EVERY FEW years a battle cry goes up among women of a certain age—“Let your hair go gray.” A recent New York Times story “How I Quit the Bottle (The Hair Dye Bottle)” recounted a woman’s decision to give up the pricey dye jobs.
About 10 years ago, I made the same decision. But after suffering through months of bad hair days, I realized it was the wrong one. My grays didn’t come in a nice, salt-and-pepper kind of way but rather in uneven streaks. My curly-ish hair didn’t at all resemble the silvery coif of Helen Mirren or Emmy Lou Harris’ beautiful bob or Jamie Lee Curtis’s speckled pixie.
When I consulted Jeremy Buchanan of D.C.’s Salon One80, he explained that white/gray/silver hair doesn’t flatter every skin tone, mine included. Moreover, gray hair grows in coarse and frizzy, adding to the not-such-a-pretty picture. I had no glittery tresses that caught the light and shimmered as did the writer of the New York Times article.
That said, dyeing your hair/highlighting it, low lighting it, getting balayage, etc., is wallet-draining (no AARP discounts) and time consuming. Moreover, one day your color is fine and the next you’re looking in the mirror in horror and sprinting to the salon for a root touchup.
In spite of it, though, I’ve decided not to go gray gracefully. That has led to my search for products to let me stretch out the time between spendy salon visits. Here are some products to aid in the coverup.
—Janet Kelly
LEFT: The rub here is that this Temptu AirPod Airbrush Root Touch-Up & Hair Color ($35, Dermstore) must be used with a $195 cordless, airbrush makeup tool that delivers a mist on your hair to camouflage gray and refresh roots. You have a choice of 11 colors from platinum blonde to auburn. On the plus side, if you like the results, use the tool for spraying on foundation.
CENTER: It was on Buchanan’s advice that I tried Color Wow’s Root Cover Up. To apply, you use the small end of the brush to press pigmented powder (in shades of light blonde, blonde, dark blonde, light brown, medium brown, dark brown, black and red) into your roots. It takes a little bit of trial and error to get it right, but it buys you time away from the salon. $34.50, Ulta Beauty .
RIGHT: A trusted colleague gives L’Oreal’s Root Cover Up rave reviews. She keeps one at home and one in her handbag for those “OMG, my roots are showing situations.” And it’s easy to spray it over the areas you need coverage for. One application is supposed to last until your next shampoo. Choose from eight shades (light to medium blonde, dark blonde, light golden brown, light brown, medium brown, dark brown, black and red) to making those gray roots history. And the price is right, right? $10.99, Ulta Beauty.
LEFT: Who knew that the famous comedienne had a beauty line? Great Hair Day from Joan Rivers Beauty is another brush-on product to cover roots as well as hide thin spots in case we, er, have any. It’s available in six colors, including salt & pepper and white. $28.75 at Soft Surroundings. Could eye shadow work just as well? LittleBird Nancy is determined to give it a try.
CENTER: It occurs to me that a pencil or a crayon may be a better tool than a brush for coloring in those pesky little bitty grays that pop up along the forehead line and at the sideburns. Which is why Bumble and Bumble Bb. Color Stick ($26, Sephora) is an appealing choice. Besides “natural” colors blonde, dark blonde, brown, red and black, you can pick from four “statement” shades, including hot pink, light pink, royal blue and lilac. For your next costume party?
RIGHT: For keeping your grays undercover, Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray is another option in the spray-on category from Oribe, which gets high marks for its hair products. $32, Dermstore.
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 HAD my first puff of marijuana at age 24 and now I am 72. It’s been an on and off thing since then, and I can’t see any way smoking the stuff has hurt me. I’ve driven under the influence and in my 54 years behind the wheel I have never had a car accident. Okay, so I’ve run a few yellow lights, but that’s because if I stopped, the drunk on my tail would have crashed right into me.
In case you still don’t know, drinking alcohol is far worse than smoking pot. It poses a bigger danger on the road and on the job. Whereas it’s barely noticeable if someone has smoked pot, drinking raises a big neon red flag, to mix a few metaphors. Finally recreational marijuana is legal in many places, and it’s about time. Still, there are some backwards folks who consider it a sure sign of the Devil at work inside you.
I once was friends with one of those backwards folks. Our friendship was already teetering on the edge, but what pushed me over was her gasp of horror when I said my husband and I might go for a quick walk before her other dinner guests arrived, just to smoke a little pot and relax. “Oh God no!” she exclaimed, as if I had suggested pulling out a few syringes and shooting heroin in the middle of her living room. “I have people coming over… I’m running for the president of the Historical Society!! I can’t have that… oh NO!”
I should add that the “historical society” was for a tiny island off the coast of Maine with about 100 houses on it, and that the woman is a proud alcoholic (she thinks it’s endearing to be tipsy) who was drunk within half an hour of the start of the party, as were most of the other guests she was hoping to impress. I’ll stick with my ladylike puff of pot, and nobody ever needs to know when, where or if I did it.
AFTER 28 years of marriage, my husband and I decided to divorce. Highly visible in our community, our carefully constructed illusion of the perfect family unit was about to be exposed for what it really was—a house of smoke and mirrors. Overcome with sadness—first, to tear asunder what God had joined together, but then to realize there were only a precious few among my circle I could turn to for comfort. You see, I knew how to play the social sport of one-upmanship, but I had yet to learn how to make, or to be, a true friend.
Rebuilding community after painful midlife transitions is a slow, deliberate process. Brick by brick, I deconstructed my old life but was unsure how to start anew. Often I tried to identify just what it was I desired in this last third of my life. My children successfully launched, thankfully, I was financially secure. Long retired from my career, I spent countless hours working as a volunteer in my community and in service projects abroad. Feeling braver each day, I even tiptoed into the terrifying world of cyber dating. Soon I learned that dating was a fun and busy distraction, but for the most part, men my age were struggling with their own issues of identity confusion, brought on by retirement, health issues and financial insecurity.
One day I realized it was the new women I was meeting, who were increasingly the people whose company I preferred. For instance, my female financial planner seemed to genuinely care about teaching me to confidently manage my finances. The service trips I took to Haiti after the earthquake were groups of women volunteers. The community organizers—leaders of my neighborhood watch group, political action coalitions, preservation and environmental-stewardship projects —all women. I was meeting more and more women my age who saw big issues, or even little corners of the neighborhood that needed attention, and without hesitation, rolled up their sleeves and got busy sweeping, planning, executing—not stopping until the job was done. Never had I dreamed that life could feel so purposeful again, as I worked alongside these cadres of women engaged in civic enterprise.
Eureka! I needed women, and I imagined they needed one another. I longed for a new kind of friendship, based not on competition but rather on supportive community. We all had such busy lives—some married, some traveling, some still employed—that it was hard to find time to even meet for coffee. A larger gathering seemed more practical. We all needed to eat, didn’t we?
Do you recall that delightful old folk tale called Stone Soup? It’s the story of a group of hungry strangers combining bits of food in order to make a soup that became a communal meal in the end. Thanks to Captain Kangaroo, I’d long ago fallen in love with the moral of the story—sharing. I decided to launch my own version: I’d make a simple soup, keep it casual, and because I can squeeze 12 chairs around my table, we began with a dozen women. I sent out the invitations and imposed only two conditions—come prepared to laugh and no malicious gossip allowed.
Four years later, and many soup dinners since, dozens of us have forged new friendships while breaking bread, sipping soup and raising our glasses to a more compassionate way of relating. We’ve invited daughters and other younger women who expressed interest. One evening, a new guest to the group thanked me for including her, in what she referred to as “my wonderful group of Amazon women.” Initially taken aback by that label, I soon realized what a compliment it was. We are indeed a tribe of peaceful warrior women—brave and resilient, but more importantly, strong allies in a sometimes menacing world.
— Grace Cooper
Grace Cooper is a retired nurse anesthetist and aspiring writer. Most days she can be spotted out and about Pittsburgh on her beloved bicycle, which she named Hippolyta after the mythological queen of the Amazons.
