HOT 5 - 9/24/21
Dear HOT Friends,
As I write this on the first day of fall 2021, I'm already feeling like summer is far behind us. Even with the confusion and fear we continue to deal with on the pandemic front, we can't help but be excited by the crispness in the air, the golden blue sky days, and the promise of a season filled with brand new shows, clothes, and outings. The French call it La Rentrée (the return) and when I lived in Paris many years ago I remember how excited I was to learn that term and experience all that it meant. (Of course, the French are gone all of August so this might have something to do with how big a deal it is!) But it was so much more than just the return to school and work, it was the return to a more formal, exciting, and busy life after a happy-go-lucky summer. Every neighborhood and all its inhabitants were fired up with renewed energy to embrace all that the new season would bring. Here's to us experiencing our own fabulous Rentrée!
This week's HOT 5:
1. NYFW 2021
2. The HOT PICK
3. Maskeraides Still Make a Great Gift!
4. Lipstick Vs. Masks, Who Wins?
5. Yes, I Was A Deb
1. NYFW 2021
While most of us are trying to get a handle on what to wear this fall, New York Fashion Week for Spring 2022 happened just last week. Given that it was the first time since before the pandemic that they were held in person, there was a lot of excitement and expectations were high. Did it live up to the hype? Judge for yourself by perusing this article as well as this one. As usual among the OTT show pieces, there were lots of great wearable looks and the trends included gingham, oversize everything, artisanal knits, fringe, bra tops, bright pink, cutouts, sheer looks, crochet, and all-white looks. A few of my favorites are above.
2. HOT PICK
I'd like to try something new this fall and it comes out of some of your comments from the survey I did a few weeks ago. It seems many of you would like real advice on what to wear and where to find it. And as I strive to deliver on your style and fashion desires I'm going to feature an au courant item in every newsletter that I think can work across all ages, sizes, and budgets. This is going to be fun! First up is the ubiquitous denim dress. Is there a more adaptable transition piece for fall? You can wear it with your sneakers or chunky sandals for a few weeks longer, then warm it up with boots, tights, and one of the new oversized cardigans later when the cold hits. Heck, even actress and style celebrity Lupita Nyong’O chose a denim dress to wear to the Met Gala! A few that I found for you are above.
3. Maskeraides Still Make A Great Gift!
I really wish more than anything that I wasn't writing about masks and their accouterments anymore. Alas, it doesn't seem like Covid will be behind us for many more months. I had an interesting conversation regarding masks the other evening at a lovely fragrance event in NYC where I met many vibrant, young up and comers. They seemed pretty resigned to wearing masks through this winter and maybe even beyond. As one charming attendee said, "I haven't had a cold in 2 years, maybe masks are a protection that should be here to stay?" So what about masks if you're vaccinated? Here's a useful piece on how to think about that. I've made some cute new Maskeraides that are sure to appeal to the younger crowd who most likely are not vaccinated and need to wear a mask in school. They make a fun and useful gift.
4. Lipstick Vs. Masks, Who Wins?
And speaking of masks, I've been determined to find lipstick that doesn't get all over my mask and my face. I've been caught in the very undesirable situation of removing my mask outside to find I resemble a clown with greasy red splotches from my nose to my chin! This article from the New York Times entitled I Miss My Lipstick perfectly captures my feelings about the whole mess and I bet many of you feel the same way. I have the same devotion to lipstick she describes and I've even tried the brands she mentions to varying degrees of success. Two that she doesn't mention that I think do the job are Givenchy Le Rouge Mat and Armani Lip Power Longwear Lipstick. I've had pretty good results with both.
5. Yes, I Was A Deb!
Did you know that Black Debutante Balls have been a thing since the late 1700s?? I had no idea until recently when I came across this fascinating article on the Messy Nessy Chic blog (which I highly recommend btw for its quirky and always interesting content). Yes, I was a Deb in the 70s when at the age of 16 in a white satin, crinoline bolstered, rose festooned wedding dress I made my debut. It was a year-long process filled with choosing an approved partner, taking waltzing and curtsying lessons, selling tickets and ad space in the Starlight Cotillion yearbook, and planning what to wear to the after-party. Given that it was the wild and crazy 70s, it was hard to take it all too seriously but my family certainly did. In the end, I felt all their pride and love and that was all that mattered. As for what I wore to the after-party? I made a slinky turquoise panne velvet jumpsuit and wore it with silver booties, belt and accessories. It would be perfect today!
As we ease out of this month, I'd like to leave you with this great song to remind you of what a perfect month September really is.
Happy fall!
Terry xoxo
