Gaga Over Gucci

If I hit the Lottery, I'm going to go on a major shopping spree at Gucci in New York. There was a photo yesterday of the Duchess of Cambridge wearing a fabulous Gucci dress. While I'm not always a fan of what Kate wears (she does not have the style that Diana possessed), she hit the ball out of the park in this dress.  You have to be reed thin to pull this dress off, and she looks great. The dress has now sold out on Net-a-Porter.  Surprise!

(Vogue photo)

But Gucci has been really hitting it on cylinders as of late, and I could wear many of their clothes if my budget allowed me to spend $2500 on a dress. Sadly, it does not.

(Net-a-Porter)

(Net-a-Porter)

(Net-a-Porter)

(Net-a-Porter)

(Net-a-Porter)

(Net-a-Porter)

(Net-a-Porter)

I don't think you can go wrong buying Gucci investment pieces.  My 20-year old black loafers are still just as stylish today as they were way back when. And I still use my two handbags, both are over 15 years old.  Love this style!

Ten Things That Should Never Have Gone Out of Style

 In our instant gratification world, some things have become lost or even have completely disappeared.  So what should we bring back?  Here's my list.......

1) Handwritten Letters
The lost art of snail mail is just that.  When we get old and want to remember our youth, what we will have?  Old emails?  Texts? Twitter feeds?

2) Formal Dinners
We've lost having long, fancy dinners at home, either alone as a couple or with guests.  We need to bring this back.

3) Photo Albums
I remember looking at my parents old albums which had photos of their grandparents, photos from the War.  This has been lost.

4) Addressing People With Respect
When I was in school, when an adult came into the room, we stood up, as a sign of respect. That would NEVER happen today and it's so sad that we cannot show respect for other people any more through simple manners.  Oh well!



5) Table Manners
Next time you are in a restaurant watch the people at surrounding tables.  I bet you that four out of five will have their head in their phones the entire time.  Why even bother to dine with another person if you can't have a conversation, and take away the phones!  No texting at my dinner table.  But we have also lost the art of having decent table manners - not putting your elbows on the table, not talking while chewing your food.  It's very sad.

6) Knowing Your Neighbors
When was the last time you spent time with your neighbors?  Do you even know who your neighbors are?

7) Summer Jobs
When I was growing up I always had a job. I mucked stalls and for many years I worked in a department store.  I have never not worked. You don't see people with summer jobs anymore - mowing lawns, taking care of the elderly or young ones, paper routes.  Summer work taught me a work ethic. I worked most of the time I was in high school and all through college, about 20 hours a week. I had my "own money" at an early age and I been self-sufficient ever since.

8) Cursive Handwriting
Silly to me that they don't teach people how to do this anymore.  Will the young kids just not know how to write a letter in longhand?  Guess not.

9) Reading Books
There's something to be said about getting lost in a good book.

10) The Cocktail Party
We've dealt with this topic already.  Sad that this is really gone from our world. 

Summer Entertaining

My entertaining style is…
Casual chic, understated but formal in a way.  I love fine china and crystal and use it every day. I am a stickler for linen napkins.  You will never dine at my house using a paper napkin.  Setting a formal table is part of the fun of entertaining.

My top table-setting tips for a summer gathering…
I use candles more than flowers as in summer, we dine outdoors on the patio unless it's raining.  Flowers are everywhere on the patio in pots, so I try to add ambiance with light.

And when it comes to centerpieces and/or flowers…
I don't like a lot of color, white is best, always.

My menu of choice for a summer party…
Nothing heavy in summer, chicken, fish, salads and I always have Gelato for dessert as I hate to make dessert.

And cocktail of choice…
White wine, Sauvingon Blanc is my favorite wine.

I get guests comfortable by…
Creating a relaxing setting, light music and wine when they arrive.

My signature party look…
I prefer dresses due to comfort but I'd love to be able to pull off this look....

