Angelina Jolie in 'The Tourist'

I was waiting in line with my cousin to buy tickets to see the new Harry Potter movie- he's been wanting to see it since it came out, so I decided to take him to the movies.  As I was standing in the ticket line, I caught of glimpse of the poster 'The Tourist' with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp - I could not help but stare at Angelia Jolie's makeup in that poster - it was incredible - the perfect balace of sophistication and natural elegance:

I love the warm tones of her eye makeup and the subtle smokey eye effect!  The rest of her makeup is perfectly balanced!

Here are a few more pics of Angelina taken on the set of 'The Tourist':

I don't think you can get any more elegant that this - The Red lips are absolutely stunning and the red couch in the background in contrast to the white dress is simply 'stunning'!!!

LOVE the makeup - her skin looks amazing and I love her hair in these photos too!

I love everything about this photo, especially the wardrobe selection chosen for Angelina - the neutral palette, the long gloves, the matching clutch, the gold earings and neutral toned makeup - it all works and is 'uber' sophisticated - she reminds me of Jackie O in this picture!!!

Angelina is known for her lips and this picture clearly reminds us why - her look is so striking in this picture!

Wow - the jewelery Angelina is wearing in this pic is amazing - I love the diamond-drop earings and the stunning diamond studded choker - beautiful !!!

I look forward to seeing this movie when it comes out and I'm sure I'll probably buy it once it comes out to own in stores - studying the wardrobe and makeup alone is worth it - and I'm sure the movie itself is great too - Hello?  Johnny Depp is in it!!!

MAC Lipstick

Every woman I know owns a MAC lipstick - there is such a wide variety of colours, textures, finishes - its impossible not to find a colour that you like - here are my top 5 MAC lipsticks:

1) Syrup - This is my favourite everyday go with everything lipstick - I love that you can bring out the coolness by wearing liners like dervish, soar and plum.  You can also warm up this lipstick as well - I particualiry like it with 'Hover' liner or spice liner!

2) Sandy B - THis is my "I feel pretty" lipstick - I love wearing this colour with Melba blush and doing a blue-grey smokey eye!  Its great for both a day look or an evening look

3) ANgel - this colour is a nice pretty 'pink' colour - this is actually one of Kim Kardashian's favourite lip colours - she usually adds NARS 'Turkish Delight' gloss on top - I'm not a huge gloss person - This colour looks great with Soar liner - one of my favoruite liner/lipstick combinations

4) Rebel - THis colour is one of my favourite evening/going out colours - its a true purplish-red and its very intense!  I usually wear this colour with 'Beet' liner - I love how dramatic this colour is on my lips - not for the shy girl thats for sure!

5) MAC's Ruby Woo is the ULTIMATE red lipstick - I think that every woman needs to own a red lipcolour - its the most classy, sophisticated colour!  Red will always be associated with love and sexiness - show them what you've got ladies - bring on the red lips!!!

Fall/WInter Makeup Look

Lately I've been playing around with the cool shades of makeup and I wanted to create a soft, neutral based look for the 'cool winter' woman - I wanted to keep the eyes the main focus, but create more of a relaxed, classic look for fall and winter vs going for the full smokey eyed look - here is what I came up with:

Face:

I stuck with a very simple routine for the face - First, I used Loreal true match concealer in W4 - I then used Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer in 'Nude' - I love this tinted moisturizer because it contains SPF.  On my cheeks I went with a bit of a warmer shade just to create a little balance with the rest of the cool shades on my face - I used 'Melba' by MAC. 

Eyes:

There is nothing more elegant that creating that natural, neutral eye that is classic and sophisticated.  I used 'ricepaper' as my base and then added 'Satin Taupe' to the lip and blended it up into the crease.  I then used 'Print' to emphasize the crease and outter corners of my eyes.  I finished the look with black mascara and liner - all the products that I used were from MAC

Lips - I think that the perfect neutral lip needs to have some colour to it, so I used 'Soar' as a lipliner and 'Syrup' Lipstick (MAC of course!)

I love this look because its very versatile - its neutral enough so that you can wear it with any style or colour, and I remained true to my cool winter palette!!!

