Concert Review: The Killers

The Killers with Wolfmother
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Jones Beach Amphitheater
Wantagh, New York

Tuesday night, a friend and I took a mini-adventure out onto Long Island to see what might be my real favorite band right now, The Killers. This was a sold-out show, and we scrounged a few tickets up the day of the show on stubhub.

First, the venue: I had heard good things about concerts at Jones Beach, which is a state park about 45min outside NYC by train. But I think I may have found my new favorite concert venue. First, the parking lot tailgates are shamelessly un-patrolled, and it made me wish we had driven so we could drag out the cooler and join in the fun. Secondly, there isn't a bad seat in the house. The house only houses around 14,000 people, so while you might get high up, you never feel terribly far away from the action. The seating is built in a wedge shape; the stage faces north and the audience faces south, giving the concertgoers a view of the water behind the stage, and if you're lucky, a beautiful sunset to the right of the stage. It's perfect for summer.

Anyway - on to the music. The Killers rocked this place. I've never seen a band exude so much energy without moving very much themselves; the musicians didn't have to run and jump around the stage to get the audience going. These boys from Vegas also know how to put on a show. Just because they were on the beach didn't mean they were going to forsake confetti, showers of sparks, or pyrotechnics on stage. They didn't really need the effects, but when you take a fast-paced chorus, thumping drums, driving piano chords and a melody you want to sing along with, and THEN add sparks raining down on the stage for the remainder of the song... yeah, that's a little bit of magic.



I was really happy with the playlist the band chose. I wish I noted it, and haven't been able to find it online, but it included just about every radio-worthy hit, plus a power ballad or two, and a few tunes from their latest CD, Day and Age. Some of my favorites that they played are....

• Can You Read My Mind?
• Human
• Mr. Brightside
• Losing Touch
• Jenny
• Smile Like You Mean It
• Somebody Told Me
• All These Things I've Done
• Bones
• When You Were Young (encore)

The Killers also have a great sense of rhythm. Not the kind of rhythm you play, but rhythm for the concert. A playlist can get boring quickly if there isn't the right kind of variety and rhythm. They opened with an energetic song (Human), cranked along for a bit to get the crowd going, then we had bopped around enough, they threw in an unexpected acoustic treatment of Smile Like You Mean It, with violin and piano (not synth). They built us back up again with All These Things I've Done (get that audience fist-pumping... "I got soul but I'm not a soldier..."), and closed with an "of course!" encore of When You Were Young, letting the opening dischord ring for a bit, and then setting the crowd loose with its infectious beat and sweeping chorus.

Here's a video of their performance of Mr. Brightside, and you can hear everyone singing along...



Another thing that struck me about this show was the vibe. The audience was one of the most diverse I've seen: college kids, high school kids, wannabe rapper kids, parents with children, baby-boomers, yuppies, overgrown frat boys and everyone in between. This diversity led to a pretty positive vibe, an unexpected cohesion. What brought everyone together was their cheerful devotion to a band that tells stories with lyrics, stories that resonate with people of many ages apparently.

The Killers sing songs of heartbreak, nostalgia, theoretical possibilities, interpersonal pressure and rhetorical questions. They love a running bass beat, sweeping synthesizer chords, and beautiful guitar/vocal counterpoint. Their music had a family of five jumping, nodding and dancing together, wearing smiles and not concerning themselves with what anyone else thought. It was a really special concert, executed nearly flawlessly, in tune and with contagious energy. This concert made me love the Killers even more.

Here is their encore, When You Were Young...



And as a side note, this may sound crazy, but I would love to hear a Killers Unplugged concert. Their songs could be so beautiful with synthesizer reworked to strings, piano, acoustic guitar, maybe even cello... I'll call MTV right now.

- Hayley

How to Make a Derby Hat

I have professed my love for big hats worn at horse races. I have also discussed how to pick a hat for your face and how to wear that hat properly, with a dress and minimal, classic accessories. In this post, I'll show you how I made my own Derby Hat.

Google "derby hat" and dozens of online couture hat boutiques will come up. The Derby Hat is not only a long-standing tradition, but also brings good luck to you when you wear it, and some people take this tradition very seriously. So if you're lucky enough to be attending the Kentucky Derby, your outfit is of paramount importance. There are, apparently, women out there who will spend upwards of $400 on a gargantuan hat festooned with feathers, netting, ribbon and flowers, which she will wear to only one race, on one day, ever.

I am not one of those women.

