FASHION: ART OF EXPRESSION

Dare to let the Fashionista of your imagination be a reflection of your outward appearance. Fashion is an act of expression. It is not just about putting clothes on. It's about conveying thoughts, feelings and more importantly image. The way you dress sends a multitude of signals. Stop and think...what image are you projecting to co-workers, friends and strangers each day? You, yourself form opinions on people every day simply based on the way they are dressed and/or groomed. It does not seem fair but it's the way things are. If someone is sloppily dressed and unkept we tend to pull away from them, however the opposite is true of the person we encounter who is well dressed and polished.


Your body is a blank canvas and think of your clothing as the paint. We should all strive to paint a masterpiece. There are no rules to fashion...ideals about fashion are left up to the individual. This is where the concept of image and style come in...one must take the desired clothing and learn to put their own spin on the outfit. Spin is what gives an outfit a personalized touch. The trick to becoming a true Fashionista is seeing yourself as the most famous and rare art piece ever. Strive to paint yourself a masterpiece everyday. You deserve to feel beautiful each day you make your way out into the world.


Your style is your very own signature trademark. Fashionistas who have mastered the ability to express themselves through fashion are always stylish and chic. This is why celebrities seem so beautiful and amazing to us. Their stylists have helped them to accomplish harmony with their clothing, personality, body frame and complexion. Unfortunately the every day woman usually does not have a personal stylist to pick her wardrobe. Do not despair...this is why I believe I have been called to be the personal stylist to the every-day women who are mothers, wives, and/or just hard working professionals around the globe. We all can learn to be Fashion icons. Learning to pull a winning outfit together every time can be an awesome accomplishment. When you know you look good, you feel good and thus you are free to focus on other tasks at hand. You are able to operate at your maximum potential.


Clothing and what you wear has an impact on the way you feel. When we feel that our look is well put together, we exude confidence and high self esteem. In contrast when we do not feel that we have a winning outfit we display insecurity, uneasiness and are more reluctant to engage with others. Moments of insecurity has caused many of us to miss out on social and/or professional opportunities. It can also cause others to misjudge you. We can all go back in our minds and remember an instance when we did not feel at our best as a result of the outfit we were wearing. Do not doubt the power that fashion has on the psyche. Fashion has the power to influence our thoughts, behavior and personality. Just think about the many ways we have been treated just based upon the outfit we were wearing at the time.

Every woman should have a piece of her outfit that acts as the centerpiece. The centerpiece of my outfits is most often shoes. Get me into DSW shoes or the shoe department at Nordstrom's and I am suddenly overtaken by an emotion so strong I cannot put it into words.


When a Fashionista steps out it is crucial for her to be well put together. She is a strong intelligent woman who has an agenda that need not be interrupted with worrying about whether or not her skirt is too tight, too short or matches her shoes. Fashionistas are movers and shakers who take risks with fashion.

SMOKE IT UP

Smokey eyes have been a big style for quite awhile and there's no sign this particular trend is dying. Nothing can be more dramatic than the smoldering sexy smokey eye look! Especially for the Fashionista who wants to make a dramatic entrance for the holidays. However, If you are anything like me you haven’t quite mastered that whole smokey eye technique just yet. I can tell you I have tried and tried and it never comes out the way it did when the technician did it for me at the M.A.C. counter. They say the eyes are the window to one’s soul – well if this is true we can definitely make sure everyone we meet is peeping through our beautifully stained glass windows “so to speak”. With these easy to follow steps I'll have you creating the perfect smokey eyes. The key to the perfect smoky eye is proper blending. You want to make sure colors are blended together flawlessly. Also, it's important to pair light base colors with rich dark colors.



1. Now I know you all like to put on foundation first since normally that's what your told to do, but for the smokey eye, ix nay that idea! Its always best to put the eye makeup on before the foundation when doing the smokey eye! This way if you get some on the rest of your face you will not ruin your already applied foundation, and you won't have that nasty raccoon eye! Sorry...raccoon is not in this season.

2. Then start by prepping the lid. The key to keeping eyeshadow from melting into your eyelid crease as the day goes on is to keep eyelids oil-free. To do this start with an eyeshadow base (also called "primer"). I prefer to dab a bit of M.A.C.'s 'paint' on lids before shadow application.

3. Apply eyeliner. If you're going for a typical black, brown or gray smoky eye, apply liner in one of the colors above the upper lash line, drawing line thicker in the middle of eye lid. If your opting for a jewel-toned eye (violet makes a gorgeous smokey eye), line eyes with a purple, blue or deep green liner.

4. Blend in color on bottom lash line. For color on the bottom (a key smokey eye look) you'll want a lighter eyeliner. The key is to "smudge it." You can also apply a bit of shadow to get full smudge effect. For the smudging technique use an eyeliner that has the soft sponge tip on the other end. After applying the liner gently use sponge for the desired smudge effect.

