Monday, May 26, 2008
Being Dave
Ok, maybe this pic doesn't have anything to do with style or with the Palm Springs of Washington, but when you're Dave Matthews & you're standing in front of the Fairmont Hotel and Julie spots you and begs you for a picture....well, it really doesn't matter what you're wearing, does it?
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Spontaneous Combustion
"Spontaneous Combustion" last night was sort of a "Follies Lite" production put on by director Jaime Donegan as an additional fundraiser for Memorial Hospital. By Lite, I mean it was like the Follies but minus a lot of the usual "use-the-cast-you-have" slightly dorky numbers that always come with it. It was one performance instead of three and it was held in the more relaxed atmosphere of The Seasons instead of the Capitol Theater.
I think the main focus of the show was to get everyone drunk, as the cast took breaks about every three numbers so everyone could return to the 4 bars to keep the buzz going. But there was a lot of local talent, some of it absolutely perfect ("Taylor the Latte Boy"--that knocked everyone out!), some big ol' rock numbers that tried to encourage audience participation (not a lot of that, however), and a few numbers everyone could have done without but hey, that's ok too. Everyone deserves their Moment.
But seeing as this is a style blog and not an entertainment blog, let's look at the real stuff:
Tiffany was there to see the show & dressed for the weather--it was a friggin' 98 degrees!--in this royal blue strapless smocked baby doll. Plus the Louis bag, plus big Posh-style sunglasses. She looked a little too chic for the Palm Springs of Washington. And as Posh herself would say, "Maijah! Maijah!"
Christina (gee I hope that's your name, it was getting late & there were a lot of gin tonics involved) was in the show & this was my favorite costume of the night: purple sequined flapper dress! Who wouldn't want to wear this? Plus the moment when she delivered the wine to Bart while he sang Billy Joel was one of the best of the evening. Fearless! Fierce! Furious! Loved her.
I think the main focus of the show was to get everyone drunk, as the cast took breaks about every three numbers so everyone could return to the 4 bars to keep the buzz going. But there was a lot of local talent, some of it absolutely perfect ("Taylor the Latte Boy"--that knocked everyone out!), some big ol' rock numbers that tried to encourage audience participation (not a lot of that, however), and a few numbers everyone could have done without but hey, that's ok too. Everyone deserves their Moment.
But seeing as this is a style blog and not an entertainment blog, let's look at the real stuff:
Tiffany was there to see the show & dressed for the weather--it was a friggin' 98 degrees!--in this royal blue strapless smocked baby doll. Plus the Louis bag, plus big Posh-style sunglasses. She looked a little too chic for the Palm Springs of Washington. And as Posh herself would say, "Maijah! Maijah!"
Blossom Tournament
"Cute" in golf-clothes world is a relative term. When someone says, "What cute shorts!" at a golf tournament, they really mean, "cute for golf shorts." In the real world, those shorts are probably moderately hideous. Same with golf shoes. No such thing as cute golf shoes. They may be fabulous in golf world, but in the real world: still hideous. I found a couple bloggables tho!
OMG! These Pink Ladies are fer shere the Best Dressed at the banquet! They were visiting from another decade. I think they're going back there soon. I hope they are.
This lady golfer looked pretty sharp in & chocolate shirt & a white skirt. Yummers. Reminds me of the chocolate & champage table, at which I was asked to volunteer for a couple hours. Really bad idea. But it sure beat golfing in 95 degree heat. Lets just say, no chocolate was wasted.
OMG! These Pink Ladies are fer shere the Best Dressed at the banquet! They were visiting from another decade. I think they're going back there soon. I hope they are.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Nuerotic Orthotics
So after a year of back pain I finally saw a physical therapist today who diagnosed my problem almost immediately: my right leg is 1/8" shorter than my left. I'm unbalanced. And after all these many years my back is tired of compensating for it, so big owww for me.
The cure is simple, however. I was afraid I'd have to do months of strange exercises, but all I need is "orthotics." Which are great! Little insoles that fit discreetly in my tennis shoes.
