Mothers of Style: Inspiration From the Emmys Red Carpet

From the huge sweep of Breaking Bad to the heart wrenching Robin Williams tribute, the Emmys were full of beautiful moments. While the show is great for TV aficionados, it is also perfect for fashion spotting. If you haven’t already, be sure to scan all the fabulous photos of the stars and their stunning couture.

Of course with bridal fashion on the mind, I was taken by how many dresses were perfect for the Mother of the Bride. Depending on the bride’s length of leash, there are a number of beautiful outfits to fit the day that can exemplify your style as well. Where better than to find inspiration for your MOB or MOG dress than on a red carpet?

All the Red: From coral and crayon, firehouse red, shades of ruby took the stage
Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji // Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Carolina Herrera

Old Hollywood: Also a popular trend on the runway, and easily convertible to wedding day fashion

Katherine Heigl in John Hayles // Kierman Shipka in Antonio Berardi

Bright Lights: Bold hues, depending on the bride’s cue
Kerry Washington in Prada  // Kate Walsh in Stephane Rolland

Whites: Matching the bride has become more popular in recent years

Angela Bassett in Elisabetta Franchi // Lucy Liu in Zac Posen

 

Keeping it Classic: Navy has been the color of choice for MOB/G’s for years

Natasha Lyonne in Opening Ceremony // Viola Davis in Escada

Mothers of Style: Looking to the Leading Ladies

There are many debates over the appropriate dresses for the mothers of the bride and groom.
Tradition states that they should match the bridal party in hue or cut, wear black, navy or cream. While it’s generally agreed upon that the dress should be age-conscious and not overly glitzy, there’s nothing to say about it being boring. The rules are being broken every day—with the bride’s permission.

As the mothers, you are representing the families and are part of the stylish glue that elevates the wedding’s ambiance. In this role, you’ve most likely helped prepare for the wedding; you’ve chatted and collaborated with relatives, supported the efforts. But being one of the mothers of the day also allows you a certain amount of pride; the wedding day is certainly a time to show it off and choose a dress that reflects your personal style.

This is perhaps no more true than for past ladies of state: they know how to dress within reason for the more conservative, public affair while still looking fabulous. From classic dress suits to elaborate gowns, I encourage you to take cue from their past style successes.

Michelle Obama visits the Queen, J Mendel Jacket and Skirt // Tadasha Shoji Lace and Mesh Dress, Saks // Carmen Marc Valvo Pleated Floral-Print Ball Skirt, Neiman Marcus

Patterns: Hillary Clinton in Oscar de la Renta at Chelsea’s wedding // Lela Rose Half-Sleeve Floral Print Dress, Bergdorf Goodman // Kay Unger Floral Boatneck Dress

Pat Nixon at her daughter’s wedding in 1971 // Dolce and Gabbana Floral Brocade dress, net-a-porter // Teri Jon Lace & Gazaar Convertible Slip Dress, Saks

 

Jackie Kennedy Onassis at Caroline’s wedding // Laura Bush in Oscar de la Renta at daughter Jenna’s wedding // Badgley Mischka Off-The-Shoulder Belted Sheath, Saks

Red Carpet Hair: Get Inspired by This Years Met Ball Looks

If you are a bride-to-be who’s looking to step outside of the box with your wedding looks, look no further! Who ever said it wasn’t ok to push the limits was wrong! That would be exactly what the stars at this years Met Gala Ball did. When it comes to hair we saw everything from Beyonce’s sleek low bun and birdcage veil to Sarah Jessica Parkers twisted bouffant. They all brought their “A” Game and I loved them all but I could only pick a few. Good luck choosing your most favorite look of the night, it will be tough!

BEYONCE’: slick back low bun with birdcage veil

JOAN SMALLS: side swept braid

BLAKE LIVELY: vintage glamour waves

NICOLE RICHIE: wavy updo with purple hues

SARAH JESSICA PARKER: twisted bouffant

RIHANNA: messy updo

SELENA GOMEZ: classic updo

TAYLOR SWIFT: “old hollywood” tousled curls

REESE WITHERSPOON: faux bob

 

Image source: Getty

Sonia Castleberry: Beauty Editor | Hairstylist

http://www.soniacastleberry.com http://www.bridesbysoniacastleberry.com

Blonde Bobshell: Eve’s Most Memorable Looks

Who’s that girl? Eve’s that girl! She never fails us with her bold hairstyles. Whether she’s wearing long tresses with spicy highlights topped off with a blunt fringe or turning heads with her flamboyant blonde bob, Eve’s hairstyles are as versatile as her rhymes. Eve and her blonde bob looks are definitely a winner in my book! She wears this classic style so effortlessly always giving us sassy and chic. Let’s explore how to achieve her looks!

