Une femme's Phrasebook

Walkus interruptus - stopping to answer the phone on your way out the door with les chiens, resulting in escalating levels of canine frustration.

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Yes, Giorgio!

No, I'm not flashing back to the reputedly execrable 1982 movie starring Luciano Pavarotti.

The Giorgio I'm feeling very affirmative about is this guy,

who makes not only some heart-stopping jackets,

but also this makeup

which has restored my faith in foundation! Karen has been recommending this stuff to me for a while (and her skin looks flawless), and last weekend I finally decided to heed her advice.

I wanted to play with it a few days before evaluating. For those who always skip to the last chapter of a mystery novel, here's the whodunnit: it's good. Really, really good.

For the rest of you, here's the long version.

Packaging
It comes in a nice little jar with a plastic scoop.
Pros: No waste! Every last molecule of creamy tinted goodness is available to the user.
Cons: Not exactly travel-friendly. I can see I'll need to make my own travel size for les voyages.

Application
As mentioned above, it's creamy, and of a very even consistency. The Sales Associate told me I *must* (buy, of course, and) use the special brush to apply.
Pros: It goes on very smoothly, no streaking, and a little goes a long way.
Cons: Because it's thicker, it takes a bit longer than some foundations to apply and blend in.

Look
Pros: A.Mazing. Once on and blended, this foundation really doesn't look like makeup, it just looks like Very Good Skin™. It's not matte, but doesn't shine like an oil slick either. The color matches my skin exactly, and it tones down the red bits. The overall texture of my skin appears much smoother.
Cons: It's still sheer enough that my brown age spots are visible. If I look closely, I can see where it settles into my pores just a little bit, though far less than any other liquid foundation I've tried in the last few years.

Longevity
Pros: It really stays on, even on my nose, much better than any other liquid or compact foundation I've tried. I'm talking from 6 in the morning until I remove it at bedtime.
Cons: None, really.

Overall
This also is the first non-oil-free makeup I've tried since I can't remember when that doesn't make my face break out, not even a little bit. I'm giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars overall.

I've been experimenting this week with amounts, technique, etc. and can report that, a) primer or not, doesn't seem to make a difference, b) although every makeup artist advises "setting" the foundation with a dusting of translucent powder, after trying both with and without I think this product really looks better without. I give my nose a little dusting in the afternoon if it starts to shine a bit, and that's all it needs.

Once again, thank you Karen for sharing your secrets and pushing me to give it a try.

I'm hereby joining the ranks of True Believers in Giorgio Armani Shaping Foundation. If you try it, let me know what you think!

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Foulard de la semaine

This one's for Karen...pattern mixing!!! The scarf is from Banana Republic. I would've liked to pair the warm leopard print with a cooler color family (green, blue, purple), but this is the only scarf I have right now with a large enough floral print. Next time.
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On Safari with...Talbots????

Definitely seeing a new aesthetic. Batik print tunic, $79.

According to InStyle, "Safari" is one of the hot spring trends.

Talbot's has it covered.

Safari Blouse, $139.

I never expected to see something like this from Talbots:
Silk Halter Dress, $199. (Wish it was a better print, though.)

But by far, some of the best safari-themed looks can be found in accessories.


Faux horn cuff, $49.


Ikat linen wrap, $59.

Exotic bead charm bracelet, $69.

Bamboo-handled bag, $199.
Cane print Wellies, $59. (OK, so these aren't exactly consistent with the "safari" theme, but I thought they were fun.)

Tumbled leather hobo, $159.

Botanical print scarf, $59.
Bead necklaces, $109 and $89.
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New Romance

For those of use who are mariées or in committed relationships, no matter how fulfilling, the thrill of a new romance is something we've put behind us (unless we take lovers, which I'm neither advocating nor condemning, but it isn't une femme's style). But we still need that little zing of the new, which, je crois, is why some of us enjoy shopping, fashion and style. A new dress, a new pair of shoes, a new lip color are ways to create that sense of possible selves which I think is necessary to keep us slogging through the underbrush of our day-to-day lives.

