Rocker Chic: Good Friends Mean You Don't Give a Flying...

Video via

I walked into our apartment last night, barefoot from 14 hours in sky high heels (after months of nothing beyond 3"), and H had this video on his laptop screen. He does that. He'll get on the internet and go down a rabbit hole. Last night, The Doors movie started it, and he ended up with Bon Scott as a schoolgirl. I didn't ask.

"The best thing about this," I said, watching it over his shoulder, "is that they don't give a flying [expletive]."

There's an unadulterated joy in this video. Sure, could be it was helped along with, um, substances, and sure, they're bona fide rock stars in the early days of video (when really, they were the best. ever.) in too-long hair and too-tight clothes. But underneath it all, they didn't give a shit and they were having an absolute blast. There was no pretentious strutting, there were no googly eyes at the camera, and there was nary a selfie in sight. The way it should be.

Photo courtesy of the nice man Rosana asked on the street, then Allie edited on her phone. Because I suck at that shit.

Despite having an electronic record of our togetherness (but we did ditch the selfie and actually asked a passerby to snap this pic, which had us in stitches for 100 reasons), that's precisely how I felt about last night. Last night, I met up with two women I met on the internet. We met because of perhaps the most pretentious industry out there. At any rate, fashion is the most vain, concerned always about appearances. It is appearances, defined. We talked about our industry. We lamented our missing compadres. We shared thoughts large and small. We had chipwiches.

The defining moment of our night came maybe the night before, when we were messaging to confirm plans, when one of us wrote how glad she was to be meeting up with us and how awesome it was to not think a lick about what she was wearing or how she looked. With "fashion people." Heck, with anyone, nowadays, it feels an incredible luxury to be one's self, open and unguarded, unconcerned about appearances. It's pure gold when you find it.

Don't you worry, now, we three looked positively respectable. We even peeked into a fashion event. But that wasn't the point of the night. Instead, we connected, we snorted (with laughter), we consoled, we planned, and we fed off of each other in the most delicious way. And it's all because we don't give a flying [expletive].

Bon Scott, you late star you, I think I'll borrow your look next time we're out.

Give in Style: All I Want for Christmas Guest List at Capital Style

EmilyKate is one of those ladies I'm so glad blogging brought into my life - she's smart, stylish, savvy, and works her tuckus off for both her DayJob and her blog. So I happily answered her request to join a Whole Bunch of Other Cool Ladies in her All I Want for Christmas series. Jump on over here for some great gift ideas - of things other ladies actually want (and don't forget the other days in the series for more fab ideas).

Image via

Then, my friends, I got a little bit of my wish list - some time. I almost literally snuck out last night to co-host The Shoe Hive's Hive on the Hill Opening Night party with Alison of Wardrobe Oxygen. It was, quite frankly, a fabulous party.

One of my favorite parts? Our wish lists, which we picked out last week when we visited the ladies of the Hive in their Old Town shop. What I want? Pretty much anything by baublist Alexis Bittar, but especially...

My Wish List: What I've dubbed Alexis Bittar's "Coffin Cuff." What badass girl wouldn't want some glittering coffins on her wrist?

My Wish List: More Alexis Bittar (I've been in love since my first piece, bought in South Beach nigh 10 years ago)

Wardrobe Oxygen's Wish List: More Alexis Bittar. Alison and I "negotiated" who would get to put these unusual sparklers on our list. She "won."

My other favorite part? Laughing my red-clad rear end off with some old and new friends. Now that's a party worth attending.

Oh, and if you didn't make it to the party last night, and happen to be in the Barracks Row area through Sunday, make sure you stop by the remainder of the Hive on the Hill Pop-Up Shop and get a friend (or yourself something pretty and sparkly!

Sip in Style: In Connections We Trust - of Wine, Style, and Real People

Warning, folks, this is a DC-centric post. But here’s hoping that other locales can take inspiration from what is a marvelous concept and recreate it in the style of your own town (wine and mushrooms, Kennett Square? scarves, boots, and gluhwein, Chicago?)

First off, if the rest of DC Wine Week events are as delightful as last night’s Red Plum and Burgundy evening of fashion and wine, get thee to one of the remaining events this week. Now. Really.

(There are loads more events on the schedule for the rest of the week, over here.)

