Impressions of a 5-year-old: What I Learned From Scarlett O’Hara

I’ll admit it, I love vintage movies. I have since I was 5-years-old, and watched “Gone with the Wind” with my mother. Back in the late 70s, you could catch it on network TV. After one viewing, I knew I wanted to grow up to be Scarlett O’Hara. I didn’t know at 5 that it was impossible to grow up and be a movie character, but I suppose you could say I knew I wanted to have her glamorous wardrobe and amazing sense of style.

Vivian Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara

 

I know that Scarlett has lots of terrible character flaws, but that’s not what this post is about. It’s about recognizing something fabulous at a young age, and how it shapes you. Here’s what made a huge impression on me at 5.

1. Scarlett’s raised eyebrow: I remember spending hours in front of the mirror after seeing “Gone with the Wind” and practicing the raised eyebrow. By the time I was nearly 6, I had it down. I could scorn kids from across the room with my eyebrow alone. It’s a powerful tool.

Scarlett raising her eyebrow and  a feathered shoulder.

2. A love of being pale: After hearing about how prized pale skin was in the film, I stayed out of the sun, and never tanned. I got teased my entire childhood/teenage years. Now, I reap amazing benefits of staying out of the sun, wearing gobs of sunscreen, and I have been known to purchase the occasional excessively large floppy hat.

3. A love of feminine dresses: It was impossible for me to watch Scarlett flounce around in the largest dresses imaginable, and not want to wear pretty flowy things. I love a good pair of well tailored trousers, but there’s nothing like a beautiful dress.

Scarlett in the dress she wears to the Barbecue

4. A deep need to have long hair: Throughout the film, Scarlett’s hair is styled in so many different and beautiful ways. I realized at an early age that long hair doesn’t have to be boring. When I have the time, I love to curl and find creative ways to put my hair up. I was much better at it when I was in my 20’s, but I might have just re-inspired myself!

Ringlets yes, but she proves they’re not just for the under 10 crowd.

Scarlett and Rhett – She even looks great in a snood!

Long loose curls right after waking up.

Scarlett’s hair is piled high with some serious curl. I know Melanie is dying, but that’s no reason to look awful.

Watching “Gone with the Wind” at 5-years-old only started me down the road of vintage film. I started watching everything I could find. By the mid 1980’s, AMC (American Movie Classics) was my favorite channel on cable. After Ted Turner purchased all the rights to most of the classic films, TMC (Turner Classic Movies) was my favorite.

I have a deep and abiding love of red lipstick and pin curls because of all the 1940’s war films I saw. I love hats and gloves from all the times I saw glamorous film stars sport them on screen. Dresses cut on the bais make me melt. I’m a complete sucker for anything that’s art deco. The larger the jewelry, the better!

I know that in 2014, I can’t sport a pure on 1930’s or 1940’s look, but I can take inspiration. A jeweled hair clip here, a swipe of red lipstick there, and a beautifully cut dress.

I love that all this comes from my favorite screen star Vivian Leigh who brought Scarlett O’Hara to life for me, and many others. It had a huge impact on me at 5-years-old.

The amazingly gorgeous Vivian Leigh

 

P.S. Maybe it’s time to watch “Gone with the Wind” with my 4 and 6-year-old girls and have them stop watching Jem, or who knows what they’ll love in 20-30 years.

It was a Frida Day

I’ll admit I was in a rush this morning. I thought I had all the time in the world, but when I glanced at the clock I realized I should have already been in the car, but I had just stepped out of the shower. Oops! So I do what I always do in situations like this, I quickly braided my hair, and pinned it back.  I thought it would keep me from entering my place of work with dripping wet hair for the hundredth time this year. I quickly threw on jeans and a black polo with my radio station logo on it, and was making a mad dash to the car with my 3-year-old in tow.

Me without any makeup on, and a severe middle part.

My intertwined braids in the back

As I was talking to my daughter on the way to the babysitters, I glanced in the rear view mirror and did a double take. I noticed that my severe middle part and my twisted up braids reminded me of one of my favorite painter’s hairdos. Frida Kahlo.

