<p>Wowza. Thanks, Alumother, for alerting me to the Net a Porter sale. Got my coat. 
Eyeing a pair of lovely Jimmy Choo flats, trying to decide whether they would make a good gift for one of the kiddos.</p>
<p>You bet. So glad you got your coat! Patience pays off. The online sales are very good today. J. Crew has one too.</p>
<p>Love the feather shoes. </p>
<p>This would be really lousy, right? They are so comfortable. But I feel like Big Nurse in them. Don’t know why, they just feel like Big Nurse shoes:</p>
<p>[Dansko</a> Bett | Women’s | Shoe-Store.net](<a href=“http://www.shoe-store.net/dansko-bett-womens]Dansko”>http://www.shoe-store.net/dansko-bett-womens)</p>
<p>Sewhappy - those are the shoes I bought for 22 year old daughter - remember the ones I thought she might veto? She wears them to teach and wants a pair in a different color. Actually, her 11th grade girls told her they liked them. She wears them with tights and cute stockings. I think the hosiery would make a difference. It also helps being 22.</p>
<p>Sewhappy, if you are near a Nordstrom, check these out:</p>
<p>[Munro</a> ‘Leann’ Mary Jane Pump | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/munro-leann-mary-jane-pump/3114428?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=1326]Munro”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/munro-leann-mary-jane-pump/3114428?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=1326)</p>
<p>Super duper uber comfy. I tried 9 regular, 8 1/2 D and 8 DD. They all fit, but 8 1/2 D fit was perfect. I commute in them to work - the chunky heel does not get stuck in the sidewalk cracks.</p>
<p>A rant: I hate you, skinny, shop-from-mobile-device fashionistas!!! There isn’t a single size 4 Burberry pant left among sale items…</p>
<p>Ummm, BB? Are you talking to yourself?? ^^^^^</p>
<p>I have a bunch of ebags rewards points and I am looking to buy a new purse. I need something lightweight (so not leather; nylon maybe?) and on the small side (to make sure I don’t stuff it full of unnecessary stuff). </p>
<p>I am undecided about the color. Black is probably most functional, but since this is for everyday use, I am thinking maybe I should live it up and go with something more interesting.</p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>^ Great question, Amesie. I am also in need of a new purse. The one I bought last spring for this fall doesn’t look so good now. Don’t know what I was thinking.</p>
<p>Bunsen, so funny about those Dansko’s – my 17-year-old daughter liked them when I tried them on with the dress (bought them a couple years ago) and she is quite harsh in her assessments of most of my shoes. She says – “they’re so dorky they’re kind of cool, Mom”. WNP, the Munro’s are really cool. I like the understatement embellishment. Yes, am going to venture forth to the venerable Short Hills Mall tomorrow (the one with the Nordstrom). A lovely New Jersey driving adventure replete with jug handle turns, insane merges and crazed shoppers on the road.</p>
<p>Alumother, you know it is weird to go to something at a country club. Certainly was not part of my background and DH’s dad was a teacher who used to manage country club pools in the summers to make ends meet. We aren’t members. DH has been to functions at this place for work. I’ve been invited there by various friends – usually for benefits for various worthy causes. We were approached to join but we are not golfer types and would rather remodel our kitchen with any discretionary income these days. The whole racial exclusion issue has been on the peripherary of my mind. I asked DH whose company holds meetings at the place and he says he’s pretty sure they don’t have that history. It was an actual horse farm until fairly recently, is my understanding.</p>
<p>Amesie, I checked ebags. The bags I was going to suggest all have “coupons not applicable” in the description. 
I was looking at Kooba, LeSportsac, etc. …</p>
<p>Sewhappy, tapparently, he chunky heel style was quite the fad this fall. Burberry, Miu Miu etc. made their own versions (not mary janes though). Something like this Burberry loafer:</p>
<p>[Burberry</a> Loafer Pump | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/burberry-loafer-pump/3214049?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=0]Burberry”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/burberry-loafer-pump/3214049?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=0)</p>
<p>It reminds me of a pair of no-name shoes I had in college, but I’m not in a hurry to buy this bargain - a 5" heel is a no-no even in my books. :)</p>
<p>That Burberry loafer is absolutely darling. Oh, to have the balance and coordination and grace to wear high heels . . .</p>
<p>Okay – these are the shoes I ended up getting at a ridiculous discount at Bloomies. I had Bloomingdale “dollars” plus they were on the sale rack plus there was another 20 percent off. Okay. I still spent too much and feel some guilt. But I love them so much. They are super comfortable and my DH was so proud that I ventured out in non-baked potato shoes!</p>
<p>[Salvatore</a> Ferragamo “Ribes” Peeptoe Pumps - Pumps - Shoes - Shoes - Bloomingdale’s](<a href=“http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/salvatore-ferragamo-ribes-peeptoe-pumps?ID=481187&CategoryID=17397&LinkType=#fn%3Dspp%3D15]Salvatore”>http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/salvatore-ferragamo-ribes-peeptoe-pumps?ID=481187&CategoryID=17397&LinkType=#fn%3Dspp%3D15)</p>
<p>^^pretty shoes! I like your holiday party look.</p>
<p>In my mid-50s I find I am buying much less but spending more per piece, and just eliminated seven winter garments from my closet but will be buying just one new piece this season.</p>
<p>Does anyone else want to describe what they are wearing to upcoming parties?
