out for a while

To cap off summer shenanigans, thank goodness as it’s been a long one, husband and I did a two-day getaway at The Red Horse Inn before hitting Greenville SC for Furman University family weekend.

we stopped at a small Amish store and bought ham off the bone, hot pepper cheese, a jar of mustard and mayonnaise and a loaf of bread

Hiking the foothills of the Blue Ride Mountains and making grilled ham and cheese sandwiches in the petite cabin kitchen were the activities, perfect. The new terrace of the main house was a great spot for a glass of wine or two.

denim shirt with wide legged navy pant

new season square toe lace up boot, a season or so ago bag

Yeah, we’ve been out for a while, and looking to get back in. Two life changes, a marriage and somewhat of an empty nest after sending youngest of six off to Providence College this fall and just gotta say the tank feels low. Things that got us going like writing, and cooking, and even dressing haven’t had the same pull. That’s a problem, as we named this site every day dress, not only to talk about clothes, but more about the idea of getting up, showing up, taking risks and putting yourself out there, and to perhaps help inspire a few women to do maybe a little of the same.

Simply putting this post up on this first day of October feels awkward, as we’ve fallen off the habit, kind of like the first day of school or the first day back at the gym after a too long hiatus. We know we like it, and that it’s good for us, it’s just that we’re out of the routine.

In talking with a client today she reminded me that research suggests it takes thirty days of regularly doing ‘a thing’ to make ‘a habit’. So here we are, with an awkward feeling post, hoping to get back to regularly writing, cooking, dressing.

All I can say is every day dress. xoxo

 

where we’re at

late summer quick chicken with tomato garlic compote | all vegetables from farm share

2000 miles via auto and air and 8 states in 7 days and now we’re back in the studio and making dinner at home, woot woot.

today in the studio trying on plaid, these are size 6

love this look 

leopard and plaid denim and red pumps, yes please

I’ll be in the studio until the morning of September 11th, and for the record kind of all about these plaid denim pants.

Hoping everyone out there is hitting their stride with all new season stuff: back to school, back to work; and the world spins on….

molasses cookies with vanilla and sea salt caramel ice cream, why not, still summer, still living, this was desert for 3

kitchen goods | me

clothing items | Worth New York 

xoxo

fading summer

We’ve been moving 5th child into university the past few days, and we’re all lingering about, hanging on, fading summer. She opted out of her dorm room last night, and we we’re three in a bed, priceless.

It’s been a summer for the record books, husband and I basically checked out of professional life for two straight months, (him, not so much, me, 100%), and late this afternoon we fly home.

dress | Worth New York

Tomorrow first thing I’m back into styling, and I’m going in cold. Simply gonna jump, no time for slow immersion, stunning new fall clothes arriving overnight air to studio, and late afternoon client appointments.

Thank you, Michele, for reaching out and inviting us to visit and reminding me how lucky we are to dress amazing women in beautiful clothing.

Every day dress, fading summer all around.

xoxo

flirty

Mom, chic soon to be seventy-nine year old, thought this dress looked flirty, and now, after looking at photos, kind of agree.

Bought it in San Francisco at Saks in Union Square in July, and the husband picked it out. He has a good eye. Wore it recently for oldest daughter’s rehearsal dinner. Felt great. Never underestimate the confidence giving feeling of good clothes.

We love the kind of quiet sophisticated hue and the kind of crazy eyelash print, and the ease of fit. Paired it with a pair of lace block heels, a small top handle bag, and done. Flirty it is, and at fifty-three we’re good with the crew neckline, the below-the-knee length, and the A-line skirt shape. Ease over fitted for the win, at least this time around here at every day dress.

xoxo

really looking forward to getting back in the groove….

gone fishing

 

Normally we’re checked out in July and/or August, this year it’s June. Big at-home shindig late summer, so oldest daughter/bride to be headed to Wyoming, and I did Food & Wine Classic in Aspen CO, thank you Jackie, than met husband for more wine in CA.

When home Wednesday it will be head down, all systems go. 200+ for dinner and dancIng in the back yard is a big lift, so, for the time being we’ve gone fishing.

xoxo, always, every day dress.

put it together

basic little black cardigan what’s for dinner post

Days move so fast sometimes you’ve just got to put it together: the clothes on your body and the food to eat for dinner.

