A Break from Regular Programming...

I’m not one to write about every global tragedy, but the tragedy in Moore, Oklahoma has left me utterly speechless and horrified. I just can’t write about what to wear when on a day like today, so instead I’d like to share some information for those of you who feel as helpless and upset as I:

American Red Cross - Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, donate online, or donate by phone at 1-800-RED CROSS.

Red Cross Safe & Well - Visit here if you’re searching for a missing relative; also register on the site if you live in the disaster region so loved ones know your status.

Operation USA - Donate online, by phone (1-800-678-7255), or by check (address on their site). You can also donate $10 by texting AID to 50555. Operation USA is also accepting corporate donations of bulk quantities of disaster-appropriate supplies.

Feed the Children – Feed the Children is accepting donations online or by phone (1-888-873-7062) to support the Oklahoma tornado relief efforts. Feed the Children will also be accepting in person donations today, Tuesday, May 21, until 4:30pm at the McCormick Distribution Center (29 N. McCormick). Items accepted are diapers, canned goods, non-perishable food and snack items, water and sports drinks.

Please readers in that area, do let me know you are okay. I know I have many readers in Oklahoma but not sure the exact whereabouts. I was glad to hear that my sorority sister who lives in the area is safe, but I have been sick with worry about all of you who I can’t contact, and I won’t see a Facebook status. My heart goes out to the people of Moore, and those affected by yesterday’s tragedy.

If you know of other charities that are supporting those in Moore, please leave the information in the comments.  It doesn't matter where the help comes from, as long as the help comes.

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Ask Allie: Vegas Bound - What to Wear

I’m heading to Las Vegas for my friend’s 30th birthday and I have NO IDEA WHAT TO PACK! I live in a small town where a night out is the local bar or Ruby Tuesday’s and I usually just wear what I was wearing all day. I’m not a skinny gal and am pretty freaked out by all I see online where it’s skinny girls in bikinis and little dresses and heels. Any advice for a fellow curvy married gal who wants to have fun but not look insane? THANK YOU!

There will be seriously every style and look imaginable in Vegas, so don’t feel that EVERYONE is dressing a certain way. No need to go out and buy an entire sequined-covered wardrobe for this trip.

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Nightclub Attire
Most nightclubs have dress codes, so it’s better to dress up than down for the evening. That means leave your shorts, flip flops, and logoed tee shirts in the hotel room. Think of it as a festive version of Business Casual. You can’t go wrong with an LBD, it's something you can re-wear, and you can amp it up for Vegas with more dramatic accessories and makeup. Color is great too – a fun cocktail dress with a bit of sex appeal and some fabulous shoes that still let you dance all night is a smart choice.

Evening Attire (Casinos, Shows, Nice Restaurants)
Again, leave the shorts, flip flops, sneakers, and tees at home. A sundress, a cute skirt or pants with a blouse, or even the LBD you plan on wearing to the club is a smart choice. Again, a concept of Festive Business Casual is a good rule of thumb and it’s better to err on the side of overdressed than underdressed.

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Sightseeing Attire
During the day, you will be going from frigid air conditioned casinos to the sweltering hot temps outside on the Strip. A simple sundress or shorts are perfect; be sure to wear comfortable sandals or shoes because you will be doing a LOT of walking. To protect against the sun, wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, and reapply that sunscreen often. A crossbody not only lets your hands be free, but also is better at preventing pickpockets. Be sure to tuck a cardigan in your bag to be comfortable indoors.

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Pool Attire
It may seem intimidating to imagine a poolside full of slim women in string bikinis, but do know there are people of all shapes, sizes, and styles in Vegas. Take a suit (or two!) that flatters your figure and makes you feel confident. I usually go with the LBD of swimsuits – something black that supports the breasts, whittles the waist, and makes me feel svelte and sexy. As with the LBD at the danceclub, if you have a simple dress then have fun with accessories – a big floppy hat, fabulous sunglasses, a festive coverup or caftan and metallic sandals.

Additional Tips:

• In Vegas you can carry off things you may not be comfortable rocking at home. Caftans at poolsize, sequined mini skirts, giant floppy sunhats. It’s a good time to wear all those items you own but fear wearing in town!
• It’s hot outside. Drink lots of water, especially if you’re drinking alcohol. Keep reapplying that sunscreen, and give yourself some breaks.
• You’re going to walk more than you think. Get some comfortable sandals for the daytime (and that doesn’t mean cheapy flip flops) and consider getting a pair of foldable flats to tuck in your bag for your nights of clubbing.
• Enjoy yourself, and let others enjoy themselves. This is not the time to be stressing out about your appearance. The goal of the trip is to HAVE FUN! Enjoy the experience with your girl friends, a great smile and laugh is the best accessory you can wear. One is more conspicuous when they are feeling awkward and trying to hide their figure than when they are just enjoying the moment. Your participation and experience is far more important than what you pack in your suitcase. Have a blast!

 Have you been to Las Vegas?  What are you suggestions for what to wear?

Fabulous selection of cocktail dresses at www.missesdressy.com/dresses/cocktail-dresses 

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How to Do a Concert with a Bum Leg: Father John Misty at the 9:30 Club

Father John Misty and my bum leg.

Last photo courtesy The Washington Post.

1. See train arriving on Metro platform. Know going to have to switch at Gallery Place so decide to jog up two cars to be closer to the escalator.
   
2. Take one step, feel a POP in left calf and sudden searing pain.
   
3. Hobble onto train, fighting back tears, freaking out the people around you. Man offers seat, woman offers seat, another woman offers the pole to grab on for dear life, another woman rubs my back telling saying will be okay.  Tear up even more over the kindness of strangers at rush hour no less.
   
