Dressing up

...is half the fun of going out!

God knows how, but I made the best dressed list! Photo stolen from SFLuxe

A month or so ago the Englishman and I went to the SF Symphony Opening Gala, celebrating the beginning of the SF Symphony's 101st year! It was a decision we made about 17 hours before the event... which meant I had no time to buy a gown. This caused IMMENSE stress in my life. If you have ever met me you know that I am completely neurotic, an intense stress case, and a complete perfectionist. Not having the time (or let's be real, this was upper echelon SF society business, so nor the fund's) to have the best gown there ATE AT ME! I want to say I had no less than three mini fits about what I would wear and how it would not be suitable. (And this is a conservative estimate to save face!)

Luckily, I previously purchased a dress that I thought I would want to wear one day, despite at the time not having a place in mind to wear it. It was really no where near fancy enough (or looking back) all that flattering of a dress on me, but it worked within the time constraints I had! I threw on some jewelry I already had, painted my nails while doing my makeup and grabbed an old - but favorite clutch from my purse collection (more on that another day).  The only thing I actually spent time on was getting my hair done. I am a complete moron when it comes to hair. I literally cannot even brush my hair without making it look worse than before I started. I have never had cool hairstyles, or gorgeous locks in any way shape or form. This has become a mini obsession in my life, and you should under no circumstances ever ask me about my hair. I will talk your ears off about all of my failed attempts at hair grandeur and all the things I still want to try. It is pathetic and apparently quite boring to others. I made an appointment to get my hair blown out and put in a poufy ponytail. My terms. This is the picture I showed the girl who did my hair.

So as to not grotesquely embarrass myself, let's just tell the reader's digest version of the story. My hair DID NOT look like this once it was done. I may have expressed my displeasure with my facial expressions and choice of verbiage. The hair was taken out and redone, quickly, another client was waiting for her appointment. It was then worse. I may have then taken it all out myself (there were 40 bobby pins - telling sign?) and paid (while majorly complaining passive aggressively - my specialty) and then left in a ginormous huff (oh, and then cried in my car). Yes, that was the version of the story formulated to NOT embarrass myself, thank you for asking. I went to change into my dress and do my makeup and had a huge problem. Clearly my hair was now producted up and in some places teased. I am still a hair moron at this point (and today as it stands). WHAT WAS I TO DO? I simply just put it in a ponytail, begged my boyfriend for reassurance and got in (the world's most expensive - thank you market pricing) Uber ever and off we went.

Once I was at the event I  forgot about my hair and had a great time. The Englishman could not have looked better in his tuxedo, and the music was gorgeous. It was fun to "dress up" and go out to an event that is a little outside our "normal" date night routines, and I enjoyed the evening thoroughly. Especially the run for macaroni and cheese and fries we did after the performance.

Best news? I made a best dressed list for my ensemble. Not sure how, but see for yourselves ladies and gentlemen.

http://sfluxe.com/2012/10/01/symphony-style-101/ (about halfway down the page)

(My mom says she would never have known that was me if she was scrolling through the list. Oh, and to stand up straight - I look a bit pudgy, and maybe it is time to start moisturizing my neck - it's looking a bit turkeyish. Thanks mom!)

Now, to prove that I am indeed not that awesome, nor making best dressed lists all the time... Here are more typical photos of the things what I wear out: iPhone dressing room pics!

Trying on dresses for the 7x7 Hot 30 SF Party - this was the selected dress

Rejected dress for the SF Zoo Fur Ball... too much leg, and one text recipient of above photo said I looked "hippy". Immediately turned off!

What I actually wore to the SF Zoo Fur Ball. Not a dressing room pic (bathroom, way classier!). I had worn this to work and then had a major dress snafu the night of the Fur Ball and had to go in my work clothes... perfectionist in me was NOT happy!

How the Fur Ball turned out... not so amaze in terms of other people's ensembles. Ended up glad I hadn't spent money on a new dress and necklace, my "work" outfit was perfect, especially when we left after less than an hour and went for dinner!

Trying on dresses for my 27th birthday party! This was the winner. One of my favorite dresses ever, can't you tell by my smirky happy face? 

Not for any specific event, but this firework skirt is one of my new fav pieces and I can't wait to wear it somewhere fabulous.

Again, not purchased for a specific event, but I can already tell, whatever event they show up at - they are going to kick ass and take names.