Essentials to keep on hand might include black denim and a cropped cardigan, a pound of bacon, frozen peas, a fresh bunch of kale, imported dried pasta, a good black bag, and maybe some Boursin cheese and a handful of asparagus.

looks weird yet wildly delicious, everyone loved this ad hoc what’s for dinner put it together

We love a good outfit and adore a good meal, keeping at the ready some strong basics makes it easier to put it together.

Every day dress everyone. TGIF, xoxo.

 

joined a farm share, and had a plant party

farm box, and Amish potholders 

all the goods

farm fresh egg, cheese, greens

Never mind book club, we’ve joined a farm share for the season and couldn’t be happier. Picked up our box last week Thursday, and have cooked and baked from it since.

We’re all about eating fresh, and working on adding in more plant-based items to the daily rotation. Work it is, as I find plant-based a bit challenging, and honestly kind of time-consuming. Maybe it’s just getting in the swing of it, not sure, simply seems to take forever to chop so many ingredients to arrive at great flavor. I have to say though that once the prep is done, the results and the taste and the variety of meals you can create is worth the effort, so go figure. Daughters in the house love when I cook this way, they are all over the Cucumber Rounds w/Cashew Cheese Tapenade.

soaking heirloom tomatoes for consomme and cashews for ‘cream cheese’

recently bought 3 bistro tables from Amazon for entertaining activities 

Friday night committee meeting

we like odd numbers

tomato consomme shooters with avocado garnish

roasted pepper pesto crostini with fresh horseradish garnish

cucumber rounds with cashew cheese tapenade and garnished with balsamic figs 

prepping Beefless Southeast-Asain satays

serving Beefless Southeast-Asian Satays with Peanut Sauce

(don’t think I’ll ever do this one again, would rather use grass-fed, organic beef)

On Friday I was in kitchen heaven as entire family was out and about. Simply settled in with a counter full of plant ingredients and did what I could for a little patio and lawn committee party we had that evening to kick off WNY Women’s Foundation Fall in Fashion 18. Lovely evening, lovely women.

Sunday night halibut and asparagus

Monday morning halibut on toast with fresh squeezed OJ

As for creating, this morning we started with last night’s halibut garnished with olive and sun-dried tomato tapenade, protein at breakfast in our every day dress world is always a good idea.

strawberry rhubarb pie

A few disclaimers:

  • Started here as a ‘style’ site and feel like we’ve evolved more into maybe a ‘food’ site? Whatever, we’re passionate about both, even if involves most of our time spent in denim. We can still clean up nice when needed. 🙂
  • If you read my posts on Facebook, here is my apology: I am freaking terrible at Facebook, and one of my young admins linked my blog to Facebook seasons ago and I still haven’t figured it out, oh, well, always learning and figuring things out. Sorry if I’m not good at replying to comments.

living in denim, and sneakers, and a puffer, still in June

black cotton dress, Dior bag, guitar strap, waiting for Uber 

Saturday office look, new shoes, and loving Diet Coke in a glass bottle

Joined a farm share, and had a plant party. xoxo, Rebecca

showering linnie

Of course we’ve been watching all things royal, adoring her sartorial choices, and couldn’t be happier for the beaming bride and groom. Love too that it’s a modern-day fairy tale, and reminds us that with love, and persistence, all heights are possible.

the everything shoe

Honestly I don’t even know what day it is, as our own little wedding story has been wonderfully encompassing: in just under twelve weeks we’re bringing together two large and joyous families for a union that simply feels right, and good.

