For spring, designer Amy Smilovic favored apricot and blush-colored silk dresses with Juliet sleeves.
Complicated lives need a simple silhouette in a bold color or black or white.
From left to right, a high-waisted pencil skirt with bodysuit, wide-leg high waisted pants with dropped-shoulder jacket and shorts with billowy-sleeved blouse.
At Tibi’s spring 2017 show, a long lightweight trench, a blouse with delicate accordion pleating around the collar and refreshing colors were wearable and elegant.
From left to right, a silk jumpsuit, oversize jacket with shorts and wide-sleeved blouse with trousers.
Tibi’s spring collection paid homage to the Edwardian era with corsets and Juliet sleeves.
From left to right, accordion-pleated blouses with shorts, a puff-sleeve midriff top with high-waisted pants and a flowy blouse with belted shorts.
Navy blue and white and denim speak spring.
Favorite looks for Tibi spring were corsets layered over dresses, bralettes and dresses with simple silhouettes.
From left to right, a jumpsuit with feminine blouse, an embellished skirt with bodysuit and jeans and navy jacket with slashed sleeves.
Smilovic’s aesthetic is relaxed and easy.
The finale of Tibi’s show: flowing silk dresses in white and saffron.
Designer Amy Smilovic’s resourceful design and ability to anticipate market trends has made Tibi one of the most successful ready-to-wear lines, according to a recent story in Business of Fashion. We sent our New York style guru to attend the spring show this past weekend.
TIBI’S SPRING/SUMMER 2017 collection looked both timeless and modern, and best of all — functional. Several menswear-inspired looks paired wide-leg high waisted pants and shorts with dropped-shoulder, slightly oversized jackets. The dresses, in simple silhouettes and beautiful flowing silk fabric, with delicate accordion pleating in the sleeves and around the collar, were elegant and wearable, in black, white and a gorgeous shade of apricot. The collection also paid homage to the Edwardian era with corsets layered over dresses and oversized sleeves. In all, it was a show full of looks any city girl would love to wear.
Fiber artist Lori Bacigalupi uses batik, shibori, quilting and other techniques to create her scarves, blouses, dresses, ponchos and vests, all ideal for layering.
Kathleen Dustin crafts purses that are interpretations of vegetables, flowers or tree bark and resemble small, wearable sculptures.
Audrey Jung’s fabric of choice for her handbags and accessories is wool felt, a luxurious fabric with a unique texture.
Mia Hebib, who received her B.F.A. from the Savannah College of Art and Design, combines the handcrafted and the fashion-forward in her jewelry designs.
Marylou Ozbolt-Storer designs contemporary outerwear, pieced, appliquéd and embellished with imported European braids, vintage buttons and treasures sourced from around the globe.
Isabelle Posillico sketches, forms and roller-prints recycled gold with textured papers and then constructs each piece of jewelry by hand.
Michelle Murray starts with bolts of white silk and dyes of primary hues. Then she uses techniques, including shibori, origami and hand-molding, to achieve sculptural effects.
Molly Grant’s Cordwainer Shop, a third-generation family business, has been creating handmade shoes since the 1920s. They’re made to fit each customer’s unique foot.
Susan Bradley’s wraps are the result of a lifelong facination with exotic travel and the beauty of textile art. Her work is inspired by the Japanese kimono and French brocades.
IF YOUR NOTION of wearable art is stuck in the ‘60s with macramé shawls and tie-dye T-shirts, you’re in for a big surprise October 6-8. That’s when the Smithsonian’s Craft2Wear comes to the National Building Museum for a curated show and sale featuring 80 artists, including innovative designers from the country’s best design schools (F.I.T., Savannah School of Art and Design, Pratt, California College of the Arts, School of the Art Institute of Chicago). Look into the future of wearable art with creative new uses of materials. Think clothing made from 18th-century textile fragments, jewelry crafted from gemstones and rubber, and one-off handbag designs and artful accessories.
The three-day event kicks off Thursday night, October 6, with an awards ceremony followed by a preview party (tickets, $100, advance purchase only) to meet the artists, shop and dine. Hours for the show (tickets, $15 at the door) are Friday 10am to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 5:30pm. A special occasion for shopping together is Friends Night Out on Friday, October 7, 5:30 to 8:30pm; the $20 ticket price includes show entry, a specialty cocktail and music. Purchase tickets at smithsoniancraft2wear.org or call 888-832-9552.
Smithsonian Craft2Wear is produced by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee, an all-volunteer organization that supports the education, outreach and research programs of the Smithsonian Institution. The awe-inspiring National Building Museum is located at 401 F Street NW (202-272-2448).
Over the next couple of weeks, look for our posts profiling the participating artists.
—Janet Kelly Janet Kelly is the editor of MyLittleBird. She last wrote about local deals on dermal fillers.
ALTHOUGH WE’RE RELUCTANT to admit it, summer is in its swan song. For your warm-weather wardrobe and dull skin — other things that, er, may be showing their age —see our suggested updates for your closet and advice on treatments for sun damage.
But clicking the refresh button for heading into fall may also call for replacing the volume of the face that’s lost as we age. Juvederm, Restylane and Voluma are in a class of fillers made from hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural substance in the body. But HA, which gives the skin a plump and dewy appearance, diminishes with age. The subtle, minimal changes that fillers offer are tailor-made for Washingtonians, in and out of the public eye. “You look so relaxed and well rested” is the ultimate compliment.
To help you achieve that more carefree look, area plastic surgeons are discounting the cost of fillers, as well as Botox, facials, microneedling and more.
On Sept. 7 and Sept. 12 in their Chevy Chase office and Sept. 9 in their Fairfax location, plastic surgeons Dr. Dufresne and partner Dr. Christopher Chang are offering an end-of-summer special. The cost per syringe of fillers, including Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero and Radiesse, which restore volume around the nasolabial area as well as in the chin and eye areas, is $625, reduced by $100. Typically, a treatment of one syringe (most common application) or two is needed to achieve the desired outcome, but you can also get a fraction of a syringe for an adjusted price. For example, .8cc will cost $500. Voluma (for boosting volume in the cheek and cheekbone area) is reduced from $950 to $800 per syringe. Clients can also save $50 off the $450 price of Botox per syringe (1cc or 25 units). The price of a 5-mL Latisse kit (for longer eyelashes) is $30 off and there’s a 25% discount off any individual facial or select facial packages.
During the month of September, at the office of plastic surgeon Dr. Jules A. Feledy, one session of Dermapen (microneedling) is $299; three, $795. Dermapen stimulates the skin for natural collagen induction and helps with skin tightening, wound healing, improving wrinkles and fine lines and minimizing pore size. Book a package of three sessions and receive complimentary Dermapen on your neck, décolleté and hands. A package of one CO2 laser treatment, two IPL treatments and two facials are reduced from $4,050 to $1,999.
And on Sept. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Sanctuary Cosmetic Center in McLean, while you’re being educated on their Top 5 Beauty Secrets, you’ll receive a 10 percent discount on all procedures booked that evening. Recommend a new friend to book a treatment and receive $100 off your treatment. The door prize: Join their mailing list, post a review online and to be entered to win a free year (up to three one-area treatments in a 12-month period or three total areas) of Botox. To reserve a spot, call 703-893-3937.
— Janet Kelly Janet Kelly is the editor of MyLittleBird. She last wrote about transitioning your closet from summer to fall.
Inspired by a vintage military workshirt, J. Crew’s khaki-colored shirt has just the right, in-between-the seasons feel and look. $69.50, jcrew.com.
