Something Completely Different: A Makeup Review

I'm not a big fan of most television, but there are a handful of shows I have enjoyed over the years, including a few I watch regularly now.
One of these is Mad Men.

While I'm also not a big fan of the 1960s, I have found myself slowing down to look at the occasional early 60s cocktail dress on Etsy these days.
I'm also a sucker for great vintage and reproduction cosmetic packaging. So, when Estée Lauder recently released its limited edition vintage Mad Men lipstick and rouge, I had to bite.

"The heart of the Mad Men^® Look:
Lipstick and Creme Rouge in elegant,
vintage designs from the legendary
Estée Lauder ’60s collections."

I ordered just the lipstick, because I wasn't willing to spend so much on a rouge (blush) color I wasn't sure of online. I'm planning on checking it out at Nordstrom's. I still want it for the fancy compact. The one I use now is not. It's old, and not in a good way.
I'm sick of being embarrassed each time I pull it out of my purse to touch up my lip color.
There is this myth that it's rude and unladylike to touch up lips at the restaurant table, or anywhere in public. Wrong.
That only applies to powder and cheek rouge, and that's what 'powder rooms' were for.
But, if one is going to apply lipstick in public, make sure your compact mirror is a pretty accessory. Akin to a piece of jewelry.

The lip color in question, called 'Cherry', looks like a vivid red online. I was hoping for a really nice vivid blue-base, or a hot pinkish red. Much like the brighter lip colors of the 50s and 60s.
When I ordered, I already knew I would likely get something a bit different.
Any of the reds and pinks are good with my complexion, so I was game to try it out regardless.

The lipstick arrived today, and instead of that hot red shade I was imagining, it's a rather nice rich deep pink, that still flirts toward crimson.
It's the perfect 'daytime red', in a warm neutral that will look great on lots of skin tones. Especially blondes and redheads ;-)
It's still a very vintage shade, and as a bit of a heads-up, the tube is the smaller vintage size. Just like the original it is based off of.

So, while it wasn't the color I'd hoped it would be, I am pleased.
The color is beautiful, I didn't have a nice pink lipstick and now I do, the high quality and creamy texture is comfortable on, and it lasts.
Plus, if I want it more red, I can simply use a red lip liner underneath.

Too Many Options...

So little time.
It's perhaps like having to choose who your favorite child is. You just can't, so you close your eyes, spin around twice, and point at random.

This is how I feel about upcoming sewing projects.
There are things that need to be made, and things I WANT to make (and this time that want is leaning more toward a need).
Once the absolute needs are complete, it's the 'wants' that need to be chosen.

I was looking at my stash of silks (taffetas, duchess satins, etc) and became overwhelmed with ideas.
If that's possible, and I'm trying to avoid my usual reaction of just buying an entirely new load of fabric for an ensemble.


But, I have red shoes coming. It will be a couple of months until they arrive, but oh how I want to make a contrasting powder blue gown to go with them....I'm thinking some vintage arctic fox fur trimming would look nice somewhere on it....Anyway...
Until then, I must finish my other, more pressing projects. This may even give me time to sort out any new ensembles from the 'Want' list in my head, and onto my final design/budget wall.
Plus (!), I still have the Pompadour gown project on the horizon. That one is from the 'Want' list as well.
*sigh*

First things first;
The plum burgundy velveteen 18th century frock coat/breeches and a waistcoat for my gent.
A Georgian gown for me from a lovely stripe silk taffeta, a long time waiting in my stash, that will correspond to his above ensemble.

The Cult Of Beauty:The Victorian Avant-Garde

More photos from Sunday:

Drawing room (photo: Anders hudson)

Photo: RJ Johnson

The gold room (Photo: Anders Hudson)

The other side of the dress, Shannon and I watch the presentation (Photo: Daniel Silveira)

Strolling Amongst Greatness

This past weekend, I attended, educated and entertained guests at "The Cult Of Beauty:The Victorian Avant-Garde, 1860–1900" at San Francisco's Museum at the Legion Of Honor.

A few fellow Dickens fair folk were invited by the museum to present artworks, acting as the artists themselves. There was even a portion of a play acted out by said artists; Oscar Wild's 'The Importance Of Being Ernest".

Dark Garden Corsetry also had a display in the gallery next to ours, with live scenes of Aubrey Beardsley works, posed by models for onlookers to sketch.
It was an all-around day of beauty indeed.
This amazing showcase of some of the world's most prized Pre-Raphaelite works of art had to be one of the most amazing I have seen in a very long time.

Photos in the exhibit itself were obviously verboten, but one could take photos without a flash throughout the rest of the museum, and during the vignettes and mini plays.
I'll be posting those shortly. My friend Anders snapped a few of me in my silk and velvet 1884 promenade gown, in some amazing settings. While they didn't turn out bad, I only wish we'd had more than an iPhone camera.
A couple of other friends captured an image or two during the day, that look much more professional.
I'll post more when I'm home and not at my work computer ;-)

Here is a nice one taken by Daniel Silveira:
The wrinkling at the bodice front bugs the hell out of me. I was wearing a different corset than the one I had fitted the bodice to originally, so it misbehaved a bit.