Mascaras for the Nancy Drews of the World

Here is an email from one of my friends. I decided to post it here and my response because it could prove quite useful to many of you readers. If you ever have a question, I would be more than happy to answer some of them for you on here! And if you try any of these products, do let me know your reviews. My friend decided to order the Stila and the Almay, I'll let you know the results! As you know, I am a strawberry blonde, with very fair skin and pale blue eyes. I find that black mascara is far too harsh with my coloring, and most browns are pretty much black anyway. I have been buying an auburn mascara from L’Oreal for years, but they have recently discontinued it. Anyway, I think the color was a bit too red and made me look tired. I even tried the clear mascaras – they didn’t do a thing. What does a fair haired girl do? Women would kill for your coloring – celebrities like Nicole Kidman are famous for it! It does prove difficult when purchasing makeup. The foundations are not pale enough, the blushes are too potent and the mascaras are all made for those who want thick thick glossy black fringe. That may be fun for a night out, but for day those with fairer coloring need a fairer colored mascara. I did a bit of research, auburn mascara probably wasn’t the best look – red colors around the eyes do make the eyes look tired and pink. With pale eyes, colored mascaras may be too intense of a look and look too dramatic and artistic for everyday. It’s true, many “brown” mascaras are actually just warmer shades of black, and still too intense for your face. Here are a few brands that sell softer brown colors that would work with your coloring: Lancome’s Defincils mascara doesn’t clump, gives separated, defined lashes that would highlight, not drown out your fair blue eyes. Their Brown color is a nice medium color that would be quite flattering. Defincils also comes in waterproof for those special occasions where a few tears may be shed. I for example wore this mascara on my wedding day. Stila’s Major Lash mascara is made to be layered. It keeps the lashes soft and separated, and not only does it come in a nice soft brown, it even has a Taupe color for the very fair haired blondes! For a very subtle, natural look an option is Sephora’s Lash and Eyebrow mascara. This product gives just a hint of color, but a bit more definition than bare lashes. The product comes in both Blonde and Brown colors! Almay’s Intense I-Color Volumizing mascara is made with a shorter brush to prevent those dreaded clumps. They offer great colors like Raisin and Brown for the fairer skinned who want to play with color! Hopefully some of these options will work for you and your coloring!

