Brigitte Bardot - Iconic Look

I've always wanted to try and re-create Brigitte Bardot's Iconic smoldering eyes and neutral-warm lip look!  Unfortunately, I'm not able to recreate her 'pouty French lip' look :)  However, I'm determined to practice!!!

I've been studying her look for a while and trying to understand the elements of the look.  The first thing I noticed was thick, smoldering black liner - but it's applied a little 'messy' - almost goth like, but in a sexy way - there is no extra shadow blended in like in our modern smokey eye look - its dramatic, but its 'Simple' - black liner, thick and smudged.  The second thing that really got my attention was her lipstick shades.  They are neutral/nude, but not our modern neutral/nude.  It's not a 'concealer/flesh toned' lipstick shade - its more of a warm, peachy-orange-brown nude.  It's an alluring shade because it works for both day and night, but it doesn't give the eyes all the attention - there is a balancing effect going on between her eye makeup and lip colour shade!  Sultry/Deep is balanced with Natural-Warm!!!    

Here is my attempt to re-create Brigitte Bardot's iconic makeup look:

I took this photo in the early morning so I had to use a more unnatural light, which turned out to be okay, because it shows the versatility of this look - it can be a classic evening or day into night look and the lighting only enhances the look!  I started with my basic concealer and tinted moisturizer.  I then added a little bit more concealer to my eyelid to act as a primer for the liner.  I applied smolder eyeliner by MAC and then used an angled brush to smudge the edges out (creating somewhat of a cat eye, but smudged vs defined).  I used NARS Oasis because its very neutral and versatile.  For the lips - I applied MAC Chicory lipliner to add that peach-brown neutral element and then used NARS Blonde Venus!!!

I don't know if I would wear this look on a regular basis - I'm still enjoying more of a 'le no makeup look' lately, but this is definitely a sexy, alluring look that I will re-create again!!! :)

Chanel Indecise

To my dismay, the Chanel lipstick Caractere that I've been writing about the past couple of posts has been discontinued!  I guess I haven't visited the Chanel counter often enough :(

As sad as I am about this, my impulsive self gave myself permission to see what new colours Chanel has.  I'm very serious about creating a simple and minimal makeup wardrobe for myself and I have to say I'm almost there.  I have my top 4-5 shades picked out for lipstick!  Since I'll be taking Caractere off the list in the near future, once I run out of this beautiful shade, I'll be replacing it with this shade 'Chanel Indecise'.  It's not the same shade as Caractere at all, but I absolutely love it!  In fact, its the most elegant nude/natural lipstick I've ever tested and tried:

The colour itself is a very sheer pink-peach neutral.  It also pairs so well together with NARS Oasis blush - the two seem to be made for each other!!!  For my eye makeup, I wanted to pick up on the subtle warmth of Indecise, so I used a honey shadow on the lid (from the too faced natural eye palette), Teddy eyeliner from MAC on the upper lashline only and then smudged the darkest bronze shade from the too faced natural eye palette into the Teddy Liner.  Simple, minimal and elegant!!!

Blonde Venus NARS

Blonde Venus lipstick is a staple in my makeup kit.  After my very inspirational makeup de-cluttering session, I couldn't help but notice that this is one shade that I absolutely love.  It's a very natural neutral-nude shade.  It has a hint of peach, but not enough to make it overly warm.  It's the perfect 'wear and go' lipstick!  This morning, I wanted to create a pretty 'work look' that is relatively neutral-go with everything:

I always begin my looks with my basic face, which is concealer and tinted moisturizer.  I rarely use foundation unless its for a bigger, evening event.  For the eyes, I used Sephora's Tiramisu eyeliner and smudged in the two darkest shades from the Chanel prelude eyeshadow quad.  I think this quad may be discontinued, but I absolutely love it and wish they brought it back!  I used Sin blush my NARS - even though its plummy, it goes with everything - I'm really loving this shade!!!  Last but not least, Blonde Venus lipstick by NARS!!!

Simplicity

I remember my mother always telling me 'Simplicity is Elegance'.  My mom is one of those women that I look up to in awe because she carries herself so well.  She has that allure where you wonder to yourself "what is it about her that makes her so elegant?".  I've come to understand that its because she has the perfect balance of simplicity and chic - she knows exactly what's 'enough' when it comes to an outfit or clothes.  I used to roll my eyes when she used to say "that belt doesn't go with that, its "too much"' or "you need to balance that dress with more accessories" (or less depending on the details of the dress).  Ladies, listen to the advice you mothers and grandmothers give you about style - they know things that our society has forgotten.  Today fashion is all about trends and lets be honest, its about what sells.  I remember my grandmother telling me that quality is better than quantity - its better to have a 10 item wardrobe of high quality that you can mix and match vs a 'huge' closet worth of miss-matched items that were trends at the time.  It's the advice the French have been giving all along and there is something to be learned from it.  Almost everyone knows that I love makeup and one of my faults up until this point has been buying what's in trend or trying to fit a season so badly that I've missed the mark.  I have a cluttered 'makeup wardrobe' and I'd like to have one based on quality over quantity.  This weekend I sat down and went through everything - I'm trying to get back to the essentials.  So far, I've created this look and hopefully, I can create a few more that have that simple elegance about that.  I'd love for people to look at me one day, the way I look at my mom, and think "What is it about her that is so elegant?' - It's a journey for sure and I'm ready to start :)

