The young New Year– what a time of happy industry! Holiday returns & exchanges, spontaneous acts of cleanliness, temporary relief from old clutter before the new accrues…
I’m a really big fan of getting the old in good order– of making all my clothes, shoes & bags, however old, seem new. No, it’s not sexy, but here’s an inventory of what’s in my tool belt:
*Leather conditioner
I’ve been known to do crazy stuff like email the people at Loeffler Randall and ask what polish would be an exact match for my caramel-colored Matilde boots. They told me that they use Lexol leather conditioner on everything. It’s colorless, so there’s no issue with matching, and it definitely polishes and protects.
* Saddle Soap
My brilliant orange Mayle crossbody looks downright dirty after it’s been rubbing against my dark jeans all day. But a once-over with saddle soap and a moist paper towel and it’s back to bright.
* Soak
About a year ago, someone handed me a small pink promotional packet that I thought was gum, but was, in fact, a trial size delicate wash (or, as Soak puts it, “modern care for fine fibers”). Frustrated with having to constantly dry clean my ever-growing collection of silk tops & dresses (some of which– brace yourself– spot with water), I took a chance. And, ta-da! It’s been my go-to for silk and delicates ever since (I’d do wool, too, but I get worried about misshaping sweaters). I have the Flora scent and it smells just lovely.
* A lint roller
Have you ever said, “Wow-I just love the pants under all that fuzz and hair!”? I certainly haven’t. I try not to buy anything that’s at all linty– I mean, if it looks sub-par in the store, how’s it going to look any better once you’ve been wearing it to death? That said, certain things, especially dark colors, just need a little de-linting now and then. I have a travel-sized roller that’s great for trips and, for home, a regular-sized one from IKEA. It’s horrible– a real pain to remove the used sheet to get to a fresh one underneath– but the replacement rolls are so ridiculously cheap that I happily put up with it.
Don’t get me started on wrinkles. Can anyone recommend a good starch?
). Luxe tie-dye bags are by no means rare– Miu Miu makes one, and so do Foley + Corinna:
dream on, dreamer
I have a visceral reaction to a good nail color. Wherever I am, whatever’s going on, I just want to grab the hand and say, “Ooooh pretty.”
Unfortunately, I also have an instinctive response to manicures: I don’t like them. I feel like a fidgety child in the chair and ultimately bemoan the expense, or the workmanship, or both.
This weekend, though, I got lucky on both counts:
Friday: seize friend’s hand, wild for her polish. Is it pink? Is it purple? It’s neither. It’s both.
Sunday: at said friend’s house, am shocked to learn that she did her own nails in the color, Dream On by Sinful Colors. Am even more shocked when she paints my nails.
Seth says they look like candy. I think they look like gems. Whatever they look like, I can’t stop nail-gazing.
And apparently, I’m not the only one: check out the post devoted to this spectacular shade on Concrete and Nail Polish.