I am also not going to Churchill Downs this weekend, but I am attending the Hats Off to Saratoga Festival in lovely Saratoga Springs, New York. I have two navy-ish dresses that I plan to wear to the track Saturday and Sunday, and I have created my own custom hat for the weekend. Yes, I do realize this is probably a huge faux pas, wearing the same Derby Hat twice in one weekend (or in one lifetime), but... I don't really care.

So! Time to make your hat. Before a chef begins cooking, he gets mise en place. Before embarking on any project, it's good to lay out your materials ahead of time. For this project I suggest:
- the hat
- silk flowers (several small and one large)
- feathers (many)
- ribbon
- netting (optional)
- thread and needles
- Tacky Glue or a hot glue gun

Here are my materials laid out on the kitchen table.



Then I took everything to where I do all my crafty-work: my bed (weird, I know).

1) Start with the feathers. I attached mine so they would lay across the crown and fan out. Pour some glue over the spot, lay down 2 feathers and sew them onto the hat. As you get comfortable with this process and feel they are secure, add more.



2) When you are satisfied with your plumage, it's time to add the band, if you don't have one or want to change yours. Cut a long piece of ribbon, wrap it around the crown, and bring the ends together where the feather bunch is. Secure with pins, then sew the ribbon in place with small stitches. Cut off any excess.



3) Now we add the side flowers. You will need to cut or detach smaller stems from the large flowers. Place the bunch where you like, then sew it in place by looping thread over and through the branches.



4) Once you have the framing set, you add the focal piece: the large silk flower. My hat has a magnolia-ish flower. Pick something with size and volume! Using matching or inconspicuous thread, sew the blossom onto the hat where the brim meets the crown. Be careful not to sew through any top petals (you'll see the stitches).


Here is how the hat looks now...



5) Now the hat is basically done - you just need finishing touches. This is the point where I added the extra ribbon, pushed in the rest of the feathers, and made small adjustments. You can add more flowers, netting, whatever you like, but it will be harder to sew anything into the crown once the large flower is sewed.



5) Last thing I added: the single ostrich feather. I thought it added a great pop and a change from just navy/white.


And there you have it... a custom-made Derby hat to match whichever lovely sundress you want. My plain hat cost $17, and the decorations all together were about $18, which makes this project a very affordable one. I'm already laughing and excited about the pictures we will take this weekend. And maybe I'll win big!

Here are some tips for making your hat look great:

• Find a place to consider your focal point - where the attention to the hat will be drawn. The statement will be more sophisticated than silk flowers sticking out of every corner of your hat.
• Sewing through glue will get your hands, needle and thread messy. Consider yourself warned. But the sturdiness is worth it.
• Attach decorations without pulling them through the holes in the straw, if applicable. That'll poke you in the head!
• Have fun with color, but shopping for things like feathers and flowers can give you ADD. Create a palette (3 colors tops) and stick with it, if you want to look sophisticated.
• Consider your dress. If your dress is on the fancy side, go for a hat in a fabric, rather than straw, and keep a clean color palette.
• Hats come in many shapes and sizes. Take the time to pick the best one for you.
• Finish off the look with nice, big sunnies.
• Have fun and work that Derby Hat! If you're feeling a bit shy, first, take a look around you, and second, have another drink. You're at the races - enjoy!

Cheers,
Hayley

The Dirty Dozen: How would you do it?

Whether it's Kennebunkport or Kathmandu, everyone needs a stylish, flexible, streamlined travel wardrobe. And if you happen to be flying anywhere, it's often recommended, especially in international cases, to bring a change of clothing or two in your carry-on, in case your luggage gets routed to you in Hawaii via... Seoul. Now that would be a disaster.

This piece of advice got me thinking... how long could I last using one carry-on?

A large carry-on bag could hold, if packed correctly, about a dozen items plus essentials like shampoo (trial size) and travel documents, etc. Say you are going somewhere with one carry-on. You get to pack 12 clothing/shoe/accessory items. What would you bring, and how long could you last without repeating an exact outfit, not counting your plane outfit?

