I recently did a test with a super girl team: photographer Zanita, stylist Kat Wotton and model Vanessa Breuer from Chic. It was AMAZING. We worked insanely well as a team, shooting plenty of outfits and having so much fun.

The picture above is by far one of my favourite images I’ve shot. I adore the feeling of this shot. Vanessa looks so glamourous and serene basking in the sun. The outfit is terribly chic, Vanessa’s movement is so feminine and beautiful, and I love how the softness and relaxed expression in her face contrasts the gritty step and pebbly ground.

Here is a peek at the makeup…

I used a flat, dark brown (no shimmer or sparkles or anything) from Inglot on the eye and then layered the most beautiful brown eyeshadow, Fez from Nars, on top to get that bronze highlight and create depth. Using an angled shading brush (quite a fluffly one, like Mac’s 275), I blended like crazy so the edges weren’t harsh and the brown subtly faded away. I made sure to put plenty of colour under Vanessa’s eyes to really frame them and bring out her amazing blue peepers. For some looks I used Mac’s Orange Alarm (of course! I love that colour too much!) on the lips but mainly stuck to Shu Uemura’s BG 954M, which as of now is known as Creamy Chloe A/W 2010 Tan in Matte, as those letters and numbers don’t cut it for me.

Be sure to check out the rest of the shoot here. Enjoy!

xxo

SO EXCITING! The day was such a breeze, Zanita is a powerhouse behind the lens – she has such a clear vision and shoots so speedily, and Alyce was a gem and constantly had the hugest smile on her face, even in the super chilly wind!

Tests are so much fun, you can do whatever you want to, and I did! As you know I love power-brows and emphasised Alyce’s with MAC Brow Powder and an angled brush. I used my favourite NARS Lipcolour in Funny Face for half of the shots and the other half I used a vibrant blue cream eyecolour by Shu Uemura in the inner-vs of Alyce’s eyes.

As you can see, both of the girls did an incredible job and I am so so so over the moon with the images.

Thank you ladies!

Check out the rest of the story over here at Zanita’s blog.

xxo

xxo

Yes there has been some photoshopping, but my gosh! Aren’t coral lips divine?! Check out MAC and Lancome for gorgeous corals to suit your complexion.

Anna Maria Jogodzinska shot by Lachlan Bailey for Vogue China June 2010.

If we’ve ever met you’ll know that I love a good dress up party. This is definitely going to be my next outfit. Slick hair, MAC Lady Danger Lipstick and a bat mask created with Ben Nye Black Cream Colour and pressed with a translucent powder. Eeep!

And another thrown in for awesomeness!

Coco Rocha shot by Craig McDean for Vogue US May 2008.

Oh my! Ezra Petronio’s shot of Malgosia Bela makes me seriously want the 80s. Those cheekbones, the slicked back hair, the shades, she’s a Robert Palmer girl – but a thousand times better! I can’t really work super gelled hair, and unfortunately am not endowed with such magnificent cheekbones, but I do have incredibly shiny lip gloss*. And red lipstick^. Looks like you should get yourself some too!

xx

* MAC Clear Lipglass

^ Bobbi Brown lipstick in Red

It looks like lilac is going to be big! Firstly at Cynthia Rowley and then the hair at Proenza Schouler, Nicole Farhi is adding to the trend. The eyes were first lined with black liner, followed by a purple wash taken up to the brows and then lashings of black mascara. The look was finished off with muted pink lipstick, so not to take away from the bold patterns of the clothes.

I can’t talk about London Fashion Week without mentioning Matthew Williamson’s return! Having not shown in London for the past ten years his collection this time around was much more sleek than the boho ways of yonder.

The makeup look was so subtle but absolutely gorgeous! One that I’ll definitely be wearing within the next few days. Simply take the colour away from your lips (by using a nude or beige lipstick) and basically mimic your eyeshape with a light brown eyeshadow applied with any regular brush. A good trick is to bring the point of the eyeshadow a little higher up than corners of your eyes as this livens up the face and makes it less smouldering-sexy. If you want that extra bit of shine on the lid like Abbey has, just apply an eyegloss (or even Paw Paw Ointment) on the lid.

