JCrew New Arrivals: The Colored Toothpick Jeans in Festival Green

As you certainly know, JCrew rolled out the resort collection today. I have to say that it is slightly depressing to look at the new arrivals with their promise of warm days ahead while winter hasn't even started yet. OK, today it is cold but at this point I hope that we will just skip winter altogether, I am not going to cry if I don't wear my thickest sweater and if I don't see the snow this year, I promise.

Many of the new arrivals were already in the store when I went in yesterday to make returns. As soon as she saw me, my favorite SA told me that they had received the toothpick jeans in new colors. She knows my weak spot, I guess, and in fact I came home with a pair of the toothpick in festival green. For some reasons these are not on the website yet but since the are in the new catalog they should come out soon.
I had already tried the new colored toothpicks in neon persimmon before the holidays and really liked them but those are really neon-y and I couldn't see myself wearing them before May-June. By that time they will probably go on sale and in any case it felt silly to buy that much in advance (especially under the current return policy).
But green is another story. I am not saying that I am going to wear them immediately (even if I could) but they are certainly something that I am going to break out at the first occasion, especially if the mild weather comes back.
This green in particular (that JCrew calls festival green) is my favorite shade of green. I am happy that I didn't order the cafe capris in warm jada during the Xmas promos as I like this color much better (and I don't wear the cotton capris that much). I went with my regular 26 and they feel slightly more tight than the neon persimmon in the same size. But it could very likely be that I gained a pound or two during the holidays so I would say that they run TTS.
I will be honest: this color in this style isn't forgiving and they tend to show every bump and lump. I have the right body type for the toothpicks but they are a little bit borderline sausage cage even on me. For the time being they look great but I have to think twice before forking down that Panettone slice. I should add that this morning I tried the Gap mid-weight legging jeans in brilliant blue as a cheaper alternative to the toothpicks in blue grotto (they are exactly the same color and also have the same softness) and they looked TERRIBLE on me (OK, I didn't know they were high-waisted, I do much better with low-rise pants than high-rise). I guess JCrew nailed it with the toothpicks, they are made for me.

Anyway, here are the IRL pics. They can be winterized with a dark color on top like navy and black (this is actually the sweater that I was wearing yesterday):

But I can't wait to wear them with light colors, like a white shirt (an instant classic):

And isn't a fortunate coincidence that I found this tee on clearance at Lilly Pulitzer before Xmas? It isn't exactly the same shade of green but they look so summery together, it almost makes me cry:

I think that these will be responsible of my consacration as the lady who wears the crazy-colored pants at school (I showed up in a rainbow of colored bottoms this year) but I don't mind, I just love them.

Are you attracted to bright jeans this season and in particular to the toothpicks?

The Search For The Perfect Dress Continues With An Origami And A Zara

So if you read my last post, the Milly dress that was in that beautiful box was a huge disappointment. Let's say that in this case the container was better than the content. But don't be sad for me (I know you are not, it's so to speak), I must say that I was almost relieved that it din't work because in the meanwhile I found two other dresses that fit me to perfection and I couldn't have kept the three of them. In some sort it made things easier, being the most expensive of the three I had decided that I would keep it only in case it would blow me away, and it provided some present-opening fun on Xmas Eve.

The other two dresses are the JCrew Origami and a Zara dress that I found a couple of weeks ago while I was in for a return (Zara is the only other store besides JCrew that I can't leave without buying something).
Let's start with the Zara dress. I don't see it online but it is a "pencil skirt dress" in a very substantial fabric with cap sleeves and seams along the sides. It is a little bit Mad Men in a good way and fits me to perfection. Best of all, it is in my favorite color, navy:

You can't see and feel the fabric but it looks and feels much more expensive than the $79 it retails for. It could easily be mistaken for a Michael Kors or Roberto Rodriguez. The belt makes it a little bit more modern but can be removed (in fact I think I am going to get rid of the twoo loops because they really aren't functional, the belt stays in place without passing into them). The only thing that annoys me about this dress is the lining: it is cheap poly and tends to bunch up. I am tempted to take it to the tailor and have it removed because as I said the fabric is substantial enough to keep its shape without the lining. Any of you has any experience in this matter that they want to share?

