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Why Did You Wear That: Dress Up

By |November 28th, 2012|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

whydid kirsten smithIt’s always so relaxing to go home.  There are no worries, no pressure, nothing to do, and I gain about ten pounds.  Turns out, the fine folks here are not particularly interested in juicing, Pilates, or whether or not hunting gear should be worn to dinner at Applebee’s.  That said, I am looking forward to heading home (to New York), starting a cleanse, and hitting the treadmill– hard.  In the meantime, I played a little game of dress up in a sweater dress of my mother’s that I’ve been eying for several years.  It hung in my closet in New York for a bit, but never got any play because I couldn’t quite figure out when and where I wanted to wear it, so I returned it during my West Coast intermission.  Now seems like the perfect time for this knit confection to make its way back to my closet once again.  Let’s give it another go.  Whaddya say?

kirsten smith

vintage sweater dress

all saints boots

kirsten smith why did you wear thatdress: vintage, bag: Balenciaga, boots: All Saints, hat: Croft & Barrow

Thanks, mom.

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Nightie Night

By |November 27th, 2012|Why Did You Wear That?|

chemises and babydollsAlong with spritzing myself with a bit of perfume before bed, I also enjoy a good nightie.  No, I don’t mean a nightcap, although I do enjoy those too.  I am talking about a good ol’ fashion nightgown.  Maybe not the style that the Golden Girls don- but now that you mention it, I love those too- I’m just talking about a simple chemise in satin, silk, chiffon, or the softest cotton. Yes, it’s true.  I’m a lady.

Sure, in the 90’s we all did the whole “boxer shorts” or Soffe cheer shorts thing, but I never could get down with the women who ended up wearing giant flannels or nasty t-shirts and ratty old boxers.  Girlfriend, take a little pride in your night attire.  If your man wanted to go to bed with his pal, Larry, he would… and in that case, Larry would know better than to wear that stained USC shirt to bed with his boo.  I get the irony: this is all very hilarious coming from a lady who sleeps alone, but I stand firm.

Over the years I’ve amassed quite the collection of nighties and knickers.  So many that the ones that did not fit inside my closet (yes, there are more) are hanging “decoratively” on my closet door handles.  I know what you’re thinking… “How is this girl single?!”  No?  That wasn’t what you were thinking.  Hm… Anyway, it’s true, I don’t get invited to too many sleepovers anymore.  No more pillow fights or Truth or Dare for me, but I always am sure to be wearing my boudoir best ’cause you never know who you might meet in your dreams.

nightgowns1. Elle Macpherson Intimates Obsidian Phoenix Lace Trimmed Stretch Silk Satin Chemise, $175, 2. Eberjey Leonora Lace Trimmed Chemise, $97, 3. Stella McCartney Clara Whispering Stretch Silk Chemise, $250, 4. The Lake and Stars Royale Chemise, $122.50, 5. Julianne Aimee Chemise, $137.50, 6. Honeydew Intimates Emma Elegance Chemise, $45, 7. Only Hearts Sara’s Lace Chemise, $52.50, 8. Cosabella Peacock Babydoll, $193.50, 9. Hanky Panky Sheer Enchantment Babydoll, $98, 10. Chantelle Eternelle Chemise, $135

Sleep tight, or not.

xx,

WhyDid

 

WhyDid Wisdom: Safe Shopping

By |November 26th, 2012|WhyDid Wisdom|

online shoppingLike I said, large crowds of rabid consumers frighten me.  However, I do love getting a good deal.  Therefore, Cyber Monday is right up my alley.  I like to pride myself on being a pretty elite online shopper.  I’d say my return rate (as in “WTF, why did I order this?”) is fairly low.  So, in case you still have a little bit of cash left after throwing elbows on Black Friday, here are a few of my favorite things that you can scoop up from the safety of your own home…

One of my absolute favorite things in life is perfume.  Fun fact: I put on perfume before bed (and I sleep alone) because I just love the way it smells.  Atelier Cologne is some of the most beautiful smelling perfume on the planet and today, you can take advantage of a little extra something when you purchase a full size bottle.  My go to is Vanille Insensee.

atelier cologne cyber monday Shopping isn’t all about purchasing shoes and handbags.  How is a lady to fit into her new leather leggings when she’s just lived off of pumpkin pie and hot toddies for an entire week.  I can’t believe I’m actually giving away this little secret, but my favorite Pilates studio in Manhattan has quite the deal happening.  Check out Chelsea Movements‘ The Perfect Ten deal.

