Well thank goodness we don't all look the same ... thanks to Katy of Modly Chic for recognising this and putting out a beauty-themed Fashion Beauty Friend Friday set of questions this week.
Here's my two cents worth...
1. What's your favorite drug store makeup product and your favourite higher-end product?
I have oodles of nail polishes in a myriad colours that I've picked up for $2 a pop.
These paints have staying power and incredibly saturated shades that I just cannot fault.
I've long ditched big-brand nail polishes - I'll save my money thanks!
Just a few of my favourite nail colours.
I don't buy high-end makeup anymore - when I visit chemists I buy whatever looks like might be a bit of fun.
The most expensive purchase in recent memory is a MAC lipstick in Russian Red that I bought online for a fraction of the Australian RRP.
I saw it on Sister Wolf and the Beckerman Girls and fell in love with its saturated, matte red colour.
2. Is there one type of product that is your go-to, can't live without?
Make up: definitely mascara, especially now I'm a bottle-blond;). And red lipstick. Always.
Skin care: Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser - it's pH balanced and helps stop my skin misbehaving like a naughty 14-year-old's.
3. What's the best hair product you've ever used?
GKMBJ Intensive Nourishing Treatment - it's an absolute tub of love that keeps my peroxide locks from turning into what cows eat in winter.
4. Fess up, what's the worst beauty look you've tried to rock and look back at now with a little shame or apprehension that you actually did that?
I've never been a big make-up junkie - I really admire people who shamelessly play with colour and have fun with their faces.
I can only think of pale pink or gold, sparkly lippy not really doing it for me in the 80s, so I just went back to wearing red.I wore false eyelashes in the 80s and I loved them - so much so, I recently bought two sets of feather flutterers to play with.
5. When it comes to beauty products, we all use the same basic products. What do you use that helps show off your personal flare and personality?
I love black liquid liner and if I'm feeling fancy (err ... that's most days) black eyeshadow.
You'd think at my age I'd steer clear of black eye makeup, but I'm completely hooked and I'll wear it until I think it's time to stop - being as disgraceful as I am though, hopefully that'll be never!!
Red lipstick is cluttering up my meagre makeup stash.
I might have to ditch the plastic takeaway container and upgrade to some better storage as supplies are growing due to my "terrible" addiction to red lippy.
Oh dear, I seem to be wearing my underwear on the outside again ...
My closet was once known as The Black Hole.
I think things are turning around though.
Yes, I've admitted to 24 black dresses and counting, but there's plenty more in the way of glorious colour that's feeding its way in there now.
So I jumped at the chance to answer Modly Chic's weekly question-time - this Friday it's all about the power of colour.
Orange is an old favourite of mine: thrifted 1970s kaftan, sunnies and beads, 1960s beauty case and metal daisy earrings, black silk rose hair clip, oriental parasol and leather & cane wedges.
1. What color dominates your closet?
Ok so I've established that almighty black is my basic neutral colour.
But I've had a rifle through my closet today and no suprises, there's an abundance of green.
Pale pink and peach seem to be a recurring theme, which were popular underwear colours during the 1930s and 1940s.
I try and pick up vintage pieces in all the above colours when I spot them and the price is right.
Red doesn't feature except in the case of a 1960s wool cape and a 1950s overcoat.
I like to wear red on my lips instead.
2. If money weren't an issue how would you change the color emphasis in your closet?
I wouldn't change a thing.
Most of my wardrobe is thrifted/vintage and I'm utterly hooked on the unplanned aspect of my shopping habits.
I never, ever know what I'll stumble upon and bring home to hook up with the rest of my clothes.
If money wasn't an issue, I'd still shop mainly secondhand but I'd probably travel far and wide in my search for old treasures and buy more high-end collectable vintage.
If I love something and I can afford it, I'll get it even if it's in a colour where there's not an immediate outfit or styling idea that springs to mind.
I know I'll have a lightbulb moment eventually.
3. What is your mantra about mixing colors?
There's nothing to fear but fear itself.
4. For you, how do you incorporate color into your outfits?
Hmmm ... that's tricky because I don't really plan outfits.
I prefer to play around with colour and proportion or shapes.
I'm naturally attracted to faded-out colours but I have plenty of bright bits and pieces - I usually like to throw bright with bright, faded with faded.
A vital aspect of growing old disgracefully involves wearing ensembles that make me look like a film-set escapee.
I never, ever wear head-to-toe new clothing - I hate to feel starched.
