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.

Style Dilemma: 20th Reunion Advance Work - Putting it all out there. Really

Alright, folks. You asked. Well, kinda.

Last night, a few of us had a little twitter fashion show with the options. All of them. I tried on both the 3 pretty dresses from my zappos shopping spree, but also, at H's request, pulled out some old (and newer) favorites that might work. I have the twitterverse's opinions.

Not that this is entirely a democratic process, because in the end, I'll select what I feel suits me best and the dress in which I feel the best, but in the name of good cross-media coverage, I've posted multiple views of the options in my closet on the DC Celine facebook page. Go. Look. Share your opinion.

For those of you who really need all the details to consider, this is, obviously, my 20th high school reunion. All 183 of us grew up in a small, at-the-time mostly rural Pennsylvania community that even now toys with the idea of being suburban. We have malls and such, and sometimes act as a bedroom community to Philly, but really, we still have a Community Fair. There are cows. And silage.


So some of us from the class of 1991 will gather at a reasonably nice hotel ballroom this Saturday night. While the original inn is "all historic and stuff" like a lot of our area, the owners have added on. Unless our esteemed class president (thanks, Tom!) has something up his sleeve, this is your fairly standard hotel cocktail reception.

Due diligence warning, now: H took the pics on his camera phone, which isn't as good as mine. Mine is on the fritz. I don't have hair, makeup, accessories, the correct undergarments, or a clean bedroom. You've been warned.

But the one non-negotiable piece of my ensemble, absolutely unanimously, and even if it weren't, I'd override everyone: The Shoes.

Style Dilemma: 20th Reunion Advance Work

20th Reunion Advance Work by dcceline

T-minus 13 days til the reunion.

Law & Order on TV. Fingers flying on the keyboard. Scrolling through rows and rows of Zappos.com options. Because of their amazing (still the best in the business) 365 return policy. Hopefully, I'll be able to try them on with my black patent and natural straw version of these Oscar de la Renta sandals (with a sexy red insole) this weekend.

We've got Calvin, always a winner. Draping + red should be flattering and showstopping. The main thing that concerns me? Bra. I think - but am not sure - I have a convertible bra in my drawer somewhere. Braless is not an option.

Then Jessica Simpson. Seriously. This blousy top with fitted skirt might strike the perfect blend of relaxed and still sexy. I'll even forgive the black for the cool, interesting slitted sleeves.

Last up? Juicy Couture. Again, surprised me when I clicked. I do well in the sexy structure of a 60s-style shift minidress. I've got legs, know how to use them, but the 3/4 sleeves and covered up demure lace might balance the über-sexy ankle straps on my beloved Oscars. Granted, they might not work, but then again, they might.

Style Dilemma: 20th Reunion, and No Time to Shop

Yes, this is for me.

My 20th high school reunion is less than 2 weeks away, and I haven't even thought about a dress. Well, at least not since August, when I said I was going to get ready, and then thought briefly about options.

Well, I suppose I could check out any of the three I posted about, and see if they're still available. They might require a fitter me than I am, though. So I'm sending out a plea: Help a time-starved fashionista out!

20 years. Need to kick style ass. No time to shop (read: order online), and a Germanic figure.

And I might really really really want to wear my Oscars. Really.

Style Dilemma: Reunion Advance Work, Part I

So. My 20th high school reunion is coming up (yes, yes, dating myself, blah blah blah). And yes, I'm going. In fact, can't wait. Not that facebook and such haven't changed the concept of a reunion, but I am still looking forward to seeing people. Rather than knowing what people are up to (which I know already), it's about seeing people in person that I've gotten oddly closer to since reconnecting online.

Yes, I realize that sounds a bit creepy.

Nevertheless, there is a major dilemma: what to wear. At the risk of my classmates seeing my machinations, I'm going to document my trials here...it seems only fair - and relevant - to a style blog, that is.

My first thoughts bounce between "is it silly to ask what the event dress will be on the reunion fb page?" Or do I just wear what I want to wear and everyone can get over it? I'd say "I didn't care then, and I don't care now," but the first part wouldn't be true. I did care then, perhaps too much, like a lot of us did in high school. That era is fraught with complexes, after all, isn't it? The second part is partially true. There is a bit of, well, look-at-me-now going on.

I used to wear-what-I-want-to. I'm not that girl who poured over fashion mags at age 5. Though I did scribble out a few designs in a short period where I thought I'd be a fashion designer, I didn't grow up wanting to meet Oscar or Karl. That didn't come until much, much later in life (that story will have to come another time). I wore ripped jeans, my dad's "vintage" high school football jersey, my grandfather's wool felt baseball shirt, and my dad's old plaid shirts. I did "thrift," but didn't have any kind of knack for picking out the good stuff - or put it together well when I did (at least not that I remember). I imagined myself hip and offbeat, and I'm sure I was - but just more in a geeky, unsureofmyself type way, rather than a "who's that girl" type way.

So I'll first get healthy (and lose, oh, about 20-30lbs I need to lose anyway, and the reunion is just a good push to get there), consider my style options carefully, and share my thoughts along the way. And in the end?

I'll have good shoes. No. Great shoes. Guaranteed.