Anatomy of a Gala

This past weekend, I attended my first Gala with my boyfriend - It was for a local hospital and the theme was 'The Holly and the Ivy' - basically a celebration of Christmas and the Holidays.  I've wanted to go "all out" for this Gala so I got a fabulous dress, a killer pair of shoes, got my hair and makeup done and felt like a true Disney princess!  Here's what it takes to go Glam:

Melanie Lynn is my favourite place to buy dresses for events - they usually always have some amazing sale prices and the quality of the dresses are amazing - I wish  had taken a full length picture of this dress, but I wanted to show the deatils of the flower and the gorgeous colour (a true royal purple/blue shade) - basically the dress is floor length and has a slight mermaid flair at the bottom - I felt like I was going to the Oscars in this dress!!!

Have you ever felt that a pair of shoes were created just for you?  I picked out this 'killer' pair of shoes at Nine West (hands down my favourite shoe store).  I love the sparkle and elegance of this shoe and the silver heel adds that extra element of glam!  I felt like Cinderella is these shoes, as if they were my own personal glass slipper!!!

If you have that amazing dress and pair of shoes - your hair and makeup need to be uber fabulous as well - I originally wanted a full updo, but the stylist recommened a 'side do' to balance out the flower on the dress - I liked the hair as soon as she was done, but once I put on that dress and had my makeup done, I felt even more special - this hair style really complimented my glam look on every level!

I could totally get used to the glamed-up Gala lifestyle - everything from the pampering to getting a new dress and accessories, its all about feeling 'extra' special - Its almost as if you get to be Grace Kelly or Jackie Kennedy for a day! I felt like a modern day princess and I loved every minute of it!!!

Fedora

Fedora Hats used to be a 'Man's' Hat - Every sophisticated movie star, gangster, businessman, every mans-man used to wear a Fedora in the 40's and 50's - My favourite image of the Fedora is the cover of one of my 'Dean Martin' CD's - Dean and his Fedora were 'iconic'.   Women, on the other hand wore more feminine, feather and flower-like designs.  The past is definitely making a comeback, but in reverse - this time around, its women who are 'rocking' the fedora and the look is classy with a mysterious edge - check out the following images:

I love how the Fedore drapes over this models eyes, she has that 'sexy vibe' going on, all thanks to the smokin' Fedora!

The style and colour of this Fedora really suits this models face and colouring - the fedora looks classic and elegant on her!

Celebrities also sport the Fedora - here Diane Kruger looks very elegant in her Fedora - I also love the light beige and black combination!

THe popular fashion ads for Burberry are known for their Fedora wearing female models - They make the Fedora look charming and timeless!

And yes, we can't forget that men still look great and sophisticated in a Fedora too!!!  Johnny Depp oozes sexiness in this picture - I love the Fedora on him!

So here's to celebrating the Fedora!!!!!!

Elegant Jewellery

When it comes to jewellery, my motto has always been 'simplicity is elegance' - I'm not into very flashy, in your face pieces.  Instead, I believe in 'statement' pieces!  My staples are diamonds, pendants, hoop earings, pearls and crystal drop earings.  Here are a few things that I love: 

Aquamarine is my birthstone, and I naturally gravitate to the light aqua colour - I love these pieces - either worn seperately or all three together.  I especially love the stud earings - these are definitely on my wish list!!!

Talking about stud earings, NOTHING is classier than a pair of diamon stud earings - every elegant, sophisticated woman should own a pair of these earings - They can be worn with everything from a demin shirt to a cocktail dress!  When I think about these earings, I automatically think 'timeless class'!!!

Another pair of classic, timeless earings are silver or gold hoop earings - they are usually worn with a more casual style - One thing that I've noticed about hoop earings, is that you really need to make sure that you get the right size for your style and face shape - some women need smaller, thicker hoops, while others look better in larger, thiner styles etc - Try on different hoops until you find the right ones for you!

Sometimes with jewellery, you need a real 'splash' of colour to bring out that special dress or help your face glow.  I find that cooler seasons look really elegant in blue, purple and red toned jewels, while people with warmer skintones suit jade, amber and citrin (yellow) jewels. 