So throwing a little old something on in a never-seen-today colour is vital to creating the feeling of screwy oddity that I love;).
5. Which blogger(s) do you think do a good job of incorporating color
into their wardrobe?
Sacramento of Mis Papelicos lives a wonderfully artistic and colourful life ... even her daughters have followed her lead;
Franca of Oranges and Apples knows how to pop bright surprises out of the bag; and
the Comtesse de ferveur never fails to delight me with her wonderful eye for colour.
I'm no longer a lurker of Modly Chic's Fashion and Beauty Friend Friday group.
Today I dip my toe in the water and give it a go (a day late mind you).
If you would like to join the weekly group, visit Katy Rose at the above link.
1. Most readers and fellow fashion bloggers value authenticity in the
blogs they read. How would you describe blog/blogger authenticity?
I believe that blogger authenticity is purely subjective.
For example, a print journal or newspaper is created to generate revenue from advertising and each writer must know who their readers are, in order to entice them to continue to buy their product.
It's a bit different in blogland.
Fashion bloggers usually start out by writing to meet their own needs, which hopefully in turn, creates a following of readers who feel they are "tuned in" with the content and style.
But only while the blogger is writing what they want to read or photographing what they want to see.
If the blog changes and acquires sponsorship, advertising and product reviews, the content changes and it's likely the blog will go through a change of followers.
It doesn't mean the authenticity or quality of the blog has necessarily deteriorated, it just means the blog appeals to a different type of reader.
2. When it comes to your blog how to you infuse it with that true/
authentic feeling?
By sticking to my personal pledge of wearing existing pieces from my wardrobe, buying second-hand, refashioning pieces to suit my tastes and rarely visiting shops to buy new clothing.
If my blogging goals ever change, I expect my readers and followers would drop off, until I picked up new followers who were interested in my new content.
I can't see my blog changing though, I like it the way it is:).
I've discovered how much I love clashing prints and patterns with this 1960s blue sequinned and beaded wool shell top, kids brown kilt and thick tights.
3. Have you stopped following a blog in the last three months? What
made you lose interest?
I've stopped following a couple of blogs that have become more product-oriented.
I don't dislike blogs that advertise, have sponsorship and are trying to make a living out of blogging.
Good on them, I say.
But I have a huge interest in fashion history, fabrics, vintage accessories and in vintage-inspired daily outfit blogs.
That's what I want to see and read about.
The blogs I stopped following simply ceased to "speak" to me - for example, too many "been to the mall" posts, wave after wave of press release pics and stories and bloggers who don't allow comments (why????).
4. We can't communicate effectively on our blogs, something we don't
live in real life... what are some ways you try to live an authentic
life?
I blog about what I know and that's the contents of my closet and the results of my treasure-hunting adventures.
Dead simple.
My personal style has developed since I started blogging about seven months ago.
I'm aware of the style rules, but I've thrown the rule book out the window.
Exploring personal style and blogging about it, is my hobby and I feel privileged to share and that people want to read about it.
The same top gets more of the kilt treatment, this time with a longer green kilt, 1950s coat and bag and Docs.
5. Give a shout-out... Which bloggers do you think are truly genuine
and why?
Misfits Vintage ... lives for vintage style and her blog reflects her passion for dressing up and experimenting with make-up. Give this woman any vintage piece and she'll know just how to style it.
The Taxonomy of My Wardrobe ... is a blogger after mine own heart. She's got an incredible collection of vintage and new clothing and she's a fabulous writer to boot. I love her.
Vintage Vixen ... is a dedicated second-hand shopper who has entirely furnished her gorgeous Georgian house in vintage style, hates credit cards, holidays in India every year and puts together the most amazing vintage outfits with pieces she's picked up for a song.
Helga von Trollop ... cycles to work in her Mrs Slocombe-themed outfits which I'm sure have caused many road accidents. She's a wiz with the sewing machine and with hair and make-up and has just returned from a Pacific cruise where she turned heads with her daily ensembles.
Crimson Rosella ... is a well-travelled Canadian artist who also looks like a snow fairy in her latest outdoor photos, which never fail to highlight her beautiful features and her ability to play with colour and pattern.
Pink Champagne ... so young, so vintage, so talented. Just go there.
Clothes, Cameras and Coffee ... this girl knows her fashion history and documents each outfit post with wonderful tidbits and tales of her finds and handed down pieces.
Just a few of my favourite nail colours. 
Oh dear, I seem to be wearing my underwear on the outside again ...
