Archive for July, 2010
Chris Benz’ Resort 2011
14 years ago
For Chris Benz’ Resort 2011 Collection, Benz ditches his NYC stomping grounds to re-imagine life in ’50s in Los Angeles. This collection was inspired by the Californian mid-century sculptor Sascha Brastoff, a very elegant, Los Anageles woman of the time. The designs consist of vintage inspired Hollywood glam dresses in ivory and black, tweed jackets, perfectly fit blazers, delicately draped organza tops, long flowing dresses, pleated pants, shorts ad a very great textile necklace.
The Collection in its entirety looks more thrown together than most Resort Collections – I have a hard time understanding the theme and at times I feel the inspiration doesn’t show through in the outfits. The pieces on their own are nice, but nothing extraordinary has happened with this Resort Collection.
Candid Camera
14 years ago
Vanity has been among us since the mirror, then we added makeup, and now with the new iPhone and some digital cameras, the show of vanity has kicked into high gear. This new dual-camera technology (second camera lens faces the viewer), allows us to do something we’ve been struggling with…taking good pictures of ourselves!
We’re obsessed with taking photos of ourselves. Photographs used to be a way to remember good times, now it seems that we’re taking pictures of ourselves for promotional use. There are websites like Daily Mugshot, where you upload daily photos of yourself to post online. Apple has the Photo Booth software, which allows you to use the built-in web cam to take portraits of yourself. And there are even photo accessories that appeal to the “self shooter.” There’s the gorillapod tripod, that can wrap around trees and stand on the roughest of terrains.
Since we’re obsessed with taking photos of ourselves, we know which side is our “good” side, we know our flaws and we don’t want the world to see our “bad” side. Photo retouching was once just used for perfecting magazine covers, but now it is available for us all. There are cheap, simplified versions of Photoshop available for non-professionals. And then there is the new Adobe CS5, which includes an easy-to-navigate version of Photoshop. It shows that people can handle and are willing to pay a pretty penny for the full suite of tools. Two new effects are called the Bulge and Pucker…perfect for a little body sculpturing!
Tips on taking good self portraits:
1. Wear many “hats” in your self-snapped photos…if you have the same look and pose in every photo, you may look a little unimaginative. It’s better to look bad or goofy in a photo…so you don’t look/seem so vain!
2. Don’t photograph yourself from below. Take photos from above or straight-on…if gravity is going to do anything, it might as well help you!
3. Turn up the flash! People are afraid of bright flashes, but using a flash can blow out wrinkles and make the photo look modern and artsy.
4. Your camera-phone is a great self portrait option. It’s low resolution is kind to wrinkles and blemishes!
5. Get creative! If you want your self portrait to be interesting…don’t make it all about yourself.
But in my opinion…SMILE! And there is nothing better than a straightforward picture of yourself and your arm curving up the side of the photo!
Finally, the iGeneration has a good headshot 🙂
PRIMER* talk – Perfecting with Primer
14 years ago
The power of primer should never be loss on any makeup wearer. In fact, you always want to prep & prime the skin to ensure that the makeup stays and that even the micro pore doesn’t magnify in photos. Oily skinned gals experience creasing, sliding — and makeup tends to make a disappearing act but not if you are smart and you prime your face & eyes. This is the makeup artist secret, its also the first step in perfecting skin to read flawless. Some great ones to try are:
NARS Makeup Primer, $33
And after you’ve primed and added that quick glamor to meet your hot date, mist yourself with Skindinavia’s No More Shine Makeup Finish ($39) to preserve the look!
Accessory Bust: Gold Petal Pushers
14 years ago
Many fashion and accessories magazines have been featuring flower rings, bracelets and necklaces for Summer 2010, so I thought I’d give my two cents.
I personally believe that flower jewelry finished in silver, colored metals and obviously plastic look cheap, and well – trashy. That being said, I am a HUGE fan of gold flowers….gold flowers anywhere looks very classy. The look is very feminine, even for those tattoo touting tough ladies. Yet the look isn’t juvenile or entirely innocent looking either, however if you are a total goody two shoe beware all flower jewelry states the obvious and in your case, you should refrain from wearing flowers at all costs.
Here are my favorite flowered pieces to get you through the summer. And hey, because the pieces are gold; they’ll totally fly for Fall 2010 as well…yeay!
- Disney Couture, The Flower and the Lotus Flower Ring, $59.
- Maximal Art by John Wind, Crystal Sparkling Daisy Snake Chain Collar, $89.
- Allison Daniel, Shoe Flower Necklace, $68.
- Elizabeth Cole Jewelry, Set of 5 Flower Hook Bracelets, $188.
- Allison Daniel, Jadyn Ring Crisp Scroll Flower, $88.
- Elizabeth Cole Jewelry, Bouquet Necklace with Swarovski Crystal Flowers and Gold Roses, $423.