Adrien: A Few of My Favorite New Things.

I haven't written a beauty post in a while so I thought I'd get on it. Lately I've been using two new products that I'm really happy with. Like, REALLY happy wish. First, I finally tried the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer that Marianne loves so much and it was fine. I don't know that I want to marry it the way she does but it was okay. However, when I went to Sephora get a sample I got talked into buying the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and YOU GUYS. It is so so so good. I have concealer issues and this is as close to perfect as I've found.

First, it goes on like a dream. This stuff is just pure, creamy pigment and you only need a tiny bit. It works really well with a brush but I usually just use my fingers. Two coats and I'm good for hours. Hours! And it doesn't crease badly at all. (I will be straight with you - all concealer creases on me, but this one is minimal.)

It's expensive, but considering how little you have to use, it'll last for a long time. Oh, and the packaging, like most NARS products, is very luxe. (I mean, if you're paying nearly $30 for concealer it better be pretty fucking fancy, right? Right.)

The second product I bought recently is Clinique Almost Lipstick in Chic Honey. I've been a fan of the very popular Black Honey for years but it seems like such a winter shade to me and I wanted something a bit more summery.

Chic Honey is a pretty sheer berry shade that I think would look great on almost anyone. It doesn't have the purple undertones of Black Honey or the brown undertones of Fresh Sugar Plum, so it's toooootally different than the other similar lip glosses I own. Totally different! Truly.

It has almost no staying power (really, this is lip gloss not lipstick) but I don't mind reapplying from time to time. And, at $15 this is not that much more expensive than a drugstore product, so I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off for once.

Now it's your turn!  Tell me what you've bought lately that you're loving.

Kork-Ease Deborah Sandal Review.

We've been talking about sandals a lot lately and one of my readers recommended the Kork-Ease Deborah sandal:

I'd already purchased my Lotta Clog sandals so I wasn't really in the market for a second, similar, pair of black clog-style sandals, but there's so much I like about them that I couldn't resist giving them a try when I found a decent sale online. 

The sandals arrived and right out of the box I liked them. They seemed well-made and not too heavy. I really like the stud detail and the padded footbed is a really nice bonus. Then I tried them on:

And...they're fine. I wasn't blown away by the way they looked on my feet but they certainly are very damn comfortable, like, immediately. And true to size. Oh, and squeaky. Squeaky squeaksqueaksqueak. 

I think it's the leather straps that are woven through each other in the back, but man, they were not quiet shoes. This is a problem that will probably go away with a few wears, but I thought it worth noting. 

In the end, I sent them back. They were perfect in a lot of ways but it just wasn't true love and with shoes at this price point I feel like you should REALLY LOVE THEM. If they go on super-sale later this summer I might re-buy. We'll see. I can definitely recommend them for overall comfort and general quality. 

What do you think? Should I have kept them? 

Marianne: Good Maxi Dress, Bad Maxi Dress

After bashing maxi skirts, I felt the need to defend maxi dresses. Because these fall from a higher point on my waist (instead of relying on clinging to my hips/butt to stay up, like maxi skirts), I think these are a lot more flattering in general. I could be kidding myself, but I think this one is pretty cute, even hugely pregnant:

But the maxi dress can go wrong too. I'm trying to find some dresses that will work for me right after I have the baby, and here is a secret: for a dress to work immediately post-partum, it should pretty much work while you are pregnant too. And so, I ordered two of these Target Mossimo V-Neck maxi dresses, in a pretty teal blue and a great coral orange. When I first wrote about them, I thought they looked comfortable and nursing friendly, but they don't work on me. They are cut really big on top and narrower in the hips, which is the opposite of what I need. They are also just a tad short, and too long waisted. Maybe good for someone, but not cut right for me at all. Oh well!

Mossimo® Womens V Neck Sleeveless Maxi - Assorted Colors

I'm still on the hunt for some easy, cheap dresses I can wear this summer while I'm home with the baby. When I returned this stuff to Target I bought this Liz Lange Maternity Maxi. AND IT IS SO GOOD. Hint: if you're tall and curvy, maternity maxis are awesome. Cut out the tag if it bothers you. I'll wear the hell out of this one.

Liz Lange® for Target® Maternity Sleeveless Maxi Dress - Black

I also picked up this shorter Liz Lange dress. Both are labeled nursing friendly and are great transitional pieces.

