Dressing down a cocktail dress

Thanks everyone for your feedback last night on which dress to wear.  I know that maybe the way I styled the dress down took away from the beauty of it, but I'm actually really happy with the way it turned out.  Luckily, I dressed it down because I was practically one of four women in the restaurant not wearing jeans!  Lots of people were jeans and tees--even the servers!  I don't know, I feel like at $80/person, I'd like to make it a little bit special.  And I've got to say that I was sorely disappointed in the restaurant.  My entree was too salty and and rubbery.  I did love my guinness ice cream and chocolate butterscotch tart.

I get really upset when I have to fork over good money for bad food.

And it's not because I'm stuck up, but because I really like good food.  I have no problems eating at a hole-in-the-wall, but when good food can be had for $5, I would expect that $22 entrees should be good, too.  San Francisco is a city of good food--we're lucky because California has so much fresh produce year round.  Anyway, I'm going on a tangent, and I'll stop complaining.  I certainly won't go back to this restaurant.

I tried the dress on with various black tees, and even black silk blouses.  It either looked wrong or too gothy.   I decided to mix in a printed silk blouse that I got from Anthro years ago, and I really like the look.  It's not match-matchy, and it's not really an accent, but somehow, I think it works.  The details are hard to see without the light on the dress, so we had to use the flash to show the embroidery.  The printed blouse gives the impression that the dress is a  solid midnight blue, but it's only upon closer inspection that you see there is more to it.  I got a whole vintage-y vibe from this ensemble and so I thought wearing it with the Crossway Heels would work beautifully.  People kept commenting on my shoes!  I really love them and find them to be the most comfortable pair of shoes I own.  But I'm a little confused--everyone says they are black, even Steve says they are black, but they look navy to me.  I think I need to get my eyes checked.

People have asked about tees and tissue thin tees.  I normally won't buy tees unless they are on sale.  Our local Macy's (7 floors!) has two floating $15 racks, that rotate.  I don't go in there anymore for the $15 racks because I get really disoriented in there, but I've purchased plenty of tees from a label called Beautiful People (I don't think they exist anymore though, which is unfortunate, but then again, maybe you shouldn't charge people $80 for a tissue tee) and Velvet, and those are by far my absolute favorites.  H&M and F21 are also good for tees, and they're cheap.  Look for 100% cotton, and be prepared to wash them a couple of times in order to get the to drape the way they are meant to.  Martin & Osa also have some good tissue thing tees, as does J. Crew, so wait for a sale.  Also, my local boutiques will carry an assortment of layering pieces, and I love going into boutiques.  They're selling you everything from one piece to an entire outfit, and they will more likely have layering options, more so than major retailers because the boutique cater to the local people whereas the major retailers have to accommodate the pretty much everybody everywhere.  And, if you've been to San Francisco in the summer, you know that the days are nice, but the nights can get really cold, so you have to layer, layer, layer, or as it's been said, "Dress like an onion!"

Sorry for the ranting, and have a great Sunday!  Thanks again for helping me yesterday.

Help me pick a dress!

Since some people seemed to have been interested in this mac n' cheesy with tater tots, I took a couple of photos of my dinner last night.  I started with a caesar salad and then moved on to the mac n' cheesy.  Once again, this was at Q Restaurant on Clement Street in the Inner Richmond.

Looking at that makes me hungry.

Also, I need your help!  What should I wear tonight?  It's my best friend's 30th birthday dinner.  It's at a nice restaurant, Firefly, in Noe Valley, but it's not the type of place you throw suits and a cocktail dress.  Actually, dressing up for dinner out here mostly entail dark rinse jeans and a clean shirt.  Not for me, though.  I like to dress up.  Unfortunately, I don't have time to try on the following dresses, so we'll just have to go on photos.  While I like to dress up, I don't want to be *too* dressed up.  This group of friends is unlikely to be dressed up.  I'll be lucky if the ladies show up in dresses.  With that said, I'm still kind of known for being dressy.  I don't really do casual very well, except for on lazy, hot afternoons when I'm lounging in a tank and jeans.  Anyway, here are the photos.

