Teal Appeal

Pastel hues have become de rigueur on the strands of It girls everywhere. As women become more comfortable with unconventional color, deeply saturated hues enter the market for hair. Leading the movement is teal. The shade became popular in the cosmetics and nail category last year and is now starting to make waves for tresses. The combination of blues and greens combine for shimmering mermaid-esque manes.  Influencers such as Nicole Richie, Kylie Jenner and Langley Fox are experimenting with cooler tones.

Color-forward London-based salon Bleach is a pioneer of this water-inspired hue. Their DIY dyes in Washed Up Mermaid and Sea Punk encourage a relaxed ocean vibe. 

Image sources: The Sartorlist, The Coveteur, Harpers Bazaar and Bleach London 

GCI Feature: SS 14 Beauty Trends

Each season, fashion "month" inspires myriad color trends. In response, beauty trends must work to complement the fabrics and textiles that global fashionistas will adorn themselves with in coming seasons. April's issue of beauty trade publication GCI Magazine features my thoughts on cosmetic colors to look out for this Spring. Warmed-up metallics and smoky plums are two of the key hues to embrace as the temperature rises. Click here for the complete story.

Q & A with Stylesight

Want the inside scoop on beauty trends hot off the runway for Fall / Winter 2013-14? Read my fashion week wrap-up Q & A with Stylesight – including insight into the mood, key colors and seasonal evolution . Check it out here

Backstage Beauty Pass : Pamella Roland

New York Fashion Week  Fall / Winter 2013-14

February 11, 2013

On Monday, I stopped by the tents to see my friend Matin - lead makeup artist for Laura Mercier and CAUS beauty committee member - who keyed the Pamella Roland show. The palette he created was inspired by Roland's collection; an homage to the opulence of St. Petersburg and the Winter Palace. Cue luxe gilding.

The models at the Roland show had perfectly defined dark red pouts set against flawless matte skin (Mercier's signature). Eyes were washed with soft gold.

To get the look, artists applied Mercier's Oil Free Suprême Foundation or Silk Crème Foundation to skin, and set with translucent powder. Lips were outlined in Coffee Bean and filled in with Deep Wine. Lids were swept with Gold shadow and finished with a slick of mascara.

Hair was swept into a sleek french roll and secured with a wide, shiny black headband.

Though we're only on the fifth day of New York Fashion Week, it is apparent that the popularity of oxblood will continue into next season as it has been featured at many shows this week.

Backstage Beauty Pass: Alessia Prekop

This season, I had the opportunity to provide direction for the beauty color palette for Alessia Prekop‘s Fall / Winter 2013-14 show. I worked with stylist Toyo Tsuchiya to develop a makeup look that complimented Prekop’s 1980′s silhouettes – and bright color range.

We wanted the makeup to enhance the collection – but not steal the show. Metallic shadow was a mainstay in the 80′s and has been gaining popularity in beauty recently. As a result, we decided the subtle use of a warm metallic would provide the right balance of pop and understated elegance.

The Bobbi Brown team applied shimmering bronze and gold pigments on inner eyes and lips, balanced by neutralizing nude and charcoal grey. The light-handed application of these metallic hues provided a touch of sparkle, while maintaining a central focus on the clothes.

Hair was braided into a long “horsetail”  with blunt ends. Nails made an impact in dramatic black polish, with french tips in red, green and blue

Cooking with Color: Sweet Potato Lasagne

One of my favorite ways to unwind after a crazy New York City day is to get into the kitchen and cook something delicious. I love to bring my passion for color and good health together by experimenting...often without a recipe!

The video below was shot for Cooking Minute, a site that " Go[es] inside the lives and homes of busy New Yorkers while they demonstrate their favorite recipes".  A very cool concept as we often don't get to see the intimate spaces of NYC kitchens or share the act of cooking with one another.

My recipe was filmed in my tiny east village kitchen. It dissects the process of making (yet another ad hoc dish) Sweet Potato and Kale Lasagne.

​http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=a4Sr1KvPlfE

For the full recipe and step by step guide, visit the site.

Image and video credit: AaronFuks

The High Impact Hues of Holi

colors of holi

Ever since my first trip to India--upon which I truly uncovered my love (and passion) for color--I have wanted to experience the uninhibited splashing of color that takes place at a Holi celebration. Though I've never been lucky enough to be traveling east at the time of this vibrant welcoming of spring, I discovered that Richmond Hill, Queens hosts an annual Phagwah parade (literally translated as the "festival of color" and is celebrated by the Guyanese and Trinidadian communities).

My dear friend (and former colleague at CAUS) Mary Helen and I suited up and headed out to join in the lighthearted chaos in the streets....

As one may expect, colors swirling around were highly saturated pigments that created a palette of high impact hues. These active brights are perfect for the summertime, as they look their best under brilliant sunny rays.

Yellow-based reds have become a staple in statement-making lip tones. For Spring / Summer 2012, tangerine and neon magenta become alternative bold lipstick choices. Blue continues to make waves on nails, with electric aqua as a key color for the season. Sunshine yellow appears on the hands and feet of the daring. People are willing to take chances with color in the warmer months when attitudes are more carefree and focused on looking hot in the heat.

If there is one thing to remember this season, it's that pops of bold color are commanding attention in fashion and beauty. This is a trend that cannot be ignored!

How to get the look? Try: Ilia Beauty's lip colors in Neon Angel and the summer limited edition hue Voila Priti nail varnish in Kingfisher Daisy, Etoille Violet and Baby Toes Cactus.

It's me...in my OCC!

Check out this little feature on yours truly posted on Beautylish. I ran into editor Ning Chao during Fashion's Night Out at Barneys with Linda Rodin. She was really excited about the intensity of my lip color. The hot pink OCC Lip Tar in Anime got a lot of attention that night...definitely a show-stopper for anyone looking to stir things up!

Image Credit: Beautylish