Can Gilena Wear it All?

Thursday, September 23, 2010, Day 266, LAST DAY!

2010-09-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

Well here we are at last. You didn’t think it could go on forever, did you? Not even I have that many clothes. I finish here with probably the most gorgeous dress I own and have ever worn. I found it out shopping with Rachel in Aspen in February of last year when we walked into a J. Mendel* store just for fun. Luckily, the salesclerk announced they were having a seventy (70!) percent off sale on select items.** On said sale rack was this lovely number which happened to fit perfectly. I knew right then I would wear it to our Holiday Party that year and it became my first outfit of the evening. It was only later I found the Chie Mihara suede pumps (see March 2) in exactly the same shade of purple.

I am standing in front of a portrait painted by the illustrious Robert Russell (see April 24). We were going for a Singer Sargent vibe when he took the photograph that he based the painting on in this very room with me wearing this very dress. I imagined myself as some aristocratic woman from long ago surveying the fields and thinking, “This is my land!” We took some other photographs with me in other dresses, but in the end chose this one for the portrait and I’m glad we did.

I had a wonderful time posing for the photographs appearing in this blog and would like to thank my three most frequent photographers: Gary, Elodie and Graydon. Without them and other friends and family, this project would not be possible. I thank them profusely for their patience and their willingness to “take one more” because the first fifteen shots "really sucked."

I had an excellent time documenting the art we are blessed to live with in our home. It was so much fun to record and, in many instances, research facts about the various artists and pieces in our collection. I feel like I know so much more about the beautiful things that surround us every day. This project also forced me to keep a diary of sorts, something that I’ve always wanted to do, but never seem to have done. At least most of 2010 is documented here should a biographer ever come calling.

So, did I wear it all? Well, no, not exactly. I would estimate I wore 98.5% of the agreed upon items (see “rules,” January 1) in my closet. What I didn’t wear include a couple of never-worn dresses I have set aside for this year’s MOCA gala (gold Tadashi Shoji) and for this year’s Holiday Party (red Michael Kors) – I like when I have something “new” to wear to a big event -- and a few tops and blouses (this was bound to happen as I knew going in I have more tops than bottoms). Overall, though, I’d say I came pretty close and am pleased with the results. I never expected this project to go on this long. If you recall, my original estimate was 100 days or just over three months. And while I didn’t quite triple that, I did match the number of days it takes to gestate a human baby (see Wikipedia.com) so you could say I gave birth to my closet.

As you all know, I absolutely loved writing this blog and I learned many things. First (and most obvious), I have a lot of pretty clothes that I hadn’t been wearing. So many things, dresses in particular, I would pass by on a daily basis thinking, “Oh that’s much too special to wear today,” or “I’m not really ‘doing anything,’” or “Why bother; no one will see me.” This proved to be wrong thinking for at least two reasons: 1) If the money is spent and it’s hanging in my closet, who cares if only I see it? What am I "saving" it for? I could get hit by a bus tomorrow and then what? 2) You never know who you are going to run into during the average day or who will unexpectedly stop by the house. On more than one occasion I breathed a sigh of relief that I wasn’t wearing anything with holes or a stain down the front.

Speaking of holes and stains, this project also forced me to take a hard look at all of my clothes and repair and clean the ones in need. It was a boon for my local dry cleaner (Village Cleaners up near Gelson’s) and my local tailor (Nancy’s Alterations in the El Camino Shopping Center). Now everything in my closet is repaired, hemmed and freshly cleaned, eliminating any excuse not to wear something because it needs a trip to the cleaners or to the tailor.

Taking a photo of me each day in each outfit also forced me to face reality about which items were really not flattering on me. I think we all have a tendency to have an image in our head about how we look in certain clothes, but as they say, pictures don’t lie (although they do seem to add a few pounds). Seeing certain things on film and how they truly look on me allowed me to give them new homes with people who hopefully look better in them and I have a nice bag of donations for Casa Pacifica***.

Finally, I found out necessity really is the mother of invention as proved by the creative combinations I came up with in my final weeks, determined as I was to wear as many things as possible. I will definitely repeat some of these new looks and incorporate all the lessons I have learned. It’s been a grand 266 days and part of me will sorely miss this blog. The other parts are ready to go shopping!

*J. Mendel is more of a museum to me than a shop. The clothes are exquisite and the prices match the efforts put into each garment.

**I also was able to avoid sales tax since there is no J. Mendel shop in California and I had it shipped.

***People assume Casa Pacific focuses on small children and they donate clothes accordingly. Actually Casa Pacifica offers temporary housing and services to many teenagers who are adult-sized and in need of clothes just as much as the little ones.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010, Day 265

2010-09-27T17:08:00.001-07:00

Last year I was invited to read Tarot cards at Rachel and Gillian’s Halloween party so I decided to dress up like a fortune teller.* I headed over to Hidden Treasures** one day with Rachel and walked in expecting to piece together a decent costume, but I never expected to find such PERFECT pieces. In one room I found this dazzling skirt, in another, the golden shrug. I found the head scarf and coin-jingling wrap around my waist in a trunk beside the front door and for under a hundred dollars, I had the best looking gypsy costume I have ever seen. I have loaned it out to a friend, but will hold onto it always just in case the mood strikes to dress up like a gypsy again.

I am sitting under another piece by Eric Johnson (see June 8). In the background is a collection of pool cues including two that Barry used to use.

I predict there will be an end to this blog very soon!

*I had Gary dress up like Zorro and we made quite the dashing couple.

**Hidden Treasures is a great little second hand store run from inside an old house in the middle of Topanga Canyon. It really is a “hidden treasure” for Halloween costumes.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010, Day 264

2010-09-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

Here is the Chanel dress I bought on sale in Waikiki. Ironically, it is made from very heavy fabric that drapes well and so was probably not a popular dress in that tropical climate. It is such a classic and tailored so well that I can picture myself wearing it until my final days. I think I will buy some long ropes of pearls to wear with it at holiday gatherings and formal winter functions.

My wonderful husband came home this evening safe and sound. We put the kids to bed and then dined on take out from Blue Table (see September 15) while he told me of his adventures on the Rouge River.

Monday, September 20, 2010, 263

2010-09-21T12:10:00.001-07:00

Elodie took this picture of me on the swing set in our backyard. I remember when we first had it installed over seven years ago. The kids used to swing in the little green “bucket” swing you can see off in the far right. Then they used that yellow and blue double swing for awhile. Now they are big kids and love to swing as high as they can. The structure to my right is known as “Graydon’s fort.” It’s only fair since Elodie has her own little house nearby (see May 12). Attached to it are a climbing rope ladder, a regular slide, a tire swing, some monkey bars and what the kids used to refer as “the dark slide,” which is a covered curved slide (it is dark inside when you slide down it).

I am wearing a pretty little dress by Chan Luu I mostly use as a cover up over a bathing suit (I’m also wearing a striped maillot by Petit Bateau, but you can’t see it in the picture). Today the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Gary comes home tomorrow - yay!

Sunday, September 19, 2010, Day 262

2010-09-20T13:26:00.001-07:00

I am so proud of my gorgeous niece Mackenzie for organizing this walk for the Lungevity Foundation. Her grandmother (Barry’s mom) died of Lung Cancer about a year and a half ago so it is an organization close to her (and her whole family's) heart. I just can’t get over what a beauty she has become, inside and out.

The 3.5 mile walk was around Lake Merrit in Oakland.* Elodie had a great time hanging out with her cousin (Mackenzie’s sister, my niece) Kellie and afterward we all (including Karen, Jim and Mackenzie’s boyfriend Tyler) went out to lunch.

I am wearing a pair of James Perse shorts and a James Perse long sleeve tee under my Lungevity t-shirt. Elodie and I went back home later in the evening and picked up Graydon from Hunter’s house. Gary won’t be home until Tuesday and we miss him very much.

*Despite having graduated from Mills College (also in Oakland), this was my first time at, and certainly around, the lake.

Saturday, September 18, 2010, Day 261

2010-09-20T13:25:00.001-07:00

Gary left on a rafting trip this morning with a bunch of guys so I decided to take Elodie to San Francisco so we can participate in my niece Mackenzie’s charity event tomorrow morning (Graydon elected to stay at his cousin Hunter’s house overnight). My girl took this picture of me outside one of our favorite places in San Francisco, Nick’s Crispy Tacos, where we enjoyed excellent Mexican food for dinner.

I am wearing a Clu tank underneath a coat by Alexander Wang I bought at Magnolia in Calabasas. The jeans are Citizen For Humanity and were a birthday present from Rachel.

