Updated: The Beginning of the End

[No, I don't have time to blog. No, I don't have time to post. But I'm taking 5 minutes out of what will be an incredibly long day (last two have logged 13 and 14 hours respectively) to share. So pbbbbbbt! proposals!]

There are certain joys in life. One of mine is getting an out-of-the-blue email from Dariaux, with whom I probably share some blood somewhere. We're oddly similar - same likes, same outlook on life - it's eerie at times. Made my day when I saw her email pop in my inbox.

To: DC Celine
Subject: you'd understand
From: Dariaux

You are one of the few people I can share this with . . . just bought my first pair of Christian Louboutin shoes :-)

To: Dariaux
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: DC Celine

Ahhhhh. Best part of that email? "First". Which ones?

To: DC Celine
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: Dariaux

Pigalle 100 patent leather pumps.  Amazing.  Want more.

To: Dariaux
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: DC Celine

Sigh. Don't tell me that.

To: DC Celine
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: Dariaux

they had an adorable pair of fishnet/suede kitten heels but not in my size.  Oh, they let me try on a $5500 pair of crocodile shoes - gorgeous!

To: Dariaux
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: DC Celine

where did you buy?

To: DC Celine
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: Dariaux

At the Christian Louboutin shop in the Palazzo in Vegas. 


Updated 25 August 2011, after I sent a long-intended email with a snapshot of my new Oscar de la Renta sandals...


To: Dariaux
Subject: Oscar
From: DC Celine


The have red insoles rather than red soles, but still. 

Amazing.



To: DC Celine
Subject: RE: Oscar
From: Dariaux



very nice :-)   

I love these shoes. I want more.  Did I mention that they are perfectly balanced??



To: Dariaux
Subject: RE: Oscar
From: DC Celine


No, you didn't. Stop. Now I'll want some, and I'll have to weigh the cost of my shoes against my children's education or something. 

I love mine, too. I just don't want to wear them anywhere they might be harmed. First wearing I nicked the heel. Pooh.



To: DC Celine
Subject: RE: Oscar
From: Dariaux



I can't help it.  They are awesome.  Absolutely NO breaking in time.   I want more.  Grrr.   
I know the feeling.  I wouldn't wear my CLs outside for the first few days b/c I didn't want to ruin the sole . . . but that just got crazy, so I'm wearing them all the time now :-)



To: Dariaux
Subject: RE: Oscar
From: DC Celine



exactly. they were made to be worn. 

i just need a driver.

Style Dilemma: One Last Note

One last thing on Dariaux' trip to India:



Check out this month's Real Simple. There's a great spread on tunics, with choices all across the price spectrum.



Plus, they have a bunch of recommendations for travel - some wierd, some useful.

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.

Style Dilemma: It's That Time Again

Time to buy new black pumps.





Depending on which style tomes you read, the black pump is a staple. Genevieve Antoine Dariaux, for example, reinforces the idea of wearing monochromatic shoes and stockings to elongate the figure: "It's always a good idea to wear beige shoes, the same shade as your stockings, with a very pale dress." She's right, absolutely, except that, as the Infintessimal Readership well knows, I'm only a proponent of "stockings" if they're actually tights, worn in the colder weather. Her concept holds, true, though, even with bare legs.



On the subject of black shoes, though, she supports the patent leather choice, as they "harmonize with the colour of every outfit." Amen, Madam Dariaux. She's silent on matte black shoes.


With that in mind, and my own style principles in hand, I'm off in search of a black pump to replace my reliable kitten-heeled Katarras (which I've had reheeled about 3 times, already - enough is enough). The requirements:

• Black
• Mid-height heel (so I can wear to drive without having to keep other shoes in the car)
• No pinching, rubbing, or other types of hurtfulness
• Preferably under $100
• Well-made - leather, reliable brand
• Versatile, but absolutely not boring, staid, or otherwise "old ladyish"

I started my search on zappos.com. Great selection, and if I see something I love but don't know, I can track it down in a store, try it on, and then order it online if the price is better. Their return policy is fabulous, and ridiculously easy, so no worries on the fit/return front.

I haven't yet gotten H's opinion - which is valuable. But I'm opening up to the Infintessimal Readership. Here are my choices so far. Tell me what you think, especially if you've worn or tried a pair.









Nine West Nuncio - hooray for black patent, and the pointed toe is good with trousers or skirts













Sofft Gabriela - black patent, flirty 40s platform, and Sofft is reputed to be amazingly comfortable












Bronx Shoes Flore - another 40s throwback, interesting cutouts - but I don't know the brand at all

Nine West Bradeton - more black patent, pretty peep toe

Short Hiatus

I miss you guys. I wish I had the time and engergy to write. I've read another style book (Dariaux's A Woman's Guide to Elegance) absolutely worth a post or two, and am in process of reading another, but just can't muster the energy on 2 hours sleep (The Bean's pearly whites are starting to come in, poor thing).

So I promise I'll be back soon.

In the meantime, I'll wear as much blue and black as possible to offset the circles under my eyes.

Staying Relaxed...and Catching Up (Warning: Could be TMI)

One of the joys of motherhood is spending quality, quiet (usually) time with your little one while she eats. In my case, that means she's attached to me - quite literally. This also means that, now that I'm back at work full time (nearly through my second week of heartbreak, now), I get to spend time locked in a closet masquerading as a - ahem - women's lounge.* It also means, that since said closet has no TV or radio, a girl's gotta do something to keep herself occupied for the 15 minute stints sprinkled throughout the day. And, despite what our one supposedly enlightened VP says, I am not working on a proposal while pumping. I think my milk would dry up in about 2 seconds if that were the case.

