Dinner with Friends

The Story of the Glam Umbrella

More often than not I wear black for all the usual reasons-it's sophisticated, elegant, and it always works with itself, no need to worry about shades. But, every once in a while, especially when it's fashionable (ok, who are we kidding here-only when it's fashionable) I do wear color. Today, with lovely fall temperatures in NY I am wearing orange. It's a silk wrap dress narrow and fitted in the bodice but wider and flutterier in the skirt with a vaguely 50's feel to it. I have orange flats but not heels (one day I will) so I wear gold sandals when it's warm enough brown boots when it's not (I don't expect to ever have orange boots, no) with lots of gold jewelry piled on. I do have an orange coat-orange satin and also very fitted in the bodice and as wide and fluttery as satin can be in the skirt, with 3/4 bell sleeves and a peter pan collar. Because it's raining I put on my brown tortoise-shell jelly ballet flats and I have a floppy orange bag from H & M (no important designer pieces in bright colors-I may wear something one season and then never again, I buy designer pieces only in dark colors that I will wear for years).

I got dressed, went downstairs and put on my coat grabbing a brown umbrella on the way out the door. But something made me pause. It was there, in the umbrella stand, gently calling to me, making me smile and I took her up on her offer.

 
 
  
 

A few years ago there was an umbrella in H & M that I fell in love with. It's long and slim with an elegant curled gold handle and leopard print fabric-for me it was love at first sight. But the reality is that I hate long umbrellas, I want to be able to close an umbrella, put it in a plastic bag, and then into my bag when indoors or not raining and my bag isn't big enough for this umbrella. I don't want a wet umbrella leaning against my clothes for several reasons and finding a plastic bag for this umbrella has been difficult. I don't want to put it down someplace and leave it, either.  And animal print goes in and out so I will only wear it when in. For weeks every time I went in to H & M I saw her there, I resisted. But eventually love won out and I invested the full price of $12.50 and bought my beauty who was patiently waiting for me to take her home. I have carried her only once-all the conditions must be right and today is one of those days. It is supposed to rain all day, I have no particular plans so I don't need to furl and unfurl her very often, animal print is about to explode in "inness" for fall and she most definitely has that 50's vibe that is my ensemble today. She also has a very satisfying snap upon opening. One must stand with one foot firmly on the ground and the other pointed out in front in a very balletic stance, keeping the umbrella in the opposite hand point it out also, press the button and voila-she opens with a perfect very authoritative SNAP.

 

As I sit on the train looking at her lean elegantly against the seat I am glad love won out.

My Glam Best Friend's Birthday Party

My Glam Best Friend loves birthdays-his casual acquaintance's, his good friend's but especially his own. He celebrates for at least 2 weeks, if not a month (!). What with brunches with some friends, dinners with others, Fire Island weekends (and I am privileged to go to most of his events which gives me much joy for many reasons) and it all culminates for him and his many friends with a grand spectacle of a cocktail party.

He has given me the great pleasure and honor of planning and executing said party so I have a marvelous time twice. We spend the daytime hours cooking and preparing at his apartment then we transport all the food, alcohol, platters, bowls, and cups to the fabulous space that will be the party. Last year a new and ultra hip hotel this year in a coolly glamorous store his friend runs. We whisked all the merchandise away and set up the party.

Its theme this year was Diamonds and Pearls which suits him so perfectly (and it does me too)! 2 weeks before the party we went to craft stores and gathered lots of diamonds and pearls to decorate the space-which turned out beautifully!! We served skewers of mozzarella, grape tomatoes, and basil; smoked salmon on tiny toast points garnished with dill cream cheese, tiny meatballs simmered in a sweet and sour sauce, tiny mac and cheese squares, a cheese platter, bowls of nuts, wasabi peas, caramel popcorn, and copious amounts of alcohol. The only thing we didn't make ourselves were the nuts and the meatballs though they and the caramel corn were the hit of the party! My friend's roommate is a chef at a currently hot restaurant, and when he woke up and offered to help, he took my presentation abilities to the next level which was really exciting for me. He taught me how to pipe the tiny dollop of dilled cream cheese on top of the smoked salmon and showed me tricks on how to get the tiny sandwiches to spiral perfectly on the platters.

