Ms. T

The undisputed Queen of Boudoir Photography, my dear friend Tine Hofmann is responsible for these incredibly sexy images. Tine and I both were getting an Amy Winehouse vibe off of this beautiful engaged woman. (And I guess Sam Hills was too, by the way he did her hair!)

When I arrived at her home (15 minutes early, as is my preference) a man was walking out of her front door and looked very abashed. He immediately asked to not tell him what I was there to do; his fiancee had specifically requested he be gone from the house by a certain time and he was late and I was early! She was of course trying to surprise him and he did not want to blow it. He very kindly let me in and slinked away, confessing to Ms. T via cel about his tardiness. Cute!

I can only imagine how delighted he was by the secret she kept!

Whew.

So this past week Husface was out of town in San Francisco on business, and did I schedule a nice light week for myself? Um, no.



Engagement sessions for three clients, a fabulous coffee date with Steph Carson, a maternity session for Steve Zugelter's lovely wife Reagan, makeup shopping, a promo video for Kortnee of Simply Timeless, a fun ABC meeting(association of Bridal Consultants) catered by Paella at your place at the beautiful home of Matt Pine, an absolutely lovely large wedding party on Saturday, and a Prom Fashion Show for my friend Angela Talentino of Essenza. Then today, a wedding cafe at the bridal studio (a bridal panel that had two of my gorgeous clients) and then two consultations with brides. My four year old accompanied me on many of these adventures and conducted himself quite well; in fact he is better at networking than I am. He knows how to work a room.
I adore being busy but I gotta tell ya, my house looks positively disgusting.


Am I allowed to take a mental health day tomorrow? My boss is kinda strict and she works me like a dog.

Heather

Heather definitely had some of my favorite vendors in the city;

Steph Carson, Matt Pine of Lifetime, Sam Hills, Katie Elfers, Kristen Kloth of Tres Chic.

Heather has a fabulous sense of style and I have had the chance to paint her face several times; at her trial run, at Steph Carson's open house, and for her boudoir session with Tine Hofmann. (I will be sharing a few of those in another post, cropped strategically of course)She loves glamour, lush lashes, old hollywood style-you get the picture.

Sam gave her starlet hair, and he endlessly inspires me. she later deepened her lip to a redder shade after the ceremony; I hope Steph will share those with us too. I am absolutely loving that birdcage veils are popular; the way they frame the face is so flattering and very seductive!

More to come as I continue to steal Steph's beautiful images just as fast as she can edit 'em...

flattery will get you everywhere

Jump over to Steph Carson's blog for a very cool shot and blurb. *blushing*

check out this blog...

Gocks Frocks is having a great contest to celebrate her 200th blog post, so jump on over. She made some gorgeous dresses for my little ones in my wedding; pure genius!

stunning florals/table settings

Jump on over to Courtenay Lambert's blog for some serious eye candy. Gorgeous!

Laura Mercier on QVC

Watching Laura in action is pretty mesmerizing, at least for me. And then there's the Franch accent, ah huh huh. Tune in this weekend to see for yourself! (warning: you will want to buy everything.)

SATURDAY, MARCH 28
7:00 - 9:00 PM EDT
See Laura Mercier on QVC conduct a 6-minute presentation. Global MakeUp Artist Benjamin Ruiz will also be performing demos. The exact air time has not been released, so please watch Saturday Night Beauty between the hours of 7:00 - 9:00 PM EDT.

SUNDAY, MARCH 29
9:00 - 10:00 PM EDT
See Laura Mercier on QVC conduct a one-hour show called Laura Mercier Beauty. Global MakeUp Artist Benjamin Ruiz will also be performing demos.
Here is what we will be selling--
Foundation Primer
Secret Camouflage with Secret Camouflage Brush
Tinted Moisturizer
Loose setting Powder with Velour Puff
Black Eye Liner with Flat Eye Liner Brush
Illuminating Powder Quad in Mocha Spice
Cheek Colour Brush
Souffle Sampler Set.

stymied by eye cream choices?

http://tinyurl.com/df5bh9

I thought this review of eye creams was very comprehensive.

A friend bought Youthology and swears by it; says it makes her look 12 years old. I plan to try hers first before I shell out for it. Will let you know!

busy week!

