Gambit's CUE January 2019

CUE MAGAZINE A M O N T H LY

LIFE + STYLE + DESIGN

GUIDE TO NEW ORLEANS

JA NUA RY 2019

HIT

REFRESH F O R 2019 SHOPPING

Adding Pantone’s Living Coral to everyday life HOME

Protecting gardens from freezes F E AT U R E

Lessons on adulting FA S H I O N

Slow fashion

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C UE M AG A Z I N E •

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CONTENTS

JANUARY 2019

7 SHOPPING

50 (OK, 13) shades of Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year, Living Coral

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C UE M AG A Z I N E •

J a n u a r y 2 01 9

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4

FASHION

Build an intentional wardrobe with the slow fashion movement

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HOME

Winter-weatherproof outdoor gardens

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FEATURE

How to establish a budget, choose a new light fixture and other lessons on adulting in the New Year

BEAUTY

Rehydrating to fight the winter skin blahs

REGULAR FEATURES:

5 Editor’s Letter 14 Resources

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#FOLLOWING

Get ready for Carnival season with Millisia White and the New Orleans Baby Doll Ladies

[ FROM THE EDITOR ]

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I plan to welcome 2019 with gusto. Out with the old and in with the … well, the slightly less old, but new-tome, as in the case of my purchase of a refurbished cellphone that’s several models newer than my previous phone and a used SUV that’s 10 years younger than my 18-year-old car.

These things are huge for me and my lifestyle, but maybe you’d like to start smaller.

Our feature story this month offers a few lessons on adulting in 2019 — a step-by-step explanation of how to achieve small #lifegoals such as establishing (and sticking to!) a household budget, crafting a weekly meal plan that doesn’t involve running to Subway for lunch six days a week, building a terrarium so you’re not the only living thing in your apartment, and — perhaps the most adult task of all — choosing a new light fixture to refresh your home decor. An expert from each field (two, in the case of the meal plan tutorial) breaks down each task into very do-able to-dos. I’m feeling more accomplished already.

Speaking of refreshers, the shopping column is full of home

ON

CUE

Publisher JEANNE EXNICIOS FOSTER Editor KATHERINE M. JOHNSON

and fashion items in Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year, an invigorating shade of orangey pink called Living Coral. Banish the winter blahs with a set of Baroque-inspired lamps or retro earrings in the year’s “it” hue.

Refresh your skin with dermatologist-approved tips for rehydrating your body’s largest organ despite the constant holiday revelry (next up, Carnival!), and refresh your closet using the tenets of the slow fashion movement and the advice of a personal stylist.

Yours in peace, love and a fresh year of re-dos,

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Yours truly (right) and Maritza Mercado-Narcisse.

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Locally Made: Door Hangers Tea Towels Potter y Folk Ar t Candles Stationer y Apparel Wine Glasses

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Wrapping Paper

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[ SHOPPING ] Cardigan, $28 at

Trashy Diva Clothing Boutique.

Lamps, $549 for the set at Eclectic Home.

LIVE YOUR

Adjustable ring, $14 at Funky

Monkey.

Retro beaded earrings, $14 at

best life IN SHADES OF living coral

Vintage singlebutton top coat, $28 at Funky Monkey.

Home and fashion goods in Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year

Funky Monkey.

BY SAR AH R AVITS Bracelet by Mama’s Little Babies, $55 at Gogo Jewelry.

Bolo tie by Alligator Pear Goods, $125 at

Glitter Box N.O.

C UE M AG A Z I N E •

Louisiana geode magnet, $18 at Lucy Rose.

Monogrammed dinner napkins, cocktail napkins and guest towels, from $45 each at Leontine Linens.

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Hexagonal sunglasses, $12 at Funky Monkey.

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[ HOME ]

CREATING A FROST FORCEFIELD

BY K ATHERINE M . JOHNS ON

C UE M AG A Z I N E •

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How to protect plants from winter’s harsh freezes

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AFTER THE GREAT GARDEN BROWN-OUT OF 2018 when consecutive hard freezes killed nearly every bit of greenery in lawns and gardens across the city, we’ve all learned the importance of planning ahead to protect our plants. Running outside pajama-clad in the middle of the night to throw bed sheets over every blooming thing will work as a last-ditch effort, says Ashley Smith, horticulturist and garden center manager at The Plant Gallery, but complete, effective coverage is easy with a little prep work.

