Crazy, crazy

I can't believe how busy I am right now. I leave in less than 24 hours and j discovered this morning that I can't check in online on American which means I have to leave an hour earlier than planned tomorrow morning (as my flight leaves at 8.30 am, this isn't going to be fun).

I don't know if I can get everything done before I leave. I graded two classes last night and went to bed at 2 am. Every errand I've tried to complete today has turned out to be more complicated than I imagined. And I teach until 10 tonight too....

Have a great holiday everybody. I'll update sporadically from the other side of the Atlantic. I still don't know if Evan will join me--with BA on strike, the fares are insane and we may be apart until January. :( At least I'll have my family and old friends to keep me company in his absence.

No. 6

As I mentioned, yesterday Cindy and I found a couple of beautiful items in Barneys Co-op, specifically dresses by No.6. It took me a while to put two and two together and realize that this was the brand that made the much coveted boots.

On returning home without a No. 6 dress, I decided I wanted one. I looked at their online shop (http://www.no6store.com) and searched in vain for online boutiques stocking their dresses other than Barneys. Cheaper than Lyell, and more wearable for everyday, these are the nearest thing to must have dresses I've found since Mayle closed. They have a small collection, but there are several items I covet. Here are a few:

 

 

Today, I sneaked away at lunchtime, met Cindy in Barneys and picked up the London dress in black velvet, with floral silk sleeves covered in lace overlay. It is my Christmas present from Mum and Dad and was on sale. We both loved the mini dresses, but all the size 2s had sold out--they only do size 1 (2-4) and 2 (6-8).

This is my new dress. You can't really see the detail (Barneys has it online and there is a magnification function) but it is really beautiful--deep silky black velvet and silk floral sleeves and back covered in lace. It's certainly a collection to look out for. I think most of the dresses other than the one I bought have pretty much sold out in a size 2, but I'll be on the lookout for more items and report on my findings when I return to NYC in January.

Today's outfit? Functional. Stripey J. Crew long sleeved t, Madewell jeans, ankle boots, Fletcher by Lyell scallop cardi and Mayle Emanuelle jacket.

Rainy Sunday

Cindy was back so we braved the rain and checked out some sample sales. First, we looked at Rag and Bone. I always like the idea behind their work, their craftsmanship and some of their fabrics. I have a denim skirt from an early collection, which I like--especially for its details (lots of buttons at the back) but don't wear too often because it is a little stiff. I tried on a few things at the sample sale (which was heavily picked over) but the fit wasn't quite right. They seem to cut for girls without hips and also have a more monastic aesthetic (as Cindy put it) that isn't really me.

We then hit Helmut Lang--good discounts but still pricey and so not me--leather and masculine styles. The sale was right opposite the Target pop up shop--Cindy picked up the Rodarte ribcage dress which runs small and looked great on her.

The best items we saw were in Barneys. I'll post more on that later, but there were some new interesting items that made me feel more enthused about shopping.

After another trip to J Crew, we hit Macy's for yet more tights. Then home for fish tacos.

My outfit? Grey boots, Sienna Hue tights, black Club Monaco skirt, Lyell black scallop top, Club Monaco black chunky cashmere cardigan and my Odette. It rained so hard my feet were stained orange/red from the dye from my tights.

... Saturday

I was up bright and early for my first ever Saturday acupuncture appointment. I will have to miss three weeks, so I decided this was the best course of action. Besides, my acupuncturist works miracles and I want to do this. It was her first ever Saturday session and she was fully booked. After I return, I'm going twice a week. I hope I can stick to my diet over Christmas and won't have to detox or anything, despite the temptation of English chocolate.

After that, I shopped. Toys R Us and Hello Kitty meant Times Square on what had to be one of the busiest and most tourist-laden shopping days of the year. After a little more Christmas shopping, I met Evan and we graded in Starbucks--for him, student papers, for me, the MA exams, before eating Vietnamese food (one of the lesser Asian cuisines in my opinion, especially in NYC) and heading to Trader Joe's then home.

As for my outfit, I dressed for the weather. Leggings, boots, Club Monaco gabardine box pleat skirt from about 5 years ago, striped J. Crew t-shirt, black Club Monaco thick cashmere cardigan and Odette. I think the days of glamorous dressing are on the wane--as it gets colder, the dresses are getting fewer airings. At least the milder British weather means they'll get another outing before the cold of winter really hits home. In preparation for this, I bought some J. Crew toothpick skinny cords in charcoal grey yesterday--just $29.99.

