This week, City Pulse is getting a brow lift, and not in the surgical sense. We’ve got suggestions for some of New York’s best cultural fair that’s bound to expand the mind and cultivate the soul. Get ready to get civilized, y’all.

The Masters of American Comics
The Jewish Museum
located at 92nd Street and 5th Ave
Admission: Adults $12, Seniors $10, Students $7.50, Children Free
Exhibit open until January 2007

The Good Fight
By Lauren Baccus

The story of the fight against breast cancer is not only one of loss, but also of courage, survival and healing. To honor the women who have faced one of the deadliest diseases in this country with strength and grace, jewelry designer Mauri Pioppo has joined creative forces with survivor Sheryl Crow to aid in the research of breast cancer. Originally teaming up to produce a talisman necklace for Crow herself, the duo designed the piece to radiate energy and healing. With this collaboration, Pioppo continues to extend her talent to the causes that affect our lives in the most intimate ways.

Replicas are available at select retailers for $420 of which 50% go directly to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

For a list of participating retailers and further information go to www.mauripioppo.com.

Educulturalization
By Gillian Weeks

Time Out New York and the City Opera join forces to give you an education in opera, and as it turns out, the art form is a lot more than fortissimo fat ladies. Before several performances of the City Opera’s fall season, join the experts for a 45-minute discussion of various aspects of Opera.

The first session will be held on Tuesday, October 3rd, and will outline the different styles and techniques of classical voice. Sandra Piques Eddy, one of the City Opera’s leading ladies, will explain what how mere mortals come to have such a powerful vocal presence. A performance of Bizet’s Carmen will follow. Think you can out-sing the Toreador?

Tickets for the sessions are $10 each, $8 for subscribers to the CO, and $5 for students. The price for the whole series (which includes the opera, lecture, reception and free copy of A Rough Guide to Opera) is $133-450. This spans the entire 2006-2007 season.

For more information or a schedule of events, call (212) 870-5643.

To order the TONY Intro to Opera Series or to purchase individual lecture tickets, call (212) 496-0600.

Toasting has always been a particularly painful experience for me. I’m always down for a celebration, but the often lengthy pause between first pour and first sip can range from the humiliating (think drunk wedding party guest) to the trite. We’ve all toasted to love, friendship and that cute guy at the bar. But this September, it’s well worth the time to toast to something equally worthwhile: Wine, itself!

During the month of September, some of New York’s top restaurants have been participating in the inaugural Salud! Chilean Wine Fest. Often called the “tiger of Latin America”, Chile boasts a diverse landscape, storied past, and in more recent years, some truly “cheers”-worth wines. As restrictive domestic and foreign policies have loosened within the last few decades, Chile’s wineries have emerged as some of the top producers of red varietals and blends. Joining forces with Bar Americain, Dos Caminos, Churrascaria Plataforma, Dylan Prime and many many more, Chilean wineries are doing their part to spread the word about their fabulous wines. What that means for you, of course, is plenty of food and tons of great wine all in the very noble pursuit of education (say what???!!!).

But hurry…the festival ends September 30th!
See a full list of participating restaurants and retail stores at:
www.winesofchile.org

Another Reason to LOVE Cartier
By Kathryn Holl

More than 30 years ago, the Cartier LOVE bracelet became a universal symbol of love and one of the most recognized jewelry designs in the world. Now, buying a piece from the LOVE collection is not only affordable but charitable and extremely chic as well! Cartier recently introduced its collection of LOVE Charity bracelets — rose gold mini LOVE bracelets on a silk cord, available in eight colors, represented by eight notable celebrities, designated to the support of a separate cause. When you purchase a LOVE bracelet, Cartier will donate $100 to its corresponding charity. To date, Cartier has donated nearly $1 Million to support the eight charities listed below:

• Salma Hayek -The Salma Hayek Foundation – White Bracelet
• Scarlett Johansson – USA Harvest- Baby Pink Bracelet • Ashley Judd – YouthAIDS – Red Bracelet
• Spike Lee – Kanbar Institute of Film and Television / Graduate Division/Tisch School of the Arts/ NYU – Purple Bracelet
• Edward Norton – Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust – Green Bracelet
• Sarah Jessica Parker – UNICEF – Blue Bracelet
• Michael Stipe – Mercy Corps / Gulf Coast Recovery – Black Bracelet
• Liv Tyler – The Breast Cancer Research Foundation – Deep Pink Bracelet

Each bracelet is priced at $475 and is available at one of their 33 boutiques across the U.S. For more information, including boutique locations, readers can call 1.800.CARTIER or visit www.love.cartier.com.