It’s important to understand when plants are in danger. Any time the temperature dips below 32 degrees (the freezing mark), the moisture in a plant’s cells freezes. The expansion of that freezing water causes cell walls to burst and damages the plant. Smith says the structure of the cell walls of some fall and winter color annuals (such as pansies, violas and snapdragons) allow the cells to expand with the freezing water and then contract as temperatures warm and the water thaws, but tender, fleshy plants (like succulents and any plant that gives when you squeeze it) will experience sometimes irreparable damage.

Annual bedding plants such as dianthus and dusty miller are cold-hardy, but tropical plants and summertime ground cover plants such as coleus and lantana likely won’t recover from a hard freeze.

“Woody plants and shrubs like azaleas are more resilient,” Smith says. “The ability of a plant to repair itself varies from plant to plant, because some plants can rejuvenate from the root and some cannot.” Even with proper protection during a freeze, “chances are that all of the top portion of the plant is going to die back … so it’s important to at least protect the roots so that, worst-case scenario, it has to come back from the roots in the spring.”

Smith outlines the steps for covering your garden and maximizing protection.

• Water plants thoroughly before covering them. “Make sure they’re fully saturated, because if they’re dehydrated already, then injury is really hard to come back from,” Smith says.

• Cover the ground around plants with mulch to help protect the roots. Smith likes pine straw because it’s lightweight and renewable. Spread between 1 to 2 inches of mulch

over the ground, but she cautions more than 2 inches is oppressive to the plant.

At night, plants respire, releasing oxygen and water droplets into the air.

That condensation actually helps keep the plant warm. “I also want to caution against putting mulch too close to the trunk of the plant because right at the trunk, there needs to be some space so that it can breathe,” she says.

• The type of covering is critical to the plant’s survival. “In a pinch, I’ve used sheets before, but you don’t want to use plastic,” Smith says.

“In an emergency, plastic is better than nothing, but since it doesn’t breathe at all, it holds all (the plant’s) moisture in, and then it can actually freeze inside there.” She swears by frost cloth, a dense but breathable felt material (available at The Plant Gallery) that “helps to keep the transpiring condensation … when that gets released at night, [which] helps to insulate.”

• Frost cloth does have its shortcomings, however. “Frost cloth only gives you between four and eight degrees of coverage,” she says. “If the temperature goes down to 30 degrees and your plant is sensitive at 40 degrees, then you’re going to get some sort of die-back anyway.”

• Cover plants so that the frost cloth reaches the ground on either side of the plant.

Weigh down the cloth’s edges with bricks or something else heavy to trap the heat from the ground under the cloth and further insulate the plants underneath. It also will keep the cloth from blowing off. Smith recommends tenting the cloth over plants, so it isn’t in direct contact with its leaves. “Many extended cold spells are accompanied

Ashley Smith of The Plant Gallery says the best way to protect plants from a hard freeze is to cover them with frost cloth, making sure the ends of the material reach the ground. Weigh down the ends with something heavy to keep the cloth from blowing off.

by rain,” she says, “and you want to avoid having the wet frost cloth atop the plant for an extended period of time. … Prop the cloth up (with bricks or stakes) so it’s not on the surface of the plant material itself — it can freeze the plant anyway.”

• It doesn’t hurt to cover cold-hardy plants to offer more coverage and protection for tender plants. The more condensation under the cloth, the more warmth available to insulate those plants.

• Don’t forget to uncover plants when the temps warm up. Smith says the threshold is 38 degrees, but even in the rare instance that temperatures stay below freezing for days on end, you still should uncover plants at least a few hours a day to let them breathe and get some sun.

How to create a closet with a purpose for the New Year B Y S U Z ANN E P F E F F E R L E T A F UR

WOKE

WARDROBE

a deliberate wardrobe with timeless, high-quality pieces that can be worn again and again.

A graduate of Loyola University New Orleans and Loyola College of Law, Santelli currently lives in Tampa, Florida, but her team of stylists is scattered throughout the country. There’s a Style Me New branch in New Orleans, and Santelli frequently visits the city.

She shares the shopping and styling wisdom she’s acquired throughout her career.

First, she suggests building a “capsule wardrobe” by buying well-made “staple pieces,” or classic items, that you can wear throughout most seasons. This is

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2018, according to The Fashion & Apparel Industry Report), it’s no surprise our closets are filled with forgotten clothes or relics of a recent trend.