Peanut on the bride cookies

Stephanie on flowers and balloons, 100+

setting the stage

Last weekend (or was it the one before that?), twenty of us came together at Bobo in NYC for showering Linnie. We laughed, and cried, and shouted out a little with Taylor Swift, all in a glorious Saturday afternoon of celebration.

the bride arrives

Every day dress, showering Linnie, and loving everyone and every moment. xoxo

a mom in love

Linnie and her twin brother

sent as many guests as we could home with flowers, love you Taylor

I’ve been MIA as doing it all is seemingly not possible, so blogging slipped, sorry. Gotta do what’s necessary, and getting through the days is top of the list, even though settling in with the laptop and the keyboard is pulling, and consciously unsettling…

an easy dress

Recent Instagram posts feature a dress and a tee by JCrew, a brand I haven’t worn in years. JCrew used to be our family go-to for outfitting five of our six kids, one just didn’t get it and still doesn’t and probably won’t ever, talking about you, Booie. As it often goes we’ve circled back. During holiday time oldest daughter and I stepped in to their Madison Avenue boutique and picked up some sweaters, one cashmere, one not, and both of those sweaters have been regular players in each of our wardrobes. The recent purchases they made quite easy, with an email online thing offering a discount of I think 20% or 30%, so picked out a few things and hit submit. The box with a few tees, a dress, and a pair of sunglasses arrived a few days later.

Their tees don’t need any double thinking, they can be worn out, to they gym, and for coffee in the morning, and really don’t impact the clothing budget or the overall aesthetic. A dress, however, can be a game changer, and a commitment. Wasn’t sure I was going to keep it or not, and threw it in the carry-on for little Florida getaway.

Late yesterday afternoon we headed to St. Petersburg, and the dress offered the ‘what to wear’ solution, thank you, JCrew. In my idealized world I’d be living in the Tuscan countryside and wearing Cucinelli, yet in the now we’re living in upstate New York, wearing most often Worth New York and W by Worth, and traveling wherever, and life is good.

So, we kept the dress, because it was easy. And wore it with leather. A dress is one and done. We’re heading home tomorrow, and moving into trunk show mode. Here we come Worth New York and W by Worth, we’re so looking forward to our women and some new season spring clothes. Trunk dates: tomorrow, Friday, February 23rd – Thursday, March 1st, and Tuesday, March 6th – Monday, March 12th.

An easy dress, and so many good dresses to come.

xo

 

 

 

a new suit

Four daughters will buy suits in multiples, me, not so much. I’ll do one at a time, maybe two. Husband and I dropped oldest at Tampa International Airport, and then stopped at International Plaza to run in and return a broken belt buckle at Louis Vuitton, and to pick up a new suit.

Two things about this quick visit, Louis Vuitton handled the repair with grace and courtesy, and will be shipping out a new buckle in a few weeks. Nice, good things go on. When I started this site seven years ago I thought I was starting a site about fashion for the over forty set, and now it seems it and I have evolved to more about style, not necessarily fashion, and style with respect to clothes, food, make-up, life, and perhaps not that age specific. Fashion to me can feel exhausting, and endless. Style feels like it can be cultivated and counted on for the long run. That Louis Vuitton belt and buckle will endure.

Now, secondly, the suit: we’re in Florida for a little so obviously spending some time poolside. I brought a classic black Eres tank suit, (actually gifted to me by the husband a few years ago), and a Dolce & Gabbana floral bikini I picked up last summer in Portugal. The Eres suit is as classic as classic gets, and fourth daughter likes to wear it as a bodysuit with her denim. With proper care it will last a good, long time, yet it’s not a piece I like to wear when sitting pool side, it’s a little hot. I wanted to add another to the rotation, and prefer a two-piece for pool time, and don’t care about maybe a two piece is not the best look for women my age in some opinions, in my upstate New York State of being. Truth: last summer posted to Instagram while wearing a white Eres bikini, outdoors in the country side cooking for the family, our dog in the background, and it was reported, and deleted. Come on, really? Is that why I get seated in the backside of the restaurant for breakfast when dining alone yet when I return with the twenty-something daughter the very next day we are shown a table up front and center? Yes, this is a tangent, and probably worthy of more space yet simply had to get it out there. While traveling in Europe I never feel or sense this ageism, two piece suit or not.

The takeaway? Women, wear what you want, and feel good. I’ll upload the photo of the suit I bought as a flat-lay, yet not going near the body in the suit, at least for now. Think I’ll wait until I’m sixty or seventy or eighty something, when I/we really look good feeding the family at the country house with the dog in the background.

Every day dress, a new suit, and it’s a two piece.