My favorite party outfit is a simple dark dress with a pair of killer red heels. I think white is even more stunning with a pair of signature red shoes, but not if you're even thinking about hitting the red wine. Nothing murders the party buzz like a big red blotch on your chest.

With flirty cap sleeves and a flattering skirt, the crepe de chine dress from Miu Miu ($920) is sweetly elegant.



Less flirty but more classic, the Celine wide-neck dress ($777) will have a shelf-life beyond that of your credit card bill.



What really makes those black dresses say "party" is the red shoes. My all time favorite red heel is the patent mary jane from Manolo Blahnik ($515). These are the first shoes I would buy, would buying shoes like this suddenly fit into the master plan.


For more saucy red zing, take a look at the Saphir patent slingback from Ferragamo ($360). Sleek legs ending in these babies will set any party on fire. Plus they're just demure enough in style to take you home to the grandparents. (Grandma's cataracts will blur the foxy red straight into prim.)

Labels: dresses, holiday, shoes

The sky is gray. Your sweater is gray. Santa can kiss your ass. (You do like his coat though.) Time to add a little red to your wardrobe.

Manolo Blahnik red patent slingbacks ($565) make me happy. They would also make me poor. While looking oh so dashing with a black dress.


Nothing like a red cashmere scarf ($89) to lift the mood when it's time to sally forth into the gray morning. Looks nice with your winter coat too.


Chloe Edith pocket satchel in red ($1020). I just swooned.

Labels: bags, holiday, shoes, stay toasty

If only. Oh, if only I had $800 extra dollars in my back pocket right now.

Chloe's Edith Satchel is on sale at Neiman Marcus for $808. That's half off. Simply gorgeous.


Any cash-laden men out there? Who can get past this whole mistaken train of thought: "Who needs an $800 bag to carry around a day planner and a wallet? Wouldn't a Trader Joe's tote do just as well? Why do you even need a day planner? Just do what I do and guess." If so and if you have a girlfriend who gives a flying fish about fashion, buy her this bag for Christmas. She'll love it. Guaranteed.

(I can say such a thing with a clear conscience because 1. My gift-giver doesn't read this blog. 2. I don't think any other men do either.... This doesn't mean I'm wrong.)

Labels: bags, bargains, holiday

The great and mysterious They (you know the ones, they're always saying something) declare (rather smugly) that it's better to give than receive. Perhaps. But isn't it even better to both give AND receive?

I thought so.

Here's an example of how the "one for you, one for me" shopping plan might look. Not that I would know or anything. Ahem.

Your charming younger cousin is always perfectly turned out. Rarely being perfectly turned out yourself, you hesitate to buy her something she would...not scoff at, she's too polite, but perhaps toss in a drawer, never to see the light of day again. Nixing jewelry, clothing, saucy hats and rubber boots. Lip gloss - maybe. But lip gloss is so subjective. There are so many options. Most of which are bound to be too sticky, glossy, garishly colored...or not sticky, glossy, garishly colored enough. So... how about bath paraphernalia? Barring the ever-tacky fistful of cash, that might be the best option.

Prime disseminator of tasty bath products, Philosophy's special blends don't instill the fear of "what if she doesn't take bubble baths?" because these suckers are bubble bath, bath gel and shampoo all in one. Oh yes. And everyone bathes and washes their hair. Well, most of everyone, and certainly the well-turned out cousin.

My seasonal favorite is Philosophy's double rich hot cocoa. What could be more decadent than sudsing up with something that smells just like hot chocolate? (Though it doesn't work so well as shampoo and I found it disturbing to loll about in brown bath water, it's still just delicious as bath gel, therefore....) Buy one of these for me ($16)...



...and one of these for the cousin. Philosophy's Ski House gift box comes with hot cocoa bath/body/shampoo goo, marshmallow body souffle and peppermint lipshine ($35). She will love it. So will virtually any woman who bathes.

Labels: holiday, skincare

You look pretty. You're thinking about maybe eating a salad this week. Hence, you are ready for...

Day Four

Shut up and stop worrying.

This is mainly for me, but since you're here, you get to hear it too. A few extra pounds do not a crisis make. Unless it's seriously affecting your health. (In which case, get thee to a doctor.) Otherwise, aside from developing good habits, you have better things to do with your time than obsess about the donut. Like knitting animatronic weasels or catching up on back issues of Boy's Life.

In the end, a few extra pounds registers absolute zero on the This Matters scale. It's far more important that you enjoy yourself. So go do something that makes you happy. Hedge: that doesn't mean stuff your gullet with 16 deep fried twinkies. I was thinking more along the lines of reading a good book with some tea or watching your favorite movie.

Go ahead. I'll wait.