Mom’s Old Fashioned Split Pea Soup
This is still my all-time favorite soup, made a bit healthier by using organic chicken bone broth and organic split peas. The smoked ham hock imparts a lot of flavor, but also salt—wait until the soup is finished before adding more!
Ingredients
¼ cup olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 carrots, finely chopped
3 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 pound smoked ham hock
1 pound split green peas, rinsed and drained
2 quarts chicken stock
kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
In a soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery. Stir to coat the vegetables and cook for 5 minutes until soft.
Add the whole ham hock, split peas and chicken stock. Decrease the heat to low and simmer for about an hour or until the peas are soft and the ham hock tender.
Using an immersion blender, puree about two-thirds of the soup until somewhat smooth. Add the ham pieces to the soup and cook over low heat until the soup has thickened slightly, 5-8 minutes. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper. Serve hot.
A FRIEND who wears black sweaters, jeans and jackets like a religion has recently had a change of heart. She has conceded to the unhappy tenor of the times by adding pops of color to her clothing. “It feels more optimistic,” she says.
She refers to Katell le Bourhis, former associate curator at the Met Costume Institute and one-time director at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris as an inspiration. Reportedly, Le Bourhis, who wore mainly black and white, didn’t leave home without an accent of chartreuse.
Not everyone loves or can go within miles of wearing chartreuse, but you get the point. Black can be dreadfully dreary especially in the depths of winter. Moreover, it can drain the life out of older complexions. With that in mind, looking at the bright colors and even springy pastels that populated fall 2018 runways has prompted me to set the refresh button on my own mostly black- and-neutrals closet. If you want to add a happy hue or two to your own closet, see some ideas below.
Left: With an irresistible shape and color, Lady Leather Purse in Tomato will brighten up anything you’re wearing. Courtesy of L.A.-design company Building Block whose mantra is “editing out excess and magnifying essentials.” $550, Need Supply. Right: Who said winter coats have to be black, navy or brown? This Pippa Double-breasted Shearling Coat in a rich teal-green hue from designer Sies Marjan is cuddly but chic, too. Layer it over a mint-green satin skirt for an evening out. $2,359, Matches Fashion.
Left: An antidote to dark days. Nanushka’s Motta turtle neck ribbed angora merino blend in lilac, paired here with plaid yellow pants, leaves winter behind—at least in your mind. $460, Farfetch. Right: Get out of your all-black rut. Team Tibi’s Egg Blue Blazer with a white cashmere sweater. Wait for the compliments. $595, Tibi.
Left: This Open Work-Detail sweater in buttery yellow says cheery and cozy. $69.99, Mango. Right: Punch up your basic black outfit with this Isabelle Leather Handbag, which racks up points for its off-the-beaten track shape and glossy lime color. $265, Need Supply.
These Velveteen Pants will look great with a charcoal gray sweater or paired, as shown here, with the same color turtleneck for a slimming silhouette. $99, Zara.
Left: Note to self: Thumbs up to a mustard and pale-blue denim combo. Gaby Brushed Fleece Sweatshirt $50, Need Supply. Right: In winter denial? Pair Pointed Toe Leather flats in fuchsia with cream-colored pants. $79.99, Mango.
Left: Instead of a plain white T-shirt, slip Levi’s Perfect Graphic Tee with a splash of red letters under a blazer. $29.50, Nordstrom. Right: A prime example of how to lighten the look of a dark-green blazer. Pair it with a lavender button-down. $250, Massimo Dutti.
—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.
THE RECENT week of 50-degree-something days has literally snapped me out of my shopping lethargy. Fall has arrived, and with it my urge to buy a new thing or three. But it’s a request from a friend to go shopping with her that has led me to assess the state of my wardrobe before purchasing things I don’t need. Like remembering I have enough black pants to last a few lifetimes and probably enough boots as well. On the other hand, there’s nothing like a brand-new clothing item to lift the spirits.
With that in mind, here are 10 mostly evergreen updates I’m considering for autumn and beyond.
Leather and Plaid
Left: A pair of Slim Fit Leather Trousers With Stitch Details from Massimo Dutti wouldn’t break the bank. $395, massimodutti. Right: These Winter Capsule Darted Slim Fit Check Wool Trousers would also be a fresh addition. $120, massimodutti. Love the way they’re styled here with a cable-knit sweater and hiking boots, ready for the city’s rugged streets.
Left: Plaid continues to have a fashion moment, buoyed up this season by the “Clueless” looks of Prada’s tweeds and Michael Kors’ black and yellow checked pants. I’d wear this Freemont Fringe Bandana Scarf to add color, interest and warmth to a trenchcoat. $48, Shopbop. Right: Maybe it’s time to break up the monotony of a mostly all-pants closet with a skirt. Raey’s Tumbled Leather Midi Pencil Skirt could fill the bill for a host of occasions. It’s $540 at Matches.
Vibrant Color
Left: Faux fur was a fall 2018 runway favorite. And this Luxe Faux Fur Track Jacket in deep purple from Tibi makes our hearts throb. $395, Tibi. Right: Corduroy, an old reliable of past years, is having a well-deserved renaissance. Especially these Scape Trousers in an unexpected dark turquoise. $390, NeedSupply.
Wear to Work
Left: Not just your ho-hum gray pullover. Danish designer Ganni’s interpretation of a fall sweater with stretch knit, spread collar and long balloon sleeves. $232, Farfetch. Right: Also from Ganni, Ridgewood double-breasted corduroy blazer in navy with brown leather buttons. Pair with matching trousers ($205) for a look that works daytime and evening. $262, Matches Fashion.
Left: I’m not a fan of the ’80s but I’m cheering the comeback of chunky, chain-link jewelry. You may be able to score some at a vintage store. If not, this David Yurman sterling silver Madison Medium Bracelet has the right amount of heft for a wrist statement. $400 at Bloomingdale’s. Right: This knife-pleated Metallic Skirt oozes elegance particularly when paired with a structured, double-breasted black jacket. Bonus points for the skirt’s elastic waist. $69.99 for the skirt, $89.99 for the jacket at Mango.
—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.
THERE’S A zany news story floating around about a woman who was removed from a Frontier Airlines flight after it was discovered that her pre-approved “comfort animal” turned out to be a squirrel. Yes, a rodent was this woman’s choice for comfort. Although her shrink said it was fine, the airline did not consider it to be fine, so off she went, and her little squirrel, too. They did book her on another flight which she took, sans rodent, but still she’s threatening to sue and says she will eventually end up “owning a large part of the airline.”
This story grabbed my attention more than it might have another time because just a few nights ago a squirrel got into our house and made both me and my husband extremely rattled for the next 48 hours. It was, you could say, our discomfort animal.
The squirrel was a baby, which was the only thing he had going for him. Had he been full-grown I would have worried he had rabies and called in the big guns from Terminix. But this little guy, lacking street smarts — and roof smarts — had fallen down our chimney flue. When we heard noises coming from that area my husband, AGAINST MY ADVICE (which I offered quite loudly but he says he didn’t hear me so there’s another whole issue we’ll have to check out), opened the flue and out he dropped. He didn’t stick around long and was off in a flash, literally. For the whole night, the next day, and the next night, we searched for him in vain, while our cat Lurch barely raised an eyebrow and slept quite soundly despite the odd noises at odd hours and the dashing little body darting about from here to there.
None of it was good. I worried he’d bite us in our sleep. Or that Lurch would find him and finally get with the program and eat him and, even worse, then throw him up. Or that the squirrel would die somewhere hidden, sad and hungry and alone and wondering, “Why me?” Not only was that scenario heart-wrenching but potentially quite smelly. Miraculously, through unrelenting diligence and wielding a shoebox (my idea), Mitch was finally able to chase the intruder onto the front screen door, which we quickly opened (actually I opened it) from the outside and managed to slam him off it, into the bushes and the cover of night.
The whole ordeal was the opposite of comforting. In fact it was incredibly stressful, causing a leap in my blood pressure and some weird chest pains that sent me to the ER the very next day. That lady from the airplane is obviously nuts.
