HOW DO YOU LIKE THE NEW LOOK?

So, how do you like the new look?  A very big thank you to young Jamarcus for updating the official blog photo. This picture was taken as an enclosure in our Christmas card one year (probably late 90s as it is pre Posey) with the message, "Merry Christmas from The McKeons.  Laurie, Dave and the Little Monsters".  Look at the look of terror/exhaustion/confusion on my face. And check out how buff big Dave McKeon looks.... I must confess, a big part of those preschool years is a blur. But I never forget an outfit, (I am sort of a clothing savant. I can remember every single outfit I wore for the first two years that Dave and I dated) and those Christmas/winter outfits were a total classic. You can't see them that well but those are Giesswein jackets on all of the kids and Annie has on a Laura Ashley green velvet jumper and the boys are all wearing black watch plaid pants. My jacket is also black watch making for a very nice photo op. Total recall on my  part. Here is a better photo of those awesome outfits and the photo that was on the front of the Christmas card that year. Look how blond and cute Pete was. Look even closer and you can see that Jack actually has his pajamas pants on under his itchy wool pants. Comfort always took a back seat to the look. Sorry, kids...That photo was taken on the terrace of our house in Mansfield. It almost looks fake, but it's real.

As I was waxing nostalgic about clothing, John Heinzman sent me an email with an attached photo and asked this very important question. Here it is:  John asked "Is this in? Clashing patterns, or just a gay model thing?" Here is the photo: yes, I know it is sideways. Don't ask..ok, ask..

I'm done... I give up, I absolutely and totally give up.  I cannot get this %#^&** picture to save going up and down. I have been trying for like an hour and a half. You will just have to tilt  your head or turn your computer or something. You figure it out. Just when I think I've nailed this insert photo technology, I am put right back in my place...

However, to answer John's burning question, "yes, this is a very cool look and it's not just a gay model thing" . But, I caution you, unless you look like this dude, and I mean EXACTLY like this dude, do not try this look at home. And I will concede, the hair is a little bit much (ok, a lot much-- this hairdo even makes Tom Brady look like a p*$$^, so just imagine what it would do on any mere mortal) but the outfit is cool.

Now, remember, I am a fashion forward woman answering this question. I am the mom who bought my kid the "epic" Penguin jacket, I am the mom who made my kids suffer in pursuit of the perfect Christmas outfit (the irony that I would put ugly dinosaur masks on my kids, but forced them to wear itchy wool pants to get the perfectly coordinated Christmas clothing look  does not escape me...), I can spend hours matching up shirts and ties, like the scene in "American Gigolo", I love madras plain sport coats, I bought an ivory dinner jacket for my boys because it is the ultimate classic formal wear and I dressed my sons like girls for years, so maybe I'm not the ultimate authority on what may be considered "gay" . 

I do know for a fact that if you asked Dave McKeon about this look,  he would unequivocally answer: "Hell, yes, this is a gay model thing. No one but a total, screaming metrosexual would ever wear that shirt with that tie. No full blooded American male would wear that outfit...EVER.  maybe some British wanker, but no real American" Then he would spend the next fifty minutes ranting about the demasculinazation of the American male due to the influence of British fashion, Nate Berkus, "Glee" and Tom Brady. It is a very long lecture (somehow Oprah, the football players who go on "Dancing with the Stars",  boot cut jeans, and the movie "Dances with Wolves" are involved) and I have heard it several times. However, I have to still nod and listen as it plays out because Dave McKeon  just discovered the real price of my specially ordered Long champ leather bag (the purse, not the suitcase) and now it is payback time, and part of that pay back is me feigning interest in his ravings (it's in the wife handbook--look it up)...Thank God they captured Bin Laden so we can move on to a new topic...

Speaking of clothes, here is short recap of the outfits at the Royal Wedding: Princess Catherine--beautiful dress, amazing figure, very classic, regal, perfect look. Carol Middleton: very appropriate mother of the Bride outfit, nothing amazing, but totally fine. Camilla: who needs her? Those poor sad daughters of Fergie: could they look any uglier? Even Posh spice wouldn't have been able to carry off that flesh colored hat..it was just awful. Those girls better watch it, or they will be watching Prince Harry's wedding at home with their mother. The queen: nice look with the yellow, but really, when is she going to step down and give someone else a chance to rule?? Pippa: she stole the show. She is smoking hot and her dress was killer. Also, she looked like she was having a blast. All the men looked very nice, except Prince Phillip who looked a bit like a turkey. I agree with Judy, Prince Harry looks like the most fun. And it was awfully nice of James Middleton to take the ugly gene on behalf of his family, so his sisters could marry well...that's real brotherly love. All in all, I loved the royal wedding, and watched it over and over (even the Bravo style version) but what would you expect from someone who thought that the Ralph Lauren outfit above was a hit???

Today's Top Ten:

1. Navy Seals-real men doing manly things...
2. Pippa
3. The gray leather custom made Long Champ bag--my last big splurge, I swear
4. Gray suede primigi driving moccasins--don't worry, they are for women
5. Harrods
6. The little blond page boy from the Royal Wedding--he is smiling in every picture and looks like he really enjoyed the day
7. "Bossypants" by Tina Fey--very funny
8. Giesswein jackets
9. John and Tricia Heinzman--great addition to the blog, totally crack me up
10. Men's fashions--always cutting edge