OK, ladies - it's really no big deal, just a little article in a MT women's mag with pics of the shops and me and such.

I'll be wearing something warm in color - chocolate, orange, peridot, some combination thereof. I've got a few different outfits pulled and have to try them all on tonight, then bring a few of them with me. Ugh - so much trouble, and I'll be by myself tomorrow, as Michael is headed to Vegas with his friend to exhibit at a gun show...

Anyway, it's been so long since I've even worn shadow - just too rushed. And I'm stumped on what sort of look to do that will photograph well for me.

You have all seen my cringeworthy FOTD and combos here for so long - you know me and my face better than anyone other than my family. (Even though it photographs very different than it looks in the mirror, but whatever). So - I need a look that says successful, professional purveyor of interesting clothing in good taste but not boring. Unique and unusual without being so far from wearable...

Should it be -

Smokey eye?
Sculpted eye?
Minimal eye?
Pinup style eye?

All neutrals?
Neutrals + color?
All color?

I can sort out lips once I've got eyes down. Possible outfits include:

50s/early 60s inspired retro shirtdress with full skirt and portrait color in chocolate brown with small cream polkadots and pewter buttons (very cute and coquette-ish, I guess)

Monet's waterlilies inspired printed sheath dress in tones of orange, umber, gold, peridot )mostly burnt orange), worn with a peridot 3/4 length silk coat and belted, or with a brown closefitting open knit vneck sweater pulled over it (more top+skirt look)

Pucci-esque sheer chiffon printed curta with matte gold sequins and beading around the neckline (ties shut in two places) in shades of olive, chocolate, ivory, deep plum and brown worn with chocolate trousers.

What do you all think? I'm such a mess about it, mostly because I'll be alone without anyone to offer opinion. Oh - Hair will be curly/wavy with bangs blown out a bit, I think. I don't trust it to behave or be right if worn straight.

Thank you all ever so much - I truly appreciate the insight and inspiration!

-b.

Oooh, how fun! Congrats on getting a little exposure for your shop!

Anyways ... um, first of all, what is a curta? And will these photos be in color or B&W? I will assume color since you keep talking about color ....

I would probably go with one of the first two outfits. (Even though I don't know what a curta is, I'm not sure how "sheer" and "matte sequins" would look in a photo. I'm also worried that sequins, beading, and two ties might look too busy!) The first outfit sounds like it might look a bit "younger", while the second outfit with a jacket sounds more sophisticated. Second outfit with a sweater might be a bit more casual (but might look really cool with a neat necklace!). So I think it depends on the look you're going for and the image you want to portray of yourself and your store! Because I'm sure people unfamiliar with your store will at least unconsciously judge your store by your outfit in an article like this

For the makeup, I would be inclined to do either a smokey or sculpted eye. (*Maybe* a pinup eye with that first dress if you want a retro theme.) Not too much shimmer, you never know how that will photograph. Something to define your eyes -- I usually don't like how minamal eye looks look in photographs (just thinking of women's magazine covers with neutral eyes that I've seen lately, it can look incomplete sometimes).

I would vote for neutrals or neutral+color. It depends on your outfit -- if your outfit has a lot of color (like the second one) you may want to stick with a more neutral eye. I would be hesitant to use all color unless it was fairly muted colors -- I'm not quite sure why but I don't think I'd like a really bright colorful eye for this situation.

I have no idea if that helped at all, but those were my initial thoughts as I read your post Good luck and have fun!

Thanks, girl_geek!

The Kurta (I spelled it wrong before ) is similar to this one on the right, but while that one is animal, the one I have is a swirly abstract pattern.

Oh - Here's a better picture, again of the animal print, mine is Pucci inspired:

Your thoughts are right there, girl_geek - I really appreciate your input! It's touch - I'd say I want the boutique to catch women between 30-70. Broad, yup, but that's the typical age of my buying customer. Younger gals like my jeans (Mavi and David Kahn), Hazel, Cutsey, Odd Molly, Max Studio, older customers tend to prefer Blue House Drive, Christopher Blue, Isda & Co...but there is so much crossover. Typical reader of the publication is between mid thirties and 70, so equally broad. There will be store photos, too, but I don't want to come across as being "only" a "yougn girls" store, or "only" an "older lady's" store. There are plenty of those around, especially for older, more traditional, sportif and conservative style women - lots of Talbots, golf wear, or expensive western, and we're not any of those things.

Gosh - I've gotta go try on my pants, see if they still fit nicely. I've put on a few pounds this winter. It'll come off, but not overnight! That right there can help make a decision!

-b.