Sixth Annual Stuart Weitzman Celebrity Breast Cancer Shoe Auction
By Kathryn Holl

What do supermodels Cindy Crawford, Carol Alt, and Niki Taylor have in common other than stellar good looks? They are just some of the amazing women decorating a white satin Stuart Weitzman stiletto pump for the designer’s 6th Annual Celebrity Breast Cancer Shoe Auction. Each decorated shoe will reflect each model’s personal style or interests. The shoes, along with an autographed photo of each model, will be available for bidding at www.stuartweitzman.com from October 1st through October 31, 2006. Money raised by the auction will be donated to established organizations that fund breast cancer research.

In addition to the Web site, throughout the month of October, these creations can be viewed in the Stuart Weitzman store windows on Madison Avenue in New York City and in Beverly Hills. Photographs of the shoes will be displayed in Stuart Weitzman stores nationwide.

Breast cancer is a cause that is close to the heart of Stuart Weitzman and his wife, Jane, as Jane lost her mother to the disease many years ago. The auction has attracted a long list of celebrities over the course of six years, including Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, Michael Jordan and Katie Couric. With the help of this year’s supermodel participants, the shoe designer is confident they will have another very successful year.

Visit www.stuartweitzman.com to place a bid for your favorite pump and to help raise money for breast cancer awareness.

Times Square as always been full of loudmouths, but this time they’ve got something different to say. In fact, this time they’re singing. The Metropolitan Opera will broadcast the opening of its 2006 season – its lavish sold out production of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly – to thousands of viewers in Times Square. About 650 seats will be available on a first-come first-serve basis. Standing room will also be provided.

If you’re looking for a less neon experience, the opera will also be shown at Lincoln Center Plaza. Tickets are required for admission, but are available for free from the Met box office. Get them quick!

The Times Square broadcast will begin at 6:30pm, and the Lincoln Center at 6:00pm.

For more information: http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/news/press/detail.aspx?id=225

I never expected to extract any insights from an event that involved so much hairspray. Maybe some free champagne, or a killer gift bag, but not the kind of lessons that usually come from yoga seminars or night-school classes. As it turned out, fashion week had plenty to teach. All a student needs is an open mind, impractical shoes, and a well-honed sense of entitlement. Let the learning begin.

Lesson 1: Why look good when you can look crazy?

Sometimes it’s hard to make a strong impression, especially among the dolled-up and tricked-out crowd you find around Bryant Park. The answer isn’t to rush off to Barney’s; instead, try the costume shop. If you can’t look a la mode then try looking out of your mind.

Lesson 2: Screw the shoes. Keep on truckin.

In most of the shows I attended, there was at least one runway misstep. At Esteban Cortazar, one of the models lost part of her shoe and ended up hobbling down the runway with a bum leg. Half way down, though, she paused, took off both stilettos, and did her walk au natural. This strategy might not be advisable on New York City sidewalks, so only lose the shoes if there’s a red carpet in between you and pavement. Just remember: if life hands you platforms, make sure you’ve got a pedicure.

Lesson 3: Keep it real.

It’s easy to get a big attitude if you spend enough time backstage at Fashion Week. The glare of the flashbulbs can make it hard to get a good look at reality. Thank god there were the port-a-potties to deflate some egos. For all the swankiness of the event, Bryant Park does not come equipped with permanent restrooms, leaving a fleet of fashionistas to hold their noses at the scent of disinfectant and uh…you get the picture. Granted, these were the fanciest porta potties I’ve ever come across, complete with a sink, mirror, and electric light. But the experience was a reality check for even the haughtiest of hautes.

I can think of better fonts of wisdom than Fashion Week – the teachings of Buddha, a pilgrimage to Mecca, your mother. But there’s something about finding depth beneath the superficial that makes this event ever more profound. The answers to life’s questions may be just behind the runway.

A note on Madrid’s Fashion Week
By Gillian Weeks

If you’re plugged into the world of fashion news (as we so clearly are here at BeautyNews – we’re a freakin’ hub), then you may have heard something about Spain’s ban on “too-thin” models at their recent Madrid Fashion Week. As a response to the outcry over the Skeletors featured at last year’s event, show officials have outlawed all models with a Body Mass Index (BMI) under 18.5. About 30% of the ladies were sent to the bench.

