How to Wear a Color Block Dress

To all of you who commented on my last post and sent lovely emails, thank you. I appreciate you bringing my pain into your hearts and sharing yours with me.

It's been four weeks since my grandmother died. I wish I could say that it's getting easier but it's not. The pain just tastes a little different with every passing day.

Have you ever cried for 30 days straight? Ugh. I never had. It's awful and exhausting.  I long for that day that breaks the chain.  Maybe I'll feel like myself again. Maybe look like myself again.  Thirty days and nights of crying = a puffy, red, damn mess of a face. **Vain sigh**

And yet, amidst a month of such intense sorrow, there have been moments of incredible joy. Funny how that happens in life.

I've spent countless days and nights with my mom, remembering together and trying to forget together. Mourning and healing together. Best of all, just being together. We've become closer than ever. I didn't think that was even possible.

I also started a BFD new job. Spent 10 days away from home onboarding at the company headquarters in San Francisco.  Didn't think I'd be able to make it through the first day, let alone 10 days. But I did. I learned that I'm stronger than I think...and that strangers can be kinder than I tend to think.

I also watched my best friend get married...just two weeks after her fiancee's dad died of cancer. Heartbreaking. I never dreamed her beautiful day would be tinged with so much pain. I feel closer to him and to her and to their families than ever before. Like our two tragedies have tied our souls together. Like a bow on a gift. 

And finally, I celebrated Mr. Diabolina's birthday. I've spent 17 birthdays by his side. But this year was the most special. I've never been more grateful that this beautiful man was born.

There are no words for how incredible he's been in the last 30 days. To me and to my mother and to everyone around us.  He has always been my rock. But through all of this, his love and patience and strength have been my North Star.

I'll never forget all the little moments.  Stroking my hair in those awful moments as she lay dying in that hospital room. Standing by my side as I picked out her coffin in a daze. Propping me up as I gave her eulogy because I was convinced my legs might give out.  Encouraging me to start the new job as scheduled, reminding me of how proud she would have been, reminding me how proud he is, reminding me that I can do anything. Calling my mother every day that I was out of town. Having a beautiful dinner ready for me when I finally returned home.

A few days after my grandmother died, my mother broke down in his arms. She could barely speak but, as she clung to him, she managed to tell him, "You're the best thing that ever happened to the two of us."  No truer words have ever been uttered.

I've been wearing mostly black since my grandmother died. Haven't been particularly interested in fashion. Haven't felt like me.

  But for Mr. Diabolina's birthday, I made the effort.  I bought a new dress, a red dress.  It is the color of love and passion and life. It was my grandmother's color.

And that day, it was my way of celebrating the man I can't imagine my life without.

xoxo

My Grandmother

My grandmother just died. 

For two weeks, I've been wanting to say that to every stranger I see. Grab them and shake them and scream those four words at them. I want to make them feel as uncomfortable as I feel. 

Because I'm angry that they didn't stop...that the world didn't stop when she did. Things just kept going as if she never existed, as if she never mattered. But I want them to understand that my world did stop. 

I want them to understand that my eyes are swollen and haunted because I've never watched someone I adore slip away into nothingness. Understand that I'm sleepwalking in a fog of grief---slow and distracted and not myself. Understand that I've never felt so fragile, like I'm made out of glass.  Like my heart is breaking and I can't breathe.  

I never knew I was capable of enduring pain this intense and this unrelenting. It's the absolute worst moment of my life. And I'll never be the same. There was me when she was alive and now there's me when she's dead…

***

My grandmother was beautiful. Achingly, stunningly beautiful. She was strong and complicated and smart and funny and damaged and a force of nature and charming and ambitious and stubborn. But most all, she was mine. She's the only grandparent I ever met. 

My grandmother was my mother's mother. My mother was her only child just like I am my mother's only child.  Whenever they'd describe our triangle, they would say, "Unica hija de una unica hija." 

My grandmother and my mother had an epically awful relationship. My entire life I've felt guilty about the wonderfully close relationship I have with my mother.  It is in many ways the direct result of how bad her relationship with her own mother was. 

And so the thing my mother most wanted in life was to be a mother---and in her mind, right many wrongs. And becoming a mother didn't come easily. She lost two sets of twins before having me.  When I was born, I was a kind of miracle.

My mother was determined to be everything to me that my grandmother hadn't been to her.  For better or worse, I knew that from a very young age. It was this thing all three of us knew but never talked about, like some unspoken sisterly pact. 

In the past few years, things had hit a breaking point in their relationship. As my grandmother grew older, she became increasingly stubborn and hurtful, refusing to see or talk to my mother. Money became wrapped up in their six decades of issues. There were lies and emotional daggers galore. I was used as a pawn. It was all kinds of ugly. 

