Did I Do That?

Yes, dear, you did.

I got a frantic text from 31204ever over the weekend: Omfg i gought skinny jeans and am wearing them tucked into those boots. What is wrong with me?

DC Celine: Lmao

31204ever: I will never wear them except w these boots. Thnk god for old navy $15 jeans sale on fri.

31204ever and I have been batting the concept back and forth. We have friends who can pull it off, no problem. But they dance for a living. And we both love the look's concept: laid back, casual, easy. But...we're both...well, we dance when we get to someone's wedding.

If only we could make it look as easy as Reese Witherspoon*.

This is why we want to wear it. But...

There are always looks that seem great, and we desperately want to wear them. For me? It's the shirt dress. Looooove the look. And looks like @#$% on me.

Then there are the looks that you can't stand when they come out - like booties - and then end of loving once they hit the lower end stores. When is a look "done?" When it hits Banana? When it hits Target? Do we care? I, for one, am mostly in the camp of "if it looks great on you and isn't so ridiculously trendy that you'll look back with your kids and they'll howl, wear it."

So what is it for you? Belts? Wrap dresses? Scarves? What do you desperately want to wear but just. can't. pull. it. off.

*Pic from the Crazy Days and Nights blog. Thank you!

The Teenager Me - Recycled

It took me years, literally, to find a pair of "riding boots" that I loved - and that fit my muscular calves (I have dainty ankles, but inherited my Pop's calves, which are great, but not good for tall boot wearing). Finally, Ginger came through at the DSS, and I scored a perfect Modern Vintage pair (thanks, in part, to a lovely lady who didn't play the mean evil shopper and let me go first). I wear them constantly in cooler weather.

Then, today, my facebook feed displayed these beauties.

Boden, a funny, sophisticated British venture that started out with 8 menswear items, had posted these. I think they did it just for me. While a small fortune at 179 pounds, they might just be worth it. There's something to be said for the English fashion aesthetic - at least the one that's not all tweed and jodphurs. In your face, snarky, and always a little twisted, the Brits have a way of saying it all - louder than you'd expect them to do in a quiet demure tearoom, of course.

I adore, and always have a soft spot in my heart for lace and bodices and refined, soft colors (yes, I devour historical novels). That's one Teenager Me, dreaming of her Gilbert (yes, yes, I know that's a Canadian story, but you get the picture). The other Teenager Me stomped around in what she thought was cool and not-like-anyone-else in her daddy's plaid blazer, her mother's "paint" jeans, and vests and blouses that should've stayed at the thrift store. That same Teenager Me hung with the theater crowd, which in our school was an odd mix of punk and hippie. (The same dear friends who post their kids' pics on fb one minute, and announce their attendance at a Depeche Mode concert the next, and incidentally, just gathered for a mini-reunion I missed at a local winery owned by the parents of one said friend. I raise a glass, my dears.)

Four years ago The Met had an amazing exhibit on British fashion - in which McQueen, Westwood, and the Royals all played a part. And I fell in love again. I should've done it then, and hopefully I'll do it now, but it's time to bring a little Brit punk to the world - if I can swing a 179 pound pair of boots into the budget.

Style Dilemma Solved: Sports Memorabilia

Baffled in Bal'mer: What do I do? I'm invited to a 50th birthday bash for a dear friend and colleague - he's a huge sports fanatic, and the party is at the Sports Memorabilia Museum at Camden Yards. The requested attire: jerseys, except for any he hates (ex: Tarheels or Yankees). I have one beloved Phils jersey, but am unsure of whether I'll be committing a faux pax by donning it.

Dear Baffled: There are very few times when it's acceptable for a relatively stylish woman (we won't go to the male side of things) to wear a plain ol' sweatshirt. Granted, a jersey isn't quite a sweatshirt, and granted, the pro-sports-wear makers are savvier than they used to be in producing feminine cuts, but still...

This, however, is one of those times when you wear your beloved jersey, throw on jeans and a T underneath, and go for it. As for footwear, you could snag some fashion sense there (along with the fit and color of your jeans) with a hip "fashion sneaker" (dontcha love that moniker?) or a leather boot under your jeans (please no skinny jeans tucked in on this one!)

Oh, and wish your friend a happy 50th - and tell him that he's entirely supported in his Tarheel/Giants hatred (says this Philly girl - E - A - G - L - E - S! Iggles!)

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Boots. Tall ones, short ones, fuzzy ones, leather ones, rubber ones, tucked into or over shoes, every color of the rainbow, stomping in puddles, climbing over snow, looking chic in last minute shopping.

Scarves. Sheer, knitted, woolen, fuzzy, soft, wrapped, loose, rainbow, monochromatic.

Sweaters. Fitted, bulky, belted, loose, cabled, knit, hand-wash, snuggly, cowl-necked, turtle-necked, crew-necked, v-necked. And certainly no reindeer.

Hats. Elegant, sloppy, fun, cute, felt, wool, fleece, matching, deliberately not matching, over your ears, letting your ears peek out, brimmed, rolled.