Model at NY Fashion Week and model Crystal Renn for Dolce & Gabbana, who is considered plus size in the industry.

When I read this last bit of information, my first thought was: only 30%? As a normal-sized woman, part of my defense against the demands of haut couture is to write off models as sick, starved, even masochistic. I tell myself that a body worth parading down the runway isn’t worth the effort to get it. And so it stuns me to think that 70% of these bony broads are what you might call healthy.

It’s clear that Spanish officials are trying to beef up body images, but I’m afraid that if this trend spreads to other fashion capitals, it might have the opposite effect. By ordaining slightly less malnourished women as healthy specimens, they are in effect removing the excuse to abstain from super-thinness (and ensuring that, at least for now, we’ll have no relief from Heidi Klum’s shrill voice yammering on about a size 6 girl being ‘fat’).

In other words, now that we know that a 5’10″ model is considered healthy at 129 pounds, what’s to stop us from going to great lengths to match her?

We’d like to know what you think: contact@beautynewsnyc.com

Spring 2007 Fashion Week Round-up with a little of our own Flow-Cabulary
By CS

Up went the tents in Bryant Park, where models strolled and viewers gawked;
For one whole week, we saw Spring trends, sipped champagne, caught up with friends.

The buzz began with Fashion Rocks!, with Beyonce and Jamie Foxx,
And then the shows began at nine, on Friday (in genuine Fashion time).

John Bartlett kicked off the week, with preppy clothes with plenty of cheek.
Nicole Miller came out bold, with Mayan braids and eyes of gold.

Jenni Kayne gave us pink lips, textured hair and makeup tips;
Alice Roi had pastel dresses, shiny skin and messy tresses.

Ponytails were Roland’s thing: sexy, classic, full of swing.
Betsey Johnson rocked the skies with clean matte faces and bright blue eyes.

With pageboy bobs, the girls were chic at Y&Kei’s luxurious clique.
Carlos Miehle had girls with clout: ponytails, and natural pout.

Hair trends spoke of messy chic, with bobs or braids and some mystique.
All faces look so nude and fresh, with berry lips and fine excess.

At Doo Ri there was quite a ball, with wispy updos, curls and all.
Her models’ faces, nude and fresh, said “less is more” not “less is less.”

So when workin’ your look for ’07 Spring, be sure to keep in mind these things:
Glossy, pouty lips are in – don that ponytail, and matte that skin!

Bobbi Brown designs the Tory Burch look for Spring 2007

The Feminine Mystique – Delicate Designs, Girly ‘Dos, and Fresh Faces at Cynthia Rowley

Alice in Wonderland met Willy Wonka at Cynthia Rowley’s Spring ’07 show “Candy Is Dandy But Wicker Is Slicker.” Looking through this hourglass of fashion we saw vibrant colours and patterns in full bloom on silk dresses and tops. Some of which featured wicker details such as cuffs and covered safety pins as well as leather insets. Tunics, top coats, and flower bed dresses were among my faves. To coincide with the collection, fresh and feminine looks were provided by Gavin Harwin for Redken (doing the ‘dos) and makeup maven Bobbi Brown (boosting the models’ beauty.)

For hair, updos (low ponytails and some new takes on the French twist) took center stage – a tress trend that we’ve seen a lot of this week. Gavin’s creations showcased messy, piecey, and textured lock looks. Using Redken’s Fabricate 05 on dry hair, Gavin teased the tresses to give them lift and worked his fingers through the strands before pinning pieces up in sections that formed asymmetrical shapes flowing back into the elastics. The tousled results are a bit rock and roll, yet the styles still seem to retain a girlishly groomed charm. A few of the ‘dos also incorporated brilliant accessories designed as sophisticated swirls of purple and blue.

Gavin revealed to us backstage that punk rock princess Patti Smith is a hairstyle icon he’s enamored of, and that the key to successful strand looks for spring is to try not to try too hard. “Don’t look like you’ve spent hours on your hair,” he says. “Because then the style seems contrived.” So that means there’s beauty in imperfection, and in a natural-looking appearance that’s easygoing. Although shine sprays and sleek, straight strands may be headed south for a bit, locking in your style (especially for the runway!) is critical to your ‘do. To ensure his styles stayed in place, Gavin used Redken’s Workforce 06 Hair Spray to seal the deal.

