I dropped by Whole Foods today, thus solidifying my affair with Suki Color cosmetics. After trying their cheek/lip stain in Terra and Vermillion, my new favorite Suki Cheek Stain pick is the Sandstone shade.
The Sandstone cream shade is very flexible, giving the skin a rich, natural wash of color. It makes your face glow, and there's never any danger of appearing too powdery like most mineral makeup lines.
I can endorse this with a real passion, and girlies I've met at the cosmetics counter attest the pot of cream can last many months.
I'm feeling a little bit like Cinderella on Oscar's night, but homework (i.e. getting my degree) has to come before some television marathon. I have a deadline tomorrow.
This afternoon while I was dressed in tattered rags, I made myself a nice, hearty soup over the cauldron. You can write me for the recipe.
Until then, I suppose your best source is E! Online's breaking Oscar coverage. These famous people don't have to cook for themselves, or dress themselves, or ever put on their own makeup. Lucky ducks.
All I know so far is that La Vie in Rose won for best makeup, and Tilda Swinton knocked out Blanchett by totally snagging Best Supporting Actress. One day I sat next to Tilda on the subway.
Ole Henriksen's "people" wrote to tell me Linda Evangelista ambled her long legs over to the Ole Henriksen spa this week at 8622 W. Sunset Boulevard to prep her skin for the Oscars.
I didn't "see" her walk there, but the folks "say" that in general she uses Ole Henriksen Truth Serum, or Truth Serum Collagen Booster. If memory serves me right though, Missy Evangelista has a longstanding relationship with Ole Henriksen products. It sounds like it's made for robots invading planet Earth, so we're down.
Also, the fashionista-ophiles of House of Holland are still selling their classic tribute to Linda Evangelista. It's quite cheeky, so brace yourself!
All I can think about is brunch, even though it's seven hours before brunchtime.
Well, if you wake up and think about brunch too, really don't shy away from heavy amounts of moisturizer. Most people don't notice how dehydrated their bodies are during the winter, but winter really sucks the water out of your skin. Snow vampires!
Sorry to be overly dramatic. Anyhow, tomorrow, I'm playing catch-up with moisturizer, drinking fluids other than tea and coffee, and possibly visiting the ocean. If you're out of moisturizer, consider Kiss My Face All Day Creme de Jour with calming natural moisturizers like olive oil, chamomile, and aloe vera.
Also, if you've been following Eyeshadow Government, you might notice there's a theme between me, Kiss My Face All Day Creme de Jour and the lyrics to this music video....life goes on. As a pre-brunch warning, the guys in this video are quite hairy, but it was the only way I could think of showing you this song. If you know how to give people in YouTube videos haircuts, you can be my best friend. Love, Charlotte
Totally Retro Music Video of "Breakfast in America" by Supertramp
Buy it: Kiss My Face Creme de Jour (about $10), Whole Foods; Breakfast in America album by Supertramp ($13), local record shop.
This exquisite white silk jersey dress, designed by Antony of the indie band Antony and the Johnsons, is being auctioned today on eBay.com to benefit the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, an organization that supports self-expression of gender identity and defends those in the LGBT community who experience violence, harassment, and discrimination. (The auction ends February 23.)
Valentine's Day is about love.
The dress was created by Antony in collaboration with the New Academy of Fine Arts in Milan.
And we're not being totally unromantic. Our heart is all tied up in knots over this dress by the designer Notion of Legacy, which (unlike most boys) can last winter, spring, summer, and fall.
You could add a sheer lip balm, like Body Shop's Be Lippy balm in Satsuma Shimmer, and act extra-mouthy while wearing this killer dress. Crush heart-shaped candy and possible suspects with all your cuteness.
Buy it: Notion of Legacy Bowtie Dress, I Heart (262 Mott St., New York, NY or www.iheartnyc.com); delicious Born Lippy lip balm, The Body Shop.
I know this Monday would have been much better if I had worn lipstick, and more specifically Dr. Hauschka Rose Adagio Lipstick.
Also, my hair got totally iced this morning when I ran out while it was still damp, but the weather was around 20 or 25 degrees. My hair doesn't like to be as cold as a slush puppy. It now needs some cherry-flavoured syrup or lots of moisturizer.
