Deux Copines: Holiday Shopping In Our Closets

In this life it is sooo important to be in the moment, in the spirit of the season, to drink spirits color-coordinated to the holidays, which at the same time offer a little buzz that makes you think you're hearing festive jingling bells even though they're only in your head.

Anyone can drink something red, any time of the year -- lots of people do it everyday -- but I ask you, when was the last time you drank something green?  I thought so.

That is precisely what Edith and I did last weekend as we pulled our Christmas party clothes out of our closets, metaphorically speaking. She sketched, I explained and we both drank Chartreuse. For those of you unfamiliar with the taste, the minute you get past the first sensation when you believe you're sipping something vaguely medicinal, you immediately start to like it. Shortly thereafter you realize it does have a strange, but not at all unpleasant medicinal effect. 

The Chartreuse also explains why my new plastron, i.e. bib necklace looks, hmm, a little "muddy." But who cares, right(!?)

As I was saying, off we went to our armoires and this is what we found to wear to all those parties to which the invitations have apparently been lost by the poste. 

Edith dug in and found "a Kenzo skirt I forgot I owned," which she coordinated with a stretchy black velvety, square-neck top from Zara and of course she added those boots of hers again. She bought masses of red "pearls" at Monoprix and hung a family heirloom locket from one of the strands. 

Her long black silk crepe skirt is of unknown origins while the red silk shell she had made in India. Contrary to appearances, she is not wearing red boots, but rather her new red satin shoes with red opaque tights (also new). She's wearing the same braided leather belt with both outfits. "I've had it forever and don't ask me where I got it." (See how people get when they drink green alcohol?)

I'm wearing what is definitely one of my top ten favorite possessions, my Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo. I wear it a million different ways, separate or as a suit. Here I paired it with a ruffled halter blouse with a wing collar and my usual Monsoon cummerbund and amethyst chandelier earrings.  (If I knew where the blouse was I would tell you who designed it, but I've been looking all morning and it's no place to be found. I guess it isn't the end of the world since, as I mentioned, those invitations are not pouring in. Maybe I'll wear le smoking chez moi on Christmas Eve -- under my apron.) Edith gave me the prune satin envelope evening clutch.

The second ensemble includes my usual red satin trousers with a black silk bustier and another of my favorite jackets, a wool crepe redingote with velvet buttons and trimmed in black velvet at the lapels and wrists. Please note the  plastron which I wish to buy and intend to buy. And aren't my new black grosgrain bows on my old red grosgrain shoes too, too chic for words?