Bloggers Who Lunch
Karen (author of the delightful style blog Of A Certain Age) and I have been trying to get together for months, and finally managed to sync up our schedules this week for lunch at my favorite local spot, Le Saint Amour. It was a nice day and the patio was packed so we sat inside and had a very handsome and charming waiter all to ourselves. The salads were fantastic too.
Doesn’t Karen look fabulous?? The brooch she’s wearing was a dramatic lion’s head, and she’d also added a studded belt and fun cocktail ring. She really knows her own look and works it. We talked a bit (well, more than a bit…I’m afraid it was a “busman’s holiday” for Karen) about my recent wardrobe woes. Karen astutely diagnosed my problem, surmising, “I see ALL classic and NO twist.” (Absolutely spot on, and “twist” is what’s been missing lately in my mix.) She’s really good at this Image Consultant thing, mes amis.
~
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 United States License.
Stay in touch
Sign up to be notified of new posts and updates from une femme d’un certain âge.
Oh, how lovely and happy the two of you look — lunch, especially the chat, must have been great! Karen’s recent post really struck a chord with me, and I can tell from her writing what a great image consultant she must be.
I love Karen! Glad you guys got together. I love her analysis.
We know you’re going to have one piece with a twist soon!
Sounds like you had a great lunch away from the maddening crowd.
You both look great, even if you’re not yet twistin’ the night (and day) away! [Which as you know I am very much looking forward to seeing.]
You both look great and I’m sorry that I missed the lunch. My schedule is so uncertain that I have a very difficult time making any kind of arrangements in advance. For example, this week I was asked to get together a group of jewelry for a photo shoot for GQ in NY, which immediately turned my well planned calm day into a nightmare. Finally, by 5:30 the whole thing got cancelled because of logistics. Hours wasted, I was so annoyed but such is the nature of our busines.
I hope that next time you lovely bloggers, with Belette too of course, could put together a little lunch somewhere in my hood and I can sneak out of the office and meet you for an hour.
The hair’s still looking good DP and Karen is a very stylish lady – does she have a blog?
You are looking terrific – haircut and all! Please get rid of that awful ageing photo to the right and replace with one of your new look. Honestly before the new haircut I thought you were donkey’s years older, and drabber than you clearly are. You are dressing way too old for your age – classic should be cool, not dull. Are you really studying the fabulously stylish older women captured on The Sartorialist blog? I am probably 10 years your senior and, although struggling with my weight (I’m a size UK 14) would never wear your style of clothes. And nor would my
mother and she’s 90. Learn to tie a scarf: no more droopy stuff, even long scarves need to be worn with verve. (I can send you a link to the Hermes booklet). Stop wearing black unless structured and/or stunningly accessorised – or as the accessory such as leggings and fab boots or shoes. Get yourself a free make up lesson/session with a French cosmetic house: Chanel, Dior or Lancome. Or all three – sometimes you need to pick and choose the seasonal best items. For now Chanel Particuliere nail polish is fantastic with the 2010 spring summer fashion nudes/neutrals. Surprise yourself. “Youth is wasted on the young”, as George Bernard Shaw said. I sell vintage fashion to young darlings of both sexes who are 40 years younger than me, as well as fellow baby boomer fashionistas and believe me – style has no age. And PLEASE don’t block me because I love your blog!Cx
You guys look wonderful. If you plan another get together, I might just jump in my car and drive down I5 to say hello. If you would so kind as to let me crash your party, that is:).
You both look superb.
I love her blog.
Whoa, how do you respond to elegancemaison?
Ending her advice/rant with *don’t block me* shows she knew that her critique was, in the least, very presumptuous, but posted it nonetheless.
There are many of us that relate to your struggle to find a relevant style and applaud your willingness to share your thoughts with us.
Two gorgeous ladies who lunch! And your salads look great too.
materfamilias – thank you! Karen not only has a great eye, but a great personality and a lot of enthusiasm. She’s a natural at this!
La Belette Rouge – thanks! I’m really going to try to get all of us together soon.
WendyB – isn’t she a kick? I always welcome her insight and input. And yes, a “twist” literally as well as stylistically!
Vix – thanks, it was a very nice time, if too short (unfortunately we both had obligations later that afternoon; work so often gets in the way of a leisurely lunch!)
Belle – thank you! I promise I’m going to get group lunch together at some point soon…would weekends be better for you?
That’s Not My Age – thanks, and yes she does. It was linked to her name, but thought I’d make it clearer so I’ve added it in.
Tessa Scoffs – yes, it was fun!
elegancemaison – I’m not quite sure how to respond. I’ll choose to assume that your comment was entirely well-meaning, even if the delivery left me feeling a bit dressed down, not unlike an Idol contestant after a Simon Cowell critique. 😉 Did you happen to read my posts from last week? I’m currently on a mission to get out of my safe-but-boring style rut. If you have some suggestions for retailers or brands of stylish clothing that work for a not-so-slender figure, I’m all ears! Oh, and I’m wearing Particuliere on the toes right now, and will have on the fingers again by tomorrow; it really is an edgy and fun color.
LPC – would you really? Because we would LOVE to have you join us! I’m going to try to organize a blogger lunch or brunch sometime in the next few weeks.
Marsi – Love the Ooh la la idea; I definitely need more ooh la la in my closet!
Enc – thank you! Karen’s blog is such a great expression of her style and personality.