His friends really rose to the occasion and put on their best, their most glittery party dresses for the occasion-it was a really really fabulous event! My GBF wore black pants and a long black T with many layers of pearls and chain links around his neck for fabulous effect! I wore a cream strapless sheath with many shades of gold threads shot through (upon which I got many compliments). He wears make up almost every day (which I think is AMAZING and wonderful! It really does make everyone look better and I wish more men would) but many of his friends put it on for this evening and added totally fab jewels to their ensembles. There was even a tie in evidence!! With everyone looking and feeling so beautiful the party got GOING from the first minute the first person walked in the door! It lasted until 9 am the next morning and a very very very good time was had by all!

Madison Ave Day

My fashion friend and I went window shopping on Madison Ave on Saturday. More than just looking in the windows though, we go into all the stores and wander around passing judgment. It's one of our favorite ways to spend a day and the only thing that would have made it better would have been the actual purchase of something. Unfortunately though I can't buy full price things on Madison Ave so no matter how much I covet the deep purple car-paint patent leather Armani bag or the red sheared mink narrow wrap also from Armani, or the killer satin gladiator towering (but very comfortable) high heel Donna Karan sandals I cannot buy them now and will have to hope and pray they have the pieces when they're on sale at the end of the season. Oh, or the black Dior suede round toe ruffled pumps. That said we had a marvelous day meandering in and out of the various stores...at DKNY I showed him the red paillette dress I mentioned three blogs ago and he was quite impressed...we had a blast at Lanvin marveling at the exquisite clothes, shoes, and bags...we had quite a laugh at a navy sueded silk dress that was hung up sideways and inside out that took us 10 minutes to figure out-he managed to find one sleeve but there were so many folds and pleats that we couldn't find any way for your other arm to get out of the dress. We laughed over made up stories of being drunk and trying to get in or out of it. We admired and were jealous of the charming young woman trying on a Lanvin evening gown with seemingly every intention of buying it...

It all culminated with our going down to Maialino one of my absolute favorite restaurants in the city for coffee. We though about high tea at one of the fancy old world hotels but I was standing firm, I just wasn't in the mood. He works at Starbucks and has learned much about coffee while there so I knew he would love their coffee but also how knowledgable and interested the staff is. We each chose our coffee and were trying to decide on a little something to snack on but it was 5 and we really didn't want to eat dinner and really couldn't find anything to go with the coffee. I asked if there were biscotti and our waiter said yes, of course, and then I hit on the brilliant notion of asking if there were any breakfast pastries left hanging around. Lo and behold there were! We had a terrific little picnic of cheese straws, foccaccia slices, handmade of the season jams, delicious butter, olive oil, sea salt, and an olive oil muffin. I am going again next week and I am really looking forward to it.

Addendums

Addendum #1

My brilliant cleaners was able to get the jagged line of tomato oil out of my white dress which now sparkles brilliantly.

Addendum #2

During the day I wore the navy print Balenciaga skirt I had trouble with it. It took me a little while to realize why that lady told me to pull it down-it was because the slit in the back was so very high. I couldn't figure out why I didn't realize it in the fitting room at Bergdorf's but when I took it off that night it all became clear-including the fact that every time I went to the ladies room I had to actually take it off so that I could smooth the narrow lining down correctly. When I took it off I twisted it a little and saw the folds and pleats sit more like I remembered and the slit sat over my thigh. It was at that moment I realized that I had been wearing the damn thing sideways all day!!!!???? That never happens to me-I KNOW to wear clothes but this time the skirt had won. But only temporarily. I wondered for one brief moment if I could have a do-over and wear the skirt again the next day. But in 2 weeks or so I will wear it again. The right way.

