Yes, That Yellow Proenza Schouler Skirt

I raced home between work and rehearsal to order from Opening Ceremony the blanket wrap skirt by Proenza Schouler for half off; it sold out within a few hours later. I would wear this legendary skirt with a long-sleeved black top and chunky black booties.

This is shaping up to be the season of skirts.

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Nails: Rescue Beauty Lounge Jane

It is hard to describe Rescue Beauty Lounge Jane using words. It is just . . . lovely. All I want to do is pair it with an oversized cream sweater (which I already have done so).

Cool-toned shimmer under a slightly overcast sky.

Jane is a gray-beige with very subtle microshimmer. Basically, it pulls gray under cool lighting and beige under warm lighting. The color also could be described as greige or putty. The microshimmer is white-gold with an extremely sheer wash of pink flecks. It reminds me of the "secret shimmer" found in some of Chanel's polishes. The microshimmer gives Jane depth and prevents it from looking like cement on the nails.

Warm-toned flat beige. Looks like two completely different bottles, doesn't it?

The formula is typically excellent, and two coats are sufficient though completionists may want to add a third. Jane has held up for five days on my medium-long nails. Temptalia and Scrangie both have good swatches that show the shimmer and the beige tones better than mine does. Scrangie compares Jane to Grunge, and I have to say I thought the same thing.

Rescue Beauty Lounge Jane manages to be a modern, edgy, and utterly elegant neutral.

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Half Moon Over Circle Ring

I have a thing for sculptural jewelry, and sometimes the coolest pieces are right in my own backyard.

This is a handmade metal and glass ring I found at The Muse, a hip* local artists' boutique on Market Street in downtown Frederick. The ring caught my eye for being industrial and graceful at the same time. It has a wonderful elongating effect on the hand.

These photos were taken a year ago, before I discovered the joy of regular manicures, hence the terrible state of my nails. (Lifelong chronic nail-biter. Nail polish is my beauty and my sanity.) The leather wristband is also from the shop, and it's made from recycled leather. Wait till I show you the shop's handmade fountain pens.

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*I really try not to use that word.

Lips: NARS Mayflower

Yesterday I said NARS Funny Face was the first swatch I posted. It wasn't the first swatch I took, however. That honor goes to NARS Mayflower.

Something you need to know about me first. I am a dramatic lipstick sort of gal. Nudes and pinks leave me unmoved while I salivate over difficult orange-reds and impractical fuchsias. Yet Mayflower was one of the first lipsticks I picked up from NARS (after, true to form, Heat Wave and Schiap). Being a history geek, I chose it more for its name than its color, but I turned out to be pleasantly surprised.

Mayflower is a pretty, girlish, and easy but not shallow, pink: it has hints of mauve and loads of gold shimmer. Because the color is so subtle, it can be repurposed as a nude. At the same time, the gold flecks warm up the lips and light up the face. Sheer and unfussy, Mayflower is the quintessential lipstick for spring and summer.

One especially lovely feature of NARS Mayflower is the gorgeous, fresh sheen it lends to the lips. It's best seen in natural lighting, as below:

This second close-up, taken in partial shade, also demonstrates the blue-leaning cool pinkness of Mayflower. The gold shimmer works as a counterbalance, making this lipstick a very versatile color. On me, it's nearly MLBB.

In my book, most nudes and pinks are boring. NARS Mayflower, on the other hand, most certainly is not.

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Outfits of Year Past

This is what happened: the week after Christmas, we visited family out of town. Then when we returned, I was felled by a flu virus for a full seven days. I celebrated New Year's Eve with kleenex and throat drops. So I'm sorry for being late to the "first post of the year" rounds.

I'm not even sure what to say in such a post. My blog is still taking shape, and I'm still learning what it wants to be. This started out as a fashion blog, where I could share my outfits of the day and shoe obsessions. My efforts were hampered somewhat by the fact that I had nothing more than a webcam with poor distance resolution. Then I got a iPhone, and over the summer I segued into close-ups of nail polishes and lipsticks, and in the process got to connect with several amazing individuals in the beauty community. The very first swatch that I posted was of NARS Funny Face.

Forgive the pinup pose. Great bracelet, though, isn't it?

And now, I've been fortunate to be gifted a Nikon D3100. What's next? I think simply better photos. I'll be able to show outfits in more detail, and post more accurate swatches. I'm excited.

In the meantime, I thought I'd take a second look at some of my favorite outfits, in all their pixelated, low-res glory. Shall we?

Depression Era Inspiration

Tartan, Not Tart

Camo Blocking

In Black and Cream

Heron and Ombre

One Necklace, High and Low

Like I said in my relaunch post, "This is about adornment. This is about the carapace one individual builds, magpie-like out of shiny and silky objects, as a bulwark and a billboard."

Why do you adorn yourself?

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Lips: NARS Afghan Red

Christmas for my family is a low-key affair in which we just open gifts and hang around the house, so yesterday I wore comfortable black leggings under a voluminous white sweater. I had to dress up my lips, however, and I went with one of my favorite standbys, NARS Afghan Red.

Yes, that is a gray streak in my hair. It appeared in college!

I don't know why this lipstick doesn't get more love from bloggers. The only full review and swatch (titled "Unsung Heroes," incidentally) I can find is on the Makeup and Beauty Blog. Other bloggers are missing out, as Afghan Red is a beautiful and effortless garnet.

The finish is a creamy satin, and it goes on like a dream. Afghan Red is not a true red, but a very pink-leaning cherry, which makes it extremely flattering on a wide range of skin tones. It's a classy-casual red that you can dress either up or down.

Easy, versatile, and gorgeous, NARS Afghan Red has earned a place as my workhorse red lipstick.

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