Category Archives: Fashion
Don’t ever buy me earrings
It would be impossible to count all the earrings I’ve lost over the years. Hoops, studs and danglers – none are safe in my ears. Even screwbacks have inexplicably gone missing my from my lobes. I just can’t win when it comes to earrings. Until recently, that is.
A couple of weeks ago, following dinner with friends in Dublin, I decided to enjoy one last pint in town before hopping the Dart to my AirBandB. With its proximity to the Tara Street Station, Mulligans was the obvious choice. I happily sipped my Guinness and people watched the Friday night crowd until all that remained in my glass was the telltale white ring of my perfect pint. Time to go.
As I rounded the bar a group of guys engaged me and asked if I would take a photo of them with the Nikon hanging around my neck. Of course! Unfortunately, though, my camera’s battery was dead which caused the gentlemen to reconsider their request – how about a group selfie? Sure. The five of us gathered together and as I snapped our selfie I heard something hit the floor. I checked my lens cap to see if it was still in place and it was, so I assumed something else must have fallen. I left to catch to catch my train.
Note the left ear!
Twenty minutes later, home for the night and partially undressed, I realized I was missing an earring. Immediately I knew what had made that noise in the pub – a very nice earring. Shit. As I considered what to do, I recalled the bum’s rush we had received at Mulligan’s the week earlier as we lingered over our after dinner drinks…they could be closed by the time I got back there. I needed to phone them.
I googled the number and turned on my cell phone service to make the call. After just two rings the phone was answered and I quickly explained the situation, describing where to look for my errant earring. In minutes I had good news – my earring had been found!
Late Saturday morning, I returned one last time* to Mulligan’s and gratefully retrieved my diamond earring from the rocks glass behind the bar where it had spent the night. My celebratory pint tasted particularly delicious.
*last time for this trip
The thrill of espadrilles
While I wouldn’t describe myself as incredibly traditional, there are some classic wardrobe pieces for which I have a genuine fondness. My Frye Campus boots or the gold charm bracelet I’ve been adding to for decades, for instance. I love the fact that neither will ever go out of fashion and that adding either to an outfit lends an immediate sense of style. In recent years, I’ve been searching for the ultimate pair of espadrilles for summer which is not an easy task, to be honest, when you’re particular about the color, style and fit.
As is often the case, I stumbled upon the perfect pair on a day when I wasn’t really seeking anything. I had just run the Sleepy Hollow Half and my friend and I were driving north in the most leisurely of manners, when we decided to stop in at TJ Maxx for a browse. Now, I haven’t really been shopping since my Unlimited Rent the Runway subscription has kept my wardrobe fresh and well stocked, but I’m always game to browse the shoe department and that’s where I found them – a pair of denim blue wedge espadrilles.
I went back and forth a bit on the size with one pair a tad small and the other a bit large. I selected the larger of the two and happily went on my way, $40 lighter and excited for a new pair of shoes which I hoped would become the ideal pair for my scheduled 2019 travels. Prior to my trip I wore them for a day and discovered that the size wasn’t quite right. My heel kept slipping out and I was forced to move slower than my usual speed, obviously unacceptable. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime and their incredible array of shoe insert things. Two days later, I was all set with great fitting and stylish shoes for the new season.
These shoes are super comfortable, versatile and surprisingly, fairly practical. Yesterday when I was tramping through the woods and trails near Galway’s coast, my feet remained dry in a way I never would have imagined. I am just thrilled with my espadrilles. Are there classic articles of attire about which you feel strongly – positive or negative? Maybe a recent favorite shoe purchase you’d like to share?
Saving money with Rent the Runway
All right, look, I could probably find 10 reasons to justify spending $159 a month on my Unlimited Membership, but let me tell you the number two reason why I’ve been continuing the service – since I became a subscriber in November, I’ve spent a total of about $55 buying new clothes and $0 on dry cleaning. If I were to look back at what I spent in past years, I’m confident that my purchases of new clothing (that I might only wear a handful of times before tiring of them), would total close to what my subscription has cost me.
More details? Sure!
- The service has been excellent. There was a single snafu (apparently the bag that was en route to me had a faulty zipper and I ended up with a cardboard box with two garments, one of which was not intended to be delivered to me) and it was dealt with efficiently and with minimal headache.
- I have a fairly busy social calendar and an aversion to wearing the same thing twice, at least when it’s to an event locally.
- I’d much rather spend my time outdoors than in a mall or shopping center and the convenience of selecting and “hearting” a bunch of garments on an app and having them dropped off at my house is a dream.
- The turnaround time on orders is typically 2 days so I can take a look at the weather and what I have going on and select the appropriate items.
- I’m wearing clothing that I couldn’t necessarily afford (hello, Temperley London and Opening Ceremony) to purchase except as an isolated indulgence.
- Putting my account on hold during vacations or dull times, is easily accommodated.
- There’s an excellent UPS drop off spot conveniently located between home and work making drop offs simple.
- ”My” wardrobe gets lots of positive attention – and I always ‘fess up that whatever I’m wearing is Rent the Runway.
- And, my number one reason: I love fashion – didn’t you know I was voted Best Dressed in 8th grade?
Maybe you want to give it a try? Send me an email or make a comment and I’ll happily share a discount code.
