IT WAS a mild-mannered June when Caren and I were talking about visiting our pal in Montreal. February seemed far, far away and so did cold weather. Now as our trip approaches, reality has sunk in. As Caren cheerfully informed me, “It will be in the mid-20s when we’re there. Only frigid at night.”
So, down coat, boots, earmuffs, check. The same for gloves, scarves and warm sweaters. We made no plans for skiing or anything that would make us sweat much, but still a layer of long underwear would be a must for walking around the city. Could we stay warm without bulk, keep the chills at bay but not feel stifling hot indoors? We got objective advice from the pros at REI, as well as real-life recommendations from MyLittleBird readers.
Comfort outdoors begins with the layer next to your skin, according to REI experts. Whether you choose synthetic or natural, fabric is key. Synthetics (polyester, nylon or rayon) keep you dry and some add a finish that inhibits odors but require more frequent washing.
Thanks to its ultra-fine fibers, merino wool has mostly replaced traditional wool. Wool can also be blended with other fabrics, like spandex, for better fit and flexibility. If you sweat, it won’t keep you as dry as a synthetic fabric. On the other hand, it’s highly stink-resistant. Silk feels great and slips easily under other other layers but it’s not odor-resistant.
Then there are weight decisions. Consider both your metabolism and activity level. If you’re always “the cold one” among your friends, then go with a heavier weight. For fit, think comfortably snug.
Here’s the take from readers:
Cindy T. grew up in Buffalo, NY, skiing in blue jeans and soggy down jackets well before polar fleece was even invented. “I loved the new synthetics for a while, but I am coming around to the realization that what was old is new again. Synthetics are often added to wool, and can be superior for super-cold conditions, but merino wool is non-itchy, breathable, so lightweight that it layers well and also dries quickly. What’s more, you can buy merino with ‘stinky-proof’ treatments, making this base layer ideal for wearing more than a day or two in a row.”
Mary F.‘s sly suggestion to us about our trip to Montreal: “Stay underground.” She admits she’s always cold. “I agree that wool keeps you warmer and, of course, I love cashmere. I double it with a long-sleeve jewel neck and a cardigan. Otherwise I stay faithful to wearing Under Armour nylon shirts under a wool sweater.
Nancy G., who is always well-dressed for any occasion: “I have no idea what it’s made of, but believe it or not, Uniqlo’s Heattech line really keeps me warm. Comes in a few weights, different necklines on the tops, and leggings. Real underwear colors or an occasional interesting color. The tops work under sweaters and sweatshirts.”
Interior designer Candace J.: “I have found that silk is the best insulation hands down!!”
Alice B., who lives in wild, wonderful West Virginia: “Silk—for the next-to-the-skin layer. Wool and actually anything fuzzy, also in layers.”
—Janet Kelly
LEFT: Under Armour’s Fitted ColdGear Mockneck Shirt ($49.99, Dick’s Sporting Goods) looks as snug and comfortable as you’d want a next-to-your-skin layer to be. CENTER: Arc’teryx is “a high-performance outdoor gear company,” founded in North Vancouver, British Columbia. This RHO Lt Bottom ($89), is a lightweight, stretchy and easy-to-layer base, designed for cool to cold temperatures. The fit looks flattering, good enough to wear all on its own with an oversized sweater. RIGHT: A combination of polyester and spandex, Hot Chillys’ Micro-Elite Chamois Base-Layer Tights ($65, REI) works for both outdoor sports and everyday winter dressing. These mid-weight leggings, made from the company’s micro-elite chamois, features odor control and a wide waistband for supportive fit.
LEFT: I can’t resist admiring this Hanro Woolen Silk Turtleneck Shirt ($174, Zappos), spendy though it is. First, silk and wool are a yummy combination, temperature-wise speaking; second, it looks so damn stylish that I wouldn’t hide it under anything. Maybe that justifies the price. CENTER: Icebreaker’s 175 Everyday Merino Base Layer Leggings ($84.95, Zappos) have a lot going for them—they’re odor-resistant, breathable and washable. Plus, merino wool is soft and feels good against the skin. But better to layer under something or to wear lounging around the house. They’re more see-through than a thicker legging. RIGHT: Patagonia’s Capilene Midweight Bottoms (on sale for $41 in navy) are made from 100% recycled polyester. The smooth fabric makes for easy layering, and odor control will keep you welcome among your friends.
ALSO: For sensitive souls—and bodies—who prefer silk next to their skin and like easy-on-the-wallet prices, there’s this Long Sleeve Crewneck Top in Lightweight Washable Silk, which sells for $44.99. Our own Nancy McKeon has bought the WinterSilks brand for skiing—and dog walking, too.
Uniqlo’s Heattech line offers three versions—the regular, extra warm and ultra-warm. So you can pick according to your body’s cold level. The Heattech Extra-Warm Scoop Neck T-Shirt ($24.90) with its scoop neckline and three-quarter sleeves stays hidden under an outer layer and the fitted cut won’t add bulk.
Finally, a pair of workout leggings can do the trick for ad-hoc warmth. If you have ever put jeans on over your exercise tights to quickly exit the gym, you know what I mean.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
THIS MORNING, like a fool, I tried to call my doctor. As usual. That’s not happening. Instead I got the recording which, like every other recording of its type in every other office of any kind, said, “We are currently assisting other customers. Please listen closely as our menu prompts have recently changed.”
That is such bullshit! Are we really supposed to believe that all over the entire country, workers are busy in offices changing the menu prompts on answering devices? Why would that be? What was wrong with the old prompts? And how come the prompts are never any different anyway? They’ve been the same for years! Instead, here’s what those recordings should say to be truthful:
“Thank you for calling Yarmouth Family Practice. If you believe that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide, Press #1 and someone will be with you shortly. You are the next caller in the queue.” “Thank you for calling Yarmouth Family Practice. Please listen carefully because even though our prompts have not changed at all since the day we installed this answering system five years ago, it takes a really long time for you to hear them all, giving us extra time on the phone with our mother, boyfriend, husband, child’s teacher, pet sitter, manicurist, airline reservation clerk and/or bookie, to name just a few.” “Thank you for calling Yarmouth Family Practice. Hang up now as you have a far greater chance of winning the Publisher’s Clearinghouse Prize than speaking to your doctor, or even a nurse, anytime soon. Better go to the ER.” “Thank you for calling Yarmouth Family Practice. All of our representatives are either hanging around the break room drinking coffee, out buying lunch, stuck on the daily Sudoku or online looking for a new job.” “Thank you for calling Yarmouth Family Practice. Currently our lone receptionist is having a texting argument with her teenage son and since there are 15 callers on hold ahead of you, just log on to WebMD and figure it out for yourself.”
SAY “PITTSBURGH,” and what’s the first (or third) thing that comes to mind? Football, hockey, driverless cars, maybe bus in a sinkhole? Fashion—not so much. But as my grandmother would have said: “You look, you find.”
So I did. One of my finds turned out to be a store named Little Black Dress and its owner, Diana Misetic. Trained in couture techniques, Misetic can create one-of-a-kind pieces for customers. But the majority of her business comes from “off-the-rack” dresses. In Misetic’s case, off the rack means a little black—or red—knee-length, on-the-bias sleeveless silk or crepe dress she has designed with say, a jewel neckline and flowy bow tie. Those dresses start at $250, but here’s the thing, a client can add sleeves, ask for a different color, material, length or neckline. These changes can up the price several hundred dollars.