TWO WEDDINGS at the end of this month gave me license to buy a new swanky dress. But then I decided I needed a new pair of shoes, too, because the black silk frock needed a little oomph. The only drawback was that the rhinestone-embellished, mid-high-heel shoes I saw that I wanted were selling for $995 a pair. (That’s what the ones from Manolo Blahnik and other high-end shoe designers were averaging.)
Emily Black Pearl Pump ((3.5-inch heel) with gold pearl detailed bow. $895, emymack.com.
Even in Pittsburgh at a Emy Mack, a store I frequent where the prices are mostly in a reasonable range, the ones with bling at the toes were in the $800-plus category. To amortize the cost, I’d have to wear those shoes a lot. And who has so many black-tie events? And, really, fashion wags to the contrary, I wasn’t going to wear such fancy footwear with jeans.
Something Bleu’s Brinsley kitten heel with crystal embellishment. $368, simplysoles.com.
I browsed more wallet-friendly sites like online-only Simply Soles and then Lord & Taylor. Both had some choices in the $200-$400 range. But because I happened to be in Annapolis, Maryland, with some boating pals on a cool, rainy day at the end of August, I suggested we go to the discount shoe stores in the mall, namely DSW and Nordstrom Rack.
Kurt Geiger London’s Pia Embellished Satin Kitten Heels, $185, lordandtaylor.com.
I struck out at Nordstrom Rack and after an endless round of trying shoes on and not finding the “one” at DSW, my friend pointed out a pair of black satin kitten heels. They were so comfortable (I could dance!). I could overcome the plain Jane of them with a blingy shoe clip, my friends advised (or maybe I concluded on my own).
Finally, my shoes with sparkly toes for $64. / photo by Janet Kelly.
When I returned home I searched on Etsy, where there were plenty of glittery choices. The twinkly bow-shaped ones I liked were sold out, but the owner of Etsy shop Pompees said she could make me a pair that would be ready in a few weeks. They arrived yesterday. I even got a discount because I had to wait a longer time than she initially promised. Cost: $29 for rhinestone clips. Shoe cost: $35. Grand total: $64. See the photo and let me know what you think in the comments. I’ve also included photos of the other much more spendy choices.
—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.
A life-size mannequin in artist Isabelle de Borchgrave’s gown with lace, tulle and lavish ornamentation, sculpted entirely of paper. Based on the portrait of the Princess of Condé by Peter Paul Rubens.
Maria de Medici (1540-1557). 2007. Based on a portrait c. 1555 by Alessandro Allori. De Borchgrave worked with 10 studio assistants for a year on this series of 30 sculptures, detailed with jewelry, shoes and accessories.
Left: De Borchgrave used three different kinds of paper to create this Robe a la Francaise. Right: The Black King, 2009, inspired by a costume in Les Ballets Russes’ production of Sleeping Beauty.
Left: The Woman in Blue, 2009, after a costume by Pablo Picasso in 1919 ballet, Le Tricorne. Right: The Blue God 2009, after a costume created for a 1912 Russian ballet.
Elizabeth I Court Dress, 2001. Inspired by a portrait by the studio of Nicolas Hilliard, c. 1575. Don’t miss the Italian boar on the front panel.
Left: A Russian Lady, 2009, after a costume design by Natalia Goncharova for the Ballet Russes’ “The Golden Rooster.” Right: Empress Eugenie Evening Dress and Shoe, 2001. Inspired by an 1856 Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres portrait.
Left: De Borchgrave’s interpretation of the dress in a Francois Boucher painting of Madame de Pompadour. Right: This dress by de Borchgrave from 2007 is inspired by a portrait of Madame de Pompadour by Maurice Quentin de la Tour, a master of pastels.
From The World of Mariano Fortuny series: Delphos Dress and Coat, 2006-2007. Based on a Delphos dress, c. 1910-1930. Originally worn as dressing gowns, as fashion became more liberated in the 20th century, women embraced Fortuny’s dresses as evening wear.
Left: Known as a mantua, this gown is an example of style of dress required at court in 18th-century England. Right: De Borchgrave’s rendition of 1924 Red Fern of London dress.
Left: Delphos Dress and Tunic, 2008, inspired by Mariano Fortuny. Right: De Borchgrave’s Les Ballet Russes series features fantastical modernist costumes designed by artists like Picasso, Bakst, and Matisse.
JUST IMAGINE the intricacies involved in creating an 18th-century ball gown with its reams of ribbons and layers of lace, or the masterful pleats of a Fortuny evening ensemble. Then think about making them in paper.
Which is just what Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave has been doing since the mid-1990s. Almost 100 of her trompe l’oeil works are on display in a retrospective, “Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art From Paper” at the Frick Pittsburgh until January 6, 2019.
De Borchgrave brings fabric to life with ordinary paper, making us believe we’re seeing lace, brocade, silk, taffeta and embroidery through cutting, gluing and using a mix of acrylic paint, ink and metallic powder. In her Brussels studio, she directs a staff, each one specializing in a part of a costume’s creation, whether building a wire structure, painting the ground colors, crafting jewelry or cutting trimmings.
As a child her first medium was paper, which she was able to use freely and cut up without fear of ruining anything precious. On museum visits with her mother, she discovered dresses through paintings and learned that she liked shape, sculpture, color and intricate details. She eventually went on to work in advertising, fashion and interior design. But it wasn’t until a 1994 visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and a Yves Saint Laurent exhibit that she had the brainstorm to create her own fashion-meets-fantasy works in paper.
The exhibition will feature examples from all the artist’s major series, including “Papiers à la Mode,” tracking 300 years of fashion history and “The World of Mariano Fortuny,” honoring the legacy of the Spanish designer. The one new piece is one the museum commissioned her to make—a paper dress inspired by the Frick’s “Portrait of Charlotte—Marguerite de Montmorency, Princess of Conde” by Peter Paul Rubens.
Admission to the museum is free for Frick members; $15 for adult nonmembers, $13, seniors 62 and older, students and members of the military, $8 for ages 6-16, free for children 5 and younger. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday 10am-5pm, Friday, 10am-9pm. Address: The Frick is located at 7227 Reynolds St., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 412-371-0600.
The exhibition has been organized by the Frick Pittsburgh in collaboration with four other American museums: Dixon Gallery and Gardens, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the Society of the Four Arts and Artis-Naples and The Baker Museum.
COLUMBUS SET off in 1492 in search of new worlds. In the spirit of exploration, we’re off on our own discovery mission. Tune in Tuesday for the results.
We gaucheAmericans can’t get enough books and articles about how to eat, dress, shop, entertain and look as sophisticated as a French woman. Several years after the publication of Ines de la Fressange’s Parisian Chic and its companion, Parisian Chic City Guide, comes a new, more expansive guide to French style: Sophie the Parisian: Style Tips From a True Parisian Woman by Nathalie Peigney (Rizzoli, 2018). The author, a marketing consultant and journalist, shares her secrets about Parisian women, dividing the book into 103 alphabetically arranged keywords, ranging from Accessories (the “salt and pepper” of style) to Flowers (the French love white flowers) to Plastic Surgery (in Paris, it’s don’t ask, don’t tell).
In the excerpt below, Peigney takes us on an all-day shopping tour of her favorite stops in the City of Light.You can find the book at local booksellers, but you can also purchase it directly from the publisher.
PLACE DES VICTOIRES in the 1st arrondissement is one of the city’s classic shopping spots. It’s there we find our Parisian, with her best friend on her arm or her darling in tow, picking out the latest French fashions with simple but sophisticated good taste: oh-so-Parisian clothes, jewels, and accessories. It’s also a good part of Paris to go shopping for household linens, home decoration ideas, and gifts (but Place des Victoires is not the only great shopping spot in town). Join me for a guided five-hour shopping tour. We’ll start at 10:00 a.m. at the Etienne Marcel metro station, break for lunch at a nice bistro at Place des Victoires, and finish our day with a glass of fine wine at a wine merchant in the Galerie Vivienne, a nineteenth-century shopping arcade. Don’t forget the concept: the Parisian is an independent and multifaceted shopper. She is trendy but never a fashion victim.
