Carry on!

Une femme is travelling again! This morning I'm taking off for a weekend family reunion in Ohio, and will be meeting up with ma soeur who is flying in from San Francisco. I've been looking forward to this gathering for a while, as we'll get to see some family we haven't seen in about four decades, and meet some we've never met. I'm not certain how many of my thirty or so cousins will be there, but quite a few are expected.

For this four-day trip, I was determined to travel with only a carry-on suitcase. The one thing that always trips me up is toiletries and skincare; somehow I always have trouble staying within the carry-on allowance for liquids set by the TSA. So this week I rummaged through my skincare samples, and then popped over to Bed Bath & Beyond to pick up one of these:

Problem solved, and I still have room for mascara and lipgloss!

(I'm taking my Chanel Teint Innocence compact foundation, so that doesn't count as a liquid, and the rest of my maquillage is in powder form.)

Do you have any tips or tricks to share for travelling with only a carry-on bag?
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Jumping on the Mad Men bandwagon...

If, comme une femme, you're counting the days, hours and minutes until the series "Mad Men" returns at 10pm on August 16, here's a way to amuse yourself in the meantime...

At work...

At play...

Edited to add one more:
After the riding lesson...

Mad Men Yourself!

(h/t to Debutaunte Clothing.)

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Talbot's Pick of the Week

"Day in Paris" silk scarf. Lots of Oh la la! for $44.
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Business Casual: Oasis or Abyss?

Remember when Business Casual looked like this?

Q: What do the following items have in common?

• Rubber flip-flops


• Belly baring shirts


• Gold lamé leggings, and leggings worn as pants


• Velour track suits


• Hawaiian shirts worn unbuttoned over undershirt


• Floor length halter dresses


• Sweatpants with "Juicy" across the derriere


• Skin-tight tank top with the word "Bootylicious" across the front in glitter script


• Cargo shorts

A: All have been worn by people in our office under the auspices of "business casual."

The upside of a more casual dress code is that it can be democratizing and a morale booster for employees. Many companies have made efforts to create a less rigid and hierarchical workplace, and managers or executives in strict corporate wear can undermine that environment. I'll admit that I'm not missing the skirted suits and (bleah!) pantyhose that were once de rigeur in corporate offices. I sailed through from the mid-1990's until a few years ago in pantsuits and "sportswear" separates, and found the clear boundaries for workwear convenient, requiring a minimum of guesswork and planning. Getting dressed for work was easy when the uniform was clear and consistent, though I am enjoying being able to express a bit more personal style, mostly through accessories. In our current environment, even a pantsuit worn with a t-shirt feels a bit too stiff and formal, so I've been subbing a sweater for the jacket worn with trousers, or pairing my jackets with dark-wash jeans.

However, it's long been une femme's opinion that Business Casual, while worthy and welcome in concept, has Gone. Too. Far. Despite articles in various newspaper Business sections to the contrary, there seems to be no apparent reversal of the "anything goes" dress codes that seem to have taken over many companies. While I would never advocate a return to strict Corporate Drag*, it seems the "business" part of Business Casual is increasingly left out of the equation.

Why does it matter? After all, many people who work in offices do not have contact with the public as a part of their job, and in these tough economic times, expecting workers (especially those on the bottom to middle rungs of the corporate ladder) to spend a good chunk of change on clothing specifically for work seems a bit unfair. But une femme would argue that getting dressed in the morning with business in mind helps get one's head in the game, and helps change the mindset from one of leisure to productivity. It's been my observation that wearing the same thing to work that one would wear to a beach party keeps the brain partially in beach party mode. I believe there is a happy medium: dressing comfortably with allowances for personal expression, while still maintaining some professionalism and polish. (In my perfect world, the flip flops would be the first thing to go!)

What kind of dress code (if any) is enforced in your workplace? Does it seem appropriate for the work you do? If you wrote your company's dress code, what changes would you make?

*Thanks to Duchesse at Passage des Perles for this great expression.
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Kickin' it New School - Boyfriend Jeans

Materfamilias shows how it's done for nous femmes d'un certain age. The soft bohemian scarf, interesting cuff and leopard shoes keep the overall look light, simple and laid-back. Leave the extreme distressing/ripping to the kids (and personally, I think that's a rather affected look even on younger women).