In the process of buying a frock for a black-tie event, I came to the store several times and on each occasion was impressed with Misetic’s fashion sense. Curious to know more, I asked her to talk to me about her personal style. Here’s what we chatted about:
Where the work happens–at the back of The Little Black Dress boutique. / Photo by MyLittleBird.
MLB: What were your big influences growing up?
DM: I developed my taste in Europe—in the old Yugoslavia. Europeans dress up to go out—to lunch or the grocery store. In school, I had two teachers whose wardrobe I admired. I would study what they wore every day. In sixth or seventh grade, I made my mother copy the shirt of my language teacher.
MLB: You told me, “I love clothes; I make them look good.” How do you do that?
DM: Clothing is my expression. I don’t spend money on cars, just clothes. Lucky me, I’m a designer and I can make clothes for my personality. The same goes for my clients. Each one has a story. And that story goes with their personality. You make clothing look good because it fits you inside and out. It must feel comfortable and flow like a second skin.
MLB: How do you style yourself?
DM: Styling starts in the morning. You have to imagine what your day is going to look like—are you heading to a gallery opening, a dinner, a concert? For me, the basic things are balance and proportion. If you have a short skirt, wear high boots; a long skirt, shorter boots. Emphasize your best feature but don’t obsess.
MLB: What about color?
DM: Start with two colors. Black and white is safe and then add whatever you want—a scarf, a belt, jewelry. I’m not a fan of print dresses that swallow the body and look like the dress is walking by itself. You can mix and match but you have to know what you’re doing. Style and color depends on where you are. If I go to NYC, I wear clothes that go with the city. If I go to Florida, I stick with the colors of the sea and plants. In Maldives, it’s white. In New Mexico—earthy colors. You don’t wear a New York outfit in Miami.
MLB: What are our biggest clothing mistakes?
DM: People buy too many cheap things. Buy one good thing and complement it with a less expensive item. The dress can be from H&M, but wear high-quality shoes. Zara has good fabric, but the color has to be right for you. Really cheap clothing has bad colors. Dressing head to toe in the clothing of one designer is another no-no, as is wearing a big dress if you’re overweight.
Diana Misetic at her boutique, Little Black Dress, in Pittsburgh, Pa. / Photo by MyLittleBird.
MLB: Tell me about what you’re wearing now and how you decided on it.
DM: I’m going to hear jazz music at a hotel downtown. It’s an event to celebrate the anniversary of the inventor of the saxophone. I wanted to look a little bohemian, so I wore this loose, flowy blouse with my tailored jacket and jeans.
MLB: Last words of wisdom?
DM: It’s very important to have clothes that you love; it’s motivation.
DECEMBER HAS all the fun— festive parties, cheery music and lots of sparkle. Then come January 2 or at the latest, January 6, it’s as if there were a signal directing everything to shut down. Okay, the trees and wreaths probably need to go, but do all the celebratory trappings have to have an expiration date? Winter has plenty of dark days ahead. And then, as if things weren’t bleak enough, we put our holiday wear back in the recesses of our closet. Just like we ignore the “rule” about not wearing white after Labor Day, the end of the holidays doesn’t mean we need to pack away all our shiny stuff.
Last week on “Sunday Morning,” Jane Pauley apparently agreed, wearing a black jacket with tiny, glittery crystals over a black dress. On the British TV version of “The Voice,” presenter Emma Willis recently received raves for wearing a stunning, black-and-gold metallic striped Saint Laurent shirt.
A few guidelines for festive wear post-holidays: When you’re wearing sequins, crystals or metallics, keep the rest of your outfit on the subdued side. A gold-threaded skirt with a cozy, oversized sweater is a good look, the difference in textures balancing one another out. Try that fab sequin jacket you wondered whether you’d ever wear again with a plain white T-shirt underneath. Bronze pants? Partner them with a wool turtleneck.
Tie a metallic sweater around your shoulders to add interest to a black turtleneck and black leggings. Wear a sparkly blazer with straight-leg jeans for a happier happy hour. Dial down the glamour of a shiny shoe with jeans. A casual T-shirt and chunky boots keep a shimmery bag grounded.
Some shining examples below:
—Janet Kelly
LEFT: Celebrate all winter with Rebecca de Ravenel’s party-ready bow-shaped Crystal-Embellished Clip Earrings ($355, Moda Operandi). RIGHT: This satin Odessa Embellished Butterfly Pouch from Alice + Olivia ($177, Shopbop) is endearingly retro. Colorful embroidered butterflies and a sprinkling of crystals give the drawstring purse a fun feel right into the depths of January and February.
LEFT: All those black puffer coats this season need a little contrast. These Sequin Shimmer Gloves (available in black or pale gray, on sale for $46.99, Ann Taylor) should do the trick. RIGHT: Anyone see Jane Pauley last weekend on CBS’s “Sunday Morning?” She must have gotten the memo about not packing away the holiday cheer. She shone in a black blazer studded with tiny crystals. Make like Jane in Baum Und Pferdgarten’s fitted Quilted Blazer ($259, Shopbop) with a shimmering polka dot print.
LEFT: Available in champagne, nude and black, Badgley Mischka’s Quinn Embellished Mesh Flat ($198, Neiman Marcus) charms with a jeweled butterfly ornament on its pointed toe. CENTER: Belts are a necessary accessory to show off the waist you’ve whittled down with Pilates, yoga, barre, etc. Cinch yours with this Clara Belt with crystal-studded buckle ($215, Revolve). RIGHT: One of my favorite ways to add some light to my face is with a metallic-edged black shawl that I got as a present years ago. I’m eyeing LouLou Boutique’s oversize Blush Metallic Wheat Fields Scarf ($48) as another way to stem the pallor because who wouldn’t want a sparkly scarf in blush?
LEFT: Remember how Ines de la Fressange styled her bronze pants? Follow suit by pairing these cropped Amos Easy trousers ($315, Farfetch) with elasticated waistband and side slit pockets with a close-fitting cream-colored knit turtleneck and patent-leather pumps. CENTER: Multicolored sequins are arranged in a glittering globe motif on Danish designer Ganni’s Sequin Mesh Blouse ($225, Orchard Mile). An oversized bow and those trendy balloon sleeves add to the festive feel. RIGHT: Add some extra shimmer to your day or night with this midi Beatrice Lamé Plisse Skirt (reduced to $385, Farfetch). Note the elasticized waist. The metallic skirt works as well with silk blouses as casual sweaters or hoodies. Also available at Shopbop (reduced to $192 for sizes 40 and 44).
LEFT: These High-Shine Tights ($42, Shopbop) from Falke are spendy, yes, but the lift they’ll give your practical black sweater dress or charcoal gray skirt is worth the splurge. RIGHT: Cozy doesn’t have to mean boring or dowdy. Case in point: ATM’s Metallic Cardigan ($395, Nordstrom) is sprinkled with sequins that mingle with metallic threads in a soft alpaca and wool cardigan.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
THIS MORNING I have an appointment for a haircut and possibly some new color. I go through this pointless ritual periodically, for reasons that remain unclear to me, especially since I find the whole thing rather unpleasant.
If I were living back in caveman days, my hair would just grow any which way and nobody would care, as long as it was long enough for my mate to grab a hank and drag me around by it, seeing as cars had not yet been invented. Looks didn’t matter; everyone kept busy just staying alive. But today, with survival pretty much in the bag, hair is a big deal and has been for my entire life, causing me to spend untold thousands on how it looks.
