I realized I needed a mask, and also that I didn’t have any at my house.  I stopped by my local “chemists” – that’s what they call a drugstore in England, but it actually is what this place is called: Omni Chemists on Union Street.  I picked up a couple of products that looked good.  First I got a tube of Earth Science Papaya Glycolic Peel (fancy!), then I got a bottle of witch hazel, which is a non-drying, alcohol free toner, and then I grabbed a pot of Palmer’s Fade Cream to even out my skin after all this sun. wind and acne had made it a mess.

In a perfect world I would have steamed my face first, but instead I washed it with warm water and applied the mask.  Even though it says papaya on the label, it’s actually more of an herbal thing…it didn’t smell like fruit at all, and there were even big green leaves in it!  I found the scent reminiscent of something…it started as very aromatherapeutic and then I started identifying the components: sage, thyme…and then it struck me, I smelled like stuffing.  I tried to ignore my Thanksgiving flashback and relaxed until the mask hardened.

Then I rinsed it off, used the witch hazel which was nice and refreshing with no sting or redness, and applied the fade cream.  I have to say, I noticed results almost immediately.  My skin was nice and smooth from the mask, and the fade cream reduced the redness of my breakouts significantly.

I was so thrilled with my recessionista pampering routine that I googled at-home beauty therapies and came across an aspirin mask recipe that I can’t wait to try: dissolve 3-4 aspiring in a tsp of water (or redness reducing eye drops), add a little honey and leave it on for 15-20 minutes.  Apparently aspirin has a similar ingredient to salicylic acid and is great for preventing acne!  Who knew?

These days especially it’s a great feeling when you can pamper yourself without shelling out a lot of money; I’m going to make it a much more regular habit to schedule spa time at home!

- Andy Warhol

Style isn’t just about the clothes you wear or the bag you carry, it’s about how you live your life, how you treat other people, and most importantly how you treat yourself.  These days, it’s stylish to manage your finances, to organize your home and find creative ways to make you and your loved ones happy and fulfilled.  I still advocate vintage fashion as an excellent (and stylish!) recycling tool, and I’ll keep up with great ebay finds that align with current trends, classic modern options that will stand the test of time, and fun fashion items to make a lady smile.  But with this still in mind I’m hoping to expand the reach of timelesstyle to include articles on finances, homekeeping, and health and beauty.  Peppered now and again with inspirational quotes from terribly stylish women.

I hope you enjoy, and I think this will be a great new opportunity for this blog!  More to come!

J Crew Tunic, $48

It’s a great look, albeit a little boyish. When I saw this top on Ebay, I loved how the cinched waist kept it feminine, while the notched collar felt so fabulously safari:

Ebay Tunic, $4.99

I picture it with a great statement-y necklace under the collar, just peeking out, some khaki capris and maybe espadrilles. Ah…bring me my rooftop in Cairo with a sunset backdrop…and a glass of wine and plate of olives. Paging J. Peterman…

The carry them in a variety of colors, but these two specifically (the coral and teal) remind me of something J Crew would sell:

And this black one is SOOO Chanel, it’s just awesome:

They also have matching bracelets available if you prefer…I wouldn’t double up, though, these are statements enough one at a time. Now in the interest of full disclosure, these are “vintage reproductions” and the pearls are obviously faux…but on the flip side they’re going for less than $10 a pop on Ebay, so I think we can manage!

Juicy Couture

Old Navy, $29.50

Beaded and embroidered cardigans were very popular in the 50s, and you can still find some truly beautiful examples. A tone on tone color scheme will always be subtle and classic, and of course black on black is the most understated of them all:

I particularly like the grey one; grey is so in right now, it looks like something you could buy off the rack.

Another classic combo is cream with copper or gold beading:

The craftsmanship and attention to detail back then was amazing, too…check out the embroidery on the sleeves! They even embellished the back, so there’s even more to see when you wear your hair up:

A lot of vintage beaded sweaters you’ll find online are in incredible shape, since owners would often store them for special occasions and never take them out again. You can also pay as much or as little as you like; the sweaters above ranged in (auction) price from $3.00 to $50.00. Keep your eyes peeled for a great deal and you’ll love wearing it even more!

As the holiday season gets into full swing, every single piece of clothing that’s embellished with something shiny is catching my eye. All things sequined and beaded are eligible for New Year’s Eve consideration. I like this, though, because the pattern is unusual for an all over sequined top, and it’s whimsical and unique without being overwhelming. I picture this with a pair of beautiful winter white pants and fabulous gold sandals.

It can be yours for $95.00 CDA from Refresh Vintage.

Behold an LBD with a twist:

Feather-Hem Silk Dress, $358.00

Sorry for the tiny photo, but hopefully you can see that those are feathers along the hem. I love this! I would not go black tights with it (what is up with that trend?) but I think this dress is so classic and yet so interesting. It’s very Audrey Hepburn but also modern and quirky.

Big ups, Juicy; now let’s put more effort into items like this dress and less into items like this:

Yikes.