When it comes to fragrance, I cannot commit. I am fickle, always willing to try something new, even while I am loving what I am wearing. Sometimes with romance, it's the times you're not actively looking that you stumble into something wonderful, and it happened to me on Saturday. I was visiting Saks as I'd promised Karen I'd try the Giorgio Armani Shaping Foundation (more on that later this week) and right next to the GA counter was the dreaded Perfume Spritzer. She handed me a cloth ribbon sprayed with the new fragrance, and I liked it enough to allow her to spritz my arm. Now, you'd think I'd be more wary, after my last Fragrance Coyote Date (you know, the kind where you'd gnaw your own arm off to get away from the smell). But I was entranced, and now I'm enchanted.

The fragrance in question is a new one, "essence" by Narciso Rodriguez. It's not available online yet, but Saks carries it. When it comes to designer fragrances, I'm pretty much immune to hype. I thought Sarah Jessica Parker's "Lovely" smelled like skunk. I like some of the Jo Malone fragrances, but they disappear in an hour. Pretty bottles are nice, but to me, the only things that matter when it comes to le parfum is how it smells right away, and how (and if) it smells a few hours later. This one works on all counts. It goes on very floral (but not sweet) and the first note I detected was rose (a favorite). A few hours later, the musk base notes predominate, but they're soft, not overpowering. I gravitate toward floral perfumes, but so many of them become cloying after the first hour or so, and this one doesn't. It's sophisticated but accessible, feminine but not sickly sweet. So I'm adding "essence" to my stable of fragrance loves.

The best part: even mon mari approves!

Picture at top from www.adclassix.com
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Hair Today

So it's decision time. A few months ago, I decided I needed to go a bit softer than the Jean Seberg-esque cut I'd been wearing, so I've been in growout mode.

This is what my hair looks like today, after air drying. As you can see, it's very thin/fine with a slight bit of wave. As I cannot be objective about my hair, I am asking for your help. I know that growing it much longer is probably not an option, but am not sure about which way to go. My requirements are simple: I must be able to dry/style it in under 5 minutes (or even better, air dry) and it must remain at least earlobe length on the sides.

Here are two options:

Or longer layers like this (though I worry this would require actual daily styling):

Readers, I'm asking for your input. A, B or something else?

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Foulard de la semaine

This is actually two silk chiffon oblong Ann Taylor scarves, tied at the ends and wrapped.
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Scrimp, Splurge, Deprivation, Abundance

In this economy, it's a rare bird who isn't cutting back on spending, or at least talking about cutting back on spending. Une femme has embarked on an aggresive savings plan, which has cut deeply into discretionary spending, and I've been doing some soul searching about what luxuries are expendable, and where I can cut back.

Having been on many diets in my younger days, I know the trap of the "deprivation effect." We deprive ourselves of what we really want, and end up eating an entire package of caramel rice cakes instead of the piece of chocolate that would have satisfied the craving. Likewise, sometimes we "spend around" that thing that we really want: instead of that $300 pair of boots that we LOVE, we buy the $100 substitute, and feeling vaguely unsatisfied, proceed to buy a bag and a sweater from the final clearance table, ultimately leaving the store still having spent the $300. We pass up the $100 eye cream and spend $100 on random makeup. When that deprivation effect gets triggered, all we can think of is more, or the next thing.

Another manifestation of the deprivation effect making it tough to curtail spending are all of the discounts out there right now. There's a part of me that worries that if I don't grab two pair of those lightweight wool trousers in my size at 30% off RIGHT NOW, that I'll never find anything as good (at as good a price) ever again. Yes, I am a fear-based shopper.

The antidote for this is to cultivate a feeling of abundance. Abundance, not in the sense of having a large quantity of stuff, but of having exactly what we need. In fact, having too much can get in the way. Doing my closet purge a few months ago actually increased my sense of abundance, because instead of looking at a whole lot of "not quite" I had a clearer view of the "just right."