Naturally this lapse in judgment is directly attributable to my mother, since everything we do as adults is traceable to what we saw our parents doing during our formative years. My mother went to the “beauty parlor” every Friday where a pudgy stylist named Harvey shaped her hair into a red helmet and sprayed it liberally with that gluey stuff called “hairspray.” She then didn’t touch it all week, and neither did anyone else, and was judicious in keeping it from getting wet in the shower and at the beach.
I rejected almost all of that behavior, except for the coloring part. My hair has been black, blond, red, streaked, striped, brown, auburn and whatever since I was about 13. This seems normal to me. And of course now it’s boring, seeing as how it could be orange, green, purple, blue, magenta, yellow or any combination of those. (Kids today hop on the hair-changing wagon early.)
Somehow new hair helps me feel good, or at the very least different, if only for about a day or two. And who among us doesn’t yearn to be different?
AFTER A few too many holiday indulgences, we (okay, me) are looking a little peaked. What’s up with all these shadows, puffiness and under-eye bags? As we did a couple of months ago when we were searching for a better blush and seamless-looking foundations, we asked you to share your go-to concealers. You rose to the occasion:
A YouTube video inspired one fearless reader to attempt to erase dark circles with what she referred to as a creative color corrective approach (Red lipstick! “OMG, that was entertaining,” she reported. ) A few of you swore allegiance to Nars’s concealer; one of you is an avid fan of RMS and Tarte products. Our garden columnist, who also has quite a knack for digging up effective beauty buys, gives the thumbs-up to Clarins Instant Light. MyLittleBird contributor Catherine Clifford favors the natural look so is laissez faire about any dark shadows she says she has. For her newly pared-down makeup plan, my favorite makeup connoisseur loves Cle de Peau for camouflaging dark circles and anywhere rosacea crops up.
Clearly, the choice of products is daunting, so to help evaluate the possibilities, we enlisted two Washington, DC-based pros.
As if picking one product wasn’t complicated enough, Carl Ray, Michelle Obama’s official make-up artist, points out that there are several different textures of concealer—liquid, cream, stick and balm.
“Liquids, which give sheer to medium coverage, are great for normal to oily skin,” says Ray, who’s partial to this texture. “Nars Creamy Concealer is one of my favorites.” Cream concealer, which usually comes in a pot, offers medium to full coverage, while stick concealer is great for covering up blemishes and dark spots. Balms offer even more coverage but are thicker and require a skilled hand.
Alexandria Washington, pro makeup artist at Georgetown’s full-service makeup bar Own Your Wonder, notes, “Every type of concealer isn’t for everyone.”
For example, if you have mature skin under your eyes and apply liquid concealer with a matte finish there, it can make you look older. If you prefer liquid concealer, hydrate the skin with eye cream before.
“Cream concealers can be tricky,” says Washington, “because they sit in your creases and make you look as if you wearing concealer.” Both Ray and Washington agree it’s important to blend well. Whatever concealer you use, say these pros, the way you apply it, what you use before you apply it and your technique are key.
Says Washington, “Begin applying concealer below where you may have bags at the top part of your cheekbone. Apply from your nose, then brush toward hairline and blend it up (for natural coverage, use a small, fluffy brush to blend, a flat brush for heavier coverage). Then, use your ring finger to pat it in.”
Concealer has other uses beyond under the eyes. “You may want to use one for spot treatment under eyes, around nose, to disguise broken capillaries, dark spots or breakouts,” says Ray.
“If you find a concealer that matches your skin really well, you can use it on your nose and chin instead of foundation. Your whole face doesn’t need makeup,” advises Washington.
Finally, you may need to use a different color concealer than your foundation. To make your under-eye area look brighter, go a shade lighter. Or if that area is puffy, match concealer and makeup. But if you have dark circles, your concealer should be a shade darker.
Got all that? No? For some more personal, face-to-face advice on applying concealer (or foundation, blush, etc.), sign up for a Sip and Glow class at Own Your Wonder (use code OWN IT for 15% off) or contact Carl Ray for individual and group makeup classes and/or individual makeup applications.
—Janet Kelly
LEFT: RMS’s cream formula Beauty Un-Cover Up (available in 16 shades, $36, Sephora) doubles as a concealer and foundation for the under-eye area and face.CENTER LEFT: Clarins’s Instant Light Brush-on Perfector Concealer comes in three colors ($36, Nordstrom). Stephanie Gardens had this to say about it: “Twist the tube and a bit of concealer is deposited on the built-in brush, which is nicely shaped to put it where it needs to go. Stuff lasts forever. This is perfect for me with tinted Chanel’s Les Beiges tinted moisturizer, which I use instead of foundation—it has amazing coverage for something so light. CENTER RIGHT: The pricey stick Cle de Peau Concealer (six colors, $73, Nordstrom) has many proponents for its full, lasting coverage. RIGHT: Nars’s liquid Radiant Creamy Concealer is available in 26 colors. It’s $30 at Nordstrom.
LEFT: The Vanish AirBrush Concealer (22 shades, $34, Sephora), brand new from Hourglass, is getting raves. Although I liked its brightening effect, unfortunately, it settled into my, ahem, creases. CENTER LEFT: One very discriminating reader wrote that she sometimes uses Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat All Over Brightening Pen (14 shades, $35, Sephora) for an evening look. “I like how that product seems to reflect light, which I think may be youth-enhancing (at least I hope it is).” It contains skin-loving hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E. CENTER RIGHT: By Terry’s Terrybly Densiliss Concealer (six colors, $69 Dermstore) is almost as spendy as Cle de Peau. My daughter-in-law and I can attest that it lasts a long time (like a year) and doesn’t work its way into under-eye wrinkles. RIGHT: The Shape Tape Concealer from Tarte (available in an impressive 30 shades, $27, Ulta), which got an enthusiastic endorsement from a loyal reader, camouflages imperfections and contours and highlights, too. Maybe too matte for some.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
HAPPY2020! And welcome back to MyLittleBird. Resolutions may be so last decade and kind of useless, but some of us still make them. It’s kind of similar to deciding on a second (or third or . . . ) marriage: the triumph of hope over experience. Anyway, here’s what we’ve resolved to do for the new year.
JANET:
• I have plenty of clothes, so in spite of my endless love for new ones, I’m determined to buy less and recycle more.
• The fires in Australia are beyond disturbing, so the least I can do to save the planet is use far fewer paper towels.
• Health-wise speaking, it makes a lot of sense to cut way back on my sugar intake, says the woman who has been caught eating cookies for lunch. I even signed up for the New York Times’s Seven-Day Sugar Challenge. I’ll let you know how it goes. . . .
KATHY:
My only New Year’s resolution is to not make any New Year’s resolutions. I never followed through (usually on promises involving losing weight) and just set myself up for more failure. Willpower is not something that runs in my family. Nor, apparently, is follow-through. Unlike my friend Sandy. I admire Sandy for many reasons, but I’ve secretly been in awe of her resolve once she sets her mind on something. One year she resolved to quit smoking. She quit smoking. The next year she resolved to lose weight. Off came 15 pounds. The following year she decided it was time for her to get serious about settling down. She met Scott. Dammit! That’s what I call resolve.
