Rodarte Spring 2012 X NARS

NARS created the look for the Rodarte runway show. LEAD ARTIST: James Kaliardos for NARS Cosmetics . TREND: Navy-blue, smokey eye and lavender lips.

DESIGNER INSPIRATION: “For Spring / Summer 2012, we were inspired by Van Gogh’s brushwork within his paintings, said Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte.

LOOK: “It’s a really beautiful, round, smoky eye with gradations of blue,” said lead artist James Kaliardos for NARS Cosmetics “It’s like ‘Starry Night’ and then there’s this beautiful lavender lip, complemented by warm skin.”

Here’s How To…

James Kaliardos with model backstage at Rodarte Spring 2012: New York Fashion Week

FACE

· Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer – new for Spring 2012; for a similar affect try a light application of Sheer Glow Foundation

· Penny Lane Cream Blush

EYES

· Dark Rite Soft Touch Shadow Pencil – new for Spring 2012; for now, try Rue Saint Honore Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner

· Night Flight Single Eyeshadow

· Tropic Single Eyeshadow

· Rue Bonaparte Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner

LIPS

· Penny Lane Cream Blush

· Pearl Beach Cream Eyeshadow

· Nana Lip Gloss

images and information courtesy of talkignmakeup.com

Rachel Roy Spring 2012 Ready to Wear

Rachel Roy's collection this season didn't excite me as her past collections have. Base colors included the familiar black and white with a splash of turquoise, common this in Spring collections, navy, corals, and grey knit similar to seasons past Rodarte. Inspired by 1920's Vietnam, these pieces would make for great sleepwear. Slouchy jackets, relaxed suiting, mixed with mandarin collars and silk wrap blouses. My favorites, few and far in between, here they are;

Rachel Zoe Spring 2012 Ready to Wear

Having been a stylist for over a decade, and during that time working with a variety of fashion house and a vast range of celebrities with different style and preference. I believe Rachel Zoe's debut collection took all of those elements combined with mastery experience and produced an easy going, easy to wear line with something for everyone in all age ranges. This line didn't scream RACHEL ZOE, and seemed rather safe. The top hits for me were graphic print jumpers, maxi dresses, full skirts and sheer romantic blouses. Spotlighting on another micro trend seen this season on the runway is the use of maroon. In my mind when I hear maroon, I think 1970's polyester suits, and Three's Company Mr. Roper character. However, Rachel choices to pair maroon pieces with royal blue components made for very smart modern looks for Spring.

“But I don’t think any of these girls look anything like me. I want these girls to be cool and effortless and glamorous. I kind of wish I was that cool and effortless and glamorous!”-Rachel Zoe

Fashionable Hair

Recent forecast has made it seem like London Fashion Week rather than New York. I don't mind the rain as long as I'm dressed for it. Have you met my friend Burberry? Best trench coats and there are more than hundreds of fashionable rain boots from a variety of designers in all price ranges. Though it may be more challenging, dressing for the rain can be fun if you use creativity and a little style, what better way to display your best rain gear than at the most one of the most coveted weeks of the entire year. FASHION WEEK.  

 My issue on the other hand isn't one regarding threads but, what in the world do you do when the humidity is up and it rains all day and what your gorgeous blow out looked like when you left your home is no longer? This was my issue on Fashions Night Out. I blew out my hair that morning, three different size brushes, two hair products, smoothing serum, and a partridge and a pear tree. Finally completed I reached the ultimate in sleek and shine, absolute Vidal Sasoon spokes model only to have walked one block with proper obnoxious sized umbrella complete unsuitable for the narrow New York streets, to arrive at my destination with the looks of someone who had been electrocuted 4 to 5 times. To make matter completely worst, as the day went on, the rain dried, the streets cleared and the sky...you guessed it a beautiful cloudless blue. Anyhow, I've done some image searching for great braided styles that were both stylish and easy to achieve. I should also tell you I have no idea how to braid, but youtube has been a fantastic tool on my journey. Of all the images I've found this was my most favorite;

Yes, for someone who doesn't braid, this could pose as a challenge. Luckily I love a good fight. Photos to soon follow. 

