A Modern Holly Golightly

If Holly were here today maybe she'd be wearing these outifts...

Holly as a Mum! Or perhaps that's not her style, maybe she's the nanny...

Sweet skirt. So Holly, so Audrey.... they're one and the same.

(images via dress design & decor )

Can't (Re)Touch This

Photo re-touching has been done for a really long time such as in these shots of Joan Crawford. I think initially to preserve the actress' vanity and mystique( and perhaps the photographers skill!) It's also about blurring the lines between fantasy and reality whereby you know that these are real people but you consider them to be more 'perfect' than us. This farce is so unhealthy but it is what has made the fashion and beauty industry so successful...we buy dreams not just clothes and creams.

However, it's very refreshing to see a little bit of reality from time to time and there are moves being made within the fashion world to ban outright or at least place restrictions on the amount of re-touching allowed. The female editor of French Marie Claire led the cause with her April 2010 issue that contained no photoshop whatsoever in it's editorials. The ads were still fantasy and prefection heavy of course but she did try! Another French lady politician has added her voice proposing fines for magazine people and ad men...

' There is something unhealthy in the misrepresentation of body image in our society, said the Marseille’s Congress Woman who wants to “enlighten the consumer.” “It is outrageous,” she says, to believe that one side of the spectrum are the little people with their flaws, cellulite and at the other extreme there are the perfect people. There is an indecency in having us believe we look better at 70 than at 20. I wish to restore and highlight the barrier between the virtual and physical reality.'

The legendary photographer, Peter Lindbergh, also believes in beauty without artiface and he shot these stunning pictures of the nineties supers without makeup or overly-flattering lighting for French Elle. Isn't it funny how these moves are being initiated by the French; the very nation who hold the pursuit of beauty in such high regard! Although, their inherent 'french-ness' and chic is mostly natural. They do believe in beauty via easy means; a small selection of key excercises, not hours in a gym, a good quality and restrained diet, looking after their skin and learning good makeup skills rather than surgery etc

I can't help but think that although these photos are stunning; these women did win the genetic lottery! I myself as a makeup artist, prefer to champion The Natural Look but I'm not sure how well most of us would look in these conditions. That said, it's good to see none the less and they are a lot more beautiful than the horrible paparazzi mag ' stars without their slap' versions!

There are moves to impose these fines and bans in the industry here now which will be interesting to see. I personally hate if my work is touched up too much afterwards. Some times it is necessary as there may be what I call '3D issues' on the skin that concealer can't remove as the product can only cover but not take away a bump (spots, deep bags under the eyes) and when these are lifted away it is much more flattering. I take pride in really perfecting my models skin, blending the shadows and choosing colours that are complementary to the complexion. I once did a cover shot for a national magazine and they changed the eye shadow, lip shade and the colour of the dress the model was wearing digitally afterwards to tie in with their banner. I was disgusted as it looked so false and I felt people would think they were perfecting my work rather than changing the colours to suit their page re-edit!

Look how different and gorgeous Jessica Simpson is without makeup above. She looks chic and pretty rather than OTT as she usually does.

So I'll stop ranting now. Overall I support this cause so that people don't feel inferior anymore. The beauty industry is supposed to make you look good and feel pretty not feel as though you aren't worthy to walk the hallowed halls of the department stores. These new proposals for a real version of beauty may be a little idealistic and I'm not sure if they will make it into common practice but it's a step in the right direction at the very least!

What do you think?

These Boots...

...are made for walkin' and that's just what they'll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you...do do do do do do

This time every year I begin my hunt for the boot of the season. I inevitably look for a good riding boot but find it really hard to find a good one that actually looks like a proper riding boot not a fashion-y version.

But now, I've found these two from here and I love 'em both. A lot. How do I choose? Do they ship here?.... questions, questions. I'm going to investigate. Aren't they great?

Have I got that song in your head?!!

Thought For The Day

Happy Monday to you all! I hope you had a good weekend. I did another wedding, met a few brides to be for makeup trials and spent the rest of the time wrapped up in family who are undergoing some major changes at the moment so we're hanging close to help ease the way a little. I also had some great phone and email catch ups with friends... it was all about the chat this weekend.

The thought above seems to me to be appropriate to a lot of people at the moment so I thought I'd share it with you too.

This coming week is going to be a busy one and I've lot's of lovely things to post about so I'd better get started!

(The winner of the Friday Freebie is Missy Ellie!)

The Friday Freebie

Want a pink pout? I have a Rose Exclusif lip gloss by the fantastic Bourjois to give away this week. It changes colour to a deeper pink the more pH you have in your skin... try it on you and try it on your friends! Who'll go pinker??

Joking aside, it's a great gloss; I reviewed it earlier this week. Leave me a comment below and check back on Monday to see if you'll be pretty in pink (sorry, couldn't resist!)

