The mood was appropriately majestic at New York's Marriott Marquis on April 11, when national members of the Imperial Court advocacy group donned capes, crowns and floor-length evening wear for the 29th annual "Night of a Thousand Gowns."

The evening, billed as "an opportunity to celebrate the [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community, and in particular, the colorful cross-dressing segment of that community," was a veritable showcase of sequins, style and sass, featuring performances by pop star Jody Watley, the cast of "Avenue Q" and singer Cheyenne Elliott. Also present were openly gay dance-pop artist Adam Barta and Blondie's Deborah Harry, a longtime LGBT ally.

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The Imperial Court itself is a grassroots, non-profit organization which aims to raise funds for various lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy groups. Each individual "empire" operates as a separate entity that focuses on causes within its realm and elects an "emperor" and an "empress."

The 2015 beneficiaries of the April 11 event were the National Gay And Lesbian Task Force and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York.

"It's a great showing of community coming out and supporting each other. It's fantastic to see people of all races, creeds, colors, sexual orientations showing up and having a good time," Natasha Jewel Dennis Carrington of the Imperial Court of Washington, D.C., who wore a Liza Minnelli-inspired gown and an Eva Peron-style hairdo, said. "You can be a black lesbian or transgender or like myself, a dude in a dress, which is my tagline -- and no one looks at you any differently because we're all here for the same reason."

The Queen Mother of the Americas, Nicole the Great, felt similarly, noting, "This is all about volunteering and love."

Pioneering HIV/AIDS advocate and "The Normal Heart" playwright Larry Kramer was honored with the organization's Imperial Diamond Award. True to form, the 79-year-old Kramer didn't shy away from politics in his acceptance speech, urging the crowd to "force this government and this Congress...to get off their tuchus and really get to work" for LGBT equality.

The Imperial Council of San Francisco celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, although the current reigning emperor, Kevin Lisle, said he felt the organization's passion is the strongest it's ever been.

"If I'm able to inspire someone to do something in support of the community, then my job is fulfilled," he said.

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It’s bad feng shui to have dead things in your house,” says Bianca de la Garza, admiring an arrangement of flowers that’s nearly as vivid as the print on her Topshop dress.

De la Garza, the longtime TV anchor who signed off last year and now hosts her own show called “Bianca Unanchored,” is in the kitchen of her South Boston condo being interviewed for a feature on the lifestyle blog “Lux & Concord.”

“Would you believe the flowers are always here?” she asks blogger Kaitlin Madden.

De la Garza isn’t taping an episode of her own show today, but she looks camera-ready: the cascade of blond hair extensions, the black eyelashes of a Bond girl, and, always, spiked heels. (An embroidered pillow in the living room reads: The higher the heel the better the day.) De la Garza is put together today because she’s leaving soon to go to a reception at the Boston Harbor Hotel and then to Sam’s at Louis for a bite with her bestie, Elisha Daniels.

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“I do have some crazy long days,” she says, “This isn’t one of them.”

As cohost of WCVB-TV’s “EyeOpener” newscast, de la Garza used to wake up at 2:45 a.m. Not anymore. Now she’s available to get her daughter, Danica, off to school or to a violin lesson afterward. At the moment, the 9-year-old is curled up with an iPad on the sofa. It’s striking how little Danica looks like her mom. With the dark hair and eyebrows of her father, WBZ-TV’s David Wade, she’s Lourdes to de la Garza’s Madonna. (Wade and de la Garza are divorced.)

“Dani helps me with all my choices, don’t you, Dani?” says de la Garza. “She has a keen eye.”

And there are a plenty of choices. When she occupied the anchor desk, her closet was mostly full of solid colors and monochrome patterns. And never anything too revealing. Now, as she rebrands herself, de la Garza, 37, is taking more chances. On Facebook and Instagram, she posts playful, sometimes provocative photos of herself in a bathing suit or a short, extra-snug skirt, often holding a Dunkin’ Donuts cup. (The company is a major sponsor of the show.)

“I’m just being myself,” she says. “My goal on the show is to not repeat one shoe.”

