theseventhsphinx - The Seventh Sphinx

I caught sight of this one dress from the Nanette Lepore Spring 2015 collection and was curious to see the rest. As it sometimes happens, I wasn’t interested in the collection as a whole at all, a colorful, bohemian, vacation-inspired array of caftans and tent dresses. Upon closer inspection, I really only like the one dress.

This always baffles me a little. How can it be! How is this (clearly the best piece, because I like it best) not the heart of the collection? [Those fools!]

[It can be difficult to live with egomania, you see.]

But, fine. It’s more a piece of luck that I liked anything at all (always a piece of luck, to really like something). So I don’t like this designer much overall, and will direct my attentions elsewhere. I still love the dress.

The close row of buttons, the Bardot neckline, the diaphanous (and therefore the weight of the fabric) sleeves and skirt, the precise length of the sleeves and skirt, the blousy fit of the torso, the size and spacing of the Breton-style stripes, that they are horizontal, the clean black and white palette… A romantic, elevated shirtdress.

I just like everything about this. More of this, please, Nanette.

image via style.com

It’s time for some autumnally dark, properly bold lips.

There is sometimes concern, when it comes to dark lips, that it can make the mouth appear smaller. It can (and often does) do that, but I think the contrast given in return can more than make up for this. In my case, having no cause to worry about appearing mean-mouthed anyhow, my mouth seems even larger to me, if only because attention is being drawn to it. I often have a similar debate when considering eyeliner under the eye – it can close up and shrink the eye, so the question becomes whether or not the overall effect is worth this drawback. Perhaps it shrinks the actual eye but enlarges the perceived eye, resulting in a net gain. Or perhaps it doesn’t create any optical illusion of size or spacing but does something else interesting and worthwhile.

With such lips, a simple dark brow is often my preferred path. I didn’t really want to put anything on the eyes at all once it was on, and have only an ultra natural coating of mascara. I especially like bold lips when they seem like an easy afterthought, a vibrant touch to an otherwise unmeditated look.

And mustard heeled huaraches. Of course.

Here’s the kind of deep v I’ve been meaning to wear all my life. The key here is this Topstick mens grooming tape, very sticky double-sided tape meant to work with skin and textiles. Meant for hairpieces, I guess? But I can see all kinds of applications. This is keeping the shirt where I want it. My new favorite wardrobe tool.

This sublime bordeaux lip is thanks to Julie Hewett Sin Noir lipstick, really a phenomenal color. This is a full-on application but it can be blotted for a softer berry stain. Reminds me a little of Tom Ford Black Orchid but a bit brighter (I think?), and not as creamy in formula. The Noir collection is excellent, not inexpensive but it performs (and great gold packaging). Being a bit waxier than some of my favorite formulas (ex. Lancome Rouge in Love, Tom Ford, MAC creamsheen, Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy, NARS Audacious) helps it to last that much better, so it’s a fair trade-off.

I’ll have to share some of my other favorite lip products in this wine-worthy shade range. There are many.

Author: theseventhsphinx

Nanette Lepore: just one dress

autumn lips