New Yorker’s rejoice because drybar’s second NYC location opens today! The new bar is located at Le Parker Meridien hotel in Midtown.
Don’t fret on the West Coast because later this year drybar will open two more locations in Manhattan Beach and Westlake Village. See my review from drybar here.
It’s no secret that decked out nails are all the rage and one of the best ways to participate is with textured top coats. Essie’s new Luxeffects gives you glitz and glam for any occasion:
The Luxeffects collection consists of 5 shimmering polishes:
Check out my mani ideas for shimmering topcoats here, here and here!
When it comes to weddings, there are so many tiny details that can’t be forgotten. From lingerie and dessert displays to honeymoon swimsuits and jewels, the list really does go on and on. That’s where Something Blue comes in – to help you tackle the “to-do”- all in one place!
Last week we attended Something Blue’s What’s Your Something Blue event showcasing dozens of Los Angeles Wedding Vendors.
The event, held at Peterson Automotive Museum, made for the perfect girls’ night out! We enjoyed “Something Blue” cocktails and sweet treats while gathering inspirational wedding ideas and meeting new vendors. Brides had the chance to chat with boudoir photographers, stationary experts, jewelry designers and shoe creators. Guests were even treated to makeup applications by Beautiful Outlook and hair tutorials by Blo Blow Dry Bar. It really was the one stop shop for all things wedding!
Karla Randolph, Ashley Torres, & Bride-to-be Natalie
Karla Randolph and co-host Petersen Automotive Museum did a fabulous job producing and designing the blue themed event. Check out the delicious dessert display and fun images below:
All images by Ashleigh Taylor Photography
[Click on Thumbnail for Larger View]
{Event Sponsors: The Card Lady, YWD, Petersen Auto Museum, Archive Vintage, Florals, B Bride, Beach Candy, Love Claudette, Margaret Rose, Stella and Dot, La Gartier, Rosebud Lips, Milk & Honey Shoes, Beautiful Outlook, Blo Blow Dry Bar, DJ Brian Davidson, West Coast Bev, Commemory, “Eat, Drink and Be Married”, Ashleigh Taylor Photography, Skybluphotography, Candee by Sandee, Tasty Clouds, Gotta Have S’mores, I Heart Pies, Itty Bitty Sweets, Wave Form Events}
Photoshop is everywhere, and even used in regular folks’ photo albums as well as the obvious magazines and such, mainly to make women appear “more attractive” or even, dare I say, “perfect” in the eyes of the media.
Have you seen Beyonce’s new cover art for her new single from her album ’4′? Seems she’s getting quite a bit of criticism for the “lightening of her skin”, along with rocking some cool blonde hair. (Uhhh…the late, great, Etta James was blonde way before Bey put on her wigs/weaves. What’s the big deal?) Mrs. Carter has been questioned before with her Loreal ad for lightening by the company for the advertisements. MSN.com is quoted as saying “At the time, L’Oreal denied digitally making Beyonce’s skin fairer, and Beyonce herself never addressed the issue.”
This is an extremely touchy subject. As a photographer, I can also see that very harsh lighting was used for Beyonce’s latest album promotion, which will lighten anyone’s skin. I’m actually more concerned about the Photoshopping of Beyonce’s body parts, namely her thighs and bum. I love that she’s got incredible curves, but she looks, well, itsy bitsy here in the photo.
I don’t have daughters, but I can certainly see where this image may make girls of color feel insecure to a point. Heck, I feel insecure and I’m a “woman of freckles”. I do not Photoshop them out, though. (Thank you, Julianne Moore for being a good example for freckle-faces.)
Beyonce’s Latest Promo for ’4′
Sadly, it’s a never-ending story for women in general. We are not like the Photoshopped-within-an-inch-of-their-lives models, recording artists or actresses in magazines. I realize I’m stating the obvious here. It’s simply the latest in promoting poor self-esteem to the masses of women…and we don’t need more of that Beauty Myth forced down our throats–but I don’t see an end to this practice.
Beyonce is gorgeous without make-up, and really doesn’t require this kind of “work”…but that’s “entertainment” and the beauty industry for you.
Thoughts?
Recently, when perusing Sephora.com, I stumbled upon Urban Decay’s De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray. A spray that sets makeup and controls oil?! Really?
After reading tons of fabulous reviews, I’ve decided to try it out and just bought the bottle today.
Here is what it’s supposed to do: A high-tech, hypoallergenic formula keeps skin looking beautifully matte all day, without clogging pores or causing breakouts. The weightless mist absorbs excess sebum and controls surface shine, leaving your makeup looking fresh and newly applied. Your makeup won’t melt when it’s hot or become dehydrated and cracked when it’s cold and windy because Urban Decay’s patent-pending Temperature Control Technology, which lowers the temperature of your makeup to hold foundation, eye shadow, blush, and concealer in place.
Do you De-Slick? Tell us! I’ll be trying it out first thing tomorrow and report back with my results in a couple weeks.
• Stiletto Jungle shows how pretty color will take center stage for Spring, just like it did at the Rodarte show.
• Allie is Wired covers the launch of Honest.com, Jessica Alba’s new eco-friendly baby essentials product line.
• Coquette goes geeky gaga over Adafruit’s LED iNecklace.
• Fashion Pulse Daily discovers that the winter can instantly be made more tolerable when wearing a Wellensteyn jacket.
• The Jet Set Girls are lusting after the sexy, new Trina Turks and Caicos Collection: bikinis, coverups and more exclusively for the Grace Bay Club.
• Second City Style gives two points of view in He Said/She Said: The Celebrity Fashions of the 69th Golden Globe Awards.
• Golden Globes trend alert: Charlize Theron stunned in her buff pink Dior dress. Shopping and Info shows you how to get this look.
• StyleBakery has the perfect remedy for the mid-winter blahs: a printed blazer.
• The Beauty Stop checks out Dior’s new scented nail polish.
I’m no scientist, clearly, but I’m puzzled by the new Garden Party Nail Vernis by Christian Dior. Aren’t you?
Dior Garden Party Nail Vernis – $23 – Nordstrom
The first Dior Vernis with a subtle and delicate scent of roses. The floral green of Waterlily and the pretty lilac of Forget-Me-Not provide the perfect finishing touch for any spring time celebration. The pastel hues of these two new shades are the perfect finishing touch for party perfect nails.
I will say though, if anyone can pull this off, it’s most certainly Dior. I’mcurious to know how long the actual “fragrance” of the nail polish lasts. However, the very idea of a nail product of any kind that emits a pleasant scent is astonishing, at the very least.
It wasn’t just about the dresses on the Golden Globes red carpet, check out Zooey Deschanel’s fancy Golden Globe nails:
The New Girl, sported a tuxedo mani and tweeted the pic en route to the Globes-
I am wearing a gown but my nails are wearing tuxedos!!! #goldenglobes
She’s just too cute! Zooey paired her tuxedo nails with a custom dark green Prada gown. Looks like a new DIY to try out. What do you think?