Friends Chat Thread: Wardrobe, Fun, and Whatever

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Can’t you turn your phone into a portable hotspot? We have a whole house generator. Thank goodness. I had power the whole time but lost phone cable and internet.

I haven’t been participating in dress up Thursdays. I have to dress up everyday for work. Off duty dressing is more my challenge. So here’s my contribution to stylish Saturday. Prada mohair sweater and cashmere coat purchased on my nesting spree on my birthday trip, j crew pencil skirt, banana republic blouse, SW boots, Hermes accessories.

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PbP, what a stylish and lovely look! Thank you so much for posting. I usually don't post but just wanted to tell you "thank you so much for posting superb outfit of the day" pic. I like your style and color coordination very much. Très joli!
 
Cordie, I discovered Armani Lip Magnet recently - it’s like a thin paint that goes on liquid and dries up and feels like you aren’t wearing anything. It may work for you for a no fuss option. It’s like a tint but with serious colour payoff. I’m always surprised how much is still on after half a day of eating/drinking/talking. Its very liquid so it does smear when wet, but once dry it stays on.

I also top it with the Lip Maestro for extra oomph if I don’t want the matte look.

It does not dry up my lips - and I can attest that a lot of lip products do.

I dislike glossy, sticky products on my lips so I only wear lip balms and treatments at night to moisturize. Bite agave balm is a great overnight treatment.
 
Others have probably given more appropriate advice but I can recommend some of the non-lipstick lipsticks like lip-stains such as YSL's Tatooage, chubby pencils e.g. Clinique or Nars which are give lips colour but less grease.

You could also try this with your favourite lipstick. Apply sparingly and carefully all over. Blot well. Apply second layer to everywhere (sparingly) but stay away from the outer edge of the top lip. The first layer should act like a pencil but won't show and the second layer is to give the appearance of the original texture and finish.
Yes! I didn’t read this before I posted - Armani Lip Magnet is a lip tint! With really good pigment.

And for PTs second suggestion - I will add - if you can use a lip brush for both layers - it’s easier to be more precise. I use this technique for evening when I don’t need to worry.
 
Thanks for the encouragement. I thought "I can do that." Got out of my pjs today and met a friend for lunch. Put on a scarf and am calling it dress up day.:smile:

As others have observed, this selfie thing is hard. We don't have a full length mirror in the house, so made DH take my picture. Won't do that again. A mirror is definitely cheaper than a divorce. It went like this. Take 1--He is in the next county and I am one of the smaller things in the kitchen. Take 2--I am frowning because of take 1. Take 3--he cuts off the top of my head. That was characteristic of his mother's pictures so I called him his mother's name. My bad. Not the best way to show appreciation. Take 4--Not great, scarf a bit askew, but must declare victory while we are still married. At this point DH becomes suddenly ill with a temperature spike and nausea. I think it is called photographer's flu. Or maybe it was boiling mad? So here is the product of my increased efforts and DH's shutter finger. Sorry so big.

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The whole discussion of pajamification and dress up has helped me on the days I don't wear a scarf. I banned from my closet all of the men's tee shirts DH and I have been sharing (left), and forced myself into women's tees (right). Looking at this pic, I am wondering why DH didn't tell me men's tees made me look fat. Who knew changing shirts could be better than a diet? My next goal will be lipstick.

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I’m actually LOL’ing from this. DBF just about wants to kill me when I ask him to take a picture of Instagram because he knows it’s going to be about 50 takes. And don’t even get me started on the eye rolls when i ask him to help me do an in action picture for TPF threads. I do hope your DH feels better soon! Maybe now he will try and claim he is allergic to taking pictures for TPF.

That’s how I understood your explanation, but you have such knowledge of fashion history that I love getting the extra tidbits from your posts!
I took a class in my undergrad called the history of costume, which I would love to take again. It started from the Byzantine period or maybe slightly before ~500 AD through the early 20th century and (briefly) covered the different styles of dress and hairstyles and what influenced it, from materials available to influential public figures to political changes and social movements. Do the classes you teach have any similarity to this (a historical and contextual understanding of fashion)?
Sounds fascinating! I was a history major and would have loved to take this in undergrad.
Lipstick advice please since you love it and yours always looks so great in selfies. My upper lip is developing fine lines like women who smoke do. I don't smoke but they are starting to form anyway. I recently bought some vivid shades of red, but it bled into the fine lines. Do you know any tricks for preventing that other than lipliner? I plan to talk to the dermatologist about options for resurfacing that area, but I thought I would attack it with Retin A first.

My favorite lipsticks are from Trish McEvoy. She makes nice vibrant shades that are not at all drying, so they don’t highlight lip imperfections.
 
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I did a spring shopping trip to my favorite Philadelphia store yesterday (Boyd’s), tried on a bunch of stuff and ended up with a few pieces I am really happy with.

