What's Black and White and Gold All Over?

What to wear to dinner, Winter 2024/25. Plus a tubogas love story.

Good morning! It’s been a while since we did a What To Wear To Dinner and since the next few weeks are….BUSY…and you’ve now pushed those friends’ get togethers til January to make room for the work cocktails and white elephants, I figured it was time to reassess our cold weather dinner dressing for the months ahead.

But first, our dinner date: The Bvlgari Tubgoas bracelet ⬆️

Before we start, a note that throughout today’s letter you’ll notice a little (in size, not meaning!) Bvlgari bracelet with every outfit. I’ve LOVED Bvlgari since before I even knew what the term fine jewelry meant and I almost dropped dead when they asked me to partner with them for this launch. Like me, the brand feels a little bit 80s in spirit. Their gold is substantial and the designs seem to always harken back to some sort of utilitarian inspiration or history lesson. Function! Facts! My first loves!

So I’m very pleased to present to you their newest line (and dare I say best in a long while) aptly called the Bvlgari Tubogas collection. Tubogas is, you know, that almost accordion looking banded gold that Bvlargi made famous with their wrap around watches in the 1940s/50s. Most often, you might see tubogas in a coiled Serpenti watch or articulated collar set with ancient coins (real bucket list, a girl can dream stuff!!). What’s exciting about this particular line is that the brand is finally embracing tubogas in what we might call never-take-off pieces. Slimmer, easy to wear, non-statement-statement pieces that can be easily layered with a watch or that one other bracelet in your jewelry box that always seems lonely.

Tubogas (the technique) has a very IYKYK quality to it while somehow, at the same time instantly reads as classic. It’s rare to see such a popular jewelry style maintain street cred for so long and be so widely embraced. It somehow never looks out of place…from Elizabeth Taylor to the Olsens!

Bvlgari’s first ever use of Tubogas. This watch, circa 1948. EPIC!!!!

And not to make this all about me (hehe) but you see, I am a clotheshorse (duh). I do not own a ton of jewelry and when I do wear it, it needs to feel like it can become a part of me. I rarely accessorize for accessories sake. So a piece like this, that has history (meaning it will maintain its emotional and physical value) in addition to being a wonderful texture to wear with…well everything, makes me feel like it is the best milestone marker on the market right now.

But I digress. That was my longwinded way of letting you know that she is coming with us to dinner tonight. Let’s get to the meat, shall we?

What To Wear To Dinner

I had a whole idea of what I wanted to write for this today. And then I started the wild immersive process of actually putting on all the things I would really want to wear to dinner. Tonight. Tomorrow night. Next week. And when I finally looked up and scrolled back through my camera roll, I realized nearly every single outfit consisted of mostly black and white. This was shocking for me! I usually find the combo of black and white much too stark on its own. So what gives!? I scrapped my idea and started fresh with the clothes in question.

The days have been chaotic lately, like for everyone this time of year. The holiday obligations are rolling in, all the work goals that aren’t quite met seem more urgent. The cold is hitting and forcing me to finally tuck away those late summer holdouts. The neutrals now, are announcing themselves in my closet.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not having fun. With neutrals, texture and proportion are even more important. And I’ve been laying it on thick. Five ideas that I’m playing with:

Oversized (Not Swallowed) On Top

The idea of a bigger top with a dramatic skirt is the best way to stay completely, inconspicuously comfortable at dinner in the winter (and kind of the summer too…but we have more options then.) It’s loose in the midriff, allows for layering underneath to keep you warm and it’s dramatic enough that the comfort does not look or feel sloppy.

A top with a train is as dramatic as I’d ever get for dinner. With a shiny mini skirt (This one is last season Khaite - there is one left here. Here and here are some similar alts!) sheer tights and old Dior pumps, the best Woodbury Commons score of all time (try these or these instead.) The Bvlgari Tubogas cuff layered with an Ileana Makri bracelet.

Might I also add that all of the above works with my Holiday Things Foshay skirt and le Teckel? :) :) :)

My favorite of all time Lisa Yang brushed cashmere sweater (everyone is getting a little shaggy these days and I’m all for it!) over my Chloe jumpsuit from this newsletter, black opaque tights and sockboots. I added my wedding pearls to the Bvlgari bracelet just to make the whole thing feel extra romantic.

Leaning into Ladylike

Consider jeans and LBDs the most romantic items in your closet. Pair them simply and elegantly with classics like pearls, a silky blouse and dainty shoes. Not revolutionary, I know. But it works.

Speaking of romance, remember the LBD I told you about in this newsletter that didn’t arrive on time? Well it did finally arrive and it is ANGELIC! The fluttery sleeves, the boat neck, the bias cut that lays so nice! I layered it with a tube dress from The Park (it has that little bit of rubber on the inner trim to hold everything in place) underneath and combat the whole sheer below the belt thing. There is a lot of girlishness going on here, so I added black opaque tights to take it all down a notch. The Bvlgari Tubogas bracelet layered with an Ileana Makri bracelet, Mateo mini pearl necklace, my grandma’s OG Judith Leiber (FYI there is a rhinestone pasticcino on sale!) and Valentino pumps.