And after 30 years of being caught in the middle of the two women who raised me, the two women I loved most, I'd had enough. I decided I didn't want to be part of the emotionally scarring cycle anymore.  I realized I wasn't a little girl anymore. I had a choice.

So I chose my mom. Which meant I stopped trying to talk to my grandmother. I stopped trying to see her.  I shut down. 

Mr. Diabolina, knowing how painful my decision was, would periodically bring her up. See if I wanted to reach out, call her, write her. But like her, I was stubborn. I said I didn't want to hurt my mom. I reminded him my grandmother had my number too, that I wasn't the only one that could reach out.  

And frankly, I thought I had time. My grandmother had always been healthy as a horse, looking years younger than her actual age. Her side of the family typically lives well into their 90s.  I figured things would work themselves out and we would reconnect. I guess I didn't want to even think about the alternative...

But then one day, we get a call telling us my grandmother's in the hospital. She's dying. To come quickly. 

When we get there, she's unrecognizable, full of tubes, motionless, in a coma, dying. She's not beautiful and she's not stubborn and she's not strong anymore. And yet she's still mine.

My mom and I are told that we have to make the decision to take her off the machines, that she's in pain, that mentally she's not there anymore.  And it's not like the movies where you quietly watch someone slip away.  There's nothing peaceful about it.  It's horrifying.  

My mom and I are doubled over, howling in agony, praying for her soul, begging for her forgiveness, clinging to each other for dear life. Ultimately, we didn't have to make the decision to let her go, her body just gave up. 

And we were there by her side in those last moments...watching her life force drain away...watching a major part of ourselves die too.  

How to Wear Colored Jeans

The Scene

Peaches has a close friend who works for Tommy Hilfiger. So when my bff found out I was making myself available for any and all shows, like the fashion slore I am, he made a call.

Got me behind the velvet rope (or wrought iron fence, in this case) and into the Tommy Hilfiger Women's Fall 2012 show on February 12!!!

The venue, The Armory on Park Avenue, was breath-taking. Couldn't have been more different than the minimalist presentations at Milk Studios the day before. The space was sprawling, done up to look like a park and there was enough lighting equipment to put on a Broadway production.



Was thrilled when---just as the gates were closing---Mr. NBC raced in. Had put him on the list as my plus one. Adore his face...especially when it's sleepy.




We'd hung out with a big group of his amazing friends until the wee hours the night before. While I'd had a lazy Sunday of eating and shopping, he'd had to go into the studio at 7 am (to pull together a special on Whitney Houston, who had died the night before.)  LOVE that Mr. NBC wasn't gonna let a little thing like exhaustion keep him from his first fashion show.




The Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2012 Show

The name of the show: Town and Country. It was quintessential Tommy.



All-American, clean lines, classic, functional, tailored.

Lots of equestrian detailing including boots, boots and more boots.

Also tons of military inspired coats, modesty and burgundy.




The Star Sightings

I got to the show early and trolled the room for celebs. Was there two minutes and had THE star sighting of all star sightings: Anna Wintour.  She was getting approached by several people to take pictures and graciously obliged every time. She even cracked an upturned lip!!!  I came THIS close to asking her for a photo and telling her about my awesome Halloween costume. Not really. I pretty much snapped this picture and ran away, hoping I wouldn't turn into stone.

Also peeped a bunch of other fashion big wigs like Russell Simmons, Joe Zee, Suzy Menkes, Brandon Holly from Lucky, Louise Roe now from Glamour and Harper's Baazar's Joanna Hillman

You know that street style blog darling with the side-swept hair look that gives me a lady boner 

And that I attempt to emulate more and more as my hair gets longer and longer, more and more unruly (maybe that's why she does it?)  

Also ran into Mr. Brad Goreski. I always worry he isn't going to remember me but upon seeing me on the way out, he lit up, grabbed me and kissed me. He is a LOVER-ly Canadian boy. He mentioned that earlier in the day he had run into Jean Bean at Lela Rose. They'd talked Trevor Project and my tweeting. Me gusta mucho.

(That's the two of them putting on their serious fashion faces during that show. Hilars!)  

After the show, Mr. NBC and I had dinner with Jean Bean. We talked fashion for about a minute and then spent the rest of the night talking about technology...like the uber nerds we are.

All three of us---despite being trained as journalists---are now managing social media for the brands we work for. It blows my mind that despite all our professional twists and turns, all our careers are converging in this way, at this moment.




I imagine this means we should join forces...then world domination.


