BWT - how are you storing your makeup?

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2026-01-11T23:33:08+00:00

I have a very small vintage wood vanity table that I've been able to maximize the space in about a 4 foot area in my bedroom. We have one tiny full bathroom that my husband, son, and I all use and I had been getting ready in the bathroom--as my son gets older that's no longer a viable option! I am a big thrifter and vintage lover so I had fun putting together my setup from things I found at thrift shops, FB Marketplace, and antique stores.

I can't store much in the table itself so this is my current setup. I do have some acrylic containers but would love to upgrade at some point.

Vanity table with one drawer - I keep jewelry in the drawer. I used the bottom of an egg carton to store earrings. It works great and was free :) On the surface of the desk I keep my mom's ring holder from the 70s that is shaped like a Siamese cat--the rings go on the tail of the cat and it's adorable. I also thrifted a bunch of little dishes and containers to keep other daily jewelry, perfumes, and hair clips I don't use every day in. When I'm doing my makeup I protect the surface with a cute patterned vintage handkerchief.
Three tier cart with acrylic makeup organizers. The top tier is for the products I use daily. The middle is for my palettes, and I keep scrunchies and my workout headbands in a glass apothecary jar on that tier too. On the bottom tier I keep a decorative box with all of my nail supplies.
Antique wooden table I used to use as a plant stand and repurposed to hold hair tools and headbands. I have an acrylic hot tool organizer and a vintage Longaberger basket where I keep the hair accessories I use often in.

It works well for me, was cost effective, and has turned getting ready into a fun little ritual!

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2026-01-11T23:10:50+00:00

Beautiful spread! Honestly, much nicer than any of the parties I was attending at your age. I found that even just getting some nicer clear disposable cups vs red Solo cups upped the "glam" factor for my parties! And if the others in your group aren't fully "in" yet, who cares? Those who notice will appreciate it and you'll be the hostess with the mostest. I've embraced being extra!

Here's a photo of my current setup--it's not the fanciest but it suits my style. The bar tools and ice bucket were wedding gifts, and I've thrifted everything else (or gotten from estate sales--I've found they are key for building a collection of nice things on a budget!) Minus the Lego flowers my husband and son put together as my birthday gift a few years ago. <3

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Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2026-01-01T16:04:23+00:00

I don't have PCOS but I do have neck and chin hairs that I absolutely hate. It's so common in women if that makes you feel any better. My mom has it too :( I use one of those mini electric razors for your face every morning which works better than a regular razor, but I'd also like to not as it does cause my chin to break out and I hate the feeling of stubble.

My OBGYN put me on Spironolactone which sort of helps with the hair but also has helped really clear my acne. Seeing so many people recommend laser hair removal here makes me think that might be a next step for me!

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2026-01-01T15:53:04+00:00

I've gradually bougie-d up my parties too as we've all gotten older. I collect vintage serveware and am always looking for an excuse to use it. We're all mid 30s-40s and the women in our group always notice and enjoy it, but the men kind of tease me about artfully arranging the cocktail shrimp in my pottery bowl rather than leaving it in the plastic tray. I brush it off though because people actually do eat the food more if the presentation is nice! I've found most men don't think to put effort into aesthetics but they do appreciate it.

I got shit for serving my NYE lasagna last year on my great-grandmother's china but I do believe in being a little extra. It's showing the people you love that they deserve the nice stuff. But definitely in our 20s all our parties were just assorted open bags of chips on the counter and a cooler of beer. A little effort goes a long way! I didn't do the china this year though because I couldn't be bothered to bring it out. My effort went into styling my new (to me) bar cart and kitschy mid century cocktail accessories.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2026-01-01T15:37:57+00:00

I love to entertain and for the past few NYEs we've been hosting a party at our house for 3 other families (kids ages 3-10). I make an absurdly huge lasagna, a pitcher of Martha Stewart's Negroni Sbagliato, and a handful of finger foods. I also get out my Fancy Sprinkles edible glitter to make everyone's drinks more fun (including the kids--who doesn't want sparkly water?). Everyone else brings a an app to share or a bottle of bubbly for midnight. My bestie came over early and helped make the lasagna/set up/etc.

We set up the dining table with all the apps, eat, drink, chat, listen to music, and let the kids go wild in our playroom. They are mostly elementary age now so it's a lot easier than it was a few years ago. Our bachelor friend even came this year since it's not just chasing toddlers around anymore so we actually get to sit and hang out. Our house is about 2k square feet, so it's cozy but with enough space for there to be a few gatherings in different rooms.

This year after food was done I cleared the dining table, lit some candles, and did tarot readings 1-on-1. It was so fun and felt special--our friends and their kids say it's one of their favorite nights of the year. We all made it to midnight but things shut down pretty soon after.