Exit the metro onto Rue Etienne Marcel. At No. 15 Rue Etienne Marcel, have a look at Declercq, an extravaganza of home trimmings, fabrics, and decoration. Our fashion tour commences at No. 21, at Ba&sh, a brand created by girlfriends looking to put together the “ideal wardrobe.” Everything there is ultra-feminine, modern, and incredibly Parisian. A few doors down, at No. 25, we find Kabuki, THE fashionista’s boutique, with a nice collection of sublime designer clothes by the likes of Alexander Wang, Balenciaga, Balmain, Barbara Bui, Givenchy, Kenzo, and Stella McCartney, not to mention Shourouk jewelry. Next stop is Naf Nafat No. 33 for a fresh, young, impertinent style—nothing old-lady-like. Let’s move on to Comptoir des Cotonniers at No. 35. You’ll just love this brand’s elegant city-girl style of easy-to-wear clothes for mother and daughter. Now let’s hop across the street to No. 42, where we find Sandro, the up-and-coming name in the world of premium ready-to-wear for the Parisian looking for a style that’s more rock ’n’ roll than Comptoir des Cotonniers, more with-it than Vanessa Bruno, and more colorful than Les Petites. At No. 44 reigns The Kooples, a rising star in Paris. This French brand has a unique concept: “The Kooples dresses Couples” (i.e., they feature coordinated unisex style clothes for you and your beloved). At the same spot, don’t miss the multi-brand shop By Marie that showcases both emerging and established designers. They have vintage items as well as all sorts of things to strike your fancy. Next stop, Iro at No. 46—a textbook case of a brand that started off with pretty basic stuff but finally took flight and is now the princess of Parisian street-style, with apparel that is cool and glamorous. Now for a real must: a visit to Claudie Pierlot at No. 49. Allow yourself plenty of time to try things on, and you’re sure to leave the shop laden with shopping bags. Everything is tops there. Timeless styles distinguished by all kinds of little details to discretely catch a man’s eye. Time to walk over to Place des Victoires. On the way, we’ll stop off at La Piscine. This piscine is not a swimming pool, as its name suggests, but a 3,000-square-foot clearance outlet with bargains on brand-name clothes. Once again, allow yourself plenty of time to browse.
Our Parisian shopping odyssey continues with the shops at Place des Victoires, a circular plaza that owes its name to the victories of King Louis XIV (represented by the equestrian monument in the center of the square). Our next destination is Apostrophe, at No. 1 Place des Victoires, which features “second skin” clothing, with nice materials and pure simple cuts that will please active, sophisticated women who hate ostentation. Apostrophe is popular with French television celebrities and international politicians. (Let’s do lunch … I’ll drop a few names.) If you appreciate really fine linens, check out Yves Delorme next door. Then at No. 2 we step into Zadig & Voltaire, one of the ultra-coolest brands on the planet. They’ve just modernized their Parisian line with some “basic” outfits that rock! On to No. 3 Place des Victoires, where we find Gérard Darel, a leading name in Paris for more than forty years. Gérard Darel’s unique vision of fashion is often inspired by iconic figures such as Jackie Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. The styles of the 1950s are revisited with a modern twist. Next, if you love fashion jewelry, stop at Agatha, at No. 5—bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings, and anklets galore. The style is lovely, fresh, and unpretentious. At the same address, Les Petites is another must. The look is a savvy blend of ethnic, vintage, and sensual romanticism (embroidery, lace, and delicate materials). I love it!
Turn left onto Rue Croix des Petits Champs and amble over to No. 46, Avril Gau, creator of the Parisian’s favorite minimalist bags and shoes. So chic, ma chérie! Well, it’s nearly 1:00 p.m., my dear. I don’t know about you, but for me shopping always works up an appetite. Let’s backtrack to No. 43, Les fines Gueules, my favorite eatery in this neighborhood. Glad I phoned them yesterday. It’s always best to reserve the day before. This place is an absolute joy for those who really like good French food: try the steak tartare of Limousine steer or the bluefin tuna tartare, both are super!
Not too full for a couple more hours of shopping? Great! We’re back to No. 10 Place des Victoires, to “le must of the must,” called simply Victoire (what else?). This is a store we return to, season in, season out, because they make us feel so at home. The collections are gorgeous and varied: fad, classic, city casual, or dressy. They also have eccentric and must-have accessories, not to mention fun things for ephemeral occasions and designer fashions in timeless styles. Next stop is Maje to shop for casual wear that is simple but feminine. Just ravishing!
Walk for about a minute or two down a little street called Rue Vide-Gousset to the Place des Petits-Pères. On the way, you’ll see the Notre-Dame des Victoires basilica and, at No. 4 Place des Petits Pères, you’ll discover a surprising florist called Sylvain George, specializing in orchids, of which he offers more than sixty types! It is so interesting when Sylvain talks about his flowers . . . a real botany lesson! At No. 6 there’s a shop called Maison Bleue, a novel concept store offering a remarkable mélange of old and new jewelry, vintage accessories, and select creations by young designers such as Petite Mendigot, Les Cerises de Mars, but also Nat & Nin, and Delphine B1. Upstairs, you’ll find Maison Bleue’s designer hair salon.
Follow Rue des Petits-Champs to your right until you spot the enchanting entrance to the Galerie Vivienne. Take in the Neoclassical décor. What atmosphere! At the entrance to the gallery, visit the boutique of Jacqueline Singh, a creator of marvelous fashion jewelry. At No. 15 visit Nathalie Garçon for exuberant feminine creations that please Parisian actresses. At No. 25 there’s La Marelle, a consignment shop with great bargains on luxury articles. At No. 34 we come to the boutique of Alexis Mabille, the haute-couture designer loved by everyone who’s anyone. At No. 26 you’ll find the creations of Catherine André, famous for her jacquard weaves and her jerseys and shawls in stunning colors.
Return to Rue des Petits Champs and walk down the street to visit another historical shopping arcade called Passage Choiseul. Stroll down a magical passageway from another era. Notice the glass roof and natural lighting that make this illustrious place so charming. One of my favorite shops there is No. 11, L’Effet Bulles, where I buy gifts, costume jewelry, and cool decorations.
6:00 p.m. How time flies! Back to Galerie Vivienne for our last stop, Legrand filles & fils, a renowned wine merchant and traditional gourmet foods shop. Here we sip a glass of fine wine in a sublime early-twentieth-century atmosphere. Relax, you have done a good job.
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.
HAVING NEVER been to outer space, like most of us, I have no idea about the quality of chocolate-chip cookies that may exist, either in our own or in another galaxy. I only know about the ones on Earth, and I can cite with confidence three that are worth breaking a diet for: the ones you get in your room when you stay at a DoubleTree Hotel, the kind you bake at home commonly called Toll House, and Tate’s cookies.
Obviously the ones at the DoubleTree are the most expensive. Depending on what city you’re in and if there’s a convention in town or not, one of those cookies can start at $140, or $70 if you’re with a companion because you’ll each get one. Honestly, they’re good but not that good. Certainly the home-baked variety are the most cost-effective, but pose the biggest risk to any healthy eating plan since there’s a lot of pre-baking batter tasting followed by post-baking cookie tasting to be sure they turned out right. Tate’s are sold everywhere and are distinctively crunchy, but you may end up eating the whole bag, which I think contains a dozen cookies. Either way you’re screwed, since the consumption of carbs and sweets fuels the craving for more of the same.
So, all things considered I’d say a night at the DoubleTree, where you can’t get another cookie even if you beg the front desk clerk, or lie and say you dropped your cookie down the elevator shaft or wherever, is your safest bet diet-wise, although it’s admittedly a steep price. If it’s any help, my independent research (involving a sole participant) yielded the following reviews of each:
DoubleTree: “They’re great, but they’re almost too oily, with too many nuts and basically just too much everything.” (I must caution that they can be nauseating if you check in late and go right to bed after eating one.) Tate’s: “They’re really delicious, but they’re almost too crispy, and with no comforting mouth feel.” Home-baked Toll House: “Crispy and chewy and chocolatey. Always perfect even if they get a little burnt around the edges. Plus you get to lick the bowl.”