Labels: fitting into the skinny jeans, holiday

Thanksgiving is over, my friends. Has been for nearly a week. Time to quit stalling and get off the couch. I hate that part of getting in shape, the one that requires getting off the couch. I walked to work today, I went to a dance class yesterday - probably burning off about three bites of pecan pie in the process. I am unfazed. An object in motion stays in motion, just as an object in sloth stays on the couch, happily watching reruns and burping Cheetos.

Sorry. The Cheetos burping may have been unnecessary.

Day Three

Get off the couch. Which I guess means you need to read this on the treadmill. (Or on the bus. I've never personally been on a treadmill so recommending it to you would make me a dirty hypocrite.)

Mireille Guiliano's French Women Don't Get Fat has practical eating advice that includes chocolate. What more could you want from a diet book? French Women for all Seasons promises similar advice for the upcoming Season o' Gluttony.


Confession: This review officially sucks because I haven't actually read the book yet. It's sitting on my night stand, but I suspect that doesn't count. At least not in the world of legitimate journalism. Luckily, I never claimed to be a legitimate journalist. Instead, I will flip through the book and share my findings.

Main holiday advice from Madame Guiliano: think about everything you put into your mouth. Take walks. Also, eat oysters.

If you're like me, you need something solid to launch you out of glutton mode. By solid, I don't mean fruitcake. December means parties, and parties mean fitting into those party dresses. Staying healthy and keeping your mitts off all the holiday crap people bring into work is mostly about being in the right frame of mind. This book can you get there. (Maybe reread a few chapters toward the end of December, when the real feasting begins. It will help, trust me.)

So take a gander at this book and then take a walk. Nothing long, don't climb any mountains, but get yourself into the forward moving frame of mind. Oh, how you will feel better. Just by getting those little legs moving. Move, legs! Move!

[Avail yourselves of Days 1 and 2 here. Oh, and here.]

Labels: book tips, fitting into the skinny jeans, holiday

I don't know why my self-esteem suddenly rises when my lips are a different color. Shouldn't my self-worth be based on, I don't know, stunning generosity or a Nobel Prize? Apparently not. It's boosted inexplicably upward by the application of lipstick. I am shallow. (Therefore...)

Day Two

Wear lipstick.

I kid you not. That is my advice. Treacherous thighs still not smaller, even with a breakfast of grapenuts? Distract, distract, distract. Put some color on your face and you immediately feel, if not thinner, at least hotter.

My next lipstick purchase will be Clinique Different Lipstick in Angel Red. I hear it's good stuff, though I can't provide a solid review just yet. But when do I ever? I gleefully post Manolos without ever having been in the same room with one.



My personal favorite red is Smashbox's Deep Red. Start with some gloss or a layer of Benetint (helps lips stay red even through six cups of coffee) and gaze at your lovely face in the mirror as long as you please. Just keep your eyes above the neck.

Labels: beauty, holiday

Thanksgiving has an evil way of insinuating itself far past the designated borders of the official Day. Eating habits of the Shove Whatever You Want Into Your Wide-Open Maw persuasion find themselves happily ensconced in your routine not just on the day, but through the entire weekend. Or at least until the leftovers are gone and, when searched, your cupboards cough up only dry cous cous.

The Monday after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as the Day of Reckoning, is a harsh mistress to those of us who are genetically incapable of turning down a (fifth) slice of pecan pie. So there will be a new tip every day this week to help you face your mirror - and soon your scale - with equanimity.

Day One

Is it too much to expect that eating one salad will make you drop an instant five pounds? That would be a resounding "yes." I've tried. It doesn't work. A few extra salads and a few extra walks aren't really going to make themselves known in your hips for a week or so. In the mean time, find something roomy to wear. Don't resort to a muumuu (trust me, you'll only feel worse), but do find something that skims your body while leaving that cornbread stuffing a little extra room to breathe. (Before you suffocate the ever-loving life out of it in Pilates.)

Lucky ladies with a designer budget should check out this Chloe ruched silk mini-dress ($3,410). Yes, mini-dress seems counter intuitive at this point, but never underestimate the power of black tights and chunky mary-janes to make even mashed potatoes-stuffed legs appear slender and miles long.


A shirt dress never fails. Keep the tights and maryjanes and throw on this Nili Lotan shirt dress with white piping ($475). Self-esteem enhancing style and plenty of room for those three (fine, five) extra pieces of pumpkin pie are yours once again.


Black is always slimming, but sometimes a blustery day calls for a little color. So try this cheerful red kimono-style dress from Max Studio ($138). Sleeves drape gracefully to your elbow and the high-waisted skirt flows over your thighs. (Thank god.)


But don't go getting all cocky just cause you look so good. No more pie for you. At least not with fresh whipped cream. (It's the cream that adds all the calories. Really.)

Labels: dresses, holiday