The show, focused on celebrity, fashion, and nightlife, launched in January, and airs Saturday at 11:30 p.m. on ABC affiliates in Boston, New Hampshire, and Portland, Maine. It’s an unenviable time slot — opposite “Saturday Night Live” — but de la Garza says she’s pleased with the show’s progress.

“It’s like a start-up. It’s exhausting and exciting. I created a media company,” she says, referring to her Lucky Gal Productions, producer of “Bianca Unanchored.”

After Madden and the photographer leave, de la Garza takes a seat in one of the two white leather chairs that face the flat-screen TV. She moved into the building a year ago and furnished the place with an assist from her friend, interior design consultant Bill Emery: Stark carpet, Mitchell Gold sofa, Keith Haring print, canary-yellow chair upholstered in velvet, and, next to it, a contraption that resembles a seventh-grade science experiment.

“I’m addicted to that thing,” she says of the aroma diffuser. “I can’t get to the spa, so I bring the spa to me.”

De la Garza, it seems, has a delicate sense of smell. When she was considering living here, her first concern wasn’t privacy or parking.

“You know when you smell other people’s cooking?” she whispers, leaning closer. “I didn’t want to come home and smell what 5C is having for dinner.”

De la Garza makes a quick change, donning a fuchsia A.L.C. skirt and top and a pair of silver Giuseppe Zanotti mules, and summons an Uber. She’s joining supporters of the Hot Pink Party, an annual benefit for the Breast Cancer Research Fund, at a kickoff event at Boston Harbor Hotel.

The small gathering doesn’t last long. Afterward, de la Garza is approached by one of the guests, John Fisher, the former Saucony CEO who lectures now at Boston College. He shows her a picture on his phone of his daughter, who bears a slight resemblance to de la Garza.

“Are you blonde?” he asks.

“I am now,” she laughs, striking a mock pose.

From there, it’s off to Sam’s with Daniels, a stylist at Neiman Marcus whose fashion sense de la Garza seems to value as much as her friendship. Daniels, wearing a kaleidoscopic Valentino dress and pink Chanel eyeglasses, has been de la Garza’s unofficial wardrobe consultant since her days at WCVB.

“Did you get the Versace I sent over?” says Daniels, sipping a glass of sauvignon blanc by a window overlooking the South Boston waterfront. “And what about that Zac Posen? Will you wear strapless on air?’

De la Garza smiles.

“Of course,” she says, “as long as the ladies don’t spill out.”

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The skirt of the summer is here. Marks and Spencer’s much talked about “It piece”, a 1970s-style suede skirt with a price tag of £199, finally went on sale this weekend in selected stores and will be shipped to the thousands who have ordered it online.

Although the skirt’s official launch date is not until 14 May, the buzz around the brown pencil skirt began in February, when it was spotted on the likes of model Alexa Chung and American socialite Olivia Palermo. Since then, it has been featured in numerous fashion magazines and blogs, including Vogue andGlamour, and on runways at New York fashion week.

Natalie Miles, a 35-year-old account manager at skincare brand Elemis, made a special trip to Marks’s flagship Marble Arch store in London last Friday and decided that the skirt lives up to the hype. “I heard about it online a few months ago and I really like the design and feel of it. M&S has got a lot better in recent years and this is a really nice piece,” she said.

FacebookTwitterPinterest Olivia Palermo in the skirt. Photograph: white formal dresses

Jayne Saunders, the store’s manager, agreed, adding that she was pleased with the reaction so far. “Our customers have been really positive. We sold our first one within minutes of the store opening.”

While this is good news for M&S, some shoppers were left disappointed. “They don’t have it in my size,” said Miles, as she looked through the rail to find it only had size 14s and above. “Oh well, it was a lot of money anyway.”

A faux suede version of the skirt has already sold out, and social media chatter has apparently drawn customers to stores. Such is the interest stoked by the skirt that it is credited by Marc Bolland, chief executive of M&S, with helping the retailer to its first rise in clothing and homeware sales in almost four years, after first-quarter results saw its share price rise by more than 5%.

A spokesperson for M&S said: “We offered customers the opportunity to register their interest in the skirt, to be notified when it is available, and several thousand registered. It attracted so much attention the store brought forward a limited first drop to this weekend. This is a great example of how our interpretation of the key catwalk trends has landed well with customers and the fashion media.”