After dinner, Elodie and I walked back to our apartment in the mild evening weather and watched a “Cats 101” marathon on Animal Planet.

Friday, September 17, 2010, Day 260

2010-09-20T13:24:00.001-07:00

One of the most amazing things about this project is how I have always had something to wear for most any occasion. And I never really planned out what to wear more than for a few special events coming up in the future – my choices really unfolded organically, from one day to the next, depending on where I was going and what I felt like wearing. For instance, here I am in the final week (yes, hard to believe, but the end is nigh), without much hanging in my closet unworn year to date, and yet I manage to pull out the perfect thing to wear tonight. Mind you, I was lucky tonight involved our friend Gisela hosting a backyard birthday party for her son and hiring the Game Coach (see January 23) as entertainment. I am pictured here playing Guitar Hero with my favorite guitarist, Gary Simons.

I am wearing a pair of Citizen For Humanity denim shorts I bought at Principessa in Venice while shopping with Rachel and a Fendi blouse I bought at Brown’s in London. I love playing Guitar Hero and Rockband (I am always the singer) and left with a bit of a hoarse throat.

Thursday, September 16, 2010, Day 259

2010-09-18T11:09:00.001-07:00

I am wearing a beautiful Diane von Furstenberg dress designed by Leann Marshall, winner of Project Runway, Season Five. She was also the winner of a challenge during the season and her winning design (this dress) was manufactured in a limited run and sold on dianevonfurstenbeg.com. I wore it last year to the Chaminade dinner and have loaned it to a friend for a charity event.

I am standing next to a photograph by Richard Misrach (see July 1). He swears his beach photos are not staged; he simply finds the highest point and points his camera lens down.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010, Day 258

2010-09-18T11:08:00.001-07:00

We decided to grab a quick bite before going to the kids’ Back to School night at Round Meadow Elementary School. Shibuya is still closed for renovations so we went to Blue Table, one of our favorite lunch spots in the same shopping center, and split a sandwich.

I am wearing the first “expensive”* pants I ever bought. I always wondered how a pair of pants could cost so much until I tried on this pair of See by Chloe trousers at Plant Blue. I caught sight of my rear end in the mirror and thought, “Aha! It’s all in the tailoring!” The blouse is by Lanvin and I bought it in London at Brown’s.

*Up until then, almost all my pants were purchased at Banana Republic on sale!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010, Day 257

2010-09-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a beautiful gown by Grai I bought at Madison Gallery. It’s very old-Hollywood glamour and although I have yet to wear it publicly, I know when I do it will be a special night. The shoes are vintage Louis Vuitton I bought at a friend’s consignment boutique in Oxnard.

I am standing in our bedroom next to a cabinet designed by the very talented Mark Cutler. I love how the back of it is painted a very soft blue. All of the mercury glass in the cabinet was purchased on Ebay.

Monday, September 13, 2010, Day 256

2010-09-14T11:34:00.001-07:00

The heat has returned to the Valley and we are taking full advantage of it by swimming as much as possible. I am wearing a Juicy Couture bathing suit that reminds me of something Esther Williams would have worn.

Sunday, September 12, 2010, Day 255

2010-09-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

Our lovely neighbor Barbara Berg died on Friday after a long bout with cancer. We went to her funeral today. A funeral is good reminder to live your life in an exemplary fashion so people will have lots of nice things to say about you when you die. It is also excellent opportunity to comfort the living loved ones left behind.

I am wearing a Prada suit and a Stella McCartney blouse.

Saturday, September 11, 2010, Day 254

2010-09-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

The original plans for tonight called for celebrating Etienne’s birthday at The London Hotel in West Hollywood, but Etienne had quite a week and elected instead for something quieter and closer to home. Gary, the kids and I brought over Etienne’s favorite food (KFC fried chicken – extra crispy) and some cupcakes to Mark and Etienne’s house. We had a very nice night with Ruby Jane and Omid too.

I am standing in our wine cellar wearing the dress I was planning on wearing to the London. It’s by A.L.C. and I bought it at Madison Gallery in Malibu. Maybe someday I will wear it out of the house.

Gary is a big collector of wine and likes to buy “verticals”* of different varieties. It’s so nice to have an expert in the house when selecting wine for various occasions.

*Verticals are consecutive years of a particular wine.

Friday, September 10, 2010, Day 253

2010-09-14T11:30:00.001-07:00

We went to four events tonight beginning with Ewerdt Hilgemann’s opening at Samuel Freemont Gallery at Bergamot Station. Here I am with Mr. Hilgemann (see May 19) standing in front of one of his wall pieces. It was a really beautiful show and so good to see Ewerdt and Antoinette again before their return to Amsterdam.

After the opening, we stopped by Marc Selwyn’s Gallery for the opening of Mimi Lauter’s show. Ms. Lauter is an exciting young artist who works in large scale pastels. She references old folk tales and tales from the bible to create these wonderful abstract visual allegories. Really beautiful stuff. And good for her: most of the pieces hanging in the gallery were sold before the night began.*

We had some time between that opening and the dinner at Marc Selwyn’s house so we stopped at the Andaz Hotel to visit our friend the designer Julia Clancey (see March 5). Julia was hosting an event in the bar area complete with a small pop-up shop to introduce her new Little Miss Clancey line. I was happy to see our friend Danny First’s work still installed in the lobby (see April 30).

After that, it was time for the dinner at Marc’s house in honor of Mimi Lauter. Marc has a gorgeous contemporary home filled with the most beautiful art. We always love going there and looking around at the pieces he’s decided to keep for himself. We ran into some old friends and made some new ones. What a terrific night!

I am wearing a dress by Lutz with my trusty (and very comfortable) Azzedine Allaia platform sandals. The tiger chain belt is vintage.

*Gary loved a large piece the Hammer Museum was considering. He was very happy the week when he learned that the Hammer went with a different piece by Mimi and the one he loved was his. He plans on hanging it in his new offices.

Thursday, September 9, 2010, Day 252

2010-09-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

This is the last pair of yoga pants you will see in this blog. I’ve worn them all now and you can see from the number and color range I probably will never need another pair in this lifetime. These were given to me by Rachel from her overstock at Bootcamp. The top is CC California and I bought it at Lolita’s on Ventura Blvd.

Gary had to go to the dentist this morning so I had an ultra private yoga lesson with Jill (who took this picture). Then we went for a long walk through Ahmanson after which my legs felt like jelly (but in a good way) and I took a nap. I made some banana bread with Graydon in the afternoon and then had a massage. What a great life!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010, Day 251

2010-09-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

The weather has completely changed since the triple digits of last week. It has dropped forty degrees in the Valley and never rose above sixty-five today. I volunteered at the kids’ school and then we went to the Hammer Museum for a beer. Let me explain. Tom Marioni first established his on-going performance piece, Drinking Beer with Friends is the Highest Form of Art, in 1970. He has been invited to the Hammer every Wednesday in September to carry on. Every week there is a different bartender (who basically uncaps the bottles and hands them out). Tonight’s bartender was Chris Burden, another veteran performance artist who very famously had himself shot by a real gun with a real bullet in the name of art. That is a bit crazy, I know. More recently Mr. Burden made a series of scale model bridges out of erector set-like steel. I wish we would have bought one, but they were a bit expensive and we couldn’t decide on which one we liked best.

I am wearing a Nina Ricci dress I first wore to Hunter’s Bar Mitzvah almost two years ago. The coat is by Chanel and I bought it in Waikiki along with the pair of shoes from August 21.

After the beer, we had dinner with Brenda Potter and Marc Selwyn at the Soho House. It's wonderful to spend time with them.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010, Day 250

2010-09-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a dependable long black sheath by Nicole Miller suitable for all sorts of charitable events. In fact, I’ve worn it only once to fundraiser for Children’s Hospital in Santa Monica. I will probably wear it again in October for a dinner at Chaminade,* but have it on today only for this picture.

I am standing in the downstairs landing which was once a bit of a backwater, but is now notably more chic and sophisticated. The old rug has been switched out for this calf hide (a cow-sized hide being too big for the space) and the old Crate and Barrel side table has been replaced by this faux-Chippendale demilune designed by the darling and rather clever Mark Cutler. The etching of the sea is by Vija Celmins and is absolutely stunning in its detail.

My friend the artist Sinan Revell Leong created the ceramic “shoes.” They are the same size as actual shoes worn by Chinese women who had their feet bound. Foot binding was popular for a thousand years and the practice was only discontinued in the first part of the twentieth century. The binding literally hobbled women’s feet making it impossible to walk comfortably. Sinan painted skeleton feet on the sides of the shoes as a haunting reminder of the oppression of Chinese women.

