“Dressing up doesn’t have to be all sequins, diamonds and pearls to feel fabulous; dressing up can be for any day of the week. Dressing up could translate as making an effort and taking an interest in how we present ourselves. Dressing up not only makes us feel good about ourselves, but also for others around us.”
VICKI ARCHER
I recently read this on VICKI ARCHER’s BLOG and it REALLY HIT HOME for me.
I have had the same thoughts for years……………especially the part about “others around us!”
I have a habit of purchasing items that I doNOT have a specific place to wear them too.I always ask MYSELF where will I wear this……….
My answer is ALWAYS the SAME………….the GROCERY STORE!
Do you know HOW many PEOPLE I make HAPPY by pushing my trolly up and down the aisles of SAFEWAY?
That JOY that comes across their faces almost ALWAYS spills out into a COMPLIMENT to me!
Which in turn makes me HAPPY that I have made them HAPPY!
CAN YOU IMAGINE if we were ALL HAPPY;
Every DAY doing the errands and chores that make us THRIVE.
Let’s think of our DAY as a CANVAS.
WE the PEOPLE are the ART WORK!
Let BEAUTY and CREATIVITY float about US!
We would LOOK FORWARD to our outings MORE if WE knew we would be ENTERTAINED!
Every DAY is a PERFORMANCE of LIFE.
So, why NOT dress for that PERFORMANCE and make yourself feel better as well as others that encounter YOU!
I find if I put some ENERGY into what I am wearing I FEEL BETTER through out THE DAY.
Just last weekend I put on old pants NOT FLATTERING and a t-shirt even MORE NOT FLATTERING because I was staying home doing the MUNDANE.
MY day was NOT that GOOD.
I didNOT feel GOOD ABOUT myself even if I was not bumping into PEOPLE.
Yesterday, I ran into an old customer at the GAS STATION.I had left the HOUSE in pants again that were not flattering and NO MAKE UP!I was not planning on leaving the HOUSE but an EMERGENCY SPRANG UP………….
Her first words to me were “NO RED LIPSTICK?!”
SHE NOTICED.
Then again SHE is an ARTIST in REAL LIFE!
Her eye is trained to SEE color.
It does MAKE a DIFFERENCE!
My favorite part of the DAY is getting READY.
I never over think I just PULL………..the first thing I think about is it going to be HOT or COLD today?
I then dress accordingly.
I always START with my facial routines.
Cleansing,Tonic and Serum.
I am ALWAYS AMAZED after you cleanse the dirt that still comes off when you use your TONIC!
Then I let the SERUM SIT while I get THY BOD DRESSED.
I DONOT HAVE A LARGE CLOSET.
I think MOST OF YOU WOULD BE ASTONISHED.
I know at MY AGE 56 I am suppose to be SCALING BACK!!!!!!
I know this because I had a shop where women of MY AGE now would come to BROWSE and I would hear it OVER and OVER again.
“I need to downsize.”
“I need to see what I have in my closet!”
“I do not wear HALF of what I own.”
I had an ANTIQUE/VINTAGE shop and somehow CLOTHES always came up in CONVERSATION!
I would LOVE to SEE what I have and be able to MOVE that hanger back and fourth with EASE!
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS DECADE!
I have now taken over MY SONS’s closet……..
It holds the VELVET OPERA COATS that I will NEVER part with unless I get a GRAND – DAUGHTER or a very FLAMBOYANT GRAND – SON.
It also holds some of MY MOTHER’s pieces that have A memory for ME.
Then there is the ESCADA!
The GOLD and WHITE ESCADA!
I worked for NORDSTROM’s in the 80’s in the DESIGNER COLLECTION we received clothing at COST!
Yes, my paycheck went right back into THAT STORE!
P L U S.
I have NOT STOPPED SHOPPING.
MY NEWEST dilemma is where to PUT the rather LARGE BANGLES and NECK ENHANCER’s I seem to be accumulating at SPEED!