Queralt Ferrer, head of design, thinks the popularity of the item is an encouraging sign. “The demand from our customers for premium investment pieces is always high. The suede skirt is a perfect example of this. It’s a timeless, wearable item that has a really luxe finish. It can be worked into any existing wardrobe for a 1970s look or an everyday outfit.”

Although a single item cannot save a floundering retailer, high-profile hits such as this can improve brand image of a brand in fashion circles and appeal to a wider audience.

Lily Russo, fashion editor at Grazia, which first included the skirt in its February issue and is featuring it again this week, thinks the piece has stood out as the must-have buy of the season and that M&S is right to have high hopes for its success. “I think part of the reason it has garnered so much interest is that, ultimately, it is a classic wardrobe buy,” said Russo. “Suede skirts can be hard to come by – especially at this length and on the high street. Add the buzz generated through PR and celebrity sightings and you have a sellout product. Plus the 1970s trend is huge for summer.”

Russo thinks M&S’s waiting list strategy was clever. “There’s been a lot of exposure on social media, and the fact that it is hard to get hold of has made it sell even faster. There is a lot of competition on the UK high street, especially in our current economic climate, and M&S has done a great job of appealing to new customers.”

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I don’t think Newton was talking about fashion when he said that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, but he could have been. One of the industry’s most exciting trends in recent years has been the continued growth of sustainable fashion labels, with brands like Kowtow, Claire Vivier, and Reformation offering eco-friendly options for people who can’t afford Stella McCartney. Forever 21 shopping bags are increasingly frowned upon in some social circles, and not just because of the weird bible verses stamped on the bottom. And how fun is it to get all riled up at Zara for so blatantly ripping off the latest Céline runway looks?

But for some the allure of Kylie Jenner’s latest take on the body-con bandage dress is all too tempting, according to a new report on the rise of “rapid fashion” in The Guardian. At the same time as Vogue — and upstart mags like Sumzine — are pimping slow fashion separates perfect for both fancy holidays and trips to your local food co-op, digital-only fashion brands are spearheading a second wave of fast fashion. Online stores like Boohoo, Misguided, and Pretty Little Thing have all experienced insane growth in recent years thanks to their bargain bin prices and lightning trend rotations. In these stores, every week is fashion week.

“I like to say we’re the quickest,” Missguided’s 32-year-old founder and chief executive, Nitin Passi, recently told The Guardian. “If [the high street] are fast fashion, we’re rapid fashion.” “We update our site once a day with new stock,” Passi says, “but in my eyes we should be updating it every hour. If a trend comes, we need to have it on our site in under a week.” In these stores, every week is fashion week. While Zara can turn a style around in a week, Passi claims he can do it in a day.

Part of these brands’ appeal is their knack for aligning themselves with #trending celebrities and style bloggers. Boohoo recently tapped Bella Thorne to front a campaign, while Misguided frequently posts photos of pop culture heavyweights repping their clothes.

So where is the financial burden falling if not on the brands or their shoppers’ wallets? Boohoo boasts that nearly all its clothes are made locally, on Leicester’s Chesterfield Road. That’s where the Sharma Women’s Centre was founded 30 years ago to empower women by teaching them how to sew. But last month the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) revealed that 75-90% of workers in Leicester’s garment factories were paid just £3 an hour. Bhav Mandalia, another Leicester-based manufacturer, claims “a very experienced worker” was offered that exact rate.

We’re not going to tell you to never ever buy fast fashion, but it seems a stretch to even use the word “fashion” in relation to brands that make Topshop beading look couture-level. “Fast” doesn’t mean “free,” and if you’re not paying, it’s likely someone else is. That $9.99 might be better off spend on a Chipotle lunch, at least if you want to keep your conscience clear.

[The Guardian]

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“THIS FEELS SO cinematic,” said actress Kate Mara upon entering San Francisco’s Legion of Honor last Friday. The neoclassical museum, set on a wild bluff, overlooked the Pacific Ocean and the setting sun, as a small battalion of tuxedoed men flanked the promenade.

