Subtleties of Style

We have Mr. Mickey to thank for any pictures I share with you in winter. If it were all left up to me, I would curl up in front of the fire with a stack of books and wait for spring. He loves to get dressed up and go out for the evening, no matter what may be going on outside, because he is hardwired for social interaction regularly. I do not enjoy cold weather at all, and I am very content in my solitude.

Our Friday evening rituals include date night events such as gathering with friends for dinner or just going to our favorite restaurant, sitting in the lounge area, sipping champagne, and visiting with friends who stop by to chat. A split of champagne, shown above, equals about a glass and a half. I am careful not to consume more than one occasional glass of wine or champagne. Wine sometimes gives me a headache, makes my face puffy, and I don’t sleep well if I have more than one glass. Don’t forget that a glass of wine is about one hundred and twenty unnecessary empty calories. Generally, the sweeter the wine, the more calories it has. Dry wine has around 106 calories, while the sweet dessert wine will pile on the weight at 226 calories per glass. Three glasses of wine with dinner would give you an extra 400 calories! Champagne is one of the least fattening drinks with about the same calorie count as a dry wine. I always make sure I consume a small amount of food with wine and always ask for a glass of water. I drink an equal amount of water during the evening. I will be diligent during all these holiday parties so that I don’t add pounds from all the extra “Cheers.”

You might say, oh, she has on all black again, but look closer. Even if I am wearing one color, I am careful to pull in different textures and shapes to create interest. If you were standing beside me, you would notice that the black jacket by Helmut Lang is fitted and sleek with leather trim at the cuff and lapels. It is a little edgy and more modern, so I wanted to honor that with my other choices. Because it is fitted, I chose pants that were not so fitted and more tailored. They are lined, more traditional slacks from Nordstrom. I have had them for a couple of years.

The box clutch is covered with grommets and is also a bit more on the edgy side. The boots are by Saks from Saks Off 5th, and they have a pointed toe and a sleek style that commands no attention. I added the boldly colored scarf to soften the portrait area and give my face a bit of “light.” I chose a scarf, including bold blocks of color and shiny fabric, because a dainty print on twill silk would not have played well against the jacket. Think about the attitude of the items you combine. Do they come from the same “tribe”?

Here is another excellent tip for dressing in cold weather. I hate when static electricity builds up in winter clothes and scarves. I still remember my embarrassment as my dress clung to my body after taking off my coat as a young girl. I would often wear my coat all day for that reason. I now rub a Bounce dryer sheet over the two surfaces that are clinging to each other to remove the static. You may want to keep a bounce sheet folded up in a Ziploc bag inside your handbag all winter. You never know when you might need it!

Now I have to go figure out what I am going to wear to the party tonight. Wish me luck!