Wedge Issue

Wedges have been known to divide the masses.

When I was a junior in high school in the early 1970's, I went out shopping with girlfriends one afternoon and came home with a pair of red gingham fabric platform wedge sandals. I thought they were the cutest shoes ever. My mother, not so much. "Omigod, where did you get those awful CARMEN MIRANDA SHOES?!?" (She was definitely in the "footwear should be sleek and elegant" camp.)

I've never been able to wear those vertiginous stilettos that seem to teeter across every street style blog and red carpet these days, but now that I've consigned even my 3" heels to Bad Boy status (at least for every day wear) and we're past Boot Season, I've been giving wedge sandals another look. Unlike flats or more streamlined sandals, they have some visual heft to balance out dresses, fuller skirts and wide-leg trousers. And they can add a bit of height without pain.  

I'm looking for something that isn't too steep or too clunky, and appropriate for Business Casual office wear. Under consideration:

Stuart Weitzman "Excise"

A very attractive shoe, and comfortable too, with a 2¼ net heel height. And on sale right now.

Stuart Weitzman "Jean"

I like this subtle metallic, which would also look great with jeans. The cork is very on-trend now. Both styles above are available in Wide widths from zappos.com.

Cole Haan Air Camila 

For those who like a snakeskin print, these are fun and also on sale. (I like the blue better, though both are on the casual side.)

Sofft Morocco

If I were specifically looking something in red, I'd definitely be trying these. I've had good luck with Sofft sandals in the past, very comfortable.

Softspots "Lebeau" 

Gentle heel, a cute bow and available in multiple colors including this season's on-trend orange. Just not enough oomph for me, though.

J.Crew "Marci"

Probably a bit more heel than I want, but what a great color!

Edited to add: See Wendy B's silver Prada wedges here.

Where do you stand on the Wedge Issue?  Yea or Nay?
~

Monday Miscellany

This week's Fashion Flash is hosted by the Glam Gals at Fabulous After 40.  If you have questions about style after 40, and want tips to look your best, Fabulous After 40 is a great resource!

I mentioned this last week over on the Une femme d'un certain âge Facebook page (click to "Like") but am head over heels for kale as a base for Caesar salad. Kale is one of those superfoods loaded with vitamins and anti-oxidants. (Be sure to remove the spines which can be tough.) Try it!

Photo source.

And speaking of heels, be still my beating heart, but Roger Vivier has opened a store in Southern California!!!  The store is in the swank South Coast Plaza Mall in Costa Mesa.  Think there's a field trip (just for "research" mind you) in my near future!

Photo source

We're off work/school today for the Memorial Day holiday. Hope your week is off to a fine start!
~

Going with the flow...

Looking toward Montmartre from the top of the Pompidou

We're at the midway point of a long weekend, and as it seems to happen with increasing frequency, things aren't going as planned. We're all fighting off colds, and petit monsieur is having one of his rough days, where his behavioral issues and mood swings make us hesitant to take him out in public.

For those who don't know, we have a son with special needs: mild cerebral palsy, seizure disorder (mostly well controlled with medication, thankfully), and severe cognitive impairment. He's a sweet kid usually, but adolescence and the physiological changes sometimes play havoc with his nature; his moods can turn on a dime and he can become very difficult and aggressive. We've been working with behaviorists for years, which does help to some degree, but we're coming to the realization that for his own and others' safety, we may need to fight chemistry with chemistry.

So some weekends we're more housebound than others, and for today at least, the rest of this one is looking to be one of them. I'm eyeing my closet with intent: maybe a few more of the Bad Boys headed for reform school the donation pile, a bit of organizing and getting ready for warmer weather.

People who haven't lived here often have a misconception about LA weather. It really isn't hot here all of the time, or even most of the time. Especially near the coast, it stays relatively cool until well into the summer, and most years we're bundled up in sweaters or jackets to watch July 4th fireworks. But I'm not complaining! Dressing for work in hot weather is a challenge I don't relish.

