2016 Countdown to My Annual Black Tie Event
Every year in late May, right around Memorial Day Weekend, I look forward to our annual Club 21 dinner dance.
Like the fashionable crowd attending the Met Gala in New York City, I want to look my best. I prepare my countdown at least four months before the event.
I developed my must-do checklist after twenty years of attending the soiree that includes the following:
Exercise: I fell off the proverbial bandwagon over the winter. Late February, I started to notice some arm jiggle and the scale inching up a few pounds. I had excuse after excuse about why I couldn’t do the 10,000 steps I already committed to over the last few years. Perhaps, I was bored or needed a new Fitbit. But I’m back to being fully dedicated to keeping this body fit.
Gown: I look online for ideas as early as January every year. I hear about women who rent cocktail dresses and gowns. My pear-shaped silhouette always leads me to alterations, even if my selection is an a-line gown or dress.
Accessories: Once I’ve purchased my gown and sent it for alterations, I start to look for my accessories. I examine what I already have versus what would be appropriate for the dress I’ve chosen. Since my gown is long and you really won’t see my shoes, I chose a pair of Kate Spade suede navy heels. My gown is navy, and I didn’t need another pair of black evening shoes.
As for earrings, tassels seem to have their moment; I wanted to join the parade. I chose a pair of gold beaded tassel earrings. Hopefully, my gold-beaded evening bag from my collection of formal clutches isn’t too matchy-matchy.
Skin: Since developing acne as an adult when I entered middle age, I routinely get a facial every six to eight weeks. The Hydra-facial is my anti-aging treatment of choice, and I’ve timed it so that I receive one a week before the event. A few days before, I will use my inexpensive routine to reduce the appearance of being tired.
Hair: An updo is an easy option since my hair is thinning more than I wish to share now. I put off coloring my gray hair until only a week before the event.
Beauty products: I shared in a previous post about a new product I love, Peter Thomas Roth cleansing butter. During this time, I also like to try new nail color and lipstick or lip polish to freshen up my look.
Diet: The week before, I make a pot of Sacred Heart Soup to drop at least five pounds.
Water: I make a batch or two or three of Sassy water (fat flush water) the week before. This usually flushes my system out of toxins and turns fat into fuel in the body.
Please stay tuned for my gown reveal and review of the night. Do you attend a fancy event? Do you utilize the countdown method to accomplish your end result? Do tell!
Have a fabulous week!