You can swish around and feel the flow of summery air in this Tibi maxi skirt, but the color and the cotton crepe fabric edge toward fall. $425, netaporter.com.
As August comes to a close, a dark floral print on a stretch silk sheath dress says you’re in step with the season. $595, suno.com.
It’s the right time of year to pull out your dark denim again, like this tunic with breathable bell sleeves and bateau neckline. $395, suno.com.
Comfy and retro, these Melanie crop jeans with a frayed contrast hem create a silhouette that emphasizes the smallest part of a woman’s body. Wear with a tucked-in T-shirt. $238, citizensofhumanity.com.
Layer this Sincerely Jules diamond-shaped quilted bomber jacket over a T-shirt on a cool, early September night. $169, nordstrom.com.
A 24 karat gold-plated cobra-shaped bracelet with Swarovski crystals makes an excellent wrist adornment any time of year. $251, gasbijoux.com.
J Crew’s Biella Crackled Leather Loafers in a warm rust color are all you need to transit the season. $298, jcrew.com.
Keep wearing sandals but change to this Stuart Weitzman Nearly Nude blocked heel in sumptuous red suede to signal you’re sneaking some fall into your summer. $398, stuartweitzman.com.
Change the pattern of your wardrobe with Clare V’s clutch made from panels of leopard-print calf hair that create a patchwork effect. $245, netaporter.com.
A sublimely neutral-colored (olive) large leather saddle bag from Loeffler Randall is a smart, end-of-summer buy. It will go with everything. $495, saksfifthavenue.com.
New season, new white shirt, but this DKNY mandarin collar shirt goes happily beyond basic. $178, dkny.com.
Switching seasons calls for swapping accessories. This dark floral scarf with frayed edges helps make the leap. $20, loft.com.
Don’t have a thing to wear for the weather? Throw on this lightweight knit stretch dress with a feminine, flared sleeve. $125, cosstores.com.
IF THERE’S A TIME of the year when I truly feel as if I have nothing to wear, it is about to arrive. Despite the triple-digit heat of last week, I can hear the rustle of leaves. Don’t ditch your white jeans yet or any of your warm-weather go-tos, but it’s time to start thinking transitional. There’s no bigger fan of wearing white tip-to-toe, but by the beginning of September, it starts looking a little less, er, crisp than when you wore it in June. As August wanes, sneak a little fall into your summer — with color, pattern and textured fabrics.
—Janet Kelly Janet Kelly is the editor of MyLittleBird. She recently wrote a post about the new look of pantsuits.
A wool blazer, wide-legged pants and charmeuse top can be dressed up or down with jewelry and shoes. Jacket, $748; pants, $448, both at lafayetteny148.com.
Midnight blue long blazer with matching cropped pants take the seriousness out of the pantsuit. Blazer, $325; slim trouser, $165, ayr.com.
Gucci’s velvet-trimmed polka dot cotton and wool blend blazer paired with matching pants, a cheeky reinterpretation of the traditional suit, gucci.com.
Lafayette 148 New York’s crepe jacket ($598) and crepe pant ($298) come from the designer who gave us “The Good Wife” costumes. Professional. Not at all boring.
In her fall 2016 runway collection, Tibi designer Amy Smilovic reimagined the conservative pinstriped suit with slouchy pants and an oversize jacket with slits in the sleeves.
A tailored suit in an unexpected dusty rose from Tory Burch’s fall 2016 runway collection.
Always impressive: Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic Le Smoking jacket and pants.
AT HER D.C. VERIZON CENTER concert last Thursday, Barbra Streisand wore a silky black pantsuit with lacy insets, a velvet choker and hair parted in the middle, leading LittleBird summer intern Emily Harburg to comment that the star was riffing on the faux goth look now trending with millennials. In any case, this was not the all-business pantsuit of years past.
For fall 2016, designer Amy Smilovic at Tibi showed pantsuits with fluid trousers and jackets, while Tory Burch offered a tailored version in rose. Gucci’s runway featured a black pantsuit, shown with velvet choker and flesh-colored gloves with jeweled cuffs.
The pantsuit has long been a wardrobe staple of actress Diane Keaton and, of course, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Maybe one of these softer, less constructed looks would work for the would-be Commander-in-Chief.
See photos above of the new relaxed styles that appealed to us and that we’re making room for in our fall closets.
— Janet Kelly Janet Kelly is the editor of MyLittleBird. She most recently posted about stylish sunglasses.
I REMEMBER HEARING the powerhouse voice of Idina Menzel live for the first time at the Kennedy Center, in the pre-Broadway run of her musical “If/Then.” It was a mother- daughter outing, the kind that made me forget my three siblings and enjoy life as an only child for a few hours. After the show, my mom said that hearing Menzel live was the closest she’d come to one of her lifelong dreams — seeing Barbra Streisand perform. She’s mentioned this dream many times since, usually during an attempt to make me watch “The Way We Were.” And last night, she got to cross that item off her bucket list when, on another memorable mother-daughter date, we saw Babs herself at the Verizon Center on her summer tour: “Barbra: The Music, The Mem’ries, The Magic.” And you better believe she delivered on all three counts. (more…)
We’re sharing this from the PrettyGossip blog to provide this story. PrettyGossip is the site where a beauty-obsessed woman shares things she has tried — cosmetics, treatments, procedures — to make her feel pretty. PrettyGossip is pretty honest about the products she tries. She acknowledges that she sometimes receives samples of new products for review, but she tells the truth (at least her truth) about them.
A COUPLE OF months ago, I met with Tata Harper (founder of Tata Harper Skincare). Tata was beautiful and had healthy-looking skin. Her skincare collection promises 100% natural and nontoxic ingredients, which I found impressive. During our chat, she handed me a little booklet titled “Top 10 Skincare Ingredients to Avoid.” I was intrigued and wanted to know more. I hope this post inspires you to take a look at the ingredients of your skincare products.
Before we start, let me just say selecting skincare products and developing a skincare routine is a very personal decision. There are also two sides to the conversation of whether these ingredients are or are not harmful. I’m not here to say one is right or not. I’m just here to pass along information that I personally found interesting. Whichever side you’re on, I think it’s good to be aware. Here we go!
The chambray shirt, left (AEO Western Boyfriend Shirt in Light Wash, $39.95, ae.com) works for campus; a more buttoned-up version (AllSaints Denim Gemma Shirt in Indigo Blue, $195, bloomingdales.com) for the office, paired with booties and black jeans.
These AEO Denim Jeggings in Sparkle White, left ($49.95, ae.com) flatter, ahem, younger figures. Right, AG ‘The Legging’ Ankle Skinny Jeans in White White ( $168, nordstrom.com) work best for the well-toned.
A Brandy Melville cropped sweater, left, in Speckled Grey, $38, brandymelvilleusa.com requires a flat tummy, while this Vince V-Neck Sweater, right, in Off White, $295, nordstrom.com covers up figure flaws.
Left, Old Navy Fleece Moto Jacket in Grey Marl ($44.94, oldnavy.com) and right, Theory’s luxe, uptown ‘Tralsmin Tidle’ Suede Notch Collar Jacket in Warm Grey ($1,295, nordstrom.com).
Left, BP. Plaid Square Scarf in Blue Multi, $29, nordstrom.com and right, Rag & Bone’s more sumptuous Windowpane Check Wool Scarf in Salute ($195, nordstrom.com).