Blogger friends Emily Kate Hargrove of Capital Style (in her deliciously flirty yet work-appropriate plaid mix), yours truly (in my NoLita-purchased pinkyotto frock), and Alison Gary of Wardrobe Oxygen, (in her MICHAEL by Michael Kors leopard dress and Stella and Dot fringe necklace)

Last night was a rare opportunity for me (inherently a Myers-Briggs "I") to have quiet - but lively - intimate conversation with new, style-minded friends and “old” blogger buddies. It was a night on which the introductions often went:

“Hi, I’m Alison.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Sally.”

Minorly blank stare.

“DC Celine.”

“Oh! I follow you on twitter/your blog/Instagram!”

We made connections in real life, which is always lovely. It’s the power of social media, when you can translate those electronic connections to face-to-face. Congratulations, DC Wine Week, for doing something you may not have set out to do - and you did it so well!

On to the event itself...the brainchild of Lisa Byrne and Vanessa French, the week of wine education events is in its second year. Designed to expand our fine city's wine education opportunities, from my perspective, it does a remarkably fine job of just that in a pleasantly understated way. The events connect different segments of our city’s social scene: the fashionistas, the social media folks, the dining gurus, the art scene, and finally the wine lovers who already know how to pronounce “sangiovese,” as yesterday’s guest blogger quipped, with any place or venue you might encounter wine: a winery, a wine shop, a bar, or a restaurant.

Last night, for example, by pairing 2 delightfully engaging small business owners with a dramatically comfortable ambiance at Lost Society (H and I will be returning - soon), style blogger María José Ovalle of Very Busy Mamá offered a red and a white. Simple, accessible wine offerings opening the doors to chat and explore.

What I expored? Layered, cashmere knits I might just be obsessing over, an embellished jumpsuit that just adds to my intense need to add the garment probably best associated with the Studio 54 era to my closet, and a mix of chunky, powerful stones with flowing metals and delicately cut filigree.

Allie toys with a perfectly chunky piece that reminds her of a necklace her mom won't give up - yet. It's a Laboradite stone, which helps steady a girl through significant transitions. (Maybe I need one, too?)

I’m a stickler for knowing where my purchases come from (when I’m not indulging in “fast fashion” at the Target down the street from my office), so I had lovely conversations with Zina Boutique owner Valeria Medrano and Stella and Dot-stylist-to-the-shows Kristin Biggs. I came away from both knowing I can trust them to buy pieces I’d want to wear - and do want to wear.

I suppose that’s what it all comes down to, in this rambling non-review of a DC event. When you’re spending your money and time on something, you want to know you can trust its source. So again, congratulations to Maria, Vanessa, Lisa, Valeria, Kristin, and the lovely Lost Society staff: well done.

You’ve made me want to come back for more.

PS - Speaking of connections, a huge thank you to Allie for letting me "borrow" images from her Instagram feed. The social-media-dependent blogger's nightmare happened last night: my cameraphone died. Somewhere on my SD card I have a lone image of my ensemble, but the poor phone is tired of Too Many Shots, so I have to give it some TLC before I get anything more out of it.

Style in Print: Stacy London Book Signing in DC

Yes, I'm posting this way in advance.

Yes, I'm crazy excited. Super-crazed-fan-level excited. I'm admittedly a bit of a celebrity junkie. I also admit to watching loads of reality TV, particularly style and cooking shows, and reading far less than I really like to. Let's just say that it's where I "am" right now in mental capacity.

That being said, Stacy London has captured my attention from all sorts of levels.

The Truth About Style, Stacy London's new book, via

First, there's the streak. I'm so glad to see that it's on her new book cover. I was very sad when I met her earlier this year (see how The Bean captured her attention, here) and saw that, while her new redder color was lovely, it disguised the streak. I love the streak. It's a beautiful, graceful, elegant statement of owning her own appearance.

Second, I happen to agree with virtually everything she and her partner-in-style crime, Clinton, say on What Not to Wear. Sure, I'd love it if they pushed the fashion envelope a little more once in a while, but let's face it, their TV clients aren't ready for envelope pushing.

Third, I have immense respect for entrepeneurs of most types, and even more respect for someone who's risen up out of themselves to build a career and a life from their passion. Never mind the being immensely successful at it. Which is what she's done, and resulting in Style for Hire.

