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New York—The Last Days of Summer

09.14.2017 by Catherine Jane //

I was back in New York over the Labor Day holiday. It can be a wonderful time to visit! Fall collections are available everywhere. And since it is usually hot this time of year there is something appealing about window shopping for the autumn season. Those fantastical displays in the store windows on 5th Avenue remind me that in the near future I will be throwing on a luxurious sweater to keep me warm instead of throwing cold water on my face for a quick cool down.

However, the Labor Day weekend in New York was anything but usual! While the West Coast was baking at an uncomfortable 100 degrees plus New York was experiencing a few cold rainy days. My golden rule for travel is no matter the temperatures always take a scarf with you because you just never know when a low pressure system is looming.

Eating is one of my favorite sports while traveling and New York never disappoints! This trip we tried two new restaurants on the Upper West Side, Olma Restaurant and Bar and Crave Fishbar both located on Amsterdam at West 80th Street. Olma is for caviar lovers who are looking for something light. Crave Fishbar is for the rest of us who want it all! Check out their happy hour menu from 3-7 for $1 oysters. If oysters aren’t your thing then try their octopus, tuna or any number of other delicious choices.

But my favorite dining experience was located in midtown at the Greek restaurant Souvlaki Gr. Dining at Souvlaki Gr was like being transported into any number of restaurants in Myconos. The whitewashed walls, rustic setting and large open windows combined with the wonderful service and lively Mediterranean music made our dining experience exceptional! There was plenty on the menu for vegetarians, pescatarians and carnivores. As if that was not enough Souvlaki Gr did not have us choking on your hummus when we got our tab.

There is plenty to do during the summer months in New York and some of my favorite activities are free. Central Park never fails to offer up plenty to see and do. You won’t have to look to hard for every kind of entertainment from singers to dancers and occasional theatre groups performing. I especially love visiting the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain. The acoustics inside the terrace are brilliant! And because of the incredible echoes in the tunnel nearby there are always singers and musicians entertaining the crowds that walk, skate and bicycle through.

This year I made a special visit to Lincoln Center where we sat outside in the courtyard and listened to opera. Unfortunately, the particular opera that evening did not grab us but the negroni at Bar Boulud located nearby did! With drink in hand the musical notes came together if only as a backdrop to the wonderful summer evening.

Eat well, laugh a lot, and travel chic!

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Game Of Thongs

09.08.2017 by Catherine Jane //

Thongs are not for everyone. Some of us love them and some of us hate them. The fit can vary just like any other type of foundation garment. With anything you wear the bottom line should always be comfort.

I remember the day I purchased my first pair of thongs. For years I couldn’t be talked into wearing them as just the thought of a thin strip of elastic placed down the center of my derrière made me cringe. However, I was never happy about the outline of my briefs showing through my trousers. It was my vanity that convinced me I should at least try a pair before I completely dismissed the idea of wearing an article of clothing which I mostly associated with a more pleasurable experience for men rather then women.

My decision to try a pair of thongs was to merely optimize a smooth look across my backside and no other reason. Anyone who wears thongs exclusively will swear they are more comfortable than their full-butted sister. I was not convinced of this but that was the word on the street and I was game.

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Anytime we try something new while at the same time feeling hesitant—we go slow. We submerge a few toes into the water before we jump into a pool or we take a small bite of a mysterious food before we devour a large mouthful. Wearing my first thong was no different. I wasn’t prepared to make a huge investment in a pair as I wasn’t sure if there would be a love connection with me and less-than-there underwear so I opted for a basic pair of thongs in cotton/lycra from Nordstrom. After several hours I couldn’t take the pulling and rubbing anymore, so I stepped into the ladies room and threw them in the trash preferring to go commando.The two vertical strips of elastic were unbearable but the smooth derriere was perfection.

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Determined to get max comfort from my thongs I tried every pair that came recommended.
This is my summary;
-Not all thongs are created equal. Some are downright painful and are meant exclusively for fulfilling the exotic fantasies of you or someone with whom you intend to have sex.
-The most comfortable are the ones that are laser cut and have no elastic. I have no doubt there are others but after years of research the ones which fit the bill for comfort and smoothness are Commando by Her Look.

-There is no worse hell than a thong that is too small.
-Skirts and dresses are best with full-butted briefs (we must never again call them panties). My favorite are made by F’leurt.

-Boyshorts sound like a great alternative but they can crawl up your derriere just like any bad fitting underwear, making for a lousy day.
-Since trying on any type of underwear is prohibited (as it should be) unless you try them on over your existing underwear (which is still a bad idea) you will never truly know how they will fit. You will have to take a chance on that first pair.
-There is nothing more comfortable then a pair of super fine pima cotton, max-coverage butted briefs.

Eat well, laugh a lot and be chic!

Boot Fetish—In Search Of The Classic Styles

09.01.2017 by Catherine Jane //

Finding replacements for your favorite styles can be grueling and other times impossible. If it’s boots you are looking for this season and over-the-knee is your preference than the world is your oyster. If you are looking for a simple to-the-knee boot with a 2″-3″ tapered heel then you might be out of luck.

There are styles in my wardrobe that I consider wardrobe staples regardless of what is trending. In fact I depend on certain classic pieces to keep my life easy. For example a white button-down shirt is never out of style, right? And basic cardigans in great fabrications are a no-brainer. But what happens when the staples that we depend on are simply not available?

Trends and the celebrities that wear them have changed the retail landscape. No longer do buyers control the wheel of fashion’s destiny but rather it’s the influencers—the celebrities and the gigantic manufacturing machine that cranks out an over abundance of product with little regard for quality (sigh). The over abundance of inventory only makes the hunt for specific well-made styles that much more painful.

My wardrobe is in pretty good shape. I have my fall coats, sweaters, rain boots, trousers, skirts and dresses. What I needed was to replace a pair of Aquatalia short-heeled boots in black—no fringe, no grommets, no hardware. My Aquatalia boots and I have had a good run and we have been together for a dazzling six years. Unfortunately, the suede has worn thin in a few places and cannot be repaired. Making note of the expiration date of these essential toe-toppers, I searched online for something similar to replace them. It didn’t go well.

In the event you haven’t noticed, the “it” boot happens to be the over-the-knee boot of which I am not a fan which is not to say that they have no place in the wardrobe of others. And the other style of boot which is still trending is the ankle boot which I like but I don’t like to wear them with skirts and dresses. A knee boot is perfection. They stop just below the knee where they sometimes just grace the hemline of my skirts and dresses, or other times when my hemline hits just a little shorter (just above my knees) a hint of skin is exposed.

I understand and appreciate that styles change. It’s wonderful to watch the evolution of fashion. And boots have certainly become a style mavens must have since the 60s. The ankle length go-go boot, the chunky heel boot, the moon boot, the slouch boot, the cowboy boot, the fringe boot, the second skin boot, the platform boot, the open-toed boot, the ankle boot and now the over-the-knee boot. Somewhere on the list is everyones’ favorite. Sadly, this fall I will have to sit it out and try to hang onto my Aquatalia boots for one more year because over-the-knee is not for me.