Requisite detail shot 😍

One of the reasons I think the struggle to get dressed for dinner is so real (for me at least) is that fashion and beauty are two very different things. I love fashion and playing with new styles. I love uniform and masculine concepts. That is a very different thing from wanting to feel pretty. And at dinner, sometimes I just want to feel pretty!!! It’s a balancing act. I’ll get into it more in some of the captions.

For example. Imagine the chicest woman you know. The one who definitely orders the fish when the world’s best bolognese is on the menu. She is less concerned with fashion than looking elegant. And I guess, sometimes, I want to order the fish (figuratively of course. I definitely want the bolognese for my secondi!) This is that outfit. A gauzy shirt that drapes beautifully, a perfectly fit slim jean (Levi’s baby!) and a delicate ballerina. This one in velvet for December’s sake. I feel so pretty and unfussy in this, and yet not like I’ve lost myself.

I think the fringe on the scarf and the playfully cuffing of the jewelry over my sleeve help make me feel like I’m not cosplaying lady! This fringe scarf is by Attersee and the bracelet...well, you know!

Funkify the Dinner Jacket

Usually I’d pair this vintage Sonia Rykiel jacket with jeans. It’s my no brainer jeans and a jacket dinner-in-a-cinch look. But I thought swapping out the jeans for a navy boot cut pant and a chunky animal print boot made the whole thing a bit more confident. What kind of subtle changes can you make to your “go to evening jacket” to make sure this essential item doesn’t ever start to feel boring?

Dainty on top with a vintage Sonia Rykiel jacket (I would use this ‘mini dress’ to do the same thing!) and Bvlgari bracelet. A weirder combination down below: navy pants by Callas and (sorry Khaite for saying, but this IS why I love them) garish snakeskin boots toughening the whole thing up.

Dinner jacket, tweed jacket, tomato tomaaaaato. Sacai tweed jacket (this one is last season but she is a beaut), Holiday Things skirt. A lot going on, but simplified with one bracelet and a crossbody gold chain, dressing the whole thing up a little for a party among…colleagues. Add sheer tights if you’re cold! Valentino bag and shoes. Bvlgari Tubogas bracelet.

Silky Fringe

We’ve been inundated with fringe in the form of leather jackets for a few years now. But I’m realizing a silky, softer fringe feels easier to wear (for me at least). It lays lighter and somehow feels less grand of a statement, while still feeling special.

Same idea here as the dinner jacket above. I swapped out my jeans for black flared pants (these are Chloe from TRR. Highly recommend searching out a second hand black pant - they’re a dime a dozen and dimes on the dollar!) and studded navy shoes. Now my Sea NY fringe shawl, Cos sheer turtleneck and dainty gold bracelet and bag will not be confused as a “work pants” outfit.

This fringe top would be adorable with jeans, but since we are here to be challenged, maybe swap them for…velvet jeans!? Will definitely keep you warmer while committing to short sleeves on a frigid eve. These are from The Great which now appear sold out. But Me+Em has a good pair too! And I’m this close to pulling the trigger on this Bally corduroy pair on sale. With a Doen fringe top, Bally mary janes and Bvlgari Tubogas bracelet.

Figure Out Your “Thing”

Mine is short skirts + tights. It makes me feel festive, while remaining covered, and best yet, looks best with a simple sweater. What is your “piece” that styling for you is a no brainer? Lean into it and try to find the pattern for those “5 minutes to change” moments.

Ok so it’s not ALLLL black and white. But I did take this photo first without the jacket. And it felt unfinished. Once I added the big black jacket (this one is actually a lightweight wool that I would keep on inside in the winter! And is on super sale.) all the color and texture felt instantly grounded. A vintage Barrie red sweater but so many out there, Alaia skirt, Loeffer Randall boots.

I actually wore this to a ladies lunch on Thursday. But in fairness, it was probably a dressier crowd than most restaurants at 8pm. I was UNDERDRESSED! But I loved my outfit and will wear her again happily. Callas gingham coat (again, an inside coat, I wore this the whole time), Fforme scoop neck sweater (but try a uniqlo men’s V too!), CDLP t-shirt, Lisa Yang skirt, Bally mary janes, Savette pochette and taking us home, the Ileana Makri and Bvlgari Tubogas bracelets.

And last but not least, an actual on my way to dinner shot. Doen coat, Casasola brown sweater, Lisa Yang mini, opaque tights, Valentino pumps, a vintage little lady bag and of course, the Bvlgari Tubogas bracelet! 💓

We are in the homestretch of the December schedule dump. I wish you a week free from wardrobe stress and a very happy holiday season. See you back here next Sunday.

Yours TRULY,

Becky