Here are some options that look ageless and workable, all at a lower price point. If the fabric is stiff however, move on. This look requires soft fabric with a bit of drape. (Click on pictures for prices and more info.)

Ralph Lauren

Banana Republic

Chico's (?!?)

DKNY

Current/Elliot, on sale at Nordstrom's right now
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Welcome, Corporette Readers!

Aren't we glad that work wear has evolved?

For those of you visiting from Corporette, click here for a listing of scarf-related posts. I hope you'll stick around and join in the discussions. (Une femme is also a corporate type, though our company's dress code has slid in recent years into the Business Casual abyss.)

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La Peau: Upping My Game

Une femme feels fortunate to have been blessed with mostly-good skin: not much acne as a teenager, and fewer wrinkles than one might expect at my age. However, since the Menopause Fairy visited me a couple of years ago, I've noticed an increasing dullness and coarseness of texture, as well as some "softening" around the jawline.

Aside from religious daily use of sunscreen and nightly makeup removal, the rest of my skincare routine has been inconsistent at best in recent years. I've skimped on some items and probably overspent on others. A couple of glycolic peels from a facialist showed me that my skin could look better; my mishmash of products at home based on others' recommendations and hard-sells from department store counter sales associates wasn't getting optimum results.

So while on our recent cruise when my MIL mentioned there was a free skincare seminar at the spa, I figured, why not? I was pretty sure this would be a sales pitch for products and spa services, and while that was true, it was also an informative hour.

Some of what I learned:

1. Don't apply your eye cream on lids right up to the lash line. Apply around the orbital bone only. The cream will get to where it needs to be. This keeps product from getting into the eye itself and irritating. (Since I've begun doing this, I've noticed that my eyes are noticeably less red most of the time.)

2. Sun damage begins at deeper layers of skin and takes up to seven years to become apparent. (Yikes! Glad I got serious about sunscreen a while back.)

3. If you don't exfoliate regularly, even the priciest moisturizer won't penetrate the top layers of dead skin and get to where it can do some good.

4. The active ingredients in any skin treatment product are bound up with carrier molecules (inert ingredients). The larger the carrier molecules, the less they will penetrate the skin. (Which may explain why Oil of Olay and some other drugstore skincare products seem to sit on top of my skin like a sticky film.)

5. Women over 40 should be using a cleansing milk twice daily, rather than soap. (Cleansing was the step I'd been shorting, using a Pond's makeup remover cloth in the evening, with thrice-weekly St. Ives Apricot scrub, and nothing but water in the morning. I did buy the cleanser she recommended and started using it immediately, and saw marked improvement in the texture of my skin after just a couple of days.)

6. Brown spots that develop as a result of hormones probably will not respond much to brighteners or even lasers. (This is also what my dermatologist has told me, merde!)

7. A twice-daily non-alcohol toner and weekly clay mask will help reduce the size and appearance of pores. (I'd stopped using toner many years ago as I found them drying, but apparently that was because of the alcohol. I've been doing the non-alco toner for the last three weeks, and will get serious about finding a clay mask this weekend. I don't know if it's the toner or my overall regime, but my pores do seem to be less noticeable.)

8. Use a collagen cream to firm skin. (My overall skin texture has improved, hard to say if it's noticeably firmer or not.)

9. Glycolic night cream will improve skin's texture and clarity. (I've just started using this, so jury's still out.)

10. Microdermabrasion is what she recommended for fine lines and acne scars. (My dermatologist is lukewarm on the microdermabrasion, feels that peels are more effective.)

So my skin is looking better and I'll probably keep this routine going. I'm also going to make a point to visit the facialist for a gentle peel every three months or so. My goal isn't to necessarily turn back the clock, but rather to keep my skin looking and feeling as good as possible whatever my age.

Do you have a regular skincare routine? Has it changed over the years? Are there any particular products that you swear by?
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Une femme recommends...

NYDJ white denim, now on sale at Nordstroms, $68.90.

