And then there is the hottie from New Years… such a sweet sweet guy.  My first date with him included a greeting with flowers, a dinner at my favorite restaurant (that he remembered me mentioning from our first time meeting), and then a couple of cocktails shared on the rooftop of a luxe downtown hotel.  Again, wow.  Talk about sweeping a gal off her feet!  And, ladies, it doesn’t stop there… each date becomes even more amazing.  There was a time I literally felt drunk from amazement that a man like Jason truly exists!

Now, here we go with the over analysis of the situation… I’m in awe of all that Jason does, what he says, his manly yet beautiful face… but my messed up heart does not swoon for the prince charming.  Instead, it is the shady comedian that I pretty much know is seeing other girls (which is fine, because I am seeing other guys… but HE doesn’t know that?!) and tends to flake on me bi-weekly… my heart soars for him.  WHY does this always happen?  WHY?

Ugh!  So the dates continue with both of them, but one of them has GOT to go, and fast.  This gal cannot maintain the dating rampage!  I’m worn out!  Oh, ladies… I will keep you posted!

XO

Violet

Sienna Miller

Whitney Port

Kate Bosworth

Free People, Acid Wash Knit Pant, $98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First the skinny jean, then the legging… apparently they hit it off and have now spawned “jeggings”.   The denim-legging hybrid is a knit denim inspired pant that is oh so comfortable.  This trend will be hot throughout 2010 and into 2011.  Ladies, Violet and I have to warn you that like leggings, if worn improperly, jeggings too can result in an animal toe and thunder thighs so please be careful how you wear them. 

 Violet and I love Free People’s jegging for $98.  Check them out at www.freepeople.com

Laurent is still around, however another year has bit the dust and my birthday is quickly approaching.  Birthdays used to be full of anticipation and hope!  The milestones could not come fast enough.  There’s hitting the double digits which is a big deal after celebrating 1-9 younger years of age.  Then there’s 13.  Finally.  Being 13 is hitting the cool teenager years.  Little did I know then all the trauma and confusion that’s also involved with being a teenager.  By the time I was 19, I was so tired of hanging out with the immature teenagers that turning 20 was fantastic.  21.   I could finally throw away my fake id and proudly show the bartender my drivers license.  No having to memorize false names or addresses if questioned. 

Then something begins to happen….  trying to rationalize why my soon-to-be new age is better than 21.  Let’s be honest here.  Yes, I love my life now, however why does every year have to fly by so quickly that it smacks you in the face.  The smack is so fierce that I’m convinced it’s why wrinkles have suddenly appeared on my face.  Ok, so maybe I have to get up really close to the mirror to see the wrinkles…but they’re there!

Anyhoo, Violet and all my other friends keep asking me how I’m going to celebrate my birthday this year.  I’m being Negative Nelly and do not want to do anything.  Nothing. Nada.   Well….except, maybe I’ll put my drivers license to good use and hit up a bar or two.  Friends welcome!

Luv. Lola

I was enthusastic yet anxious to attend Jane Birkin’s concert Feb 12th at the French Institute Alliance Française in the city.  Enthuastic because Jane Birkin is a fashion icon and muse over the decades to some of the best fashion designers and musicians, including Serge Gainsbourg of course.  Anxious because I didn’t know quite what to expect sitting in a small, intimate theater listening to lyrics sung in French.  What I found out is that her voice was whispery and almost frail sounding, which matches her waif-like figure and cropped pixie hair style.  I was not expecting her to wear mens baggy tweed trousers with a suede keeper, a loose untucked white button down shirt with the sleeves half rolled/shoved up her thin arms, a matching tweed unbuttoned vest, and a loose tie.  The masculininty and oversized garments accentuated her ultra petite frame.  However, despite her initial appearance and the sound of her voice, what became clear throughout the concert was her strength and openess to the human experience.  She pulled the audience in close to her heart, showing her vulernability and the humaness we all share.  

Check out her music and enjoy some pics that capture the icon over the years.

Luv. Lola

The Scene at Griffin

What a weekend!  My past few Thursday / Friday / Saturday nights have become more and more crazy as the winter slowly comes to an end.  Time to share the dirt with you ladies!  So Thursday night was ridiculous… SOHO loft party.  Hmmm… the invite to this soiree seemed a little sketch but when I heard of the party from both a male and female friend of mine, I figured it was fine.   Finance guys and ladies ladies ladies about.  All enjoying an evening of completely free booze and an overwhelmingly decadent buffet of food all wrapped up in a luxe / any NYC bachelor’s dream loft in SOHO.  I arrive at the party around 8:00pm and didn’t walk out of there until 1:30am.  What ladies!?!? Don’t judge…  I was NETWORKING!

