Moving

To honour my move to Boston and to a new apartment I am also moving my blog. Wordpress is easier to navigate and use so while the content won't change the look, feel and address will.

http://eurochic.wordpress.com/

Formula Dressing

A reader recently asked if I have a formula for how I dress...actually I've never really thought of it as a formula but I guess I do. My formula comes from knowing and following a basic set of rules. These rules apply to everyone and once they are committed to memory make the entire shopping/dressing game a whole lot easier.

1) Find your colors. Get a good idea of what your color "season" is for a beginning. Then establish which colors out of your season's palette that looks well on you. This is done by listening when you are complimented and noting what color you were wearing when you received the compliment. You must also look in the mirror and really look at yourself in various colors you try and noting which ones make you shine and make you feel good about how you look.

Once you have established your colors, determine how you want to use them. My colors for Tops are red, black, chocolate brown, toast, white, fuscia pink, amethyst, aqua blue and lemon yellow. In the cooler seasons I wear red, black, chocolate, toast and white only, but incorporate the other colors in during the warmer months.

You then determine pant and skirt colors. This is done by simply determining what color pants will work well with your Top colors. And you want to choose bottoms that mix well with as many top colors as possible per bottom. Don't buy a bottom that only pairs well with once color top if you can avoid it. My bottom colors are black, charcoal gray, chocolate brown, camel and white. I have a few pairs that are patterned in one or more of these colors (i.e. a pair of slacks woven with black, cream and chocolate for a light brownish effect that pairs well with chocolate and red tops).


2. Know your lines. It is important to first know your body shape and then to know what lines flatter that shape. Do you look best in fitted, tailored clothing or loose flowing lines? What about neckline? Some people look great in a v-neck while others are best presented in bateau or crew-necks. Determine what looks best on your frame and stick with it.

3. Know the Basics. Every proper wardrobe starts with a set of basics. Everyone's set of basics will vary a bit based on their personal colors and lines but for a start all closets should contain some variation of the following:

Bottoms:
2-4 Basic skirts and/or pants in a neutral, dark color (i.e. black, brown, grey or navy)
Blue Jeans in dark wash
Blue Jeans in a standard wash

Tops:
Classic White Oxford
2-4 T-Shirts with various sleeve lengths and flattering necklines
2-4 Basic Sweaters in solid colors and flattering necklines
Easy, flattering dresses
The Ultimate Go-Anywhere Dress in a neutral, dark color

Coats/Jackets
Basic Winter Coat in neutral, dark color
Rain Coat (be it a classic trench or yellow slicker buy and wear one that brightens your day)
Jacket that matches one of your pants/skirts (think suit)**

Shoes:
1 pair of pumps that coordinate w/suit
Dark, Neutral Boots
Go anywhere w/anything flats
Go anywhere w/anything sandals

Accessories:
One great handbag that goes with anything
Sunglasses
Basic earrings be they diamonds or pearls

With this list of basics filling your closet you should be armed for anything and have something solid on which to build upon. Once you have these basics feel free to become a little more flamboyant in your choices. That gold beaded evening clutch may not be an everyday item but you can't deny the thrill of having the occasion to use it and know that you are prepared!

4. Know Your Style. You will never feel like you are well-dressed if you are unaware of your personal style and what you feel good dressing yourself in. There are a thousand fashion experts out there telling everyone that in order to be well-dressed you must fill your closet with truly timeless classics in certain colors, cuts, fabrics, etc...well, not everyone is a cashmere and pearl kind of gal. Some of us are more romantic and like loose, flowy, billowy, lacey fabrics in pastels and florals, others are more bohemian and prefer earth tones and crochet. Don;t let anyone tell that you have to dress a certain way in order to be stylish. True style comes from knowing who you are and wearing what reflects that.

Once you have determined all of the above shopping becomes so much easier and more cost effective. You know your style and learn which store cater to this style. You know your colors so your eyes dismiss anything that isn't once of those colors. You know your lines so you have no problem putting an item back on the rack if the neck line is wrong or the shirt is not tailored enough or too tailored, etc. And you also know that when you find the right item you will have plenty of outfits to make from it because you have your closet full of go with anything basics.

Yeah!

Eurochic just rented her first apartment in Boston! It's not quite as in-town as I was hoping for but's close enough...In the Back Bay area which is what I wanted but a little closer to Fenway than I wanted. However it's the first place I saw in my price range that didn't offend my eyes and was close to being as large as I wanted and needed. It's a studio space but the kitchen is seperate from the living/bed area and it has an entryway which gives it a feeling of delineated space via hallway. it has great potnential and I can't wait to get in there, get my things from Atlanta and work on making it a home for myself.

Weekend Party

My roommate (C's) office had their Christmas Holiday Party last weekend and she invited me. I know it's a bit late for Holiday parties but apparently it is easier and less expensive to book a great venue after the Holidays. Who knew! But I must say it was one of the best times I have had since moving to Boston!

Several of C's co-workers rented hotel rooms at a Starwood hotel near the venue in downtown Boston and her boss purchased a room for her which we shared. The views were phenomenal as we were on the 24th floor and could see for miles in two directions. We also had a bottle of Moet and chocolate covered strawberries sent to us which we shared with another co-worker while getting dressed for the party.