Filed under Events, Fashion, favorites, holidays, ideas, Observations, Recommendations, Uncategorized
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Currently OBSESSED with The Gianni Versace miniseries. It is one of the creepiest things I’ve ever seen. And that’s really saying something because I have to close my eyes a significant amount of time during nearly every episode. Darren Criss portrays the murderer, Andrew Cunanan, as squirm inducing in the worst possible. Andrew is intensely dislikable, yet able to inspire an iota of pity because he is just so friggin insane. He literally makes my skin crawl.
I vaguely remember when Versace was murdered, and the tragedy of losing another wildly talented artist, but no real details beyond that it occurred in Miami Beach. Maybe it was because I was so recently in that exact area, but this retelling of a famous crime has really hit me and it’s a struggle to ration episodes. The front steps to his villa, currently a restaurant and boutique hotel, remain as they were the day he was shot down. People take selfies on them.
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Versace_mansion_-_entrance_steps.jpg#mw-jump-to-license
That Andrew Cunanan was so damn crazy. I guess we don’t really know how many of the details have been fictionalized, but the conversations between the characters are so riveting. Penelope Cruz slays as Donatella Versace and Judith Light brought as the wife of a men who hires Cunanan as an escort with bad results. The soundtrack is familiar dance tracks from the early 90s and eerie mood music that causes me to shudder. Don’t watch this alone in the dark.
At this point, I can’t decide if want the series to be over or never to end. I can be a real glutton for sensation, even when it hurts. Time to go run the golf course.
Filed under Fashion, favorites, ideas, News, Recommendations, television, Uncategorized
19 Things I’m loving
The Super Bowl was already weeks ago (Remember? The Patriots won. Again.) but there’s something I’ve been thinking about ever since the big game…why would celebrities, like really rich and successful public figures, appear in advertisements or commercials about products which they weren’t enthusiastic about truly using? All of those actors and sports figures in the big budget commercials, do you think they need the money? How much money would you want to be paid for promoting and intrinsically endorsing something you genuinely appreciate and use? Would you want more money if it was item or service that you didn’t actually avail yourself of?
if you know me, you know I don’t value money very much. I appreciate it and understand working to have enough,* but I certainly don’t believe the accumulation of it is my life’s work. And, while I’d happily consider accepting money from companies whose products I truly use, I’m just about equally pleased to just share the following list with you of things I’m really loving right now. Here goes…
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- Lush life
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- These Frye’s!
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- Great, color, great fabric
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- So passionate
- New Max Mara framed eyeglasses.
- My Waterpik, although I wish the cord was retractable.
- Concert and airplane tickets
- The Bleecker Salad at Dove and Deer
- An Unlimited Subscription for Rent the Runway
- Walks/Runs/Skis with Jeter at Albany Muni
- My clunkiest Frye’s
- Aaron’s 11:15 class on Saturdays at the Latham Hot Yoga Spot.
- Aldi’s for produce and baking supplies.
- Kat von D’s Studded Lipstick in Double Dare.
- Van Morrison’s Poetic Champions Compose – I forgot how much I love this record.
- Hot bubble baths. I can not get enough of my tub these days!
- Midnight blue velvet skinnies from Gap bought on super sale for $12.
- The lushness of my plants.
- Wednesday night date night.
- CBD roll-on applied to my sore muscles.
- A true sense of owning my happiness.
- Spending time with someone who makes me laugh.
- Feeling comfortable in my skin.
What would be on your list?
*however you define “enough.”
Filed under Albany, beauty, Dinner, Eating, Exercise, Fashion, favorites, Food, friends, ideas, Local, musings, Normanskill, Observations, Recommendations, running, Uncategorized, x-country skiing, yoga
Twinning with Princess Diana
There was a time in my life when holidays and birthdays often came with gifts of jewelry. Earrings were a popular choice and I was given some really beautiful ones that are special to me and probably even valuable. Like those .5 carat diamond studs of which I managed to lose one. Twice.
There was one pair in particular which quickly earned a spot in my rotation of ear accessories because they were reminiscent of Lady Di’s engagement ring. The studs with large oval sapphires (my birthstone) surrounded by small diamonds were about as close to Princess status as I was destined to achieve and I just loved them.
Except, they were heavy and pulled my ear lobes uncomfortably. In the hopes that I would avoid losing one of these beauties, I had them modified into screw backs which ultimately only added to the discomfort because the posts were now thicker and caused some pain when I put them on and took them off. They languished in a drawer for years, only seeing the light of day on the rare occasion when I would resign myself to suffering with them in my ears for the sake of the perfect outfit.
Recently, though, I decided I needed to have them modified to make them more wearable and I knew just where to bring them – Byron & Gill Mercantile on Lark St. Siobhan Byron had previously created a necklace for me from a pair of ruby and diamond earrings, that single .5 carat diamond and a dangling ruby as a self-gift for my 50th and I knew she’d be able to help me wear these earrings more frequently. I left them with her and a couple of weeks later, I had myself a new pair of infinitely more comfortable to wear earrings. The price was reasonable (approx $150) for the quality of work(wo)manship and I am thrilled to be able to wear these pretty blue earrings with pride instead of pain.
If you’re looking to have a special piece created or a current item modified, I highly recommend Siobhan and Byron & Gill. Stop in and tell her I sent you.
Filed under Albany, art, beauty, birthdays, Fashion, favorites, ideas, Lark Street, Local, Recommendations, Uncategorized
