Birdcage veils under $100

The tradition of wearing a bridal veil at a wedding is kind of weird and hearkens back to ancient times when

Nowadays, people wear more symbolic than actual face covering veils, and the modern style is trending towards shorter veils or just headbands or fascinators instead of full length long veils.

I think I am going to make my own veil out of extra pieces from my dress that we cut off in fittings. But I need inspiration and maybe a base to start with.

One thing to think about when choosing your veil is what kind of hair style you want to have. The veil should accent it and work with it, instead of against it. You wouldn't want to cover a complicated hairstyle with a long veil or have nothing to clip the veil in to with straight hair worn down.
I have no idea how I am going to wear my hair at the wedding but I think it will be up somehow so it is out of my face and not too hot. I'm taking suggestions if anyone has them!

I like the birdcage or blusher style of veil with netting and a little embellishment, here are a few examples of that:


$28.75 Birdcage veil with flower VS 7021
This is reasonably priced and not too huge. The veil comes down to the cheekbones but doesn't cover the nose or mouth.


$99 Handmade bandeau veil with french lace
A bandeau veil is a variation on a birdcage that is more like a very wide headband that covers some of your face too. Terrible description. You're welcome.


$19 plain Birdcage veil with beaded bottom VS 7038
This has a smaller mesh than what is normally seen in a birdcage veil. It also has a scalloped bottom edge with beading on it, which I think is nice.
It would probably be a good base for adding your own decorations if you wanted to DIY a little and make it match your colors or dress without starting totally from scratch.

You can get as crazy as you want to with veils, in terms of both style and price.
I saw some outrageously expensive ones on Etsy that I won't link to, and found some good options too:


$45 Birdcage veil headband with pearls
This is a nice understated and minimalist take on a veil.



$68 Chamnpagne birdcage veil with flowers
I love how the flowers match this model's hair color. The mix of flowers and sparkle is well done and not over the top.



$69 Veil and rhinestone comb
This is a nice example of how easy it can be to put two pieces together (the comb and the veil) to make a finished look. You don't really have to buy something that is pre-made or all one unit.



$50 Scalloped lace birdcage veil
Let's not look at the trashy makeup and hair on this model and instead focus on the veil and how interesting it can be to have lace on your face (RHYME)



$72 Vintage lace bridal veil
I like the little floral ribbons on this bandeau style veil. I think it looks casual and relaxed and a little hippie-ish.


$36 Bandeau birdcage veil with lace
This wide netting paired with one lace embellishment is simple and pretty.



$55 Bridal blusher with lace
You have to be careful in your lace placement though otherwise it can look like you sneezed it out.



$49 Bridal lace and birdcage veil
This one is very nicely positioned and the lace is really pretty.


$100 Bridal veil flower blusher
This is a good design too. I guess I like the ones with one prominent lace piece on the veil.



$58 Eloise Vintage inspired lace birdcage veil
On this veil, the lace travels back beyond the veil into the hair which I think is a nice effect and I might try to copy if I can.



$60 Marcia Alencon lace veil
Similar to the one above, but with a different style of lace.



$70 Double layer lace blusher veil
I like the mesh over the birdcage fabric on this veil, it gives a nice hazy effect.



$66 White flower headband with detachable veil
I like the flowers and the pearl spray that the seller has attached to the lace and veil.



$86 French netting and pearls bandeau veil
A good example of how nice and clean looking it can be if you cut around your lace embellishment instead of keeping the tulle.

Stimulating hair wash

Ok so this stimulating hair wash recipe comes from a Victorian beauty quiz (which I knew way too many answers to for some reason, btw).

It is a hair rinse, but I'd also probably drink it.
Is that the point? Was it a "hair rinse?" wink wink nudge nudge slash excuse for women to get drunk?

Who knows.

One recipe for stimulating hair wash: A handful each of rosemary leaves and box (eucalyptus) leaves, boiled in a quart of water until it becomes a pint; strain, and, when cold, add a gill (4 oz.) of rum. Pour into bottles and cork them down.

Where can I get some eucalyptus to try this out?

I already have rosemary from the food coop.

6 ways to wear your hair to work

This article on thegrindstone.com  has a bunch of great ideas.
Most people in my office wear their hair down on in a ponytail.
These styles might take a little more work, but they are really cute.

