A RESORT-STYLE COAT TO KEEP YOU WARM

A RESORT-STYLE COAT TO KEEP YOU WARM

Happy New Year, ladies! I hope you all had THE BEST holiday week! I’m so glad that we had a few days after Christmas before we took off for Los Angeles because I was still fighting the horrible head crud that started a week before Christmas. I might have given it to my mom and stepfather, but who knows, it’s everywhere! We arrived in LA on the 30th, and it was so good to see my daughter and granddaughters! The first night, our daughter and son-in-law wanted to give us an experience together for our Christmas gift. What we did was definitely an experience.

My son-in-law is Russian (like from Moscow!), but he’s lived most of his adult life in LA and London. He has told us that Russians love going to a banya in Russia. What is that, you may ask? A banya is originally a Russian steam bath with a wood stove. It is considered an essential part of Russian culture. The bath occurs in a small room or building designed for dry or wet heat sessions. The steam and high heat make the bathers perspire. So, guess what we got as a gift? A traditional Russian banya experience in LA. Y’all, it was an experience! We first started getting into our bathing suits and robes and were encouraged to wear these felt hats (see below). The hats are supposed to protect you from the heat. We all had them on, and I swear I felt like a Tellytubby! Next, we headed down to the saunas. 

There was a massive pool in the middle of this room, a cold plunge on one side, and a hot tub on the other. There were showers, four steam rooms, and a scrub treatment room. The crowd was primarily men (Russian), and there were a few women. We headed into the first sauna, which was 269 degrees. I had no idea it was that hot, but after about three minutes, my back felt like it was getting sunburned, my lips were on fire, and I thought my nose would blow off! I had to go out and cool off. I came back in and sat next to a couple. The guy was very talkative, and the woman was not so much. I noticed she was older but looked very fit in her bikini. After leaving the sauna again, I realized the woman was Elle McPherson! She didn’t have makeup on and looked good, but aging affects all of us! Just saying!

One of the weirder parts of the night was that we were sitting in one of the least hot saunas, talking to a younger couple. The rooms are dim, so it’s hard to see well, but the guy was so familiar to me. I finally asked him if his last name was what I thought, and he laughed and said yes! I told him that I hadn’t seen him since he was in the fourth grade in Nashville. When we lived in Nashville, we were friends with his parents, and he and my younger son were in the same grade. What are the odds of running into someone you know in a Russian spa? After we were finished, we had dinner in the restaurant in the spa. This was hysterical to me. We sat at a table surrounded by many men in robes, taking vodka shots and speaking in Russian! It was one of the most fun and crazy experiences ever. Apparently, there is a Russian banya in Carrollton (Dallas), says Elle McPherson’s fiancé.

Resort-Style Coat

We left our daughter’s home yesterday and drove to Newport Beach. We decided we needed a few days of R&R before returning home. We checked into the Pelican Hill Resort and plan on doing nothing but resting and getting massages. I brought along this resort-style peacoat to wear in Newport. It is chilly here, and this darling “nautical” coat will keep me warm enough. It’s similar to a dickey jacket from Veronica Beard in that you can remove the hooded piece and wear it without. I paired it with a graphic tee, jeans, and shearling-lined sneakers. I have been wearing more straight-leg jeans lately. I still like baggy jean, but I needed a break from them. Baggy jeans will still be big this year (even baggier), as well as straight legs. You might also want to add a pleated, dark-rinse, and horseshoe style, as these are what will be in for this year. I wore my shearling-lined sneakers almost every day in November and December, and they continue to be my go-to shoe for running around. How fun is this silver “Hermes-like” leather bag? I have a smaller one, but I was so happy when they came out with the larger one. There are eight colors in the larger version, which can be monogrammed, and the bag is under $300!

In the dressing room at the Russian banya with my daughter in a Tellytubby hat! :)))

I know this was a wordy post, but I couldn’t wait to tell you all about the experience. I hope you all have a lovely day!

Stay well and Be safe! xx

Photos: Beckley & Co

PEACOAT // TEE // JEANS (old, similar) // SNEAKERS /BAG