The Life of A Ladybug

Torrid auction for breast cancer research

Gowns designed by FIDM students for the Torrid House of Dreams Fashion Event are being auctioned off to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  The gowns were modeled by the seven Torrid Model Search winners as well as the MC for the event, Whitney Thompson.

The gowns are available by auction on Torrid.com and all  of the proceeds go to the NBCF.
 

bbn_bca

New York Fashion Week 2009: NARS at Marc Jacobs

SHOW: Marc Jacobs
LEAD ARTIST: François Nars, Founder and Creative Director of NARS Cosmetics
TREND: Theatrical Makeup


INSPIRATION: The look of the Marc Jacobs collection was inspired by the contemporary dancer, Martha Graham: Old-fashioned and theatrical but graceful and precise. At the same time, however, there was a darker side that was shone through: a quality of gothic romance. Ballerinas with a sense of mystery- as if part of them, along with some of their makeup, had been left behind on stage.

LOOK: Left-over stage makeup. The models weren’t meant to have perfect makeup- rather, they were meant to encompass a “just came off-stage” effect. “Dancers in theater and opera always have white faces, pointed lips and an eye that is drawn outward, not upward-it’s very theatrical, very ballet,” said François Nars. He stressed the importance of the eye for this look, noting that “the shape of the eyeliner is important- it should open the eyes, especially underneath. The slashes of white is something they used to do in the 70s- it brings a 3-dimensional feeling to the makeup.”

Beauty News for this week

If you're like me and you love Project Runway, get ready!  It premieres on this coming Thursday, August 20th and I cannot wait!

In anticipation of the main event, eight former contestants will be returning to compete against each other in a two-hour special, Project Runway: All Star Challenge.  It will premiere on Thursday, August 20th at 8 PM (right before the new season of PR starts) and will be followed by the premiere of the sixth season of Project Runway (now shooting in L.A.) and the debut of the companion series, Models of the Runway at 11 PM.  All these shows will be aired on Lifetime.

The designers participating in the challenge are:

• Daniel Vosovic, Season 2 (also known as the speaker of my very favorite PR quote ever: "It's a motherfuc*in' walk-off!")
• Santino Rice, Season 2 (Love him and always will - nothing better than a good bitch, no matter the gender)
• Jeffrey Sebelia, Season 3 (Hate.)
• Uli Herzner, Season 3 (Love)
• Mychael Knight, Season 3 (Lovement.)
• Chris March, Season 4 (Meh.)
• Sweet P, Season 4 (Meh, Part Deux)
• Korto Momolu, Season 5 (I bow at her feet.)

More news after the jump!

Michelle Obama's Inauguration Dress

  

Look at our new First Lady, y'all!  She is resplendent in a fabulous yellow dress with jeweled collar and matching coat, by Cuban American designer, Isabel Toledo.  And check out how she coordinated with deep forest green pumps!  To die!  This chick is so damn fabulous.  Here's looking forward to this intelligent and fierce Black woman as the standard of American beauty and fashion.  I can't wait to see what she wears to the balls!

Toya's Tips: A new image of American beauty

This is our new first family, America.  Just let that sink in ...

I am so proud of you, do you know that?  I am so proud of all of you who stood in long lines and made the effort to do your civic duty.  Was it good for you?  Because it was fabulous for me.

It was an historic moment for America, one for the ages.  But, I'm not really going to delve too much into my personal feelings about the nature of this win ... at least, not on this blog.  If you want to read that, feel free to skip over to Makeda.  Instead, I want to talk about our new image of American beauty ... Michelle Obama.

Take a look at this chick.  She is all kinds of awesome, no?  I am so flabbergasted and grateful and awed that the new female face of America is this flawless Black woman.  Not since Jackie Kennedy has this country had a First Lady with such taste and style.  I'm wondering if as many people will want to rock her style as wanted to rock Jackie's.  They better recognize!

If you're one of the smart women out there who want to emulate Mrs. Obama's style, just slightly, here are my tips.