STEPHANIE C.:
I should have resolutions, having come out of a year both extremely disturbing, with a bout with a bit of cancer (I’m okay), and wonderful, with the birth of my first grandchild—Wes! And it’s not only a new decade, it’s a new decade of my life. But I don’t have any. Resolutions. Though I guess not having one is a resolution. So I resolve to do whatever the hell I feel like doing and damn the torpedoes. . . .
MARY:
To get my Flannery O’Connor middle-grade biography published. (I can’t do the other things like eat less sugar, sell my house, etc. until that’s done.)
NANCY:
(Begging your collective pardon for excessive navel-gazing.)
• Broadly: to take myself less seriously. Specifically: to remind myself frequently of my place in time and space, i.e, not a big deal.
• Broadly: to take myself more seriously. Specifically: to do something, almost anything, well—and stick with it as if it mattered. Maybe at some point it will.
• Eat more vegetables. Really.
• Embrace the Robert Frost observation: Home is the place where, when you have to go there, / They have to take you in. In other words, I should embrace family—as well as those who claim me as family.
• And, inspired by the dying musician Warren Zevon on what he knew about life and death now that he was facing up to his own demise (in a 2002 interview with David Letterman): “I know how much you’re supposed to enjoy every sandwich.” Amen.
STEPHANIE S.:
I’m coming clean. I’ve been listening to Gretchen Rubin’s book, “Four Tendencies” on Audible. What I have discovered from Rubin, a member of Oprah’s inner circle—woohoo!—is what I already know, I’m a Questioner. I know I am because I think New Year’s resolutions are silly and that January 1 is an arbitrary date to decide to change your life. Who would pick the middle of winter to embark on anything new? January is a time to eat stew, not salad. To take up baking, not fasting. And to go back to knitting, not cycling. I’ll be working on making hats. I’ll be baking pound cakes. I’ll be stocking the freezer with soup. I’ll be going back to the wonderful routine I had before holiday fun, and madness, took over. I wish for you the same wonderful return to normalcy.
We’d be delighted to hear your own resolutions. Add yours in the comments section below.
ONCE A Chanel muse and model, now proprietor of her own Left Bank eponymous boutique, Inès de la Fressange is the epitome of easy elegance. Personally speaking, I’ve never seen her not look “comme il faut.” So, I was eager to read her just-published Parisian Chic Encore, co-authored with fashion journalist Sophie Gachet, and an update of the 2010 best-selling Parisian Chic. Fashion sites are filled with posts from everyone and her sister on what you need to do or wear to look French, but I’m more inclined to heed style tips from quintessential Parisienne de la Fressange. Among the book’s clothing recommendations are building your wardrobe around affordable basics, such as a navy sweater, trench coat, leather jacket, white shirt and blazer. Most of us already have these essentials, but Ines offers smart tips on how to make them look special and also what to avoid. The desired effect with a leather jacket, she notes, is to “rescue any look from appearing too conventional.” In winter, wear it under a coat; in spring, to offset the garden party look, wear it over a chiffon dress. Don’t ever wear a leather jacket with biker boots. Word to the wise: “The best leather jacket is as close-fitting as possible, with high armholes and patch pockets.”
For those of us who get carried away when we’re out shopping (anyone?), asking yourself three questions before opening your wallet is de rigueur. 1) If the answer to the question “Could I wear it tonight?” is yes, buy it; if no, put it back. 2) Would that friend whose style I admire wear this? If yes, buy it (and give it her if you don’t wear it). No? Put it back. 3) Do I already have this pink sweater? Yes? Put it back. No? Buy it. You always need a pink sweater.
Several pages are devoted to common-sense beauty, as well as beauty faux pas, such as using brown blush under your cheekbones and wearing too much high-coverage foundation, especially if it’s too dark. Her musts: Moisturize your skin (de la Fressange buys her creams at the drugstore), apply mascara but skip the liquid eyeliner, choose a foundation a shade lighter than your natural complexion to soften your face and reduce shadowy areas, choose bright lipstick or go for sheer gloss and keep your nails short (there’s nothing chicer than clear varnish, she says).
Left: How do you spell well-dressed? Here, de la Fressange pairs a black pant suit with a white tank top. For contrast with the chic suits she wears an embellished handbag and sporty sneakers. Right: With the addition of patent leather bag and heels, a beige turtleneck sweater with metallic trousers gets a hint of glamour with patent leather bag and heels and makes the transition from day to evening.
In the “The Parisian Home” chapter, de la Fressange shares her thoughts on stylish interiors and how to create a pared-down, well-organized closet with a shout-out to Marie Kondo. If you have Paris in your plans (always a good idea), Parisian Chic Encoreoffers a list of Ines’s favorite clothing and accessory boutiques, hair salons and fragrance shops, plus her top picks for hotels, restaurants and bars.
You can buy this handy style guide online or at major booksellers.
—Janet Kelly
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
Left: 1892 Silk Satin Brocade evening gown designed by Jean-Philippe Worth (1856-1926). Worn by Baltimore society’s Mary Carroll Denison Frick, the dress shows Worth’s mastery with color and texture. Center: Velvet and Silk Embroidered Evening Coat, made of silk velvet and metallic thread. Worn by First Lady Frances Folsom Cleveland.
Right: Silk Evening Dress (2018), designed by Annapolis native Christian Siriano to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his brand. / Photos / Maryland Historical Society.
Left: Wool Dress (1948) designed by Maryland-born Claire McCardell. Right: Chagall designed this dress’s floral cotton print and McCardell cleverly pleated the fabric to best highlight his artwork. The yellow wool sash draws attention to the wearer’s cinched waist and emphasizes the hourglass silhouette of the 1950s.
/ Photos /
Maryland Historical Society.
Left: This 1980s Silk Beaded Evening Dress was a favorite of First lady of journalism in Baltimore, Gertrude Poe. She wore it to the Olney Theatre’s premiere of The Wizard of Oz, channeling the Emerald City. Right: 1940 silk faille evening dress, designed and worn by Claire McCardell. The practical McCardell inserted deep pockets into the side seams of all her garments, including evening gowns./ Photos/
Maryland Historical Society.
Left: Silk brocade evening dress worn by Marylander Laura Patterson Swan Robeson. During her 1913 European honeymoon with her husband Andrew Robeson, she purchased this Cauët Sœurs gown on the Rue de la Paix in Paris, renowned for the numerous couture houses based there. Right: Baltimore dressmaker Lottie Barton’s creation.
Left: This embroidered silk dress was worn in 1789 to George Washington’s inauguration ball in New York City. Right: This elaborately beaded and embroidered silk linen crop top, skirt and shorts was probably a custom piece by Madame Gres for Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, who wore it at age 73 for a trip to Thailand.
Left: This silk organdy evening dress, decorated with embroidered monkeys playing instruments and organic swirls, was worn by the Duchess of Windsor at a special ball. The design was part of Hubert de Givenchy’s haute-couture collection from spring/summer 1954. Right: Baltimore native Bishme Cromartie, a self-taught designer and a Season 17 Project Runway contestant who progressed to the final four, designed this multi-colored silk crêpe dress in 2009. / Photos courtesy of Maryland Historical Society.
One section of the exhibit showcases the Maryland Historical Society’s Fashion Archives collection through a celebration of color, grouping clothing by fabric color across the gallery, from white to black and all the colors in between. / Photo courtesy of Maryland Historical Society.
Another part of the exhibit section that groups clothing by color. / Photo courtesy of Maryland Historical Society.