“People buy so much online, and when they get it, they don’t like it and they throw it in the corner and they never return it. It’s money wasted,” says Christina Santelli, founder of fashion stylist service Style Me New. “(Online shopping) is a habit, and some women do it because it’s easy and accessible. They don’t have to go anywhere.

They’re in their pajamas and they shop online.”

Through Style Me New, Santelli helps women declutter their closets and build

easy to do in New Orleans since the city enjoys year-round moderate weather, she says. Elements of your summer wardrobe can be worn in the fall and spring and even during parts of winter.

“A capsule wardrobe is very thoughtful in terms of, I have ‘X’ amount of shirts that go with ‘X’ amount of pants,” says Santelli, adding that clothes in neutral colors such as black, tan and gray are wise buys because they’re basics that can be embellished and render different looks. “Then you add accessories to that, and whatever footwear you feel comfortable in — whether that’s a pump, a heel, a sneaker or a bootie.”

Santelli recommends purchasing an assortment of separates that can be mixed and matched, so you can create several outfits. Also, shop your closet.

“That’s what I call a ‘closet redo,’ she says. “Essentially, people hire me to come in and edit their closet.” She’ll toss clothing the client hasn’t worn in years, create outfits with the remaining pieces and showcase them in a virtual look book. Clients can sift through the look book when trying to decide what to wear to work or a special event.

Santelli uses software to create her look book, but you can snap pictures of your outfits on your cell phone and store them in a digital portfolio that’s easy to reference.

Although Santelli says online shopping and impulse buys are the culprits for a closet brimming with unworn clothes, she doesn’t think you should completely avoid sales. Instead of splurging on a trendy top you may wear only once, be selective and look for investment pieces that are temporarily marked down, she says.

“Start with your foundation,” says Santelli, adding a surprising bit of advice. “Get fitted for a bra. It’s a very good time to get it done and buy a good bra, because it’s a foundation for what’s under your clothing and how the clothing fits.”

From there, look for clothes that are conducive to your lifestyle, Santelli suggests.

“I’d really concentrate on the pieces of clothing that you would use on a daily basis, versus that cute dress that you would wear on a date night kind of thing,” she says.

Footwear comes next, because “we can really spice up an outfit with a great pair of shoes,” she says. You also can opt for a statement purse or an accessory.

“Stay away from the red herrings … unless there’s a really good deal,” like a novelty piece such as a leather jacket that’s “marked down extensively after Christmas,” she says. If you have room left in your budget, give in to the temptation and go for it.

C UE M AG A Z I N E •

WHEN FLASHY EMAILS ABOUT AFTER-HOLIDAY SALES FLOOD OUR INBOXES, it’s tempting to click a link and stockpile our online shopping carts with supposed bargains — even if we don’t really like them that much. One or two pieces may become instant favorites, but some garments are stashed in the closet with your vow to wear them later, after they’ve been tailored to fit properly, of course. Others are left in the package, waiting to be returned.

But weeks later, they’re still waiting …

In the last few years, fast fashion has become a booming industry. Big-box retailers such as H&M and Zara have capitalized on consumers’ demand for trendy, inexpensive, mass-produced versions of the clothing and accessories strutting down luxury label runways.

In 2016 alone, H&M opened 427 new stores (nearly 1.17 stores per day). Zara has honed its production model to such precision that the company can design, manufacture, ship and market a style in as little as two weeks.

In response, the fashion industry has seen a small yet persistent wave of retailers and consumers that want to change the way the industry does business and curb the practice of inundating shoppers with thousands of options for the most on-trend T-shirt or slip-on mules. The slow fashion movement is based on the idea of deliberate, sustainable and ethical consumption of apparel, footwear and accessories, although many consumers may find the “sustainable” part difficult to comply with. True, you can shop vintage clothing and upcycle what’s already in your closet to reflect the current trends, but there simply aren’t many retailers that have made the move to sustainable, eco-friendly practices yet.

B Corps, a voluntary coalition of businesses that set and meet high legal, social and ethical standards in hopes of fostering an inclusive and sustainable world economy, awards the “Certified B Corporation” label to companies in several industries around the world. To date, fewer than 100 fashion retailers (in an industry that annually generates around $3 trillion, according to a report compiled by FashionUnited) have merited the designation. And with e-commerce giants now making up a considerable portion of the industry (a projected $481 billion worldwide in

THE

[ FASHION ]

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[ F E AT U R E ]

LESSONS ON

Adulting IN THE NEW YEAR

BY K ATHERINE M . JOHNS ON

Experts answer some common how-to questions to get you going on your 2019 to-do list.