EVER SINCE my first growth spurt I’ve labored under the delusion that I can wear my mom’s clothes. Time and time again I would pillage sheer blouses, draped sweaters and sleek dresses from her closet, in the hopes that this time they would fit perfectly, transforming my mid-teen awkwardness into polished sophistication. For reference, it was kind of like when you open the fridge the umpteenth time, somehow expecting a new snack to have magically appeared. Fast-forward to college, and I’ve finally reached the point where I can actually share clothes with my mom — and believe me, I’ve milked it (if she asks, no, I haven’t seen her tan cashmere sweater or drawstring bucket bag). And even better, I’ve begun to build my own wardrobe with pieces that fit my age and budget. But I still definitely take style cues from my mom (as seen by the amount of black currently in my wardrobe). So, using the end of summer as a convenient excuse for shopping, I found myself some back to school (or work) basics, with options for both Mom and me.
Chambray Button-up
One thing I’ve definitely gotten from my mom — the constant need for another layer. A button-up is the perfect cover-up for tanks and T-shirts that are perfect for end-of-summer heat but not so much for chilly classrooms or offices. I’ve gotten way into the tied-around-the-waist look over a dress or leggings, but grown-up girls can keep it polished by buttoning it up with black jeans and booties.
White Jeans
My mom’s go-to summer dinner outfit is white jeans with sandals and a dressier tank. So in her honor, I bit the bullet and tried on the requisite million pairs of white jeans before I found ones that weren’t see-through, creased or stiff. Thank you, American Eagle! And while the season for white may be coming to a close, pairing them with the aforementioned chambray is a perfect summer-to-fall look.
Ribbed Sweater
I almost couldn’t bring myself to try on a sweater in this heat, but this one from Brandy Melville was soft and cozy enough to make it worth my while. I’ve always thought of this kind of soft gray as a very “mom” color (and trust me, that’s not at all a bad thing). The ribbed texture and slight crop set it apart from my hoard of neutral sweaters (and did I mention how soft it was??). And it’s not too heavy, so I don’t have to wait until deep winter to break it out without also breaking out in a sweat.
Moto-Jacket
My love affair with Old Navy is nothing new, but they really raise the bar on affordable fashion when it comes to outerwear. For the past two summers I’ve been obsessed with a black linen jacket with an asymmetrical zipper, bought on sale for under $30, so I was thrilled when I spotted this colder-weather version in stores. The heather-gray color beats predictable black, and remaking the moto-jacket in something other than leather adds a whole new level to the piece. It’s warm enough to be an actual coat, but not too bulky to wear all day as a blazer alternative.
Plaid Scarf
I wear my mom’s scarves more than any other article of clothing, and not just because they’re one size fits all. Scarves help with the aforementioned always-cold problem, and for our mother/daughter neutral/black-heavy wardrobe, they’re a ridiculously easy way to add color. This blue plaid scarf/wrap hybrid brings the typical leggings and sweater look to the next level, and no matter how you drape it it somehow looks artful and grown-up. Plus it can double as a blanket in a pinch. Score!
— Emily Harburg Emily Harburg is MyLittleBird’s summer intern. Her last post was on some publishers’ new favorite word.
Nasty Gal’s Gunn Cut-Out style works well for round faces. $22.65, nastygal.com.
Cheap chic: Lightweight rose gold metal frames with lightly tinted lenses. $22.65, asos.com.
See Eyewear (seeeyewear.com and 1261 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202- 337-5988) offers fashionable European-brand frames without the high designer label cost. These modified rectangular shades are handmade in Italy. $99.
Square, wrap-style polarized shades from Ralph protect as well as flatter oval and round faces. $129.95, sunglasshut.com.
These thoroughly modern-looking ’40s-style butterscotch frames are made in France. $99, seeeyewear.com and 1261 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202- 337-5988.
Originally designed for the U.S. military fighter pilots in 1937, this updated version of classic aviators from Ray-Ban (with polarization– a special chemical film that helps reduce glare) are $200 at sunglasshut.com.
Kate Spade specs return a lot of style for the buck, like this retro, exaggerated cat-eye silhouette, Deandra. Also available in mint and black and white. $169, nordstrom.com.
Defy the heat in these Self Portrait – Edition Three round-shaped lenses surrounded by a matte white cat’s eye frame. $125, lespecs.com.
A classic cat-eye shape, Jonathan Adler’s Palm Beach sunglasses come in a sassy red with graphic patterns inside the temples. $128, jonathanadler.com.
Costa Del Mar sunglasses are designed for fans of open water. Each pair is packed with patented technology that enhances colors and eliminates haze and blur. $169, sunglasshut.com.
Slender, slightly rounded “Henry” tortoise shades are made with titanium and polycarbonate lenses. Starting at $195, including prescription lenses, warbyparker.com.
Designed for glider pilots competing in the 2008 World Gliding Championships in Rieti, Loro Piana’s aviators feature ultra-light (6.5 grams) frames in polished gold-plated titanium. The ultra-thin polarized lenses in optical glass (only 1.8 mm thick) contain “rare earth” elements that guarantee clarity and depth perception. $1,375, loropiana.com.
I THINK IT must have been around the time of my 25th birthday. I had just broken up with someone my parents considered Mr. Right when my mother announced I needed to buy a pair of sunglasses. “You’re getting crow’s feet from squinting,” she said, code for you’re not getting any younger, dear.
Fortunately, that traumatic moment didn’t sour me on sunglasses for the duration. On the contrary, I’ve always loved shades for that soupçon of mystery I feel when I hide my eyes behind them, getting in touch with my inner spy.
In any case, sunglasses, a summertime staple, have year-round appeal as a versatile fashion accessory. They can cover bloodshot eyes and let you go without makeup. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. A general rule of thumb for shape: a strong, distinct square frame works best for a round face, while a rounder frame with a softer edge complements a more angular face. Clarity, durability, weight and cost depend on the materials used in the lenses (glass, polycarbonate, or plastic) and the frames. Polarized lenses which reduce glare will add to the cost. All sunglasses should block ultraviolet light, which can lead to cataract development and age-related macular degeneration; if there’s no UV information on the tag or price sticker, look for another pair.
We’ve picked out our favorites for the season that we’re sure will give any look an extra ounce of chic any time of year. They range in price from uber-expensive Loro Piana aviators ($1, 375) to Asos’ River Island round shades in rose gold ($22.65).
—Janet Kelly Janet Kelly is the editor of MyLittleBird. Her last post was on how to channel Tilda Swinton cool.
Pretty Gossip: Best Neutral Lipsticks for Dry Lips
We’re sharing this post from Pretty Gossip, a site where a beauty-obsessed woman shares things she has tried — cosmetics, treatments, procedures — to make her feel pretty. PrettyGossip is pretty honest about the products she tries. She acknowledges that she sometimes receives samples of new products for review, but she tells the truth (at least her truth) about them.
I LOVE LIP products. I have chronically dry lips, so I always have to have a moisturizing lipstick with me at ALL times. Just recently, I went through my purse and found 10 (yes, ten) lipsticks in my bag. A part of me was embarrassed, but at the same time, I was happy because I had 10 of the best neutral lipsticks for dry lips right in my hands. With so many options to choose from, I hope this review helps narrow down your search because you can never have enough lipsticks.
I posted this picture on Instagram and I was happy to hear that many of you also shared my lipstick hoarding problems!
If you’re looking for a great neutral or natural lipstick color, I recommend any of these. Some have more berry tone, while other are more nude. I have a nice selection of lipstick shades and textures that are all great for even the driest of lips!!! Here’s the line up.