The occasion was the Fine Arts Museums’ 12th annual benefit, hosted this year by Dior. It’s officially called the Mid-Winter Gala but has been nicknamed “The Prom” as it serves as a fine excuse for the city’s social set to dress up and stay out late. Appropriately, the fashion was as dramatic as the setting. Honorary co-chair Vanessa Getty debuted a sweeping black-and-white Dior gown she picked up in the fall. Meanwhile, Alexis Swanson Traina wore a dot-and-floral motif Oscar de la Renta dress topped with a lace shrug. “I’ve been saving it for the right moment,” she said.

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Along with local celebrities like director Roman Coppola and Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, a small crowd of famous (and beautiful) faces flew in for the evening, including Ms. Mara and Kate Bosworth—both in Dior Haute Couture—and model-slash-D.J. Alexandra Richards, who later took her post at the turntables beneath a rear view of Rodin’s “The Thinker” in the tented courtyard.

With a San Francisco flagship opening in the fall, Dior president Pamela Baxter was reassured by this unofficial Bay Area focus group: “I have to say that I’m impressed and I’ve seen some truly chic guests in Dior, so I think we’re good.”

As reputations go, black lace tends to land on the naughty end of the spectrum. But in today’s anything-goes world (we’re talking about you, Internet Breakers), that place is somewhat unfairly earned. In fact, black lace can provide a perfect way to cover up with a slyly elegant wink. That’s handily proven by the three ladies here—Michelle Monaghan in a siren-like Elie Saab gown, Jennifer Connelly in a trumpet-hemmed Louis Vuitton dress and young British model and actress Sai Bennett in a sweetly bohemian bell-sleeved frock by Danish label Ganni.

No longer just for louche lounge singers, the white dinner jacket has re-emerged as a more viable formal evening option, providing a still-classic alternative to the all-black tuxedo. Fittingly, the dazzling and dapper look has been adopted by some of Hollywood’s brightest leading men—Adrien Brody in a Dolce & Gabbana rig with a distinct, contrast black lapel, Jon Hamm living up to Don Draper’s debonair image in a peak-lapel Giorgio Armani jacket and Jeff Goldblum looking sleek in a shawl-collared Tom Ford tuxedo.

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Little girls may be made of sugar, spice and everything nice, but that doesn’t mean their dresses need to be. In fact, a successful Kickstarter campaign is proving that many little girls prefer their clothes to be made with patterns of planes, trains and math equations. It all started in 2013, when Rebecca Melsky’s two-year-old refused to wear anything but a dress.

“Occasionally we could get her in a skirt, but really just dresses all the time,” Melsky says.

But at the end of the day, when it came time to trade in those dresses for a pair of PJs, the toddler was more flexible in her fashion demands. Melsky even bought some of her PJs from the boys department because her daughter loved the patterns.

“In addition to wearing dresses, she also liked dinosaurs and robots and spaceships and things,” she says. “I thought, ‘Why doesn’t someone make a dress with a dinosaur on it — or a spaceship? Because she would totally wear that.’ And then I thought, ‘Someone should do that. Maybe I should do that. How do I do that?’”

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She approached her friend Eva St. Clair, and soon after, the two Silver Spring residents launched Princess Awesome — a company that makes dresses with robots instead of ruffles and pirates instead of pink flowers.

To make their first run of dresses, which they sold at a church bazaar, the duo fired up St. Clair’s old Singer sewing machine, which she bought at a Goodwill store when she was nine.

“We sold 75 percent within a few weeks, and basically had sold out within a couple months after that,” Melsky says.

It was clear that the two Princess Awesome co-founders needed to grow their company — and move their production out of St. Clair’s basement. But securing a factory was an expensive hurdle, and so was printing their own cotton fabric, which is designed by a female rocket scientist. Like many startups, they turned to Kickstarter and launched a campaign to raise $35,000. They quickly exceeded their goal, raising about $200,000.

“It’s just amazing how wonderfully it’s taken off. We’re going to be able to do five styles and more sizes,” St. Clair says. And since they reached their stretch goal, they’ll be able to launch a second line of dresses.

St. Clair says production will begin in May, and that the dresses should be ready by June or July. But for fans of their frocks, the Princess Awesome dresses can’t come soon enough.

“We’ve heard people say things like, ‘If only this existed when I was a child.’ Many, many people have said, ‘Why aren’t you making adult sizes?’” St. Clair says.