Gloves. Elbow-length, cropped, fingerless, mittened, wool, leather, fur-trimmed (thanks, H!), cashmere-lined.

Take that, you summer dress lovers.

Style Dilemma Solved: Daslus to the Rescue

I took LatinaTerp & Jeff's advice.

Conservative, well-fitted suit.

Kick-@## velvet boots.

Report from Greece: Boots, Knickers, and ANTM

Let's start with this. The view from our hotel room in Chania, ancient port, best known as a Venetian port. It was absolutely lovely, quiet, and perfect for leaving the balcony door open while napping in the afternoon (one of my favorite travel passtimes).

The view from our room at the Best Western in Chania

(where they have the bestest breakfast in the whole world)

But this was the middle of our trip. Fashion, as I said before, in Chania was tourist-centric, though there were lots and lots of little artisan jewlers with sweet and sassy pieces. My only treat to myself: a huge mother-of-pearl (knuckle-to-knuckle) cocktail ring.

Athens had more to its style. Big slouchy boots and equestrian boots were everywhere. Made me want to rush out and buy a pair that I didn't pick up in the States. I tried, but alas, none fit right. Given the weather (I really had to laugh at how bundled up they were), the Greek women were in tights, boots, and skirts or dresses, or in knickers. That's right. Knickers. Maybe I missed the trend stateside, but it's one that works well in transition - from season to season and from day to night. Worked especially well for young, hip mommas.

Athenian family out for a stroll in the shadow of the Acropolis
(note the equestrian boots and knickers; love the bright jacket)

More boots and knickers in the shadow of the Acropolis
(my very own MIL and one of my now multitudes of Grecian cousins, who always seems to be infuriatingly perfectly attired, despite having two children and a full-time job)

I tried desperately not to look like the American tourist, but I'm not sure it worked. I can usually successfully pass for a Northern European (which is sometimes an advantage, sometimes not, depending on the country). But I felt like I had a big stamp "American" on my forhead. Worse, "American Tourist." And so I was. There's no mistaking that I was a tourist. Thank goodness I was - there are really so many gorgeous things to see, like the Acropolis (where the Parthenon is) and Sounio. Most of it is just stunning, and who the heck cares if you're a tourist; if you weren't, you wouldn't see it.

Playing model (I pay attention to Jay's instructions on ANTM) on the cliffs of Sounio, upon which rests an ancient temple to Poseidon. The site's most famous visitor? Lord Byron, who somehow made his mark (literally) all over Greece. Practically every ancient site we saw had a Byron story. Kinda the George Washington (Washington ate here, Washington slept here) of Greece, oddly enough.

The best part of all? Family. I now have about 1000 Greek cousins (picture the scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding where Gus introduces his whole family to the new wasp-y in-laws: "Nick, Nikos, Nicki..."). Better yet? Some of them live on Crete. That would be a Greek island. I have cousins who live in the Greek islands. How exotic do I sound (to a tried-and-true wasp, that is)? Even better yet? Some of them have a garden in which lemons, oranges, and avocadoes (didn't know they grew on trees - they do - I'd just never thought about it) grow. And a basement in which they make their own wine and rachiu,* a sliwowitz/grappa/palinca/weinbrandt-like liquor that'll knock you on your rear faster than you can say "opa!"

Basement with winecasks, one of the cousins, and H. (Note the ubiquitous layered T, tank, and tummy sleeve over jeans.)

As my MIL advised me ahead of time, the shoes were to die for, with colors, styles, and materials galore (lots of great patterned fabrics for spring and summer), but alas, I found nothing that fit that wowed me (even when in Europe, I have a strict "if I don't love it, and it doesn't feel really good, I don't buy it" policy). So I stuck with my star flats and Grasshoppers

The Grasshoppers (topped with the Citizens) rest in front of the National Archeological Museum.

*Probably totally butchering the spelling. Since Greek is in Greek letters, and the translation I get of it is really Romanian, that's the best I can do.

Guest Post: Miss Scarlet Takes on Frigid Fashion in NYC

Welcome to the first of what I hope will be many guest posts from the Infintessimal Readership (Baby B, I'm still waiting for your report of the Christmastime wedding black dress extravaganza!). Attended an event? Discovered Secret Store you aren't sure you want to share because it's just so good you're torn about whether you want to let others in on the secret? Been abroad in other fashionable places? Email me at dcceline.blogspot@gmail.com with your submissions. While I can't promise I'll post all of them ('cause I'm sure they're going to come gushing in), I'll certainly do my best.

The Scene: Scarlet, aka Miss Scarlet, spent her Birthday Weekend in NYC. She wrote in before her trip asking about what to pack. I tried to help, but in return made her promise to tell us what she saw up there.

