the leopard

One does feel somewhat predatory with such decor as this going on.

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This Violent Lips leopard appliqué is not disappointing. It’s strange on the lips, yes. You know it’s there, and it seems like you can’t move your lips very dramatically without the appliqué cracking (not flaking off, just cracking in place – once it’s on, barring the intervention of oil or makeup remover, it’s not coming off). That said, I’m pretty impressed. I like. It’s a playful novelty, winning me over by being just what it promises to be.

[It’s a good thing, because I got a ton of them.]

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This leopard print is so unexpected. It’s distracting, and not only for me it seems, given the number of looks on the street. Any of the component colors alone would be unusual lip colors, and all three together are triply so. Unconventional, bizarre, bold…all the necessaries for a potentially fierce look, a look that says, I do what I want.

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I think we need some aviators here.

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This necklace features the Leo constellation (fitting, no?). Was searching for a small but not too small gold disc like this for some time, intended for layering with other small pendants on dainty gold chains with white v-neck shirts (you know how it is…). Gold and white is a favorite color combination of mine, and the uncontested favorite for summer. I was so attached to a white/gold/brown look here that I omitted blush and am only wearing bashings of bronzers and illuminators (yes, multiple, we’ll talk about that later).

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Victoria’s Secret tunic dress, bowler bag (eBay, thoughts on replicas here), gladiator sandals (eBay), Free People belt, Fossil Watch, Julie Nolan zodiac necklace (eBay, chain replaced), Ray Ban aviators.

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Used a combination of a gold Urban Decay 24/7 liner and a brown Tarte Smoldereyes pencil here, both great, soft, smudgeable, long-wearing formulations. Tried out an intriguing technique I picked up from this really interesting tutorial (so many techniques/perspectives here I hadn’t seen before) by Australian makeup artist Rae Morris. Applying the gold all along and down my inner corner/epicanthic fold was my idea, though. More dramatic and metallic in person. A little cat inspiration.

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keeping it casual

Liking these high waisted cut-offs for a casual summer look.

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Oh, and I like hockey.

I grew up in a remote part of Maine and we only got reliable reception from the nearby New Brunswick towers, so for the most part I watched Canadian news, Canadian shows, Canadian sports. Still when I go back to Maine there is faithful watching of Hockey Night in Canada and much love for the inimitable Don Cherry.

There are a lot of American pop culture references I miss but I am pleased with my exposure. My favorite team is the Toronto Maple Leafs (not ‘Leaves’, I know, it kind of bothers me, too), but I can get behind the Bruins. I have one of their Stanley Cup tees, too, I realize, so my closet at least is showing a lot of Bruins support.

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Another summer, another pair of Converse.

Shorts from Express, Chucks, Bruins tee, Mulberry bag, Spektre sunglasses, vintage Levi’s belt (I love this belt), Skagen watch, tumbaga earrings.

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