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012

PRABAL GURUNG. “THE ART OF ARAKI…THE LIP IS AN ORCHID BURSTING FROM WITHIN.”-CHARLOTTE TILBURY for MAC Cosmetics.

New York Fashion Week: Prabal Gurung Spring 2012

Here’s how with MAC makeup…

FACE

Studio Moisture Cream — hydrates and illuminates skin Matchmaster SPF 15 Foundation — lightly buffed into skin to perfect Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder — applied through the middle of the face for a polished effect Luna Cream Colour Base — blended in a “C” shape around the temple and eye area to highlight MAC Pro Sculpt Sculpting Powder Pro Palette — blended through lower planes and temples to contour

EYE

Young Venus In Extra Dimension Eye Shadow (available Spring/Summer 2012) — blended over the eyelids as a base and highlight Warm Thunder In Extra Dimension Eye Shadow (available Spring/Summer 2012) — applied through the crease and pulled outwards to elongate Strobe Cream — a dot applied over the eye shadow for a subtle shine

LIP

MAC Pro Process Magenta Chromagraphic Pencil — slightly overdrawn with a blunted tip to achieve the look of just kissed lips MAC Pro Black, Burgundy, and Fuchsia Lipmix — mixed together and applied through the centre of the lip for more impact

Images courtesy of taklingmakeup.com

*Cut Up* Cynthia Rowley X BAND-AID

Available in local retailer December 2011, Cynthia Rowley teamed up with BAND-AID brand to design some very chic very fashionable adhesive bandages. In a variety of seven styles from gold chains to lace you can buy a pack now on www.CynthiaRowley.com

Rich & Rebellious New Fall Collection

Parke Earrings

As if you needed a reason to be any more fabulous! Just in time for Fall and new on GEMS 

www.RichandRebellious.com

 Alana Chunky Necklace

 Afton Necklace

 Valene Necklace 

Lanken Burnt Orange Necklace

Thaddeus Necklace

Aquarius Turquoise Necklace

Lanvin's Fall/Winter 2011-2012 Ad Campaign Featuring Pitbull's "Calle Ocho"

Rapper Pitbull, known for his three piece tailored suits and always dressed to the nines, is clearly fashion conscious and knows all about personal style. It's no wonder his popular hit Calle Ocho was chosen as the soundtrack to designer fashion house Lanvin's Fall 2011 ad campaign. Shot by photographer Steven Meisel, Alber Elbaz along with well known models strut their stuff while adorning the most sophisticated of Lanvin's beautiful evening wear.

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012

Avant-garde at its best, meaning cutting edge but not in a best displayed in a museum behind glass sort of way. Colorful prints on the ongoing trend of cut out dresses with sheer overlays made for feminine sexy and body con selections with a very spring-like palette of royal purples, turquoise blues and always mod, black and white, floras and a wicked twist of leather. 

Christian Siriano Spring 2012

Very used to being shell shocked and immersed in a fierce fairy tale of shapes and and sexy Christian Siriano's collection usually unlocks a trunk in my imagination full of dreamy couture wonder. Beginning his show this year, my shoulders slumped as I needed to remind myself who's show this was, it could have at that moment been any number of designers. Where was Christians personality and wild flair? Slowly but surely like a restrained tiger style broke free! Down the runway comes a sophisticated shift dress, removing the boring element by adding pops of neon accessories and making a traditional classic item young and new. It only got better from there! In like a lamb and out like a lion, this collection gave everything form office wearable to, Hamptons chic, to an crazy amazing rich blood orange evening gown that I am positive will be most coveted for award season. The colors in the collection when they arrived full on were so beautiful and vibrant it was as though color blocking an outfit against the many skin tones of the model. The most important part of this presentation for me was mixing and matching classic items with the unexpected. For example, brightly colored full length evening gowns paired with  casual crew neck knit shirts wether striped or in one of the popular choice colors of this collection taupe. It was a different type of sophistication, it said, I don't follow trends I set them and its effortless.