Things I Hope Kassie Brings to DSS

Things I Hope Kassie Brings to DSS by DCCeline featuring bettye muller shoes

Bettye muller shoes, $328
Bettye muller shoes, $199
Lillybee summer shoes, $75
Suede shoes, $75
Bruno Magli sling back shoes, $360
Shoes, $238
Tory Burch sandal, $495
Chie mihara shoes, $75
Green Patent Wedges by Butter, $325
Metallic Strappy Sandals by Kelsi Dagger, $88
Suede Coclico Sandals in Red, $338

Please, Miss Kassie, please. You know how much I love me some simply soles.

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.

Shop in Style: Hitting the Seasonal Sales

Last week I had a flashback. Two years ago, the new H and I jumped on a train and travelled north to NYC for our honeymoon. Time together as a newly married couple, art, culture, dining, music, blah, blah, blah. It was the perfect time for shopping. At the end of July/ beginning of August, stores are clearing out their summer stock to make room for the winter (fall's already been on the racks forever, so even some of that's on sale). Among other things, I scored my still-favorite Chie Mihara pumps, a bluest blue cashmere sweater from Henri Bendel, and my Daslu boots.

I can't make it north this year, or probably even next - The Bean's probably not ready for all-day shopping - and I can barely even make it to the brick and mortar stores here. But I can shop online - and the sales online are at their best right now - sizes might be scant, but if you can find your size - or shop for sizeless items - you can score some amazing deals. Here are just a few I've stumbled across while working very very hard at my day job.

Freshwater pearl earrings at Banana. Every girl, even the edgiest, has to have a pair. If you don't own any, spring the $16.80 for these. Their sale jewelry boxes in-store are always great - I've found some of my most complimented pieces there - especially their enamel costume jewelry, like the turuqoise ring at left. Wait a little longer, then check the store, and you can probably get it for less than $15.

Never too many t-shirts in a drawer, she says. Well, actually, that's possible, but pretty, fitted, long (aren't we always looking for long ones?) versions fly to the top of the list. bluefly.com has this Rebecca Beeson top for $24.99. Not an amazing deal, but good enough to bother for something that fits - and in a couple of colors, too.

Easy to take in any style direction - classic, sporty, funky - with the right accessories, and definitely all-season, in my book, a great deal at $84 (from $240), this Rebecca & Drew shirt-dress is to be had online at Nieman Marcus. Nieman sales are great, percentage-wise, but if you're a gal really on a budget, you have to go to the end of the price-sort list for stuff that makes it in the range. $1000 from $4000 is absolutely a deal, but really.

Here's to brilliant sale shopping - online or in-store...and if you find a great deal, email me - with pics, if you can, and tell us about your find & how you plan on wearing it.

Don't forget the cardinal rule of sale shopping - if you can't picture an immediate way to incorporate it into your wardrobe, don't bother. It's still not worth the money, sale or no sale.

Style Dilemma Solved: Black Pumps Are In the Closet

...and begging to be worn tomorrow. Now. If only I had the rest of the wardrobe.

Seriously, waaaaaay back in March, I announced My Search for Black Pumps. And yes, I've been going that long without them. I limped along in my old Nine West Katarras for a while, but for a few months now, I've been wearing everything but. Unfortunately, my feet are starting to get old, too, so I've resorted to flats, and have now worn out my black patent ballet slippers.

So after the first zappos.com attempt - lovely shoes, but none of them fit quiiiiiite right (totally bummed about the gorgeous Sofft pair) - I kept putting "buy shoes" on my to-do list, but never got to it. I finally forced myself the other day, and today the results of my purchase arrived. I am the proud owner of two new pair of shoes.

Perlina Paris - advertised as "luxury comfort," but made in CNINA (yes, that's really what the label reads), I was skeptical, but the reviews were fantastic, and the style retro, so I jumped - and boy, am I glad I did. They really are cushy, with nice soft leather uppers, and the details are just right - solid 40s heel, peep toe pseudo-d'orsay (the sexiest shoe style ever). They also have an innovative elastic band inside the heel to keep from slipping.