“It’s not just validating, but we’re so grateful that people are so excited to be able to have this kind of product that they can offer their girls — that it’s something that they want for their children, just like we want it for our children.”

Both Melsky and St. Clair say that while they are excited about the success of the Kickstarter campaign, they don’t have any immediate plans to open a brick-and-mortar store. Instead, they plan to grow their online store and possibly sell in other retail locations.

“We’ve been contacted by boutiques all over the country, and we would be particularly honored to hang in some of our favorite shops in D.C., but we’re still working out the economics of wholesale,” Melsky says.

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Check into gingham this spring.

An array of colors, as well as basic black, make the checked-pattern look fresh and new, fashion experts say.

“Gingham is everywhere,” says Gregg Andrews, Nordstrom fashion director. “We are seeing it in clothing and handbags and even in footwear. The newest way is to pair gingham with floral appliques.

“Gingham really is the embodiment of spring,” he says. “It has a whimsical vibe, and it's fun and youthful and romantic and a bit nostalgic.”

If you don't want to go all out with a gingham dress, skirt or top, a fun accessory is the way to go, Andrews says.

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“A really cute bag or some shoes that are gingham add some interest to an outfit,” Andrews says. “Buying a few accessories is a great way to freshen up your wardrobe.”

But be careful, he says. Some gingham tops can make you look like Elly May Clampett from “The Beverly Hillbillies.” A gingham shirt with denim cutoffs looks too country-girl, Andrews says. Instead, he says, match it with a pair of white jeans or a pencil skirt.

Mixing gingham and florals or graphics is on trend, Andrews says. It is best with coordinated color schemes, he says, and one pattern should smaller than the other so they aren't competing.

“Gingham never entirely goes away,” Andrews says. “We are seeing a resurgence of the pattern because a lot of retro- and vintage-inspired looks are in across all of fashion.

“Gingham is timeless,” he says. “The fit-and-flare dress is a natural for gingham and a natural look for spring and summer.”

Technically, gingham is considered to be white with another color, with the lines all the same width, unlike a plaid that can have varying widths, says Sara Griot, designer of O'Shaughnessey by Sara Griot.

“The variation for this spring with gingham is the size of the check, from very small to very large, which changes the look quite a bit,” Griot says.

“I think gingham is fun in a color, because it's just a fresher look for a classic pattern,” she says. “And it's a pattern that works as well for men as women. It's a clean, lively pattern that makes us all ready for warmer weather ­— spring and summer.”

Gingham is a fun and casual print, Griot says. She suggests dressing it up a little by pairing a gingham shirt with a pencil skirt and either a cardigan, V-neck sweater or a jacket — and then add jewelry. Another alternative would be pairing it with slim pants, a sweater and jewelry.

Marissa Rubin, senior fashion editor for People StyleWatch, says gingham has, like a lot of other fashion trends, carried over into swimwear.

It's best to pair gingham with a solid color, Rubin says, because it's the safest way to wear this print. Mixed patterns could work, but be careful if you try to layer them, she says.

Designers have embraced gingham, she says. She points to Diane von Furstenberg and Michael Kors, who featured gingham on the runway.

It is best to wear gingham either with a neutral or as a matching set, Rubin says. Scarves with the print are a great accessory, as are shoes, Rubin says. It's not easy to wear the gingham print in pants because they are hard to coordinate with a top that will work well, she says.

She says to try a hue that is different from the black-and-white or red-and-white combination.

“If you go with an unexpected color, it kind of departs from the classic look and makes it newer in the sense of it's been revitalized,” Rubin says. “When I think of gingham, I think of feminine. It is so on trend for spring and will carry over into summer.”

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Any fashionista worth her stilettos should never be caught dead looking any less than her fabulous self, no matter what the occasion. The new season has brought with it new trends and styles, which require minor tweaks to one's existing makeup styles. So in order to keep up with changing trends look no further and read on!

Firstly, this year, the skin is the star of the show. Clear, radiant skin that has a lit-from-within glow is most covetable; as such skin needs little to no makeup. Tinted moisturisers and BB creams are great options to attain flawless skin, as these new generation products tackle multiple issues.