While the Zara is a polished day dress, the Origami is definitively more elegant and to me more of a cocktail/evening dress (I know that many JCAs wear it to work but they must work in a very dressy environment). I was a little bit late to jump on the Origami bandwagon. For some reasons I never felt compelled to order it, even if it received rave reviews on the JCA, probably because I never had the chance to try it in store (it sold-out pretty quickly in my size and then it was waitlisted forever).
One day during the recent 30% off promo I was in a store and I saw this beautiful dress and even if I vaguely recognized the detail of the origami I wasn't completely sure that it was the same dress because the fabric was definitively softer and more drapey than the wool crepe of the Teddie (that I returned BTW because I never reached for it in almost two months). The SA told me that it was a new version of the origami in another fabric (the style number is different even if the ticket says "New origami dress in wool crepe"). They had a few sizes left but they had a 0 and when I tried it on I understood why everyone was raving about it. WOW, I am seriously impressed by this dress, the fabric and fit are divine and with the 30% off going on I couldn't leave it in the store. I think it fits better bustier ladies because I can barely fill the top and I am a 34C, but besides it being a little bit loose on top it is perfection. This is the dark charcoal, in a 0:

This new origami also comes in navy BTW. Maybe it will be rolled out on the webste tomorrow or maybe it will remain store-only, who knows with JCrew.

Do you like my new Zara dress? Do you own the Origami? Please share!

Pajama Days (Waiting For The New Year)

Thank you for all the Xmas greetings, I hope you all had a fantastic Xmas weekend.
We had a lazy Xmas day, spent playing with our daughter and watching TV ("The Smurfs" and "Midnight in Paris") without even going outside for a walk but yesterday we got up early and hit Saks for the post-Xmas sale. I think I have already said here that my husband goes shopping once a year, on the 26th, and even if it can be frustrating being at Saks without even looking at all the goodies that I could buy for me (especially the bags and the shoes), I have decided a long time ago that this is "his" day and I am just going to be his personal shopper. After all I can shop any other day of the year and I can let him be the center of the attention for one day. In any case Saks, and in particular the men's department where they were having 60% off until noon, was CRAAAAZY, even a well-seasoned shopper like me had more than enough after two hours of fighting with the crowds for a pair of pants. And if I was tired, you can imagine my daughter (she was with us this year since we don't have any family here for the holidays who can provide babysitting), she was poo-pooed even if she was remarkably well beheived the entire time. The highlight of the expedition was bumping into a JCA in the Saks elevator (in case she is reading "Hi Stef, it was fun to see you at Saks!")

It was good to come back home around lunch time, change into "lounge clothes" and just relax. These last few days I spent a lot of time in my JCrew flannel pajama set from last year, but instead of wearing the pants and top together I like to switch to a silk shirt for the day (it makes me feel like "I got dressed"). I bought this black one a couple of weeks ago at Joe Fresh for $19 and I wore it non stop (in and out) since. It is a size bigger than the other one that I have in the nude color (I couldn't find the XS anymore), but I really like the slightly oversized look of it. I haven't bought and worn a black shirt in ages (in fact I just retired my only other one from Zara, from the pre-baby days, that was too small around my mid-section) but I think that I made peace with wearing black again thanks to this blouse:

The necklace is the JCrew tassel neklace from early fall. I go it recently on a popback on the website after looking everywhere for it. I love this necklace, it has the right amount of sparkle to light up a dark top like this one:

I actually waited until Xmas to wear it and put it under the tree and it was actually a good thing because my Milly dress was a complete bust, unfortunately. It looks so lovely on the website pic:

but the fit is all wrong. I bought a petite and while the top portion fits, the skirt is giant, I could fit two butts of mine in that. Very strange! Being it a knit dress it can't be altered, so back it goes. Oh well, at least I didn't pay the shipping and my husband and daughter actually had a surprise for me, a Sephora bag with an anti-aging treatment. Uhm, I am not sure I like the message, but I will take it.

I am in my pajama outfit today too and I guess pretty much the rest of the week. My husband went back to work this morning and with my daughter we are trying too fill the after Xmas emptiness with little projects like decorating a gingerbread house (it was a gift from a friend but we received it a little bit too late to decorate it in time for Xmas, so instead of rushing it I preferred to keep it for this week). My daughter loves Mickey Mouse and Co., so we decided that it was going to be our theme this year. Maybe it doesn't look exactly like the clubhouse but it was fun and it is cheerful enough:

I have another project to be completed before New Year's Eve: to compile our New Year's Eve playlist. I usually buy new music during the year and then I just have to put it together in a new playlist on iTunes, but this year I have literally had my ears shut (I bought only one song in the entire year, Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger" and only because my husband asked me to) and I am catching up (thanks to iTunes "2011 Rewind"). I am looking for songs with an infectious tune or just plain great songs from the past year. I have an eclectic sensibility (even if I gravitate towards electronic music more than pop, R&B and hip-hop) and if you want to share your favorite song of the year please do so in the Comments!

