While taking down some of the Christmas decorations today, my eyes lingered on this photo of my parents at a New Year's Eve party in Havana in the 1950's. She must have been in her late twenties and my father in his early 30's. It is one of many favorites of the two of them. The expression on my father's face is so typical and just the way I remember him. And Madame Mere, so stylish in her black dress and pearls. No wonder she has aged so well, just look at that skin.
I wish we still dressed up like that when it comes to New Year's Eve. It was so civilized. Somehow jeans and a sweater don't do it for me when it comes to opening a bottle of Champagne...or sitting down to caviar, Duck A l'Orange and a Grand Marnier souffle. That's what we had last night, for MM had her heart set on a special dinner and I concurred! Today she's on chicken soup and soda crackers, but she insists it was not "the rich food".
It is interesting the time we spend decorating our houses for the holidays and yet we shun doing the same for ourselves. It can't be about cost, since what you pay for some of the "casual clothes" I see advertised today can definitely buy you a cocktail dress or two. I think a bit of rebellion or a quest for individuality has a lot to do with this because "dressing up" doesn't take more time than "dressing down" and you'd be surprised how different people act in the former from the way they behave in the latter. In my book, as far as New Year's Eve is concerned, clothes do make the man (or woman). It would be wonderful to see a little glamour back in our lives.
If you notice a tinge of nostalgia in this post, you are quite right. Maybe the news and events of the past years have me yearning for the time of my childhood, or maybe I am just tired of the way people dress today, I'm always a little down on the first day of the new year but I always bounce back, I'll be chirpier in a couple of days and back in the saddle!
Have A Happy New Year!
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| But...I was all dressed up! |
Oh what a wonderful, wonderful picture of your parents. I love it. Such a rare moment that we still have these images.
ReplyDeleteAnd I totally, 100%, agree about dressing up. I miss it. I'm just not, and never have been, a casual kind of gal. Dresses are my favorite piece of clothing. And yes, one DOES act differently, I think, when "dressed." But so much these days is casual, including good manners. And I think that may come from this casual dress. How many men take off a hat when they enter a building? I ask you!
Anyway, happy new year to all of you!!!!
Libby, even casual in our days wasn't sloppy!
DeleteHappy New Year to you and Peter.
Happy New Year to you dearest Lindaraxa, and I hope 2015 brings you and your lovely mother much health, happiness and good fortune. That is a wonderful photograph of your parents by the way. Such glitz and glamour.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely with you when it comes to the matter of dressing up, and sadly you are absolutely correct in that many people dress so slovenly and inappropriately nowadays when out and about. Just this past week, when we were dining in a fabulous restaurant on our recent trip, my husband and I could not believe our eyes when two scoundrels seated at a table close to ours had the nerve to show up in sports shirts. Believe me when I tell you that everyone else in the room was decked out to the nines and looked marvelous and appropriate for the establishment they were dining in. We sat there for about five minutes rolling our eyes and wondering how could the management allow such dress (for lack of a better word) to go unnoticed. We were thrilled when we soon spotted the captain walking towards the two offenders and hand them jackets. The rest of our meal was markedly improved after this as we were no longer staring at the ghastly bright yellow wording on the back of one of the sports jerseys.
Your NYE celebrations sounded perfect and I do love Mr. Fox's attire for the night.
The worst problem is they have taken casual to slovenly, as you say. Was just looking at some photos of the Princess of Sweden pushing a stroller in a jogging suit in Central Park. No makeup to boot. And this is today's royalty.
DeleteI can see you in your mother. I hope you had a wonderful celebration and that the nostalgia you experienced can propel you into a wonderful new year!
ReplyDeleteI'm a mix. When I was with my father everyone said I looked like him. With my mother the same. I have his coloring. The nostalgia has passed. It usually lasts for the first 24 hrs. It's a "and now what" kind of a feeling. HNY!
DeleteOh how wonderful that happenned! What city??
ReplyDeleteIt is tragic that the slovenly way people dress is spreading everywhere!
Hat off going into a building! Good grief! How about baseball hats on during dinner in a lovely restaurant?!!
