Thanksgiving: Dinner

Comfort and class are the two qualities that I'm looking for in a Thanksgiving dinner outfit.

Our thanksgiving dinner tends to be a bit fancier than most, probably just because of the situation.
We don't have any family on the East coast so my family has dinner with several other "stranded" families at our South African friends' house. She is an absolutely fabulous cook with a to-die-for British accent, but she always puts on extravagant affairs and can't seem to entertain less than thirty people at a time.

So I was thinking of something slinky and a tad retro for this year. I refuse to wear anything with a waist (to hide that inevitable food baby from too many slices of chocolate pecan pie) and a cozy cardigan will be perfect for cuddling up on the couch in a post-dinner stupor.

dinner by erind90 featuring fishnet tights

Thanksgiving: Football Game

The annual Thanksgiving day football game in my town is a tradition.

It's always our town versus the neighboring rival town, and everyone shows up to cheer the guys on.
While I'm not much of a sports fan, I do appreciate the social aspect.

So what's necessary? Something cute and warm (and muck and snow resistant).

Football by erind90 featuring black knee high boots

Of course, my sisters tease me mercilessly for "dressing so fancy". True, but at this point I feel that if I didn't, people in my town would think something was wrong with me.

And there's nothing wrong dressing up for a football game. I'm warm and cozy, and it's not as if they're going to ask me to run out on the field and play quarterback anytime soon.

Although, that's not saying it wouldn't be an improvement to the sport.

Thanksgiving: Traveling

I did this post last year, but it's that time again.
Thanksgiving.
I don't know about anyone else, but I see my family and my hometown maybe three times a year.
And, well, you know how it is seeing old High School classmates, the exes, the frenemies, the family...

So trust me. I will not be wandering around in my sweats all Thanksgiving.

One problem is travel.
Unfortunately I take the Fung Wah bus back home.
It's quick and dirty, making a four hour trip to Boston for $15 (cash only) and gets the job done. Unfortunately no one speaks English, if the GPS fails the trip takes seven hours, sometimes they forget to shut the bus door and board your luggage, we've left people at a random gas station along the pike at 2 am because the bus driver needed "Cheetos" (I think) and forgot to count everyone as they got off the bus so he got frustrated and left, and oh yeah, sometimes they just go up in a fiery ball at the side of the highway.

But besides that I highly recommend the company. Like I said, they're fast.

So what is necessary for this kind of travel? One word: Comfort.
And if I had to pick another, I'd probably say: Mace (just kidding... sort of)

Necessities

Nalgene (in case of being stranded)
Food (ditto)
Magazine
Ipod (to drown out sounds of bus breaking down and crossing seven lanes of traffic without putting on a blinker)
Luggage (because if it isn't with me, it's on the side of Grand Street, Chinatown as we drive away)
Pashmina Scarf ($15 doesn't include heating or air-conditioning)
Socks (yeah, it doesn't include cleaning the bus either)

Flares and mace (in case of emergencies...)

My general plan for a traveling outfit is to be comfortable and presentable. So instead of pulling out the sweats try leggings and jersey t-shirt dress.

I also wear my boots because it saves some space in my luggage. A general tip is try to wear anything bulky onto a plane or bus instead of packing it, such as a winter coat or boots.
And personally I find that a hat and sunglasses are necessary for going incognito, because who has time to do their hair and makeup before catching a 6 am bus?

travel by erind90 featuring ray ban sunglasses

As for the sword, well, apparently they don't allow mace onto the Fung Wah buses anymore.

Thanksgiving: The Feast

I don't know about you guys but I always need to lie down after a Thanksgiving dinner. Perhaps it might have to do with eating the entire pecan pie by myself?
Don't be ridiculous. It couldn't be.
So I need an outfit that I can eat, socialize, nap and possibly dance in (you never know. it happens). Also it needs to be fun, festive, cold weather and parent appropriate.

thanksgiving 3 by erind90 featuring Steve Madden shoes

- Leggings. I love leggings, they're pretty much my go to item. Can you tell?

- Black a-line skirt and black long sleeve shirt. While I could have easily worn a dress, this solves my dilemma for the other two days of my vacation. Break it apart and I have the shirt for one day and the skirt for the next.

- Black pumps. They're really my only heels of reasonable height, as some of the people I have Thanksgiving with are slightly on the conservative side.

- Gold necklace. For some festive bling!

- Boyfriend blazer. A little trendier and dressier than a cardigan, but still good for the cold weather.

- Red clutch, red lipstick. Add a shot of color for a little fun.

And there you have it, my most important parts of the weekend all wardrobized.