Because My Dog's Name is Snoopy Too: Well, honestly, I'll be sleeping in wool sweaters if I can help it. But if you like to wear short-sleeved t-shirts in the snow to upset mom, go swimming in the ocean in winter, or feel nostalgia for the Donner party, try the original Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine too this February. Adieu, my pretty icicle friends!
P.S. Never fear frosted white eyeliner.
Buy it: Dr. Hauschka Rose Adagio Lipstick (about $21), Whole Foods; Original Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine ($12.99), Linens 'n Things.
If you have kohl eyeliner from Asia, it might be contaminated by lead. This news became public several months ago, but was overshadowed in the media by lead found in children's toys.
Action Plan
If you have kohl in liquid, powder or pencil form for cosmetic purposes, you should consider throwing it away or calling the FDA and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics for further information. I realize some women may be required to wear kohl for religious ceremonies.
Like many great things, I sometimes think Marc Jacobs may be "all hype." But it's hard to imagine the world of fashion without him.
This time, the show started on time. After all, a cat has only nine lives, and el MJ was at about 8 1/2 with Anna Wintour. Some of his women appeared as maidens in long, flowing gowns, others went bronze. He "undid" the bowtie tops which have been all the rage, hanging odd fluted objects around the models' necks instead.
Whereas in previous years, Jacobs' collections have been clownish or too self-aware, this one oozed a sense of calm and reserve. Overall, the shapes of his garments owed more to Comme des Garcons and Miyake, leaning more heavily on soft rectangular frames than hourglass figures. And yet retro never seems to leave him. There were revamped mock heroic cowboys, and Jackie Os, My Fair Ladies and Dionne Warwicks, Brooke Shields types and art punks one after the other.
While this collection felt much less pickpocketed from vintage fashions, the way fabrics and textures are paired haphazardly and never seem to fit right, reminds me exactly of being inside a packed Goodwill. I say this without malice. Displaying his ensembles with the "wrong" details, a cowboy hat that appears to have been crushed or a large leaf-like gold pin placed too high on the shoulder, ends up feeling right.
The collection evoked a larger sense of displacement that was ultimately very modern and compelling.
Anna Sui mixes it up with grape tones, tons of metallics, and hippie-inspired (is this the fashionably polite way of saying 'totally drugged up'?) runway looks. The collection also reminded me of Olivia Newton John's cult classic Xanadu, but maybe that's my trip. In Xanadu, Olivia Newton John passes through life on roller skates surrounded by flashing neon lights.
This dress (shown above) in subtle, floral fabric is my favorite from Sui's collection, more classic Parisian than Paris Commune.
Oh, Isaaaaaaac. Come here honey! In this video, Isaac Mizrahi talks about how his collection is, and doth quote Isaac, not really like a "cardboard turkey." Instead, he says it is "very autumnal."
Mizrahi swept us away by showcasing sexy, warm clothing. A lot of the fall collections "shiver me timbers" from all the micro-mini skirts. You'll see many of Mizrahi's ensembles, cut in sumptuous rouges and raspberry pink shades, also covered the models' arms. We think this is the sign of a true gentleman.
See his whole collection for yourself:
Track of the Day: Fashion week music gets pretty cheesy. De-'Bryant Park' yourself and listen to "Fodder on Her Wings" from Vic Chesnutt's North Star Deserter.
Golly, I hope to get back to my real world of living off of Hershey's bars and only wearing jeans. But girls, I promise this will all be over very soon.
Fashion week is to New York, as the bull races are to Pamplona. The media has gone wild, and I can't imagine how many fashionistas and reporters are limping, forlorn, and utterly exhausted. Hopefully, if you are working fashion week, I hope you are in bed right now since it's past midnight.
And if you're chilling in a cubicle tomorrow reading this or even doing homework, know that hundreds of people in New York are pulling their hair out like the crazy fashionistas they are inside the billowing white tents.
Breathe
Take a slow breathe in, and then exhale slowly. Take this moment for yourself to shut out all other stressful thoughts. Think of something to you that is relaxing, like clouds passing in the sky or one of the happier times in your life.
Rub Your Feet
It sounds stupid, but you probably have been running around in really uncomfortable shoes unlike me (who does a lot of work barefoot in my apartment). If you're not abandoning those Manolos, your feet are sore. Take off those shoes, even for ten minutes, in the tents or elsewhere, and rub them to promote circulation. It will also help you relax. No one will judge you because they'll probably assume you sprained your ankle or are otherwise in deep amounts of pain.
