Days of Intention - Day Nine: Wearing Your Whites

Scenario:

I love a good picnic. In fact I have to admit I have far to many picnic baskets (is three too many?). I also have a good bit of pretentiousness and a love Victoriana, especially excessive serving pieces and croquet.

So what I want to institute is a flouncy picnic party. I'm going to subject my husband and hopefully my friends and neighbors to come out, wear their approximation of the above and come eat cucumber sandwiches and play badminton and croquet. I mean, I have an antique croquet set and giant yard. It needs to get some use!

Ideally this will be a early Spring day. Before the bugs but not muddy from the rains. We can bring out the modern Victrola (aka iPod and speakers) and lounge in the clover.

Ideal date:

May 1st.


Painting by James Tissot - The Picnic 1879

Manolos for Men

Per UK Vogue, Manolo is bringing back his collection for men.

After an absence of seven years on the menswear scene, Manolo Blahnik has dusted off his sketchbook - and created a line of men's shoes so fabulous, they are pretty much guaranteed to knock your man's socks off.

The six-piece collection runs the gamut from safely stunning (the red suede Oxford brogue), to the outrageously gorgeous (in the shape of leopard print sandal, Bir). "It's not a big collection," reflects the designer, who was honoured with a CBE just a couple of weeks ago. "There are some simple sandals in beautiful materials, and a few classics - with a twist. I thought it was time to bring back some colour into the male wardrobe." Look out for the collection, due in store from February.



Personally I think they are bit "out-there" for most of the men I know, even the most fashion forward. I'm also not a huge fan of open shoes for men, so I like the red pair the best.

I'm sure they will be popular but my tastes for men tend to be much more formal and, I guess, preppy/country club-ish. Ideally, I would dress a man in Brooks Brothers and JCrew.

My favorite shoes for men are white suede bucks.


I think this just goes back to my tennis/cricket/croquet fantasy. Look at these - a wingtip version!



Unless you are exercising, this is about as casual as I think men should go - a dark brown boat shoe. Sperry is ideal but these Brooks Brother ones are nice.



Dress code - "whites", sweaters, 3-piece suits with vests or sweaters underneath.



I don't like these guys though. Think Johnathan Rhys Meyers in Match Point.





No Tevas, no sandals. Let's have a little class here, please.

Gatsby Dreams

I aspire to a dream life filled with cool spring days spent in the shade of an elaborate Victorian gazebo sipping lemonade and having afternoon tea.


watching the cricket match, or...


playing croquet, or...



relaxing in my tennis whites after a rousing match.

In my imagined world there are garden parties and Pimms cups in silver cups. I love the casual aristocratic look of the gentlemen in their whites from the 20's. In my mind its a blending of British and New England old school. Maybe that's why, when these Parrotfish (!) Oxfords went on sale at Anthropologie, I had to have them.

They're a creamy white leather with pink, yellow, white and grey striped silk with lovely leather soles. I wore them today with a white shirt and capris - a nod to the classic men's style of yesteryear.

Once we install the gazebo and croquet lawn in the front yard, I'll invite you over on a Saturday afternoon for a round.