Such a Busy Weekend: Friday

I'm totally behind on blogging as I'm trying to rush to get everything finished before I leave for England and fit in as much socializing as I can before Tuesday. I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday (except for Evan--we owe each other two Christmas gifts and a birthday present each so we're obviously not great with gifts). I had to go to Toys R Us in Times Square which was dangerously packed--the escalators literally threw me into the people in front of me who could move because of the hordes of people ahead waiting for elevators. Not only is the store poorly designed, but it really showed me why sample sales make people wait outside. I know it is a bad economy but the crowds were insane and crowd control next to non-existent.

Onto other, more fun matters. Friday was frigid. My outfit really marked this--I was layered so much I looked several sizes heavier. I wore tights, my thick Danskin leggings (the best), my Stella McCartney for H & M wide legged pants (which are amazingly high quality and drape very well, despite being worn about 100 times and being a size too big), a tank, my thermal long sleeved grey top from Wisconsin, a black v-neck cashmere sweater, my thick chunky navy cowl neck cashmere Club Monaco sweater and Olympe (plus cashmere hat, scarf and red leather gloves). I don't think the temperature hit 32 and the winds were insane. After writing a final and starting on the MA exam grading, I headed into Lyell to meet Erica. She looked amazing--and baby Leon is the most perfectly adorable child.

Lyell have somewhat retooled their policies because of the economy and Emma's bad experience with retailers like Chicago's Jake, who took her inventory and then never paid her. She has drastically cut back her production so her designs are basically only available in the US at her store (and the inventory at Refinery 29 is that of the shop, although there is inventory in store that isn't available online). She's also doing gowns to order. The only way cheap Lyell will be available now seems to be through ebay or through the Urban Outfitters line, which is doing really well. There's also been some big celebrity buys, most notably Katie Homes who wore the beautiful short tweed scallop jacket and shorts outfit recently. I liked both pieces but passed because I don't really know how much wear I'll get from tweed shorts and the jacket is a little too similar to my older Lyell tweed peacoat from FW 06. I also discovered the pretty blouse I liked--the one in beige and black--doesn't really look good on me (the color is wrong and I would need a 10 in the blouse--the biggest remaining size is an 8).

Erica bought a lovely black jacket. I got a purple wool skirt--completely unexpected but very flattering. After walking Erica to the subway, I headed off in search of remaining gifts. I visited the Opening Ceremony sample sale--still a long line to get in at 4 p.m. Nothing great inside--lots of merchandise, great discounts but the clothing was largely ugly. After checking INA (no Mayle except the black glittery dress with puckers that they've had for months), I met my friend Rebecca and her son Charlie. They were in town for Rebecca's Ph.D. proposal defense (she passed!). I'm now on her dissertation committee and I imagine I will start receiving chapters this spring.

After a frigid day, I got home and we ate take out Thai. I still hadn't found a present for myself from my parents, and that is still on the agenda today... Hopefully it will get sorted out before I leave.

Congratulations Jane and Kathie!

On Friday, two of my closest friends got married. I'd have been there except they can't get married where we live and they are currently in Germany for a year (my friend Jane is a Fulbright Distinguished Professor and was my senior colleague at my last job). As Germany allows gay marriage, and as they will benefit from this as that's their home for the year, the girls decided to make their partnership of 25 years legal. I'll see them in England in a week and celebrate with them, but for the moment, I wanted to mark the occasion with this posting.

Here are the girls at their civil ceremony:

And here is their wedding cake:

 

 

Evidently the cake tasted very good. Jane said it was amazing to have their relationship sanctioned and recognized. This was something she hadn't really thought about before, a feeling she'd never had, even though she was all for gay marriage. I'm so happy for them.

Christmas Shopping: Nearly Done

Just a brief update before I head into school. Yesterday I took most of the day off to do some more Christmas shopping and to meet with a friend and then have dinner with my cousin, Alex and his friend who are on holiday in NYC.

I misjudged the weather--the cold snap (or winter as it's called) that starts today. Yesterday was actually quite warm as I discovered after I wrapped up in a number of layers that I ended up depositing in my book bag. My final version of my outfit was still too warm--Lyell scallop lace blouse from FW 08, black brocade high waisted tulip skirt with slight leopard print from Club Monaco, bought on sale on Saturday, sienna Hue tights, gray boots, Sveva and Odette. I met my friend Mike for lunch, spent two hours discussing academia, politics and our work plans, then bought the rest of Mum's Christmas present, presents for my sisters-in-law, and some gym shorts and argyle socks for me in the sale. I also got a fabulous J.Crew bracelet I've lusted after on sale--pictures to follow.

Then I met Alex and his friend Paul at Grand Sichuan then headed home. Today is going to be freezing--and long. I have no idea what to wear--a decision I have to make now.