Monday Musings and Answering Readers’ Style Questions
Last week I celebrated my 70th birthday. It’s funny, but the last time I remember being this excited about a birthday was when I turned 60, and before that, 50. I guess I’m old enough now that it takes a whole new decade to feel like an occasion.
My daughter took me to the Fairmont spa for lunch and a massage, which felt very pampering. I’m a rather low-maintenance person and seldom get spa treatments, so this was a treat. I carefully packed a bag with toiletries because we were going straight from the spa to dinner.
And that’s when I discovered that I apparently need to start carrying a magnifying mirror with me… all…the… time. The regular mirror wasn’t cutting it, and it’s hard to put on eyeshadow and mascara while wearing glasses. I always travel with one, but it never occurred to me that not everyone needs one to do their makeup.
A couple of days later, I found myself wishing I had that mirror again when we stopped into Credo. I’ve always wanted to visit one of their stores because their clean beauty standards seem much higher than most. There’s so much greenwashing in the beauty world, and “clean” can mean almost anything. A product can leave out one questionable ingredient, slap “clean” on the label, and call it a day. Credo takes a much closer look at what goes into the products they carry, so I felt safe to sample away.
That’s how we came across MOB Beauty. I’d never heard of the brand, so we started playing with their eyeshadows…and playing and playing. At one point, I looked like a circus clown. We ended up buying a few of their dry, matte shadows, and a few of their highly pigmented cream shadows.
I kept marveling at how unique and sophisticated the colors were, so when I got back to the hotel, I looked up the brand.
One of MOB Beauty’s founding partners is Vic Casale, a cosmetic chemist who has been creating makeup for more than 40 years. He was also one of the original people behind MAC, so when I learned that, the beautiful colors at MOB suddenly made a lot more sense.
He has spent decades working with color and developing makeup, and you can see that experience in the richness of the shades. They’re interesting and nuanced, not just the same predictable colors we see everywhere. I’ll show you how they look after I get a chance to play with them.
Reader Questions
Q – I’m looking for a belt (or something) to give some definition to a nice but shapeless Eileen Fisher long black dress. Suggestions welcome!
A – You can wear it with a hip or waist belt. You could also wear an outer layer that stops near your waist, which visually draws the eye there without pulling anything in. This type of lariat belt is nice over a long dress. This belt has a more casual vibe, and you could also put it through belt loops.
Q – I have most Marilyn Straight jeans in every color. Can you recommend other jeans for us taller gals that are not ankle length? It seems you recommend a lot of ankle-length jeans.
A – Ankle-length jeans are very popular, but I understand the desire for longer ones. You didn’t mention your inseam, but these tall Land’s End high-rise wide-leg jeans might be an option. This pair is a tall, and not ankle-length style. These chinos aren’t ankle-length and come in 4 colors. These J.Crew jeans are full-length. Here’s a tall, slim leg option. These J.Jill fit and flare jeans have a nice long inseam. These Good American Slim Wide jeans have a very long inseam.
Q – I have an evening “Black Tie Optional” wedding to attend in mid-September at a lovely beach resort in Florida. I would like to wear an ankle-length EF olive silk dress with a soft black bolero sweater for arm coverage. Will this be dressy enough with the right accessories? I keep second-guessing myself, but it’s more my style than beaded dresses.
A – It sounds absolutely perfect! Olive and black is a lovely combination, and the soft gleam of silk elevates the whole look. You bring up an excellent point about style…we need to dress in a way that suits our style, not what’s popular or expected. If a beaded dress would make you feel like a fish out of water, that discomfort would follow you around all night and take the fun out of the event. Then you’re left with a dress you’ll never wear again. But your own silk dress and bolero sweater can be styled in multiple ways, so they actually work for your lifestyle.
If you have questions, feel free to leave a comment or email me, and I’ll do my best to answer them here.
What’s the last new makeup line you’ve discovered?