A closer look at each color.
And of course, what lipstick review is complete without swatches!
I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE LIPSTICKS.
MAC- On Hold (Cremesheen)– Cost: $20. Shade: Pinky red. Coverage: Good. Texture: Creamy. Finish: Shiny. Moisture: Very emollient. My Thoughts: This is a brighter shade than I would normally wear, but I find that it’s a nice pop of pink with a touch of red.
POP Beauty – Nude (Matte Velvet)– Cost: $16. Shade: Brownish nude. Coverage: Medium. Texture: Soft. Finish: Matte. Moisture: Very comfortable for a matte formula. My Thoughts: The perfect nude color that won’t wash you out. Provides a great nude base that can be worn alone or layered with a pink to create an amazing ombre look. This shade is like the matte version of MAC’s Hug Me.
Pixi Beauty– Bitten Rose (Lip Balm)– Cost: $12. Shade: Deep pinky red. Coverage: Full. Texture: Soft Matte Luster. Finish: Satin Matte Shine. Moisture: Surprisingly moisturizing. My Thoughts: This is a pinky red, a shade deeper than MAC’s On Hold.
Urban Decay– Naked (Cream)– Cost: $17. Shade: Nude pink. Coverage: Full. Texture: Cream Lipstick. Finish: Satin Shiny. Moisture: Regular lipstick. My Thoughts: A pretty nude pink that covers and leaves your lips feeling comfortable.
Givenchy– Nude Guipure (Semi Matte)– Cost: $36. Shade: Brownish pinky nude. Coverage: Medium. Texture: Feels velvety soft. Finish: Satin. Moisture: Regular lipstick. My Thoughts: I LOVE the texture of this lipstick. It has a almost like a cushiony feel and is so creamy that glides on like butter. Literally glides on like butter. It has great color payoff and the perfect “your lips but better” shade.
MAC– Hug Me (Lustre)– Cost: $17. Shade: Brownish pinky nude. Coverage: Medium. Texture: Creamy lipstick. Finish: Shiny. Moisture: Regular lipstick. My Thoughts: Another great pinky nude a brown undertones. A tad more brown when compared to Givenchy’s Nude Guipure. Very similar to POP Beauty’s Nude shade, except this one has a shiny finish.
Pixi Beauty– Sweet Peach (Lip Balm)– Cost: $12. Shade: Apricot peach Coverage: Medium+. Texture: Lip balm. Finish: Shiny. Moisture: Moisturizing like a lip balm. My Thoughts: Although this is a lip balm, it covers and has a color payoff of a full lipstick! Amazing!
POP Beauty– Rose Berry (Lip Balm)– Cost: $16. Shade: Berry. Coverage: Sheer+. Texture: Emollient. Finish: Shiny. Moisture: Moisturizing like a lip balm. My Thoughts: I love this product much more than I thought. I was quite impressed with this cheap lip balm. Lots of color payoff while keeping my lips moisturized.
Sigma Beauty– Rubicund (Lip Crayon) Cost: $15 Shade: Berry. Coverage: Full. Texture: Lip crayon. Finish: Semi matte. Moisture: This lip crayon isn’t as moisturizing as the other products, but it is amazing for a full coverage matte crayon. My Thoughts: This shade is a similar to POP Beauty’s Rose Berry, but has a matte finish. I love the intense color payoff.
Urban Decay– Rapture (Cream) Cost: $17. Shade: Deep dusty rose with plum. Coverage: Full. Texture: Cream. Finish: Satin Shiny. Moisture: Regular lipstick. My Thoughts: This is probably the deepest shade in my purse. It is a deep plum with a touch of pink. Slightly vampy.
I hope this review was helpful in finding your perfect nude shade. I love sharing my favorite beauty products with you. If you have products that you love, please let me know in the comments below! I’d love to try them, too. That’s the spirit of Pretty Gossip… Gossiping about things that help us feel and look pretty.
Rest fingertips on shoulders, elbows out to the sides. Gently rotate the elbows as if drawing a circle on opposite walls with a marker attached to elbow points. Experiment with circles large and small, both directions.
Bring palms together, thumbs resting on the breastbone. Gently press the entire surfaces of the palms together. Allow the shoulder blades to slip down the back and the back and the sides of the neck to feel spacious.
Release and extend the arms in front of the body at shoulder height. Form soft fists. Circle the wrists in both directions.
Keeping the arms extended, sparkle the fingers, opening and closing the hands rapidly.
Bring the arms back to the body, wrapping one over the other in a tight hug. Reach as far around as you can, making contact anywhere from the backs of the upper arms to the shoulder blades. Hold tight, drop the chin toward the chest and breathe. Lift the face, replacing the head atop the spine, unwind the arms and repeat, opposite arm on top.
Bring the arms straight out to the sides of the body, fingers pointing up, and press through the heels of the hands. Find the origin of this movement between the shoulder blades. Maintain powerful arms and integrated shoulders as you point fingertips down.
Arms extended in front again, open the left hand, palm toward the ceiling. Place the thumb of the right hand at the base of the little finger. With gentle pressure from the right hand fingers, move the left hand pinky down, over the thumb. It’s as if the pinky finger is pole-vaulting over the thumb of the opposite hand. Work your way through all the fingers of the left hand. Repeat on the other side.
Keeping arms extended, sparkle the fingers again, opening and closing the hands rapidly. Then, close the hands into medium-tight fists. Squeeze. Release.
“A HAND IS a world in itself,” wrote Marcia Lee Masters, a newswoman and the daughter of the better-known poet Edgar Lee.
How true. Hands help us get everything done. They’re the agents of the brain’s circuit board and the fount of the heart.
Take a look at one or both of your hands right now. Really look. Think about all they do and get into in a day. Reckon those days into years.
Consider what and how and whom those hands have touched, how with gestures they elucidate the imprecise language of words. Picture the complexity of their 27 bones. Celebrate the wonder of the opposable thumb.
Like the proverbial bee, hands are busy, especially in summertime. With long days and vacation, hands are on the go grabbing tennis rackets or golf clubs from the back of the closet, hauling a watermelon for a picnic, gripping hot steering wheels, turning the pages of an absorbing beach read or swiping a screen.
Maybe those hands hover over a keyboard during the dog days, working overtime.
So, look again at your hands and send them affection.
Here are eight simple moves to help keep hands happy. Be tender and sensible, honoring the hands (and their shoulders) by respecting their limits. Practice each movement for 30 to 60 seconds.
Rest fingertips on shoulders, elbows out to the sides. Gently rotate the elbows as if drawing a circle on opposite walls with a marker attached to elbow points. Experiment with circles large and small, both directions.
Bring palms together, thumbs resting on the breastbone. Gently press the entire surfaces of the palms together. Allow the shoulder blades to slip down the back and the back and the sides of the neck to feel spacious.
Release and extend the arms in front of the body at shoulder height. Form soft fists. Circle the wrists in both directions.
Keeping the arms extended, sparkle the fingers, opening and closing the hands rapidly.
Bring the arms back to the body, wrapping one over the other in a tight hug. Reach as far around as you can, making contact anywhere from the backs of the upper arms to the shoulder blades. Hold tight, drop the chin toward the chest and breathe. Lift the face, replacing the head atop the spine, unwind the arms and repeat, opposite arm on top.
Bring the arms straight out to the sides of the body, fingers pointing up, and press through the heels of the hands. Find the origin of this movement between the shoulder blades. Maintain powerful arms and integrated shoulders as you point fingertips down.