So there it is. You be the judge. To decide for yourself, just book a night at the DoubleTree, buy a bag of Tate’s and whip up a batch of these Toll House babies:
WHAT CAN you wear from morning to dusk, go out for dinner in and not have to change in between? That was the question a couple of friends challenged me to find an answer to last weekend.
It reminded me of the theory behind designer Donna Karan’s Seven Easy Pieces in 1985. Looking back on her “system” with an AP reporter in 2015, Karan explained: “I wanted clothes that could go from the minute I got up in the morning to the minute I went to bed at night. I wanted clothes to go through that whole cycle, because I found that I didn’t have time to go home and change. It was like, if I put them all in a suitcase and went off to Europe, what would I pack?”
Karan’s collection was based on a black bodysuit with additional basics like a white shirt, black trousers, a black leather jacket and a large scarf.
In the years since other designers have introduced what they’re calling capsules or systems. Meghan Markle designer pal Misha Nonoo is showing an eight-piece “kit,” one of which —a black pleated skirt —was recently worn by the Duchess of Sussex. On her website, Eileen Fisher is showing an eight and a 20-piece system of staples meant to be mixed and matched.
To my friends to whom I said I’d work on a solution about what to wear every day, I recommend starting with a great-fitting pair of charcoal, black or navy pants. If there’s one item in my closet that doesn’t fail me whatever the occasion, it’s my gabardine leggings (one in black, another in navy from Joseph). A Pittsburgh pal swears by her Lululemon pants for its deep and multiple pockets, roomy enough so a cell phone and or keys don’t jump out when she’s walking her dogs. MyLittleBird’s Mary Carpenter tests the merits of pants by whether or not they bag and wrinkle after sitting for hours on an airplane. Her go-tos are from Ecru and Anatomie. LittleBird Kathy Legg gives her nod to Eileen Fisher. Finally, I have a soft spot for Theory pants.
Here are our picks for wear-everywhere (well, almost) pants:
—Janet Kelly
Left: Lululemon’s medium-rise, lightweight Street to Studio Pant II (also in gray, black olive) is made with a stretch fabric that is water-repellent. $98, Lululemon. Right: Castro Slim Leg Pull On Pant in a stretchy ponte fabric sports a seaming detail that runs down the front and outer thigh, designed to make your legs look thinner. Sign us up. $164, Ecru.
Left: For travel and every-day errands, Kate Slim Cargo Pants from Anatomie, which gets high marks for its wrinkle-free, moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabric that’s also got SPF. $225, Neiman Marcus. Right: Washable Stretch Crepe Straight Pants ($168), EileenFisher. (See MyLittleBird’s post on the designer’s pros and cons.)
Left: Joseph’s Gabardine Stretch Leggings are my personal dawn-to-dusk go-to. Expensive, but they last for years. $295, Joseph. Right: Crepe Basic Pull-On Pants with zip pockets and an elasticized waistband are comfy and look polished year-round. $114 in midnight (shown), Theory.
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.
Candice Bergen as Murphy and Charles Kimbrough as anchorman Jim Dial in an episode from the late ’80s sitcom “Murphy Brown.” Bergen wears a tailored jacket and even a tie, power dressing signatures of the era. / Photo courtesy of CBS.
From left to right: Joe Regalbuto as Frank Fontana, Grant Shaud as Miles Silverberg, Candice Bergen as Murphy and Faith Ford as Corky Sherwood in the 2018 revival of the 1980s-’90s sitcom. / CBS photo.
WHO KNEW? Classy Candice Bergen had a funny bone. She revealed it to the world as the first female guest host of “Saturday Night Live” and as Burt Reynolds’s ex-wife in 1979’s “Starting Over.” But when she won the title role on Murphy Brown as the cynical, competitive anchor/reporter of a TV magazine show, her career took off. Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve heard that the CBS sitcom, which lasted for 10 seasons, earning Bergen five Emmys and two Golden Globes, is getting a reboot. The first episode of the new show will air this Thursday night at 9:30pm EDT. The 72-year-old Bergen will reprise her role as Brown, who, as a tough news anchor, is expected to take on the issues of the #MeToo world and the Trump era. The first episode is called “Fake News.”
For the 21st-century revival, we have a glimpse of what Bergen will wear. She’ll exchange the power tie for a pussy-bow blouse and will swath herself in an oversize red pashmina.
In light of the new show, we’re doing a little reprising of our own, reposting our column on what Bergen has worn in her real-life situations. We found that, whether it’s for the red carpet, morning TV shows or fundraisers, Bergen keeps it simple, mostly with a uniform of black pants and a punchy jacket or blouse, and tailored pantsuits.
Candice Bergen arrives at the American Film InstituteI Life Achievement Award Gala for Diane Keaton in Los Angeles in June 2017. / Photo by Stewart Cook / REX / Shutterstock.
JANET: Very pretty jacket here in a bright face-flattering color, but I think it’s too boxy; I would have preferred something slightly longer, looser and unbuttoned on the 5-foot-7-inch Bergen. I like the choice of a fiber necklace, fringe and all; it looks like an imaginative take on a necktie but not so buttoned-up that you can’t see some skin. A kitten heel is a practical choice for making the party rounds and air-kissing fellow thespians.
NANCY: She is such a handsome woman! And anything she does is okay by me, but . . . Janet, I think the problem is that Bergen is a little boxier than she used to be. And yes, it would help if the jacket were longer and of a more supple fabric. I don’t quarrel with the kitten heel, but there are a lot of shoes out there these days that are cut straight across the instep. Who on earth ever thought this was flattering? For the record, I don’t. (One catty aside: Her little evening bag looks like something she got free with a Lancôme purchase at Bloomingdale’s.)
KATHY: Nancy! Meow! Actually, I don’t disagree and I’m glad you said it first. But, you know, it wouldn’t surprise me if the bag really were a “free” gift. It strikes me as something Candice Bergen would do and simply not give a damn. After all, she’s always been one of the most beautiful women in the world so what the heck does she have left to prove? I’ve always been wowed by her beauty but truly became a fan years ago when she had a guest spot on SNL. Adorable little dorky Gilda Radner was having an exchange about boys with the impossibly perfect Bergen and asked her if she had ever had a guy she fancied not call her. “No,” Bergen replied, “but I’ve had them not call back.” I don’t know about Gilda, but it made me feel better. As for the outfit above, I like the jacket—the pattern, the material, the cut. I don’t find it too boxy. On the other hand, the pants look too long. They don’t hang well and I want to tell her to pull them up. And that thing around her neck is just ridiculous.
JANET: Just want to chime in here about the evening bag. It did look tacky. Maybe it was one of those old Prada nylon bags, which everyone used to covet and I never understood why. As for the shoes, Nancy, I don’t like the silhouette either.
Bergen before her appearance on “Good Morning America” in September 2017. / Photo by MediaPunch / REX / Shutterstock.
NANCY: I’m not nuts about this look, but I’m totally down with the loafers—comfort above all! The shoes and the ankle-length pants are what I like here. And doesn’t Candice Bergen’s hair always look perfect?!
KATHY: With tongue in cheek I have to admit I’m sooooo like Candice Bergen. Like her, I’ve put on extra pounds over the years simply because I like food more than dieting. So, sue me. Also like her, pants and shirts are my go-to choice. And I very much like the shirt she’s chosen here. Shirts with collars are particularly flattering. Cute shoes!
JANET: Hosannas to Bergen for perfect coordination. She eschews just plain black and white for an arty print blouse and leopard-print loafers. To top it off, she adds a multi-layered shell necklace, which becomes the focal point of the outfit. (Did she shove that briefcase between her legs for the photo?)
Bergen leaving a Hillary Clinton fundraiser in New York in June 2016. The event took place at . . . wait for it . . . Harvey Weinstein’s West Village home. / Photo by Nancy Rivera / ACE Pictures / REX / Shutterstock.
JANET: What else would she wear to fundraiser for Hillary but a monochromatic pantsuit. I love those patterned shoes.
NANCY: Yeah, a couple of fashion bloggers zinged Bergen for this outfit, suggesting she was taking style notes from Hillary. Whatever. In theory, this should be a good look . . . but it’s not. Maybe it’s all the wrinkles, maybe it’s the deeply unserious blue. Love the shoes. But with that funny expression on her face, Bergen looks more like Rosemary Clooney than herself! (And I take back what I said about her hair always looking perfect.)