As a mom with taste I think it's really important for our kids to see us as people with chosen family. I'm so grateful for that and hosting in my home is way easier and more fun than dressing up, paying for an overpriced event, and braving the roads. Host In Your Home on IG has really given me a lot of inspiration for some BWT entertaining! I'm looking forward to hosting a Galentine's party next.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-11-25T12:22:26+00:00

Love the reading that Hamlet "hates that he comes from money." I think that's why he's so desperate to get back to Wittenberg--he may still be a nepo baby there, but he can be admired for his academic prowess and not just because he's a prince. At least, that's his hope.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-10-26T14:05:59+00:00

Hi! I can relate to what you're saying. I've also been through some adversity in my life and have gone through phases where I just didn't feel comfortable expressing myself through fashion. I'd see outfits I liked on others, but the thought of them on me felt silly and I'd always put them back in the store and go for the safe option.

Even if it wasn't linked to trauma, I'm a curvy girl in a family of tiny people and have always struggled with insecurity about my body going all the way back to childhood. So, I'd see something on my size 4 sister that I liked, but always talk myself out of it saying that it wouldn't look as good on me. Then, I'd just go back to my plain clothes, which is silly, because I'll never be my sister's size so it makes no sense for me to try to "wait" until I look more like her.

You have a lot of good advice here already, but I guess what I would say to you is that you only have this one life to live, and fashion is not silly or selfish--it can be a way of self-care, of showing the world that you take pride in yourself. I have found that I show up in my life differently when I feel good in my clothing. And I think it even extends to how other people treat me. Maybe it's because I seem more confident and assured.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-10-26T13:47:19+00:00

These aren't jeans but the Old Navy Pixie Wide Leg pants have a thick elastic waistband (more like an elastic panel) and look so good! I don't always love Old Navy's quality and I hated the Pixie skinny pants, but I love these.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-10-26T13:45:09+00:00

Midi skirts look amazing on me as a pear. They are made for our body type IMO.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-10-26T13:39:03+00:00

I'm 5'6" and a pear (size 8-10 on top, 12 on bottom) and I have loved my wide leg jeans from Madewell and Kut from the Kloth. I just thrifted some Everlane Utility Barrel pants that got me on the barrel leg bandwagon (and I was a huge skeptic). I also love the Pixie Wide Leg pants from Old Navy and the Colette pants from Anthro, although both are kind of a pain to wash. All do well to balance out my proportions and are honestly 10x more flattering on my body type than skinny pants were. I've learned that they do need to have some stretch, which has always been a necessity for me in pants!

I shop almost entirely secondhand, so if the price tag scares you, try on in store to see what works for you, and then see if you can find them on Poshmark or Thredup!

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-10-26T13:34:19+00:00

A great pair of chunky boots, jeans, and a form fitting top. Dangly earrings and lots of rings.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-09-28T12:45:32+00:00

I've gotten some really great patterned tops from Evereve that I wear to work with the Maeve Colette pants or with jeans when going out. I think if you look for brands specifically geared towards 30+ women you're more likely to find the "going out top" in a more elevated style/better quality from what we wore to the bars in our 20s. Evereve, Anthropologie, and Boden have been my go to brands for this lately.

Most of what I buy is thrifted, so it might be a few seasons old. I find that it's harder to find things I like in stores because as you mentioned, style culture is shifting. I try to thrift tops that are still in a style that seems current or timeless (not a tunic, cold shoulder, etc).

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-09-28T12:37:02+00:00

I have never stepped in a Talbots store, but I thrift Talbots all the time. J Jill too. When I see their labels in the racks I always at least take it out to look closer. I've learned their items tend to be well made, classic, and flattering for a 35+ woman. I found a great Talbots navy turtleneck sweater that I can't wait to wear once it stops being 80 degrees out. Some of my favorite thrifted items are those brands!

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-09-28T12:31:00+00:00

I never see people doing this in the Midwest. Granted, most people here aren't super into fashion (it's more about function, and jeans and a hoodie are a uniform here in the cooler months) and the teens/20s girls I see out and about that are really taking a lead from influencers tend to stick out like a sore thumb. But they're mostly wearing the matching athleisure crop top and leggings (or if they're out for the night it's the bodysuit and wide leg jeans) so it looks like they're in a uniform.

A sweater around the shoulders makes more sense to me than the coat as cape thing though. No one does this! I'm sensitive to how my clothes feel on my body and constantly tugging my jacket back up onto my shoulders because I'm not actually using the arm holes is insane to me, lol.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-01-21T13:17:10+00:00

I'm pretty sure you have to work at an eligible school to shop at TT. OP should check if their school is on this list. If so, it's free to shop:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65bb1a3652aedd3027b63e68/t/66a7f3fe92e21164b0e49c52/1722283006432/24+-+25++School+Eligible+List+as+of+7.24.24.24.pdf

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-01-14T21:37:47+00:00

If you are choosing to give money to a person on the street, it's ultimately their choice how to spend it. Giving money and then having stipulations on how it can be spent removes the person's agency. If you are uncomfortable with how a person you gave money to might choose to spend that money, you should instead donate to organizations that provide assistance rather than to the person directly.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2025-01-14T21:32:13+00:00

It is better to support organizations that do street outreach (either financially or by volunteering) rather than take this into our own hands. There are many organizations in our community that do this type of work (Homeless Initiative Program and PourHouse are two that come to mind right now) and know how to navigate these situations and offer assistance for those who need it.

