lifestyle Archives • Page 4 of 9 • Every Day Dress by Rebecca Collins

waiting on spring

brunch at The Obstinate Daughter | community table

Six years ago today we put our first post up here, and if we’re completely honest with ourselves we’re looking to reclaim some of our mojo. It’s kind of funny, no one is really out there waiting for a new entry. Yet when we don’t write I feel anxious, and let it go for a while, and then feel more anxious, and then it feels even harder to get back to it. Kind of like the gym, when you’re in the habit it’s a daily do, and you feel better, even when you don’t.

yeah, that’s me styling oldest daughter, pink bag, pink charm, pink scarf, floral shoe

So, here goes: writing and posting here keeps my brain engaged, even if it’s simply content about food and clothes. We’ve had a love affair with both for as long as we can remember, and we’ll need to be fed and dressed for as long as we’re here so content continues. If you’ve been a reader for a while thank you, I like sharing my space.

Several years ago through my professional work with Worth New York I heard Tom Black, entrepreneur and wine collector, speak. Motivational, yes, and since then I’ve subscribed to his Success Quotes for Daily Living. Yesterday, this landed in my inbox:

Ignore all hatred and criticism. Live for what you create, and die protecting it. – Lady Gaga

And with that, we continue. Every day dress, and every day cook. Food and clothes, in any order, with as much style as we can gather.

of the several group photos this one’s a favorite, as it shows love, laughter, movement, and no perfect posing

Photos here are of recent visit to Charleston, South Carolina. Easter Sunday we brunched at The Obstinate Daughter, Sullivan’s Island, and did a beach walk afterwards, thank you, Lucy. There were eleven of us in total, now ten of us are back in the northeast and we’re all waiting on spring.

Every day dress, waiting on spring.

xo, rebecca minkoff

It’s Thursday, so let’s throw back a little: November 2013 had the pleasure of meeting Rebecca Minkoff via Tony Walker & Co. and the WNY Women’s Foundation . She was there in support of women and children and breaking the poverty cycle in our community.

By profession she does bags, shoes, clothes, so naturally we love her. Really don’t remember a lot about the afternoon but do remember exactly what she was wearing, all black, with a great neon blue manicure, and that she talked about family, and her brother. Loved that.

There was an auction, so naturally bid on one of her great bags. She signed it ‘To Rebecca XO Rebecca Minkoff’.

Every day dress, xo, Rebecca Minkoff.

all photos | Joe Cascio Photography

fashion lifestyle

most days…

Was gifted this small tray and hold the saying dear. Even better is to go with most days you just have to create your own sunshine.

Back in BUF in the home office and prepping heavy for upcoming Spring Trunk Show, kicking off February 27th. 3° and with the windchill feels like -18°. Since we’re not really going anywhere and the outfit of the day has been more of the same, denim and black, putting up pics of indoor Spring: florists we’re not but it’s easy to group together single colors and single blooms. Even carnations look good now. 🙂 All flowers picked up at the grocery during the milk run.

Every day dress, most days…

Stay warm everyone. xo

lifestyle

no black pants

For a quick holiday weekend getaway south, intentionally packed no black pants. White, grey, light blue denim, yes, several black tops and all black workout wear. Black yoga pants do not count as black pants, and black yoga pants should probably only be worn when doing such yoga, or while sipping coffee with those you have breakfast with.

It’s about -6 degrees back home, schools are closed. Scooted out-of-town, threw some stuff in a carry-on; black dress, white dress, white bikini (fingers crossed), white jeans, grey jeans, wore blue jeans and black boots on the plane, black puffer, it’s cold even down here, two cashmere sweaters, two cotton blouses, a couple of tanks, a pair of sneakers, some stacked heel white sandals. That’s it, getting the color from the bag, Chartreuse, and the fancy from the small shoulder bag, Prada, and a couple different bracelets.

Saw another woman at the airport loaded down with three suitcases on rollers, wow, why? It’s good to discipline yourself when packing and only bring the things you really wear, and really love. Makes it easier for yourself and everyone around you.

