what to wear to a holiday brunch




My friends at Eshakti sent me this darling dress to see how I would style it for the holidays.  With our mild temps here in Southern California it wasn't that hard.  I knew I could put a little cardigan on and be good but then I asked myself what would Ralph do?  I think maybe he'd tell me to put on my old RRL plaid workshirt and tie it at the waist.




So I did.




Right now Eshakti is having a site-wide sale with up to 70% off.  Plus if you are new to the site you get a $35 sign up discount.  They have that great tailoring service that is only $7.50 to customize all their dresses.  So maybe pop over and take a peek.  I adore this one too.

I'd also like to thank everyone for all the well wishes for me getting over the flu.  It kinda threw me for a loop right before Christmas but everything worked out well.  I haven't been really sick (except for allergies in the spring) for over 8 years straight so I'm not complaining.  Well maybe a little.

See you soon for my very favorite time of year...January 1st!

x






46 comments

  1. Your look feels like it has a definite Ralph Lauren vibe...I can imagine it in one of his photo shoots.
    Hope you have a fun brunch and glad to hear that you are feeling better...I think we need to get sick once in awhile just to jump start our immune system.
    Hope your granddaughter liked her nature kit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you leslie. we are having christmas with her today!

      Delete
  2. Happy Christmas! You look wonderful x

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love that you ask yourself, "What would Ralph do?" You are awesome, Janet.

    ReplyDelete
  4. kicked that up a notch didn't you?

    well done and so glad you're feeling better.

    xo J

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad you're back on your feet, and feeling better! Adorable avian print. And, I like the cut and length on the skirt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks mona, it is such a pretty print and the cotton is so soft. x

      Delete
  6. I love the little bird print. actually it reminds me of the print you used on your granddaughter's nature box.
    I was glad to see that you are feeling better, hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Happy New Year!
    Darby

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks darby. it reminds me of it too. i'm all about the birds at the moment! x

      Delete
  7. I love how you styled it. Sweet prints mixed with Americana--does it get more RL? Btw I mean sweet like aww not like "duuuude, sweet".
    I had to giggle a little thinking about how much I hate Jan 1. Especially this year because my resolution is the hardest yet. It is an umbrella theme of "doing shit I hate". I'm thinking I can push myself harder than my usual, luxurious, stop and smell every rose even when it's not a rose pace. So you'll have to write a really invigorating Jan 1 post to cure my Christmas postpartum depression. No pressure! :) glad you're feeling better.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The styling has a really pretty shape and proportion to it; fits you wonderfully. May I borrow your shoes?

    THX!

    XOXO,
    fourhens

    ReplyDelete
  9. So glad you're feeling better! Very cute bird print. And yes, the shoes...nice!

    ReplyDelete
  10. adorable - as always! the other day, i needed a short cardigan to wear over a dress. but i don't own a short cardigan! so tied a longer one at the waist. perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yes! Janet, you've asked an important question "What would Ralph do?". I must ask that more often. You look so beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I adore that skirt! and also the way you did pattern on pattern. I might get that skirt for my birthday :) I'm so glad you're feeling better. Wishing you and Larry a very happy new year!!! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  13. Janet,
    So happy that you are back to your swell self again! As always, a few sick days can make the world right again!
    Pretty prints and tartan are also a great prescription for happy days!
    XO
    PvE

    ReplyDelete
  14. Glad you're on the mend!
    That dress looks fab on you, the tartan shirt looks brilliant knotted over the top. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  15. Cutest outfit ever! So happy you are feeling better. I'm going to go read every single blog post you've ever written right now… XOXO Ellie

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love this outfit on you so much-the shoes, the dress, the shirt-so absolutely wonderful! xoxo-Suzanne in Illinois

    ReplyDelete
  17. That outfit looks great on you. I love your style combo!

    ReplyDelete
  18. As always you look adorable. Just stopped by to say, I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow.
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY SISTER!
    Love you bunches,
    jeanne

    ReplyDelete
  19. Darling, but I can't find the dress on their website!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i know, so frustrating. why have me promote it and then take it down? sorry.

      Delete
  20. If you get MSN as your home page, there was a large (96 photo frames) header-feature today about a vintage beach wedding. It instantly reminded me of your son's vintage-style wedding...and I think his was 'way better. You ought to submit your photos to some site because Alex's wedding was, I think, very unique. This other beach wedding...and it was really lovely and spare...is under something called PopSugar of which I'm not too familiar with...mostly an entertainment .com but very dense with a lot of subjects also including lifestyle. If you want to see that beach-rustic wedding, it's under their section called Living, then click on Weddings for "Vintage Beach Wedding." You'll love the neutrals.

    Love the bird fabric of your skirt. Interesting to find a retail fashion site which customizes your purchase.

    I will restate from a previous comment, thank you for all of the great 2014 posts on your blog. Best for 2015; Happy New Year, Janet. I spent a long time last night going thru your recipe archive again, trying to be healthier...and more conscientious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. happy new year to you too. i just looked and wow, so pretty. i still like ours better. lol, glad you are finding some inspiration in the oldies. i'm working on things for the new year. xo

      Delete

  21. Mrs Janet
    I feel so disappointed because you did not post my comment here .I read a long time your blog but I dont think it is right to applaud this woman that you are telling us about who in my opinion is very mean and rude. Do you think is it a pretty attitude?Sorry if you like her attitude and spirit but a lot people dont.Sorry that I extra my time to come here to read and write in your blog. I promise it will not happen again for me come here and share my opinion as a read of your blog .Have a nice day and remember kindness is never out of style :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. your comment was in my spam file which i rarely check. i love ellie and love her spirit and attitude. you do understand that she is dying right? did you read some of the comments on her post that has upset you? the ones from her friends that know her? you should check that out.