Chelsea Movements Pilates

You know what my favorite kind of party is?  A panty party.  Fortunately, Cosabella is offering 30% off on all their entire site.  So, perhaps I won’t be sleeping alone too much longer!

Cosabella Cyber MondayAnd get yourself or your friends some holiday bling with 40% off on Gorjana Jewelry.

Gorjana Cyber Monday SaleThe cold weather in NY is sure to give you pink cheeks, but how about procuring some cheek stains just in case?  … so let’s all just go ahead and stock up now at Tarte with a 25% discount!

Tarte Cyber Monday

Safety first!

xx,

WhyDid

The List Volume Blackout

By |November 24th, 2012|The List|

black friday rushNo, I wasn’t absent from the internet yesterday because I was busy bashing in skulls in hopes of acquiring a fifty inch plasma to watch “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”  I was busy digesting my Thanksgiving dinner… and that took a lot of hard work and concentration… or wine.  To be quite clear, I find Black Friday to be all my worst nightmares and biggest fears combined.  It’s kind of the same way I feel about fake handbags.  I find it hard enough to shop busy stores on your average Tuesday, let alone when all the animals have been let out of their cages and taunted with raw meat.  There are about a billion other things I’d rather do than fight over a cashmere scarf marked down 50%… ten of which are listed here.  The only type of bargain shopping I will submit myself to are the deals that can be found behind the safety of my computer screen.  That said, I didn’t figure it’d be in good taste to complain after my last post.  So I’ve decided to be a bit charitable today and have found you ten places better to throw your hard earned money: small businesses and charities.

  1. Not sure where to start?  Check out American Express for a list of retailers participating in Small Business Saturday.
  2. As obsessed with your dog/cat as I am with Smitty?  Help out all the other furry little creatures by donating or volunteering with the ASPCA.
  3. Mikini Bikini is offering 10% off with code COLORFULFRIDAY at checkout.
  4. Got kids?  Got siblings? Like kids?  Stop human trafficking by supporting Children of the Night.
  5. Looking for something to do December 10th?  Look no further.  Buy your tickets for Charity Water’s Charity Ball right here.
  6. Speaking of kids… this one won’t even cost you any money.  Become a Big Brother or Big Sister.
  7. If you’re in New York, Darling is offering 25% off purchases (and trust me, it lives up to the name).
  8. Another one for the kids: Petit Organics is offering 25% off all orders today!
  9. Shop Alex and Ani today and get 10% off of your entire purchase.
  10. Kill two birds with one click.  Shop and support a great cause with rad apparel from TWLOHA (To Write Love on Her Arms).

Now, if you’ll excuse me I have some pie to polish off.

xx,

WhyDid

WhyDid Wisdom: Thanks a lot.

By |November 22nd, 2012|WhyDid Wisdom|

thank you noteI for sure had a different WhyDid Wisdom post ready for today… but alas, realized that it was a very special day and deemed the aforementioned post inappropriate for a day such as this.  So, let’s take a break from my regularly scheduled snark for something a bit more sweet.  Cut me a break, I’m high on pumpkin pie.

I had always thought of myself as a pretty spiritual person.  I made sure to pray before bed, I’d read plenty of books on Kabbalah, Christianity, Spirituality, and Juduaism but it was a recent incident that really solidified my faith.