What I tried on: IMG_8209.jpgIMG_8210.jpg

Began with a few things from Missoni because I’m ostensibly looking for a new casual to dressy summer dress (that is really to wear for when I think DBF will propose in Italy this summer...wanted a fun, colorful dress by an Italian designer, so who else but Missoni?). Then tried a few more casual things from them and a top from l’Agence I’ve been eyeing, a Caroline Costas very-on-trend-but-too-trendy-for-me top, a skirt by a little French brand that everyone in the store was insisting I try, and Rag & Bone jeans which aren’t pictured.

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Started with this dress. It was a size too big, but their alterations team is incredible and could’ve tailored it down to a size smaller for me. I liked it well enough, but thought the colors were a bit more muted than I wanted. A contender, though.

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The second dress was the winner! Idk why the lighting looks green here, so I’ll post another picture of the dress in more natural light later today! I loved the halter neckline, the gold knit running throughout, and the brighter colors. Also love the length because I am always self-conscious in shorter dresses, and I have convinced myself that a revealing gust of wind is always just a second away.

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Next I tried these Missoni pants, which everyone in the store but me loved. They were only partially lined, so itchy as all heck down most of my leg. Discussed with the tailor the possibility of adding a lining on the whole thing, but we decided that would ruin the whole look. So no good, but they were cute though.

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Next tried on this top, which I surprisingly loved except for the elastic bubble hem on the bottom. Ruined the whole thing I thought, and was very unflattering. Tailoring crew said they could remove it and then shorten the shirt so it has more of a blousy look, but that would be changing the look of the entire shirt and remove the exquisite detailing on the hem (even though I didn’t like the hem). Here I learned that just because something can be changed doesn’t mean it should. I would’ve essentially been creating an entire new top and I didn’t want to do that.

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I included a few pictures of the skirt because I found it difficult to capture its essence. The tweed was absolutely gorgeous; really reminded me of Chanel. My stylist suggested I try it on with the l’Agence top which was such a cool outfit. Despite everyone in the store raving over it and calling each other over to come see it (they’d never seen this skirt on a taller lady before) it was just too much funk for me. I would never have occasion to wear it except on vacation so it was not at all justifiable. If it had just been the one length where it hit above my knee with the pleats, it would’ve been perfect so I can wear it to work. I just had nothing to do with it as it was.

Ended up getting the l’Agence top though, because I’ve been hunting for a shirt for forever that has a ruffle sleeve that peeks out from under a blazer. My normal size XS was weirdly too big in the shoulder, so they are moving up the shoulder seam for me.

Forgot to take a picture of the black top, but my stylist and I agreed it was too boho for me. Not at all my look.

Ended up taking the jeans home as well but didn’t photograph those.
 
Cafe, love these!! Of course I’m a huge fan of missoni knits for ease of use and fabulousity.

I agree with your assessments of your try-ons. The tweed is so gorgeous but the skirt is just so busy. A knee length basic would have been a closet staple. Add the boho top and you get a whole ‘Carmen gets promoted to cigar-factory upper-management’ vibe. So much detail, so much drama.

And the white top is lovely. I like the missoni as well, but yes, you don’t need the extra roominess at the waist (It would work well for me, though). I’ve tried on similar pants and they are itchy. I though of getting a pair for easy fabulous travel but they were not comfortable.

I’m glad you stayed resolute in your style when all the SAs agree something looks good. That is hard to do.
 
How’s this for dress up Thursday? :smile:
I’m at my (empty) work gym, and when I come here I always end up wearing the jacket I wore to work over my workout gear because it is freezing.
So here is the jacket. It seems a little too small from the front (not even close to meeting in the middle), and the upper back is snug like I said, but the side fit seems perfect. That’s why I’m confused and need some context if this size is too small for me (if 36 Italian) or a plenty big size (if 36 French).
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Even with the chat about Joseph, I missed this with the big tPF picture-freeze of recent time.

If if it's not wide enough across the shoulders very little can be done. Fr36 should be big enough, I'm wondering whether Joseph could have had some leatherwear made in Italy and hence a possible real discrepancy with Italian v French sizing. I'll have to check my Joseph pieces, not sure I have any leather though.

Leather will stretch, but not when it's lined or in this case quilted.
 
Cafe, love these!! Of course I’m a huge fan of missoni knits for ease of use and fabulousity.

I agree with your assessments of your try-ons. The tweed is so gorgeous but the skirt is just so busy. A knee length basic would have been a closet staple. Add the boho top and you get a whole ‘Carmen gets promoted to cigar-factory upper-management’ vibe. So much detail, so much drama.

And the white top is lovely. I like the missoni as well, but yes, you don’t need the extra roominess at the waist (It would work well for me, though). I’ve tried on similar pants and they are itchy. I though of getting a pair for easy fabulous travel but they were not comfortable.