STRAIGHT & SLEEK:

To create a super straight finish, use a hot flat-iron to touch up any sections that require a smoother texture. Finish with a light weight oil for the ultimate shine. Apply a dime size to the palms of your hands, emulsify and lightly brush across the surface of your hair. Always remember a little product goes a long way!

FHI Heat Platform Flat Iron

Sachajuan Intensive Hair Oil

Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil

Alterna Bamboo Smooth Kendi Treatment Oil

TOUSLED & FREE:

The tousled effect can be achieved by using a curling iron, 1’’ or higher, wrap 1-inch sections of hair from mid-shafts to ends only (leave the roots straight). Curl random sections of hair in different directions to create a more haphazard, rough texture. Gently touse your hair with your hands to break up the curls. Complete the look by misting a light finishing hair spray.

T3 Bodywaver

L’Oréal Elnett Hair Spray

Aveda Air Control Hairspray

Fekkai Sheer Hold Hair Spray

BODY & VOLUME:

Body and volume can be achieved with product and heat. Separate your hair into 2″ sections and spray roots with a volumizer. Blow dry with a medium to large round brush starting near the back of the head using half-inch pieces and working around to the front on either side. To create extra volume, hold brush in the hair near the scalp until the hair cools (about five seconds), then move the brush down and through to the ends of the hair for a smooth finish.

Harry Josh Pro Dryer 2000

Ibiza B4 Round Brush

Aveda Volumizing Tonic

Ojon Volume Advance Thickening Spray

 

Sonia Castleberry: Beauty Editor | Hairstylist

http://www.soniacastleberry.com | http://www.bridesbysoniacastleberry.com

All About Eve: Makeup We Love

 

While Eve has made sartorial waves for the paw prints adorning her décolletage, I think it would serve us well to look up a few inches and take note of her face! Over the years, I have noticed that Eve definitely has a “hallmark” makeup style: Bronzed & Luminous! Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can achieve Eve’s trademark look.

 

Luminizer:

A great way to get that “inner glow” is to mix your foundation with a luminizer. The light-reflecting particles in the luminizer will give a soft iridescence to your face, and who doesn’t love a healthy glow? You can also dab it onto the high points of your face, after you have applied all of your makeup, to give an added shine.

[ ] Givenchy Mister Radiant

[ ] Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector

[ ] MAKE UP FOR EVER Uplight

[ ] NARS Illuminator

 

Bronzer:

Bronzer is essential to any makeup application, but it is especially important when doing a “healthy” glow look. Bronzer will also give your face dimension and warmth, which help to sclupt and define your features. Make sure to use a dense, flat brush to apply  the bronzer. You should apply it to places where the sun would hit the face, naturally (forehead, cheeks, chin, bridge of nose).

[ ] Sephora Collection Sol de Rio Bronzing Powder

[ ] Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder

[ ] NARS Casino Bronzer

 

Cream Blush:

Cream blush makes a great finishing touch to a healthy glow makeup look. It not only adds a healthy flush on the cheeks, but it leaves behind a nice dewy shine. A great way to apply it is with your ring finger. Your ring finger is pretty weak, so it will be hard to over-apply the product. None of us wants to walk around looking like Mrs. Claus!

[ ] Tarte Cheek Stain

[ ] Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge

[ ] Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip & Cheek Creamy Oil

[ ] YSL Creme De Blush Soft Blush

 

Victor Amos
Makeup Artist & Beauty Editor
New York City
http://www.VictorAmos.com

Hello Beautiful-Ashunta Sheriff

Hello Beautiful people! Well spring is in the air and everyone is asking me how do you come up with trend forecast for each season and what will this spring’s trends be? So, before I tell you what the trends are let me take you on a quick journey of how trends are made. Then I will put you all in the loop with some great makeup tips, new products and information that will take you straight from spring to summer. Spring is about flowers blooming, outdoor lunches, walks in the park, Jazz festivals and if you live in a major city life becomes this bubbling vibrant energy. Spring awakens our senses, gets our pulses pumping and motivates us to look good, smell good and feel good. Spring makes me feel good and it is one of my favorite seasons because you truly get to see how the Universe works.

