Monday Musings- Lips to Toes
Happy Monday ladies. I hope you had a great weekend. We had a blast on Saturday seeing our grandson play in a basketball game. He’s growing so fast I expect him to be taller than me by the time he’s in second grade. I’m short but come on, this is craziness. He is just 6!
Here’s what caught my attention and is on my mind this week:
Color
I spent all day Sunday, deep-diving into my books on color typing and the theories behind it. There isn’t one definitive color typing system because there are so many modalities.
You can be color typed by:
- season
- tone
- element
- bright or softness
- by personality
- DNA, Yup
I was trained to combine many of these right down to how a woman walks when determining her most flattering colors. I’m not a colorist nor am I a pro but I never tire of reading about it.
Lipstick
I’m a big fan of covering my lips with a lip stain, then using a pencil and finishing with a lipstick. This gives my lipstick a fighting chance to stay on through multiple cups of tea etc. My all-time favorite and the one I buy in multiples is Fascination by Jane Iredale. It’s amazing and does not dry out my lips. I’ve been wanting a nude look lately and been wearing this one in Baci, which is described as a nude pink.
Because our skies are gray, this started looking too purplish on my lips so I tried this Perla which is described as a soft rosy nude. It looked great in the house, but outside it was really nude. It looked like I had no lips. Not great on someone as pale as me so I’m back on the hunt for my perfect nude shade which I have discovered is as tricky as finding your perfect red lipstick.
Perfect White Shirt
My wardrobe shows that I love a crisp white shirt. I counted mine this weekend and discovered I own 12…don’t judge me. They’re all slightly different.
- I have 3 tunic length ones; one with a poofy hemline, one with an asymmetrical hemline and one straight with a shirttail hem.
- I have 3 white shirts with 3/4 length sleeves; two with a shirttail and one flat hem.
- I have one with elbow-length sleeves and a deep gathered cuff.
- I have 2 long sleeve button-ups; one with a deep ruffle on the sleeve and one with balloon sleeves.
- 3 have two short wide shirts with spread collars that don’t button all the way to the neckline.
They’re varying shades of white and serve a different purpose in my wardrobe. But here’s the thing, I didn’t have the white shirt I wanted to wear on Saturday.
I want and need is a classic button-up that is hip length to tuck in or wear out, has long plain sleeves, buttons all the way up so I can open or close depending on if I have a scarf at my neck. It needs to fit under a sweater or blazer so the fabric can’t be too stiff and I would like it to have stretch. It’s a tall order. I put 5 of my white shirts into the donation pile this weekend, so I have room for my perfect white shirt when I find it.
Socks
I’ve been going to Pilates pretty regularly and wearing my yoga socks with the non-slip soles. They work just OK but start to slip around my feet, halfway through class. I hate that feeling so I went on a hunt for a better option. Do you have any idea how many different types of socks are labeled for pilates? It’s crazy and confusing. I decided to order these. The ankle strap keeps them on my feet perfectly so they don’t slip but they feel beyond weird. Let’s not even talk about how goofy they look;)
Walking Shoes
My walking shoes arrived and I’ve been putting them to good use. My hunt at DSW turned up tons of running shoes, but I persevered until I found ones designed specifically for walking. Running shoes usually have more cushion but walking shoes are more flexible. I went up a size so I could add an additional gel insole which makes them feel like walking on pillows. I usually listen to a book on tape and this week I’m enjoying this one. I’m actually listening to it for the second time because I like it so much.
What’s on your mind this week?
Thanks for reading my ramblings and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
I ordered the walking shoes on your recommendation and they arrived yesterday. They are easily the most comfortable shoe I own.
Thank you for doing the research. I have been having a hard time finding shoes specifically for walking, so I am grateful you found some and shared!
I’m so glad you like them too. Lori. I find them very, very comfy. If my shoes hurt, I won’t walk much and these give me no excuse not to:)
I too have been on the hunt for a perfect neutral lipstick. I found one I’m very happy with, #41 Moody, by Clinique. I’m in Canada so hopefully the numbers and names are the same.