Next weekend, I will be wearing a black silk taffeta ankle length skirt,(krista larson) Victorian black silk jacket (probably mourning wear; bought at an antique clothing fair) cydwoq kitten heel button shoes. Victorian pearls or cameos. This event is very elegant and women will be wearing their furs even if it is still 60-70 degrees. I don’t have any furs. But may wear a full length turn of the century black wool cape with velvet trim… if I need a wrap. </p>
<p>No one else will be dressed quite like me but there will be some very extreme looks and the all black look sort of fits in regardless.</p>
<p>alh - steampunk baby! How fun. So far the only party I think I’m going to is for work. Oh goodness me. And then some nights in Hawaii, for which I have bought a Karen Millen bandage dress.</p>
<p>Anyone do any Cyber Monday buying? I bought white v-neck tees from Petit Bateau and J. Crew, also a puffer coat for my daughter. Living dangerously, I tell you what.</p>
<p>I was out and about on Sunday, browsing Nordstrom’s presale. What a disappointment that turned out to be! Saw the most adorable stretch leather skirt at the Vince store. On sale, only 750 bucks. LOL, the salesperson was very disappointed that I had a no made in China shopping policy (and no $750 skirts shopping policy as well). :)</p>
<p>H and I are skipping work parties. The only party I will have to go is a very fancy wedding. I was initially told to dress “festively”, but later new detais emerged that included “absolutely no black” (must be a cultural thing), not even the shoes. Oy. Many thanks to CJane alerting me to the Karen Millen sale. What a jackpot: almost every single dress in that store was made in Lithuania. Yay to dresses made in Lithuania. :)</p>
<p>Alumother, kudos to your father for sticking to his principals, so proud when I hear things like this. I remember when we had a black family move into our very white small town and neighborhood and how my parents made a point of befriending them when no one else would talk to them. It sticks with you.</p>
<p>I did a lot of damage on cyber Monday. A cashmere sweater for my FIL from Lands End, a sweater from Talbots for MIL, a jacket from Chicos for my mom and a pair of Lucky Jeans for my D. Oh and a wool coat for my self from Talbots. Couldn’t resist 50% off lol! But the site was slow and I ordered it twice! Opps, I’ll try to change that today!</p>
<p>alh,</p>
<p>I have pondered your ensemble and decided it will be divine. A little bit diane keaton-ish in that you are doing your own thing. Very cool to think outside the box and not just chase name designers.</p>
<p>The night out at the country club was really, really fun. It was also quite racially integrated. Isn’t it nice to be in the 21st century in America?</p>
<p>Several more holiday social events on our calendar. I may have to shop my closet a bit.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>alh, that outfit sounds amazing! Sewhappy, I’m glad you had a ton of fun at the event (lovely shoes, BTW - I’m drooling :)).</p>
<p>Here is the dress I ended up ordering from KM (the store did not have it in my size):</p>
<p>[Karen</a> Millen Draped Column Dress : Dresses](<a href=“Dresses | Shop Women's Dresses for all Occasions | Karen Millen US”>Dresses | Shop Women's Dresses for all Occasions | Karen Millen US)</p>
<p>I’m a bit nervous because it might still be considered too dark for the event. Oh, well, I don’t have much time to shop (and the stuff in the stores either has some black or not really appealing, ugh)… What do you ladies think? Too bridesmaid-ish?</p>
<p>So did the wedding invitation request “no black” because those are the wedding colors?
I don’t think it is too dark- it is a tad bridesmaidish( only in the front 
) but since you don’t have a twin who will be wearing the same thing, who cares?</p>
<p>What shoes?</p>
<p>Aren’t bridesmaids these days all forced to go strapless like the brides? I like that dress - I’m a big sucker for draped necklines since I have no cleavage. Amnesie your outfit sounds great. I don’t have much in the way of parties - to the very casual neighborhood event preceded by an art opening at the cooperative gallery where I have work showing next weekend I’ll probably wear this shirt [url=<a href=“http://www.travelsmith.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDetailView?storeId=10057&catalogId=10057&categoryId=15716&productId=496500&langId=-1&cm_mmc=Reviews-_-Ratings%20Micro%20Site-_-Body-_-Micro%20Site]Silk”>http://www.travelsmith.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDetailView?storeId=10057&catalogId=10057&categoryId=15716&productId=496500&langId=-1&cm_mmc=Reviews-_-Ratings%20Micro%20Site-_-Body-_-Micro%20Site]Silk</a> Shantung Big Shirt<a href=“in%20red”>/url</a> with some chunky artistic jewelry. I’ve got some black knit pants for the bottom half.</p>
<p>I like that shirt, Mathmom. It just sort of gets the job done. Some jewelry and good black pants and you’re set. Please share with us the clunky artistic jewelry you wear. I am very challenged by jewelry.</p>
<p>Bunsen, I really like that dress. If it fits well and feels good I’d go with it. The back on it is a stunner. Black shoes?</p>