Stop the Torture
This term applies to using fur in clothing. But it also applies to how many designers may treat their staff. Stop the torture now. You're not helping anyone.
Drink Water AND Food
Whoah! What a concept. My roommate MJ told me this horrible story of an aspiring model she saw in Bryant Park who turned sideways and practically disappeared. If eating salad, make sure it's got spinach in it for nutrients. Eat a hamburger or tofuburger, or both. Get something real into your stomach, you starving crazy people.
Color Me Beautiful
Based on my brief observation, sixty percent of those in the industry will be wearing black until they become too old to dress themselves. This is not good for your mental health. If you must continue dressing for your own funeral, wear the brightest accessories imaginable and even something fun like gold eyeliner. Gold has been worn throughout the centuries to promote a sense of confidence and, let's face it, over the top fun.
Photo Source: Coutorture/Alexandre Herchcovitch orange dress, Fall 08.
Models who walked for Vivienne Tam were painted with thick layers of moody eyeshadow while the rest of the face appeared very bare to create a look that is both dramatic and austere.
Donna Karan busts out a parade of frocks. "It is glamorous, it is urban," says Donna Karan. But she says, "The thing I like about it is it's not too precious." Her perspective on vintage and Eastern-inspired womenswear is a far cry from coy. This collection showcases bold, shimmering textiles in mustards and faded scarlets aligned with strong feminine silhouettes, as well as Ms. Karan's staple items in basic black.
The makeup for this show was very minimal, with a faint lip stain and loose, flowing hair. Everyone looked great on the runway.
R. Scott French Fashion Show
If you don't have any problem with looking at male models, check out R. Scott French's fashion show. My favorite is the one in the leather vest...honestly, never thought I would say that. (Burn in shame, Charlotte!) Now, I'm going to be stuck thinking about Zoolander the rest of the day.
Before I open my mouth, I liked most of Peter Som Fall '08.
She reminds me of a high school English teacher who got swallowed by a shag rug three decades ago. Peter Som found her corpse, and spit her back to life with daisies on her chest. A stranger gave her those patent leather shoes out of concern.
All Peter Som Photos: Coutorture
A flurry of cornflower and navy swings below the knees, making this number slightly less prone to frostbite than many of the Fall '08 mini-skirts. Wallpaper-inspired fabric is a trend that shows no signs of quitting. And something about it is very telling. I like the idea of a young woman in the 1960s who was very shy, and leaned against wallpaper like this while other more outgoing friends mingled. The patent leather coat is her turtle's shell.
My first point of reference for this was Lyra of the Golden Compass, and her friends whose souls were cut in half. Or Cruella de Ville. Something about this outfit, and its shaggy details, makes you wonder whether the "character" Som designed has the mind of a devil but the face of an angel, or is an innocent whose wings have been blackened.
The giant collar is the type of detail we've come to expect from Peter Som. While the magnified aspect of this coat is desirable, it's not rocket science. This is basic but cool. My Italian sweater-vest had been destroyed after tumbling into the back of the closet for too long. I should look into a dry cleaner to revive this.
Som's gone poaching? This three-quarter-length armed fur jacket is quite distasteful. If he must use animal's bodies to make a statement, I just hope this was constructed from vintage or previously worn clothing. Time to change the subject before Charlotte hyperventilates.
To save you a lot of scrolling down and kvetching, this is our big list of New York Fashion Week posts on Eyeshadow Government. Choose your own adventure!
These pics prove why city girls always flock to the ever-stylish Miss DVF. I wanted to post this before the clock strikes midnight, and all these glamorous girls become dressed in rags.
Yes, this is a video of my roommate MJ rocking fashion week! Watch the video to see MJ chat it up with Agatha de la Ruiz de la Prada, the Spanish designer best known for her signature palette of big reds and happy hot pink.
You can watch MJ accost another total stranger here.
Pleasure to have you drop by! Take a seat and welcome back. I so adore your company.
All Tied Up
There were a few way cute numbers by United Bamboo on the runways yesterday. The brown shade of this dress reminds me of a pretty giraffe, and the sash bow in the back is so playful.
