Monday, April 29, 2013

First fashion blog, my first dress?



My first dress?
            I’ve never read or written a fashion blog. I don’t read Elle or Vogue. You may wonder why I say this? The main reason is I try and be an honest person the other reason is to let people know this is what I like about fashion!
I was looking at dresses as I was trying to prepare for this article. So many choices! Colors that I have no idea what they are! If you are not familiar with me, I am red green color blind. I’m sure most people in the fashion world would think of a color blind fashion lover?! Yes, just because I can’t see every color doesn’t mean anything to me, other than sometimes I have no idea what the real color is. Just because I can't see colors well, doesn't mean I can't see style! There are many dresses I like from Gothic style to wedding dresses and everything in between. Then you notice the title, my first dress? Why my first? Why don’t I have a closet full of dresses?! Well to put it bluntly, I'm a male. I’ve even made a kind of nickname for myself online. The color blind cross dresser.
Why does this matter? It makes my fashion choices and options somewhat different than an “average” woman. It seems like in fashion all you see is size zero or so women's clothes. I guess I should say this is the case in United States; I’m not sure what it is like in other countries. Now I like a pretty formal dress as probably many women do. I wouldn’t mind a Cinderella style dress with gloves all the way down to the shoes! You can’t see all of me, since I don’t have any dresses I can model at 6’ 1”, 256 pounds, with size 13 men’s shoes (US).  If you’re not used to pounds and inches here it is in metric; I’m close to 2 meters tall, 116 kg, and a 12 UK size shoe. I looked on my shoe for the UK size. The point is, if I were a woman I would be fairly big! There doesn't seem to be very many “fancy” dresses for larger women, at least from what I can tell. 
As I was looking at dresses I was thinking to myself that is really pretty, but it most likely doesn’t come in my size. In the states if I was a woman I would be considered plus size. Now you could say lose weight! True, I am over weight. That wouldn’t help with a few things however. My shoe size most likely would not change that much. My height wouldn’t be affected. Then there is the one thing that most women wouldn’t have to worry about, my broad shoulders. For a woman generally the largest measurement is her hips. For me and most men, it is the shoulders. The size of my shoulders probably wouldn’t change much ether. So, I’m a plus size cross dresser!
So, for my first pick of a dress, I will pick something I can wear.  I’m sure there are plenty of plus size women out there that the fashion world seems to mostly ignore. Here is the website for the first dress that I would consider buying. http://www.lanebryant.com/plus-size-dresses-skirts/wrap-dresses/whimsy-wrap-dress-by-kiyonna/4031c20256p151412/index.pro


Never hurts to include a picture. Is it my “dream dress”? No, but how many women would have a similar issue due to their size? I like the cobalt blue dress. How do I know it’s cobalt blue? I cheated! If you hold the mouse pointer over the colors they tell you what color they are! Nice for me!
I think the pantyhose they chose works well with the dress. Due to the size of my feet, high heels at a somewhat low cost, I would go for black. In fact I found some that are likely my size. Here is a link to them.http://www.heelsforyou.com/shoestore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_14&products_id=1402#.UXsuOLVwrng   The picture is below.


Now granted, most women don’t need a size 15 or so (US) sized shoe. According to a size chart online that would be around a size 13.5 women’s UK size. Since this outfit would be for me, I might as well go with shoes in my size! You will notice these heels do come in smaller sizes if you like them.
I don’t currently have my ears pierced, but would consider it; might as well consider earrings then. I’ve never really looked too much at earrings, but I think I’ll start looking more. For my first try let’s match it with the dress! http://strandedtreasures.com/item_55/Blue-Cobalt-Rose-Stud-Earrings.htm

Maybe not for everyone, but they caught my eye! I think they are pretty!
            Now to get some money, buy it all to make an outfit for me to wear. That will most likely take time. If I am able to buy it all, do you want to see pictures of me in it? I want to show you if I can do it! Think that’s it for my first try writing about my ideas on fashion!
Love,
Marilyn

Thursday, April 25, 2013

You guessed it, research. (Seems familiar)


            We finally made it to step six! Whew, thought we would never get past those first few steps and who knows how many questions. I almost forgot (Silly me)The article I'm referencing is from
 http://www.lhj.com/style/beauty/makeup/step-by-step-makeup-application/?page=2  sorry about that.
They say “We curl the lashes and apply mascara, top and bottom.” Luckily for me they have a picture.


Their picture, so that’s how you curl your eye lashes? I honestly didn’t know. I’m sure al the ladies are laughing, but I’m sure I can find you stuff I know that I would not think much about. Next step they say “Now the brows. They get groomed into shape with a spoolie brush. Any thin areas? “ I have old man eye brows, I would probably need to get them waxed. I have learned some from being married ladies. Then they say “Then brows are brushed through with the spoolie again to soften and blend. “ So twice I guess? Maybe just kind of smoothing it out the second time? (I’m guessing here ladies.)  I notice they say “Finally, a coat of brow gel keeps everything in place.” So, I Googled brow gel (I have no idea what it is) here is an example of a Google result.


