Style-off :: Register to win a cool Grand from Sebastian Professional
Sebastian Professional has teamed up with Maja Ivarsson, lead singer for The Sounds, in a challenge to style this platinum-tressed rock star. Readers will have the opportunity to win $1,000 VISA gift card and a gift basket from Sebastian Professional. Ivarsson, named “Hottest Woman in Rock” by Blender Magazine, will be judging the contest entries! Register now until April 17, 2011. Read the official rules.
Still using plastic bottles? If there ever was a reason to put the brakes on using those toxic leaching water receptacles, and let’s not forget the daily addition of yet more un-biodegradable stuff to our burgeoning landfills, then look to S’well. These sleek and stylish, double insulated stainless steel bottles keep cool drinks colder and warm ones warmer, for longer and no leaching of chemicals into your liquid of choice. Aside from this excellent design innovation, there is S’well’s mission—To Provide clean water to those in need and cut down on the global issue of plastic bottle overload. They have partnered with WaterAid, a 501(c)(3) organization, where every S’well purchase supports WaterAid’s programs improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities. Since being founded nearly thirty years ago, WaterAid has brought clean drinking water to over 14 million people in the poorest communities in the world. One definition of S’well is a gathering of support. Their hope is that you’ll support the mission of S’well and buy a bottle today. Know that using your bottle as much as possible will help reduce plastic waste, and even more importantly, your purchase is supporting such an important cause. So give plastic the heave-ho and grab yourself a S’well.
While attending the IBS show in NYC, I came a cross a new organic hair care brand called Hair Gum. Created by Laboratoire Ariland and based in Toulouse, France ( where its touted as being a brand that has won over its public on the French market with innovative styling products) Leading products such as styling wax, thread gums and fixing gel have made an impact on the professional hair care segment with its distinct ranges. The brand is plant-extract based with each of the the formulations containing high levels of active ingredient concentration. Laboratoire Ariland took its inspiration from nature for the fragrances and textures, and created a collection of styling aids that meet the expectations of professionals with regard to efficiency and results.
I test drove HAIRGUM Styling wax Strong , HAIRGUM Styling wax Water and HAIRGUM Styling wax Gummy on my recent campaign shoot for NIKE. I loved the Gummy wax which was perfect for creating texture and shape, while the strong hold wax is perfect for hair that has a lot of body and needs direction and serious control. The water wax was beautiful for a light post blow out styling aid and added an amazing sheen to the hair due to the gold shimmer in the product. Overall, all three items did well with a variety of hair types and the cool looking retro tins were a big hit with big guys like Mark Teixeira and Steven Stamkos.
Hair Gum is now available Stateside and can be found at: www.hairgumusa.com
The team involved in creating great fashion and beauty images are, without a doubt, a special breed. They are unlike any other in the beauty business, the photo session pro has a distinct look and way of maneuvering within their arena. Unlike a salon stylist or fashion expert who works in a singular location, who can rely on the continuity of their environment to house all their tools of the trade, the session stylist has to be nimble and mobile.This nomadic stylist, be it for hair, makeup or fashion has some pretty specific needs. They usually have some kind of roller bag ( you my have seen my earlier post on some of the roller bags of choice) to house all the things they could possibly need for any given assignment and other accouterment that makes creating stellar looks easier for them and a mobile set bag that will cary smaller items they will need on set , like pins, clips, hairspray, makeup etc.
A good on-set bag is a pretty elusive thing to find. There are styling ‘aprons’ which make one look like they should be taking orders as opposed to commanding a set, the Sling bag, where everything ends up sliding around and the idea of a quick grab and style is almost impossible due to all the rummaging around to find things. Then there is the canvas movie set bag. Great idea, but it weighs at least half a pound and thats before anything is in it! So where does that leave the savvy stylist? For many, the dreaded Bum-bag or Fanny pack, is the option that works quite well. LeSportsac makes several that are pretty decent as far as capacity; each made from rugged yet lightweight ripstop and all are stylist to boot. I have a personal favorite, their Patent ripstop “Kasey” bag, a classic three zip bag and the Double zip belt bag. The double zip bag from Le Sprtsac or any other traditional fanny pack, work quite well for the fashion stylists but tend to be too small for the makeup and hair stylists. Yet with little alternative, it does tend to be the on-set bag of choice for the beauty freelancer yet still falls way short of most session stylists needs.
