Suite Life

I love hotels the way I love a new handbag, a new wallet, a new book. It's a first.  Beginnings.  There is something in the ritual of opening the hotel room door or the smell of the wallet. It's almost an emotion that says "Here we start anew" We are new to each other. Not familiar.  Let's see where we go and who we will be.

I don't roll my eyes and press delete when websites like Jetsetter come in my email. I save. I click. I dream. Eloise must have had fun.  I would. She didn't have to pay her own way. That's about all that holds me back. The means to an end. If I win Lotto or get a great income tax refund I will spend it on weekends in hotels. That's after paying the accountant for the miracle of a refund and having barely nothing of it left. But I'm there already. I've checked in at Crosby Street Hotel or The High Line or The Plaza Athenee. I'm sitting on the most amazing settee I've ever seen with a glass of prosecco from room service. I have to remember to ask the front desk where they got it I think. It woud be perfect in my room. In your apartment? In your small bedroom? Not in this life whispers the voice of wisdom as it snaps me back to the here and now as I close the site and save the link.

In the meantime, I can always take my new wallet and notebook crisp and clean to the coffee bar or restaurant of any of these amazing hotels. It may take a reservation. And a little money in that new wallet won't hurt.  But that feeling of the different from the everyday will be there. The Sweet Life is mine. Sometimes close is close enough to enjoy.

Pearls of Wisdom.

When I think of pearls Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren and Jackie O come to mind. And then there is the one and only Princess Diana.They were all pearl girls. Ladies who wore them well. I've never been that girl with pearl earring. But I have always  been drawn to the sense of mystery and intrigue pearls often generate. Behind the pearl is a girl. She isn't hiding but all is not revealed either. Still waters run deep and pearls grow in still waters. So the mystery is in the product. And those who wear them give off a bit of that. Detacher the french often call it. Nonchalance comes to mind here.

I  never consider myself as carrying an air of mystery. No Mata Hari or Hidden Agenda. I loved pearls but always looked from the outside in.  A reverse detacher.  But suddenly I'm in. And in love.  I love pearls. Wearing them. Buying them.

For awhile now there has been a new twist in jewelry created by designers, mostly women , who put a personal accent in what they were designing. Jennifer Meyer, Pamela Love and Monique Pean come to mind. Bracelets,cuffs,bangles and necklaces started it all. Earrings soon followed. Using gold and silver mixed with precious or semi precious stones earrings sit closer to the ear now. Or they cuff the ear. Stones come around and under  the  ear lobe subtly announcing their presence. Diamonds ,and they don't have to be real, are mixed with other metal such as silver or gold often  anchored by a pearl.  Sometimes its a double pearl stud one small one big almost sitting flat to the ear. Or it's a mix of pearl and a color stone. It's often so understated. One has to take a second look. And than it's love.  

Dior and Celine had amazing collections a couple seasons ago. I'm a late bloomer so it took me that long to "believe" but as soon as I tried on a pair, it was a mix of pearl and stone, I just felt the mystery surround me. That thing those ladies had I suddenly had. That intrigue mixed with style and substance. I think pearls do that for us. They ground you . They are solid so you feel solid too. Yet the creaminess and smoothness of the pearl brightens and softens your face. They are beautiful. And you are beautiful. It's that detacher I was referring to earlier. All there. Than again. Somewhere else.

Here We Go Again

A new year. A new you. New possibilities and new year resolutions. I like making them. The same way I like new notebooks. Keeping a diary or a to do list. But resolutions work with commitment. One can't just make them then turn off the alarm the first day  it goes off reminding you its time to get up and go to that yoga class.  

So here we go again. My new year comes with the change seasons. Goodbye to Summer. . Hello to Fall

I make the resolutions one would make with a real new year ahead. Both the earnest and the not so earnest ones. I won't go into the truly heavy ones. Like loose 20lbs. Find the meaning of life. Go live in a shack,work the land, find  inner peace.

Lets stick to the more mundane. 

So this year I want to buy tickets to plays. Not just think about it than say I wish I had. Especially when it than becomes a "hit' .  Sounds doable.

Exercise. Sure. Whatever you say

Join a gym. Go to said gym.

Only buy shoes that are comfortable. Seriously. Will try but can't promise I will stick to that plan. Can save money but does sound boring.

Don't buy handbags just because they're  cute. What other reason is there. So far it doesn't sound like Im going to be very successful with these resolutions. Well, at least I'll try. I think.

No bread when out eating. No matter how good the restaurant is or the bread looks. Just smile and drink as the bread passes you by.  I am getting better at this. But really come on even when its awesome bread and I promise myself to run 3 miles in the morning.

Shop Less. I wish. I really wish I could. Its like heaven to me. Stepping out from reality for a bit. And what's so wrong about buying a little this and a little that. Don't place the blame on me. It's all that advertising. Who can blame a girl for looking. 

Drink less. Seriously. You already have me not eating the bread.

Sleep on better pillows. Don't know where I'll find them. Have been looking off and on forever. But I promise to keep looking.

Carry bags with both hands. Have tried that one too. Never seems the right fen shui. Awkward. Although I know its better for the body. The posture. Life. Feels so unchic though. But I will try. Promise.

