distraction: bold blush

I scroll through so many made-up faces in the course of my style and beauty browsing, online or in magazines, that I rarely give a look much attention. Perhaps I note liking a certain color that is used (probably the shade of lipstick), or thinking that there is something appealing about the peculiarity of the model’s face, but it’s extremely uncommon that I pause, am arrested. Am interested.

Stumbled across this image in a more or less unrelated marie-claire article about pro make-up tips, wherein this image was a sort of useless illustration of a category heading in the piece. [Because you can’t have an article without pictures!] I forgive it this superfluity, however. This is a stunning, strange look. The kind of look that makes me want to sit down and play around with make-up.

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The pale pastel eyes and lips seem like your usual spring stuff but then these great windburned cheeks pull the look well away from the shores of the ordinary. This is bold, beautiful blush. I love when a look conveys the idea of wearing too much blush on purpose. That is, not too much blush, exactly the amount desired. It seems to me this is the trick with anything outlandish or unconventional: to look as if you did it on purpose.

This is editorial, yes. I mean, this is a lot of blush. The look is so fierce, though. The icy blue of the eyes, such a cool color…probably terrible on me but it is so great here I want to secretly try it anyway. Did you see the Lisa Eldridge tutorial of Tippi Hendren’s make-up from Hitchcock’s The Birds? That was a look that stuck with me, that I also wanted to recreate faithfully, reminds me of this eye look. Pinned.

There’s something to be said for too much blush. It’s dangerous territory but with treasures to be unearthed for the adventurous, those who go beyond the rookie realm of gauche overapplication into that of decisive, savage color.

image via marie-claire.com

plaid on plaid

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I have a theory that you could pair any two plaid patterns and it would work. It’s the kind of choice that could only be purposeful, that projects purposefulness. This kind of choice is immune to color disasters, I find, as my impression upon seeing a poor color pairing* is generally that the wearer was somehow blind to the combination, that it was not consciously done (or that their taste is entirely distinct from my own). I think you can wear anything and look put together, look good [or look at least like you think it looks good, which is an excellent beginning], if only you can make it look like you are wearing everything on purpose.**

*This is rare, though, I realize midway through the sentence. I think most colors can pair with a massive range of other colors, if not well than at least without jarring.

**That said, there is much to be said for a certain air of carelessness in dress.

IMG_0556Decided to go to town with the pearls.  Faux choker with genuine strand and studs. I have no qualms mixing authentic and costume jewelry. In this I follow in the estimable footsteps of Coco Chanel. There is only a 2mm difference between these two sizes but it looks like much more, doesn’t it? Here is some math explaining why 1mm differences have such a significant visual impact. Found this so interesting.

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Zara scarf, Kenneth Cole coat (thrifted), plaid shirt (unlabeled, thrifted), Express leather-look leggings, Sorel Tofino boots, Pearl Paradise 8mm necklace, Pearls of Joy 10mm studs, Mulberry Roxanne bag (thrifted). On the lips: MAC RiRiWoo lipstick.

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