RAFW - Bianca Spender, Alice McCall, Friedrich Gray

Bianca Spender - let's get the obvious out of the way.  There are feathers on the brows.  I assume you won't be doing that yourself, so let's see what else is there.  The inner corners have a divine bluish/teal colour that is kept quite defined, and the rest of the eye is soft neutral-browns.  The cheeks are softly contoured and the lips are bare.  It's all about the eyes here.

Alice McCall - love this look!!  Clearly it's not a street look, but the colour on the temples is fabulous!  The eyes are really drawn to the temple area, which is usually not very interesting.  If you look at the inner portion of the face the skin is dewy, the eyes just have mascara and the lips are soft (what colour is that?  Must... have... it...) so there are no elements competing for attention, yet it is fresh and youthful.  The super-fun braids in the hair are a great and easily-replicated summer look - the key here is keep the ends long and with a bit of a kink - don't plait to the very end of the strand, and don't straighten your hair first.

Friedrich Gray - this is all about the inner corner of the eyes (again!  Seeing a trend emerge is fascinating, no?).  The silver started in the peak of the crease and drawn in a straight horizontal line until it is in line with the inner corner, then drawn down.  This creates light where usually there is darkness and shadow, so the eyes open up and the model looks fresh.  Hooray!

RAFW - Little Joe Woman, Nicola Finetti, Alex Perry

Little Joe Woman - I've been rocking the 'pop-of-colour-on-lower-lashline' look for a while now, and Gail Elliot has validated my love by using this in her debut parade for Little Joe Woman.  It's a super-fun look but can be as subtle or as out-there as you like.

Nicola Finetti -  Oh, this is my style.  All over.  Eyeliner is strong , starting in the crease and finishing with a 60's flick at the end.  White shadow on the lid helps to highlight the contrast.  Modern-day Twiggy.  Hair is teased into a massive beehive but the finish still has texture and life rather than drowned in hairspray and rock hard.

Alex Perry -  I know I'm all about makeup, but it's the hair that got me here.  Look at that height!  The volume screams glamourous and ends in soft, sexy curls that look like they were set yesterday (and the movement is amazing on the runway).  Eyes are a sexy, feline shape that extends until the temples with a gorgeous pewter in the inner third to highlight and add some metallic interest.  Glitter is then flicked over the top half of the face, cementing sparkles as a major trend already emerging from RAFW.  Peachy cheeks and soft lips ensure that the attention stays nose up.

RAFW - Rachel Gilbert, Aurelio Costarella, Zimmerman

Rachel Gilbert - Strong brows  are an easy look that almost any woman could pull off.  Napoleon took this to the next level at Rachel Gilbert and literally painted on thick, shapely brows.  Yeah it's OTT, but this is fashion!  Lips were oh-so-soft pink and cheeks had a hint of colour but it was the skin that was a standout for me.  Dewy and fresh, and illuminated to the nth degree.  Rumour is that Napoleon slathered on his new Suto Pilot Skin Renewal Serum onto all the models for hydrated, plump skin.  Gotta get me some of that.  And there's that high bun again - well, we all know how we're wearing our hair this season...

Aurelio Costarella - Now THIS is what I call catwalk makeup!  Wearable is great, but you see that in fashion magazines every day.  Catwalk is the chance to step out of the ordinary and into the realm of fantasy and aspiration.  Gold leaf stuck to your temples?  You'll look like a crazy person.  Gold shimmer on your temples?  Now that's achievable.  Adding to the look is slicked back hair that erupts into a crimped explosion of fabulousness.  This is a low bun on steroids, and I love it.

Zimmerman - strong lips ahoy!  This gorgeous burgandy is a custom blend from three MAC colours - Crimson, Burgandy and Brown (thanks Bella Sugar!).  Strong brows and bare eyes kept the look balanced.  And what about the hair caught in the metal neck cuff?  I would have to keep fighting the urge to pull my hair out.  And I'd sink to the bottom of the pool... oh, you can take it off?  Nah.  Fashion is sacrifice, darling.

(all images from Bella Sugar)

RAFW - Leona Edmiston, Ginger & Smart, Seventh Wonderland

Leona Edmiston - oh dear, I'm in love.  A statement lip is what I'm (trying to be) all about, and Leona Edmiston pulled it off to perfection.  Keep the eyes pale and add a rose blush and I'm in red lip heaven.  The forward knot in the hair was just genius - very high-fashion, not sure if I could do this in real life.  But I may use it for a photo shoot.  The side curl adds a quirk which I love.

 

Ginger & Smart - I hate to say it, but I didn't like this hair look.  This reminds me of my own hair after I've lazily straightened it and pulled my growing-out-fringe back out of my eyes.  Poker-straight hair is out in my book - volume is much more flattering on most people.  I like the golden eyes that get a bit dark and smokey in the outer corner, with some false lashes adding extra drama.  Cheeks are softly contoured and the lips are coated with a pinky gloss.