I like the sculpted or pin up eye. I also like the first two outfits, but was too distracted by the children to actually comprehend the rest of them.

I like neutral+color. Do post pix or links when you get them.

Thanks, Amber!

Well, after about 45 minutes of trying things on, it's the kurta with the chocolate pants. I pretty much looked like Miss Piggie in everything else...the tunic thing hides my muffin, so busy or not, that's what it'll be. Michael liked that one best, too. So, sigh....

Even owning a clothing store, my wardrobe is still problematic. I think I'm slightly body dysmorphic - even when I'm not 7 pounds heavy like now, I see only a thick waist and soft belly, short legs and meaty upper arms. Logically I know those aren't really issues - I'm a size 4-6 typically. But that dysmorphic stuff really prevents me from purchasing clothing, even from my own shop. (Plus I'm a cheapskate, I guess...) Oh - and I'm so super pragmatic when it comes to clothing. Function first, easy care, not so precious that if I get toilet bowl cleaner on it, I'll cry. And it has to go with comfy shoes. Eh, whatever. I'm irritable. But happy it's decided.

Maybe Darcelle and Umber or something in the crease, or a plummy hue, to pull the plums and browns in the top.

I'll post pics of how it all turns out. Thank goodness I took last week and reset the store - at least it looks full and fresh and bright. And dusted!

-b.

Hi Bridget!

Exiting, pics! Hmm, your shop sounds interesting! I would go with the sheath dress and peridot silk jacket. I think it is always better to err on the side of being too sophisticated vs. looking too casual. To make the look "hip" perhaps you could wear some neat earings? For some reason I have this picture of twisted silver 1.5 inch bangle earings in my head, like these:

I think the silver would contrast nicely with the warmness of the rest of the look. I agree with girl_geek to do a sculpted or smokey eye. You looked great in your last Viviane Gleams post, but perhaps that look is a bit too dark for the outfit. I'd do a lighter version of Viviane Gleams with a hint of peridot colored shadow to brighten the look up a bit. I definitely wouldn't go with a shadow that matched the burnt orange color of the sheath dress--that would be too much.
Here is an idea for green placement, you might want to make the green a tad more gold than the pic shows:


And perhaps a bit of a lighter, more light peachy lippie. I think the bangle earings + green eyeshadow accent + peachy lippie will make the look young and fun while the clothes will give sophistication. Hope this provides some inspiration! Good luck! The most important thing is just to be confident and to have energy show through in the pics!

Oops, well, you already decided! Sounds great! Well, when you are happy with how you look in the sheath dress, you should definitely try the look above out!

Oh, no, you are a size 4-6 and aren't happy? I would do a little, no big dance if I were that size, instead of about twice that I love your eye shadow choices, definitely wearing a plummy color is great to bring out the plums in the top. Just don't go too dark on the shadow...I think a light, bright accent would appeal to the younger crowd

PS, my arms can get quite flabby and I have seen many thin girls but with soft tummys. I have had luck toning my arms with weights (targeted at the triceps, those muscles on the back of the arms). For tummy toning I have begun to have success with core training using those big pilates balls and that Bender Ball thing the advertise on TV. Apparently, regular crunches and sit-ups don't target the lower pooch part of the stomach. (PM me if you want more details)

Bridget, I want your wardrobe... and I think for christmas I am going to ask for a plane ticket to MT and a gift card to your store.

quote:

Originally posted by Bridget:
Even owning a clothing store, my wardrobe is still problematic. I think I'm slightly body dysmorphic - even when I'm not 7 pounds heavy like now, I see only a thick waist and soft belly, short legs and meaty upper arms. Logically I know those aren't really issues - I'm a size 4-6 typically. But that dysmorphic stuff really prevents me from purchasing clothing, even from my own shop. (Plus I'm a cheapskate, I guess...) Oh - and I'm so super pragmatic when it comes to clothing. Function first, easy care, not so precious that if I get toilet bowl cleaner on it, I'll cry. And it has to go with comfy shoes. Eh, whatever. I'm irritable. But happy it's decided.

If the top is a bit busy, then I'd recommend a simple eye look -- not too many colors, just something to define your eyes and make them pop in the picture! Neutrals or neutral+color or a soft muted color...

And oh, I understand about the clothing ... I'm usually a size 2-4 but I also just see a proportionately thick waist when I look in the mirror! There's only a 6" difference between my hips and waist, so if you go by clothing size charts, depending on the brand my waist is usually a size 6-10 (!!), hips a size 0-2, bust a size 2-4. But since I don't wear high-rise pants, I buy them in smaller sizes to fit my hips. (Heck, most of my pants are Junior's size 5 since they're made for less curvy figures!)

