Lip Tars - Katricia, Demure and Hoochie

The darlings at Makeup and Glow love to throw in some samples when you order - and with all the theatrical makeup I've been doing lately I've been ordering a lot!  I asked to try the latest OCC Lip Tars, which are all about the purples.

Katricia
OCC says: Creamy violet.

I say:  Yeah, it's purple.  Almost Cadbury purple.  I wouldn't wear this on its own, but it's a great base purple to own.  I'd be looking to add a drop of red to bring it to a more wearable colour.  In fact... how does NSFW (red, for those unfamiliar with LT shade names) look blended with it?

HOT!  Still purple, but much more wearable with a pink edge in it.  This is my favourite 'blend' that I did for this post.

Demure
OCC says: Rich, purplish fuschia.  (swatch below is Demure first, and Anime underneath for comparison)

I say:  Fuschia, baby!  Bright bright bright.  Not as bright as Anime, but you can see the 'purplish' tint when they are side by side.  Still freaking bright though.  But let's try to tone it down... with Grandma (coral).

Ooh, now this is nice.  In real life it's still strong, but the 'electric' edge has been taken off.  I really like this combination.

Hoochie
OCC says: Vivid, true magenta.

I say:  neon purple!  This would be great for a high fashion look, but also remember the amazing mixing quality of lip tars and you could easily create some divine shades.  Use it to lighten up a colour that you think is a little deep, but you don't want to use white (since it just looks like a pastel of the original version).  If I felt like mixing a new colour with this I would add... Fondue (dark brown).  Because I can.

I'm always surprised when I mix the Lip Tars - this is still a statement lip, but more 'winter' than 'Ibiza Disco'.  In real life it's very dark and vampy, not something I would do myself but I wouldn't look twice if I saw this on someone else.  Really nice.

Personally I don't think I would add any of these to my collection - I have ten (yes, I know...) and I've covered all the primary colours with a few extras, so I can mix almost anything I need.  If I was going to add anything I'd love to have Katricia as I think it's the most 'wearable' of the three when mixed with other colours.

I'll have to do a post on my favourite Lip Tar hybrids.  What's your favourite blend?

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).

 

RAFW - Camilla, Lisa Ho, Marnie Skillings

Three different looks, three very different designers.

Lisa Ho (by Linda Jeffreys - MAC) - holy natural, Batman!  Barely there, soft bronzed makeup with gorgeous skin.  But the hair was a clear winner for me - it's the J-Lo beehive but moved to the back of the head, making it instantly wearable.  The sheer volume creates drama but is yet easy to create and would work for most people.  Next time you go to twist that ponytail, stop and give it a quick tease before you pin.  You'll be so cool your 15 year old neighbour won't even have anything to say.

 

 


Camilla (by Napoleon Perdis) - the kaftan queen.  This was a colour explosion!  Bright fabrics floated down the catwalk with even brighter makeup and crazy headpieces.  I loved the variety of the looks - it's nice when it's not the same makeup on every model.  Napoleon says they reflect the four different looks in the show - (left to right, top to bottom) Fluro, Atlantis, Pastel and Tribal.

 

 

To bring this back to the street, take note that the colour is on the eyes and the lips and cheeks are nude.  Pick a colour that features in your outfit but tone it down and think about coloured liner instead.  If you're feeling brave try using a bright colour in the outer corners and into the crease - if you use it all over you run the risk of looking cartoonish.

Marnie Skillings - this will be my winter look.  Pale eyes and gorgeous plum lips.  I love the colour here (will let you know when I find out what it is!) because it's not too dark and gothic (which can be easy to do when it comes to purple lips).  Skip the gloss to keep the lips more flat and velvet-like.  Soft hair and feminine dresses make this vintage look one of my favourites of the day.

(Photos from Marie Claire and Primped)

RAFW - Rosemount Australian Fashion Week

RAFW starts today!  I'm looking forward to seeing not only the up and coming trends for the seasons, but hopefully some outrageous avant garde looks as well.  Just for fun  :)

I'll be trying to keep on top of the beauty looks, so watch out - this week will be blog heavy!

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?

Logies 2010 - Fashion Wrap Up

God bless the Logies.  It's just a popularity contest, determined by the readers of TV Week (read: grandmas) and people who still bother to enter contests by SMS voting (read: teenage girls).  So the results mean very little to me, although massive props to Ray Meagher who nabbed the Gold Logie from Rebecca Gibney in a last-minute voting surge.

The most exciting thing about the Logies will always be the fashion.  As Australia doesn't have the plethora of awards nights like our overseas counterparts it means that the stars usually go all out - and it shows.  Some go overboard (I'm looking at you Neighbours/Home and Away kids), some play it safe for fear of being branded 'worst dressed' for the next 12 months.  And although this was true for 2010, overall it was.... dull.  Same styles we've been seeing for the last few seasons.  Nothing that made the world tremble and my knees go weak.  But still - there were some noteworthy efforts, some of which are below.

Black-lace-over-nude-dress was a HUGE trend, spotted on many of the stars.  Some did it well (Jessica Marais - DIVINE) and some missed the mark (Sigrid Thornton).

The colour palette was safe for most, with white featuring strongly along with blush tones.  I loved the way these soft colours were mixed with jewels to keep them interesting - Margot Robbie's sparkling shoulder was outstanding (I LOVE structured features at the moment).

One disappointment for me was the lack of statement jewellery - I love a simple dress with an amazing necklace or a jewelled cuff.  Some outfits would have benefited from some extra bling to take them from average to amazing.  I adore Rebecca Gibney, but I felt that the look lacked something - stronger earrings would have been my pick.

My best dressed of the evening went to Gigi Edgly.  I saw this dress and gasped.  The white is crisp, the black adds amazing shape and the jewelled neckline brought the look up to a red-carpet standard.  Modern elegance - this whole ensemble made my heart sing.

Highly commended goes to Claudia Karvan, who showed that you don't always need a gown to look amazing.  Her hair colour distracted me (don't think that blonde is the best tone for her) but the old-world alternative style of this outfit made her a standout.

Now let's look at some of the fashion shockers of the night:

First of all, let's get Brynne Gordon out of the way.  It's horrid.  But she's an attention seeker in the tackiest way, so this was expected.

What about Carrie Bickmore?  This is one of those strapless dresses that make your breasts look like eyeballs.  All it needed was some fringing on top to make eyelashes... oh hold on, that's there as well.  The bustier looks like cheap satin and wrinkles in all the wrong places.  The puffball at the bottom could have worked if the top was more streamlines.  She's got a GORGEOUS figure though.

Thumbs down also to Jessica McNamee.  This dress is AWFUL.  Why is there ruching down the stomach?  What is that awful colour?  And is that velvet???  I think it's different elements that just don't work together well - change the colour to a bold red and it would look 1000% better already.  The ruching in the middle is awful, but maybe a different fabric would be more forgiving.  And if the neckline sat an inch or two lower the bust might look better.  Overall it's just... bad.

Other shockers included Tasma Walton (garbage-bag dress), Tessa James (typical trying-too-hard H&A star), Erin McNaught (way to hide a good body, Erin) and Ashleigh Brewer (my mum sews better than that and even she wouldn't do such a hideous 90's style neckline).

I'd like to finish with a high-five to Georgie Parker, who wore a Katies dress that costs less than $100 and proving to women that you don't have to spend your life savings to look great.  I suspect this dress will sell out across Australia.

Keep an eye out for my next post where I'll analyse the hair and makeup choices.

Who were your favourites on the red carpet?  And who should be hanging their head in shame?

(Photos from www.ninemsn.com.au and www.brisbanetimes.com.au)