Also contributing to our sense of abundance are the non-material things that make our lives more satisfying. Time is a big one for me: time to relax, read a book, visit with friends, sit on the front porch and watch the birds, work in the garden. When our lives feel overwhelming and out of balance, we sometimes rely too much on Retail Therapy to provide that satisfaction. The things we buy never quite scratch that itch; we get the immediate gratification, but not much more.

Cultivating an attitude of abundance makes it easer to be more discriminating. Do I love it or just like it? Yes, it's my color, but don't I already have something similar? Do I really notice that much difference between the $25 neck cream and the $125 neck cream? The trick seems to be to find areas where one can scrimp that don't trigger the feelings of deprivation, and save the splurges for where they will provide the most satisfaction. Right now, I'm fine to pass on salon manicures, spa facials, fancy meals out, designer handbags or Hermès scarves. I'm test driving some less expensive face creams (jury still out) and have scaled back to single-process hair color. I'm holding the line on purchasing any more clothing or shoes right now, as I have plenty for the current season, which will mostly last (within a 10-15F range) until June. But I need my good coffee, my Chanel lipgloss and my Anthelios sunscreen.

What about you? Where do you scrimp and where do you splurge? Where do you find non-shopping satisfaction?

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A Short Story With a Happy Ending

See une femme's new orthotics.*

See one of une femme's favorite pair of shoes.

See orthotics meet shoes.

See orthotics fit shoes.**

See une femme's happy feet. Sing, feet, sing!

* Necessitated by my very high arches that collapse inward without support, and put strain on my muscles and joints (probably one of the causes of the arthritis in my hip which required the replacement).

**In fact, they fit into most of my shoes, except for the very dressy ones that I don't walk in much anyway.
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Not your Grand-mere's Ferragamos

If the name "Ferragamo" brings to mind something that looks like this...

it's time to have another look.

Shop Ferragamo here.
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Happy Valentine's Day

Instead of a traditional V-Day card with cherubs or cherub-cheeked children, I thought I'd share some of my favorite Mae West quotes.

-A woman in love can't be reasonable - or she probably wouldn't be in love.

-Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly.

-Cultivate your curves - they may be dangerous but they won't be avoided.

-I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond.

-I only like two kinds of men, domestic and imported.

-I'm no model lady. A model's just an imitation of the real thing.

-Say what you want about long dresses, but they cover a multitude of shins.

-Those who are easily shocked should be shocked more often.

-Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.

-You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

Have a happy, sassy Valentine's Day!
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Just Mad About Saffron

Recent forays to the mall have left the definite impression that yellow is the official It Color this season. Shades from pale lemon to saffron to mustard are ubiquitous as both main event and accents.

While many women balk at wearing yellow in large swaths or near the face (though it's une femme's contention that the right shade of yellow can be quite flattering and Michelle Obama recently showed us all how it's done), a pop of yellow in smaller doses can be just the thing to lighten up a late winter look and remind those of us in the Northern Hemisphere of sunnier days on the way.

I've been trying to integrate more color into my wardrobe, and am finding the idea of a bright yellow bag to be a serious temptation. Some of these yellows are mellow, others are anything but.

Prada, $1695. Prada has several versions of the classic bowler out for spring. This is just gorgeous with the gold hardware.
kate spade, $325. kate brings the cute-and-practical.
Hobo International Patent Tote, $298. With a bag this bright, you want the detailing to be simple. Hobo Int'l bags often have great interior organization.
Cole Haan drawstring tote, $350. Cole Haan bags are a great value for the price. I haven't seen this one up close, but I'm betting the leather is lovely and soft.

Rebecca Minkoff MAB Mini, $550. Rebecca Minkoff's "Morning After Bag" has developed quite a cult following. This smaller version is still plenty big enough for a day bag, and with the same classic styling of the original.

Jill Stuart Monaco Tabitha Crossbody, $298. Small, but great for running a few errands.

Celine Nautil Large Satchel, $595. Turning up the Wow factor.

Treat your lighter colored leather bags with a leather protector like Apple Gardé before using to help prevent stains, scuffs and darkening. Sunny dreams!

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Foulard de la semaine

Variation on a theme for cooler weather.
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