hair, clothes, makeup

[owlmoose]

I got my hair done today and they did a good job. The color looks good, and I think the cut will do well. During the styling phase, two people were working on me at once, each woman wrapping my hair around a large round brush and then hitting it with a blowdryer. It was sort of a hair stying menage-a-trois. The final results looked great, the kind of soft wave around my face that I can never replicate at home and falls flat within a couple of hours even when it's done professionally. I'm still trying to decide whether to find a stylist to do my hair for the wedding or not.

Same with makeup. Now, I never, ever wear makeup (unless you count nail polish). Literally. I don't think I've had any sort of makeup on my face in seven or eight years. But I'm thinking I need to make the concession for the wedding since I'll be in view of cameras all day. Will a stop by a sympathetic makeup counter be enough, or do I need to bring in a pro? Decisions, decisions.

Speaking of weddings, T's sister is getting married on Saturday. So last Friday I dropped by the Union Square Macy's to see if I can find a new dress. But to my horror, I discover that Macy's is no longer carrying plus-size dresses. Not just dresses by certain designers or dresses of a certain level of formality. No dresses, period. I'm thrown into a tailspin -- I don't think I've bought a nice dress anywhere other than Macy's in years, so I have no idea where to go. Fortunately, I already have a dress that will do for W's wedding this weekend, but where am I supposed to find something new for my rehearsal dinner? And I'm supposed to take my mom shopping for a mother-of-bride dress next week, and now I'm at a loss as to where to take her. I'm so disappointed in Macy's -- they've been one of my three best clothing sources for so many years. Sigh.

Comments

[luvmoose.livejournal.com]

For the makeup, go pro. You're getting married too early for a makeup counter because there is no way you'll have enough time to sneak out and come back (they open at what, 10am?). And, to be honest, I've never been completely happy with a free makeup job at a counter. Do you really want to look scary like those women who work at them? A pro who does wedding makeup is going to know what looks good on film, will know how to give you a natural, minimal look, and is going to use stuff that lasts through the whole thing. For Susan's wedding, the makeup artist put this stuff on our lips that was impervious to eating for a long time.

Plus, if you have someone come to where we're getting ready (are we getting a suite in the hotel for this, BTW?), then they can do all of us.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Actually, what I meant with the makeup counter was getting someone to show me how to do it myself. But your point about a pro knowing more about looking nice and minimal on camera is a good one.

[luvmoose.livejournal.com]

You'll never get it right yourself with only a few lessons. You really have to practice makeup to get good at it. Just like any other art.

[luvmoose.livejournal.com]

p.s. Think about what you're spending on the wedding. Most of the things are fleeting sensations that people won't remember well, like the food or the entertainment. But you'll always have the pictures. You're spending good money on a great photographer, and you bought a really nice dress, so don't skimp on your own preparation.

[anonamys.livejournal.com]

From what I've heard about professionally done hair on the wedding day, it should end up being pretty much bullet proof and will not droop in a couple of hours. They'll use much more "product" in your hair than they would for a typical styling appointment. On the other hand, you are on a tight schedule. On the third hand, you are on such a tight schedule that even if it droops after a couple of hours, the wedding itself will already be over...

I agree that professionally done makeup is not a bad idea. If at all possible, do a practice run ahead of time. This will give you a chance to veto things you don't like when you have enough time to try other options. You also will want to wear makeup before your wedding day so that you don't feel so weird. Maybe get a couple of free makeup-counter makeovers in the weeks leading up to the wedding, then do the practice run. The makeovers will give you an opportunity to see if there are particular things you do and don't like, plus get you used to wearing makeup so that you don't feel overdone when no one else can even see the makeup. (Though if you do makeovers you should let the person know ahead of time that you don't plan to buy much, if anything. They work on commission and it's not fair to have them spend a ton of time if you know there's no way you'll buy. Or you can buy something small you might use like a lotion or cleanser. Going at off times is also not a bad idea--you won't be keeping them from other customers.)

That really sucks about Macy's! Bad Macy's! I hope you find another place you like without too much trouble. I recommend sending a disappointed letter if you have the time and inclination.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Good suggestions, thanks!

I thought about writing to Macy's. The only thing is I would feel like an effective letter would threaten to never shop there again, but I don't think I could follow through with it; they still have a good selection of other clothes, and we're registered there.