When Nancy Ottino moved to Colorado from California via Connecticut, she knew she was out of place. Her 4-foot-10 frame thrived in three-inch heels and sparkling jewelry, and there wasn’t a chance she would be seen without makeup. Her new Fort Collins neighbor told her she needed to “tone it down.”
But Ottino decided long ago that she wanted to enjoy a beautiful life ensconced in beautiful things, even if the state, and the people who live here, appreciate a more natural look. So while she has reigned in her love of dressing up for casual Colorado, the 76-year-old is still rocking the heels and jewels.
Ottino isn’t the only Northern Colorado resident who embraces the more fabulous things in life. Kali Graff, owner of HEYDAY in Fort Collins and Vintage Willows Boutique in Loveland and Fort Collins, enjoys helping residents find their inner glam.
“I love to offer styles that help my customers feel elevated when they get dressed,” she says, noting that dressing up can be a powerful thing for women. “I am happier, work harder and feel better when I am dressed up.”
The Socialites Club
Years ago, Ottino discovered that there were others like Graff, and she started her own social club as a result. But it took some time to make those connections.
Her journey began 46 years ago when she was fresh out of design school, just making ends meet and felt far from the high-end designer she aspired to be. Then she stumbled upon the book, “Living a Beautiful Life,” by Alexandra Stoddard.
“It became a treasured part of my journey,” she says. “Stoddard’s words taught me to find elegance, order and joy in everyday life. I still have a copy and revisit it often for inspiration.”
Ottino’s design career took her from styling for HGTV, Traditional Home, and Better Homes & Gardens magazines in San Francisco to Connecticut, where she started a public relations firm. Eventually, she and her husband decided to retire in Colorado near family.
Sunset Lounge in Fort Collins. Photo by Werk Creative.
After moving to Fort Collins, Ottino found it difficult to find friends who shared her love of a glamorous lifestyle. So, she began approaching women who looked fabulous. She found the inaugural members of her social club that way. She recalls one of those first friendships.
“I was out to eat, and I had not toned down how I dress yet,” Ottino says. “This woman turns around and says, ‘You look like you are from Hollywood.’ We immediately became friends.”
Ottino started The Socialites Club four years ago, and now she has 100 members and counting, many of whom are in their early to mid-30s. Her tongue-in-cheek rule is that members “must love nice shoes.”
“This isn’t a networking group,” she says. “I look at it as a sorority club for women of all ages. It is for people who love a beautiful life: nice clothes, good food, good wine, fine living.”
The group has three events per month, including a Friday lunch at a different restaurant each month. Ottino also hosts two larger events every year, one in the spring and another at the end of the summer. She charges a $75 annual membership fee, and she tries to get to know potential members to make sure they are a good fit before they join.
A beautiful life at home
First and foremost, Ottino lives her most glamourous life at home with a set of rituals.
“Fresh flowers always adorn the table, candlelit dinners are a near-nightly ritual and at 5 p.m., cocktails with my husband of 40 years is a cherished tradition,” she says.
She doesn’t just set the table for dinner; she creates a tablescape to enhance the meal.
“Don’t save that china for a special occasion,” she says. “Live a beautiful life every day.”
Graff agrees: The busy mother of two young children and owner of three retail stores still finds time to celebrate beauty.
“I focus on details to add beauty to my everyday life, like vintage plates and bowls in a beautiful floral print for an everyday breakfast with my kids, moving around decor within my home or spending a little extra time on my hair and makeup,” she says.
Rialto Theater Center in Loveland. Photo by City of Loveland.
Finding the glam out and about
Of course, dressing up is more rewarding when there is an outlet for it. Both Ottino and Graff have their favorite spots when it comes to a night out in NOCO.
“I love meeting my girlfriends at Sage Speakeasy & Lounge in downtown Loveland or having a date night with my husband at the Loveland Chophouse or Henry’s Pub,” Graff says.
Ottino’s favorites are some of NOCO’s swankier spots for cocktails or dinner, where the decor and staff make dressing up almost a requirement. Specifically, she enjoys the Sunset Lounge rooftop bar and the popular speakeasy, Social, both in downtown Fort Collins. Chimney Park Restaurant & Bar in Windsor is a favorite for dinner.
Those who love a reason to get dressed up can also find dressier events by supporting a local nonprofit since their annual fundraising galas tend to be upscale affairs. Theater is another great opportunity to break out your nicest duds: The Lincoln Center, Bas Bleu Theatre Company, Rialto Theater Center and OpenStage Theatre & Company offer ticketed events where a nicer level of dress is not only appropriate but sends a message of appreciation to the performers. The same is true for museum exhibition openings, symphony concerts and other celebratory events.
Though it may be more normal to don a pair of hiking boots than heels in Northern Colorado, those who enjoy the finer things can find ways to add beauty to daily life. Because, yes, wine does taste better in a fancy glass.