These are the jeans I'll be living in this summer. They're cool, they're flattering and can go casual/classic with a simple navy tee, or dressy/bohemian with a floaty silk tunic.
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Meeting Miss Janey

No, une femme did not take this picture. Une femme, forgetful idiot, once again left the camera at home.

It was months in the planning stages, requiring several script re-writes and some location changes, but the star-studded production of "My Lunch With Miss Janey" finally went into production on Saturday! Featuring a cast of dozens, it was a boffo hit with sequels already in pre-production.

Seriously though, Miss Janey is as lovely and gracious as you'd expect from reading her blog, aptly named Miss Janey's Place. We have lots of stuff in common, and there was no shortage of topics to discuss. It was well worth the wait to finally meet Miss Janey!

Foulard de la semaine

This sheer silk square works well for all but the warmest weather. I love the mix of the autumnal hues of the scarf (olive, cream, rust, mustard) with the soft turquoise sweater.

This Liberty of London scarf was inherited from ma grand-mere, and is at least fifty forty years old. Over the weekend, I crossed my fingers and toes, and gently washed it in cold water with Palmolive to remove some grease stains on the border. It came through like a champ, sans stains!

Though some scarf aficionados recommend dry cleaning, many silk scarves can be hand washed, but it's advisable to use a color catcher in case any of the colors bleed. Either way, it's best to clean or wash only when absolutely necessary; usually just a bit of freshening is all that's needed. Drape the scarf over the rung of a hanger, and hang in an open area with good circulation for a few hours (but never in direct sunlight).
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Mutton bustin'

No disparaging comments about la mode des femmes d'un certain age, just some wild and woolly fun for the little ones..

...the rules are pretty simple: If your child is between 4 and 8 years old and weighs less than 65 pounds, you can sign a liability waiver, pay 30 bucks, plop him on a sheep and tell him to hang on.
...
The ride rarely lasts longer than a few seconds (sheep may not buck, but they sure can wiggle), and every boy or girl walks away with a shiny silver belt buckle stamped "Champion."

From the video below, I think "a few seconds" is best case scenario.

Photo from LA Times.
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It's ON!

Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale!

I think this is Nordie's best sale of the year, with new fall merchandise offered at substantial markdowns.How could I not?? Jones New York Signature Cardigan, $78.90 on sale.

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And now for something pretty

I couldn't allow that wretched bit of decrepitude below to have the last word, so here's something pretty from Fendi, a brand which has also had it's share of cringe-worthy bags in recent years. I rather like this one, though.
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Is it just me or...

Is Ferragamo losing it? Who would want to carry a bag that looks like a bad case of boils???

The height of irony...

Balenciaga Does Betty

Balenciaga pic from Style.com
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Wherein une femme answers the rherotical question...

"Can one ever have enough leopard print?"

Picture from Style.com.
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Morphing la mode

Picture from here.

Back around third grade during science class, we were introduced to the concept of body somatypes (ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph). Though the concept of body types was originally developed in the 1940's in part to catalog personality traits attributable to each (not surprisingly, now debunked), the somatypes are still used today to generalize basic physical traits.

I remember my eight-year-old self thinking, "aha! I'm an endomorph!" Yet despite the fact that somatypes were presented as inherited and relatively immutable, the idea that having a rounder body was indicative of basic flaws of character (weakness, greediness) also held sway, at least in my family and culture. So I spent decades trying to starve my endomorphic body into ectomorphism. Even at my thinnest, I never achieved the willowy, angular look I so coveted. At best, I achieved a smaller version of my softer, rounded self. (I remember my first boyfriend who used to pinch the "flab" around my waist, even when I weighed 99 pounds. Yes, I eventually broke up with him.)

Fast forward a few decades, and I was re-introduced to the concept of body somatypes at Imogen Lamport's workshop in May. It turns out that ectomorphs are best suited to more structured styles, endomorphs to more soft styles, and mesomorphs will probably look best with a middling amount of structure. The hedonistic part of me has always loved and gravitated toward clothing that flows and drapes, though I've spend many years trying to wear more tailored, structured styles in the name of "professional" dressing, and in an attempt to emulate classic looks that have inspired me since I was a girl and first became aware of fashion.