Scarlet writes:

Packing for my birthday weekend in New York City was more stressful than it should have been. After reading all of the March issues of the fashion magazines and checking in on The Sartorialist, I had it in my mind that I wanted to take some hott fashion up north to truly represent DC’s style. With the help of DC Celine, I packed the following after realizing that taking out a small loan for new clothes just wasn’t going to happen:

- Jeans- Comfortable and the best staple there ever was. Mine were either trouser cut or straight-legged and well-fitted.
- Black, Jcrew, down coat. Warm and stylish, which is key when it’s February and 20 degrees out.
- Black, lightweight, V-neck sweater for Saturday night with a lacy camisole for underneath.
Diesel shoes. Walking in the city when there is snow and slush everywhere is not the time to break out anything new.
- Large sunglasses- To stay as incognito as possible from the paparazzi.

Now, what style did I see in NYC? Well, to be honest, mostly I saw a lot of coats because, like I said, it was very cold. Unlike Philadelphia (I was there just a few weeks ago) where 90% of the population was cloaked in full-length down coats, New Yorkers did have a more fashionable take on staying warm. My favorite styles I saw were of the military pea coat type with interesting detail on the front* as well as the puffy ones like I was wearing.

Shoes were something else that stood out as we traipsed around the city. And not in the Manolo way, but, unfortunately in the Ugg way-*sigh*. I know it was wet and cold, but it seemed like 70% of the women we saw were wearing some form of furry boot. Over jeans, under jeans, with skirts, with (*gulp*) sweatpants…they were everywhere! Tsk tsk, NYC.

I don’t have much to report on about night-time styles as the only thing I can recall from the bar we went to is that it was full of men and they mostly just wore jeans and button up shirts. Next time we go up there, I want to visit more of the shopping areas to really soak in some NYC fashion. Maybe we’ll see Gwyneth Paltrow-I love her style!

Thanks, DC Celine!

XO,
SVR

*Very hard to explain, but they weren’t the typical Navy pea coats. They were more fitted, with belts and hooks on the front. OK, the coat I’m describing sounds crazy, but I can’t find a picture!

Tired Random Fashion Thoughts

1) Thank you, Greek Goddess and HuskyGirl for your recommendation. Until recently, I didn't wear jeans to work, even on Fridays. Now, they're the most comfortable thing (and screw it, I say). Except that the waistband is getting a teeeeeeensy bit tight. So - undid that button and got me a big ol' rubber band (the kind you get from broccoli or asparagus bunches). Looped that sucker around the button and button hole - oila! pants are a little more comfortable. Now, if I could just get this kid to stop kicking my @##.

2) Baby Sis' bridal shower tomorrow. Packed in a stupor last night. Kept it light. H&M b&w wrap dress + Daslu boots OR H&M black babydoll sweater + grey tweed pencil skirt + Daslu boots. Just depends on how I feel tomorrow - or rather, how big I feel.

3) Not necessarily feeling big yet, just a little thicker. You wouldn't notice it on me walking down the street. But it is starting to affect style choices a little.

4) I guess I really should check with Jenny Yoo to see when I have to send in my final bump-friendly measurements. I had to change dresses a little, given that the Alana doesn't come bump-friendly, so ended up with Sophia. So much for wearing it again.

5) Looking forward to:

- LA trip - will show H the City of Angels and see The Liquid Muse
- Greece trip - over Easter. Darn. Just have to go visit H's relatives in Chania, Crete. Darn.
- Bump arrival - but that's a given, isn't it?

Now I'll go try and stay awake for the rest of my work day.

Almost Out of the Rut

So part of the non-posting has been plain ol' busy. And part has been practically sheer embarassment. I'm incredibly non-stylish at the moment. Presentable? I'd say barely, but not even remotely "ooh, great [insert item of clothing here]"-inducing from colleagues or people on the street. I'd forgotten about all of my Thanksgiving-AC-purchases, and so desperately need to wash my tights and reheel my shoes that my wardrobe options are limited.

Then, last night, I remembered my boots.

Thank goodness.

They're enough to pull me up out of the rut - at least a little. A few compliments (so good when you get one before 8:30am) might just help me get there.

Next time I announce I'm in a rut, remind me that I should pull out the boots. They'll work like a charm.

Slogging Through

Ugh.

Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh.

Nasty.

So that was me this morning on the metro. The one looking ridiculously unfashionable.

It was SO nasty this morning, and I couldn't snag a ride from H (I suppose I would let him go his own way to work). I just couldn't deal with getting to work and having wet pants. So I tucked my pantlegs into my L.L. Bean duck boots. Very useful and even fun, when I'm on the slopes, but, uh, on the DC streets, utilitarian-only.

And there was my lovely red raincoat, which normally is very cute and stylish. But paired with a multicolor umbrella, my violet Sigrid Olsen bag (also normally in the realm of fashion "dos"), and a lovely hand-knit scarf given to me by a friend, well, I'll leave it to your imagination.

You know how it is, when you walk through the rain, and the bottoms of your pantlegs get soaking wet. So wet they won't dry out til the end of the day, when you have to go out in the rain again.

Ugh.