For makeup Bobbi Brown created clean, fresh faces using a color palette of soft and muted tones. For cheeks, Baby Violet Blush complemented lips lit by Violet Heather Lip Gloss. Brows were natural so that the focus remained fixed on the eyes, which featured Ivory Eye Shadow all over, Ultra Violet Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow on the lid, and two coats of Everything Mascara. The result was some illuminating looks that were perfectly in sync with Gavin’s messy girl strand styles and Cynthia’s bright colour palette. As the adventures of Fashion Week come to a close, let’s toast to its success and get excited for Spring 07. Tea and tarts anyone?

CLEAN FACES, SHIMMERY EYES AND WISPY UPDOS AT DOO RI
By CS

The masterful collection of Doo Ri left me practically speechless as Fashion Week drew to a close after a week of collections that were varied in texture, patterns and color. The elegance of her outfits would have surprised even the veterans of high design. From the perigrey sheer jersey blouse with metal embroidery to the crème twill dress with crystal floral detail, every piece felt as though it belonged in a Gainsborough or Sargent painting.

The makeup was done by Tom Pecheux for Shiseido, who achieved perhaps the most “nude” look for the face that I’ve seen throughout Fashion Week. Pecheux used Shiseido The Makeup Dual Balancing Foundation on the models’ faces and the Shimmer Hydro-Powder (H9) in Beige with gold highlights. “The makeup is a very minimalist and very feminine makeup,” he says. This means ” bare skin, matte T-zone and a very shimmery eye.”

If there’s one thing we’ve seen in the Spring 2007 collections, it has to be that the makeup used is all about highlighting the individual’s unique features. Doll up that eye with luminous eye shadow. If you’ve got a natural pout that would put the lip-plumping industry out of business, then romance it with fuschia lipstick or a clean gloss (alternatively, use concealer and lip balm).

The hair for Doo Ri was created by Orlando Pita, who told us that for this show, the hairstyles have “a little bit of texture and are not perfectly combed.” Pita pulled the models’ hair into a bun at the top of the head after setting it with curlers. He used only one product, a hairspray by Kerastase, to spritz and finish.

At the end, when the models strolled down the catwalk, the uniformity of the hairstyles did not take away from the dresses because the hair was pulled up into tight buns (but not too tight so as to allow some strands and wisps to show). The faces were matte and clean, without the faintest trace of makeup except for the eyes.

So the wash-go, uncombed, wispy and slightly ruffled look is vogue for Spring 2007. We dare you to be a bed head.

To see the complete look, click on our video podcast.

MINIMALIST HAIRDOS AND BOLD ROMANTICS AT ALICE RITTER

It is astonishing to note that nine years ago, Alice Ritter did not know how to design. She bought her first sewing machine in 1997, and was determined to be a designer ever since she moved to New York City. “I was really inspired by the movie La Notte,” she says, “where the clothes are worn by Jeanne Moreau and Monica Vitti.” Ritter loved their carefree, graceful clothing so much that film became an inspiration for her Spring 2007 collection. Ritter said she also turned to the poetic, carefree spirit of American icon Lee Miller this season.

The hairstyles, created by Takamichi (who owns the eponymous salon at Great Jones Street), was kept simple and loose. “Alice wanted the style to be as minimal as possible,” says Takamichi. “With a little bit of bohemian touch of the 1960s, from the movie that she loves so much. It’s basically a straight style. We wanted the hair to collaborate with the clothes, so that it won’t disturb it.” Takamichi used a variety of brands to create the bohemian, simple look he wanted, from Redken, L’Oreal to Mark. His preferred finishing spray for the models was the Alfaparf finishing spray. Once the models’ hair was blow dried, he used a straightening iron.

James Boehmer of NARS cosmetics created the face of Alice Ritter for Spring 07. “The look is sweet and girly,” he said, “with stained coral lips using the Red Square, and dirty and clumpy eyes with mascara applied in three coats.” The skin was left matte and clear, and a shimmery eye shadow in bolder colors (e.g. platinum, icy tones) was applied to the eyelids. The foundation was a thin veil (almost nude), and the look was clean but not “too done.” The brows were brushed with clear gel.

To see the look in action, click on our video podcast.

’80s SIDE PONYTAILS SWEEP THE CUSTO CATWALK
By CS

Custo Barcelona’s show was like a shockwave of color in a Fashion Week that was overall safe and true to the traditional Spring pastel color palette. It was also the first co-ed fashion show I went to, and the mix of men and women was as refreshing and unusual as Heidi Klum wearing her hair brunette.

