Ask the Edit: Vol. V, No. 14

Mar 26, 2018

I have a lot of unanswered Ask the Edit questions in my inbox, so I thought I would spend the remainder of March answering them before we dive into spring fashion.  Today, we’re covering cool sneakers, wedding accessories, white blazers, and more.  You asked, I answered.

Hi Belle!

I’m looking for a fun spring sneaker, something interesting and avante garde looking. I’m recovering from an injury and need to wear something sturdier than my usual spring mules, but I’m looking for something that won’t be depressing to wear in the interim! Looking to spend under 100 ideally but I could go a bit higher for the right shoe. I’m generally more of an edgy neutrals girls rather than floral and ruffles. Thanks so much!

– D

Let’s start with some sneakers with a classic look.  In the under-$50 category, we have this sporty-looking sneaker from Treasure and Bond.  I also like these satin Kenneth Cole sneakers.  For something different, these tweed sneakers are fun.

If I were buying sneakers for myself, I would either buy these metallic side stripe sneakers or these dark grey Steve Madden embellished fabric sneakers.  Both pairs have a sleek look that has a bit something extra.

Hi Abra,

You posted an eye pencil to your Instagram stories from Charlotte Tilbury that looked gorgeous.  I’m looking for a drugstore version, is there one?

-Tasha

I’ve used the NYX eye pencils and they have good pigment saturation.  I’ve also heard good things about the Iman makeup line, which caters to a wide range of skin tones.  They also make an eye pencil in some lovely jewel tones.

Hi Belle!

I just bought this Draper James dress for an April wedding in the South.  Suggestions on jewelry and shoes?  I’m not sure if I should go with statement earrings or a necklace since the dress is a bright color and lace.  As far as shoes, I really need a wedge so I can dance all night, and an open toe or sandal would be fine, because it will probably be warm enough!  I’m thinking <$100 for jewelry and <$200 for shoes.

Thanks!  Love the blog.  -Whitney

I love the bright pink on that dress.  It’s perfect for a Southern wedding.  Let’s talk about some simple combinations.

A Minimalist Look. Rose Gold Earrings + a Pale Pink ring +  Cole Haan peep-toe wedges

Something Bolder. Red Baublebar Statement Earrings + Red patent wedges

Feminine and Pretty. Marbled Resin Earrings + A leafy cuff + Gold wedges

You just have to decide what look you’re going for.  The dress gives you some options, just pick the right one for that event.

Abra –

I live in Texas and spring is already in full force. I’m looking for a versatile white blazer at a reasonable price point (sub $300). Any suggestions? I seem to have struck out at my usual go tos of Nordstrom and Ann Taylor. Thanks!

– Tara

There aren’t a lot of choices for white blazers this spring.  But there are a few available.

J.Crew has an open-front option; it’s nice, but not a classic.  For something classic, this Saks Fifth Avenue blazer is sleek.  This slightly modern Dylan Grey blazer is cool.

In the mid-price range, I found this $118 BCBGeneration blazer.  Under-$100, try this structured Mural blazer. If none of these work for you, my last three white blazers have come from Zara.

Plus-size?  This LOFT blazer is nice.  Petite?  Try this classic Talbot’s blazer (also in Misses).

Hi Abra,

Thank you for all of the advice over the years! I’m getting married this fall, and want my bridesmaids to pick their own cocktail dresses in a suggested color (sage green). I want to help them find options, but I haven’t been able to find anything online. Do you have any suggestions on where to find decently priced cocktail-type dresses?

Thank you! Leslie

Sage is not a common color, so there was not much to pick from.  BHLDN had a couple of choices, like this Angie dress or Brigitte dress.  But other than that, everything I saw either looked like a bad 80s prom dress or a mother-of-the-bride dress.  I hate to say this, but you might want to think about a more common color or find a bridesmaid line that carries sage as a common option.

 

Hi Belle!

I have a skincare question for you. As I approach 35 and spend more money on things that stay on my face– daily moisturizer + SPF in the morning, retinols in the evening– I’m looking to replace my Aveda Botanical Kinetics Gel Cleanser with a similar drugstore find. Any ideas? It isn’t too drying on my oily/combo skin and leaves my skin soft. Nothing with an exfoliating agent, please, as it seems to worsen my oiliness.

Thanks, Erin

I have three cleansers to suggest.  Both of which come highly recommended by friends with oily skin.

First, Bioderma Sebium.  It’s a bit weird because it’s more like a micellar water than a traditional soap.  You apply it to a cotton pad and keep wiping off makeup and impurities until the pads become clean.

Second, I’m not sure what you mean by exfoliating agent.  I’ve chosen products without scrub properties, but Cosrx’s Low Ph Good Morning cleanser has BHA in it, so it mildly exfloliates.

Third, Cetaphil Oil Control Foam Wash is my go-to if I need to grab something at the drugstore.  I don’t find it drying, but some people do.

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  1. Ashley says:

    I have oily skin, especially along my T zone, and I don’t care for the CosRX Gel Cleanser. It left an odd residue, at least for me. I prefer their salicylic acid cleanser and it’s not overly drying for me. I’ve also noticed a significant improvement in my skin quality and feel with The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid toner. Neither makes my skin oilier.

  2. Kate says:

    I agree with Abra–props for trying to be a helpful bride and make it easier on your maids, but you only get credit for that if you actually make it easier for them! Trying to find a dress in sage green would totally stress me out. Even if you opened it up to any green (which I’m not recommending) green is not a common color and very uncommon to see in solids for c*cktail dresses.

    • anna says:

      It also is not a very flattering color for most people.