Perhaps the GARDEN SHED could become MY next display cabinet?
WISH ME LUCK ON THAT ONE AS THE ITALIAN CONSIDERS THE SHED AS HIS DOMAIN!
ALL PHOTOS
by KATHMARIE . PHOTOGRAPGHY in SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA
AT the PHILLIPS ESTATE.
WE were guests earlier this year and this wasNOT A PLANNED SHOOT.
It was a RIGHT AFTER LUNCH let’s DO IT kinda of SHOOT!
I LOVED WHAT SHE DID.
THE BEST PART
is
SHE is ONLY
14.
DO YOU ENJOY getting DRESSED for the DAY?
DO YOU ENJOY getting COMPLIMENTS?
DO YOU GIVE COMPLIMENTS if you SPY someone who makes your HEART BEAT a little FASTER?
I like making EYE CONTACT and chatting a bit with complete STRANGERS.
I think WE need MORE of that.
SOON we will all be HUNCHED over APES AGAIN pounding our chests saying why is this PHONE NOT WORKING!
Most of us are MISSING the BEAUTY around US.
OR
Snapping a photo on our phone to LOOK at LATER.
I’m GUILTY TOO!
AS Another GREAT BLOGGER SAYS………
IT’s YOUR comments that make this BLOG worth READING!
I AM
THRILLED
YOU ARE HERE!
YOUR CONTESSA,
XO
Leslie Harris says
Ever since I saw the title of your post I’ve been wanting to get over here to read this. And what a post! It positively oozes your joyful energy not to mention these wonderful images. Your little photographer was able to capture your warm smile and exuberant style. These are great pictures. And you are such an original Elizabeth!!!
LA CONTESSA says
THAT IS A WORD That I have HEARD before……..AN ORIGINAL.
NOT MANY OUT THERE LIKE ME are there?FUNNY I don’t see that I AM that different from YOU or say another READER but I keep HEARING IT……………….
THANK YOU for making the TIME TO VISIT! I know YOU ARE VERY VERY BUSY………XX
bella lauren says
Just love this post,adorable collection
LA CONTESSA says
GRAZIE BELLA!!!!!!GRAZIE!!
XX
Mithra Ballesteros says
This post really touched me and I’m not sure why. I guess a list is in order! First, I like the glimpses of your day-to-day life — your closet, your tonic, etc. Second, you snuck in little bits of wisdom. Third, you endear yourself to me with your creative capitalization. And last, your sincerity rings out like a bell. *heart emojis*
LA CONTESSA says
THANK YOU!
AFTER receiving an email today from One who has known me for years thru CYBER space telling me she was DONE with me this is REFRESHING and a HEART FELT JOY!
XX
the gardeners cottage says
hi elizabeth. i love your style. i too think our appearance can make or break a day. i appreciate all styles and one of my favorite things to do is to compliment people. just yesterday at the market an elderly woman was dressed so beautifully i just had to tell her and it delighted her. you have such a zest for living that is infectious! how wonderful. xoxo
LA CONTESSA says
YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON………but I knew that ALREADY!
XX
Our French Oasis says
Oops, I’m a little late to the party! Love love loved this post, absolutely spot on. How we dress truly affects our mood. I always put on make up, not a huge amount, some mascara, some lipstick, a little blush, but even to sit by my computer all on my own I have to feel I have made an effort and done my hair and it makes me feel good. I dress casually nearly all the time, I work from home and with a huge garden, a guest house and five children to look after, it’s a less than glamorous job! However, even in jeans I still like to feel good, the jeans must fit well, skinny in a range of colours. I take time deciding on the top to wear with them and the shoes. It all makes a difference! xx
LA CONTESSA says
IT DOES!
AND YOU DO have A LOT TO DO!
I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER IF I spend some time on what I am wearing even if I am staying at HOME!Never too late to comment HERE!!!!!!!
MERCI!
