Prez Ball 09

Every year the Country Club throws a big ol' bash called the "President's Ball" which is ostensibly to honor the incoming president (this year it's Terry Powell! Yay! A woman!) and also any other old presidents who might still be hanging around.
But actually it's mainly a night for everyone to get all dressed up in their jewels & furs & what-not, to drink ice-cold martinis made in an ice-cold bar carved out of ice-cold ice, to eat a fabulous 6 course meal, and to dance the night away to a mediocre band. I came home with my toe bleeding. Someone always steps on me. Two years ago I actually had a toe broken on that dance floor. So if anyone knows where I can get steel-toe stilettos, please let me know.
This year was a year to cut back, we all know that. Many of us went shopping in our own closets and retrieved something we'd worn in years past. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
And there was black. So much black. A sea of blackness. A huge, black hole of black dresses and pantsuits and other black things. Plus it was cold outside. Icy-cold. As cold as that martini bar. So I think a lot of women went more casual, with more pants and jackets than usual, just to stay warm.
Ok, so there wasn't a ton of style to see, but here are a few highlights:
Terri, looking bright, shiny, & slinky in this cocktail dress that shimmered between black and silver. Great layered silver necklace & sequiny little evening bag, too.

Terri's Manolo Blanik's--fabulous, velvety, embroidered vintage pumps courtesy of E-Bay! Love it.

Cindi wore bright Christmas red in the Black Sea--a flowing, tiered chiffon. Loved her pearl & some-kind-of-stone (opal?) choker necklace & oversized earrings. From my favorite shop in town--the Gift Shop at Memorial! Smart.

Sorry--here's that dang ugly carpet again! Sally had on the most elegant black satin D'Orsay pumps with gold embellishment. Manolo Blaniks again (these Schaake ladies have good taste) BUT she found them for half-price, how lucky is that? She said she bought them on a trip when she had forgotten her bag. I'm gonna try that next time I go somewhere....

Camp Prime Time Auction

Lots of style to be found last night at the Camp Prime Time auction & dinner. Lots of money raised too! Camp Prime Time, for those of you who don't know, is a great camp near Clear Lake for kids with illnesses or disabilities and also for their families. We love supporting this camp: they do so much good for people right here in the valley, they use there dollars wisely, they involve tons of volunteers, and they make so many kids happy--kids who ordinarily don't have a lot to be happy about. It's a jewel of an organization that raises the quality of life to a new level here in Yakima. Go to http://www.campprimetime.org/ to learn more about it! And a big thank you to the winning bidders who paid $5100 for a week in our Maui condo. Whoo hooo! We were happy to participate and see so much money raised.

That being said, let's see what kind of style Camp Prime Time supporters had to offer.... She looked so great in this long lacy-knit cardigan with the ruffle all around and the tie front. Interesting pale yellow color, too. Add a matching cam, fabulous pointy-toe heels, and slim wool slacks: casual and comfortable, but very chic.

Barb was not shy about being blogged: "Oh, I can pose, Girlfriend!" she said to me when I asked her. She also recited the address and phone number of Garden Dance, which is where she got the ivory lace & tiered ruffle skirt. Now that's a loyal customer. Also love the hip-length jacket, the boots with tights, the leopard scarf tossed over her shoulder. She's got it all goin' on, and in a good way.

Someone told Hannah that all volunteers had to wear matching red Camp Prime Time t-shirts, but that didn't stop her from making it her own: she layered it over a black long-sleeved tissue tee, tucked it into a black and white striped dirndl skirt, and wrapped it up with a wide leather belt. She looks positively Parisian. (Note: Must be Hanna's shrimpy size to wear horizontal stripes.) Anyone who can eke some style out of a red t-shirt is definitely blog-worthy, I say.

Kinda gives a whole new meaning to the term "Doggy Bag" doesn't it? Deb, proud Mom of two terriers, didn't have to go looking for this Dooney & Bourke bag festooned with scotties and their toys. She said three of her friends called her when the bag made it's debut at Macy's. Another one actually bought her the bag as a gift but--too late! She'd already scarfed it up herself, of course. Shown here with coordinating scottie glasses and case. Love it! Arf arf.

I noticed these shoes while standing in line--well, who didn't notice these shoes??? They cannot be ignored! Sky-high stilettos, bondage-style skinny strappy-straps from toe to ankle, and actual zippers up the back. Yikes! Dangerous! But waaaaay wonderful...

