PeaceBang’s policy is not to discuss her own church work on this blog but she just wants to say that a certain student minister who preached in a certain congregation this morning not only gave a terrific and very promising first sermon but looked just smashing with a touch of lipstick and make-up. VERY polished, and it made a difference under the lights.
THAT said, PeaceBang attended the theatre on Friday night and was made very perplexed by a woman audience member who came flouncing in wiearing a really fantastic sort of wrap — it was that fuzzy knitted material (shredded chenille?) that looks somewhat like fur. The wrap was dramatic and orangey-colored and would have just been FABULOUS if it hadn’t been thrown on over a Henley tee-shirt and jeans. The hair was drab and in the face, the face was bare of make-up and similarly drab. PeaceBang struck herself in the forehead in the classic ‘I could have had a V-8′ gesture and said, “Ah Ha! This lady has mistaken a Finishing Touch for her main course!” This happens all the time. The man who attends the wedding in a tux with frizzy, unruly facial hair and wax in his ears. The gal who puts on a velvet dress and walks out the door bare-legged and wan, thinking that the dress will do the whole job for her. The minister who dons the vestments and throws her hair up in a sloppy bun and shuffles out in scuffed clogs. Tsk tsk. Preparing to be out in the world is more than a matter of one wrap, a tux or a Geneva gown. You can’t expect one garment to do that much work for you.
All that woman in the theatre needed to do to look presentable was to exchange her Henley tee for a black sweater, powder her nose and put on some lipstick, comb her hair and add a pair of earrings. That’s all; that simple. Like last week when I was invited to give a talk on campus and wasn’t dressed very nicely I simply changed my black comfy shoes for kickin’ bronze boots. Brush the hair, apply a fresh coat of lip gloss and voila — if not fantastic, at least presentable. At least not jarringly inconsistent.
Simply this, pigeons: when dressing up, dress up all of you. As MotherBang always says, “I can’t STAND IT when I see women in formal wear and no make-up! If they had bothered to do their hair and make-up they could have purchased a dress at half that price and looked twice as good!!”
That’s the kind of wisdom that has earned her the nickname Mother Superior.
I know just what you mean.
I always hated it when I would see professional women on the Washington Metro in fabulous suits, gorgeous boots, great bags – with plastic barrettes in their hair! Ick!
Okay, that was dumb – though I do know just what you mean, my example demonstrates that PRECISE OPPOSITE of what you had pointed out. I apologize. [Wait, no it didn’t! That’s EXACTLY what I mean, only flipped a bit. Because finishing touches can destroy a carefully-composed look, too. You got it, babe. – PB]
That makes total sense. And that’s why I never wear formal wear!
I attended a certain congregation to support my good friend, a certain student minister, and I couldn’t agree more that she looked professional, polished and poised under the pressure (and the lights).
Peacebang,
Do tell, what did you see at the theater? I was in Boston for the first time last weekend, and saw “The Veil Monologues” on Friday evening. What a kick it would be if we were at the same performance! [‘Twas local regional theatre, my dove. How was the show? — PB]
It was excellent – I would highly recommend it (was playing at the ART) if it comes around again!
ooooh, this is my pet peeve about peoples’ getups! I am very picky about my details, but I don’t have a lot of space to store multiple accessories, coats, shoes, etc., so I’m learning to select basics that I can dress up or down. For example, I have a beautiful wool winter coat in pale blue. It’s totally plain, collar and buttons down the front. I can tuck a knitted scarf under the collar for low-key, casual things, OR I can splash a large silk scarf with pretty flowers on it out over the collar for formal or drama.
Oh dear. I have spent much of my adult life without wearing makeup, except for a brief Mary Kay phase. I figure some of the money I haven’t spent on cosmetics went to all the books… However, age spots are appearing, so I must rethink all.
My major question, though:
I don’t like to see lipstick smears on a communion cup, and I really don’t want to add them. Also, in the winter I tend to have dry lips that often split – I don’t want to leave blood smears behind either! What can I use on my lips that will prevent them from splitting, but leave no residue behind? [Check the archives, m’dear, I’m sure we addressed this question in the past. Check the “lips” category! – PB