Ask Belle: Vol. VI, No. Five

I have been neglecting the reader mail bag, and it shows. We need to clean out my inbox because I am tripping over Showit e-mails. How will I be able to delete the 12+ e-mail newsletters that I don’t get to in a day with all of these in my inbox? Seriously.

Let’s dig in.

Hi Abra,

I bought the Andie Malibu, but can you help me figure out how to style it? I take our kids to the pool at my parents’ community every day in the summer and I feel like the grammas look cooler than I do. I usually wear shorts and a t-shirt with sandals.

Sincerely, Cady

You can either style the Andie or wear a different cover up with it. When I wear the suit visible, I usually wear denim shorts or swim shorts with a linen button up shirt. Pick a cool sandal and great pair of sunglasses and the look is complete.

Want something breezier? More Palm Springs than kiddo pool? I recommend Ink + Alloy caftans. $98. So chic. Very fun. I also like this maxi-length linen button down from Anthropologie.

What is the best serum/moisturizer pairing for combo skin over 40? Thanks for the help. TRW

I’ve been using this Cica Gel cream from Meebak during the day. It’s light but moisturizing. Plus, it’s under-$25, which is great. If you find your still dry, I would add this Mother Science cream or another heavier moisturizer at night.

As for a serum, it depends on what you need. If you have wrinkles, I would recommend either prescription tretinoin, a retinal product like this one from Prequel, or this retinol serum from Mother Science. I have used all of these. My skin never adjusted to tretinoin, and I’ve been happy with the other products — but I have very minimal wrinkling.

If you have tone issues — dark spots, blotchiness — you need the Hero serum from Mother Science. There is nothing better with both vitamin C and niacinamide. If that price point isn’t where you want to be, other readers have loved the Timeless brand and the Paula’s Choice brand that cost about half.

Also, if you haven’t been to a dermatologist in a while, it’s time. Skin changes so rapidly as we hit our 40s, and it’s worth it to see a professional. And don’t forget the sunscreen; I am still shipping mine in from overseas so I can get the most up-to-date product. Read more about why foreign sunscreen is superior, here.

Abra: Need help. My father-in-law is turning 75 next week and my husband is overseas, so I’m on gift duty. He doesn’t golf or do manly outdoor stuff. He is a judge. He doesn’t cook. He reads a lot. He collects wine. Budget is $500.

– – – Thank you. Elise

Wow. Okay. I have only one “Dad gift” to offer here, the Eto wine decanter. It preserves wine, is beautiful to look at, and unlike other devices, it’s just a decanter, not some strange contraption that needs cartridges or filters and will just wind up in a drawer.

I bought one for Kyle and he loved it. So I bought one for a client, and she gifts them to everyone now. And I will probably buy us a second one, because I sometimes drink Vin de Days rose or white in the summer, and I only want one glass.

The decanter runs about $200, so I would gift the decanter and a $250 gift card to the wine store of his choice. If he collects, he definitely has a favorite shop and they might be able to recommend a bottle instead of the gift card for something more personal.

Belle,

All I wear these days is J.Crew. Different casual brands you like?

CL

This is a really good question, and I hope other readers will add their brands below too.

AYR – Very casual, easy to wear. Well made. I own their Early Mornings tee in three colors. Their Tate shirt with the stand collar is the greatest. And if you love a chambray shirt, the Deep End sells out every season. Their pieces have that old money, cool Mom vibe.

Aligne – My favorite brand of the last four years. Their peplum ponte tops and ribbed jersey tops can be worn with high waist trousers and jeans. They feel so tailored. I wear them with wide legs and heels when I need to look professional but be comfortable.

Marea – Like Anthro? Like pretty prints? This brand is for you. Very summery, very beachy. I own this one, and it’s so chic with a light denim jean and a sandal.

Tuckernuck – I stop shopping here, then I see something I love, and I’m back. It’s basically revolve for women who are more elegant than trendy. I love this ribbed polo. And this swingy shirt is so cute with black shorts and sandals, or denim and sneakers.

Abra,

I was catching up on old posts and I saw a recc for this Quince sweater. I haven’t bought anything from them and I’m skeptical that their goods are quality. Can you talk more about your experiences.

Happy Friday, Sophie

Real talk, not everything from Quince is as fantastic as some of the influencers tell you it is, but that’s a marketing fail not a product fail. Let me explain.

The blouses I’ve purchased, specifically this one and this popular one, are priced correctly. These are blouses are comparable in quality and price to an Ann Taylor or Banana Republic blouse. And they are both great shirts that I wore multiple times this session and became staples of my wardrobe.

I feel differently about the cotton sweaters. These sweaters are better quality than their price point. I own this fisherman’s sweater in two colors, it is $42 and wears and feels like a $100-$150 sweater. I also own this cropped cardigan that is $49, and it’s very comparable in quality to my $198 cardigan from another brand. This may say more about the other brands, but I am really happy with these Quince products.

Beyond that, I would say the value is very item specific. For example, I love a longer workout tank and no one makes them anymore. Quince has this one for $25, and it’s worth every dime of that price. But I’ve purchased and been gifted leather items from their collection, and I don’t find them to be as nice as some of the other brands working in the same price point. So your mileage may vary based on item, but that is to be expected with a brand that specifically deals in dupes.

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