An Emotional Concert And Black With Gold

Yesterday night we went to my daughter's school holiday concert, that was held in a church on Madison Avenue. All the grades were singing at least a song and it was our daughter's first public performance ever. The kindergartners opened the concert with "Angels We Have Heard on High" and it was a very emotional moment, not only because our daughter was one of them but because everybody couldn't help thinking that the kids who were killed in Newtown were the same age. The girls looked so innocent and full of promises that the thought of the Newtown kids, forever deprived of their future, was almost unbearable. OK, I am the one who always weeps at concerts and shows (and at the movies) but I think it was sort of a common emotion. We felt enormously lucky and sad at the same time. We had a minute of silence at the end of the concert to remember those who lost their lives so tragically but their presence was alive and felt all through the performance. It was a very special night and I am grateful that the school organized it and that our daughter got to be part of it.

Moving on to a lighter subject, now that we are approaching the end of the year I have been wearing gold. I mean the color, not the metal. In the last few years, sequins have become the go-to look for holiday parties and festive events, so much so that I find the old look of gold and gold brocade surprisingly refreshing. While I was in Italy this summer, I was struck by the Dolce and Gabbana fall/winter collection in all its baroque opulence of black and gold:

Dolce and Gabbana have become more of an Italian eccentricity than a brand that dictates fashion trends but this collection was simply stunning, one of the best that they have ever made in my opinion. While they are probably not so popular anymore in the USA (the time when Madonna was their "ambassador" in the US are long gone, both for Madonna and the brand), they still have a large fellowship in Europe and Italy in particular, and thankfully that European-based powerhouse which is Zara has churned out its own version of the Dolce and Gabbana baroque. If you go to a Zara store you will see a lot of gold brocade in the style of the D&G collection.
I was at Zara recently and I picked up one piece to wear this holiday season, a mini skirt in a golden print (they call it "jacquard" but it is more of a foil print) that reminds me of the intricate sculptures of a baroque church in Southern Italy. For reference I bought the size S, Zara bottoms fit small.

I wore the skirt yesterday night to the concert with a peplum top that is also Zara but I had bought in Italy in the summer (it is still around though). I usually find peplum tops a bit unflattering on me but this one was an exception and it was fairly cheap so it was a good way to give try the trend. I wore opaque tights and simple black pumps instead of the booties because this look wasn't very appropriate for a church but it was too dark when I went out to take pics of the final outfit (the belt is the Brooks Brothers one that you have seen before. Best belt purchase ever):

Are you attracted to gold? Did you stop at Zara recently? Did you like the D&G Fall/Winter Collection?
I have more gold for you in the next post.