Frida Kahlo

If only I had taken the time to wear very large earrings and intertwine ribbons or very colorful flowers in my up-do, I would’ve really made a statement. As it was, I looked like a tired, makeup-less woman who rushed out of the house.

I arrived at work late, and felt very bedraggled. As the day went on, I realized a few things, the more I thought of Frida, the more comfortable I was without pulling my “emergency” cosmetic case out of my purse. My “emergency” cosmetic case has everything I would need to put on a full face of makeup. Everything from face primer to liquid eyeliner. I have regular and waterproof mascara. I truly have everything in there. I usually carry 12-17 lipsticks and glosses in my purse. I spent the entire day in just Burt’s Beeswax lip balm. The more often Frida flitted through my mind, the more I remembered her unique sense of style and confidence. No everyone thought she was beautiful, but I do.

I’m not saying that I want to let my eyebrows grow together, or I’m going to let my mustache grow in, but Frida was a strong beauty. What she had worked for her, and she knew it. She didn’t try and change anything, and the older she got, the more she embraced it and reveled in it. My stark hair style today was very revealing. It showed every blemish and imperfection on my face. It made my dark circles even darker. It even made my roots evident of need for a dye job. Strangely enough at the end of the day, I felt stronger. I don’t know why. Maybe I withstood the mad desire to make the real me look like what I want to wake up looking like, but take 20 minutes to accomplish with cosmetics. I don’t know? Maybe I felt stronger because I didn’t judge myself for being in public without makeup. I end up in public fresh faced quite a lot these days, but I always berate myself for it.

Having a Frida day was awesome.

Frida Kahlo

Wearing Nail Art to Work

I’ve been debating wearing nail art to work. I don’t have a serious office job, but I still need to be taken seriously at work. I wonder if nail art puts me at a disadvantage sometimes. When I read this article, it gave me hope.

Let me know what you think. Would you consider wearing nail art to work? Do you already? Do you have a creative job where it might be more acceptable, or do you work in a more conventional office setting.

What are your thoughts. I’d love to know.

Meet Poppy, the creator of Lipstick Queen

I’ve fallen in love with lipsticks from the brand Lipstick Queen. I have both Sinner (opaque) and Saint (sheer) shades. I think that they are amazing in texture and color. These lipsticks feel amazing on my lips and are the ones I tend to reach for more and more in my huge lipstick stash.

I came across this article about the Lipstick Queen brand creator on Into the Gloss. What I loved about Poppy is that she has an amazing idea of what every day glamour can be, and how we can all achieve it. I also love that she’s not just a died in the wool high-end product lover.  I hope you enjoy this article as much as I did.

Read the article here

New Glosses and Lipstick from the Drugstore – June 2013

I’ve been keeping a bit more up to date with my YouTube channel than I have here on my blog. Sorry. I have been a little MIA. I did want to show you some of the new lip products I picked up at the drugstore that I’ve been enjoying for summer. I hope you’ll take the time to check it out.

June Drugstore Gloss and Lipstick Video

Accessories Say It All

I spent several hours last night falling down the Pinterest rabbit hole. I’ll admit it, I have a soft spot for beautiful things. My mother and I always laugh that when we’re shopping together, we always seem to like the most expensive things in the store. If we’re shopping for shoes, we both like the $400 pair instead of the $89 pair. If we’re looking at handbags, we’re drooling over the Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors bags, and completely miss the bags on the sale rack that are more reasonably priced.

Pinterest is my place to dream. It’s like accessory porn. It’s place I hide all my dark handbag desires from my husband. If he saw it, he’d just say “Another purse? Don’t you have 20 of them already?” I use Pinterest as my place to save ideas, and develop my personal style. It’s also a great place to see what other people are up to.

I’ve always been a big believer that more than anything else, your accessories tell people who you are. If the person across the room misses the opportunity to talk to you, your handbag in a punchy color tells them something about you. If you’re quietly sipping  coffee at Starbucks and someone is watching you, your gorgeous sandals say that you’re a risk taker. If you’re checking out at the grocery store, and the teller notices your jewelry, they’d know that you’re whimsical, or edgy, or girly. Or all three.