The best part? Just add in jeans, a t-shirt and some flats, mix and match a bit, and I have the rest of my wardrobe for the weekend! And while I haven't checked yet, I can almost guarantee all of that will fit into my rather large back pack, or at least a small duffel.

Thanksgiving: The Game

Ah, the Thanksgiving Football Game. An American tradition. However, when you come from a town just outside of Boston (population: 20,000) the football game becomes fondly known as "The Reunion".
While I'm not the most rah-rah person out there, I do enjoy catching up with old friends and seeing the game. Unfortunately I'm also absolutely guaranteed to see every single person I went to high school with and their parents while standing for three hours in a icy mud covered field, and yes, the temperature will be in the high teens.
How do you deal with this in style? It's simple darlings.


thanksgiving 2 by erind90 featuring Dorothy Perkins shoes

Because of living in New England every year I invest in a statement coat. For the past couple years the favorite has been a lovely long grey double-breasted pea coat from the Gap's European Collection (although my Calvin Klein classic navy pea coat is also a contender).

When you are outdoors, no one can see what you are wearing underneath, so the important parts are your coat and accessories.

-Gorgeous coat. For feeling fabulous in.

- Boots. For mucking around in mud and ice, and keeping those feet toasty.

-Leggings/under outfit. I prefer leggings and a dress, but skinny jeans would do just as well.

- Cozy black scarf

- Trendy clutch. My recent favorite is a black and white clutch from Calvin Klein that I thrifted.

- Leather and cashmere gloves. I'll be wearing my ruffled ones from Etienne Aigner.

- Earmuffs. I simply have been unable to find a cloche hat that I like and that fits my budget. However I snagged these gorgeous fuzzy black earmuffs from Dillards a few weeks ago.

Other essentials:

-Chapstick/lipgloss

- Money for hot chocolate and other small emergencies

- Cell phone, for finding everyone in the crowd.

- Lots and lots of layers underneath your clothes. Long johns may or may not be included.

So while a great looking outfit might not help me out with all the social problems and whims of weather of my small town, feeling confident and gorgeous while enjoying the company of my best friends certainly can.

Next up: Thanksgiving Dinner! What to wear for feasting, partying and seeing the boyfriend's parents.

Thanksgiving: The Road

I know the holiday is a little ways a way, but I can't wait to head back to Boston. As much as I love the city, I miss seeing my friends and Blondie (and my family too of course. Hi Mom and Dad!)
So of course the occasion is going to call for some planning in the wardrobe department because there are certain things to take into consideration.

1. I'd love to just pack a backpack for the bus (it's only a four day vacation)
2. it's going to be colder than all get out up north
3. I need to dress for the festivities
4. and of course, I need to dress for the definite possibility of running into any frenemies and ex-boyfriends from high school.
(Me? Shallow? Of course not)

So I figure I'll do this in a couple parts. First off is what does a girl wear for a seven hour bus ride, usually sitting squashed between two people, so that I get off the bus sane and chic?

My advice from doing this trip (and 8 hour flights to visit family in Washington) several times is that for long trips leggings are your best friend ever.
But of course one cannot dress simply in spandex, as tempting as it might be. So here's my bus-ride from hell outfit.



travel 1 by erind90 featuring Dorothy Perkins shoes


As you can see I have
- leggings
- sweater dress or tunic because I feel it's less confining and honestly, I could wear this outfit to bed, it's that comfortable.
- a pashmina for any chill
- cardigan. Same reasons as a pashmina, and balled up together they work well as a pillow.
- boots. They are the bulkiest things I'm packing so by wearing them I might actually be able to fit everything in a backpack.
-sunglasses. There is no way I'm wearing makeup so it's good to go incognito for the day.

also essential (but not clothes related)
-socks. There's no way I'm wearing my boots all bus ride. As soon as I sit down they are coming off.
-water, peanut butter sandwiches, and apples. For obvious reasons.
-reading material
- dry shampoo. I'll spray some on my hair in the bus terminal bathroom, give it a few shakes and voila! instant sexy bed head instead of greasy bus ride hair in a headband.
- sanitizer. You don't want to see what the South Station terminal bathrooms look like.
- moisturizer for face (and possibly hands). there is no reason why a bus should be so drying, but it is. I don't know why.
- toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant. Because the rest of the human population would rather not smell me.
- E.L.F. shine erasers. For all that oil puddling on my face after 7 hours.
- Carmex chap stick. Man, am I a glamorous chick or what? But it works, and I love the tingly feeling.

This is pretty much my emergency kit for surviving bus/plane trips with some of my humanity still intact.
Next up: what do you wear to a football game (fondly termed "The Reunion")?