(I Am a Purple) Velvet Blazer
(Hopefully I don’t get in trouble for using this photo from Banana Republic.)
Considering my present state of mind, this post is likely to be an unlikely mish-mash. Oh well. I’ll try to produce a somewhat organized mash. 
From the top. Hair:
- Presently, I’m okay with my hair.
- This haircut - without the turned under, uniform smoothness of the other - suits me better, both style idiom and hair texture.
- Here’s the problem: hanging across my face, hair would goo up my glasses. Yet Christopher Hopkins would say that asking for this haircut but with bangs is like asking for chocolate chip cookies but without chocolate chips. (I don’t think my stylist would mind doing it.)
- Comments on how this haircut would suit me?
Next: If I were to wear a scarf, unlikely as that is, this application is one I would consider. Thoughts from you accessory people?
Finally, twenty years ago, when I had a fashion retail career, I considered myself a “pink suit”. Daily I wore suits. But they were feminine and colorful, not mannish. Now I am finding myself with a strong preference for velvet blazers. Currently in rotation: blush pink, brown paisley, and grape. My favorite way to wear them is with white oxford button-front shirt, collar flying.
So, all in all, this post was just an excuse for running the photo, which captures the stylistic essence of my personal idiom (me on the inside), everyday-wear. Now, I’m off to the studio. In a little over a week, I have the final for my beginning watercolor class. I need all the practice I can get.
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Are We Hair Yet?
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Beth’s New Hair
Beth before, as seen in this previous post.
And, looking gorgeous and sensational, as well as younger, slimmer, and happier, here is her after:
Isn’t this just the kind of makeover we’re all dreaming of? Congratulations!
Sadly, I am not there.
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Communicating With Your Hairdresser
In Staging Your Comeback, Christopher Hopkins hints humorously at how he interprets what clients say. For example, if you say, “I don’t want it too neat”; he thinks, “she doesn’t want to feel old”. (And isn’t that the truth? And more than that, I don’t want to look like an old man.) If you say, “I don’t want to look frumpy”; he thinks, “she needs more makeup”. If you haven’t already, buy the book and read the rest of the list yourself.
In answer to the question “What is the most effective way of communicating what you want to your hair-stylist?”, Imogen’s comment is representative of the most commonly recommended way of handling it:
If you have a picture bring it - but look for a picture of someone with the haircut you want who appears to have a similar texture of hair - because what you want may not be possible if your hair won’t do the cut you want.
Interestingly enough, I think the second most popular advice was just to let the stylist decide. Lots of other good advice in the comments back there. Describing what you want seems to be the universally ineffective way of doing it.
Anyway, once upon a time, eons ago, I picked up this book - and I mean, picked it up in the bookstore and stood there and read it - which defines and explains the different kinds of hair textures and what kinds of styles work with them. There’s no substitute for understanding your own hair texture.
The most common communication frustration for my hairdresser, and probably yours too, is people coming in with a picture of a hair style that simply won’t work with their hair. Which is probably the reason some hairdressers prefer you bring a picture of yourself when you liked your hair. Which makes no sense to me. How could I then get something new every fall?
And I guess I’m not the only one doing something new: Carrie has a cute new haircut, so does Bee. And my mom (who looks like Shirley Jones). Drop me a line if you have a haircut to share. (BTW, did you know it’s National Makeover Month at ivillage?)
More hair cut(s):
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Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Today, many of you know, was my hair cut day in this comeback series (”comeback” is beginning to feel like a loaded term to me).
The before picture.
True confessions: I didn’t take a picture with me.
- I didn’t have one that I felt exactly captured what I wanted; most have the bangs draping across the face, which I didn’t want.
- I didn’t think it should be a problem to say, “I want the kind of layers you’ve been cutting, the same shape around the face, this piece being the longest length.”
- I have enough confidence in the gal who cuts my hair to know that she’s not going to send me out looking ridiculous and there’s a fair chance I’ll get something more fabulous than I was expecting.
This is what it looks like after just letting it air dry. (My normal routine is to blow-dry upside down, product at crown, and blow the top layers around a round brush.)
After:
I’m still deciding whether I am going to call her tomorrow and ask if I can come back to get another couple of inches off the length, so if you have suggestions (maybe even links to pictures!) please leave them in the comments. But in the meantime, I have a question for you:
What is the most effective way of communicating what you want to your hair-stylist?
- the name of the cut
- the name of a person with the cut
- a picture of someone with the cut you want
- a picture, plus some instructions such as “shorter fringe”
- a picture of yourself when you liked your hair
- a verbal description of what you want
- just let the stylist pick
- other
What works for you?