Outfit Of The Evening (Christmas Eve Edition)

I always feel a little bit sad on Xmas Eve. I am reminded that all good things come to an end and all the excitement of the last few weeks is going to pop in a burst of presents-opening and haaa! And ohhh! And "I really wanted this!" Today is the last day that I see our Xmas tree like this:

Don't you love to see the presents under the tree with their promise of suprise and joy and instant happiness? Actually there is only a package for me so far (my husband this year leads the competition with three presents) and I know exactly what's inside, for I bought it myself:

It is a dress by Milly that I bought during the Thanksgiving sale, a little bit out of curiosity and because it gave me VIP status (with perks like free shipping and 10% off on every order). It was a pre-order and it arrived a few weeks later. It wasn't supposed to be a Xmas gift but when I saw the box I just couldn't push myself to open it. I have never seen such a beautiful gift box in my entire life (and I hadn't even asked for it), I thought that boxes like this only existed in old-time movies (you know, when husbands and lovers used to send their wives and mistresses beautiful dresses to wear just for them on a particular occasion). I wanted to look at it for as long as possible so I decided to put it under the tree in case (as usual) my husband didn't have a present for me. As a matter of fact I haven't seen the dress in real life yet, so this is going to be my "surprise" tonight.

As for my outfit, it is only going to be the three of us this year (and husband is going to cook) so I could be in my pajamas all the evening and nobody would care less but for the sake of the Xmas pictures I am going to dress up a little bit. I only started to think about it yesterday and it was an easy outfit to put together around my beaded snowflake tee (hands down one of my favorite tees of all the times). I am going to keep the black and white color scheme and wear my ivory felted wool mini (from last year, factory version) and the back Tory cardigan (factory version as well, itchy but beautiful). I am not sure that I am really going to wear heels at home but it certainly looks better this way:

OK, I am going to help Santa with some gift wrapping now. I hope that you all have a safe travel if you are travelling and a wonderful Xmas with your family!

The Cafe Trousers Day To Night

I have FINALLY got my red Cafe trousers hemmed, just in time for Xmas (I know, it took me almost two months and now they are on sale but better later than never). I don't know how I will feel about wearing these after the holidays so I thought that I should try to get as much wear out of them as possible right now.

I wore them yesterday morning to go to the post office (Xmas cards, anyone else is this late?). I wore them with my selvedge chambray shirt and cashmere shawl cardigan in navy:

The belt is new and is currently sold in the stores. I usually wait for belts to go on sale but this one is NAVY. I don't remember the last time that I saw a navy belt and numerous times I thought that I could really use one, so I bought it with the 30% off (it is $39.50 FP). If you need a navy belt I highly reccomend it (let me know if you need the style number). I took a S in this belt and the fit is perfect to wear with pants.

I more or less lounged in my lounge clothes for the rest of the day and wore the pants again yesterday night to have dinner with husband and friends at an upscale restaurant in the neighborhood. Husband was late from work and met us directly at the restaurant, so I took advantage of the fact that he couldn't see me getting ready and say a thing about my outfit and showed up like this:

The cami (that you can't see well in the pic) is the Lisette from last year. I love this cami, the lace detail is so pretty and delicate. The belt was called crystalline belt, also from last year and you know the jacket. I liked this outfit a lot and husband didn't comment on the pants or jacket (good thing, as you know). Also people at the restaurant were dressed to the nines, as I haven't seen in a long time so I felt comfortable, if a bit extravagant.

All in all the Cafe trousers are very versatile (and again the wool feels wonderful against the skin, it isn't itchy at all). You can get them now in store in this color for $89.99 less 30% off (as of two weeks ago, so now even less probably).

Do you dress in black and red for the holidays?

Outfit of The Week With Teal Double-Serge Pencil Skirt (For Real!)

Thank you for the comments to my last post, I actually tried to comment back but my post must have stirred up some bad karma in the universe of mass technologies and my comments didn't publish.

