Wow. Fashion Friday really took a beating over the holidays. I got all caught up in the festivities, the massive plates of sugar cookies and trying to keep my Christmas tree properly watered and forgot all about the little folder in my email labeled “Fashion Friday”.
Then yesterday, when I realized it was probably time to resurrect Fashion Friday and clicked on that folder, I discovered a bunch of emails with questions like, “I’m going to a Christmas party at my husband’s office. What should I wear?” and “I’m attending a wedding on December 20th and don’t know what to wear. Help me please.” and “Santa is coming to my house on December 24th and I want to look special.”
Clearly, I am of no help at this point. I trust that it all worked out beautifully for you and humbly apologize for my propensity to get sidetracked and forget that just because I’m not thinking about something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It’s very reminiscent of the semester I forgot I was taking Political Science 201 because it was Spring and the sun was shining and I needed to be tan by Spring Break.
Anyway, I’m feeling a little awkward because it’s Fashion Friday and I don’t really have any questions to answer. I toyed with the idea of listing ten great bargains I’ve found, but the problem is I haven’t left my house because I know I am a weak vessel, unable to resist incredible bargains for things I do not need.
And sure I could have looked on the internet but the National Championship game was on and between trying to balance watching the game and “30 Rock”, my hands were more than full.
However, Donna from Way More Homemade saved the day by emailing me an excellent question.
“If you were going to the inaugural ball, what would you wear?”
I’m going to assume that Gap flannel pajama bottoms with a “Christmas Formal 1992″ sweatshirt probably isn’t an acceptable option for an event of that magnitude.
So since I’m already pretending that I’m invited to the inaugural ball, I’m going to go ahead and pretend that money is no object and I can get away with wearing white without anyone spilling grape juice on me in their attempt to put a straw in a juice box. I’m talking to you, Al Franken.
I would choose this gorgeous Valentino dress.
But if I’m really going to go big in my imagination, then I would totally copy Jennifer Garner’s look from last year’s Academy Award Ceremony. You just know she totally found that dress off the rack at TJ Maxx.
Anyway, just a little while ago I received another fortuitous email from J. Fergie over at MamaLaw and here is an excerpt from her email.
“Inauguration 2009 in fast approaching and seeing as how I live in DC, I have no excuse not to join in the festivities. I have
ordered my dress already (GREAT deal on Macys.com) but my burning question is closed-toe or open-toe shoes?? Every fiber in my being says closed-toe (JANUARY.DC.FREEZING.) But other ladies I’m speaking to are wearing open-toe. Help! BTW, my dress is gray/silver.”
So, yeah, she’s actually going to the inaugural festivities and not just in her imagination.
I think you need to find a beautiful shoe that looks great with your dress and not worry about whether or not it’s closed toe or open toe. Because here’s a sentence you never hear anyone say:
“Wow. My feet were really cold in this fifteen degree weather until I covered up my second and third toe. Now I’m toasty warm!”
I personally love these silver strappy sandals and what’s a little frostbite as long as you look good?
Keep a pair of Uggs in the car for the ride home and you’ll get the feeling back in your feet in three to four days.
If you have any thoughts on what you’d wear to the inaugural ball or open-toe shoes or the price of tea in China, feel free to share in the comments.
And if you have any fashion questions, please email them to me and I might answer them before 2010 unless I get distracted by something shiny.
Y’all have a great Friday!
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LOL…you are spot on the shoe, frostbite is not nearly as important as that perfect pair of heels!!!
I like this dress…
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod71980001&parentId=cat14110764&masterId=cat000131&index=66&cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat17740742cat000131cat14110764
and this dress…
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod68530008&parentId=cat14110764&masterId=cat000131&index=53&cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat17740742cat000131cat14110764
Not sure if those links will work.
And I totally agree about the shoes. Even if you have to carry a pair of warm ones on the subway with you and check them in at the coat check, it’s worth it to have a good pair of shoes on during the ball. However, everything I’ve ever heard is that it’s crowded, and you do a lot of standing… like the whole time. So make sure they give you the right support and fit well.
$11,000 for a dress. All I can say is “WOW”. I guess I won’t be wearing designer names anytime soon.
I’ve never been to an inaugural, but every woman I’ve known that has gone to one has said the same thing – wear comfortable shoes. Unless you have a car and driver, there will be lots of walking. Once you finally make it inside, there’s no place to sit, so you have to stand all night.