Fourth, there's "The Rest of the Story." I don't read non-fiction, usually, but I do read biographies and memoirs. I am chomping at the bit to read this one, The Truth About Style. Because, you see, I think the story is likely a really important one. From what I understand, Stacy uses this book to talk about self - and how she found her self after struggles Just Like Us, so to speak - through the lens of style. She shares her battles with weight and anorexia, among other things. The more time I spend in this online style world of ours, and the older The Bean Gets (and uncannily recites virtually every single commercial she sees on TV word for word), the more important I think it is for us as a World to understand these stories. So thank you, Ms. London (as I've taught The Bean to call her), in advance for sharing your story.

So. Now that I've written a post that might very well be flagged as blatant a.ss-kissing, when in reality it is simply immense respect for a Woman Who's Made It Her Own, on to the details. I've bought my tickets. With a book. Have you?

What: Stacy London

Where: Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, Washington DC (can you believe I've never been? They have so many good shows there, and I've never been)

When: Thursday, October 4, 2012, Doors opening up at 6:00pm, Show starting at 7:00pm

Why: See above, please, so I don't have to repeat myself in the most psychophant of ways.

Tickets range from $18 (one ticket, no book) to $42 (2 tickets + book)

You can bet I'll be saving that signed copy for 10 years from now when it may just be important for The Bean to read it.

PS - Thanks to Allie of Wardrobe Oxygen for alerting me (how could I have missed it?!)

PPS - Check out the list of events at Sixth & I. Um, Molly Ringwald? Hel-LO? If that week weren't already too full with the DSS and maybe one other night (yes, 2 events is massive in our house), I'd be there in a second. Talk about a childhood/teenage idol. Um, she's a redhead, people!

Style Dilemma: What to Wear to a Metal Concert

How does a girl make it through a crazy week after a delightfully family-oriented weekend (see Pink Birthday Cake, below)?

She looks forward to rocking out at a KISS/Motley Crue show Friday night.

Uh-huh.

When I heard they were playing this Friday, I rallied the troops. This is a Do Not Miss show. Two summers ago, an old boss gave us corporate tickets to the KISS show at Jiffy Lube Live. 12th row, I think? VIP parking that meant we didn’t have to schlepp our way across the lot after tailgating? Bean No.2 was still pretty teeny, so H stayed home, and some awesome friends and I rocked out.

It was literally one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. There’s a reason they’re still playing. They. Are. Showmen.

And you know way more KISS songs than you think you know.

So getting tickets to this show was a no-brainer.

But what to wear? This is a fun dilemma to have, quite frankly. It’ll be hot, for sure. We do not have VIP parking this time. Nor do we have 12th row seats (I think Gene Simmons actually spat upon me last time.) I suppose it should be comfortable and cool.

Honestly, I’m super excited to rock a skimp-o-rific metalhead-inspired ensemble .I’ve got a rockin’ new bod, and, well, if you can’t wear something skimpy and completely age-inappropriate to a KISS concert, well, you’re losing a prime opportunity. H will be there this time, after all.

As some of you may have seen on Instagram or Twitter, lately, I’ve been wearing a Target Mossimo denim mini skirt H bought me pre-Beans as a semi-joke. He used to love to give me “hottie clothes” (translation, in my book? Stripper clothes) as “jokes.” Most of them have surreptitiously made their way to yard sales or donation piles. But for some reason, despite it never really fitting me, I didn’t toss this skirt. I’ve worn it 3 times now on weekends, and it’s garnered “where did you get that cute skirt” questions every time. Hel-LO, weekend staple!

So that’s a prime possibility. So are the Target poplin shorts I’ve found. We’ll see. I’m definitely turning to my Pinterest Rocker Chic(k) board for some inspiration. There is nothing more fun, in my book, than finding a way to channel rocker chic(k) not only at a concert but also in Regular Life. A little bit of leather, a little bit of metal? Yes please.

Ultimately, for Friday night, I suppose I’ll have to decide if I want to be able to sit down and how much I care whether I’m showing the world my underwear. Also, given that I’m sure I’m not the only one with a “what to wear to a summer concert” dilemma, I also wanted to share some of my favorite concert-wear posts from some of my favorite bloggers, and one from my archives:

Wardrobe Oxygen: Ask Allie: What to Wear to a Music Festival
So Much to Smile About: Outfit + Inspiration: Girls' Night Out
DC Celine Archives: Style Dilemma: Mama Rocker Chic on the Cheap and

Style Dilemma: The Perfect Nude Flat

“Perfect” is a funny thing.

So is twitter.

When Liz of So Much to Smile About tweeted her frustration yesterday, a couple of us sprang to her resuce.