But lately those stiffer fabrics and more architectural garments just haven't felt right, and I've slowly been moving toward softer silhouettes. I still need to look polished and professional for work ("professional" being much more casual than a decade ago), but cardigan sweaters have been inching out the more constructed jackets, and tees or silk jersey shells have replaced woven blouses.

Call the resulting aesthetic "Hippie Chic" or maybe "Bourgeois Bohemian," but I really can't see myself going back toward a more strictly tailored, structured style. Regardless of the nomenclature, I seem to be getting closer to creating a wardrobe mix that integrates what works best for my body with the basic stylistic elements that have always appealed to me (clean, simple, natural, chic). That accord between body and head seems to be an essential component of bien dans sa peau, without which "ageing gracefully" is next to impossible. As someone who has always felt pulled in conflicting directions style-wise, and has been (probably unduly) influenced by others' style pronouncements, having more of these "click" moments where what I'm wearing feels Just Right is like a balm on my psyche.

What about you? How do you incorporate what appeals to you aesthetically with what works best for your body type? Has the formula changed as you've matured?

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Infrastructure update

The Right Bra Will Make You Do The Happy Dance!

After months of procrastination, I finally got serious about finding a good molded cup t-shirt bra. The one I'd purchased in haste and a state of desperation two years ago was doing nothing for me.

As a friend of mine used to joke, I need a Doggy Bra: one that makes Pointers out of Setters.

Karen been after me about this too and she's right...even if you think you know your bra size, get yourself measured. Turns out I needed to go smaller in the band and bigger (gulp!) in the cups for this particular style of bra. But I bit the bullet (the right bra wasn't cheap) and came home yesterday with this little miracle worker.

Chantelle "Legende" T-shirt bra, $88.

It's the most I've ever spent on a bra, and well worth it. Though it's nicely proportioned and has some pretty details, this is an industrial strength bra, not the flirty, lacy kind that we're supposed to wear to feel sexier (along with our matching lacy panties comme les femmes Françaises). Wearing pretty lingerie is great in concept, but when it comes to "underwear" (garments worn under clothing as opposed to being seen in) une femme goes for function over form. And the function is to make us look better in clothing, which no little lacy whisper has ever done for me.

Check out some of Karen's "bra makeover" posts here, here and here.
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Don't hate me because...

...mon mari has signed us up for a chocolate tasting seminar this afternoon at Essential Chocolate Desserts.

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Foulard de la semaine

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Juneau et le glacier Taku

View Larger Map
(Map of Juneau Icefields with Taku Glacier indicated by green arrow.)

Our last stop was Juneau, and it turned out we'd saved our best excursion for last: a helicopter ride to the Taku Glacier. The sky was overcast but fortunately not socked in as we took off, and we were treated to absolutely amazing views.

We toured around the area for about fifteen minutes before heading to the glacier. Having never been on a helicopter before, I was amazed at how smooth and relatively quiet the ride was. On the way to the glacier, my son and I rode shotgun up front with the pilot, allowing for some amazing picture taking.

Soon the glacier was in sight...

Coming in for a landing...

We landed on a smooth spot near this crevasse. Before we left the helicopter, we were warned that these crevasses can be hundreds of feet deep, and it's best to stay far away from the edges. We were told to go to the top of the crevasse and view it from that angle.

This picture below gives a better perspective of the size of the crevasse.

This is a "moulin" (French for "mill") a narrow chute that funnels water from the surface of the glacier. They can also be as deep as the glacier is thick.

The Taku glacier is the only advancing glacier in the Juneau Icefields. It advances at the rate of three feet per day, though loses two of those to calving where it ends at the river, for a net advance of about a foot a day. It is something like 27 miles long, and is the largest glacier in the Juneau Icefields.

I've decided that for my next career I'm going to be a helicopter pilot. It was SO much fun!!

After our glacial adventure, I met up with mon mari (who hates to fly and passed on our aerial fun) for a fabulous lunch of cedar plank salmon and Alaskan microbrew beer at the Taku Smokeries. We also bought some yummy cold-smoked salmon that they shipped to arrive a few days after we got home. So we still have a little bit of Alaksa in the fridge.
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