BellaSugar

Trend Alert: Spring's Haute Hair

BellaSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:00:11 -0800

Last week we saw lots of haute hair and makeup from the catwalks of the 2008 Spring Couture Fashion Shows. While most of the looks were wild and over-the-top, there was one traditional hair theme that seemed to keep popping up. Whether it was styled tight and low at Valentino, in the middle of the head and accessorized at Armani Privè or worn high with some height at the crown at Chanel, the bun is this moment's "it" hair. Love it or hate it, even celebs are sporting it as their style of choice on weekends.

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How-To: Glowing Couture Cheeks

BellaSugar — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:10:25 -0800

At yesterday's Valentino spring couture show, the hair and makeup were classically elegant with a modern twist.

Instead of red lipstick, models wore a bold electric pink shade. Continuing a theme from fall, the eyeliner was black and winged. And instead of neutral bronzed skin, the blush was shimmery and far from subtle.

I love when designers go all out like this instead of showing their gorgeous collections paired with bed-head hair and natural makeup. If high fashion is what you crave, be sure and check out the fabulous clothes from the spring 2008 couture shows.

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And for step-by-step instructions on how to get gorgeous glowing cheeks, read more.

STEP 1: Begin by exfoliating skin, so you have a smooth, clear surface. Follow with a moisturizer and then a primer to create the appearance of tight pores.
STEP 2: Next, apply a little bit of concealer under your eyes and to any red areas to even out the tone. Next, take any liquid bronzing gel and apply it all over your face, neck and decolletage, blending well so that there are no visible and unnatural dark patches.
STEP 3: To create this pow of color and shimmer, dab your index and middle finger into a deep pink cream blush like Lancome Color Design Sensational Effects Cream Blush in Retro Rouge and dot it on the apples of your cheeks. Continue to dot the blush along your cheekbones all the way to your ears. Now blend in short upward strokes. Lastly, dab your favorite luminizer on the tip of your nose, along your cheekbones and on your temples and blend well. Magnifique!

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Which Hair Color Do You Like Best on Rinko Kikuchi?

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:00:08 -0800

Now this is what I call a color chameleon! Actress Rinko Kikuchi isn't at all afraid of a hairstyle change. Yesterday, she arrived at the 2008 Spring Chanel Haute Couture Show donning a cropped and darkened 'do - and paired with those red-hot lips, she sure looks tres chic. Back in February, she had coppery long hair at an Oscars luncheon, and at last year's Golden Globes, her hair was billowy and yellowy-blond. Which color do you find the most flattering on Rinko?

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Avant Garde Makeup at Christian Dior

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:19:11 -0800

John Galliano kicked off the Spring/Summer Haute Couture shows in Paris with his collection for Christian Dior, displaying wild, futuristic designs in bold, bright colors, topped off with loads of big hair, wild, geometric makeup, and even feathered lashes. Never one to play it safe, Galliano delivers us a visual feast. To indulge, view our slideshow.

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Backstage Beauty: Thakoon

BellaSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:00:15 -0700

On Friday afternoon, Thakoon unveiled its Spring 2008 collection. The theme of the show was a narrative about a young girl who ventures from the city to Hawaii to seek out a more resort-y and relaxed style of clothing and makeup. Gucci Westman, the famous makeup artist who styled the show using Lancome products, envisioned a stylish Japanese surfer girl for the look.

Gucci began by applying different pink colors to the the lips. The next thing she knew, she and Thakoon had come up with an idea to create a Pout-a-Porter limited-edition lipstick. The new color is a translucent, cool, creamy stain. It has a beige undertone mixed with a fleshy pink as well as a blue fuchsia-I love it!

For more fashion coverage, check out Fab, and to see more Backstage Beauty posts, click here. To find out how to get the Thakoon makeup look, read more

After you've applied the new Lancome Pout-a-Porter Thakoon Lipstick (it won't be out until spring 2008, so substitute your own color until then), focus on the rest of the skin.
Keep in mind that you are looking for a bronzed and minimalist look. On your cheeks, lightly dust Lancome Blush Subtil in Cappucine on the high parts of your cheekbones and then add a little bit of Lancome Magique Blush in Mocha Cremefor a dewy and darker effect.
Mix Lancome Le Crayon Poudre in Brunette and Sable and apply it to your brow for strong definition using a Giorgio Armani Eye Contour Brush. Blend well.
Next, take your Lancome Color Design Eye Shadow in Couture and use it under the eye to make the eye look like it's floating. Apply a very, very light amount of Shu Uemura Eye Shadow in Matte Baby Blue to the lid and blend well so that it's almost impossible to detect!

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BellaSugar's Insider Look Into Chanel, Part IV: Coco's Apartment

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:59:38 -0700

If ever I've experienced an a-ha moment, it was standing outside of 31 Rue Cambon, the home of Mademoiselle Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. This is where the creative genius of one of the world's most luxurious brands dwelled, and I couldn't wait to take it all in. What many of you might not know is that Mademoiselle Chanel was a very superstitious woman. All of the knick-knacks in her apartment are in pairs, and she never liked to be alone. Because of this, she only used her apartment for entertaining and conducting interviews, and she slept in a suite at the Hôtel Ritz across the street.

I entered the ground floor of the building, not through the public store entrance, but through the private entrance to her home. The first thing you see is a giant framed black and white photograph of Coco Chanel. What struck me the most was that the employees that we were greeted by were so in tune with Coco's life and the symbolism behind every single tiny detail in her home.

The first stop in the House of Chanel was the stunning, modern and spacious haute couture fitting rooms. We were told that anything we saw was of utmost secrecy since Karl Lagerfeld was busy on the fourth floor with the couturiers, getting ready for the Emmy Awards and the spring 2008 fashion show.

Next, we went up the famous winding, mirrored staircase to the apartment. The staircase itself is where Coco would sit from high above to make sure that everyone was on top of their daily tasks. She could also watch the faces and reactions of editors without them ever being the wiser.

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To read about all of the secret symbolic details of the apartment, read more

As the doors to the exquisite apartment open, I must say that I was surprised by all of the ornate Baroque detailing. Her fashions are so modern, yet her home was full of antiques and lavish collectibles. A notable and symbolic fixture was the mirror in her reception room. She loved it so much that it eventually inspired the stopper for the world's best-selling fragrance, Chanel No.5.

There are camellias (the flower of Chanel) all over the wall screens, and who knew that her quilted brown couch was the inspiration for the classic 2.55 handbag. And remember the 1992 ads for Coco Chanel where Vanessa Paradis swings from a a tiny gold birdcage? The original (and very tiny) version sits beside the couch on a table.

The two black lacquer tables in her dining room served as the source of inspiration for all of the sleek black packaging of Chanel Beauté. The last piece I will mention is the massive chandelier in the living room that is constructed of iron shaped by hidden "G's" (for Gabrielle), "5's" for Chanel No. 5 and "CC's" as in her initials (and of course, the Chanel logo.)

It made me think: If only everyone had this much symbolism and meaning in the tiny details. It is truly remarkable how the brand is still inspired by her even though she has been gone for over 36 years. To see the new Coco Mademoiselle movie starring Keira Knightley, come back again tomorrow!