OMG! Who wouldn't want to own a pair of zebra-striped ankle boots? Love these, seen on safari to Zesta Cucina not too long ago.

Garden Dance Jewelry Show

If you love jewelry, you'll want to see this jewelry trunk show at Garden Dance next Saturday, Nov. 28. It'll be there from 11-4 p.m.--it's all local artists like Ann Bowker, Diana Hillis, Kaia Sorem, Linda Simpson, and Lucy Valderhaug. They'll be there to take orders and answer questions. Original jewelry makes a wonderful Christmas present, 'sall I'm sayin'. Plus there will be apps & drinks. See you there!

The Great American Apparel Diet

Last week's Seattle Times featured an article by Amy Martinez and Melissa Allison in the Retail Report about a new movement called "The Great American Apparel Diet." What?
That's right, due to the recent financial downturn, many women are joining this group and pledging to abstain from any apparel buying for one year.
Eeeeeeeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!! A whole year? Yes. A whole year.
Like one member said, "I have enough clothes to last a lifetime." Which is probably true of most of us. But who'd want to wear the same things for a lifetime?
I went through my closet and tried to decide how long this wardrobe would last. Counting all the parts and pieces and all the possible combinations, I calculated approximately 47, 664, 533 different outfits. I never have been very good at math, but I do know I have enough clothes to last a lifetime. That is, if I wouldn't mind being sartorially stuck in 2009 until I die.
The rules of the Apparel Diet say that one is allowed to trade, to sew, to renovate, to buy used, AND, best of all, SHOES ARE ALLOWED. Well, ok, things are looking up now.
So here's the question: could you do this? would you do this? would you even want to? It's a definite challenge. As for me, I think the idea is interesting. I think I might be willing to cut back. But I'm pretty sure I couldn't do it.
For one thing, I've been poor before and I don't remember it as being all that much fun. I've gone for months without anything new, and I didn't feel challenged, I just felt depressed. I've sewn (high school), bought used (Discovery Shop), traded (college), and just plain done without. Did I feel proud of myself? No. I felt deprived.
I also remember working at Nordstrom and having so many clothes to wear it would take me at least 45 minutes every morning just to decide what to put on. And lots of stuff was still hanging in the closet with the tags still on. And lots of things hanging there I didn't really even like, I just bought them because they were new, they were in, they were hanging on the rack and I had to have them. I would pretty much turn my paycheck over to the company store every two weeks. Who cared if I couldn't pay the rent? I looked cute!
I've always loved to shop. Some people get sensory overload in a mall, they hate the bright lights, the noise, the cosmetic salespeople accosting them. I, however, can enter a mall and instantly feel my pulse lower, my breathing slow, my mind say "aaaah....I'm home again." When I was a young mom and my kids were making me crazy, my idea of a perfect afternoon was to get a sitter and go wander through the mall (yes, even the Yakima mall). I couldn't afford anything, I just wanted to be there to breathe that electrified mall air. Ohmmmmm. I know. Pretty sad.
So could I go for a year without buying? No. I could maybe compromise, cut down a little. But how's this economy going to improve unless we get out there and do our part to keep these poor retailers in business? I consider it my duty to shop. And shop I will. I never was much for diets anyway.

Wearable Art--Leather Scarves

Our friend Carol stopped by Allied Arts the other day with her newest art endeavor: leather scarves! These are so beautiful, unique, and original I wanted to share them with all my dear blog-readers. I asked Jessica to model these for me--they look so great on her, especially with the black turtleneck as background. This one is stark white, sooooo soft (wish you could feel it--that's half the beauty of these things), and folded in layers with tiny studs.

Here she did a chamois-colored wrap scarf with studs and tiny peacock feathers. Kinda looks like it has wings, doesn't it?

Carol paints many of the scarves, including this one which has a horn button closure.

What do you think, blog readers? I think they have a real Western, cowgirl flavor that would look right at home in Durango or Jackson Hole...or...Ellensburg! Anyone who loves cowboy boots would love a scarf like this that echoed the Western, back-to-nature theme with these natural textures and colors, the amorphous shapes, and the interesting mix of paint and detail.

In the Year of the Accessory, an amazing art piece like this could surely take the place of the Statement Necklace: the "Statement Scarf".

