inspired by

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Thinking were not sure if we are inspired more by images of Carine Roitfeld’s delicious grand baby or her iconic fashion sense, have always loved babies, every day dress for sure inspired by her white boot-leg jeans and python print jacket. Following Carine Roitfeld on Instagram and loving her.

Pulled out the old seven for mankind (bootleg) jeans and paired it with a python print silk shirt, aquazurra suede shoe boots, and black crew neck tied around the shoulders for dinner out with the husband. Good clothes are mood transforming. They can and will lift you up.

Even though the body and the feet and the thighs might not relate to a fashion super hero, we can still all get the mood on by dressing well, and, you know, every day dress. It’s a mind-set, and a feeling, and an attitude.

Every day dress so inspired by Carine Roitfeld. Click here to view her awesome Instagram feed. , and her delicious grand baby and great outfits. (can’t yet get the regram app going, kind of need an admin, haha).

scarf as dress


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We’ve seen scarf as halter, now we’re about scarf as dress. Packing for travel is always best when kept light, two nights in a row wore a variation of scarf as dress while staying at the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne FL. Carry on is the best, it’s always a good thing to be able to handle your own stuff. Two super light dinner looks take up next to nothing space.

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Frist night wore a pink scarf print wrap and tie silk piece engineered as a dress with flat Valentino rock stud sandals. LOVE that dress. Looks like nothing on the hanger but once on the body so easy and fun and carefree and kind of unexpected. Sorry, no photo of this yet, traveled solo without thirteen year old photographer daughter. This dress is a complete summer go-to with a heel for a wedding or cocktail event or a flat sandal for a kind of laid back night-time bohemian look or daytime runaround.

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Second night wore an actual scarf as dress. Same pair of flat sandals as the night before, black Eres tank bathing suit underneath for the foundation, and simply wrapped, twisted, and tied.  Super easy.

How to photos taken on the fly out at the country house in about five minutes flat. Kind of like getting dressed for the night after a busy full day, never seems to be enough time…

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Every day dress, scarf as dress, two nights in a row.

 

first look

Writing this while flying back from Miami FL having had a first look at what’s coming soon for women of Worth New York. Had a front row right side seat and snapped photos on the digital camera, iPhone and iPad while Diane Manley and Cindy Hong presented Fall 2014. Here’s the first batch from the digital camera:

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How about a suede piece that can be worn as a dress, tunic or coat and a belt with one or two zippered pockets that can hold your lipstick, credit card, and key(s)? Is there anywhere you can’t go while wearing that?

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Now to black, black being black and the epitome of chic, perhaps navy and chocolate relate, how about a black shearling vest or a black quilted leather cycle jacket?

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Decisions decisions.

While looking at those Miami FL models made me wish I could grow legs and limbs and a neck and inches and perpetually wear long, straight, perfect hair; think I’ll stick with dressing and finding beautiful women, all heights and widths, that like to embrace and love life, and wear gorgeous clothes while engaging, in other words, every day dress.

Every day dress, first look. Love to all.

 

a good boyfriend

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Had the first good boyfriend probably four years ago in Healdsburg CA. Husband and friends were at Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar and I dipped out to do a little shopping. Very fit travel friend thought I was kind of crazy with the purchase, why spend time in the gym if you’re going to wear baggy jeans? That good boyfriend traveled through CA and then the east coast and then Barcelona Spain and haven’t seen them since.

Picked up several more in the meantime and those seem to just disappear too. With four daughters and kind of a one size fits all a good boyfriend could be just about anywhere.

In a bit of desperation picked up this pair over spring break in Naples FL at believe it or not Boston Proper. Nice store in old Naples and was looking for something easy. You know, a good boyfriend loves you five pounds up or five pounds down, is not really looking for the latest in shoes or hair or makeup, but can just kind of be.

Every day dress loving a good boyfriend, and loving that the very best boyfriend is the husband. Love you husband, Happy Father’s Day and wishing you many returns of the day.

Boyfriend Jean | Boston Proper

Black Floral Tank | Worth New York 2014

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Couple of notes: have tried to dress these up for dinner out and find they just don’t work. Yes, they can go to the Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning and can entertain friends and family at home, especially in the country, they just don’t seem to give enough respect when worn out after the runaround. Thoughts?

 

coral bomber with stan smith’s

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Try as we might it seems it’s just too hard to stay in one place for very long. Traveling again on Monday for three days to study what’s coming our way for Fall Winter 14 fashion.

In the meantime been relying on this coral bomber jacket and borrowed from the boy’s Stan Smith kicks to do the runaround. Loving the bright bag from the Paris trip, pretty much treating it like a neutral and carrying it with just about everything.