Hayley's Dirty Dozen:

1. black v-neck tee shirt
2. printed blouse
3. chiffon cami
4. khaki mini-skirt
5. white jeans
6. dark straight-leg jeans
7. black sundress
8. flat metallic leather sandals
9. black wedges
10. white blazer
11. bright scarf
12. statement necklace

Outfit Combinations:

Sight-Seeing in Rome

Seafood dinner in Cinque Terre

Day at the Uffizi

Cafe Za-Za in Venice

Audience with the Pope

Cruise to Capri

Shopping in Milan

Alexanderplatz Jazz Club

Eight outfits with twelve pieces! Not too bad. And I didn't even cheat by just taking Outfit 7 and throwing on the scarf. If you are willing and able to re-wear items (everyone should be, and is), you can truly pack light and live light. Here are a few principles that made this Dirty Dozen a success:
- all neutral bottoms and neutral outerwear
- one flat and one high sandal, both dressed up or down
- a scarf replaces a necklace
- neutral dress, dressed up or down
- prints that are few but flexible
- comfortable shoes and washable pieces (except blazer)

If you could squeeze in one more top or a few pieces of jewelry, maybe even a belt, you could smash out a handful more awesome combinations. And all these outfits were classy, appropriate, and relatively comfortable.

What would be in your Dirty Dozen?
Hayley

I had Dunkirk!

Yesterday I took the train out to Long Island for the annual Belmont Stakes. This is the 3rd leg of the Triple Crown, and although there was no contender for it this year, it was still a pretty great day.

Belmont is situated in the town of Elmont (no joke), and from what I saw, Elmont is a dump. But once you enter the gates, you forget the outside world and are surrounded by green paddocks, TV trees, turn-of-the-century architecture (I think) and people dressed to impress. There were even some hats, even a couple of big ones, contrary to what I'd heard.

I was all set to post a bunch of photos I took and Blogger seems to disagree with thoroughbred racing. But I'll try again later!

Hayley

All over Italy in two carry-ons.

As I pointed out the other day, some airlines are offering really good deals on nonstop fares to exotic, balmy and romantic destinations. I did just go to Europe last summer, but one country I've yet to cross off the list is Italy. Italia seems like the ultimate in dichotomies: tons of history and tons of fashion; diverse cities and regions and a unifying culture; priceless art and fabulous nightlife; sharp-dressed in the streets but casual in attitude; sexy yet Catholic.

Since the vast majority of my friends are somewhere in the engagement process, they certainly aren't spending money right now, especially in this... do I have to say it? Anyway, the lack of friends or someone special to travel with isn't going to stop me. I've been looking into Contiki tours, which my sister used to go to Greece and adored. Singles 18-35 in fabulous European cities? Count me in!

One of the most daunting tasks for a traveler that I find positively riveting is the packing of the suitcase. I used to be a high-maintenance packer, frenzied that I'd desperately want the one top-bottom-shoe combination I didn't pack, and the entire trip would be ruined. But since then, I've learned both what my wardrobe multitaskers are and how to better combine items, and that combined with lots of travel has made me quite the light packer.

Always remember: If you pack light, you manage to live light.

But the key to packing light and still looking and feeling fabulous is bringing the right items. And a bottle of Febreeze, if you can manage it. So here is my exercise in and preview of packing light for the trip of a lifetime to a country many people on dream of seeing.

But before we begin, there are three grains of wisdom I gained from experience:

1) You can, and should, wear items more than once. A little soap in the sink or bathtub, hang it to dry overnight, and you'll get another wear out of the item. By the third wear it might get a bit skanky, but better than hauling a 40lb suitcase up four flights of stairs (bonjour, Hotel St. Honore!).

2) You must roll clothes when packing. Saves so much room! Fold the item lengthwise and roll it tightly, and you'll double the amount you can fit in your suitcase. Often helps avoid wrinkling too.

3) You must pick a general range of formality for your clothes. Depending on your destination, your clothes will need to be of a certain caliber of dressiness. You can dress 'em up or down with accessories, but a trip to London would call for a different range of formality than, say, Punta Cana. Also, a neutral color palette will offer you many more options.

For the trip I'm planning, the vast majority of activities I'll dress for will be sight-seeing in casual and semi-formal places (streets of Capri, the Vatican), going out at night and riding an air-conditioned motorcoach. I'm not expecting air-conditioning anywhere, so it'll be a bonus if we come across it. Finally, I expect to do a ton of walking and as much as I fancy the idea of a tryst with a sexy Florentine gentleman in capri pants and a linen shirt, sex appeal won't be my top priority. But I'll need to make sure I'm appropriate and chic enough to avoid the Ugly American thing. Kinda tough not to look like a tourist when you're on a tour, but at least I can be a smartly-dressed East Coast girl with travel savvy!