But orthotics in the Blahniks???? I DON'T THINK SO. He told me wearing heels is part of the problem. Stop wearing heels? What am I gonna do with a closet full of 4" platforms, peep-toes, rose-adorned D'Orsays, sequined mules, shiny red patents? I came home from Las Vegas two weeks ago with a suitcase with 3 new pairs in it; screw the gambling. The point is I've got lots of wondrous shoes and believe me, these charming orthotics won't fit in any of them. And even if they did fit they'd look pathetic, kinda like those commercials that try to make it look like those old people are having such fun at the nursing home.
I LOVE wearing heels! Must wear heels! In last month's Elle magazine the Fashion Know-it-All (who is this person? I have no idea. Probably some hideous Yeti in a closet that sits there all alone and dreams up hilarious answers to reader's inane fashion questions) said that it's "not so much how you wear them but that you are prepared for what will happen to you if you do." Ha!!! I thought that was so hilarious. Happen to you? Like what? Tottering over into a gutter? Getting the heel stuck in someone's lawn and going around in circles like a dog leashed to a stake? (Not to worry, I do know what the Yeti meant by that. One of my girlfriends in Seattle calls them CFM shoes & it shouldn't take you long to figure that one out.)
But I figger most of these are 2-hour shoes anyway--great for wearing to dinner, sitting for a couple hours, and walking from the restaurant back to the car (or the golf cart, in my case). Two-hour shoes are not quite the same as 5-minute underwear, which is also fabulous, expensive, but not very comfortable--and you have to be prepared for what will happen to you when you wear that, too-- but that's the subject of a different column altogether.)
Anyway, I'm not giving them up, orthotics or no orthotics. So if you run into me at a cocktail party & I'm wearing heels & leaning to the left like the tower of Pisa, you'll know why. And if my back still hurts, I'LL know why.
P.S. I was lying about the Blahniks. I don't really own any. I just pretend I do. Most of my shoes come from TJ Maxx. It just rhymed with "orthotics." Sorta.
The cure is simple, however. I was afraid I'd have to do months of strange exercises, but all I need is "orthotics." Which are great! Little insoles that fit discreetly in my tennis shoes.
But orthotics in the Blahniks???? I DON'T THINK SO. He told me wearing heels is part of the problem. Stop wearing heels? What am I gonna do with a closet full of 4" platforms, peep-toes, rose-adorned D'Orsays, sequined mules, shiny red patents? I came home from Las Vegas two weeks ago with a suitcase with 3 new pairs in it; screw the gambling. The point is I've got lots of wondrous shoes and believe me, these charming orthotics won't fit in any of them. And even if they did fit they'd look pathetic, kinda like those commercials that try to make it look like those old people are having such fun at the nursing home.
I LOVE wearing heels! Must wear heels! In last month's Elle magazine the Fashion Know-it-All (who is this person? I have no idea. Probably some hideous Yeti in a closet that sits there all alone and dreams up hilarious answers to reader's inane fashion questions) said that it's "not so much how you wear them but that you are prepared for what will happen to you if you do." Ha!!! I thought that was so hilarious. Happen to you? Like what? Tottering over into a gutter? Getting the heel stuck in someone's lawn and going around in circles like a dog leashed to a stake? (Not to worry, I do know what the Yeti meant by that. One of my girlfriends in Seattle calls them CFM shoes & it shouldn't take you long to figure that one out.)
But I figger most of these are 2-hour shoes anyway--great for wearing to dinner, sitting for a couple hours, and walking from the restaurant back to the car (or the golf cart, in my case). Two-hour shoes are not quite the same as 5-minute underwear, which is also fabulous, expensive, but not very comfortable--and you have to be prepared for what will happen to you when you wear that, too-- but that's the subject of a different column altogether.)
Anyway, I'm not giving them up, orthotics or no orthotics. So if you run into me at a cocktail party & I'm wearing heels & leaning to the left like the tower of Pisa, you'll know why. And if my back still hurts, I'LL know why.