KATHY: Maybe she was dressing to avoid attention from Weinstein. I bet it worked.
Candice Bergen at a New York screening of “Home Again,” in September 2017. Bergen played Reese Witherspoon’s mother in the 2017 romantic comedy. / Photo by Patrick Lewis / Starpix / REX / Shutterstock.
JANET: So, I know this is a Dries Van Noten coat, but I’m no fan of it here on Bergen (or maybe on anyone who weighs over 100 pounds). She may be a bit overweight, but this makes her look positively porky. Too many horizontals on the print add width. The slippers are adorable, and the pattern works with the coat, but they’re too flat. She looks likes she’s nailed to the floor. This outfit screams for heels. Do I like anything about this? Yes, the white shirt and the beaded necklace.
NANCY: Well, we’re back to perfect hair, but that’s about it. I think the problem is not only the horizontal lines on the coat; I think the whole cut guarantees, let’s call it amplitude. It just kinda balloons out at hip level, not the best look for anyone. I agree about the shoes, which are fun. But there’s something to be said about these red-carpet photographers: They’re probably taller than most of the women they shoot, and they focus on the face, which seems to make everything below look stumpy. I’m sure there’s a lot of jockeying for position and they probably don’t have much latitude, but this outfit may look better in motion.
KATHY: Nancy is right. Part of the problem here is the angle and the pose. Still, it’s too much coat for her. Those slippers really are adorable, but they should have had heels.
SOME PEOPLE can have a good time despite the suffering of others. I am not one of those people. So I am labeled “depressed” or “anxious” and prescribed medication to stop feeling things so intensely. “Don’t take it so hard,” they say. “Don’t read the news,” they suggest.
There is no shortage of distractions. The Food Channel. Bowling. Movies. The Superbowl. Golf. Boating. Las Vegas. Broadway. Amusement parks. The beach. Rock concerts. Disneyland. Reality TV. Yoga. Rock climbing. The list is endless. But what if, for some people, distraction is simply not enough? What if nothing cancels out the stories like, “5-month Infant Found Buried Alive” or “4-Month-Old Dies in Hot Car While Mom Socializes” or “Woman Jumps from 25-Story Building Holding Her 7-Year-Old”? Then what should we do? Give ourselves to God, join a convent and turn away from society? That seems boring.
The following time-tested methods used by others to combat depression are open to me:
Overeating: This one is very popular, which explains why so many people are obese. I could stuff my face with ice cream and pizza and chips and dips and tacos and burgers and fries and grilled cheese sandwiches and cupcakes and muffins and cookies and pancakes with syrup and bagels and corned beef on rye until I have lost all feeling.
Over Drinking: This approach would work very quickly for me and at far less expense because just one glass of wine puts me under the table. Must consider.
Over-Drugging: Lots of people go this route, but it’s not for me. I hate that out-of-control feeling, unless of course I’m having a colonoscopy, and then I love it. Besides, I could never put a needle in my arm or smoke a lot of anything without coughing.
Over-Exercising: I went that route years ago when I was younger and became addicted to daily running. It worked, but then it stopped working (after 20 years) when my hip gave out and I had to get a new one installed. I’m reluctant to use it up too fast and have to need another one.
Over-Shopping: I can’t even begin to imagine how having a whole of useless stuff around could do anything but make me more anxious.
So far the only thing I had found that works even a little is writing this blog most days, and painting pictures that nobody buys (except my wonderful friend Jay who I love to pieces for actually paying for one of my paintings), so now our house is overrun with my paintings and there’s hardly any room to hang anymore. Which I find depressing —and now we’re back to square one.
It’s a pickle, that’s certain. But hey—while I’ve been writing this I’ve been drinking a large glass of V-8 and it seems to have helped. (Or was it the Lorazepam?) Anyway, this too shall pass, I always tell myself, and it always does.
WHOEVER said “if your hair doesn’t look good, you don’t look good” was so right. As with skincare, we asked our readers for their take on the products/tools/treatments they use to make their mane look its best. Not all hair is created equal, of course, but this summer’s endless rainy days have been challenging to frizz-prone tresses. Most of us manage the wildness with sprays and oils and such; some resort to keratin. Whatever the weather, color, we can agree, is a must, although one of you said she’d have to be drugged to consider dyeing her hair; another recently let her thick, dark hair go silver. When the occasion demands or just because, nothing beats a visit to the hair salon, but in the meantime, we’ll fluff and/or tame with our mousses, conditioners, sprays, brushes and hair dryers. Here’s a look at our particular poisons, er, products.
As for me, I shampoo every few days or so with drugstore brands (e.g., L’Oreal Everpure), although occasionally I’ll splurge on something like Pureology. I use only sulfate-free varieties because they don’t fade color as much. I’m not a big fan of conditioner because no matter how little I apply, it makes my hair fall flat. I do use It’s a 10 Leave-In Product to style my waves, although I’m not sure it helps. And in between color/highlights (about once every six weeks), I use Color Wow, which helps disguise my gray roots. I’m not much on tools, although I do have a curling iron—used about three times in four years. Mostly, I let my hair air-dry. To battle frizz, I blot my wet head with an old T-shirt.
Jura
I color my hair every three weeks. It costs a fortune but otherwise it looks horrible. I’m finding more hairs in the drain after I shampoo, which makes me crazy! I don’t want thinning hair, so I am careful what I use and absolutely NO SULFATES. I shampoo every other day. My favorite shampoo is NATU, which happens to be made by two of my college classmates who were in the beauty biz before. It is sold on Amazon and has no chemicals at all and smells wonderful, plus it really cleans your hair and suds without sulfates. I must use conditioner (Humectress by Nexis is good) on my ends every shampoo or my hair is like straw. I also sometimes use the L’Oreal Everpure shampoos and conditioners for colored hair and they are cheap and good from CVS. In this damp weather my hair goes wild, so I need something to tame it. Sometimes I use Pantene mousse, and I splurge on the Kerastase Discipline Anti Frizz Smoothing Spray ($37) in the summer, but it lasts for three months. I like The Wet Hair Brush and have several sizes for general brushing (the mini is great for purses). I use a blow dryer and round brush, but I recently bought a Conair Pro Ceramic Hot Air Brush and have been afraid to try it. Does anyone use one?
LittleBird Nancy McKeon
Jura, I just bought one of those! (it arrived today.) But I got the Infiniti Pro from Conair because it has two brush attachments (two sizes). I’m afraid to use it, too! I guess we’ll both find out.
Jodie
I use the Keratin by Coppola shampoo and conditioner because I get keratin treatments. I really don’t need any products for after shower with the keratin in my hair. I only shampoo twice a week, and if I have no need to look “fantastic,” I let my hair dry naturally and then use a flat iron. If I really want to look good, I blow dry with a very hot, professional-caliber blow dryer.
Kamer
To give body to mostly flat, mostly straight, mid-length hair that’s also thinner than it used to be, I swear by Oribe products (Gold Lust shampoo, dry texturizing spray that’s kind of like dry shampoo, Grandiose Mousse (seriously) and Free Styler hair spray. I’m a fan of the Dyson Hair Dryer, which won’t fry your locks.
Catherine
I basically don’t believe that high price equals better quality with most hair care products anyway, which dovetails nicely with my frugality. I have hopefully tried organics and sulfate-free, but if it’s possible for hair to look groatsy, those do it. Occasionally, I find a 75% off bonanza of Nexus or Redken or other high-end brand, which makes me feel classier but my hair doesn’t look or feel any better for it. Typically, I use up a stockpile of bargain-bin Herbal Essence and am quite happy with it. My hair is thick and willful, so mainly I’m trying to get it to calm the f… down with rich coconut or nut-butter conditioners. If it’s a day for really caring what I look like, I run a few drops of Moroccan Oil through, or a lovely, fragrant, softening leave-in with the over-written name of Herbal Essences The Sleeker The Butter Smooth & Creamy Hair Milk—which seems to have been discontinued, a frequent hazard of shopping closeouts. Maybe a minute or two of blow drying if I need to look especially presentable, but mostly air-dry, and then after catching sight of myself, possibly going back for more Moroccan Oil. Oh, and color: partial highlights two to three times a year, that’s it.