Keep and Toss

Trends may come and trends may go. How does one know what to keep and what to donate? How do you know what is worthy of wardrobe real estate, what should be paced away in the attic, and what should be thrown in a bag for Goodwill? Here are a few tried and true rules for some of those wardrobe items that may be way past their due date. What to Toss: Old ratty bras with breaking down elastic, grubby straps, wires poking into your breast bone or arm pit. Bras that are too large, too small, make you too saggy or too conical. Underwear that is stretched out, full of holes, digging into your skin or itchy. Why keep what is unflattering, uncomfortable or gross? You slip on your purse, it grabs your shirt’s neckline and suddenly that dingy dirty white bra strap with the fuzz balls and the safety pin to keep it at the right adjustment is on FULL DISPLAY. Bras are not cheap, but if you wash them correctly, treat them gently and replace them when they or your shape changes, you will never be embarrassed come a car accident or one night stand. What to Keep: that strapless bra you bought for a bridesmaid dress but doubt you will ever wear again (you probably will, and it doesn’t take up much room), the minimizer, the push up that makes tanks look great, the camisole that came with the sheer shirt you donated to Goodwill, the tank with the built in bra that is a tad revealing. Pretty much keep every camisole you own. If they are in good shape and fit well, there may come a need. The other day I purchased one of the popular lace tops that are everywhere for Spring. It required a camisole, something I do not often wear. Luckily I kept a winter white synthetic camisole with adjustable spaghetti straps that I purchased about ten years ago. Still in great condition, the camisole made the outfit work and I didn’t have to make a mad dash to the shopping mall. Camisoles, specialty bras and control garments may have been worn with the plan to only wear once with that dastardly dress of outfit. However, save your money and store those undergarments – they may be needed again and far better to wear what you own than go through the misery of underthings shopping once again. What to Toss: Any tarnished or peeling costume jewelry, that one lone earring that has been missing it’s mate for months, the brooch with the missing rhinestone, the costume bracelet with the missing charm and the broken clasp, every rubber ‘save the world” bracelet you have purchased in the past 18 months (that is not jewelry, you can prove your dedication to a charity in much more rewarding ways than a piece of gaudy plastic on your wrist). What to Keep: Pretty much anything else in your jewelry box. Every time I get rid of a necklace or pin, I find it comes back into fashion less than a decade later. Brooches, large hoops, chunky turquoise rings, charm bracelets, even pop-beads; they all go in and out of favor. Again, store them and save yourself a bunch of dough come when they are back in favor. Wrap in cotton or tissue; costume jewelry store in a Ziploc bag to prevent tarnishing. Before storing, make sure each piece is in working order and in good condition. It would be quite disappointing to open up that box of jewelry, ready to pull out those chandelier earrings to find that one is missing a few beads. What to Toss: All those oversized tee shirts from every 5K, bar crawl, vacation resort, basketball game and college reunion you have been to. You know you have a huge pile of these, often never worn. They are unflattering, cheesy and useless. They should only be worn to wash the dog, paint the kitchen or clean out the attic. Save your $16 at the next walkathon or better, donate the money directly to the charity you are supporting (or buy a round of beers at that bar crawl!). What to Keep: Tee shirts from concerts and from momentous occasions (Million Mom March, a tee from the Superbowl signed by a VIP). I regret all the concert tee shirts I had from the 80’s and tossed because I was into different music – they would be so fun to wear now, and to show to my future kids. And the momentous tee shirts – what a great thing to pass down to your kin or in a pinch sell on eBay. What to Toss: Banana clips, scrunchies, pony tail elastics with gumball plastic doo-hickies on them, the butterfly clips your salon uses to hold back hair, any barrettes with pre-assembled bows glued to it, the extra plastic clips that were meant to hold in your hot rollers but somehow get clipped to your purse or your drive shaft and go in your hair at the grocery store and the elastic around the Sunday Edition