An Unstylish Moment - New Years Eve 2013

We ponder extravagant party dresses during the winter holidays. So much excess, so much Cinderella. We drag out beaded ball gowns, cocktail frocks dripping with spangles and bangles, or pour ourselves into stretch lace minis. We get decked out like the halls--beribboned, sparkly, and blingy. The goal is absolute gorgeousness, the unforgettable kind that guarantees a steady stream of suitors in the New Year.

Well, I found the perfect outfit to ring in 2014--it doesn’t bling or zing, and it cost nothing. I shopped in my closet, and had my choice of animal prints, shimmering jewel colors, or vintage favorites. I finally settled on cozy and comfortable sweatpants and a fleece-lined hoodie. It’s perfect for this year’s NYE activity--staying in with my hubby, watching Monty Python, eating Indian take-out, and drinking Prosecco.

No inner debates over strapless vs sleeveless vs backless. Proper undergarments won’t matter. No shawl needed to warm bare shoulders. And if I fall asleep in my sweats, nothing gets crushed, torn, or rumpled. If I need opulence, I’ll slip on a cocktail ring.

Happy 2014 to my readers and supporters!  Each one of you is a source of inspiration.  Make this your most stylish year ever!

Sneakin’ Around -- the Shoes of Summer

Summertime and the dressing is easy.  What’s better than barelegged?  Adorable shoes that complement those legs!  Here are the familiar, cute and comfortable shoes that will be my summer weekend staples.

Red Keds Champions--the classic sneaker that evokes childhood memories of tricycling around the neighborhood, endangering life and limb on roller skates, eating hot dogs and ribs at family barbecues, and visiting my grandmother’s cheery little house.  My mom bought me a pair of red Keds when I was a toddler.  She said that the first day I wore them I tottered around all day with a goofy little grin, eyes glued to my sneakers.  Love at first step. 

Silver gray Chuck Taylors--another signature shoe in my wardrobe. Chucks bring out my inner tomboy and are universally cool.  These are the shoes I'll be wearing when I'm 101 years old.

Walk This Way

Comfortable shoes could be a trend in the Fall! In the Sunday, June 28 NY Times Style section’s “Pulse” column, a mini piece appeared about lace up shoes. Oxfords, lace ups – specifically men’s style shoes. It cited a right-on rant by Andre Leon Talley on Vogue.com that noted how women have become fashion lemmings. He called out shoes that would better serve as “torture chambers” when he wrote, “Too many career women look like a herd of fashion beasts, aping one another in impractical shoes….”

I would go one step further and ask why any woman would buy and wear a pair of shoes that look like demented playground equipment. Think about jungle gyms, monkey bars and sliding boards on steroids that recall a bad acid trip, a lingering nightmare, or an early Betty Boop cartoon where the shoes come alive after midnight and chase our heroine through the streets. How far can you walk? Can you stand up straight? Most importantly, can you run for the train or from a creepy date?

I love heels and wear them regularly, but I refuse to be hobbled by stupid shoes. However, this does not mean that sensible granny shoes are my fate. Oxfords and saddle shoes can be kinda funky. I loved them on Janelle Monae in her “Many Moons” video (check it out on You Tube). I like the androgynous look, but it's not for everyone. Although these shoes are already a smash hit in the UK and the number of fans in downtown NYC is growing, most women will likely bypass this trend. Not me.

I've worn saddle shoes and heartily embraced the resurgence of Hush Puppies in the 1990s. I still have a pair of their two-tone cream and ginger suede oxfords. And I'm absolutely devoted to Converse. I'm looking forward to the arrival of wingtips for women.

After reading the column I checked the Internet for prices, styles and colors. The brands that I found, Charles Tyrwhitt (made in London), Dieppa Restrepo (hand made in Mexico), and s/sense (made in Portugal), are pretty slick. Unfortunately, all of the shoes that I liked best were in the $200 price range. A pair of Kenneth Cole was discounted to $100. I'll wait for the knock-offs.

Click here and scroll through the photos at Governor's Island for a better look at these shoes. There are lots of pics here, but I think you'll enjoy them all.

This Old Rag?

Comfort clothes. Baggy sweatshirts, shapeless old sweaters, mangy bathrobes. Faded colors, flaked off letters, holes, strings, missing buttons and broken zippers. Frayed collars, cutoff sleeves. Old friends. Stretched out, broken-in soft. Cozy. Non-binding, forgiving.

Everyone has a couple of these pieces. Stuff you wear on snow days. Bad days. Need-a-hug days. Broken heart weekends. These pieces won't lengthen your legs, suck in your gut or boost your bust, but they will never end up in a landfill.

I have an old cherry red terry bathrobe with strings hanging from the collar, sleeves and belt. In addition to an embroidered bouquet of daisies on the pocket it also sports a quarter-sized hole at the right shoulder seam. But it's warm and thirsty like a bath towel, always welcoming. The robe has no stories to tell, has never lead a double life. It's never traveled outside of the dryer.

I bought it many years ago to wrap myself in after summer showers. When asked if I plan to replace it, my response is "not really." I usually find wads of tissues, earplugs, tweezers, and eyeglasses in the pockets. Never a vial of Chanel No. 5 or a Cartier "Love" bracelet.

It's shabby but familiar. My old friend. I guess I could trim the strings and repair the hole, but who does it have to impress? It's here for me when I'm tired and hungry. It's here when I can't decide, when I don't want to decide, when I couldn't care less, and when I care too much.

What's your favorite piece of comfort clothing? What do you wear when you're diving into a bowl of your favorite comfort food? What do you reach for when you're recharging at home - relaxing your head? I'd love to know!