Key to looking great in that dress!

Herve Leger by Max Azria Fall 2011

A dress is not a dress without the proper undergarments. A dress or any ensemble (for that matter) can be come a major miss with the wrong items underneath. For this reason and this reason only, it is very important that women always make the right choices when shopping for ladies underwear. The ideal look is to be a flawless silhouette with a clean line, minus the lumps, bumps, bulges and imperfections we'd like to keep as our "dirty little secret". Key pieces are "corselets, body shapers, - to wear under skin-tight bodycon style of dresses; bras (that are the RIGHT size) to give the "girls" a BOOST, control underwear - to keep that tummy pouch ( for those who have them) in check , and how could I forget the standard "girdles" - before there was spanx , there was the girdle. The old fashioned waist cincher that transformed many women into the hourglasses they never were, or just enhanced their shape. All of the Hollywood starlets look perfect due to the right undergarments . There is not a A-list actress who has not been "cinched, smoothed, pushed up, and minimized" before putting on a one of a kind couture dress. You may not be on the silver screen , but you can still use all the tricks of the trade to be your most glamorous self everyday!!

HairDo Clip In Extensions Winners Revealed !!!!

The top ten winners were personally contacted via the HairDo people for the facebook contest, since that is settled, I can pick my list from the entries I received via email, Twitter , and from the comments under the original post. 

Congrats to ---> Paula J. ,  Lyse B. , Valerie C. , Cam S. and  Shirene C.

Please pick one of these styles and you hair color choice , which you can find on http://www.hairuwear.com/  , and email me back your style + hair color plus mailing address .

Hairdo Clip-In Bangs

Hairdo 21 inch Human Hair
Hairdo Wrap Around Pony
Hairdo 23” Wavy
Hairdo Headband Fall
Hairdo Chignon
Hairdo Bump Up The Volume
Hairdo 20” Styleable


Congrats again !!!!!!

The classic ponytail with a modern twist debuts on the Paris Runways

The ponytail -  Its a style that none of us are strangers to.  Its the go-to style when you're having a not so great hair day, and also the same style for when you are trying to channel your sophisticated side as well. Last week during the second day of shows in Paris, Redken Creative Consultant , Guido gave us Ponytail-Envy with two variations of the universally common hair staple.

Pedro Lourenco

At Pedro Lourenco, the look was a low ponytail at the nape of the neck. “Pedro Lourenco is a young Brazilian designer and we collaborated on a very simple, style for this show to allow the clothes to really make the statement on the runway.” – Guido, Redken Creative Consultant





Redken Products: Nature’s Rescue Radiant Sea Spray

Create the look:

- On dry hair, spray Nature’s Rescue Radiant Sea Spray all over hair to create light texture

- Create a center part with your finger and pull hair back into a low ponytail at the nape of the neck and secure with an elastic

- Be sure to have a few pieces covering the ears

- Wrap a piece of hair around the elastic and secure with a pin

** Why not try to recreate the make up look as well with a nude barely there lip , minimal eyeshadow in Khaki or Gold - depending on your skin tone , dark brown mascara ( to keep the minimalist look going), and a very pale blush in a pink/coral tone.**

Lanvin

*All photos courtesy of Matt Lever for Redken

The ponytail was in the form of a single braid at Lanvin - ( every season Guido does some sort of variation of the braid.. Love it!!) . “We wanted to create a very natural look for the collection this season. Sometimes keeping the hair simple and natural makes more of a statement on the runway.” –Guido, Redken Creative Consultant

Redken Product: wool shake 08 gel-slush texturizer



Create the look:

- Apply wool shake 08 gel-slush texturizer to dry hair for texture

- Create a center part with your fingers

- Pull hair back and create a braid beginning at the nape of the neck and secure with a clear elastic

- Pull a few pieces out around the face so the braid looks natural and not too polished
 
** Complete the look with Bold Brows with the help of a brow pencil, Bold Cat-Eye with a Black Eyeliner, Fuschia tinted lip, lengthening , volumizing black mascara. **
 
 

For the latest in runway hair, tune into Redken’s Facebook and Twitter pages: www.facebook.com/ Redken & @redken5thave

Paris Invasion Part Deux - Gareth Pugh

Gareth Pugh



Works of Art !!!
Photo By : Becky Maynes



Minx co-founders Janice Jordan and Dawn Lynch-Goodwin were delighted to be part of the Gareth Pugh Autumn/Winter 2011 Collection which was shown in Paris on March 2, 2011. Leading U.K. nail stylist Marian Newman was initially contacted by the Gareth Pugh stylist, Katie Shillingford, who provided Marian with a swatch sample of the very specific waxy blue color she wanted for the show. Marian, in turn, contacted Janice and Dawn to request the custom color. “I was only able to provide Janice and Dawn with a copy of the swatch, but that was enough for them to create Minx in that exact shade,” explained Marian. “From that point, Janice, Dawn and I collaborated to develop three different nail designs revolving around the blue and gold colors central to the collection.”

Photos By : Becky Maynes

A few days before the show, the designer made the decision to use the gold-framed waxy blue Minx which showed a flash of gold under the nail (pictured, above) , giving Marian and her team plenty of time to prepare. The complete nail featured gold underneath the nail, and a perfect gold frame on three sides, giving every model immaculate, matching nails complete with Marian’s “Parisian” shape.

