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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Date night! Dressing up in hot weather

Last week our date night was to Mike's on the Avenue. We had a fantastic Groupon: an appetizer, 2 salads, 2 entrees, 2 drinks, and a dessert for $59. Hard to beat! Mike's is Asian fusion, and since I love anything Asian, I was in love. I especially enjoyed the Korean barbequed oysters - the flavors were a perfection of sweet and spicy - and my cocktail. I had a ginger martini, and now I'm pondering how to recreate it at home.
For hot and humid New Orleans nights, I have a few tricks for dressing up.
Hubby refused to make a normal face.
 For this warm evening, I chose a thin cotton camisole - very cool - with a high-waisted skirt. The skirt actually is a regular pencil skirt, but I belted it higher. It kind of drooped over the top of the belt, but oh well. I love the nautical belt: it's Dior, and I got it for $1 at a thrift store. Awesome!
To compliment the natural D-rings on the belt, I wore cork-heeled nude pumps. They are open-work leather and peep-toe, so my feet were cool, too!
Obviously in this weather, your hair has to go up. I decided to go WAY up, and did a high bun. I didn't go too tight, as I didn't want to look too ballerina (the camisole and skirt already looked like I was ready for exercises at the barre).
No hair hot on that neck!
 In this picture you can see how I do a quick bun that stays put: I do a high ponytail, then wrap my hair and secure with hair sticks. I have two 4" bone hair sticks that I wear all the time.
See the little chopsticks poking out? (Kind of hard to see since they're black) They hold your hair like nothing else! Try them and you'll never use a bobby pin again!
Make-up matters, too. I don't wear a lot of make-up to begin with, but in hot weather make-up just tends to look ugly fast. Because of that, I stay pretty light with the make-up in the summer. In this case I just wore under eye concealer (mandatory at all times with my dark circles!) and some mascara. I could have used a little blush but I dropped my compact and broke it a few months ago and never got around to replacing it. In retrospect - now that I see these pictures - I should have used a little powder, too. That shine says "July" like fireworks and watermelon!
Note the awesome belt!
And a word about jewelry: necklaces can make you very hot. I stick with earrings and a bracelet when it's warm.
Last but not least...bring a sweater! You'll be sweating on your long walk from your car (because you found free, on the street parking but it was a mile away, haha) but you'll need a sweater in the A/C. I brought a cropped black cardigan just in case, although free-flowing libations kept me warm enough.

Where was your last date, and what do you wear for hot weather dates?

8 comments:

  1. Cute outfit. LOVE the belt! And the fact that you got it for $1!

    I have started basically living in dresses in the summer. They are just so much cooler than any other clothing! I love really comfy ones that are easy to throw on and pair with lots of different things.

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  2. I totally agree with hair up! You look stunning with virtually no makeup! Lucky girl!!

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  3. OMG, is it weird for me to tell you how Sexy you look? ha ha. I mean you really do look stunning...seriously! I like the hair up and such a cute dress. I love dressing up to go out! My husband and I don't do it enough! So fun!

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  4. You look beautiful!! I do not remember the last time I was on a date. I went on a date with a guy who was in town from Colorado in April but it was a last minute thing and I did not have a chance to go home and get ready or pick out an outfit... So that does not count I guess. The last night date i went on was in October when I went to a nice French restaurant and then to the Symphony with the guy I dated last fall. SO like almost a year ago.... Yikes!

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  5. You guys really are a handsome couple.

    I think I told you my newish g.f. is obsessed with N.O. She grew up in Bossier City. I see a trip to N.O. in our future and if so, maybe the four of us can meet up for an adult beverage.

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  6. I wish I had an eye for this type of stuff. You look very GRACEful! :)

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  7. You look awesome! Yum, and a ginger martini!

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  8. what a cute outfit! you are so stylish and as always i love the thift store bargains.

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