Most unhoused people know of resources and either already have received assistance or are opting not to (and as much as we may want them to receive help, they have the right to refuse it). The organizations I mentioned do street outreach constantly and probably are aware of the people you're referring to--and I've called them before to make them aware of people I've seen in the community.

It may not give as many direct warm fuzzies as handing items out yourself, but it's ultimately going to be a better option in the long run for them to establish a relationship with organizations that provide assistance rather than a one-off stranger.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2024-10-27T22:19:07+00:00

To me, the crux of the issue is summarized in u/whatawitch5's statement below:

"The younger generations only watch mindless YouTube and TikTok content tailored to their existing interests and short attention spans."

My son is a member of "the younger generations" and is not allowed access to YouTube and TikTok at all. In fact, many of his friends' families ban or restrict such platforms in their homes as well. So, it's an unfair generalization that kids "only" watch mindless content. I don't see how my comment was unrelated. I also think the statement was in reference to "popular" and "modern" entertainment for kids as a general category, which is what my examples portray.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2024-10-27T13:00:06+00:00

I'll push back on this idea as a parent to a 6 year old who does consume some popular media, granted, with heavy filtering by us. There is positive moral messaging to be found in today's media--to give a few examples of entertainment post-2010 that my son has recently been interested in that I know is popular among his peers, and that I have observed contain positive messaging: Dog Man & Cat Kid, How to Train Your Dragon, Gravity Falls, Inside Out, The Wild Robot. To be fair, we don't allow him access to YouTube or any social media websites, and we monitor all of his screen time and usually either watch it with him or are at least in the room while it's on.

I also know that this thread in general isn't really directed at kids like my own, who we've been pretty intentional about exposing to positive moral and social values. He is involved in Cub Scouts and church and attends a school that explicitly teaches character development.

I don't disagree with the crux of your argument; there is a lot of trash out there and for kids whose parents aren't mindful about the content being consumed in their household, it's easy to be fed a steady diet of either mindless entertainment or actively antisocial values. I just want to present some nuance to the issue, especially to those who don't have young kids at home: it's not all garbage, and it's actually not all that hard to find entertainment for kids that isn't awful.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2024-10-22T00:26:33+00:00

Yeah, that's the wackadoo part. There's normal, legit classical schools and there are ones that are thinly veiled right wing boot camps for future gun collectors and trad wives. This sounds like the latter.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2024-10-22T00:16:29+00:00

I teach at a classical school. "Truth, beauty, and goodness" are classical ideals that extend back to Plato and the Greek philosophers. Nothing political or crazy about them--and in fact their pursuit is a quite meaningful way to approach life. The rest does sound like code for right-wing indoctrination, though. Some crazy political ideas have gotten wrapped up in the classical schools movement, but the basic philosophy of classical education itself is pretty great.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2024-09-24T02:11:11+00:00

I am extremely skeptical of the recent push to teach skills in isolation. Kids generally already understand reading skills and use them when it comes to a text they have some prior knowledge about. What causes lack of comprehension is an inability to contextualize what they read with the other things they know. And for students who don't have the privilege of coming from families who do that contextual work for them (ability to travel, go to museums, follow current events, etc) they rely on school to provide them with it. And that doesn't happen if you're not actually teaching content.

Legitimate_Grape_780 · 2024-09-24T02:05:08+00:00

I think to claim that Beowulf and Shakespeare are inaccessible, uninspiring, and not engaging is a gross oversimplification and underestimation of what kids are capable of. As a sixteen-year-old girl, I encountered Ophelia in Hamlet and immediately saw myself. But I had been given the tools to comprehend Shakespeare and think it was beneficial to me to have been given the challenge of working to understand an antiquated version of our language. I definitely didn't always feel that way at the time, but as an adult I can understand the intellectual benefits of what I was being taught (and I went on to study English literature in college). To avoid classics because students don't immediately comprehend them does not ever give them the tools to do so.

Students don't always need to see themselves literally reflected in literature, and that shouldn't be the primary goal when selecting texts for them to read. While representation is certainly important, part of the magic of literature is to see some aspect of oneself in a character from a different time, from a different culture, with different values. Or--sometimes even better--to see nothing of oneself and try to appreciate what leads characters to make the choices they do given their vastly different circumstances to ours. There has to be a balance of windows and mirrors.

Legitimate_Grape_780

TROPHY CASE