Tailor knows best

Turns out I'm not having my new belted dress redesigned. My tailor, as always, was right: first, he suggested removing the belt's buckle and turning the belt around, to make it look like a sash around the waist. Then he suggested raising the hem just above the knee. It's not a totally new dress, but it makes it more elegant.

It'll be ready by Friday. Pictures to come then.

All roads lead to Lanvin- and recently The Row

Herewith some of my favorite things:

And for a splash of red, Valentino:

Get your tickets for the DMA Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit

The Dallas Museum of Art's Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit opens Nov. 13. Get your tickets sooner than later. Read about it on Art & Seek. Watch video of the Winter 2011-2012 collection here.

Cool glasses and a good cause

I read about Warby Parker on Vanity Fair and ordered trial glasses right away. You can pick several styles to try on before you decide to buy the one you like, and they come in a beautiful lined box. The company's customer service is great, personalized and fun. And ordering with scripts is super easy.

Here's the style I ordered. They're very Al Maysles, aren't they?

Re-furbishing a dress from Neiman's

I recently purchased a pretty gold shift at Last Call in Allen, and have decided I'm going to glam it up. I'm planning on keeping the top, but having a new skirt made for it. Going to Richard Brooks tomorrow to pick the fabric.

Before and after pictures coming soon.

Raiding my mother's closet

My mother has great style, and her closet is a treasure trove of beautiful bags and feminine dresses and skirts. Among my favorite things: a black leather envelope evening bag, a mother of pearl evening bag, two-toned bone Mary Janes and several of her Italian finds. I don't know what she's kept over the years, but she had a proclivity for well-made Italian clothing and shoes (Bruno Magil, in particular) and I'll have to reacquaint myself with some of my favorite things.

I'm going home for Christmas and will be posting pictures then.

I may also pay a visit to Ucci, a boutique in Guatemala City that was a favorite of hers in the 1980s.

Stay tuned.

Old-school never goes out of style, re-print

Just deleted a  post I'd written about the Coach Willis bag. Was going to add the picture (which I just learned how to do...) and hit the delete button...

Just as well because now it's a new entry.

This is the bag I bought two or three months ago. I've been wanting a Coach bag since I was about eleven, and this style's always the one I wanted. It's old-school, it's well-made and structured and it'll never go out of style.

The bag is also available with brass hardware, but not online. You'll have to call customer service for that version.