The party itself was a great little bar in Boston's South End called 28 Degrees and C's company booked the entire bar for the party. There was a red carpet entrance with a Joan Rivers impersonator, free presecco and even a few bottle of Veuve to go around as well as an open bar. There were also free tapas including truffle fries, sliders (hamburger and lobster), shrimp and oysters, a taco cart and braised pork w risotto being passed around all night. Oh, and a great bruschetta topped with truffled beef carpaccio! Yum! There was a jazz band at the beginning of the night and a DJ and dancing once all that prosseco kicked in!

After the party several people moved on to a bar called Saint right across from the hotel. I went but couldn't drink another drop and didn't stay long before heading back to the hotel. It was snowing by this time and C's feet were hurting so badly that she walked to the hotel barefoot! Luckily there was a fireplace in the hotel lobby!

I crashed pretty quickly after getting up to the room but not before staring out the window for quite a bit at the beautiful view and the falling snow.

The next day of course I felt wretched but had a cup of coffee and breakfast at a cafe on Newbury street before we headed back to Salem and everyday life!

Francoise

Francoise was born in or around Lyon, but went to boarding school in England so he has an almost decidedly British accent. After school he decided to stay in England where he met his wife...an American woman who at some point persuaded him to move to Baltimore and then divorced him. By this time apparently Francoise had decided that he liked America, but not Baltimore. When it came to where he actually did want to live it was a toss up between New York City and Boston and Boston won out in the end. Smaller and slightly less busy apparently. However, when it came to buying a condo Boston was a bit out of reach and that is how he ended up in Salem, MA.

Francoise now lives in a restored building built in the early 1700's which overlooks Salem Common. It is one of the best streets in the neighborhood and the view is spectacular. The windows of Francois's condo still have their original interior shutters, though they are never closed.

I have, since meeting Francois been invited to dinner twice. Once for Christmas and once for New Years. Both were spectacular evenings in which I was dined a la Francaise.

For all you food loving Francophiles (and really are there any Francophiles who don't love food) here are the menus:

Christmas:
Starters: Champagne and chips (one of my favorite combinations)

Entree: Duck l'orange served with lentils and asparagus
Shiraz and fizzy water

Dessert: Several cheese - the only one I really tasted was the one infused with truffles!

Digestive: Mirabelle Liqueur

Music: Diana Krall


New Years:
Starter: Cava and caviar on crackers

Entree: Roast leg of lamb served with roasted potatoes, onions and brussel sprouts and white beans
Wines of various Varietals

Dessert: More of that lovely truffle cheese and Champagne to toast the 2009

Music: More jazz of course!



Of course Leika, Francois's adorable long haired Dachshund shared in both feasts!

Francois is 44 years old...if he were ten years younger I'd marry him!

Christmas Eve

brntnjeans by jackestyle


And Yes! I'm at work! And I have another car to shovel out of snow tonight...if it hasn't been towed from having been let in the emergency snow zone for too long!

I hope that everyone has a Happy Holiday! I'm spending tomorrow having dinner with my new French friend and his adorable puppy, Liaka. Will give a report later this week.

blackgrey by jackestyle

Snow Boots Required

I don 't think snow boots are the chicest of shoes out there...I prefer my black heeled boots over anything. However, when two feet of snow fall overnight followed a day and half later by more snow and ice one learns that snow boots are required! I have experienced my first real snow and my first ever morning spent shoveling sidewalks and cars out of driveways.

Needless to say I have also purchased my first pair of snow boots and an fur trimmed insulated coat. Both are in the same tan color and now I want black and brown too! Of course! Here it is just necessary. Stilettos on salted ice are simply not going to cut it. So yesterday I showed up to work with my slacks tucked into my new snow boots and then, another first, changed into real shoes. I'm not sure weather to be excited or mortified really, but everyone here does it. Or so it seems.


Now, if I can just figure out how to stay warm and still look chic! Eskimo's can be chic, right?

Thursday/Holiday Party

Tonight is my company's Holiday Party at the Museum of Science. The dress code is business casual so I just wore my typical work outfit. I would have liked to have worn a black dress but would need to do so with boots and my black boots need a new heel tap so that was out. All the walking is wearing out my shoes so much faster than I am used to...AND the handle of my newest bag broke off getting off the subway so now that has to be repaired as well. I am going to have to learn a new way of caring for my clothes now apparently!

But on the good news front, I finally sold my car! Yay! No more insurance payments, costly gas consumption or worrying about oil changes and flat tires! Just $59 a month fo

r all my daily transportation...except for the apparent cost of replacing and repairing shoes! I am now seeking my first apartment in Boston. I looked at two studios today and they are TINY...300 sq.ft....and double the cost of what I paid in rent for my 650 sq.ft. apartment in Atlanta. But I love Boston so much that I really don't care if my bed and sofa are made up of the same piece of furniture. I'm a designer, I can make any place cute and cozy no matter how small. I wish I had my camera hook-up so I could take photos of the apartments that I am seeing. Often the photos on the ads are not of the actual available apartment...they use photos of larger, nicer apartments in the same building. Cheaters! All I can do is go and look I guess and hope to soon find something that sings to me.




red/leopard by jackestyle