First up, is this gorgeous Tracy Reese number:

I love the embroidery.  If I were to wear this dress, I'd likely wear a black tissue shirt/blouse of some sort underneath it to help dress it down.  No plunging neckline for tonight's dinner.  The embroider is in the same tone as the silk, so it's hard to see except for when the light catches it, which really helps make it dinner appropriate.  The other thing is that there are beaded birds (can be seen in the middle photo), and they are so cute.

The next dress is the Built by Wendy dress:

I've already worn this to the symphony, but this dress will pretty much be new to the group of friends.  I love this dress.  It's dressy, but not too dressy.  I don't have to do much to dress it down and make it dinner appropriate.

So, that's my dilemma.  I love both dresses and cannot decided which to wear.  Please help me decide!

The rain came back last night, and it stayed all morning.  I think it's died down enough that we can attempt to go to Farmer's Market now.  I'm dressed comfortably and warm, and most importantly--no wet feet.  I hate having wet feet.

Anthropologie Clover Headband (on sale!)

Edun Organic Cotton dress, Anthropologie circa 2006

Starflower Cardigan, Winter 08

American Apparel Crescent fishnet in nude

Luminous Boots

Have a great Saturday everyone!  I look forward to your opinions!

A Sunny Morning!

Solar Star Blouse

Cropped beaded cashmere cardigan by Joy & Happiness

J.Crew Toothpick Ankle Cords in Dark Charcoal (on sale for $30!)

Seychelles Flats

Gilded Impatiens Necklace

The sun was out this morning, and it was just beautiful!  After last night's rain, I was starting to get a little frustrated.  I put on my flats, and ran out the door, and walked to work.  The fruit trees are blooming--which remind me I need to get some flowering branches for my apartment to celebrate Lunar New Year--and the bay was a bright blue.  No fog.  Patches of big, puffy clouds.  I checked the weather forecast and we're expecting thunder storms?  Well, I hope not, but I will enjoy the sun while I can.

Unfortunately, I forget these flats kill my heels.  Running down numerous steeps hills with them was not a good idea.  I've got band-aids on the back of my feet, and I can barely keep the shoes on without wincing in pain.  Oh well.

And for those who were asking where to get the mac n' cheesy (that's what the restaurant calls it), it's a place called Q Restaurant, in the Inner Richmond, on Clement Street, about four blocks from Green Apple Books, one of the best and biggest new and used bookstore in San Francisco (I'm not saying that because I worked there for four years), and Kamei, a restaurant supple shop that sells really beautiful ceramics, some of which I have seen at Anthropologie, but at a lower pricepoint.

Tomorrow is my dear friend's, Max's 30th birthday dinner.  We're going to a restaurant called Firefly in Noe Valley, and I am excited.  I think I will wear the Built by Wendy Dress and style it a little differently than I did when I wore it to the symphony.

Have a great Friday, everyone!  I'm excited for all the good food coming up.

Addendum: Dandelion Wish Dress size 8 on ebay, BIN $120 or make offer.  Shipping is $12, which sucks, but if you can't wait for the dress to go on sale, not a bad price.  (Not my auction)

A Robe as a Dress

Oconee Bells Robe, summer 2009

Armana Jasmine Cardigan, 2008

Saint-Germaine Chemise

Berry Bush Tights

Seychelles Flats

Mod Cloth Necklace, soldout

The rain came back today.  As much as I love the rain, its hindrance is beginning to wear on me.  I haven't been able to walk as much as I normally do, and the sunless days are really dragging.  I'm ready and looking forward to spring.  Right now the wind is threatening to smash all the windows open.  I went out on the deck to check on the roses, and my skirt flew open!  Thank goodness, I had a slip on and was in the privacy of my own home.  There isn't really a building close by that looks onto our deck, so we are pretty much isolated.  

