Spring 2011 Fashion Week-Jenni Kayne

If fall fashion is all about military chic, big hair, inky, smokey eyes and thigh high boots then according to designer Jenni Kayne next spring is going to be quite the opposite. Kayne's collection showed off a desert-influenced bronzed California-earthy chic chick that's ready to travel in style and sophistication. The pieces were fresh and unique in gorgeous bright colors, minimalistic designs patterns, and interesting textures such as leather and lace.

The Inspiration: "A top-down, music-blaring road trip from the big city to Joshua Tree"

My Favorite Looks: A structured fitted khaki dress with accent buttons and a matching jacket and a magenta on pink skirt/top combo with a stunning Lucite necklace.

Makeup: Stila makeup artist, Sarah Lucero created a palette with earthy, neutral colors from Stila’s latest collection debuting this spring. Bronzed eyes, lips and cheeks channeled a “ride down the California coast and conveyed the effortless, wearable luxury of the collection,” says Lucero.  The makeup guru used Stila One Step Makeup to create a dewy, clean face. She applied Stila One Step PrimeColor in Bronze Babe to add a sunkissed flush. Lucero then applied Stila Eye Shadow in Puppy over the lids. Stila Coconut Crush Lip & Cheek Stain (launching spring 2011) was also applied and Lucero topped off the look with Stila Prime Pot in Caramel (launching spring 2011). After seeing how gorgeous their skin looked, I can’t wait to try Stila’s One Step Makeup and Stila One Step PrimeColor.

Hair: Redken created long flowy, boho-chic hair with a seventies vibe. The hair was all parted down the middle and blow dried out . The hair had an easy feel that's meant for a woman who can hit the beach, road trip down the coast line or socialize in style.

Check out the rest of the collection on Fabsugar

Fall 2010 Fashion Recap-BCBG Max Azria

Clothes: BCBG's fall 2010 collection is distinctly BCBG without being too predictable. We're seeing lots of draping in clothes, playful lenghts and what I like to call "comfortable chic"-clothes that look cozy but have plenty of sophisticated lines and patterns to set the trend for the season. Azria's collection has modern, clean lines with plenty of asymmetrical hems and neck lines. The clothes are flowy with distinct color blocking, layering and wearable fabrics that feel as good as they look. Gray, navy and cream dominated the runway.

Hair: A pulled back tight bun that was fanned out in the back was the look for the show. It showed an effortless sophistication that was easy for everyone to do on their own.

Makeup: Skin was healthy, exposed and very low key. Neutral lips and emphasized eyes are everywhere this fall. No heavy powder or blush. Emphasis was on seeing the skin and drawing the eye to the eyes. Sarah Lucero for Stila threw the look togetther using eye shadow in Chinois (a pink-white shadow) all over the lid base. She then used Puppy ( a brown taupe) in the crease and underneath the lower lash line. She swiped the lashes with Stila Major Mascara in Black and Stila One Step Makeup was applied to the skin. Stila Long Wear Lip Color in In the Nude was glossed on the pout. 

Fall 2010 Fashion Recap-Jill Stuart

The Jill Stuart Fall 2010 collection blew my mind when I saw it last February. Every aspect of the show was perfection and a great indicator of many many trends happening right now.

Clothes: The collection had a military toughness with a super feminine edge to it. The juxtaposition between military coats and tops with feminine hemlines and skirts made the entire show mesmerizing. The unbelievably rich hues seen i the coats, dresses and blazers made the collection a perfect representation of fall fashion. Each outfit was impeccably tied together with tall velvet plume hats, chunky scarves, or slightly over-sized hats. To top it all off, my favorite fall accessory made each outfit glaringly cool and chic: super sexy thigh high boots. I was unsure about the over the knee boots till I saw these and I instantly fell in love. Stuart managed to pair them with the military, tailored and layered look effortlessly. Bottom line: I wanted to look like each and every model and where each and every outfit every day of my fall 2010 life!