In any case I have great news dear readers, the el cheapo cable arrived super-fast (thank you Amazon Prime!) and worked like a charm, so I could download my pictures and I can resume my regular blogging!

I will start with the Outfit of The Week That Didn't Make It Into My Last Post. This is what I was talking about, with the difference that in the oufit that I had (poorly) captured with my iPad I was wearing my champagne toothpick cords and not the teal double-serge wool pencil skirt:

I went a bit crazy during the 30% off and bought more pencil skirts than I can wear in a lifetime. It is all the fault of the outfit below, that I wore two weeks ago to a girlfriend birthday brunch at the Carlyle hotel:

I felt so put together and strangely comfortable in this outfit that I decided that I needed to add another wool pencil skirt to my closet, possibly in a brighter color, since I tend to buy neutrals more than brights. The occasion came a few days later when I saw the in-store only deep turquoise one in my size on sale. These are the fitting room pics (the skirt is a size 0):

The necklace is the Palm Springs beaded necklace that some JCAs were very excited about and I wanted to see IRL. As soon as I tried it on, I remembered that I have a very similar beaded necklace in an almost identical color that I NEVER wear, so obviously I didn't get it (the stone-studded casting also looked a bit cheap IMO).
Below is the skirt with the Stadium-cloth car coat in buffalo plaid in a size 2 (it was a bit big). I tried this one only for the blog, I am not interested for myself and I didn't like the giant pockets even if I must say I kind of like the look of it in this pic:

I thought that this pencil skirt would be enough to fill the hole in my closet but a few days ago I stumbled upon the viridian green one on the website in my size (in a 2P, my other pencil skirt size) and ready to ship (as you probably know this color has been waitlisted for months), with 30% off and free shipping to boot. It was too good to pass and I jumped on it thinking that there were great chances that my order would be cancelled. But lo and behold it shipped the day after and it arrived yesterday.
In the meanwhile I had rationalized the purchase and almost convinced myself that "deep turquoise" and "viridian green" are two shades too similar to justify keeping both the skirts and was psychologically ready to return it, but when I opened the package and tried it on I was completely smitten, the color is just gorgeous and it looks GREAT with black so there is no way that I am going to return it (when you put the two skirts next to each other, the teal one reads much more blue, while the viridian green is definitively green). Interestingly enough, the 2P is a good two inches shorter than the 0 (as you can see, it is definitively above the knee but this is not an issue for me as I like shorter skirts):

The sweater is the Cashmere cascade sweater (the black is currently sold-out but it was on sale, watch for popbacks). I decided to try this sweater because for some reasons I can't push myself to buy the classic turtleneck in black and I find this one more interesting but I didn't know what to expect from that giant cowlneck. I went with my regular XS and it fits great, even if there is a little bit of extra fabric in the shoulders (I have pretty broad shoulders). It looks boxier on the model than it is in reality, as you can see it is quite long and fitted around the hips.
The cowlneck won't lay flat and you could feel a little bit like you are carrying a hoola-hoop around your neck at first but once you get used to it it looks actually very chic and elegant. The extra fabric in the cowl is functional in that it provides coverage even if the neck per se is cut very low, so that you don't have to worry about a plunging neckline unless you bend or ... shake it around. If you feel a bit sexy you can wear it alone or with a cami but it also looks good with a button-up under it (here I am wearing it alone and as you can see you can't see a thing. Pun intended):

Bottom line: I recommend this sweater as an alternative to your old turtleneck.

I have one last pencil skirt to show you (I told you, I bought for a lifetime), along with my Xmas outfit. Stay tuned!

Outfit Of The Week (A Rather Pathetic Attempt To Blog From The iPad)

I am sorry if I disappeared again but I haven't solved my camera issue yet. I even bought an iPad camera connection kit to connect my camera to the iPad instead of using the corrupted camera cable (because those geniuses at Apple conceived a device that can maybe read your thoughts, or at least recognize which song you are humming while taking your shower, but that doesn't have a USB port if you can believe it. That's the equivalent of having a Ferrari without a key for the tank. You are not going far, even if you have the best engine).

