Lace & Leather

When I was a little girl, I was a Brownie Girl Scout.

Okay, you can stop laughing now. Yes, even I, the foul-mouthed, cuss-like-a-sailor lady you know and love, was once a badge earning, card carrying member of the Girl Scouts.

I remember going on my route to sell Girl Scout cookies (I was an entrepreneur in the making, even then. I was bound and determined to sell more cookies than any other girl, damn it, even if it meant batting my eyelashes, selling sugar to diabetics, or good old fashioned blackmail. ("Hey, Mr.________. Unless you want me to tell MRS._________ that you were canoodling with the mail lady last week in your garage when I was riding by on my bike with my friend Nicki roller skating next to me, you'd better buy 3 boxes of Thin Mints IMMEDIATELY. Actually, make it 4 boxes. That'll be $10, please!") I was the classic negotiator--Donald Trump could've taken lessons from this pint-size brat in a brown uniform.

Back to my strategic cookie-selling route, I would often visit an old lady who had unnaturally black, curly hair that ran down her back (a look that, to this day, I firmly detest for older women); a gaudy cocktail ring on every finger (for those of you who are going to laugh and bring up my diamond ring on every finger--shut your mouth and keep reading); hot pink lipstick that was mostly on her dentures,leather vests, or sometimes, even a skirt, and on every square inch of her thin, but aging, body--lace. The woman adored lace--even in the dead of winter, when it was cold, and you'd think she'd catch a draft or something.

Her husband catered to her, waited on her hand and foot, and I always wondered if you dressed like a lace covered whore, if that was really the secret to getting whatever you wanted out of your man. (I've never really tried it, and maybe that explains so much about my dating life.) Nevertheless, any box of cookies she wanted to buy, he'd write me a nice, big old check for the total, and give her a big, sloppy old man kiss on her Wet & Wild Lipstick coated lips. Well. There went the rest of the lipstick.

For those of you who don't want to necessarily look like one of my favorite former clients (when she passed away a few years ago, it honestly brought tears to my eyes, but, paying homage to my valued customer, I decided NOT to let my mascara run down my cheeks and mess up my lipstick with a Kleenex) you can certainly add a touch of lace to your own wardrobe with leggings, like these ones from H&M, or pick them up at Forever 21. Save money on this trend--it's not one that you want to wear head to toe, like my dear old friend, God rest her soul, but showing a little legging under a skirt or dress might be a cute way to incorporate the trend into your wardrobe.

I'm still convinced I would be the consummate business woman; I can sell snow to an Eskimo. But when I open my own boutique, and sell clothing to my own clients one day, I'll probably suggest that no matter how much you love the trend, ladies, small nuances are a better bet than over-doing the look.

Although getting your husband or boyfriend to do whatever you want isn't such a bad idea, either. ;)

Oh, To Be a Recessionista

How excited am I? H&M will soon be opening close to me…no more picking up a boatload of clothing & accessories on my vacations where there are actually H&M stores…which can be a real bitch when you have to load all your new goodies into your suitcase (I apologize profusely for those 50 lb suitcases that nearly burst at the seam, Southwest Airlines. You guys rock.)

H&M is the ultimate store for the recessionista and the smart shopper—you can purchase beautifully crafted pieces that seriously stand the test of time (at least, they have for me) on the cheap. Not to mention, you can get gorgeous accessories, like the 2 necklaces I bought in San Francisco which I get compliments on 24-7. Those 2 necklaces, a sweater, a top for my niece, a skirt for myself, and two tops which I dubbed my “career wear” pieces, only cost me $78.00. Where else can you get so much for so little, and still be a stunner when you slip into your new wardrobe?

For more information on stores near you, or for specific info on the Scottsdale grand opening, visit: www.hm.com. Happy shopping, bargain babes!

Nothing But A T-Shirt On (Well, not exactly.)

I love comfy tees; I remember wearing oversize Hanes T-Shirts with cutoff shorts and flip flops in the 7th & 8th grade, when I wasn't as interested in high heels and mini skirts (as I was in my high school days.) I remember one of my cousins telling me "There's no way you will ever be a fashion designer or get into any kind of fashion school looking that way. You look like a slob. You don't even look middle class. You are straight street."

