How to look pretty this fall

Ed. Note: The following guest post is generously provided by my favorite fashionista, Kathy. Be nice to her; she’s going to make you fabulous for fall.

Hello! I am Elizabeth’s friend Kathy. I have known Elizabeth since she began a career as a news media professional, a career she wisely ditched in favor of having a life and a reasonable amount of money. Congrats to Elizabeth for figuring this out only nine years before I did! My main problem with her these days is that I don’t see her nearly enough.

So, you know how Elizabeth comes here and opens up her heart and mind to us, so that we might feel less alone in our own struggles and learn to understand and accept each other as we are–as friends, and as brothers and sisters on this crazy spinning ball we call The Earth?

Well, I like outfits! It’s still pretty hot here in Raleigh all the time, and yet, all I can think about is Outfits in The Time of the Colored Leaves.

I am now going to tell you what to wear. Most of this stuff you can get at the mall. Get on email lists and stores will send you coupons.

My current biggest fear on the planet is what is going to happen to fashion when “Mad Men” grooves on into those disgusting Seventies, because I have been so happy for the styles of the Sixties Hitchcock blondes to return to the stores.

That means Dress like the Sixties for fall i.e. Kim Novak, Betty Draper, and fat Twiggy.  Because, come on, no one’s as skinny as real Twiggy. Some of us are downright Ziggy.

Nevertheless, I will wear an orange miniskirt this year and you will just have to shut it on up if you don’t like it. Yes, I’m telling everyone to find and wear an orange skirt. Or royal blue. Or red. Just make it a bold color, in a simple shape, with good structure. I got mine at Ann Taylor, but The Limited, Nordstrom and J. Crew are doing similar good things.

Now, an above-knee, solid-color skirt is no great risk. A-line, full, pencil or whatever are good too. If you’ve got the height to pull off that just-above-the-calf thing, go nuts.

Here’s where I’m going to challenge you. Are you sitting down? You are? Well then stand up, stand up (joke courtesy of Tom Scharpling.)

Wear that skirt with a top in a non-matching, solid, bold color. Put the orange skirt with a pink top! Your Kelly green pencil needs a royal blue sweater! Yellow skirt? Teal that!

It’s called color-blocking folks, and it’s gonna look adorable. Trust me! You can even do it in less-bold colors, such as gray and black, and it still counts as color-blocking. Just keep the shapes simple and avoid detail or adornment—that goes for accessories, too.

Okay, if that’s too loco for you, might I interest you in some animal prints of which I have previously not preferred? Sixties You (AKA your better self) practically requires it. Sweaters and shoes are a good entrée into this realm.

One lovely animal pattern can be found on my favorite item of the whole fall so far, J. Crew’s Tippi sweater, no doubt inspired by Hitchcock blonde Tippi Hedren. It’s perfect. The neckline hits your collarbone at just the right spot, the sleeves are my favorite length—bracelet—and it comes in an array of gorgeous colors and is a nice lightweight merino that’s not too warm but warm enough. It’s America’s greatest sweater.

J.Crew's Tippi Sweater in Leopard

Pantyhose! Look, I know only our mom’s friends wear pantyhose at the moment, but if you’re gonna go ladylike, they work. And, they hold you in place nicely under all those pencil skirts. You love tights, don’t you? It’s really not that big of a leap. Remember how polished and put-together it used to make you feel back when you put them on in the Nineties? It still works, trust me.

For further guidance, I recommend you visit the Lady Chic Shop on Neiman Marcus’ website. Please note that all the models are wearing black pantyhose.

You know how they say go big, or go home, and it’s really dorky? Well, I’m telling you to go big and then go OUT… on the town or something? Go with large jeweled stud earrings, track down a vintage brooch or two (I’m particularly obsessed with starbursts—for earrings, cocktail rings, and a mirror for my upstairs hallway) and a short string of pearls or beads in a single or double strand. Grab a frame bag, tie it with a simple scarf in maybe a deco-looking geometric pattern or a houndstooth.

So, now you’re dressed and you look good. Here’s where I leave you.

BlogHer At Home Giveaway

I realize this is short notice, but Noteworthy Invitations, on my behalf, is one of the sponsors of BlogHer At Home ’11! This is the party for the non-party goers who are staying home from the BlogHer ’11 conference in San Diego this year. While everyone else is gallavanting through the Gaslamp Quarter with their swag bags, we’ll be here sweltering in the August heat BUT THAT’S OKAY Y’ALL. I am sad not to be there, yes, but not so sad that I can’t give away $50 in invitations/stationery/etc. tomorrow night!

Hit up Twitter at 9pm and follow along with the other at-home conference attendees.