Pearls are one of my absolute favourite statement pieces - they are the essence of class, sophsticated and elegance - I love everything from pearl drop earings to pearl studs to long dangling pearls that can be layered or tied in a knot at the front.  As with any other jewellery, pearls can suit both warm and cooler toned women - white, grey and pink toned pearls suit women with a cooler complexion, while cream toned and yellow based toned peals look fantastic on warmer skintones.  For those that believe in superstition, pearls bring luck but ONLY if you bought it for yourself.  If it is given as a gift, give the giver a penny for it, otherwise it can bring 'tears'!!!


I saved the best for last - one of my favourite things to wear is 'drop earings', especially if they are crystal drop earings or pearl drop earings - I think that drop earings frame the face and add just the right amount of 'bling' - I especially like the crystal drop earings because when the light hits them at the right angle, they really sparkle and bring a very regal quality to your look!

I hope that you enjoyed my little tribute to simple, elegant jewellery pieces - I only included a few of my favourites - they are the basic, must-haves of any classy woman!!!

Smokey Eyes

When it comes to eye makeup, there is nothing sexier than creating the smokey eye look!  The smokey eye in the 90's was all about dark grey/black shadows and liners.  Since then, the smokey eye can retained its appeal, but there is more variety and choice.  The smokey eye can still be dramatic or it can be subtle and soft.  Here is my tribute to the smokey eye look:

I love the smokey eyes on this model - its deep and dramatic, but still subtle - the earthy tones add warmth, while the black liner on the bottow lash line, adds drama - beautifull!!!

Arabic and Middle Eastern Women are known the world over for their sexy, almond shaped eyes - which are the PERFECT canvas for smokey eyes (just think Kim Kardashian) - Also, the olive skin tone of most middle eastern women allows black liner to look stunning versus over-done and goth like - instead, the black is sexy and stunning!!!

I think this look is amazing on women with a cooler skin-tone - the blue-grey shadows looks very striking against cool blue and grey eyes or a cool hazel eye (i.e. grey-green-blue combinations).  Using blues for a smokey eye can get tricky with some skin-tones, you don't want to look like someone punched you out - instead, you want your eyes to look striking and cat like.  If blue is not your colour, try going for an earth-toned smokey eye (check out the first picture)!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this makeup - the magenta and fuchsia tones are so exotic and dramatic against this models skintone - she is obviously a winter and looks fantastic in the cool, clear colours.  The smokey eyes are played up with the fuchsia toned blended into the dark liner and shadow!!! Amazing!!!

No matter what type of smokey eyes you choose, remember that the key element of the smokey eye is to 'blend' and 'smudge' - these are two code words every women should remember - the smokey eye is not about distinct lines - its about creating a smoldering, smudged look!!!

The smokey look is about confidence and saying to the world that you are not afraid to show off your sexy eyes, because, as the saying goes, the eyes are the seat of the soul and beauty is in the eyes of the beholder - so go sultry - enjoy playing around with creating different smokey eye looks and don't be afraid to play around with colour!!!!!!

Cool Winter

Ever since I embraced colour analysis, I've been drawn to learning as much about my season as possible - its always nice to have celebrities that you can compare yourself to, especially when it comes to choosing clothes and makeup options.  Some 'Cool Winter' celebrities are Jennifer Connelly, Shania Twain, Lauren Graham, Sophia Bush, Brooke Shields and Catherine Zeta Jones.  I want to post some of my favourite pictures of these celebrities to show what type of makeup really makes a cool winter stand out and sparkle- if you suit the 'Cool' toned colours, this post is for you:

Jennifer Connelly:
Jennifer is a true winter, with the darkest ash brown hair and striking cool-green eyes.  She looks amazing in the cool winter colours and looks especially good when she wears her power colours: red, emerald green, all different shades of blue, pure white and black.

Jennifer looks so fresh and vibrant in the true white.  Her makeup is really natural in this picture, but still using the cooler light pinks and taupes.  Her skin-tone really shines with the pure white sweater!!!

I love the smokey eyes on Jennifer - she's wearing the true dove grey shades on her eyes and her lips are a soft fucshia shade - perfect for cook winters - This is the perfect going out look for Jennifer - very classic and sexy!!!

Cool winters 'Rock' the Fucshia/True Red lipstick look - here Jennifer shows how easy it is to wear a deeper fucshia shade, especially when you keep the rest of the makeup more natural - this is a true 'classic/sophisticated' look - very chic!!!