Barcelona’s collection, Technicolor, announced that it was “Bold. Sharp. Unafraid…Geometric…Urban.” All these elements fashioned pieces that were unexpected and daring: like the multicolored leggings that were paired with shimmery ballet flats and a loose-fitting multi-colored tunic.

The hair for the women was done in a side ponytail (yes…you have seen the word ponytail every day this week in our backstage reviews) that lent a free spirited look to the multicolored pieces. It was one of the strongest looks of Fashion Week: bohemian, colorful clothes with a very chic and palpable updo. Bumble& Bumble hairstylist Jimy Paul said that the inspiration was a clean, straight simple look, to complement the bright clothing. He used Bumble & Bumble Holding Spray and then swept every strand of hair to the side. For the African-American models, Paul used a classic “Afro” look to complement the brilliance of the clothes’ colors.

The makeup, done by Lucia Pieroni, accented the eyes, which were first given the eyeliner treatment (Cle de Peau products were used for the face), and then the eyelids swept with a balm to add sheen and sparkle. The lips were first brushed with concealer, then coated with lip balm. Another trend we’ve seen this week, the combination of concealer with balm or stain gives the lips a very natural pouty look.

Pieroni’s makeup invoked images of sun-kissed French girls, and shows that it isn’t the most expensive items that will give you this beautiful look, but how well you use your products that really counts. Whoever knew that a simple ponytail (strategically placed, of course), concealer and lip balm could make you strike gold?

CHIC BOBS AND TEXTURED SKIN AT Y&KEI

The Y&Kei show (Water the Earth) took shape with a flow of white pieces. From the white cotton duck pants, ivory silk blouses, to the ivory sequined trapeze dress with pleated and ruffled hem, everything seemed liquid, gazelle-like, yet chic. What was unmistakable on the runway was the short Linda-Evangelista-esque hair (the models wore wigs) in platinum, auburn, blonde and black. Alain Pichont, hairstylist for Aveda, said that he wanted a “strong look” for the hair that would offset the clothes. The wigs complemented the chic look of the collection which had some very romantic elements to it (think taupe faille skirt with palest pink charmeuse blouse).

The makeup, done by Romero Jennings for M.A.C., was minimal but texturized. “It looks really simple, but it isn’t,” says Jennings. “It’s all about creating a dimension of light and dark, and highlighting the eye.” Indeed, the Spring 2007 look is about makeup tailored to each individual, so that his or her unique features, the eyes, nose or mouth, is enhanced. Jennings applied a light foundation from M.A.C. in Pearl on the nose, giving it a more 3-dimensional effect. The foundation used was a cream color base, but in keeping with the looks for Spring, the effect looked more nude than made up.

I also spoke to the spunky model Tiiu, who is doing her eighth Fashion Week (check out our video podcast for more). Tiiu said that she was having a great time at Y&Kei and that the makeup was “really, really beautiful.” The effect on the runway was homogenous and stunning: models elegant with perfectly groomed hair, and glowing faces with strong eyes and lips. These pros really know how to work hard but make it look like child’s play.

Cali Come Calling
By Lauren Baccus

“It’s California beach meets couture” said hairstylist Neil Weisberg of Neil George Salon with a laugh. Backstage at the Michon Schur show, the co-founder of the L.A.salon must have also infused the space with some of his own West Coast cool sensibilities. It was almost 30 minutes until the first model was due to hit the runway and many of the girls were arriving late. Only a few had even gotten started on hair and make-up. Where one would expect chaos, however, it was just another day at the beach for Weisberg’s group and the NARS make-up team, led by Ayako Yoshimura.

In creating this upgraded California dream, Weisberg decided to emphasize natural-looking texture and just a touch of volume. To achieve the soft curl, hair was curled into ringlets with an iron and then sprayed with a light hair spray. To give the roots a little lift, the hairstylists worked at the scalp, scrunching and shaking out for added volume. Weisberg also added some curled hair extensions to create the look of full healthy hair.

Ponytails were also a large part of Weisberg’s California couture queen, set lower on the head, on either side and slightly messy.

To compliment the collection, the NARS team also decided to give the models a very natural and easy look, the focus of which being luminous and dewy skin. Yoshimura warns, however, that to successfully carry this look off the runway, women must be aware of the very thin line between moisture and grease. The key, she suggests, is to use a water based hydriant like NARS’ Aqua Gel Hydrator as opposed to layering shimmery powder on a matte base. Yoshimura also avoided any kind of shimmer on the cheeks and opted instead for the creamy organic tones (NARS colors Lokoum and Gina) inspired by the collection.

