Sunday Brunch

There is nothing I love more than a last-minute invitation. The surprise. The spontaneity. The chance to dress up. So when that happy little bling sounded on my laptop, I was delighted to see it was my Man About Town, inviting me to brunch.

La Patisserie, Hotel Bennett

It's been a bit cold and dreary here in Charleston and bare legs were out of the question. And who says you have to wear pastels to brunch? 

The outfit I chose was about as far as you can get from what my mother called "Sunday Go To Meetin' Clothes." The chilly temps were a great excuse to try out my latest risky, fun buy, vegan leather pants. One of the many rewarding bonuses of thrifting is trying edgy pieces you would not ordinarily spend the money to purchase. If your outfit looks atrocious on you, sell it, donate it, and you have only spent a few dollars. In this case, $4.

My blue velvet scarf is longer than I am tall. Perfect for bundling against the wind.

We brunched on King Street and then decided we would take a walk and visit the newest hotel to open in Charleston. Hotel Bennett did not disappoint. Miami Deco meets Hollywood boudoir. 

The insanely over-the-top, metallic wallpaper makes me swoon. 

This is sure to become one of the most Instagrammed spots in Charleston, and we were there the hour it opened. We saw at least a dozen friends who had all come out to appraise and support Charleston's latest attraction.

A completely fun, spontaneous day. Charleston: go out for brunch; return home at 9:00 p.m.

Scarf: Waist Not Want Not, $10 
Vegan leather pants: H&M, Community Thrift, $4
Shoes: Madden, Community Thrift, $4
Top: friend's closet, $15
Patent leather handbag: Forever 21, $20

A private sale

Vintage finds South of Broad

Charleston ladies are the sweetest ladies. Being a member of The Hat Ladies of Charleston, has not only fueled my headwear addiction, but brought the most wonderful women into my life. It was my incredible, good fortune to be invited into the home of one of our Hat Sisters, Susie, for her private downsizing sale. 

Susie lives in the Historic District, known as South of Broad. This is quintessential Charleston. Many of these homes date back to the 1700s and are preserved with a loving attention to detail and authenticity. For Susie's privacy, I won't show the exterior of her house, but I did take a little wander around after the sale to show you some other lovely sites.

The sale began at 10:00 a.m. I arrived at 10:07 and this was the site. Do not get between my Hat Sisters and a good deal on a hat. 

Oh my goodness, there were hats and hat boxes displayed all through Susie's lovely, light-filled home.

The minute I spotted this vintage beauty, I slapped it squarely on my head and wouldn't take it off.

Then I spent a bit more time wandering through the neighborhood and down to The Battery.

This is what $2,700 a month gets you in Charleston. Charm, but no plumb bob.

Between the hurricanes, and the centuries, and the earthquakes, absolutely nothing is level in Charleston.

Saturday morning traffic jam South of Broad.

This isn't the first time I've encountered guinea fowl commuters in this neighborhood. 

This bowl is my favorite story of the day. For months now, I've been looking for just the right thing to put atop my round dining table. This is Susie's bowl, and she placed it in my hands, as a gift, when I was leaving her house. It can be heart breaking to vacate the home in which one has spent decades creating memories, and parting with treasures accumulated over a lifetime. Susie carried this bowl in her lap the entire flight back from a trip the Bahamas. She collected every one of those shells herself. Susie was able to send it to a new home with a Hat Sister she knows will treasure it as much as she has.

Thank you Susie for a wonderful day and new memories.

Summing up the holidays

People love to complain about the holidays. For me, the busy-ness, the hub bub, the travel – it's all a marvelous excuse to get dressed up. 

The first occasion of the season was the traditional luncheon with my beloved Hat Ladies of Charleston. Kathleen and I complemented each other perfectly. As a Hat Lady, I'm constantly working on the exact head-tilt so we can both fit into the frame, without clashing hats. 

Fascinator: Amazon, $10

Blouse: Friend's closet, $8

Leopard belt: Salvation Army $2

Spandex pencil skirt: Amazon $12

Next up, holiday concert at The Gaillard with My Man About Town. His jacket is a micro-ribbed velvet corduroy. 

Ruffled rain jacket: Reinvented Upscale Resale, $25

Taffeta cocktail skirt: Ross, $13

I admit to being completely snobby when it comes to dressing for the theatre. Good heavens, I saw someone recently, in athletic wear, in the front row. Coco Chanel was rolling over in her grave. And with that, comes the little confession that I am wearing a $5 T shirt in the photo above. 

Red T shirt: Forever 21, $5

Shoes: Community Thrift, $1.99

Pom Pom choker: DIY $4

Forever, I have wanted a top hat forever. Believe it or not I found this beauty, new of all things, at the Scottish games this past fall. It has a lower crown, and is quite like a riding hat. 

Naturally,  I had to dress it up with 3 yards of tulle $9, ad a vintage pin, $2.

Here I am, out our second Hat Ladies holiday event with our stunning Top Hat, Archie Burkel.

Black v neck sweater: Gap, Goodwill, $4

Red patent leather clutch: Community Thrift, $1

And the big event I keep in the back of my mind all year while thrifting, The Spine Ball. 

Gold lame gown: Goodwill, $3.99

I never met a rhinestone I didn't like.

pink pom poms

Pink & black makes me think of Doris Day, 1950s bedrooms, and innocent girls pushing their style limits. It never goes out of style.

When I tried this dress on a few days before the event, the neck looked bare, and I had an instant vision of what it needed. Yes, pompoms! The dress is a thick lace fitted over a black attached slip. It needed color at the neckline, and pompoms match the pattern exactly. 

Even the sunnies matched.

Below is my $4 solution. Pompoms are available by the yard from craft and fabric stores. These came from Walmart. Cut to length. Hot glue the ends to prevent fraying, and connect with a small safety pin, which will not be noticed beneath the hairline.

You know how it is when you have the glue gun heated up. EVERYTHING in your path becomes a craft project. Plain black shoes turned into perfect matching accessory.

The whole thing looks sort of Roaring 20s, doesn't it?

Dress: White House Black Market, Friend's closet $25
Shoes: Rialto, DSW
Fringed shawl: Salvation Army, $4
Clutch: Church charity shop in DE $2
Sunnies: belong to my son