HOT 5 - 1/23/21
Hello H*O*T Friends,
First of all, I'd like to start by thanking all of you who took the time to share your thoughtful and very helpful answers to the H*O*T questionnaire last week. I plan on implementing many of your suggestions so look out for some much-needed newness as we get further into 2021. And if you didn't get a chance there's still time to weigh in. Just go here and as a thank you, you'll receive a gift of $10 off anything on the site. Here we go with this week's H*O*T 5:
1. Inaugural Style
2. Mask Updates and new Maskeraides
3. Great Tips for Ageless Makeup
4. Help For Finding Your Best Colors
5. Quilting as an Art Form
1. Inaugural Style
Anyone else feels like an immense weight has just been lifted from your shoulders? Who would have thought Inauguration Day 2021 would be the best day our country has had in 4 years?? 4 very long and incredibly painful years. I loved every little thing about the Inauguration and I think it was mostly due to the overwhelming feeling that a sense of normalcy was back, that the America I know and love even with all its flaws, was back! Here's a fun video that shows I wasn't alone in that feeling.
"There is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it, if only we're brave enough to be it" From The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
By now, we've all have seen every photo from every moment of that special day but I'd like to share some of my favorites. I admit I'm girl-crushing on poet Amanda Gorman like the rest of the world and I loved learning all about her on one of my favorite blogs here. Not only were her words exquisite, but she was a vision in a bright uplifting ensemble by Prada. The striking combination of that fabulous red headband and sharp-fitted bright yellow coat is a color mix I bet we'll be seeing a lot of this spring. Loved her embellished red mask too! She just needed a Maskeraide to complete the look! :)
I'm not sure if there was an actual memo about what to wear that morning but if there was it said: "Get Your Purple On!" That memo would have come from Kamala who was inspired to wear the color to honor Shirley Chisolm who also wore purple during her historic campaign as the first Black woman to run for President way back in 1972! Kamala's ensemble by superstar designer Christopher John Rogers was tailored perfection. Of course, purple expresses royalty, loyalty, and as everyone knows is a mix of red and blue signaling the hope for unity after 4 incredibly divisive years.
And for a little peek into which accessories we're sure to see lots of this season just look to Lady Gaga and JLo. Who could take their eyes off of that massive gold bird of peace affixed to Gaga's deep navy jacket? Her dramatic full red skirt, fitted jacket, and that eyepopping dove brooch were all designed by Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli, one of the most innovative and avant-garde Parisian fashion houses. I've always loved oversized brooches and will feature some new ones on H*O*T soon. Jennifer Lopez was stunning in an all-white ensemble from Chanel. Her pearl earrings, chic stack of pearl bracelets, and fabulous pearl and rhinestone chain belt reinforce what we already know...it's all about pearls!
2. Mask Updates and new Maskeraides
I am so looking forward to the day when masks are no longer a topic of H*O*T newsletters! Unfortunately, that day is still a way off. I was feeling immense hope and relief as the vaccine was launched but now with a bumpy and problematic roll-out and the emergence of new strains of covid 19, it seems we have to be even more vigilant in our behavior. To that end, I'd like to share an article from my favorite health expert, Tara Parker-Pope of the NY Times on how to best continue protecting ourselves, double masking being one of the ways to do that.
I was so inspired by the pearls Kamala wore for the inauguration and their backstory that I immediately made several new Maskeraides incorporating pearls. These are a homage to Kamala and all the hundreds of women who pledged to wear pearls on Inauguration day.
These new Maskeraides are like a spiced up single strand of pearls that help you keep your mask handy, now more important than ever!
3. Great Tips for Ageless Makeup
I blame zoom for our current preoccupation with how old we're looking these days. Zoom coupled with the immense stress we've all been under living through a pandemic is a recipe for sudden aging. I find myself critiquing my every angle when I'm on a zoom call and I recently came across this helpful article on Sandy Linter a world-famous makeup artist. Being 73 she knows a thing or 2 of what she speaks and is a master at ageless makeup application. She thinks there are "no rules" just common sense guidelines. I especially like her first one, create a glowing base. What do you think?
4. Help For Finding Your Best Colors
Have you ever had your colors done? I remember in the 80s there was Color Me Beautiful, a system based on the seasons and you were either a spring, summer, fall, or winter. I'm pretty sure I was a summer. Now we have some high tech help with finding the answer to that age-old question. And it's become even more important as we do more shopping online making it even harder to figure how a color will look on us. This article from lifehacker.com suggests some fun apps to help us find the best colors to wear based on our skin and hair. You're welcome!
5. Quilting as an Art Form
One of the items on a long list of skills I wish to acquire is how to quilt. I've loved quilts since I was a child for their colorful collaged beauty. I haven't found the time yet to commit to learning to quilt but I hope to someday. In the meantime, I'm always on the lookout for exhibitions around the country featuring quilters who have raised quilting to an art form. I really enjoyed an exhibition featuring master quilter Rosie Lee Thompkins, known for her incredible designs as well as her superb storytelling skills. See a virtual tour of her work at BAMPFA.
Terry xoxo