P.S. I was lying about the Blahniks. I don't really own any. I just pretend I do. Most of my shoes come from TJ Maxx. It just rhymed with "orthotics." Sorta.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Derby Party
It seemed like a great idea: Throw a "Derby Party" on Derby Day. Put up huge T.V. screens. Have everyone place bets on the race. Ask the women to wear fancy hats. Have a big dinner in a tent. Bring Jaime Donegan (Follies Guy) in to put on a little after-dinner show. Raise tons of money for Children's Village. Play lawn games. Drink mint juleps.
The ladies of the Flo Wight Guild undertook this very aggressive, creative plan and made it come true. But ah, Palm Springs of Washington in the spring. Nobody knows what the weather's gonna do, and in this spring, the crappiest-weather spring we've seen in years, it did whatever it wanted. And that was mainly rain and be crappy and cold. It's pretty hard to Keep Your Cute On when it's that cold.
So the hats were definitely out in full force, but many women admitted to me that the dress they'd planned on wearing didn't end up being what they wore, and the ones who wore the spring-y things they planned on wearing mostly froze to death. So we all started out looking like Garden Party and most ended up looking like Ski Trip. Bummer.
By the end of the evening we all wished we had worn earmuffs, mittens & mukluks. The poor lonely, wet bocce balls sat unused in the lawn. So it goes in the Palm Springs of Washington in the spring.
But it sure was fun! The bets were placed, the race was run, the juleps were drunk, the food was delish, the show was entertaining, the money was raised, the Flo Wight ladies worked their buns off, and the hats....well, the hats. I must show some photos! So much blogability.
My award for Style Star of the event goes to Pam Martinkus for this spectacular black hat. She won the "Widest Brim" award--which I guess was worth the effort of having to have someone clear a path for her every time she wanted to walk through the tent. It definitely took up some space.
But the combination of the black & white checks & the taxi-yellow shawl & jewelry, along with (sorry you can't see them here) black & white checked espadrilles---ah, perfection! She had it all goin on.
Of course by the end of the evening she had on a black raincoat & the shawl was wrapped around her neck like she was going skiing, but hey, she sure made the supreme effort. Fabulicious!!!!
Here's Jumpin' Judy, Yakima's most ardent horse-lover, and co-chair of the event. What else but a candy-pink, maribou-trimmed cowgirl hat would do for her? And her white shawl had a horse design on the back. So appropriate-ish.
The ladies of the Flo Wight Guild undertook this very aggressive, creative plan and made it come true. But ah, Palm Springs of Washington in the spring. Nobody knows what the weather's gonna do, and in this spring, the crappiest-weather spring we've seen in years, it did whatever it wanted. And that was mainly rain and be crappy and cold. It's pretty hard to Keep Your Cute On when it's that cold.
So the hats were definitely out in full force, but many women admitted to me that the dress they'd planned on wearing didn't end up being what they wore, and the ones who wore the spring-y things they planned on wearing mostly froze to death. So we all started out looking like Garden Party and most ended up looking like Ski Trip. Bummer.
By the end of the evening we all wished we had worn earmuffs, mittens & mukluks. The poor lonely, wet bocce balls sat unused in the lawn. So it goes in the Palm Springs of Washington in the spring.
But it sure was fun! The bets were placed, the race was run, the juleps were drunk, the food was delish, the show was entertaining, the money was raised, the Flo Wight ladies worked their buns off, and the hats....well, the hats. I must show some photos! So much blogability.
My award for Style Star of the event goes to Pam Martinkus for this spectacular black hat. She won the "Widest Brim" award--which I guess was worth the effort of having to have someone clear a path for her every time she wanted to walk through the tent. It definitely took up some space.
But the combination of the black & white checks & the taxi-yellow shawl & jewelry, along with (sorry you can't see them here) black & white checked espadrilles---ah, perfection! She had it all goin on.