And retailers aren't helping much. Trying to find good quality summer weight workwear has become a mission of sorts, and at times feels like looking for Waldo. Among the racks and shelves of shorts, clamdiggers, sundresses, sheer floaty tops, barely-there sandals, beachwear, neon colors, stands a lone linen jacket in a forlorn beige color. Sure, there are suits and "career wear" stores and sections, but for those of us who want something in between Corporate Drag™ and Weekend in Malibu, the pickings are slim. But as I find pieces with possibilities, I will share. (And I do have a few Karina dresses now that should be great summer office wear options.)

The cup of tea I was sipping as I wrote this seems to have worked a bit of magic and my throat is now feeling a bit better. Time to tackle the closet...

Hope your weekend is going well!
~

Bad Boys

What is the hold they have over us? We know they aren't good for us and yet we want them. We know that as fun and exciting as they might be, in the long run they'll let us down. We know better, but they still seduce us.

Men, that's another story. I'm talking about those Mr. Wrong wardrobe items that promise so much and ultimately don't deliver on their grandiose declarations of moonlight and "you and me, the world's our oyster, baby." They mock us from the darkest recesses of our closets like the sullen guy in the back of English lit class with the dark wavy hair and dreamboat eyes and the faint (or not-so-faint) aroma of pot and cigarettes. "You and me against the world" soon becomes "It's all your fault" and we blame ourselves, our bodies for their failures. We all have them, I think, those inexplicable, self-destructive sartorial attractions.

I like to believe I've evolved emotionally, but they can still sometimes tug at my heartstrings.

Boxy Bouclé Jackets

These still catch my eye, and tempt me to try them, "just this once." The song on the radio croons of glamour and an insouciante sophistication. But I know now to walk away, that some other woman's shape will have to tame this beast, that I'll only end up in an apron, standing in an empty driveway scanning the horizon and wringing my dishpan hands.

Heels

Specifically the kind of dressy, classic, stiletto heel that looks so great but that I find I can no longer walk in, and that no longer fit with my style or lifestyle.  I have a couple pair that I hang onto "just in case" but unless my life takes a sudden turn down the red carpet, they will rarely see the light of day.

Black

This Bad Boy has been the most difficult to kick to the curb. I love the mystery, the aura of cool, the slight frisson of subversiveness that I associate with black. Plus, it's easy. A wardrobe of black lives in the moment, at the ready, without demanding a lot of complicated and long-term choices. Hop on the bike and go, where ever the road takes you. (But I caught a glimpse of myself yesterday in the mirror, looking tired and heavy and knew this particular Bad Boy was taking a toll.)

The Drab and Lifeless Cardigan

This Bad Boy may seem very deep and solid and soulful at first, but you eventually realize he's probably clinically depressed and maybe more than a little bit self-involved, and is just dragging you down with him. Time to get away from this knit equivalent of a heavy sigh.

Do you have any Bad Boys still lurking in your closet? What keeps you holding on to them?
~

Fake It Till You Make It...Chanel-esque Jackets

For many years, I had a deep and abiding infatuation with Chanel jackets. The real deal was exponentially out of my price range, even second-hand from ebay. So I was frequently on the lookout for what I referred to as "Chanel-esque" jackets from mid-priced lines, until I finally figured out that this often boxy style of jacket just doesn't suit me. But I still can appreciate the look and the effort. And yes, I know that the materials, the construction, the fit will be a universe away from the original.

I happened to stop by our local Zara a few days ago, and it seemed that there were Chanel-esque jackets everywhere I turned.

Blazer w/sequins, $159

This one has studs. Multicolored blazer, $189.

The colors in this one are very pretty in person. Fantasy Blazer, $159.

This one is really cool with the gold pyramid studs, but the shoulder pads were too much for me.
Fantasy Studded Blazer,  $159.

Another option in a pretty color. Fantasy Fabric Blazer, $129.

They have several more options; you can see all jackets here.

J.Crew also has thrown their bouclé'd sleeve into the ring.

Plaid bouclé tweed jacket, $268

At a higher price point, I'd bet Lafayette 148 will deliver a bit more quality and fit:

Ravello Bouclé Tressel jacket, $648

Pampano Novelty Embellished Jacket, $598

Trifecta Bouclé Palermo Jacket, $698

This style of jacket is best suited to those with more boyish, or at least small-busted silhouettes. But if bouclé makes your heart beat faster, there are lots of options available right now at a range of price points.