Al Capp the cartoonist (who was a brilliant sociologist) had it right. "Inner and Outer Slobbovia"! He predicted it. And it is now where we live!
YUCK!!!!!
Hi Penelope, I love Al Capp's line! the worst is at the airports. I'm waiting to see someone in pajamas but maybe I have just missed it.
DeleteHappy New Year to you.
What a glamorous photo of your parents. I miss dressing up too, although I dress up more than any of my friends & family. I sometimes feel out of place, but it's just not my nature to wear sloppy clothes and slouch. Guess too many years in the fashion and beauty business is still instilled in me, but I was never really casual as a child either. We just discovered a small French restaurant run by a Frenchman and his wife and they actually have a dress code for the restaurant, which is quite refreshing. I also miss living in Mississippi where almost every part and event was black tie.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you and your family. Your new year's eve menu sounds very sophisticated.
Sam
Slouch seems to go hand in hand with sloppy clothes, the new casual. I know that feeling of out of place but these days I don't care. We have to make a stand! Hooray for the Frenchman and his wife!
DeleteHappy New Year to you and your camera man.
Great photo of your parents. Were they Cuban or just visiting before the revolution? I ask because my mother is from Argentina and older photos of her family have this same look and feel.
ReplyDeleteI too lament how sloppy our world has become. All one has to do is turn on TCM and watch a random movie from pre-1965. Look at how people dressed while in public in those movies - light years from the way they do now.
They are as Cuban as you can get. My father's family dates back to the 16th century and my mother's came in the 1800"s. You are right about the look...I can spot an old Cuban photo a mile away!
DeleteTo think I missed the soufflé..... Your Mother still looks the same except a few and I mean few grey hairs that has slipped in. Her wit and candor have no rival.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you had a lovely evening. 2015 started on the right note. Dressed in silver how can you go wrong! HNY to all who reside in your castle.
I am glad you have fared well in what there is of 2015. MM has been ill for the last couple of days with fever and a cold and I am right behind her. C is not happy delivering chicken soup throughout the castle. I will ring the bell with the all clear!.
DeleteWhat a lovely picture that is, and how lucky you are to have your mother still with you after a life with so many vicissitudes. Here in Taiwan, many people still get dressed up. Although the styles are not the same as in your photo, there is a definite effort to look nice and dress as befits an occasion. Often it is the younger people who take this special effort, so all hope is not lost!
ReplyDelete--Jim.
Hooray for the young people of Taiwan!
DeleteRemembering my parents as well....father a Spainard, mother Cuban....They met and married in NYC.
ReplyDeleteThe beautiful Plaza was where this event was photographed and carried out. How i love the pictures of the time. So much class in those years, i sincerely doubt to be seen. So many pictures of our lives in the 50's ...so yes, i do understand your melancholy.....Cheers to us...Sel
Yes, life in the 50's was wonderful. I guess people were tired of what they had to endure during the war and celebrated by going the other way. My only hope is that they will get so tired of looking sloppy they will strive to be different by adding a little glamour to their life. Hope is eternal!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! Your menu sounds divine, but we don't expect less from you.
ReplyDeleteFabulous photo of your parents!!
You are so right on target about how people dress nowadays.....It doesn't take a lot of money or time to dress up a bit ....
ReplyDeleteMy husband bought me an evening gown for Christmas. He insisted. My conservative gown with beaded jacket has been worn everywhere for the past 6 years - the symphony, balls, very nice restaurants, NYE. He said that it is not good for a lady to be seen in the same dress too often. This one is pale blue lace with silver sequins interwoven and a rhinestone clasp on the jacket. He is leaving the purchase of shoes, handbag, and costume jewelry up to me.
ReplyDeleteYou have a very thoughtful husband. Enjoy your new gown!
DeleteHappy new year, lovely lady. I have so many lovely things that I just never wear. It is sad. With the work I do I dress very very casually and it has taken over my life. I seem to miss all the dress up events and when I have people over it is always pretty casual. What a pity. Here's to 2015 and dressing up again!!!
ReplyDelete