Sinan came for a visit today to discuss doing a portrait of me. She is working in photography now and wants use a lenticular printing** process which will have my image switching between looking like a Gustav Klimt portrait of Judith the First (who had someone beheaded) and Medusa (who was eventually beheaded), depending on which way you look at it.

*Gary graduated from Chaminade in 1977 and now sits on the Board of Directors. Elodie and Graydon will be going there for middle and high school.

** Lenticular printing is a technology in which a lenticular lens is used to produce images with an illusion of depth, or the ability to change or move as the image is viewed from different angles.

Monday, September 6, 2010, Day 249

2010-09-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day! Today we were invited over to our neighbors’ house for their annual Labor Day party. I wore this beautiful, but very delicate,* Elizabeth and James dress I bought awhile back at Dash. Elizabeth and James is the “lower end” brand designed by the Olsen Twins, Ashley and Mary-Kate, and it is named for their younger brother and sister. Their “higher end” brand, The Row, has been getting a lot of press this season and it seems the Twins are quite involved in the whole design process, being enamored as they are with fashion and style. Girls after my own heart, really.

I have worn this dress only once before on our trip to the One & Only Palmilla in Cabo. When I wore it today, I received several compliments on the color which is a lovely shade of hyacinth.

I am standing in front of three photographs by William Christenberry we bought at Marc Selwyn’s gallery. Mr. Christenberry is a contemporary of William Egglestein and was highly influenced by his home state of Alabama and by the pioneering photographer Walker Evans. I especially love the photograph in the middle. It has a sign printed with the word “Pure” standing in the middle of a field which is anything but. The photograph on the bottom is an advertisement for a palm reader in the window of a dilapidated old shack (perhaps the clairvoyant in question knew better than to stick around?) and the one on the top is of a charming ruin along a country road. Each is like a small painting, capturing its subject in painterly colors and light.

*The fabric is a fine mesh and has already suffered a significant snag in the front near the hem.

Sunday, September 5, 2010, Day 248

2010-09-06T16:15:00.001-07:00

Ewerdt Hilgemann and his wife Antoinette came for a visit this morning (see May 19). They are in town for his new show at Samuel Freeman Gallery opening this Friday and wanted to visit his “baby” which is visible in the background over my right shoulder. He presented us with a copy of his new book, “Bodies of Work,” and on page fourteen is a photograph of our piece taken during the Implosion Party last year.

After they left, we spent the day swimming and sunning and enjoying the beautiful weather. I am wearing a Despi bathing suit I bought at Urban Outfitters. Later on we took the kids to the Cantina for an early dinner.

Saturday, September 4, 2010, Day 247

2010-09-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

Well you know I never expected this project to last this long or I would have “saved” some of my lobster wear (see May 11 and May 17) for this night. Yes, tonight we hosted our tenth annual Lobster Dinner in the Orchard. Luckily, I had this beautiful Dian von Furstenberg dress I bought myself for my birthday. The pretty orchid clip was a birthday present from our friend and yoga teacher, Jill Kennedy.

The day was very hot which made for the perfect temperature at night. It was another memorable evening with excellent food and conversation.

Friday, September 3, 2010, Day 246

2010-09-04T12:54:00.002-07:00

I saw this dress in a Krizia* store window in New York last year, tried it on and knew I would wear it to our Holiday Party last December. It was my last outfit of the evening and is very “nightie-night.” I’m not sure I would wear it out of the house, but I felt beautiful and glamorous floating from room to room and letting our guests know, that while they could keep partying, I would be retiring upstairs soon.

You can see from this photo how gifted Mark Cutler is. Not only did he re-imagine our old bedside tables by staining them a darker brown and adding fabric panels that match the other upholstery in the room, but he also designed the beautiful padded screen behind the bed in a dusty blue suede. He really knows how to finish a room and make it cozy and chic without being too stuffy.

Today I had a wonderful lunch with my friend Ariana who owns the most beautiful flower shop called Lily Lodge. She took me to the Soho House and it was lovely to see the view from so high up. Later on Gary and I enjoyed our dinner al fresco while the kids were next door playing with friends. Despite being over one hundred degrees again today, the evening was soft and mild.

*It was one of those odd times when, while I loved this dress, I wouldn’t have bought absolutely anything else in the whole store. Just overall not my style. Go figure.

Thursday, September 2, 2010, Day 245

2010-09-04T12:54:00.001-07:00

We’re getting back into our routine and riding our bikes with the kids to school in the mornings. You may recall I had to give up riding for a while (see March 8) due to an injury, but here I am, back in the saddle, so to speak and it feels good. I am wearing a lightweight Splendid t-shirt I bought at Popular across from the Commons and a pair of Balance Collection yoga pants I bought in the lobby at Inner Power.

Wednesday, September, 1, 2010, Day 244

2010-09-01T15:40:00.001-07:00

Today is the first day of the new school year – really? I would swear that was the quickest summer vacation on record. Where did all the time go? Oh well, here are – back for another year at our beloved Round Meadow Elementary School. Graydon is starting fourth grade and our little Elodie is in third. To celebrate, I am wearing my ill-fitting “spirit wear,” including a pair of Round Meadow shorts I’ve had for four years and Round Meadow tank top I bought last night when I came to pick up class assignments and school supplies.* I bust out the Round Meadow logo attire sparingly and only when I am on campus.

We are truly lucky to have such a fine elementary school exactly one mile from our house. And public too! The faculty and staff are wonderful and the kids love it here.

*Buying this tank top is definitely not “falling off the wagon.” It was more like charitable giving -- a purchase in support of the Round Meadow Parent-Faculty Association.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010, Day 243

2010-08-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

Ah, the last of summer vacation. You can see how excited the kids are to be going back to school. What I can’t believe is how huge they are getting. I mean, look at the size of them! Elodie’s legs look eight feet long and Graydon’s calves are the same size as mine. Did these kids really come out of me? Wow. I wouldn’t believe it except I was there.

I am wearing a James Perse dress identical to the one pictured on July 19, but in white. I wasn’t planning on leaving the house today and was going to wear it all day, but Elodie just asked me if she could get her ears re-pierced (see January 16) so I will soon change into something more appropriate for the mall.

Monday, August 30, 2010, Day 242

2010-08-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

Well I wondered, if I could still fit into my wedding gown from eleven years ago, can I still fit into my prom dress from twenty-four years ago? It was kind of a facetious question since I have pulled it out from time to time to wear as the basis of a witch’s costume for Halloweens past. Still, I thought it would be a good time to try it on again and have a look.

It is by Norma Kamali and I bought it super-marked down* at the Robinson’s (way before it was Robinson’s-May) Department Store at the Promanade Mall in Woodland Hills. My mother was horrified I chose black since, in her prom days (the 1950’s), all the girls dressed in frothy pastel dresses and she was sure my dress would cause a scandal. But, because I was paying for it with my hard-earned babysitting cash,** my resolve won out and the dress was mine.

It’s a very cool dress even today with a jersey bodice and a skirt made up from layers of chiffon. The layers are see-through, but there are so many of them that my legs are modestly covered. It’s a little Stevie Nicks in its fullness and I have been known to lip-sync “Stand Back” while wearing it.

I am in our theater, lounging on a huge super cush sofa designed for this space by Mark Cutler. It’s covered in delicious chocolate mohair which is both chic and indestructible. We love to come down here with the kids and watch movies and play Rockband.***

*At seventy-five percent off, it still cost about $80.

**I babysat for a dollar an hour. As testament to hour many hours I babysat, I not only could afford this dress, but also bought my first car.

***The kids and I sing and Gary plays either bass or guitar.

Sunday, August 29, 2010, Day 241

2010-08-31T08:23:00.001-07:00

Today is our eleventh wedding anniversary. I am happy to report I can still fit into my wedding dressed pictured here by Rista Rose. I bought it off the rack at a little bridal place on North Robertson Blvd. in Beverly Hills. I don’t even think they had to hem it for me, it fit so perfectly. The back of the dress has a crisscross detail and the train can be bustled up a bit for easier dancing. My shoes are matching satin low-heeled mary janes by Peter Fox. My headband (I didn’t wear a veil) is a beautiful piece of lace that was hand-dipped in silver. I know my earring looks green, but it’s actually just a sparkle from the sun.

We were married at the Hotel Bel Air which is currently closed for renovations. We spent the night there and then my groom whisked us off on a six and a half-week honeymoon through London, Spain. South of France, Amsterdam and Paris. Some beginning to our marriage, right? I knew I was in for some excitement.

