Glamour Frugaliste Fall 2011, Look #2: Femme Fatale

Tom Ford Fall 2011

If it's drama you're after, then look no further. There is nothing quite as dramatic - or fabulously over the top - as heavy black liner paired with brilliant scarlet lips. This look not only stalked the fall runways, but continued their dominance in the September magazine issues. The best examples can be found on the models featured in the fall campaign offerings from Tom Ford and Kate Spade. To quote The Spice Girls: The lady is a Vamp; she's a vixen, not a Tramp. In other words,  a woman after my own heart. 

Bryce Dallas Howard for Kate Spade

 I think it goes without saying that this is not your average daytime look for the office, and might be better saved for a cocktail party or gala event. However, there is something to be said for taking a risk... 

Anyway, here's the breakdown, regardless of how or where you intend on wearing it.

For the Eyes: Start with Black Velvet (matte black) applied with a damp smudger brush across the top lashline beyond outer corner of the eye, adding a slight wing at the end. Smudge the colour further up lid to just below the crease, whilst maintaining that sharp line at the lashes. Tip: the benefits of using a powder shadow damp as opposed to a liquid or pencil liner are that you have more control over the intensity of the colour result, and it lasts longer on the face - pencils are made of waxes that melt in heat and liquid liner will run if you tend toward watery eyes (which I do).

Wash Buttercup (buttery yellow with shimmer) liberally over entire lid beginning from base of browbone, using a fluffy shadown brush, building colour till the desired amount of shimmer is reached. Finish with LOTS of black mascara.

For the Cheeks: Dust Go Go Boots (plummy peach-pink) lightly on the apples of cheek working back into hairline using the cheekbone as a guide.

For Lips: Apply Seriously (a true glossy red) with a brush, blot with tissue then dust with Invisible Blotting Powder before applying a second coat, for added staying power.

Random sidenote: When I finished this look and started taking the pictures, I was struck by the oddest sense of deja vu. I know that this is a very retro, Moulin Rouge type look, but it's exact inspiration remained elusive. Until I realized what song had been running through my head the entire time...

 What's new, Buenos Aires...

What do you think? Is there a resemblance, be it ever so slight, or is it just me? 

Glamour Frugaliste Fall 2011, Look #1: The New Naturelle

I don't believe in the all natural look, mostly because I don't see much point to it - if you're going to wear makeup, then just do it. But I have to keep telling myself that this is not about me, and that other people might not want to channel their inner Drag Queen or Vegas showgirl all the time. 

Burberry Fall 2011

Valentino Fall 2011

Nude, 'no-makeup makeup' looks were all over Fall runways, most notably at Valentino and Burberry. This look is exactly what its name suggests: natural, but in a new and modern way. Neutral, fresh and almost universally wearable, with a touch of shimmer here and there to add interest and depth. 

Interested in how you can achieve this look on your own? Well then - read on, dear Reader... Read on!

For the Eyes: With a large shadow brush, apply Discreet (a soft taupe brown) all over top lid from corner to corner, then lightly smudge shadow into bottom lid between the lashes using a smaller brush if necessary. Sweep Buttercup (shimmery yellow) from top inner corner up to just beneath brow bone using a fluffy shadow brush until two colours are blended. Apply a single coat of mascara.

For the Cheeks: Using a blush brush, after first tapping excess onto the back of your hand, dust Spring Forward (muted peach-pink) liberally into the hollow of the cheek, just under the bone, in a circular motion. Repeat until desired colour intensity is achieved, using the extra blush you've shaken onto the back of your hand; it's easier to add colour then it is to remove it.

For Lips: Apply Feline lipstick (a warm pink with gold shimmer) either straight from the bullet or with a lip brush; finish with Disco lip gloss (sheer coral) in the centre of the lips.

Beauty Icon Wednesday: Model Moments, Then & Now

Name: Karen Elson, born January 14th. 1979


Known for: Red hair, strong bone structure, marrying an equally pale rock star (Jack White)

Name: Mikhaila 'Coco' Rocha, born September 10th, 1988


Known for: Pale skin, high cheekbones, dancing an Irish jig down a Jean Paul Gaultier's runway.




Smart models – which is not an oxymoron by the way - know that they can only trade on their genetically blessed features for so long before losing out to something younger, newer, fresher. But the ‘Slashie’, as in model-slash-actor, has been done to death, so what’s a poor model to do? Well, here's how two of the industry's most successful commodities are coping with this Brave New multi-tasking World.

Karen Elson was my favourite model in the 90s. Coming out hot on the heels of the over-the-top 80's Supermodel, on the tail end of the Heroin Chic that Kate Moss embodied earlier in the decade, she emerged like an alien flower. With her orange-red hair and bleached out eyebrows, she was as freakish as she was beautiful. Karen's look was a refreshing change from what can so often become a revolving door of cookie cutter beauties. But even then, she was smart enough to know that her look would only last so long, and she evolved into an ethereal vintage fairy princess. Fourteen years after her first Steven Miesel-shot Italian Vogue cover, Karen is still modelling but, like any clever businesswoman, she has diversified. She's an accomplished musician, having released her first album last year, and is now launching a vintage-inspired collection of accessories for shoe retailer Nine West.  


Coco Rocha is my favourite of the new breed of model. Not going to lie - it doesn't hurt that she's also a Canadian. But it really wasn't until her flame-tressed campaign for H&M in the fall of 2009 that I truly fell under her spell. Her opposition to the anorexic industry standard and her recent agreement with Canadian retailer Jacob to star in an untouched ad campaign have only made me heart her more. But Coco is not just another pretty face on ridiculously long legs with fabulous hair - like Elson before her, she has also expanded upon her brand. But where Karen turned to the past for inspiration, Coco has fully embraced the future. In addition to her website, Coco also has a Facebook page, a Tumblr account and is very active on Twitter, where she interacts with her followers on a daily basis - just as every good brand should. 