MyLittleBird’s Mary Carpenter:
I get low lights two times a year and all-over color every two months or so. In between I use Everpure Color Care (L’Oreal) conditioner, and for leave in: Moroccan Oil, and a tiny bit of It’s A 10 Leave-in. For shampoo, about once every 6 days or so: Aveeda Color Care or just L’Oreal shampoo. If I don’t use conditioner every time my hair gets wet, it feels crackly. I don’t brush or comb my hair. When things look terrible, I use hot rollers but only if the weather is guaranteed to be dry—so only in the dead of winter—because once rolled, if it gets damp, it’s a disaster.
Christine
So, I have invested a ton in hair products, and find that they all seem kind of the same. When my hairdresser sold me Oribe, I bought it. When the salon changed to R+Co, well, I changed, too. That said, I have found the expensive products work as well as those I buy at Target, which is to say, not that well at all. With my almost shoulder-length, thin, colored hair, I spend way too much time trying to thicken, de-frizz, straighten or wave it. It looks great after a blowout, but then I can never seem to come close to being satisfied when I try to make it perform.
Bonnie
I use Kevin Murphy cream rinse/conditioner when I get it – at the hairdresser. I use a drop(s) of Rusk Thick on my hair prior to drying – also purchased from hairdresser—but even with my very thick hair it helps to smooth it. I also use Goldwell Kerasilk Anti Frizz and the Smoothing Lusterizer by TIGI prior to drying. I have keratin on my hair from spring through summer—try to avoid in winter–just because –but could use it now again. I use all these products year-round. I’m not thrilled with Sake Bomb shampoo from DryBar and won’t get it again. I do use Drybar’s 100 Proof after drying, also to keep the frizz at bay.
Nancy
Compared to my face routine, my hair care is spartan. Not to say I don’t use stuff, just not nearly as much. I have very thick, very wavy hair, but it doesn’t wave nicely. Therefore, under my bathroom sink are two of those organizer baskets full of defrizzers, straighteners, masks, etc., almost none of which really work. I also let my hair go gray two years ago, so I have leftover root cover up stuff, too. My current go-tos are a moisturizing shampoo, currently a Pureology liter which is also for color care. My conditioner is something I ran into at Ulta and found on sale: AG Hair Care Sterling Silver Conditioner. This is a beautiful lapis blue, which I leave on for a good three minutes while I wash the rest of me, to make sure the gray/silver doesn’t turn yellow. I just wring out most of the wet, then section and smooth in Moroccan Oil while my hair is still wet. I read somewhere that putting product on while hair is still pretty wet prevents using too much, and also works itself in better. After that I wrap my hair in one of those Aqua towel turbans until ready to blow dry. Since I’ve never mastered the hair dryer and brush at the same time thing, I blow it dry using my fingers to straighten as much as possible. If I don’t need to look professional right away, I’ll wrap it in a bun or braid it for a few hours and it comes out OK. Otherwise, once dried all the way I’ll use my Harry Josh flat iron— the best of my collection. I bought it for half price during a Dermstore sale. My hairbrush is an old Mason Pearson, which is still great and I love. As for other tools, because I have a frizz/wave problem, I ordered one of those new heat brushes which are supposed to straighten while you dry. It was awful and was sent back. A flat iron is the only thing that works for me at home. Otherwise, when there’s something important, like a wedding, I pay for a wonderful blowout. Nothing like having someone else wash your hair and blow it out.
Stephanie
I’m too cheap and impatient for salons—to the extent that I cut my own below-shoulder-length hair and only go in for an annual pruning (no blow-dry; I can’t sit still that long). Forget coloring, I’d have to be drugged. And I don’t like roots, so no permanent stuff. My hair is about 30% gray, coming in rather well I think, streaking up my basic brown. But it’s a little dull with nothing. John Frieda has a line of shampoos and conditioners called Visibly Deeper, which I get in brown. This gives the grays and the browns a hit of color, like highlights. Unfortunately, it’s been harder and harder to find. I add argan oil to tame it and then more if it’s continuing to misbehave. And coconut oil mashed in if I’m desperate. If all fails, I put it up. I haven’t brushed it in years, so I don’t have split ends. Gave my fancy Mason Pearson brush to my daughter, with some of my hair so she can have me cloned if need be.
I DECIDED early on not to enter politics. This pleased my mother, who wanted me to follow in her footsteps and become a Rockette. My father didn’t much care what I did, as long as I went bowling with him once a week. The truth is, had I entered politics I would only want the top job, but I couldn’t be president because I’m not much of a morning person, preferring to hang around in my PJs playing Words With Friends before I interact with anyone. Besides, if I ever were elected, I would surely be assassinated almost immediately, and who needs that?
Admittedly it would be gratifying to break the glass ceiling and be the first female president, and also the first Jew. But I’m pretty sure my core policies would be too forward thinking for most people to appreciate. Hence, there would be lots of protests. Following are my key platform items that would likely be cause for general alarm:
1. Trucks would be banned from the roads every day except Sunday, which is the day all cars would be banned from driving. This would be nice for everyone, because who likes driving with trucks on the road? Nobody, that’s who. Motorcyclists could do whatever they want.
2. All snack foods packaged in boxes and with silly names would be outlawed.
3. Mandatory weight loss programs would put an end to obesity, thus lowering healthcare costs, relieving crowded emergency rooms, opening up hospital beds for the truly sick and increasing the average life span.
4. Anything having to do with the military, trade with foreign countries, taxes and immigration would be handled by my Vice President, Condoleezza Rice, freeing me up to devote most of my time to redecorating the White House.
Denise Dickens will be showing her new raincoat patterns at Craft2Wear in October. With deep pockets on both sides, the coats are lightweight, reversible and waterproof on the solid side.
WE’VE SLOSHED through our share of heavy downpours these past few months. And now September is greeting us with Hurricane Florence dumping water on the Carolinas, with potential to keep going right up the coast. In any event, it looks as if we’re going to need some smart rain gear for fall should this weather pattern continue.
Enter Denise Dickens, who founded her DC-based company Outside Designworks™ in 2002 with a focus on rainwear. Previously having worked in both the wholesale and retail ends of the clothing business, the impetus for starting her own line was that she found that the market didn’t have the stylish designs that she wanted and were suitable for her.
Says Dickens, “We baby boomers are not giving up. We need easy silhouettes, but they can’t be drab or dowdy. I was always looking for the perfect coat or jacket to go with my favorite pants. Something that had color and style, that could keep me warm, or dry… . I figured that other women must be looking for (and not finding) the same thing, too.” Her goal: Fit everyone into a practical, fashionable, one-coat solution that’s durable for travel.
Left: This waterproof car coat is designed for cold, wet weather. Right: A reversible swing car coat with an outer waterproof nylon side and an inner fair-weather side.
Dickens’ bestsellers are her reversible raincoats but in 2012 an interior designer colleague introduced her to weavers in Uzbekistan, and she began to produce Ikat jackets in patterns and colors she knew would appeal to her customers. “It’s a statement piece this time of year,” says Dickens. Because it’s a tricky material (very narrow) to work with, Dickens saves the remnants and makes clutches, scarves, even scrunchies out of them. Along with her limited-edition, ready-made jackets, Dickens says she’ll bring raw fabrics to the Smithsonian show so customers can choose a pattern and be fitted for their size.
Handwoven in silk and cotton, Denise Dickens’ Ikat jackets with coordinating scarf (left photo) and clutches.
For Dickens, the most rewarding parts of owning her own business is meeting people who wear her clothes—and seeing how it changes their outlook.
The three-day Smithsonian Craft2Wear event kicks off Thursday night, October 4, from 6 to 9pm, with an opening night cocktail party (tickets, $50, advance purchase only) to meet and mingle with the artists, see a fashion show, shop and enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Hours for the show Friday and Saturday are 10:30am to 5:30pm. A one-day pass for Friday or Saturday is $13. Purchase tickets at smithsoniancraft2wear.org.