My newest pieces and their stories

A few weeks ago I fell off the wagon.  Again. At Bergdorf’s. I bought a Moschino dress (a designer I’ve been coveting for years but could never really make work until this moment) and  Michael Kors Collection top-both black both way too heavy for now.  Qu’elle triste…I also tried on a Balenciaga skirt and loved it but it was a print and I never wear prints so I was afraid to spend the money thinking I’d take it home and never wear it and while it was marked down three times we’re not talking any ol' H&M markdown.  I can’t afford to let it sit in my closet unworn.  I didn’t buy it but I was thinking about it.  And I couldn’t stop thinking about it.  I showed my GBF the dress and the top-the top is cool, black cashmere sleeveless shell that hits just below my hips, smooth over the front and is a big bubble in the back.  A smiling, “Oh WOW” popped out of his mouth before he could stop it so I knew he liked it too.  Then I showed him the dress and he was very polite but reserved in saying, I have to see that on.  I’ll be honest here and tell you that on, it wasn’t the most flattering dress in the world, and by the time my GBF saw it I had realized that though it wasn’t the worst dress in the world, I just bought it because it was marked down three times and was Moschino.   A few days later I showed it to my husband who exclaimed, “That looks like an Italian widow grandmother dress-take it back!!”  I did.  The Balenciaga skirt was still there so I bought it.  I was still a bit nervous about the print but I took it to my friend again and he said it was an amazing skirt and I had to keep it.  It’s quite a heavy silk and lined in silk so I’ve been waiting for it to be cooler out to wear it though I finally decided I could today.  It goes perfectly with my vintage (from my own collection) Donna Karan boyfriend jacket but that’s way too hot for now so I found a more summery jacket to go with it.  It took me a long time to get dressed this morning since this is such a new style of outfit for me.  I’m usually quite monochromatic so my choice of accessories is easy-just wear the pieces in that color.  Alas, with a tan and navy skirt I had many directions to choose.  I had to try on 3 or 4 jackets to see which silhouette went best with the skirt, then which top was the right shade of cream for underneath.  When it came to shoes I was running out of time and patience so I just grabbed my navy Roger Vivier pumps, though I have 3 pair of cream shoes I could have tried on and worn-I really couldn’t face that.  Next time I wear the outfit I’ll try on all the shoes because I’ll already know what jacket and top I can wear.  At least it meant I could take the navy Muse bag easily enough.  Then it was time for jewelry and I chose the vintage creamy pearls that were my grandmother’s.  She wore the double strand as opera length but I lash them to my neck as a choker and tie them behind my ponytail or jacket lapels.  I had to try navy bracelets and gold, even pearl.  Ultimately, I chose all gold bracelets and watch with my gold and pearl Balenciaga ring.  I think it’s a pretty cool outfit, even bordering on what fashion people call “intellectual”. 

A woman stopped me on the way to the train and told me I should remember to keep pulling my skirt down during the day.  I slowly turned my head to look at her and saw one of the dowdiest creatures on earth but decided to remain polite.  I just sneered mildly and said thank you.  She wasn't finished yet, however, she smiled brightly, and went on (!?!?!?!?!?!) to tell me that I really should be wearing pantyhose with the skirt like she was with hers.  I slowly turned to her once again and quietly replied, “Let’s take a look at the hideous dowdy outfit you have on today and then at the chic stylish ensemble I do, all from Paris or important French couturiers and then decide exactly where I should take my fashion cues, shall we”?  I turned my back on her and walked quickly away, sat down and opened my New York Magazine, Fall Fashion Issue to see what I did need to know for fall.

My Husband's Birthday

I had quite the eventful day the day that was my husband's birthday. I wrapped his three presents-Alexander McQueen skeleton head T, vintage skeleton head swizzle sticks and a silver rectangular link with black leather inserted into the rectangular links-all wrapped in black paper with white, wait for it...skeleton heads. Do you notice a theme here? Yes, he loves them. Not the scary creepy kind but the sophisticated urban kind and yes there is a difference. :). (Interestingly, so does my glam best friend.) I left them on the bed for him before I left for work.

I have a few dresses that I can wear maybe 3 days out of the year-one of those rare days that it's summer but not so hot and humid so that linings or pencil dresses with boning don't stick to you. Since Friday was one of those days I wore my very narrow white linen shot with silver threads strapless lined in silk Ralph Lauren Purple Label dress. With it, I wore my new RL Purple Label ultra long white silk/linen cable knit cardigan over it to work, with my silver YSL cage shoes, thinking what a great date outfit this was.

There was a lunch event in my office so I waited for free lunch, when the meeting was over. I saw that whoever ordered the lunch did not use my caterer so I knew it wouldn't be good, but it was free. So I let it go. Let me remind you there is no such thing as a free lunch! I was eating a very bad mozzarella tomato wrap while chatting with the receptionist when it happened. I felt something cold and wet on my skin, I gasped and there it was-a jagged stripe of tomato oil dripped down the front of my white linen dress. I ran to my desk for Tide Stick but my friend assured me that baby wipes work better, that they are miracles so I ran to Duane Reade for some-but they didn't work, neither did the Tide or Oxy Clean. I could do nothing else so I was going SHOPPING! How could I take my husband out dressed in a tomato stripe?

There was a great dress in French Connection I wanted when we were in Boston but the store didn't have my size. I had been wanting to try the stores here but didn't seem to have time-I ran to Soho but they didn't have my size either.  I wandered into various stores in Soho but found nothing that fit me or worked with my accessories...I gave up. The belt of my white sweater, which that morning I had tied behind me was now tied in front, strategically placed over the stain and I could easily carry my handbag over it too. I went back to the office defeated. My glam best friend gave me much sympathy.