Tonight, it's Indian delivery again.  We actually are pretty good about eating at home and bringing food from home for lunch.  I cannot even begin to express how much money not eating out saves!  Unfortunately, I spend what money I don't on food at Anthro or on clothes.  Boo.  I really need to get better about that.  As a treat, Friday nights are our date nights.  We go out, eat dinner at some place, usually at a hole in the wall, but occasionally at nice places.  We have not been able to do this as the rain has made us very lazy.  I mean, why go out into the cold, wet night when we can curl up at home?  Hopefully tomorrow, we will end our bout of laziness and go out.  I'm craving mac n' cheesy topped with tater tots and a caesar salad whose dressing is made with anchovies and slightly burnt bread.  

I'll sit here and dream of food while the wind howls and the night grows darker, wondering when it was I started preferring the comfort of my home to the outside world.

Spring, summer, and longer days cannot come soon enough!

Cascading Foliage and Reposing Clouds

Cascading Foliage Dress (apparently popping back up on the website for $20!  Call CS and snag one!)

Reposing Cloud Cardigan from Summer 2009

Synapse Belt (soldout online, but still in stores)

American Apparel Crescent Fishnet in Nude

Picholine D'Orsay Wedges

Silver Tatting Drops (on sale!)

I thought I got a deal when I snagged this Anna Sui dress marked from from $218 for $50.  Apparently, they are still floating around, and they've been reduced to $20.  This dress is so comfortable to wear.  I highly recommend snagging one if you manage to come across it.  I do think this dress runs big, so you could very well size down.  It's fairly open, and it uses the tie at the waist to cinch it in.

These earrings are wonderful, and I wear them a lot.  I'm quite in love with the vintage-y feel of them.  Trust me, they are much better in person than they are on the website photos.

As I'm sure you're all aware, Anthro put quite a few items on sale this week.  Having already blown my budget, I was not going to participate in the frenzy, however, Maria of Infinite Whimsy, kindly sent me an email telling me that the Hydrangea Flurry Vest went on sale.

So what did I do?  I started calling right away even though I had not had my morning coffee yet.  I don't function without coffee.  It was simply a miracle I could even work my phone.  This is just a testament to how much I wanted this thing.  And luckily, Steve understood.  We've seen it in person (not in my size unfortunately) and both agree that it's just beautiful.  He completely understood my desire to own this gorgeous piece, which I'm certain I'll get a lot of wear from.  I plan on wearing it as a sleeveless blouse in the coming months and as a layer in fall and winter.

How did you all do?  Are you abstaining from the sale or did you cave?  I'm trying to be good, but it's so difficult with all the new arrivals (ahem, Florid Facade Blouse and Speckled Ink Dress), but so far so good.  Yeah, I'm not counting the Hydrangea Flurry Vest, but that was on sale, so it can be excused, right?  Yep, that's what I think, too.

Pearly Overcast Day and Shoes

Anthropologie Wind Rippled Tee

Pearl Overcoat

Joe's Cigarette Jeans

Budding T Straps

Sunday Best Hat

I did go to Anthro today, but there was not much there that wasn't already there last week.  I managed to snag one of Synapse belt in the darker color.  I tried on the Florid Facade Top and the Speckled Ink Dress, and decided that I must get the top with my next paycheck and that I absolutely will need to size up to a small in the Speckled Ink Dress (just because I prefer the hemline to hit me at the knees).

My outfit today is pretty basic, but comfortable.  I threw on the Pearl Overcoat to give a little bit of a classy twist to the old tee shirt and jean routine, and I like the way it turned out.  I included an outdoor shot because I wanted to show the wonderful sheen there is to the coat.  It's luminous and very beautiful.  I'd also like to add that if you manage to track one down on ebay, that the waist runs small.  Mine is a size 2.  I know I haven't really photographed my hat recently, but trust me, I wear it all the time.  Well, with the exception of rain as I don't want to ruin my beautiful hat.  This hat gets so many comments!  I walked through the Tenderloin (not really the pretty area of San Francisco) and received comments from hoboes and a man I believed to be a pimp (he was wear a full length faux fur coat over a suit and a panama hat).  

