Wednesday 30 March 2011

how to apply red lipstick

this is overdue. I know it. But i have been massively busy :(

I was looking through proper videos for you girls to learn how to wear red lipstick and i found 2 videos that i thought would be practical.

Click on the pictures to see the videos.

Gwen Stefani sporting red Lipstick

How To Apply Red Lipstick For The Daytime: "Videojug is the online video 'encyclopaedia of life' where you can watch thousands of informative how-to videos for free including how to Apply Red Lipstick For The Daytime."


How To Wear Red Lipstick: "Video : Celebrity make-up artist Daniel Sandler shows you how to wear red lipstick to get those stunning, seductive red lips. But remember - this is a dramatic look which should be worn with more subtle eye make-up. Latest Trends: Make-Up."


Tips & Warnings

  • Apply lips gloss to the middle of the lower lip, then rub lips together to spread the gloss to get just the right amount of shine without looking goopy.

  • Lip gloss makes your lips look more full, if you already have very full lips, use gloss sparingly.

  • Wear your red lipstick with confidence and smile.

  • If wearing a bold red lipstick, then use more natural shades of make-up on the rest of your face so you don't end up looking like a clown.

  • Put your shirt on before you put on your lipstick, otherwise it might stain your clothing as you pull your shirt on.

  • Carefully remove your shirt when wearing red lipstick, or remove your lipstick before getting undressed on your may get a lipstick stain on your clothes.

  • Don't wear bold red lipstick if you have really yellow teeth. If you do have bad teeth, then try to draw attention to your other features.



Credits: ehow.com, videojug.com

Sunday 27 March 2011

take a chance. Go RED.

I find that red lipstick is often given a bad name for no reason caused by itself. As steady and essential as the stiletto heel, red lipstick has played an essential role in the development of every young women's fashion adventure. 'Whether is through the experiments of colour, or the influence through a style icon, the red lippie should be given its due credit.








A friend of mine recently said "i don't like red lipstick, to me it always kind of looks like clown makeup"

GASP.
But the more i thought about it, the more i realized what a bad name this delightful fashion item has been given due to the fact 2 simple facts:

a) Girls dont always know what colours to pick. Red is a dangerous colour to apply anywhere on your skin. You have to ensure you have the right shade to not look like you have cut yourself.

b) Even the girls who have the right shade, don't always know how to apply the shade properly.

Which brings results as follows:

okay maybe i exaggerate. just a little. maybe more like this:


i somehow think Joker looked better.

Anyhoos, we should tackle one problem at a time. Sothe rest of this post will focus on what shade of red goes with which type of skin tone. :)

Credits: Catherine and Jill, Beautysquared.


Tone: Tone is key when you're looking for a red lip. If you scroll through the photos below, you'll notice there are variations in the shades of reds being worn. Some are true blue-reds (see the photos of Scarlett Johansson as a brunette, Anne Hathaway & Rihanna) and are best for skin with cool undertones. Others are red with warm tones - orange-red and brown-reds (see the photos of Scarlett Johannsson as a blonde, Julianne Moore, Penelope Cruz and Gabielle Union). A tamer version of the red lip can be seen in the photos of Oprah Winfrey and Chanel Iman - they're both wearing berry-toned reds.

True reds can look harsh on older women, so it's a good idea to look for warmer-toned reds or berry-reds for a more softening, flattering look.

Redheads need to be extra cautious when choosing a red lipstick. There's a reason why it's said (falsely) that redheads shouldn't wear red lips. Use Eva Green & Julianne Moore as your inspiration and make sure your lips don't clash with your hair.


Texture: In most of the photos below, the red lips are created with lipsticks, either matte or with a bit of sheen to them. On the ladies with darker skin, there's more sheen and some appear to be red glosses. On the ladies with pale skin, the lips are matte.

The easiest way to wear a red lip is as a stain and it's also a good way to start, if you're scared by the drama of the red lip.

And here's some inspiration for you - loads of photos of gorgeous women with all kinds of hair and skin colour. Enjoy and be inspired!