Ashunta and Alicia Keys

Ashunta and Indie Arie

I grew up across the street from Central Park in New York City and in the spring you could watch day by day the tree canopies open up to create a magnificent sea of greenery. The flowers would be closed and within a day the right temperature and pollination took place for flowers to release their magnificent beauty for all to see. As you can see spring inspires me greatly and I am sure a lot of you as well.
A lot of makeup trends are born just like this through a creative process which begins with stimulation from an outside source. Maybe a designer went to an exotic location like Marrakesh or Bali to find inspiration for the next season collection. During that journey pictures were taken of exotic jewelry, fabrics and beautiful elaborate patterns. The designer then brought their findings back to their showrooms and created this season’s collection. Key makeup artist like Pat McGrath, Dick Page, Charlotte Tilbury or Gucci Westman sit with designers and look at their findings from their travels to collaborate on a look for the show. Various ideas are tried out on models prior to shows (this goes for hair too) and then a look may be tweaked last minute leading right up to the show. Then the show hits the runway while various celebs, fashion editors, critics, socialites and so forth all hustle to see what’s hot this season. All of that for a 15 minute show that took months of traveling, finding inspiration, meetings and planning. I know it’s so crazy, but true.
Then artist like Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Beyonce to name a few all do music videos, various red carpet events and photo shoots in makeup that was inspired by these shows, past trends, vintage movies or just from their own imagination with the help of their glam teams. Sometimes celebrities inspire the designers and the look works backwards meaning it started from the creative juices of a makeup artist, hair stylist or wardrobe stylist trying something new and different for their client. So creativity is like a fire that spreads and it turns out some of the most beautiful fashions, trends, colors and most important to me makeup products that are here for us all to use.
Okay so, some of my spring trends suggestions are:
Try Something New
If you are a makeup user but find yourself in a makeup rut then it’s time to be open to new things. Bold eyes are a hot new trend this season.  Think lavenders, turquoise, mint greens, bronze and gold. If you are lover of smoky eyes try purple instead of gray or black. Apply purple eye shadow to the lid and then line eyes with a black kohl pencil. I like to line upper and lower lash line then apply 3 coats of mascara. Make sure skin is even with a tinted moisturizer, concealer where needed and set with a mattifying powder. Use a soft peach blush on the apples of cheeks and a sheer nude lip will top this look off nicely.
Product suggestions: Mary Kay’s new Coastal Colors Collection
Don’t Be Afraid To Shine
Another fabulous trend is shimmer and we are seeing lots of it added to lipsticks, blushes, eye shadows you name it. My only advice is that you do not want to wear all shimmer products at once because it would be entirely way too much. If you use shimmer on the eyes then keep the rest of the face shimmer free. I love the sea foam blues, champagnes and lilac shimmer hues of the season. Try using a champagne colored loose pigment of eye shadow in the inner corner of the eyes. It is like having little spotlights on your eyes and it makes them appear wider. Make sure the color is blended down and not just left in the corner of the eyes. It should flow into your eye makeup and have one fluid soft look.
Product suggestions: MAC Vanilla or Gold Pigments

A Kiss of Fruit
Raspberry lips and Coral lips are a big hit. If you are stuck in red or you don’t use color both of these colors are great transitions for you either way. Raspberry and coral have enough color that the red lip users will not feel naked and the nude lip person will not feel too overdone. Always try sheer formulations and lip tints to make sure the color is something you like. Also don’t be afraid to mix. If the raspberry is too bold add a sheer pink over it and it will create a gorgeous rose color.
Product suggestions: Smashbox O-Gloss Intuitive Lip Gloss with Goji Berry
All in all spring is about allowing our inner glow out. So get glowing this summer feel good this summer and make your own trends. Peace.

Please log on to http://covergirl.streamlogics.com/QueenCollection/