monochrome: stone

IMG_0696I like all sorts of taupe shades, and especially wearing them together. Throw some olive and chocolate in the mix and I have all of my favorite colors in one place.

IMG_0763

These boots are still going strong in their second (or third? Why can’t I tell time?) year. 

IMG_0705

The wind is not our friend.

IMG_0719

Really liking these new corduroys, which have a nice skinny fit and large back pockets. I like large back pockets. They seem to make my bum look bigger and more generous, somehow, which I like. Friendlier? More approachable? I don’t know. Tiny, miserly (or even just small) back pockets look so unflattering to me (adolescent, too), and they are useless in the bargain.

IMG_0741

Free People corduroys, Sorel Tofino boots, Jean Pierre cable sweater (via Marshall’s), Thinsulate gloves, Old Navy vest, Muk Luks hat, heart pendant from Etsy. The wooden earrings were a gift, long ago. Favorites. On the lips: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Esprit (mostly blotted off to give the tiniest hint of color). On the cheeks: Chanel cream blush in Fantastic, a beautiful deep berry color that looks entirely natural.

I am wearing so much more makeup than it looks like I am wearing here. [This Lisa Eldridge tutorial has the best advice regarding no makeup makeup I’ve seen thus far.] I see charm in both ends of the spectrum (the conspicuous as well as the inconspicuous makeup), as well as in the very reasonable act of actually wearing no makeup, which is closer to my usual approach.  Maybe a little something on my cheeks. Maybe mascara. Maybe. If I was in the right kind of mood that morning. The world of the blog is only fractionally indicative of life (and it is—for now—the world of photos, a world with slightly different laws and prescriptions). That said, a little bit can go a long way. I’m curious to experiment with wearing more both for the sake of testing products and to see…what it’s like. Just what is it like to be transparently made up on a semi-regular basis? What would it be like for me (other than time-consuming)? What can it do?

Anyhow, this kind of dark berry color is another winter blush I was craving, and I wanted this cream blush particularly, a relatively new and rightly much-lauded formula. Chanel’s beauty products are so, so nice. Not cheap, but not disappointing, either.

IMG_0707

x

 

gold & taupe

IMG_2632-mod

Gold and taupe are so good together. Take, for instance, China Glaze polish in Fast Track.

IMG_2721-mod

[Observe my semi-competent nail painting, which is all about advanced clean-up, it turns out. The China Glaze is layered over Revlon’s Elegant, which is nearly the same shade only without gold flecks.]

IMG_2674-mod

A comparable combination was, I thought, Urban Decay’s 24/7 liner in Baked and Rimmel’s Scandaleyes pencil in Taupe. On the lips, Rimmel’s Spotlight Beige lipstick. The pearl studs are from Pearl Paradise, the pearl and jade ring is an antique, the other a class ring. The shirt is from the Gap (thrifted).

IMG_2695-mod

Taupe is a kind of unusual eyeliner choice but I like these muted, tawny shades so much. The taupe on me hovers on the verge of lilac and the cool tone is entirely distinct from something like a light, warm brown, though I would put that in the same easy, wearable category. The effect is definite yet understated, at once casual and polished.

These are combinations I appreciate.