I am sorry I have been so remiss in posting. I had a crazy few days and ya know, clients come before blogging. But I will have some things in store for next week and I will leave you with a lovely gift to brighten the rest of your weekend,
http://tackyweddings.com/

advice for oily skin

I received a letter in my inbox last week and I asked the bride if I could have permission to use it in my blog. My chance to play Dear Abby, if you will.




Hi Nancy!

I've been reading your blog from beginning to end to get tips for doing
my own wedding makeup. I'm emailing you with the hope that you might
have some make ups tips for my super oily skin.

The wedding budget is very small, so I can’t afford to have my makeup
done for me. And where I am in LA, make up artists are sooo pricey. I do wear makeup, sometimes not for months, sometimes every day, and am pretty good at applying the makeup I have, so I’m confident I can make my face look nice on the day of. However, I am having
problems keeping my makeup from getting oily. My face is very oily and about an hour after applying my makeup, I start to get super shiny.
I’ve tried everything I’ve heard before – use heavier moisturizer(keeps my skin
from drying out which is another problem, but only makes my skin more
oily in the long run), I exfoliate every other day with st ives
microderm scrub, I use Aveda cleanser & toner, aveeno moisturizers, and
I use oil-free makeup as much as possible (mainly Neutrogena and Physicians Formula). I have also tried the avon magix primer that you recommended, but again – one hour later, I’m shinier than a xmas ornament! I’ve also tried sephora’s primer, with the same result.
On the day of the wedding, I will use blotter paper to help the shininess, but that only lasts for so long too. I’m trying to find a solution that doesn’t involve piling on more products, if
possible. I’m also prone to black heads and period-pimples (even though I’ll be 30 in
a month!) so I don’t want to clog my pores any more than I already have.

If you have any tips for oily skin though, I would sooo appreciate
that!

Thank you so much for your time! I know you are a very busy chica!

Meghann
p.s. I love your blog! I love looking at the brides you've prettified!




Thanks Meghann. I am sure there are lots or readers who can relate. I used to have skin that oily but it has leveled off over the last ten years. However I STILL break out. So not right. But I digress.

You did not mention if the skincare you are using is specifically for acnaic skin. It sounds as if you could really benefit from a set like the Patricia Wexler kit sold at Bath and Body Works. It has glycolic pads in it that should really help, and I think you will love the oil free hydrator she sells.And I love that she addresses the needs of adult acne. The last thing you need is cleansers that overstrip and harsh toners.
Many dermatoligists recommend pore strips to combat blackheads, and they will make your pores appear smaller because they will be less clogged. And how cool is all the gross stuff that comes off on the strip, right?
You are right; the Avon majix is not a fantastic choice for the super oily.Try Laura Mercier oil free primer instead. It will control the oil without making you chalky dry like some oil absorbers can. A liquid oil free foundation is a better bet than a mineral powder one; the shimmer in them is nice for reflecting light in real life but can photograph very poorly. When you set with your powder, use a truly translucent one, not one with pigment. Otherwise the oil in your skin can turn that powder darker. And press the powder into your skin with a velour puff, not a fluffy brush. This will give you a great matte, velvety finish without a powdery look, and your makeup will last much longer.
Definitely get yourself some Model in a Bottle. It has a matte finish and will hold your makeup on like crazy. it is an absolute must have. You mentioned you hadn't had much luck with blotting papers, but you hopefully will find if you are able to implement some of these products into your routine you will find you will barely need them!

quick skincare rec

I have been seeing an awful lot of dehydrated, dull skin on my clients lately so I thought I would dash off a quick endorsement for St Ives microderm scrub. It is inexpensive and has fine little granules that won't scratch you skin, unlike the chunky stuff they have in their apricot scrub; too harsh.
Throw this in your shower and use it every other day. You will find your moisturizer will work much more effectively and the glow will come back to your skin. (If you are actively breaking out though, steer clear; exfoliating can aggravate that and spread the bacteria even further.)
I know an amazing esthetician who advocates mixing sugar with olive oil for a great exfoliant. It is wonderful but makes a heck of a mess in your shower and sink!

Go read this.

http://www.punambean.com/blog/?p=419
This is a blog of a photographer I found through Style Me Pretty. Read this post. Amazing!

Nichole, by Mollie

These great shots are courtesy of BPLImages, based in Indy. Check out their site!