The Outfit
Tahari coat
Brass Plum jeans
Tucker top
Harrods sweater

The Accessories
H&M scarf
Marc by Marc Jacobs laptop case as clutch
Kenzie wedge booties
Louis Vuitton earrings
Forever 21 bracelets

The Grade
Pass





The Commentary


After the Milk Studios debacle of a schlepy outfit, I wanted to redeem myself. Wanted to do more color, feel more California. Didn't so much work on a snowy day. Give myself a pass for effort.



Was inspired by all the color at the presentations.







And by Taylor Tomasi Hill's wearing neon jeans TO the presentations.



Adore these cobalt jeans normally. Been living in them for months.  Wearing thick tights underneath causes a whole lotta wrinkling tho. Horrific.  But I had to do it. Did I mention it snowed earlier in the day. Didn't stick but still...




Tried to pretend the wedge booties were Isabel Marant sneaks (which I'm OBSESSED with like every other woman who hasn't worn high tops since the 80s). But it didn't work. Felt dowdy fugs.




Almost didn't say hello to Brad cuz I felt so busted.  Was recently comforted to see that one of his  clients has been rolling almost exclusively in colored jeans, black booties and black coats ;)




Added the pop of color with the Frauda scarf and the neon "clutch." Love this Marc by MJ laptop sleeve so much that I think it's a crime for it only to be seen at work.  Been using it as a clutch at night.



Not sure if it's genius or nerdy.
Probably both.
C'est moi!




The Other Outfits at the Show


I just LOVE how the beautiful, rich and/or famous people get to dress like they are in LA when they are in NYC AND IT'S SNOWING! I need a car service...



These It Girl richies were a little more bundled up. Their outfits kinda reflect the weather confusion I was feeling. Like you want to look cute but F ME it's too cold.



Like all of these things separately but not so much together.  Gorg hair and makeup tho.



Uma meet simple. Simple meet Uma. Saw her up close. Almost didn't recognize. Either having pregnancy face or too much filler face. Maybe both?



Um...



Love the pops of color...but mostly that some monkey butler has her coat somewhere outside the shot.



The look on the right is head to toe from the collection.



Best dressed goes to Glamour's new editor.  Love all the color. Very Cali. That's always an A+

Window Shopping: My Favorite Stores in NYC

My tiny momma joined me for five days during my trip to New York.




Per usual, we did ALOT of hogging and almost as much window shopping.



Will blog about the food eventually but here's a glimpse at some tasty goodies we ate with our eyes (Bill Cunningham stole that from me!)

Louis Vuitton on Fifth Avenue

Clear Vuitton??!! Clearly I need it.

Also need more mint in my life.

And who doesn't need more dusty pink

Barney's New York

Can you believe I'd never set foot in Barney's New York in NYC? Not a fan of the service in the Beverly Hills store (wasn't surprised to hear the company is facing Chapter 11.)  But couldn't find any fault with all the GLORIOUS merchandise in the store.

Balenciaga rainbows

And Proenza ones




The perfect flat. Period. The end. Miu Miu wins.

Though these neon and snake Stella's were pretty insanely delicious....

Sunnies for days

The perfect outfit topper for a fashion peacock during NYFW

My mom came within an inch of buying this Phillip Lim 31 bag. VERY Celine, no?

Bergdorf Goodman

Bergdorf's is still my favorite NYC department store. This window of theirs was my absolute favorite of the trip. Mira those shoes!!!

Soho

Discovered four new brands while window shopping this trip: #1 Sandro. Gorgeous cool girl clothes straight from Paris. Starting to hear about it everywhere. Go to there.

Maje is another Parisian brand that's newish to the US. It's on Spring Street right next to Sandro. Both brands have the languid elegance of Isabel Marant but less hippie dippie, more polish.

Cut 25 in SoHo opened a few weeks ago and is the new (lower-priced) line by Yigal Azrouel. Uber feminine and colorful.  Gorgeous fabrics and flattering shapes.  A+. Currently featured on Shopbop.com

Not only did I want every piece of clothing in the store, I'm obsessed with all the gorgeous, hand-made jewelry by Holst + Lee

Tiffany's 

Did you hear about the Rachel Zoe windows at Tiffany's honoring the Oscars? I ran over the day after they were revealed. Loved me some dioramas growing up so dioramas dripping with diamonds? ADORE.

A Second Chance


I love peeping consignment stores in NYC. The selection of gently worn fashion tends to be infinitely better than most LA stores.




A Second Chance on Prince Street is one favorite. The Chanel jewelry is always out of control.

Marc Jacobs


Color blocked perfection. 

Mama and I still heart us some MJ.

Wish I'd set up another amazing tour of his showroom like we did during our last trip in June.

Signed,
A gluttonous pig who wants to window shop in showrooms
instead of pressing her grimy face in store windows