Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday. There’s too much food and football, and a dearth of costumes, confetti and candy dioramas. I was happy to shake things up by going to a restaurant instead of having dinner at home. So happy, in fact, that I celebrated by wearing something other than my jeans-and-t-shirt uniform.
What Wendy Wore
Top: Moschino (2005-ish)
Skirt: Chanel (2005-ish)
Over-the-Knee Boots: Manolo Blahnik (previous guess: 2003)
Necklace: My own Gloriana design in white gold
This outfit makes me think of all kinds of trivia. For a start, the top had a bad dry-cleaning experience several years ago. The edges of its short sleeves shrank to become painfully tight. I moped to MrB, “But it’s only three years old!” MrB thought it was a sign that it might be time to buy a new top after three years. Instead, I took the top to Jean at Ghost Tailor and she saved it by cutting those tourniquet-like edges off and refinishing the sleeves. I never went back to that dry cleaner.
I remember the first time I wore the skirt because that night I met a woman who was Chanel-obsessed. She was the type of person who bought the whole line each season. She asked who the skirt was by and was staggered when I told her. “They didn’t show me that one!” she gasped. I’m not Chanel-obsessed. I got the skirt because the silver threads in it are very festive, though they don’t show up in the photo.
I always wear the suede boots without socks or tights.
The 18K white gold and diamond Gloriana necklace design rarely comes out of the vault, because I prefer its yellow-gold sister. (You can read about the inspiration for the Gloriana necklace here.) I took the white-gold version out for a magazine photo shoot and decided to wear it once before sending it back to the safe-deposit box. I made this necklace years ago, when gold was inexpensive enough for me to make a yellow-gold and a white-gold version of nearly everything, just in case someone wanted a different color metal. Making two of every design is out of the question now that the cost of gold has tripled. I prefer the way my designs look in yellow gold anyway. I think the color is more inviting. It also looks better than white in the satin finish I like, and shows intricate details more clearly. If I’m adding a white-metal piece to my collection these days, it’s going to be platinum or silver. I use platinum for wedding/black-tie-worthy jewelry. Silver is much less expensive than gold (though its price has soared in the past year), so I use it to make somewhat less expensive jewelry. Of course, I will happily make jewelry in white gold for a custom order. The Empress Wu dragon ring in my collection was made with yellow gold, but I made special white-gold dragon cufflinks for my designing friend Zang Toi.
Empress Wu dragon ring in 18K yellow gold. Click for more information.
Custom cufflinks in 18K white gold. Click for more information.
By the way, when I say that I’m adding a piece to my collection, it means that I’m making it on spec, without an existing order, so that I can show it to potential customers and press. It’s the same thing that clothing designers are doing when they present their seasonal collections on the runway, but without the models and all the excitement.
If you ever want a custom piece — in any kind of precious metal — holla at me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com.
The day after Thanksgiving I dressed up again for gorgeous designer/blogger Stacy Lomman’s birthday. We went out to dinner with MrB and I surprised Stacy by showing up in one of the dresses I bought from her Spring 2011 collection. She’d never seen me wearing it before.
The dress on the runway.
The dress on me.
What Wendy Wore
Dress: Stacy Lomman (Spring 2011)
Shoes: Prada (2010)
Jewelry: My own
Despite MrB’s best efforts, he failed to get an approved-for-posting photo of the birthday girl. Luckily, Stacy took a close-up of my rings against the “gems” that decorate the dress and photobombed her own picture! Do you see her?
All the rings are my designs. Minx manicure is by Tracylee Percival.
Gotcha, girl!
UPDATED TO ADD: Ha! I just realized I’m standing in the exact same position in both of those outfit photos, and it’s not even the official WendyB pose!
Sneaky dress is sneaky! Now, if you don’t wear socks, then how do you keep your feet warm during those cold, snowy NYC winters?!
The boots with no socks reminds me of the Friends episode with the leather pants.
The dress looks gorgeous on you, it looks like a NYE dress too! You can see her a tiny bit in the reflections of the stones/mirrors 🙂
Wow! That sparkly dress looks better on you than the model, gorgeous. Love that dragon ring soooo much. x
I was about to mention that! The dress looks way better on you, Wendy. It’s nicely complemented by your accessories too. Also love the skirt and boots, by the way!
Love the dress! But how do you wear the boots sans socks? I wouldn’t be able to get them onto my sweaty feet, or off for that matter.
They’re so soft, they feel like socks themselves.
LOVE the Chanel skirt, and of course you look equally gorgeous in the dress too…..I love black. Its simple, and sexy! You look great Wendy!!
Love the skirt. And not because it’s Chanel.
As for aging gracefully: if an item of clothing does not intend to work its ass for me for the next 4 to 6 years, let me know in advance please. No lazy bums in my closet ;-P
that dress is fabulous and i love the skirt
aren’t you clever repairing your shirt instead of tossing it.
can’t wait to see your spec piece of jewelry
brett
Thank you Brett! I can make you one too…;-)
Hi my dear! Staceys dress is really lovely and your jewellery works brilliantly with it! xxx
You look amazing as always, Wendy! Love the Chanel skirt and the dress with the jewels.
Stacy is so talented! I love the dress and your jewelry goes beautifully with the dress gems.
That woman had some nerve making that comment about your skirt. Honestly, what is wrong with people?
Susan…xoxo
What a fabulous skirt! Love how you wore it with these over the knee boots! And the dress looks great on you too. Totally love how simple the outfits are, yet are totally festive!
I don’t remember seeing the dragons in white gold before, must have missed the initial post, but woah, I love them like that!
The skirt and the dress are both fabulous…I really love how sophisticated the dress is!
Hi gorgeous!
Love that dress and all your amazing rings.
So great to hear from you, WB!
xoxox,
CC
Both outfits are very gorgeous! I have to admit, I did reel about when I read you don’t wear socks! I am as much of a sock obsess-er as a shoe one.
The Stacey Lomman dress is just gorgeous on you! I love your “ring party”, that’s a party I can get on board with.
Wendy’s my muse and she doesn’t even know it!
Love the way you pile all your rings on and that skirt is cute – the label-obsessed woman isn’t alone, I’d never have guessed it was Chanel.
Too bad you can’t see the lurex in your Chanel skirt in the pic. But, you CAN see it in my dress! And it’s black lurex, not even silver 🙂 Shoot, how did I photobomb myself? Ironically, my anti-spam word is sucker!
I LOVE YOUR OUTFIT.
I had to yell that because it really is that hot. It’s something I would wear. We’re fashion sisters. Fisters? That just sounds wrong.
Bwah!
How nicely Jean salvaged the sleeves of your top; now your delts are displayed to perfection. I love that skirt, too!
Great outfits for both occasions. You really shine in black.
I’m starting to veer toward yellow gold now, for the first time since I was 14. The only necklace I wear anymore is my yellow gold Madame Royale Necklace, which has come from behind as my absolute favorite. (hmm, that didn’t come out right.)
Love that dress of Stacy’s that you bought! And I spy her in one of the gems!