The timeline section of the exhibition features men’s and women’s clothing dating from 1724 to 1990, and outlines Maryland’s style through the ages. / Photo courtesy of Maryland Historical Society.
DESPITE disparaging remarks of a certain someone, Baltimore is a city notable for fine restaurants, a beautiful waterfront and outstanding cultural institutions.
One of the latter that has escaped our radar is the Maryland Historical Society. But a new exhibition, “Spectrum of Fashion,” displaying 100 garments and accessories from 1724 to 2019 changes that and offers yet more reason to visit Charm City.
The exhibit includes garments worn by a duke and duchess, a first lady, an opera singer turned suffragist, a World War II supply driver, a nurse, an editor, a smuggler, emancipated slaves, politicians, socialites, artists, scholars, designers and philanthropists.
Says curator Alexandra Deutsch, “The exhibition is a sampling of garments that allow us to study fashion through the centuries, but even more importantly, it serves as a social history of the women and men who wore them: telling the story of the United States through the lens of Maryland. How we dress tells the story of how we live.”
Deutsch calls the show a sampling because the museum’s Fashion Archives number more than, yikes, 12,000 pieces. More surprising is that the collection had been lingering in storage in the historic Enoch Pratt House since the late 1970s. That’s when gallery assistant Enolliah Williams left. But not before her enormous contribution of meticulous storage and record keeping (handwritten on blue index cards) that made preserving the costume collection possible. Resurrecting the collection for an exhibit became a priority in 2008, but it was a 2015 funded internship that jumpstarted the process to put the clothing in conservation-grade materials and to make a digital catalog of the holdings.
Vice President of Collections Allison Tolman says that the show is representative of how encyclopedic the museum’s holdings are. “We have lots of artifacts and paintings, but to have costumes brings in that important third dimension.”
Highlights of the collection include a ball gown by couturier Jean-Philippe Worth (who took over the fashion house founded by his father Charles Frederick), two dresses (one by Givenchy one by Madame Gres) worn by Wallis Simpson aka Duchess of Windsor, who grew up in Baltimore and who changed history when Edward abdicated the throne to marry her.
Several dresses illustrate the brilliance of Frederick, Maryland native Claire McCardell, one of the most influential designers of the twentieth century. Post World War II, when American designers were bringing back the latest French designs for their customers, McCardell helped create the practical and comfortable American look: ballet flats with separates, cat-eye sunglasses, dresses with pockets.
One of the most sought-after Baltimore dressmakers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Lottie Barton is well known for her designs for First Lady Frances Cleveland. But she may be even more famous for being apprehended by customs officials for smuggling European goods into the country. The story became national news, but her detainment didn’t seem to hurt her business as smuggling of European goods and copying foreign styles was standard practice by American dressmakers of the period.
Current designers Christian Siriano and more recent Project Runway alum Bishme Cromartie are also represented in this exhibit documenting the social history of Maryland as well as the country.
—Janet Kelly
The museum is open 10am to 5pm Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5pm on Sunday. Admission: Free for Maryland Historical Society members, $9 for nonmembers, $7 for seniors, $6 for students with ID, $6 children 3-18, free, children under 3. Spectrum of Fashion is on view through October 2021.
The Maryland Historical Society is located at 201 West Monument St., Baltimore, Maryland 21201-4674; phone: 410-685-3750. For more information, visit www.mdhs.org.
MY NAME is Andrea and I am a loner. I don’t mind it most of the time, although it’s hard to order a large pizza or take advantage of group rates on vacations.
I know what you’re thinking: “Uh oh, look out.” I can’t blame you, because the only time loners make the news is when they go on shooting sprees. Loners have bad reputations because of this. Everyone who ever did anything remotely nutty is said to have been a loner. Hitler for sure. The guy who shot John Lennon. This is unfair. I know many friendly people who are almost never alone, yet are still quite batty and prone to violence.
Personally, I have never shot anyone. I have never owned a gun or held a gun or wanted a gun or wanted to shoot anyone. In fact, these days I hardly ever see anyone to shoot—that’s how alone I am most of the time. What I do instead is paint lovely pictures and glue beads onto things (see photo) and paint furniture. All that is hardly newsworthy, although if I were not a loner these things would never get done. That’s the side of loner life you never hear about.
The worst thing about being a loner is that there’s nobody to share it with. There’s no Loner’s Club or Loner.com. This is a bit of a drag, since it would be nice to compare notes every once in awhile with others of my ilk on how they spend their time. So I may start a club for loners. We won’t have meetings—I’m thinking weekly, but maybe monthly if not having them weekly is too burdensome. There will not be a magazine or any dues. Membership will be completely private. In fact, I may already have a lot of members and just not know.
THE PROGNOSTICATORS at Pantone have looked into the future—and it’s blue. Classic Blue, not Cerulean, a baby blue that was the color chosen for the beginning of the millennium, and not Blue Iris, the 2008 color blue with a purplish cast.
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, one of the most influential organizations in color forecasting, describes their 2020 pick as “a boundless blue evocative of the evening sky.” Whether PANTONE 19-4052 is cobalt or more like blueberry is in the eye of the beholder. Vogue calls it cobalt; Architectural Digest sees azure; Fast Company says blueberry, while at MyLittleBird we’re split between whether it looks more like cobalt or sapphire blue.
In selecting the color that best mirrors the zeitgeist, the company press release states : …”the reassuring qualities of the thought-provoking Classic Blue highlight our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.”
Are Pantone’s experts picking up on the angst of the times by choosing a “dependable” color? We don’t know. But you can bet your bippy that we’re going to see a lot of it in the coming months.
Below, some suggestions for what Classic Blues to wear, use or gift next week or next year.
—Janet Kelly
LEFT: Shisheido Kajal InkArtist 4-in-1 Eye Pencil($25, Saks Fifth Avenue) comes in Gunjo Blue, which, despite the name, looks like a pretty color to brighten the eyes. Purportedly smudge-proof, crease-proof, waterproof and tear-proof, the point can create a thin band along the inner rim of the eye and is also wide enough to swipe across the entire lid. CENTER: From the quintessential chronicler of fashion history, Bill Cunningham: On the Street: Five Decades of Iconic Photography ($43.19, Amazon) begins in the 1970s when Cunningham’s photos began appearing in the Times and continuing through his death in 2016. He captures New York moments like the 1980s transit strike, the rise of 1990s casual Fridays and the sadness after 9/11. An ideal gift for anyone interested in fashion and/or photography. ABOVE RIGHT: Pantone Swatch of 19-4052 Classic Blue. RIGHT: Say hello to the new decade with this Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color in Radiant Blue from Chanel ($28). A good bet for making your nails a shining statement.
LEFT: This warm, stylish House of Fluff Faux Fur Shearling Hat in blueberry ($125) is unfortunately sold out, but it’s still available in two other colors. The hats are made from 100% post-consumer plastics. CENTER: Maximum storage capacity in the smallest space? We’re all for it, and this 4.5 high by -3.4 long by-.4″deep (closed) Double Mini Wallet ($42, Museum of Modern Art) is hand-stitched from recycled leather. RIGHT: A cold-weather staple, J. Crew’s Pom-Pom Cable-Knit Sweater ($98), looks fresh and new in blue. Wear with leggings or a swishy metallic skirt. Available in five other colors.
