Chanel Invitation

Spring-Summer 2012 Ready-to-Wear Show Invitation
Grand Palais, Paris, October 4th on the Avenue Winston Churchill

Pierre Balmain Spring / Summer 2012 Video Directed by Inez and Vinoodh

This Pierre Balmain Spring / Summer 2012 video is too fabulous. A final cut of the video will premiere at the Pierre Balmain presentation on Sunday in Paris.

Model Abbey Lee Kershaw and her band Our Mountain take a trip through Brooklyn. They dangle on the stairway at the Hewes Street subway station, run down gritty streets, and take in a view of Manhattan at the waterfront.  With mussed hair and pale lips, Abbey Lee appears effortlessly sexy in various fashions.

All the models are wearing pieces from the Pierre Balmain line, a new affordably priced collection which is designed, produced and distributed by Ittierre. For example, Pierre Balmain jeans start at 250 euros ($340), whereas jeans from the main line can cost more than a grand.

P.S. That fellow in the video is Abbey Lee's real boyfriend (and Our Mountain frontman) Matt. XOX!

Video by Inez and Vinoodh
Song: "Devils Banquet" by Our Mountain
Hair: Christiaan
Art Direction: Atelier Franck Durand
Styling: Melanie Ward
Makeup: Jeannine Lobell

Pat McGrath Gives Scarlett Johansson Hot Lips

Top makeup artist Pat McGrath blended two Dolce & Gabbana lip shades to achieve the perfect color for actress Scarlett Johansson, who sat front row at the Spring 2012 Dolce & Gabbana runway in Milan.

Johansson is the official face of Dolce & Gabbana Make Up and one look at her tells you why.

McGrath mixed the Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo lipsticks in Infatuation and Incognito. (Of course, it's impossible to go incognito when the world is infatuated with you.)

On her eyes, Scarlett is wearing shades from the Dolce & Gabbana Eyeshadow Quad in Femme Fatale, as well as the fashion brand's eyeliners in Black and Coffee.

To define her cheeks, McGrath applied blush in Rosebud and a pinch of illuminator in Eva.

Pat McGrath said: “This look completely reflects Scarlett’s beauty and true sensuality.  I was inspired by the classic sophistication of the Hollywood starlet but with a fun and modern edge. This is such a feminine and wearable look and I loved creating this on Scarlett.”

Buy It: All products for the look are by Dolce & Gabbana Make Up.

Happy 40th Birthday Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Great Lash Mascara, Maybelline has released a trio of limited edition versions designed by Max Azria, Vivienne Tam and Tracy Reese. I received the set in a gorgeous box, and the packaging is so cute.

The mascaras launched exclusively on Target.com today.

Designer collaborations make Eyeshadow Government feel happy.

BEAUTY TIPS

• To reduce smudging, apply Maybelline Great Lash mascara to your bottom lashes first, and then do your top lashes.  

• Also, when you do your makeup, you can apply mascara first, lipstick second and blush third. Black mascara adds instant drama, so you will find that you can wear a touch less blush or a more neutral lipstick than you would without it.

XOX,
Charlotte

Splendid Day by the Seaside

During the hottest weeks, wearing pounds of makeup is, for once, something that doesn't interest me.  Isn't there a cabana somewhere with my name on it? I'm off to the beach in an hour!

Dior Addict Lipstick in Granville.

To prep for my happy beach trip, I am going to slather on St. Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan for Body moisturizer ($30, Sephora) and waterproof sunblock. A salesperson at Sephora recommended the St. Tropez product. Perhaps he divined some snowy limbs were hiding underneath those black jeans? I suppose it doesn't take X-ray vision to guess my legs appear roughly as pale as ice cubes. Anyhoo, I should have begun applying the St. Tropez Gradual Tan moisturizer on Friday night. (Better late than never!)

Also, I am going to wear Chanel lipstick to the ocean, and no one can stop me. Another great lipstick to sport by the seaside: Dior Addict's Granville #621, in an enticing beige shade. If you have never heard of Granville, it's a French seaside town where the late couturier Christian Dior spent his childhood. Should you find yourself passing through the area, you could catch the exhibit "Dior, le Bal des Artistes" at his family home, now a museum, where there is also a lovely area to drink tea and look out onto the ocean.

XOXO,
Charlotte

Neutral Territory

Appear effortlessly cool in neutral tones. Wearing beige head-to-toe makes getting dressed and out the door easy as 1-2-3. It's impossible for your outfit to clash, and you will look pulled together without much fuss. Expect to be adored!

For makeup, you can fill in your eyelids with a sandy light brown or shell eyeshadow. Try mixing shades from Urban Decay's Naked palette.

Adore Suede Ankle Boots ($124), Topshop

T By Alexander Wang Scoop-neck Jersey Tank, The Outnet

Jersey maxi dress ($48), The Outnet

Urban Decay Naked Palette ($48), Sephora.

Confirmed! Go All Out!

Hello darlings,

So I just wanted to confirm (as promised) that the "Goya look" I mentioned yesterday is totally attainable and yes, it's a-okay to put pink powder all over your face.

I went to Sephora today to double-check my strong hunch that sweeping blush from your cheekbone down to your jawline and to your ear is cool.  (And I don't mean in an Eighties cool way, but in a genuinely pretty way.) The key is to choose a blendable, extremely sheer shade.  If you can find a color that is barely noticeable on your skin, then that's the right one.

Two products that I recommend are Smashbox Soft Lights in Prism ($28) and Benefit's Dandelion Face Powder ($28). You can dust the color all over, only leaving the area above your lip and nose bare. The look is angelic and beautiful. For a more pronounced effect, you can add a pinch of Smashbox blush in Heartbreak, which is a bit darker, or your regular favorite blush to the apples of your cheeks too.

Smashbox Soft Lights in Prism

Smashbox Blush in Heartbreak

Well, au revoir! Hope you're having a lovely week!