So out of desperation and while I wait for a cheap substitute for my camera cable that I found on Amazon, I resorted to the last resort: taking pictures of my outfit using my iPad as a camera. If you are a blogger and you ever felt silly taking pictures of yourself in front of the mirror, let me tell you this: that is nothing compared to the silliness of taking pictures of yourself in front of the mirror with an iPad. The whole thing is just unbelievably cumbersome and totally ridiculous (even once you have actually figured out that the camera is not ON THE BACK).

Anyway, this is going to be the first and last attempt to blog entirely from my iPad. The funny thing is, this outfit that I absolutely wanted to immortalize isn't even new, it is actually made of very old pieces that I love to wear almost exclusively during the holidays, like my candy tee in champagne (still going strong and holes-free) and my cashmere cardigan in bright papaya from 2008 as well. The only thing new and that you can actually buy on the website is the golden stripe bracelet in bright flame (on sale in store for $19.99 or less). Not sure why it is called golden stripe, since it has nothing golden but whatever, the important thing is that it almost matches the color of the papaya cardigan, except for an imperceptible difference that you can figure out only if you are Goethe or work at the JCrew department of color naming and coding (would love to get that job or at least to meet the colorblind, or falsely francophone, employee responsible of CER or cerise, a fruit also known as "cherry", that doesn't conjure up any thought of orange in my mind).

Anyway, are you ready for the outfit with iPad? Ta-da:

Wait a minute, what is this pop-up message now (at Apple they love pop-ups). We are sorry but Compose mode is not supported in your current browser (for the non-bloggers: Compose mode is where you add the pictures)? You will need a more recent version of Firefox, IE or Safari?

Let me tell you something, Blogger: I just bought this iPad and besides the fact that I just can't get used to the fact that my Browser has a name like Safari that makes me feel like I am shooting endangered species each time that I click on that freaking icon, this gotta be the latest version. Because that's the deal, right? I buy the latest version of the USB-deprived device and I assume that they charged the latest available software version on it and not an outdated one that doesn't support Compose mode.

And let me tell you something else, Blogger. There is no way that I am going to try to find another version of the animal-shooting software to post pictures of myself holding the device like a gun pointed to myself. No way, this was supposed to be easy and I can accept ridiculous if it comes with the reward of easy-peasyness. But this is way too complicated. Sorry dear readers but no outfit of the week will come out of this.

You know what? That cheap cable that I bought on Amazon? It'd better work.

Product Review: Classic Mini In Felted Wool (And The Sandro Sweater!)

I have been chasing after the classic mini in felted wool in the heather acorn color for a while. It was one of those items that even at full price would sell out in my size only to come back a few days later and when I finally pulled the trigger I got the wrong size (my fault, not JCrew's). In the past year I have always sized up to a 2 in JCrew minis to gain a little bit of extra length but in this case it didn't work. This style is meant to be fitted (like on the model) and I was swimming in the 2. So I returned it and patiently waited for a 0 to pop back. When it did, I didn't wait for a new promo and jumped on it (yes, can you believe that I actually bought this full price between two promos?)

Interestingly enough, while some colors (including this one) went on sale, they added some new colors AND some of the old ones under a new style number (here). What I mean is that you can find the red, stone or heather black colors both in the sale section and in the regular priced one. I have no idea if this new style number means that there is something different, but I suspect that it is the same skirt.
Anyway, the heather acorn might popback in the sale section but has not been reissued. So, I am glad that I got it when I got it.
For the ladies that have the flair skirt or other skirt in the double-serge wool, the heather acorn color reads a little bit warmer in the felted wool fabric. Here is a picture of the two skirts for comparison:

Also, I have the version from two years ago in grey and this one is a bit longer (2 inches) and I would say slightly more A-line (It doesn't look as fitted on me like it does on the model).
Once that I tried this skirt on, I also decided to keep my Sandro sweater (the one with the leopard-print collar), as they go so well together and I find them very chic:

Because I am the Queen of matchy-matchy I repeated the leopard motif on the shoes (these are the Nine West knockoffs that I bought on Black Friday and I can vauch for them as the most comfortable heels ever) but I can also wear the skirt with flats, like my TB Prescott flats (which is always a plus):

Do you have this mini?
Do you think that the Sandro sweater is classic enough to keep?

