Boo! to You

In the midst of Halloween preparations, I thought I'd check in with the Infintessimal Readership.

What makes the best Halloween costume for you?

Do you want to be scary? Eye-catching? Clever? Puzzling? Current?

Do you want it to be flattering? If you want to stand out, in what way? Va-va-voom, or EEEEEW!

Personally, I've apparently entered the phase of life where "family" Halloween garb is of the moment. I've only got one party on the calendar this year, and it's a kid's birthday party. So since The Bean requested "Thomas" (of Tom and Jerry), H and I are going to be Tom's owners: a 50s-era pipe-wielding and apron donning couple (it was beyond my energy to make more than one set of ears for us). I happen to have a polka-dot shirt-dressy M dress in the closet, and we'll figure H's out on the fly.

*Pics courtesy of Tom and Jerry Online, an unofficial fan site

I gave in to trend...

I hit Tyson's on Saturday afternoon, hoping beyond all hopes to add some roomy but stylish garb to my wardrobe (I'm in a terrible between phase, where most M clothes look huge and cow-like on me, but "regular" stuff is iffy. Even my new beloved Phillies jersey won't button over my bump. Sigh.).

I did shop, and I did find a few things, including today's Pretty-Woman-polo-scene-inspired dress. Granted, it's navy & white rather than brown & cream, but it's shapely and sweet, and I can wear my Modern Vintage riding boots (score from the spring DSS) with it.

H yelled at me when I got home, because I'd bought bags of things for The Bean, Original Version. She needed things, daggoneit. Thin cotton pants won't do for an October playground, and sunhats are only good for so long...a pumpkin beret and two courdory caps were necessities.

The big purchase, though?

Booties.

Sigh. Never thought I'd go there. I couldn't stand them in high school, the first time around. They've been wearing me down this time around, unlike their blue/black plaid lumbershirt counterparts (shudder, seriously). BlueSuitGirl and I were both coveting a particular military-inspired grey pair on a pitstop to our Girls Weekend a while back.

So I bought them Saturday (on sale, too!). If my back weren't killing me today (sigh again), I'd be wearing them, paired with tights and a skirt. Can't wait to show them off.

Shop in Style: Tiger-Striped Memories

For those of you willing to forgo sustinance for a pair of those red soles, a chance to meet THE Mr. Louboutin...

What: Christian Louboutin in the store. Purchase a pair of shoes which Mr Louboutin will sign(shoe must be new and purchase at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria, one pair only will be signed). Accessory Fashion Editor for Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman Roopal Patel
will have a Q&A with Mr Louboutin.

Why: Because red is always chic

When: Saturday October 24 from 1:00-4:00 (Q&A at 1:00pm)

Where: Neiman MarcusTysons Galleria (only)

If I didn't have a child's party and mama duty that day, I might just go and blow our mortgage payment on this pair of boots that reminds me of Ms. Howell. The first "Ms." I knew, she was probably 70+ at the time, with short dyed strawberry blonde hair, zebra-striped stillettos, and had come in on the train from New York City. She was our cotillion dance instructor, leading us mercilessly through the niceties of elegant society (white gloves, receiving lines, and the boys finding the girls seats before offering to get them punch and cookies). She ruled the ballroom at the Kennett Country Club (where my grandparents, avid golfers, were members) with a set of castinets, starting and stopping Sam Tavoni's ivory tickling at whim. In my prized Laura Ashley dress and gloves, I glowed with pride (and probably still have the trophy, somewhere) from winning the end-of-season dance contest with Matt, the trumpet-playing cutie from "the other school" who eventually went on to play trumpet at my BabySis' wedding, a break from his daily life as a father and respected community member owning a group of local funeral homes.

But whenever I see tiger stripes, I fondly remember Ms. Howell. I can still hear them clicking across the floor when she walked - but not when she danced...even at 70, her feet never touched the floor...