Cocktail party outfit - but not the LBD please!

A selection of my cocktail party adornments

Oh yes, I'm going to a cocktail party with some really good friends next Saturday!

Oh no, what am I going to wear?

First of all, everything feels too tight even though I've been dieting for weeks. Second, I don't have many cocktail dresses - because there aren't enough cocktail parties on my social calendar :-D

So - help me decide, please!

Although many of my "style bibles" recommend the LBD, I'm in a spring mood and NEED colour.

I've boiled down my dress choices to three dresses: 

1) Biba leopard print which you see styled for daytime here.  I wore it on New Year's Eve 2013 as well, and some of the guests are the same. It doesn't necessarily require a cardigan on top, only if it's cold.

2) Kaliko teal silk/linen dress that I've also worn at a dinner party in April 2014, again with part of the same crowd that will be there on Saturday.

3) Pied a Terre purple silk dress, never worn! But - it's a bit tight around the waist :-(

My choice of shoes is very limited, especially for evening since I've always prioritised daytime footware. Depending on the weather I might add tights, nude fishnets with the leopard dress, and teal green with the two other outfits.

It's no secret that I'm dying to wear the new dress, but I fear the tightness will prevent me from having as much fun as I can. However I can wear this one without a cardigan. A huge plus.

It seems so shallow to be worrying about an outfit a week ahead. But I know that in a well-considered outfit I'll be able to relax and enjoy myself, and bring my bit of fun the party.

And isn't outfit preparation the essence of blogging?

Anyway, tell me what you think, Teal, Purple or Leopard?

I'm taking all three dresses to another party this very minute - Patti's Visible Monday party at the Not Dead Yet Style blog. Maybe I can get some more ideas for Saturday's party :-)

Have a lovely week all

Love Kaffesoester

Denim with style and a visible dress

Yesterday's theme on  Imogen Lamport's Inside Out Styleblog's Fabruary Challenge was "Denim with style". As it was Sunday I didn't have any plans, other than to relax and get a few things from the grocery store. So I decided to focus on my outdoor appearance for the challenge:

A somewhat sunny Sunday

Since it's way too cold for my beloved old Denim jacket, my only denim choice were my jeans. I added my nearly warm enough woolen jacket, a quite new silk scarf, a designer handbag and soft, purple leather gloves.

Of course I brought my stylish dog as well! Afterwards he was very exhausted - or maybe just tired of being asked to pose for his mom's photos.

How long is this going to take?

The dark and mid purple with the lemon yellow is a fantastic, contrasting colour combination. I can't get enough of it, so here's another photo!

Purple, purple and yellow - yummi!

Today's challenge is to wear a dress - some would say that isn't a challenge for me. But our winter weather is unpredictable, and although temperatures were above freezing, it was raining and very windy. So, to fight off the chill I decided to wear some hot Monday colours:

My husband is home, and being slightly naughty!

It's the not so new and trusted CC dress, that has appeared a few times on the blog now. It's the first time it's been seen with teal accessories, so I'm remixing here. On a Monday!

The accessories:

Teal, turquoise and gold, and "warning sign yellow"

Usually I'm alone when I take my photos, but today my husband was home. Can you imagine the fun he had disturbing me? Only a few usable photos, and lots where I'm moving.

New lipstick, see?

I wanted to take a close up of my new lipstick, but it'll have to be some other day. He couldn't resist making me laugh too much so I couldn't stand still enough! Instead you can have another look at my almost new silk scarf!

No make up since it's Sunday!

My skin is quite problematic, so I like to give it a rest from make up in the weekend, if possible. Sorry for not warning you! But the scarf is fantastic - smooth, heavy silk, I love it!

It's been a great Monday, even though every train and bus was delayed today, leaving me waiting in the cold, and getting too late to work. And now it's at it's end, with only one thing left to do - linking up to Visible Monday at the very elegant Patti's Not Dead Yet Style blog, this is the one thing that I'd hate to miss on a Monday! Please go and have a look at all the gorgeously visible ladies!


Take care everyone, and enjoy your week, no matter the temperature!

A quick remix

Last week I showed an outfit that I wasn't entirely happy with. The accessories weren't quite right. So, here's another go:

Dash dress remixed, with dog

I didn't have the heart to send my dear old Malamute away, he loves being near his Mom! The accessories in this outfit are in more subdued colours and lots of silver, than the previous.

Pale green, white and silver jewellery

 
We've been warned that the nice weather we were promised a few days ago, is cancelled. Instead we're in for some arctic cold = time to get out the fur!

My old fur jacket is losing more hair than my dog!

With a few age-related hot flushes the fur jacket soon became too hot, but by then I was on the bus, just typical!

I clearly forgot something important here: A bone for the dog!

This is it for now! My throat is very sore, my temperature is rising and the nose is starting to drip, I'm off to bed!

Hope you're all feeling better than me!

SJP, YSL, HM - so many letters...

Red and pink combinations have fascinated me for a long time now - and I still can't get enough! Last year I bought a dress from H&M, that didn't fit. Prior I had found photos of a vintage Yves Saint Laurent dress, and later Sarah Jessica Parker. I knew what I wanted, but didn't find it.

Red and pink inspiration

That was until yesterday! I've had the skirt for a long time, the jacket too (you've seen it a few times on the blog lately), but the top is new - and it does it's job very well!

Finally!

The red colour isn't my best but with this jacket, or maybe a scarf, I think I can carry it off. The boots are my very old Footprints, by Birkenstock.

The jacket connects the top and skirt very nicely

In the zig-zag pattern of the jacket there's a lot of burgundy so I'm now looking for a burgundy top to wear with the skirt - which I think would look great too.

Of course the outfit would be nothing without my ring!

Currently favorite ring

Today I dropped all colours and went for an all beige outfit, well except for the boots! Although this beige outfit is neutral, and in theory should be quite discrete, I did cause a stir - again!

Beige skirt and top, new boots

The silver boots was today's eye magnet! The silk scarf is a gift from my daughter, and I love it, but it didn't get much attention.

Not your usual silver boot

The boots are from Irregular Choice, and I bought them on the spring sale. They're very warm, lined with fur, and loose fitting and comfortable.

Cheese and beans

This morning I actually got applause from the school canteen staff. Apparently they're waiting every morning to see what I'm wearing - I have an audience! I guess I've established my reputation as an eccentric dresser once and for all!

Imagine what I'll be like at 70 and 80!

Soft summer colours

Like so many others I have been wondering for a long time what season I am. I don't know anyone around here that performs colour analysis so I have bought a couple of books and follow some blogs on the subject. Today I have finally decided that I'm a Soft Summer.

I have done the lipstick test, based on the recommandations by Truth-is-beauty.com and finally determined that I'm not a cool summer, but a soft one. And I should wear grey often. Today I'm wearing my best grey. And one of the lipsticks I tried on. None of the blogs or books have mentioned fur and it's a bit early in the season, especially since this autumn has been exceptionally warm and dry. But I liked the colour combination - very soft summer as I understand.

Will this change my shopping habits? Not untill I have a budget like Sarah Jessica Parker's who is another soft summer girl!