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.