Quite Possibly the Perfect Girl Day: Sex (and the City) and Shopping

A few days ago I was worried I would be going to the Sex and the City movie all alone. Then I found I had many co-workers who were almost as excited about it as I was. And last week my company instituted "summer hours" out of the blue whereby the office closes at 3 o'clock on Fridays. Suddenly there was an opening day matinée in my future with my office girlfriends!

I had to plan my outfit. I started with the shoes. I'd been waiting for the perfect occasion to debut these sequined Tahari slingbacks my sister bought me for my birthday:



I paired them with black cropped pants from the Gap and this Philip Lim top Cheapy bought me in Miami, also a birthday gift.



An oversized black and white vintage clutch I got from an eBay seller in Australia completed my outfit. (It was big enough that I could fit my makeup bag and my Entertainment Weekly issue devoted to Sex and the City which I've been reading for several weeks gearing up for the movie.)


The outfit was good; the movie was better. It was wonderful. It was satisfying. It was just right. It I'd see it again tomorrow. (And oh--the outfits!) I'm still excited about it (which is partly why I'm blogging it 5 a.m.). Choosing the matinée was a good move. There was a nice crowd, but there were plenty of open seats. When we came out, the line for the 7 p.m. showing was huge--down a hall and out through the lobby. The theater had a concessions cart set up selling goodies to the ladies in line. And there were a lot of ladies--nary a Y chromosome in site.

Eight of us saw the movie at The Mall, and afterward three of us hung around. And of course we went shoe shopping. I picked up this pair of J. Vincent animal print heels at Dillards, MSRP: $180, sale price: $29.99. This is the actual shoe on my actual foot complete with a few lovely bug bites (bugs find me delicious) and my lavender pedicure.



Next we headed off to Victoria's Secret--my friend had a free undies coupon. I don't believe I've been inside a Victoria's Secret store since the '80s. It was very busy and lacy and sheer and it scared me just a little. A bought some briefs which were five for $25. They look just like this on me:




As were were browsing undies, I found that one of my shopping companions had never been to Sephora! We had to remedy that. Plus I had new shoes and new undies--some new makeup in my bag would make it a shopping trifecta! Sephora is the ultimate girly place to shop, perfect for my day of everything girl.

I'd been going to The Mall Sephora store for ages, and shopping at the tiny Benefit diplay, and I always wondered why they didn't have a bigger selection of Benefit products. So I asked a Sephora sales person (the same one who recommended the perfect shade of Laura Mercier lipcolor to me) and she walked me over to a giant Benefit display on the other side of the store. I had no idea it was there. I bought Dandelion face powder that's the most lovely shade of pink for my fair skin. It's a fatastic blush color for me.

To top off my perfect girly day, we had some food and a round of cosmos. Because who could go to see Sex and the City and not have a round of cosmos? I bet there were a record number of this ubiquitous pink cocktail served on May 30th. I was already buzzed on the movie and the shoes and the makeup and the drink made me over-the-top joyed out. Spending two hours and fifteen delicious minutes with Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte, and a few hours at The Mall with real girls...ahh, it makes me so glad I don't have a penis.

Material Girl, Coach Potato

Material Girl loves TV almost as much boots. I work all day, I wrangler a toddler; I need to recline on the chaise and ingest brain candy before I sleep. Here are my current TV crushes, some long-term, some new, all fashion-y. I think you should watch them all so we can talk about them.

• Gossip Girl. The CW and Material Girl are good good friends despite the fact that Material Girl is, ehem, just slightly older than their target demographic. They've sucked me in again with this new show based on series of YA novels. If you don't watch it for the ultra bitchiness or the we're-oh-so-rich-and-oh-so-screwed-up beautiful people, watch it for the clothes. It's so fabulous to see teenagers donning dresses that cost more than (both my) wedding dress(es combined) for, say, a birthday party or brunch. And I'm all about Blair bringing back the slip. The slip needs a comeback. And let's not forgot about Chuck Bass. If James Spader in the 80s and Logan Huntsberger had a baby, he would be Chuck Bass. He rocks bow-ties and wears a signature scarf. He's awesome.

• Project Runway's new season and Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. I love me some Tim Gunn. He's divine--the catch phrases, the perfect grooming, the honest assessments, the occasional tearing up, the 10 Items Essential to Every Woman's Wardrobe. Watch and learn.

• Sex & the City reruns. Oh Patricia Field. Where did you come up with some of those outfits for Ms. Bradshaw? While they range from wack-a-doo to fabulous, I feel I always learn some good fashion lessons from viewing the clothing on Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte. At least once a week I have a eureka moment watching the show. (Eureka moments generally send me right to eBay.) Favorite Carrie quote: "I like my investments where I can see them--in my closet."

I Can't Wait for the Sex and the City Movie

Because I get to see outfits like this without watching TBS reruns. It's as if the big flower pin exploded. But, you know, I like this on SJP. And if I had the right occasion (renewing my wedding vows on a tropical island?) I would wear this dress.