Style in Print: Simon Doonan

Just a pretty pink, silly picture for you to brighten up your Saturday. I had a lovely time at my, as I've been calling it, Triumphant Return to Events. Meeting Simon Doonan was the way to make that return.

I'm about a 3rd of the way through Mr. Doonan's newest book, Gay Men Don't Get Fat. The title is familiar for a reason. His book's thesis, if you will, is that gay men are French women with, well, additional appendages. So far, he's absolutely made his point, along with a number of others about how we "straights" live our lives and could live them better.

And, in case you were wondering, he's as lovely and gracious in person as you'd expect him to be.

(My ensemble, in case you were wondering, but why would you be when !Simon Doonan! is in the picture: 9 West zipper front "mod" dress, Oscar de la Renta straw/patent sandals, fish scale chandelier earrings, bought for me by my sis, vtgracie, in Philly.)

Style Dilemma: What to Wear to Meet a Fashion God

I'm going to meet Simon Doonan tomorrow.

Yes, he of the Barney's Windows Fame.

Except that now, he's much more than that. He's Barney's Creative Ambassador.

No, I don't know exactly what that means, but I don't really need to know. He. Is. A. Fashion. God.

Or at least a hero with some superpowers.

Anywho.

What does one wear? I know, I know, I'll get to shake his hand, smile at him, ask him to sign my newly purchased book, and maybe, just maybe, he'll spell my name with one "L." All without - most likely - even looking at me. It's an open-to-the-I-sent-an-RSVP-public book party at the W.

What do I wear? I'm hoping beyond hope that I can catch his well-trained eye and garner a gracious response.

What do I wear? I'm hoping to catch his eye with an accessory, since I'm not really happy with my body, and therefore with what I'm draping around it (as I sit here eating potato chips and french onion dip. next week i start with the healthiness, i swear). I'm also hoping for bonus points with either vintage or local talent, like lillybee or Queen Bee Designs.

What do I wear? The immediate response yesterday when I posed the question to the twitterverse was "color, color, and more color." And then "simple elegance." So do I have something - that fits - that hits both of those?

To figure this all out, The Bean and I hosted a bit of a #fashionshow tonight before she went to bed. hillarygrove, TheMadamEditor, and CarlyJaneZ (with jesserker and stylish_in_dc piping in at the end) cast their votes. The funny thing? Their response was, at first, the exact opposite of The Bean's. Team Orange, as they named themselves, loved my drapey Grecian orange knit - that The Bean immediately panned (she came around in the end). Apparently, she doesn't like dresses with belts, "only fashion dresses." (BTW, this rule apparently only applies to me, as she's constantly adding belts to her party dresses.)

The first look, a classic hi-lo combo of Target dress, belt, and Oscar de la Renta sandals, was the quick front runner.

Next votes went for my mod black, white, and grey 9 West shift, then for my vintage brass and green necklace, dress aside. What didn't garner any response - at all - were my grey bronzed T & cargo skirt ensemble and my beautiful red dress that is, well, let's just say I need to put it on again after I start taking care of myself.

So where will I end up? What do I wear? In the end, votes or no votes, it'll be me and my mirror - and my comfort level with myself tomorrow. But in the meantime, if you'd like to cast your vote, head on over to my facebook page, where I have all of the options posted, and critique away.

Sad

The change of clothes is packed (recently purchased 9 West shift dress, lillybee peeptoe pumps or grey booties), as is makeup, hairbrush, and other primping things. Just in case.

But the way I'm feeling right now, I just don't know if I'll make the DSS tonight. So so sad that I'm even thinking about missing it. Darned first-cold-of-the-season-The-Bean-brought-home-from-preschool. 3 hours of school, total, and three of four of us are sniffling and sneezing.

I did it!

I bought Real Clothes.

BlueSuitGirl and I shopped - rapid fire - last Tuesday night. We took advantage of a Banana Republic one-night sale (25% the whole store) and hit up Lord and Taylor. We wanted to use a foursquare deal at Gap, but never made it there. So...

Yeah. Black and white - and not re(a)d all over. Ok, a little pink. That sweater's an amazing, vibrant color. Wore the suit (pants version) with the pink sweater and the shoes on Thursday for some Big Meetings, and got compliments all. day. long. Especially on the shoes.

The key piece though? They fit. The pieces all fit. While I'm not at my best right now (and am even less so after the Papa John's that sits scattered around me right now), a well-fitting piece does so much.

Now...to find a few more sweaters or blouses. That's the next trip.