Don't hog the aisle seat. Be more flexible and giving.  Again. Come on. I am not that selfish to begin with. Can't I act out every now and again.

No more reality TV. Don't really watch it. But what will I talk to my friends about. Especially on the elevator in the morning with our coffees in hand.  Don't know how I feel about that. I do tend to live vicariously. 

Buy  something. An apartment.A house. Something. For your old age. For prosperity. Really? Where did you come form. Thought I had  relegated you to the 'coulda' shoulda' woulda' memory bank. But here you go coming out of the woodwork again. You do know yo give me anxiety? And this is a new year. Operative word. No anxiety.

Last but not least.  Appreciate all.  Come on now. Really that's pushing it. Can't I just be. Thought the deal was I can be my same old (miserable) self and still have a great year. 

And the vary last one. Stick to all the above. Im allowed to argue it out with myself (which I've already started doing). Philosophize it out. Meditate it out.  But not recommended to at least not try and stick it out.

Peace.  And Happy New Year. Happy New You.

Staying Real

I wanted a parka. Wrote about it. Talked about it.  Researched it. I went from the sublime to the ridiculous price wise. It all began when I came across a great Woolrich one. The price sent me running. But also my eyes had become opened to an entire new world of parkas. You know what they say about going home again. Not always easy. I had entered a new dimension parka speaking.  There was a world of out there and in it parkas are not cheap. But are they ever amazing .. And in that world $900 seemed a bargain. Just a few weeks ago I had been appalled by that price.  How quickly we change our stripes I thought. Suddenly seeing a $1800 price tag seemed normal. 

 Of course life would have it that I did see a great one. And seriously expensive. Its from Army. Who knew. Who cares. It was amazing and then some . All I ever wanted,. Once again that thing that will change everything.  Parkas. Thought their main purpose was to keep you warm. If they could  look good doing it even better.

There is a world of parkas out there that  rock the very core of my heart. But this year I'm staying with my 'girl gets real' philosophy. When it doesn't hurt the wallet to buy the coat I'll be first one on line. And I'll know what to look for and where. But this season I'll stick to warm , cool and affordable.  Unigolo here I come.  . They are warm , cool and affordable. And those boots I've had my eye on. I'll be able to get them too.

Girl Crush

How does one get inspiration on how to dress or look or just be. A  girl crush. I'm sure we've all had them. Ever since that first day at school when whoever she was crossed your path and something inside you thought that she (the girl,whose name try as you may  now, you can't even remember) was the one.  The one with the perfect hair, perfect  eyes and eventually perfect boyfriend . In short , the one with the perfect life. At least, at the time,  it did feel like that. Alas back when you were young and lost and looking for who knows what girl crushes could both sustain and pain you.  Than not knowing seemed like a big void. You were looking for your place in it. The sustaining part of a girl crush served as a guidepost. Leading the way so you could find your way.

 Now that  you're all grown up and found your groove (or not) girl crushes are liberating and fun. They are not the reason you get up in the morning but they can make it a lot easier to get out of the house. They still help you choose your own adventure, solidify your own sense of style. Whatever your style girl crushes help you explore that sense . They come in  very handy in moments of panic when looking at your closet full of 'Why do I have all these things  I can't find a thing to wear today' you take a deep breath think of Olivia Palermo, Solange Knowles  or Vanessa Traina and soon enough you've pulled a look from all that confusion.  And just like that your day is made. I mention those particular ladies because they are my most recent 'crushes'. I will confess that I have quite a few of them. In the parlance of today these are our 'It' girls caught in pictures 'on or off duty' running here, going there. Always fabulous. Inspiring us even when its just going to Starbucks! 

I  love getting dressed and enjoy clothes but those ladies help me enjoy it all that much more.  They make it seem effortless pushing  boundaries with a twist in the wardrobe here or the right amount of classic there. And always the sunglasses and great handbag. Yes ,it is true, the right accessory can make an outfit. Just take a look at Sofia Coppola (coolness, perfection always)  or Tamu McPherson the style blogger (bold colors,cuteness).  Its love for us who like the art and expression of dressing and  it still serves as a way of back to you. At least for me albeit the pain though. Because now its for fun and inspiration and embracing today fully for who you are.

So indulge on your girl crushes with their statement pieces and iconic looks and  essential pieces .For the most part they all wear designer but they  too often mix it with more accessible pieces from Zara, Topshop and J.Crew.  And who doesn't love those stores They are only a few of some really great places where you too can find your inner 'It' girl . They  make  it easy to be smart on style and not so insane on your wallet.

It  all may be illusion. Smoke and mirrors  But its also a blueprint to your most inspired self. In its definition inspiration means: To breathe in, inhale, infuse thought with feeling. Animate. Encourage. That's it.  And so I thank my Zadie Smiths' (rocks those turbans) and Julia Starr-Jamois' (the hair, the legs!) and Lauren Bush Laurens' ( style ,perfection)   Tracee Ellis Ross and especially the first and  always the best ones.  Those that Diana Vreeland called the Then Now Forever  ones. The Jackie Kennedy Onassis' and Grace Kellys' Babe Paleys' and Marella Agnellis'.. Ah. Divine. Let it rain girl crushes on all those whose sense of style spread sunshine everywhere. Both the obscure and the obvious. Bring on the It girls.. The style mavens.