Monique Lhuillier Spring 2011 - Euphoria

Euphoria. The inspiration behind Monique Lhuillier's Spring 2011 Collection.

Feminine evening gowns. It's what Monique Lhuillier does best.  What surprises me about this season's collection is the choice of color palette, a departure from what we've come to expect for her.  Nude, white, gold ... yes, very familiar ... poppy red? Really? Ok ... we're willing to take a look. Let it sink in a little bit.  Ummm .... sure, I suppose this could be interesting. In fact, the more I study the collection with its pops of soft seafoam-y teal contrasted with the warmth of the golden red, the more appealing it becomes. 

"Welcome to the Garden of Eden," greets Lhuillier, gesturing around the hotel suite. "We have the angelic side, and the naughty side."

Slender metallics, draped silk sheaths and flamboyant ballgowns — poufed and appliquéd chiffons with plenty of fanfare like bustled, petaled or trumpet skirts. Your choice, ladies.

Lead makeup artist Val Garland for MAC created glowing faces that complimented the elegant feel of the line. The eye was for facial focal point here, using black gel eyeliner for a “sleek Fifties” winged feel. “It’s a bit of a cat eye,” said Garland. “It's a 1950's Audrey Hepburn look with an aerodynamic beautiful eye liner.  Very haute couture and red carpet, slightly debutant with gilded lilacs on the eye lid, liner and a delicate soft pink glossed lip.”

Proving you don't have to match your makeup colors to your clothing, Garland used MAC eye shadows in Digit and Vellum layered onto the lids, Crystal through the crease of the lids and a layer of Idol (one of my fave MAC shadows) applied wet on the top.  Woodwinked was dabbed on the inner corners of the lids for golden highlighting. Eyebrows were slightly extended to frame the face. MAC Face and Body foundation was applied as a base with Bamboo Cream Colour Base blended onto the cheeks and Shell Cream Colour Base to highlight the cheekbones. Garland’s “soft look” for lips was achieved by patting on MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass, a pigmented matte baby pink lip gloss.

Rudi Lewis, lead hairstylist for Bumble and Bumble described the look he created at Monique Lhuillier’s Spring 2011 show as “magical but modern.” Before beginning the updo, Lewis added Spray de Mode to blow-dried hair. He pulled hair up into a “sculpted high ponytail.” A section of hair on the top of the head was left out of the updo and given a softer texture. He then tucked hair up in a roll, using only one long piece of elastic to create the refined look. “This is reminiscent of an Irving Penn woman,” said Lewis. “It’s Fifties without being too retro.” Lewis added that models were styled to look “expensive” and polished. “It’s not about trends,” he said.

Nails, styled by Wanda Ruiz for CND, were gilded — a combination of two coats of Putty nail polish and a top coat of shimmering Perfectly Bare polish, for a “reflective three-dimensional, holographic effect.” Um, gorgeous is what I say!

Watch the video to really get the elegant feel of this collection, the look of beauty and backstage fun!

source: Monique Lhuillier, MAC, wwd, style.com

A Nude Frontier with Bryan Meehan

Intrigued?  You should be. Eco-entreprenuer and NUDE Skincare founder Bryan Meehan will be on hand in San Francisco for a Q & A session and to unveil NUDE’s latest product - Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum – a breakthrough treatment formulated with the highest concentration of Probiotics and proven to stimulate cellular renewal up to 70% and reduce cellular damage up to 50%.

Ali Hewson and Bryan Meehan, Co-Founders, NUDE Skincare

Find out how NUDE is changing the face of natural skincare with Probiotics and high performance ingredients. Meehan co-founded NUDE with Ali Hewson, wife of U2 singer Bono, and the two set off on the adventure of teaching the world about Pre and Pro biotic skincare that actually renders effective results.  These two were giving us natural, organic skincare before it became "sexy" to do so.  Yes, they are the visionaries!

Elle, Sept 2010

NUDE has just introduced Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum and this beauty is already hitting the beauty editors' pages as the new "It" item, a must have and a skincare fave.  With good reason.

With the highest concentration of Probiotic Technology in the NUDE range, this breakthrough serum uses three bio-available technologies proven to help the skin repair itself. 