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Beth Before
My sister and I last Thanksgiving.
Here’s the link to her “before” post: This is what 43 looks like. Recently she also posted a book review of Staging Your Comeback
Hair today, which she thinks is too square and I think is too golden. Before we started all this, I emailed Christopher with my suggestion that she take her hair back to it’s original dark brown. He agreed that would be more “gorgeous and sensational” and suggested she had about 20 minutes left to do it. 
For background, other posts she’s pictured in around here:
Her last known natural hair color, in a cut I remember thinking at the time was stunningly cute and stylish for a young mom. 
And, to the right, another look that she calls “something in between”.
In my view, my sister has always super photogenic and fabulous. Pop over, take a look at her pictures, and share your suggestions.
And be thinking about joining us in blogging our comebacks!
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Blogging My Own Comeback: The Before Pictures
After the input started coming in on this post, I mentioned to my husband that I had never in my life before thought a moment about needing to correct for having a long face, to which he replied that when he looked at these pictures, they didn’t look to him like my face. I have since adjusted the sizing.
We all hate the typical “makeover mugshot” before photos, right?
So I tried to smile for these and pose as naturally as possible. I’m wearing normal daily makeup. I’m not going to be taking modeling classes between now and the end of this project, and all the photos will be taken by one family member or another. These are my reading glasses.
I forgot my jewelry. Normally, there’s a rather unique anniversary ring keeping my wedding band company. And I haven’t had a manicure or a pedicure for several weeks (more about that week after next according the Comeback Calendar). Neither can I see well enough to pluck my eyebrows properly.
Today’s weight: 133 lbs. (Better than I was expecting.)
This is the moment for honesty. Do you have suggestions?
(Just for fun: Christopher Hopkins’ Makeover Gallery and Good Housekeeping Look Five Years Younger Makeovers.)
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Blogging My Own Comeback
In celebration (???) of my upcoming 45th birthday, I have a notion to stage my own comeback of sorts. Of course, I am referring to Christopher Hopkins’ fabulous book (which I highly recommend you purchase if you are over 39, or maybe even if your mom is over 39), Staging Your Comeback
Sort of a DIY makeover, I plan to address topics like:
- a hairstyle change
- scheduled maintenance
- physical fitness
- my lifelong struggle with nailbiting
- and, of course, lots of what to wear!
Would anybody like to join me? Either for fun or for linkage.
Besides turning 45, here are some other times to consider taking a fresh look at your image:
- when entering the work-force, either after high school or after college
- about 7 years later, when all those clothes begin to look really dated
- after your second (or any other number) baby
- when your kids leave home
- a career change, actual or desired
Anyone besides me feeling adventurous?
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Style After 45
I’ll be 45 this upcoming holiday season or I’ll die trying. (ha ha)
Did anyone else notice that particular age in our Trinny and Susannah caricature book conversation? (The other age that was mentioned was 67. Believe me, we are coming back to that one!) The authors brought it up, and now The Makeover Guy, Christopher Hopkins, is talking about 45 too, in his book Staging Your Comeback: A Complete Beauty Revival for Women Over 45
Watch this youtube. IMO, this guy does the best job of all the “what to wear” celebrities of preserving the uniqueness of the person’s style idiom.
(Surprisingly enough, he’s even using shoulder pads on one of the models. It’s refreshing that he’s not simply trying to make everyone over to be “in style”.)
This lady pictured, for example, looks so much better that I’m thinking:
- must get an appointment for a haircut.
- need to see a professional for a lipstick prescription.
- what on earth would keep someone from at least trying to do something, if they could look this much better?
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Have You Ever Wanted a Different Eye Color Temporarily?
Have you ever wished you could change your eye color, just for an evening or even a few minutes? I imagine any number of young ladies were thinking that a few weeks ago, as they were auditioning to be Disney princesses.
Spokane is pretty white. I don’t mean to be racist or anything, but there are times when I wonder things like: can you have a blue-eyed Pocahontas? I mean, you can always put a wig on somebody, but changing eye color isn’t an everyday thing.
Ah, but it could be! In our increasingly competitive world, 15-year-olds could stand out from the pack (or blend in with it) by wearing colored contacts. Play with different eye color looks at lensshoppers virtual color studio.
Now I’m wondering, since it’s Tuesday and we’re thinking about young people, do you think it’s wrong for parents to allow kids to change their eye color? Does it make a difference if they wear contacts anyway?
As I look at what’s changed in the world just in the recent past, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if colored contacts became as common as body piercing or tattoos.