Clark's Lakeville - uh-huh. Clark's. Seriously. Never known for their style, the English walking shoe company now makes sweet little flats with their signature comfort and support. Can't wait to wear them. Slippers, slippers, I tell ya. And they're made in Brazil, which just supports my theory that Brasilian shoes fit my foot - all the more reason to hit Hu's Shoes ASAP (they just got in the new Chie Miharas).

Success?

Since you asked, I did manage to shave this morning, but just couldn't bring myself to wear the wrap dress. Don't know why. So instead, am wearing my retro AT navy suit skirt and a buff cable cashmere T, Chie Mihara pumps. Something dreadful is going on with my hair, so I've resorted to the DC Ponytail.

Not stunning, but perfectly presentable.

The Bean, however, is the picture of summer loveliness in her "new" Baby Lily. Magenta & orange on white, paired with magenta bloomers, it's the perfect thing to go with her Baby Lizard suncreen. (Grandmom picked up the shift at a PA consignment shop - go Grandmom! - so the pattern is probably a few seasons old - can't find it on the site, but this is the dress, at right.)

At least one of us looks good.

A Compliment is Always Nice

...especially when you're a tired, haggard Beanmommy.





And yes, H compliments me regularly - not out of habit, even, but rather because he means it. But somehow, it just helps when it comes from out of the blue, from random strangers.





The lovely hostess at Palena (we didn't get a reservation, but we did manage a table in the cafe - to die for) noticed my bracelet. It was a last minute add, kind of the reverse of Coco's (look in the mirror and take off one piece before you go out the door). I can't usually wear bracelets and necklaces; the Bean thinks they're just marvelous. But since she was asleep (thank heavens), I pulled out a piece I'd been itching to wear: a lovely little bracelet from manu. Flirty, sweet, and a teensy bit cheeky, the cherries were what caught the hostess' eye.





The bracelet gushing pulled over our waitress - and then she started gushing over my dress. I'd gone with the sweater dress, and what has now become my go-to pair of pumps, my Chie Mihara buff pair. Effortless, comfortable, and well, when you got legs, and you know how to use them...





Thank you, ladies, for the confidence boost.


And as a quick summary for those of you who love Things Food, like me, I was hungry:

• White Asparagus from Provence with coddled hen's egg and shaved black truffle - I'll kill for anything asparagus - especially white - even endure Icky Egg (i.e. gooeyness like you'd find in the yolk of the coddled variety)
• Nettle Gnocchi with ramps and some other spring finds I can't remember at the moment - Palena's gnocchi are the most luscious thing ever, and the ramps and nettles...oh sigh...
• Beef Filet two ways - seared with some sort of mild crust, and braised, I think. I wasn't paying attention - just saw "RED MEAT" on the menu. Melty goodness that is beef, I adore you.
• Strawberry tart with lavendar cream. I Love Lavendar.

H took it easier than I...

• Rigatoni with Lamb Bolognese (usually I'm the one that MUST order the bolognese, as it's My Favorite Food)
• A roasted bass with calamaretti and lobster dumplings, and gorgeous spring vegetables like shallots, asparagus, and fennel

And washed it all down with a pinot noir...

Style Challenge Met - Thanks, Mommy!

My time, style, and stress-based challenge of What to Wear to The Bean's Baptism was met.

Thanks, Mommy.

My mom's been a huge help since The Bean arrived. Cleaning, sorting, cleaning, sorting, and buying - like grandmas are wont to do. Most of it's for The Bean (she just can't resist a beautifully illustrated picture book - or The Bean's First Christmas Dress, for that matter), but occasionally, she'll surprise H or me with a gift.

This time, she played personal shopper.

I gave her my thoughts and size, and she went shopping for me. (Bless my stepdad's heart, he waited while she shopped.) So The Bean finally slept on Friday night, and I ventured out to the living room. Fingers crossed, I tried on the suit she'd bought me.

Perfect.

Perfect harmony of Jackie O, Audrey, and Kate. Oh yeah, and a little bit of me.

A sweet little barely swing coat with bracelet sleeves and big silver buttons, and a jaquard a-line skirt, all in navy and cream (all Ann Taylor). Paired with my Chie Mihara pumps, apparently, I was a Hot Mama, says H.

The Bean couldn't have asked for a better dressed mommy on her baptism day. There was no way I could outshine her, of course, in her custom ordered baptismal ensemble from Italy by way of her Greek godmother. "Royal equestrian," Mommy said. "All she needs now is a pony," she told H.