      Delete
    2. I read her blog after you told us about her blog here but I think her attitude in her blog is very mean.Because somebody is dying doesnt mean the person need to be rude and mean like in way she wrote the post about somebody of here from your blog.I dont know this lady but I thought it is just ungracefull attitude coming from a grumpy woman.Sorry it is just what I think after read a lot of her blog. Being real doenst mean being rude and ungracefull.

      Delete
    3. It's interesting that since a venomous post on 12/09/14, the donations for Ellie's medical expenses have soared over $1,000. A number of participants noted that the timing of their donations were spurred on by that post. Guess that sort of backfired for the hater. Since I have never had a terminal illness, I have no idea how I would deal with it....

      Delete
  22. I just found your blog because I follow Have Some Decorum. I will follow you, also, because, funny thing, I used to live in Redlands. (We owned the house at 324 West Olive. I hated, hated, hated to move from that house. After we bought it all we had was sweat equity so I learned to paint, wallpaper, fake-grain wood work and just put love into its bones.) Your pictures of my old town are beautiful. (I was involved in a big political fight over whether the beautiful Smiley Library should be restored to its original red brick or be encased in more white paint and synthetic coatings. Glad the red brick won. Nice to make your acquaintance...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh how cool. i'll have to do a drive by of 324 and take a pic for you. i love it here so much too. i can't imagine ever leaving this house either. nice to meet you too lois. x

      Delete
  23. So, Janet, I'm hoping because this is several days into your post that nobody will get pissed off that I'm commenting twice. I wanted to talk to you about Ellie and Have Some Decorum. It's something you asked of us but I just could not go into her blog; I know my limitations. As you know, I've been battling cancer for about 18 months; however, at the moment and I hope forever, as of this morning, I'm clean. My husband and I went to the beach afterward and I feel renewed and so thankful. It's hard to live your life in 90-day increments but I go every three months to the oncologist to see if my cancer is back and it's a helluva way to live; I'm still not used to it. So, this was all looming, not to mention my own emotional issues with the holidays.

    But I finally went into Ellie's blog for the first time just now and I'm fighting back the tears. I use the fight word because it is a necessary way to be. She is a rebel; she is an inspiration. She is a fighter. She is honest. Zero bullshit. I've got to get on with the rest of the day but I am going to dedicate time over New Year's Eve/Day to go back thru her entire blog. I lived in Santa Barbara for a good long while in my 30s; I knew the city very well not only because of my work but, coming off of a long relationship with the guy I was sure I'd marry (not), I jumped into a life in SB that was wide and full. I revived (and survived him) and lived it up in SB; time of my life. I recognize some things of SB and a couple of the people in the photos. I'm curious to find out who Diandra is but she might be actor Michael Douglas's former wife; he was living there when I lived there and I think he graduated from UCSB. Am I going to find out that Diandra is her sister? Anyway, thank you for bringing Ellie to our attention. Yes, you could call her controversial. Yes, I call her heroic. I'm not comparing my disease and condition to her in even the most remote way but I definitely WILL say that when you are hit with life-threatening disease or, in her case, terminal disease, you are hit full-face...with the immediate need, although it almost happens spontaneously, of what you need to be, what you need to say, how you should think, who you should be with; there's an unreal clarity and you live more urgently, and really kick yourself in the butt if you allow yourself to get sidetracked. Ellie is not going to go gently into that night, and I say bravo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. vicki, so happy to hear that you are clean! yay! i can only imagine what it'd be like to live with cancer or any disease. i'm glad you did finally go to ellie's blog and see for yourself the courage this woman has. here's to a happy, healthy new year! bravo to you!

      Delete
    2. Congrats Vickie! I've got my fingers crossed for you! My sister battled muscular dystrophy for years, so I know how emotionally draining an acute or chronic illness can be.

      Delete
    3. You are both so kind. Thanks. Love the comment below about New Year's traditions/folklore, etc. I had an aunt who was very superstitious about New Year's and she would go into a small panic if she could not find black-eyed peas in the store!

      Delete
  24. The dress looks really nice! :D Have a great year ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love the dress. It is so pretty like the gift paper on the nature box. Glad and hopeful you are feeling better and hope you have a Happy New Year. In case you are kind of superstitious - don't forget the New Year's Day Traditions - like: Don't do any sweeping, cleaning or laundry, you must eat black eyed peas or lentils, leafy greens, corn bread and 12 grapes. Nothing goes out the door (no trash today). Kiss someone at midnight. Open your doors at midnight to let the evil spirits leave. The first person who comes through the door after midnight should be a man bearing gifts (for good luck all year)! Do not cry on New Year's. Don't lend anyone money or anything else. Don't leave any cupboard empty. I made up one of my own but it is too naughty to list here and might offend someone! I never thought about New Year Traditions until my husbands grandmother called a very long time ago and told me not to do laundry on New Years because it would wash someone away. New Years is a good excuse to have a day off from cleaning!

    Sincerely,
    Debra of SENC

    ReplyDelete

kindness is never out of style.

Back to Top