NARS Holiday 2009

Holiday collection photos are filling my inbox, and, honestly, the weather outside is making that not seem totally ridonculous.

NARS has some super sweet items in the collection, including a deep red lip pencil in Pop Life and shadow pencils in Aigle Noir, a deep black with gold flecks.

Yum....

The Holiday 2009 collection is currently available at narscosmetics.com.

Apparently, I Need New Parents

I'm super picky about perfume. Mostly, I just don't like them.

I think most are too cloying, or too musky, or just plain gag worthy.

I've found one or two that I like, but I approach most fragrances like men approach a woman crying...slowly, with great trepidation and with the expectation that you are totally going to regret this moment for at least a week.

So, when I received the new YSL fragrance, Parisienne, I was seduced by the lovely pictures of Kate Moss looking fab in a leather bustier and the simple but chic egg shaped bottle. Also, the press release kept talking about how Paris adopts you!

What could be better!?! I mean, besides Daddy Warbucks adopting you.

Nothing.

I spritzed a little on before a night out in the pouring rain, still not feeling like Ms. Moss over there. Once the alcohol smell burned off, the scent was pleasant. Light, somewhat sweet and floral.

Not bad!

So, Paris didn't take me home and show me my new bedroom in the Palais Royal or whatnot, but at least I have a new scent that doesn't make me or my husband gag. Which is nice...

This product was provided to me free through the Total Beauty Sneak Peek program.

FW First Anniversary Party

I went.

I saw.

I drank at least one too many mojitos.

Yup, Fashion Washington, the Washington Post quarterly fashion publication, had it's first anniversary party and I swear I haven't been to a birthday party that great since that one in third grade at the ice skating rink in Yonkers.

It was crazy! We skated...I wore a skirt. We got hot chocolate AND soft pretzels. Pretty hard to top.

Held at totes amazing new space Masa 14, this party was kicking from moment one. First of all, The Sartorialist was there!!! Scott Schuman was there signing books and looking generally sharper than sharp.

PS Typing "Sartorialist" on an iPhone into Twitter after two drinks with one hand? The next Olympic sport.

I got a chance to hang with the ever hip Brightest Young Things who were stopping in for a quick sec while prepping for their comedy festival. Among the others in attendance? Project Beltway, DC Concierge, Ms. Spinach, La Rue Neuve, Capitol Hill Style and many more.

I also met some awesome people in and around DC and I have to say, I'm very proud of everyone. People looked amazing. I mean, I'm sure everyone thought I was looking for a better conversation because I kept scoping out those around me, but I really just wanted to see what everyone is wearing! I swear, I heard every word.

So, happy anniversary Fashion Washington! Be sure to check out pictures on their blog and on Brightest Young Things later today...

Dressing For Work: The Carryall Dilemma

Once you move beyond the basics for work (clothes, shoes, college degree, etc.) and move into the more challenging decisions like whether to hang personal pictures in your cube and what bag to carry, things get tricky.

When I was a government staffer, most of the meetings I attended were in the building, so I could easily sashay in with a notebook, a pen and Blackberry in tote and look professional. When I moved to the dark side (registered lobbyist), I realized that I would be running from House side to Senate side, to other associations, to PAC events, etc and I needed more than a simple notebook.

After cycling through several bags, I found that there are certain things you need to look for.

Not too big, not too small.

Also known as the Goldilocks Theorem. You need a bag big enough to carry all the crap you need to do your job (post to come) but small enough that you don't smack into people in a crowded hearing room like a drunk girl wearing fairy wings on Halloween. You also want to make sure that you can slide your bag under a seat at a briefing and not be a fire hazard if it sits next to your chair at a meeting.

Something in the neighborhood of 15 inches tall and 11 inches wide seems to work well, although it varies by your height. Also, keep in mind that this does not include shoulder straps, which brings me to...

Think about the coats!

If you are looking for a bag for winter, make sure you bring your heaviest coat for trying on. Even if it's in the middle of summer. You want it to fit comfortably over your shoulder and snug enough to clasp with your elbow on the Metro or whatnot.

Color Me Interesting.