I left the office at 4:30 and went uptown to have coffee with my GBF and noticed a discreet sale sign in the Donna Karan window. I hung with him for a bit when, unfortunately he wasn't feeling well, so he left early and went home to bed. It was now 5:30 and I didn't have to meet my husband at 8:30. Hmmm...what to do, what to do...well I went in to Donna Karan for one thing! I tried on some things but nothing seemed to work, though there is a camisole I'm still thinking about and may go back for Sunday. I did buy a pair of red jelly sandals that are lined with the work of an artist that Donna likes. I wandered further downtown and saw that DKNY was also having a sale (FUN-huh???). I went in and saw my salesperson, perhaps new friend. I showed him my tomato stripe and we wandered around the sale section finding things that would go with my accessories. I actually saw "it" first. We gathered some cute things and I found a very cute grey pin stripe scoop neck dress on sale for so little money it would be a shame not to buy it-I did. I was looking for something black, white, grey or shockingly, red. I saw the cocktail dress made completely of red paillettes and grabbed it just for the fun of it. I tried on all the pieces, we had a lot of fun and then last, I tried on the red paillettes go-go dress and fell in love as soon as a I slipped it on. A simple tank dress in the front with a deep U and skinny crisscross straps in the back. It was perfect! It didn't go with my necklace and I wasn't sure about my cage shoes but I slipped them on and it was even more perfect with them! Other salespeople wandered into the dressing room area and stopped dead in their tracks. Compliments flew and I knew I would buy it. I called my husband to make sure I wouldn't be too dressed up for him and he had on one of his Paul Smith black suits. I called lots of friends to make sure I could wear a red spangly dress to dinner but men seem not to answer their phones-finally I got through to my GBF who said I simply had to wear it!!! That yes it went with my Valentino daytime bag and that I owed it to myself to wear it. I was walking towards H & M to try to find silver hoop earrings and a bra. I actually found red lacy lingerie! Unfortunately the bra had the wrong straps but the dress really didn't need one. Sadly by now I didn't have time to stop at my office to change so I changed in the ladies room at the Gramercy Park Hotel-where our restaurant lives. I had moved from my usual flapper self to being Holly Golightly. I saw many chic cocktail dressed women going in and out of the ladies room which was so exciting for me!! I met my husband at Maialino's entrance and we went in but I saw way too many kids and plaid shirt people for my comfort but as we went further back in the restaurant the other diners were more dressed up and as it got later too. It didn't really matter-I felt great!!!!!

Maialino is a fabulous restaurant that I go to all the time for breakfast so the staff has begun to know me-and it has the BEST coffee ever! The beans' country of origin change often and I am in love with tasting all of them. The service at the restaurant is comparable to that of Per Se and Picholine, which I think is the best in the city, but as I say Maialino is comparable, just much less formal; the food, of course is wonderful. My husband had a glass of prosecco and I had a negroni. I didn't get buzzy immediately (which I love) it snuck up on me (maybe not so much). I started with an heirloom tomato salad-different colors and styles but with real bufalo mozzarella torn over them and basil oil drizzled all around. Clever, modern, delicious. My husband started with a plate of lovely prosciutto di Parma and toasted foccaccia. I then had ravioli filled with corn and ricotta, drizzled with shredded cheese. He had the roast chicken with the most divine little roasted potatoes with rosemary. Since the manager I know was there that night he sent over a pot of delicious coffee-Ethiopian and decaf (!?!?!?). I had the affogato-chocolate gelato with espresso poured over it and my husband had a deeply flavorful bowl of chocolate gelato. The coffee took my alcohol induced exhaustion away which made me really happy-it was a wonderful wonderful dinner and evening.

As we walked back to the car people stopped me in the street to compliment my dress which was very exciting and special for me-funny though, no one noticed my cage shoes (which is what they have stopped me for before).

I wanted to make cocktails when we got home-to use the swizzle sticks and to get ready for my trip to the cleaners to beg him to get my white dress clean.  But my husband wanted to go upstairs and well... it was his birthday after all...

Boston Restaurants

We went to a couple of restaurants while we were in Boston, some better than others obviously.