Happy Weekend my darlings...

A Good Vintage

I'm so charmed by this 1930's style wedding; the details are divine...

I love that her sleeves come to a point, so pretty. And his tux is perfect...old school glamour can't be beaten.

Beautiful profile and her veil...so lovely.

Is this a time warp I see before me!

I love how her dress kicks up at the back and the hazy effect to the photography is so ethereal...

(images from here )

Inspired By MAC

( my friend and fellow makeup artist, Ailbhe, and me at the masterclass )

On Wednesday evening, I was invited to attend the MAC trend masterclass that they run every year for makeup artists. I love these sessions as I find them so inspiring. As you all know MAC are the leaders in forward thinking when it comes to makeup styles. The way they play around with products and textures is fantastic and some of their artists are true visionaries. That said, the trends aren't always so wearable for the mere mortal! However this seasons looks and inspirations were some of the most adaptable for reality that I've seen in some time. They made it accessible and that is where their success this season will lie...most of you will like and feel able to pull of some or all of these looks (within reason!)

The session was led by the senior artists Neil Young and Lesley Keane whose roll call of fashion shows they have worked on is like the Who's Who of the best shows and celebrities. From the runways of Giambattista Valli, Balmain, Chloe, Alexander McQueen to painting the faces of Grace Jones, Goldie Hawn, Shirley Bassey, Tilda Swinton, Linda Evangelista....they were all there. Every makeup artists wannabe CV!

( Redd Velvet )

They talked us through the key trends and we watched a demo of two looks. What was interesting though was that everyone was in agreement that there are no trends anymore! Its seen as a reflection of the times we're in and the fact that makeup has become more aspirational and accessible; so basically, people can do what they like! If it's worn well and suits the person and their individual vibe - they're on trend.

The first look we saw is called Redd Velvet which is a re-working of a classic red lip. Of course a crimson pout is never going to go away, it's indestructible. It will change and vary subtly each season but the message is the same. It's about strength and passion - wall flowers need not apply!

The way to keep it current for A/W '10 is to go so low-key on the eye makeup that there is almost none there. A slick of vaseline or eye gloss over the lid, a strongly defined straight brow (not archy) and no mascara keeps it looking contemporary. Neil used MAC's famous Russian Red first but then toned it down to a blacky plum by using smoulder eye pencil on top. You could either add gloss for a strong vinyl lip and leave it there; go as far as your comfort zone will allow.

(Satin Eyes )

The other look showcased for us was Satin-Eyes which contains some pretty far out eye liner work (bottom right, above, was the one we saw). The vibe of this is one is meant to be pure and ethereal and a little futuristic. I think this look is amazing for catwalk but too much for real people. However, you can make this look your own by using liquid liner to line and pull out into an exagerrated flick, although not too flicky as the straighter the line, the more current it will appear. This is supposed to look dramatic so go as far as you dare with it. They used Copperplate shadow with it which was one of the most used eye shadows throughout all of the fashion weeks this year and deservedly so...copper is a great tone for all.

(Voile Veil )

This look is Voile Veil and I think it was my favourite; this seamless, blended, billowing effect is the kind of makeup that I like to do. It is poetic and romantic looking and so, so flattering.

Low key luxury is what came to my mind with this one and it's so perfect with all the minimalist and quite graphic shapes in fashion this season. Keep the eyes shimmery in Satin Taupe or Shale, define under the lashes with a darker shadow but there is no liner or any hard edges at all. The lips are nude and creamy looking; no gloss, just moist. It's dreamy and soft and out of focus. I loved it.

(Fourply )

The final look is called Fourply and it's all about colours that you can eat. Caramels, toffees, chocolates abound and they give a new bare, nude appeal that is a throw back to the nineties and the Spice lip liner days! Skin is perfected with the one of the two key foundations this season; Sculpt or Pro Longwear. I can recommend Sculpt and I haven't yet tried Pro Longwear, but it looked fantastic (there is some on the way to me shortly hopefully, so I'll tell all soon) It's a pretty androgynous look with no real colour at all, but it is a good look to accompany the Camel trend that is all over the place this Winter.

Standout products for me from the masterclass were:

• Pro Longwear Foundation
• Pro Longwear concealer
• Skin Finish Mineralize Powder
• Brush 223 - for precise work in the socket of the eye
• Brush 194 for working a red lip
• Brow pencils in Lingering and Stud
• Brown paint stick for the glossy brown eye
• Lip erase to take down natural lip colour to create a perfect nude.

So, that is that. I'm all fired up with new ideas for this seasons looks and am looking forward to putting them into practice on some of the beauty shoots I have coming up in the next few weeks.

Thanks MAC!

(images via makeup for life )