H blanched.

Style Scoop: Scandanavian Lifestyle Hits Silver Spring Tonight

I'll say no more, my lips are sealed. But all will be revealed tomorrow, after the "event of stylish proportions" tonight.

What I will say is that I'm attempting again to be stylish and preggers all at the same time. Yes, I've reused the outfit from last week's missed Momzillas launch. It certainly didn't make it into any of the pictures, and, well, it's lovely.

Makeup bag is tucked away in the desk drawer, as are the Chie Mihara pumps (will decide this afternoon if I'm going to sport the fashionable ballerina look or use the heels as God intended - to make my legs look fabulous.

Cross your fingers that I make it there this time.

The Pain We Endure

...in the name of style.

I eagerly put my tootsies into my new caramel Marshall Fields pumps on Monday morning. With black slacks and a chocolate merino v-neck, they added a little splash of color, a la the Real J.

H drove me part way to work (I love him, I really do), and then I was sitting at my desk all day.

Then I got up to go home. And let's just say that walking was slow. Really, really slow. Somehow, in the couple of hours I was at my desk, my lovely new shoes had shrunk about 4 sizes and I felt like a geisha with bound feet. Getting to the metro was ok (not even a block), as was changing cars at Metro Center. But the long walk up my infuriatingly uphill street, lugging a heavy rolling computer bag? Not pleasant. I had to stop several times. I found myself praying that the light would change to red so I could stand still and rest at the intersections. It's only a 4 block walk, maybe 5, but my feet were literally shaking, and barely holding me up. I've never experienced anything like it. No blisters, so no amount of Bodyglide was going to help. Only taking them off. Which I did. As soon as I hit my elevator.

I was sorely (no pun intended, honest) disappointed. They were really so comfortable on Sunday night in the store. Maybe a teeny blister, by way of the peep toe, but manageable. I had no idea. Especially since they're Brasilian-made. We checked before we bought them (yes, we're shoe manufacturing snobs). Brasilian shoes seem to fit my feet, as proven by my Daslu boots and Chie Mihara pumps.

So it's socks and clomping around the house for a little while, in the hopes of breaking these suckers in. Granted, I'm only "out" 34 bucks if they don't break in, but still, I have such high hopes for them.

Shopping for a Cause - It's True

So it's shopping disguised as a charity benefit. I donated! And I promise, M & H, that I'm not going to blow the bank on anything extravagant. I'm just going to replace my goopy Laura Mercier mascara (it gets those clumps up at the rim that ooze over when I screw it closed - a mess, and too much to deal with, despite how much I like the mascara itself) and replensih my Kiehl's eye cream (works wonders), and maybe, just maybe, if they carry my signature Paloma (which I don't think they do), I'll replace it (I'm completely empty! I've been scentless for weeks now!). But that's it. I promise. Sort of.

But more importantly, The Tory Pants Fit (and who says you can't loose weight overnight)! How very exciting. It's really way too warm to wear them, but they fit perfectly, and are sailor-tailored. I paired with my Chie Mihara pumps and one of my Romanian iie. I was buzzing around this morning trying to figure out what to wear. I was trying to figure out what to wear without repeating my favorite brown blazer, and I mumbled out loud about my go-to iie being a possibility.

"I don't think that's going to work," interjected H.

So I tried to explain that the tailored sailor could juxtapose nicely with the boho of the blouse. As good as he usually is at this, he didn't get it. Until I put it on.

"That works," he approved.

And so my shoes are off under my desk, trying to save my poor, injured back from my style decision to wear these pants and no flats (they're just too long, flats aren't possible). I have no idea how I hurt my back, but I'm back in The Land of the Flats. I only hope the photographer catches me tonight, and not my physical therapist.

My Daily Little Bit of NYC

Apparently I've fallen in love with Brasilian shoe designers. On Honeymoon Day 1, picked up a pair of Chie Mihara pumps at the Bergdorf Goodman sale - kinda like the ones at right. Same beautiful blush color and adorable girlie details (I know, I know, girlie is out, menswear is in, but I like girly). Soft as a baby's #$%% leather, stacked wooden heel...

I'm going to smack my head walking into something because I'm walking around looking at my pretty Brasil via New York toes.