Perhaps surprisingly, I'm not a huge fan of the black bag. When I buy a bag, I want to be able to grab it and go, no matter what I'm wearing and I find that black actually clashes more with my wardrobe than brown, navy, yellow, etc. I also think black looks a little harsh sometimes. There is a girl in my office who carries a green hobo that looks fab and I'm just totally in love with navy.

It's What's on the Inside that Counts

Pockets. Look for pockets. This is the main reason I would never recommend a Longchamp Pliage for work. Imagine you are at a hearing and need to discreetly reach down and grab a pen, your blackberry, a business card, whatevs. And you are sitting behind the witness and you are SURE you are on CSPAN. Now, you definitely do NOT want to haul your bag onto your lap and go digging around in there for what you need. With practice, you can nab your essentials without looking down if they are properly secured in a side pocket. Provided that you have them...

Hardware.

Make sure your bag actually closes. And opens. Easily and quickly. I once tried a bag that didn't *quite* close when filled to capacity and I spent several months going to meetings totally embarrassed that people could see my bottle of advil, tampax, Safeway receipts for said advil and tampax etc. if the bag bent the wrong way and the magnetic closure released. I can't imagine how many important things I missed at hearings trying to prevent the lobbyist next to me from reading my CVS Extra Care Card number in my purse. I was also tired of the Capitol Police snickering at me every time stuff spilled out onto the x-ray belt.

You also want to be sure that said bag closes swiftly and easily. You don't want to waste those precious minutes between when the meeting ends and the handshakes and cards are exchanged struggling to close up your bag. No one likes a straggler.

Don't Scrimp.

Look, I completely understand that very few people are able to really shell out for a work bag. But let me make the case for buying the best bag you can afford.

First, you are going to be carrying this every single week day. And most weekends if you choose carefully. Break down the price into cost per wear and you see how that starts to not sounds totally outrageous.

Second, I know it's awful, but people judge you on your bag. Men spend a crap ton of money on a briefcase, you should treat yourself similarly. It makes a difference when you walk into a meeting looking put together and sleek, and the right bag helps that happen. Those weeks I spent struggling to contain my purse? Not my finest at work. I'm just saying.

Third, a good looking bag elevates any outfit. If you carry a good looking bag, the rest of your wardrobe, even if totally neutral and basic can look rich and sophisticated.

So, in summation, it's not about dropping a ton of cash, but really making sure you are buying the best you can afford.

Your boss will thank you.

Dressing for Work: The Advanced Series

I've started and deleted about seven entries on work to dress for work, particularly in our nation's Capitol, mostly because I think there are others who have covered the subject far better than I.

Thus, in the interest of not being totally derivative, I'm starting an advanced series on dressing for work and the tools to help you stay looking good while running the world.

Covered Topics: How to Pick the Perfect Work Bag, What to Keep in Said Perfect Work Bag to Keep You Looking Good and Prepared for Work, How to Dress for Various Important Work Functions, How to Restyle Your Three Suits Without Letting Your Boss Know You Only Own Three Suits.

Not covered: Avoiding Very Long Titles and Overuse of Capitalization

Required Reading: Capitol Hill Style's A Guide to Capitol Hill Intern Style

Ok? Posts to follow!

Also, no cellphones allowed in class.

A Certain...I Don't Know What

As I've explained about a thousand times before, I'm somewhat of a francophile. Not that this is uncommon, but I've spent countless hours poring over the photos of Garance Dore's blog and Charlotte Gainsbourg and trying to decipher the keys to their style.

The only problem?

I have a pretty quintessentially American look. Actually, the best I ever did when I lived in France was passing for British or Canadian.

But that never stops me from trying.

Lately, I've been obsessed with the no makeup-bright red lip look that is totally le dernier cri right now. So, one bright early September afternoon, I enlisted the help of the staff at MAC, thinking if anyone has a perfect red lipstick, it would be MAC.

(I think it was the shock of the end of recess. It makes me do some crazy stuff.)

My first try, I stopped in the store in Georgetown and explained to the makeup artist what I was looking for and explained that I am typically a pretty pink gloss kind of girl. She nodded empathetically and began pulling from the counters.

She explained, over my protests, that lipliner was essential for the red lip and lined away. She topped it off with Ladybug, an entry level red that goes on sheerly.