Carol is a little bit hesitant about marketing these beautiful pieces, so

let me know what you think: email me at gaydoo@yahoo.com, find me on Facebook, or leave a comment below.

Kristi Burrell Fashion Show

Just never know what you're gonna find in the old Not Quite Palm Springs on a Saturday night. We stopped by Gilbert Cellars for an after-dinner Merlot (omg try the Syrah brownie with ice cream--nom nom nom) and Kristi Burrell happened to be putting on a little fashion show! My luck! Kristi, who I have blogged before, has moved her shop to Track 29-- so the models came trotting across the street wearing their beautiful gowns and capes. Kristi is a fabulous dress designer/maker who specializes in evening gowns and full-length hooded capes. Here's Kristi in a red mini, boots and tights with Burberry scarf tossed over her shoulders giving everyone the details on her dresses.

This was an absolutely fabulous red silk gown, bias-cut so it fell to the floor in waves and moved so beautifully. Kristi's designs may not be for everyone, but if you need an amazing bespoke gown for a very special occasion, she is the one to see. Imagine having a gown like this made just to fit your bod & no one else's!

Here's a view of one of the hooded capes, very Harry-Potter-like, as she's removing it to show the long-sleeved velvet gown underneath. Such a rich burgandy color, and again the bias cut of the dress makes it flow particularly well.Ooooh, she looked like the most beautiful character in a King Arthur tale in this stretch velvet black gown: Guinevere? Maybe Morgan leFay--lovely high bateau neckline, long sleeves (unusual any more in a long gown), fully gathered in the back with miles of fabric, bias cut (one of Kristi's signatures, obviously), and beguiling. Every woman's fantasy to have a theatrical, stunning gown like this!

The Gift Shop at Memorial

This is not a paid advertisement, I just consider it my Blogwoman Duty to tell you. I always say it's the best-kept secret in town, so now I'm letting all you blog readers in on it: the Gift Shop at Memorial. So much more than a hospital gift shop!

Rather than the traditional Get Well Cards and useless porcelain angels and other corny knick-knacks & bric-a-brac, the Gift Shop carries a fun, far-reaching array of acessories, baby clothes, gourmet food items, and gifts for the home that can't be found anywhere else in NQPS.

Marci Cates Wright scours the gift market a couple times a year and comes back with unique, fabulous, well-priced items for her customers. Right now the shop is stocked with fabulous rain boots in hot colors and prints, warm fuzzy scarves for winter, some amazing jewelry, gloves and tons of other fashion-forward accessories. Ladies--this is the best place in town to find cool handbags! They're always unique, look so designer-like, and most are under $100. Truth. I'm carrying one right now.

If you're visiting a new mom in the hospital, go to the gift shop first. The baby clothes you'll find there are so precious & sweet you'll want to buy the teeny fashionista an entire wardrobe.

If you're decorating your home for Halloween/autumn/Thanksgiving you'll find some clever and different items for the kitchen, for the dining table, for anywhere in the house. Nothin wrong with buying a gift for yourself, I always tell myself.

Most people don't realize that the Gift Shop has a Pantry section that features gourmet treats: soup. nuts. chips. cookbooks. chocolate. Nomnom.

Gasperetti's beautiful fresh floral arrangements are delivered daily, kept cool and ready to go.

And I didn't know this til I went to the website: http://www.yakimamemorial.org/patients_gift_shops.html , but you can even order a gift on line and have it delivered to a patient that day!

My advice is: don't wait for someone to get sick, go there now. Or anytime you need a fun, different gift for an exchange or a hostess gift or a birthday present, check it out.

Also if you're on Facebook, you can become a fan of the shop by going to The Gift Shop at Memorial. Then you can be updated all the time on new merchandise arrivals, events, and whatever's going on at the shop.

Marci--I gotta tell you--great job, girl!

Leslie Loudon Guild Luncheon

My apologies for being so late in blogging, dear readers, but I've had a busy week! Monday was the Leslie Loudon Guild luncheon--a fun annual event for NQPS ladies who like to dress up, drink wine, hobnob with each other, watch an informal fashion show, and raise money for a good cause. In this year's case, the proceeds went to build and furnish a children's playroom for Memorial's "Cottage in the Meadow", a new hospice care facility. (Go to http://yakimahospice.org/ if you couldn't attend but would like to help out.) Judy, emcee for the day, greeted everyone at the door in this happy red cashmere sweater with ruffled v-neck & more ruffles at the cuff. The best part: she bought it last year at the end of the season for $15! Yay! I do love a bargain. So she got one in black, too.