 

Seventh Wonderland - yay!  Creative hair!  Wet-look gel is generously applied before the hair is flattened to the scalp and shapes are sculpted over the face.  I assume it's a more stylised version of your own hair as you emerge from the ocean and you casually swipe it out of your eyes.  Minimal makeup is used - but as we're looking at beachwear that's kinda fitting as you're not meant to wear makeup to the beach (although I do).

 

Logies 2010 - Hair and Makeup Wrap Up

Well you've read my Logies fashion post (I hope!) so now it's time for the hair and makeup!

Hair - updos were popular, with many variations seen across the red carpet.  Catriona Rowntree did a beautiful sleek plaited bun which is timeless, while Nat Bass went for volume and messy-sexiness to match the soft smokey eye.

 

J-Lo has a lot to answer for with two stars (Erin McNaught and Tessa James) being inspired and went for the beehive-style top bun.  I think it worked on Erin, but Tessa fell short.  Then again, I didn't like much about her look - too many elements competing for attention.  Tandoori tan, brassy yellow hair, dark eyes with her small features, pouffy dress - officially trying too hard.

 

Some wore their hair down, and volume was the key here.  Jen Hawkins wore her hair big and wavy, and I loved it.  Georgie Parker kept it straight-ish, but glossy and with lots of movement.  Who said older women can't keep their hair long??

  

Makeup - I love polished looks.  Especially if your dress is already competing for attention, tone down the makeup and keep it classic and sleek.  Jessica Marais kept her look strong with lots of liner but not the full-on smokey eye (see Nat Bass above), soft pink lips and a subtle cheek glow.  Or is that just love?

Smokey eyes is always a popular choice, but you have to make it work.  I am a firm believer in the 'eyes OR lips' theory of makeup, so smokey eyes should mean nude or soft lips.  Megan Gale = yes (although it's the SAME look she always does... yawn).  Jessica McNamee = NO (dark eyes, strong lips, standout dress... too much!).

 

A couple of stars really missed the mark for me with their hair and makeup, despite wearing stunning dresses.  I felt the eye makeup and pulled-back hair on Esther Anderson was way too harsh for her soft dress colour, and the tan is WAY too dark.  Camille Keenan kept to her natural pale skin but with the red lip, lined eyes, sideswept ringlets and strange black necktie she ended up looking like an extra from a spaghetti western.  This look ages her by 15 years.

 

My favourite overall look came from Livinia Nixon.  Her soft-yet-polished updo had the perfect loose curl to frame the face, while her makeup was fresh and understated yet red-carpet appropriate.  Minimal jewellry meant the beautiful fabric of her dress made the statement.  Does she ever age?  Stunning.

Worst look - Brynne Gordon.  No contest.

So what do you think?  Do you agree with my choices?  Will you be trying the J-Lo top bun?

Academy Awards - Hair and Makeup

Well now that we've seen the fashion, let's dissect the hair and makeup.  Most of the hair was up in a bun or some form or updo, which makes sense with all the bare shoulders.  Hair up is sexy for showing off great backs and gorgeous earrings.  If it wasn't up, it was blowdried and pushed over one shoulder, which is my favourite.  Most lips were nude, with the occasional shock of colour to keep it interesting.

And here come the stars:

Rachel McAdams looks polished to perfection.  The hair isn't too tight, the lashes add a bit of drama but the soft colour choices mean she's let her dress do the talking.  Although those earrings need to be in my collection.

Sandra goes for a pink lip!  Red is usually the colour-pop-of-choice but this rocks.  Much more modern.  Eyes don't overpower yet the liner and lashes add definition.  The sleek blowdry and side part are classic and so flattering - I love sideswept looks.  This will look great when she accepts her award...

Nicole misses the mark for me here.  I get the whole 60's vibe is her MO, but this looks too harsh and unblended.  At least the nude lips and soft cheeks don't compete - she chose one feature to play up, which is the way it should be.  The high bun lifts her face and lengthens her whole look.

Kate Winslet has the most amazing hair and makeup artists.  Look at that hair!  Oh my god, it's perfection.  The eyeliner on top gives a sexy shape and makes the eyes pop out, and adds the strength to the look so she's not fading into obscurity.  And the best brows in the business.

Holy hairpiece Batman!  This is BIG!  But you know what - I LOVE big hair!  This is statement hair, this is standout hair.  Wallflowers need not apply.  Eyes are heavy which makes her eyes look tiny, but it's becoming her go-to look for big events.

All looking a bit neat for your tastes?  Bring on Jennifer Lopez's messed-up updo.  I like it!  'Messy on purpose' can be hard to pull off but this is how to do it.  The 'mess' stays in the bun, while the front is soft but not messy.  It's controlled chaos.  Makeup is her standard, although reports say her bronzing was messy.  I don't have HD so it looked fine to me!

I may not have liked the dress, but I love the updo.  There wasn't much detail in the hair this year, so this really stands out.  And the jewel in the hair - love.  Her eyes are soft and the lips are almost bare, I would have liked more on one or the other but in general it's a winner.

I get the feeling that a lot of these pics will be brought to me by formal girls throughout the year, and with good reason.  Who were your favourites?

**  All pictures are courtesy of the delightful www.bellasugar.com.au **