Makeup: Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury used Jill Stuart's own cosmetics collection (based only in Japan right now) to create the look. The style has a very European Bridgette Bardot super sultry feline eye with a matte face and heavily rimmed charcoal eyes. Tilbry used brown shadow over the lids and then lined the rims and outer corner with black get eyeliner (I recommend the brand Make Up For Ever or Smashbox).

Hair: TIGI's Bob Recine created a voluminous messy "danced-out" look. A girl who's "75 percent done with her entire night". The hair was sexy messy bed head and Recine showed a carefully constructed look that had a very textured feel to it. The "imperfect" hair was done using Catwalk Root Boost ( a spray mousse), Firm Hold Hairspray.

Check out the rest of the post and all my celebrity sightings backstage.

Click here to see my backstage video footage with celebs and models. The show was held at the New York Public Library and even the backstage area was gorgeous!

Fall 2010 Fashion Recap-3.1 Phillip Lim

Clothes: Glamrock goddess. Disco-punk lovin' hipster chic. Clothes with tons of movement, texture and shape. Clothing with an ethereal wispy look to it. Slouch metallic pants, fluttery tops and silk pants in bright hues. 

Hair: Agyness Deyn meet Debbie Harry. Wispy rock and roll hair-fluffy and winged with a distinct middle part. Style was done using Phyto products: Phyto Intense Volume Mousse, Phyto Volume Actif, Phyto 7, Phyto Professional Workable Holding Spray.

Makeup: Youthful rebellious disco-punk rock. Edgy eyes with plenty of smudgey liner. Skin is kept clean, healthy and glowing. Lips are soft pink. NARS used Riviera Multiple, Luxor Multiple for skin. Absyinnia and Nymphea Single Eyeshadow on eyes and London Eyeliner Pencil on inner rim of eyes. Bangkok Pure Matte Lipstick (new for the fall) was used on the lips.

Nails: CND used Creamy Cameo (a milky peachy pink) and paired with shiny Gold Chrome for an updated version of a french manicure.

Check out the rest of the post with all my backstage photos and shots of the celebrity guests in attendance at the show!

Fall 2010 Fashion Recap-Rebecca Taylor

Clothes: 70's Parisian chic mixed with New York City urban-fabulous girl. Neutral with dusty hues contrasted with military olives and hints of gold. "Worn-in-looking" fabrics, cashmere wool suits, leopard faux furs (leopard and animal prints are huge this season) and down quilted coats gave an affordable yet luxe quality.

Hair: Charlotte Gainbourg-inspired hair. Pulled together bed-head. Loose undoe 

Makeup: MAC created a soft, girlie chic look. Lightened eyebrows, black liner, rosy cheeks, bare lips-completely neutral with no trace of color.  

 Check out the rest of the post here. 

Behind The Scenes at Fashion Week Fall 2010

Here is some behind the scenes backstage coverage from the Jill Stuart show last February. I have clips of celebrities like Michelle Trachtenberg being interviewed by The Daily 10's Cat Sadler and models getting prepped for the show. Enjoy!

Fall 2010 Fashion Recap-Stephen Burrows

CFDA Lifetime Achievement winner Stephen Burrows has a unique style all his own. His fall 2010 collection was representative of him and set the tone for fashion that pushes the envelope with silhouettes and patterns.

Clothes: Colored tights, caged booties, mixing fabrics and textures (silk tops with brocade skirts). Colors and patterns inspired by artist, Gustav Klimt and Tiffany stain glass lamps. 

Hair: Donut-shaped side bun. Hair kept off the face.

Makeup: Heavy smokey eyes and ruby red lips. No blush, clean skin and a dot of moisturizer to cheekbone, forehead and chin to add glow. 

Check out the rest of the post here.

Fall 2010 Fashion Recap-Twinkle By Wenlan

Here's a recap on some of the Fall 2010 collections seen last February:

Twinkle By Wenlan-

Clothes: The collection showcased "girlie gothic" clothes-feminine silhouettes contrasted with tough edgier details-exposed zippers, studs and chains. Pops of jewel toned colors showed up with flirty dresses in royal purple, inky blue and corn silk yellow. Otherwise the palette included neutral shades such as mossy green, nutty cream and muddy brown.