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They conceal blemishes, provide good coverage and give beautiful sheen and glow to the skin. This year, shine-free, velvety skin with underlying gleam is all the rage. For parties, subtle touches of highlighter on the apples of cheeks add instant glamour to the face.

Spring is here, which means makeup gets awash with lots of fresh, pretty colours. Soft, delicate shades of green, pink, blue and plum look sweet and sophisticated.

The classic smoky eye is back with a bang this year; the only difference is black eye shadow has been replaced with jewel toned shades such as teal, aubergine, deep green and plum. Harsh, defined lines are a big no no. Instead, the smoky effect that is more of a soft haze is desirable. The inner corner of the eye, when dusted with shimmery highlighter brings a new dimension to the smoky eye. A thick line of black eyeliner with a slight flick at the end, complete with full, voluminous lashes completes the look beautifully.

Another aspect to eye makeup to bear in mind is the eyebrow. Overly penciled, thin eyebrows of yore have been replaced with thick yet well-groomed ones, which look natural and healthy. For parties, do not forget to fill them in with a pencil or brow powder. Use a bit of highlighting shadow in a pearl or silver shade on the brow bone to define them even more. For lips, vibrant shades of plum and berry are very hot this year. These shades are different than their dark, drier counterparts that were in last year. Jewel-toned variants of these hues that are hydrating and glossy look fabulous when worn in the evenings.

Add a bright, juicy shade of blush in shades of ruby and apricot to the mix and you're all set to be the belle of every ball this party season!

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Walking down the skin care aisle of the drug store can be overwhelming. With new pricey creams and serums popping up every day touting the benefits of peptides and sophisticated antioxidants, it can be hard to know what to choose.

There’s one classic skin care remedy that can do wonders for skin and is often overlooked—exfoliation, according to dermatologist Dr. Mary P. Lupo, Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine. As Lupo puts it, “It’s the dermatologist’s equivalent to the basic black dress.”

Exfoliation works by removing the outermost layer of dead skin cells. Not only does this immediately leave your skin looking brighter and healthier, but according to Lupo, it also helps “improve the penetration of topical active ingredients.” That means it makes all those fancy face creams more effective by allowing them to penetrate deeper into the skin’s surface.

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Shutterstock

There are three big categories of exfoliators, all of which you can get at your local pharmacy.

Chemical peels, mostly in the form of acids like glycolic and salicylic acid, tend to be the strongest and work by encouraging the superficial layer of skin to blister and peel off.

Enzymatic peels, like bromelain extract from pineapples, contain natural compounds that dissolve proteins and gently encourage an acceleration of the skins natural exfoliation process.

And finally mechanical exfoliation—in the form of facial brushes or scrubs—uses friction to slough off dead skin cells.

While exfoliation can smooth and brighten skin, not every type is right for everyone. In certain cases, it can do more harm than good.

At the Annual American Academy of Dermatology Meeting in San Francisco, Friday, Lupo discussed the benefits — and potential dangers — of exfoliating with dermatologists. She shared her expert tips with TODAY.

Consider your skin type

How you exfoliate depends on your skin type, says Lupo:

Normal — if your skin is not to oily or not too dry, you can probably handle a stronger chemical peel, such as glycolic acid.

Dry — if you have dry skin, but not super sensitive, lactic acid is a great choice, because it’s more hydrating than glycolic acid.

Oily, acne prone — salicylic acid is a great option here. It’s lipophilic, meaning it can break through that oil barrier. As an added bonus, it’s related to aspirin, so it has anti-inflammatory properties that can help calm acne-prone skin.

Black heads — this is where mechanical exfoliants, like face scrubs and skin brushes, work best to help open pores.

Sensitive — if you are prone to broken capillaries or rosacea, it’s probably a sign you have thin, delicate skin. Avoid strong peels or scrubs and opt for something gentler like an enzymatic peel. Look for ingredients like bromelain, papain or ficain.

Get the timing right

How often you can exfoliate depends on both on your skin type and the strength of your treatment method. Those with oily, hearty skin can probably get away with daily exfoliation, while sensitive skins types should stick to no more than a few times per week.

How do you know if you’ve overdone it?

If your skin turns very red or starts to discolor, you may want to tone it down. Those with dark skin may notice darker spots after exfoliating — this is known at postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and is a sign that your skin may not be up for such aggressive treatments.

