometimes it’s off and on all day long. 

Black silk camisole takes up no space at all and can go it alone or be a layering piece. 

lipstick | FLAME Tom Ford

A red lipstick just adds oomph and says yes, I might be wearing utility (camo cargo jeans) yet I’m really glad to be here. 

things I gather

We’re prepping to leave town for a month, heading to a writing camp in Spain and then three weeks in France. I’ve known this trip was on the horizon, of course doing all kinds of stuff severely last minute and will for certain leave some things undone, whatever.  Not much hotel action happening, my second […]

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a good formula

Monday’s can be tough, although I used to love Monday’s when the kids were little, and they all had to go back to school. It was a formula then, and a formula now to make the day a little easier. Jeans and a tee, and chicken for dinner.  Kids are grown, youngest two in college, […]

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dress over pants

One of my go-to style tricks is to start the day with a black bodysuit and black skinny jeans and runaround everywhere and get stuff done. When it’s time to leave the house, office, or studio and face the world outside simply layer over top: a jacket, a knit, or even a dress, add some […]

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day seventeen, moving forward

dark olive on olive outside my office

Wow, putting yourself out there in the social stratosphere can feel pretty overwhelming at times. Even on the best of days there’s second guessing. On hard days it’s really hard. Talked with my twenty-six-year-old daughter this morning and she said ‘mom, I delete my Instagram app now Monday to Friday simply so I can focus on getting done what I need to get done. Then on the weekend it’s just that much more fun to kind of scroll through and catch up with everyone’. I say smart girl.

Are our lives really that interesting? Is there oversharing? Where’s the line? And what about me posting pictures of myself? Crazy!

Anyways, here is where we are, and this is what I do so moving forward. I sell clothes. I style clothes. I wear and style clothes. I wear clothes to sell clothes so therefore the posting. Sometimes all I want to do is wear old jeans and my kids’ old college hoodies, and I do. I also believe women feel better when wearing better clothes. We can do better work when we feel good in our skin. I think we all can spend way too many hours staring into our closets wondering what to wear and I try and help with that.

uniform dressing

These photos were taken by my second son and he too has a fear of sharing, and he’s in the very social generation. He documents trips and moments and life with his camera and for all of us it’s like pulling teeth for us to see his work. I try and tell him, ‘progress, not perfection’. I think it’s slowly working. Moving forward with one small step at a time, even when that one step can feel so overwhelming, bring you to your knees, or maybe even a complete standstill.

So here I am, wearing clothes from my current trunk show, photographed by my son, and he shared his work. Inside I’m smiling.

moving forward, one small step at a time…

The outfit is a riff on uniform dressing, army greens. Some of my clients would object as the colors aren’t exact. I’m okay with it. The voile blouse has soft jersey insets and an edgy concealed zipper front. I think this is genius for women that have trouble with blouses, no gaping and pulling like you can get with a buttoned placket. The pants have front and back pockets, light gold hardware. Most of us love a column of black to get out the door, this combo just edges the look up a bit. Shoes are old Gucci, and love the block heel, so much better for on-the-go.

Besides selling and styling clothes I like to cook. The other night was scratch chicken noodle soup. No photo, camera battery dead. It’s got to get warmer out there soon.

Every day dress, clothes: dark olive on olive, food: scratch chicken noodle soup.

Day seventeen, moving forward, and check.

Trunk show now through Monday, April 29th.

day 10, a clean palate

grey velvet and white, and yeah those lamps at the doorway need some shades

In an effort to minimize, so far to go with that concept, for new house down south furnished in a flash I stuck with a color palate of white, grey, and dark brown, or one of my favorite words chocolate. Mostly white and grey, and we moved fast.

every day dress office Saint Petersburg FL, office chair from Office Depot Office Max

At Rooms to Go we picked up two white leather pieces, a sofa and a loveseat. The rest of the haul came from Restoration Hardware, and not embarrassed to say Restoration Hardware Outlet. Husband likes to move fast, no time to wait for special orders.

husband thinks lampshades are way too big, mail order, whatever

First night in the new house we slept on a mattress on the floor, and second daughter Booie slept on a yoga mat on the floor. In a land of plenty it was fun in a weird strange way. Booie and I also spent a night with no power, and that was fun too. Candlelight and early to bed.

new art on the white walls and table for six that can go to eight
I’m furnishing the place in a few simple colors…
my new closet and there’s that pop of orange in an orange suede shirt with all other things black and tones of white
picked out all this stuff in a hot minute, speed dial with local delivery guys, love the pop of orange

Kind of like building a wardrobe based on a cohesive color story, furnishing this place with limited choice made it so much easier to make decisions. Of course, you always need to mix things up or throw in a curve ball, hence the Hermes orange cushions for outdoor seating area. Really like that little pop in what is otherwise Zen-like and serene.

keeping it clean in the new kitchen. pre-ordered bar stools at Perigold
do I kind of match the kitchen? haha

Today’s work outfit was tone on tone too. Black cashmere V-neck, black leather skirt, soft white scarf, taupe suede boots, keeping it all in the same family made it so much easier to get out the door.

Every day dress, clothes: neutrals, interiors: mostly grey and white, food: Prosecco in the office and take-out for dinner.

Day 10, check.

day 8, or is it 9

Instagram Stories at work today, Per Se by Carlisle sweater, Joe’s Jeans leather cropped boot, Golden Goose sneakers

Started the day in the pool at 5:30 am for lap swim, something I’m uncomfortable with yet I know is good for me and feels incredibly good when done. Followed that wet half mile with an hour of spin (including very hard push-ups) and try to get that double session in once a week. Other days its Tracy Anderson or maybe walking lunges and sit-ups or maybe even just walking. It’s a good day when that MyMotiv ring circles in at 16,000+.

Went for the annual physical and passed, with pretty good marks. Had some problems with the close-up eye screen hahaha and the nurse practitioner told me I could use my readers and then we were just fine. I honestly think that good health is closely related with making your bed, wearing good clothes, and eating good food.

Tomorrow I’m meeting again with Williams Media for another go-round of blog overhaul and marketing talk. They too are making me uncomfortable, yet like those laps in the pool it’s a very good thing. Have I used the word ‘good’ too many times? Posting to Instagram Stories twice a day is where I’m not passing. 🙂

Anyways, today I was all about black leather jeans with a little kick at the hem, a striped cashmere ‘jumper’ like by blog crush Alyson Walsh of That’s Not My Age would call my sweater, and a good pair of sneakers. If you don’t know of her jump on over to her here by clicking on this link: That’s Not My Age. Her post today about what to keep and what to chuck so timely with the city house cleaning overhaul going on. She also wrote a few books, her most recent ‘Know Your Style‘.

jeans and knits and sneakers forever

In these photos here I most definitely know my style: jeans and knits and sneakers forever, whatever the textile may be. We should all get and be and feel comfortable with what we wear.

Every day dress, clothes: leather and cashmere, food: leftovers, ha!. 🙂

Day 8, or is it 9? check. xoxo