Built By Wendy is Wonderful

I've started using the word "wonderful" a lot and I realize it's a common expression here in Columbia/the South (though generally it's pronounced more like "whunnduhful" and it's usually an older crowd that uses it). I think it's a good alternative to "fabulous" or "terrific," so I encourage you all to merge it into your lexicon.

On the shopping front, since my trip to NYC a couple of weeks ago, I've decided my new favorite brand is Built By Wendy. I got these dungaree linen track pants while I was there and they are a big hit!


I originally spied them in Lucky magazine (btw, while in NYC I was shopping at the favorite, TG170, in came Gigi Guerra - fabulous fashion editor!). In fact Built By Wendy has gotten another shout-out recently from Tina Fey in Vogue...well, maybe not so much of a "shout out," but rather more of a cut? When commenting on a photo of herself as a little girl with some funky 70s outfit, Fey said, "You could put that on Built by Wendy and sell it for $260—the whole look."

Oh well, all this buzz worked on me: I was dead-set on getting to the BBW store and purchasing either the track pants or this lovely outfit:

Since I went with the pants I'll wait until this summer and try to snatch up the shirt and skirt too after I've saved up some duckets.

Black Tie Attire for Women

I haven't blogged in a while so I thought I'd post this quick topic to hopefully spark some reader input. I am attending a black tie affair this Friday night. It's a local Red Cross event and I don't know anyone on the host committee except for my great friend who is taking me as her date. She insists that whatever I wear will be grand, but I have a sinking suspicion that this is more of a senior black tie event than, say, the Contemporaries Black and White ball at CMA. If I'm right, a knee-length dress will not, in fact, be appropriate.

All the websites out there say that the "rules" are if the invite says black tie, women wear long dresses or fancy black pants and beaded tops (see "senior" reference above). Apparently one can only push the envelope when the invite specifies "creative black tie."

Let me just get this out: never have I been so paranoid about what I am wearing since I moved down here. As many of you faithful readers know, I am normally very confident about my fashion sense (hello, this blog), but the South occasionally throws me some curve balls. This is one of them.