Ever feel like you get to a party and everyone magically somehow knew to wear jeans and a T-shirt, and you might be in a cocktail dress? OR other times, you might get to a BBQ and everyone is showered from the beach and in cute little dresses and you are still sandy and smelly and in your bathing suit? When I was in Paris last fall, I would marvel at how my two girlfriends would both intrinsically know which day they would both be wearing high heels during the day, which nights were mini skirt appropriate and which nights were for jeans, while I was totally unaware of these unspoken rules and in fact thought they were calling each other to plan outfits. I didn’t get the memo. It’s not just now, its always. I somehow CAN NEVER figure out which dinner parties are for silk shirts and which are for sweaters, which daytime affairs need a dress and which need pants, when to wear sweatpants and sneakers on a plane and when to wear jeans and boots. And of course- I never have blown hair, so I’ve missed the memo on that major aspect of life.
Case in point, saturday night: I didn’t get the memo. Every one at the party was in their tightest Herve type mini- and I wore a vintage jumpsuit from who knows what decade but its a size 10 and tiny so it must be OLD, and the jumpsuit was something of a plumber/utility worker/maybe-no-so-chic.
I should have known that this was my chance to show off all the hard hours of working out I’ve been doing all summer before fall and winter make us cover it up. And its like a rule of having children that when you get back to your baby weight you have to dress like a slut at least once just so people remember that you got back to your original weight between children. You don’t want people to just remember you as a blob for 5 or 6 consecutive years. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
So not only did I not get the memo, but this may have been a bad outfit generally. Vintage: sometimes it works, and sometimes it flops. The good news is I think most people were too busy worrying about themselves/and or inebriated to care about what I was wearing. As it is most of the time.
Aside from outfit laws of life, there are other things I was just never told about: Like you should get your hair blown out before a flight. This contradicts all possible logic (why spend money to have your hair blown when you are just going to wash it the second you get off the plane? Thats what I do at least!) You should buy a new piece of lingerie before a trip… the list goes on and on. There are some cases where I didnt get the memo- and others where I just ignore them and they keep piling up.
Am I the only one? Anyone else? Anyone else? Any fashion rules you purposely break? Any you feel you are just unaware of? Is there a school for this? Maybe I should have been paying attention to my mom as a teenager, instead of fighting with her!
 |
This reminds me of one of my pet peeves: a group of girls that all look the same. You’re out & you see a group of girlfriends that look like clones. All in the same style dress or same color scheme. When I call ahead to see what my friends are wearing it’s so I can purposely dress different.
I like the jumpsuit and Cookie’s necklace.
Thanks!!! I hate that too. For me its not really about wearing the same look as the other girls more like the same level of appropriateness?
This is hysterical. I pretty much always miss the memo and never have blown hair too, so no worries. Plus, I liked your outfit. I’m a sucker for any kind of jumpsuit. No one really judges what anyone is wearing besides themselves or they just suck anyways, right? Unless you end up being the girl in the dress you didn’t know was see through until you walk into just the right light at the restaurant a wedding shower is being held out. Pretty sure everyone definitely thought I was a slut that time.
uh, obviously i didn’t get the memo either because i love your outfit! guess i never really care much if i am dressed differently, as long as i’m feeling comfortable! love your style!
Thanks!
you’re hysterical but you always look chic Nic! Be you because everyone notices!
but you look great! so tan and skinny!
Thank you!
I always miss the memo. When I think I’m dressed according to the theme…there’s always someone(s) taking it to another level. I love the jumpsuit! And I absolutely busted out laughing about dressing slutty at least once! My son is two months old I’m definitely kicking my ass with my workouts. I refuse to be an unkempt mother. I know you understand.
I hear ya! But your baby is only 2 mos old! You got time! After I had Cookie- for about 6 months- I used to lie that my baby was younger while shopping:
Me: You know, Im not really a size X, but I just had a baby.
Sales Person: Oh, how old is your baby?
Me: 2 months.
Sales Person: WOW, You look AWESOME for just having had a baby!
Youre so funny i love how honest this post is.There were some memorable times where I never got the memo…so not fun. I never understood how some girls just always know what to wear and what to do. As ridiculous as it sounds, sometimes you need to pick up the phone and ask someone who ALWAYS gets the memo. Maybe you should take all your memos that you collect and write up a list of top ones we should all be getting.
Ill work on it for ya;)
This is a great post! I know exactly what you mean but the reality is what you said above,most are only thinking about what they have on and how they look to be worried about us. You look amazing in that jumpsuit, so I wouldn’t worry a bit! Once we went to a 40th birthday disco party. We went all out and dressed the parts, when we arrived not only were we there on the wrong night so we ended up crashing Jeff Blauser’s(Atlanta Braves Player, at the time,not sure of spelling) wedding reception but found out that the party was the night before and no one dressed up for it. Either way we were doomed to be embarrassed but to have the valet open the car door at a wedding reception and march in dressed in Goodwill 70′s clothes into a reception where most people were wearing tux’s and vera wangish dresses was totally humiliating! Now we can laugh about it. I think the best rule of thumb is to wear what you are comfortable in and be authentic. You are a beautiful girl with a great body, so there will be haters no matter what! My friend says haters are fans with frowns!!! Have a good day!
I’ve been addicted to your blog for a long time, but today’s post really nailed it. You are a beautiful, intelligent, funny, and talented young woman (oh oh, I’m admitting that I’m of a “certain age”)and I am SOOO grateful that you, too, have those what-was-I-thinking moments! I am headed from NY to Malibu for a beach Bar Mitzvah, taking place outdoors at a camp, where the kids will be staying in cabins and the adults will be doing activities. (I’m leaving before the 3-legged race.) The invitation said: dress in layers and wear flats. I have been hyperventilating since it arrived! White jeans with a great top? A great sweater? A great top AND sweater? I am sure, no matter what I wear, it will be All Wrong! Maybe I should borrow your jumpsuit? PS: I thought you looked fabulous.
Thank you! I have no idea WHAT that invite means! bring sweaters?!?! Sounds crazy, but fun!
Agreed with MMish. I love the honesty. That’s the best thing that sets you apart from everyone else out there and I love it!
I find myself dressing DOWN on purpose when I go out in the city, ESPECIALLY if I know I’ll be surrounded by flitty tartlettes that are all dressed the same. Call it rebellion, if you will. The way I’ve always combatted the “I didn’t get the memo” is to never subscribe to it in the first place. Have I told you the time I showed up to Brinkleys in moto boots and leather shorts when all the other girls were in the tried and true Herve mini/tank combo? Yeah….
It’s all in the uniform. I never stray from my black v-neck tees and skinny jeans in the winter or a black dress in all seasons. It’s definitely a tricky situation but at the very least, you’re apart from the rest no matter what the occasion. People would kill for that.
xo
Best post ever! First off, you always look great! Second, you “not getting the memo” is what makes you different, unique and REAL!