HOW T O…

C UE M AG A Z I N E •

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… choose a new light fixture

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Kirsten Gaiennie, owner and designer at Sazerac Stitches, a local lighting and decor business, says there are three ideas to consider when choosing a new light fixture: height, scale and function.

Height: Fixtures hanging over tables, countertops or desks should be 30 to 36 inches above the table’s surface, although the smaller the table and the wider the fixture, the higher you may have to hang it. Pendants or wall sconces shouldn’t be in your eye line, Gaiennie says, because they’ll blind people, and “if you’re going to walk under (the fixture), you need at least a foot between your tallest friend’s head and your light fixture, but 18 inches is safer.”

Scale: Gaiennie doesn’t recommend ordering a light fixture without seeing it in-person first, in order to get a feel for how large it will appear in the space. She says most people err on the side of too small rather than risk crowding, but a modest light fixture becomes nearly invisible in a large room.

In a small space, pendants or a petite chandelier work best.

“In the dining room, there’s an easy two-thirds rule,” she says. “If your dining room table is 48 inches (long), you want to get something that’s at max two-thirds the [length] if the dining room table — about 36 inches. You can go a little smaller, but you don’t want to dip under half. For large rooms, furniture placement is going to close up your room a little, so you don’t have to follow the two-thirds rule. … You can probably get away with the width of a (ceiling) fan max — 48 to 60 inches.”

Function: Gaiennie says there are three lighting functions: utility or task lighting (desk lamps, for example), general lighting (chandeliers) or ambient lighting (accent lights like those over artwork or bookshelves, or floor lamps). Think about your lifestyle before choosing a lighting style.

“People use a lot of their rooms for multiple tasks,” she says, “so you may want to get something you can eat under but also that you can do homework under. You have to look at brightness, too.” Gaiennie is a big fan of dimmer switches,

Kirsten Gaiennie of Sazerac Stitches says brightly colored fixtures — like her company’s Arcenciel chandelier in chrome — work well in kids’ spaces and mid-century homes.

especially in kitchens of people who entertain a lot.

When choosing the aesthetics of the fixture, Gaiennie advises considering the decor of the rest of the space. She says it’s OK to mix metals, as long as one metal is clearly dominant and the other is spread throughout the rest of the visible space as an accent (for example, a kitchen with brass handles, pulls and light fixtures adjoining a dining room decorated in chrome, but with brass accents such as candlesticks and small sculptural items).

As far as color schemes, she says neutrals often beget more neutrals, but a pop of color is great as a surprising accent in an all-white room, or in kids’ rooms or play spaces. She also loves a brightly hued light fixture in a mid-century home, which typically already incorporates a lot of color.

“Why not celebrate your house rather than back into it?” she says.

… plant a terrarium

Laura Sterling Joffrion and Kathleen Robinson of FAIT say overwatering is the most common mistake people make with terrariums, whether they contain ferns, cacti, succulents or other pixie plants.

“They really can’t take too much water, especially with cacti,” Robinson says. “They only need water once per week, and only around the (plants’) root balls.”

Succulents follow the same watering schedule.

Green plants such as ferns and ivy can be watered about twice a week, and all plants can go a day or two longer without water during the winter months when they’re getting less sunlight. Avoid watering a terrarium around the perimeter of the bowl if it contains both succulents and green plants, so you don’t drown the succulents. Robinson and Joffrion recommend using a squirt bottle to water a terrarium, so you can direct the stream of the water with precision.

In a closed terrarium, plants rarely need watering at all. You can buy terrariums with toppers or visit a craft shop to pick up a large cork. Robinson uses plastic wrap to seal up a terrarium in a pinch, say, if she’s preparing to travel for a few days. The condensation that forms on the inside of the bowl

is enough to water most green plants, but Robinson cautions that the moisture produced by an enclosed terrarium is too much for succulents and cacti, which can go up to two weeks without water.