Argan oil for hair

Everyone seems to be raving about argan oil recently.
It comes from a tree and it's the ingredient in the Moroccan Oil brand products, and is supposed to make your hair healthier and shinier.

I've been wanting to try it, but I'm cheap, and I don't like spending $20ish on something I don't know if I want.

Today, though, I was pointed to this oil on Amazon and you can buy the 2oz version for just $4.99, so I'm considering it.

$4.99 Agadir argan oil treatment

Have you tried any argan oil stuff for your hair or skin?
Was it worth it?

Best Generic Beauty Products by store

This MSN article tells you which drugstore/big box store items to get.

Items on their list that I'd try:

Walmart Equate Healthy Glow Daily Moisturizer, $4.54. "Because self-tanners all use the same tan-developing ingredients, expensive ones don't necessarily give better color," says dermatologist Heidi A. Waldorf. This gradual one left us with a natural-looking golden glow after just two days.

Walgreens Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Cream, $2.99. Body butters may come in a variety of packages and prices, but Hammer says that most contain the same ingredient -- cocoa butter -- at very similar concentrations. "It's a rich, fatty emollient that helps seal in moisture without leaving the skin feeling greasy," he says. "This should hydrate dry skin just as effectively as the more expensive versions."

Rite Aid Rx Suncare Faces Sunblock SPF 50, $8.29. "I love this," says Hammer of the antioxidant-packed formula created by the sun line Ocean Potion. "It goes on smoothly and disappears quickly, without leaving the skin feeling greasy at all."

Sephora Long Lasting Metallic Eyeliner, $11. Liquid liners are notoriously difficult to apply, but makeup artist Susan Giordano says that this one (which she says resembles a discontinued liner from Estée Lauder) has a felt-tip applicator that makes it easy to use, and the formula dries quickly.

Sally Beauty Beyond Belief ABH Intensive Repair Serum, $8.99. "This serum contains significant levels of alpha and beta hydroxy acids, so it should help to smooth, clarify, and even out skin tone," says Robinson.

Sally Beauty Ion Shaping Plus Styling Spray, $2.49. "This holds but still leaves hair touchable," says hairstylist Garren.

Sally Beauty Femme Couture Flawless Touch Brightening Corrective Pen, $8.99. "This lightweight concealer is a wink and nod to YSL Touche Éclat," says Surratt.

Target Age-Defying Cleansing Towelettes, $4.29. Stash this packet of soft, moist towelettes in your gym bag. "These are perfect for taking off makeup before your workout and then refreshing sweaty skin afterward," Day says. "And since they have softening ingredients like vitamin E, they won't dry out skin."

Hair Rat: the old fashioned Bump-It

Ever wonder what women did in the days before the Bump-it to get volume and cool shapes in their hair styles?
Well, they used what is called a "hair rat" which is basically a lump of hair from your brush that you save and wrap in a hair net.
Check out this tutorial on how to make one.

Once you have your hair rat all ready, you roll your hair over it and then pin in place. The advantage of making your own is that it will match your hair color exactly (duh) and will blend in.

SO, what's underneath your poufy hair?

Modern hair style with Bump Its

Vintage "Victory roll" hair style (probably with hair rats)

Hair Tips

Check out these 7 hair care tips

Looks like you should be putting breast milk, almond oil, silicone, hot towels, and a silk nightcap on your head.

Try all at once and report back to me please.

Useful household devices from Harriet Carter

Harriet Carter is a mail order magazine best known for old people goods, and the pants trolley I posted Friday.
But they also have some surprisingly useful and well-priced things that I kind of want.

$29.98 Makeup carousel
The tiers rotate like a lazy Susan so you can keep this by the sink and just spin it when you need that other shade of lipstick.

$5.98 Pie crust shapers
You know how it's so hard to roll out dough and keep it all in one piece and in a nice circle shape? Crust is the reason I never make pie from scratch. It just seems like there is so much that can go wrong.
This lets you stick the dough in and just roll it into the right shape. I think it's genius.

$39.98 Slim storage slider
This "pantry" is only 5" wide so you can use that annoying space between the wall and the fridge or whatever.
All NYers should know about this.