~

Monday Miscellany

This week's Fashion Flash roundup is hosted by Jackie at Aging Backwards. Everything from superfoods to super makeup for summer is included this week, well worth checking out!

Maybe this is cheating just a little bit for Visible Monday, but I was so thrilled to finally be able to make time for a pedicure and pull out the sandals for the lovely weather we had this weekend! Visible Toes, yay! (Color is Essie "Escapades.")

Une femme recommends:
Under the heading of "Inexpensive But Effective," I've been massaging a bit of Aquaphor ointment into my cuticles nightly, and it works just as well as pricier cuticle creams.

Other uses for Aquaphor: soothing irritated skin, preventing winter chapping, softening cracked and dry heels. I'm never without a tube of this around the house.



Hope your week is off to a great start!
~

Be the sound of higher love today...

I was sorry to hear of Donna Summer's passing. I was mostly indifferent to her breathy, moaning disco hits from a musical standpoint (though I did enjoy dancing to them back in the day), but I'll never forget the first time I heard this song. It gave me goosebumps and still does. This is one of those rare instances where I like the cover of a song as well as the original (by Jon Anderson and Vangelis). I'm not a religious person, but this song touches the spiritual part of me, the part that says we're all connected in some way.

A co-worker was telling me that in the last few decades Donna Summer had many struggles with substance abuse, and conflicts with her faith vs. the sexy disco diva image that put her on the map, and was never able to get any traction with performing the kind of music that she wanted to. That's sad. It's a certain kind of hell, I guess when your inner and outer selves are in conflict. I hope she's at peace now.
~

Paris: Tidbits, Gifts, and Minimizing Jet Lag

My two new favorite French words are "bougie" and "pamplemousse."

"Bougie" means candle. "Pamplemousse" is grapefruit, and it seems to be A Thing right now in France. Pamplemousse was a popular ingredient in dishes, sauces and desserts at several restaurants we tried, and seems to be a popular ingredient in various fragranced items as well including lotions and "bougies."

We tried several new restaurants this time, but agreed that our favorite (in Paris) was Jamin, where we dined our first night after arriving in France. We were looking for something that was tasty, but not too heavy or rich, and with a low-key ambience. I began with the Tartare d'ecrivesses (crayfish tartare) which was phenomenal, and followed up with a daily special of cod for the plat principal. The meal was exactly what we'd hoped, and we will definitely go back again on our next visit.

But one of our favorite meals was an impromptu late lunch at a "tabac" sidewalk cafe, sitting underneath an awning sipping wine and nibbling sandwiches during a rainstorm. It was such a pleasant and quintessential Parisian experience. It was one of those times where you are acutely aware, even as you are in the moment, that life just doesn't get any better than this.

If you want to shop on a Sunday, you'll be out of luck (as most shops are closed) unless you head over to the Marais, where Sunday afternoons are now quite a scene.

And if you want to see one of the more popular expositions (temporary exhibits) at museums, check the museum website and purchase tickets in advance online if you can. Some of the lines can be quite long without advance tickets, and you're in Paris...who wants to spend precious time standing in line??? (Karen picked up tickets in advance for the fabulous Matisse exhibit at the Pompidou and we had a wonderful time enjoying brunch, viewing the exhibit and wandering in the Marais afterward. Thanks, Karen!)

Gifts
We always try to bring back gifts for family and those who are "holding down the fort" while we are away. Over time, we've hit upon some items that travel well and seem to be appreciated across a broad taste and demographic spectrum, without resorting to Eiffel Tower keychains.

This might be difficult to get home intact, unless well packaged.

Chocolat: In Paris, you can't throw a rock without hitting an outstanding chocolatier. We've found that most offer smallish tins or boxes of chocolats or flavored amandes that travel well and will be greeted with "oohs and aahs" from the recipients. Note: we always carry-on our chocolates rather than checking in luggage. We've never had a problem with airport security.