Select a glass bowl and place large river rocks in its bottom. Next, add a drainage layer over the river rocks to help the terrarium fight off bacteria and mold and to keep the plants’ roots above any standing water in the bowl. Joffrion and Robinson like this plant filter (the square black material in the image); some enthusiasts swear by a thin layer of activated charcoal dust.

Next, add the soil and the plants. Regular potting soil is great for green plants. If you’re planting succulents or cacti, use cactus soil, which contains sand to help aerate the plant’s roots.

The amount of soil needed will vary based on the size of the plant, but use enough to cover its root system completely. When selecting plants for your terrarium, consider the height of the plants. It’s a nice design touch to use plants of different heights to give the bowl a terraced look — Joffrion likes a tall plant in the rear of the bowl with two smaller plants in front. Top off the soil with small pebbles and sand or moss to keep the layer of soil in place.

Moss also helps retain moisture.

“You end up with a low-maintenance, beautiful little arrangement that actually has a lot of health benefits,” Joffrion says. “They’ve done studies [that show creating and] maintaining a terrarium … lowers your stress level, lowers your heart rate and it puts you into a little bit of a meditative state.

And then you have something green that’s putting more oxygen into your environment.”

… create a weekly meal plan

Bonnie Gasquet, an internal medicine physician at Studio Health Medical Spa, says the first thing you must do before writing a meal plan is analyze your lifestyle.

“Am I an active person?” she says. “Am I a sedentary person, and am I already overweight? What is my goal? Am I trying to lose fat? Do I need to build muscle? Do I have problems with arthritis or high blood pressure?”

Gasquet’s practice has machinery that can

[ F E AT U R E ]

calculate body mass index and the number of calories and proteins someone should eat based on their goals, but there are (albeit less accurate) tools available online to help you get going.

Creating a meal plan — and sticking to it — requires mindfulness.

“You have to make it intentional,” Gasquet says.

“Know what’s in your pantry and fridge. Think about it — if you are going to go home and you want to cook a good meal, and then you don’t have the garlic or whatever that’s supposed to be in the recipe, chances are you might say, ‘Screw it, let’s order a pizza.’ ” Phoebe Cook graduated with a degree in dietetics from Louisiana State University and is the general manager of dining services at Loyola University New Orleans. She advises shopping the perimeter of the grocery, where you’ll find fresh items such as produce, deli meats, seafood and dairy.

“Fresh also tends to be cheaper, because that’s where your (seasonal) specials are,” she says.

“Wednesdays are when stores usually put out their ads, so you can do a lot of planning. … Create individual meals so when you get home at night, everything is ready to go.”

For breakfast, Gasquet likes oatmeal with blueberries and apple slices. Grains and other high-fiber foods (such as whole fruits) are processed slowly by the body, so you feel fuller longer.

For lunch, Gasquet suggests leafy green salads with tomato, cucumber and a homemade dressing that’s low in fat and sugar, with a side of brown rice. For additional protein, baked or roasted fish or chicken is optimal. She recommends buying the fish or chicken whole and having the grocery butcher cut it up into smaller portions.

Her favorite dinner is grilled or baked salmon with asparagus accompanied by fresh (not juiced) fruits and veggies.

“Fresh is best,” she says. “One-fourth of your plate should be fresh veggies and fruits, but the fruit can come from a can in a pinch — just rinse it off first.”

For those who struggle to find the time to do the prep necessary for a week of meals, Gasquet likes

… build a budget

Kemberley Washington of Washington CPA Services says it’s important to first track your expenses for a month or two before you create and (try to) adhere to a budget.

“We might say, ‘Oh, I’m only going to spend $200 this month on eating out,’ but when we track the expenses, you might find you’ve been spending close to $1,000 on eating out,” she says. “Not taking the time to track your expenses can really hurt your budget.”

Accounting for monthly obligations like rent and debt payments is essential, but Washington says a good budget also will have a savings component.

“Every budget should have a small amount built in to save something for a goal, emergency fund, retirement — even if it’s a small amount, you have to save something,” she says. “I always say, nobody deserves your money better than you.”

Saving is crucial even if you’re in debt. Washington advises clients to create a debt reduction plan that allows them to chip away at debt while still putting money aside. In the case of an emergency, having that stash can minimize the need to use a credit card or personal loan to absorb an unexpected cost. It’s also important to budget for little splurges.

“If you take all the things you enjoy out of your budget, it’s going to be more of a task,” she says.