Beauty editors aren't the only ones singing this elixir's praises.  The serum has also found its way onto the faces and into the hearts of Uma Thurman, Kim Cattrall, Erin O'Connor and Helena Christensen to name a few.

'After just 3 days I have the dewiest, most beautiful skin. It feels incredible and looks so much younger. I'm obsessed'

~ Helena Christensen

BIOACTIVE PEPTIDES
Powerful Bioactive Peptides help stimulate Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid and Fibronectin production, restructuring the cellular matrix to firm the skin and reduce the depth of wrinkles.


COMPLETE HYALURONIC ACID SYSTEM
NUDE has created a unique three way system to optimise Hyaluronic Acid within the skin

• A concentrated dose of Hyaluronic Acid instantly plumps and smoothes
• Bioactive Peptides boost natural synthesis of Hyaluronic Acid
• Antioxidant Japanese Sea Kelp helps to protect against the breakdown of Hyaluronic Acid


Wishing I lived near San Fran so I could take advantage of the opportunity to meet Bryan! What a treat!  Here are the deets:

When: Wednesday, September 15th

12pm – 2pm & 5pm – 7pm

Where: Potrero Hill Whole Foods Market

Guests will receive $10 off (for a limited time) any purchase of  NUDE’s Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum.  For additional information or questions, please contact Kelly Sedei, 415-786-2724.

Erin Fetherston Spring 2011

When asked to name the inspiration for her Spring 2011 collection in one word, Erin Fetherston responded, "Aphrodisiac;" this photo (below) was submitted as an inpiring element ... just envision the travels this diva must have experienced.

"I like the idea of this woman who travels far and wide, and collects these treasures to add to her wardrobe," Erin Fetherston said before her Spring show.

With that inspiration, Fetherston opened Spring 2011 show with two safari jackets. "Birds of Paradise," the name of the collection, showcased one-shouldered cocktail dresses, peplum jackets and other pieces in florals and patterns. Somewhat neutral shades of ivory, a muted warm green and peachy orange enhanced the color palette. Nowhere in this collection will one find the berry, plum or jewel tones of Fall 2010 trending.

Fetherston's penchant for feminine charm shows through this season, the clothes almost demure, pretty silk wrap dresses in soft geometric prints and chic jackets with fronts draped to look like bows, flowy silhouettes. The pop of pumpkin orange lipstick courtesy of MAC enhances the simplicity of the designs in a marked way.

source: wwd, MAC, the cut, erin fetherston, youtube (aol)

No Go: MAC Rethinks Rodarte Collection and Pulls Out

MAC Cosmetics rethinks decision to launch the controversially marketed Rodarte x MAC collection and withdraws.  MAC made the announcement via their facebook page with this little note:

This decision will not impact M·A·C 's commitment to donate all of its projected profits from the collection to benefit the women and girls of Juarez.

Out of respect for the people of Mexico, the women and girls of Juarez and their families, as well as our M·A·C Mexican staff and colleagues, M·A·C has made the decision not to ship the M·A·C Rodarte limited edition makeup collection. This decision will have no impact on M·A·C's commitment to donate all of its projected global profits from this collection to local and international groups that work to improve the lives of the women and girls of Juarez. We are currently conducting due diligence to ensure we donate to organizations with a proven record of directly supporting the women and girls of Juarez.

M·A·C and Rodarte are deeply and sincerely sorry and we apologize to everyone we offended. We have listened very closely to the feedback of concerned global citizens. We are doing our very best to right this wrong. The essence of M·A·C is to give back and care for the community and Rodarte is committed to using creativity for positive social change. We are grateful for the opportunity to use what we have learned to raise awareness on this important issue.

______________________________

No word on whether Rodarte will follow suit with their fashion collection.  One finds most often art makes no apologies, but we shall see. For more commentary on this controversy, I'd encourage you to check out my beauty blogging buddy Pink Sith's article on the issue.  She outlined some well thought out points on the matter.

Alexander Wang Spring 2011

Loving Alexander Wang's Spring 2011 collection, well - some of it! Feminine, breezy, light and airy, and the color palette ... fresh and clean, just beautiful. The "construction" theme went a little overboard for my amateurish taste.  The rose gold metallic splashes here and there on some of the designs just didn't do it for me, and the color blotches gone haywire seemed a bit - overdone (can I say that?) ... but hey, I'm a minimalist purist with conservative style in its simplest form, so forgive me.

