Margaret Logan Style

I am lost without a good lipstick, not to mention extremely committed to it once I find the right color. In my case, that’s hot pink, but it must have just the right amount of blue in it, not a trace of orange, and it should be matte. Otherwise, it’s a reapplying nightmare, and really, who has the time?

Once and always a Chanel girl, I jumped ship a few years back for Nars Funny Face. It’s the penultimate lipstick in my book. I discovered it in Sephora at the Pru in Boston, and knew even without trying it, it was the color for me. I have never even considered another lipstick. That is, until now.

I recently got word that my Mom had run out of lipstick and needed a new tube. I, of course, was charged with the mission at hand, and only too happy to accept it. It is thanks to my Mother’s good guidance, after all, that I understand color and what looks well. In fact, it was the only cosmetic my Mother ever wore (or needed to), and she had fun with it. Colors like Chanel’s Pink Cobra or Laser Pink were absolutely stunning on her, and she wore them down to the quick before picking up another tube while out doing errands.

My Mom may live at Piper Shores now, but that is no excuse not to look one’s best, she would be the first to say. So I set out with my daughter in tow one afternoon to either replace her existing color, or perhaps find her something new.

First stop Chanel, of course. That was a quick trip. A new palette consisting of browns and berry shades simply wouldn’t do her justice. Onward to Mac, where the color selection was a bit better, but no one would give us the time of day.

Then I turned to see the Lancome counter, and instinctively I just knew. I was 15 when I first visited Lancome, at what was then Jordan Marsh, and it was my Mom who took me there. I had been waiting impatiently for over a year for the parental okay to start wearing makeup (my friends were in full face by the time they were 14, but my father absolutely forbade it), when one day she suggested we go shopping and quietly stopped by the Lancome counter and said, “Margie, why don’t you try on a lipstick?”

I nearly died! My heart soared with excitement as the woman behind the counter counseled me on color and how to use make up to enhance one’s gifts rather than to conceal or cover them up. We left that day with the whole nine yards ~ mascara, eye liner, lip liner, blush and my very first lipstick, Rose Ivoire. I will never forget it, and it will always be my favorite.

And so it was in this spirit that we sauntered over to Lancome, took a glance at the tray of colors and knew immediately the color for her – Rock Icon Fuchsia.

The gal behind the counter couldn’t have been more helpful, and as she reached in the cabinet to grab a tube, I said to her, “You know what? I’ll take two.”

As we dashed over to Piper Shores to bring my Mom her new lipstick, I said to my daughter, “Okay, darling. Off to bring Gram her new lipstick.”

Weary from over an hour in the mall, my three year old let out a sigh and said, “I don’t want to go to Piper Shores now.”

“But a gal can’t go without her lipstick, after all!” I explained, hoping to boost her excitement.

“A lady can,” she replied, without missing a beat.

Touche. My mother would be proud.

The Rogues Gallery N’east pullover is weather-beaten to perfection. Perfectly broken in, if you will. Which means it will be the most coveted item in your closet this fall. A sweatshirt by any other name, leave it to Rogues to give it that extra edge of cool.

Authentic to the bone, it’s hand printed here in Portland, Maine, and retails for $118. Visit Rogues Gallery or stop by the shop on Wharf Street for more information.

What a welcome change of pace for fall ~ a wool wrap dress by Diane von Furstenberg. Feel like forgoing the trouser suit or the pencil skirt for a change, but still need to look polished and put together?

What better way to exert your sense of style, not to mention your need for comfort, than the Dalila wool wrap dress by DVF. The multi-colored geometric print is eye catching without being over the top, and the iconic cut is not only flattering but positively cozy in 100% wool.

Dress it up, dress it down, as we like to say. It will take you anywhere. Pair it with tights, tall boots, sling backs or high heel booties. It’s versatility is its trump card.

Available at Net-A-Porter.com for $375.

My friend Darrell recently asked me to write more about “dude wear.” You know, man clothes. Fair enough, I thought. I really should make more than the occasional comment on what’s happening in men’s fashion, especially since the fellas really do have a genuine interest in clothes and looking good. I mean really, Darrell. It is my pleasure.

First things first. I Google “men’s fall fashion” to see where it takes me. Top on the list is Men.Style.Com. This is the online site of GQ, which seems like a safe bet. I click on Fall Fashion Report and this is precisely where the trouble begins. No wonder men fall back on twill chinos and a knit polo for casual wear. Who could begin to interpret a list of top trends like this? Here is a sampling:

Fall outerwear anyone? Calvin Klein’s Molded Foam Jacket, $1,695, available at Saks Fifth Avenue. This bears a slight resemblance to a laptop case from Sharper Image.

Turning heads for all the wrong reasons. Trust me, not even Tom Ford could pull these off. Maison Martin Margiela sunglasses, $575.

Studs are huge in women’s fashion right now, so why not for men? Boots by Bess, $320. Prada shoes $990. But buyer beware. This look is more London punk than weekend casual. And you better have attitude to spare if you’re going to step out in either of these.