Light skintone:

Angelina Jolie

Anne Hathaway

Dita von Teese

Gwen Stefani

Scarlett Johansson as a blonde

Scarlett Johansson as a brunette

Eva Green
Mischa Barton
Christina Aguilera

Michelle Williams

Julianne Moore
Camilla Belle



Medium and olive skintone:

Jennifer Lopez

Eva Longoria

Rosario Dawson

Leona Lewis


Beyonce
Victoria Beckham
Jessica Alba


Penelope Cruz

Thandie Newton

Rihanna
Monica Bellucci



Dark skintone:

Trya Banks

Grace Jones

Gabrielle Union


Naomi Campbell


Taraji P. Henson


Kelly Rowland

Sanaa Lathan

Chanel Iman

Oprah Winfrey

So go out there and grab your red lippie ladies. Pay tribute to tradition!!

Friday 25 March 2011

Dressing for Flight!

So a friend of mine is currently flying around to keep up with the demands of her amazing job schedule. And as much as i "hate" for having such a good time, i love hearing her stories and experiences. She was in fact, just telling me, over a good bottle of wine at La Bodega, how much she has to fly around the world. Sighs. Lucky woman.

Anyways, that was me ranting on for a bit. It got me thinking of the air travel that is still an experience for many of us mere mortals. I love the excitement of getting packed, rushing to the airport a few hours early, hoping to god the counter isn't closed, checking my bag a million times to see if i forgot my passport and finally, sinking into that airplane seat and hoping to god no one (or maybe a hot someone)will fill the seat next to me.

I always have trouble with my dressing on flights. Honestly, at the time when most people are cleverly choosing clothes for the airplane, i am rushing around, taking a shower, stuffing my face with food and trying desperately to zip up my backpack. So i end up most of the time, looking something like this;-



I think dressing for the plane is one of the hardest wardrobe-related things to do. You really, really want to be comfy, you need an outfit that's easy to layer around based on the temperature of the plane, and you want to look cute (because you never know who you'll end up sitting next to, or in front of ;) ). Everyone wants to slap on some sweats and flippies and call it a day, but since this is a fashion blog, I have other solutions! I think there has to be a way to be chic and comfortable on a plane, and I'm determined to find it. More for myself than anyone else really..

Footwear

1. Remember that you will have to take coats and shoes off to be screened at security, so avoid labour-intensive, fancy buckles and bows. Clean simple lines is the key.




2. If you are planning on running for a connecting flight, waiting around for a taxi cab or going on a travelator then avoid stilettos.



3. Sneak some thick socks in your bag to wear on the flight when it starts to get cold.


4. Wear fancy ballerina pumps as you will feel glamorous, they are comfortable and they can easily be slipped off and put under your chair while you slip on some flight socks.


5. If you don't want to stand barefoot on the floor at the security checkpoint make sure to wear socks or tights


Your feet may swell at high altitudes so make sure that the shoe you choose is not too tight


Clothes

1. Try to wear long sleeves both to stay warm and to protect your arms in case of someone spilling a hot drink whilst navigating the narrow aisle

Tina Fey - Celebrities Catching Flights At LAX

2. Layer up. Wear lots of thin layers instead of a few thick ones as th
is will enable you to add or reduce layers according to whether you are in a hot airport or the cold plane. This is also a good idea if you are starting off in one type of climate and ending up in a much hotter or colder one.


3. Trousers are always preferable to skirts or dresses as they offer more comfort and warmth and easier movement especially if climbing over other flyers to reach the aisle. In addition in the unlikely event of an emergency or crash legs are less likely to be damaged if covered by pants than they are if left bare or in flamable nylons


4. Avoid linen which is likely to crease easily

Accessories

1. Be careful about what jewellery you wear. It may set off the metal detectors and you may need to remove it. Consider removing any ``private`` piercings to save embarrassment


2. The ultimate travel essential is a pashmina. It can be worn around your shoulders, as a scarf, used as a blanket or folded to be used as a pillow. If you are travelling with a child it can be used as a blanket for them. It can be folded quite small to fit in a handbag. Once on holiday it can be used as a blanket to sit or lie on, as a sarong and in the evening as a shawl. If visiting a Muslim country it can quickly be whipped out to cover legs, arms and shoulders or your head in public or holy places.


3. Choose a bag that is not too big too fit in the overhead locker but big enough to fit in all of your travel essentials with room for your pashmina. Make sure it has a secure closure so as to avoid lipsticks and bottles rolling down the aisle or falling out on the X-ray belt. have secure easy to reach outside pockets for passports, money and tickets.


So the next time i'm rushing onto a flight, i shall find the time to go through this list, and make sure i don't look like this!



and on a more random note, i wish these services were available in-flight. i would pay for this service ;)