The meeting then event I went for was in a restaurant that I had been before and had mixed feelings about so I went with no expectations. Mistral turned out to be lovely-a sun filled welcoming Mediterranean styled room with really nice food and a wonderful staff. There were personal pizzas cut into tiny wedges passed by waiters with tiny tongs, there was tuna tartar and many other lovely little bites. Tres charmant.

After that we went to my absolute favorite restaurant in Boston (and definitely on my top 5 favorite worldwide list-right up there with Per Se!), O-YA. It's on a tiny street that no one ever heard of, around the corner from South Station in what looks like a rough part of town and it's called The Leather District. Inside the restaurant is rustic Japanese. The first time we ate there we were put next to the kitchen as they were the only two seats left that evening and now we make a reservation requesting those two seats! Sitting at the sushi bar, the chairs are high bar stools so you can really watch the master sushi chef's at work, unlike at lesser Japanese places where you sit below the sushi bar and cannot see a thing. To our right is the grill, which we can also see quite clearly at work and then the kitchen. We go late, around 9ish and the restaurant closes at 10 so when we are about 1/2 way through dinner the chef is winding down his night and stands at the kitchen doorway watching...which the first time we went, for me meant I could chat! But it's his wife, the sommelier who is really our source! She and I are foodies and restaurant fanatics together and we are becoming friends!! The food at O-YA is beyond compare! A whole menu of tiny bites of the delicious yet innovative sushi (both fish and meats) and none of those silly American things, like the Philadelphia roll. My favorite piece is the salmon tataki, 2 pieces of salmon sushi over which has been passed, a tiny blowtorch for less than a second so it cooks some of the swirly lines of the salmon, then a tiny dollop of spiced mayonnaise and a slice of grape tomato all over a glorious rice. It's a mass of texture and flavor for which I could go on describing but you want to hear about the other places, right? My husband's favorite dish is the braised short ribs a 2-3 bites of perfectly tender-silky and juicy ultra rich meat braised in sake and soy and surrounded by several perfectly square cubes of potato. So you get the idea...tiny 2 bite dishes perfectly balanced flavors, textures, and colors throughout the whole glorious meal. Which also includes excited foodie chatter between the owner and me!!!

The next night we went to Clio on the recommendation of an important Manhattan chef and my CEO. I've begun to learn about important Boston chef's and apparently Ken Oringer is one. The restaurant is in a hotel built in 1925 so I was expecting greatness. The food was terrific-my husband had a terrific beef two ways type of dish-short ribs and beef cheeks. I had the marinated hamachi and yellow tail for a first course then the Cassoulet of sea urchin and lobster (delicious!!) the problem was the other diners were so blah-no buzz, no excitement, the decor equally so. Ok, we went, I'm glad we did but now it's off the list and we move on to the next one.

Time in Boston

I had the opportunity to fly to Boston last week and had an absolutely marvelous time. I haven't flown on the Delta Shuttle in many years, usually when my husband and I go we drive so that I don't have to worry about how much stuff I take. Or buy.

I left my office in my Saint Laurent jacket, Prada pencil skirt and Lanvin heels feeling exceedingly chic and that feeling didn't go away until I took off my ensemble at midnight.

Just outside my office, I got into a taxi and 35 mins later was in the fabulously art deco Marine Air Terminal. Still in heels I breezed through security, waited outside the gate, in a leather club chair and got on the plane, then again into a taxi. In the Marine Air Terminal the very senior executives were mostly men but they were all in suits-and expensive suits which brings me back several decades and makes me feel art deco. The one very sad social commentary is that there are still so many more men than women in this particular airport lounge.  I arrived looking terribly chic got into a taxi and arrived at the ultra glam hotel.

The decor at Nine Zero was crisp, urban, and deco though with a tres modern fillip.  Black and tan print carpets, black and tan furniture, deep tan walls, and crisp white sheets with a black and taupe fur throw over the bed.

My husband and I go to Boston fairly often but this was the first time in many years that I went on business. When we have gone personally the last year or two we have stayed at the Jury's Hotel which has now become the Back Bay Hotel. We loved the idea that it used to Boston's police headquarters turned into a hotel. But it's decor was a little rundown, a little suburban, not inelegant-the service was also just ok. We stayed there because it was inexpensive for a boutique hotel and it was incredibly convenient being just steps away from the beginning of Boylston St which we love.

The ultra chic Nine Zero isn't really near anything we want to be near but the service is so fabulous and the rooms so gorgeous that I believe we will make do with the extra inconvenience.

I made friends with the lead concierge who seems to know Boston like I know NY and that is what I look for in a concierge.

The restaurant and shopping stories are coming next...