Of course by the end of the evening she had on a black raincoat & the shawl was wrapped around her neck like she was going skiing, but hey, she sure made the supreme effort. Fabulicious!!!!
Here's Jumpin' Judy, Yakima's most ardent horse-lover, and co-chair of the event. What else but a candy-pink, maribou-trimmed cowgirl hat would do for her? And her white shawl had a horse design on the back. So appropriate-ish.
Ah, Mrs. Dolson--where do you get a hat as lovely as this? Daffodil yellow, lots of flowers, lots of netting, lots of ribbons and a big wide brim. This is a True Derby Hat. She looked spectacular, just as always.
Rhonda--straw with furry, feathery stuff. She has good hat hair, lucky thing. And she was smart enough to dress warm.
Cindi --who knew she had a Martha Stewart side?--- decorated this hot pink baby with spring flowers, lots of tulle, and butterflies flitting about. Fierce, Baby, Fierce!
Terri, the other co-chair of the event, in a classic dark suit and black fedora with emerald green bow. Very chic! I believe she was born chic, however. She told me she had a nice warm sweater under it, but by the end of the evening, everyone was wishing they'd brought their parkas.
Pat found her hat at TJ Maxx in Palm Springs--it was a delightful melange of some kind of tulle, black twisty things and flowers and ribbons and who knows what all. Love that yellow! And she admitted she changed outfits at the last minute & went for warmth. One of the smart ones.
They both looked great despite that nasty weather.
Some people can just wear hats better than others. Ann, also on the planning committee, in black & white with a feathered & flowered wide-brimmed number. She looks so at home in this! She should wear it everywhere! Even on those trips to Wal-Mart! And the white kid gloves wrapped around her mint julep--nice touch. I'm a sucker for beautiful gloves.
Mary Jo --- spectacular in this fuschia hat; we could never lose in that crowd with that color on her head! Plus a very sharp black suit (she didn't say whether she had ski underwear on under it). Again I award Mary Jo the "Best of Shoe" award for these FIERCE floral pumps (sorry you can't see them very well--trust me, they're fabulosity) which would go with about anything in anyone's wardrobe. Especially mine. I need those. Mary Jo, call me, what size are you?
Jan did the black & white thing with a big ol' wide-brimmed black hat and some gorgeous jewelry she said was from Greece. Or the Bahamas. Or Madagascar. I can't remember, it was getting late by then. Lotsa mint juleps later.....
Even Bugle Man had a cool hat! Plus the riding boots. And a bugle. And a glass of wine for his most indispensible accessory. Good thing he was there too, because it took a lot of bugling to get this rowdy crowd's attention. Nice job Mr. Bugle Man!
Kelly was one of the few smart enough to dress warm enough for the weather in a long skirt & boots. But the hat was especially delicious: looked like she planted a small forest on the top. 
Teeny-weeny lady in a great big hat! Helen Jewett truly outshone everyone else at the party as Derby Queen, dressed entirely in white with this lovely chapeau to match. She sponsored the event, underwriting all the expenses. Quite royal, huh?
Lilly Lee won "Best Vintage Hat" or something like that (give me a break, it was late in the day & we'd been drinking since 2:00) with this smashing ostrich-feather & rose-covered number that belonged to her mother. Tip: if Lilly Lee ever offers you a tour of her upstairs closet, TAKE IT! This woman never throws away anything & her closet is full of vintage wonderment! Not only hers but her parent's. And her grandparent's & whoever else, for all I know. Anyway, she looked adorable.
Not to be outdone, some of the men joined in the hat parade. I asked Don where he got this spiffalicious top hat: "My attic." He also wore a very patriotic tie. Cool, Don.
And Wyatt, one of the entertainers, had charming Laurel & Hardy suspenders. He's so cute! Kinda the convenient, take-home size!
Marie, pretty much the Doyenne of the Flo Wight Guild--Bummer, you looked so fabulous in your Grandmother's Tournament hat but your eyes were closed. I'm so sorry! Blame the photographer, she's still kinda new at this. It was a great party!
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