This reads more like a list of what to avoid this fall than what to embrace. But don’t despair Darrell. Men’s fashion has never been so promising or so full of options, and we’ll just dig a little deeper to bring the best to the fore. Stay tuned!

Lovely. It’s the perfect word to describe this silk pleated skirt from Chloe, available on Net-A-Porter.com. A little Grace Kelly, a little Baroness Schraeder, it’s feminine, sophisticated and utterly delightful. Oh, the places you’ll go…

I had the pleasure and the excitement of discovering what I like to call the 007 of all jackets in real time and glossy print at virtually the same moment.

I stopped into Barbour by David Wood on Friday morning to check out the new Tokihito Yoshida-designed capsule collection of Beacon Heritage jackets and immediately my eyes fell upon the black Motor Riding Jacket. With trim lines, a substantial weight and an extremely modern sensibility, its bells and whistles are bountiful. And yet discrete, perhaps even a bit covert, which make this jacket all the more intriguing.

It’s a worldly jacket that demands such a life ~ rugged and sporting, urban and fast. The man who wears this scales mountains, pilots his own plane and chuckles at the notion of living life in a gray flannel suit.

Just as I was lost in thought about this handsome global entrepreneur, suddenly a GQ Magazine was thrust into my hands with the words, “Check this out.”

And there it was, larger than life on page 65 in the October issue of GQ – a full page editorial endorsement of this superior, high performance jacket that is both at home in the rural highlands or any buzzing metropolis you can throw at it, without missing a beat.

At $999, it’s high performance, haute couture for men. But don’t mull it over too long. The only Barbour store in America to carry this fine jacket is our very own Barbour by David Wood on Commercial Street, and as of Friday, only two remained.

Call 207.699.5551 for more information.

The Madeleine Bows Emma Dress by Kate Spade, $355. Just perfect for an evening wedding…..

I have seen many a woman trip over this closet conundrum ~ it’s an evening wedding, what should I wear?

A few rules of thumb always apply:

1. do not wear white (or any tonal shade of white) – there should be no upstaging the bride.

2. it’s always a good idea for your shoulders to be at least partially covered. Sleeveless dresses are lovely. Strapless I would save for a hot summer day.

3. be aware of the setting and dress appropriately. I once helped dress a gal who was giving a reading at a wedding at the Cathedral here in Portland. I guided her away from strapless because it is considered respectful to cover one’s shoulders in a Catholic church. She was relieved to be aware of that and felt more confident for the big day.

4. Black is indeed acceptable. Very often an evening wedding is equated to a cocktail soiree when considering how to dress. It’s a bit more formal, generally speaking, and darker colors, fancier fabrications and more colorful jewels and accessories fit the bill.

5. The age old conundrum of how to cover one’s arms is always a source of distress for most women. Remember a feminine, fitted cashmere cardigan with 3/4 length sleeves (applique, jeweled buttons or festive trimmings make this a perfect cover up) or a soft pashmina will take care of this fashion dilemma nicely.

6. Hose or no hose? This is a tough one. I have to digress and say go with what feels most comfortable or right for you. If you have tanned, toned, shapely legs and it’s not sub zero outside, forgo the hose. If not, there is nothing more polished than a nice pair of hose to complete a look. With one caveat: if you are wearing hose, DO NOT wear mules (you need your toes to grip the shoe), and if you are wearing sandals, make sure you spring for hose without a toe seam.

Now, let’s take a peak at some fun options for evening wedding wear:

Lou Lou silk dress by Tory Burch, $425

Chetta B. Metallic Silk Jacquard Dress, $400

Diane von Furstenberg’s Grano Velvet wrap dress with dolman sleeves, $345.

I remember buying my first “real” pocketbook. Not something I picked up at TJ Maxx or at the mall on sale, but my first real investment piece. I was just out of school and heading off to interview in New York and Boston, and I needed something that presented well, was good quality and functional.

Where did I go to buy that bag? Coach. A small black bucket bag with a side pocket and brass hardware. I think it cost $147, which was expensive, but not so much money that it was out of the ball park. I loved that bag and used it for years. It felt like a million bucks and it gave me the extra confidence one usually needs when one is young, inexperienced and interviewing.

I continue to gravitate toward Coach, especially since Reed Krakoff took the creative helm. And definitely when I see bags like the New Ocelet Haircalf Large Brooke bag. It’s such a departure from what has become the common place brown logo canvas bag, and not so easy to identify as “Coach,” for those less drawn to the logo as statement piece. A bit more unique, a bit more style, and a lot more expensive.

With a price tag of $1,400, this really does fall into the category of investment dressing. But a girl can continue to dream…

Talk about never going out of style. There is a reason she is known as an icon.

Here’s to you, Jackie O!

File under immediate must-have for fall ~ a sleek, chic merino wool sweater dress. With sling backs or tall boots, a great cuff and an iPhone, where can you not go in this? I’m partial to the turtleneck belted wool dress above, for the outstanding price of $149. It will be the hardest working garment in my wardrobe.

And are you ready for this? Compliments of Talbots, of all places. Available in Valley Green, Palomino, Pine Cone Heather, Shadow Heather, and my personal favorite, black.

May wonders never cease.