• Pick clothing with clean, simple lines.  Michelle Obama isn't known for the frou-frou.  She has impeccable taste and poise, but her outfits look very streamlined, playing up her long, lean figure.  But you don't have to be either long or lean to find simple pieces that flatter your figure, so make sure you're doing what looks best on you!
• Jewel tones.  Mrs. Obama picks robust jewel tones, which look wonderful against her brown skin.  But women of all shades can find a sparkling shade that make them look their radiant best.  Try yummy shades of red, purple, green, and blue.
• Sleek hair.  Instead of going for big hair, try to tame it down, just a bit.  That's easy for me to say, of course, as my hair is hella big - LOL!  But, even I can put my mane into a lovely pinned up style and so can you.  If you have shorter hair, try a slicked down look.  Longer haired ladies, pull it back into a sleek ponytail, an elegant chignon or just wear it down, but polished.
• Neutral makeup.  Michelle wears the sort of makeup that looks good with every outfit.  She always looks fresh-faced, but uber professional.  Neutral eye makeup - try Bobbi Brown's Shimmering Nudes Palette or Stila's Day to Night Palette.  Plum blush - try MAC's Beauty Powder Blush in Secret Blush or MAC's Blush in Plum Foolery.  Neutral brown lipstick with a bit of shine - any of MAC's Lustre lipsticks in a neutral shade will work.

This is a new time in American beauty.  I am so happy to see it and I can't wait to see how y'all rock it!

Upcoming Beauty: MAC for Ungaro

MAC has an upcoming collection - a creative effort pairing MAC with Esteban Cortazar of Ungaro.

Cortazar told MAC's artist, Sharon Dowsett, that there most be something "unexpected" about the Ungaro woman.  Therefore, Dowsett went on a search for a natural look that wasn't boring or predictable.  She was very influenced by Monet's paintings of trees that look brown from far away, but up close are a collage of different colors.

I am so looking forward to this limited edition collaboration!  It's on counters October 9th!  (My lemmings will be bolded.)

Lipstick

Pure Rose: pastel pink with white pearl

Freckletone: neutral yellow-toned beige

Lipglass

Pastel Emotion: pastel pink with white pearl

See-Thru Lip Color

Not So Shy!: jewel-tone berry stain

Eyeshadow

Soft Flower: clean, mid-tone coral

Lilac Touch: dry mid-tone violet

Mineral: deep cool brown

Phloof!: frosted off-white

Cream Colour Base

Crushed Bougainvillea: jewel-tone berry stain

Fresh Morning: soft muted pastel pink

Beauty Powder

Flower Mist Dew: clean brightening pink

Technakohl Liner

Auto-de-blu: Amethyst

Zoom Lash

Lofty Brown: ultra-rich blackened cocoa brown

Brow Set

Mink: dirty brown

End of summer fashion round-up!

Well, the unofficial end of summer has come and gone and all our thoughts are turning toward cooler weather and what we'll wear and what makeup we'll sport.  But before we move on entirely, I'd like to know: What were you rocking on the regular this summer?  What clothes/shoes/accessories did you find yourself reaching for over and over again?

For me, this summer was the "summer of strapless."  I found myself loving strapless tops and dresses.  They are wonderful in the blazing heat; you don't get tan lines from your bra straps/sleeves; and they're unassumingly sexy.  I find the shoulders and collarbone really sexy parts of hte body to bare without looking hoochified.  For shoes, I always found myself turning to a pair of open-toed gold high-heeled sandals.  They were the perfect neutral to go with any color (BTW - my favorite colors this summer were yellow, green, red, orange and brown - quite autumnal-sounding, but in bright and vibrant shades) and very, very comfortable.  And, for accessories, nothing beats large hoop earrings and a cuff bracelet.

So, what were you in love with stylewise this summer?  Share in the comments!

Bronze and Red

Last night's skincare:

• Cetaphil Daily Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin
• Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner
• Berwick Beauty Coming Up Roses Night Cream (under eyes)
• Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Treatment
• Avon Anew Ultimage Age Repair Night Cream

This morning's skincare:

• Cetaphil Daily Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin
• i.d. bareEscentuals skin rev-er upper
• Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Treatment
• Berwick Beauty Coming Up Roses Day Cream (around nose)
• MAC Moisturelush Eye Cream

Today's makeup:

• Bobbi Brown Luminous Foundation in Golden (applied with Beautyblender Sponge)
• Bobbi Brown Corrector in Dark Bisque (MAC 242SE brush)
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit in Golden (MAC 242 SE brush, MAC 224 SE brush for powder)
• tarte emphasEyes in Black (to line inner lower rim of lashes)
• Bourjois Metallic Eyeliner in Brun Inoxydable (lining upper and lower lashes)
• L'Oreal Voluminous Naturale in Blackest Black (two coats on upper lashes)
• Smashbox Fusion Eye & Cheek Color in Heatwave (as shadow and over blush)
• Sally Hansen (with Carmindy) Natural Beauty Bronzer in Summer (used darker end as contour color, lighter end as highlighter on cheekbones and under brow)
• NARS blush in Exhibit A (on apples of cheeks)
• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15
• pop beauty lip smoothie in Salmon

Today's fragrance:

Philosophy Falling in Love

Today's outfit:

• red and white printed long-sleeve top from New York & Company
• brown double button pants from New York & Company
• gold printed leather pumps by BCBGirls
• gold hammered hoops from Claire's
• wedding set
• gold and pearl ring I bought on a cruise
• stretch bracelet with cowry shell and seashell dangles (a Mother's Day gift from Sarai)
• camel purse from Baghaus.com

Peachy browns and greens

Today's makeup:

• MAC Moisturelush Eye Cream
• YSL Touche Eclat in 3 (under eyes and under brows)
• Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder in 2 (under eyes)
• MAC Paint Pot in Indianwood (applied with my finger, all over my eye lid)
• Guerlain Ombré Eclat 4 Shades Eye Palette in Bronze Doré (light peachy nude as highlighter under brows, bronzy shade on lid, light celadon green on inner lid, dark green in crease and on outer v)
• Tarte EmphasEyes in Black (tightline)
• Bourjois Metallic Eyeliner in Brun inoxydable (to line upper and lower lashes)
• L'Oreal HIP Mascara in Ultimate Black (two coats on top lashes only)
• MAC Sculpt and Shape in Warm Light/Definitive
• mark. kiss theraphy lip balm in Shimmering Coral
• MAC lipliner in Cork
• Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Crystal Shine in BG 941S
• Dior Creme de Gloss in Beige Elixir

Today's fragrance:

Fresh Sugar Lychee

Today's outfit:

• brown s/s tee with bronze sequin placket on the neckline from Old Navy
• brown tweed cropped pants from New York and Company
• brown mock croc pointy-toed high-heeled mary janes from Isaac Mizrahi for Target
• bronze chandelier earrings (I don't remember where I got these)
• wedding set

Dude - I'm wearing more makeup than I am clothes!  HA!

Passionate about purple and Paint Pots

Seriously ... have I told y'all how much I love MAC Paint Pots?  Have I???  Because I do.  I love 'em, y'all.  They are the best.  Swipe it on with your finger, add liner and mascara and go.  A polished, slightly shimmery eye in seconds.  Yummylicious!

Today's skincare:

• Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
• Paula's Choice Blemish Control Liquid (or whatever it's called)
• MAC Moisturelush Eye Cream
• Elizabeth Ardene Intervene Moisturizer

Today's makeup:

• YSL Touche Eclat in 3 (under brows and under eyes)
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Deep (all over with BE Handy Buki brush and used as concealer with BE Max Coverage Concealer brush)
• MAC Paint Pot in Nice Vice (applied over lid and into crease with finger)
• tarte emphasEyes in Black (used to line upper and lower inner eye)
• MAC Dual-Edge Eye Pencil in Fab Orchid (upper lashline)/Dash Lily (lower lashline)
• Cover Girl Lash Blast in Very Black (two coats on top lashes)
• tarte cheekstain in blushing bride (applied to apples of my cheeks and blended with fingers)
• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF15
• NYX Round Lipstick in B52
• MAC Lipgelée in Mega

Today's outfit:

• purple drape cowl neck top from Torrid
• brown tweed pants from New York & Company
• cream lace kitten-heels pumps by Isaac Mizrahi for Target
• silver dramatic crescent/rhinestone earrings from New York & Company
• wedding set
• camel large tote from baghaus.com

Today's fragrance: Fresh Sugar Lychee eau de parfum

Today's hair: sprayed with my homemade leave-in (water, leave-in conditioner, pomegranate seed oil, olive oil) and pulled up in a Tomoka's Twist with silver beads