Nymph-like Dolls, Backstage Elie Tahari

The hair and makeup for the Elie Tahari fall 2011 show was soft and innocent, and I couldn’t help but want to emulate it myself! Esther Langham was the lead for Moroccan Oil, and she set out to create a clean and sleek ponytail. She began by dabbing the hair with a cocktail of Moroccanoil treatments mixed in with about a quarter size amount of Hydrating Style Cream, and rubbing into hair from roots to ends. Then, she blow dried with a paddle brush to get hair nice and flat, and used a large, round brush to smooth the ends.

All of the models wore a center part, hair was finger combed down so that it wouldn’t be too severe, and finally secured with a hair tie as low as possible. Some of the models had hair wrapped around the face of their ponytails, and others wore leather hair bands or pretty lace and feather hair accessories. Before they went out on the runway, hair was spritzed with Glimmer Shine Spray.

Kimberly Soane from Bobbi Brown was the lead on makeup, and she wanted to create a very wide-eyed, pretty girl look that was almost “youthful Victorian nymph-like.”

Lots of Lash Glamour Lengthening mascara was used and warm, pink shimmer to highlight the inner corner of the eye (Champagne Quartz Metallic Eye Shadow).  She made a cupid’s bow by taking the burnt red color “Slopes” and pressing it in the center of the lip to give a doll-like effect. A very sheer blush “Pale Pink” was put on cheeks for a matte finish—and this shade works great on all skin tones. She wanted that “no brows” look as well.

Dashing Diva did the nails in an orangey nude hue called “Trust Fund.” A matte topcoat went over the color called “Make-It Matte.” Most of the models wore gloves so very few actually wore polish.

How to Style a Chic Braid, Backstage Carlos Miele

Backstage at the Carlos Miele fall 2011 show I caught Rodney Cutler of Cutler for a quick video on how to perfect a chunky, sleek braid.  I was so excited to see the models rocking a look that girls like us are able to do everyday.  If I normally pull back my hair and braid it, I'd look like I was going to the gym!  From now on, I'll be following Mr. Cutler's advice on how to make the style look clean and chic.  Check it out:

Sexy Siren Meets Old Hollywood, Backstage Lela Rose

I absolutely loved the look at the Lela Rose Fall 2011 show. Sarah Lucero from Stila was the lead on makeup, and she said the look was a “sultry, sexy siren with a vintage, old Hollywood feeling.” She used Stila’s Long Wear Lip Color in “daring” to get a powerful lip. She applied “gladiola,” a bright coral hue on the high plane of cheeks, to create an art deco feeling. The eyes were meant to be “really dreamy and hazy” with lots of beiges and a rosy shade in a heavy contour underneath. She wanted the lashes to be long and fluttery. The key element for this look was the skin—to even out under eye circles and redness, all the models used Clarisonic’s sonic skin cleansing system, which cleanses the skin 2 times better than manual cleansing. The brush oscillates against the skin to remove dirt from pores, and it lets all products that go on skin absorb more evenly. Models also used Clarisonic Opal Serum around the eyes to brighten and hydrate that area. I want to go out and buy these treatments pronto!

Deborah Lippmann provided the nails, and the color that all the models sported was a deep green shade called “billionaire.” Since the hair and makeup was so glam, this very wearable and earthy color was a nice contrast.

Devin Toth of the Ted Gibson Salon was the lead on hair, and in keeping with the old Hollywood theme, he created a strong side part with Tame It Shine Lotion. He then curled the right side of hair, freshened the wave out, and shaped it into a strong “s” wave. He used Beautiful Hold Hair Spray to help set the wave. The look is slightly different from regular Hollywood glam because the s wave is not as soft; it’s more severe and large, exaggerated French bobby pins were left in the models’ hair for the runway. To complete the look, he pulled hair into a low ponytail.

Glamour and Decadence at Venexiana

The Venexiana fall 2011 show was bold and dramatic featuring clothes that ran the gamut from edgy, short leather dresses to cascading sequin evening gowns that I can only imagine being worn on the red carpet! Philip Pelusi from Tela Design Studio chose to do a “Venetian top knot” – the perfect medium between a classic French twist and a traditional top knot. This elegant hairstyle perfectly complimented the collection because it’s not too overpowering, yet not too simple either. Pelusi used his own Tela Beauty Organics line of products on the models’ hair. He used Dry Shampoo to instantly clean and rejuvenate the hair. After spritzing on hair, he applied a little bit of Composer, a damage and split end repair solution. It initially feels sticky but once you run it through the hair it gives more control, making the hair easy to twist into an updo.

Napoleon Perdis was the lead on makeup, and he told me that the look was influenced by Venexiana designer Kati Stern who is “Northern European, expensive and luxurious.”

Napoleon went all out with this look, choosing to make the whole face the focal point. He wanted to create intense black eyes that look aristocratic, and like they took effort. He used China Doll Eyeliner Equinox, Ultimate Contour Palette shadow, and coat after coat of Peep Show Mascara in Fantasia. To create a bold pout, Napoleon blended black cherry red and berry lipsticks from his line. He also used Cheek to Chic Blush Duo in #6 for a noticeable rosy flush.  The result was a modern, European inspired look that matched the very glamorous clothes.