I’m blonde/grey, blue eyed and 62 (almost 63), it may work for you, as well.
Enjoy your blog, thank you!
Sandy
Thank you Sandra
I like Neutrogena – hydro boost
Hydrating lip shine
Affordable and many colors
I love no iron white shirts at Chicos! I am petite stature so finding button downs with darts in the front really work for me. Advice on larger bust customers looking for white button down shirts, find the shirts with no darts to give them more room where it matters.
My go to lipsticks are from Stila. They are long lasting for my work day!
Jennifer re lip stains etc you may wish to try LipSense. My stepdaughters use it and absolutely love it. My husband and just took a 3 week trip to Arizona and I took your packing tips which have been very successful for me, thank you! Enjoy your blog very much.
Your blog starts my day with delight and lessons to be learned. Today’s info dovetails perfectly with the white tee and neckline blogs. The day after escaping two weeks of minus 40 weather and snow at home in Alberta, I went to Chico’s at Carlsbad Outlets. To my joy, I found two white 3/4 sleeve, 100% cotton, opaque tees, – at $14 each! Following your advice in previous blogs, I compared the white and the alabaster and chose the alabaster colour. At 76, a”winter”, with mostly white in multicoloured hair, and a fair skin tone now edging towards neutral, the alabaster provides a tad more warmth in my fair skin. Thank you for your ongoing and continual sage advice. Love, too, when you share news of your grandson, he is one great looking boy. I can tell how much joy he brings to your life, by your smile. They grow up so very quickly.??
Check out Ralph Lauren cotton shirts. I have two that are probably 15 yrs old and still look great. Very well made.
Thanks, Trish!
Currently own only three white shirts. Two ‘as old as the hills’ with one being short sleeved more like a blouse , the other both long sleeved with one being in a woven window pane fabric which is somewhat casual as boxy in cut and the most recent that I love has a fitted cuff, buttons hidden under a placket, and fabric has a light sheen. It is somewhat tailored, however not super fitted and relatively opaque (unlike a lot of them). Brand is called Simons Contemporaine which is exclusive to a Canadian chain and quickly sales out when they have them in-store and/or online.
Re your sweet grandson; one of mine as well is quite tall for his age so people often think he is older which can be a challenge for kids as not uncommon that more is often expected of them, both interacting socially or in performance. (Hope that makes sense.)
-Brenda-
It makes total sense. People expect them to be smarter because they look older. The same thing happens with my grandson.
I thought I was the only one obsessed on buying white shirts, yet never have the proper one. I will try the lip stain. Is the gray denim jacket that you are wearing still available? It is unique.
It’s available in other colors at Talbots but sold out in the gray.
I like jean jackets, as you’re wearing in the photo. My problem is the sleeves. I’m petite and I always have to roll up the sleeves, but they seem to be constantly unrolling themselves. I’m tempted to roll up, tack in place and wear them like that. Sometimes I’ve found 3/4 length sleeves, but that doesn’t always work with what I’m wearing underneath. Any other solutions?
The search for the perfect lipstick is on-going and neverending. As you say, they also look different in different lights too. I’m on the hunt for a raspberry colour. Any suggestions welcome!
Try buttoning the sleeve then folding it up.
As others have commented, I too love the crispness of a white shirt. Since I don’t iron, I will only buy the no-iron ones. However, if I wear them buttoned up, I feel like they pouf up and out in the chest area. I am a 36DD but even larger in the hip area. So I always have to buy a larger size to accommodate my bottom. That makes the top pretty unruly and uncomfortable. I do occasionally buy a no-iron cotton or no-iron linen shirt from Chico’s in a long enough length to wear unbuttoned as a topper under a tee. Otherwise, I only wear tees and tunics that don’t cling, have sleeves to cover upper arms and that are long enough to cover my bottom. Looks like there are no easy answers for many of us!