Style Dilemma: 20th High School Reunion, Take 2

I'm woefully behind on posts. So. What to write? Well, a quick update on our lives...oh wait...that's all I post any more. Sorry.

But really, there is a major dilemma.

H's 20th high school reunion. 5 years ago, we shopped for his 15th. See? That dress is still one of my favorites, though I don't know at this point whether it still fits. I suspect not.

Last year, I was on a major push to get ready for my own 20th. It's a night fraught with, well, memories. Of all sorts. I still love the dress I wore to that. That dress still fits, but barely. It now has a higher-end look, what with me being all skinny and stuff.

So H's 20th is September 29th. In less than 2 weeks.

And I have nothing to wear.

Ok, that's not entirely true. We went through my entire closet the other night, literally trying on everything I own. Among a couple of other possibilities that didn't quite make the cut, I have a marvelous dress I bought in New York, but it's not quite right for the occasion. That's my backup.

I have to, upon orders, buy something new that's cocktail-appropriate, not hoochy (though I did offer to be a hoochy mama wife for his reunion. what do I care?), and not sequined. He doesn't like sequins, apparently. Who knew?

So it's becoming clear to me that what I should have done tonight is a rapid fire online shopping "trip." Guess that's up for tomorrow night, now. But before I go to bed? A quick version.

L-R: Alice + Olivia, Jessica Simpson, Adrianna Papell

Baubles and Bracelets and Bubbly, Oh My! Or, How A Fashion Blogger Is Reminded She Still Has a Long Way to Go

A couple of months ago, Janice of Facon Magazine asked a few of us on the DC fashion/style blogging scene whether we'd be a part of a "playing dress up" feature. Would I want to have jewelry gallery owner Keith Lipert read my blog blind, pick out a piece of jewelry, get a picture of it, then style an outfit for a photo shoot around it?

Well, heck yes!

I was thrilled when she sent me a picture of the piece he picked for me. It's modern, dynamic, elegant, formal, and casual all at the same time. It's a statement piece, and I knew immediately what I'd pair with it: the dress I bought and wore for my 20th high school reunion.

Schedules finally matched up enough and winter flus and colds

released enough of us at one time so that Vyque of Fasshonaburu and I met photographer, blogger and (newly launched) designer Denisio and I met at Keith's gallery for Keith to show us all of his pretty baubles, drink champagne, and for Denisio to take pictures of us with the final choices. Denisio captured Lacey of A Lacey Perspective, Monica of Blueprint for Style, and Robrette of Weight A Minute with Keith's jewels on an earlier night.

Vyque and I toyed with choices other than what Keith originally picked out for us, trying on Parisian, German, and Italian pieces, all of which somehow spoke clearly of their origins. Metals mixed, both gleaming and brushed, and stones glittered and shone. Keith's collection turns out to be a sweet little secret for nowhere-else-in-DC statement accessories that won't blow the budget - or at least blow it entirely.
In the end, the two of us stuck with the pieces Keith had pulled after reading our blogs, without meeting us in person. Vyque glowed like the pearls she draped across her glittery black top, and the strands were just perfect for her mix of current and vintage. I stuck with the
Parisian-found threads of almost ombre metal beads. I was flattered that Keith had read enough of my blog to find its origins and conjure up a modern Rene Russo.

The feature in the magazine is, well, cool, and does a wonderful job of showcasing 5 women with distinct styles and bodies. While waiting for the issue, I couldn't wait to see how everyone styled their ensembles. I wished we'd been able to match schedules up enough to all shoot the same night, so we could see the carefully selected outfits then.

What I forgot about? That darned camera adds 10lbs on top of the 10 I'd gained back since the Thanksgiving weekend 2011 reunion. In

the pictures from the photo shoot? Yeah. Those were taken pretty much at my heaviest.

When I got the pictures emailed from editor-in-chief Janice, I fell over. I was so excited for this release, as I'd felt good, sexy, and went and got my hair did. Then I saw the pictures. Sigh.

I'm sure others will say I look beautiful - I suppose I do. But I want to look beautiful with a lot less than me. So I'll take these pictures and use them as my "before."

We never like ourselves in pictures, do we? I've already planned to ask Janice to "use me" again in the Fall issue, when I'm 30lbs lighter. C'mon, #healthyme! (Hint, hint, Janice.)

Who couldn't use a good set of "after" pics, after all?

Photographs is courtesy of Facon Magazine and Denisio's great shots of all 5 of us. You can check out the full issue - and feature online!

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, 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 Solved: What to Wear to a 44th High School Reunion

I can't take credit for this one. vtgracie, a.k.a. my baby sister, helped my Mommy get ready for her 44th high school reunion. And she pulled it off - sis with the styling, mommy with the wearing.