In the large carry-on (small rolling suitcase):

• 1 pair jeans
• 1 pair white/beige linen pants
• 2 lightweight skirts
• 3-5 camis/sleeveless tops
• 3-5 tops with sleeves (blouses, Oxfords)
• 2-3 sundresses, at least 1 evening-appropriate
• 1 lightweight blazer
• 1 cardigan
• 1 pair flip-flops
• 1 pair heels/tall sandals
• 1 pair wedges/comfortable tall shoes
• Underthings, as many as necessary. No recycling here!
• 2 sets PJs
• 1 great all-around purse
• 1 wristlet/small clutch
  

Right there you have a few dresses that can be layered with outerwear, at least a dozen top/bottom permutations and shoes to fit most any activity you'll do. And if that list looks long, roll your clothes, pack your undies in the purse, your jewelry in the clutch... you get the idea.

And now for the small carry-on, in my case a large Vera Bradley tote:

• Toothbrush, paste, floss
• Contact lens case and solution
• Deodorant
• Brush
• Curling hairspray
• Bobby pins, clips and elastics
• Small make-up bag (more on this later)
• Chi (and voltage adapter!)
• Cosmetic bag, filled with jewelry (more on this later)
• Cell phone and camera, and chargers
• Essentials (wallet, passport, etc.)
• iPod
• Journal and 2 pens
• Guidebook

Everything beauty-related (just check fluid sizes), and anti-plane-boredom. The tote also makes a third bag option if you need to carry a lot of stuff, or plan to go shopping.

Unnecessary space-suckers:

• Hair dryer. Shower at night and Chi in the morning, or go wavy. Low-maintenance, girls!
• 5 pairs of shoes. Choose 3 versatile ones and you'll find it's plenty. Same goes for purses.
• Every piece of costume jewelry you own.
• Full-size make-up and hair products. This is what samples are for!
• Food.
• More than one book. Wouldn't you rather write down your thoughts, or reminisce?

Again, if you pack light, you manage to live light. You know that time in the morning when you're trying to figure out what to wear, and you're frenzied and overwhelmed, and you forget why you're on vacation? It all goes away when you pack light. Because you don't have a ton of choices. So you pick something in a neutral color palette, add some chic jewelry, and focus on the reason for your trip: vivid life experience in a foreign setting. And (hopefully) when you're gazing at the photo of you under a lemon tree in Sorrento, on your desktop while you're in sterile air-conditioning back at work, you'll fondly remember the spunky woman in a muumuu selling ceramic plates and limoncello, and not how it annoyed you that you left your pink, studded gladiator sandals at home.



Finally, while you want to live light, be prepared with one nice outfit. Most of the fun in traveling is in the unexpected, so if you happen to get asked to dinner at a chic restaurant in Venice by a cute local boy, you want to seize your dressier sundress, tall sandals and clutch so you can take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with class.

Next post: the perfect make-up and jewelry collections for traveling light!

Cheers to travel,
Hayley

Summer Top Ten

OK, two posts on warm weather within a week of each other, and a snowstorm predicted for tonight. Can you tell I'm sick of winter?

I relish living in the northeast because of the seasons. I love the autumn leaves, the winter wonderland snow, the spring thaw, and best of all, the mid-May warm-up. There's no comparison to that first day on which the air is clear, the sun is warm, there's a light breeze, no humidity, and you head outside to your car, realizing on the way that you don't need it. You toss it in the back seat, and drive to work with the windows open, feeling a natural breeze on your arms for the first time since October.


The iced coffees become appealing again, we start to eat lighter, and life gets a little lighter. And of course, our clothes change. But the change isn't only in weight and coverage; everyone's style gets a little more laid-back in the warmer months. Somehow structure and trendiess feel right in fall and winter. But in the spring and summer, the materials are lighter, the cuts are more relaxed, and I personally move away from the trends for a bit and go for the classics.

The classic clothing I wear in spring and summer hasn't changed much from what I wore growing up, since I always go for my favorite staples that feel light, keep me cool and have staying power for several seasons. Keeping up with trends is an activity I use in the winter to keep me interested in getting dressed beyond avoiding hypothermia, and it goes well with the edginess of the seasons. But once late April hits, I'm all about the basics.

In recently moving and taking stock of my wardrobe, I realized I'll need to replace a few of these. So I'm making a list of my ten favorite options for spring and summer, and I'll keep an eye out for spring preview sales and coupons as opportunities to buy them. Buying out of season usually gets you a great deal, and making lists keeps you from making too many impulse purchases.