5. Apply light base color again to the upper eye lid. The key to a smokey eye is pairing a lighter base with a darker hue. I prefer a nice cream shade for a base. Sweep a light, shimmery shadow over the lids to your brow bone.

6. Blend in darker color just below crease in eye lid. Now that you have the base and eyeliner on, it's time to get the smokey effect. You need a darker eyeshadow shade. Using an eyeshadow brush blend in color starting at your lash line, blending up. Make sure to blend color into the lash line so the eye liner disappears. Stop deep color at crease. The key to the perfect smokey eye is proper blending. Again, it's important to pair light base colors with rich dark colors.

7. Double check your work make sure your eyes match. Blend colors with a Q-tip if they are not equal. Finish with several coats of volumizing mascara. I highly recommend M.A.C. fiber filled mascaras.

8. For a fun flirty look, curl your lashes with a curler before the mascara.

9. Don’t forget to groom and trim your wild brows if needed. If your brows are sparse like mine use an eyebrow pencil to fill them in. The pencil should of course be the same shade as your brows ladies. With a feathering motion of the hand lightly sculpt your brows to perfection. Be careful not to over draw them.....the key is to make them look natural not drawn on.

Tips:

• Remember to keep lips nude. When applying strong makeup (like smokey eyes or red lips) put the focus on either eyes or lips, never both. (Think Angelina Jolie: She either plays up her huge eyes or her huge lips, never both. If she did, she'd look like a clown).



• For a bit of fun, try a blue or purple mascara. Liner doesn't have to come in pencil form. Makeup experts know eyeshadow make some of the best eyeliners. To do this take an eyeliner brush (available at any dept store), wet it, then dab wet brush into the dark shadow. This allows for a deep, precise line. You can also use the dark shadows without wetting brush first. Either way, eyeliner is necessary for smokey eye.



• This season go for some sparkle. Stay away from dark browns and black opt for deep purple, a gold-brown or any of the many vibrant colors that are in this year.

Things You Need:

Eye primer (you don't need it, but it's great for keeping shadow in place)
2 Shadows: One light, one darker
Eyeliner
Makeup brushes
Mascara

Here's a freebie....You have a very special event and you want to have your face done by a professional make-up artist, but you don't know where to start. You can saunter over to your nearest local M.A.C. cosmetics store and get it done for free. No purchase is necessary. The staff is friendly and very talented. Take my word...

Now there you have it. The perfect smokey eye. Practice this technique and before you know it you will be a pro at it. Now put on your best ensemble and hit the town. Let them have it with a vengeance. Be FANTABULOUS!!!!

Purple the New Black

PURPLE REIN - PURPLE IS KING OF COLORS IN CLOTHES FOR FALL

If you guessed purple as the color for this fall you are indeed a Fashionista who is definitely in the "Fashion Know". Purple is in the pink this fall. The color is ubiquitous in fall clothes, and no wonder it's flattering in many shades, friendly to most skin tones, hair colors and ages. One notable fashion aficionado put it very simple by saying "purple is the new black."

Purple was prominent on the fall runways, from Anna Sui to Vera Wang, and Wang also uses it as a key color in the debut of the Simply Vera line at Kohl's. Vera Wang at Kohl's...now that's fantastic. Her wedding gowns to casual wear are simply the bomb. Purple is a strong shade for accessories. A purple accessory can be used as an accent piece to make your outfit pop.

Purple happens to be my favorite color. I love purple because the symbolism of purple itself is very interesting, it's linked to power, mystery and spirituality. Purple is royal on so many levels and a Fashionista is ALWAYS Royal...Never ever ever forget it. The color purple also has denoted affluence, supremacy, dominance and magnificent opulence. Be a woman of mystery and sport your purple in all shades, textures and patterns.



If you want to follow conventional wisdom, an eggplant purple falls into the category of deeper colors normally associated with cooler weather. Lighter shades of purple such as the pastels are generally associated with springtime. The deeper the purple hue the richer the look. If you want to get noticed, try something that borders magenta.




FANTABULOUS PURPLE


Purple is easier to wear than you think. Fashionistas say dark purple is practically a neutral -- and just about any purple, even a flashy violet, goes with the standby colors such as black and gray. Purple also is a color that can be worn boldly on a sweater or coat, or more subtly on a scarf or a shoe -- and still have a noticeable impact.



ANYONE CAN WEAR PURPLE



If you're committed to black, then wear a splash of purple on your foot or bag. On top, you wear it with jeans or another classic color. It's unusual to have these great bright colors for fall. Purple is a warm complement to this season’s blues, greys, pinks and silvers and it adds warmth to a wardrobe while still being wearable for work and play. "With any strong color, how to wear it depends on your personality," says People StyleWatch editor in chief Susan Kaufman. You can wear it as a dress, but then I wouldn't recommend purple shoes.

To make it short…Purple suggests luxury. What Fashionista doesn’t want to be associated with luxury? We all do. Quite frankly we deserve it. Believe me…there is nothing like the rich color of a purple hue against beautiful healthy skin. Wear that purple ladies and wear it well.