You don’t have to wear safety-pin earrings, or carry a bright yellow purse. Whatever type of accessories you choose to wear, try something new this summer. Shake things up, and push your boundaries. Wear a bright color. Go for a touch of whimsy in your jewelry. Wear a classic in a new way. Hit the refresh button.

P.S. With the exception of the leopard print pumps from Macy’s, all the item in this grouping are under $100.

Accessories Say It All by thelipstickgal featuring pendant jewelry

Pumps
macys.com

BCBGeneration high heel pumps
macys.com

Sandals
vonmaur.com

Olivia Joy vegan bag
macys.com

Marc Fisher satchel handbag
macys.com

Kiss lock handbag
macys.com

Rachel Rachel Roy hematite earrings
macys.com

Thakoon Carbon Copy pendant jewelry
nordstrom.com

Earrings
macys.com

Natasha Couture collar necklace
nordstrom.com

Rachel Rachel Roy post back earrings
macys.com

Tatty Devine pendant jewelry
nordstrom.com

Dots and Stripes with Zoya Nail Polish

I’ve been wearing a different color of polish every other day for the past several weeks. I’m a huge fan of Zoya Nail Polish, and back in April they had their annual Earth Day promo. I picked up 12 nail polishes for $4 each instead of the regular $8. I loaded up on the new 2013 spring collection, and selected shades from the summer 2013 collections.

I decided to try an easy dot and stripe manicure using all Zoya products. The three major colors are all from the Summer Stunning Collection. Beautiful cream shades that are a dream to paint on, and make my nails just come alive with bright color. I used Josie (green), Darcy (yellow) and Thandie (orange) for this manicure. I also used Zoya’s classic white and black in Purity and Raven for the dots and stripes.

I started with a base coat of Zoya’s Anchor Base Coat, then layered on 2 coats of color for each nail. Once that was dry, I used a striping brush to alternate the white and black stripes on the nails. Then on to the dots. I don’t have a large dotting tool. I realize now that I’ll need to get one. I’ve seen some great prices for dotting tool kits on eBay and Amazon. I used the end of a paint brush for the large dots, and a smallish dotting tool for the smaller inner dots. Then I covered it all with a coat of Zoya’s Armor Top Coat.

Dots and Stripes Manicure with Zoya Josie, Thandie, Darcy, Purity and Raven

All in all, this was a very easy manicure. Everyone who saw it thought it was really difficult. It didn’t take much time at all. I thought my non-dominant hand would make a mess of everything when trying to paint stripes and dots, but it was nearly perfect. I didn’t have to re-do a single finger, and for that I was grateful.

What bright colors are you wearing for Summer? Would you ever wear a busy patterned print like this on your nails? Do you prefer short nails, or longer nails? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

New Makeup For May

I realize it’s been a shamefully long time since I’ve posted anything. Sorry. I could get into the nitty-gritty, but let’s just leave it at: my health isn’t perfect. To compensate for feeling terrible, and being poked and prodded like a lab rat, I’ve been doing a little retail therapy.

I wanted to share my most recent YouTube video with you about what I’ve been loving! I still have lots more that I’ve recorded and need to edit and upload. So like I tell my kids, “Chop, Chop lollipop!” I’ve got lots more to share, just give me some time.

Thanks for taking the time to check this out. Enjoy!

Favorite Beauty Products for Spring

I wanted to show you what I’ve been wearing on my face on a fairly regular basis the last several weeks. I find that I’m reaching for these products quite a bit these days.

Beauty Favorites for Spring 2013 by thelipstickgal featuring tarte concealer

Lancôme matte foundation / Tarte concealer / Beauty product / Revlon Photo Ready Bronzing Kit, Bronzed and Chic, 0.4 Ounce / Exuviance Age Reverse Day Repair SPF 30, 1.75 Oz / Maybelline New York Dream Bouncy Blush, Peach Satin, 0.19 Ounce / Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm 05 Plushest…

Here’s what interesting about these products to me. I have a ton of products that are similar to these. I must have 5 bronzers, 9 blushes, 11 mascaras, 3 pressed powders, 8 concealers, and 12-15 black pencil eye liners. These are the ones I reach for the most. I do use the others, but when I’m pressed for time, these are the ones I know I can trust for a quick look.