Window shopping

Since Friday, our house has been alternately a den of black-cloudy despair and a cheerfest of positivity and opportunity. All of it’s bullshit, so I’ve decided to do some online shopping.

Well, window shopping. We ARE getting ready to be poor, after all.

I decided I was in the market for a new wallet, because who isn’t? I want something from Etsy and I want it to be small enough that I physically can’t cram a lot of crap into it. I’m trying to be of the mindset that smaller is better because smaller can’t be stuffed with 4,000 receipts or 20 tubes of lipgloss or my fat ass. These are the facts.

Here’s what I found:

1. Batwa Wallet in Flower Child

This does not at all fit my criteria but it’s insanely cute.

2. Handmade Classics Skinny Wallet in Cherry Blossom

No change purse, but it does check off the “tiny” box.

3. More Warped Little Wallet in Toto

I love this one – LOVE IT – but I’m waffling. Might be too precious to survive my bag.

4. Knotted Nest Billfold

Again, no change purse, but I love the geometric patterns and the slim style.

5. Marty May Whale Wallet in Blue and Cream

By far my favorite and the front runner. No change purse, no zipper, no frills but LOOK AT THE WHALE.

I think you should do the work for me.

And thus begins the start of another holiday season. This afternoon I watered my plants, changed my voicemail, locked the door and prepared myself for 2 ½ weeks of vacation. But then my boss wanted me to do two Noteworthy gift certificates – right then – and my customers on opposite ends of the county needed their orders delivered and my prescription wasn’t called in to the pharmacy like my doctor’s office said it would be and there was nothing for dinner and WHAT?

What vacation?

So I’ve resigned myself to the fact that in what will seem like 24 hours, I will wake up and it will be January 4th. And I’ll be so glad to head back to the office and get ready for the madness of registration, but I will also be a little sad to leave my warm, snuggly bed filled with warm, fat cats.

In the meantime though there are presents to wrap! Cards to…open. (The goal this year is to send out New Year’s cards, but even that’s looking like slim chances.) Stockings to fill! Family to visit! Decorating still to be done! A birthday party to throw! Money to find! Gifts to send to my sweet friends who still haven’t even received a birthday card from me yet! Are you tired from reading this! No! Then you’re not reading hard enough!

My friend told me today that I didn’t understand her anxiety because I don’t have children. And maybe that’s true. But this time of year produces giant piles of stress in people who ordinarily are cool as cucumbers; I think that’s true whether you have children or not.

I would love to know how you do it. How do you stay calm and focused this time of year? Do you take time to chill, or do you hustle and bustle and hope everything works itself out?

This year is a little different for me, what with the extra-long vacation and the precariously-connected brain wires. I need all the tips I can get.

A Little Luxe for Santa

All my blogger friends are compiling the most fabulous gift guides for the holidays, and I would be remiss if I didn’t jump into the fray. The holidays are hectic – I dare anyone to argue that point – and it’s important to remember yourself on your gift list. Selfish? Not in the least. Actually, it’s rather brilliant for you to buy for you because you’re guaranteed to get what you ultimately want.

And isn’t that what it’s all about, after all? Of course it isn’t, but it’s fun to consider the possibility.

  1. Red high heels. I just bought a similar suede pair from H&M and I am drooling over them until I have an occasion to show them off. Christmas is the perfect opportunity to exhibit your semi-wild side way down there on your feet.
  2. Jo Malone Body Crème. So luscious I would almost be afraid to use it. Almost.
  3. Land’s End Cotton Modal Nightgown. Now. There’s nothing about this nightgown that says “sexy” or “check me out, Tiger Woods” or “I am 22 and HOT,” but cotton modal is – to me – one of the softest, most comfortable fabrics around. For actual sleeping, you can’t beat this with a stick. Plus, hello? It’s $39.50.
  4. Diane von Furstenburg Leather Kindle Case. J’adore my Kindle in every way. What I don’t have is a lovely case to protect it from all the wine glasses at my book club.
  5. Haus Interior Navy Zig Zag Throw. Think of the naps you could take all wrapped up in this thing. Purr.
  6. Marc Jacobs Lola Solid Perfume Ring. Y’all, this is the cutest thing ever. Perfume IN A RING. It’s so genius and it’s pretty. This won’t be in my stocking, but it should be.
  7. Williams-Sonoma Croissants. Show me a girl who doesn’t love a croissant and I’ll show you a liar. Bake these, sit down with some coffee and that talk show with Leah Remini and never tell a soul.
  8. Hotel Guanahani. I never said this list was realistic. It’s probably cold where you are, and where I am there’s snow on the ground, but in St. Bart’s there’s this.