Burnt orange and robin's egg blue

It's Fall, which makes me think that it's time to re-watch Breakfast at Tiffany's: burnt orange coats, boxes of Cracker Jack, Halloween masks from the five and dime, perfume in the mailbox, and leaves falling.

I went to Tiffany's recently (in Beverly Hills, not Manhattan), and I can assuredly report that they did not have a sterling silver telephone dialer for the man who has everything. They have lots of sterling silver, but as this is the age of smartphones (not that I have one), you don't really need a dialer to deal with a touch screen. Not that you ever needed a sterling silver telephone dialer.

Tiffany's did, however, help me give the mean reds the heave-ho. They polished my ring so that it sparkles in the sunshine, distracting me while I drive. Now if only I could get it engraved...

Being a kid

My one year old daughter has been given lots of frilly dresses. If she doesn't wear them on a regular basis, she never will wear them (much like using the "good" china). Thus, I try and put her in them occasionally.

Today she was wearing a white frilly short dress with bloomers. We ended up at the beach after lunch. Although totally impractical, she looked like a Kennedy, wearing white at the seashore, her blond curls shiny in the son.

I guess kids can be elegant too.

On being a grownup

I notice that in vintage movies and especially children's books and movies, the goal was to be a grown up. To be Jim Dear and Darling in Lady and the Tramp. To wear high heels or a tie, spray perfume, and go out at night to shows.

Not it seems that the goal is to be about 22 (maybe younger). While it isn't always true (for example, my favorite "reality" show, Project Runway, usually has a "token" adult on the show), usually the exploits of the young and barely legal are celebrated in the media while simply being a grown up is not.

I am in no rush for my kids to grow up. They will be there soon enough. But to be elegant is to be a grown up.

On Dancing

Although not popular by any means now, I love the old Hollywood musicals. Since the last best one was made ten years before I was born, I don't know many people my age who agree. But there are some new movies that cater to today's audiences but have some elegance about them. I recently saw Take the Lead, with Antonio Banderas, on DVD, which fit the bill.

Mr. Banderas plays Pierre Dulane (a Spaniard with a French name, no?) who ends up being an inner-city ballroom dance teacher, as improbable as it may seem. Mr. Dulane, however, is vintage elegance today. He teaches graciousness, manners, respect, and, of course, the tango, the foxtrot, and the rhumba. What fun. Although not perfect, I adore the scenes where Mr. Dulane opens doors for people, addresses people with respect, and generally has an air about him that makes people stand up straight and smile with a twinkle in their eyes. Dear Hollywood, more of this please. Thank you.