I walked out of the store feeling like everyone on M Street was staring at me trying to figure out what kind of drugs I was on.

It was bold, but pretty. Then I noticed that as it faded, it look on an orangey tinge that left me feeling a little more Eastern European-pre fall of the wall than French glamour girl.

So, last weekend in San Diego, I popped into the MAC store in the Gaslamp and tried again.

This time, I went bolder and picked Ruby Woo, a deep matte red. Apparently it's a fave of Dita Von Teese (and let's just say it's going to be the only trait we share). It definitely requires more maintenance than my swipe of gloss, but I can certainly say that I turned heads in the good way.

In my one night wearing red lipstick, here is what I learned:

-Make sure you moisturized your lips. Chapped and flaked makes you look like you stopped dancing at the Lido in 1962 and never washed your face.

-Seriously, make sure you keep the rest of your face bare.

-Excuse yourself seductively to go to the bathroom to touch up. You'll definitely need to, but it also just seems to keep the illusion of mystery and glamour alive.

-You will want to draw attention to your lips, but try not to overdo it with the straws and champagne glasses, or then you'll REALLY have to excuse yourself a lot.

-Tip well at restaurants, you just ruined their white cloth napkins.

-Air kiss.

So, next time I'm in Paris, I can pass for Belgian. Hey...it's step above being called a Canadian from them.

When Worlds Collide - An Editorial Policy Statement

I don't like to get into specifics about my *real* job for obvious reasons (snoozefest!)(also, laughed out of office!)(also, fired!) but Monday, my worlds collided.

The Federal Trade Commission released revised guidelines governing endorsements and testimonials which covers, among other things, bloggers.

So, I thought I'd take a sec out of my regular blogging programming to fill you in on my editorial policy.

Paid Endorsements: I don't accept payment for anything I write. There are no sponsored posts and I do not get paid to endorse or write about anything on this blog.

Advertisements: Currently, I do not have any paid ads on my site. I think. Well, I certainly don't get any money for any ads that are on my site.

Products: Approximately 76% of what I write on this blog is true and are my own experiences. The other 24% is comprised of press information, things I have heard from other bloggers or read in magazines, or lies I tell you to cover up what a bumbling idiot I can be sometimes.

I know, right? I already seem like a a total spaz, how could it be worse, you ask? Oh, you just haven't met me in person. TOTAL. SPAZ.

Now, I always try to let you know when something here is not me-generated. Trust me, it will look like a press release. I am well versed in the art of cutting and pasting.

I will always say that I read about something somewhere and it sounded cool, but I haven't tried it. Sometimes I say I want to buy something but then don't, mostly because I get lazy and forget, other times because I realize that my husband would get mad at me if I squandered our rent money on nail polish and curling irons.

Here's where it gets sticky: free products.

Bottom line, I get them.

And I write about them.

But I never say that I bought something I didn't and I would never feel obligated to write something nice if it weren't true and I don't write about something I don't want to tell all of you about.

To be totally honest, most of time, I just buy the stuff myself. If I want it, I just go get it. Mostly because I just get impatient. Hell, I can barely order stuff online because the instant gratification factor is so low.

In light of the new guidelines, from now on, I will add a clear disclaimer to any post about a freebie product to indicate that I received it for free.

As a lawyer and someone who makes a living working on regulations, I could engage in a long debate as to whether the FTC rules appropriately balance the speech interests of bloggers with the need to protect the public from false and misleading testimonials. I think there are some serious concerns (I mean, seriously? Do magazine editors have to disclose that they haven't paid for a beauty product since the dawn of time?) but I will comply.

As a fickle and temperamental person, I reserve the right to change this policy if the need arises.

A Delightful Solution

I've always been something of a Francophile.

I took French in high school and college, spent a semester in Paris, the whole nine.

And I've always been obsessed with French beauty products. I love the way the French women look so undone, yet put-together. Like the just walk out the door looking like they do, with zero effort. But given my high maintenance tendencies, I was more than a little afraid to take the plunge and buy stuff.

So, the last time I got a hair cut, my stylist recommended that I take immediate action to staunch some dry ends I've been having and suggested Phyto 7 as a leave-in conditioner.

I flat out RAN to the store to pick it up. And I've been using it ever since.