They picked out the pieces when Mommy was visiting Baby Sis out in the Chicago suburbs. They found both at an adorable little boutique targeted at moms: Hot Mama.

Top: Sweet Pea; Jeans: 7 for All Mankind (Baby Sis swears these, one of their stretchy trouser styles, make you feel like a sky-high model); Sandals: Cole Haan; Bracelets: vintage (I've got dibs on at least one)

I hope any boys who dissed my mommy (like the one who slipped a mickey in her coke) or mean girls who were hatin' had to take a second look. And maybe Ralph will forgive her for dating him just for his car. Mommy was a catch in high school (if I'd thought ahead, I'd have gotten a pic from her), but now, Jimmy is one lucky (if not crazy and sainted) man.

So all of you working on your ensembles for the Next Big Reunion, take note. This is the way to do it. Simple, modern, and using shapes and silouhettes that flatter.

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.

Style Flashback: Not Like Teen Spirit - it just smells

Really.



I've got to get skilled at snapping people's pics with my cameraphone on the sly. Pretend I'm txting or something.



I didn't figure it out until I got back to the car, and by then, well, it would've been painfully obvious.



After mommy's Big Night Out at the ballgame (go Phils!), I stopped at the Tenleytown CVS to pick up diapers. Fun.



On my way out, there was a gaggle of girls I'll assume were AU students (maybe Wilson HS kids, though, I can never tell ages anymore).



Dressed to the nines in grunge.



I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now. Especially when it's just too "done" to be real.



If you're gonna go grunge, do it all the way. Don't pair it with suede booties and a pseudomullet. These girls looked like they wanted to project "I don't care," but really did - way too much. And they seriously looked just like the "Heathens" that used to hang in the "smoking lounge" (read: courtyard between the math and "vocational" wings) back in high school.* Teal and black plaid flannel to boot.



I know it's been on the runways in the past few seasons, but this is really one time that a trend shouldn't remotely be recycled. Nothing viable about it in the least.



*a) I know I'm dating myself with a HS that allowed smoking at all, and b) yes, yes, I know I'm being all clique-y and HS-ish by naming a group. But that was the reality that bit back then...

Out of the Closet

...and into the donation bag.

The other morning, while Grandma had The Bean out for a morning walk, I hurredly tried on every work-related piece of clothing in my closet. Two bags: donations and drycleaning.

Needless to say, my closet is considerably emptier.

We hear all the time about how to sort through clothes, yes/no them. Tim Gunn's got his new show with 4 piles, Stacy and Clinton brutally sort entire racks of old t-shirts into a garbage can, and there are closet consultants and stylists abound, even in this supposedly style-free city.

What it really comes down to?

Be honest with yourself.

Not an easy thing to do, of course, but here are my post-sort conclusions/advice:

1) Set yourself a time limit - one hour. Call it the Clean Sweep (you know, where they give the clutter-a-holics a half hour to sort their house into three piles) method. If you've got to do it quickly, you won't hem and haw. Knowing The Bean would be back and likely hungry any minute lit a fire under my proverbial a##.

2) Use the "if I haven't worn it in..." and pick an honestly reasonable number.

3) Only keep it if you really like it, it really fits (or a good tailor could make it so), and it's not all worn out. Exception to this rule: the first designer piece you bought. 12-13 years ago I spent a ridiculous $700 on a Betsey Johnson crushed velvet coat and black jersey dress. (I was working as an admin for a non-profit at the time. Not having the money would be, well, a huuuuuuuge understatement). I've worn it well, it's still in good shape, still fits, and I just can't/won't give it up. Sometimes that's ok (despite what the gurus say).

4) Only keep "to be tailored" things if you have one. A tailor, that is. If you don't, and don't have a friend who can recommend a good one, then into the donate bag. Why have it hang around for ages if you're not going to have it fixed - ever.

5) After the purge, pat yourself on the back and look lovingly at your emptier closet.

6) Make a list of the things you really, truly need to fill any holes you might have. Note: might have. Just because you dumped a whole bunch of stuff doesn't mean you should fill the closet right back up.

7) Go shopping - judiciously.

I'm at #7. I was pleasantly surprised at how many things fit, and fit well (sometimes it pays to spend a little more money on well-cut clothes, if you can). It's one of the side effects of being a human milk machine. So I'm not even in a panic over not having anything to wear my first day - or even month - back to work. But I do have a few holes I can fill over the next few months. And I will, you can be sure of it.

First on the list? A kick-a## ensemble for H's high school reunion.