Yoshimura stayed true to the collection’s muted tones for the eyes as well but also incorporated a beautiful light metallic blue found in some of the pieces. This was applied with a brush over a neutral color which toned down some of the zing of the metalic hue against an otherwise neutral face. Layering also came in handy with the lips, which were lined in a matte lip pencil and then lightly coated with an orange/pink gloss (NARS Risky Business) giving more depth than a standard lip tint, but still keeping the look natural.

Like the collection, hair and make-up was designed to be immediately wearable. For Spring, ease reigns supreme and the glow of natural beauty takes center stage. Investing in products that restore and maintain healthy hair and skin are the real trends this upcoming season. Now if we could just figure out how to hang ten on the subway.

FUSCHIA LIPS AND FRENCH ROLLS AT PORTS 1961

Let me preface this piece by saying that I was going to the Ports 1961 show with minimal expectations. First, I knew little about the brand; second, the show was at 9am on Wednesday. Who goes to a show that early? But once I saw the complete “look” – the luxuriously effortless style of the collection, I was thanking my lucky stars that I had tumbled out of bed early enough to partake.

Backstage, I spoke to Gordon Espinet, the makeup artist for M.A.C., who said, “the idea of the look (for face) is fresh, pretty….as though the models have no makeup, but accenting the strong elements.” These “strong elements,” which happen to be ubiquitous for Spring 2007 are of course, the strong eye and lip: an almost nude look that allows the models’ unique features to be pronounced. Espinet used M.A.C. Fix+, a spray that moisturizes the skin, thereby rendering it super hydrated radiant with a slight sheen.

The eyes were coated with an original M.A.C. mascara formula called “X,” but only the bottom outer half, at the rim. This look, explains Espinet, “complete with a dark eye shadow, gives a ‘smoldering’ look.” What that means is that it looks as though the model has applied the makeup, taken it off and applied it on again…or forgot to wash her face last night when she tumbled into bed at 3 am after some fabulous party and her resourcefulness leads her to smudge on a little more of what she used last night (to replace what ended up on her pillowcase) and head back out the door. Run-on sentences, J’adore! Excusez-moi, I was up very early, you know!

At Ports 1961 the lips were stained with “Lovin’ It Light” from M.A.C. It’s a deep fuschia color tat was applied just in the middle of the lips. The colour was highly noticeable on the runway, and they complemented the rich tones of the clothes which included numbers like the coral linen gauchos, gold silk blouse, mudskin box coat and red silk tulle top.

The hair was done in a French roll (but going the opposite direction, at the nape of the neck), and is a “simple, soft updo,” says Louise O’Connor, hair stylist for OC61. “It looks as though it is ‘not too groomed’.” O’Connor used Elnette and Phyto hairsprays to give the hair a subtle sheen. “The chief look is simplicity, and a natural flow of hair,” she said.

As we noted, easier said than done!

Another Chic Ponytail at Carlos Miehle
By Tallulah Dumonde

Brazilian born designer Carlos Miehle has become a favourite for socialites (particularly, we hear, Alex Kramer) and party girls everywhere, and from the look of things backstage at his Spring 07 show at the Pavillion in Bryant Park, he’ll continue to be.

The look was very Hampton’s beach scene, and to create the hairstyles to compliment the clothing, Carlos called upon Damian Boissinot of Bumble & Bumble. Damian said the look was “Messy girl. Clean on top, but a messy ponytail, like you just got off the beach and haphazardly pulled your hair back into a chic ponytail”. To get the look, the stylists started with a loose middle part and made a high ponytail. Girls with shorter hair had extensions. To add texture Boissinot told us they used Bumble & Bumble Hair Painter and “Does It All” hairspray to keep the disheveled hair in place.

To create the makeup look for the Spring collection, Carlos turned to MAC’s Romy Soleimani. Romy created a face that was neutral, by using tinted moisturizer, a bit of concealer and minimal powder; conveying the slightest glow of healthy skin. The eyes were magnified by using Scene eyeshadow on the lid only and then rimming the eye line with Slate liner, which creates a fresh young and defined eye, without the sparkle we have seen in the past. Lips were neutral shade applied over concealer to create a very natural, warm and pale and ultimately kissable pout.

