Alexander Wang S/S 2010

Ok, I admit it, I’m a little behind on reporting this trend but since I’m really loving braids at the moment, I figured there’s nothing wrong with being a little bit fashionably late.   The side braid frenzy all started on Alexander Wang’s Spring/Summer 2010 runway. Hairstyling master, Guido Palau gave each model a long, messy braid which rested on their left shoulder. To create this style, Guido was inspired by the seventies and early eighties; he added extensions in the model’s hair because he says “girls of that period didn’t really cut their hair.”

Top: Rachel McAdams, Leona Lewis. Bottom: Selena Gomez

Soon after the Spring/Summer Fashion Weeks came to an end, celebs all over began adopting this trend and making it their own! Rachel McAdams kept the style messy, while Leona Lewis switched it up by making her side braid into a fishtail style plait. Selena Gomez kept the style young by abandoning the matte texture seen on the runway and making her style shiny and fresh.

Polish supermodel, Kasia Struss was seen sporting a Rapunzel-like, platinum side braid in a recent issue of Vogue Korea. No coincidence here, Guido Palau was responsible for this look as well.

Elle Netherland’s recent June 2010 issue features Nimue Smit on the cover wearing a crimped side braid!

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To Get the Messy Side Braid Look:

1. The original style seen on the runway is very matte, so start off by spraying or sprinkling a mattifier into your hair. I love Osis’ Dust it Mattifying Powder. It gives your hair the matte texture we want, while also giving you tons of body! Great for the messy/big look.

2. If your hair lacks volume, tease it up near the hairline and on the sides. The look is supposed to be messy so don’t worry about making it perfect.

3. Part your hair to side and bring it all around to the opposite side that you just parted it.

4. Now it’s time to braid!  (I’m assuming you know how to do a simple braid but if not check out this simple picture tutorial here).

5. Secure the end with a small hair tie or ribbon and you’re good to go!

Greige Craze

Ever since singer-songwriter, Lily Allen, wore this season’s hottest nail color at Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2010 Fashion Show, everyone has been lusting over “greige” nailpolish! Greige, a mixture of grey and beige (with a hint of purple), has been popping up on the fingers of models and celebs ever since, and it is not going away any time soon!

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Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2010 Runway. The show that started the greige craze! Models are wearing Chanel’s Particuliere polish.

Marc Jacobs Autumn/Winter 2010 Runway. Models wore 5 different shades of “greige,” ranging from really light to superdark.

From the runways to the red carpet, Academy Award winner, Sandra Bullock, was seen sporting greige nails when she won her Golden Globe for best actress!! Sandra is also wearing Chanel’s polish in “Particuliere.”

Always one to set trends, Rihanna was seen wearing greige polish late last year at her Good Morning America performance. Rihanna’s nail artist, Kimmie Kyees painted the singer’s nails “Love Em’ Leave Em’” by Color Club.

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Need Some Greige In Your Life?? I Recommend…

The color that started it all… Chanel’s Le Vernis in Particuliere.

From Left to Right:  Essie’s “Jazz,” Nubar’s “Sandstone,”Sephora by OPI,
“Metro Chic”

All About the Lips!!

While smokey eyes are usually the go-to makeup look for award shows, the  82nd Annual Academy Awards were all about the lips! Berries and reds were popping up all over the smiles of the major stars!

Love Charlize Theron’s red lip??

She is wearing Chanel’s Rouge Coco Lipstick in Gabrielle.

Prefer Maggie Gyllenhaal’s bright pink??

She is wearing NARS lipstick in Schiap.

**Note: Contrary to what it may look like above, Sandra Bullock was actually wearing a bold red lip (Chanel’s Rouge Coco Lip Color in Paris)

CORAL

Seen all over the Spring/Summer 2010 runways, coral is definitely the “it” color for next season! The gorgeous peachy-pink has been popping up everywhere, from new makeup collections (see Bobbi Brown’s Cabana Coral Collection above), to the faces of celebrities. Check out what all the hype is about, and how you can make coral your go-to color for Spring!

At her Spring 2010 show, Diane Von Furstenberg’s models (left) wore coral eyeshadow on their lids, that extended out to their upper cheekbones.  At Anna Sui’s Spring show, makeup artist Pat Mcgrath used Covergirl’s Simply Ageless Blush in Plush Peach to achieve the coral cheeks seen (on right).

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Nail polish is an awesome way to subtly incorporate the coral craze into your life! Essie’s, The Art of Spring Collection 2010, has a gorgeous coral shade, and it looks amazing with a tan (fake, of course ).

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MAC’s Spring Color Forecast Collection is a compilation of the four hottest colors for Spring, and of course, coral is included. Looking for a bit of coral to add to your makeup collection?

MAC Recommends:

• Perky Eyeshadow (light, salmon pink)
• Hot Hot Hot Eyeshadow (mid-tone coral)
• Color Me Coral Lipstick (light frosty coral)
• Ember Glow Lipglass (creamy, light apricot)
• Ripe Peach Blush Ombre (light coral)

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Jessica Biel was recently spotted wearing a bright coral lipstick at the premiere of Valentine's Day on Feb 3, 2010.

How To Make Coral Work For You!!

Coral is a universally flattering color for any skintone, you just have find the right shade! Below is a small guide to lead you in the direction of finding the right coral for your skin.

Light

If you have lighter skin, pale toned,  cooler corals will great on you!  Try Vincent Longo’s Diamond Lipgloss in Coral Cabana, or YSL’s Pure Coral Lipgloss.

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Medium

Medium and olive toned skin look amazing in coral!! Try and aim for more warmer, apricot toned corals to brighten you up and make you look sun-kissed and healthy. Try MAC’s Mineralize Blush in Gleeful applied to the apples of your cheeks. Or YSL’s Golden Coral Lipgloss.

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Dark

Darker skintones are able to pull off brighter shades of coral! Although they might be intimidatingly bright in the pot, they will look perfect once properly applied. Try NARS Creme Blush in Cactus flower and Covergirl’s Outlast lip color in Coral.