For instance, if you really like getting your nails done, set aside $30 every two weeks to make that happen.

Here are Washington’s five steps to setting up a monthly budget.

• There are plenty of digital options to help you craft your budget (Washington really likes Mint.com), but she advises writing it down on a piece of paper. “I think there’s something powerful when you put pen to paper,” she says. “Write it down and make it a habit to go back and look at it. … Think of it as more of a long-term plan. Think about how would I build wealth (with this budget)? How would I invest? How do I start a new business?”

• Track your expenses for a while and get an idea of how much you spend on each category. Decide if your budget needs adjusting.

• Washington follows a 10-10-10 rule when planning a budget: she recommends taking 30 percent off the top of your income to allocate equally for giving, saving and retirement.

Of the remaining 70 percent, 50 percent should be earmarked for monthly expenses such as housing, debt payments and insurance. The rest is for discretionary spending.

• Once you’ve got it mapped out, go through your budget and figure out ways to save or redirect money. Do you have any expenses that can be eliminated or restructured?

J a n u a r y 2 01 9

• Put a debt reduction plan in motion. Washington offers a template on her website, but the gist is first to list your debts, highest interest rate first, and find niches in your budget that can be reallocated to pay down that debt. “Think of ways outside of your budget that you can earn extra money,” she says. “It could be through your passion, you could be selling items and downsizing, or eliminating expenses.”

C UE M AG A Z I N E •

The ladies of FAIT assembled all the tools necessary to plant a terrarium.

Green plants — like the silver lace fern, alocasia and ground-cover ivy pictured here — will thrive in both an open and a closed terrarium with little maintenance. The blue trowel is for picking up cacti or sensitive plants, and the brush is useful for dusting soil or sand off the plants and the inside of the terrarium.

home-delivery services that measure and chop ingredients and even precook meals for you.

For singles, cooking several meals a week may not be cost-effective, or they may dislike the monotony of cooking one or two large meals and eating the same thing every day. Cook suggests sharing weekly meal prep with a group of friends.

“A great thing to do is get a group of people together and everybody create a meal for the day or for the week,” she says. “You could have Sunday cooking with your friends and … if you get five friends, everybody goes home with a meal for each weeknight.”

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[ BEAUTY ]

Time to rehydrate

B Y S ARA H RA V I T S

Fight the winter skin blahs with these expert tips

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IF YOUR SKIN IS DRY AND ITCHY THIS WINTER, you’re not alone. As New Orleanians, our skin is accustomed to high levels of humidity that drop suddenly in the winter, shocking our largest organ and depriving it of the hydration it’s used to getting.

Seasonal indulgences, too, can contribute to less than stellar skin, including the consumption of rich holiday foods that can leave you looking bloated, sleep deprivation from staying out late for Carnival parties and dehydration from overindulging on alcoholic beverages.

Master aesthetician Michelle Bryant of Embodyment Spa says that cranking up the artificial heat also greatly contributes to the winter blahs. She recommends investing in a tabletop humidifier to add moisture to the air. She also tells her clients to take vitamin C both orally and topically, drink green tea and take supplements with omega fatty acids.

“I am a huge advocate for internal wellness,” Bryant says. “Your skin, being the largest organ, is one of the first things to be depleted. … If you’re not taking care of the inside, your skin is going to tell on you.”

Being gentle on your skin during the cooler months is crucial to its recovery, she says. Nightly retinol

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users should cut back to every other night. She also warns that everyone should avoid harsh exfoliants this time of year.

“Just stay away from intense scrubbing,” she says. Instead, gently exfoliate one or two times a week. For those with normal to dry skin, she recommends using a hydrating toner and facial oil.

One of her favorite ingredients in skin care products is hyaluronic acid, which helps skin bind moisture. It works like a magnet for moisture, helping skin cells retain it and stay hydrated.

Deirdre Hooper, a dermatologist at Audubon Dermatology with 15 years of experience, says it’s not difficult to keep skin hydrated, but it does require some discipline and a routine.

“Think of [your skin] like a plant,” Hooper says. “It’s going to start wilting” if it’s not hydrated.

Hot showers also can cause or exacerbate dry skin.

“You’re losing moisture when you take hot showers,” she says. “Winter skin needs lotion, and it needs lotion within two or three minutes of getting out of the shower. You want to lock the moisture in.”