Fragonard: in addition to fragrances and lovely scented soaps, we find the Fragonard boutiques have a wonderful selection of decorative household items and accessories (love their embroidered shoe bags and small pouches!). For young women on your list, they have a selection of small solid fragrances in tins for about 10€.

Maille moutardes: any cooks or gourmands on your list? Then stop by the Maille boutique near the Madeleine, just off Rue Royale for some exquisite mustards, vinegars, aiolis, and various condiments. You can even get mustards "on tap!"

They will pack your purchases for travel, but we always use one of our wine skins for bringing these jars home (in checked luggage, as they do count as liquids).

Re-usable bags/totes: my favorites are the organic cotton reusable grocery totes from La Grande Epicerie at Bon Marché, but many shops now sell inexpensive reusable bags and totes with a uniquely Parisian flavor.

Jet Lag
Traveling to Paris from the West coast of the US or Canada means crossing 8 or 9 time zones, depending on time of year. Sometimes a bit (or a lot) of jet lag is inevitable, but these are some of the tactics I employ that do seem to help.

• Set your watch to your destination time zone as soon as you board the plane. This is probably more of a mental aide than anything, but I find it does help.
• If you can manage even 2-3 hours of sleep on the flight over, it will help.
• Eat very lightly on the flight, and if you can't skip alcohol altogether, limit yourself to 1 drink.
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink as much water as you can manage.
• Darjeeling tea. I don't know why, but a cup or two toward the end of the flight or soon after arrival really helps. I'm normally a coffee drinker, but in transit I skip the coffee and have tea instead.
• And here's the most important thing: once you arrive, drop your bags at the hotel and get out and walk around in the fresh air as much as you can for as long as you can.  More than anything, I really do find this helps reset my body clock.
• Try to stay up your first day until normal bedtime in your new time zone. If you can't do that, keep a nap to 30-45 minutes, tops. Then get out and move around some more.
• Don't fret too much if your sleep patterns are disrupted. If you wake up at 2am and can't fall back to sleep, read a book for a while, take a bath, anything relaxing, even if it doesn't put you back to sleep right away.  And when morning comes, get up, get outside and walk around some more.
• Don't schedule a full day your first day or two.  If it's your first visit to Paris, day 2 is an excellent time to just be a tourist and hop the double decker sightseeing bus.

Do you have favorite gift items to bring home from your travels, or tips for minimizing jet lag? Please do share!

~

Paris At Random

View from our table at dinner. I love sidewalk dining in Paris!

~

Travel Wardrobe Recap

After a long flight (12+ hours in the air total) an early evening stroll through Paris was just the thing.

Blustery Sunday morning in Jardin de Tuileries

Above are pictures taken on our first and last days in Paris. Le monsieur snapped a few more of me in between but I'm wearing the same thing in all: slim pants (skinny jeans or ponte knit), boots, grey scarf, black leather jacket (and two or three layers of tops underneath). It was cool and intermittently rainy in Paris, and I was glad I'd swapped out my lightweight coat for my leather jacket at the very last moment after one final glance at the extended weather forecast.

In Provence, it was a bit drier and a few degrees warmer, so was able to shed the jacket periodically.

At the seaside in Cassis 

Market day in Aix-en-Provence

Overall, I was very pleased with how my capsule travel wardrobe worked out.

What worked:

• The Naot mid-calf boots were a good choice; coordinated with all of my pants whether worn inside or out and they never gave my feet cause for complaint. 
• I always had something to wear that was appropriate for the weather and venue, even if that meant wearing some pieces almost daily. 
• I appreciated having a small and relatively lightweight suitcase while in transit (especially navigating up and down a narrow flight of curving stairs on the TGV train) and realized one more advantage to packing light when we arrived back home: less to unpack!

I did "sink laundry" for a few items twice on the trip and almost everything dried overnight, even with the cool and damp conditions.

Didn't wear: 

• the polka dot dress. I wore the other one (above) on our second day in Provence, but the weather didn't cooperate past that point. Too chilly/windy/damp even with leggings. 
• most of the jewelry. 

Wish I'd brought: another 1 or 2 mid-weight scarves with some color.

In retrospect, I do think this was my most workable and best travel capsule wardrobe yet.
~