Enter the Pocket Stylist by 27Teeth.com. Designed and created by photo producer, Julie Mondro who recognized a need for a great session bag that could hold all the tools of the trade for all stylists yet look great ,too. No more ugly,utilitarian bags: These customized belt bags are stylish and created for each artist. The belt bags incorporate the necessary pockets to hold all the goodies set stylists need to do a great job. It is fashioned kind of like a loose corset with exposed zippers and various sized bags, some with elastic bands to hold items into place and well as smaller buttonhole pockets inside some of the large pockets for smaller items. The Stylist Pockets are lightweight, washable and super stylish. For once, someone has actually analyzed the real needs of the set stylist and created a tool belt that makes it easier to access product— Hands-free, which translates to quick and effective fashion/beauty changes.
Put your thinking cap on and design your own Stylist Pocket, and if somehow you don’t see exactly what you want, throw Julie a line and she’ll find a way to create the ideal set bag just for you, with the perfect amount of bells and whistles, giving your mind something to chew on. So go on, get yours at: www.27teeth.com
Please join us in supporting the earthquake and tsunami victims of Japan through
FASHION GIRLS FOR JAPAN: 60+ DESIGNERS / 60+ ROLLING RACKS
A SPECIAL TWO-DAY DESIGNER SAMPLE SALE TO BENEFIT JAPAN SOCIETY’S JAPAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND, THE RED CROSS, AND THE NYC’S JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI FUND. 100% of proceeds from the sales will go towards the relief efforts. More than 60 New York-based designers have come together including Alexander Wang, Altuzarra, Derek Lam, Diane von Furstenberg, M.PATMOS, Doo Ri, Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler, Thakoon, VPL, Zero Maria Cornejo and several accessories designers and pledged to donate one rolling rack of their clothing for this charity event. All items will be offered at 50% or more off the retail price.
THE BOWERY TERRACE AT THE BOWERY HOTEL 335 BOWERY NEW YORK SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 11AM – 7PM SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 11AM – 5PM
$5 MINIMUM DONATION FOR ADMISSION
BUY TICKETS ONLINE AT www.fashiongirlsforjapan.com
There was no other beauty in the world like Elizabeth Taylor. She influenced millions of creative souls over her lifetime, including mine and she will be missed. And while the earlier part of her life she may be remembered for her remarkable beauty (who will ever forget those violet eyes?) and landmark performances in movies like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff? and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, its the work she embarked on later in life, that she found as her calling. Back in the day when most people, especially celebrities, were afraid to even acknowledge the AIDS epidemic, Elizabeth tackled it head on, bringing help and awareness globally to those who needed it. She was key in the founding of AMfAR and her foundation, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation has raised over $12,000,000 to date in funding and grants are awarded to organizations to help prevent the spread of AIDS, the treatment and care of those affected by HIV/AIDS, and for research to fight the disease.
Elizabeth’s start in the industry was before the throw away era we currently live in. And thank God for that! Although, I doubt she would have had any trouble making her mark no matter what era she had lived in. Back then careers were developed over time and unless you were the kind of artist that imploded from the pressures of stardom, you didn’t have a built in sell-by-date. Elizabeth Taylor understood how the business worked and she created a lot of “firsts” in order to grow her “brand”. She was the first actress to create and launch her own designer fragrance, with White Diamonds being the best-selling celebrity fragrance of all time – 20 years after its launch. She was an untouchable. She had her dramas, scandals and diamonds galore. And of course, all those marriages. But she also had something else. She had backbone and strength, loyalty and a sense of humor which she applied to all aspects of her life. She had moxie. Whether it be AIDS awareness support, to standing by her friends (she had Michael Jackson’s back during the height of all his press troubles) to her Children’s food projects, she threw herself into the deep end, willingly and wholeheartedly. It takes more than just being beautiful to be the kind of woman that ELizabeth Taylor was. I hope I am around for the sweet young thing that has what it takes to carry her torch. But there may simply never be another person as dynamic and fiercely loyal to the dignity of human life as Elizabeth Taylor. Her actions and her words spoke volumes to the woman she was. We should aspire to be a little more like her and a little less reality-obsessed and perhaps we will find the balance we so desperately need in our society today. Until then, we’ll all just have to make do with the memorable moments that represent everything that she was.
