Boudoir is all the Rage

Some may think 1950’s pin up girl, others Playboy. But I would say it somewhere in between or even better...what you want to make of it! Most women who do the sessions say they feel liberated as well as invigorated after the experience. Believe me. I know. I also love hearing the reasons why women do the photo shoot. As you can imagine many do it for their husband or boyfriend, or at least that is what they say. I seem to think that most do it for themselves. To find that inner confidence, beauty and let if shine externally. One of the most inspiring answers (because I always ask who they are doing it for or why) was a lady who said that she was currently 15-20 pounds heavier than she had ever been in her life, but she had never been happier or more confident than right now!

Check out some beautiful images from a boudoir session I did with Tait Boudoir. If you are interested in signing up for your own boudoir session go to www.dcboudoir.com/contact. Please let her know that I referred you.

And pick your own reason for having them done!

FW Magazine

Fashion Washington

Fall 2009

That's me in the denim Karen Millen dress, hot pink belt from Terra (http://www.shopterradc.com/) and Gucci white and black patient leather heels.

DC Fashion Week, September 2009

International Couture Fashion Show

What girl does not love a fabulous fashion show?!? All the glam, the makeup, hair and not to forget the beautiful clothing. Smokey eyes and nude lips were all the rage. Then ending with some ruby red lips. I was so thrilled to be accepted as a makeup artist for this year’s DC FASHION WEEK. Thursday night I did makeup for a trunk show in Senate Square. And then more makeup for the grand finale International Couture Fashion Show at the French Embassy on Sunday. What a fun experience. I met so many wonderful designers, models, makeup artist and hair stylist from all over. You were all such a pleasure to work with! Thanks Jimmy, Associate Producer of DC Fashion Week, for letting me be a part of it all!! Enjoy photos of some of the models I did for the International Couture Fashion Show on Sunday. As well as my walk on the red carpet in my Christian Louboutins.

Photos courtesy of Damion Miller/DCFASHIONWEEK.org

Adult Swim: Dare to be Fashionably Courageous•Courage Cup Fashion Show•Liaison Hotel•August 23, 2009

Andrea Rodgers, also known to many as Miss A, asked me to do makeup for the fashion show at the Liaison Hotel. One of my good friends and also a makeup artist, Kim Reyes, helped to get the models runway ready. You may recognize many of the models who are also Wizard dancers. All models are wearing designer swimwear from SyLene of Washington.


Thanks Kim for all of your help! And to Miss A for asking me to be a part of the event!!

Miss A writes, " Adult Swim: A Dare to be Fashionably Courageous was the fabulous Paul Wharton, who is a popular modeling and style coach from MTV’s hit series MADE model show and VH-1s hot new series The Agency, Paul provides innovative and cutting edge image enhancement advice to young women that aspire to break into the modeling industry and to those that just want to look and be fabulous! Paul work as a fashion, modeling and lifestyle expert has been featured on television networks internationally and in top fashion magazines (including his own Ask Paul column and online show with Elle Magazine’s Ellegirl.com) and on local and national news, radio and talk shows (CW, Fox, etc.).Paul is a regular contributor to features and articles on how women can improve their image and become more “model fabulous”.
Paul also works with some of the world’s top modeling agencies instructing and developing newly signed talent in the areas of high fashion runway and over-all image development. Hosting a new special feature for The CW entitled Top Model Makeover, creating and producing innovative fashion and beauty television concepts and running Evolution Look Modeling Agency are just a few things that keep Paul busy. In a fast-paced era where divas and designers are born every minute, Paul stays on top with fresh ideas that are authentic and consistent."

To check out all the photos taken by photographer Tony Powell go to: http://tonypowell.smugmug.com/Fashion/Courage-Cup-Fashion-Show/9391986_RJZhf#629041668_hZZGG

The most famous gray streak...Stacy London.

Shut up! Is that what she is most famous for? Or is that her trademark natural gray streak that she has had since she was eleven that she still sports? Even her Pantene contract includes a clause that allows her to keep it in the front of her hair. I invited a few friends out tonight to Urban Chic in Georgetown to meet Stacy London. She was exactly what I expected…bigger than life saying, “Shut up!” multiple times and smiling from ear to ear. When my friends and I approached her, after waiting our turn in the mob of admires, she immediately started complimenting our outfits and exclaimed, “Where did you get that?!?” to my girlfriend Alison about her Banana Republic dress. Then Stacy yelled, “I have it too.” Got to love it!

Stacy and I discussed our favorite/cannot live without makeup bag items. One of her favs was Sally Hansen’s lip tint. Without a doubt I am going by my local Rite Aid, literally a block away from my place, to try it out. I will have to let you know my thoughts.

A couple of us even got our fashion forward outfits shoot by a photographer for The Washington Post fashion section, FW (Fashion Washington). Maybe we will be making fashion news in the near future?!?

In the photo:
Alison Bonnet, Stacy London, Carla Ligon-Miller & Courtney Kriebs

Eco-Friendly Fashion...not for the West Coast anymore.

Watch out DC…fashion that also cares about the environment. This weekend I went to the cmarchuska Fashion Show with my wonderful stylist friend Karthrine Limon. The designer and founder of cmarchuska Christine Marchuska, “was inspired to create a collection that would meet both her socially-conscious standard and her desire for affordable high fashion.” I found her designs in the show to be simple, fun and flirty pieces. Most would be perfect day to night attire, which is a quality that I love. Even though I often push the limits of day wear…my day wear is often dinner out for others. But fashion is after all a way to express ourselves. Right? I did check out her site, http://www.cmarchuska.com/, and was disappointed that only a couple of outfits I had seen in the show were on her site. Although Christine is based in NYC, it looks like she is working to make her imprint on the DC scene. Any takers?