I am standing by an arch in a wall of the guest house that leads to a pretty little garden. This arch was inspired by both the Hotel Bel Air and parts of Spain and France we saw on our honeymoon. The gate was salvaged from the house I wrote about on July 15. In the springtime, the climbing rose bushes burst into pink and white blooms and it really looks like something out of a fairytale,

Saturday, August 28, 2010, Day 240

2010-08-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

I seem to be wearing a lot of grey this week. Today it is a sweat suit by 291 I bought at Madison in Malibu on my birthday.

I am standing in the second bedroom in our apartment next to an old card file I bought on Ebay to house Graydon’s Legos. Behind me is a wonderful graphite on paper piece by Ethan Murrow, grandson of the legendary Edwin R. Murrow.* It’s from a series he did featuring “characters…[who] have been consistently averse to criticism and assistance. These figures, mostly male, are doomed to failure and prone to dysfunction.” It is strange they way the viewer has no idea what exactly is going on in any particular piece, but the figure in the piece seems intent on his goal, whatever it may be.

To my other side is a cabinet we bought in Los Angeles, intending to put it in just this spot to house Graydon's and Elodie’s toys and books. Once it was delivered up to the sixth floor however, it was determined to be too big to fit through the doorway to this room. In frustration, Gary said, “There’s no way it will fit unless we chop it in two.” Then the proverbial light bulb went on and he got out his power saw. I closed my eyes while Gary proceeded to cut the cabinet horizontally into two pieces, just above the drawers along the bottom (if you look closely, you can see the seam on the side of the piece, just behind my left calf) and voila! It fit.

We went on a nice long walk through the neighborhood and ate brunch at Elite Café on Fillmore. We flew home in time for the annual “Holey Guacamole” party our neighbors, the Stanfords, hosted. Guests are invited to bring their favorite avocado recipes for an official contest. I was one of three judges** this year since everyone knows how I feel about avocados (see March 18). The winner was this totally delicious sweet avocado quick bread.

*Edwin R. Murrow (1908 – 1965) Pioneer of television news broadcasting.

** Gary made an outstanding guacamole he just whipped together when we got home, but I thought it was unfair for me to judge my husband’s delicious dish. Still, the other two judges both gave it 10 out of 10 so it came in third even without my vote.

Friday, August 27, 2010, Day 239

2010-08-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

Another exhibit we came up was to see “Hauntology” at the Berkeley Art Museum. According to BAM’s website, “Hauntology is a philosophy of history that upsets the easy progression of time by proposing that the present is simultaneously haunted by the past and the future.” It was a very interesting concept around which to base an exhibit and included pieces by such celebrated artists as Luc Tuymans and Diane Arbus. We went with the express purpose of seeing a work included by our friend the artist Travis Collinson (see April 20). You can see his haunting blue piece just to my right. It is another self-portrait and was originally conceived as one of two companion pieces to one we have (see July 7).

I am wearing a dress by Balenciaga I bought at Brown’s in London. After the exhibit, we had lunch at an excellent Indian restaurant in Berkley with Russell and Hilary. We were still so full that night we ended up staying in and having cheese and olives for dinner and watched “The United States of Tara” on DVD.

Thursday, August 26, 2010, Day 238

2010-08-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

We decided to take a quick trip to San Francisco sans children in celebration of our upcoming anniversary. There are a couple of art exhibits we have wanted to see and Graydon and Elodie wanted to stay home after our trips to Hawaii and Del Mar in what Graydon called “quick succession.”.

I am sitting on the sofa in our living room under a series of etchings by William Kentridge. Mr. Kentridge is a brilliant artist who recently had a show at SFMOMA. He was a former fellow student of the late Michael Sandler in South Africa and they used to reminisce about wearing short pants together.

We saw two amazing exhibits at the San Francisco Museum of Contemporary Art this afternoon. The first was a celebration of the museum’s seventy-fifth anniversary and contained major works from their permanent collection. The second was a partial exhibit of the Fisher Collection called “From Calder to Warhol.” Doris and Donald Fisher were avid art collectors and founders of the Gap.* Many of the pieces were monumental in scale and were first displayed on the walls of Gap’s corporate headquarters. The overall collection is remarkable both for its breadth and depth. The Fishers really took time to meet and get to know the artists they collected and it showed. They collected everyone from Richard Serra to Sol LeWitt to Louise Bourgeois to Jeff Wall. It was really incredible to see, but it was only a fraction of the some 1100 pieces they have donated to SFMOMA**.

I am wearing a top by Airess and a pair of Feather jeggings I bought at Madison Gallery on my birthday. It was still in the triple digits at home, but cold enough for a winter coat this evening in the city.

*The Gap was founded in San Francisco so it is fitting the Fisher’s donated their outstanding collection to the city’s museum of contemporary art.

**SFMOMA called this exhibit "an introduction to the collection" and indeed plans on sharing more of it with the public.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010, Day 237

2010-08-25T13:24:00.001-07:00

Summer is finally here! It’s been in the triple digits for most of the week which means it is way too hot to exercise outside almost as soon as we wake up. The smart thing to do is go for a swim. I am wearing a BDG one-piece bathing suit I bought at Urban Outfitters.

I was on the swim team at Taft High School, and placed third in a race one time, but only because there were just the three swimmers competing. I life-guarded in college and taught swim lessons to pre-schoolers during summer breaks. I swam throughout both my pregnancies, which may or may not have anything to do with Graydon and Elodie being super easy babies and learning to swim when they were very young.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010, Day 236

2010-08-25T13:23:00.000-07:00

Elodie took this picture of me and you can see her cute little shadow in the foreground. I am standing on a deck above the pool area at the L’Aberge Del Mar Hotel where many a wedding is held.

I am wearing a Marc By Marc Jacobs top and a pair of JCrew shorts. We are going back home today after breakfast.

Monday, August 23, 2010, Day 235

2010-08-25T13:22:00.001-07:00

I took this picture this morning at the L’Auberge Del Mar Hotel where we are staying. Gary is hard at work behind me (it is a Monday, after all), but we will soon go down to the beach and then lay around by the pool.

I am wearing a terry-cloth Splendid romper Rachel gave me for a birthday present years ago over a really cute ruffle-trimmed, pink leopard-print Marc By Marc Jacobs bikini.

Sunday, August 22, 2010, Day 234

2010-08-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Here is my little surfer girl Elodie! We drove down to Del Mar this morning for her friend Mila’s birthday party which was held at the beach and included surfing lessons. Elodie was already a pro since our time in Hawaii a couple of weeks ago. All the kids had a blast and it was fun to sit on the beautiful beach and watch.

I am wearing a KA7 dress I bought at Planet Blue in Malibu over a Vitamin A bikini I bought at Lolita’s on Ventura Blvd.

Saturday, August 21, 2010, Day 233

2010-08-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

God I love these shoes! As you recall, I was walking around Waikiki when I stumbled upon an actual SALE at Chanel. And not just any sale, but a sixty (60) percent off sale! Not only that, but there was just one style of shoe on sale and only two pairs left, one in MY SIZE! I mean, what are the odds?!?! And just look at these shoes…so pretty! And more than just a little Hawaiian with the flowers on the toes and all, don’t you think?

I brought them home (in a very special Chanel box) and was pleased to note I had not yet worn this lovely little Milly dress I bought a couple of years ago at Dash. The dress and the shoes seem just made for each other and I had a really good time wearing them together tonight.

We went to another neighborhood event, this one for Britt’s birthday. Many of the same people from last night, another fabulous time!

(By the way, that is NOT a cigarette in Gary's hand, but the key to our car!).

Friday, August 20, 2010, Day 232

2010-08-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

I bought this dress at L’Habitue on Robertson for our house warming party in 2003. It was in September and I knew it would be hot, even at night. It was the first time I told myself I could buy anything I wanted, regardless of price.* After looking and looking and not really being inspired by anything anywhere, I found this gorgeous dress on sale. I haven’t worn it since. I suppose there was a part of me that thought it might be a bit dated. I actually pulled it out a couple of weeks ago intending to wear it casually with some boots, but the sexy slit and light-weight silk made it seem to delicate for boots. Tonight I am wearing it with some killer heels I bought at YSL in Waikiki and they instantly updated the look and brought it right into 2010.

I got my hair done by Jamie (see June 17) and had lunch with Mark. Then I stopped by the Garboushian Gallery on Camden to see Simon Ouwerkerk’s show. He works with plastic toys, sculpting action figures and toy spaceships into fantasmorphic designs. His work really speaks to me because I love toys and see his art as a way of keeping them around and transforming them into something you can enjoy forever.

We were invited to a lovely dinner party at Gisela and Steve’s house. It’s so nice to socialize with great friends right here in the neighborhood.