From her closest friends Liz Minnelli: “She was a true star, because she not only had beauty and notoriety; Elizabeth Taylor had talent. As a friend she was always, always there for me. I’ll miss her for the rest of my life, but I was so lucky to have known her.” and Elton John “We have just lost a Hollywood giant, but more importantly we have lost an incredible human being.”
I get asked all the time about the products I like to use, not just for session work, but ones I use on myself — My personal favorites. So I thought I would take a minute to share some of my daily go-to items. My philosophy has always been a less is more approach. In cosmetic terms, that doesn’t mean I advocate no makeup! On the contrary, for me this means selecting products that do a multiple of things. Let’s say multi-tasking at its best. The following items have found a home in my makeup bag, (which is small, only 5x7x3 ) have many functions and really work, which make achieving any makeup look a snap. Here’s a list of some of my favorite things:
Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate: Perfect spot hydrator. I uses it anywhere I need a little boost of hydration because while my skin is quite oily, it still needs moisture. Skinn by Demitri James Orchid Gel and Hi Def Cotton/Mineral Foundation SPF15: Quite simply these two products are amazing. If you have combination, verging on full blown oily skin like I do, this will keep your skin looking what I like to call velvet matte (that’s blend between Matte and dewy, because who wants to look flat and lifeless?) , all day long. I use the Orchid gel alone if I want a sheer tinted moisturizer look and combine the two when I want a bit more coverage. Whether you use together or not, this primer/foundation combo looks fresh and natural, never overly made up and doesn’t have that typical mineral powder sheen. No need for extra powder or concealer as you can layer this to cover any imperfection you may have. I use a brush when I want to layer it up. Burberry Light Glow Blush in Blossom: A perfect blend of pink and coral that can be used on the cheeks and the eye area to perk things up. SmashBox Cosmetics Artificial light Luminizing powder: A subtle highlighter. It’s quick, easy and most importantly; effective. Use it where ever you want to add a little shimmer. Skinn Dimitri James Smudge Stick in Egyptian Clay and Venus: This chubby smudge stick pencil stays put all day long. Doesn’t budge or fade till you are ready to take it all off. Burberry Beauty Sheer eyeshadow in Porcelain and Khaki: A Sheer and beautiful texture. It feels very velvety on the skin and lasts the day. Tarte Cosmetics Four day Strong mascara: Like it says, it would last that long if you wanted it to. Unlike traditional mascaras, this one is more like a stain for the lashes. Makes them inky black and adds volume.
Tarte Natural lip tint and stain in Matte Hope and Sheer in Moody: Like the Tarte Cheek Stain, these don’t fade to nothing by midday. They feel nice on the lips, won’t dry them out and are really great shades to mix or use alone. MOR Cosmetics Lip Delight lip balm: I have grown to love this lip balm but still hate the metal case…I can’t get it to close for the life of me. So while I did include in this product round up, I have to admit it sits on my bathroom counter rather than in my makeup bag. Smashbox Limitless Longwear lip gloss SPF15 in Endless kiss: This is a youthful shade or pinky-coral and pretty much looks great on anyone. Sothys Pro Refiner System Complexion protector: For those time when I really need to look smooth and oil free (like for photos for example) I dab this on after I have finished my makeup Smashbox Browtech in Taupe : It’s not a brown, or a blonde..It’s somewhere in between. This brow wax and color do the trick to fill in and define my brows without looking like I carved them onto my face. Visine: For those days when I really need to get the red out and also, for emergency situations, if you apply a dab under your eyes, it de-puffs rather nicely as well. Juara Candelnut Perfume Oil: Just because I love the way this smells and as its small, I can carry it with me all the time.
Oh and my snazzy little makeup bag? It came from Longchamps and was designed by an old friend and super talented guy, Paul White of Me Company.
Recently, I did a little fashion video for director/photographer David McIntyre of Image Loading (www.imageloading.com) which was loosely based on the song Sweet Gene Vincent, by Ian Dury. We were inspired by the music and decided to get a few local dancers to be part of the visual ( Thank you Celeste and Wilson 🙂 ) and booked the lovely Snow, from Q models to play our rockabilly/muse. It was a ton of fun and I am really happy with the results. For the beauty note, I used a variety of product, playing with colour and texture.
Here’s a shortlist of the products I used for this project:
Boy:
For Snow, as she has the most luminescent skin to start with, I didn’t want to pretty it up too much. I really wanted a lived in feel, all smudgy and imperfect. I left her skin to breathe, keeping it powder free and glossy with a little Caudelie Beauty elixir spray. For any imperfections, I only used a touch of foundationr on Snow’s skin (as it was almost perfect anyway!) I like Smashbox High Definition FX foundation. It’s lightweight and disappears into the skin.
