Absolutely Bright

GREEN WITH ENTHUSIASM

You know you have bought something extremely cool when your sartorially keen and exceptionally chic NYC daughter gives you a nod of fashion approval. Mine recently gave me an enthusiastic Like on my fashion Instagram when I wore something she had had her eye on! And this green Moto-jacket in buttery-soft lambskin by Veda, purchased at Nordstrom, was just that item. Honestly, I couldn't get it off my mind the first time I laid my own eyes on it. I thoroughly love the deep verdant hue, and the quality is impeccable. I plan on wearing it with not only other tones of green, for a monochromatic look, but with blues, pinks, and black. Having been around since the 1920's, when a raincoat maker and Harley Davidson teamed up to make the first Moto-jacket, it's style perfection for every season. In fact, the name of that first coat was "Perfecto." Which perfectly suits the Moto-jacket, in any color.

Veronica Beard Pant

Oliver Peoples Sunglasses

Photos by Chandler Bright (c) 2017.

 

 

THE MATCHING GAME

Do you like to mix patterns in your wardrobe? I think it's a fun and playful way to extend your wardrobe. Here I paired blue striped pants from Reformation with a tiny print, Italian, tailored shirt by Fil Noir.

Why it works. First of all, the color. I was excited when I found these pants and couldn't wait to get home to see if the blues were compatible. They were spot on. Secondly, it's reminiscent of menswear, and the tailored, mix and scale of stripes and patterns is common. Additionally, the Hermes scarf provides a playful nod to a man's tie. Black leather mules from Amour Vert.

Celine sunnies from GooGooEyes Dallas.

HAPPY DESERT BLUES

A couple of years ago I was hired to photograph a wedding in Joshua Tree, California, and I became smitten with Palm Springs and the surrounding desert area.  I adore the mid-century architecture and vibe of the city, accentuated by palm trees and surrounded by the San Jacinto Mountains with their ever-changing colors and shadows from sunrise to sunset. For the past three years, we have rented the same home at the western foothills of the mountains, in a neighborhood famous for the Elvis Presley estate. Our Los Angeles based kids have joined us on these occasions, and we cook together, play board games, watch episodes of In Search of Ancient Aliens (one of my daughters is convinced the desert is the THE best place to watch shows about aliens) and arm chair quarterback marathons of the TLC show, Say Yes To The Dress. (Even the guys get into it!) Or, as it suits us, we lounge by the pool and listen to the wind through the palm fronds or drive 30 miles to revel in the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. 

For my recent trip, I pulled together some cool blue looks with a bit of retro vibe, befitting of the Palm Springs spirit.

 

The Parker Hotel: I'm wearing sunglasses by Tory Burch sunglasses from GooGooEyes Dallas, a faux suede jacket by Kut from the Kloth from Nordstrom, and striped pants from Reformation, pink Gucci mules.

The sleeveless top by Theory from Neiman Marcus, came in handy during the hot Palm Spring days, while the faux suede jacket was cozy for the cool desert nights. (A glimpse inside my favorite Palm Springs home-away-from-home.)

The PS evening weather was perfection. I'm kicking back, doing nothing, enveloped by 72 degrees, feeling happy in the desert.

STEP IT UP . . . OR DOWN

Here's what I love about today's fashion: Anything goes. We can wear white after Labor Day, mix florals with geometrics, and slip into sneakers with a silk top. With the wide variety of cool kicks out there, not just joggers, which can also be fashionable, it's possible to find the right pair of tennies to fashionably mix things up. Here I chose to step things down with my Helmut Lang silk top and grey tuxedo-style cropped pant by Gilmar Lab by adding these fun silver, metallic sneakers by Mira Mikati. (The mock turtle-neck of the top has a surprise tie in the back.) I fell in love with these whimsical sneaks when I saw the silly monster face on the back of the heel, plus they are metallic and shiny, and I'm like a fish to a lure.

OR, if you're not feeling "sneaky," step up the same look with a pair of mules, like these with chinoiserie fabric and fun pom-pom, by Aquazzura from Neiman's. (Link for shoes in green velvet. Shoes were purchases in-store at Neiman Marcus North Park Center, Dallas, TX.) The mules give the outfit a retro look. I think "Laura Petrie" would have agreed.

 

 

Photos of Carmen by Rick Birt of Romeo Bravo Photography.

Hair and make-up by Laurie Schakosky.

Also pictured, lace bomber jacket by Veronica Beard.

 

 

BACK AND FORTH

People (often Uber and taxi drivers) often ask me if I like living in Dallas. My response, "It's a great place to fly out of!" Of course, we have a great life in the Big D (does anyone really call it that anymore?), but given that most of our grown children now live in New York City,  the Los Angeles area, and San Francisco, Dallas provides an awesome hub to fly back and forth, coast to coast, with a respite in between to get my bearings, unpack and repack, and say hello to the menagerie of animals we have adopted since the kids have flown the nest, and catch a glimpse of our SMU son. In less than a month, I managed to visit all of those cities and spend amazing time with our four daughters who live in the respective cities. Luckily, this last time, Brad was able to join me on our NYC trip to visit Winslow . . . And to become my "Instagram Husband." Who knew Brad could go back and forth from being a litigation consultant to my personal photographer. Hilarious and sweet. Here's some of his best work!

Like mother, like daughter. What I'm wearing: Motojacket and black skinny pants by Veronica Beard, from Neiman Marcus. Navy top by Theory (Mine is in silk. Theory online is only showing in velvet, which is totally in for this season.) Alexander Wang ankle booties. Mine are from last season, but Shopbop is still selling them. I love the heel detail! Chanel aviator style sunglasses from GooGooEyes Dallas. 

 

 

 

 

Here's the funny thing about this outfit: I hadn't planned on wearing it at all, but when Winslow said, "We can grab breakfast together at Buvette if we leave right now!" I threw this ensemble together (thinking I would get a chance to go back to the apartment to change.) Sunglasses come in super handy when you don't even have time to put on any make-up! Tweed jacket by Derek Lam 10 Crosby. (Hint the back is super cute, and it's on sale at Neiman Marcus online!) Navy leather sneakers from Lacoste. Blue jeans by Iro. (Similar pair at Neiman Marcus.)

The DVF v-neck silk blouse from Nordstrom came in handy for the perfect NYC fall weather. 

This time, on our last day in NYC, I was ready! Winslow had just finished with an audition and asked if we wanted to join her for breakfast at Two Hands, an Aussie cafe you should put on your list of foodie spots if you're visiting the city. What I wore: First, a lavender, real suede jacket from Nordstrom. I'm not going to tease with with a link, because it was a deal, and they are sold out. I had the jacket link on my computer for weeks, and I'm glad I bought it when I did! The sailor-style navy pant with button front detail is from Sandro. I purchased them in the West Village NYC store, but they can be found on the online link. The shoes are Pour La Victoire from Trina Turk in Highland Park Village. (Follow Pour La Victoire link I provided to find shoes on Saks Fifth Avenue.) These shoes were actually comfortable to wear on the walk from Two Hands back to the West Village, perhaps because of the block heel. The metallic finish is a great look for fall, the holidays, and back into next spring and summer. I pulled the look together with a J.Crew scarf from Nordstrom. All Chanel sunnies from GooGooEyes Dallas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                    Ruffled "cold shoulder" top from Accents.