People Don't Dress Up Anymore

...At least not while on vacation and not in Vegas.

I recently returned from a week's vacation in Las Vegas. As I unpacked my suitcase and transferred my never worn "party clothes" to their padded hangers I smiled to myself and realized I was 'old school' when it came to vacation planning and packing. I took my bejeweled dancing shoes and complimenting beaded clutch from their felted pouches and returned them to their respective storage cases on the top shelf of my closet.

I looked down at Rudy, (my 10lb. Chihuahua and Poodle mix BFF) and lamented that I did not get the opportunity to get dressed up. I remembered listing the activities, restaurants and shows I wanted to see and of course, the casinos I wanted to visit. I had planned and laid out outfits for day and evening.

Even though I was staying at a resort about a mile from 'The Strip' I knew I was going to stop at  Bellagio, Caesar's Palace and The Wynn if only to drop a few quarters in a slot machine, order a dirty martini, and people watch. And without a doubt, I was going to wear a different cocktail dress for at least four of the seven nights I was in Vegas.

Well, it didn't quite turn out that way. During the day children, teens, adults including seniors, wore jeans with either a tee or polo shirt and sneakers...ah excuse me athletic shoes, as they meandered up and down Las Vegas Boulevard, weaving their way in and out adjacent casinos.  In the evenings instead of east coast glitz and glamour, the laid back style of the west coast prevailed amongst the patrons of the casinos and nightclubs. I call it "California Cool"

The shoes to live for each and every day, Jimmy Choo, Stuart Weitzman and Christian Laboutin and with their distinctive red soles flashing as someone sauntered by; each was a unique and exceptional work of art. Beautiful little blouses and jackets by Michael Kors, Vera Wang and Marc Jacobs topped off jeans by Diesel, Juicy Couture and my personal favorite Calvin Klein.

"Oh boy" I thought "I have definitely been working too hard and have not taken enough weekend jaunts to keep me current in what is happening and what is not!" My cocktail dress seemed over-the-top and screamed "first time in Vegas" and "trying too hard" as I stood at a slot machine dropping quarters and sipping Chardonnay.

Luckily I over-packed and after a short shopping trip to the outlets of Las Vegas, I transformed my vacation wardrobe into "California Cool". What else is a girl to do when she sees the error or her ways but, to do some shopping and go with the flow.

I spent my last night in the casinos and clubs of Caesar's Palace. The crowd was lively, looked well rested and unconcerned about state of the financial markets. I  crossed my legs as I sat down at a slot machine and raised a glass of champagne to my lips. "Life is good" I thought to myself and "when in Rome do as the Romans do." The slot machine seemed to ring in agreement as its bells rang signaling a winner and paid me $100.00.