LEFT: Take the gray out of winter with blue. On days you want to feel more glamorous, wear Michael Michael Kors’s Boucle Coat ($296.25) with its detachable luxe faux fur collar. For casual occasions, forgo the collar. Either way, throw it on over chunky knits and leggings or dressy silk skirts. RIGHT: Cuddly coats are this season’s hot item. This splurge-y Max Mara Teddy Bear Icon (reduced to $2,583 from $3,690, Mytheresa), made from a plush alpaca and wool-blend, features wide lapels, drop shoulders and spacious welt pockets. The oversize fit makes it simple to slip on over multiple layers.
LEFT: Feeling your inner starlet? Silly but fabulous, this sheer Cassandra Deluxe Dressing Gown (Boudoir by D’Lish,$499) with bright satin ribbon belt is trimmed with oodles of marabou. It’s from a luxury loungewear line from theatrical costume designer Catherine D’Lish. RIGHT: Straight off the Spring 2020 runway of designer Francesco Risso’s Marni, a ripped off-the-shoulder sweater is paired with a matching lustrous satin skirt in Pantone’s 2020 color of the year.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
LAST CHRISTMAS I discovered a formula for party dress—at least during the holidays. I was faced with the familiar conundrum about what to wear to a Christmas Day fête and didn’t have a lot of time to ponder. I pulled out a pair of black velvet pants, a pink silk shirt from Everlane and a Theory cropped black satin jacket. Not revolutionary but the combination of rich velvet and shiny satin textures with a silk underpinning worked—enough to inspire me to pass the recipe on. And make amendments. For example, velvet and satin make a happy couple but the pairing would benefit from, say, a sparkling clutch, earrings or shoes. And a sheer blouse to offset dense velvet? Magic.
Some suggestions below for how to mix shiny, sparkling, sheer and velvet textures to nail your holiday look.
—Janet Kelly
LEFT:A velvet jacket makes anything you wear more festive. And we’ve noticed they’re selling out quickly. Vince’s double-breasted Velvet Blazer is still available for $371.25 (25 percent off) at Nordstrom. Pair it with a silk or satin shirt and Vince’s matching Cropped Pants ($325, Vince) or with jeans for informal get togethers. CENTER: Reformation’s wide-leg, dark-green velvet Wes pants ($198, Net A Porter) are perfect for the party season and beyond. They sit flatteringly high on your waist and will look smashing with a tucked-in shiny blouse or a sparkly turtleneck. RIGHT: One evening, go with the flow in this Mango ensemble of Embroidered Velvet Trousers ($99.99), Velvet Body Suit ($39.99) and Embroidered Velvet Kaftan ($119). For subsequent occasions, feel free to mix and match the pieces.
FAR LEFT: Black satin is a tad predictable. Go outside your comfort zone and make a shiny statement in pink with Paige’s Melise Wide-Leg Satin Trousers ($219, Nordstrom). LEFT: Lamé goes way back to the 1930s and earlier. Every few years it makes a comeback when a musician (Elvis!) or a celebrity (Kate Moss) wears the fabric, usually made of a blend of silk and metallic (or synthetic) threads. Dries Van Noten brings a new sense of shine with his iridescent Lame Straight-Leg Pants (50 percent off, $480, Net A Porter). The coordinating blazer is also 50 percent off, but a little too rock star for our taste. Instead, wear the pants with a sheer blouse. RIGHT: Show off your shoulders in Theory’s Twist-Front Satin Top ($265, Net A Porter), made from a silk-blend satin in a neutral color. Pair it with a midi skirt in a like fabric and shade. FAR RIGHT: Vince’s Band Collar Silk Shirt (reduced to $240, Nordstrom) comes in this marine blue as well as a dusty rose. In either color, we can see the lustrous, loose-cut blouse draping perfectly over slim velvet pants. Did we say the blouse is washable??
LEFT: How do I love this Dries Van Noten’s Tamari Sequin Wool & Mohair Crop Sweater (reduced from $1,000 to $598.98, Nordstrom) showered in gold and silver sequins? It’s festive; it’s face-flattering pink, the sleeves cover the elbows; the ribbed hem whittles the waist. Alas, size availability is limited. Here’s a ruffled glitter sweater for a lot less ($49.90) from Zara. CENTER: Why suffer in stilettos when your feet can sparkle and make an entrance in Badgley Mischka’s Christiane Flats ($188, Anthropologie)? ABOVE RIGHT: The Galaxy Beaded Clutch ($138, Metropolitan Museum of Art) takes its design from a 1937 evening jacket in the Met’s Costume Institute. The original garment’s midnight blue body is sprinkled with beadwork, stardust, rhinestone crescent moons, swirling comets and shooting stars. Guaranteed to make your look celestial. BELOW RIGHT: Swan into the party with Fallon’s shoulder-grazing Waterfall Earrings ($395, Moda Operandi), handset with cubic zirconia crystals. No one will notice you’re wearing the LBD you’ve worn a thousand times before.
LEFT: Although Zara’s Organza Blouse With Tie ($49.90) is also available in cream, we’re partial to this lavender color. Our advice: Wear it with black velvet or black satin trousers.
RIGHT: In sheer organdy with a pleated yoke, Fleur du Mal’s Bib Shirt ($375, Shopbop) is a sexy version of a classic tuxedo shirt that will elevate any pair of pants, let alone ones in velvet or satin. Add sparkle at your feet.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
JEFF BEZOS is the richest man in the world because everyone buys stuff from Amazon, which he owns. That means that Jeff gets a cut of every purchase. Let’s say it’s just a penny or two. There are so many people buying so much stuff, it adds up to billions and billions before you can say “nobody needs all this stuff.”
A recent New York Times reported on the growing problem of Amazon package deliveries in Manhattan. The UPS and FedEX trucks are clogging the streets, clogging midtown and slowing traffic in some highly residential areas to a crawl, even slower than an overweight jogger can jog. Sidewalks are being used as loading docks making it difficult for pedestrians to get by. Packages are piled high outside of apartment buildings, tempting thieves and thus increasing the crime rate.
The article states that, “Amazon did not respond to a request for comment on the impact of its deliveries on growing congestion in New York.” I guess all the low-level drones were too busy stuffing stuff into boxes, and the executives were too busy counting their money that they would eventually spend on more stuff.
I buy a lot of stuff from Amazon. Stuff is anything that’s not food, water, clothing or shelter. In the past six months I purchased the following from Amazon:
Men’s Briefs (too big but they’ll shrink or he might put on weight) Moist Heat Eye Compress (used three times, not helpful, discarded) Bedroom Slippers (hole in toe within months, discarded) Fancy Wax Candles (burned and now they are gone) Five books (gifts, who knows if they ever got read) Coconut Shell Charcoal Water Filters for my coffee pot (Coffee tastes no different) Pair of sneakers (I already had a pair) Pop-up Sponges (fun, but they sell them nearby) Toilet Brush and Holder (forgot I had three of these already and so threw one away) Therapeutic Water Pillow (defective, returned it) Cheese Selection (gift, but they could have bought their own cheese) Raised Cat Food Bowls (Cat refused to eat out of them, now junk in the garage) Pepperidge Farm cookies (sent to my sister at her request and now she is in intensive care due to an exploded colon which had to be removed in its entirety) Hot Mustard (husband doesn’t eat it, “not hot enough”) Oatmeal (sent to a sick friend who “can’t digest it” because it contains flax seeds) KitKat Candy Gift Box (sent to same sister and contributed to same exploded colon)
At least none of that stuff was delivered to New York City, so at least I don’t have to feel guilty about all the traffic.
