Shameless Self-Promotion #DCTweeps

So...you love me, right?

Even if you're not a "Tweep," you can vote for me as your favorite DC Fashionista.

Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaase?

Dreams Do Come True

I'm an incredibly lucky girl.

I have two beautiful children, an amazing husband, and friends and family around me that I'm constantly reminded how amazing they are.

And a girl has dreams.

And they come true.

From my "dealer's" (Malena of the wonderful eponymous boutique) description:

The bag is authentic, had one owner, no dust cover or lock. It is chocolate brown calf skin. I lightened the photos so every tiny scratch is visible. Most you cannot see in real life.

The leather housing of the keys is called the pouchette. The Hermes store in KOP told me to replace the lock and keys is under $150, but problably below $100. It will take a few weeks since it comes from (duh) Paris.

The good news- No broken stitching, no stains, no chipped metal, no missing feet, strap in great condition. Interior is flawless as well. No gold initials of the original owner.

The bad news- No lock, and 2 of the corners need a touch up with brown polish. It is not visible when the bag is sitting on the table. Damage no larger than 1/4 inch. The worst of it is photographed, including the
scratch on the bottom.

For the age and quality of this bag it really is in impressive condition.

I know I shouldn't. I know it's a luxury. And I also know that it's an amazing, wonderful, beautiful thing.

Grace's biography was the first one I remember reading - in elementary school. I can still see Mrs. Wilson and the shelves and then can remember reading that wonderful book. I wanted to be her. Her wedding dress was the first picture I had in my head after H proposed.

I could be spending this money on other, more useful things - like clothes I'm comfortable in or a trip with H. But instead, I'm trying to figure out the best way to get this piece from West Chester, Pennsylvania, to Washington, D.C. without shipping it, exposing it to cold, or putting it in harm's way.

And it will be The Bean's. And she will have a piece of wearable art, Nigel.

*Photo cropped from one I found on Letters to Betsy (great blog and name, btw - another childhood memory)

Hoping, Wishing, Dreaming...

...and it ain't for stuff of of your list to Santa. It's for that elusive style you desperately want to wear but just can't pull it off. When I posted earlier this week, I got these responses via all forms of social media...

• Something smaller, of course!
• Bowties [from a gentleman]
• Scarves or necklaces
• Blousey tops, I'm so pair shaped that if I don't choose something tailored, I look 20lbs heavier. [Capitol Hill Style]
• Shirtdresses don't fly with me. [ShoppingSavant]
• I wish I had the money (and legs) to get above the knee boots. I wish I could get away with sky high heels more often. [Miss Scarlet]

For me, it's almost predictable...

• Shirtdresses, like I posted earlier (anything belted at the waist cuts me in just the wrong place)
• 50s-era full skirts
• Drapey, flowy tops (like CapHillStyle, I do better in tailored. But then, doesn't most of the population, Kate Moss aside?)
• Boutique-made-and-sold clothing (I'm at the upper end of the supposed "normal" sizing right now, so a size 10, even if they have it in stock, just ain't gonna cut it)
• Anything Italian-made, unless it's leather goods (this Germanic body just doesn't fit into slim cut anything)
• Pretty little cropped blazers and jackets ("little" and "cropped" just don't work for me. Last time I wore a cropped jacket, it was Halloween circa 2001, and we were going to a Pimps&Hos party. I cropped a fur jacket I found at Value Village, threw on a mini, some gold heels, and well, let's just say that some cars slowed as I waited on the corner for the rest of my crew to get money from the ATM. A little too realistic.)

So if these are the things we won't or can't wear, what are the standbys that make us feel good, no matter how bad a closet day we're having?

Did I Do That?

Yes, dear, you did.

I got a frantic text from 31204ever over the weekend: Omfg i gought skinny jeans and am wearing them tucked into those boots. What is wrong with me?

DC Celine: Lmao

31204ever: I will never wear them except w these boots. Thnk god for old navy $15 jeans sale on fri.

31204ever and I have been batting the concept back and forth. We have friends who can pull it off, no problem. But they dance for a living. And we both love the look's concept: laid back, casual, easy. But...we're both...well, we dance when we get to someone's wedding.

If only we could make it look as easy as Reese Witherspoon*.

This is why we want to wear it. But...

There are always looks that seem great, and we desperately want to wear them. For me? It's the shirt dress. Looooove the look. And looks like @#$% on me.

Then there are the looks that you can't stand when they come out - like booties - and then end of loving once they hit the lower end stores. When is a look "done?" When it hits Banana? When it hits Target? Do we care? I, for one, am mostly in the camp of "if it looks great on you and isn't so ridiculously trendy that you'll look back with your kids and they'll howl, wear it."

So what is it for you? Belts? Wrap dresses? Scarves? What do you desperately want to wear but just. can't. pull. it. off.

*Pic from the Crazy Days and Nights blog. Thank you!