Classy Evening Out

Putting together an outfit can be a lot of fun, especially when you have a good grasp of what style suits you best.  I love pencil skirts, unique tops and blouses and I adore wearing knee-high boots (there is just something so sexy about knee-high boots to me).  My Kibbe style is the 'Soft Classic'.  I'm not 100% sure if this is soft classic or not, it seems to have some dramatic elements, but I could be wrong.  The most important thing is that I feel great and this is exactly what I would wear for a classy evening out.  I've also worn this to school when I have a meeting or need to meet with parents of the students I teach.  I find it professional without being too over the top.  I got this skirt a while back - I think it was from Dynamite and the top is from Melanie Lynn (one of my all time favourite stores).  The boots are from Nine West (this seasons collection).  I would love to hear from you - what is YOUR favouite outfit for when you want to look classy and professional?

Gold Deposit Mineralized Powder by MAC

I think that of all the makeup I own, this is quickly becoming one of my favourite products.  I love the fact that this blush has the feel and easy application of a mineralized powder, along with the most fantastic, deeply pigmented colour.  In the pan Gold Deposit looks like a dark bronzed gold mixed with a hint of copper.  On the face, it applies as a beautiful golden glow, more intense and 'golden' than a bronzer, but not overdone or too shiny/sparkly.  I decided to stay consistent with the gold theme and use gold based eyeshadows and a warm cheek and lip shade.

For this look I started with my basic face (W4 concealer by Loreal, HD Foundation #155) and then applied Gold Deposit all over my face.  I then used FACES #134 blush (a deep russet shade) and decided to compliment the rest of the look with 'golds' on my eyes (I stated with NARS Silent Night as a base, used MAC's Woodwinked from the lid into the crease, Amber Lights on the lid and then blended Romp into the crease/outer corners.  I lined my eyes with Teddy liner and then smudged NARS Galapagos into the upper lash liner before finishing with Brown-Black mascara).  I decided to give my lips some warmth combined with a wow factor red, so I used by trusted Chili with Auburn lipliner (MAC).

This is the perfect 'going out' look in my opinion - its warm, golden, but not over the top and its classic yet romantic all at the same time!!!

Bright Autumn

I never considered that there was such a thing as a Bright Autumn, as I have always heard of the bright seasons being either Winters or Springs, until I came across my friend Jeanine Byers' blog  blog, where I saw this photo:

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I automatically resonated with this model, her skintone, eyecolour, hair colour etc - I thought to myself "wow - this is me!' - I actually resonate more with this than the more muted tones of my palette.  The uber-muted shades are okay as neutrals on me, but not my faves - I come alive in a bright rust/terracotta shade (almost identical to the top this model is wearing in the photo).  If you want to check out the other colour types, check out this website: http://colorconnection.yuku.com/topic/1060/Uniquely-You  you'll find similar photos for a more muted 'gentle winter' which also isn't included in the typical colour analysis, as well as other colour types from the Summer, Spring, Winter and Fall categories.  I highly recommend taking a look and seeing if you 'fit' into any of these!  I, personally, am so excited I came across this!  I'm going to have to start playing around with the brighter shades of my autumn palette!!!

Autumn Copper Inspiration

I found a photo on-line that to me represents the perfect copper tone for Autumns - its not too light or bright (i.e. Its not a copper for Spring colour types) - its got the most harmonious balance of warmth, depth, richess and copper-spice!  I've decided to make this photo the 'inspiration' for my next hair-colour and attempt to experiment with the True Autumn Palette:

Although my natural hair-colour is a medium chestnut brown and its best to stay relatively close to your natural colour, there is just something in me 'itching' to experiment with the Autumn reds!!!  I guess I'm the type of peson that if I don't 'get it out of my system', it will start eating me up inside, so I've decided to be BOLD, be a little daring and take the plunge.  Its all about having a little bit of fun and spice for life!!!  I'm hoping that in a few weeks time I'll be a golden, warm copper goddess!!!!  I will keep everyone posted as my True Autumn journey continues!!!

Lip Drape Experiment

This is another one of my fun 'by request' posts.  I've been blogging a lot about various True Autumn lipsticks and was asked if I could do a post wearing these lip-shades without any other makeup, kind of like doing a 'lip drape'.  I decided to pick out all the True Autumn lipsticks that I wear on a regular basis and that have been recommended for True Autumns.  Here we go:

This is Make Up For Ever #17 lipstick - its more of a blending/mixing shade, but it fits the TA colour fan very well and I actually like blending it just with a liner - it screams 'warmth'

Revlon's Sandalwood Beige - this is my favourite and most natural of the TA lipsticks I draped myself in - I adore this shade!!!