$29.98 Jewelry organizer
It fits over the door or you can just mount it on the wall.
Unlike most jewelry storage things this one might actually have a shot at holding most of my bracelets and necklaces!

$29.98 Hair Styling Station
Storing blow dryers and irons is a pain in the ass. They have long wires that get tangled or just hang onto other things, and sometimes you can't put them away because you have to wait for them to cool down.
This container is made of steel mesh though so you can stick your irons straight into it without fear of catching the house on fire. And there is a place to put the wires in back.

Etsy Find of the Day: Animal Hats

Animal hats (made of faux fur or knitted) with ears that stick out are all the rage this Autumn and Winter season.  I have always been jealous that the only people who could wear them before were babies and cosplay weirdos and maybe Japanese schoolgirls.
Now it seems that they have made their way into the mainstream.
Some people are calling them "Spirit Hoods" but if you call them that, I will slap you in the face. Try me.

Here are some cute options from Etsy:

 $70 Striped wolf hat and scarf

 $18 Dalmation hat with ears

$20 White fleece hat with ears

$50 Feathered fur wolf hat

$25 Giraffe earflap hat

$38 Crocheted monkey hat

Experimental braids

Check out this link which has 40 pictures of cool braided hairstyles

I really admire the ones that look woven like the one above.
The fishtails don't impress me, probably because I know they aren't that hard to do.

Two Fall Hats from Anthro

Fall is here!
It's cool out and it's time to wear a coat, which means your outerwear won't vary that much. Unless you have a million coats. That's another story.

Hats are a really easy way to cheaply vary your outerwear. When you put on a hat, your whole outfit changes. Now you are the girl with the hat!
But which hat?
Well, start with these two:

$29.99 Verdant Fields hat
I love the jewel tone dark green and the cloche shape.
Cloches really make your eyes and lips stand out because they cover or shadow other elements of your face, so make sure to wear some nice mascara and soften your lips with some gloss when you wear this.

$29.95 Corona Fedora
Fedora's tend to shade your eyes, so use that to good effect; wear extra dark eye makeup (try out that smokey eye tutorial you've bookmarked on youtube) and look all mysterious.
No one will fail to see you in this hat, so wear it on a confident day when you've taken time to choose your outfit.

Inexpensive Silk Pillowcases? Ok!

Haven't you always wanted to be a fancy fancy lady and sleep on silk pillowcases and have cucumbers on your eyes and a thick mask on your face?

Those things are more attainable than you think.
In fact, you can have a real silk pillowcase for under $13.

$12.65 Dharma Trading Silk Charmeuse Pillowcase
This company sells the plain ones for dying, but you could also just leave them white and they would be so great.

Silk pillowcases are supposed to make your hair shinier, your skin less wrinkly and pimply, and your whole life turn around. I think they also cancel debt and make you thinner.

What to Buy from the Anthropologie Sale

Now is the time of year when you should go out and make fast friends with someone who works for Anthro or Urban Outfitters, because now is the time when employees get 40% off already marked-down sale items (usually employee discounts only apply to full priced items).

Here is what I want:

$19.99 Redux Top
The pleats are unexpected with the striped collared shirt

$99.95 Artist's Rendering Dress
I used to have a great dress that showed a space shuttle launch scene. Ever since I decided it was a little too short, I've wanted to replace it with a fun "scene" dress.

$49.95 Tiburon Blouse
I like the painterly color strokes and the loose relaxed fit.

$49.95 Traced and tabbed blouse
Very small delicate print and roll-up sleeves are nice for work.

$29.95 Confluence top
Drapey and comfortable but still nicer than a regular tee

$49.95 Evening Chill Sweater
I like the shorter sleeve length and the wide weave.

$49.95 Lapel skirt
Definitely wear the shirt tucked in with this one.

$139.90 Pebble Beach Set
All silk and all luxury. I want to lounge around the house all day in this. But they are sold separately and the bottoms and top are 69.95 EACH which makes it not that worth it probably.

$79.95 Hacienda Heels
Fun red woven pattern on a nicely shaped shoe

$19.95 Deco Dash Headband in ivory
A quick and easy way to dress up your hairstyle. It's probably too big for my tiny head though.

$99.95 Anya Sheet Set
I know I don't need new sheets, but these are so pretty! And I know a girl named Anya and she would totally love these sheets too.