Friday night I had to force myself to lay low after my out of control Thursday night (followed by a brain flexing day at the office).  Lola came over with some delicious bottles of wine (Thanks dear Laurent!) and I cooked a big dinner for four.  One of our most beloved, free-spirited artistic friends is moving to Brazil so he can work for a small Architectural firm in São Paulo.  Not just any firm, but one that focuses on projects that will improve the quality of life for the people of São Paulo.  Wow! And what am I doing with my life again?  Anyway, it was a lovely evening catching up, sharing stories, and dreaming up our next trip… to Brazil for a visit! Yay!

And Saturday… I got a good night of sleep in the night before so I’m ready to go for a final night out.  Quick stop at a friend’s birthday party and then my three girlfriends and I jet off to a club downtown.  We are ushered inside by the doorman and quickly approached by a cocktail waitress.  “I have a table of gentlemen that would love your company if you ladies wouldn’t mind following me this way?!” And were off!  Okay, always worth a try… Probably scumbags but it can be worth a free drink or two (so bad… so so bad, I know!).  Well, they were scumbags and we let them know it but the rest of the night wasn’t a bust.  We later ran into a table of guys we know (familiar friends!) and we dance the rest of the night away.  Beautiful.

Love my weekends!  Five working days of reality and then onto the next… a full weekend of snowboarding in Vermont!

I find that the actual New Year’s Eve celebration is typically one big letdown.  Year after year, I try for a New Years Eve where I don’t wake up the next morning thinking that either

1) Why did I drink that much / Now I’m going to be sick all day today

2) I can’t believe I spent so much money on one ridiculous night

3) Why did I kiss that gross guy at midnight again?  Was I really that desperate?

Or even worse, a combination of all of the above…

Unfortunately, New Year’s after New Year’s, that is usually my story (Enter sigh here).  So this year’s attempt to curb the tradition was an evening of dinner and drinks at Lola’s beau’s favorite French restaurant in Tribecca.  A lovely little hot spot where we were going to wine, dine, dance our way into 2010.  Great!  All I needed was to secure that date….  Yes, I had been seeing the comedian, Eric, at this point and was still very much into him, but for whatever reason, I held off on the New Years Eve invite conversation until two weeks prior to the big night.  When I finally worked up the nerve to ask him, I definitely did not get a solid “yes”.  Instead I got a list of his options and a comment about how he hates the holiday.  Great.  That, ladies, is why I held off on the NYE question.  You see, when dating, New Years is a big deal.  If a guy is ready to commit to spending this big party party night with you and only you, then he is most likely really into you (and ONLY you).  If they opt to not be with you on such a night… nooo good.  Oh, lovely.  At the moment I chose to ignore the sting of his reply and said I needed to go home to walk my dog.  Anyway, dateless and upset about Eric, here I am at New Years with Lola and her adorable man, plus a few other best friends.  LUCKILY, I was not the only one there sans date.  Whew!  As the night went on, people started to get up from their tables and dance / mingle around.  Hmmm… I spy a cutie over at the table in the corner… and he looks like he is not with a date.  Fabulous.  Now for whatever reason, I did not want to face the NYE countdown without anyone to kiss so maybe, MAYBE if I positioned myself next to him, we could chat it up and MAYBE we would hit it off just in time for the clock to strike 12:00.  Well, dear readers, I should write a book on the strategic ways of getting a guy… because it worked… like gold! We totally hit it off, were talking, dancing, losing track of time and then all of the sudden, people started counting down.  5…4…3…2…1… Happy New Year!!  Wow!  I will say that kiss definitely sent me into 2010 on the right foot.  Thank you Mr. hottie Jason!  Sorry Eric, but not sure if you will be allowed to make another appearance in my life come the new millennium.  We shall see but it will take some serious work on his part to work his way back into my life.  Serious work.

So the combination of amazingly cultured company, divine French food, best friends, and a new potential man in my life all made for (dare I say it?!)… a good New Year’s Eve!  Here’s to 2010!

XO,

Violet

XO,

Violet

Style.com Click here to see Style.com’s review of the year’s best dresses!

Time Out New York Magazine Click here to see Time Out New York’s review of the best dresses for under $100!