The Blog Is Down For Technical Problems

So the worst thing that can happen to a blogger (after breaking the computer) happened: I broke the camera cable, the one that allows you to download the pictures from your camera to the computer. I had plenty of great outfits and IRL pics of new items to show you, not to mention beautiful pictures of my daughter in her party dress that I was planning to use for our Xmas cards (cries!)
Since it happened to me once already a few years ago and I wasn't ready to buy a new camera (the cable almost costs like a new camera), I have a backup solution that consists of a memory card reader (where you insert your camera memory card instead of connecting the camera to the computer) but even that doesn't work (it doesn't seem to read my camera's memory card). AAAARGGGGG!!!!!

While I try to find a solution, I will post a few pics that I had already on my computer and didn't get the chance to post yet. Some of these items except for one are a bit outdated (not new or sold-out on the website) but maybe some of you can find a bit of inspiration in the outfits. I will start right away, thank you for your patience!

OOTD: Puss in Boots

Good morning! Have you survived the last round of promos? I was good until 1 am Monday night (Tuesday morning actually), then I shot a series of last minute no-minimum 25% off small orders with the code HOLIDAY that was still working. Then went to bed and couldn't sleep (buyer's remorse). Got up and cancelled two orders and went to bed again. Can you tell that my hsuband is travelling? Otherwise he would have immediately stopped this computer business in the middle of the night. In the end I got a Dodo case for our new iPad (Xmas present for the family) and the Wide leather belt for me to try as my old black jeans belt has seen better days. I was quite relieved that the new promo that kicked in was an outwear promo, that I have no interest in.

In fact it is still too warm here to wear a coat. I wore my Script coat yesterday to a school thing (for the elegance factor) but it was definitively too warm.
It is raining this morning so I almost immediately decided to wear my maxi-stripe leggings because they are easy to tuck in my Aigle equestrian rainboots. I was holding off on wearing these leggings (that I adore) because I don't have any tunic or sweater or sweater-dress in a color that goes well with them and long enough to cover my butt. But since it is so warm that I don't need a coat I can wear them with an old BR merino open cardigan and a turtleneck underneath. The multistrap belt completed the look. I really recommend this belt, especially if you can catch it when it goes on sale (I am wearing a S in the belt and a XXS in the leggings):

I love this outfit but can you see a resemblance?

I always feel a little bit mosketeer each time that I wear this cardigan with boots (the back of the cardigan feels like I am wearing a cape).
I have to run and get my daughter, talk to you soon (I have a few reviews to share).

Have a ncie day!

OOTE: Girl's Night Out

I am glad that you enjoyed my MIB story ladies, sorry if I can't comment back but I enjoyed reading your comments.
Today I am going back to my regular posting with the outfit that I wore last night to a girl's night out to celebrate my best friend's birthday.
We were going to a nice restaurant in Soho (100 acres, that I really recommend if you are looking for a casual place with a very good NYC vibe and delicious food) and it has been so long since the last time that I went out with friends downtown that I actually don't know anymore what people wear.
Anyway, I knew that I wanted to wear my moonbeam blazer from last year, that I got after the holidays and didn't get much wear. It looks great with the curator pants but I was going for a more casual outfit so I wore it with jeans, a la Jenna.
This is the first version of the outfit as I tried it on (I apologize for the blurred and grainy pictures, I used the twilight setting):

My husband used the words "horrendous from head to toes", which didn't discourage me because I wasn't going out with him anyway. Strangely he didn't comment on the cleveage exposure, which is the reason why I ultimately changed my top for a chaster one:

I also changed my shoes at the last minute because I was taking the subway and I had to walk a few blocks and the heel of the crackled mary-janes was too high to walk comfortably. I also added a sparkly necklace and asked my husband what he thought and he said that it didn't make the outfit worst than it was already, which I took as a compliment. I personally loved the outfit but I know that it is not his style, he loves more classic stuff.

In any case I had a lot of fun and we joked all the evening about "taking a lo-ver" because my best friend who spent Thanksgiving in Paris met a French woman, married and with three kids, that was bragging about her new lover. These French women, they can take a lover without regrets and they don't get fat (maybe that's the real secret of their not getting fat)!

I also want to share a cute the outfit that I wore this morning to volonteer at the book fair at school. The top is the silk polka-dots tee (that I bought recently from a JCA for cheap) and the sweater is the cashmere shawl sweater in navy:

I thought it was a little bit dark, so I added a necklace for a bit of sparkle (I don't remember how it was called, crystal ball necklace maybe?):

I thought it was really cute. I gotta go now!

Are you taking a lover?