Elegance Reigns at Douglas Hennant’s Spring 07 Show
By Tallulah Dumonde

Gotham Hall provided the perfect backdrop for the elegant Romanesque beauties who strutted their stuff for Douglas Hennant’s show yesterday. In keeping with so many other shows we’ve seen this week, the ponytail stood out as the pinnacle of simple-chic. Stylist and look creator Julien Farel created a style that started with a definitive, low, off-center part. Hair was wrapped around the rubber band so it wouldn’t show. Stylists used a flat iron and/or heat to create the sleekest of ponytail styles.

In keeping with the simply chic look, MAC artists went for clean and flawless matte faces. Makeup guru Polly Ormond created the look using MACs new Fixed Fluid medium to full coverage natural matte finish makeup. Cheeks were glazed with cream blush in Uncommon, which was applied lower on the cheekbone and down the cheek. Ormond kept the eyes shimmery with an irridescent pink shadow and skipped eye liner, favouring MAC’ mascara to open the eyes, bringing attention to luxurious, fluttery lashes. Polly said that they were going for the anti-drama look. Lips were not lined and Myth lipstick (satin finish) topped with a dab of Lusterglass in Instant Gold created a sultry pout that looked pretty without overwhelming the balance created on the rest of the face.

Who knew a cross-dresser and a boxer could turn out to be such a hot chick?

Hilary Swank lends her steely grace (and some radical hair extensions) to Guerlain as the face of their new fragrance, Insolance. She will be in Saks Fifth Avenue’s Main Floor today at 12:30 pm to sign autographs and bottles of perfume for Saks customers. Take the opportunity to experience this “exuberant floral fragrance” while hobnobbing with the Oscar winning actress.

Like A Living Dollhouse
Backstage at Betsey Johnson’s Spring Show
By Talluah Dumonde

As if straight out of a cellophane-covered box, Betsey Johnson’s girls worked the Spring 07 collection looking like gorgeous little dolls. More traditional than typical, Johnson obviously has a great love of colour; from her clothing to the makeup palette on her mannequins, and this season was no exception. The look theme was “young and playful”, and boy was it ever!

Chanel’s Fulvia Farolfi created this kewpie doll look by starting with a flawless, slightly matte face, which she told us was one of the biggest trends in makeup right now. Fulvia’s staff used Laura Mercier foundation along with Chanel’s Precision Matte Foundation to create a real-life porcelain canvas. The artists back stage layered the eyelids with deep blue shadow in Electric Eel by MAC and opted to forego liner, using Chanel’s Inimitable Noir Black Multidimensional Mascara to create massive lashes. Lips were intensely red; thanks to NARS Dragon Girl Velvette Matte lip pencil. Farolfi said of the look, “It’s always a lot of fun with Betsey, she’s always glamorous”.

For hair at Betsy’s show, Redken’s Italo Gregario, who has created the hair-look for Betsey for five years, kept the living doll look going. The image was playful, girly, slightly wild (remember how when you took the hair net off your doll’s pin-curl coif it would take about ten minutes for her to look completely touseled?). Gregario reflected on the 1950′s pinup girls for his inspiration, saying that “Working with Betsey is fantastic; never conventional”. To get the look, stylists used Redken Full Fram 07 mousse on the models’ dry hair to “add texture and set the style.” says Italo, “Mousse on wet hair disappears. (Mousse) is not aggressive, it coats for texture.”

Taking a medium amount of hair (having used mousse on the ends) and wrap it around a medium barrel curling iron. Roll it up to the crown and hold. When you take it out, roll it into a pin curl and secure with a bobby pin. Spray with Redken Forceful 23 finishing spray and let set for a minute. When you remove the curl, do it slowly and use your fingers, no brush, for minimal separation. Spritz over with finishing spray for hold and accessorize with a headband, ribbon or pair of sunglasses

To Prove You’re Never Fully Dressed Without GoSmile, internationally acclaimed fashion and celebrity photographer Patrick McMullan (whose book KissKiss came out this summer) sashays through the shows handing out GoSmile tooth whitening ampules, with his famed camera latched onto him thanks to a festive GoSmile camera strap, provided by his sponsors for Olympus Fashion Week. Check out GoSmile at http://www.gosmile.com.

Jamie Lynn Sigler with her GoSmile tooth whitening ampule

SWINGY, SEXY PONYTAILS AT PAMELLA ROLAND

The bold colors of flamingo and ocean blue commingled with elegant mainstays of ivory and classic black came to grace the runway of Pamella Roland’s show on Monday evening. Even if the dresses sounded familiar (“White taffeta top”), they were paired with the unexpectedly elegant (“with plisse-ruffle jabot”).

