Aprons, What A Concept.

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From the moment I splash water on my face in the morning until I slip back into my sleepwear at bedtime, I'm in some form of street clothes. That includes while I'm home and attending to such tasks as cooking, cleaning, grooming the dogs, etc. This can be tough on clothing.

It's only been in the last year or so that I've (re)discovered aprons. It wasn't that I didn't have any; I did. Freebies that came with other purchases, gifts at one time or another, they languished in my linen closet. I'll admit that until recently, I didn't give them much thought. Aprons were, in my consciousness, an artifact of a retrograde Donna Reed kind of femininity, and were the province of our mothers' generation. We stirred our pots of organic lentil soup--and later boeuf bourguignon-- unarmored, clad only in our jeans and tee shirts. But then, I got tired of dabbing stain remover on splatters on my favorite tees and one morning while cooking breakfast sausage I extricated one of my aprons from cold storage, and have never looked back. These days I'm rarely without one while at home.

It occured to me recently, after having seen some really cute options at a kitchen store, that they might make really nice holiday or hostess gifts. I prefer "full coverage" aprons, so that's what I've selected here. Pearls and heels optional.

For the very practical and no-nonsense types, one of these striped and pocketed numbers from west elm is just the thing.

west elm striped apron

This one is retro-licious!

Kitchen gadgets apron

For the Francophile:

Modcloth. Trés charmant, non?

Everyone loves owls, right?

Modcloth again. Can't Stand The Hoot apron in Plus
this is just too darn cute!

For the baker on your list:

Pastry chef

As always, Etsy contains multitudes...

Fuji Afternoon apron
LUURRVE this print!

Coffee cup lined apron

More retro fun. 

Do you wear aprons?  Have a favorite style? How would you feel about receiving one as a gift?

More options:

kitchen aprons

Disclosure: actions taken from some links in this post may generate commissions for www.unefemme.net.
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Pinning away...

Source: musingsinfemininity.tumblr.com via une_femme on Pinterest

If you haven't joined Pinterest yet, I think it's the best thing since, well, pointy toed pumps! You can pin ideas for style inspiration, hair styles/color, recipes, helpful household hints, travel...heck, just about anything you find online.  You can organize, share and refer back to all of your pins. The great thing is that your pin creates a link back to the original website where the image appeared.

Here are some of my favorite recent pins.

Source: fashionsalade.com via une_femme on Pinterest

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Source: thesimplyluxuriouslife.com via une_femme on Pinterest

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You can follow me here.


And if you're on Pinterest, please share your "handle" in comments below!
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Red, She Said.

The Contenders. Paper towel test:
L: Julie Hewett "Gem Noir" / M: Chanel "Incandescente" / R: Nars "Heat Wave"

The Red Lipstick Road Test, Ctd.

The Mission: find red lipstick that works with my coloring.

What I've Learned So Far: most "reds" I've tried look pink on me, and the more blue in the color, the more it goes to fuchsia or pink rather than red. Even some lipsticks marketed and reviewed as "neutral" or "warm" look cool and pink on me. My search kept me moving in an orange direction, and these are the three most likely contenders.

Protocol: I applied each of these with only a Smashbox Nude lipliner (which is a match for my natural lip color) to get the clearest sense of the actual lipstick color. The photos were taken in indirect natural light, and other than cropping no other retouching was done.

1. Julie Hewett "Gem Noir." I actually had this in my stash from last year. I applied straight from the tube, as this formula is sheer. I don't know why I haven't worn this. It's a lovely formula that has decent longevity, and doesn't look blotchy over time. Of the three I tried, I think this one is best for casual, daytime wear. It's described as a "rosy red" on the website, but I think there's enough orange-brown in it for my warm complexion.

2. Chanel Rouge Allure "Incandescente." This one is very vivid, but it's the "right" red. I applied with a brush; one coat, then blot, then a second. Using a matching lip pencil would probably amp it up even more. The finish is satiny, with a slight sheen.

3. NARS Semi Matte "Heat Wave." Even though this looked brighter and more orange in the tube than the Chanel, the color looks almost identical once applied. (Same application: brush, blot, brush.) This one is more matte than the Chanel, and feels a little bit drying. I'd want to wear a gloss over this for a little sheen and moisture.

Conclusions: Julie Hewett wins for daytime wear, Chanel for evening. And I need to get a matching lip pencil for that one. The color as it appears in the tube can look very different when applied; there's no substitute for trying on!

What do you look for in a red lipstick? Do you despair as I do that as soon as you find that perfect shade, it will be discontinued?

I loved reading everyone's lipstick tricks and tips in the comments from last week.  Keep 'em coming!
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Color Play

Something's happened. It's like a switch has been flipped in my brain; after years of gravitating toward a palette of serene neutrals, lately I'm finding myself absolutely craving color. I'm experiencing this as almost a physical sensation like thirst, and find myself drinking in colors in shop windows, gardens, or anywhere a bright hue draws my eye. Color fires my Happy neurons.

And it's not the usual earth tones I'm now most drawn to, but brighter, clearer, candy-store colors. While I still can't do head-to-toe color or color blocking, I've been having fun experimenting with mixing hues. One subdued and one bright, with some neutrals to ground the ensemble feels very visible and scratches that color itch, but isn't overwhelming.

