Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance and a Bit of Fashion
(Alexander for MAC Eye Shadow in Haunting,
He was awarded British Designer of the Year four times (1996, 1997, 2001, 2003) and was known for his rebellious ideas and dramatic designs. His talent and contribution to fashion will be long missed.
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(Pearl Powder in 01)
Pearl Powder is a loose powder eyeshadow that feels soft and lightweight. 01 is a sheer pale beige with a very light-reflective pearly finish and multi-colored shimmer. It goes on much lighter than how it looks in the jar, and it is a brightening color that doesn’t create a shadow. It mainly shows up as a veil of pearly shimmer.
It can be used as an eyeshadow base if you like quite shimmery eyeshadow bases. Also, as a pale beige that happens to be quite sheer, it can also be used very light-handedly as a highlighter for the face or as a shimmering powder for the body.
Pencil Eye Liner in 001 is a dark blue-black. It has a velvety finish with a hint of shimmer. It goes on relatively smoothly and is waterproof. The staying power is satisfactory. (There can be minimal movement after a day’s wear.)
It is lovely to see purple, one of my favorite colors and a trendy makeup/fashion shade in the last few seasons, used in Paul & Joe’s holiday makeup pouch for 2009 (Pouch C IV). The purple goes well with the gold, and it nicely shows off the satiny sheen of the fabric. As I mentioned in the earlier post on the collection, I would have liked the gold pattens to be a little more delicate.
Paul & Joe’s holiday 2009 collection also includes two eyeshadow palettes, two new Pearl Powders, the other (of the two) Pencil Eye Liner, and two highlighting powders, and all these items, along with those two reviewed above, are limited editions. On the other hand, the new Lip Lacquer, the re-launched fragrances (Blanc and Bleu), the new bodycare items, and Cosmetic Pouch III are regular items.
(The products featured in this article are provided by Paul & Joe.)
Related posts:
Paul & Joe Spring 2010 Collection
Paul & Joe Fall 2009 Collection
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3. Anne Hathaway (Armani Privé)
I don’t think I have ever seen Anne Hathaway dressed badly on the red carpet. Even though I don’t think this Armani Privé gown was as glorious as the red Marchesa gown she wore at last year’s Oscars, it was still stunning. The only pitfall is that, from certain angles, it seemed that the bodice was not fitted as perfectly as it could.
2. Kate Winslet (Atelier Yves Saint Laurent)
Kate Winslet looks every inch of a goddess in this beautifully fitted YSL gown with asymmetric designs. The silhouette looks relaxed and not overly fussed. The unique color choice makes her stand out, but the overall look is somewhat low-key and very sophisticated.
1. Penelope Cruz (vintage Pierre Balmain)
In contrast to Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz doesn’t often do low-key at the Oscars. Some people might think this gown looks too bridal, but I think Penelope Cruz looks classic and regal with tremendous flair. The hairdo and the accessories successfully complete my favorite Oscars look this year.
Apart from the ones mentioned above, I think Marisa Tomei and Tilda Swinton deserve a mention.
– Marisa Tomei (Atelier Versace)
Marisa Tomei has never looked better on the red carpet. She always has a unique style, which I like, but sometimes it is a little too casual at award ceremonies. This time, everything comes together as she pulls off this complex but very stylish origami gown. I am not usually a fan of a relaxed hairdo on the red carpet, but it does suit her and she looks chic and fresh.
– Tilda Swinton (Lanvin)
Tilda Swinton is in a category of her own, and only Tilda Swinton can do Tilda Swinton. (Imagine Tilda Swinton and Penelope Cruz swapping outfits. Both would have been total disasters.) Her avant-garde style is not to everyone’s taste, but I love her remarkbly distinctive sense of style. Her fashion choices are never random, contrived or purposefully attention-seeking (think Björk’s swan dress). They are always right for the occasion (without compromising her own sense of style and personality) and there is a refeshing coherence to them. A class act.
Related posts:
Golden Globe 2009 Fashion: Best-Dressed Three
Oscars 2008 Fashion: Best-Dressed 5
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This form-fitting gown by Reem Acra creates a beautiful silhouette for Eva, and the warm red complements her skin tone. The mermaid cut elongates her petite figure, and the clutch bag adds pizazz to the whole look.
2. Anne Hathaway
I saw her on a worst-dressed list, and I wasn’t really sure why. The crystal-embellished blue gown by Armani Privé provides a flattering contrast to Anne’s fair skin. The accessories are kept very understated. She really looks like an old-school Hollywood star.
1. Kate Winslet
A winner in the ceremony, and a winner on the red carpet. Black is usually my least favorite red-carpet color for female celebrities, but this low-key Yves Saint Laurent gown is so stunning. It reminds me of what she wore to the 2007 BAFTAS, which was also a great choice, but I like this look even more. It is simple and elegant, and I adore the bow and jewel details at the waistline.
You can see more Golden Globe 2009 red carpet fashion at Yahoo.