Every day dress, no black pants, this time. 🙂 Stay warm everyone, -8 degrees back in BUF.

fashion lifestyle

dinner in

For dinner in at dear friend’s home Saturday night wore sleeveless blue velvet. Sometimes it’s fun to do the unexpected and get kind of overdressed. Three bangles on the left arm dressed it down. A little exposed shoulder this time of year is easy to pull off, Donna Karan tells us in this month’s Porter magazine ‘Women have all different kinds of body issues, as do I, but the one asset for every woman is her shoulders; they never gain weight, and never get wrinkles, guaranteed.’ Donna, you are a true fashion heroine.

Barbara and Bill, so much fun to break bread with you and friends. Thank you for keeping that good tradition alive, dinner in, complete delight. xo

fashion food lifestyle

black black black

As it’s white white white all around without a let-up in sight, decided to dig into the archives.

For travel, and really every day, picking a neutral and building your wardrobe around it is a good thing. We like to move quick and light, so black here it is.

A great black dress, black tank, black jeans, black shoes, and a black leather jacket will take you miles, and span seasons. Yeah, we list this site as fashion and should probably write and wear with more color, it’s just that there’s so much going on around all the time that sometimes the simpler the better.

We follow some really great fashion blogs. There are days though that instead of inspiring it’s a visual economic energy overload. Many women love new things, and we love new things too. Better than a constant replenishing though is having things you can count on, that work hard to get you out the door, where you’re going, all while looking good and appropriate.

So, for you it might be blue blue blue, or pattern pattern pattern, or even a mix-up. Love getting clients in things that they reach for over and over. Maybe you pay a little more up front yet each time you outfit repeat that cost per wear goes down down down. Colleague likes to say the most expensive piece of clothing in your wardrobe is the one you never wear.

Writing this wearing what else, black black and denim while working on Spring Trunk Show invites with snow all around.

Good news too, we’re investing in much more than the clothes we wear: hired a fashion minded young women to come in two or three times a week. She’s a full-time student, works two other jobs, and jumps in while we both learn while we go. Working, learning, and moving forward with other women is a good place to be. Note her work on the side bar, Instagram is updated, archives are organized, top posts are there, clients can actually book an appointment, and Twitter we so need to work on, she says I’ve just gotta do it. Thanks, Alexa.

Oldest daughter working from home today, looks like we have a staff!

TGIF everyone. Hope you all have a few great things in that closet of yours that you wear over and over. Makes the day so much easier.

Every day dress, black black black.

fashion lifestyle

bookend(s)

A little spirited relief from shoveling snow this Tuesday: we like to bookend our days with coffee first and wine last. Don’t let these photos fool you, it’s winter and when it’s dark it’s a nice glass of red, simply creating some visual interest. Just can’t seem to get away from it, and really, why?

So to break it up, lots of water in between. In fact, trainer has recommended going one to one: every coffee or diet coke or wine gets matched with a big glass of H2O. Cutting up a big pile of lemons for the water break is good, too.

Lunch-time post, check, really trying to get better here. Every day dress, bookend(s).

food lifestyle

do it double

When things work well, do it twice. Fifteen years ago husband and I built this house, where most of these blog posts come from, we now all call home. Outrageously expensive, all-consuming; every single floor board, door handle, faucet, window frame, stone countertop, light fixture, light switch, each piece of wood trim, you name it, we picked it. While we might not ever do that kind of thing again, never say never, going through an experience like that reaffirms that when things are good and work well, do it double.

Dishwashers? Absolutely. In the thirteen or so years we’ve been tucked in have probably pushed out 9,490 meals or so. And most of those have been for six or more, most often eight. That’s a lot of cooking and a lot of dishes. Double dishwashers, such a great thing. At first they were Miele and hidden behind matching cabinet doors. For the first eight years, perfection. Then they started acting up, needed service, and one needed to be replaced. In went another foreign brand, only one, the other one was still okay. Never felt the new replacement was that great. Then the other went down, and as there was no love affair going on with the new one that was ordered online, and we were downsizing with the amount of kids that were living at home, never replaced that first original one, until recently.

