I’ve been thinking about re-wearing my gold, one-sleeved, vintage dress since last November. I found the right occasion for it this month at the Catholic Charities Gala Benefit at the Waldorf Astoria hotel.
What Wendy Wore
Dress: From Allan & Suzi’s vintage/consignment store (2004)
Shoes: Prada (2010)
Clutch: Sequoia, from Galeries Lafayette (2011)
Earrings: My own Cleopatra design
Lip color: Guadalupe by LA Splash
Hair: Worn down to please hair guru Keith Carpenter
I don’t know who designed this dress. I bought it as “vintage,” but it might not have been that old. It’s old now, though! I’ve had it 12 years.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York helps everyone, not just Catholics. Here’s the description of its mission from the organization’s website:
Catholic Charities, a federation of approximately 90 agencies and programs located throughout the 10 counties of the Archdiocese of New York, helps solve the problems of New Yorkers in need – non-Catholics and Catholics alike– with services that protect and nurture children, resolve family crises, assist the hungry and homeless, support the physically and emotionally challenged, and integrate immigrants and refugees.
MrB and I were invited because our friend Stephen Freidheim was one of the night’s honorees. Through Catholic Charities, Stephen has been a patron of the Incarnation School in the Bronx for the past decade. (His wife Amandine has taught art history at the school as well.) Timothy Cardinal Dolan was there to hand out the honors. I was excited to see a cardinal because it made me think of all the 14th-century religious conniving in my favorite nonfiction book, The Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman. I asked MrB, “Am I allowed to take a picture of a cardinal?” He said, “I don’t see why not!” So I took a picture.
I was kind of hoping a stern Church official would run up and yell, “No pictures of the Cardinal!” Just for the excitement, you know? But nothing happened. Apparently, a cat may look at a king and a random person may take a photo of a cardinal. Good to know!
UPDATED TO ADD: Here’s a close-up of my orange-y gold lipstick by LA Splash.
I spent a lot of time considering that color that night and I can’t believe I almost forgot to share it!
Wow, I love your dress! You look amazing. Your lifestyle is so different than mine, I am living vicariously through you. I like how you have your hair now. It’s like a modified shag Mohawk? It’s becoming on you.
I like that description of my hair style! 🙂
Such a great dress! That first sentence made me chuckle a little bit — a Catholic Charity Gala is the perfect opportunity to wear a sex-ay dress 😀 It’s really remarkable how you are able to continue to fit into these slinky numbers 12 years later (sometimes more!). #goals
xo
It’s the clothes that motivate me!
You just look ravishing in this dress, Wendy! I love the cut and shape of it. Perfect choice on the earring(s) and hair!
Thank you, dahling!
I just love this dress. One of my favorites from your closet!! I can see why he wanted your hair down, it looks so shiny and the choppy bangs are fantastic! Is LA Splash something that you bought in store or online? I have never heard of the brand.
Online! I found out about it from Instagram. The color I had was limited edition. I liked the look of it but I must say it smelled very chemical-y when I first opened the tube. Eek. It dissipated and didn’t bother me to wear it, but I probably wouldn’t buy the brand again because of that.
http://lasplashcosmetics.com/
Thanks for the link. I like seeing new brands. I always want to try MAC lipsticks because of you, too. Have you ever heard of the drugstore brand Jordana? They have the best matte lipsticks and they are $4.99 I think. They are not drying and last forever. That same brand also has a fantastic felt tip liquid eyeliner (Fabuliner?) which I tell everyone about. Ah, makeup and clothes!! I could talk about them all day!
Yeah, I always see people wearing the Rock N Rose lipliner from Jordana! I need to check that out. What lipstick color do you recommend?
Rock n rose is great, I have all the lip liners. Great quality. I lean towards brown and peach tones, so I recommend Matte Frappuccino and Matte Bare in the lipsticks. But they have a red that’s right up your alley (Matte Ambition?) and I bet Matte Dare (a vibrant plum.) I heard about them from a youtuber called Thataylaa. Have a great weekend!!
Ooh, I’m interested in the plum!
I freaking LUFF this dress!
Thank you!