For the past six months plus, I've had some major hair 'ish happening. Namely, my hair just doesn't seem to want to hold on to color anymore. Which means that 2-3 weeks after getting my hair dyed (and keep in mind that I'm a brunette going...brunette), my roots have been fading and leaning incredibly brassy. As you can imagine, I've tried every solution imaginable - a new colorist, a new salon, a new formula, at-home color (the new Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Hair Color is actually pretty solid), less hair washing - all to no avail. Apparently, I have a condition colorists call "hot roots" - and the causes can be myriad, including (the most likely culprit in my case) hormones.
Gross, right? Honestly, I can't even think about it without cringing. Thankfully, Aveda's come to the rescue with their Black Malva Shampoo and Conditioner, color-depositing formulas that infuse brunette and black hair with cool, dark tones, diminishing pesky red tones and brassiness. Like all Aveda products, the secret's in the botanicals, in this case organically grown aloe, black tea and emollient-rich black malva that's been wild-crafted and then sustainably gathered by hand in its natural habitat. The Black Malva itself provides moisture to hair, while black tea helps intensify deep hues and purify the scalp.
I've been rotating the Black Malva formulas in about every other day, and so far, so good - no fading, no brassiness and no grays peeking through (at least not just yet).
If you've got similar issues, or would like to experiment with a color-depositing formula in lieu of color, shop Aveda's collection online (there are formulas for blondes and redheads as well) here.
Super stylist Odile Gilbert for John Frieda created the "rocker princess' mane seen at the Rodarte Fall 2013 show. As we've seen on so many runways this season, the texture was effortless and undone.
After hair was blow-dried, a 2-inch iron was used to create loose bends. Frizz-Ease Moisture Barrier Hairspray was lightly misted over each section before it was wrapped around the iron to lock the waves in place.
Next, the waves were brushed out to make the texture look more natural, and braids on both sides were connected in the back of the head with a rose made of the models’ own hair.
TRESemmé Stylist Jeanie Syfu was backstage at Jenny Packham's Fall 2013 show earlier this week. The collection was inspired by the mid-17th century and featured the designer's signature, feminine silhouettes and intricate detailing. To ensure the overall look was glamorous, yet modern, Jeanie Syfu created an elegant, loose ponytail with polished ends.
To get the look:
Start by applying TRESemmé 24 Hour Body Blow Dry Lotion throughout the roots and mid–lengths and TRESemmé Platinum Strength Strengthening Heat Protect Spray to the ends
Blow dry with a Mason Pearson brush for a straight finish
Create a part down the center and then section hair in two parts, separating across the back of the head from ear to ear
Gently tease the underneath section and along the horizontal line from ear to ear
Loosely pull hair into a low ponytail at the nape of the neck, letting hair fall out around the face
Aveda Global Creative Director Antoinette Beenders styled regal fishtail braids for the Christian Siriano Fall/Winter 2013 collection yesterday.
“Christian and I have collaborated for many seasons. This collection is inspired by the golden age of Russian Opera and Saint Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre,” said Beenders. “The clothing is rich and opulent, so we designed a sophisticated, feminine look to properly complement it. From the front, the look has a lovely roundness. The braids at the back evoke refinement and glamour, reminiscent of a Russian girl dressed for an evening at the opera. I’m thrilled with how it all turned out.”
Models' hair was prepped pre-blowdry with Aveda Pure Abundance™ Style Prep™ to give texture and grit, and then divided into a clean center part from forehead to nape using a tail comb. Next, stylists created an inverted fishtail braid on each side of the head, beginning at the crown and working to the back of the ear, securing each with an elastic band. Flyaways were tamed with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray and braids were then gently massaged to add fullness. Braids were folded over one another across the back of the head, just above the nape, in a crisscross fashion, with ends tucked under and secured with bobby pins. A misting of Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray finished the look.
For this morning's Kate Spade Fall '13 Presentation, makeup artist Neil Scibelli for Jouer created a look inspired by Kate Spade’s hometown, New York City, during the ‘70s when Andy Warhol’s Factory and Studio 54 epitomized “party glamour.”
The classic cat eye and red lip complement the collection’s vivid color palette of NYC Citron, Empire Beige, Asphalt, Maraschino, Shocking Pink and Disco Purple. In Scibelli's words:
"To begin, I used Jouer Matte Moisture Tint to create a clean and matte base for the skin, using Jouer Age-Repairing Concealer where needed. I left the brows clean and groomed. For the eyes I used Jouer Powder Eyeshadow in Crème as an all over base, applying Jouer Powder Eyeshadow in Amaretto in the crease. I thickly lined the eyes with Jouer Liquid Shimmer Liner in Panther, extending and winging out. I finished with Jouer Everyday Classic Wear Mascara. I applied Jouer Tint in Honeysuckle on the apples of cheeks, blending outwards for a subtle pop of color. To finish the look I used a beautiful true red lip, Jouer’s Hydrating Lipstick in Simone, topped with Essential Lip Enhancer for extra shine.”
Yesterday's Inauguration was a pretty special day. I was wowed not only by our President, Barack Obama, but of course his First Lady Michelle - oh, she of the much-discussed bold, red Jason Wu gown.
America's Second Couple was also in attendance at yesterday's festivities, as Beyoncé (seen here with husband Jay-Z) graced us with a gorgeous rendition of the National Anthem to close the inaugural. She looked fully glamorous - truth be told, perhaps a bit too glamorous for day, but who are we to judge? She's Beyoncé, after all.