The inimitable Kate in her signature silhouette. / Getty Images
INDEPENDENT AND confident on screen and in private, Katharine Hepburn knew instinctively how to flatter her long, lanky and athletic figure. And she wasn’t about to be deterred by Hollywood directors who frowned upon her clothing preferences. Her signature look: trousers with roomy legs paired and balanced by a classic, structured button-down or a slim turtleneck.
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To channel Hepburn’s style and sass, see our picks for pants:
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LEFT: Can’t you just see Hepburn in these flowy Palazzo Pants ($79.99, Mango), paired with a button-down shirt casually tied at the waist?
RIGHT: Say, you’re not feeling so confident one day. Pull on these dusty coral, wool-crepe Stevie Belted Wool Wide-Leg Pants ($695, Moda Operandi) and connect with the spirit of Hepburn. London-based fashion brand Regina Pyo is getting high marks for her wearable looks.
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LEFT: Pleats, please. And plaid, too. Embrace them both in this Mijeong Park Plaid Pleat Pant with roomy leg and button-tab waist (Need Supply, $190). Kate would approve.
RIGHT: Boden’s Ketten Wide-Leg Pants ($130), made from a drapey viscose fabric, have a little stretch for comfort and a self-tie belt for nipping in and accentuating the waist.
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LEFT: Pull off an insouciant Hepburn look in Vince’s menswear-inspired Belted Pinstripe Pants ($365, Nordstrom).
RIGHT: Celebrate your individual style in these ochre-colored silk 3.1 Phillip Lim Front Overlap Pants ($495, Shopbop).
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See the pants Hepburn wore and costumes from her career at the Frick Pittsburgh’s exhibit “Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage & Screen” through January 12, 2020. (The Frick is located at 7227 Reynolds Street, Pittsburgh, 412-371-0600) .
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
I RECENTLY learned that my best friend Debra, who grew up in Utah and still lives there so it is kind of understandable that she is out of the loop culturally, never heard of Chuckles! How is that possible? Even worse, she has three grown kids who probably never heard of them either, although perhaps they are more sophisticated than their mother, especially the one who left Utah for greener pastures. Anyway, a five-pack of Chuckles was my hands-down favorite movie candy, and I still love them even though I never eat them anymore, knowing that they are poison.
What’s not to love about a Chuckle? First, the very name implies happiness and laughter and good times. Then there is the fact that there are five separate candies in one package, each a delightfully different color and flavor, making the whole experience an early lesson in decision-making and retirement planning.
Other movie candy seemed boring by comparison, since they were all a box of just one thing: Junior Mints, Whoppers, Malted Milk Balls—all yummy, but the same thing over and over, whereas each Chuckle was a new experience! I never could settle on a favorite: cherry, lemon, spearmint, orange or licorice. I’ve always leaned towards the licorice, but then those green ones are pretty special too. And of course the red…well, the red, now there’s a crowd-pleaser.
If for some bizarre reason there were no Chuckles on the premises, my second choice was Raisinets, which had the added benefit of pleasing my mother because they were so “healthy.” On the down side, they were awfully noisy coming out of the box, requiring you to wait for a big laugh in the theater to get some. I always wondered about those Jordan Almonds kids; they were so grown-up at such a young age.
LIKE MANY people my age, I’m falling apart. Fortunately there are savvy businessmen out there who understand this trend among baby boomers and cater to it, offering pills, potions and tonics to slow our inevitable deterioration. One of the more popular of these is fish oil. Fish oil is a hit! Every person on the planet who remembers the moment they heard Ricky Nelson died—or even that he lived—probably takes it by now.
A daily dose of fish oil is advised by my doctor as an aid to flexibility and a weapon against that dreaded enemy, inflammation. And my own husband, still young from where I sit, is a confirmed user since his exercise cult pushes it on all their recruits, so the bottle is already on hand, taunting me each time I open the fridge. I’ve been reluctant, mostly because I already ingest so much medicine every day just to tread water, including but not limited to pills for high blood pressure, aspirin for a healthy heart and a handful of ibuprofen whenever the mood strikes me. Besides costing almost fifty bucks for a month’s supply, the stuff, I worry, must taste as bad as it sounds. And how do they get it, anyway? Oil from where? Are the fish harmed in the process? It’s just not for me.
But Maine winters are cold and arthritis hurts. Alone in the kitchen, I inspected the bottle. Stuck on top of the cheery yellow cap is a special yellow, lemon-shaped label proclaiming the product’s “Great Lemon Taste!” On the front, another label shaped like a county fair Blue Ribbon announces that the International Taste and Quality Institute in Brussels awarded it the Superior Taste Award in 2010. Lower down, on the bottle’s main label, it reiterates Great LEMON Taste! (Notice the word lemon is in all caps this time.) In the small print, it mentions the “refreshing natural lemon taste” and suggests adding it to salads. And of course, natural lemon flavor is one of the listed ingredients.
Bottom line: I took it, it’s gross. Not lemony at all, not great, not refreshing, in fact disgusting. Why can’t they just say “Tastes Like Lemon Pledge” and leave it at that? What are we, children? I am reminded of when I was a toddler and my mother chased me around the house with a spoonful of that scary-pink Pepto-Bismol, much of it spilling so by the time she cornered me under the dining room table there was barely enough left to do me any good. Well, compared with fish oil, Pepto-Bismol is a walk in the park. (Oh yeah, add P-B to my list of meds.)
John Lennon imagined a world with no religion, no countries, nothing to live or die for. Sounds good, but I would add truth in advertising. Imagine. Anyway, I’ve taken fish oil every day now, and I must say that after two weeks it still tastes bad, but I am becoming a bit more flexible.
THIS WEEKEND’s cold blast has forced me to admit not only that winter is coming but that it’s already here. Never mind those official calendar dates. The good news in this not-so-great-weather-news is this: A great-looking coat makes your outfit when temperatures turn chilly. I proved it to myself last weekend when I dug a vintage ruffled burgundy-and-purple tweed Pierre Cardin coat out of my garage closet. It no longer mattered that I was wearing a baggy pair of jeans and an ancient fisherman sweater. My coat grabbed all the attention.
More good news: Coat silhouettes, colors and materials have expanded way beyond double-breasted reefers, the color black and plain old wool.
Several years ago I asked a Neiman Marcus saleswoman why all the coats in her department were black. She remarked somewhat facetiously that that’s what buyers think women want. Just last winter, not much had changed. Looking around a local coffee shop filled with women blanketed in black, a friend lamented, “Why not something in raspberry?” Associate Editor Mary Carpenter is not fond of dark coats. “People take them from coat piles with my car keys in them.”
This season, though there are plenty of faux fur coats to snuggle into, as well as oversize puffers that are looking oh-so chic to us. So are colors such as slate blue, turquoise and olive and then, how about those animal prints and pretty plaids.
Here are some on our winter wish list.
—Janet Kelly
LEFT: Can’t help but love the color of this knee-length Quilted Button Coat ($169.99, Mango). Flip up the funnel neck and wrap yourself in warmth. RIGHT: Layer Raey’s oversize alpaca-and-mohair Blue Blanket Coat ($867, Matches) over a turtleneck and blazer. Stash your gloves in its two large front pockets.
