The Black Dress Traveler

Enough Already! Your SPANX Girdle is Your Business

Darling, please don't talk to me about your SPANX. If I compliment YOU and tell YOU that YOU look great in your dress, can't YOU just smile and say thank you?  Don't say " Oh, it's not me. I'm wearing SPANX." I don't care about your girdle. Yes, I hate to burst your bubble but a  SPANX is a girdle. Granted, SPANX represent the latest in girdle technology but if an undergarment flattens like a girdle and contours like a girdle, I'm inclined to state the obvious and call the darn thing a girdle.

For those who don't know what the heck a SPANX is, the brand offers "slimming undergarment innovations." Now, I have nothing against SPANX. They work wonders and give many women the confidence to wear clothing without worrying about revealing derriere dimples or a booty that continues bouncing even after you've been standing still for a full minute. If you don't want to wear SPANX, that is your choice. But if you are wearing a SPANX, can't it just be your little secret? I know we live in the age of TMI - too much information, But now we've reached the level of TMMI - Too Much Mundane Information. Is anything more mundane than a slimming undergarment?

When I was growing up girdles, slips and other foundation garments fell into that category of mysterious female clothing that I would discover as an adult. Their transformative powers were whispered in my ear by my mom and grandmother. They were garments that could form a part of my secret adult beauty arsenal. Clothing that could take my curves from girl next door to femme fatale.

Maybe I'm old fashioned but I think an air of mystery still holds a powerful allure. Legendary beauties like Marilyn Monroe, Dorothy Dandridge and Jayne Mansfield probably all wore slimming girdles from time to time but they didn't talk about it. Our perception of their beauty isn't diminished because they may or may not have worn girdles because nobody cares. Can't we follow in their footsteps and keep our SPANX to ourselves?

Save the Daiquiri

When was the last time you ordered a Daiquiri? Just the sound, brings to mind a too-sweet alcohol infused slurpee churning angrily in a machine and served with a tacky umbrella.  But darlings, calling that liquid mishmash a Daiquiri is like calling  polyester - silk charmeuse. A REAL Daiquiri bears no resemblance to those concoctions and has quite a highbrow past. 

An elegantly simple cocktail that was favored by JFK and Ernest Hemingway, the Classic Daiquiri is prepared with rum, simple syrup, and lime juice. Shake all the ingredients together with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass and voila - a refreshing and sophisticated cocktail. Delicious!

Increase your Daiquiri IQ and help this legendary cocktail regain its prominence by joining the Save the Daiquiri campaign. This fun website contains great information about the history of the Daiquiri and recipes for variations of the cocktail; including the French Daiquiri, the Hemingway Daiquiri and the Apple Blossom.

Save the Daiquiri may not save the world but keeping just one person away from a lousy faux Daiquiri is a noble cause indeed!

For more information, visit www.savethedaiquiri.com

Recession Leads to Fashion Depression

It's bad enough that the sluggish economy has forced me to curb my frock habit but does that mean that I have to dress like a newsboy from the Depression era? Well, according to The New York Post, designers are responding to the sluggish dollar with clothing strongly inspired by the newsies of the 1930's. From H&M to Banana Republic, budget conscious shoppers can validate their pessimism about the economy by donning  baggy dresses and trousers, conductor caps, and pencil skirts in sadly subdued tones.

Now some of these elements can work beautifully when mixed in with more modern pieces: take that pencil skirt and pair it with a bright and sexy sweater. Yes, times were indeed hard for women in the 1930's but they still wore very feminine clothing that flattered the female form. After all, this was the era of iconic designers Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli. Glamourous movie stars like Mae West dominated the big screen.

Check out this Vogue pattern from 1931. Even if women could not afford expensive clothing, they were inspired by high fashion and Hollywood and found ways to incorporate dashes of style into their wardrobe. Why do designers in 2008 feel the need to dress women like little boys? Is that really going to make me feel better?

I shudder at the thought of an entire city of sullen fashionistas slouching about town in head to toe shades of gray.  Dress depressed and you will feel depressed. Now more than ever we need the playfulness of fashion to lift our spirits. Watching your budget is smart but spending money on gloom and doom garb is not the answer.

Girl Power in a Glass: Do Women Really Need Their Own Vodka?

From Pink Vodka to Little Black Dress Wines, wine & spirits companies have gone from subtle flirting to shameless seduction in their quest to attract the palates and dollars of female consumers.  But is it really necessary? I love the pretty packaging just as much as the next girl but are we paying for a quality product or the implied promise of some magical feminine power that will be unleashed with every sip?

Most American women seem to be savvier drinkers than we were just a few years ago. Looking at the drinking habits of my female friends, it is obvious that we've come a long way from the days of wine spritzers and  peach schnapps. Just like men who drink, women have a greater appreciation and knowledge base in the areas of wine & spirits and even a novice can discern between a Chardonnay and a Pinot Grigio.

The latest heavily promoted lady libation on the scene is NUVO, a pink hued vodka & sparkling French wine blend that is packaged in a bottle that resembles a perfume decanter. Pour Moi Cognac,"inspired by women and designed for women" has also staked out their claim.

In the name of research (wink), I have tried many of these products and in all fairness they are delicious. These flirty and fashionable drinks are a perfect addition to a girls night out.  But I dread the day that I visit the liquor store and find that the wines have been separated by gender instead of country or varietal.