Below are some tips on how to re-create Beyoncé’s look direct from celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal, who worked with her for this special day:
To first set the skin, apply my Perfect Prep Poreless Primer all over the face and my Cancellation Concealer directly underneath the eyes.
To achieve natural-looking coverage, first, apply my Ultimate Performance Liquid Foundation. Next, add a sweep of my NEW Diamond Unpowder that will illuminate the skin followed by brushing on my Effortless Airbrush Highlighterand Blush Duo to the cheeks in order to provide a soft, radiant glow to the skin.
To achieve a rich, smokey eye – try my Evercolor Shadow Stick in Saddle Shimmer. Apply this all over the eyelid and underneath as well. Next, select a few shades from the Mally Beauty In the Buff Palette and sweep that onto the eyelids. Finish the look by applying a small amount of my Age Rebel Shadow Stick in Chocolate Diamond on the bottom lid right under your eyelashes to open up the eye followed by using my Lightwand Eyebrightener to the inner corners to instantly brighten this area. Lastly, to achieve this bold eyeliner at-home, try using the Mally Beauty Evercolor Starlight Eyeliner in Midnight, layered with the Ultimate Performance Ink Eyeliner.
Complement this confident eye by pairing it with a mascara that will enhance the overall look – such as the Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara and/or my NEW Instant Impact Mascara. To create glossy, Beyoncé worthy lips try my High Shine Lip Gloss in Mally’s Look or Mally’s Baby.
And last but not least, before you leave the house, apply the Mally Beauty Face Defender to lock your makeup in place and Perfect Prep Hydrating Under Eye Brightener to make the eyes pop!
Of course, you can also get the look using similar products from other brands, but shop some of the products featured, below!
I've long been intrigued by Ciaté's at-home nail art kits, which include Caviar (essentially a beaded manicure), Sequin and Velvet (a velvet powder applique). But, realistically, none seemed suited to everyday wear, instead more to special occasions. I mean, how do you wash your hands if you have a velvet manicure? Seriously, how?
The brand's new Colourfoil Manicure thankfully is a bit lower maintenance. Included in a $19 kit is a base color (there are three to choose from), along with a "foil fix glue" and 30 sheets of colourfoil, in six varying shades. While Wonderland is a cool flat gray, I instead chose to layer the pink Colourfoil over NARS Disco Inferno($18), a new, limited-edition duo-chrome shimmer from the Spring 2013 collection. While Disco Inferno is described as an iridescent silver green, there's also a slight touch of pink, so I thought the colourfoil would play to that nicely (and I think it's safe to say that it does!)
I'm admittedly not great at DIY, but the Colourfoil was super simple to apply and after setting with a clear topcoat, it seems to be built to withstand normal wear. Snag a kit of your own at Sephora.
As a woman with a relatively senior job in the fashion industry, I'm often asked questions relating to the business of fashion. Included in the mix are often style how-to's - whether it's a college student looking for their first job, or a more senior candidate transitioning to what's widely considered to be a glamour industry. And while there's a wealth of guidance online on how to dress for a job interview, that advice often skews a little traditional, a little boring and not at all appropriate for work in a creative field.
If you're in the market for a fashion gig, here's what you need to know about interview-appropriate style before stepping into the office of a potential employer:
As my friend Amber often says, KYA. That's "Know Your Audience", friends - and in practice, it means understanding a brand or organization's aesthetic prior to stepping into the building. Interviewing at Ralph Lauren? Classic American sportswear with a hint of prep would be a solid bet. Interviewing at ultra-forward mag BULLETT? Common sense dictates an edgier look. It's easier to envision a potential hire in a role if they look the part - true, whether it's fair or not.
Don't be afraid to be creative, and to showcase your personal style - in less traditional offices, those are attributes to be admired. Frankly, if a candidate showed up in a traditional suit or simple sheath, I'd worry that she/he wasn't creative enough and/or wouldn't be a good fit for the team - in a team-centric environment, that's the kiss of death.
That said, be APPROPRIATE - think polished and respectful. Super casual elements - i.e. a cotton sundress or wedge sneaker - make me wonder if you put any effort in at all, and HELLO, lack of effort is never a good look.
Jewelry or shoes are a great place to show a little (or a lot of) personality. Consider one statement-making piece and balance that with more classic choices, i.e. a chronograph watch and stud earrings. The one caveat? Avoid ultra-high platforms - they tend to look more at home in a club than an office. That said, a high heel of up to 4" is welcome and even de rigeur in fashion - your posture will thank you!
Never understimate the importance of good grooming - read: a fresh, unchipped manicure or clean, buffed nails, tidy hair and fresh makeup.
In case you're wondering what I'd wear on an interview, the slideshow above should give you a good idea - my meeting staples include:
Edgy yet polished jackets
Silk blouses in bold colors or prints, sometimes with feminine details
A clean, well cut trouser or skinny jean (well cut, dark rinse denim is suitable for all occasions in my book)
Statement-making shoes
A structured satchel, large enough for documents and/or my MacBook Air
Do you have any other tips to share on interview dressing? Tell me all in the comments.
On this week’s episode of Behind The Seams, step inside designer Katherine Kwei’s SoHo showroom to talk about what it takes to break into the highly competitive world of accessories design.
CND continues to work on the most intriguing nail looks of New York Fashion Week, and last night, for The Blonds "Psycho Beach Party" show, manicurist Kristina Estabrooks crafted an array of elaborately detailed nails including Shark Bites, skinny dip blue, and red caviar over CND Colour in Blackjack. Cue the Jaws soundtrack now.
