One thing for which I both envy and pity you gentlemen out there is the picking of formal wear. One the one hand, you are spared all the pain of trying on dress after dress after DRESS in search of something flattering and also sexy and also unique but also classy and age appropriate but not boring. Something that even when it looks good in the fitting room may end up being a complete flop on the dance floor. Connecting with a dress is at least as frustrating as connecting with a boy. However, it's tough to outshine the perfect girl to dress combo no matter how dapper your tux is.
Which leads me to today, and the task of finding a dress for a big fancy party next week in New York with our number one account. This is the kind of fancy party where they invite athletes and celebrities and hold it at a restaurant I only know from articles about P. Diddy's birthday bash. Clearly, my regular wardrobe is not equipped to handle this sucker. I've known about this party for six weeks but it's been six weeks of solid weekend travel for work and I haven't had a moment, or really a bank of patience, to get a dress. I am traveling again this weekend, don't shop on Sundays, and leave for NYC at 6:45 on Monday morning so today pretty much needed to be the day. This is when I love California and it's abundance of sketchy little shops that sell designer knock-offs at normal human prices. I am pleased and SHOCKED to report that I tried on exactly ONE dress in ONE store that fit like a glove and paid less for it than I will for lunches this week. I feel almost guilty.
So when the dress and I got home I downloaded a CD by a band called Lucky Soul-I posted their little gem "Ain't Never Been Cool" last week-and discovered to my complete delight that for the bargain price of $9.99, I just got myself 13 perfect little pop gems. Pop gems that happen to be the perfect companion to trying on my new dress and picking shoes and accessories and maybe just maybe pretending for a moment that I can sing just like Ali Howard. If I had one ounce of musical ability, I hope this is the kind of music I would write.
Here is the video for "Add Your Light To Mine, Baby." I dare you not to fall madly in love with this band.
And if that didn't do it to you, take this song, turn it way up and seriously, check and see if you even have a pulse because these guys are awesome.
One Kiss Don't Make a Summer
And so is my dress.
12 comments:
I love days like that. They make it all worth it.
I hope you post a picture of your perfect dress. I'm still waiting for my perfect dress to find me.
Seriously, nothing like the perfect dress! Good luck in NY. Really, I dream about having your life. I know it's not perfect, but...
Love the band, and congradulations on the dress, hope to see a picture of it soon.
I've found modest, trendy, designer dresses for reasonable prices at edressme.com.
k8, you mentioned that it is hard for us menfolk to outshine the perfect woman to dress combination. While you are correct, that's not a negative for us. We wear the tux because it says "I'm serious about how I look tonight" but it really functions as the canvas. And you, my dear, get to be the paint.
Umm, so is there going to be a picture of said dress?
Will you please wear your dress on Sunday? I want to admire it as you teach your lesson.
i fear it will seem a little anti-climatic but yes, i will post a photo of the dress when i wear it next week.
and linds, it is probably a little too fancy for church but maybe i should wear it anyway since it's my LAST SUNDAY IN A SINGLES WARD.
boo hoo.
Oh, please, men do not dress to shine.
The aim of the well-dressed man is dignity. Formal wear for men is about refinement, about the conscious choice of civilization over brutality and intellect over instinct. It is not about ornamentation.
Any man who dresses for the purpose of display misses the point of men's evening wear. As for trying to "outshine"the womenfolk, such a thing would be almost too gauche to contemplate.
I remember trying on a thousand dresses when it came to dances, proms and pageants. (Yes, I just said pageants... no laughing.)
It was a nightmare... for hours... until suddenly, you step out of that fitting room, walk over to the mirror... and the heavens open and the angels sing. Making the connection with a fabulous dress is a huge deal.
Especially if it's the first one you try on, and it's dirt cheap.
Ten zillion kudos.
Oh, and thanks for the song. It made me feel all happy and shiny inside. Happy early 31st... Your life is rad and I'm all kinds of jealous.
I guy should dress up to be an arm to hang that dress up on.
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