Make Up For Ever’s Flash Colour palette is a tremendous source of inspiration for me and is my go-to product for almost everything. In this case, the black eye smudge, and touch of white highlight on her cheekbones, bridge of the nose and chin. I love this product because you can make it as transparent or opaque as you want. The control is amazing and it lasts and lasts. For her lips and eyelids, I used a touch of Suvana ( an incredible organic Australian PawPaw product) just to moisten those areas. This product, while not yet Stateside, will be very soon. I’ll keep you posted on it’s arrival!
For Snow’s hair, I wanted to create a quiff shape but instead of having a traditional look of pulled back and sides, I wanted to add some interesting texture as well. After spraying with Fabricate, I chose to set the side and back sections the hair using large U pins wrapped figure eight style. The advantage of setting with the U pins is that I could then shape them to fit snugly against the head for a neat appearance. For the coif, I first prepped the hair with Extreme re-reconstructing treatment. It gave Snow’s delicate hair a nice sheen and smoothed the cuticle so I could control the textures later. Once I blew out the hair, I added some volume to the top section of hair by backcombing. I coiled the hair to create a quiff and pinned into place. I sprayed the hair with Waxblast 10 and finished with Workforce 09 fexible volumizing spray. All styling products from Redken.
For her hair, I went from a exaggerated 1940’s coif to a a huge height defying tower!. It was a lot of fun to do and with some help from some very reliable product, the changes went of easily. I used the product listed above as well as liberal amount of L’OREAL ElnettExtra-Strength Flexible hold (white can) This is only available States-side at New London Pharmacy in Chelsea, NY but I get mine in the UK when I am there.
Stella and Arizona are blurring the lines between boys and girls
I noticed at a few shows the play on masculine/feminine. Dolce & Gabbana and Giambattista Valli both took chose to feature a modern Rockabilly quiff for some of their models. The masculine looks created for both shows were a hybrid of Boys Don’t Cry Brandon Teena and Johnny Depp’s Cry Baby character. I loved the addition of “sideburns” to Dolce & Gabbana girls. Redken Creative Consultant (and I might add one of the most incredible hair masters of all time) Guido Palau explains his ideas for this season’s Dolce & Gabbana show in Milan. “The looks at Dolce & Gabbana were a classic play on femme fatale, where women played with their masculine and feminine sides, it is very fun and liberating.” He created two separate looks – one feminine, a Sicilian-inspired loose twisted chignon and the other a bit more masculine, a French twist quiff.”
Here’s how you can create this look yourself straight from the Master stylist, Guido himself:
– Prep hair with generous amounts of structure wax 17 classic styling wax.
– Leave out a section at the front and pin this up into the 50s looking quiff.
– Part on the side and gather hair at nape of neck and twist up toward top of head pinning as you go up. Until all hair is pinned in.
– Pull out bits on the side just in front of the ears and let drop down 2 inches to create ‘sideburns’ and then secure remaining end of hair back into the rest of the updo.
– Finish with heavy amounts of forceful 23 to hold the look in place.
I was noticing that the ballet dancer look ( thanks to The Black Swan and Natalie Portman, no doubt ) has found it way to the fashion world. Not that we saw any tutu’s strutting the runways or anything, it was more in the beauty department that this look found its home. From the fresh faced, rehearsal-ready ingenues at Versace with their no nonsense scraped back hair (embellished with fine black twine) flush of rose on cheek and lip and highlighted inner eye all made for a very fresh and beautiful look.
At Emanuel Ungaro, the balletic look was taken to the next level, with ever-so-wispy lashes and dreamy-creamy skin. Noticeably, the brows were pale and the lip quite naked and like at the Versace show, the hair was pulled back tight accentuating the face and neck. And lastly, a look worthy of any Prima Ballerina came from D-Squared. While the hair was more relaxed than previous observations, the makeup was all about the eyes. Burnished with gold, black and a pop of red in the center lid, the eye shape was elongated and extended for maximum effect. The balancing act came from the softly groomed brow, velvety skin texture and sheer lip color. It was beautifully done and effective. Want to create some of these looks for yourself? Here’s a shortlist of products that I have test driven for you, that will make achieving these looks a Brisé volé:
