December 17th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Christmas Eve Dinner at the Club with Your In-laws.

This could go two completely different ways:

1.     Upon arrival, your mother-in-law grimaces straight at you.  She never did think you were good enough, and to rub it in she gives you a sort-of compliment about your new haircut: “Oh, your hair is…different.” Your husband is of no help at all, mostly because he hates disappointing his doting mother and a little because he’s too busy riling up the kids in the lobby right before they’re about to sit down to a long meal.  Of course it will be your job to calm them down and keep them quiet-typical. Your father-in-law spends the evening burping and dozing off at the table and no one likes the food much because like the evening, it’s bland and boring.

2.     Upon arrival, your mother-in-law gives you a warm squeeze and whispers that she loves your new hair.  She hasn’t a daughter, so she just loves cooing over you.  Your husband and his father embrace in a man-hug-back-slap and talk about the drive up, while the kids, dressed pristinely in dresses you found on sale at Saks (go you), play silently with their new dolls.  Over dinner, your father-in-law regales everyone with ribald stories from his college days, you give your mother-in-law a scarf she absolutely adores, and everyone marvels that the ham is especially good this year.  Additionally, you’ll see your own parents on Christmas day, so what could be better?

In terms of what to wear, the club is on the conservative side, but it is a celebration after all. To match the ‘celebration in a stuffy place’ atmosphere, you can’t go wrong with a festive dress paired with classic flats.  And what’s more classic than black patent leather? Nothing. It’s the best.

The Shoes: The Poetic Licence ‘Garden Delight’