[flurry of sympathetic tweets lamenting the cost of what should be a simple shoe + agreement that heels are the way to go. i voiced my opinion on it years ago, agreeing with the effortlessly chic Catherine Malandrino. then ate my words.]

In the end, Alison of Chain Strap Purse and I accepted the challenge. Alison posted this morning with her rainbow-inspired response to Liz’ “need” for nude ballet flats that won’t break the bank, tacitly daring Liz to wear more color.

So here’s my take on solving the style dilemma. Liz didn’t say so, but I’m guessing she’s looking for a “commuting shoe.” She did, after all, buy a pair of Converse instead. (My kinda girl!)

My choices range from practical to pretty. Admittedly, some of them, in their gorgeous suedeness, are not the best choices for stomping the DC pavement in the unpredictable spring and summer weather. I don’t know about Liz, but if I wear suede, it pretty much guarantees it’ll rain.

There’s also all sorts of “nude.” As Kate and I discussed when searching for the perfect nude pump, nude is in the eye of the beholder.

Lastly, I went first to some “old lady” sites known for their comfort. As TrainerJen and I were discussing just this morning, ballet flats can be as bad for your feet as stilettos. Though I’ve had luck finding modern, on-trend shoes at Aerosoles that are also kind to my tootsies, their flats selection was a bust for this dilemma. But Naturalizer, the brand I used to sell to my old ladies at the hometown shoe store where I worked in high school, had a couple of great choices. Oh, and cork? How deliciously now and classic all at the same time.

But most importantly? All 9 options? Under $100.

And Liz? Do share what you pick! We want to know!

First Row: Franco Sarto Astrid Pink Nappa, Sperry Top-Sider Kendall Blush Suede, Naturalizer Alex Grey Ivory Leather

Second Row: Isola Britt Natual Cork, Naturlizer Pola Portrait Leather, Isola Britt Anaconda Deco

Third Row: Calvin Klein Priya Dune, Anne Klein Bloom Pearl Linen, Chinese Laundry Gisenna 3 Blush

Looking for your own perfect shoe? Allie over at Wardrobe Oxygen answered a reader question about a perfect black pump, and shared how she uses the interwebs to find the perfect shoe in a busy life.

Favorite Post: Rockin' It Old Skool

I had grand plans for a lovely post on our date night at Mussel Bar Revel. I promise, it was fantastic, and I promise a post soon. But like at the end of last week, Real Life got in the way, and between a day job deadline today, the Beans' ballet & music classes & meeting Stacy London on Saturday (thanks, Allie!*), preparing traditional Romanian dishes and table for Easter No. 2 (Orthodox Easter was this weekend), a visit from my Mommy, and a long-scheduled date night to see H's hometown favorite, Blues Traveler, I just couldn't find the time to sit down and write it up.

So will you forgive me if I give you yet another Favorite Post? Way back when, when The Bean was still teeny, I posted about trying to find my style mojo again - with a Metallica T. Trust me, after last night's phenomenal concert, I considered one of my 2 remaining concert Ts ('tallica or The Wedding Present) with my pinstripes, but both shirts are Very Fitted. Give 'em a month.

So while you read about my 'tallica T, I'll knock out another proposal. If I still haven't posted a new one by the time you're done, borrow some of my inspiration from last night's concert, and go rock out to whatever is yours right now. Me? I'm missing John Popper and the boys in my collection, so I'll go country with some old school Randy. Randy Travis, that is.

*Allie of Wardrobe Oxygen invited me and The Bean to join her and her E to meet the Grande Dame of style consulting. It's not up quite yet this morning, but I'm sure she'll have it up soon.

I've got lots of thoughts brewing on this lil' ol' blog here, and while I mull them over, I thought I'd pull some of my favorite posts from the past 6+ years (yes, I'm an Old Blogger).


If you have thoughts, ideas, questions, Style Dilemmas, please do send them along! I'd love to hear what you want to read!

What's in My Bag (and What's In Yours)?

I'm copying. Bandwagoning.

Allie over at Wardrobe Oxygen shared today, so I thought I'd take her up on her "What's in Your Bag?" post.

So here we go.

Bag: Furla, brought home for me from Italy by H. Because I couldn't/wouldn't buy a single thing on our 2000 trip to Italy. Surprisingly roomy, and incredibly polished. It has a shoulder strap, but I'm a tote-bag-girl with this one.

Rather than doing any clockwise/counterclockwise shenanigans, I'll group it all for you. Conveniently, I hope.