For this simple look, I started with my basic concealer and tinted moisturizer.  I then applied Chanel 'Gris' eyeliner on the upper lash-line only and blended in a deeper grey-taupe into the liner to give it a slight smudge.  I used black mascara and brushed my brows.  I then applied NARS Sin blush!  For the lips - Chanel Caractere, my current favourite!!! Voila, my simple everyday look!!!

Classic French Chic

With all my reading about the French Chic look, I keep coming back to this basic, yet classic look - The Red Lip!!!  In trying my best to create a more simple makeup wardrobe, I sat down and made a list of all the lipstick I wear/own and what purpose they serve in my life.  I want a simple, yet functional makeup wardrobe.  I starting seeing a pattern, when the lipsticks I wear and like the most are the ones I picked up and discovered when I was in Paris.  I realized that the lipsticks that I like the best are the ones that fit the following classic French Chic lipstick looks:
1) The classic Red Lip
2) The everyday neutral
3) The polished deep rose shade

I have my basic 3, plus 2 others that I wear quite often, so I've decided to pick a 5 lipstick standard for myself :)

Today I felt the 'Classic Red Lip' look - I've been inspired by all the pinterest pics about 'Classic French Chic' - the Red Lip is all three things in one - Classic, Uber-French and Chic!  Here is the look I created:

I started this look with my basic concealer and tinted moisturizer.  I then created a subtle smokey eye - I know that a lot of times, the Chic French eye makeup look is very natural/minimal, but I feel that my eyes need a little bit more definition.  Its a look I like!!!  I mixed Bobbi Brown Navajo and Cement and applied this to my lids and just into my crease.  I then lined my eyes with Sephora Tiramisu (my favourite cooler-brown toned eyeliner) and smudged Bobbi Brow's black plum shadow into the liner.  I used a simply black mascara to finish the eye look.  For the Lips - my favourite red that I picked up in Paris - YSL #1 Le Rouge!!! :)

Chanel Caractere Lipstick

Caractere is one of those lipsticks that is very memorable for me and it's a colour I don't wear enough!  It's memorable to me because I purchased it for the first time in Paris.  It was at the Chanel counter inside the Gallery Lafaette! I will never forget the experience of the elegant Parisian makeup artist who helped me out.  I told her I was looking for a chic everyday lipstick and she picked this shade for me.  Today I decided to pair it with Electra shadow on the lid, smolder liner smudged with mystery shadow on the upper lash line (all MAC) and then a light sweep of Oasis blush by NARS!

Now that I think back about that 'Paris lipstick purchase experience', I'm questioning, 'Why am I not wearing this colour more often?'.  When I took the time to really answer that question, its because I'm constantly trying and buying new shades, that I never take the time to appreciate the ones that really matter.

I'm beginning to really understand the importance of building a makeup wardrobe based on essentials, vs trends and getting stuck in the 'habit of buying'.  It will come to no surprise that this colour will be on my new list.  Which brings me to my question for you all:

How many lipsticks do you think a woman really needs?

What's the magic number of lipsticks that one should have in their 'makeup wardrobe?'

I'm so curious to read your responses to this one!!!

Return to the 'Euro Chic' Look

Two things have recently really inspired me.  First, watching the French Open Tennis and second, studying the style of Charlotte Casiraghi.  In both cases, my love and admiration of the 'European Chic' Look is coming back.  You may be thinking, why would the French Open Tennis Tournament be inspiring me? Well, it takes place in Paris and when you watch the people in the crowds, everyone looks so 'chic' - one woman in the sports arena was wearing a striped 3/4 shirts with a beige toned blazer, summer hat, elegant scarf etc - all just to watch Tennis.  It makes you really sit back and think about why the French are so elegant - they take time to look good no matter where they are and what they are doing.  They are so elegant, simple and polished classic style!

Charlotte Casiraghi is the ultimate in European Chic - the Princess of Monaco has that natural elegance.  I love seeing what makeup look she's wearing.  I've noticed that she likes to play up the lips and leave the eyes natural OR create a very natural, everyday pretty look.  I tried to re-create her style and I went out of my comfort zone a little bit,  Instead of applying eyeliner all around my eye, like I normally do, I only applied it on the upper lash line, using a very natural shade - Sephora 'Tiramisu' and smudging MAC Coppertone into the liner so it doesn't look like a harsh, dark line.  I then picked a very natural and pink-toned blush and lipstick shade - NARS 'Oasis' Blush and Sandwash Pink lipstick by Bobbi Brown!  I think that I'm really liking the more natural eye liner look and I'm going to try and wear this look more often!!! :)