One of these days I need to learn how to put on liquid liner and give myself glamour eyes. Just because.

Waterline! That is the term she used.

It was super uncomfortable, and when the time came to take it off, all I could think of was...how much of that ended up in my eye?

I'm off to look at lancome, urban decay and nyx.

Thanks so much!

Hivemind Fashion advice requested for a nine year old girl.

O is a particular friend of mine. We share an interest in art and in her ambitions to one day be a pop star. She has a great sense of style and could be described as 'pixie-ish.' Petite, with short, dark hair and big brown eyes.

She has been invited to a high-end bat mitzvah in NYC and her mother (the former nun, whose fashion sense is a bit like mine...) has no idea where to look for a nice dress.

She is rejecting the idea of the 'bandaids' being worn to your average prom but does not want O to come off looking like she came from Amish country.

Where should we look?

Want to know what's NOT helpful in all of this? When one of my mom-like people writes and tells me to "calm down".

I need to get into my fucking email. It's how my agencies communicate with me. It's how my friends communicate with me. It's the address on my resumes. I don't have 90% of my phone numbers anymore and those email addresses are how I can communicate with the bulk of people I know right now. It's actually a pretty serious fucking problem.

Bonnie, I (and my 10 year old) like the dresses at the Gap. They do a good job of being a little more up to date but still appropriate for a pre-pubescent girl. At this season they will probably have a variety of dress-up/party styles in the store. Hanna Andersson is nice but my 10 year old rejects them as too little-girly. Maybe Mini Boden?

Trudy how frustrating. I hope you can access your email very soon. Does "calm down" ever help?

There are certain computer-related crises that do not lend themselves to calm.

On the subject of dressing a 9-10 yo girl, yes to Mini Boden. I also like the girl's dresses at H&M, and those are very affordable. I don't think it will be hard to find something appropriate for that age range.

flea and Burrell, your suggestions are right on the money. I found a few options through Mini Boden (which I'd never heard of) and H&M.

O earned this trip to NYC by eliminating a less-than desirable habit so it's definitely a celebration in many ways...AND...she gets to travel sans parents, with her big brother to a sophisticated (we hope) party.

She has a capacity for accessorizing like I have never had, so I am voting for this one or this one.

God, "calm down" is probably the least helpful thing someone can say in a crisis. A young male friend of ours is having young adult angst about the world and his place in it, and was having a rant in a public place, and I asked him to lower his voice because we were in public and nearby people were looking antsy. He did lower his voice, and a bit later he thanked me for asking him to do something specific and appropriate instead of just a blanket "calm down" like his mother does.