“I wanted to explore a purity and honesty,” said Wang, preshow. “As you can see, there’s not one hint of black.”

loooooving the shoes!

So far this NYFW we're seeing designers are returning to the feeling of light-ness, and what a welcome relief. Wang certainly appreciates this idea in his new collection, though it gets skewed with a few of the "color gone paint-ball" designs and sloppiness of some of the exaggerated pieces for the sake of his construction motif.

One nuance for Wang that can't be missed in this collection? Construction!

The collection includes overalls and wide-leg carpenter pants, denim jackets accented with copper paint. His flyaway silk trench had utilitarian crisscross straps at the back. The foil details throughout? Apparently a reference to duct tape (see image at top). His models came accessorized with swipes of white paint in their hair to add to the overall "under construction" vibe. 

In the continuation of last year's deconstruction theme, he showed layering and ultra-relaxed silhouettes. As reported by WWD, Wang also introduced his first-ever in-house prints — childlike scribbles and doodles done by his staff and interns on a 5-foot-by-5-foot sheet of paper in the studio and reproduced on fabrics in washed-out hues. “There are inside jokes [written] that even I don’t know,” he said.

source/images: WWD, Style.com

Wha??? Abbey Lee Has Gone Platinum

The Hair Transitions of Abbey Lee: L-R Fall 2010 for Emilio Pucci; Fall 2010 for Chanel Couture; Spring 2011 for Rag & Bone

Ok, so we know they're all prone to doing it at some point ... the high fashion models ... and platinum blonde hair.  Agyness Deyn, Iekeline Stange and now little Abbey Lee Kershaw.  I say little not because of her stature or popularity, this girl rocks it! I say it because the dear is a mere 20 years old (yes, I know 33 or so in model years).  We've been following her here since she first broke out as a fresh-faced catwalk star Fall 2008.

Here's what fashionologie reports about Abbey's fun new look having spoken with the gorg one herself at Chanel's Soho store opening this past Thursday:

Abbey Lee Kershaw, who not long ago cut her hair short, has taken the change even further. "I was ready for a big change," she explained this evening at the Chanel Soho store opening in New York, where she debuted her newly-dyed platinum blonde hair. She plans to keep the color all season, "unless a designer asks for it to be changed." How's it been received so far? "I only dyed it two days ago, so no one's really seen it yet." She told Modelinia of the dye job: "It took seven hours and I didn’t speak for another four hours. I’ve never dyed my hair before. Also I think that with the cut that I’ve got, it was the time to go white.”

Lee is so beautiful she could shave her head bald and still garner beauty adoration!  On another note, Stay tuned, my loves, some Spring 2011 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week posts about to roll out!

source: fashionologie

Fall Makeup Trend: Combining Hues on the Same Feature

Emilie de Ravin

Makeup pros are taking a hint from Old World master painters combining different colors on the same facial feature to yield a spectacular, dimensional effect.

CHEEKS
Layering bronzer and blush has a double benefit. "The bronzer brings out cheekbones and makes the face more three-dimensional," says makeup artist Benjamin Puckey, who created these looks. "The blush gives a glow."  The effect is beautifully worn by actress Emilie de Ravin in the image at top.

L-R: Smashbox Creamy Cheek Color in Intrigue ($29) and NARS The Multiple bronzer in Rapa Nui ($37)

TIP:  After smoothing lightweight foundation onto de Ravin's skin, Puckey used his fingers to swirl cream bronzer around the sides of her face in a large "3" shape, starting at the temples, working down to the upper cheekbones, and continuing down to the jawline. Then he layered pink cream blush along the apples of the cheeks, right on top of the bronzer.
 
 

LIPS
This two-tone look subtly contours the mouth, says Puckey. A darker shade around the periphery adds definition, while a slightly softer tone in the center reflects light and creates the illusion of fuller, juicier lips. "The key is to use two shades in the same color family," he says. "They should gradually fade into each other for an ombré effect."
 