1) 3/4-sleeve Oxford shirts. Definitely white, probably a pink and a blue also, definitely the Horse. Soft cotton, comfortable structure and a classic look.

Ralph Lauren Solid Cotton Oxford, $89


2) Fresh polos. Short-sleeved, two-button, collars down. Navy, light pink, hot pink, sky blue, yellow, kelly green, red, black, white, orange - check. Looking for: light green, royal blue, maroon. Definitely some of the Horse, maybe a Lilly thrown in. Absolutely no A&F.

Lilly Pulitzer Rugby Stripe Polo, $68


3) Linen pants. Got white, would like beige. Traditional Easter - Labor Day rules apply.

Robert Rodriguez linen pants, $119.99


4) White linen/cotton/eyelet skirts. Never work appropriate, but a great jeans substitute for a night out. Pair with a polo or deep-V tee and flops for a casual look.

Alvin Valley Cotton Miniskirt, $99.99


5) Solid sundresses. Florals are fine, and I've got black linen. This summer I'm looking into everything linen, solid navy, green and pink.

White House | Black Market Drapeneck Cotton Dress, $148


6) Long-sleeve tissue tees. The best coverup on the boat - sun coverage without warmth.

J.Crew Perfect Fit Tissue Tee, $24.50


7) Tailored chino shorts. Modest hem (7" - 3" at the least), neutral colors. To wear with Oxfords, polos, tanks...

J. Crew Twill 5" shorts, $39.50


8) Denim jacket. To wear on weekends when the sun goes down.

American Eagle Vintage Denim Jacket, $49.99


9) Twill skirts. Dress up for work, down for play.

Vineyard Vines Twill Skirt, $68


10) New aviators. The $8 ones from Chinatown last maaaaybe one summer!

Kirra White Aviators, $15.50

Cheers to summer - only five months away!
Hayley

Resort Season? I wish.

The city is supposed to get what meteorologists are charmingly and sensationally calling an "arctic blast" in the next day or two. For the latter half of the week, lucky us, temperatures are supposed to peak at a mere 17 degrees.

How cold is that? Even the sun feels chilly.

It's the perfect time to give the Carrie Bradshaw "it's too cold" excuse. But if you don't have a Classic Six apartment in which to cozy up to a witty but unattractive older Russian, wearing a nightgown and cashmere robe... and you don't have a job... you're forced to layer on the tights, trousers, boots, hats, coats, scarves, gloves, and lip balm until you can't put your arms down, and get your goosebumped booty to work.

Perhaps I have an extra case of the winter blahs this year, with no outstanding escapes to Mexico or the Caribbean planned. Not even Florida. But hey, who is participating in Resort Season during our fabulously played-out-already Recession-Rama?

In near-zero temperatures, it's natural for us to lust and pine for the days of June, when the sun didn't set until 9:00pm (or 11pm, in Europe), and all the clothing you need is a breezy dress and the warm air on your arms.

While white dresses are classic and beautiful, they're also ubiquitous. The beige dress is an unexpected alternative in summer, especially for evening. Below are some of my favorite mid-summer beige dresses, presented to you this evening in a small effort to curb the frost. Enjoy!

Loving this song

Apparently it's quite old (2006?) and some people are sick of hearing it all summer. But I for one actually haven't heard it much, except for playing the CD myself. Something about this ukelele harmony is so beautiful, and Jason Mraz's voice is the perfect combination of boyish tone and accurate technique, rhythmic lyrics and a soothingly simple chorus. Makes me wanna fall in love!

"Sometimes, there's nothing harder than being happy for someone else."

Carrie Bradshaw uttered those words of truth in one of my favorite episodes of S&TC, "The Baby Shower." As a woman in my mid-20s, I am slowly gaining more events on my yearly calendar dedicated to the pairing-up and popping-out of friends and family. Especially in the months between April and October, we young, single women seem to get inundated with hand-engraved invitations from Crane & Co., requesting our presence at the event which is centered around a goal we have not yet attained: a lifelong commitment to a good man, a sparkly ring, champagne flutes with strawberries in them, and maybe even a starter home.

And all the while, we sit, kneel, stand, pray, bow our heads, smile, bring extravagant gifts, get dressed to the nines, and profusely congratulate the happy couple and their parents. We couldn't be happier for them.

But there is something about attending pre-wedding events that makes me ask myself a few questions. Will others be so kind to me when my time comes? Is the gift lacking in thought because it came from the registry? Will I become a tyrannical bride, enforcing the dreaded French mani/pedi and throwing pastel taffeta on "my girls?" Will this friend be pregnant by the time I get married?