I’m glad you stayed resolute in your style when all the SAs agree something looks good. That is hard to do.

Thanks Genie!! My style is very much in the “classic and streamlined with the occasional twist thrown in” camp, and I knew this skirt just did not fit that aesthetic at all. Like you said, it was so busy but the tweed was gorgeous. I’m glad I went for the more fitted Missoni as I think it was more flattering on me and more special, but I agree their knits are fantastic. I haven’t bought one in years, but this one made me remember how easy and comfortable they are. Also ideal for packing for vacation because they don’t wrinkle!
 
I did a spring shopping trip to my favorite Philadelphia store yesterday (Boyd’s), tried on a bunch of stuff and ended up with a few pieces I am really happy with.

What I tried on: View attachment 4004598View attachment 4004600

Began with a few things from Missoni because I’m ostensibly looking for a new casual to dressy summer dress (that is really to wear for when I think DBF will propose in Italy this summer...wanted a fun, colorful dress by an Italian designer, so who else but Missoni?). Then tried a few more casual things from them and a top from l’Agence I’ve been eyeing, a Caroline Costas very-on-trend-but-too-trendy-for-me top, a skirt by a little French brand that everyone in the store was insisting I try, and Rag & Bone jeans which aren’t pictured.

View attachment 4004603
Started with this dress. It was a size too big, but their alterations team is incredible and could’ve tailored it down to a size smaller for me. I liked it well enough, but thought the colors were a bit more muted than I wanted. A contender, though.

View attachment 4004611
The second dress was the winner! Idk why the lighting looks green here, so I’ll post another picture of the dress in more natural light later today! I loved the halter neckline, the gold knit running throughout, and the brighter colors. Also love the length because I am always self-conscious in shorter dresses, and I have convinced myself that a revealing gust of wind is always just a second away.

View attachment 4004620
Next I tried these Missoni pants, which everyone in the store but me loved. They were only partially lined, so itchy as all heck down most of my leg. Discussed with the tailor the possibility of adding a lining on the whole thing, but we decided that would ruin the whole look. So no good, but they were cute though.

View attachment 4004623
Next tried on this top, which I surprisingly loved except for the elastic bubble hem on the bottom. Ruined the whole thing I thought, and was very unflattering. Tailoring crew said they could remove it and then shorten the shirt so it has more of a blousy look, but that would be changing the look of the entire shirt and remove the exquisite detailing on the hem (even though I didn’t like the hem). Here I learned that just because something can be changed doesn’t mean it should. I would’ve essentially been creating an entire new top and I didn’t want to do that.

View attachment 4004631View attachment 4004632View attachment 4004633View attachment 4004634
I included a few pictures of the skirt because I found it difficult to capture its essence. The tweed was absolutely gorgeous; really reminded me of Chanel. My stylist suggested I try it on with the l’Agence top which was such a cool outfit. Despite everyone in the store raving over it and calling each other over to come see it (they’d never seen this skirt on a taller lady before) it was just too much funk for me. I would never have occasion to wear it except on vacation so it was not at all justifiable. If it had just been the one length where it hit above my knee with the pleats, it would’ve been perfect so I can wear it to work. I just had nothing to do with it as it was.

Ended up getting the l’Agence top though, because I’ve been hunting for a shirt for forever that has a ruffle sleeve that peeks out from under a blazer. My normal size XS was weirdly too big in the shoulder, so they are moving up the shoulder seam for me.

Forgot to take a picture of the black top, but my stylist and I agreed it was too boho for me. Not at all my look.

Ended up taking the jeans home as well but didn’t photograph those.

I agree with 100%/ The halter Missoni dress is my favourite on you.

No to the first, not ever smaller to fit
No to the trousers! (just NO)
If the top needs remodelling, it's not right for you
I like the tweed skirt very much on you but if it's too over-designed for you don't bother.

A lovely blouse is always going to be useful for now and beyond
The halter dress looks great. This is easily a dress for many Summers to come (and perfect for the romantic occasion :graucho: )
 
I agree with 100%/ The halter Missoni dress is my favourite on you.

No to the first, not ever smaller to fit
No to the trousers! (just NO)
If the top needs remodelling, it's not right for you
I like the tweed skirt very much on you but if it's too over-designed for you don't bother.

A lovely blouse is always going to be useful for now and beyond
The halter dress looks great. This is easily a dress for many Summers to come (and perfect for the romantic occasion :graucho: )

Thanks PT!! My thoughts exactly. If a garment needs to be totally redesigned, then it’s a no. I told DBF that I got the dress so now he just has to get the ring [emoji23]
 
I have tried lip stains before and love the idea, but I have very dry skin and lip stains seem to be so drying on the lips. I end up with immediate peeling. Are there any hydrating lip stains, or is that an oxymoron?
 
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