Related posts:
Viktor & Rolf at the Barbican Centre
A Feast of Fashion in Nottingham
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(the exhibition pamphlet)
Viktor & Rolf’s designs caught my eye only a few years ago, and this exhibition guided me through their career, collection by collection. The exhibition features footages of past catwalk shows, but what is more unique is the showcase of key pieces from each collection, from one of the pillow gowns from the Bedtime Story collection (Autumn/Winter 2005-2006) to all the heavily embroidered layers in the Russian Doll collection (Autumn/Winter 1999-2000).
It was very exciting to be so up-close to these pieces, and I could even smell the fabrics while appreciating all the details. It also gave me a chance to see the actual colors and proportion of the pieces and how Viktor & Rolf made them reach full impact in the catwalk presentations.
The dolls you see in the photo above are also one of the main focal points. Each hand-made doll is wearing a miniature replica of one of Viktor & Rolf’s designs and is displayed in large doll house (symbolizing the Viktor & Rolf fashion house) in the center of the exhibition room.
Even though my favorite designers are those, like Valentino and Armani, who create classic, feminine, and elegant pieces, I love the fact that Viktor and Rolf are conceptual artists as well as fashion designers. Their work is about shape, proportion, and contrast, but it also bears a connection with the world and the changing of the times.
(Barbican Centre, London)You can also read another post on this exhibition on The Liner, The Clutch and The Wardrobe.
Other fashion posts:
“The new way of selling clothes seems to be not wearing them.”
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Yves Saint Laurent, one of the greatest fashion designers in the 20th Century, died in Paris on June 1st, at the age of 71.
He and his revolutionary and inspiring sense of beauty and style will be long remembered.
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(Daisy Marc Jacobs pour Sephora)
Daisy is not my favorite Marc Jacobs fragrance, but I like the design of the bottle and these items are also seriously cute.
I think the two cases appeal to me the most, especially the round Treasure Beauty Case:
(Daisy Marc Jacobs pour Sephora
This is not my first time to write about Marc Jacobs, and it probably won’t be the last. I enjoyed my trip to the first Marc Jacobs boutique in the UK last year, and I think I will talk about one of my favorite Marc Jacobs fragrances later on…
(Thank you, Betsy (at Autumn Masquerade), for letting me know about this collection!)
Some doses of fashion:
“The new way of selling clothes seems to be not wearing them.”
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— Originally scheduled to launch on March 6th in the UK, Calvin Klein Beauty will launch on March 31st, according to the customer service at House of Fraser on Oxford Street, London.
— Banana Republic’s UK/Europe launch has also been delayed. According to the sign (outside the construction site on Regent Street, London), the launch date is March 20th.
— SUQQU’s spring 2008 collection has been launched in Selfridges Oxford Street. The texture of the eyeshadows is smooth as usual, and the Eye Lucent loose eyeshadow has intense but fine shimmer. Kyokkou (in silvery white) is particularly bright and shimmery. It is definitely one of the least matte seasonal collections from SUQQU.
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I did more posts on award fashion this time last year, but this year I decided to just focus on the eagerly anticipated Oscars. So, for my only post on celebrity fashion for this award season, here is my list of the 5 best-dressed celebrities at Oscars 2008:
1. Anna Hathaway (Marchesa)
(image via Yahoo! Movies)
(image via Yahoo! Movies)
(image via Yahoo! Movies)
(image from AP Photo via E!)
(image from AP Photo via E!)
Marion Cotillard’s mermaid dress is stunning and full of impact. It certainly beats a lot of insipid choices.
Her Chanel dress at the BAFTA earlier this month is worth mentioning. I did surprise myself by liking it, but I think it is because she wore it so well with that almost quirky quality and a pleasing lack of self-consciousness that few Hollywood actresses had.
(image from Startraksphoto via Style.com)Both looks have a fantasy-like flavor, with one sweet and innocent and the other sensual and quite sexy. I like both.
(If you are interested, there are some wonderful and touching images of her just after she won the Oscar (here and here). Absolutely beautiful.)
4. Katherine Heigl (Escada)
(image via Yahoo! Movies!)
5. Renée Zellweger (Carolina Herrera)
(image via Oscar.com)
Related Post:
Flashback: Oscars 2007 Best-Dressed 5
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(Banana Republic Flatiron Shoulder Satchel in Chalk)Vogue UK described Banana Republic’s arrival as “the most exciting thing on the high street next season”, and I definitely agree with it.
The flagship store will open in March on Regent Street (where the department store, Dickens & Jones, used to be), a prime location in the London retail scene. (The street has its own website.)
Obviously, there are price mark-ups
with American fashion brands sold in the UK. I will be keeping a close eye on how much of a mark-up there will be with Banana Republic…Related Posts:
Abercrombie & Fitch’s Arrival in London in 2007
(impressed and not so impressed at the same time…)
Marc Jacobs’ First Boutique in London
(found a bargain here…)
Fashionable City: Nottingham UK
(home of Sir Paul Smith)
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Lunasol Spring 2025 Makeup Collection (image from www.cosme.net)