Karen in a leopard-print suede swing jacket (I didn't know you could make suede out of a leopard?) and Linda in an earth-toned shimmery shirt jacket--with clever little black box bag.

Gotta love Becky's black lace tights with the suede & patent boots. One of Becky's fav sports is bargain hunting, and she shot these babies down at TJ Maxx for $30. OMG, I've gotta get out there soon--TJ's is the best place in town for bargains, one just has to go often and search carefully.

Becky in denim skirt, bright pink slouchy shawl-y sweater, and the aforementioned black boots. Martha looked so pretty in this salmon shaded jacket.

How often can a lady wear a purple hat in NQPS? And purple shoes as well? Lilly played the part perfectly in her black & ivory dress with the print scarf. All about the accessories I always say.

Carolyn looked like she was blooming straight out of this jacket--no, more than a jacket, more like a work of art--by CoVelo at Gretchen, this boiled wool jacket has stems & leaves appliqued all over the body and the sleeves, with a frothy burgandy organza ruff at the neckline. A perfect art piece for one of Yakima's most talented artists.

I had to practically bribe Jeanne to put on this great animal-print silk jacket she was carrying with her. It's reversible to brown on the other side, zips up, has a generously oversized collar, windbreaker style--- but so much more elegant. She got this one at Priscilla's.

Oh yeah, do that checked thing! Marci wrapped in a black & white houndstooth shawl, carrying a red & black checked vinyl tote, sporting plaid tights and lots of bangles--from guess where? The Gift Shop at Memorial Hospital where she is the buyer. (More on that in the next blog). Marci is a fearless fashionista.

Gretchen Gilday from Gretchen, (811 W. Yakima Ave.) the sweetest boutique in NQPS, coordinated the informal fashion show for the guild this year so I managed to snap a few of the models.

And speaking of checks, more houndstooth! I love the houndstooth! I brake for houndstooth! I have a closetful of it & I still buy more. This is Cindy in a very clever diagonally-buttoned wooly vest with oversized roll collar. And black leather gloves with bows. A real standout piece.

This is a deliciously furry jacket trimmed in olive green with a ribbon belt--looked so cozy!

Loved this grey sweater jacket that Augustina wore with the very skinny jeans & the warm scarf.

This drapey coat is so much more than a coat: check out the fabulous ribbon trim on the sleeves and the collar--all velvety in shades of green, pink, & magenta. Plus the assymetrical closing and the uneven hem--another wearable art piece that makes a big statement on Sue or anyone who would wear it. Loved it! And the grey gloves, too.

A fun black sweater trimmed in little rosettes, all over the sleeves, on the wide collar, buttoning down the front--gotta love the whimsy! We're all fools for whimsy.

All in all, great fashion show. Check out Gretchen for these unique, off-beat, fun-to-wear pieces. Pricey but fabulous!

PNWU Gala

Who would ever imagine that the boring ol' Convention Center in the NQPS of Washington could be transformed into the "Starliner Supper Club"? It was almost as sweet as the Ozdust Ballroom! Anyway the theme of this fundraiser/celebration for Pacific NW University of Health Sciences was "40's Supper Club" black-tie style so we dressed accordingly: men in their tuxes (has that style changed since 1940? not much) and women ran the gamut from current black cocktail dresses to true vintage to slinky full-length gowns. Mysterious veils and sumptuous furs were everywhere. Here are some of the things I caught:

Terry in below-the-knee black cocktail, lovely long black gloves, drippy earrings, and cute little orange headband in her new short 'do. Love the furry little black cape on the shoulders! Her friend found a very vintage-y black mesh and lace empire waist, lingerie-style dress. And the little pillbox on her head: sweet!

This is Corrie: she was working the event but I made her throw down her chart for a moment to take her pic. She rocked the entire look beautifully: Veronica Lake waves in her hair, bright lips, and this shocking pink satin strapless gown to the floor. Like the black stole, too. Corrie got in touch with me after seeing herself in the blog, so now we're BBFs! Best Blog Friends! Turns out I went to school with her aunt. Anyway Corrie has her own blog at www.cvo-underthestars.blogspot.com where you can see more shots of this beautiful dress. She's a doll.