Arms extended in front again, open the left hand, palm toward the ceiling. Place the thumb of the right hand at the base of the little finger. With gentle pressure from the right hand fingers, move the left hand pinky down, over the thumb. It’s as if the pinky finger is pole-vaulting over the thumb of the opposite hand. Work your way through all the fingers of the left hand. Repeat on the other side.
Keeping arms extended, sparkle the fingers again, opening and closing the hands rapidly. Then, close the hands into medium-tight fists. Squeeze. Release.
Love your hands — and whole body — throughout each day by turning hand washing into a simple mindfulness practice.
As you wash your hands, whether in the museum loo, the office restroom or at the kitchen sink, draw sensory attention to the sensation of the water on the wrists and the fingers’ webbing. While washing, say a simple, “Thank you, hands.”
Prefer a light-hearted approach?
Listen to and memorize the happy hand washing song from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Taking time to notice and care for palms, fingers, nails and thumbs, you might feel, like Marcia Lee, how a hand is a world in itself, carrying personal histories and intentions. By starting with what’s at your hand, you might notice the billions of others’ worlds in their hands and the wonder of all that gets done and undone with plain digits.
— Alexa Mergen
Alexa Mergen teaches small-group and private lessons in yoga, meditation and writing in Harpers Ferry, W.V. and Washington, D.C., and edits Yoga Stanza. Her last post was on how to stay cool in a hot city.
Tilda Swinton as rock star Marianne Lane recovering from voice surgery on an Italian volcanic island. Her blue-and-white dress/beach coverup was designed by Raf Simons, former artistic director of Christian Dior. Her partner Paul De Smedt is actor Matthias Schoenaerts. / Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight.
Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes playing rock star Marianne Lane and her record producer Harry Hawkes in “A Bigger Splash.” Swinton is elegant and icy cool, despite the heat, in a Dior-designed white silk jumpsuit. / Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight.
After a harrowing event, Swinton keeps calm and carries on in a Christian Dior print silk dress. / Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight.
Swinton floats through a scene in “A Bigger Splash” with her rock star-inspired mirrored sunglasses, a fluttery black silk blouse and white flowy skirt. Could anyone look cooler? / Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight.
An airy, blue-and-white striped shirt dress for oppressively hot days. $34.99, hm.com.
Crisp, lightweight poplin long shirt dress with summery stripes. $78, everlane.com.
When temperatures climb to stifling, slip on this cream V-neck jumpsuit from Black Crane, which promises ease and elegance in one outfit. $235, totokaelo.com.
Massimo Dutti’s flared-sleeve blouse will catch any passing breeze. $98.50, massimodutti.com.
Sporty-looking but feminine, this breathable pique polo shirt is a universal donor. $65, zady.com.
Channel your fave celeb in mirrored, uber-cool aviators, $14, urban outfitters.com. Swish through the heat in Lisa Marie Fernandez’s buttoned A-line cotton skirt. $545, farfetch.com.
Look hot, but stay chill in a coral cotton Sayaka Davis loosely styled sleeveless cotton dress. $248, stevenalan.com.
Vacation or staycation, avoid hot heads with Helen Kaminski’s hand-crocheted raffia topper that’s rollable and packable. $220, nordstrom.com. Keep summer’s sizzle down with a relaxed, oversize-cut jumpsuit with cinched belt at the waist. $300, zady.com.
AS THE TEMPERATURE threatens to hit triple digits this weekend, I’m thinking about Tilda Swinton’s hot-weather wardrobe in the movie “A Bigger Splash.” The actress plays rock star Marianne Lane, who is on vacation, recuperating from voice surgery on the Italian island of Pantelleria with her boyfriend when a record producer and former flame (Ralph Fiennes) and his daughter arrive to make mayhem. The film itself didn’t make especially big waves, but Swinton looked enviably cool and chic (see trailer) in clothing all designed by former Christian Dior artistic director Raf Simons. Among the greatest hits: a blue-and-white shirt dress that doubled as a beach coverup, a white silk V-neck jumpsuit for a trip to town, a black-and-white silk print dress and a black silk blouse with fluttery sleeves paired with a white silk full skirt.
For the rest of us on a mere-mortal budget, is it possible to look — if not feel — chill during the hottest, sweatiest days of summer in D.C.? We’ve got some ideas on how to keep your own thermostat down even when the Fahrenheit soars. See our picks in the photos above.
— Janet Kelly Janet Kelly is the editor of MyLittleBird. Read more about Janet here. She last posted her very personal opinion on makeup.
‘She Who Tells A Story’: Women Photographers in the Arab World
The National Museum of Women in the Arts presents their special exhibit, “She Who Tells A Story,” featuring 12 female photographers with roots in the Arab world.
Rana El Nemir’s photos observe passengers on a women-only metro car. Pictured: “Metro #10” and “Metro #21,” from the series “The Metro,” 2003.
Rania Matar, “Mariam, Bourj al Shamali Palestinian Refugee Camp, Tyree, Lebanon” from the series “A Girl and Her Room,” 2009.
Rania Matar, “Cristillah, Rabeh, Lebanon” from the series “A Girl and Her Room,” 2009.
Rula Halawani, “Untitled VI” from the series “Negative Incursions,” 2002.
Newsha Tavakolian, “Listen,” 2010, featuring six Iranian singers.
Tanya Habjouqa, “Untitled” from the series “Women of Gaza,” 2009.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM of Women in the Arts is nearing the end of its photography exhibit, “She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World.” The show, organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, offers an engaging and authentic take on life in the Arab world, particularly for women. Amid the exoticism, fear and confusion surrounding the Middle East today, the exhibit works to both acknowledge and move past these preconceived notions. The show, which features 12 female artists who have lived or worked in the Middle East, is on view only until July 31 (so make sure to free up some time before it closes).
Despite what some may assume, there are plenty of men featured in the artwork — men as soldiers, as husbands, as protestors. However, it is the photos of women, by women, that speak the loudest. Artists Rana El Nemir and Rania Matar both show individual portraits that capture the emotional depth of their subjects, at once drawing viewers in and challenging them to confront the implications of their voyeurism. The artists’ work examines how public and private intersect in the lives of Arab women.
Nemir’s 2003 series “The Metro” depicts random women she encountered on a train. Unaware of the photographer’s presence, they’re absorbed in their own private thoughts. But, as the wall text reveals, the photos were taken on a gender-segregated metro, in a designated female car, leading the viewer to question what it means to be an Arab woman in public and how limitations on one’s public life function as both protection and subjugation.
Matar’s series “A Girl in Her Room” takes the opposite approach, turning a private space into a public one by photographing teenage girls in their bedrooms. The photos are staged, but by shooting the girls on their own turf, Matar conveys a sense of empowerment and realism alongside a more vulnerable intimacy. In one photograph, a girl living in a Palestinian refugee camp sits on a thin mattress in a bare and grimy room. Her outward stare invites viewers into her space and her life. In another, a girl also looks into the camera, but with a cool, imperious gaze, daring viewers to comment on her bright pink walls, her skimpy tank top, the bras scattered across her room. Matar captures the diversity of life in the Arab world without passing judgment. The girls aren’t defined solely by where or how they live, it is simply a part of their individual identities. Despite their differences, each photo captures a sense of the universal experience of the teenage girl, navigating the transition from child to adult.
