One of my favorite things to do during the winter holiday is to enjoy a musical performance or a play. As a kid living in England, one of my fondest memories was a trip to London to see the Nutcracker. I’ve pretty much made it a tradition to see some kind of creative performance every year even if it’s simply a local high school play. Those are always so much fun!

Last year, of course, the 2020 holiday season looked very different so that wasn’t a reality for me, but I did ironically attend two broadway plays in NYC during the last week in February of 2020. At that time I had no idea what would eventually unfold. When Broadway shut down on March 12, 2020, it was definitely a sad day, which is saying something because there were so many disparaging days to follow. The fact that this date still stands out to me is pretty telling. I believe it was the idea that in my mind New York could and would carry on through anything. When they closed the doors to Broadway, I knew that there were tough times ahead for all of us.

So when it reopened this year with safety precautions in place it seemed like a beacon of hope! A sign that some sort of normalcy was slowly making its way back. And I knew immediately that I wanted to see something! I just wasn’t sure what I would see first. Then I heard about Six– A pop concert style musical featuring the six ex-wives of Henry the VIII.

If we are connected on the gram you may remember me sharing a book recommendation- Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, in stories. Originally I heard of the book through a very good friend who shared it on her blog. I love her writing and she’s extremely well-read so I picked up a copy. The Boston Globe called it “a darkly brilliant reimagining of life under Henry VIII. . . . Magnificent,” sums up my feelings too. It was by far my favorite quarantine read and definitely piqued my interest in not so much Henry the VIII… but in the wives. So when I heard about the play I reached out to my friend to see if she wanted to see it with me. Now just to be clear she lives in the city and probably didn’t have to think at all about what to wear to a show, even on a chilly December evening. She is always chic and has the kind of NY style that without fail, looks like she knows just a little something that the rest of us don’t.

I’ve been to many Broadway shows and even to a few in the dead of winter. A nice pair of pants, a sweater (or statement blouse) and a pair of booties are about all you are getting from me when there’s snow on the ground (unless it’s opening night of course). While that look would have worked here too-it wasn’t quite that cold, and I wanted to step it up just a little as we were going to be dining at Fresco By Scotto which is upscale, beautiful and… I was told the kind of place where you might even have a Real Housewives sighting.

I thought about this Black Jumpsuit from my holiday post. I love that one but it seemed a little much for a Tuesday night show with a friend. It would however be perfect for an opening night play.

I knew I wanted something special but not over the top and I even did a quick google search for some visual ideas. The What to Wear posts seemed to be all over the place-from fancy to very casual, so I quickly deduced that the answer was whatever you want. To be honest I loved that answer! I always believe that no matter what the etiquette rules are, it’s important to look and feel like you.

Here’s what I wore

This Knit Sweater Dress- this sweater dress was perfect. It was ribbed (figure-flattering and travel-ready) and long (weather appropriate) with dramatic bell sleeves that added just a touch of glamour. I also love anything navy! It’s been said that navy is black’s chicer sister and while I won’t choose between the two (they’re both fab depending on the occasion), navy does remind me of the saying “Elegance whispers.” Navy is a little more subtle than black but still very chic.

These Brown Suede Pumps– I chose these Collette Pumps in Adobe Clay with a comfortable 2 ¾ heel height, but it was a toss-up until just a few minutes before I walked out the door. These booties in Pine Bark were a close second and either would have worked well. The pumps are insanely comfortable for a heeled shoe and I had no problem walking from dinner to the theater in them. Both the pumps and the booties are shoe staples in my fall/winter wardrobe.

This Classic Lady Coat in Italian Double Cloth Wool is an absolute favorite. It’s the perfect coat for an evening out. It’s simple yet sophisticated and it comes in several colors. The one I wore is a dark brown color (similar to the Adobe Clay shoes) that I bought years ago. I love it so much that I also purchased it in Vintage White this year. Pro tip-catch in on sale. They always have sales.

These gloves are luxurious and look elegant with everything but they’re quite a splurge and these are a fraction of the cost and just as lovely.

I also brought out my Chanel bag. I love to collect handbags and while it’s hard to pick a favorite, this one is pretty special. However, if I was going to own only one designer bag it probably wouldn’t be this one. It’s my precious for sure (LOTR fans will get that reference) but the most perfect and versatile bag if you’re going to invest in one designer bag is the LV Speedy in my humble opinion. It was my first designer bag purchase and while still pretty expensive for a handbag, it’s ¼ the price of Chanel, has the perfect amount of interior space in this size (which is the middle size), will never go out of style (neither will Chanel btw), and it goes with everything!

Jewelry- I typically keep my jewelry simple (the kind you can wear every day) so I wore my tiny diamond necklace (purchased years ago) my nana nameplate that my daughter gifted me for mothers day, these simple gold-colored studs-they are a perfect size, just big enough to stand out but subtle enough to be elegant, and my silver and grey pearl bangle that I actually bid on and won during a charity auction last year for one of my favorite organizations that help low-income women- Uncommon Threads Boutique.

So while that’s what I wore to a play during the holidays it’s certainly a look that you could wear anywhere you want to look comfortable yet elevated this season.

And in case you are wondering, I absolutely loved the musical! I highly recommend it. And the place my friend arranged for dinner-Fresco Scotto was fabulous. Although I didn’t see any housewives, It was a magnificent setting and beautifully decorated for the holidays. The food was great and they had plenty of vegetarian options which I also loved! I’d recommend this place too. I actually plan to take my husband on our next trip. And If you followed along in IG stories you know that I also got a chance to do a little shopping-hello Goyard.

I feel very fortunate (for many reasons) that I was able to take a quick getaway to the city this year, spend time with my friend, see a show and do some shopping. It was the perfect kick-off to the holidays! 

I’d love to hear if you’re planning any holiday trips or seeing any performances any time soon too. 

Until Next Post, 

Xo Tonya