LOVVVEEEEE the Gold Framing around the Blue Nail Concept !!!! The futuristic eye appliqué is beyond this world!! 
Photo By : Becky Maynes

The day of the show, both Janice and Dawn joined Marian and her team of David Barton, Helen Lisle-Taylor, Lucy Galsworthy, and Kimberley Casey backstage to assist in nail preparation.


For more information on Minx nails and Salons in your area  check out - http://www.minxnails.com/ 

Minx Paris Invasion - Thierry Mugler Show Featuring Lady Gaga

THIERRY MUGLER



Photos By:  Becky Maynes




Thierry Mugler’s Fall/Winter 2011 Collection in Paris on March 2, 2011 has rocked the world of fashion, and Minx co-founders Janice Jordan and Dawn Lynch-Goodwin were thrilled to be part of this momentous event that featured Lady Gaga on the runway.



Lady GaGa , Photo By : Becky Maynes




Lady GaGa and Model - Photo By: Becky Maynes



Driven by Nicola Formichetti, the brilliant new creative director of the Thierry Mugler brand and Lady Gaga’s longtime stylist, the catwalk show made fashion history as backstage video cameras captured every second of preparation and streamed it live to both the physical audience in Paris and to a worldwide internet audience.

Backstage Images 

 Minx nails Marian Newman nail stylist and team  - Photo By : Becky Maynes

Photos By : Becky Maynes

“This was the first time a major brand has revealed the secrets behind the magic of the runway,” said Janice, who was backstage assisting lead nail stylist, the legendary Marian Newman, and her team of Helen Lysle-Taylor, David Barton, Lucy Galsworthy, Kimberley Casey and Mirka Poikkeus.

“Including Lady Gaga really added excitement to the presentation,” added Dawn, who had also been busy adhering Minxed tips to the models for the four hours it required to prepare approximately 35 models for the runway presentation.

Marian was delighted when Nicola, with whom she has worked frequently, asked her to do the show and immediately proposed that they utilize Minx for the nail fashion. “I explained the versatility of Minx, and how Janice and Dawn will personally collaborate with him and me to create anything our imagination can dream up,” explained Marian. “If you want a totally unique concept, then there really is no other choice.”

Nicola explained to Marian that he wanted a nail form that was animalistic and cat-claw like, yet elegant. He requested two or three types of matte noir, matte nuit, matte olive, matte peach, matte Wedgewood blue and electrique blue to match the tonality of the various ensembles specific to each model. Some models used a sheer Minx matte as well. Lady Gaga wore long, pointed stiletto nails with matte black Minx with a “trashed” uneven finish achieved by stretching the Minx over the free edge of the nail and twisting.

“Once Nicola made his final decision about which Minx to use, we then had to apply them to the curved forms which was extremely easy since Minx can be applied to any shape,” explained Marian. The creation of the nails was completed during the show, as was the installation onto the models’ fingertips or, in some cases, onto the tips of their gloves. With every step captured on the live video feed, the nail stylist team was featured as an integral component.

“I’m especially pleased that Nicola agreed to use Minx for this historic show,” said Marian. “Minx Professional has revitalized the world of nail fashion and was the perfect choice to represent the future of nails in the fashion industry.”

For More information on Minx , and where to find a salon go to  http://www.minxnails.com/


If you love Thierry Mugler , and would like to have a piece of him in your wardrobe everyday , why not do it by wearing his fragrances ???? 

With the classic "Angel" , which has an androgynous scent - ( the Mens and Womens eau de parfum's smell pretty similar) that has been a top contender for over a decade.

 "Alien"  - which is so fitting to the recent collection debuted in Paris just this week,  this scent is alluring and a man-magnet !

The newest member of the family "Womanity" - which has notes of tobacco , brings a new essence to the signature Thierry Mugler fragrances.  All of these fragrances can be found on http://www.fragrancenet.com/

Secret tip to getting 3D editorial-worthy makeup at home !

While on location a few weeks ago serving as a make-up artist assistant to fabulous makeup artist friend Stepanie Flor , and I noticed these small little futuristic cylinder / cone like objects she would use to make the models face blend flawlessly.  From the concealer , contour , foundation, not a shade of color was not blended - I was amazed that I had not already been using these sponges on myself !!!  Luckily, (ironically actually -) I discovered that Mattesse Elite ( Sold at the iconic Rickys NYC) carries these little cylinders of magic, they're called 3D Makeup Sponges .  Check out the photo below for an example of the flawless finish these blenders can produce. 

Photo: Phil Knott for BG Magazine

I also love this image, because it was taken after I took on being in charge of touch-ups, and I made some alterations to the eye-makeup. Stephanie is a great teacher !!

How to use: Use the pointed side for application around corners of the eyes, nose and mouth area and the wider side to contour under the jaw and cheekbones. The sponge is washable and expands when wet for effective cleaning, returning to its original size when dry.

The Mattese Elite 3D Makeup Sponge retails for $19.99 for 2 sponges and is available for purchase at Ricky’s NYC store locations and at www.RickysNYC.com.