This trio decked out in '40's fun. On the left: black mesh over white in an ethereal-looking filmy number with ruffle at the hem. She told me she bought this dress in London years ago and it was begging for an event like this! Her cohort wore long, black, and slinky & looked so beautiful in it. Judi, on the right, donned a slip-like black cocktail dress with slit up the side--and her mother-in-law's feathered hat. Lotsa feathers everywhere that night!

Lucy was the "Cigarette Girl", pictured here before she got her tray of candy cigars and faux cigarettes. Beautiful ivory satin bustier blouse with chiffon sleeves & yoke, a short black net dirndl skirt, and sorry you can't see her clear acrylic pumps with the black bows!

Who Wore it Best??? I'm conducting a People mag poll...

Best friends Julie & Jean surprised each other by showing up in the same dress: black, cocktail length, mesh yoke with tiny rhinestone studs, and lovely draping in the back. They obviously have matching great taste. And look almost like twins, no?

Doesn't she look fabulous? She really went with the '40s style in this short black number with a lace overlay bodice, black velvet elbow-length gloves, and veiled pillbox. The red lips really made the look complete.

Carol wore "Victory Rolls" in the hair and boldly pinned a mammoth Stargazer lilly to the side of her head, wore a short poufy dress, and carried the best accessory of the night: black fur muff! Spectacular.
Like all the pearls, too.

Like a teal-colored little islet in a sea of black, she stood out with this long, beaded, very period-looking gown and carried a luscious white fox stole complete with tails. Adore those fingerless white gloves! I don't know how women wore white gloves back then--it's impossible to do a thing in them without getting them messed up. Oh well, that was definitely another time.

Kay dug this glamorous deco crystal? diamond? who knows for sure? necklace out of her jewelry box for the evening. She said this piece belonged to her mother and she had never worn it until tonite. Dazzling!

Now here's some true vintage: Gwen wore the ruched black dress with long lace sleeves & beautiful v-neck bodice and the most entertaining fox stole. Remember the kind with the little paws and the head still on? I guess so if you end up alone at the end of the evening you'll still have someone to talk to...

I adored everything about her outfit: fox fur stole, tiny beaded bag, felt cloche with ribbon band, double strand pearl necklace, and bright red lips.

Lilly made me pose with her, which I never do. Wish you could see my authentic '40's hat--it's so cute: black satin with a ruffle on the side. I stuck two yellow crystanthemums in it before I went out the door. The dress is a silk Tommy Bahama I bought last winter in Maui but I figgered it was '40-ish & I also figgered everyone else would be in black--so you know me.

I knew Lilly would show up in something appropriate to the decade: she has a closet full of vintage spanning about 6 decades. She selected a fabulous short dress with long black lace sleeves, the full-meal-deal fox fur stole, and a black saucer style hat with elegant veil and red rose. Pure Lilly all the way.

Loreen gives an extensive make-up lesson to her friend in the ladies room! Lotsa red lips!

The Belle of the Ball, Pat Temple, who was being honored that night by PNWU for being a major force and source, donor, board member, and all-around doyenne of philanthropy here in NQPS. Her beautiful, full-skirted black satin gown is an Arnold Scaasi, accessorized with a bejeweled and beaded bright brocade jacket, tiny feathered cocktail hat.
She looked absolutely lovely, and gave a very moving and humble speech to accept the honor. (great job, Pat!)

Would you pay $1200 to dance with this dude? Jean did, and she seemed quite happy about it! (He did look pretty studly. AND he could really dance, too.)

I nominate this gown best in show: bold black-and-white floral print in a satin column with black net underlay at the flounced bottom--just gorgeous. Helps that she's a size 2.

Dave, our MC for the evening, in supper-club style with the white satin lapels on his evening jacket, AND the best part:

the black-and-white patent leather oxford shoes once worn by Al Capone. Well, we don't know that for sure, but they could have been.

Ohhhhh, Donna! Too fabulous jeweled sandals!

Cricket in her Jessica McClintock cocktail dress with the rose-trimmed neckline--trying to get a drag off a fake cigarette. They actually lit up, too! Hilarious.

Judi in her feathered hat, enjoying her after-dinner chocolate cigar.

What a fun evening! Cocktails, dinner, auction, speeches, awards, skits, then dancing. My feet are killing me.