My father always used to tell me to go find a big rock somewhere and to just “go be quiet.”  I humored him and said, “Alright,” but never actually took his advice (sorry, dad).  What was I going to do?  Go sit at the duck pond at Central Park?  It’s awfully hard to find somewhere to be completely silent in New York.  However, as some of you are well aware, I spent the past two years on the West Coast (Los Angeles and Silicon Valley) and I had plenty of places to be quiet… but still never did.  I realized that the problem was not my environment, but my state of mind.  I couldn’t quiet my thoughts and tell my brain to shut up long enough to fully get in touch my soul.

Fast forward and I’m back in New York…

Not so long ago (like really not that long ago) I found myself in a very frustrated, fed up, defeated place in my life.  It would have been quite easy for me to just throw in the towel, call it a day, and just walk away and give up.  To just quit… and I certainly considered doing just that.  You see, it’s a whole heck of a lot easier to look around and say, “Why don’t I have this?”  “Why is he/she getting the big breaks and I’m busting my ass?”  “How come nothing good ever happens to me?”  “Why does it have to be so hard?”  While there may actually be some slivers of truth to your complaints, focusing on the flaws instead of the fruits of your hard work, may be exactly why you aren’t succeeding.  Spending time belly aching over what’s wrong doesn’t leave much room for the right things to come into your life.  That’s precisely what I’d been doing.

Maybe instead of being bummed about the failed relationship, lost opportunity, lack of funds, or feeling of complete loss, we should be thankful that for whatever reason those things didn’t pan out and continue to have faith that the answer is coming, so long as you’re looking.  I get it.  Easier said than done.

Back to me as a complete and utter train wreck in New York…

As I lay there on my white leather couch with Smitty, completely still, completely silent (the city was inexplicably serene that afternoon), mascara stains down my cheeks, I forced myself to pray (meditate for the less religious).  I started by first listing all of the things I was thankful for:  my ever supportive family, my tried and true friendships, the furry little angel breathing heavy on my lap, all the talents I take for granted, my beautiful home… Every time my thoughts started to wander elsewhere… what would I wear later?, I need to call Katie back, is my flatiron still on?… I re-centered and pressed on.  I asked for help.  I asked for guidance.  I asked for forgiveness.  I closed my eyes and cried.  I then fell asleep.

Without outlining the entire experience, when I awoke, my tears were no longer those of sorrow, but instead those of joy.  I had asked for a sign to renew my faith.  To show me that I was on the right track and that I wasn’t completely losing my way or my mind.  I could not believe the promptness of my answer.  I can’t even get a coffee at Starbucks that fast.  I called my parents and told them with tears in my eyes that nothing like this had ever happened to me.  These things just never happen… although my mom reminded me there was an incident as a small child where I may or may not have brought a baby bird back to life, but if you want the full story, you’re gonna have to call my dad.

For those who really know me, they know that I’m not some sappy sucker, so for me to even write this, is kind of a big deal.  I don’t often share things this close to my heart, but feel compelled today to do so.

This past year was less than stellar for me, but I know that the worst of the worst shit that happened to me is a drop in the bucket compared to the heartaches and hardships of others.  Now when I start to get out my pen to ink my RSVP to the pity party, I recall that day and am reminded to just have faith and to be thankful for where I am and what I have.  I know that every little let down is actually a lesson, every disappointment is actually a dodged bullet, and every failure is actually an opportunity.

So, next time you’re about to bitch about the price of gas or that annoying girl at work who insists on eating tuna fish sandwiches at her desk, ask yourself: Do you have water?  Do you have a bed (or at the very least a couch) to sleep on tonight?  Did you just gorge yourself on turkey to the point where your button popped?  Are you on a computer/iPad/smartphone using the internet/wifi to read this post?  Trust me, there is plenty I could complain about… have you read The Lists?

And while it certainly is nice to dedicate one day a year specifically to being grateful for all of our blessings, perhaps we should start every day feeling appreciative.  Look around you right now and really feel deep gratitude for what you already have.  There are many others with much less.

xx,

WhyDid