*Within reason, of course. We had just finished building the house, but had not yet begun to really furnish it!

Thursday, August 19, 2010, Day 231

2010-08-21T12:39:00.001-07:00

I am standing next to our “kiddie pool” which really came in handy when the kids where young. It’s only fifteen inches deep so they could splash around as toddlers and be contained in a sort of “water playpen.” By my rightt foot is a hole built to hold an umbrella pole. These days we sometimes stick two beach chairs in the little pool and hang out in the shade while the kids swim around.

I am wearing a JCrew blue-striped sear-sucker one-piece bathing suit that has seen better days* under a JCrew cover up that goes with everything. Omid came over for dinner tonight. We made Burrata cheese, basil and tomato** salad and grilled veggie, turkey sausage and pesto pasta. It was delicious!

* I have a lot of bathing suits and will definitely let this one go thanks to having to have tried it on for this project.

**The basil and tomatoes were grown in our garden.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010, Day 230

2010-08-21T12:37:00.001-07:00

Behind me is a model of our house we used as a visual aid when getting approval by the homeowner’s association to build our house. It’s amazing how much easier it is to visualize with a 3-D model vs. 2-D with plans.

I am wearing an Yves Saint Lauren top I bought at Brown’s in London and some “elevenes” pants I bought years ago at Anthropologie. The shoes are Rick Owens. We met Brenda for dinner at Boa this evening and caught up on each others’ recent travels. It was a perfect night to sit outdoors and enjoy the evening air.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010, Day 229

2010-08-18T16:31:00.001-07:00

I am standing in front of the restaurant Ibaldi where I had a wonderful lunch with my friend Grazka. I am wearing a top by Gucci I bought at Neiman Marcus on that birthday trip with Gary and a Prada skirt from Rachel. She bought it on sale at Prada when she was still losing her “baby weight” after either Emma or Jackson was born. Once she snapped back to her lean, lithe self, the skirt was too big and voila! It was mine.

It is hard to see in the photo, but this skirt has the most beautiful knotted details all around it and is really a little piece of art. It has been hanging in my closet for years because it is so very special and I was “saving” it for something. I wore it today because of this project and Grazka immediately commented on how lovely it is. I am learning that once the money is spent there is no need to “save” pieces, they should be worn and enjoyed and shared with others.

Monday, August 16, 2010, Day 228

2010-08-18T16:27:00.001-07:00

I am wearing a pair of cropped Champion sweatpants that Rachel gave me* and a Nike top. Gary and I hiked through Ahamanson in the morning after taking the kids to school, and it was already pretty hot.

A few years ago I gave Gary a basketball for Father’s Day knowing he would want input in the selection and installation of the actual basketball hoop. This one is very cool because the hoop is adjustable.

Elodie had her “appliance” installed today which was about as fun as it sounds. As was the case with Graydon, her upper palette is not large enough to accommodate all of her teeth and so it needs to be spread over the course of a few weeks with a metal contraption cemented into place. There is a tool one inserts into the appliance and turns, spreading it (and her palette) wider. I let my sweet husband Gary do the honors with Graydon and he will do the same with Elodie. The upside is she gets to drink her meals for the next few days in the form of smoothies and shakes until she gets used to it.

*It is fortunate that Rachel and I are one size apart. She gives me things that she loves, but are too big (like these pants) and I give her things that I love, but are too small…plus all those high heels I think I’m going to wear but never do!

Sunday, August 15, 2010, Day 227

2010-08-18T16:25:00.000-07:00

This is a dress by Marnie Skillings I bought at the Planet Blue on Montana, but I have used it exclusively as a cover up over a swimsuit. One time while I was wearing it, I dashed across the lawn and someone called me a “silver streak.” It is stretchy and comfortable and I like that it has pockets.

Saturday, August 14, 2010, Day 226

2010-08-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

This is the Balmain tuxedo I wore as my second outfit* at our Holiday Party last year. I walked into Madison Gallery literally two days before the event and there it was, the last one, half off, in my size! I love its crazy shoulder pads – very 2009. Michael Jackson can be seen wearing two different versions of the same jacket, one in bad ass black leather, in his final DVD, “This is It.” I wore the suit to our party with these fabulous suede Marni platforms and a black lace bra.

Above my head is a beautiful charcoal drawing by Brandon Harris (see February 22) I bought from him when he showed it at the Hidden Hills art show a few years ago. To the right of it is a small photograph of our nephew Hunter and niece Torie when they were about two and five years old.*

Today we did absolutely nothing except sleep in and hang out. We love returning from vacations on Fridays so we have the whole weekend to ease back into our routines.

*They are now fifteen and eighteen!

Friday, August 13, 2010, Day 225

2010-08-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

Ah, our last day in paradise. Here I am in the backyard wearing an Odabash bikini I bought at Madison in Malibu. This has been a most memorable trip from start to finish and the perfect way to celebrate our dear friend's birthday.

Thursday, August 12, 2010, Day 224

2010-08-17T10:35:00.001-07:00

Isn’t this tree just gorgeous?! I couldn’t resist taking today’s photograph next to it and of course my darling husband obliged me with a photo shoot worthy of a Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. This is my best shot.

I am wearing a Vitamin A bikini I bought at Lolita’s on Ventura Blvd. a while ago.

We all hiked up to the top of Diamond Head in the morning and enjoyed the breath-taking views. In the afternoon I went shopping in downtown Wakiki* and bought some beautiful things on sale at Chanel.** In the evening we took the kids to Dave and Busters for arcade games and dinner.

*Again, I had no idea this project would last this long and definitely took advantage of the fact I was not in California and thus could shop for clothes.

**I bought a beautiful long black sheath and an exquisite “day coat,” plus, a pair of absolutely gorgeous platform shoes I know you will see here soon.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010, Day 223

2010-08-17T10:33:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day in paradise! After swimming and snorkeling most of the day, we went out to eat at the Orchids Restaurant which is in a hotel in downtown Wakiki*. You can see Diamond Head in the background of this shot. Rachel is wearing a beautiful Herve Leger dress and some Brian Atwood pumps. I am wearing a Marc Bouwer Glamit! Dress I bought at Neiman Marcus** and a pair of Prada sandals.

*This was our first time on Oahu and it was amazing to see a real city with tall buildings. The other islands are a lot more rural.

**I wore this dress as my first outfit at our third annual holiday party and have been waiting to wear it again. I guess thought it was a little “out there,” but it looked right at home among the other women diner’s dresses.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010, Day 222

2010-08-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

I am wearing a Despi bikini from Urban Outfitters and a pair of Everyone’s a Kritk terry cloth shorts I bought half off from Barry’s Bootcamp. We took the kids to the Kahala Hotel to play on the giant inflatable island they have moored in the ocean and then out to Turtle Bay in the afternoon to snorkel. We ate leftovers for dinner and all fell right to sleep.

Monday, August 9, 2010, Day 221

2010-08-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

After two busy, scheduled days, we all agreed today would be a day for doing nothing. We read, napped and generally hung around our beautiful environs. For dinner we ordered in some yummy Chinese food and watched Footloose on DVD.

I am wearing a Juicy Couture bikini and an Abercrombie and Fitch eyelet skirt. It was mostly overcast and windy, but the sun came out in the afternoon to say hello.

Sunday, August 8, 2010, Day 220

2010-08-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

Today is Rachel’s fortieth birthday and the inspiration for this whole vacation, so we made it a very special day. First, we all went swimming with the dolphins* this morning and then the adults enjoyed four-hand** massages in the afternoon. Peter, the chef, came back in the evening and cooked the most delicious birthday dinner ever.

I am wearing a Halston Vintage Dress***. Gary is wearing a John Varvatos shirt and some James Perse shorts.

*What an amazing experience! We loved our dolphin “Lono” and took many pictures with him.

**Two masseuses each = four hands.

***As worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City 2. I ordered it when I got home from seeing it in June never knowing I would still be at this project in August – really. It was the perfect dress for the occasion and I am happy I bought it even if it counts as “falling off the wagon” a bit.

Saturday, August 7, 2010, Day 219

2010-08-17T10:29:00.001-07:00

Here I am in the backyard of our rented home in Oahu. It has this great pool with little bridges you can swim under. The beach is just out that back gate. I went paddle boarding this morning over six miles from approximately the land mass you can see in the background to our house. Luckily, the wind was at my back, but it still took over two hours.

We all went to the Kahala Hotel for dinner and ate very healthy, yummy food. Then we fell asleep to the sounds of the wind and the ocean.

I am wearing a Kimchi Blue bikini from Urban Outfitters and a Full Sand swim shirt from Sports Chalet.