So instead, I'm reading.

I'm an avid reader - always have been. From the womb through infancy (mommy dearest read me East of Eden when I was an infant - no wonder I'm so f-ed up) and beyond, I've got a bedside stack and a not-so-mild addiction. Needless to say, with The Bean's arrival, about all I can manage is a few pages of a magazine. Until now. These 15 minute sessions are going to let me catch up on all of the fashion and style books I have waiting for me in my stack. I've decided to dedicate that time to bettering my knowledge of The Industry.

First up - and first done: Justine Picardie's My Mother's Wedding Dress. Just finished in my last session today. An absolutely delightful collection of essays on the meanings we hold in clothing. Her career has introduced her to some pretty amazing people, and her family stories hold some incredibly touching - and stylish - moments.

Next? I'm going to have to dig out the style books, but I've got a history of the LBD and other fashion favorites, Madame Dariaux's Guide to Elegance, and a couple of biographies I've been meaning to read (Coco, Diana Vreeland, to start). I've also got two big honkin' coffee table books I'd love to add to the pile, but I'm already looking pretty conspicuous walking down the hallway with my oh, so stylish black backpack. So Anglomania and Elsa Schiaparelli will have to wait.

I'm open to suggestions, too, so let 'em rip...I promise to report in on favorite parts. And yes, this is the same list (sort of) that I recommended ages ago. Notice how many I've read since then.

*For the non-faint-of-heart, a Lactation Room. They're all the rage, I promise.

Style in Print: Tomes for the Stylish Nightstand and Coffee Table

My H is the best H ever.

(That sound you hear is his chest puffing out with pride.)

1) He pushes me to go shopping when I need to.

2) He understands style (most of the time - "joke" Christmas gift of jean short shorts excluded, of course).

3) He's got an incredible memory - especially for things I like. (Yes, H, I just said you have an incredible memory. Take that one to the bank & hold on to it for dear life.)

4) He buys me presents just because.

5) Lots of other, non-vapid reasons.

6) He's mine.

The real reason I'm running on about him today, in particular?

He and MIL took a trip to Jersey & NYC this weekend (I was resting quietly at home; The Bean ordered me to). They hit The Met, and took along a wedding gift certificate from a family friend. It arrived just after our honeymoon last year, and we just haven't been back to check things out since.

So what did he get?

A gorgeous blue-swirled handblown bowl;* a replica of ones made in South Jersey (home territory for both of us) in the late 1900s. Its color is exactly the color we had for our wedding, along with the lemons (which, though we never started out having "wedding colors," inadvertedly ended up being so - cobalt and sunny yellow), and which somehow shows up in almost everything we buy for our home. It also pairs well with subtle lines of the Simon Pearce pitcher a dear, dear friend gave us as a wedding gift.**

But the real reason for this post is that H spent part of our gift certificate on the exhibition book from an exhibit we saw when we were on our honeymoon in NYC. The Anglomania book wasn't available when we saw it in July (it's the type of exhibit they have to photograph in place, then produce the book, rather than use photos of paintings or sculpture from previous exhibitions). The book is a paper tour of what we saw in July, with much appreciated detail shots of things we just couldn't catch viewing from behind the railing in person - like the pinup girl embroidered on the cuff of a Paul Smith shirt. The exhibit notes were lovingly detailed and woven with history, philosophy, and whimsy; the book reflects that, as well. I highly recommend going online & buying it. I'd put it in the top of fashion & style tomes.

While we're at it, also atop my list of favorite style tomes is Shocking! The Art and Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli, the record of the roving exhibit's visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Schiaparelli somehow escapes the average style follower's notice, and if she makes it on the radar, it's in comparison to Coco (Chanel, that is). True, she was a contemporary of the woman many consider to be the grande dame of style, but she used architectural in her designs well before Dries van Noten or Donna Karan were even a twinkle in their grandparents' eyes. Her collaborations with some of the greatest fine artists of her time surpass anything we see today, in my estimation. Lastly, she has a color named after her - Schiaparelli pink. Any woman who pioneers a color shade is one to emulate.

True to their nature as exhibition records, Shocking! and Anglomania are lots of pictures accompanying a fair amount of words. If you're up for a little more of a read - something perhaps unexpected, when it comes to modern writings about style & fashion - try one of these:

A Guide to Elegance: For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions. (Geneviere Antoine Dariaux) Olsson's cites the classic as the "orginal what not to wear." It's a delightful read, and looks ever so pretty in a stack of books by your bed (which is, of course, a very good reason to buy a book).

My Mother's Wedding Dress: The Life and Afterlife of Clothes. (Justine Picardie) This gets a little deeper, wondering about what we wear, how our clothes define us (or don't), and how or why we attach so much meaning to them - all through the vehicle of her mother's wedding dress - a black cocktail dress bought in 1960.

The Classic Ten: The True Story of the Little Black Dress and Nine Other Fashion Favorites. (Nancy Macdonell Smith) Every girl should know the history. Need I say more?

*Unfortunately, no pics are available - it's beautiful, though, and you'll just have to trust me.

**I know Simon Pearce is overdone, but I get to like it, as it's made on the banks of the Brandywine River.