Theory or Razor-tivity

It's fall. In Colorado

that means you start layering, wearing jeans, maybe throwing on a sweater in the evenings. Your wardrobe begins to show off rich fall colors, gem tones and if you are civilized, you put away or flip flops until next summer.

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You venture outside, breath in the cool, crisp air and watch the golden leaves fall from the trees. Then you remember, besides Starbucks bringing back your favorite pumpkin latte, you have one other fall bonus, you can take a few days off shaving your legs. I mean, you won't be showing them off as much.

It's fall. In Florida

that means you continue wearing your Jack Rogers, maybe opting for a slightly richer color like platinum instead of the darling pink of summer. You look longingly into the bright sky and wonder when the days will come when the mercury will dip below 75 degrees. You know these days are payment for all the love the coast will give back during the mid-winter glory.

Right now, though, you pine for the life of a mountain girl who can just cover her legs with cute pants, maybe jeans even and actually stop shaving her legs. I mean, no one ever sees their legs anyway.

In a way, I've lived both lives and that's how I formulated the theory of "razor-tivity".

Undoubtedly you've heard of the theory of relativity...something about time and space folding in on itself blah-de-blah, black hole, yada, yada...watch the Big Bang Theory if you don't know what I'm talking about.

So, here goes, Eli's Theory or Razortivity

Every razor is designed to only cut a certain length of hair. That is the constant. What is relative is the number of times it cuts to get to that total length...but let me tell you, when it is done (and it knows) it starts pulling your hair.

Here's how this works.

In Colorado, during the cold months when mountain women don't shave (I've met a few), the razor cuts long pieces of hair infrequently, when the total length of the average strand cut is equal to three inches...the razor starts to pull and it must be replaced. So you get maybe 8 shaves over the winter and it's time for a new one.

In Florida, however, winter months are filled with showing off legs (darned it). So getting to the three inches takes the same time but nearly 45 shaves before it starts pulling.

I really would have thought you could use the razor 45 times in either place but NOT SO! 

Stupid thing is smarter than it looks.

Palm Beach, The Four Seasons

Need a gown, this season's hottest 
trend includes lots of mini layers

The four seasons are:

1. The Season
2. After the Season
3. Hot and Humid
4. Awaiting The Season

Unlike Vivaldi, who actually has four seasons,  Palm Beach really only has one, affectionately called "The Season." After speaking with several natives, I found a consensus that the true beginning of the season is November 1st.

Around the Island, the evidence is already being seen through increased traffic, hot cars around town,  impossible reservations at local hot spots and ramp up of philanthropic events. Apparently the ebb and flow of seasonal residents gets started now and builds most of November and December, although many go North for the holidays. Then January through April, depending on the date of Easter, are the height of it all, offering a frenetic pace for tennis matches, lunches at the club and festive fund-raising "balls."

Historically {late 1800's} The Season was fairly short, taking cues from the leading island hotels,

Long or short the style is gorgeous,
and you don't need to spend a lot
to look smashing. Try Overstock.com

The Breakers, open from December to May and the Royal Poinciana, open January to April.

Year-round residents, however,
recalled [the season] closing on the 22nd of February
after the annual Washington Ball,
held alternately at the two grand hotels.(source)

Here are just a few of the many grand events that one can look forward to this Season:

November 8, 2011

to benefit the Center for Creative Education

uses the arts to enrich and transform children’s educational experience

November 12, 2011

to benefit The Hanley Center: an institution dedicated to helping

individuals and families affected by the disease of addiction (source) 

November 17, 2011

to benefit Susan G Komen South Florida:
save lives and end breast cancer forever
by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all
and energizing science to find the cures

Looking for a calendar of other events, try these links:

Palm Beach Social Calendar (Palm Beach Galas)

Palm Beach Social Calendar (The Shiny Sheet)

Palm Beach Society Magazine Social Calendar

I, for one, am looking forward to my first "Season." I hope you are looking forward to it too.

Until next time, Eli

No Yawning Awnings

The sun is strong here. Everyone tells me so.

The latitude, being on the near side of the equator, actually makes it so. Check out my blog post on the Sun's rays at sea-level beach vs. high altitude mountains.

Any way you slice it, clipping around town for some jaunty fun is a bummer when you stop at a cafe or diner and have to wait outside in the sun for a table or for your valeted car.

Chic stores in Palm Beach use awnings. These aren't your run-of-the-mill, boring awnings. But just like the fashion of hip Palm Beachers, they wear the latest styles with graphic patterns, bright colors and fun shapes.

Graceful shape and dynamic colors

 Let's take a little tour around Palm Beach Island and view some of what the best looking doors wear.

Bold Stripes and scallops

Triplets and Twins

Classic white with scallops

Elegant cloth and metal

Form and color

Here's an activity for you, as you drive or walk around town, see if you spy any of these, or maybe some that I missed. Just enjoy the hunt!

Until next time, Eli

PB Style Dish~Shift Dresses

Plenty of friends back in the mountains have been asking me about the style differences in Palm Beach. I've spent all summer watching and have begun to pull together a few "truths." I'll be sharing my observations over time. Today is a tribute to the quintessential style piece for women: The Shift Dress.

The Shift? What?

Shift dress became popular in the 1920's with flappers. They were easy to wear and accessorize while dancing the night away at the local "prohibited" watering hole.

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In the 1960's, Lilly Pulitzer elevated it by wearing colorful ones to hide the juice stains she attracted while serving her juice stand customers. (Made from the fruits of her husband's groves.) Soon, her customers started asking her to sell the dresses and, well, the Lilly Pulitzer fashion empire was born...right here in PB! {These are the kinds of things that mountain fashionistas don't usually grow up knowing.}.

Here are a examples few to wet your island-style appetite.

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I love this perfect example. It is graphic with slight tailoring and lovely detailing at the top. Take another look, do you see the sailboats? A brilliant touch, don't you think.

Next is a classically shaped "Lilly" featuring an updated fabric: daisy lace. It comes in white, turquoise, yellow and this hot pink. You can find it here.

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Want one, custom-made for you? and "green?" Check out this online shop, Wear the Shift. They specialize in shifts for "folks of all sizes" using "vintage and eco-friendly" fabrics. Hooray!

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How about crochet? So elegant.

You can see the image and buy the retro pattern pdf here.

I'd love to stick around but I've got some shopping to do. I'm off to C.Oricco. Palm Beach's Lilly Pulitzer Premiere Signature shop...I'll be sure to report back on that adventure soon.

Until next time, Eli