Who’s Behind the Beauty Counter?

It all started with a conversation the other night with my friend from Women's Wear Daily — pumping him for insider info. He suggested writing about the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show airing November 30. Um, no.

He talked about Lord & Taylor being so much smaller (40 stores) than the bigger department store chains, that it was hard for it to compete. Why can't it just be its own thing, I thought.

It prompted me to stop in for an appreciative visit the next day when I was in the neighborhood — they do the best Christmas windows!

Walking through the store, it was quiet and clean and I could look at all the makeup specials unimpeded. I used to be a cosmetics "special gift" addict, but I'm better now.

Then a woman asked me if my boots were comfortable and we ended up in a conversation that ran the gamut. Coifed, stylish and centered, she was working a special counter for the Allure Best of Beauty products. And for the cynical among you, no, she wasn't just trying to sell me something.

Like so many of us, she'd had a long string of jobs/careers — working for KLM airlines (which she loved), setting up Priceline here and in the UK, training and work as a radiologist — were some I remember.

Amidst all this discussion, we did occasionally talk about beauty.

Makeup is just a form of self-expression," she said.

She's right. I must know that, but it somehow seemed fresh. Sometimes you indulge your self-expression, other times you keep it in check — we discussed the freedoms and constraints of self-expression.

She also reminded me that I should be wearing an eye cream morning and night. That delicate skin needs moisture and attention; it helps with elasticity. It's one really good thing you can do for yourself. I know this too; why do I forget?

We moved on to why women were strapped into corsets; why they took laudanum and opium for beauty purposes in the 19th century. She was down-to-earth, adaptable, accomplished and fun to talk to. I thought, if I was in charge of Lord & Taylor, I'd make her the head of the whole cosmetics division. 

I did end up indulging my self-expression with the Yves Saint Laurent Water-Resistant Eyeshadow in Amethyst Grey ($30). Not becuse I felt I had to but it seemed the right thing to do. It will be good for the holidays. It's very cooling. It will last forever.  

I came away thinking how rich an experience just shopping can be. And how people we deal with so breifly are full of experiences and stories we're never aware of.

You're probably one of them.

May all your retail experiences be as bright!