The most violent photos are by Rula Halawani. Her documentary-style series “Negative Incursions” shows the destruction left in the wake of the 2002 Israeli incursion into the West Bank. The printed negatives, in eerily reversed black and white, show physical violence rather than the implied threats or societal opression featured in other works. This reminder of the corporal danger present in the conflict-ridden region helps place the rest of the photos in a wider context.
In contrast, Newsha Tavakolian’s photos, from her series “Listen,” are more controlled and aesthetically driven, but no less political. She photographed six female singers forbidden by the Iranian government from recording or performing publicly. Each standing against a sequined backdrop, the singers are caught in the middle of an unheard song (the opposite wall shows video recordings of the singers played without sound). The pieces are a comment on the silencing of female voices in Iran, but the grid of portraits points to another problem for Western viewers. All too often, we see Arab women as a type, indistinguishable in their category of “otherness.” The six portraits, all of veiled women, challenges our ability to recognize them as individuals capable of the same depth and complexity as we are.
In a statement at the exhibit entrance, MFA curator Kristen Gresh says she was warned that a show focused on women would only confirm the stereotype of Arab women as powerless. However, in the final product, this couldn’t be further from the truth. These photos tell the stories of women who are oppressed, who live in poverty or amid unspeakable violence. But through the very act of the artists telling these stories themselves and claiming their own voice, the art becomes an act of strength rather than weakness.
To this end, the exhibit features insightful quotes from the artists paired with their work. It’s a minor detail of the show, but one that is vital to the message behind it. By giving the women a platform to describe their work in their own words, rather than by remote scholarship, the exhibit takes yet another step to frame the art as triumph instead of exploitation.
A photo by Tayna Habjouqa from her 2009 “Women of Gaza” series shows a young girl taking a photo with her pink mobile phone that matches her headscarf. The girl is photographing the photographer, and by extension the viewers of the work. Instead of just a subject of a photo of oppression or even of misguided Western sympathy, she becomes an active participant in her own story, in the same way the artists themselves do. By flipping the script in this way, Habjouqa echoes the exhibit’s overarching theme of reversing expectations and societal roles.
In a final gesture, the exhibit invites visitors to comment on their experience: “a powerful reminder we are more alike than different as women”….”a truly humbling exhibit for a young Iranian-American, leaves my heart heavy yet hopeful” and “very moving images and stories of strength, patience, longing, humor, life and juxtaposition. Unforgettable.”
— Emily Harburg Emily Harburg is an intern at MyLittleBird. She last wrote about the opening of BucketFeet Footwear in Shaw.
BucketFeet’s storefront includes a custom mural by local artist MasPaz.
The new store’s bright interior encourages shoppers to “create a more beautiful world.”
A collection of custom-designed sneakers from artists all over the world.
Each artist’s design is unique and has its own story. BucketFeet shoes are a perfect accent accessory and a built-in conversation starter!
IN SIXTH GRADE, a friend of mine had a pair of Converse that she decorated with a Sharpie. Song lyrics in painstaking cursive, colorful hearts and swirling patterns covered her feet — to me, it was the epitome of cool. BucketFeet Footwear, with its new retail location in the Shaw neighborhood, has taken that idea and run with it.
Begun in 2011, BucketFeet offers unique sneakers designed by a network of more than 40,000 artists. The company welcomes design submissions from artists all over the world, receiving up to 1,000 every week. Each design has a chance to be featured as a custom BucketFeet product, with sales royalties going to the artist.
The D.C. location features the full collection of slip-on and lace-up sneakers for men, women and children, ranging in price from $62 to $158. The walls are lined with a variety of designs, from geometric patterns to floral creations to embossed gold pineapples. Each shoe features a placard with information on the artist and the vision behind their design. The bright studio space and colorful exterior, designed by local artist MasPaz, embraces BucketFeet’s mission to “create a brighter world” through creative partnership and artistic conversation.
— Emily Harburg Emily Harburg is MyLittleBird’s summer intern. She last wrote about taking a spin at the new FlyWheel.
Makeup Counter Intelligence: A Very Personal Opinion
From left to right: The smartly shaped felt tip applicator of Le Metier de Beaute’s Precision Liquid Eyeliner ($42, lemetierdebeaute.com) ensures control and consistency. Metier’s Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complex ($175, lemetierdebeaute.com), available in three shades, is a luxe tinted treatment.
By Terry’s Terrybly Densiliss Sun Glow ($116, spacenk.com), a tinted serum for sun-kissed look without the sun.
Left to right: Honest Beauty’s Truly Kissable Crayon ($18, honestbeauty.com) glides on; Christian Dior’s Cheek & Lip Glow ($37, sephora.com) makes both look rosy and luminous.
Use Tata Harper’s creamy highlighter ($40, tataharper.com) to brighten areas around the eyes, nose and forehead.
From left to right: Lancome’s new mascara ($32, lancome-usa.com) with a swanlike neck excels at coating hard-to-reach lashes. Lancome’s Juicy Shaker ($21, lancome-usa.com) serves up a cocktail of lip shine and color.
OVERHEARD RECENTLY. Daughter: “Mom, your bathroom looks like a makeup museum.” Mother: “Not the look I was going for.” But I can relate. My side of the sink in our shared bathroom is a jumble of mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks and glosses, highlighters, concealers, all sorts of brushes, foundations, eyeshadows, you name it. They were all acquired at one time or another in that moment of suspended disbelief when a saleswoman at Sephora or Bluemercury or Ulta assured me that this fill-in-the-blank product would change my life (at least that’s how I’ve always interpreted it). Admittedly, I could clean up the space by tossing some of the items—like that Christian Dior eyeliner in navy that never showed up dark enough or the similar one from MAC or that contouring cream I have no idea how/where to apply. But my conscience pricks, reminding me of how much I spent on all those former must-haves that I used once and never again, so I just keep them, often hiding them at the back of a drawer so I don’t have to face my mistakes. I know, the decluttering police are shaking their heads as I write.
Still, in the last few months, I have edited my collection down to some key products that give results that are worth sharing.
When it comes to eyeliners, I’m in search of the holy grail, although I’m pretty sure I found it with Le Metier’s liquid eyeliner. The brush is wide at the base and tapered at the tip, making it relatively easy to trace a smooth thin line on the lid. With some liquid eyeliners, it’s hard to control the line, which can come out too dark and thick, accentuating your eyes in a not-so-good Cleopatra way. Kudos for a pencil eyeliner go to Charlotte Tilbury’s Rock & Kohl liner, which combines the glide of a liquid with a soft kohl pencil; it’s dead simple to apply.
I’ve got a shelf’s worth of tinted moisturizers/foundations from Lancôme, Murad, Yves Saint Laurent, La Mer and Neutrogena. La Mer’s Reparative Skin Tint with SPF 30 is winning my private sweepstakes, mostly because it gives my face just the right amount of color and coverage, without the cake-like consistency of so many others I’ve sampled. But I’m tempted to splurge on Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Complexe, which LittleBird Nancy raved about. First of all, as the man behind the Neiman Marcus counter says, it’s not a foundation, it’s a treatment. Anyway, what won Nancy over: “It seemed almost as light as a moisturizer, and it did that magical light-refracting thing that made my skin look great.”
A good bronzer is hard to find. Last summer when my oh-so-white legs needed some cover I used La Caudalie’s, but I didn’t like the scent, which is surprising because it’s not a self-tanning product. This year, I’ve been testing out By Terry’s Terrybly Densiliss Sun Glow (not a self-tanner), which is moisturizing without being oily and perks up pale faces. I also use it off-label on my legs.