Jewelry: As seen in previous seasons, chunky jewelry is still going strong. Thick beads, geometric baubles, statement pendants and metallic bling were all seen on the runway.

Makeup: Fresh and natural. Attention was drawn to smokey eyes and darkened eyebrows. Nude lips and even "makeup-free" skin. Up do's were everywhere. The styles varied from an elegantly refined low bun, to pulled back messy chignons, french braided pinups and extra teased bouffants. Nails were black-blood red-perfect for the fall.

Check out the full post here

See clips from the actual show here:

Fall 2010 Trends/MIA For A Minute!

So I've been a little MIA over the past few weeks. I apologize friends! Moving, weddings (not my own) and Fashion Week sucked up all my time and now it's all of a sudden almost the end of September! I got back from Fashion Week last week and am excited to share all the latest beauty and fashion findings I saw on the runway and backstage.

 

Before I divulge on trends for next spring, (which seems so far away) lets recap on what's happening now! Fashion moves far too quickly to keep up with! Everything that I covered from last season's fashion week is happening to us right now but all the coverage, photos and reporting seems like a distant memory. So let's go back and see what's what for right now!

 

To start, here are my video blogs from the AOL Media Lounge where I reported on what I saw on last season's runways:

 

http://www.thebeautybuffblog.com/2010/02/reporting-from-aol-media-lounge.html

 

http://www.thebeautybuffblog.com/2010/02/reporting-from-mercedes-benz-fashion.html

 

More Fall 2010 trend reports to come!

 

Emmys 2010 Beauty-Jenna Ushkowitz

Jenna Ushkowitz-It must have been quite an experience for first time Emmy attendee and Glee star, Jenna Ushkowitz. Her show is a mega-fantabulous hit, she got to rub elbows with Jon Hamm, Neil Patrick Harris and Tina Fey and got a head-to-toe glam makeover for the show.

Makeup artist Kevin Posey used Mally City Chick Smokey Eye Kit

 

 

for a dramatic look and Visible Skin Adjustable Coverage Foundation

 

 

as a powder to set the skin on the actress. I actually just got my hands on the Smokey Eye Kit and think the colors and consistency is great. It comes with an eye-shadow base, browlighter, lid color, crease color and matching eye liner. Posey prepped her skin with Orlane's Lightbox

 

 

-one of my favorite skin treatment kits and then used Orlane's Absolute Skin Recovery Smoothing Foundation

 

 

to lightly even out her skin tone and provide a natural and clean matte finish. Posey also used Orlane's Bronzing Powder

 

 

to give her a healthy glow.

The actress looked radiant at the awards show. I can't wait to see Ushkowitz on the new season of Glee!
 
 
 
 

Indulge Your Sweet Tooth With Calorie-Free Treats

It seems unheard of that a line of beauty products would actually make one's mouth water but then again no one said philosophy's bath and body products weren't unique. I can never decide which hunger-inducing concoction I want because I want them all. Between their decadent pink frosted layer cake and their delicious crème brulee 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath bottles, I'm surprised more people don't eat this stuff straight from the bottle. 

The latest calorie-free bath desserts from philosophy are equally delectable: Crispy Marshmallow Bars and Cookies n' Cream ($16, Nordstroms). The aromas take me back to two fond and frequent memories from childhood: the warm oozing smell of melting marshmallows from a freshly baked batch of Rice Crispy Treats and the satiating aroma of ice cream and air conditioning in a Ben and Jerry's on a warm summer night. My overly persistent sweet tooth was going berserk while using the mixture of both washes in the shower this morning. I felt like I had eaten my weight in dessert by the time I toweled off and for the first time I actually hadn't! They do have the recipes for these fan favorite treats on the label of the bottles, so you can be sure a fresh batch of bars will pop up in my oven sooner or later.

On top of their intoxicating fragrances, the lather in these solutions are fantastic. I hate when you have to use a ton of gel to wash your whole body and have to replenish the bottle frequently. For these cleansing formulas you really only need a  few squeezes to cover your whole body. The gels are non-irritating and make your skin feel soft and supple after use too!