    • Neens says:

      It might be difficult but if its what you want, i support finding options so your bridesmaids can make it happen 🙂

      try looking at options on brideside
      https://shop.brideside.com/collections/all/green+cocktail

      You can go through and select the ones you like/fit in your color scheme and let them go from there. I personally like the idea of this convertible one, you can have your bridesmaids each style it a little differently?

      https://shop.brideside.com/products/jenny-yoo-bridesmaid-dress-keira#morning-mist

      Hope you find something that makes you and your bridesmaids happy!

    • Alison says:

      I do love the idea of “buy any dress you like in this color” route for bridesmaids, I think everyone is ultimately happier and looks better, but I agree sage green is tough.

      I kind of love the “any shade of green” idea, I feel like a mix of greens has a kind of earthy glamour that would look great in photos, but it’s true it isn’t the easiest color to find year-round. I had my bridesmaids do a mix of metallics (I only had 3, so it was bronze-y gold, dark silver, and black with silver beading) and they looked fab, so I’m sure you can find a color scheme that will work!

  3. Emily says:

    Re: sneakers – I’m currently lusting after the pair in the link below after seeing it all over an Ann Taylor email: https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/soludos-ibiza-sneaker-women/4704333?origin=shoppingbag

  4. TheLOOP says:

    Walgreens carries a gel cleanser by BASIS that is incredibly refreshing, no exfoliation and around $5.

  5. AlWays a briDesmaid says:

    For what it’s worth, unless it’s black or navy, bridesmaids picking any dress they want in a certain color can be tough to pull off. Sometimes it looks great, but it can often end up very disjointed. I think it’s so much easier to pick a designer/fabric/color and let bridesmaids pick the style. As a bridesmaid, I actually find this LESS stressful because I don’t have to scour the universe of dresses in a particular color.

  6. Lindsey says:

    For the sage green question, check out the “Show Me Your Mumu” line. I just went through this as a bridesmaid trying to find a light blue/gray colored dress and remember they have a shade of light green. Bonus if you buy it at Nordstrom because you can get it hemmed for free.

  7. Sage green dresses sound beautiful, but kind of hard to find out in the world. You could chose a particular bridesmaid dress company as Abra suggests (my friend used Azazie and specified fabric, length, and color). I think the easiest bridesmaid experiences I’ve had have been pick-your-own with neutral colors – dark gray, black satin, and medium-bright blue. I’ve seen some lovely examples on blogs of very large wedding parties where they have a variety of color options (one I can’t seem to find now was vintage-y, gold, and green). For my wedding, I couldn’t be bothered choosing strict colors, as my ladies did jewel tones and it came out beautifully.

  8. Laura says:

    Not sure if this is too casual, but I love my white Eliza J ruched sleeve blazer from Nordstrom. It’s got 3/4 sleeves and a cropped fit, which is great if you’re short waisted.

  9. Emmy says:

    RE Sage bridesmaids dress: Check out Weddington Way. You can sort all their dresses by color and length.

  10. Charlotte says:

    For a childhood friend’s wedding, we went with Kennedy Blue’s bridesmaids dresses, all in the same color and fabric, but each in different styles. It looked unified but not matchy. You can order fabric swatches of their sage: https://www.kennedyblue.com/collections/color-swatches-1/products/satin-chiffon-fabric-swatches?variant=1481208004616

  11. Janine says:

    Bridesmaid dresses – try an online option like Brideside. I used them for my bridesmaid dresses (only two but they wore different dresses) and they have a good range of colors. Plus they will do mail try ons for our of town bridesmaids.

  12. Kara says:

    I chose Hunter Green for my September wedding. The only dresses I found and liked weren’t from a bridesmaid dress line. I found this at Nordstrom:
    https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/alfred-sung-strapless-high-low-sateen-twill-gown/4700240
    Good luck I hope you can find what you are looking for!

  13. Jess says:

    D-
    I was also in the market for a fun but functional sneaker. A friend recommended AllBirds to m, and I’m a huge fan! I got them in this pink: https://www.allbirds.com/products/womens-wool-runners?variant=1804650905607. I get a ton of compliments on them, and they feel like walking on pillows, even after walking around for many hours on the weekends.

  14. Amanda says:

    I can second the Bioderma cleanser – that stuff is amazing. Probably half the week I skip my usual cleanser and just use Bioderma on cotton pads to take off my makeup. If you are looking for a mild hydrating cleanser, I love the CereVe hydrating cleanser. It won’t fully dissolve mascara, but that’s what the Bioderma’s for. 🙂

  15. Tina says:

    I have these “spacey” sneakers and I love them, even though they are a bit different to walk in (I feel the muscles in my foot afterwards, but in a good way):
    https://us.puma.com/en_US/pd/muse-echo-satin-womens-sneakers/pna365521.html?dwvar_pna365521_color=01

    They also come in these two colors:
    https://us.puma.com/en_US/pd/muse-echo-womens-sneakers/pna365522.html?dwvar_pna365522_color=01

  16. lauren says:

    I just started using this gentle gel cleanser and would recommend it: https://www.target.com/p/the-seaweed-bath-co-purifying-gel-cleanser-4-fl-oz/-/A-52566979
    I have normal skin with occasional cystic acne breakouts. It is non-drying and doesn’t contain exfoliants – I have toners and tretinoin for all that good stuff.

  17. Jill says:

    Azazie is a great website for ordering bridesmaids dresses. You pick a color (they have sage green) and your bridesmaids can pick any cut of dress in that color. I just got a dress from there for a wedding this summer. I am really impressed with the quality and the delivery (it came fast and in a garment bag)! Plus they are affordable. I’ve been in a lot of weddings and this dress is definitely my favorite.

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