The Garden Party Girl and The Glam City Gal

Mrs. Figby and I are leaving on Monday for our shopping trip to Paris (please pronounce it the French way, Pa-ree. it's sounds more exciting that way)

In preparation, we have been emailing back and forth. She's bringing her laptop (there will be blogging!), I'll rent a local phone (so our children can still call and whine that somebody did something to the other one). Then we discussed clothes. I was planning on taking a few tops, a few bottoms and a couple of cute summer dresses and somehow dress appropriately everyday. Mrs. Figby, well, she's got outfits planned. Complete, head-to-toe, thought out, with foot wear.... She was telling me about what she is bringing, and while we are one the same wavelength dressy-ness wise, she is miles ahead of me in preparedness. I also mentioned to her that I would bring one of my nicer dresses, in case we went to dinner. I am referring to the dress I wore to the library party a few days ago. Mrs. Figby mentioned that she doens't own anything like that, all her dresses are black and slinky. See this is the difference between us: while we may start out with similar abilites budget wise, I always end up dressing like I'm going to a garden party (think Antropologie) whereas she is always ready for a big night in the big city. Not quite city mouse/country mouse, but almost.

I've always been like this, the one with color, the one somehow underdressed, the one in linen in a sea of silk. In college, I got invited to a holiday cottilion at a fancy private club in Toronto (I believe it was the Curling Club). I had never been to such a thing and went all out, purchasing a fancy coktail dress in royal blue velvet. I was the single, only person in the room not in black. The single one. Seems my date failed to tell me black was de-rigueur at such a thing, and I didn't know. I'm sure they still talk about the year the French girl from Montreal came in a blue dress.....

I actually like my style, but I do tend to stick out in most social situations. In preparation for this trip, I became obsessed with footwear. I have lots and lots of nice shoes, but I cannot bring heels on this trip, as we will be walking a lot. And clearly, I would give Mrs. Figby a heart attack if I brought flip flops, and I don't own Crocs (I do have my limits!), so I was going to pack a couple of my cute and quirky Campers. Yet somehow, they felt not dressy enough.... like I was going to look down at our feet in pictures and constantly obsess over my garden party shoes next to her glam city shoes.

So I hit the mall, and hit the jackpot! On sale, half-price:

It's a really crappy phone pic, but if you really want to see them, go here, then click on women's accessories, they are the yellow ones with the ballet ribbon..... I ended up getting the matching large wallet which has a strap, so it can serve as a clutch in the evening.

They are still definately more garden party than glam city, but somehow, they seem more appropriate.

(PS, they are a local company that is making it big on the world scene. They always seemed very expensive to me, so I had never looked. But I have to say, the footwear, which is new to them, was incredibly reasonably priced, even before the sale. I have a feeling I will be going back there in the fall for a new bag)

Comments

[Beverly]

Well, they are adorable. Have a great time in Paris!!

[Katie J]

Enjoy Par-ee! I was there a few weeks ago for the first time and it was amazing. Can't wait to read all about it!

[Mrs Figby]

Adorable! And give yourself more credit -- your style is delightful, unique, and yes, chic! I've only got an overload of city clothes because after 10 years in the boonies wearing nothing but polar fleece and Eddie Bauer jeans, I went a little nuts when I got within spitting distance of NYC. And also, I'm a type-A freak, thus the planned outfits.

[twirly]

make sure you bring some warmer clothes as well - my relatives in Paris last year were freezing all summer - well at least they complained about being cold all summer.