This is the deepest shade in the TA colour fan - a deeper golden brown shade with a hint of red.  This is my go to drama shade!

Cover Girl 'Temptation' lipstick is a lovely orange shade with a hint of shimmer!

This is currently my all time favourite 'red' lipstick - its MAC's Chili and is often suggested for TA's!

MAC's Strength is another lipstick that is often recommended for TA's - its got that deeper copper shimmer effect and looks fantastic if you want to create an elegant, polished look!

Vita by FACES reminds me a lot of Chili, but with less red and more of a brown base.  In the tube, it looks very brownish-orange and its one of my favourite shades to wear!

So Chaud by MAC is the brightest shade in the TA palette.  Its described as a true orange-red and I absolutely adore this colour.  This is one of those 'gala night'/'glam' lipsticks!!!

I have to say that creating this post has been very eye-opening.  Its fun to create makeup looks, but its just as interesting to see lip shades on their own without any other makeup competing for attention.  Doing this post has completely solidified my status as a True Autumn, not that I doubted at all, but its just strengthened and confirmed what my best shades are.  Its also helped me narrow down which shades are the most natural/day shades and which to reserve for evening/party events.  I really appreciate when people ask me to do requests - its fun to create these kinds of posts!!!  Also, I'd love to hear your opinion about the lip drapes - do you have a particular favourite???

Make Up For Ever #17 Lipstick

If you've ever wanted to play around with a pure gold lip-colour, this is definitely a lipstick worth getting.  I usually use this lipstick to blend with other colours (I especially like it mixed with Print Lipstick by MAC), but for the purposes of this post, I wanted to create a look using only #17 lipstick (no lipliner, no mixing, no blending).  I wanted the gold pigment of the lipcolour to take centre stage:

Here is the makeup I used for this look:

Face: W4 Concealer (Loreal True Match), Make Up For Ever HD Foundation #155, MAC's Refined Golden Bronzer
BLush: Pretty Your World 'Hot and Spicy' Blush and NARS Taj Mahal as a pop of colour
Eyes: Silent Night as base (NARS) with Make Up For Ever #47 eyeshadow from lid to crease and MAC's Sumptuous Olive on the lid.  MAC's Uniform eyeliner with #47 shadow on top lashline (smudged) and MAC's Teddy liner on lower lashline and Loreals Voluminous mascara in Brown-Black
Lips: Make Up For Ever #17 lipstick

I love working with shades that you can blend, mix and match and create different looks with.  Make Up For Ever #17 lipstick is that kind of a shade.  Its perfect for those with a warm skin-tone and has that touch of glam that is very sophisticated.  I think I'm going to be wearing a lot of this colour during the Christmas and Holiday Season!!!

Taj Mahal Blush - NARS

I have walked by Taj Mahal blush 'endless' times wondering 'is this colour too orange?'.  I've always assumed it was slightly too bright and would look un-natural on me.  I always thought if it more as a warm spring shade.  However, a few days ago I was at the NARS counter at 'The Bay' and asked the makeup artist if I could take a little bit home to try as a sample - the makeup artist was more than happy to help me out.  As soon as I got home, I wanted to see if it was a True Autumn match and to my suprise, it 'was'!  I went back the next day and purchased the colour without hesitation.  I've been wearing it the past few days to work and have recieved a lot of compliments.  Lately, amber, copper and orange shades have been my inspiration for makeup.  Here is a look I created using Taj Mahal:

For this look I started with my basic face (W4 concealer by Loreal, HD Foundation #155 and Refined GOlden Bronzer by MAC).   I decided to balance out the shocking orange shades by going with warm olive/khaki shades on the eyes.  I started with Silent Night by NARS as a base, Make Up FOr Ever #47 shadow from lid to crease and MAC's Sumptuous Olive shadow on the lid.  I then used Uniform eyeliner by MAC and smudged Romp shadow into the upper lash line.  I used FACES #134 blush in a deep russet shade and then used Taj Mahal as a pop of colour.  For my lips I used Sienna lipliner by Revlon, Vita lipstick by FACES and then dabbed on Taj Mahal and blended it into the lipstick.  I have to say that I really, really love this makeup look.  Its one of my personal favourites right now.  I love the golden undertones of the blush and the combination of orange cheeks and lips with warm olive eyes are incredible.  I think I will be wearing this look often!