I rub a tiny bit on damp hair and either let it air dry or use the blowdryer and it really makes a difference. My hair is soft and shiny. I've actually liked the way my hair looks just air dried.

And I never like the way my hair looks air dried.

I feel very Gallic. And I save about 20 minutes in the morning. Maybe that's the real secret.

More sleep.

What, You Were Going to Work?

Wondering how to pick the right booties?

Curious about what gauge knit is in this fall?

Just baffled on how to pair your eggplant tights with tweed jackets?

Want to know how to turn three suits into 21 outfits for the epic healthcare markups?

Well, fret no more!

Tomorrow (Friday, September 25th) at noon, join the editors of Fashion Washington Jennifer Barger and Betsy Lowther will be on hand to answer all your burning questions on fall fashion during their live chat.

Hit up this link tomorrow at noon and get expert answers to all your questions: http://fashionwashington.com/septchat.html

Gossip Girl: Reversals of Fortune

Ha! You thought I forgot? No! I'm just late.

It's a new fall people. And Serena's boobs have learned nothing over the summer.

But this Alice + Olivia dress on Blair? So cute! The weird role playing games with Chuck? Not so cute. Summer can be boring though.


The Burberry Prorsum coat worn as a dress? Fab! Chuck's newly thick hair? Uh-mazing.

Oh. And Serena wore this Creamsicle Notte by Marchesa dress. Wohn, wohn, woooohhhhnnn.

Also, why is she kissing Blair's boyfriend?

But then! Blair wore this cute Walter dress and Louise Green hat! And all was right in the world.

And a few more things....Nate's bizarro Romeo & Juliet subplot with that CW village bicycle?

No good.

Little J and her Twihard look?

Yick.

Eric?

As you are. You rock.

Next week! College! NYU! So much to make fun of!

Wanna Buy A Bridge Too?

There are some products in the makeup industry that I truly believe are just hocus pocus.

Clear mascara? Hair gel for your lashes.

Under eye creams that claim to get rid of dark circles? Take it from the daughter of a plastic surgeon, sure, I also know of a sugar-free fat-free ice cream that tastes as good as Ben & Jerry's.

Primers? Honestly, I've never been a big fan.

I'm sure that some people are going to cry foul. That they help makeup go on smoother, more evenly, and use less product.

But to me, it's always just been an extra layer of stuff that doesn't do a whole lot. Very Emperor's New Clothes.

So, when a Trish McEvoy sales rep sat me down on a day I was feeling particularly ornery and started regaling me with how FABULOUS their Eye Base Essentials primer was, my bullshit meter went wild.

But the thing was, it was FABULOUS. Not really because of its "priming" ability, but as a basic everyday shadow.

I tried the Sheer Gold, and by itself it is a great once over base when I am just too terribly lazy to do anything else. A little in the corner of the eyes lightens everything up and makes me look far more awake. I am working my way through the tube at what is, frankly, an alarming pace.

It does make a good base for additional shadows, but I usually just use it alone.

So...I still stick to my maxim that primers aren't worth it, but a primer that is really just a great cream shadow? I'll buy into that.

I Knew the 80's were back but really???

OMG.

American Apparel brought back Hypercolors.

Mind. Blown.

Can they do Freaky Freezies?!?! Please!!!

Nailed to the Wall

It was one of those hot summer days after work and I was store hopping in Georgetown.

Not out of any real shopping need, mostly because there was free air conditioning and the mall-like layout of M Street allows me to cool off twice or three times a block on my way home.

Of course, if browsing happens, I just go with it.

In Sephora, I skimmed over the usual array of tweens prepping for a night out and fanny packed tourists until the OPI line caught my eye.

I was smitten by two totally different collections.

First, the Digital Diva collection stunned me with the bright fuschia pinks and corals.  I was envisioning toes painted bright pink peeking out of tough open toe shooties.  It was like summer throwing one last big "eff you"to the advancing cold season.

Second, the Autumn & Eve Collection.  The main one that called my name was the dark purple.  It said, take me home!!  Wear me on the Hill!  I will make boring hearings better!  I will get health care reform passed!  Yes, friends.  This is the miracle nail polish.