I started using the Exuviance Age Reverse Day Repair SPF 30 in mid January. I love this stuff. It helps counter act hyper-pigmentation while it fends off free radicals and boosts collagen. I also love that as the product dispenses, no air enters the tube, keeping the product factory perfect. The tube just collapses on itself. Perfect to the last drop.

I usually skip foundation in spring and summer, and just dot this Tarte concealer where I need it. (under eye area, corners of my nose, hyper-pigmentation spots) This is my favorite. Out of all the many I’ve tried (including Benefit’s new Fake Up) nothing works as well as this. I also love that it doesn’t settle in the crinkles under my eyes.

Lancome Dual Finish Versatile Powder is great to have in my makeup collection. I use it mainly as a quick topping to my face with a brush for a soft focus look. It sets my concealer and gives my skin a bit of sheer coverage. You can also use it with a damp sponge for full coverage as a foundation. I haven’t tried it yet, but I might come fall.

Eye liner is tricky territory with me. I have greasy eyes, and even some waterproof eyeliners can become a mess. Add an eye cream, and it’s a loosing battle. As a 38-year-old, I need an eye cream. I have found that tight lining is the best way for me to define my eyes on a daily basis. I love to use Smashbox’s Jetset cream liner, but when I don’t have time for a brush, and precision, I just grab for my favorite waterproof pencil. Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes is amazing. It’s truly the best. I like it better than Stila’s Smudge Sticks and Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil. (both are waterproof)

I’ve been on a mascara binge recently. I have 4 full size tubes of Lancome mascara, some Benefit, Make Up Forever, Clinique, and 4 faves from the drugstore. The one I can’t stop using is Cover Girl’s Clump Crusher. I have one at home in my collection, and one in my purse in my just-in-case makeup bag. Love this stuff!

I was late getting on the Mabelline Dream Bouncy Blush band wagon. I just picked some up at the beginning of this year, and I love the peachy color I got. I also love how easily it blends with just my fingers. It feels idiot proof. I say that because when I’m in a hurry, I can be sloppy. This is the perfect brush free blush for fast times.

Bronzer has been a scary cosmetic item for me for years. I say this because I’m really pale. So pale, that some high-end makeup counters don’t have a good foundation or concealer match for my skin tone. They’re too dark or too pink. I was always worried that bronzer would make me look orange, or like an Oompa Loompa. I realized that bronzer on my light skin was all about application. Using a light hand, and using a matte bronzer was what I needed. Revlon PhotoReady Bronzer is my favorite right now.

I have way too many lipsticks. Every spring I’m looking to update my look and go on a hunt for something new. This isn’t a new product, but when the Clinique Chubby Stick Intense came out, I got winter colors. Now that it’s spring, I needed something with a bit more punch. This is the perfect  bright pink for spring and summer. I’m sure it’s perfect all year long, but it’s just what I was looking for to wake up my face for spring. It’s called Plushest Punch.

Tell me what you’re wearing every day on your face. Do you have a beauty favorite? Is there one product you can’t leave the house without?

The French Kiss Lip

I’ll admit that my favorite look for lipstick is about an hour after it’s been applied. It’s had a chance to settle in, and not look too perfect. It looks like I care, but am not constantly futzing with my lipstick. A few hours or a meal later, and it’s definitely touch up time.

When I saw this story called The French Kiss from Into The Gloss the entire idea of what lipstick could look like changed for me. Maybe next time I’ll just let my faded lip go. Maybe it’s a low fuss idea of how to wear bolder colors this spring. It definitely gives it that lived in look. The good part, no lip liner needed.

Pat MaGrath makeup for Christian Dior Fall 2013 fashion show – The French Kiss Lip