There's nothing like a peer getting married to force you to reassess your life. For those of us who aren't yet walking down the aisle, and are in no hurry, there's nothing like a bridal shower and bachelorette party to make you at once both happy and frustrated about being single. And those are two events which I am attending for a college friend tomorrow, in the same day.

So what's a single girl to do? Two things.
1. Do not have a pity party. Embrace your freedom, because the girl holding the ribbon bouquet will be yearning for it in about 7 months.
2. Wear something fabulous to both events.

First outfit to pick: the bridal shower
Time: 2:00pm
Location: apartment in Brooklyn
Bridal showers are a tradition in which females shower the bride with gifts for the home, eat unsatisfying finger sandwiches and, according to this invitation, drink wine. So the outfit I pick will be pretty, comfortable, not too ladies-who-lunch, and involve flats of some sort. Gotta save the heel-feet for later. Here's my choice for the shower:

Gap lavender shirtdress


My brown/camel leather hobo purse from Paris (this is the closest approximation I could find)


My neutral Jack Rogers sandals


Silver cuff, to be worn with pearl studs



Second outfit to pick: the Bachelorette Party
Time: 7:00pm for dinner
Location: Prohibition, a swanky lounge/restaurant in the city
Bachelorette parties are my favorite part of all weddings I attend, because everyone can and should get crazy to encourage the bride. Plus, the bride is usually wearing a goofy checklist tee-shirt and veil, and while some sketchy guys might make a play for her because she's off the market, and they want to give her "one last party," in my experience, the bride's companions fare well too, because they are dolled up, having fun and actually single (some at least).

The B-Party has many more considerations than the bridal shower. Sitting for too long is replaced with lots of dancing and walking, tea and wine is replaced with shots, and there is no official expiration time for the party. And in my experience, if the bar tries to expire your party, there is always someone willing to help you extend it. So what to do?

Well, you first have to be somewhat comfortable, because bra-crawling may happen, and if the bride has too much fun, you might end up babysitting. Second, and most important, you have to dress to show you are happy to be single, have many more wild nights ahead of you, and aren't at all jealous of the girl with the condoms on her head.

Basically, you need to do what T tells Mikey in the greatest film of all time: "There's nothing wrong with letting them know that you're money, and you're ready to party."



Now, if you're unlucky in life and/or have accumulated negative karma, a pushy maid of honor may force everyone into a dress code that is as unbecoming as her ceremony dress. In my case, all that's asked is that we wear an LBD, or cute all-black ensemble. I loves me a black dress, and it gives the ultimate opportunity for accessorizing.

Here is a dress similar to what I'm wearing:

Cotton, comfortable, (mine is actually 3/4 sleeves) and draws attention to my face, collarbone, and the Girls.


I'm wearing my hair straight to the shower, but will put the iron to it at the hotel for Rachel Bilson-esque loose waves for ultimate sex appeal.

Now the shoe debate. The shoe I know I should wear is my brown/tan peep-toe wedge, similar to the D&Gs below, but not quite as high in the platform. They will be more comfortable for walking, and more stable after too many Key Lime martinis.


But the shoes I want to wear are my peep-toe stilettos, in black. They're not quite summery, and definitely less comfortable than the wedges. Given the location which I've never experienced and the opportunities for running around NYC, I will probably play it safe and opt for the shoes above, saving the pumps for my next date.



For a purse, I'll be complementing the browns in my shoes with my bronze snap-top clutch, similar to the slouchy one below. Sorry for the unusually long picture!


As for my jewelry - well, I'll be honest. I'm going to pack half my jewelry box (which is a lot) and end up wearing whatever appeals to me that night. Given the bronze clutch, the jewelry will be of warm metallics, but I'm thinking big earrings, big cocktail ring and no necklace (skin can be a great accessory).

My brunch outfit for the next day? Probably jeans, a polo and flops. I'll be too tired to care.

So the purpose of this post (besides me nailing down what I need to pack, like, now) is this: embrace these celebrations of others' success in love as an opportunity to celebrate your independence and freedom. Much like the 4th of July. It's an opportunity to get down, congratulate your friend on finding The One, and welcome that congratulations as an excuse to get buck-wild with no shame. And if you dress like the sexpot you are, you become it. And the gentlemen will notice.

Next post: what to take out on such a night, and how to fit it into a tiny purse.

Cheers!
Hayley