Touche Éclat by Yves Saint Laurent is my standby concealer/highlighter. I put on some eye cream and then swipe it right below the eye and on the sides of my nose and my whole face looks more rested. A newer entry, Tata Harper’s pearly highlighter dotted in the corner of the eye brightens up tired eyes.
There was a time long ago that I skipped eyeliner and only used mascara. I still do, sometimes, and it works because curled and darkened lashes open up the eye, which makes you look more awake. People rave about Maybelline’s Great Lash. Meh. It may be inexpensive but no matter how often I try it, it’s gloppy. My newest go-to is from Lancôme. Its new Grandiose Waterproof product has a wand that bends which makes it much easier to get to those baby lashes in the corners with the side of the brush. No flaking or clumping either.
During the summer, the last thing you want on your lips is a dense, matte lipstick. My hot-weather favorites: Honest Beauty’s Truly Kissable Crayon, with a sheer and lightweight texture (coconut oil is one of the ingredients), slides on deliciously smooth; you hardly need a mirror to apply. Lancôme’s new entry in lipstick is a combination of lip oil (peach kernel oil, sweet almond oil, etc.) and pigment that you literally shake in the cocktail shaker container to mix and then apply with cushion applicator for non-sticky shine and sheer color. Christian Dior’s new Cheek and Lip Glow with a gel-like consistency gives both a rosy tint, and you don’t have to guess which color to buy because the one available shade suits any skin tone (at least according to the Dior website).
Even your favorite brands will wilt and roll off your face in D.C. heat, so, in case you missed it, here’s our guide to the best products to get you through the sweaty days of summer.
—Janet Kelly Janet Kelly is the editor of MyLittleBird. Her latest post was about her stash of skincare products.
The new CityCenterDC FlyWheel location features 73 bikes in its stadium.
WALKING INTO THE NEW Flywheel Sports at CityCenterDC, I was already sweating from the 94-degree heat, which seemed like a bad sign. I am lightly active on a good day, trending towards sedentary. But even someone as exercise-averse as I am has heard the recent buzz about spin classes (word on the street is that SoulCycle is the secret behind Michelle Obama’s arms). So with the opening of FlyWheel’s second location, I put on my rarely used sneakers and got ready to pedal.
Special shoes for spinning class.
First mistake, I didn’t actually need sneakers. Turns out FlyWheel provides special bike shoes that clip onto the pedals. The wall of sizes behind the front desk momentarily transported me to a bowling alley, but a quick look around set me straight. The space was sleek and polished—more spa than gym. Featuring a “stadium” with 73 bikes, and a smaller studio for their Barre classes with 22 mats, the CityCenter spot has a slightly larger capacity than the first location in Dupont Circle. The second location opened just weeks ago, but classes are already filling up, especially in the early morning and evening. On a Wednesday afternoon at 12:30, my 45-minute class was less than half full, but FlyWheel Manager Jenny Zemel says that the studio hopes to see this “lunch break” slot grow in the future. You have the option of signing up for individual classes or membership. A single class costs $28, but you can buy several at once for a discount. For example, five classes are $130 at $26 per class; 10 classes, $250 at $25/class, and so on). Membership is $300 a month for access to unlimited FlyWheel or FlyBarre classes, and $350 for both options.
But before I considered how many classes I would take every week or month, I had to try one myself. There were a few things I expected, based on my hazy knowledge of what a spin class is. I expected the room of empty bikes facing the instructor, raised on a platform. I expected the ongoing motivational aphorisms (“Embrace the pain,” “Close your eyes and find the thing that pushes you,” “Halfway there, don’t think, just ride”). I didn’t expect the circular room to black out when the class started, with glowing blue accent lights on the bikes and walls. It was kind of like being in an alien spaceship, which made me think that they missed an obvious opportunity to utilize a “running from an alien invasion” storyline to motivate riders to go faster. I also didn’t expect the instructor to be spotlighted, elevating his vaguely god-like status. However, I told myself that this was a good thing, since it meant he couldn’t see when I slowed down to a crawl somewhere during each “sprint” and stayed firmly in my seat when we were supposed to be standing on the bike. Speaking of my underperformance—I also was not expecting the class to be sohard.
Emily Harburg
Talking to my instructor, Rich, afterward, it seems that I fell into the same trap of many first-time riders. He told me that most people come in imagining it will be something like riding a bike as a kid—no sweat (wrong, there will definitely be a lot of sweat). As it turns out, FlyWheel classes are a lot more complex. Everything from the exercises to the bike shoes are designed to work specific muscles. New riders tend to push themselves to match the class without understanding how to control and use their muscles correctly. For example, Rich cautioned against simply pushing the pedals as hard as possible, like you would as a kid. Instead, the workout depends on your ability to use your whole body, pushing the pedal but then controlling the motion and pulling it through with different muscles. He warned that it usually takes about three to five classes before you really feel comfortable and can complete the full circuit the instructor does. Unfortunately no one mentioned this to me beforehand, so I felt a little bummed watching my fellow bikers breeze through the sprints, hills and whatnot while I just tried not to faint.
But sweat, pain and exhaustion aside, I did enjoy the class. The music (handpicked by the instructor; Rich prefers heavy bass) keeps the class moving smoothly, and the time went by much faster than expected. The constant motivation from the front of the room got frustrating at times, but as someone who would gladly stop at the first sign of struggle if left to her own devices, it made me push harder than I normally would. After all, you have to live by the FlyWheel motto: “Never coast.”
— Emily Harburg MyLittleBird intern Emily Harburg last posted on her experience seeing the Robert Irwin exhibit at the Hirshhorn.
Gallery view. Photo by Cathy Carver, courtesy of Hirshhorn Museum
“Untitled (Acrylic Columns)” 1969-2011, acrylic. Photo by Cathy Carver, courtesy of Hirshhorn Museum
“Untitled” 1966-67, acrylic paint on shaped aluminum. Photo by Cathy Carver, courtesy of Hirshhorn Museum
In “Square the Circle” the space becomes the art.
ON A WEDNESDAY afternoon, the Hirshhorn Museum — Smithsonian’s museum of modern and contemporary art — is definitely not empty, but it’s somewhere in that vicinity. The simple, circular building stands out among the sea of neo-classical facades, but visitors are often drawn to bigger names like the National Gallery, or the Hirshhorn’s neighbor, the Air and Space Museum. And of those who make it inside, many are daunted by the idea of art that they just don’t get. I overheard one couple inside the museum, exiting a room of the permanent collection. Once safely out of earshot of the guard, the woman asked in a low voice, “Is this doing anything for you?” The man answered loudly, not sharing her fear of being overheard: “Nah. I’m not really a modern art guy.”
I can see where he’s coming from. A lot of modern art can seem impenetrable, inane or just grotesque. There’s plenty of it, even within the Hirshhorn, that I flat out dislike. But part of the wonder of modern art is that it cannot be reduced to a label. If you say you’re “not a renaissance art guy,” you’re referring to a specific style of paintings, frescoes and marble sculpture. Sure, I may force you to sit in front of Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” for however long it takes to change your mind, but it’s your opinion. But waving off something as diverse and nebulous as modern art (a label that has emerged into our cultural vernacular without any coherent definition; only the vague connotation of a Pollock splatter painting) is just self-sabotage. Modern art takes all the rules that have been broken in the history of art, splinters them into smaller pieces, then stomps on them. And at the Hirshhorn, all those pieces create an experience that is equal parts exciting, confusing and captivating.