LEFT: Boden’s color-block Lovelace Coat (reduced from $298 to $208.60) in a classic style with anything-but-classic colors will solve your SAD syndrome. A striped-inner waistband is practical; a bright green lining is fun. RIGHT: Soft and fuzzy Italian wool-mohair on Vince’s Plaid Belted Wool and Alpaca Blend Coat($895, Nordstrom) adds texture to the blue-and-brown buffalo plaid. Your choice whether to belt it or leave it open.
LEFT: Go wild with Apparis’s Margot Ocelot-Print Faux-Fur Coat ($320, Moda Operandi). Cut with generous lapels, the coat closes with subtle hooks along the front and features deep slit pockets for warming cold hands. CENTER: The oversize silhouette and soft fabric on Tibi’s Faux Curly Lamb Peacoat ($695, Moda Operandi) makes it a cozy, chic choice for dashing around the city or the block. RIGHT: Whether paired with jeans and clunky brogues or a sweater dress and boots, Ganni’s Boucle Wool Coat ($370, Shopbop) in kalamata (yes, as in olives) is an all-purpose cold-weather topper.
LEFT: A plushy coat with a clean-cut silhouette, Stand Studios’ Lisbeth Single-Breasted Faux-Shearling Teddy Coat ($294, Matches Fashion) is a fine example of the brand’s savvy in knowing how to mix elegance and simplicity at an affordable price point. RIGHT: Sometimes you want a big puffy coat, sometimes you don’t. Patagonia’s streamlined Radalie Water Repellent Insulated Parka ($199, Nordstrom) keeps you warm with a close-to-the body flattering silhouette. Coated with a water-repellent finish, it’s a smart, packable pick.
LEFT: Stand Studio’s mid-calf-length Maria Faux Fur Checked Coat ($360, Farfetch) will keep you feeling toasty and looking cool and colorful. What winter blues? RIGHT: Cos Stores’s Stand Collar Wool Coat ($250) is minimalist perfection. Unlined for a soft silhouette, it fastens with a hidden zipper and a single snap button at the top. Not for below-zero days. However, you could slip it under an oversize puffer, kind of like a long jacket. Love that turquoise.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
Editor’s note: Everyone we know seems a little jumpy these days. So, we’re reposting Mary Carpenter’s 2014 story on the benefits of meditation. Let us know if you decide to try it and whether it helped you calm down.
MEDITATION HAS TWO groups of adherents: those who are naturally enticed by the possibilities of health, calm and compassion; and the rest of us, who resist meditation until driven by a specific need, often stress-related, to give it a try.
Meditation is hard to explain to resisters, which included me for most of my life, despite being aware of increasing evidence for its multitude of health benefits—even after new evidence about the brain’s neuroplasticity showed that permanent brain changes in response to the experience of meditation insure that these benefits will endure.
PAIN: Volunteers at Wake Forest University who practiced mindfulness meditations 20 minutes daily for four days changed their response to pain, which was caused by a hot plate of metal held against their calves. The unpleasantness was reduced by 57 percent and the intensity by 40 percent. Brain scans showed that activity in the specific region of the cortex linked to the affected calf had diminished by so much it was barely detectable; conversely, activity increased in regions of the brain that modulate–and can reduce pain sensations.
IMMUNITY: At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, 150 participants over age 50—80 percent women—were randomly assigned to one of three groups. For eight weeks, two groups did either mindfulness meditation training or brisk daily exercise, while a control group did neither. Compared to the controls, the meditators missed 76 percent fewer days of work and the exercisers missed 48 percent fewer—for both groups, the severity of colds and flu was decreased.
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY: In an overview of 47 studies involving a total of 3,515 participants, mindfulness meditation helped manage both — although not always better than exercise. In one study of depression, mindfulness reduced by 47 percent the risk of relapse in patients who had experienced three or more bouts of depression.
COMPASSION: At Northeastern University, of 20 people took a mindfulness meditation class, 50 percent gave up their seats to a woman on crutches compared to 16 percent of non-meditators. Meditation is “fast becoming a fashionable tool for improving your mind” said study leader Professor David DeSteno, to improve leadership, productivity and individual performance (on SATs, at work)—though he notes that these attributes are often thought to conflict with compassion.
Over the past two decades, I was advised by several medical professionals that mindfulness and meditation could allay mild PTSD left over from my childhood, which sometimes made me anxious or jumpy. After hearing the same advice the third or fourth time, I felt stupid ignoring it once again. I purchased a workbook for “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction” (MBSR) that comes with a CD—but abandoned both after one or two efforts.
Next, I signed up for the MBSR course, which has been offered since its development more than 30 years ago at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center by Jon Kabat-Zinn, who calls his program: Buddhist meditation but secular, “without the Buddhism.” To date, this course has helped tens of thousands, mostly people in high-risk, high-stress professions like firefighters and soldiers. Knowing that many of my classmates had enrolled for medical reasons made me feel I was among fellow skeptics.
MBSR classes typically meet for eight sessions of two and a half hours each, plus six hours one weekend day. My course, offered through the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, cost almost $500 (it’s now $550). Both the time and the money helped motivate me to get to class and to do my homework: daily meditation. (For those who cannot imagine devoting eight weeks or more than $500 to meditating, the Wake Forest volunteers experienced less pain after practicing mindfulness meditation for only 20 minutes a day over four days.)
What made these meditations doable for me was practicing in class, maybe because of doing it with a group, plus the CD that came with the class workbook —the same one I had purchased previously. The CD’s 21 guided meditations vary in length, from short ones under four minutes to longer ones of 30 or longer. I have not yet made it to the tracks of over 45 minutes. The CD also includes various kinds of meditation: sitting, lying, standing, yoga, breathing and one called the “body scan.”
Mindfulness meditation encourages focus on the breath—in and out—and attention to everything that arises, from a sore back to annoying thoughts. (For sitting meditations, you can choose any mode you want, including a chair.) You are encouraged to notice each thought, and then to notice how quickly each one passes by. Chronic depression sufferers are helped by allowing the stream of negative thoughts to flow quickly in and then quickly out of consciousness. Focus and attention —to breath and thoughts, also sometimes to sounds, sensations and movement—make this meditation different from most other kinds that focus on getting rid of extraneous thoughts and clearing the mind.
Not until after about five or six weeks had passed did I begin to feel a difference, around the time of our six-hour “all-day.” For me, a plan for all-day anything, with a group of people, mostly in one room, sounds unbearable. Maybe because we were discouraged from chatting, the hours passed calmly and quickly. At the lunch break, it was suggested that we walk outdoors, remaining silent if possible. Joining this phalanx of 20 or so zombie-like adults walking the busy Saturday streets of downtown Bethesda took me to a new level of I-can-do-this.
Slowly I got better at keeping track of random items, those to pack for a trip or those I needed to bring up in unexpected phone calls from my hard-to-reach sons. Time seemed to move a little more slowly—similar to the sensation of watching an impending disaster, like a baseball heading for a glass window: the ball appears to move in slower motion and greater detail than normally. As time slowed down, I felt as if I were slowing down—just a bit— instead of racing around.
When I tired of the slightly unctuous voice on the CD, I tried sitting quietly with a timer. To my surprise, 20 minutes sped by. Although I have slacked off since the class ended, on most days I find time if only for a short meditation. My next goal: to feel I’ve earned the right to say, if only to my closest friends, “I meditate.”
—Mary Carpenter
Every Tuesday, well-being editor Mary Carpenter reports on health news you can use.
LEFT: Pull off an insouciant Hepburn look in Vince’s menswear-inspired 