Most memorable party I ever threw…
Years ago I worked for a large law firm in Washington, D.C.  I was responsible for doing a lot of entertaining, with large budgets, I should add. The firm asked me to put together a party for the incoming Canadian Ambassador, who was associated with the law firm.  Luckily the President did not attend, but he was invited (as I was told the Secret Service and their dogs would come in and rampage the place before the party).  I had to call the State Department about protocol - how to put the American and Canadian flags in the arrangements the correct way, for example.  Everything was so specific.  It was great fun the guest list was impressive. I was in my late 20's at the time and looking back I realized then that I had no fear of failure.  Guess it was a good attribute to have at the time. I planned many functions and loved working with the caterers, the florists.  I learned a lot about entertaining at a very young age.

Boxwood - Friend or Faux

Boxwoods are a classic staple around my house and I have always the look of hundred year old boxwoods in front of a vintage home.  Boxwoods are easy to maintain, can handle the cold very well and you don't have to do much to them.  They grow slowly though, so it can take a really long time to get big ones.

(Traditional Home)

But I am still on the fence when it comes to the fake stuff, faux boxwood......

Cleaver idea to put this on a wall but in five or ten years, will it become the "70's decor" of the millenium?

These faux boxwood shapes are an easy way to add greenery to your home, inside, when a real plant won't do.  These can be found in many home decor shops or on the internet.  The quality does seem to vary quite a bit.  It seems you get what you pay for.

 (Boxwood Filler)

The quality in these "preserved" boxwood topiaries is good. They don't have that "plastic" look that some of the others have.

(Restoration Hardware)

I can't decide if these are too plastic looking or not.  I have seen these in a better quality, but much more expensive years ago at the Caspari Store in Charlottesville.  I think in the right decor, these would be fun.  But still not sure.....

(Boxwood Side Tables)

You never tire of boxwood!

Fringe Benefits

Fringe and pom-poms are all the rage this season.  Please tell me though, how in the world do you wash a shirt with pom-poms?  Very carefully I suspect.  But the fringe I do love, like this dress below from Kate Spade.

(Kate Spade Dress)

Milly is another brand that offers some awe inspiring dresses.  I love this striped dress with fringe.

(Milly Dress)

Or this Tory Burch tunic with fringe trim on the cuffs and around the front.

 (Tory Burch)

Or this Matthew Williamson dress (pom poms, no fringe) but isn't it cute?

(Net a Porter)

How about a fringed tote?

(Net a Porter)

Another cute dress!

(Matthew Williamson)

There's a tiny bit of fringe on the cuffs of this cute tunic....

(Tory Burch Tunic)

Happy Friday!

Tory Burch Sale

Tory Burch is having a 30 percent off sale prices starting today.  This is the ideal time to buy a really classic handbag at a good price.  A few years ago I went wild and bought several handbags during this sale, a purchase I have never regretted.  I prefer to spend a little more and buy these classic pieces that will last forever.  Here's what I am loving on sale right now.....

I'd like to have these in every color, blue, green and red.  These driving mocs are classics that will not go out of style in the next decade. See them here.

This uber preppy handbag reminds me of something you'd see in Talbots years ago.

Here are some other things I am loving......and once the word gets out, her stuff flies off the shelves.  The more you shop, the more you save.  Right?

SaddleBox

SaddleBox is a cleaver idea that makes the perfect gift for the horse lover in your life who has everything.  Every month, SaddleBox sends you a box filled with items for you and your horse.  And to make the idea even better, part of their profits go to help abused and abandoned horses.  You can see their website here. My box arrived last week and the theme was a "spa day" for the horse (and for me too).

The box came with a cute sticker on the front of it.

This was on the inside lid of the box - very personalized!

This idea will make a great gift for a trainer or a special person in your life who loves and owns horses.  And isn't it fun to receive a gift every month!

These horse treats are going in the July boxes. The boxes are $35 a month and you can cancel at any time.  What a great idea! So out of the box!  (No pun intended).