I love Fashion Friday!! Let me just tell you….I pretty much ALWAYS sacrifice comfort for fashion! I pretty much live with goosebumps anyway, so it doesn’t really matter what I wear…as long as I’ve got something cute on!
Are there “real” people out there who would actually shell out $11K for a dress??? Who are these people???? It is a gorgeous dress though; your taste is divine Melanie!
Blessings,
Adrienne
I live in DC and the balls and events are beautiful, all out parties. You will be freezing every time you step out, but go for the gorgeous shoes, even if they are strappy. They will make you feel complete and not have you wondering if you feel out of place. Look great, have a great time, warm up later.
Wow. A single dress costs as much as a year’s tuition at a state college. Wow.
I can’t believe it has been four years since the last inauguration. Our whole family flew to DC to attend the swearing in ceremony and were also invited to a few receptions that our Govenor was having. I remember how cold it was and it had snowed and the streets and sidewalks were covered in snow. I bundled up in my nice black dress with my long johns underneath and my duck boots on and headed to the metro to take it into downtown D.C. We knew that they had a coat check etc at the event. So I took a backpack with my opened toed shoes. When we got there I ran to the bathroom with all the other ladies and swapped shoes and took off the long johns. fluffed my hair and was ready to go. It was so funny to see all the people in the Metro all dressed up with their snow boots on. Fun Times! So glad we got to go!
I think if your dress is silver/gray, you should choose a shoe that will give it a pop of color! Choose a clutch and a shoe that match in color. I agree with the open/closed not mattering. Just find a really great shoe that looks great with the dress.
Oh Big Mama – the reference to Al Franken – just know that over half of us voting did NOT vote for that GUY – (a third party candidate unfortunately got some votes too)and who knows who the poor uncounted votes were cast for. As a lifelong Minnesota resident – I can only hang my head and say – we elected another laughingstock… apparently Jesse was just not enough humiliation.
Adore both choices of dresses, and I’m almost sure that I saw an article about Jennifer finding that dress off the rack at TJ Maxx.
Love the dress, and the shoes you selected are perfectly elegant. I totally agree with your comments regarding the open/closed toe decision! He he he…kinda reminded me of the comments of Billy Crystal doing Fernanado on SNL way so many years ago…”It is better to look good than to feel good, dahling”. Oh, and how come my TJ Maxx never has anything like Jen Garner purchased?
I think that Jennifer Garner dress makes her tummy look poochy. Mine’s already poochy enough without any help from a stinkin’ dress, thank you. Which means I now have nothing to wear to the inaugural ball.
Guess I’ll stay home and watch my Twitter stream by.
haha you crack me up. Seriously, why does it take so much out of us to remember to water that tree. Of course, I only remember when I notice the hundreds of dead needles on the floor and suddenly I think ‘oh wait, it’s been a few days since i watered the tree!’ . . . . i think we might need a fake one next year and some really great smelling christmas tree spray or candles so we can pretend it’s real!
I am going to the inauguration too. But, I am wearing my jammies and will have a cup of hot cocoa. I’ll be attending in my recliner. Best view of all.
I need maternity help. I am only 8 weeks pregnant, but this is my third baby and it’s popping out so fast. I am having a hard time finding jeans that are nice enough to put with a good sweater to wear out or to church.
I also need some tops or dresses but since I already have enough on top, I don’t want anything that is too low-cut. It seems like everything I try on is so “look at my pregnant boobs.”
thanks for helping with my question! i must say i have renewed faith in the strength of women across america seeing all of the responses from those choosing fashion over comfort. so it’s decided – a fabulous shoe i will choose. i also like the tip of choosing a shoe with a pop of color and a matching clutch…
last thing: the Valentino dress is TO DIE FOR. but it occurs to me that if you can actually afford to purchase a dress for $11k, chances are you’re not going to be ordering it online, no? like “hey, that’s a cute dress! let me just click ‘add to cart’, enter my visa information, and have the thing shipped to me via UPS in a brown box with foam peanuts.
or maybe it’s just me.
That white dress makes me want to renew my vows (and loose 30 lbs)!
Really, who orders an $11,000 dress online?
GRACIOUS.
If I had seen that white Valentino dress before I got married 2 years ago, I totally would have played every lottery I could find in the tri-state area in order to afford it!!!!
GORGEOUS.
for the inaugural ball, I say go big, or just go home.
and if you do go big, try to get your picture taken many times!
Well you certainly can’t go wrong with Stuart, that’s for sure and certain! But yowza, the PRICE.
So you think I would have a reason to wear silver strappy sandals at She Speaks?