And finally, one of the coolest makeup looks of the day was at Antonio Berardi. It’s a 60s/futuristic/cat-eye all in one! With nothing else but a gorgeously fresh (read: moisturiser, no powder) base the eyes are just so powerful! Once again I’m recommending MAC’s ‘Fluidline’ in Blacktrack (what would I do without this product!?!) with a small angled brush (MAC #236) or a very fine, petite brush (MAC #210) so you can really get creative. Take the time, have a bit of a play around and I promise you that you’ll be blown away by what you’re capable of!

‘Til tomorrow! xx

(Images 1 & 3 from londonfashionweek.co.uk/. Image 2 from nymag.com/fashion/)

My favourite makeup look of the day… WHAT A SURPRISE! Haha, those lashes are just awesome! I’ve just read here that the above label, PPQ, are collaborating with Shu Uemura and the lashes will be in store in February 2010. How exciting! To get the rest of this look, Nars ‘Desire’ is the perfect pink blush and any babydoll pink lipstick will do, lightly pressed onto the lips with a finger.

Here at Ashish it’s time to party! The only makeup look that could live up to such a vibrant, sequined frock is but of course, the red lip. And a very full one at that! So get out your sharpener, create a full lip shape with your trusty red pencil, and then apply a generous amount of MAC’s ‘Lady Danger’, a bright coral-red.

And I just had to include the look from my favourite collection of the day, at Mark Fast. The Canadian-born designer creates these beautiful, and very sexy, knitted dresses that are definitely worth checking out. The look to go with his varied palette was quite simple. A dusting of lilac eyeshadow in the inner Vs of the eyes and a directional brow (done with a sharp brow pencil or a powder and an angle brush). It’s really quick and easy to do, and is just that little bit different. Definitely something I’m going to try when next I go out!

xx

(images from http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/)

The most beautiful makeup look of the day was at threeASFOUR. The choreography of the show was inspired by Yoko Ono’s performance artwork Cut Piece and the music was from her latest record. The easiest way to achieve this makeup look is by using a glitter eyeliner pen (such as the Stila one) and creating the desired shapes on your face. Otherwise, if you didnt want the sparkle-factor, use MAC ‘Fluidline’ in Blacktrack and the back of a small brush/blunt toothpick/or anything else that is tiny and round, and get all pointillist on us!

This look here, at Calvin Klein, has got me most excited about summer! When the days are long and hot, I carry with me my Jurlique ‘Lavender Hydrating Mist’ and spray whenever it’s all getting a bit too much. Not only does it cool you down, it’s hydrating and it’s smells amazing! It’s not just to cool you down though, you can incorporate it into your morning routine after you’ve cleansed and before you moisturise. It might seem a bit unnecessary, but those few moments when all I’m thinking about is lavender are often the best parts of the day.

Alrighty, so that’s it for New York. Next week it’s London! See you there!

xx

(all pics from http://nymag.com/fashion/)

The girls at Vera Wang were given an unstructured, somewhat messy hair-do with dominant brows to compliment the beautifully romantic clothes. The makeup look was so clean and pretty with only a touch of mascara and some darker brows drawn on. As the brows are quite full and smooth (ie not angular nor rounded) it gives the face a really womanly feel. It’s so easy to do, just get a brow pencil in a shade darker than your hair or a powder in a shade darker and use an angle brush (MAC #236) to apply the colour and play! It really is quite amazing what different brow shapes do for your face!

Marc Jacobs is at it again! Yesterday he showed his signature line and today it’s his younger, less expensive line, Marc by Marc Jacobs. I love it! It’s so much fun and a great take on Spring.

The makeup is so perfectly youthful. A quick dusting of pink on the cheeks (a great one for this look would be Desire by Nars – so very pink pink pink!) and raspberry lips in a cute and quirky shape. Get the shape by drawing on and colouring in lips with a pencil (focus on creating a dramatic cupids bow), adding lipstick and using concealer to hide the parts of your lips that arent now raspberry!

And Rodarte. *ahhhh* I always sigh a thousand sighs over their collections. The Mulleavy sisters’ collections are always so fantastical and otherworldly. It excites me so much! I just read on Style.com that they studied Art History too… I guess there’s still hope for me to become an amazing designer too! haha!

I love how their shows are always so visually stimulating and detailed. From the black grit on the runway and the dry ice, to the netting over the messy hair and the body armour (art), it all really brings the clothing to life.

The makeup is not the most transferable to reality, but who cares! Just observe and enjoy!

xxxx

(all pics from http://www.style.com/fashionshows/)