For the hair, Roland gave the stage to Paul Labrecque, owner of the eponymous salon. “Pamella’s inspiration was the Galapagos islands and we wanted to give her something that was very free, natural and sexy,” says Labrecque. “We’re doing ponytails with a lot of movement. It’s all about the swing and bounce as the girls are walking down the runway. It’s little bit less contrived.”

The products used on the models’ hair were Paul Labrecque’s own concoctions, each brand new. A popular choice was the “Straight Finish” humidity control hairspray that is very light in touch.

The effort paid off: the ‘dos looked laid back yet elegant on the runway, especially paired with luxe numbers like the silk taffeta trench with chantilly lace trim and the ecru silk crepe gown with beaded middle (numbers that made you want to conjure the image of Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina).

The makeup was done by Artistry and Makeup Forever. Makeup artist Wendy Karcher said that the Galapagos-inspired look include a “pretty mango lip, a powder blush, and a bronzer to give the apperance of a tan.” Kareth Whitchurch, another makeup artist for Makeup Forever said that they used “coral colors on the cheeks and lips with a little bit of shimmer on the brow bones, and a sheer foundation for face and body.” Products applied included the Face and Body Foundation (a sheer, water-based foundation water with silicone), Blush # 5 in coral, and lipstick # 241 in coral. The eyes were a soft smoky brown.

To see the complete runway look, click on our video podcast.

MARILYN REVISITED AT TAMARA POGOSIAN
By Gillian Weeks

At Tamara Pogosian’s Fashion Week debut, it was Marilyn all over the runway. Tobi Britton from Face Atelier created a makeup look that recalled Ms. Monroe’s delicate sensuality yet shied away from full-on bedroom eyes. This version was slightly more foyer than boudoir.

Britton used pale beige shadow to highlight the lids and brows, then a dusty pink to deepen the creases. She suggests snipping off the inner third of a pair of false eyelashes, then attaching them to the outer corners of the eyes to create a flirtatious yet ultimately lady-like look.

Britton raves about Face Atelier’s line of foundations, which she says ought to change the minds of some die-hard base opponents. She recommends using a powder brush to blend foundation across the face, leaving it opaque and seamless. As a final touch, she adds a light dusting of bronzer to the models’ cheeks in order to create continuity between the darker chest and lighter face.

Britton owns The Makeup Shop, located at 131 West 21st, which provides airbrushed makeup, emergency makeovers, and lessons from pros like herself. Get her tips to look more Marilyn Monroe and less Anna Nicole at http://www.themakeupshop.com.

RIGHT ON TARGET
By Lauren Baccus

Carolina Herrera, Sass and Bide, Calvin Klein…and Payless. No, this isn’t an updated Sesame Street educational tool, it’s actually the buzz on what not to miss under the Bryant Park tents this week. As industry analysts break down every color trend, signature shape and runway must-have for Spring/Summer 2007, a number of unlikely parings have also made quite a strong showing throughout the week.

While there’s nothing particularly revolutionary about high end designers joining forces with more budget-conscious brands, never before have these alliances earned such a respected place alongside fashion’s elite. As part of the Bryant Park shows this year, Olympus has dedicated space under the tents for 28 accessory collections, many of which are designer collaborations: Vivienne Westwood, Thakoon and Sopia Kokosalaki for Nine West, Rafe and Paul & Joe for Target, and Abaete for Payless.

Sharing space with designers Judith Ripka, BCBG Max Azria and Susan Farber, clearly this was a designated “no poo poo-ing” zone. In fact, I fell so completely in love with the large wool Paul & Joe shoulder bag with owl appliqué, that I wasted no time logging into my Target account (believe me, I’m a highly valued customer) with credit card in hand.

The process was anticlimactic. I panicked, imagining that the bag had sold out already (it’s not Hermes for crying out loud!) then a zen-like calm came over me when I realized that the item had not been added to the current inventory. Oh Target, why do you tease me so?

I was much more relieved to discover that Nine West was currently carrying its featured designer collaborations for a limited duration. Whether the cheeky tartan and leather stacked Vivienne Westwood’s boots manage to remain in stock past the designated four weeks, however, is a different story.

While they aren’t quite tearing down the walls of the elite fashion houses, brands such as Payless, Nine West and Target are definitely making a good case for the “little” guy. As designers become more comfortable with balancing style and relevance with mass appeal, it will be interesting to see how relationships develop with more main stream brands. Who knows what the next power couple will be…..Wall Mart and Vera Wang?

Well, let’s not get carried away.