She suggests purchasing a body oil such as coconut oil and applying it to skin immediately after

One method to properly hydrate skin, according to master aesthetician Michelle Bryant, is to use a Bio-Cellulose mask, available at Embodyment Salon & Spa.

turning off the water while skin is still warm. For those with severely dry skin, Hooper says to lock in moisture with a layer of Vaseline.

“It’s like Saran Wrap for your skin,” she says.

Both skin care experts sing the praises of collagen sheet masks, but agree they only are needed once a week. They leave skin looking dewy and are an easy, quick way to give your skin a boost prior to attending a party or special event.

“Collagen sheet masks are great temporary hydrators,” Hooper says. “When your skin is hydrated, it looks more beautiful.”

Products made with cucumbers are another quick fix.

“Cucumbers are a great holistic ingredient,” Bryant says. “I keep

a cucumber mask in the fridge and if I haven’t had enough sleep or water, that soothing gel mask takes away inflammation and can restore a dewy glow.”

Hooper also recommends everyone keep hand cream available in the wintertime. Her favorite over-the-counter products are made by CeraVe and Lipikar.

Hooper warns clients to stay away from harsh chemicals or overly perfumed everyday products like laundry detergent, dryer sheets and even body wash.

These can further irritate the skin.

“Don’t let (too) many chemicals into your life,” she says. “These are simple changes, but they can make a huge difference.”

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13

RESOURCES

Home Works

A listing of the retailers and professionals featured in this issue of CUE Magazine.

The woke wardrobe

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PAGE 7 Eclectic Home 8211 Oak St., (504) 866-6654; www.eclectichome.net Funky Monkey 3127 Magazine St., (504) 8995587; www.funkymonkeynola.com Glitter Box N.O. 1109 Royal St., (504) 568-0955; www.glitterboxno.com

HOME WORKS J a n u a r y 2 01 9

C UE M AG A Z I N E •

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Live your best life in shades of living coral

FAIT www.faitnola.com Loyola University Dining Services www.loyno.edu Sazerac Stitches www.sazeracstitches.com Studio Health Medical Spa 102 Woodland Highway, Suite 13, Belle Chasse, (504) 717-4333; www.studiohealth.net Washington CPA Services One Canal Place, 365 Canal St., (504) 233-3536; www.washcpallc.com

Gogo Jewelry 2036 Magazine St., (504) 5298868; www.ilovegogojewelry.com Leontine Linens 3806 Magazine St., Suite 3, (504) 899-7833; www.leontinelinens.com Lucy Rose 534 Chartres St., (504) 267-0305; 600 Metairie Road, Suite A, Metairie, (504) 218-7368; 3318 Magazine St., (504) 895-0444; www. shoplucyrose.com

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PAGE 8 The Plant Gallery 9401 Airline Highway, Metairie, (504) 488-8887; www.theplantgallery.com

Time to rehydrate PAGE 12 Audubon Dermatology 3525 Prytania St., Suite 501, (504) 895-3376; www.audubondermatology.com Embodyment Salon & Spa 3701 Magazine St., (504) 891-4440; www.embodymentsalon.com

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MILLISIA WHITE

Favorite thing about New Orleans?

“The dance culture.”

Favorite Carnival song? “‘Hey Pocky Way’ by the Neville Brothers.”

Dance educator and artistic director of New Orleans Society of Dance and the New Orleans Baby Doll Ladies

Seafood boil or Carnival parade?

“My favorite food is boiled crawfish!

But … since I’m trying to level up on the business, I’m going to say the parade.”

Favorite thing to bake? “Sweet potato pie. I drop off pies for the holidays.”

Hidden talent? “I like to write. … I

love creative writing and I’ve always enjoyed literature.”

What’s something that not many people know about you? “I was

BY K AT H E R I N E M . J O H N S O N

privileged to be the model selected for the paperback cover of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book ‘Getting Mother’s Body’ by Suzan-Lori Parks.”

P H O T O S B Y K AR L A P H O T O G RA P H Y

babydollladies

Where you can see her next: The New

tion about Millisia White is surprisingly scarce. That is, aside from a 2013 story in the New York Post which — improbably — called upon White to comment on Miley Cyrus’ Video Music Awards “twerking” scandal.

“They wanted someone in the community to speak on dance and bounce and where those terms come from,” she says. “I think the New York Post must have got wind of (a story local TV station WGNO produced about the New Orleans Baby Doll Ladies), because the next thing I know, I’m sitting in an IHOP parking lot and my phone rings and it’s the people from the magazine.”