 

L-R: Paul & Joe Lipstick C in Sahara ($22) and MAC Lipstick in Of Royalty ($15)

TIP:  Puckey used a firm brush to precisely apply a deep carnation hue along de Ravin's lip line, then blended it toward the center. Next, he brushed a paler bubblegum pink into the middle of the top and bottom lips.
 
 
More tips and trends for Fall beauty, hair and fashion coming soon! My favorite time of year ... can almost feel the weather turning more crisp, cool breezes blowing leaves from trees and that first sip of hot java warming my tummy. Bring it on!
 
source/images: InStyle

Jen Channels Babs in Harper's Bazaar's New Issue

Stunning photos of Jennifer Aniston grace the pages of Harper's Bazaar's September issue.  Complimenting the spread Jen discusses her love and admiration for Barbra Streisand as a powerful musical voice, a funny girl and a muse.

Excerpted article:

It was Jennifer's hairstylist and friend of almost 20 years, Chris McMillan, who inspired her to write her own love letter to Streisand's style. "He is, of course, hair obsessed," Jennifer explains, "and I'm a Barbie doll for him. So, whenever we'd see great pictures of Barbra or a movie, he'd be like, 'You have to do an homage to Barbra.'"

So she did. In an old Los Angeles theater, surrounded by iconic images from everything from Funny Girl to What's Up, Doc? (and with "People" on rotation), Jennifer's Streisand-ification began: "First, putting on the dramatic eye makeup and the wig. Then hearing Barbra's voice booming," she remembers. A Streisand homage is incomplete, however, without one thing: perfectly manicured, thoroughly immodest fingernails. "The nails were like, There she is!"

Jennifer is effusive in her admiration of Streisand. "Barbra inspires me because there isn't anything she hasn't done that she wanted to do, especially as a female in the time when her generation was prime. She's a true renaissance woman." Her favorite Streisand films: "The Way We Were and A Star Is Born. Both pretty great."

 

~ Laura Brown

(Harper's Bazaar, Sept 2010)

 
 
Read more by picking up the September issue of Harper's Bazaar on stands now.
 
photos: Mark Seliger

Coming Soon: Spa Week. What Little Luxury Will You Treat Yourself To?

Photo: Beauty Mercantile

Yes!  It's that time of year again when spas reach out to their adoring public in offering half-price spa treatments, $50 massages and much more.  If you're not one to treat yourself regularly (or at all), and you could use a little TLC (and who couldn't?) then do something good for you body, mind and soul and relax in a little luxury when the price is oh so sweet. Give yourself permission to indulge, just a little.  Do it for me if you can't do it for yourself (cuz I really do care... yes, I seriously do); I know you'll thank me later. It all awaits you!

Massages, facials, body scrubs… always want more, more often! But did you know you’re barely scraping the spa surface? New technology, reinvented techniques and pop culture all shape the way we spa today. Spa Week has officially announced the definitive list of the latest in emerging spa treatment trends, from holistic to glamorous.  I have to admit, there are some on this list that I'm a little embarrassed (terrified!) to even share with you - vajazzling ... I blush! Really? Oooooo-kay!

Here's the list in all its unedited glory a la Spa Week: 

photo: Instanbul Grand Hyatt


Treat yourself to a wellness and beauty adventure this Spa Week®, $50 spa treatments September 13-19 for the West Coast and Chicago, October 11-17 for the rest of the country. The Fall spa directory launches August 16 for the West Coast, September 13 for the rest of the country, when you’ll be able to see which spas are offering which services. Try one, try all— Spa Week is the time to indulge and experiment. All these treatments will be available for just $50!

1) FIGHTING ALLERGIES

Sinus massages, breathe-easy facials and cold & flu bath salts are just a few of the spa services you’ll be seeing this upcoming Spa Week, just in time to soothe your seasonal allergies. Treat your immune system and clear your sinuses in the spa with new treatments using Eucaplyptus, humidifiers and Lymph drainage movements , to name just few of the techniques being used to assist in allergy relief.