I literally had a smile on my face while using the wash this morning, (not too many soaps have caused me to do that) so I'm pretty sold on these two gems. Since I'm not a morning person, actually getting excited about showering and starting my day is a refreshing change and I certainly have them to thank.

Buy your favorite philosophy set or a collection of yummy dessert gels between now and September 26 on philosophy.com and you'll be eligible to receive a free gift of fan favorites (Amazing Grace Shampoo, Bath and Shower Gel, Hope In A Tube Eye and Lip Firming Cream, Amazing Grace Body Emulsion and Hope Oil-Free Sunscreen). All you need to do is spend $65 or more and enter promo code gift4me at checkout (while supplies last). Plus, if you spend $50 or more shipping is free! It's a win-win people!

Milly For Clinique Gift With Purchase At Bloomies!

Milly by Michelle Smith was one of my favorite designer shows at last season's fashion week (which I can't believe is around the corner). The clothes were bright, cheerful, girlie yet ultra sophisticated. I'd love to own every outfit that strutted down the runway. Not gonna happen but a nice thought. I'm sure we'd all love to stock our closet with designer duds every season, but for many of us that's not always possible. In the meantime lets stock our vanities with free presents from Milly and Clinique! Right now at Bloomingdales Clinique has a hard-to-resist gift with purchase: an 8-piece Milly for Clinique gift (with tons of fall beauty favorites) with any $25 Clinique purchase. Luckily, I need to restock on my all time favorite powder: Clinique's Perfectly Real Compact Makeup in Shade 138 (obsessed, can't live without this product).

 

The gift includes:

 

·  Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips, 1.7 fl oz

·  Youth Surge Night Age Decelerating Night Moisturizer, 1.5 ml

·  Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20

·  Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

·  Colour Compact including Colour Surge Eye Shadow in Frosted Blossom and Chocolate Chip, Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Iced Lotus

·  Lash Doubling Mascara in Black, .14 oz

·  Lash Building Primer, .08 oz

·  Milly for Clinique Lipstick Case

·  Milly for Clinique bag

 

The makeup bags were specially designed by Michelle Smith for Milly and you can't get this gift anywhere else but Bloomies. See you there!

 

Check out her Fall 2010 Collection here!

Stars Score At The L’Oréal Paris’ Touch Up Suite and So Can YOU!

Are we in agreement that most of us want celebrity status for the sheer purpose of scoring all the seriously amazing swag and luxurious perks? 

In 'yet another reason to be jelly-belly jealous of celebrities' news, scores of TV stars stopped by L’Oréal Paris’ Touch Up Suite at the HBO Luxury Lounge to get primped and prepped for the awards show. The lounge offered manicures, hair/makeup touch ups and hot shaves for men.

Celebrities also gushed over their fav products:  

Nina Dobrev of Vampire Diaries said “I use the Elnett hairspray on set all the time - we love it... and the Voluminous Mascara,” and other stars couldn’t wait to sing Elnett’s praises. “I love the Elnett hairspray - we use it on set at Chelsea Lately,” said Heather McDonald, one of the funny women from the show. And Hung star Rebecca Creskoff said, “I have the Elnett hairspray in my cabinet! Love it!”

Check out other stars who stopped by the lounge and scored some glam-inducing swag.

True Blood's Carrie Preston got her hair did

Modern Family's Sarah Hyland enjoying a manicure with Pro Manicure Nail Polish in Goldy Lucks

Modern Family Star & Emmy Winner Eric Stonestreet, holds onto another gold statue

Former Dexter star, Julie Benz said, “My stylist turned me on to Elnett and I don't use anything else!”

Entourage's Perrey Reeves get a blow out and styling at the lounge

The Bachlorette's Ali and Roberto show off their newly acquired products

So in honor of the Emmys and in the spirit of scoring free swag I'm teaming up L’Oréal Paris to do a giveaway! 