that somehow got on your wrist and then in your hair as you were cooking dinner. What to Keep: Three hair clips – the small claw types in tortoise or black – one for the car, one for the gym, one for the home. If your hair is that unruly where you need a clip on a daily basis, then you need a new haircut. You can also keep any decorative barrettes and clips (think rhinestones, jet beading, delicate jewelry for the hair), accordion headbands, leather, enamel, wood and tortoiseshell hair accessories in good shape (clips, chopsticks, barrettes, headbands), and covered elastic “ouchless” bands made specifically for hair. Your hair is your best accessory, covering it in ratty scarves, dated clips and cheesy barrettes do not do it or you justice. A great outfit can be ruined by a scrunchie. Did you ever see the SITC episode where Carrie says she can tell a person is a tourist by wearing a scrunchie? Think about it. You never see a celebrity, a society person, a stylish woman on the street with a scrunchie or a bow barrette. What to Toss: Those stinky leather pumps with the peeling sole, chunky heel and the dowdy toe box. Ratty tennis shoes that cannot be cleaned no matter how many times they take a trip in the washer, any pleather shoes more than a year old, jelly sandals, the super duper stacked flip flops, any shoe that is too big, too small, too damaged or too uncomfortable to get any wear. What to Keep: The shoes you love except for the broken buckle, the worn heel, the thin soles. These things can easily be mended by a cobbler, and there is usually a shoe repair shop in many larger shopping malls and train stations. If you love the shoes, and the shoes love you back, baby them. Shoes are worth the price if you get them reheeled and resoled each season, store shoes with trees and stuff tall boots with paper in the off-season. If wedges, stilettos, chunky heels, flats, pointy or round toes are out of fashion, there’s a good chance they’ll come back in style. If you love them and they are in great shape, hold on to them. If they aren’t back in fashion after five years, you then can consider donating them. What to Toss: Jeans that are white washed, tapered, pleated, torn (and not in the hipster Abecrombie way, in the old jeans that fell apart way or snagged on a rusty nail way), at or above your ankle bone, have a zipper on the ankle, have lace cut outs down the thigh or any other weird overly decorative design, jeans that have a missing button, a broken zipper, a hole or patch in the bum or crotch. Jeans that originally belonged to your husband but you took as your own so you’d have something to wear, jeans that cut you in the stomach so you take them off and are covered with big red welts on your tummy, jeans so low rise or loose that your underwear is always showing, and any jeans with the logo Chic! Or Bongo or Gloria Vanderbilt in a prominent location. What to Keep: Your Levi’s 501’s that you have had for twelve years. Those suckers will never go out of style. Dark denim in a flattering cut. Boot cut jeans – they may not be super popular now, but they are almost always flattering. Jeans that make your ass look amazing – even if they are purple denim or with feathers on the trim – if the look comes back you are armed with a flattering pair. Save the jeans that make you look and feel good, not just one or the other. So often we settle for a mediocre pair that is not flattering, well cut or comfortable. When you find a gem, hold on to them. Jeans will last longer when not put in the dryer, and embellishments will look newer longer if the jean is dry cleaned or washed in the gentle cycle inside-out. What to Toss: Socks with holes in the toes, threadbare heels, faded so more green that black. Stockings with an unnatural “nude” color and an unnatural sheen. While on the subject of stockings, toss the white ones too. Scrap all the little black anklets and any socks that are so tight at the top they leave red marks on your ankles at the end of the day. What to Keep: Fishnets, textured and patterned hose. If they are not in now, they will come back. I have several pairs of fishnets that I have had over a decade – I pull them out when the fashion (or my spirit) dictates it is right. Keep trouser and regular socks that are in good working order (they match, they are in good shape, they fit). If you wear socks with pants, make sure they compliment the pants and shoe, and make sure that even when you cross your legs, you don’t see skin. Fun and silly socks are for casual occasions, and white socks are never appropriate for any situation that is not athletic.