This is an image from http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/laura-mercier-eye-brow-gel/2790282?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_ite=laura_mercier_eye_brow_gel:10765U&cm_pla=makeup:women:brow&cm_ven=Google_Product_Ads&mr:referralID=66cb7371-adfa-11e2-9dea-001b2166becc so they get credit. Looks like mascara to me! I’m guessing by the word gel that it is kind of like glue. They say “brush away excess loose powder (applied in step #4) from under the eyes.” So, I guess you don’t want excess powder because it would most likely look bad? The next thing they say is “To blush or not to blush? You could keep your face monochromatic and stop here” The only monochrome I know of is in computer monitors and it is just horrible! (Pretty much) According to http://www.merriam-webster.com monochromatic is “having or consisting of one color or hue.” I think this is what they mean. Encase you don’t know what a monochrome monitor is Google found one http://www.windowsreference.com

Now you can see why I was wondering you want your face to look like that? If you don’t add blush it is all about your eyes, makes sense. Then they say “ I apply a pink powder blush with a blush brush on the apples of her cheeks, then dust cheeks with powder to blend all the edges.Again with the brushes! I guess just like there are different types of wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, etc there are different types of brushes. I know tool comparisons again. The author is going for a subtle look. Guessing this means not too dramatic. They say they chose a “soft lip color.” Maybe some shade of pink?

Their picture so you can correct me if I’m wrong. (Which I probably am.)
Think that’s enough for today. Sorry for the delay on the blog, time slips by fast!
Love,
Marilyn

Thursday, April 18, 2013

More research




Found at least part of an answer to one of my questions here http://www.beautylish.com/a/vxymi/too-faced-sweet-sun-shines-lip-gloss. So this is one kind of lip gloss, shows you what I know, I’m still not sure of the exact lines between lip gloss or lip stick are. Think there is at least one other too. The lip glosses in the link are not only somewhat colored they have scents. I notice they say “Try layering Sweet Sun Shines over your favorite lipstick for a sultry, shiny finish.” They also say “And though the product looks glittery in the tube, it glistens more subtly after it’s applied. “ Which I would think would be a good thing if you are using on top of lipstick.
            Back to the article that I was working through, just thought I’ld put down what I found out about lip gloss. Encase you forgot here it is http://www.lhj.com/style/beauty/makeup/step-by-step-makeup-application/?page=2 Yep, still at step two, well maybe not step two but the second part in. I notice on foundation (If I’m following along correctly) they say “The true test of a color match comes when you start patting and blending it out.” So for me, put it on see if it looks ok while trying to do this on YouTube then ask people if I messed up.  They say “We put foundation over the eyelids; concealer under the eyes, and around the nostrils.” I guess the concealer under the eyes and nose is for shadows, or maybe wrinkles or bags under the eyes. (Just a guess.) I like what they say next “We use powder to take away the shine but leave a healthy sheen -- just a bit on a large powder brush, swept around her entire face.” So take off some, but not too much I guess? Then they say “Next: the "drop cloth" trick of depositing extra powder under the eyes to catch any eye makeup fallout.” The only drop clothes I know about are in painting. I think I’ve seen a woman do this in a makeup tutorial it was a small cloth. I guess this is what they mean. (If you need a painting drop cloth, ladies you are probably putting on way to much makeup! I’m kidding!) Oh boy then they say “On to the eyes: Aubergine shadow goes across the lid, from the lashline to slightly beyond the crease, where it fades away.” I’m going to Google Aubergine, what in the world is that? According to Google it is “A dark purple color like that of eggplant.” So it’s a color, didn’t know that. I probably can’t see it real well.
Looking at the picture of the eggplant all I can think is “That’s dark purple?” It almost comes out black to me, maybe a few shades lighter. Joy! I notice they say “I worked with a minimal amount of product on a large shadow brush.” Probably would be really dark if you used a lot of it! I think this part is important if I understand correctly. They say “Then a thin veil of powder sets and blends the edges. Note: As long as the shadow you use is a powder, you can go back and add more -- even after it's set with translucent powder -- to get to the level of intensity you want. Then dust with translucent powder again.”
I’ll have to try this sometime. As I stated before, from the research I’ve done so far for a cross dress such as myself you would most likely have to use liquid foundation with powder and concealer on top I guess?
Well enough makeup up and color discovery for tonight. Hopefully Ladie's Home Journal will not mind me quoting their article. All rights go to them, I’m just trying to use the information in it as a starting point. They don’t seem to have a way to contact them unless you are a subscriber; unless you want to use Twitter or Facebook and let’s face it they wouldn’t take me seriously or possibly even care since I am including the link to the article.
Love,
Marilyn