I'm not too proud to say that yes, I follow Coco on Twitter. But I follow a lot of people. It is with some small amount of shame that I admit that as soon as I'm done with this post, I'll be looking to see if Karen Elson is on Twitter as well.  

Out of curiosity, you understand. 

Dermalogica Up Close: Fall Makeup with Diana Carreiro

I would love to be able to say that apotheKerri beauty is all I do. Hopefully, someday soon, I'll be able to do just that. Until such a special and magical time occurs, my real-life job is at Dermalogica Canada. And trust me, it certainly does have its perks!

Demonstrating a colourful eye
on TO Beauty Reviews

In addition to being able to 'model' for skin care treatments using the #1 professional skin care brand in the world, you occasionally get invited to such fabulous events as last Thursday's Dermalogica Up Close media and blogger event. It was a much different set-up than the usual, with three seminar topics going on in different rooms. I had the good fortune (well, not really, since my co-workers are well-aware of what my business and first love) of being assigned to Diana Carreiro's room, where she talked about and demoed some upcoming makeup trends for fall.

About to give The Glitter Geek
a red lip she won't soon forget

For those of you who may not be familiar with the name, if you have read any Canadian fashion magazine or even just walked by and noticed a cover in the past, oh, twenty years or so, then you will most definitely be familiar with her work. Ms. Carreiro is Canada's preeminent makeup artist whose career has spanned an incredible twenty-seven years. It’s not every day that you get to sit in on a presentation with the artist that made you – some shy little country girl who barely survived by flipping through fashion magazines such as Flare and FASHION - dream about growing up to become a makeup artist. Basically, it’s an opportunity to learn from the Master that one cannot afford to miss.


But before I continue to gush about my admiration for Ms Carreiro and completely embarrass myself in the process, here are some of the key looks she demonstrated for the coming season:

Flushed at Marc Jacobs

1. Rosy cheeks: Applied low and bold on the cheeks – closer to the hollow than the apple – for that just-in-from-cold look.

Browheavy at Carolina Herrera

2. Strong brows: Perhaps the more controversial of the trends, for me at least, the well-groomed yet tomboyish brow is back once again. And it will be a cold, cold day in hell before you see it on me.

Silver eyes at Chanel

3. Metallics: Where, you might ask? Eyes, lips, nails… if you can name it, you can dust it in shades of gold, silver or gunmetal. Just please, not all on the same night – you’ll end up looking more like a disco ball than anything else.

Blue-eyed beauty at Dior

4. Colour on the eyes: A continuation of the bold, colour block look that was so hot for summer, the colourful eye becomes a little more sassy with unexpected oranges and pinks or a little more sexy with smokey blue.

Scarlet lips at Gucci 

5. Red Lips: Although it seems like this is a perennial fall trend, this season you can have whatever shade or texture of red that floats your boat. Happiness!


So there you have it - five major makeup trends for the upcoming season. Question is: which one will you be rocking this year?

Beauty Icon Wednesday: Who's That (Birthday) Girl?

Name: Madonna Louise Ciccone, born August 16th, 1958

Known for: blonde hair and dark eyebrows, underwear into outerwear and singlehandedly transforming your Nonna's lace doilies and  crucifixes into iconic moments in fashion.






I would be remiss in my Beauty Icon Wednesday duties if I neglected to honour Madonna in this, the week of her birth. I'm fairly certain there are those out there celebrating it as if it were the Holy Week. And why not? Madge deserves it. The woman is fifty three, a trend-maker and taboo-breaker with thirty years of music under her Dolce & Gabbana belt. And while I'm well-aware that it is largely the work of Photoshop and soft focus lensing, you've gotta admit that she looks better than some women half her age.

So with that, I wish you a very happy birthday, Madonna. And I can only hope that I can look as good when I'm your age.

Beauty Icon Wednesday: Dancing Queen from Down Under

Name: Kylie Ann Minogue, born on May 28th, 1968 in Melbourne Australia

Known for: this diminutive pop diva has almost a quarter century of catchy pop tunes behind her, despite a battle with breast cancer in 2005. Oh, and a spectacular bottom.

I'll admit it, I'm a bit of a latecomer to the Kylie party. In North America the only exposure to her we had was limited to Locomotion. It wasn't until a couple of years spent in the UK in the 90's when I learned that Kylie Minogue was still producing music, and was rather good at it as well. It wasn't until 2001's Fever album dropped that I, with the rest of the world, really caught the Kylie bug.

I guess you might say I just couldn't get her out of my head. Tee hee. But all kidding aside, I can only hope I'll look half as good as her when I'm past forty. Hell - let's just say it. I wish I could look that good now!

Beauty Icon Wednesday: Hooray for the Betties!

I really enjoyed the way last week's format turned out - or non-format, is it were - so I decided that maybe this week's Icon Wednesday should be more of the same. Hope you all happen to agree with me. 

After this past weekend's emotional trip to the McQueen exhibit at the Met it gave me pause for reflection. Okay well to be honest, sometimes all it takes is a trip to the loo, but this particular trip got me thinking about who I am in terms of my style and what made me that way. And the answer in part is that I am a sum of the Betties: Boop and Page in particular. But there are more Betties that have contributed to my sense of style and self over the years, and so I have decided to let the pictures do the talking this time.

 I'm sure that will come as a relief to some. And so, without further ado, away we go.

Bette Davis

Lauren Bacall, born Betty Joan Perske

Elizabeth Taylor. Although she's more Liz than Betty

Betty Grable