But I find it rather depressing when I try on a top that fits my stomach but is too baggy in the bust, or pants that fit the waist but are huge in the hips! Or how I had to buy my wedding dress in a size 8 and then take it in a lot in the bust. I'm also all for comfort, affordability, easy care, and lately have had to switch to comfort shoes out of necessity (ugh). Oh, and in winter, a lot of sweaters make me itch! It's really hard for me to find clothes that fit and meet all those other requirements, especially lately with so many flowy and ruffly tops in the stores that just look maternity on me and/or hide what little curves I have! lol

However, when I do find something that fits and defines my curves, I'm very happy with how I look because I do like the rest of my body It's only when I'm shopping for clothes that I start to not like my body! And everyone else always tells me I look great -- I think everyone just sees my tiny hips and small bust and ignores my waist, so everyone thinks I look very skinny! My sister-in-law was shocked when I told her my natural waist measurement, she thought it was much smaller than it really is

Of course, everyone is more critical of themselves.... I was sitting there thinking about how my sister-in-law has the perfect hourglass figure that I would kill for -- tiny waist, gorgeous curvy hips and bust! But right when I was thinking that, she starts complaining about her flat butt and "ugly" nose! (Neither of which looked bad to me!) We're all our own worst critic

Anyways I am getting off track .... good luck with the photoshoot and let us know how it goes! Take an FOTD pic if you have time

Thanks, gals! No pics yet, but I settled on the pucci print top and chocolate slim bootcut trousers. I think it actually looks pretty good - plus it covers the brown thermal l/s t I have on underneath. It's warming up - almost 40, but that's still too chilly for chiffon...

Face - Here's what I ended up with:

Eyes - Nude Frost as base from lashes to brow, Champagne Toast on inner third of lid, Gilded Jealousy on outer 2/3, blended across the middle to create a gradient, doubledare under lower lashes, at outer V and into crease, Umber to deepen outer crease and V, Oyster right under brow, and Flora over the brow bone a bit, so you can see it when my eyes are open. Chocolate mouse in a thin, slightly winged line on upper lid only. Even though it sounds like lots of color, mostly it's very neutral - the plums sorta went smokey on me, which is good - they're very muted. And Gilded Jealousy became a very earthy olivey tone. So I don't think it's too much.

Sable pure rouge on cheeks, a bit of countour under cheekbones, lips lined with a deeper nude pencil and topped with Juliette. And my hair seems to have cooperated - although it's much bouffier than you all have seen it.

I'll let you know how it goes!

-b.

Bridget -- those colors sound perfect! I can totally see how those colors would be subdued yet not too boring on your coloring

Thanks! If I can find the gigital camera, I'll take a few pics myself. I got to peek at her camera, and I looked pretty good, if I do say so myself...no weird angles, big nose, long face, nothin! It would be nice if I could snap myself that way!

Bridget, the shadows you went with sound wonderful - a picture would be wonderful!

The plummy-olivey smokey eye you went with sounds pretty! I hope you post pics!

OK - so this pic isn't very good, but it's in natural light, no flash. The camera literally snapped this one pic and shut down - needs recharging. Hope I can find the cord, since Michael is out of town for the week...

And here's the better picture of the blouse, but a different fabric. The beading is actually more visible on mine, I think - still matte and pearls, but the swirls don't eat the beading the way the animal print can...



Think I'll go play with makeup challenge colors now, since I'm bored, not yet ready for bed...and can't really figure out what channels programs are on. We changed from direcTV to cable about a year ago, and I can't figure it out. Doesn't help that Michael always manages the entertainment for me, either. I swear - he's rendered me incompetent for so many things!

-b.

Edited to add that yeah, that eye photo is pretty darn craptastic - really all you can see is eyebrow pencil and mascara...whatevs. It really did look good, even the photographer said so.
pppfffftttt.



Eh - found this one - guess I squeezed off two before the camera went caput...marginally better, at least you can see that there are different colors on that lid, a little bit.

Gorgeous! Sophisticated, but edgy! I love it! I think these colors show off the color of your beautiful eyes!

Looks great to me! And wow, your lashes are so thick and pretty! We were talking about curling lashes in the other thread, did you curl them here? Because if that's their natural curl, I don't think you need to bother curling them

Thanks, Amber and girl_geek!

Didn't use an eyelash curler - that's just how they are. My whole family has lashes that curl like that - my daughter does too, but hers are black and thick as well. She's one of the few people who can put on all the eyemakeup in the world except for mascara and still look just right. Or no eyemakeup at all...lucky girl!

I think you look fabulous and I hope it all went good.