Also check out images from the event by photographer Vithaya, Vithaya Photography http://vithayaphotography.com

Artomatic Fashion Show

ART and FASHION are two things I absolutely love. And when they can be put together in one fast-paced display on the eyes down the catwalk what can be better? But most of you may say that fashion is already art and that art can be fashionable. I agree. But this show last Friday was not a completely typically fashion show. Sure there were tons of models strutting their stuff in fun and sometimes interesting designs by local DC designers, but there were also painted ladies (think pool parties at the Playboy mansion but some also in couture outfits) and gentlemen.

The theme for the show was Celestial Bodies. Sounds enticing right? The makeup and hair was “funky and fun.” Backstage was a “swash” pit of models, makeup artist, hairstylist and designers all working on perfecting our art before sending it down the catwalk.

The whole evening left me thinking to myself, I want to be painted and become art. How fun would that be!?! Wonder how hard it would be to paint myself!?! Maybe one day soon I will find out…anyone up for the challenge?

A big THANK YOU to Kim Reyes and Adrienne Mills for asking me to come out and do makeup! I had such a great time doing it!! You can also check the website for Artomatic at http://www.artomatic.org/. As well as Adrienne’s newest work at http://FigurePhotos.com & http://anacostiafineart.com/.

View photos:
http://www.slide.com/r/fptoocO44D94-sQFp6TVws-daEpq3EZ1?previous_view=lt_embedded_url

Images from Behind the Scenes at the Ritz Fashion, Makeup and Hair Show

A big thank you goes to Orianna, owner of Terra, a wonderful boutique in DuPont Circle that I frequent, and Yolanda, Director at the Ritz's LA Sports Club, for putting this event together. Nigisti for doing hair. Steve Beltz for the images. And to all of the beautiful models...Alex, Ashley and Farah. I enjoyed working with you all!


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Please check out Terra at: http://shopterradc.com/style.html

If you would like to check out more images please go to: http://stevebeltzphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/8293305_ZEomm#543095669_yQ8KC

Photo Shoot with Steve Beltz

These are just some of the beautiful images from a photo shoot with photographer Steve Beltz. Check out more of Steve's work on his site, http://www.stevebeltzphotography.com/.

Thank you Carrie and Brooke for being such great models. Carrie is also an event planner in the DC area, her site is http://www.myinspiredoccasion.com/.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

HD Makeup Class...

Imperfections to the MAX!! Where art and makeup meet…

Who ever knew I had so many pores and imperfections on my face?!? I just finished a HD video/film makeup class a few weekends ago. It was fun and very informative, except seeing what your face looks like on a HD 1080 camera with no makeup...you can see every imperfection. HD is certainly changing the makeup industry!

The class was taught by Sara Seidman Vance and Suzanne Patterson. Sara is known for her work with DAWSON'S CREEK, BRAVEHEART, COLD MOUNTAIN and PATCH ADAMS to name a few. Sara’s modo is, "It's not about beauty, it's about the illusion of reality!" What truth there is in that!!

Thanks to Suzanne Patterson and Sara Seidman Vance for so much wonderful info. And to Rhed Pixel studio for hosting the class and letting us put makeup on you as well.

HD makeup tips:
- Use a small sponge to dap foundation onto the skin instead of using a brush. The sponge will help to apply the foundation in small dots. Think of Georges Seurat's work of art using small dots instead of brush strokes. Seurat was motivated by study in optical and color theory; he contrasted miniature dots of colors that, through optical unification, form a single hue in the viewer's eye. He believed that this form of painting, now known as pointillism, would make the colors more brilliant and powerful than standard brush strokes. One of his most famous works is "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" - 1884, which I had the privilege to see the other weekend in Chicago at the The Art Institute of Chicago.

- In HD, makeup will be seen as well if not better than makeup is seen in person, so take that into consideration. Now more than ever taking care of one's skin is so important because everything shows. This was reiterated when I saw an ad in a magazine this weekend with Brooke Shields showing her face under a UV light that showed all of her sun damage. Scary...we all need to not only wear sunscreen daily, even in the winter, but wash and moisturize daily.

- Light, lights, lighting...makes a world of difference. Many of us apply our makeup in a dark bathroom with yellow lighting. Just keep in mind that the light that you and your face are seen in changes through out the day. The change is dramatic and from bright fluorescent lights in the office to cozy candle light for a late dinner. If you are going to be filmed or photographed make sure the light is the same where you are doing your makeup and where it is being shot. This will really change the way your skin and makeup appears.

Spring Summer Fashion Show with CLM Makeup

As the days get hotter…why can’t you? Join Terra and CLM Makeup for a spring/summer fashion show. Come check out Terra’s latest dress collection and casual wear by designers Black Halo, David Meister, Frenzii, Majestic, Vince, and LNA. CLM Makeup will have a professional artist on hand to show you how to compliment your best features- from subtle bronzed looks to sparkly summer eyes to die for.

The Sports Club LA (The Ritz-Carlton- West End)
1150 22nd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037
Z Lounge/Main Lobby
Members: Complimentary
Non-members: Complimentary as well

Please contact Yolanda Hawthorne at 202.974.6603
or yhawthorne@mp-sportsclub.com for more
information or to RSVP. Also look for sign up sheets to set up your personal one-on-one makeup, hair and body-type consultations.

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