Q–I just bought a pair of leather pants. What’s the best way to store them: folded in a drawer or hanging in the closet? Is the answer the same for suede pants? Also, how often should I clean them, and what’s the best way to store them during the summer?
A–Hang, don’t fold your leather pants, says Monica Karolin, the store manager of North Beach Leather in New York. The best way to hang them is by the loops sewn into the seams of the pants’ lining. Another option is to fold them over a bar hanger, but save those wire hangers from the dry cleaners for your sweat pants. “Those [metal hangers] could be too sharp, and they’re going to leave a crease,” Karolin points out. Instead, use a padded or wooden bar hanger. (The same goes for suede pants, she adds.)
Karolin warns against having your pants cleaned too often: “Never clean leather if it’s not necessary, because the cleaning takes away some of the oil and the leather will just get dryer and dryer.” Unless the pants are soiled or not fresh-smelling, don’t worry about having them cleaned.
She also recommends that you rub your leather pants at least once a month with Cadillac Shoe Products Wax-Free Leather Lotion, which helps soften leather and prevent it from drying out. “Rub the lotion in with your hand, because if you use a cotton cloth or paper towel, it will leave white [lint] on your pants,” she says. If your leather pants accidentally get wet, hang them to dry (but not next to the heater). Once they’re dry, rub in the lotion.
During the summer, store your pants in a cotton garment bag. “Definitely don’t put them in plastic, because the leather will get too dry because it can’t breathe,” Karolin warns. Dried-out leather is more susceptible to cracking and won’t last as long. Also, don’t store leather pants next to something that’s a darker color–even darker-colored leather pants–because the color can rub off on your pants. You can keep your leather or suede pants in your house during the summer–if the temperature doesn’t get above 70 degrees.
Q–I’m going to a big party on New Year’s Eve. But every time I go out at night, I always end up wearing my same old “everyday” makeup, because I’m not sure how to look more glamorous without looking like Joan Collins in her “Dynasty” days. Any easy tips?
A–Actually, the good news is that your everyday makeup can be dressed up with one or two products that can transform your look by adding shine and shimmer. “These products will glam you up without being over the top,” explains Maureen Burke-Hewitt, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist.
One easy way to dress your look up is to line your eyes. If you’re not adept at wielding a liquid liner or eye pencil, Burke-Hewitt suggests using a fine angle brush (a tiny brush designed for lining eyes) dipped in a dark brown or black eye shadow. “You just press the brush along the upper lash line,” she says. “This makes lashes look a little fuller and gives more definition to the eye.” Besides being more difficult to apply, a liquid liner can look too hard, and an eye pencil can look too messy.
On your eyelids, you may want to apply a shimmery powder, such as M.A.C. Pigment Color Powders, over your regular eye shadow. “This is a pretty, shimmery pow-der that comes in different shades. It will give a neutral shadow a whole new life,” she says. Burke-Hewitt especially likes the gold and melon shades. Also, you can use your fingers to apply a little Pigment Color Powder to your cheekbones or on top of your lipstick to create a subtle shimmer “This doesn’t make you look like you’re trying to be a rock star,” she says.
Another way to give eye shadows a more dramatic look, or to add shine to cheeks and lips, is with M.A.C. Gloss Cream Brilliance.
On cheeks (for day and evening), she loves BeneFit BeneTint, a liquid blusher that comes in what looks like a nail polish bottle. “You put a couple of strokes on your cheeks and blend it in quickly,” she says. “It looks really healthy and glowing–like English cheeks. It’s so pretty.
“And for those afraid of wearing really red lipstick for the holidays, apply Benetint to the lips. It will stain the lips, and then you can put some gloss on over it. It’s really subtle, really pretty.”
If you prefer very glam lips, try M.A.C. Lip Glass, a very thick gloss that can be applied over your regular lipstick.
