Past Elegance

Posse, this story begins with a long-ago trip to NYC (I cannot now remember why I was there – but I was always there, so (shrug).  I lucked into a suite at The Ritz on Central Park, it was a Saturday morning – and it was raining.  Now.  I am usually not the girl to loll about in a hotel suite on a Saturday morning (unless Idris or Jason (or Idris and Jason)   brought me room service.  But it was Saturday, pouring rain… my (probably) 257th time in NYC…

so I elected to stay in for a bit.  And watch a movie.  A Nelson Eddy/Jeannette McDonald movie, dunno the name of it (she’s an opera (?) ingenue, he’s a Somebody True, there’s a villain (who murders Eddy), etc etc.  It was my first-ever-and only E/McD film  and why am I telling you this?

Well.  Having murdered Eddy, the villain then marries JMc.  They are in her boudoir and he is attempting to woo her/whatever while she is preparing to dress for their evening out.  At one point in the scene she, clad in her corset and skirts, begins powdering her shoulders… and I was lost!

There is something sooo luxe, so louche, so… sooo… elegant about powdering shoulders.  It speaks of a bygone era, when dressing up meant really paying attention from head to toe… and a lightly scented powder was de rigueur for every lady’s toilette (oh, with the Fancy French).  My mother’s powders were Evening in Paris, Christmas in July and several Cotys (I still have her L’Aimant powder, which I love and use).   Unlike lotions and creams for the skin, scented powders are completely unnecessary and I think it’s that which makes them so utterly delightful.

My favorite is the vintage Arpege (that perfume is getting a LOT of play here on the Posse right now – and for good reason… but I digress).  The dusting powder is perfect for when you want to hint at a scent without going full-out with the perfume itself.  When I started this post I thought I only had those two (L’Aimant & Arpege) – but when I went looking I found I have several more.  No 5 (which ..duh), Fracas!!! (I think I deliberately forgot about it since I could choke an entire stadium with that stuff – but it is gorgeous!)… and a base that I made with arrowroot powder, kaolin clay and a touch of baking soda.  I have a stash of small shaker jars so when I’m in the mood I can put a cotton ball with some EO (or! soaked with a particular perfume – I did one with Amouage Tribute Attar!!! and wore it all Summer, one time. Glorious!!

It’s one of Life’s Little Luxuries for me, like scenting my bedsheets, that just helps me get through the day with a bit more elan (again with the French).  And who doesn’t need a little bit of luxury in this ridiculous world?

A few of my favorite things

Do any of you use dusting powder? What scents? Do you make your own?  I troll Teh Bay for vintages (and I’m surprised at how many sealed jars there are (fingers crossed it’s the original seal but if not… it’s just my shoulders (shrug) and OOOH! the backs of my knees – pretty much anything not mucus membrane-y.  The lovely Pexels photo I used has a brush in it but I prefer a puff.  Hey, it was good enough for Miss McDonald…. it’s good enough (or better than good enough) for me.