Friday, August 6, 2010, Day 218

2010-08-17T10:27:00.000-07:00

Aloha! We arrived in Oahu today to celebrate Rachel’s fortieth birthday. We are renting a house on the beach between Diamond Head and the Kahala Hotel. It’s the perfect house for our party of six adults and four children.* Behind me is the small guest house where Gary and I will be staying.

Today we hired a chef named Peter to make us a light lunch upon arrival and a yummy dinner tonight. He will be coming back on Sunday to cook Rachel’s birthday dinner.

I am wearing a top by Trina Turk I bought in the gift shop at the Four Season’s Maui on our last visit to Hawaii and a pair of Charlotte Solnick pants I bought at Lisa Kline on Robertson a few years ago.

*Gary and me, Rachel and John, Rachel’s son Alex, her partner Barry Jay, Graydon, Elodie, Emma and Jackson.

Thursday, August 5, 2010, Day 217

2010-08-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

You will notice we replaced the artwork over the fireplace in our family room (see March 20). It used to be a dark and brooding landscape by an artist named Hideaki Yanamobe. We saw his painting in 2003 on a visit to Paris and liked it well enough to bring it home.*

The piece we replaced it with is by Mike Hernandez (see February 17). I always describe him as what you get when you cross an artist with a mathematician. He creates these spherical pieces by photographing a space from precise angles and then affixing them to a geometric “globe.” This is what it looks flattened out and is based on an old shack he found in the desert. For a show at LAX Art recently, he actually turned this photograph back into an environment that viewers could walk into. It was so very trippy and cool. He’s awesome.

I am wearing a terry cloth top Rachel gave me and some Luluemon terry sweatpants. The thong sandals are by Sank and I bought them at James Perse in Malibu.

*This was during the trip we took to buy furnishings for the house. We were more focused on light fixtures than art back then.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010, Day 216

2010-08-04T20:22:00.000-07:00

I made one of my rare appearances at the Topanga Plaza this evening with my family. I haven’t really enjoyed and have generally avoided visiting ever since they super-sized it, making it an absolute ordeal to walk from one end of the mall to the other – and I consider myself a very fit person.

I have lived within twelve minutes of this mall almost my entire life, beginning when we moved from North Hollywood to Woodland Hills when I was three years old. I remember when there was a skating rink in it with a Thrifty’s Drug Store above. Approximately where I am sitting (currently outside the Louis Vuitton store on the way to Neiman’s) used to be a toy store. Gary grew up around here too and used to work as a busboy at the Jolly Rogers Restaurant.

This project is starting to wear on me, but I am glad for tonight, if only to force me to get rid of this awful outfit. The part-wool Zero Maria Cornejo top used to be one of my favorites, but it is now unbearably itchy because I believe it was washed accidentally in the machine. The JCrew shorts are an unflattering length and a blah color. I had to wear tennis shoes because of the miles of mall we were sure to walk.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010, Day 215

2010-08-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

Here we have another “art dress” (see June 14) by Tiprin Follet. The whole point of these dresses was to be a utilitarian “uniform” for women so they wouldn’t have to make fashion decisions every day and could just throw one on and get to work, and in this one you could see that possibility. All of the dresses are designed as smocks or aprons: there is a back piece that fastens in the front and a front piece which ties in the back. This one has a pretty spray of embroidered flowers on the front, but is generally unflattering and I would never wear it on a daily basis – or even once in public for that matter. But I admire the concept and think there are probably more flattering examples.

Monday, August 2, 2010, Day 214

2010-08-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

I am standing next to a little drawing by Yuval Pudik (see May 3) hanging over a charcoal by Stephan Balkenhol (see May 4). The wooden Santos was found on Ebay. The photo in the frame is the first portrait of Graydon holding his baby sister Elodie.

I am wearing a jersey slip dress by Martin Margiela and a pair of Roberto del Carlo suede sandals I bought at Barney’s three years ago.

Sunday, August 1, 2010, Day 213

2010-08-04T08:25:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful cover-up/blouse by Matthew Williamson I bought in the gift shop at the One & Only Palmilla in Cabo San Lucas last year. The pattern is made up of interlocking butterflies and, despite it not being inexpensive, I kept looking at it until I finally bought it. It feels like a little slip and I suppose you could wear it a pair of skinny jeans as a top, but I’ve only worn it over a bathing suit.

Here I am wearing it with only my Henry Begulin feather shoes (see February 14) strictly for this photo shoot.

Saturday, July 31, 2010, Day 212

2010-07-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day! I am so enjoying this mild summer. This morning our nephew Hunter came over with a friend and went mountain bike riding with Gary and Graydon in Ahamanson Ranch. Elodie went horse-back riding so I enjoyed some quiet time reading the excellent book The Help, by Kathryn Stockett.

When they came home, the boys went swimming and Elodie went to a friend’s house. Gary and I took advantage by sneaking off to our favorite little Mexican restaurant in Agoura called Adobe Cantina.

I am wearing a beautiful little dress I bought from a sidewalk vendor on the Venice Boardwalk. We have no plans the rest of the day and evening and intend to enjoy every unscheduled moment.

Friday, July 30, 2010, Day 211

2010-07-31T13:15:00.001-07:00

We’re staying in tonight, but if we were to go out, I might choose and old standby like this. I am wearing a Gucci dress I bought in San Francisco and a coat I bought for half off at Heidi Says on Fillmore. The shoes are Gina and I bought them at Ghost for their kitten heels to wear to our house-warming party in 2003. The purse is Asprey. I bought it in London and I love the way it has tiny “Asprey’s” embossed on it to give it texture. The pearls are vintage from Mureta’s on Fillmore.

This dress was the first piece of designer wear I ever remember buying from a shop with the same name. We were in San Francisco with Tony and Patty and Gary insisted I try it on. He took one look at me in it and turned to the salesclerk and said we’d take it. I’ve worn it many times, including to one MOCA Gala (honoring Robert Rauchenberg) and to my twentieth High School reunion.

Gary made Chilean sea bass tonight and Marilyn came over for dinner. We walked around the house and admired how pretty the gardens all look and generally enjoyed the beautiful evening.

Thursday, July 29, 2010, Day 210

2010-07-31T08:16:00.001-07:00

I am wearing a great blouse by Stella McCartney I bought at Madison Gallery and a pair of “Pilcro and the Letterpress” shorts I bought at Anthropolgie in Virginia. The shoes are by Elisa Ferare* and I bought them from a little shop on Abbot Kinney in Venice. I would have never put this outfit together, but I am nearing the end of this project and am matching what’s left for maximum impact. I know I am repeating myself, but I love this project for exactly this reason and I will totally wear this again and again. I realize I have been “saving” this blouse for some crazy “special” occasion instead of enjoying it like I did today.

We had yoga in the morning at the house and I got my teeth cleaned. We went to the barbeque at the Community Center in the evening and I felt both comfortable and chic.

*Elisa Ferare (1944-2010). I would have never known she died except I wanted to be sure of the spelling of her name (the label inside the shoe is a bit worn) and Googled her.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010, Day 209

2010-07-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

Here we have a lovely little dress Rachel bought me for my birthday two years ago.* It’s by Decolette, which is fitting since it’s very delicate and feminine. I almost feel naked in it and have to make sure that my behind is literally covered by the extra fabric which wraps around my backside. I’ve styled it with a pretty pin at the hip and my suede Frye boots.

This picture was taken in the little shopping center where we go for sushi. I am standing outside a shop called “Little Blue” where our niece Torie works and sells her amazing jewelry. In fact, I bought the necklace pictured just before this photo was taken and really think it completes the outfit.

*Again, love, LOVE this project as I’ve only worn this dress once before to the Hollywood Bowl with John and Rachel and forgot how pretty it is. Sometimes that happens and clothes will sit in my closet, unworn, for years. I will certainly wear this one again before another 209 days.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010, Day 208

2010-07-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

I just can’t get over the beautiful weather we’ve been having! Today felt way more like spring than summer and it seemed an absolute waste to spend it inside. I invited the kids to have a picnic and Graydon took this picture of Elodie and me under the redwoods.

I am wearing one of my most favorite blouses by Armani Exchange and a pair of Vince shorts I bought at Fred Segal a long time ago. The orange Nikes are from somewhere in the Haight/Ashbury section of San Francisco.

Monday, July 26, 2010, Day 207

2010-07-28T13:28:00.001-07:00

We stayed overnight at the hotel and woke up to the beautiful Pacific Ocean. After lolling around reading all morning, we laced up our tennis shoes and went for a long walk in the sand. Then we did a little more shopping before heading for home.

