Bridesmaid Beauty

I recently posted a bridal beauty look featuring new trends from New York Fashion Week Fall 2010 RTW, I had a lot of fun putting together that post so I decided to do two more fashion week-inspired beauty looks. This one is a bridesmaid look and tomorrow I’ll post a wedding attendee look.

The first look is a very intense, messy eye on Siri Tollerod at Zac Posen.

This is obviously a very strong look for a wedding party member but I love dramatic eyes, so I think that a toned down version could actually be beautiful for a bridesmaid.

To get this look, use Stila Smudge Pot in Black Cat and Grey ($20 each, sephora.com). I like this product because it works as both a gel liner and an eye shadow. For a less rock n roll version I would apply the grey in the inner corners of your eye and the black just on the outer third of your eye. Lots of black mascara will finish this look, try Dior DiorShow Iconic Mascara in Noir ($27, sephora.com).

Since the eyes are such a bold look, the rest of the makeup should be kept light and natural. I liked the makeup at Thakoon because it just looked like a pretty flush.

To achieve a similar color, try Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder in 3 ($46, sephora.com).

Finally for hair, I LOVE the look on Magdalena Frackowiak at Ralph Lauren.


Magdalena was the first model that I ever interviewed backstage at Fashion Week back in 2008. This is a super simple, relaxed look. To get it apply serum to damp hair, try John Frieda Frizz-Ease Extra- Strength Formula Hair Serum ($9, walmart.com). After blow-drying hair, add gentle waves using a wide-barrel curling iron, like the T3 Twirl ($119, sephora.com).

What do you think of the look? Any fall makeup trends that you are excited about?

all images from style.com

Bridal Beauty: NYFW edition

For a year and a half I worked in beauty at women’s magazines. During that time I drowned in lipstick, mascara, and pomade and I loved every minute of it! One of the things that I miss the most about beauty is gushing over the runway looks and having it count as work. Of course beauty is still my favorite part of Fashion Week, so I put together a bridal look based on some of my favorite fall 2010 hair and makeup looks.

First up is peach blush shown at Michael Kors.

I love how sweet and subtle this look is. It should be applied sparingly so that the bride looks less as though she is wearing peach blush and more like she has a pretty flush. Sweep the blush along your cheekbones for a more pronounced look.

Nars Orgasm Blush ($26, sephora.com), which has shimmery undertones, is the gold standard of peach blush. I am also a fan of Benefit Coralista ($28, sephora.com) and Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect in Tweed Coral ($45, neimanmarcus.com)


The second look that I loved was big, beautiful doe-eyes seen at 3.1 Phillip Lim.

I am typically a fan of lots of black eyeliner but for a bridal look, I like the idea of something softer and more timeless. This look is also extremely easy in terms of application.

You’ll need lots of mascara. I am a huge mascara girl so there are tons of brands that I love. My two favorites (for the moment anyway) are Amazing Cosmetics Mascara in Black ($22, sephora.com) and Dior DiorShow Iconic Mascara in Noir ($27, sephora.com). If you have straight lashes, you should curl them before applying the mascara. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler ($19, sephora.com) is the best. If you have naturally curled eyelashes, like mine, then you can skip this step, the mascara will be dramatic enough.

Also apply a pencil eyeliner from the middle of the eye to the edge. I like Stila Kajal Eye Liner in Smokey Quartz ($18, sephora.com). This will give you a gentler, more workable look that is easier to smudge ever-so-slightly than a liquid or gel liner.

Finally since both of these makeup looks are so subtle, my pick for bridal hair is big and dramatic. I am in love with the retro, curly gorgeousness seen at Oscar de la Renta.

You’ll need volumizer, a curling iron (or old-school hot rollers) and lots of hairspray to achieve this look. Apply John Frieda Luxurious Volume Lavish Root Booster ($6, at all major drugstores and drugstore.com) to the roots of wet hair. When hair is dry, curl it using a curling iron. My favorite iron is the T3 Twirl ($119, sephora.com); it creates big, bouncy curls. Lastly you’ll want a flexible hold hairspray to keep the curl in tact while giving you movement. Try Nexxus Comb Thru Hairspray ($10, at walmart.com).

There you have it! A pretty, undone, romantic bridal beauty look.

What do you think? Do you like these trends? Do you use any of these products?

P.S. Is it just me or does that photo of Karlie Kloss (and her big curls) remind you of Olivia Newton-John’s Grease makeover? I think it’s the leather jacket that’s cinching it for me!

all images from style.com

Best of NYFW: Wedding edition

New York Fashion Week fall 2010 ended a couple of weeks ago. I followed the shows closely, as I always do, but this season I paid attention to looks that could double as bridal outfits or wedding attendee clothes. Here is a round-up of my favorites.

Rachel Roy


This Rachel Roy dress is absolutely divine. It would be such an ethereal and chic wedding dress. I am obsessed with the gently cinched waist. Strapless wedding dresses are so ubiquitous that I fear they are quickly becoming passé but I still love them, I can’t help it. This dress is especially perfect.

Erin Fetherston


This Erin Fetherston dress is so pretty. I love the mod, 60s feel. I think it would make a gorgeous wedding dress for a slightly offbeat bride. I would like to see it for a day wedding. I think a short wedding dress can be so fresh and unexpected; I wish more brides would take the risk and go short. This ban.do headband would be perf with the dress.

Lela Rose


I was so happy to see that one-shouldered dresses are still going to be in for the fall. I have about ten of them, so it was good news for me! I think most brides would shy away from a one-shouldered wedding dress since it’s so trendy and rightfully so, you don’t want your wedding photos looking extremely dated in six years. That said, your rehearsal dinner is a great place to have some fun and go a little trendier. This beautiful, romantic Lela Rose dress would be lovely for the bride’s rehearsal look. I think the gold mini-sash really completes the look.

Tracy Reese


Tracy Reese is one of my favorite designers and I almost keeled over when I saw this dress. I adore the styling: the absurdly girly dress, the sexy lace tights, and the tough boots = perfection. This dress could absolutely double as an amazing maid of honor dress. The ballerina-inspired poufy tulle skirt makes me happy just looking at it. Trust me: your maid of honor will thank you if you put her in this.

Alice + Olivia


This dress is so adorable! Wouldn’t bridesmaids look so darling in this strapless, tiered, bubble-skirted number? It’s Alice + Olivia and you can never go wrong with Stacey Bendet's quirky sensibility.

Diane von Furstenberg


Finally this last look would be beautiful for a wedding guest. I like the strong but poufy shoulders and the deep V neckline. Of course Diane von Furstenberg is the wrap dress queen so I think that detail makes the dress even more special.

Thoughts? Would you wear any of these pieces to a wedding? Hope you like the picks!

all images from style.com