Beauty Bar

Sunday afternoon I made a half of a glass full of proverbial lemonade out of a mild yet rather lemon-esque hangover with an old-fashioned beer rinse, which made my hair ridiculously glossy. I was inspired after lying in bed with a pot of tea and perusing a few chapters of '70s-era style classic, The Handbook of Natural Beauty by Virginia Castleton, unfortunately out of print.

Today I went in for gloss of a different sort, in anticipation of my departure for a few days in Los Angeles later this week. I cashed in a gift certificate for a manicure, pedicure and brow wax at my favorite off-the-beaten-path beauty destination: Greenhouse Hand & Foot Spa, on 92nd street between Third and Lexington Avenues (tel 212.828.0286). There was a slight language barrier that became apparent when the aesthetician wanted to know how I'd like my brows done, which I cleared up succinctly: "Like a movie star." Elegant arches, check -- gorgeous, with the same whip at the end as a suspension bridge I saw in Lyon.

I chose coral as my color, given its status as a mini-obsession of mine at the mo', inspired by an absurdly catchy April March hook and the exotica almanac known as Albertus Seba's Cabinet of Curiousities.

Not quite sure what to pack for the trip, and too busy with significantly more pressing endeavors to really think about it tonight -- probably three shawls, a couple of dresses for dinner, a caftan, and a pair of sandals or two. I'm awfully bummed that the oversize Gucci shades I've had for a decade got crushed in my bag on the way back from France; guess it's all about the Ray-Ban Wayfarers now.

Related from the LL Archives: Collecting Desire.