Which brings us to the Hirshhorn’s current special exhibit, “Robert Irwin: All the Rules will Change,” on view until September 5th. Stepping into the show feels like entering another world. It opens with a white room, its soft glow luring visitors past the dark walls announcing the exhibit. Perhaps the first rule to be thrown out is that of standard museum display—eye-level rows of paintings in ornate frames along the walls. In the Irwin show, wall space is used sparingly. Only one section features more than one piece per wall. Expanses of blank white make up identical walls that partition the long, circular gallery into sections. It all feels less like a museum and more like some vision of the afterlife, with perhaps a hint of an insane asylum. But a hallmark of the show is how the surrounding space interacts with and becomes part of the art. The stark rooms left me unmoored, with only the art itself to grab onto.
Two bays feature Irwin’s dot paintings. From afar they look like blank canvases. Stepping closer, they flourish into a field of colored dots. Stepping back, a blurred impression of the color remains visible. The effect is like staring at a bright light, and then looking at a blank wall. It is ephemeral and endlessly interesting, and if you didn’t stop to look closer, you would miss it entirely. Many do. Josephine Neulen, a gallery attendant, describes this as a frequent occurrence. “People will walk right past it and assume it’s blank,” she said. “They’ll come up and ask me ‘What is this doing here?’ and all I can say is, ‘Well, did you look at it?’” Irwin’s art requires interaction from its viewers, but it rewards them for their efforts.
In one room, two acrylic columns stand parallel to each other, stretching from floor to ceiling. As you move around them, they actually change their surroundings, reflecting and refracting images through their prisms. Other visitors are doubled or erased depending on the angle at which you view them. As you look, it’s increasingly difficult to pin down the columns’ exact dimensions. They inhabit an ever-shifting space, with their environment caught within.
Past this room, a glowing disk seems to float on the wall, with spotlights casting shadows that overlap in a clover design. Irwin transforms the wall into a canvas of sorts—his specially designed lights a paintbrush that works in shadows. The line where the piece of art stops becomes hazy in the same way the opacity of the painted aluminum disk shifts along its edges.
In the last section of the exhibit, the room and the art actually become one. A screen of scrim “straightens” the edge of the curved room. Like the dot paintings, this piece often gets passed over. The museum includes standing signs warning visitors with the following message: “In the next room, your perceptions will be challenged. For this reason, we ask that you touch nothing. It is very important that you experience the exhibition with your eyes.” If you do, you’ll see the fabric slip in and out of reality, see the room reshape itself time and time again. To me, Irwin’s appeal lies in his ability to infuse static materials with a near hallucinogenic sense of movement and transformation. I will freely admit — I didn’t “get” all of this art. I looked at it, and I thought about it, I looked some more. And I supremely enjoyed it. For those who are intimidated or just fed up with art that keeps its cards close to its chest, know that this — the looking — can be enough.
— Emily Harburg is a summer intern at MyLittleBird. Her most recent post was on the National Zoo’s Washed Ashore exhibit.
iS Clinical’s divine-smelling-and-feeling cream for aging skin.
Apply Frownies Eye Gels for half an hour and look rested for the remainder of the day.
This lash serum works wonders for thickening brows.
Left to right, iS Clinical’s White Lightening Comples, Sente Labs’ Daily Repair and Alchimie Forever’s Kantic Brightening Mask.
Immupure’s Daily Eye Face Neck Firming Moisturizer smooths out pesky lines.
WHEN A FRIEND said we needed to talk about wrinkle creams, my first reaction was to say I didn’t think any of them worked. Au contraire, she noted. “Your skin is looking good and less wrinkled.” Hmm. Was I getting more sleep, was I less stressed (no, definitely not)? Did the two pounds I gained go to my face instead of my thighs or were the products I’d been using — mask, eye gel, moisturizer, a serum — really smoothing out some of the furrows of my face?
Although I can’t scientifically vouch for their effectiveness, here are my thoughts on the potions, lotions and serums that currently take up real estate in my bathroom.
Alchimie Forever’s Kantic Brightening Moisture Mask, $60, Alchimie Forever. First off, I love the way this mask smells. A combination of natural ingredients — oats, wild pansies, resveratrol from grape extracts and blueberries. I usually put it on about a half hour before I go out and let it stay on 15-20 minutes. It says on the label for best results, use after exfoliating with Alchimie’s refining scrub. I rarely have time for both. But this mask works well for my sensitive skin, making it feel tighter and slightly less dull without any irritation.
Immupure’s Daily Eye, Face and Neck Firming Moisturizer, $210, Impure. The secret sauce in this product is colostrum, which, according to information on the company’s website, is a special milk that’s filled with vitamins and minerals that come from free-range cows. My take: It has a creamy but lightweight consistency and helps to puff out those little face hollows. A hefty price tag but a little goes a long way.
iS Clinical’s Youth IntensiveCreme, $195, Dermstore. I get some comfort shelling out money for iS Clinical products because my dermatologist stocks them. And surely he must know, right? This stuff smells deliciously citrusy and feels like velvet on my face. It’s a combo of hyaluronic acid, copper peptide and Vitamin C.
Frownies Eye Gels, $29.95 for three sets of two, Frownies. Frownies goes back a long way — 1889, to be exact when a woman named Margaret Kroesen created Frownies Facial Patches to be applied to the corners of the eyes and mouth and forehead “to gently re-educate the underlying muscles to assume their correct, relaxed and natural appearance.” Well, temporarily, at least. If you try the patches, don’t forget to moisten them when you’re applying and especially when you’re removing. I prefer the cooling eye gel product, which is jelly-like mask you apply from the outer corner to the inner corner of each eye and leave on for 30 minutes.
Sente Daily Repair Complex SPF 30, $129.99, Sente Labs. At first try, I thought this slightly tinted moisturizer felt too dry, but I’ve come to appreciate its multitasking properties: sunscreen coverage (it contains zinc oxide and titanium oxide) and also its ability to smooth some fine lines. It’s absorbed quickly, blends with my skin tone and it’s not greasy.
Revita Lash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner, $98-$150, Revitalash. This is a product I got a year ago that I use off-label. I get a little nervous about coating my lashes with anything but mascara. And I worried that I would get the stuff in my eye, etc. So, I decided if it worked on eyelashes, it should work on conditioning and growing brows. And that’s where I’ve been applying it, with noticeable thickening of the hair on my brows.
iS White LighteningComplex, $130, Dermstore. Brown spots and blotchy, pigmented skin automatically ages you, so for years I’ve been trying to get rid of mine using a combination of Renova and a cream containing lightening agent hydroquinone. But recent controversy about the latter has led me to switch to this product from iS, which uses Norwegian kelp and bearberry extract to reduce pigmentation. I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks, and whether it’s my imagination or not, my skin tone looks better. Maybe I should ask my friend’s opinion.
— Janet Kelly Janet Kelly is the editor of MyLittleBird. She last posted about Cuyana,a pop-up clothing store in Georgetown.
find the thing that pushes you,” “Halfway there, don’t think, just ride”). I didn’t expect the circular room to black out when the class started, with glowing blue accent lights on the bikes and walls. It was kind of like being in an alien spaceship, which made me think that they missed an obvious opportunity to utilize a “running from an alien invasion” storyline to motivate riders to go faster. I also didn’t expect the instructor to be spotlighted, elevating his vaguely god-like status. However, I told myself that this was a good thing, since it meant he couldn’t see when I slowed down to a crawl somewhere during each “sprint” and stayed firmly in my seat when we were supposed to be standing on the bike. Speaking of my underperformance—I also was not expecting the class to be so hard.
