Who is Maria?

First, let me congratulate Judge Sonia Sotomayor on her nomination to the Supreme Court by President Obama.

Second, Governor Huckabee (do you refer to former governors as "Governor"?), what the heck? Here's what he said, I go off below.

Huckabee Statement on Sotomayor

"The appointment of Maria Sotomayor for the Supreme Court is the clearest indication yet that President Obama's campaign promises to be a centrist and think in a bi-partisan way were mere rhetoric. Sotomayor comes from the far left and will likely leave us with something akin to the "Extreme Court" that could mark a major shift. The notion that appellate court decisions are to be interpreted by the "feelings" of the judge is a direct affront of the basic premise of our judicial system that is supposed to apply the law without personal emotion. If she is confirmed, then we need to take the blindfold off Lady Justice."

I am not even going to touch the substance of his comments. I cannot. I am too confused to even get to that point. Why is he calling her "Maria"? Is he trying to be cute? Is he just ignorant? Does he really not know that her first name is not Maria? If that is the case, did he just luckily guess the name "Maria", which happens to be Judge Sotomayor's middle name? Does't that seem too lucky to be possible?

Now, I don't want to jump to racism or the allegation that someone is once again trying to deny minorities their individuality (akin to calling all black men "boy" without regard to their names), but something seriously seems amiss here.

If you have a more salient explanation, I'm all ears.

Girl Crush?

Is it possible to have a girl crush on the First Lady? Or, if its the First Lady do these great feelings of adoration that I am experiencing go unnamed because they are inherent in the position of First Lady? The outfit she wore to the spoken word event at the White House is just fabulousness. I'm particularly in love with the top. First Lady Michelle, I covet your top.

I dare you to find another First Lady with such daring and developed personal style. I don't think you can. Sigh.....I think I'm in love.

Photo courtesy of Concrete Loop.

Afternoon Tea

Spring has sprung! One of my favorite spring traditions is the afternoon tea. What's not to love? Lovely ladies all dressed up in big hats, adorable dresses and dainty gloves are the hallmarks of this great spring fete. Last weekend, I attended an afternoon tea in Prince George's County, MD. Despite the drive to what I believe is the other side of the world, it was a great afternoon! We dined on finger sandwiches, were entertained by a talented teenage dance troupe, and best of all, there was a hat parade!

I, of course, labored for weeks over what I would wear to the tea. What hat? What dress? Gloves or no gloves? Should the hat match the dress, or simply coordinate? So many questions, only one fabulous outfit!!! Well, I finally decided on a simple palette with exciting accents. See my outfit below. I like that the focal points are at the very top of and bottom of the outfit, and there's elegant simplicity in between.





Also, we mustn't forget the closeup of the shoes! I think that they "make" the outfit! And, yes, I have lavender toes. :-)

Outfit rundown (current season unless otherwise noted)

Hat: Fine Millinery Collection by August Accessories, available at Macy's

Dress: Banana Republic

Cardigan: Express (Spring 2005)

Shoes: Beverly Feldman (purchased at Off Fifth two years ago, season unknown)

Just for the Recessionistas....

New York and Company is offering a coupon for $20 off a $60 purchase, click here to get your's. As I've gotten older, I've become less and less of a NY&Co fan, but I actually quite like the shirt dress on the coupon (shown above). Depending on the price, it may be worth checking out. I think the yellow is quite fetching!

BRAVA! Now, let's go further...

Per the New York Times, today a federal judge ordered the FDA to make Plan B (emergency contraception) available to 17 year women without a prescription. The order overturns a 2006 Bush administration requirement that had previously set the age to receive the emergency contraception at 18 years.

Of course, reproductive rights advocates heralded the decision and conservative pundits decried it. I simply say, here we have a drug that if taken within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse can prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Fewer unplanned pregnancies = fewer abortions. I would think that "fewer abortions = good" would be something about which we can all agree.

I'm Lovin' It!!

So, I've been away for a while thanks to work (they saw the law makes for a jealous mistress and they would be correct), but now I'm back in full effect. But in addition to me being back in full effect, so is spring fashion. I am loving it! Unfortunately, I do not think my husband and my checking account are loving my obsession with the beauties out there this spring, and since I can't bring them all home to me, I figure I'll share my obsessions with you. Here are a few of the things that are calling out to me in a major way. Consider them le creme de le creme of all that spring has to offer.

J. Crew's Slub Silk Penelope Dress

J. Crew's Printed Silk Chiffon Whitney Long Dress

DVF Palma Dress in Patchwork

DVF Deana Dress in Patchwork

Alice + Olivia Bead Trim Dress

Plenty by Tracy Reese Bungalow Dress

What a glorious spring!

D. Wade, the "Speedy" of Basketball?

Taking a cue from overly oppressive office dress codes everywhere, the NBA has decided that, it too, should further delve into the business of stifling employee expression and creativity. We office drones thought we were the ones subject to draconian laws regulating our belts, bracelets, and bows; but alas, professional basketball players join us as victims of such senseless suppression.

The NBA, in its infinite wisdom, has banned D. Wade's band-aid. Yes, you read that correctly, his band-aid. Apparently, D. Wade, in the view of the NBA, committed an offense more commonly seen on novice fashionistas: he over-accessorized. Who knew the NBA was the fashion police? I've never seen David Stern in Vogue.

Yet, according to the NBA, not only did Mr. Wade commit the favored faux pas of the beads and bangles set, but he is also accused of committing the sin of logo bags everywhere: he "self-promoted." Apparently D.Wade has more in common with the Louis Vuitton Speedy bag than he ever imagined. Yet, if he's smart he hopes to have just one-half of the Speedy bag's relevance on the fiftieth anniversary of his debut. For that matter, likely too does David Stern. ;-)

NBA bans Wade’s Band-Aid
Feb 28, 3:44 am EST
YAHOO.Sports.

ATLANTA (TICKER) —No more Band-Wade.
Prior to the Miami Heat’s 91-83 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, the NBA banned Heat superstar Dwyane Wade from donning the Band-Aid on his left cheek that quickly had become a fashion statement.

Wade, the league’s leading scorer, originally wore the Band-Aid to seal a cut beneath his left eye. In the following days, including during NBA All-Star Weekend, Wade slapped his name, nickname “Flash” and even the American flag on the Band-Aid, though the wound had healed.
The NBA, doing its best impression of the NFL, wanted to stop the self-promotion.

“We spoke to (the Heat),” NBA spokesman Tim Frank said, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “A player can wear a Band-Aid for healthcare purposes, but it shouldn’t have any name or identifications on it.”

The league aims for conformity at the arena, where players are forced to abide by a strict dress code before and after the game. Citing Frank, the newspaper said that Wade and the Heat weren’t in danger of any penalty but needed a quick reminder.

“We offered clarity to them,” Frank told the Sun-Sentinel. “You can’t wear an identifiable Band-Aid. We don’t expect it to be an issue, so there will be no need for a penalty.”
Two years ago, the NBA banned full-length tights under uniforms, which players had used as a fashion statement rather than for their intended medical use. The same now can be said for Wade’s rather unique facial accessory.

This just goes to show you: fashion is a metaphor for life.