XX
Joanne says
Very inspirational article. Do you suppose the chickens would appreciate me dressing up? I think I’ll do it anyway.
LA CONTESSA says
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!
CHICKENS have GOOD TASTE……….XX
Penelope Bianchi says
Brilliant! Dressing up is so good for everyone! And you look FANTASTIC!!!!!!
Lucky us!
LA CONTESSA says
AGAIN PENELOPE you are MY BIGGEST CHEERLEADER!
SO, happy WE found each other!
HAVE a good week!
XX
MaiTai says
Loved this post. You have just the right size closet, as everything always looks fabulous. Kudos to the photographer, what a great eye she has!
LA CONTESSA says
AS for closet size………..THAT is up for DISCUSSION!I could use a WEE bit more space.
The photographer has a FUTURE for SURE………….XX
Loreen says
After all!!! This is not a dress rehearsal…love love your enthusiasm!
LA CONTESSA says
BINGO!
YOU are SO SPOT ON!!
XX
Anita Rivera says
Gorgeous Contessa, HELLO! Thank you so much for coming to visit me! Did you see my previous post as well? I am in a magazine! YES!
Oh yes, out our way, we are ready for some fashionable cold weather. I love this time of year!
LA CONTESSA says
I KNOW I BOUGHT THE MAGAZINE!WE SHARE FIFI AS I was in her MAGAZINE TOO years ago!SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON……………DID I NOT COMMENT!?
I shall check tomorrow!!!!!!
XO
Claire Splan says
Lovely, lovely post!
Lillian Plummer says
So stylish and well put together. I love shopping! Life would be so boring without a little dressing up.
No Fear of Fashion says
I could say check, check, check when I got to the end of your post. Yes I always make eye contact and chat with people, yes I always dress for myself, yes I always give compliments to total strangers when they make my outfit heart jump. The joy in their faces, when you give a compliment. Makes their day but also yours. As you said.
You do NOT have a large closet? Well, then everything is hanging very tight I bet. Don’t expand to the shed.. an unhappy Italian (and he will be when you annex his shed) is very unhandy to have around. Build an extention to the house haha.
Greetje
Penelope Bianchi says
Hi there!
I was with La Contessa at the Antique show…..honestly, people wanted to be photographed with us…..(really…..she was the total star!!) It made my heart sing…..Everyone was dressed up…..and young people loved our outfits! Really young and chic people!
I think La Contessa just needs some rolling racks in an extra bedroom……her divine boys have moved out…..they visit! (one with the divine pig!!) Because of Banksy and others; I no longer eat anything pork. (My daughter says…”I don’t eat pig”; that pretty much says it all.
Anyway, La Contessa is the star of the world…and is the most loving, helpful, giving person you could find in such chic and creative clothing!~!
No Fear of Fashion says
Totally forgot to say that I really love your gown.
Greetje
Penelope Bianchi says
It is an “opera coat” made of saris……and if I don’t get the damn name from La Contessa soon I will go back to Orinda and strangle her!!! Sheeesh!
LA CONTESSA says
I sent to you yesterday on INSTAGRAM!YOU Need to look for a DM…..direct message.Then click on that photo I sent will give you her account and name!XO
Penelope Bianchi says
I will try that! Can’t you just send me her name and number or something?? SOB!!! If am not good at working that stuff!!!
Penelope Bianchi says
Yay! I heard from her!! Thank you!!!
XXOO
Penny
Andrea Serrahn says
Hello Penelope-I am the creator behind La Contessa’s Opera Coat! It is indeed made of a vintage Indian sari, as are the many others that I have for sale in my boutique in Oakland. I hope we can connect soon, as I’d love to show you some of these beauties. I’m going to LA this weekend for a trunk show where I will be showing them and many of my other colorful, exotic creations. Hope to connect with you soon! [email protected] Andrea
jadranka says
thank you for your joyfull energy, everything is better after reading your post
rgds
Jadranka