Hope everyone’s off to the beginning of a fun Summer 14.

Why not try a bright athletic inspired jacket and some box fresh sneakers for your runaround? Wet hair and no makeup except for a quick slick of gloss keep it fresh.

Every day dress, coral bomber with Stan Smith’s.

Coral Bomber Jacket | Worth New York Summer 14

Sneakers | Stan Smith

I Am Love Tee | Haute Hippie | at Tony Walker & Co.

White Jean | Rag & Bone | at Tony Walker & Co.

Bag | Louis Vuitton

flatten out

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With Father’s Day this weekend you might be doing some grilling. Here are a few ideas from a get together we had a few weeks ago. While steaks might be a favorite, sometimes poultry’s the thing, especially with a big group.

Bought 7 organic whole chickens from the market and Ina’s recipe called for them to be flattened. Flattened? Young butcher behind the counter had no idea what I was talking about so decided to just take those birds home and get it done. You can learn anything with your laptop and google. Put that thing right up on the kitchen windowsill and went to work. All those years of sewing and cutting fabric on the bias totally helped out.

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Asparagus, leeks, fennel, peas, and chives went in the risotto stirred with vegetable broth. Sweetened it all up with a bit of marscapone cheese. Mesclun and a mustard vinaigrette rounded things out.

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Sweet cherries and cookies, baked in the city and brought to the country, flat boots, bare feet, flat sandals, and blue jeans. We were all pretty much happily flattened out.

Photos below are not for the vegetarians, vegans, or those that don’t like to mess it up in the kitchen. They show what really went on.

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Every day dress, not afraid to flatten out.

Happy upcoming Father’s Day.

 

 

 

 

 

white dress nude shoe

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The end of the school year brings with it so many times that call for a dress. Sure, pants or  a skirt would do, and sometimes quite nicely. Simply being a little old-school here thinking that graduations, moving up ceremonies, bridal showers, engagement parties, milestone birthday celebrations, special cocktail parties, a dress is best. A dress shows intent on the wearer’s part that something significant is taking place, and that you’re honored to be there.

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For youngest daughter’s 8th grade graduation followed her lead, haha, and wore a white dress with a nude shoe. Not completely white, didn’t want to appear as I too was hoping to graduate, but white with some strong pattern. The nude shoe actually a nude suede shoe boot, with this getting older thing always try to keep it looking modern.

Given the choice by her Catholic school of wearing any pastel colored or white dress with any colored shoe, we chose a simple white ponte with fitted bodice and slight a-line skirt, and a classic patent nude pump. Felt confident that years from now she could look back and feel appropriately dressed.

My work with women young, older, and in-between continually reminds me that most want to look and feel their best and to know that what they are wearing for any given occasion is appropriate and good-looking. For end of school year happenings, think about a white dress and nude shoe. Classic.

Every day dress, mother daughter, white dress nude shoe.

blue suede shoes

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Life is busy and complicated and sometimes a pair of blue suede shoes can be quick fix. Not a solution, is there ever really one, but a nice little pick-up to move you through the day.

Saw these and thought they were the right pairing for the cutout dress. Wedge heel grounds the look, enough visual angles with the dress so opted out of any kind of pointed heel with zippers or straps. Kept the makeup and nail color neutral, the dress makes the statement, no exclamation points or jewelry needed.

Every day dress, thinking we could all use some blue suede shoes now and then.

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Blue Suede Shoes | Aquatalia

Dress | BCBG

keeping it low and above the knee

IMG_6545IMG_6547IMG_6535IMG_6536IMG_6540IMG_6530City summer street style for us has been low-top sneakers or flat sandals with white or light-colored dresses above the knee. A little jean jacket if you’re in your twenties or a little motor-inspired cardigan if you’re not can get you places fast and easy. Even the granny’s got on flats and the dress a little above the knee.

Every day dress and we’re keeping it low and above the knee for active runaround city street style.

20 40

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Two weeks ago Friday husband and I hosted about 32 for oysters etc. and cocktails in Washington DC. Mixed company: family; all ages, graduate students, college students, lawyers, bankers, entrepreneurs, mostly Ethan’s fraternity brothers from Wake Forest.  Location: Hotel Monaco, outdoors. Occasion: Law School Commencement, Ethan.

If you google 20 40, you get a bunch of results about vision. Here we’re talking about what was worn. Oldest two daughters, both in their twenties, wore minimal, modern dresses of the same designer. Every day dress, on the short end of forty, tweed boucle and red leather.

It can be a fine line sometimes on what to wear. Like vision, it can kind of sneak up on you about what’s needed and when. 20 40, stretch printed neoprene for the twenty year olds, tweed boucle sheath dress for short end of forty.

Every day dress, 20 40.