When I ask her about herself, she laughs heartily and offers a candid, self-deprecating answer.

“What do I want to say about me?” she says. “So much of what I do has been consumed by this project. Not just this, but the rebirth of morale and culture. …

That is me. It might sound like a cop-out, but I’ve been dancing my whole life. …

Before we ever said that we were going to call these ladies ‘baby dolls,’ it was all I’ve ever done. … You might have to ask somebody else about me!”

White wants to build a sustainable legacy for the NOSD that will last long after she can no longer mask — a legacy of strong, talented women that come together to serve each other and their community over a common ground: dance.

“Even through the eras, it was the dance that brought them all together,” she says. “That’s what we want to bring back to the forefront of this whole tradition.”

Must-haves: Parasol — “I feel we are the prettiest (Baby Dolls), and even our parasols are the prettiest.”

Great grandfather’s Holy Bible Bracelet — one of the New Orleans Baby Doll Ladies’ first throws Photo of grandmother — “She passed away recently. … Even today, I pull my strength from her.”

Lace gloves — “These are one of the Baby Doll Ladies’ accessories. It represents femininity, and also, to me, work ethic, because it [deals] with the hands.

We make it happen.”

J a n u a r y 2 01 9

Orleans’ cultural icons Antoinette K-Doe and “Uncle” Lionel Batiste and their relatives. She found tales of highly organized pageantry dating back to 1912.

Many Baby Doll groups have come and gone in the 100-plus years since the first recorded Baby Doll parade, but the tenacity of these “women of the jazz” inspired White. In 2009, after years of behind-the-scenes work, her group made its first public appearance on the Congo Square stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, accompanied by custom tunes scored by the group’s “music ambassador” DJ Hektik. The group marched in its first parade on Mardi Gras 2010, and even performed in the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The group is associated with Carnival but performs and coordinates outreach programs year-round.

The outreach component of the group’s mission ensures that the legacy of woman-organized dancing groups will stay alive, White says. It also helps her scout for the next generation of talent. She draws on her skills as a dance educator for Orleans Parish schools to create arts-driven presentations for students that combine the history of doll-masking, breakout sessions with literacy components and creative writing with an immersive performance experience. Students get to create their own Baby Doll alter egos and backstory, and they get to mask. White and the Baby Doll Ladies have taken her educational showcase to schools in Orleans and Jefferson parishes.

Outside her work with NOSD and the Baby Doll Ladies, public informa-

Orleans Baby Doll Ladies’ Mardi Gras day dance parade is Tuesday, March 5.

The 2019 theme is “Homecoming,” as the group will resume its original route that ends at Orleans and Claiborne avenues under the Claiborne overpass.

C UE M AG A Z I N E •

MILLISIA WHITE IS USED TO TALKING ABOUT DANCE. As the artistic director of the New Orleans Society of Dance (NOSD) and the founder of the New Orleans Baby Doll Ladies, when the phone rings, she expects to answer questions about the services the groups offer. She is not used to talking about herself.

“This is the first time since I’ve been doing this that anybody called to talk about me,” White says over the phone when we’re setting up an interview.

“Everyone wants the painted faces.

They want to know about the Baby Doll Ladies.”

White founded NOSD as a talent and performing arts group in March 2005, but she didn’t cement its real purpose until 2007, when she and a few fellow dancers choreographed and performed a floor show at a community town hall. An attendee pointed out that the costumes the women wore resembled those of the Baby Dolls, groups of women who paraded on Mardi Gras day dressed like dolls in frilly satin dresses and bonnets. The likeness was unintentional, but White was entranced by the idea, and the New Orleans Baby Doll Ladies (the signature branch of NOSD) began to take shape.

“My grandmother grew up on (the outskirts) of Storyville,” or “the district” as she used to call it, White says. “I vaguely remember in my early childhood [seeing] these women in these shiny dresses and these headpieces. I would wonder, ‘What is that about? Why is that woman dressed that way?’ ” Her curiosity invigorated, White began researching New Orleans’ historical Baby Doll groups, sending her down a rabbit hole of memorabilia, books and eyewitness accounts that encompassed everything from writings from the 1930s and ’40s by writer and journalist Robert McKinney to interviews with New

15