Cut to the quick, I guess the point of all of this is that if you enjoy being a home cook, and if you have the option and opportunity to place double dishwashers on either side of an extra-wide and extra-deep sink, go for it absolutely. These things give really unbelievable pleasure. 🙂

Now, one more thought: if you’re gonna roast a chicken, why not two? Stuff them with lemons, and garlic, and thyme. Cover with butter, and salt, and pepper. Surround with sliced onions, carrots, and potatoes. Dinner that night, and lunch, the day after that. Pleasure, again.

Tangent, and this could be an entirely separate post yet I digress: have read and explored a bit about blogging and realize there aren’t really any best practices followed here.

No regular posting schedule, haven’t hired anyone to help with the technical stuff, really no involvement with other fellow bloggers, not a lot of engagement with readers. No marketing plan.

On the upside, and there’s always that, have thought about the voice of every day dress, and that it’s a love of good food and great clothes, and sometimes great food and good clothes. It’s passionate, comes from the heart, and is grounded in family. And that it’s fun to write, and share, and possibly inspire.

So, in the spirit of always learning, and growing, and trying and doing better, challenging myself to be a bit more consistent, without too much discipline. Love having a space and no one to answer to, no deadline, no subject. Yeah, there’s discipline in this life for sure, and now looking for a little more here.

Thank you, dear readers, truly feel that each day can be better when there’s thought and care given to some pretty fundamental basics, good food and good clothes. Thinking the tagline might be re-written to show some of this. Fashion, per se, seems a bit high-reaching, especially when I also find dishwashers so darn interesting. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by, and happy 49th Super Bowl Sunday. California Pizza’s tonight, doing it double.

new dishwashers | KitchenAid

food lifestyle

keep it interesting

Winter weather, late January, and working from a home office often keep the same dull daily outfit in heavy rotation. Can’t help it, all I really want to do is hibernate for a while and eat leftover carrot cake, not even really venture out to the grocery.

Grocery we must, so to keep it interesting, into the lingerie closet we go.

Great lingerie is fun to pick up while traveling, doesn’t take much room to pack back and doesn’t slow you down while exploring city streets. When buying shoes and boots the best thing to do is charge/send. 🙂

With Valentine’s on the horizon and the upcoming and anticipated release of Fifty Shades, let’s all keep it interesting, same daily outfit or not.

Turquoise and Navy | Agent Provocateur | Boston MA

Grey | Simone Pérèle | Bandol France

fashion lifestyle

1955

Sixty years and two days ago dear husband arrived in this world. Celebrated, of course, with family dinner at home.

No Rolex, or fancy cocktails for a hundred or so, simply flew two Boston MA girls home for his surprise.

Osso Bucco was a whole day affair, that with work and all. Thankful for good clothes, never had a chance to think about what to wear. Printed silk blouse (black lace bra underneath, something needs to be fancy), sleeves rolled up, ubiquitous blue jeans and flat black boots, good to go.

Went without the cliché of fresh flowers, this was a man’s party, and put three small pots of ivy down the table. (So much less than fresh flowers too, being January and broke and all). White tapers, this time no votives.

You’d think with a milestone like this for the man I love deeply I would have it together a bit more. Knew what I wanted and needed to do, took a deep breath, anxiety and all, and went forward. Had visual memories of three photos from recent travels, at 4 pm dropped them in a thumb drive, headed to Kinko’s FedEx and printed them out, and then to Target, I know I know, to grab a frame. Here it is ready for the red room, haha.

This is how it looked at 5 pm, and dinner was at 8: carrot cake baked, cream cheese frosting on the counter, haricot verts blanched, veal shanks wrapped and on a tray, onions out for the risotto. One great thing about doing things time and again is that you don’t really have to measure things like chopped vegetables: simply feel the amount needed for onion, celery, carrots, tomato, garlic. Spinach and artichoke dip to go with the champagne, and caesar salad for some more green.