How Obama (Almost) Ruined My Evening

Today's post is going to be one of a kind because the most umpredictable and funny thing happened last night and I am going to try to give you an accurate and possibly as funny account of it. I swear that all that follows is true!

So yesterday night there was a cocktail party at my daughter's nursery school for the opening of the Book Fair and I had signed up to volunteer as one of the cashiers since my husband was supposed to be away. The Book Fair cocktail party is a wonderful event and it traditionally opens the party season. It is one of the two school events not to be missed and an occasion to dress up. I had planned to wear my floating roses flair skirt and I had tried my outfit the day before already (when it was much warmer, I must add). The floating roses flair skirt is very festive and perfect for a conservative environment like school where you want to dressup without going over the top. The cami is the silk posy cami from 2009 and in fact the original title of this post, before the umpredictable events changed the topic, was "OOTD: Roses and Posies" (I had to squeeze it in here because I love the title!):

Not only I had my outfit all planned and ready well in advance but my husband came home earlier from his business trip and I had part of the afternoon to myself while he was at home with my daughter (I went for a blowdry and a manicure, the total luxury). When I got home my daughter was napping (which hasn't happened in years) and my husband had a dentist appointment to go to, so after washing some dishes and putting away my daughter's toys I started to get ready, taking my time to do everything without stress. In fact I even applied my makeup by the rules (using a primer, concealer etc.), which I never do because I am always in a hurry.
These are the pictures of the final outfit (the bag is H&H from last year). As I said it was much colder than the day before but I kept the cami in the outfit (instead of swapping it for a turtleneck) because I had to walk less than a block:

I was supposed to leave before 6 and at 5.30 I was all ready in my heels waiting for my husband to be back from the dentist when he called me to let me know that the police had blocked the entire area and they wouldn't let him go through the barrage to come home. I had learned that afternoon that President Obama was expected to have dinner somewhere in the neighborhood but I didn't know that the dinner was taking place on the street where I live and less than half a block away from my apartment. The police told my husband that Obama was expected to arrive shortly and then they would let him go. He asked if I was allowed to leave the building and they say no bacause nobody was allowed to walk in that stretch of the street.
So because I had nothing else to do but wait, I followed the scene of Obama arriving from my window, even if I couldn't really see him (I took some pics but I won't post them for privacy reasons). When the traffic resumed on Madison Avenue it was clear that Obama was safely inside the building and that my husband would be able to come home.

So when the doorbell rang I was sure that it was my husband who had probably forgot his keys.
When I opened the door, instead of my husband familiar face I saw two unfamiliar and pretty bold guys who introduced themselves as "Secret Services". Really. Now, after a lifetime spent watching movies, you would think that I would ask them to show me a proof before letting them in, but it didn't even cross my mind and it made completely sense that the secret services would show up at my place one evening to "check out my windows". Which they did, even if after seeing my daughter sitting at her drawing table they must have realized that it was unlikely that they would find a sniper sitting at my window.
The situation was already completely surreal but it got even more so when my husband finally came home, at the same time when the two men in black were ready to leave. Now, before I tell you what happened next, you have to know that my husband gets very upset when people come into our apartement and don't take their shoes off, which is something perfectly normal for him and that our friends with kids do without being asked but that most of the people wouldn't do spontaneously (and sometimes won't do even if asked, which I can understand).
Anyway, I don't know what kind of thoughts crossed his mind when he saw these two guys in our apartment but don't I hear him asking ME (and ignoring THEM) "What are these guys doing here?" Then he looks down at their shoes and says (in a very pissed tone) "You could have at least taken your shoes off, for God's sake", staring at them in an almost menacing way (in the meanwhile I was gesticulating for him to shut up and trying to minimize with the MIB "Oh, he is kidding, we don't really mind the shoes, officers!") I have to tell you that for a moment I thought that they would take out their guns and tell my husband to follow them but then, as they left without saying a word, I started to laugh to tears (when my husband, still not connecting the dots, asked me "Seriously, who were these guys?" I could barely mutter "Secret Services" before bursting into tears).

Of course this story made the rounds when I finally got to the cocktail party and I think it will become one of those stories that we will tell over and over at dinner parties. Maybe in some variations of it the guys will really take out their guns and I will never make it to the cocktail party. Or maybe Obama will show up instead of the MIB.
In any case I hope that you had some fun reading!

Have you a story like this one that you like to tell over and over?