Oooh! The Valentino dress is buttah! I live in the D.C. area, but surprisingly, wasn’t invited to celebrate in the festivities. Shuks.
Maybe for next time you could suggest what to wear on top of a formal dress, in the cold weather. True, you only keep it on for a couple of minutes, but you can’t just whip out your denim jacket, right?
The Al Franken line had me rolling.
Awesome! Something shiny. you silly girl.
Ok, I SO heart the Valentino. Guess I should start putting away my pennies so I can afford it for the Navy Ball, which is the only ball I will be attending this year! hee hee Maybe by then it will be marked down…
And, HEY!!! If you order that Valentino dress, you TOTALLY get FREE shipping with the code at the top of the page!!!
THAT is frugal internet shopping at its BEST!!!
Alesha
Love the “shiny” line!
Q: How many people with ADD does it take to change a light bulb?
A: LOOK! There’s a squirrel!!
: )
I would wear this dress!
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod66480036&parentId=cat14110764&masterId=cat000131&index=41&cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat17740747cat000131cat14110764
As far as the shoes, go with what looks good with the dress and what you’re comfortable in. Your feet will warm back up. Do take some warm socks or shoes for the ride home.
Fashion Emergency! Any reccomendations for a 27 year old going to the the inaguration and the Commander in Chiefs ball at the White House? I received a last minute invite and I have NO idea what to wear… AHHHH
Oh man Melanie, the less material you profess to have the funnier you get.
“I’m talking to you Al Frankin.”
Holy cow this one was out of the ball park!!!!! Sorry, holy Texas elk…..!!!!!!
I absolutely LOVE your blog! You know Jennifer Garner totally shops at TJ Maxx and Ben, too!
Just like I always say. . .sacrifice comfort for fashion!
Be Blessed,
Amy (Honestly)
Your thoughts on trouser socks…I have a huge complex about them. Do you match/coordinate with your shoes, pants, or shirt? Do you wear stripes, solids, patterns?
See what I mean? This is why I either wear tennis shoes or boots.
I’m sure you’ve received dozens already, but I gave you an award over at my blog (http://txmomx6.blogspot.com/2009/01/feeling-better.html).
It’s just my way of saying thank you for making me smile — especially over this past year.
Janine
Go Gators!!! Orange and blue are the colors of the season! That’s my fashion 2 cents!
I have really missed Fashion Friday. I’m glad it’s back!
What a fun post!
Cxx
I, too, live in the DC area, but wouldn’t be caught dead at an inaugural event. Mostly because they are closing all the bridges from Virginia into DC on that day (I am not making this up). But last week I was listening to the radio and they were having people call in who had been to past I. balls, to tell the rest of us lowly peons what they were like. EVERY SINGLE CALLER said they were totally over-crowded, no food, no drink, long waits, horrible, terrible, and they would NEVER go to another one EVER. That made me feel so good!
So know that the I. ball you attend in your imagination is much, much better than the real thing. AND you get to wear an $11,000 dress! Enjoy!
we went in ’00 when i worked for Congress, and it was a blast! i wore a simple strapless long straight dress and shoes similar to the ones you posted. it was cold when we went, AND it WAS ALSO RAINING! my feet totally hurt by the end of the night…i couldn’t feel them for a couple of days after, in fact, but i don’t regret going for the strappy high-heeled sandal. :0)
for the inaugural ceremony, unless you’ve got special VIP tickets to actually SIT somewhere, don’t worry about what you’re wearing. it was raining and freezing in ’00 for us, and we were knee-deep in MUD as far out as we were standing. :0) but i cherish the memories!!
you couldn’t pay me to go this year, however, but that’s neither here nor there. :0) fashion knows no political affiliation! haha
Went to Bush 41 Inaugural Ball in ’89.
Wore a borrowed dress with matching shoes.
The dress fit fine, the shoes were a half size too small, as in, i could get them on and pretend they fit. i’m sure you can guess that was a big mistake!
luckily we were able to sit down while waiting for the dignitaries to arrive.
probably wouldn’t go again.
Thanks Angie for pointing me to this blog, first of all!
I agree with the statement..find the shoes first that look REALLY good with the dress. It won’t matter if they’re strappy or not! Also…comfort?? Naw!! If you look really good comfort is a waste of time! That’s my mantra and I’m sticking to it!!
Love, love, love this blog and KNOW that Fashion Friday’s will be a “must” on my web-planner in the future!!!
I can see why Angie has adopted you to be her really, really good friend!!
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