On to Mollie:

Nichole and her whole wedding party were fantastic! Her look was soft with dramatic emphasis on her "doe eyes". The colors we chose for her makeup were carry overs from her wedding colors, which were amazing with her already flawless complexion. She made it easy to emphasize what was already there.

Sunday Wedding Café

March 29, June 28 and September 27
11:00 - 1:00
The Bridal Studio at 714 Madison in the Covington Wedding District
Free admission, however seating is limited
Please RSVP to info@the-bridal-studio.com
www.the-bridal-studio.com
Meet the experts! A panel of local, recently married brides
willing to share their experiences, tips and best practices!
Enjoy a cup of coffee, ask questions and engage in a relaxed
and informative environment with your peers.

Hosted by The Bridal Studio

Recessionista srategies part III

So I have been examining mass market brands with a fresh new eye towards what I could recommend to the Truly Frugal or the Truly Broke or a little bit of both. We are also branching into the prom market (more on that later this week) and I want to be able to tout allowance-friendly products too!

I already love Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara, it is one of my faves. I use it more on a personal basis than on clients though, because what makes it stellar is the giant fat brush and of course I have to use my wimpy disposable wands. But there is a new colored version of Lash Blast that I scooped up on sale at the Grand Opening of our luscious new Target. It was not only about two bucks cheaper than Walgreen's, but I got a free eyeshadow as well. The snob in me knows I will be disappointed in the pigment of the lime green shadow, and will most likely pass it on to Ella to play with. She has a plan to open a lemonade/makeover stand this summer and call it kidface. Seriously. So she will need some inventory.

I snatched up my beloved Almay makeup remover pads for four bucks at Target. I am also testing Loreal HIP brand. I have been trying to find a replacement for a black cream shadow from MAC (damn you for discontinuing stuff) so I thought I would give HIP a whirl. Comes with a cute little brush too, that doesn't even look worthless. Haven't used it yet so can't review but looks cool on my hand.

Then yesterday I was at Bigg's buying groceries and cruised through cosmetics so I could see what I saved on the Lash Blast. I found a line called POSH that sells brushes, sponges, puffs, and sharpeners. There was a brush set marked down to $5 that had a powder brush(useless and mangled looking but I'm gonna try to wash it and see if I can reshape) a lash comb (only okay) a wide shadow brush (really nice shape and quality) a foundation brush (not bad)and a very cool synthetic oval brush that I would probably use for concealer, but they call an eyeliner brush. It also came with a spray bottle of a very nice quick-dry brush cleaner-but I couldn't find it sold seperately. And it comes in a cute bag; what a great starter set for the Brush Virgin. I also bought a couple more brushes-a teensy synthetic one to attempt to replace a fab one I lost, and a really cool squat dome brush; each about 3-4 bucks. Overall, very impressive quality for the price.

Recessionista Strategies Part II

I am really hair impaired, so I asked my friend Liz Carter of The Rustic Pear to give us some of her expert advice. (She loves to do on location wedding hair so give her a call! 513 312 5005)Liz, take the floor-


Saving money on hair....first of all...I don't recommend many drug store products..there is a difference between professional products and store bought ones....and you won't save money buying diverted "professional" products in the stores either. My favorite line is Tigi/Bed Head....they are reasonably priced and do what they say....also, a little goes along way....one of the biggest mistakes people make with hair product is thinking more is better.....when the reality is, less is more. Also, using up what you have before you buy new is something I ALWAYS recommend.Cutting...make sure your stylist does some texturizing and personalizing after the cut is dried and styles....properly texturizing and blending a haircut will make it last longer and grow out nicer.Color...If you are coloring to cover grey maybe adding in some hilites and lolites so that as the grey grows in, it's more camoflaged...also, you can get those little root touch up kits at the store that aren't permanent and they're pretty effective in stretching your color another week or so. If you get hilites....definitely using more than one color and get the hilites in a fine weave rather than slicing...looks more natural and you get more mileage out of it.