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
This retro polka dot outfit reminds me of wallpaper in a 1950s laundromat and looks like it's good to dance in. Maybe, you can see yourself drinking milkshakes in this blouse and jeans at a diner, and then adding the skirt for a cocktail party? I'd also really like to do housekeeping in this ensemble.
Color Block Eyes
Look closely and the models are wearing florescent, day-glo orange eyeshadow. Very few people wear bright orange eyeshadow. For work or school though, you can still work it with a pale tangerine eyeshadow (Nars Thebes Dual Creme Eyeshadow Palette $32). In some cultures, oranges are good luck.
Heat It Up
Also on the United Bamboo runway, matte wool coats and shimmering lame scarves got cozy....
Scroll down to read makeup tips fresh off the runway, gaze at starving models, marvel at videos by Coutorture, and think about how lucky you are to be probably in your living room instead of New York City.
I know most of you probably don't care about fashion week, which is fine. This is a new feature for Eyeshadow Government, and if you have any feedback or suggestions, just write me a line. I'm totally addicted to my Blackberry.
For those curious and far away, I'm covering most of it this weekend from home, and after such a hard week--relationship probs, my other ex-boyfriend laid up in the hospital with a busted appendix (he's my Madeleine with leg hair), oh yeah and school, thesis, reporting, networking, living off of appetizers...This girl is darn spent. On the upside, the frantic world of fashion is much more relaxing than the "real world"! The tents are also steamy in cold weather, so it's kind of like being inside the indoor parts of a botanical garden. Godiva and diet beverages sprout in little bags, in the place of orchids and ferns.
Also, apologies for jumping the gun on Zac Posen. Expect a post on this subject later next week.
Vintage-inspired dresses ruled the runways at James Coviello backstage. Models were trussed, preened, and even crimped. This mad hatter model's eyes were thoroughly plucked (Tweezerman, $20-$30) and cheeks duly accentuated.
Then, blend a thin layer of foundation, and if you absolutely need to, hide any imperfections with more foundation or a liquid concealer. (Cream concealers often appear cakey, and draw too much attention to what you were trying to cover up.) Think fresh!
Cheeks
2. Look at the photo closely, and you'll see her blush begins just past the crease of her smile (over that hill your lips make when you smile wide).
Try applying Smashbox Skin Tint cheek stain in Infrared. With your steadiest hand, paint the color in a diagonal direction on the area just below your cheekbones and blending a little above the cheekbone, as well.
If you have a similar face structure, you can blend the tint so it forms a dramatic, slanted leaf-shaped wash of color.
Eyes
3. Get those eyelids ready by adding a neutral primer (Clinique's Touch Base for Eyes). This will even out any discoloration around the eyes, and prevent eyeshadow from slipping away...
Almost done! Go for it by tracing a circle around your eyelids with a smoky, perlescent mauve eyeshadow. Eyeshadow Government recommends L'Oreal Eye Quad in Subtle Berries.
Lips
Make lips look like rubies with Benefit Silky Finish lipstick in Guilt Free. (I wish!)
Now it's that special time to whine...But what about that fun but very expensive dress she's wearing?
The perennially preppy J. Crew has unveiled some "polished" hippie dresses. They're loose enough to play tennis in--just kidding!
Buy it: Tweezerman ($20); Aromatherapy Associates Rose Mask ($50), Beauty Habit; Smashbox Skin Tint in Infrared ($28), Sephora; Clinique Touch Base for Eyes ($13), ; L'Oreal Eyeshadow Quad ($5), Walgreens; J. Crew Schiadre dress (about $350), J. Crew Campo de Fiori Dress ($175), J. Crew.
You have to give Nicole Miller credit for her new collection which has a younger attitude--think Gogol Bordello and Studio 54--than a lot of the "real" young designers. Keep your eye out for the lovely eggplant gown. I also quite liked the use of gypsy-inspired patterns in the dresses and skirts, and Barbarella gold pleated frocks.
The Parisian Alice Ritter says her new collection is inspired by the late 70s and Serge Gainsbourg, the first concert she ever attended. Her website says she has a dog named Iggy. How cool!
Temptation Strikes, a Last-Minute Alice Ritter Sale (Ends 2/3 at 6 AM) Today, pieces of her previous collections are available at a steep discount on Bluefly.com.
Makeup Artist Linsey Laskowski Confides to Eyeshadow Government!