Liz Lange® for Target® Maternity  Pleated Front Nursing Friendly Knit Dress - Black

I'm also thinking about some straight up 70's-style caftans for around the house. I mean why the hell not?

Adrien: More Gap Dress Action

When first I bought my Sam Edelman Trina sandals I had a reader (hi Carly!) ask if I'd wear them with dresses and if so, uh, how? What kind? My answer: The kind that are probably too short to be truly work-appropriate, so you wear them with a very low heel and hope for the best. Heh. Like this:

I talked about this Gap shift dress here and was sure it would be a dud. It's not! Holy shit! I like it quite a bit and I think it's begging for awesome yellow sandals, which I don't own quite yet. Hmm. 

dress: Gap Printed Shift Dress (also in pink)
sandals: Sam Edelman Trina (on sale!)
bag: Marc by Marc Hillier Hobo (oh crap it comes in red now)

Witchcraft.

A: I am amazed at how comfortable my Lotta Peep Toe Clogs are. They should be awful! Why aren't they awful?

M: RIGHT? It's weird, isn't it! I mean, mine should be cutting up my feet and should feel hard as rocks to clomp around in, but they are just as comfortable as my old Miz Mooz with the padded footbed and soft leather. It's Swedish witchcraft.

A: Swedish witchcraft! I believe that's known as WYTSSKRAFT if you buy it at IKEA.

M: Haaaa.

A: It really is crazy though. A block of WOOD with some super-thick leather stapled to it = comfortable sandals.

M: I know, it goes against everything I know about shoes ever.

A: bani is going to be SO MAD.

M: Furious.

A: I've worn them for three days straight and I don't even have so much as a blister. It's UNHOLY.

M: And your feet are delicate little flowers! I'm so pleased. I will admit that I kind of assumed they would leave you with bloody stumps.

A: Well, there's still time. Sometimes shoes turn on me.

Adrien: MORE STRIPES YES.

Last summer I bought this dress from the Gap and wore the hell out of it. It's decent thick fabric and pleasingly tent-like without being unflattering. So great! Unfortunately, it seems to have mysteriously shunk over the winter. Whoops. But, they came out with another one, the Harbor Jersey Half-Sleeve dress, which I ordered with no real hopes. But! It's the same general cut and fabric, so hooray! It's making me pretty happy:

dress: Gap Harbor Jersey half-sleeve dress (another cute striped Gap dress)

shoes: Lotta From Stockholm Peep Toe Clogs

bag: Marc by Marc Hillier Hobo

necklace: Ann Taylor (similar tassel necklace)

Marianne: Good Stripes, Bad Stripes.

Y'all, maxi skirts sound like the best idea ever. Like basically wearing pajamas. BUT I GIVE UP. I have tried a million different skirts and they all look awful on me. I think the problem is that in order to stay up, maxi skirts have to cling to my butt/hip area, which is my problem area. And then they cover up my legs, which are relatively slender. It's just bad math. Case in point, I tried this Target Maternity Maxi Skirt:

Merona® Maternity Maxi Skirt - Assorted Colors

My thought was that it would be great for post-baby too. Throw on a t-shirt and I'd be relatively pulled together, but still comfortable. BUT IT WAS AWFUL ON ME. I meant to get a picture before I returned it, but I had technical difficulties. And before you blame the stripes for this one:

Stripes aren't to blame. Typically someone who is more bottom heavy like I am would be warned away from them, especially when pregnant, but I have actually lived in stripes for almost the entire time. The key is the cut. I have decent legs, so covering them up in a long striped maxi skirt is about the least flattering thing I can do. Ever.

So that's my maxi skirt rant. One more note on wearing horizontal stripes when you're curvy, to pull off stripes in general, I think you need to keep it short and fitted. Like this $18 Old Navy Maternity dress, or my #1 favorite Asos Maternity Breton Stripe Dress. Not pregnant? You can go a little looser with the cut. There are a million adorable options out there, like this adorable Olivia Moon dress, or a classic French dress like this one (on sale!).

Maxi skirts just don't work on me, period. They cling to my widest parts and cover my best parts. Maxi dresses still work if they are cut right, which is a subject for my next post. What do you think? Can you work the maxi skirt? They seem so comfortable and easy that I'm jealous of you if you can.