Tell me who you were most excited about seeing at the show in the comments section along with your name and contact information and you could snag L’Oréal Paris Colorist Secrets Shine Gloss ($9.49, lorealparis.com & mass market retailers). I'm giving away two glosses to two Emmy-loving readers! All your favorite celebrities got them in their gift bags at the Luxury Lounge and a few were even using them that night. The one-size-fits-all clear shine gloss treatment gives your hair a boost of glossy shine. It works great on natural, color-treated or highlighted hair and is easy to use. The 10-minute treatment is clear and won't affect your your current shade. It will make your hair feel healthier and feel brilliantly shiny. 

Emmys 2010 Beauty-Claire Danes

Claire Danes looked amazing at this year's Emmy awards. Her platinum blond hair, glowing skin and form fitting Armani Prive sparkling gown exuded movie star glamour from a different era. Danes was arguably one of the best dresses celebrities on the red carpet and looked like the true winner she is (scoring an Emmy for her role in HBO's Temple Grandin). Celebrity makeup artist and Laura Mercier spokesperson created her flawless face. Here's what he did to get looking as shiny and perfect as her golden statuette.

FACE:

-Matin first added Juno Lipid Serum on her face and body to soften her skin. He then applied Laura Mercier Face Shield, an oil-free face lotion with SPF protection.

-To smooth out her pores and prep her skin for foundation he added Laura Mercier Foundation Primer.

-Danes had a particularly lovely bronzed glow and that was created using Laura Mercier Silk Cream Foundation in Suntan Beige (which had a sheer finish).

-He also added a touch of their Bronzed Gel to her outer face and neck.

-To hide any imperfections, Matin used Laura Mercier's Camouflaged Concealer and Powder.

-To make her cheeks look flushed he used a flash of color in fuchsia from Make Up For Ever and then added Laura Mercier Golden Mosaic on top of her cheeks and lightened with the brighter part of the shimmer. 

EYES:

-Her eyes were rimmed with Laura Mercier Copper Gold Kohl Pencil and solid gold shadows were swept all over her lids.

-To add contour, Matin used shade Temptation and highlighted the brow bone with Golden Mosaic.

-Matin swiped a few coats of Laura Mercier Full Blown Mascara to her lashes to make her eyes pop.

 

LIPS: 

-Matin used Laura Mercier Sand Castle Lipstick and Bare Beige Glace Gloss to her pout.

BODY: 

-To get her skin to glow too Matin lathered on Orlane's Arm and Body Cream on top of Juno and then used Laura Mercier Bronzing Body Makeup

 

Emmys 2010 Beauty-Jenna Fischer

Jenna Fischer looked regal at this year's Emmy Awards. I loved the newlywed's persimmon vintage Versace gown. It was by far her most unique and fashion forward look. The strapless gown had some amazing graphic red appliqués which also made the dress look quite modern.  

 

COVERGIRL makeup artist Molly R. Stern did her makeup and gave the actress a fresh, simple and neutral look to counter her attention-grabbing dress. We spoke to the makeup guru who told us what she did to get Jenna Emmy ready.

SKIN: Stern prepped Fischer with Jurlique Lavender Hydrating Mist and then lightly moisturized her skin with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. Next, Stern based her skin with Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation. To warm Fischer's cheeks, Stern chose COVERGIRL Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush in Plush Peach for the perfect flushed (not too rosy) glow.

 

EYES: Stern "based the lid with By Terry's Ombre Blackstar (a cream shadow pencil) in Bronze Moon" and then "dusted the metallic beige of the NARS duo shadow in Rajasthan over the top and up into the crease".  For her lash line Stern smudged out the COVERGIRL LiquiLineBlast in Brown Blaze and then coated her lashes with COVERGIRL LashBlast Fushion in Brown

 

LIPS: Stern says she "wanted her lip to look defined yet super soft-a nude with a pinch of color".  She went with the sheer stain of Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain in Mambo (a toasted beige shade) and went over that with COVERGIRL Wetslicks Amazemint Lipgloss in Freedom of Peach.  

Image from Usmagazine.com