When I went backstage at the Victorya Hong runway to chat with makeup artist Linsey Laskowski, a gamine young woman wearing popsicle-colored lipstick, she was holding a little itty bitty brush, like the one below. This isn't Laskowski's eyeliner brush, but what she uses to apply blush on the models! Laskowski focused on lips and cheeks with bright washes of color. She dabs her brush into a palette of bright cream blushes, custom blending to compliment the skintone of each model. After blending colors, she blots the brush on the side of her hand and begins carefully painting a wash over each of the cheeks.
The Tools So how do you get the look?
Start with a mini brush by Shu Uemura ($58), and move up a size if you don't have one on hand. You might not have all day, since this is fas-shiin week.
Blushing Beauties Makeup brands rarely sell cream blushes as bright as the ones on the runway, too often stopping short at a dusty rose. So be adventurous and do what all those magazines told you never to do. Start mixing lipstick colors and pat them on your cheeks! Try the Laura Geller lipstick palette from her Face Folio Kit, or your favorite bright lipstick at home.
Bright Lips Ms. Linsey Lakowski herself was wearing a shade identical to Lolishine Rouge ($20) by Shu Uemura. I was starting to have lipstick envy....This shade is perfect.
Editor's Note: My goal is to post photos at they come in from our network provider, and write reviews, tips from the makeup artists, commentary, and more! Please check back at Eyeshadow Government for ongoing coverage of fashion week.
So. Like. Oh my god. I felt like I was the only person who rushed off to fashion week, as in the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, with lint in my stockings. Fashion Week is not like very "me." (I won't slice you with my eyeballs if you're wearing last season's clothing, or dorky shoes. All people with dorky shoes are nice.) B-b-b-but I was curious to see what I would find on the runways even if I was linty and poorly groomed. Most of all, I didn't want to be late!
But let's travel back in time to...yesterday. Fashion week kicked off for yours truly with a mixer for fellow, or rather sister, beauty and fashion bloggers in Soho. In other words, I got to meet many of my invisible friends in the blogosphere. Hooray! (That's me in the black patterned dress looking like Casper the ghost.) We drank white wine and cava champagne. Clear drinks help you stay invisible and ghost-like, even when mingling.
As mentioned before, this snap shows me and a lovely Team Sugar editor before I tried choking down a very bizarre hors d'oeuvre. My friend Julie hated it too. What I didn't realize is that fashion week would be so busy, this would be one of my last pieces of solid food. . .The thought is pretty frightening because, as you can see, this tidbit is smaller than my pinkie finger.
What's up next on Eyeshadow Government: I need to tell you about going, er sneaking, backstage at the runway show for Project Runway "alum" Victoria Hong. It was rad. Stay posted!
Yigal Azrouel's new collection comes replete with Renaissance beauties, and biker-ballerina chicks. I admire the curvilinear forms in the white skirt, mixed with the tougher dark jacket. These two new looks are fresh off Azrouel's runway. Please scroll down to read more beauty tips about how to get these model's looks.
To look like you're out of a fairytale, like this model in green, pull your hair back in a simple bun as you wake up. Don't brush or fuss. For extra texture, use a wax like Bumble & Bumble Sumotech cream. You can also skip lipstick, or wear a pale nude tone. Next, emphasize them there eyes with a thick helping of a medium-dark eyeshadow, like the left-hand shade, in this T. LeClerc Dual Eyeshadow in Coeur Peche. To goth it up, add Nars liquid eyeliner.
Okay. Before I start babbling, New York fashion week is here! I'm going to a Project Runway fashion show (*love Bravo*) tonight. So you'll get the down-low soon enough from moi.
Stay tuned to Eyeshadow Government, Coutorture, and Fabsugar too for more on Faaaas-shin Weeeek. I'll be providing spot coverage next week on-site, and giving you tidbits throughout the weekend.
As a matter of survival, I refuse to wear stilettos to fashion week. My feet hate them. And a girl needs to stick to her guns in this world, if she wants to get ahead.
Well, I have way too much news to share with you, so let's start with a brief photo op. Look! Even Miss USA smiles when holding drugstore loot at the Sundance film festival. My fab friend Alexys and my auntie like the Boots line, available at Target.
I firmly believe though that the "crown" is a state of mind. You have it in you too--seriously. Well, we'll resume this subject very soon when I have more time to be touchy-feely.