Finish strong

The best time to use any skin product, especially moisturizers, is right after exfoliating, because “your skin just sucks it in,” says Lupo. She recommends looking for ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acids.

“Sun protection is mandatory for all patients, but especially when you exfoliate,” says Lupo, because you’re removing a protective layer. So opt for moisturizers that contain SPF 30 or greater, based on recommendations from the American Academy of Dermatology.

When in doubt, ask an expert

Exfoliating isn’t for everyone. Certain skin conditions—like inflammatory acne, cold sores, or warts—can actually be made worse by exfoliating. If you have any redness, rash or irritation on your face, Lupo recommends checking in with a dermatologist first to see whether your skin is safe for scrubbing.

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I'm at a tricky place: I'm 54 years old and I still dress like I did when I was 12. My closet and my storage unit are full of clothes I've had my whole life. I love to play dress-up, as queer as it sounds. When I was younger I'd wear anything that seemed like it had a character or a story behind it, like costumey party dresses and puffy skirts with crinoline under them. I still love those things. Barbie has always been a big influence on my style, especially the way she accessorizes. I still have all my Barbie-doll clothes from when I was young, and I've had human-size replicas made of some of them. (It's different when you have her outfits made bigger, though: When they're little there are just two snaps holding the jacket closed, but when it's made for a life-size person, you have to have a lot more snaps, or else the snaps have to be the size of a steering wheel.) And I'm a big wig person. I don't usually go out in public in them, but I recently had one made for $3,000, and it's fantastic. I think I'm going to wear it on Jimmy Fallon. I just can't wait to bring this wig alive! It was an extravagant purchase—an investment, like a piece of artwork. I plan to hang it on my bedroom wall because the theme of my bedroom is "haunted dollhouse," and this will seal the deal.

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I don't like to wear pants when I have to dress nice for something. One reason is that I'm short. Also, we never saw my mother in a pair of pants—not ever. I just think pants give it all away, you know? I like to remind myself that I'm a girl. My brother David once said something that always sticks with me. He was talking about one of our sisters—I don't remember which one—and he mentioned how she seemed to forget she was a girl, which can happen when you get older. You don't bother to brush your hair, or you wear the same shoes you've had since 1969. So that always stays in the back of my mind: Remember that you're a girl.

My friend Adam Selman is a great dressmaker. I met him on a Dolly Parton shoot, and he designs a lot of things for me. I like industrial zippers, elastic, and embellishments like rickrack and pom-poms and ruffles and bows. I definitely have some dresses that I'm too old for, like my Anna Sui and Betsey Johnson clothes from the '80s. I still like showing some leg because I've gotten compliments on my legs my whole life, and if you have a nice feature, you should show it off. I never got into exposing my stomach, but it would be fun. I once asked Adam to make me something with beige fabric around the waist so it would look like skin. He said, "No, I'm not doing that for you." I guess I need people to keep me in check sometimes.

"Pretty" doesn't register with me anymore. I just want to look presentable, like I made an effort. But pretty—it's like, why bother? I just don't think of myself that way. When I go to events and see all these other people who had a stylist dress them and who got their hair and makeup done professionally, I feel embarrassed even trying to look pretty. I always wind up thinking I look like John Mellencamp or a young Robert Blake.

In my everyday life, when I'm not going to an event or anything, I usually dress like a cross between a scarecrow and the person who sells Christmas trees. I've worn the same three pairs of jeans since 1999. The designer Todd Oldham gave them to me. They used to be his, so they were already old when I got them; he dropped the waistband for me so that they fit. They're all tattered, and I just get them constantly stitched up over and over—there's more patch now than jean. I have a friend who sews them for me, and I recently asked her if she could line them, so she took them apart and applied a fresh piece of denim underneath. It's almost like old jeans on top of new jeans now. It feels like I'm wearing a quilted diaper.

When I'm 90, I'll wear elastic-waist jeans and some-thing like a sailor hat. I don't wear hats now, but older women can get away with that kind of stuff. That's why I like to play older people—it's almost like I can't wait to age. But maybe when I get older, I'll start wanting to play younger people. In my early 100s, if I live that long, I'll start dressing like a teenager. That will be really crazy.

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