I am really digging the two front side French braids, which meet in the back and tie together for my hair.  It keeps it out of my face, but not boring.  It takes no time at all providing you know how to French braid.  

Oh, and I also borrowed a sewing machine from my friend Lise, so I can re-line my vintage coat.  I have always sewn by hand, and have never used a machine before.  I'm really excited about the possibilities, but first, let's see what I come up with as my first project.  If that goes well enough, I'm thinking I'd really like to make myself a well fitting pencil skirt.  But first, probably something basic and simple like curtains and pillows, and then I'll go from there.

Oh, I didn't have time to try the shoes on, but I took some photos of the display models in case some of you were interested.

Side by Side Flats $98

Marzipan Flats $118

Draped Pumps $148 (these are going like hot cakes)

Is it Christmas Again? (Why Hello, Tawny Garden Dress, I'm in Love with You!)

Dear boyfriend (aka Steve),

Thank you for trying to surprise me with the Waterloo Quilt, whose silky softness enthralled me whenever I walked into an Anthropologie.  Yes, the original price tag of $398 for the queen size, nearly made me choke, but the design and color still called to me.  As you know, I stalked that quilt until it went on sale.  The morning it went on sale, it all but soldout, except for the king size, which is too big.  Thank you for heading to the San Francisco Anthro to see if you could surprise me with the queen.  Yet, to your dismay, they only had a king, and it was the one on the floor.  I'm very well aware of your aversion to buffets, and things that are on display (all those germs!  Oh my!).  And thank you again, for when I emailed customer service, thinking beyond a doubt that they were all gone, and receiving a couple of days later, an email telling me they were in stock at the Fresno Anthro, and still offered to pay for it. You know fully well that it was my own fault for blowing all my money on clothes, even though we are trying to save for our vacation to Paris in the spring.  And thank you for not saying anything like, "Well, you should be more careful with your money," when I expressed that my one missed item of 2009 was not buying the Waterloo Quilt, and instead, being supportive, and understanding that I'm a little nuts when it comes to Anthro.

Love, 

Your broke, but sharply dressed girlfriend

Anthropologie Waterloo Quilt designed by Fred Shands, 100%silk, 100% cotton backing (I will be redoing our bedroom to match)

Sometime this weekend, I think I'm going to do a small post on Anthro for the home.  I not only love their clothes, but I love their home things as well.  A friend had once teased that I was trying to turn my home into a mini Anthro, and I merely said, "Would that be wrong?"

Why Hello Tawny Garden Dress, I'm in love with you!

And hello to you, too... what do we have here?  Armana Jasmine Cardigan?

The Tawny Garden dress is perfect.  Beautiful aqua/minty green.  Glimmering gold embroidery.  And hand-washable silk?  It's love, and suffice it to say, I'm never ever going to let you get away from me again!

The Armana Jasmine Cardigan had me intrigued when I first spied it in the red version a year ago.  But I don't wear red.  I just couldn't pull it off.  I hadn't even considered the neutral motif because it just seemed so loud.  Until I saw it on Natalie here and I knew I just had to have it.  When it popped up on ebay in my size I squealed with delight.  It arrived today, and it looks practically new.  One thing I have to say about it is how soft it is!  So soft and very comfortable to wear at 90% wool.  I'm so glad I snagged this little cardigan.  

Here is what I wore today:

Floreat Cold Climate Dress, Fall/Winter 2008

American Apparel Crescent Fishnet in Nude

Miss Albright Budding T Straps

Mac & Jac Cardigan

Vintage glass bead necklace