Lauren Graham:

Lauren is another classic winter that verges on the 'Clear Winter' border - her eyes are quite clear, but she looks really stunning in the cool and true shades of winter:

I 'Love, Love, Love' this makeup look on Lauren - its soft and elegant - her eyes are rimmed with black and her lips and cheeks have that healthy light mauve/pink tone to them - this is the perfect 'natural' look for cool winters!!!

Red lips look fantastic on a cool winter - Red and Black is one of my all time favourite combinations (ever since I was a child, i loved this combo - be it for clothes, makeup or decorating) - I think that the red lips and black dress combo is 'Uber' Sexy!!!

I think that this is a very striking photo of Lauren - the look is a very elegant urban-chic!  I love the diamond studs and the thicker collar on the jacket.  Soft White or 'Winter' White is one of my favourite colours and its a great neutral shade for cool winters - I think every 'winter' woman needs a soft white sweater or jacket in her closet.  One of my favourite aspects of this photo is Laurens lipstick - its a true raspberry shade - reminds me of YSL #9 (rose stiletto)!

Shania Twain:

When I think of Shania in the music video 'Up', I automatically think 'Cool Winter' - her makeup in that video is a classic example of a trendy look for cool winters - I love it!!!

Brooke Shields:
I think that Brooke has always looks fantastic in the cool colours of winter - red, greys, pure white and black have always suited her - check out this photo (notice that the background of the photo is a beautiful shade of fucshia, another cool winter colour - it compliments Brooke's Makeup and Charcoal top)
:

Sophia Bush:
Sophia always looks great in the 'One Tree Hill' episodes - she has that 'cutsy' look and her winter shades really bring out her best features.  Sophia is a classic example of someone who can get away with some warmer shades as well, but the cool toned colours really make her 'glow':

Check out how the lavender/plum eyeliner really bring out the cool sparkle in her eyes!

The top Sophia is wearing in this photo is a classic 'winter' two-toned top - the silver/black combo is amazing against her skin-tone and her makeup is beautiful - smokey eyes with a light pink lip - the perfect winter makeup combo!!!

Catherine Zeta Jones:
In many ways Catherine should be the poster woman for 'Winters' - she looks absolutely 'Stunning' in the Cool Winter shades, making her a 'True' Winter:

I love the light grey tones on Catherine - it softens her look while still being in the 'cool-toned' family - this is a terrific neutral shade for her and her soft makeup compliments the grey perfectly!!!

Catherine looks phenomenal in the jewel toned colours - I love how her face shines in this bluish-purple top!!!

My favourite look on Catherine is the smokey eyes and deep, dramatic red lips.  Most women are cautioned to do a more neutral eye when they wear red lips, but Catherine is one of those lucky women who looks amazing with a very dramatic look - in fact, the more dramatic the better for Catherine!!!

I hope you enjoyed this post - if you're a true winter or look great in cool toned colours, I hope this post inspired you to try some different colours and looks!!!

Tribute to Burgundy Lips

Burgundy lips are sexy and seductive!  I will always remember the scene in 'Moonstruck' where Cher comes out of the taxi to meet 'Johnny' at the Opera - her hair is raven black, her dress is stunning and her lips are oozing with burgundy sexiness - in the movie she has just had a makeover and this is her 'Ta-Da' moment:

Every since watching Cher having her self-realization moment in this movie, I've been a fan of Burgundy lipstick - the best thing about this shade is that there are many different variations of it - everything from a deep/blood toned burgundy to a lighter plum/orchid burgundy:

Jessica Alba looks fantastic in this burgundy shade!

Kiera sports the deep, dramatic burgundy look!

Even though this is a computer-graphic picture, I love the burgundy harmony of the hair, lipstick and sweater!!!

This is the perfect burgundy shade for blonds or women with lighter skin tones - its more of a raspberry/plum burgundy shade!!!

Olive skinned women look stunning in a deep fucshia type burgundy!!!

Women with deeper skin tones look great in a deep blue toned orchid shade - MAC makes a great colour called 'Amourous'

This is one of my favourite shades of burgundy - a deep brownish-burgundy looks stunning on brunettes and women with a medium skintone

If True Red is not your thing, but you still want that deep, dramatic look for lips, give Burgundy a try, you won't be disappointed!!!