Recessionista Strategies

This was sugggested to me as a new feature-how to stay looking fabulous even when many of us have had to cut our beauty budgets. One of my friends who favors department store products even asked me to shop CVS with her to attempt to find good relacements for her favorite products.
Before you even step into a store though, do what any good wardrobe consultant would tell you; look at what you own first. Here is where I need to practice what I preach.
I have a terrible habit of buying new things for my kit that I already have and then using the new stuff before the old is gone.
See what you can salvage from those half finished lipsticks. Have a foundation that never really matched? See if you might be able to blend it with another shade to make it work.
See if you may be able to repurpose products that didn't work for you-a stick foundation, for example, can be used as a nice undereye concealer, if it has the right consistency. If it is way too dry to use under your eyes, try it as an eyeshadow base. A shadow that ended up being way too dark or too sparkly might make a great eyeliner when used with a small damp brush. This sounds a little 1950's, but some lipsticks might make a cute cream blush.(don't try this if you have very oily, break- out prone skin though)
Be resourceful, but while you are at it, toss anything that looks seperated in the bottle, smells "off" or is non-salvagable. Lipsticks and glosses go bad very quickly and harbor all kinds of cooties; if it smells funny, pitch it. If you have some old skincare lying around, chances are it's no good-maybe a cleanser has more chance than an eye creme or moisturizer.

You can go on Makeup Alley and swap your barely used or unused makeup mistakes; (caution-it is very addictive and very time consuming!) I was a frequent swapper during my Saks days (read:before kids) and it was fun to try different products but the shipping back and forth was a annoying. I was also an avid ebay-er in those days so it was all part of the grind to go to the post office every day.
More budget friendly ideas to come...

Inspiration from the red carpet

I did not "review" the looks from the Oscars; there are enough of those post-mortems! However, I know my clients are sometimes at a loss when I ask them to bring me pictures of makeup looks they would like for their wedding. Bridal magazines tend to have some very bland makeup in their fashion spreads, and the makeup in bridal ads is usually very dated looking.

These were some of my favorite looks-and do note that all of these gorgeous women are wearing some color on their lips-no nudes, champagnes, or pale pinks in the bunch. (Not to say women were not sporting those lip at the Oscars-they just did not make brideface's Hall of Fame.)

Are you seeing the huge "Mad Men" influence in the ticked- up black liquid eyeliner, and the matte, deep toned lips-? Jven January Jones has a modernized, very amped-up version of the makeup style she wears on the show, and I am obsessed with the orange lip-I think we will be seeing a lot of orange, judging from Fashion Week. And a huge return to Lipstick, with a capital L; sheer gloss will be less important. Her brows are absolutely amazing.

Very glam, very Old Hollywood.

brideface branding

I have just been giddy over this all morning! My friend Abby sewed the greatest slipcovers for our barstools. The embroidery was done by Pieczonka Unlimited. Isn't the fabric just perfect?

Abby's husband designed my logo about four years ago and and I am still semi- obsessed with it.

Next she is going to brand my makeup case.

sage advice.

http://yourweddingblogbyjen.blogspot.com/2009/03/tipz-2.html

I don't know; should she be my agent?

What color is your "O"-?

I love Smashbox, though I don't have a ton of it in my kit. I was recently given the "o-gloss" as a free sample at Sephora, which inspired me to go back and try The "O-Glow" I had purchased months before and had forgotten.

"O gloss" would be perfect for a bride who favors a natural lip because it has a rosy, healthy look without being a ton of color. And it is a different shade on everyone.It even seems to have a bit of a plumping effect, and I can use all the help I can get in that department. I blew through my miniature tube very quickly so I guess it's time for a full size one-make that two; one for me, one for the kit. I think they make a new one now that has more plumping properties.

The "o-glow" is supposed to flush your cheeks like you've just had an-well, you know. I don't know about that; on me, it is way too pink. It looks like I have a fever more than I have been doing something naughty. I adore a very flushed cheek, but that was a little bit much, even for me. In fact my six year old asked what that red stuff was on my face, so that can't be good. I plan to try this on a more olive skintone and see how it goes. It comes out of the tube like a clear gel but turns sort of fuschia on your cheeks and fingertips once you manipulate it. So that part is fun, I just think the undertones are a bit too blue for me and a lot of the population.

Nars apparently thinks a woman flushes more apricot when she has an orgasm, as is evidenced by their top selling blush by the same name. A much better shade for me, as it compliments by yellow undertones. It also has a little shimmer in it-it is the perfect peachy pink.

Wonder what kind of research went into formulating these shades-?