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.

Shopping Spree: Woulda Shoulda Coulda Bought the Skirts Back Then...

Remember the post in which I said I really really really needed denim skirts to get me through summer? Yeah. Well, I finally got around to it.

It's August.

The one I picked isn't polyvore-able (hel-LO sites, let me clip, please), and, if it were, it's not on the LOFT site any longer, but it's a cross between the first ladylike choice and the nautically inspired last choice on the set here. Wore it the first day I had it with a long, pleated-neck twist on the graphic T from DKNY Jeans (probably the most difficult thing to describe in the world) that's also not on the web any longer (bought in another shopping spree down tha shore). Loved.

In the meantime, I finally have two skirts in my wardrobe that I should've had back in June. They would've been perfect for the beach. And the rest of summer. Wearing them the last few days in this (slightly lower) heat reminds me that I should've searched harder before I left for Jersey. (Both are Ann Taylor LOFT.) And yes, they're both zippered, cargo-style. One's olive, one's a silky soft grey (not entirely sure that the one in the pic is mine - they say "twill" on the site, and if my skirt's twill, I'll be a monkey's uncle. but you get the picture.)

Oh yeah, and I found two tops, too. One LOFT, one Target. The raspberry LOFT T is my new favorite shape. "Draped," they call it. It's got an elastic waisted bottom that finishes the look ever-so-softly and elegantly - yes - in a t-shirt. It's slimming, and not nearly as sloppy as it looks in the pic.

The stripey one, well, that's not the right one, either (I hate it when the things I buy in the store aren't on line. Ugh.). But the general shape is right. It's still cream and black striped, but with a thinner stripe. No v-neck - it's a straight/boat neck. Cropped, I'd suppose they say, but the sleeves and the body are oh-so-80s. Amazingly flattering, especially from the back with anything slim-cut. Can't wait to pair it with my shorter cargo skirt and gladiator sandals. Anyone having a BBQ for me to attend looking fab?

Shopping Spree: Updated Wardrobe on a Relative Dime

We all know that "on a dime" doesn't really mean that. Even when you score the fab vintage find (or not so) at the not-so-glamorous-but-ever-so-fabulous Goodwill (you do know about DC Goodwill Fashionista, right?!), then another, then another...well, all those $10 dresses add up.

Same goes for some inspired and spur-of-the-moment wardrobe updates, even if they are at the didn't-know-I-could-find-that-here Target and Ann Taylor LOFT. A couple of days ago, I had an hour to kill (long story about the MIA phone, Verizon's network going down, and waiting around hip cool Fair Lakes for a work happy hour), so I popped into Target to see what I could find. I'd been meaning to do a few teensy updates to alleviate the "I have absolutely nothing to wear and I hate everything in my closet" syndrome. That being said, I didn't want to spend a fortune - I'm in the process of getting healthy, remember? (Never mind that I fit into nothing in boutiques at the moment, as drapey and loose as some things are right now.)

After I tore myself away from the evil dollar bins (I can always find something - like a plastic boat for the Beans' bathtub), I went rapid-fire through the women's clothing - juniors + misses + who knows what it's all called now. I threw all sorts of possibilities in my cart - why not? And while some that I adored the idea of on the hanger worked not at all on me, I did find a couple of sweet deals to update both the "going out" and the "work" areas of my closet.

First up, the dresses. This bright orange find would be that. much. better if I could figure out a way to unstitch and remove the v-neck insert. The pretty drapey V would work for night, of course, and clean up easily for day with a brooch. But given the thin jersey, I'm thinking I won't be able to remove it without serious damage. So it'll stay.

The next pic doesn't represent the actual dress - just the silhouette. It's a classic minidress shape, but I found it in a fun black & white stripe with a non-ruffle-ruffle texture stitched in that makes it that much more forgiving and interesting. So why did I buy a form-fitting mini when I'm trying to lose weight? 1) I look good in it. True to style advice, the more appropriately fitted (appropriately being key, of course), the slimmer you look. 2) I knew H would love it. He does. He's "ordered" it for our night on the town Saturday.