The beige was pretty cool too.  

My main problem?  I hate buying nail polish.  I like getting manicures and getting a different color every time.  What's a girl to do?

After all, health care reform seems to depend on it.

They Sparkle?

In which I reveal how deeply behind the times I am...

Confession time.

I totally don't get the vampire boomlet.

When the hubub about the Twilight saga coming to an end, I had to resort to much internet googling and legal research skillz to figure out who this Edward person was and how sexy he is and why thirteen-year-olds all over were hoping someone would suck their blood.

  

Imagine how disappointed I was to learn that the whole thing was an allegory for abstinence.

But...from every perplexing teen trend can come some beauty.  

(ok, that's totally not true.  I can find no silver lining to the Hannah Montana cloud.)

Glamour Magazine put the stars of the upcoming Twilight Saga movie in a great photo spread for September.

And they mercifully leave out the sparkly faces.

Trust Me, I'm a...

I have a good friend who is going on her third year as an OB/GYN resident.  In case you haven't been watching "16 and Pregnant" or "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" or any other baby shows, you know that babies aren't usually born when it is convenient for the doctor.  This means lots of late nights and little sleep for the residents who deliver them.

On a rare day off for her, we sat at her pool and she revealed that she was simply desperate for something to cover the dark circles that residency hath wrought.

Now, I can't give advice on how to deliver a breech baby or how to improve bedside manner, but under-eye circles?  Come into my office and sit down!

First, I told her, you need a good concealer.  Now, I have always heard nothing but praise for the Cle de Peau product, but at $65 a tube, a little out of a GME-funded budget and there are lots of options that won't require moonlighting.  

My current favorite is MAC Select Moisturecover and I like that MAC has several coverage options and lots of colors.  Another good brand with options is Clinique, and I went through a Quick Corrector phase that lasted through law school.

The next option is a brightener, to lighten up the area under the eye and distract from the darkness.  Now, every makeup artist worth her brushes will tell you that the best product for this is the YSL Touche Eclat.  I love that it comes with a brush attached for easy application (perhaps in a call room?).  

Another, less expensive option, is Bobbi Brown's Corrector.  Functioning on the same principles of color correcting, it neutralizes the dark circles and works with concealer to make it look like you've gotten more than an hour of sleep.  (P.S. check out Bobbi's newly resigned website and Twitter feed!)

And my last tip and for faking a well rested look?  Since I'm guessing a change of profession isn't an option...a bright cheery blush and a clean application of black mascara.

But don't call me in the morning, I need my beauty sleep.

Share and Share Alike

A few weeks ago, my sister came down from New York to visit me.

And, as has become ritual, the second she comes in, she starts to tear through my closet and makeup drawer looking for things to play with and abscond with.

Thankfully, I had just gotten a delivery of L'Oreal HIP Color Presso lip gloss in two colors which my sister immediately seized upon.  

The Color Presso lipgloss reminds me a lot of Mentadent Toothpaste from the 90's.  The main problem with that product was that you always got more of one type of paste than the other.  The problem continues with the Color Presso, but it does allow you to customize the color of the lip gloss.

So, as my husband played Wii with my sister's boyfriend, we took turns trying on the two lip glosses in Trendy and Swanky.  We both agreed that we liked the candyish smell and the light texture of the glosses.  We also appreciate the relatively non-sticky-ness.

(Relatively.  The claim that any lip gloss is nonsticky is a lie on the order with "non-painful bikini wax")

Since I had already had time to try them out, I knew my favorite was the Trendy, a combo of a light pink and a rose color.  So I breathed a sigh of relief when my sister settled on the Swanky, a gold and pink duo.  

I mean, she's my sister and I'm happy to share...but not really.

NARS Sheer Matte and Sheer Glow Foundation

I have been faithful to my Kiehl's Tinted Moisturizer for a while, but have been thinking about upgrading my coverage to a full foundation.  When I go, I will definitely check out these new NARS foundations...

NARS SHEER MATTE FOUNDATION - $42

While transparent enough to allow skin’s natural hue to remain visible, it is still matte at heart, which means weightless, luster-free coverage. This velvety oil-free formula boosts brightness and radiance, improving skins texture. Packaged in a stylish frosted bottle, it distinguishes itself from its Sheer Glow counterpart.