2) BIKINI GLAMOUR

Vajazzling made its sparkly splash last Spa Week, when bedazzling your bikini became the hot new standard in girly glamour. Other treatments are quickly emerging in its footsteps to pamper your private parts: Bikini/Bum Facials are being offered to give the same attention down there as a esthetician would to your face: toner, extractions and masks included. Also, post-Brazilian waxing rituals such as Airbrush painting and Vattooing are now the latest in vaginal adornment.


3) SLEEPING AND DREAMING

Insomniac? A good night’s slumber with proper REM cycles can be just as rejuvenating as a spa treatment, so one of the hottest trends emerging in the industry is a dream-worthy mix of the two to promote better sleeping patterns. Scents such as Rosewood, Palmarosa and Vanilla are used to guide you off to never-never land while massage techniques make for a complete relaxation experience.

4) LASH EXTENSIONS

Eyelash length, thickness, volume and darkness have gone way up on the beauty priority lists of women now more than ever. While new drugstore and professional lash volumizers continue to crowd the lash-enhancing market, the Fall Spa Week event is poised to give women more professional lash-extending options than ever before.



5) INSTANT INCH LOSS

Remember that magical, completely safe instant weight-loss pill you always dreamed of? We’re not saying it’s been invented (sorry), but the spa is becoming a go-to place to get instant, (almost) magic-like results in addition to providing long term benefits. Colon Hydrotherapy is becoming more popular as a quick, easy cleanse, and hot new med-spa services like the 7E Treatment and Ionithermie give immediate results by targeting muscles with waveform technology.

6) REIKI AND ENERGY WORK

Turn your trip to the spa into a journey for the soul. Reiki, energy work and holistic healing deliver health benefits ranging from injury recovery to spiritual growth. By engaging the flow of your “life force energy,” practitioners are turning spa-goers into active believers. Look for treatments with an energy component this coming Spa Week, and may the force be with you.

7) ACUPUNCTURE

This ancient holistic healing technique is no newbie to the spa scene, but the granddaddy of healing is suddenly making a resurgence. The World Health Organization advocates the use of acupuncture to treat over 40 conditions, from anxiety and other stress syndromes to musculoskeletal pain and injury, and the Fall Spa Week event will encourage more spa-goers to forget their fears of needles and reap the benefits of this treatment—for their face, body and both.



8) BOTOX ON-THE-GO

Pick up dry cleaning, get Botox, grab lunch… what? Yes, the age-defying treatment has become so mainstream that spas are now offering it hassle-free, and even appointment-free. Add the $50 Spa Week price tag, and suddenly “to-tox-or-not-to tox?” is one of the easiest decisions to make.


9) HOT AND COLD STONE MASSAGES

Spa Week’s favorite sweetheart treatment has always been the Hot Stone Massage, but the newest twist is cooler than past seasons. Instead of using all hot stones, this treatment includes the application of cold stones as well, adding multi-dimensional stimulation. Alternating the hot and cool stones helps every cell in the body receive more oxygen and nutrients and encourages a more effective removal of toxins.



10) Champissage

Also known as Indian head massage, Champissage has been practiced for more than 1000 years in India and has now been interpreted as a custom ritual at many spas. Traditionally, it began as a system of family grooming, with mothers massaging their daughters’ hair with oils to encourage long, lustrous locks. Over time, it began to incorporate massage of the face neck and shoulders, specifically yours this upcoming Spa Week.


11) EVERYTHING SEAWEED

You’d like to be… under the sea? Why? Just go to the spa. Seawater and seaweed have similar mineral contents with approximately the same percentage as the human body. Because of this, seaweed wraps help detoxify the body, eliminate excess fluids, increase blood circulation and regulate hormonal levels. More treatments than ever are incorporating Seaweed this Spa Week. Go for a dive.


12) SIMPLY ... OXYGEN

Human beings’ star life-sustaining molecule is getting more and more play inside the spa. One of the new treatments is Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Therapy, which dissolves oxygen in the blood plasma and all body cells, tissues and fluids at up to 10 times normal concentration—high enough to sustain life with no blood at all. Oxygenating facials are also increasing in popularity, as oxygen continues to secure its reputation as the #1 skincare essential.



Experiment with these treatments and experience the true spa lifestyle for just $50 a piece during Spa Week. Make sure you’re signed up!

source: SpaWeek