Lastly, I found a pretty deep blue sheath that I thought perfect for work. H thought I could wear it out. Mine was missing the belt, which suits me just fine. I can belt or no. Without, it's MaryTylerMoore-esque. With, I can add a splash of yellow or green or red or orange...you get the picture (note to self: buy fun big wide belts).

As I tweeted earlier, I'm wearing my all-LOFT outfit. Working from home today, so I can go see Bean #1 in her music camp show. I'll post the rest of my finds after I go see my diva-in-training rock the house.

Rapid Returns...and the winner is...

Despite H's response that this is a "hoochy mama" dress, BlueSuitGirl and The Bean gave it the thumbs up in my post-shopping fashion show last night. BlueSuitGirl and I debated why H wasn't sold. Or sort of. He is, and always will be a fan of "hoochy mama." He loves me in a short skirt (and has, in fact, bought me not-really-in-jest-but-I'll-say-that-so-you-don't-get-mad some very interesting skirts over the years). We think there's just something about lace he's not gung ho about.

But he'll get over it. Especially when I'm parading around his holiday party tonight. I will not be wearing tights.

Rapid Returns...Strike One

I desperately wanted to love this dress. It looked amazing on me from the side. And oddly, though pale, it didn't wash me and my fair, redheaded skin out. But from the front? Oooh. Not helpful on the physique. (LOFT)

Rapid Returns...more sparkles

Just because I could...every working girl (read into that what you will) needs a glittery card case. Mine's pale pink. (More LOFT)

Rapid Returns...all that glitters

More LOFT. Some bling. Dresses up a T, and it will also add marvelous sparkle to the basic black dresses in my closet.

Rapid Returns...note to self

I fell in love with this sweater, but they didn't have my size. The dolman drape of it still has shape, and the fitted waist is figure-whittling. Note to self: buy online. Soon. (Second, very loud note to self: do. not. wear. flashdance style.)

Rapid Returns...on to the LOFT

As I was in suburbia all day yesterday, and in a relative hurry (though it is, quite frankly, amazing to wander through stores and not have to worry about The Bean trailing behind me) to get it all in (Target, Mamashopping, Container Store, BestBuy, you name it), I hit up "The Loft" (note to marketers: it's a dumb name. No matter what people call it in passing, you shouldn't name the store that). I was betting on some girly style at a reasonable price. And I found it.

While I was really on the hunt for a dress to wear to Holiday Parties, I saw these cords when I walked in, and slung a pair over my arm to try on. I've been searching for cords for years, now, and just haven't found the right pair. These fit like a glove. Thank you, LOFT, for your curvy fit. Purchased in this grey and black.

Style Dilemma Solved: Cool, Fluttery Cotton

I love it when I'm Super-Efficient Shopper Girl.

Grabbed 2 sale books at Barnes & Noble (one crappy trashy mystery, one Jacques Pepin cookbook - aDORe him), lunched on a ho-hum sandwich in the cafe, then hit The Loft. In and out in less than 1/2 hour.

The dress selection in the Clarendon store isn't fabulous, but tried on the red knit, the white shift, a white sleeveless shirtdress, and the winning black fluttery cotton number.

Results...

Red - probably needed a bigger size, but just didn't like it enough to bother. Still a good color, though.

White shift - very pretty retro conceptually, but fit just wasn't right on me. Next size would've ballooned, but this size didn't sit right (I apparently have a long torso).

Shirtdress - there's a reason I don't wear them. They're oh, so boxy on me. Would love love love to find one that works, but have yet to get there.

Black cotton - for some odd reason, there's no pic of it on the Loft website. It's cool, shapely but loose, and the black, gauzy cotton will let me sweat without showing. It might show yogurt fingers all over, but the pretty rosette detail (yes, bad PR flashbacks, I know, but it's sweet, I swear!) makes up for it. Flattering v-neck with a loose fluttery collar.

I didn't think I'd want black, and I spent a little more than I'd wanted, but while it's not the most amazing piece of clothing in my closet, I can see it being my "go to" summer number. On Sunday, with a statement necklace and Chie Mihara pumps. On Wednesday, at the simplysoles event, ankle-tie wedges or flat strappy sandals.

Oh, and I picked up a pair of fun, on sale shades, as The Bean finally tore apart (literally) my beloved $10 Target pair. $14.99 is almost as good, and the gold detail cracks me up.

Style Dilemma: Chic in Church

My nephew is getting dunked this weekend. Well, it's a Presbyterian chuch, so just drizzled on, unlike my Bean, who was full monty and dipped to her head (screaming and peeing on the nice priest).

BabySis (better known in this world as Prettyinpink) has a lovely navy jacket and pale skirt, very demure, ladylike, and appropriate mama.

I, on the other hand, am at a loss. I have a standby suit - which I wore to The Bean's baptism - but it's navy and cream. Am not going to do that to BabySis.

So I'm searching for a nice summer dress, as I have none in my wardrobe. My only recourse is Clarendon shopping, which is oddly mixed with boutiques and chains. I'd love to Buy Boutique (Farinelli, for example), but just can't do the cost right now, even with summer sales. I can't stomach spending more than $50 on a dress. (A quick run through South Moon Under last week yielded nada that wasn't fit for the beach.)

So Ann Taylor Loft it is. My choices, per webbrowsing...

White with a toddler is a serious risk, but love the cut and detail. And slightly over my $50 budget

Maybe not summery enough, and maybe not daytime enough, but pretty color and looks effortless.

Pretty rich pink, adorable detail, but maybe too casual.

Potentially shapeless (though I rarely give credit to models, as half the time things look better on real people), and maybe too beachy.

The other consideration? One of the two choices I'll give The Bean is deep pink - not too far off from the 2nd to last dress above. Now that would be just too, well, Junior League. Will just have to see what looks good in the dressing room!

Am I? I think so...

I think I might be back.

Thank you for your patience, and apologies in advance if I slide back into a sleep-deprivation-induced style slump. It's bound to happen again.

H and I are going out on a Date tonight. Yup, capital "D." He has a childhood friend who is the chef de cuisine at Nage downtown, and since I've only ever met him once before (on the sidewalk when he was in town with another friend for a wedding), I've pretty much begged H to take me to dinner there. Can't wait 1) for dinner, 2) to honestly meet Our Friend the Chef, and 3) for a few hours of real time with H.

Oh, yeah, and 4) to Wear My New Dress.

I have absolutely nothing in my closet suitable or that I'd want to wear on a dinner date. Everything is either "work appropriate" or I've worn it 300 times already. I love my blue & white scarf top & linen skirt ensemble, for example, but I wear it to everything since I first donned it for our wedding rehearsal - 2 years ago.

So Tuesday I cornered H and said, "You want to watch me try on dresses at lunch?" I've become quite the speed shopper, and, well, he loves to see me try things on. Probably the only husband in the world like that, but he does. Very helpful, actually.

So...the Clarendon shopping trip...(let's just say I miss All About Jane)

Free People - Bust. 20-somethings who will grow up to wear Chico's next door. A few cute tops, but I wanted a dress.

ATL - Despite recent successes, Work Appropriate.

South Moon Under - proverbial jackpot. Results below. And yes, I'm making you wait til the end to get the winner.

Molly New York Clarissa - fun print, but oh, so did not work over the Boobs.

Frenzii Sleeveless Jumper - I didn't actually try this one on, but it's the closest thing on the website I could find to one of the finalists - the scooped neck, exposed shoulder is gorgeous on me - and would be on many people. The dress I tried on had the collar in a 60s-esque large loop crochet. The swingy fullness was infinitely flattering, and not at all "are you pregnant" question inducing. Got HUGE thumbs up from H.

Ali Ro Dolman Print Dress with Belt - one I wish I'd tried on, but didn't. Not in my size. SMU had a load of short dresses with not-so-exposed tops - one of the sexiest things you can do, in my book.

Alice & Trixie Silk Print Maxi - My print bias is showing, I know, but here's another one I didn't try on - H wasn't all that excited about the maxi dress thing (what can I say, he's a Leg Man...no, wait, a...oh, forget it, he just appreciates Women). These all remind me of dresses I really need to check with my mom about - she had some great ones I used to play dress up in...