Beautiful Me Items:
Birchbox buy Jouer lipgloss in, well, Birchbox pink. Perfect. Really perfect.
Birchbox sample Anastasia lipgloss in Bellini. Orangey-ier than I'd usually go, but turns a pretty peach on that I'll use on a Fun Girls Night
Goody's hair bands

Practical Me Items:
CVS eyedrops, in hopes they'll cure my burning eyes (no luck so far)
Kiehl's Lip Balm, or Vaseline in a pretty tube. Works, but wouldn't buy it (got it as a Free Gift)
Fornash sunglasses case, all rubbery soft goodness. Oh, and the color. Inside are my über-80s Pollack-inspired RayBan-like cheapy shades
Envirosax reusable bag, as I live in DC and travel through Montgomery County to get to work. Bags are taxed, people
Emergen-C vitamin drink powder. Vitamin C + lots of vitamin B. Tip: don't drink at night. Seriously. It'll keep you up
Birchbox sample Herban Essentials Lavender Towlettes
Birchbox sample Kusmi Tea Detox tea bags

Mama Me Items:
The Bean's purple gloves. Suppose it's time to put those away
CVS wipes (diaper/hand/tabletop)
Matchbox car, which one would think is self-explanatory, is actually mine, not The Beans'
Receipt from the Bean's nearly perfect dentist appointment yesterday

Just Me Items:
Receipts that really should be filed somewhere
Jim the massage therapist at Qua Caesar's Atlantic City - his card
H. Bloom media CD from the CapFABB anniversary party
Loehman's gift or membership card. Not sure which
H&M gift card
Random $5 Visa gift card
Starbucks Gold Card (yes, that much of an addict)
Keys on my mommy's lifguarding laniard
Phillies Vera-Bradley (gasp!) style wallet

Not Pictured Items:
Random change
Mama-backup ziploc bags with the Beans' snacks and crayon type items. I pulled them out for a morning meeting. They're sitting on the front seat of my car, baking in the spring sun with the banana I didn't eat for breakfast.
New obsession of Trident Layers gum in Green Apple Pineapple and Peach Mango

I could give you links to everything, but that would take loads more time, and, well, the Day Job is calling.

Style in Print: Written Inspiration

I'm a reader. I'm an avid reader.

My mommy was an English teacher, so maybe that's why we grew up surrounded - literally - by books. Like so many others, books are my escape, my haven, and, not to sound all trite, but my soul. The written word gives me the chance to forget my daily life, to raise it up, or to release it. I've been known to hide out with a book, avoiding whatever's on the other side of the door. I've been known to laugh hysterically, out loud, then try to muffle it while other coffee shop patrons glace askew.

I'm rarely without a book. In my purse, on my nightstand, in our bathroom, they stand stacked. In times of short attention span, I "resort" to magazines. I read anything from Star to Cook's Illustrated to Town and Country to Smithsonian.

I cried when H and I were trying desperately to make room for The Bean's arrival, packing up the books we thought we wouldn't need so they could go in boxes in the basement.

Though I was carrying on, stiff (but quivering) upper lip and all - willing to put them aside for our new baby (who turns out to love books as much as I do) - H made me - over my I-want-to-be-a-grownup-about-this protests - stop and pull them out of the box so they could stay upstairs with me.

I'll read just about anything, though I tend very strongly towards the fiction variety. I'll make an exception for the exceptional, like Robert Kaplan's Balkan Ghosts, Voices and Silences, James Earl Jones' memoir, or my beloved copy of a massive Katherine Hepburn (my ultimate style heroine, to be deliciously frank) biography I picked up on my first trip to Cambridge, England. (And yes, there's a juicy thrill I get when I read the lines that mention my ancestor-y relative and famously dramatic suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst, was a bit player in Kate H's life.)

As I tweeted to Alison this morning that I loved her pirate-y ensemble (oddly, it looks like that tweet never went through - pooh), and recommended she get her E a book The Bean adored this summer (Jane Yolen's The Ballad of the Pirate Queens), I realized I needed to add a board to my obsessive pinning: Written Inspiration. Since reading Anne of Green Gables and Macbeth in my middle school years, my wardrobe choices have been incredibly influenced by the tales I read.

Perhaps it's time I return to that inspiration.

Go see what pages inspire me on my new Pinterest board, Written Inspiration. (You are on Pinterest, aren't you?) It's a work in progress, of course, and promises to be a walk down a literature memory lane.