NARS SHEER GLOW FOUNDATION - $42

An ideal solution for those looking for a foundation that is more dewy than Sheer Matte. The formula glides on easily and imparts a satin-soft, glowing finish. Skin will even-out and gleam with overall brightness; radiance and sleek texture will be restored.

Available in 20 shades, Sheer Matte and Sheer Glow, will be available at Nordstrom beginning August 1st and on www.narscosmetics.com beginning September 1st.

The Plain White Tees

I'm not sure if it was born of simply finding what works for me or just sheer laziness, but this morning I realized that the outfit I was wearing had rapidly become a "uniform" for me.

Pencil skirt.

White tee shirt.

Statement-y necklace.

Heels.

Cardigan. (my office is freezing!)

It has all the elements to fit the mold for a summer uniform. It's dressy enough for the office and for an occasional meeting, but comfortable enough for drinks afterwards with non-work folk.

But for me, the key to making it look pretty instead of sloppy was the right tee shirt wardrobe. And believe you me! It took some work to finding the right ones. I tried on ones from J. Crew, Forever 21, American Apparel, Gap, etc. And what I found is that they are not all created equal. Some are so thin as to be see-though. Some are too long. Some are belly-button baring. Some are too thick, ok, whatever, you get the point.

So you can avoid the search yourself, see my top three picks below...

Lacoste

Definitely the priciest of the bunch and perhaps jumps outside the tee shirt category, but an essential, especially in prepster-dominated DC. Just please, keep your collar down.

American Apparel Deep V Neck

My current obsession. The cotton is soft and thin from day one, and it's gotten better with washing. The deep V neck is slightly sexy, but not obscene. The sleeve is a little on the long side, making it slightly androgynous. Which is cool. Or at least that's what the American Apparel ads tell me.

Petit Bateau

An oldie but a goodie. I stocked up on these puppies when I lived in France and the exchange rate was favorable. Oh yeah, BEFORE THE EURO. That's right, I've had my stash of these since 1999. That shiz is durable. They are made from a thicker gauge cotton and the crew necks have a little rickrack trim that elevate it to work appropriate status. They are also fitted, but not tight. A key distinction.

So, go forth and clothe my good friends. White tees are staples, even if you haven't settled into a style rut like me...oops, I mean, uniform.

Laying Down the Law

So, that Internet.

It's a wild world out there filled with crazies and pervies.

While I do love twitter for constant updates from some awesome people, I don't love it for the creepy stuff from the unknown weirdos.

Therefore, I'm announcing a policy for my twitter and reserve the right to change at any time, at my own whim, etc.

(It's the lawyer in me)

If you follow me, congrats! You've just made a great decision and your life will now be complete with updates about fugliness on the street, my foibles in life and alerts about sales...probably in Georgetown.

I understand your choice to keep your twitter feed private instead of public. You are not Chuck Grassley and do not need everyone in the world to know what you think about Obama eating dinner instead of fixing the economy.

Wait...ARE you Chuck Grassley? Then get back to fixing health care! And dude, moisturizer. For realz.

Anyhoo. If you choose to block your twitter and follow me, I will request to follow you. If you don't comply, I reserve the right to block you.

That's the way the cookie crumbles, folks.

Also, if you are creepy and post stuff that makes my skin crawl, I might block you too.

But seriously, follow me!

Gossip Girl: Seder Anything

This episode began with a Ralph Lauren attired dream sequence inspired by My Fair Lady.

Seriously, if anyone under the age of 15 who watches this show isn't getting an education on the complete works of Audrey Hepurn, well, they are not paying attention and should just concentrate on school or some other useless skill.

At least Man-Bangs up there slicked them back in her dream. Dig the ascot, bro.

In a far less anachronistic setting, Blair gets ready for school in a silk D&G blouse. WANT.

I'd also like to think of this episode as the clash between WASP culture and Jewish culture in NY society, but I don't really think there is that kind of subtext here.

So, I prefer to think about Blair's D&G printed halter dress.

Mmm, yes. That's much better. Thinking makes my head hurt. Probably just like Serena's.

Until the next recap....stay classy and keep your bangs out of your eyes.