I laugh at him now, because he isn't even middle class. In fact, if this were a caste system, he would not be fit to scrub the feet of peasants.

Truth be told, I wore them because my body was changing and developing in my junior high days; I was struggling to accept the fact that I now had to wear a bra and that I had curves I didn't know what to do with. Some of my friends still had boyish bodies with no butts and no breasts; this was prior to Jennifer Lopez hitting the big screen and making my life wayyy easier. (This is why she will be one of my role models until the day I die.)

The cost factor was miniscule. My Mother loved it. She would buy me t-shirts at Target that cost less than my lunch money for a day of school, and I would try and glam them up with a cute necklace, throw on the same tattered pair of shorts that always seemed to fit and feel comfortable, and a pair of flip flops. Sometimes I'd wear Adidas with ankle socks (and at that time, that wasn't really in style. I wore them, anyway. They made my legs look longer.)

I still believe in wearing what makes you feel good. Eventually I became comfortable and secure in my body. I learned that having an ass and thick thighs isn't always such a bad thing (and ask the gentlemen, ladies, they do not object to looking at strong, thick, svelte legs-especially when they are bronzed, with a skirt brushing against them. I still believe some fashion staples can cost the same as a Happy Meal, and can carry you from runway to work to a night out on the town. I still believe that to look good, you have to feel good about yourself--and if it means only wearing a Hanes t-shirt and sandals, then so be it.

Hilary Duff is spot-on as usual, having jazzed up her shirt with a very ethnic looking necklace that is just gorgeous, and even though she herself is quite young, she is not any less fashionable. In fact, I would venture to say she is the most chic of the week, at least in my book. Go Hilary. It's your birthday. What is it? 19? 20? Whatever it may be, do your thing girl. Even if the top only costs $3.99.

For tops like Hilary's, at a fraction of the cost, hit up Forever 21, H&M, www.topshop.com, or Nordstrom, where I found comfy tees on sale, 2 for $20.

No Looking Back...

What am I looking forward to the most? I have made a list. And I've titled it "LC's Looking Forward List" because I am all about looking forward, ripping out the metaphorical 'rearview mirrors' and not looking back. I'm all about moving forward, and being enthusiastic about all that's up ahead for me.

To that end, here's my list:

LC's Looking Forward List:

1. Buying my first home.
I fully intend on selling my dining room set and purchasing a new one, also. You know you're a grown up when you get excited about shopping at Pottery Barn and when you want cookware from Williams Sonoma so you can cook for your dinner parties.

2. Getting my Professional Life Moving FORWARD...
And I plan on doing this in chic and sophisticated apparel from White House Black Market, mixed in with cheaper pieces from H&M and Forever 21, where, this weekend, I found so many career clothing options that will motivate anyone in 4" heels to kick some serious ass in their line of work.

3. Sticking to my current butt-kicking workouts...
Although it is admittedly GRUELING at times to wake up at 4:30, get to the gym after work, and then do the same thing 6 days a week, I grinned from ear to ear today when I took my measurements all over my body and had lost inches everywhere. If you like to look adorable in your workout gear, I recommend hitting up Lucy Boutiques in either Scottsdale or Gilbert for fantastic workout apparel that will make you the hottest chick to ever hit those treadmills.

4. Starting my OWN business...
Which I plan to do before the new year starts, and yes, it will involve fashion, because I believe in doing things we are truly, genuinely passionate about.

5. Spreading the word about Dreaming in Dior...
Because more people need to read about the world according to LC. So pass along the link to ALL your fashion loving friends, and become a follower today.

6. Scottsdale Fashion Week...
Because I promote so many local businesses and business owners, and highlight the best of the best in AZ and beyond, and since I am in the know when it comes to all things fashion, beauty, and in the media, I think the good people who coordinate Scottsdale Fashion Week ought to rightfully give me VIP tickets, front row status, to the runway shows. After all, who is anxiously anticipating this event more than me? Anybody who would call in sick to see runway shows should most definitely get special perks, especially since my little blog may just generate some buzz & some dollars to local businesses. It's a contribution.

As you can see, I have plenty to be thankful for and so much to look forward to...and I hope that as one of my blog followers, you're along for the ride, because I'd be glad to share snapshots and stories from my journey...I've let go of any baggage I ever had. Except for the Louis Vuitton baggage. That's just a necessity.