The Winner

Ali Ro Retro Pinted Shift Dress

Heavenly combination of sexy elegance and a sense of humor. I put it on and knew - more so than when searching for that elusive wedding dress. Skirt hits my thighs in just the most flattering place, the vertical print elongates, and the neon pink and orange in the retro print puts a little "I love the 80s" humor in it for me. Love the bracelet-length sleeves, too, though I probably won't bother with any jewelry. Dress doesn't need it.

I've been on the prowl - ok, prowled down the street yesterday to ShoeFly - for a shoe. First choice - black patent stiletto (thanks for the style confirmation to the lovely hip blonde - MUST find her name - working yesterday). Simple, classy, and the dress just screams for patent. For daytime, I'd do a patent flat, but we're going to Dinner. If I can't snag a pair, I'll make do with a classic Ellen Tracy black satin sandal I have - they'll work, but looses some of the wow! factor, I think.

And I have to remember to dig through the purse collection, particularly to see if I have one from Mom-Mom that'll work.

I'll see if we can take a pic or two at the restaurant or ask some nice random person on the street to snap a mobile shot...

And...breathe

...at least for a little while.

One deadline down, 34 to go.

But in the meantime, a gal's got to dress herself. Or at least attempt to, which is what I think I'm doing. I haven't successfully dressed myself, really, since I wore my ATL outfit. Shoes are a big factor - or rather, my lack of a basic shoe (no matter how much I say I'll wear my new shoes, and I do, sometimes I just need comfort comfort comfort, and out come the smelly flats) - in the non-style. As is my absolute inability to pair patterns and colors successfully on three hours of sleep. Today, all I could manage was blue on blue, and even that was really really iffy.

Presentable, but much more likely to end up on someone's "Don'ts" page than not.

I may attempt to shave my legs tonight when I shower - Big Deal. Not sure handling a razor on said sleep deprivation is a good idea, though. If I get through that, I think I'll pull out the wrap dress tomorrow. One piece is hard to screw up.

We'll see if I get that right.

Life Restyled

Sometimes life throws things at us and we have to adjust. And when those things set you back, or flip your world on it's head, it might seem silly, trite, or trivial, but feeling like you look good and projecting that feeling become important.

As most of the Infintessimal Readership knows, I went through a lot of that when preggers with The Bean, then afterwards. Pregnancy's a wierd and wonderful thing where you're supposed to feel beautiful and glowing, but then there are all these hormones and your clothes don't fit, but M clothes are too big...and you feel like a big lump.

prettyinpink's been feeling just that way.

We won't go into the fact that my BabySis is pregnant, we're just going to focus on the style here, but yes, it's wierd to have your sister, whose birth you remember vividly (Chris, my 2nd grade gymnastics teacher, telling me, "Your grandparents are going to come pick you up today because your mom went to the hospital to have the baby."), be pregnant.

Enough on that.

prettyinpink is trying to find her zen place, style-wise. In between, not "out" at work yet, and dealing with growing boobs and a baby bump. She was frustrated because her failsafe Banana, J. Crew, BCBG reliables weren't working. So she took the plunge, much like I did the other day, and hit ATL, The Limited (why is it I still get flashbacks to the Firenze sweaters I never owned?), and Macy's. She ended up with a couple of pieces that will serve her well and stylishly through most of her 10 (yes 10) months, and most likely again after her peanut arrives in November.

And now she feels much better.

Style Challenge: Lunch Hour Update

The Challenge: Work-appropriate pants that fit. In an hour. In Clarendon, not quite the fashion capital of the world.

The Solution: Ann Taylor Loft. Really. At heart, I'm a mass-production-hater. In reality, I appreciate the ATs and box stores for the anchor pieces - black slacks, a white shirt, you get the picture. So three blocks down from the office, in torrential rains (I really needed an update), I pulled every stinkin' pair of slacks off the racks that wasn't capri or some wierd knit that reminded me of the trousers the residents wore in the nursing home where I worked in college. Rapid fire dressing room - on, turn, squat, yes/no. Yes, hang on one hook, no, hang on another.

Out of 6-8 pair of slacks, I bought: One.

My motto: if they don't fit perfectly, don't bother. I didn't go to find another pair of poorly fitting pants. I went to find ones that fit. I ended up with the "Ann" cut, which isn't a high-waisted trouser, but certainly isn't a low rise - high enough to tuck in a shirt without looking strange, and not so high as to scream "2007." A little bit of perkiness in a pale blue double pinstripe - on navy, with a cuff.

