Cathy's Beauty Secrets Revealed!

As we come back to earth after a night of star-studded revelry, I thought I'd share with you some of the details that helped make Cathy a knock-out on Sunday.  First, the outfit:

As I mentioned Sunday morning, Cathy needed some smart, elegant accessories and she needed them fast.  Rather than make a beeline for Bergdorf's, El Cheapo (that's me) ran over to the Chelsea flea market and tried to magnetize whatever was needed.  As if by magic, every item appeared!

The biggest score, imo, were these vintage shoes, which I'd originally bought just because I loved the way they looked; we never expected them to fit.  At two pair for $5, I thought they'd be fun to own if only to display.  What a surprise when later at home we discovered that they fit perfectly!  One of the best parts, aside from their being incredibly well-constructed, is that they're comfortable.  File under, Too Good to be True.





In the same outdoor lot, I found this fur stole, and at first I wasn't sure it would work with black accessories, but it did.  I guess you'd call this faux fox, but honestly, what I know about fur you could squeeze into a thimble.  Maybe it's time to learn.  Not bad for $15.  The best part about it is that it really glows.





Some of you mentioned hair accessories and I did look for some.  I didn't want something I'd have to fuss with (anything with a veil) or that I'd have to take off at the theater.  I found this little velvet geometric number, which I thought was simple and elegant.  It doesn't read in the photos but Cathy wore it to the theater, though not to the party afterward. 





I'd picked up these beaded gloves at Goodwill a few weeks earlier; I'm always on the lookout for good gloves.  They're not vintage but they are Vera Wang.



I think I read about these sweat shields on Already Pretty -- Sally's my go-to source for these kind of things -- and they really kept Cathy feeling confident and comfortable.  Who wants visible sweat stains at an event like this?



While the 1948 McCall's dress I made pre-dates the bouffant style, I wanted the skirt to have a little more fullness, so I quickly gathered some tulle (that I'd bought for that other rose-print dress) and stitched it to an elastic waistband to make a small crinoline.  Worn over a half-slip, it worked perfectly.

Given the importance of the occasion, I treated Cathy to some new cosmetics.  She's a drugstore makeup type of gal, but there's quite a selection in the drugstore these days.

Cathy wore L'Oreal Ravishing Red, a matte lipstick with slightly blue undertones.  A little Maybelline lip pencil (50 Red) helped keep lip edges clean.





I knew Cathy would need a little more coverage than usual for a long night, so I opted for this Maybelline "Instant Age Rewind" concealer/highlighter stick.  I can't vouch for its effectiveness relative to other products, but it kept Cathy glowing well past the bewitching hour.





Of course Cathy swears by Physician's Formula LeVelvet Foundation in Ivory, which she sets with a little loose powder.

Eye makeup is kept to a minimum as it tends to settle into Cathy's deepening laugh lines: just lashes, a bit of liquid eyeliner, and pencil (which she also she uses for her brows; she refuses to pluck).  A little oyster-white eye shadow on her brow bone completes the glamour-girl effect.

And that's it!

Friends, I have Cathy with me today and she is happy to respond to all of your beauty comments and questions, if any.  Like all of us, she's a work in progress and open to improvement.

Have a great day, beautiful ones!

P.S. -- Read Michael's take on the event here.  You can see the Cathy's original rose-print dress photoshoot here.