Are gentlemen a vanishing breed?

Dear Tingting,

Whenever my 20-year-old daughter is fetched by her boyfriend-classmate, the boyfriend doesn’t bother to open the car door for her.  Are gentlemen a vanishing breed?  Or am I just too old-fashioned?

Grace

The opening and shutting of car doors is not generally a test of character, although it could give us a clue.  So my thoughts are do we go for the traditional or the practical?  Traditional: The gentleman who has opened a door for a lady must also close it, preferably after waiting for her to pull her leg and skirt inside the car.  Practical: For men and women to open doors for themselves and lean over to unlock them for each other.

The discussion comes only when expectations are too high.  The lady waits patiently inside the car because she is following the traditional while the gentleman is following the practical.  He departs from the parking lot and enters a restaurant, noticing that something is wrong.  He forgot to open the door for the girl and she’s waiting inside the car.  The consequence of the two mixed methods is: A courteous man gets more affection from his date and the practical method introduces her to what to expect when she decides it’s him.  Any of the two are permissible and acceptable.  Now, the traditional is necessary when we are in an evening gown.  The practical when we’re in a dreadful hurry.

Tingting

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Hue and eye

Dear Rissa, 

I’ve been reading online that metallic eye shadow is a big trend this season. But I feel that the silver eye shadows shown on the runways will not work with my skin tone. You always recommend products you have already tried, which is great so I don’t waste my money? What metallic eye shadow do you suggest for Pinay skin?

Say eye!: From the powerhouse cosmetics brand which participates in 23 global Fashion Weeks and provides makeup looks at some 850 shows worldwide, MAC brings you its M.A.C. Me Over! collection. Put your mattes away and pull out your metallic eyes shadows this season — Mythical, Satin Taupe, and Carbonized are warm metallics that will flatter and celebrate the Pinay skin color, too.

Abbey G.

Trends are wonderful style inspirations, but always remember to adjust and customize them so that they suit your personal style, body shape, and skin tone. I’m not a big fan of silver eye shadow myself. Whenever silver eye shadow would be the required look for models backstage during runway shows, I feel the icy cold hue makes my eyes look swollen or very tired. 

Instead of silver, go for warm metallics such as copper, bronze, gold or rust — they flatter morenas more. The MAC Me Over! collection features the prettiest warm hues in metallic eye shadows. I have the shade Mythical, a frosty coppery red. (Don’t worry, it’s more brown than red.) I love it because it instantly perks up tired-looking eyes. This warm metallic hue is so easy to wear, too! Just a sweep of color across your lids and the rich metal color spells instant glamour for your eyes. Wear it alone or pair it up with another fall/winter 2011 beauty trend — spider lashes (long, clumpy doll-like lashes which also make the eyes pop). If you want the best of both warm and icy metallics, try MAC’s Satin Taupe, a grayish-brown color with silver shimmer. If dark smoky eyes are your go-to makeup look, instead of black, try it in a metallic brown. MAC’s eye shadow in the shade Carbonized, a frosty dark brown, is a great alternative.

Rissa

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Mothercare knows best

Dear Lucy,

Help! It has been six months since my baby girl was born and although I have gone back down to my pre-pregnancy weight plus about five to seven pounds or so, I still get a muffin top when I wear my pants and skirts. I hate it. I know I should give myself a little bit more time to get in shape, but how can I transition gracefully? Don’t point me to Spanx, not yet. I loved that before, but I really cannot breathe easy when I wear that because it just holds me in too much. What are my other options? 

Grace

Go to Mothercare fast and get yourself a Mother Tucker. It is a supportive compression tank designed to smooth and shape your middle. Best of all, it is comfortable to wear. The Mother Tucker can be worn by all women, whether it is to compress the belly post pregnancy or simply to shape the midsection for a leaner and slimmer look. You can use it as an undergarment or wear it alone. It is available in natural and black, in round neck and V-neck. Priced at P3,795, it is a very good buy. You will be surprised at how often you will want and need to use it!

Lucy

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Send e-mail to tingtingcojuangco@yahoo.com and ltg@pldtdsl.com. E-mail Rissa Mananquil at stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @RissaMananquil.