I am wearing one of my purchases from yesterday – this beautiful purple dress from Planet Blue. It is very silky and soft and I know it will be a favorite for years to come.

Sunday, July 25, 2010, Day 206

2010-07-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

I couldn’t resist “wearing” my birthday suit today – which is (you guessed it!) my birthday. I am lying in same place in approximately the same position as when a lovely young woman named Alex Douziech came and painted my (nude) portrait last year. I had intended to take this picture in front of the actual portrait which is gorgeous and is hanging in my closet, but the lighting was all wrong. Gary suggested this re-creation and I think it is a much more successful shot.

Alex attends the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art and has a very classical hand. She is extremely talented and I know will go far in her chosen field.

Gary took me shopping* in Malibu and then to the Malibu Beach Inn for massages. Some close friends joined us for dinner outside on hotel’s patio overlooking the ocean. It was a lovely evening and my best birthday ever.

*If you will note on January 1, I purposely left the rules a little open-ended and have added my birthday to the times when shopping is allowed and I’m glad I did. I never would have believed in January that I would still be at this is July!

Saturday, July 24, 2010, Day 205

2010-07-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Lynn planned a surprise party for Torie’s eighteenth birthday tonight complete with a Tarot card reader (me). I was originally going to wear the gypsy costume I wore last year when I read cards at Rachel’s Halloween party, but I thought it was a little juvenile and that eighteen-year-olds would be both not-impressed and maybe a little embarrassed by the woman in the big gypsy costume.*

Instead I wore this wonderful Ossie Clark gown I bought on sale at Madison Gallery. I wore it once before to the MOCA Fresh auction last year and it was fun to put it on again.

What’s a Tarot card reader without baubles or bangles so I piled on the jewelry, including many vintage pieces I bought at Mureta’s on Fillmore. I was going for a “Luisa Cassati” (see May 31) vibe with my hair and make-up and I think it came off well.

I read cards tonight for about ten teenagers. I love reading young people’s cards because they tend to be about what’s coming up rather than what is or what has happened. I think it’s very sweet that my first two customers were both boys. It was a very fun night and Torie was indeed surprised.

*As said costume is hanging in my closet, I’m sure I will pull it out since the dare is to “wear it all.”

Friday, July 23, 2010, Day 204

2010-07-28T12:38:00.001-07:00

When I asked Elodie what kind of party she wanted this year, she said, “A fashion/swim party.” When I asked her what that meant, she said, “You know, like my friends and I can walk down a red carpet and have our pictures taken…” So that’s what we did and it was very cute. After a lot of swimming, Elodie and her friends got out of the pool and dolled themselves up with sunglasses, hats and accessories and “walked the red carpet” we rented from a party rental place. Gary and I took pictures of the girls as they took off down the runway. After a slow start, they all got really into it and each had several “outfit” changes.

I am wearing a pair of pink satin shorts* I bought half off at Belle Grey when it was in the Commons and an Angel tank top I bought at Lolita’s. The shoes are Dr. Scholl’s from Leap shoes.

*These shorts were originally bought two years ago for a “Pink Party” we hosted for our friend Molly Hall’s birthday. She loves pink and so everything from the cake to the decorations was pink and we encouraged all the guests to wear her favorite color. As the hostess, I of course had to also wear pink. Who knew I would have the opportunity to wear them again?

Thursday, July 22, 2010, Day 203

2010-07-22T13:51:00.001-07:00

Here we have an outfit I would also have never worn, but for this project and I really love it. I am wearing a long tunic by Kain I think I bought at Maxfield in Malibu and a pair of footless tights. The sandals are by Yin and I must have bought them somewhere. They’ve been sitting in my closet, unworn, for years. The necklaces are from Ariana in Malibu. This outfit is so comfortable. I know I will wear it again – and it won’t take me another 200 days to do it!

I am standing next to another great drawing by Yuval Pudik (see May 3). If you look close you can see my photographer (Gary) reflected in the piece.

Today is Elodie’s eighth birthday. She has grown into such a precious girl and we all love her very much.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010, Day 202

2010-07-22T13:38:00.001-07:00

I am standing next to a miniature German shop, circa 1885 that I’ve filled with all of the tiny dolls and toys I’ve collected over the past twenty or so years. It’s nice to have them safe and sound and dust-free under the plexi-glass box.

I am wearing an Alexander Wang skirt I bought at Magnolia’s in Calabasas and a Dolce & Gabbana top I bought at the Cabazon outlets. The boots are Florentine & Baker and I bought them at Gimme Shoes on Fillmore.

My first and only time wearing this skirt was to the dinner before Hunter’s Bar Mitzvah over a year ago. I certainly would not have chosen to wear it again today if it wasn’t for this project. As you know, I’m nearing the end and must chose among what’s left and pair it with the most appropriate events. Today Marilyn and I met Judy for our annual birthday* lunch at the Cheesecake Factory in Thousand Oaks. Judy took one look at the skirt and said, “I love that skirt. You should wear it all the time.” Now I think I will.

*Judy's birthday is six days before mine. We’ve been celebrating this way and foregoing gifts for as long as I can remember and it’s the one day in the year I allow myself to share a piece of cheesecake without any guilt.

Tuesday, July 2010, Day 201

2010-07-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

We met Adam Gross* at MOCA this evening for a private tour of their excellent Ashille Gorkey** exhibit. Mr. Gorkey was a Russian émigré who led an artistically prolific, but ultimately tragic life. His father came to America and left him behind to look after his mother who ended up dying in the Armenian genocide around the time of World War I. He never got over feeling like he failed to protect her and made numerous portraits of her over the course of many years.

When he finally made it to America, he set himself up as an art teacher while also teaching himself to paint. He purposefully copied many of the great European masters, including Cezanne, Monet, Matisse and Picasso in the hopes of finding his own style.

Unfortunately, right about the time he did, his studio burned down and the very next month he was diagnosed with rectal cancer. Two years later, saddled with a colostomy bag, he was in a car accident, badly injured his right hand and feared he’d never be able to paint again. Then his wife had an affair with his best friend, took their two young children and left him. He committed suicide by hanging, but left behind an enormous body of work, made even more amazing by the fact he died at the young age of forty-six.

It was truly incredible to see the progression of his pieces, from blatant copies to works which could hold their own against any of the other identified masters. This piece shows how he was ahead of his time, with his bold use of color and strong lines. Ironically, many people classify him as an abstract expressionist, but he actually made many painstaking “studies” before completing a final piece, refuting the emotion and impulsiveness that somewhat defines the term.

I love our special outings with Adam. There is no way Gary and I would come away with a fraction of the depth and meaning Adam brings when he leads us through exhibitions like this. Afterwards, we had dinner at WP24*** with Adam and Jeffrey Dietch, MOCA’s new director. What a great night!

I am wearing a dress by Proenza Scholer and some suede Frye boots. The necklace is vintage turquoise from Mureta’s on Fillmore.

*Adam and I share the same birthday, year and all.

**Ashille Gorkey, 1902-1948

***Wolfang Puck’s newest restaurant on the 24^th floor of the Ritz Carlton building downtown. The food is Asian and the view is stunning.

Monday, July 19, 2010, Day 200

2010-07-22T13:02:00.001-07:00

Wowie zowie – is it day 200 already?!? How long can I keep this up?

I am wearing a well-worn James Perse dress in which I never leave the house. I have the same one in white which you will probably see soon since I can’t keep this up forever.*

I am standing in front of our beautiful crepe myrtle tree which is just getting done with its show of pink blossoms for the year. The weather was exceptionally hot the past few days, but it is predicted to cool off this week.

*As you know, my original prediction of 100 days was followed by a second guesstimate of 180-200 days. I foresee at least another month of this, maybe two.

Sunday, July 18, 2010, Day 199

2010-07-19T12:07:00.001-07:00

Here I am with my two beautiful children jumping into our pool. After church, we saw Despicable Me (my new all time favorite kids movie) at the Commons and then came home for a swim. I am wearing a Kimchi Blue bathing suit I bought online from Urban Outfitter and reminds me of something Marilyn Monroe might have worn.

Saturday, July 17, 2010, Day 198

2010-07-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to Paradise Cove this morning to celebrate Gary’s sister Judy’s birthday. It was nice to escape the heat for a bit and visit with family. In the evening, Gary grilled some vegetables and salmon and I made the pesto from basil in our garden.*

We had some friends over for dinner, including the artist Travis Collinson (see April 20) who was visiting from San Francisco. It was cooler by then and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the evening.

I am wearing a dress by Cherry Blossom and my trusty Frye boots.

*I don’t cook, but Barry Nelson taught me how to make excellent pesto, which doesn’t require “cooking,” only blending.

