Style Dilemma: What Happens in Vegas...

My baby sis is a marketing manager for a large company. As a working mama in a mostly-male environment, her daily dressing is fairly straightforward. She pairs classic, grounding pieces like well-fitting pencil skirts or tailored trouser, with modern but conservative trends. Accessories and shoes are major points of expression for her.

Yup, we're sisters.

It's not unusual that she sends me links to potential purchases. I do the same. But 2 weeks ago, she sent me an email. In the email, there were about 6 links to cocktail dresses. She needed my help. Starting this weekend, she has a work trip to Vegas. On Sunday night of this trip, there's a cocktail party. In her own words, it's her one time each year to remind her male colleagues that she's a woman. Nicely.

So what to wear?

To be honest, the choices in her first email left me wanting, well, I went on my own search. (And I've told her this directly, no worries) To be honest, I was a little disappointed. For a woman as enamored of sparkle as I know she is, there was nary a sequin in the bunch. Nor was there any real color. The closest she got was "midnight blue." Granted, it is exceptionally easy to get sucked back into the LBD choice when searching for cocktail dresses. You can easily talk yourself into "but the shape and the details are so unique" when, in fact, it really is a LBD.

But a girl going to Vegas needs to go to Vegas. So I put together a set of some of my favorite choices past, hoping to inspire her towards sparkle or color. As a bizarre sort of experiment, I left in one of her (was it 3?) one-shouldered selections from her email. We'll see what she picks.

polyvore set here

Lastly, if you've been following me on twitter, you may have picked up on vtgracie. Follow her as well as me, and maybe we can convince her to do a twitter #fashionshow, where she tries on her choices (I know at least one of them has shipped already - she announced it on twitter) then tweets a snapshot of herself, and we, um, give our opinion. It's fun. And she gets the benefit of 60 best girlfriends offering their stylish opinions.

Lastly again, thanks to Alison of Wardrobe Oxygen for helping me with my technical issues. This post's for you!

Sleepy Style: Waking Up on Christmas Morning

Snuggling down for a long winter's night.

Even though the DC weather keeps toying with us (hel-LO? mornings freezing and afternoons in the 50s?), I know I'm not the only one happily burrowing in her down comforter every night. I'm the one who sleeps with her windows cracked (when H is out of town, at least - he's a tropical boy) so she gets to burrow even deeper under piles and piles of blankets. My mother claims to have left me on the porch in the winter (albeit in Richmond, VA) to nap as an infant in my pram (when baby carriages were baby carriages and not mechanical wonders).

I'm happiest cold. 

I'm also happiest this time of year because, well, it's Christmas. I'm an unabashed Christmas fan - for secular and religious reasons. Part of it is the joy that comes with the secular part of Christmas morning, and rolling out of bed to the smell of Pillsbury Orange Rolls baking and unwrapping both the surprises Santa left and the predictable we-get-you-this-every-year gifts.

Like the Lanz of Salzburg flannel nightgown we kids would get our mommy every year. Dad would take us to Strawbridge & Clothier, and we'd pick it out, complete with "Lanz" scripted into the pattern. The Nice Ladies would pack it in a box that we would wrap at home. Then, Christmas morning, Mommy would feign surprise at the 10th or 11th nightgown she'd gotten in a row.

But she did live in them, then. And they are the best. I keep trying to get babygirl into them, but she wants to copy me with "yoga pants" and a t-shirt. There is something infinitely cozy about a flannel nightgown, never mind when you top it with a flannel robe. Tuck your toes into fuzzy Minnetonka moccasins,* and you're all set for a night by the fire.

For which, of course, you need a fireplace. And a chimney. Neither of which we have in our upper-floor condo. And the Comcast e-fireplace just don't cut it.

So I'll just share my ideal winter bedtime gear with you, in all its unsexy and unglamorous glory. And see if I can't inspire one or two of you to hit up L.L. Bean or Minnetonka to get ready for January.

*BTW, go check out the Minnetonka site for the bestest mocs ever. Really must get myself a pair. Now.

Christmas Comfy by dcceline featuring sheep slippers

Clipping, Pinning, and Daydreaming OR How a Style Blogger Passes Time While Waiting for Others to Meet Their Dealines

I have a demanding day job. At times, this day job requires long hours. Sometimes, I edit. Sometimes I write. Sometimes I'm triaging questions and issues for resolution, trying desperately to keep an unmanageable schedule on schedule (thankyouverymuchfederalgovernment).

And sometimes I'm waiting.

We have division of labor, which means I don't touch the documents I manage at times. On purpose. We also have experts who need to answer things.

So sometimes I'm waiting.

The Grown Up in me should read ahead on future opportunities, hone my skills, take online classes. The human in me needs some mental and physical downtime.

So I clip. And I pin. And I blog.

In no particular order, for no particular reason - other than they caught my eye - here are some things I've seen lately.

I hope they inspire you.

Clockwise, from top left, Zero Maria Cornejo long half foil dress (hu's Online), Vector Formations Dress (ModCloth), Fall 1935 Elsa Schiaparelli Evening dress (The Museum at FIT Online Collections), 3.1 Phillip Lim Pre-Fall 2011 dress (Voguepedia), Robert Clererie lace up patent heel (hu's Online), Chanel dress from Daphne Guiness' collection (The Museum at FIT Daphne Guinness Exhibition)

Want more inspiration? I'm on Pinterest and on Polyvore. Pin and clip away!

Pampered in Style: Holiday Specials at Nectar Skin Bar

I think it's fairly clear to any semi-regular reader that I don't plug products, stores, or companies unless I love them. Which brings me to today's post.

I. Adore. Nectar Skin Bar.

And while publishing this puts my addiction at risk by exposing my appointments to more poachers, they just shared their holiday specials. Personal favorites so far? Adrian, because he's smart enough to tell me to grow my brows out. And to stop before giving me a peel that, while he suggested it originally, he didn't feel my skin could handle after the "regular" facial. And Noemi. Because if someone can give me a manicure that lasts more than 2.5 minutes on a busy mama (going on 6 days and barely chipped!), well, she wins. Totally.

So if you're still looking for gifts for your most stylish friends - or for yourself - get thee to Nectar. Now.

You did check my Style To-Do List and My Christmas List, right? On both.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

Christmas. Everywhere...in New York, in DC, on the street, at home. I'm a lucky, lucky girl with a wonderful family, friends that stand by me no matter what, and, well, quite frankly, everything a girl could wish for. Pretty much ever.

So while I've yet to do those #BeanintheBigApple posts I promised due to CrazyWork, a cold, and an ear infection (all mine), I thought I'd share a little bit of what Christmas looks like to me.

Christmas isn't Christmas in our house without varse (Romanian sauerkraut). And we through in some roasted eggplant and pepper spread for good measure (zakuska). Sarmale (stuffed cabbage) and cozonac (Christmas bread) to come.

The Bean and I at the Betsey Johnson-decorated Eloise tree at The Plaza

Christmas parties = sequin skirts and crazy high heels

Silliness and joy

Ice skating in Central Park

First night of Christmas decorating

Our very own Christmas tree that we decorated ourselves in our room

(and pardon the craptastic Paint collage with unerasable white space on the right. one of these days i'll learn how to do these graphics things right.