Fashion Funk

I apologize to all you loyal readers for being negligent in my fashion dutues - life outside of fashion has been quite hectic, and these posts are not quick and easy writes. I do promise to have another post prior to the end of the month, so hang tight my darlings!

Spring 2006

It's Spring! It's Spring! Okay, so the groundhog saw his shadow and there is snow on the ground in many States, but in the malls and on the pages of fashion mags, it is Spring. As with any season, designers decided a year ago as to what we will be wearing, and certain themes and strong pieces have been deemed important for the next few months. I've tried to weed through the haute couture and choose a few pieces that an everyday woman can add to her wardrobe to make it more modern, more updated and more Spring! A New Pair of Shoes – So generic of a suggestion, but shoes are a major fashion focus this Spring. Big looks are patent leather, stacked wood heels and color. The peep toe, the rounded toe and the wedge looks are still fresh, but the shoe is a cleaner look from the artsy embellished trend of the winter. Wood stacked heels are HUGE and will be on all the “It Girls” this spring. The shoe is not clunky as in the late 90’s, but not as thin and delicate as recent. The shoe is sturdy yet feminine, strappy and summery – a great contrast to the floaty spring dresses on the runway. Patent leather is for daytime, nighttime, anytime. Upgrade your basic black pumps with a round-toe patent version. Consider a candy color to compliment your favorite all-black suits. No color is off limits – pink, yellow, white, red and turquoise are all acceptable. Having an accent shoe is a big look with the neutrals on the runway – pair your khaki shift dress with a cherry red ankle-strap heels, your white suit with apple green peep toe pumps, your black evening dress with robin’s egg blue t-straps. White Pants – I don’t care what your mother or grandmother told you – white pants do not have to make you look bigger on the bottom. White and light color bottoms can actually be quite slimming and flattering. It all depends on what cut and fabric you choose. This season is showing a lot of nautical, military and safari influences. The best compliment to these trends (and to your body) is a flat front trouser that stars right below your belly button. Slightly wide, straight legs and little ornamentation. White trousers need to be lined. It does not matter what weight of the fabric, if they are not lined, something will show. It may not be your underwear, but it will be the seams, the stitching, the pocket liners. Lack of lining cheapens the trouser. As for fabric, the look is crisp. Heavier cottons, sateens and canvases give the best look and fall. These fabrics will hold up to sitting, standing and wearing all day without getting wrinkled and droopy. A Neutral Dress – I cannot believe I am writing this. I stress the wearing of color – it adds personality to an outfit, it brings your emotions out and adds elegance to a basic piece. However this spring it is all about neutral colors, and it is all about the dress. A neutral colored dress can tackle both, and you can still keep your personality in your look. This season shows all types of cuts – tent styles, lady-like shifts, shirtdresses, many strapless styles with anywhere from a-line to balloon skirts. Anything goes with the style, as long as it has a bit of femininity. As for fabric, silks, jerseys, linen and lace are all huge. Again, think feminine. Find what works for you. As for what is considered neutral – anything from ivory to khaki to dove gray to mushroom works. Find a neutral that contrasts enough with your skin to make you not look naked, and make you not look ill. Accessories are what will bring this dress to life. Match with some red heels, a green purse, an embroidered short jacket. Color comes from the details, and color will really pop against this basic. A neutral dress can go from wedding to shower to work with just a switch of accessories. It will also stick around in your wardrobe for several years. Optic Print Skirt – Tons of designers were showing mod and optic prints on the runway for this season. Brown leaf silhouette on an ivory background, gray and steel blue dots on a white lawn, dizzying and detailed black and white prints swirling. This is the replacement for the funky printed skirt from fall. The cut and fabric is more feminine and flowing. Think silks, soft cottons, linens, chiffon layers. This season is all about feminine touches. Full skirts are still popular, but they are not as voluminous as the gypsy skirts from last Summer. Think feminine. Pencil skirts, a-line to full silhouettes, anything from just above the knee to calf-length seems acceptable. This skirt can be worn with camisoles, sweaters and little jackets. A Belt – The easiest way to update your tops? Cinch them at the waist. The runways showed belts from being pinky-thin to wide croco bands to even full satin ribbons tied in a bow. Black and white printed skirts were shown with black v-neck sweaters and a black croco belt. White lace jackets were over chiffon skirts with a seafoam green ribbon around the waist. Khaki linen shift dresses were jazzed up with red patent belts. Jersey dresses looked fresh with an obi-like band of fabric cinching the waist. A belt is not for every figure, but if you have a straight or hourglass shape, you can really carry this look off. It’s an easy way to update your wardrobe and make it look fresh, trim and ladylike. Subtle Shimmer – Unlike the glitz and bling of the past few seasons, this season is far more subtle. Brass instead of gold, pewter instead of silver. Also consider shimmery shades of olive, champagne, slate and apricot. Lurex twinsets, taffeta cigarette pants, silk jersey dresses, shantung Jackie O-esque skirt suits, leather sandals with wood heels. Subtle shimmer looks fresh with neutrals and with white. Pair a lurex tank with a white pantsuit, a shantung skirt with a khaki silk shirt, a charmeuse blouse with a linen pantsuit, a silk jersey dress with a khaki leather and knit belt. My plan is to invest in a silk jersey dress for all the Spring showers, wedding and parties. Trench Coat – This is something that is good to always have in your wardrobe. Luckily this season you can find a multitude of varieties. It does not need to be khaki; it does not even need to be double breasted. Look for a color and cut that is the most flattering, but still versatile. Stick to a neutral – khaki, gray, cadet blue, gray-green, cream or olive. These colors will be able to transition from spring to fall, can be dressy or casual, and will be a favorite classic in your wardrobe for years to come. This coat will be worn over dresses in all weather, over jeans or a suit in the rain or brisk spring breezes. The best length is something between knee and calf – you will find it to be the most versatile. To ensure the trench is functional as well as fashionable, make sure you purchase a water-resistant version. Vintage Romantic Jacket – Say what? It is the best way to describe the look that is so hot this season – pale sunwashed colors, puffed sleeves, pleats, ruffles, unfinished hems, worn and soft fabrics. It is seen in lingerie inspired dresses, drop waist ruffled skirts, pegged bloomer-like shorts and distressed jacket. The easiest way to get this look and not spend a fortune is invest in a jacket. Beige, khaki, sand, dove gray, steel blue, sage green or a peach color will look great with chino trousers, jeans and fluid suiting pants. Pair it with a lace-trimmed camisole or sheer ruffly blouse for the full effect, with a silk knit shell for a work look or a ribbed tank for a cute outfit for drinks with the girls.