4. Hobble to the Green Line. Sort of stuck in the middle of the city so might as well meet friends and then take an Uber home. Feel helpless and tired and scared and yes, am in pain.  More kindness of strangers knocks me for a loop and makes me love DC even more.
   
5. Hobble out of the U Street Metro station and collapse in the grass next to the Navy Memorial, frantically Googling what in the world I did to my leg and how to treat it. Ugh, torn or pulled calf muscle.  Clean up my tear-streaked face.
   
6. Husband arrives.
   
7. Sister drives by and picks us up.
   
8. Decide instead of our original dinner destination to hit Satellite Room because there’s no stairs and it's right next to the club. Famished and sister has ibuprofen in the trunk of her car so we figure might as well eat a bit before cab home.
   
9. See friend at Satellite Room who has VIP pass she can’t use. Talks to the 9:30 Club staff who reserve a stool for me in the VIP balcony. Hug friend and tear up over the awesome gesture.
   
10. Yet again attempt to clean up tear-stained face but instead decide to take a tip from the FJM handbook and just leave on my sunglasses.
    
11. Take ibuprofen, bartender wraps ice in a towel and put it on calf. Eat some food (hello tater tots!) and a Jack and Ginger (or two) which makes everything feel far better.
    
12. Hobble/hop up the stairs at 9:30 and arrive to a stool in VIP with name on it. Tear up again from the kind gesture and also the exhaustion and pain of getting to said stool.
    
13. Don't even try to clean up face, it's dark and my sister got me a cocktail.
    
14. See a phenomenal concert. My sister also got VIP so we had a great time together; Karl went down into the throng but I could see him from my vantage point. It was clear he too had an amazing time.
    
15. Let the crowd disperse then my sister helped me down the stairs. Met Karl outside, and Debbie had scored a sweet parking space right in front of the club. Headed home, sharing our stories from the evening.

Video from the show at The 9:30 Club performance, not too far from my vantage point.

Drama aside, Father John Misty puts on an amazing show. His voice is just as good as on the album, but he’s more sarcastic and snarky and ridiculous in person. His hips gyrated, he made jokes, he was everything I hoped for in the show. He did a cover of Happiness is a Warm Gun and a song off his upcoming album (videos not from 9:30 show). I’m even greater of a fan after the show and am so glad things worked out for me to actually attend. While Father John Misty is doing the festival circuit, he won’t be at any of the fests I plan on attending; it’s exciting that I was able to see him when I did!

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True Fashionista: Laura

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

― Leonardo da Vinci

Simple isn’t easy. It’s easy to pile on the trends and hide behind flashy baubles and of-the-moment silhouettes. It takes skill to make simple pieces and ensembles look chic, polished, and covetable. I’ll admit, this is something I am working on, and I am always thrilled to find a blogger who masters simple style. When I found the blog Laura Wears I was hooked, and I was thrilled when Laura was willing to be part of my True Fashionista series.

Laura makes simple chic style look effortless. She wears the same pieces over and over without it being boring or wackadoodle (far too many blog posts out there claiming anyone can make a dress into a jumper or skirt or a shirt into a skirt). She dresses for her real life – you’ll see her in outerwear, career attire, formalwear, and everything in between.

I love that Laura’s wardrobe is a mix of high and low. Thrifted gems, pieces bought on travel, popular retailers like J. Crew and Banana Republic, as well as factory store scores. Laura will also let you know the age of a piece, be it something she bought a couple years ago or something she bought back in high school. It’s inspiring to see someone truly have a working wardrobe of staples that transcend the years and the trends.

For those who mention that my outfits aren’t relevant to you because you live in a place with a colder climate (or who want to see what style bloggers wear in the snow), I encourage you to check out Laura Wears, for Laura lives in Ottawa, Canada and often poses in parkas and boots with a snowy background.

Laura shows with her blog that you don’t need an overflowing wardrobe or every hot trend to look stylish and sophisticated. Simple can be elegant and quite chic. She reminds me that often less is more, be it choosing just one accessory or focusing more on fit than trend. I am glad she was willing to be part of my True Fashionista series; I asked her to answer the same five questions I ask of each participant:


How would you describe your personal style?
I would say my style is mostly preppy and classic. On occasion, I try to incorporate other trends, namely bohemian pieces. Each season I try to incorporate a few trendier pieces into my wardrobe (ie. I finally made myself a peplum top...).

Where did you get your passion for fashion?
From a young age, I always loved seeing people (men and women!) with beautifully put-together outfits. This probably had a huge impact on my love of fashion. Also, since I am not overly artistic in my everyday life, putting together and photographing my outfits quickly became an outlet for creative expression.

Where do you find sartorial inspiration?
Everywhere! Blogs, magazines, people on the street, Pinterest, etc. As crazy as it may sound, I also get a lot of inspiration from menswear blogs. I absolutely love the simplicity of men's looks. The no-muss-no-fuss style really appeals to me

What is the difference between fashion and style?
Style is timeless. Fashion changes each season.

Any advice for a woman who is starting to find her personal style?

1. Experiment, experiment, experiment!
2. Seek out some help from the sales associates/personal stylists at your favorite stores. They normally have a wealth of knowledge and can help you pick out great pieces.
3. Consider photographing outfits here and there... Taking photos for my blog has really helped me interpret what works for my body and what doesn't (the mirror sometime lies!). On occasion, I'll leave the house with an outfit I love, but when I see the photos of it, I have a what-was-I-thinking moment.

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