I'll Meet You at the Butterfly

{The karaoke-bar section of The Butterfly Chinese Restaurant used to have its own sign and its own name, Koi, but I strongly suspect that no one actually called it that. The letter I (it was arguably a Y) was in the shape of a martini glass, the O was like a giant purple bowling ball, and after a few tall ones, my BFF Lisa and I were very often inclined to hold miniature photo shoots in various states of tomfoolery using the letters as a backdrop. We were taken aback to see that the previous signage was gone, but we accepted the truth with grace.}
Have you ever told yourself that a particular snack was guilt-free because it says 'low fat," decided it was safe to plow said snack in multiples or mass handfuls, and then done so? The Butterfly is something like that. It's deceptively low-key so that you end up telling yourself it's a "judgement-free" zone, it boasts the cheapest, stiffest drink in town (the incredible, heavy-handed, highly competent bar-tender has been there ever since anyone my age can remember), and the whole place has the feeling of a minimally spiffed-up dive. When you go there, you go hard, and you see things that belong in a Charles Bukowski poem. After all, any karaoke bar adjoined to a Chinese restaurant is bound to have a certain poetically ironic feel, and this is the exemplar. It's five minutes from my home, and I've been trying to get people to go more often practically since I could legally drink. This past Saturday night, best friends, friends of friends, and best friends of best friends were all visiting town, so a sizable group of us got together and rolled more than twenty deep to the 'Fly for what ended up being a truly outstanding (I'm trying to cut back on my use of the word "epic") night - the kind that karaoke dreams are made of. There was even a bachelorette party of some rather rambunctious girls who actually broke into a choreographed dance as the bride-to-be belted out "PYT." Everyone sang - everyone, including yours truly (performing my go-to, Fiona Apple's "Criminal"), everyone was gloriously over-dressed, strangers became friends, friends became after-party guests, and I lost my voice.

{I've had this lotion longer than I care to admit. While I'm not one to stress much about having a tan, I would rather not have spindly albino legs in a micro-mini. This product evens outs most light to medium skin tones and has a really subtle, gold-flecked shimmer throughout that makes your legs appear to have a nice radiance, but it won't leave a muddy residue on your clothing or furniture. I layered Estee Lauder's scented body-oil spray in Azuree Soleil on top for a silky effect. A 5-second move that made a noticeable difference.}

{My stunning friend Sarah (her Style Profile is upcoming) styled up her amazing one-shouldered frock from Forever21 with a jade-green accent belt and these killer cognac open-toed booties to which I would gladly apply a five-finger discount if we wore the same shoe size. I love how the bright, tropical colors of the feathers pop against the neutral taupe; both the pattern and shape of the dress are fresh and unexpected. Sarah has a great instinct for finding unique party dresses that many girls wouldn't think to try, but are still within the parameters of good taste. I was with her when she copped this. We had just had a fair quantity of white wine. She selected this winner, while my inebriated ass went with - wait for it - gray leopard-print harem/Hammer pants. Luckily, I love them - post coming soon.}We met this cutie Dana as someone was busting their pipes singing "One" by U2, and I loved the sporty, clean, laid-back but still polished simplicity of her outfit. It's a great example of a casual look that can go easily from the office to a night out. She said the ensemble was composed of Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and Target; personal touches like her lariat necklace and criss-cross platform sandals added to her basic separates. I am a sucker for a good old-fashioned nautical stripe; her tan-and-white striped sweater is aces.
{Our crew was not afraid of of the microphone or of patterns that night! We were definitely Prin(ts)cesses Charming. Here's our adorable girl Jackie rockin' in an absolutely bangin' snakeskin mini-dress from H&M, for under $30.00. To me, this is a perfect party dress: comfortable, silky material, a flattering but forgiving cut, good, warm neutral colors, short length, and modest top, with some definition at the waist. I was 150% tempted to rush out and buy it the next day, but I did inventory in my closet and came to the conclusion that I am officially cut-off from buying any more animal-print this season, no matter how cost-efficient, understated, or cute. Willpower!}

{Of course, this is a blog and not Facebook, but I had to include this ridiculous photograph, a mere inkling of the kind of night we had from soup to nuts, start to finish, from Mariah Carey to Beyonce and back again.}

{What I Wore: Mini - Forever21; Belt: came with a different F21 dress; gold drop earrings: Target; Multi-chain necklace: Kenneth Cole for Macy's; Multi-chain necklace with over-sized crystals (aka Favorite Statement Necklace) - Target (J.Crew rip-off for a fraction of the price); Bracelets: F21 and vintage; Chain purse: Vintage; Gold and cork platform wedges: Dolce Vita for Target, on sale for $7.68. So comfortable. So damn cheap. So much fun.}

{My cheapie-but-goodie dress featured excellent details such as a thick, heavy [read: forgiving] polyester-spandex-cotton blend that holds its shape and is also climate-versatile, a slightly poufy silhouette that suggests I might have hips, and a fun, interesting double-cut-out detail in the back. For evening, I like dresses that have balanced proportions, with a lot of leg but a covered-up top. This print also reminded me of a snow-leopard who got splashed with some cobalt-blue paint, a fate that often befalls a heedless snow-leopard.}

Have I been convincing enough about this party spot? If so, let me know if you want to hit up the Butterfly for a friendly face, a killer play-list, and a drink or .. well, let's leave the number open for now.

--- xoxo