Anonymous – thanks. I’ve developed a fairly thick skin, and know that when I choose to post pictures or disclose some of my struggles, not everyone will respond the same way. Some people’s way of communicating is just more direct. It’s gratifying to know that others relate to my particular struggles, thanks for that!
Oh! Lovely. What a moment to savor.
Sounds like a fun afternoon. Karen may well be onto something with her observation that your wardrobe lacks “twists,” and that’s good for your shopping “ban.” It’s so easy to find classics, but much harder to find the right “twists.” Don’t spend a dime unless the piece has twist.
I have a new motto, courtesy of I wish I could remember whom. (A new-ish Francophile blogger, but I can’t recall which, unfortunately.) It was something about needing each piece of your wardrobe to say “Ooh la la.” If it doesn’t say “Ooh la la” to you (and everyone who’d see you wear it), don’t buy it. Great advice.
Ok, I found the Ooh La La blog posting:
http://champagnemacarons.blogspot.com/2010/01/best-fashion-advice-i-ever-received.html
Enjoy!
I have some twisted clothing that I blogged about today and it is not all that popular….it works for me for a theatre performance and a party…appeals to my playful side…..we all have differences of opinions and if we were all the same life would be truly dull. Dress for who you are and what feels right.
Your new hair looks divine, you look very trim and have a lot of style…and having the honour of reading your many delightful posts I feel that I know you, the you that blogs.
I think that elegancemaison could temper her words a bit…she comes across a little bit angry. Please keep sharing your wonderful self with us.
Dear Une – what a happy and lovely lunch you and Karen must have had… – delicious looking food too and how wonderful – a handsome waiter to yourselves…
p.s. Elegancemaison cannot be reading your blog on a reg. basis as she would have KNOWN you wear Pariculiere and have been doing so for a while…
You go girl!!! x
You two look lovely and so do those attractive figs in the salad. I want to have a bloggers lunch too!!!
Bravo to Pseu for exposing her vulnerabilities to us on her blog. That’s why we all love eachother; we’re open and honest, and hopefully we can help eachother along our journeys in midlife.
You’re gonna get there Pseu! It starts one bold step at a time. I found a twisted jacket today that just might work wonders for you. Stretchy as you desire for comfort, but tailored in a classic blazer cut. How bout a cool tie/batikey dye pattern in teal??? It’s awesome. I’ll send you the link.
élégancemaison, what on earth is wrong with BLACK? Everyone from punks to nuns can wear black, and stylish filles et femmes from 10 to 110… I could be snarky and say that despite the title of your blog, you obviously aren’t French … 😉 (See pseu’s wonderful Paris photos).
pseu, both of you look not only lovely but also as if you are having a lot of fun. Did you get the handsome young waiter to snap your pic?
Deja: Looking at the picture of both of you, I think I like your outfit more! Definitely. I like it simple. Karen has many details in her outfit; I feel it too perfect. It works on her, but definitely I would concentrate on one great detail. Luckily, everything is allowed, we can dress the way we feel.
Pseu, I think you look great in both photos, and lagatta, hear, hear.
One of the many great things about your blog is that you are a searcher, open about both your triumphs and mistakes. If one wants perfection, one better look for it on another planet.
Hmmm, I wonder if Karen performs her wardrobe magic as far south as San Diego County?
Karen – thanks again for your support and for all of the great ideas!
Hostess of the Humble Bungalow – thank you so much! I’ll be over to your blog in a second to see your “twisted” pieces. I get so much inspiration from other bloggers!
Semi Expat – yes, it was a fabulous lunch all around. The only thing that kept it from being perfect was having to cut our time shorter than we would’ve liked!
metscan – I think you and I have a similar aethetic, but you’re also right that there’s plenty of room for everyone’s style. No one style is “better” than another; it’s really about finding what feels right for us.
Faux Fuschia – you would’ve loved the salads. I hope someday you can come visit us in Los Angeles…heaven knows we won’t let you starve! 🙂
lagatta – thanks! It was a lot of fun and yes, our handsome waiter snapped the pic.
Duchesse – thank you so much! I love being able to explore these questions of style with other bloggers and readers! I’m still learning so much.
SewingLibrarian – I’m not sure, but you can check out her website http://www.wearitwellonline.com or drop her an e-mail.
Frugal Scholar – thanks so much!
You both look so elegant!
Gorgeous photo and what a good piece of advice tres bien Karen!
Wow, Elegancemaison cannot have been reading your blog for very long – everyone knows that if you want to learn how to tie a scarf, you go to Une Femme d’un certain Age!!!
Well Metscan doesn’t like my outfit. I can understand. She is super pared down herself, so that’s what she gravitates toward when she admires an outfit on someone else. That’s natural! We all do that. I happen to come from the land of MUCH, though I can easily style a minimalist just as well. But I love looking at women who mix color and pattern. It identifies them to me as joyful people, outgoing. These are the kind of women I’d gravitate toward first at a party. It would take me much longer to find my way to the “all in black” woman. However, All in Black were behaving colorfully and joyfully, I’m sure I would be attracted to her like a bee to honey.
Wish I could have been there too!
Karen, I’ve noticed for awhile that you and metscan (as an example) have differing personal styles. IMO neither is ‘better’, each indicates what the wearer enjoys, and maybe a reflection of personality and a pinch of culture. The important quality that you both share is the well honed sense of what works for you, in terms of body and aesthetics.
I wish she would solve my fashion problems. Or all my problems!
How fun to see the two of you together! You BOTH look fabulous!