The Backstory: Post M-clothes, I've been fortunate enough to loose the Bean Weight (I credit one-handed eating and choosing sleep over food. That, and walking as much as I can with her for months because that was the only way she'd sleep during the day.) So even the slacks I bought Post-Bean, because my others didn't fit, are now too big. Walking around in them, day after day with my single dress belt (also too big, actually) cinching them in not enough to look like a purposeful paper bag waist, well, it just feels plain old unhealthy, actually. This morning, when I put on my new pants (and a new blouse, see below), I felt trim, healthy, and alert. Told H, "I just can't believe how much better I feel - it's amazing what I new pair of pants can do for a girl."

I still have a few more updates to make, but in the meantime, I feel better, and have a few more choices in my closet. ATL has some adorable summer choices. Most are decidedly in the preppy camp, but if chosen carefully, and paired with some thought, you won't look like you've just stepped off the Annapolis-based yacht (not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you have the means to be yachting, but...). I've got this sweet button down on with my striped pants - stripes on stripes being my cheekiness today. The fabric is light, but substantial, and the fit good. I'm tempted to go back and pick up the navy polka dot version. I also picked up a fitted cable v-neck in what ATL calls "Embellished Blue." Not sure what "embellished" means in this context, but it's a clear, bright blue that provides just the right kick.

And for others on the update prowl, the sale racks are ripe for the pickin'. I didn't score any deals - nothing fit quite right, but there are plenty of little jackets (like the drool-worthy pink one in this earlier post) and a retro housewife dress I wish was still there in my size. It doesn't have quite the flair the Goodwill version does, but with well-chosen jewelry (Dariaux, here's the place for that blue necklace!), it can be the perfect canvas for individual style.

Ladylike Perfection

Laranha fired off an email to Baby B and me this morning, subject line: I'm in Love...

Ann Taylor has some cute spring stuff, she wrote. And it's true. The object of her affections? This short sleeve ponte knit jacket - Elsa Schiaparelli would be proud. The sweet, bright pink would be darling with just about anything from trousers to skirts to jeans to dresses (I'm picturing it with trouser jeans and slingbacks at the next of Baby B's 10,000 wedding showers she has this spring). Just don't be predictable DC Junior League (sorry JLers, no offense - it's a great organization!) soccer mom and pair with any sort of cropped, ankle-length, or capri-like pants. And no pearls, please! Cuffs, big earrings, sweet little gloves, sure. But no pearls.

Also worth checking out? This pique belted jacket - the Peter Pan collar is eternally flattering, though the belted waist might be a tad bit high for the average gal.

The on-sale (!) textured cotton 2-button jacket and ponte knit double-breasted jacket can spiff up a work or weekend outfit, and also do double-duty as outerwear in this changable weather we're having.

Style Challenge: 2 Days, No Time, Strict Requirements

What: The Bean's Baptism

When: Saturday (today's Thursday, mind you)

What to Wear: I have nothing

What It Must Be: elegant, simple, dressy enough (grandmoms are both wearing suits, H - aka BeanDaddy - wearing a suit), and accessible for Bean. Not so worried about color, getting it dirty, etc. That happens, and that's what drycleaning's for.

What I'm Thinking: a winter white/ivory/cream suit - or even just a pair of great slacks and soft turtleneck sweater, a la Kate H. Understated.

Problem: I have Big Deadlines at work. Read: no time to even sneak out at lunch. And a way-home shopping trip is out of the question, since I go right home to be with The Bean.

So what's a gal to do? Hope? Pray for a Wardrobe Miracle? Wish she had a Fashion Fairy Godmother (aka stylist) to bring her 10 outfits to try in her cube at work? Clearly, none of the above are possible. And we're even too late for last minute shipping from online shopping.

What I'll likely do? Cross my fingers that the only nearby work option, Ann Taylor Loft, has become significantly less boxy and matronly in their cuts since I last tried things there, and hope that the cute little skirt suit with the Peter Pan collar or the A-line jacket with the 3/4 sleeves is actually flattering.