LittleBird Janet’s product stash.* / Photo by James B. Kelly.
INTRIGUED BY a Wall Street Journal story that South Korean men use “an average of 13.3 cosmetic products each month” (according to the country’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety), we asked you to add up the products in your own skincare routine and comment on them if you wished. Some of you had amusing routines (we’re looking at you, Stephanie Cavanaugh), others said they were embarrassed by using either too many or too few products. Most of you subscribed to a minimalist regime, using seven products or fewer, while the skincare enthusiasts among us fessed up to 11 to 14-plus. Many of you revealed your specific lotions and potions, including an exotically named, difficult-to-pronounce sunscreen. As we mentioned, there’s no prize for participating, except our thanks.
MINIMALISTS
Pat: I may be your zero response. When I was interviewing people in a particularly well-cared-for group, I talked to a woman whose skin looked excellent. She had two secrets: 1) Being overweight was an advantage, because you didn’t develop facial wrinkles. 2) She NEVER used soap on her face. Just water. I don’t think she used cleanser or makeup either, but I didn’t ask. It didn’t seem as if she did. And since I tend to have an allergic reaction to everything I try putting on my face, I’ve followed her routine. I don’t look great, but I am lazy, so this routine suits me.
Alison: Beauty product tally equals one: a brown paper bag to wear over the evidence of all the emollients I didn’t use while I was misspending my youth in the sun.
Judy: I know this is embarrassing and backward, but I use only soap and water.
Mary: In the winter I use whatever moisturizer is on sale at CVS, in the summer nothing, absolutely nothing. Think of how much money I’ve saved!
Marty: After 52 years, I use a serum in the morning but still forget to wash my face before bed or remember to moisturize. It’s all genetics and very oily skin from age 13 on.
MyLittleBird’s Stephanie Cooks: When do these men find the time???????? I have so many things to take care of that worrying about my face is pretty low on the list. I use Jason Vitamin E Moisturizer religiously, but that’s about it. If I know I’m going to be in and out of the sun a lot, I sometimes use Lancome’s sun-protecting moisturizer. I know I am SUPPOSED to clean my face every night. When I remember, which isn’t very often, I use Neutrogena (or generic) face-cleansing wipes.
MyLittleBird’s StephanieGardens: The most beautiful skin I ever saw was on a woman who rubbed raw potato on her face. She said her grandmother taught her this trick and had gorgeous skin in her 90s. I tried it for a while (this was years ago, when I had more energy for such) and I really did achieve a nice glow pretty quickly–just cut a slice and smooth it about. The downside, I quickly and lazily realized, is that I’d either have to use a potato a day or install a fridge in the bathroom for my potato ends. I wasn’t going to be running up and down stairs for the potato bit every night.
What works? I do think vitamin C serum helps keep the moisture up/in — the aesthetician said, during my annual facial last spring, that my skin is very dry —despite slathering the this and that every night. She also said cheap is fine (despite the salon offering pricey options)—pick something up at the drugstore. Whatnots go on top. Oh! There is this stuff—Alchimie Forever bust and chest (or something) firmer gel that I use on my face and really does make me look a little tighter, at least for an evening. It’s like $50 for a generous tube that has lasted several years, since I only use it on Saturday night, if I remember. Otherly, a tan hides most sins. I look really good in leather.
A Texas reader: I use Olay bath soap and whatever hand/face soap is on hand, often Ivory. Then some makeup base on nose and chin, some eye shadow and eyeliner if I’m going out, and concealer for circles under eyes…
Molly: My skincare is pretty basic: moisturizer, cleanser, foundation, lipstick, a bit of powder. That is all I can remember.
Ann: The same minimal care: cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, different kinds at different times. Hit-and-miss additional things and little makeup in summer beyond eyebrow brush needed to fill out the missing shape.
MyLittleBird’s Mary Carpenter: My routine consists of my own homemade cream (mostly lanolin and petroleum jelly, with a little almond oil and either Eucerin or Lubriderm to make it more liquid-y). On top of that, I put on Elta sunscreen in a tube, either the tinted 41 SPF or the non-tinted 50 SPF.
Terri: Body wash, cleanser, night cream, toner, scrub. Is that enough?
Jodie: Morning and Night: Cetaphil for cleansing, Caudalie Elixir for toning, Caudalie Premier cru serum and eye cream.
Day: Bluemercury M-61 day cream with SPF. Night: Caudalie Night infusion cream.
Candy: Just wondering what that .3 of a product must be? In any case, I will never make it in the Korean army—I only use 7 products a month.
SKINCARE ENTHUSIASTS
Nancy: OMG! My future mother-in-law, who had gorgeous skin throughout her 90-plus years, started buying me whatever she bought for herself when I became part of the family. I was all of 20 years old, so I’ve been slathering for 40-plus years. However, I think the pampering has worked, since I have pretty good skin for someone who spent her misbegotten youth covered in baby oil and iodine on the beach in Beach Haven, NJ. I now use an antioxidant, serum, moisturizer, eye cream and a tinted moisturizer with SPF 30 if I need some color coverage; otherwise the regular moisturizer has SPF. At night it’s retinol, maybe a cream with vitamin C, and moisturizer–heavy duty in the winter. I use micellar water to take off the days’ crud, then a quick wash with an oil-based cleanser. Just water to wash in the morning. Like I said to LittleBird Janet, I’m a skincare junkie. And I didn’t count the number of products mentioned here. It’s embarrassing.
Alyse: In the morning I use Cerave hydrating cleanser and moisturizer, Tata Harper eye cream and La Roche-Posay antioxidant serum and sunscreen.
At night, Cerave hydrating cleanser. Per my dermatologist, glytonic wash and her moisturizer to which I add Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Serum. Also, Skinceuticals eye cream. Retinol twice a week. La Roche-Posay exfoliating scrub 1-2 times a week.
Jacqui: Morning: In order of application, Clinique Exfoliating Scrub face wash, Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 1970 toner, SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Treatment, SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum, Cle de Peau eye contour cream, Isdin Actinic Care – Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion 50+ (sunscreen) and on top of it all, Colorscience Broad Spectrum Brush-on Powder. Night: Clinique Exfoliating Scrub, Prescription Renova 3 or 4 times a week, .25 Dermaroll over wrinkles (when I use the Renova), TNS Essential Serum, Cle de Peau intensive eye contour cream (I also put this on my forehead and other dry areas). Twice a week: Tina Alster’s glycolic acid pads. Twice a year: Spring freshener and fall clean-up both with Dr. Alster with Botox, fillers, Fraxel or IPL. A ROBUST program!
—Janet Kelly
*I don’t use all these at the same time. In current rotation are the products in the bottom row, plus La Roche-Posay cleanser, Restørsea Lipmagic and LaMer Reparative Skin Tint SPF 30 (not pictured).Bottom row, from left to right: SkinMedica Essential Defense SPF 32 tinted sunscreen, Neova DNA Total Repair, Biopelle Stem Cell eye cream. Center, from left to right: Restørsea Lipmagic, Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, Skinceuticals A.G.E. Interrupter, Bliss Triple Oxygen (mask), Alchimie Forever Kantic calming moisturizer. Top, from left to right: Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Cleanser, Sente Bio Complete Serum, prescription Retin-A (every other night), La Roche-Posay Hydrating Gentle Cleanser.
Something Bleu’s Brinsley kitten heel with crystal embellishment. $368, simplysoles.com.
Kurt Geiger London’s Pia Embellished Satin Kitten Heels, $185, lordandtaylor.com.
Finally, my shoes with sparkly toes for $64. / photo by Janet Kelly.
Left: Lululemon’s medium-rise, lightweight Street to Studio Pant II (also in gray, black olive) is made with a stretch fabric that is water-repellent. $98,
Left: For travel and every-day errands, Kate Slim Cargo Pants from Anatomie, which gets high marks for its wrinkle-free, moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabric that’s also got SPF. $225, 
Left: Joseph’s Gabardine Stretch Leggings are my personal dawn-to-dusk go-to. Expensive, but they last for years. $295, 