Friday, July 16, 2010, Day 197

2010-07-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

I have on something of a “uniform” made up of a Prada blouse, See by Chloe shorts and a pair of Dries Van Noten shoes. It's become my “go-to” outfit when I visit art galleries or shop in the city, which is what I did today with Mark Cutler.

We ate lunch a Cecconi’s before picking up a beautiful photograph by David Schoerner and a little drawing by Edward Steiger from Paul Kopeikin’s gallery on Melrose. Then we went to Lead Apron, which carries hard-to-find and out of print art and fashion books, and did some shopping on Melrose Place.

I am standing in a little garden off of our dining room. The crepe myrtle tree in the corner blooms pink and is wrapped in little white tivoli lights all year. The marble Buddha was a birthday present from Gary when we were still living in the guest house.

Gary and I stayed home in the evening and watched Duplicity on DVD.

Thursday, July 15, 2010, Day 196

2010-07-19T11:43:00.001-07:00

I am standing in a little bathroom down in our basement. It has a corner sink we salvaged from an old house on a property Gary was developing into an apartment building.* and vintage light fixtures from Dispela Antiques on La Brea. It reminded us of those tiny bathrooms you see in restaurants in France and we’ve filled it with paintings of women I found on Ebay and had framed.** You can tell most of the paintings were done by amateur artists and are quite charming.

I am wearing a James Perse t-shirt with an Inhabit skirt. The sandals are Azzedine Alaiia. The necklace is vintage from Mureta’s on Fillmore. The earrings were bought in a mall long, long ago, but remain favorites.

If you look closely, you can see my photographer (Graydon) in the mirror).

*Down in the Korea Town area of Los Angeles on a street called La Fayette Park Place, there used to be a row of stately homes. They were all torn down except for this one last hold out. It was severely neglected and surrounded by apartment buildings. We salvaged what we could, including a pair of beautiful wrought iron doors we used in our garden.

**This bathroom is appropriately known as the “ladies’ bathroom.”

Wednesday, July 14, 2010, Day 195

2010-07-19T11:10:00.001-07:00

Gary and I went in to the city early today to check out the Emmet Gowin show at Marc Selwyn’s gallery before attending a fundraiser in the evening. Mr. Gowin is a photographer who explores man’s and nature’s influence on the Earth through aerial photography. Each photograph is so beautiful, depicting everything from ant hills mimicking a galaxy in space to a water treatment facility looking a lot like amoebas in a Petri dish.

The evening event was for the Los Angeles Nomadic Division (LAND)* and was held at Eugenio Lopez’s house. Mr. Lopez is heir to the Jumex** fortune and a huge art collector. We’ve had the opportunity to visit his home on two previous occasions and looked forward to returning. He lives in a stunning mid-century house and his art collection is breath-taking. Our favorite pieces include a pharmacy cabinet by Damien Hirst and and a wall installation by Donald Judd. He had some new intriguing pieces we enjoyed seeing and ran into some good friends.

I am wearing a turquoise dress and feather belt I bought from Jerrell Scott (see March 27). The bag is vintage and I bought it at Past Perfect on Ventura Blvd. The shoes are silver Prada sandals. Gary looks very handsome in a Lanvin jacket we bought at Brown's in London (see April 5).

*LAND is a public art initiative committed to curating site- and situation-specific contemporary art project, in Los Angeles and beyond. LAND supports dynamic and unconventional artistic practices and lesser-known or emerging artists.

**Jumex is the largest distributer of juice beverages in Mexico and South America. Mr. Lopez founded an amazing art complex in Mexico City and we visited there a few years ago with an art group.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010, Day 194

2010-07-18T12:58:00.001-07:00

I am standing in the stairwell next to a great photograph by Frank Worth. Mr. Worth is known as one of the first celebrity photographers or “paparazzi”* and he caught this delicate moment between two of Hollywood’s leading ladies, Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds. It was just around the time Ms. Reynolds’ husband, Eddie Fisher, was leaving her for Ms. Taylor.** In the photograph, the brunette Ms. Taylor is shown in a revealing gown to have quite an amble bosom, while the blonde Ms. Reynolds is in a more subdued black dress wearing a delicate cross around her neck. The tension between the two is palpable. Devil and angel?

Directly behind me is a wonderful painting by Delia Brown of three women lounging on a sofa. Next to it is a terrific pencil drawing of those cell towers “disguised” as a tree you might see out on a highway by Jennifer Celio.

Jennifer had donated a similar piece to the Fresh auction at MOCA last year and I loved it immediately. I was bidding on it when Mark came up and said he loved it too. It happened to be his birthday the next week. What else could I do after that, but get it for him? Luckily, Jennifer had other cell towers and I was able to purchase a similar one for myself after the auction directly from her. When we invited her to our Holiday Party last year, she drove up all the way from Long Beach and was a hit at the party. She has a darling personality to match her incredible talent.

I am wearing a top by Splendid and a pair James Jeans shorts. The sandals are by Pedro Garcia and I bought them at a little shop on Abbot Kinney in Venice.

* The term paparrazi was famously coined by Frederico Fellini in his 1960 film classic, La Dolce Vita. It means "buzzing mosquitoes" in Italian.

**Of course all of the tabloids were reporting it as Ms. Taylor was stealing Ms. Reynolds’ husband.

Monday, July 12, 2010, Day 193

2010-07-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

Here I am in a terry-cloth sweatshirt and shorts by Splendid. I go to a formal meditation class on Monday mornings, but I also try and sit out on my little porch and meditate by myself from time to time.

Today it was still cool in the morning, but you can tell the heat is on its way!

Sunday, July 11, 2010, Day 192

2010-07-15T16:26:00.000-07:00

Both kids slept over friends’ houses last night so Gary and I got up early and went for another long hike through Ahmanson. It’s so amazing to have this natural resource so close to us and we take advantage of it frequently.*

The kids came home around noon and Mark and Etienne brought their daughter Ruby Jane over to swim. We ate BLTAs** for lunch and had a great time splashing in the pool.

I am wearing a t-shirt and shorts by James Perse. The shoes are Keen.

*Gary and some friends go mountain bike-riding in Ahmanson once or twice a week and we have a favorite path we hike with and without our kids.

**Bacon-lettuce-tomato-avocado sandwiches.

Saturday, July 10, 2010, Day 191

2010-07-10T12:57:00.001-07:00

Here I am jumping on our trampoline. I am probably the biggest baby when it comes to doing any kind of tricks, but Gary, Graydon and Elodie can do complete summersaults and land (mostly) on their feet.

I am wearing a Velvet tank top I bought at Planet Blue and a pair of shorts by Monrow that I bought at Fred Segal.

This morning Gary and I went for a walk in Ahmanson. Then Gary took Graydon to watch Hunter race go carts in Ventura and Elodie spent the day at her friend’s house. I caught up on this blog, read and napped. Later Gary and I will see a movie and have an early dinner before coming home in time to put the kids to bed.

Friday, July 9, 2010, Day 190

2010-07-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

Gary and I went for an outstanding run this morning. He followed it up with a lengthy bike ride and I went on at least ten errands, which may or may not have added up to a similar calorie burn.

We met our friends for dinner at the Sunset Restaurant in Malibu. Gary and I had never been, and were very impressed the the gorgeous setting and great food.

I am wearing a pair of Helmut Lang pants from Barney’s and an Alexander Wang blouse. The shoes are by Bruno Bordese (see May 21) and I bought them on Abbott Kinney.

Thursday, July 8, 2010, Day 189

2010-07-10T12:42:00.001-07:00

I have always been interested in miniatures. I remember the first time I went to Knott’s Berry Farm and saw the Mott’s miniatures. There is something about old tiny things that make my heart sing. Last year for my birthday, I bought myself this beautiful antique dollhouse on Ebay. It’s from Switzerland and has beautiful vintage wallpaper and stunning little antique beaded light fixtures in every room that really light up. I feel very blessed to have found it – it was just the one I was looking for.

I scoured Ebay for months afterward to find all the tiny antique furnishings and I am very happy with the results. To me, this dollhouse is another magnificent piece of art in our home and I love it. Sometimes I can’t believe it’s really mine.

It is sitting on top of some re-furbished metal cabinets designed to hold charts and architecture plans. We have outfitted them with art supplies and various colored papers and scraps we use to scrapbook and make collages.

I am wearing a blouse by Burning Torch that Rachel gave me and a pair of black Vince “jeggings” I bought at Magnolia in Calabasas. The sandals are Bottega Veneta from Barney’s in San Francisco.

Gary and I had yoga this morning and went to sushi at night.