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 Dilemma: Hot. Period.

Dariaux's headed to India for a business trip, and is looking for help:

it's bloody hot in India - 110 average during the day and 85 at night. I can't wear skirts - trousers are preferred. I can go sleeveless, however.

Well, my dear, funny you should ask, because there's a flurry of "warm weather" clothing discussions going on in chats around the region. DC's a terrible place to try and stay stylish in the summer - humidity is ridiculous. And I'm going to take a stab and assume India will be the same.

But the "no skirts" thing does throw a wrench into the deal. Skirts and flowy dresses are the au currant method of dealing with the heat.

That being said, I think you have a couple of points to consider...

1) Gut instinct? Avoid the sleeveless tops. Sun protection is probably going to be as important to you as heat beating coolness. Instead? Go tunic-y. Linen or cotton. Maybe something fun like this belted top from - yup! - Kohl's.

2) Stock up on blousy peasant tops. These first came out a couple of seasons ago, but are still relatively easy to find. Try Gap's version - a little colonial, but it still works. I fondly remember my first trip to Romania - I traipsed around monasteries in a similar top I still miss.

3) Given the "safari" look that's now made it off the runways and into our stores, you should be able to find some "heat appropriate" (after all, aren't safaris usually in Very Hot Places?) looks. All you need for that look is a little epaulet-inspired buttoning, like on this lightweight cotton buttondown at The Gap.

3) Pants - let's see. I don't think it needs to be said that linen doesn't travel that well. On the other hand, it's linen, and who expects it to be neatly pressed. So you'll have to pick your own Wrinkle Comfort Level there.

I'm seeing white pants and colored tops, but again, I'm not so sure white is the way to go on the road. I'll be practical and advise navy, black, brown, or khaki. Navy'll be your best bet for not feeling boring, I think. Try staple stores like Banana for a good linen pant. The versions they're showing on their site now are linen/silk, though, which might be too sticky in the end. Fitted but wide leg I think are your keys to staying cool.

And please, no capris. I don't care what Marie Claire says in their latest spread. I don't like cropped pants.

Oh, and a hat. Wear a hat.

A Little Bit Late: Fashion Wednesday in D.C. - Part II

Second stop. DSS. A long walk down M Street. (OK, so it wasn't that long, but I was already waning.)

Pays to know the organizer. She let me (OK, made me) sit down. Funny how The Bean takes over at times when you'd normally be perfectly perky and alive. Not so. If it weren't for Babsie D, I wouldn't have sat. I helped, too, though, so I don't feel like a total mooch.

What I liked:

• Being in the thick of it all
• Seeing pretty things all over the place
• Seeing Young People Get Involved (Mary Washington College Fashion Club - cool young women helping and having fun at the same time)
• Teensy bit of a power trip pseudo-manning the door and asking two Very Young Girls if they were supposed to be there. They were randomly wandering, shopping early, before things had started. I really wanted to kick them out. But apparently they were with Somebody Important in The Press. They were clearly researching an article, what with their arms full of packages and no notepads or cameras in sight.
• Meeting Allison of Queen Bee - even though she spells it wrong, she's got incredible energy and gorgeous jewelry
• Meeting Cassie of Simply Soles - there's always affinity among redheads
• Buying two big chunky bracelets for $20 total
• Buying two headbands for $15 total. Though the leather one is actually very painful, despite its flexibility. And the silk one, well, that slips off my head constantly. But when I'm willing to put up with the pain and keep readjusting my headband, they both work beautifully.
• Watching the people.
• Watching the people.
• And listening to the people.
• Best overheard 1: "It's been years since I've spent $136 on shoes."
• Best overheard 2: [in response to 1] "I can't remember the last time I paid cash for shoes."

What I didn't like:

• No places to sit
• Not enough mirrors (note to vendors for next time: K-Mart's got them cheap!)
• People whining that they didn't get their swag (for heaven's sake!)
• For all the babydoll/empire/shift/tunic styles that have come through in the last season or two, not enough for me to buy. Being preggers, I kinda assumed I wouldn't be buying skinny jeans, but I was really hoping for a lovely kimono top or babydoll mini I could pair with a skirt or slacks. I really wanted to spend money, but couldn't!

The afterparty started early, and had a great vibe for post-shopping tiredness. DJ rocked. And I could barely keep my eyes open until H got there (business dinner at Mie N Yu). But was worth it, to see more People in Action. I could watch all day.

Style Dilemma: Birthday in Freezing Cold NYC

Scarlet writes: So we're going to NYC this weekend for my birthday and it's going to be super cold and we'll be walking a lot, but I want to look stylish and trendy. Thoughts?

Scarlet, first of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! A Weekend in NYC is a perfect way to spend a birthday, in my book. But then, I'm the one who giddily spent her honeymoon there, so...

Secondly, down to business.

1) Coat checks are your friend (make like a boy going to a bachelor party, and keep some singles on hand for the nice people who "watch" your coat)

2) Scarves are always a fab accessory (as is not freezing)

3) Boots. Preferably something flat. Think equestrian or, better yet, farmer (but please no Uggs!). Don't know how you feel about the "tucked in look," but this is one of the few times I agree with it - with no-nonsense, eternally flattering farm-related boots (think rugged, like the Frye version at right, or elegant, more like the Ralph Lauren pair I didn't win on e-Bay last week). And I love them non-chalantly with tights and a flowy dress (but only for inside this freezing cold weekend!)

4) Layers - under the coat you're going to check at the restaurants, museums and clubs.

5) If you must wear a skirt (and I don't mind saying that you'd be insane to), Tights. Capital "T."

6) Be a Lady. Wear gloves. I'm still in love with the now "so over" longer-sleeved versions. But a demure, cashmere-lined (must have lined) pair of leather will do. Color? Your choice. If it's too cold for gloves, go Totally Silly and wear an off-the-wall pair of mittens, but keep the rest of your ensemble sedate.

As far as tops, cowl neck sweaters and graceful dolman-sleeve sweaters (perfect opportunity to wear one before spring, for example) are some of my cold weather friends. But always put a presentable and stylish cami or T underneath, in case whereever you are is sauna-like. Or wear a tunic like the Target version at right, and make my grandmother ("Make sure your coat covers your bottom!") happy.

Bottoms? Jeans. Trouser jeans. Thank goodness they're back. Or dressier trousers. (But neither with the tunic. Stay skinnier with a tunic.) Good thing about these? They're usually wool. That's a good thing in the cold.