J.Crew is ringing my color chimes these days. While many of their selections are a bit too neon bright for me, there are some that look very wearable. Cardigans can be a relatively low-committment way to incorporate some color into a neutral core wardrobe.

J.Crew Cashmere Boyfriend Cardigan

J.Crew Jackie Cardigan
(Love this green - great for redheads!)

More options:

j.crew sweater cardigan

I've found colored pants surprisingly easy to wear and build outfits around. The NYDJ Sheri Skinnies are a favorite. (I'm wearing "Aubergine" in the top picture.) And pants are a great way to incorporate a color you'd otherwise love but prefer to wear away from your face.

NYDJ Sheri Coated Skinny

NYDJ Marilyn Sueded Denim Jeans (Plus)

J.Crew Matchstick velvet jean
(Partypants!)

Gap cords

If you're wanting to shake up your neutrals a bit but aren't ready to take a technicolor plunge with main wardrobe pieces, or if you're looking for some bright and colorful gift ideas, accessories are the way to go. Scarves are my favorite way to brighten up a neutral palette, as well as providing warmth during cooler months.

L'affaire cashmere - Red Roses On Snow Wool Stole

Red Ombre Cashmere Silk Stole

J.Crew Cashmere Snood
(I always thought a "snood" was something you wear on your hair;
this is a new definition for me.)

Gap Bright Plaid Scarf

Hermés Vintage Paris Proues

Bags are another great option to add bold colors in small doses. A red bag is always classic...

kate spade new york Shoulder Bag

As is blue...

Marc Jacobs Quilted Shoulder Bag

But it's the secondary (green, purple, orange) brights that are my favorites.

kate spade "mansfield" satchel

J.Crew "Biennial" Satchel

Or what about some bright bangles?

Alexis Bittar "Dust" small hinged bracelets

kate spade "Locked In" bracelets

How do you feel about wearing color?  Do you stick to small doses or go all in?

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style.

Disclosure: actions taken from some links in this post may generate commissions for www.unefemme.net.
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Une femme recommends...

Eve Lom Rescue Mask

Whether you're off to battle the Black Friday crowds today, or recovering from a big family Thanksgiving and putting the silver away, or just kicking back with a leftovers and a football game, there's no evading the fact that the holiday season is upon us.

While joyful, "the most wonderful time of the year," blah blah blah this can be a very busy and stressful time of the year, which can take a toll on your skin. The other night I noticed patches of red, irritated skin on my face, cause undetermined, so I grabbed my tube of Eve Lom Rescue Mask, and fifteen minutes later, my skin was calmed and smooth. I also find regular use of Rescue Mask keeps my pores minimized. I've re-established a few minutes relaxing with a mask as part of my Sunday-night-getting-ready-for-the-week-ahead routine, and it's very restorative.

I apply immediately after removing any makeup and cleansing, leave on for 15 minutes, then remove with a damp washcloth, then follow with my usual moisturizing routine. I've tried various masks over the years, but this is the one that never fails to give me immediate, noticeable results.

Do you use a mask regularly?  Which one(s) do you like?


Disclosure: actions taken from links in this post may generate commissions for www.unefemme.net.
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Show Us The Brooches!

Talbot's brooch from 4? 5? years ago

Chanel "Paris" brooch. Unknown origin martini brooch

Today, bloggers and readers of Une femme d'un certain âge are sharing their favorite brooches and pins!  If you've included your favorites in a blog post, please link up below. A few readers sent me some photos of their lovely and special brooches.

From Deborah:

This bird was given to me by a Finnish friend when my daughter finished her leukemia treatments. It is a Finnish symbol/bird with a name I cannot recall nor pronounce. But my daughter's nickname is J-bird. Hence the significance of wearing a bird close to my heart.

Jill Ann sent in pictures of several of her favorite brooches.

 This one belonged to my dear granny, Florence, and is one of my very favorites.

This one was my favorite as a child. Granny had a small "treasure chest" in her dresser, with all her sparkly costume jewelry in it. When I was at her house, I loved to take out all the pieces and play with them. The treasure chest is now mine, and is truly cherished.

Another favorite from Granny, although missing some stones. I wear this during the holidays, because of the color.

A contemporary entry:  got these at Talbots a few years ago. A cute twist on the "Christmas brooch" category.

And this gorgeous piece is from Yvonne in Paris:

This crystal peacock brooch is not antique, but I saw it online and had to have it. Only thing is, I must have had my head in centimeter mode when I ordered it, or perhaps the almost Five Inch length listed might have given me pause! Let's just say it's a statement piece, and one that I bet will be quite the conversation starter at holiday parties. 

These next two were sent by Anna:

Two brooches inherited from my mum.  She bought the sterling ship ONI in Norway in1962, on our family trip when I was 10.  The other one is also sterling by Danecraft. It looks like a shield. Good reminders of my Viking heritage.

Vintage carnival glass - a gift from my husband's eldest daughter.  Blue is my favourite colour.

And now, let's see what our fellow bloggers have to show us! (Just click on the "Add your link" button below, and follow the steps. Please kindly link back to this post, s'il vous plait.)

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