Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty post! On a Tuesday!

http://prettylittleworldfashion.blogspot.com/

Profuse apologies for the lateness of this post my super lovely readers, I hope you managed to get through the long weekend without. Push through, stiff upper lip and all that. I would love to ask what your beauty routine was for this long weekend, seeing as we worked our way through gale force winds, pouring rain, 30 degree heat, muggy dampness and a lengthy blackout. Did you try to keep ahead of the game? Or embrace the free and wild look, as favoured by team members of Survivor? I ended up with a combination of the two which lost the good aspects(natural, breezy beauty) and combined the worst (smeary, shiny, frizzy beauty). I won't lie. I looked good. Somewhat like Jennifer Connelly. Especially if we're playing opposites day. I love her eyebrows. The kind of statement that frightens men and makes women begin lengthy discussions on the pros and cons of all manner of eyebrow variations. I love that she has fake-ies on her bottom lashes (interesting, interesting), and I LOVE how shiny her hair is. OH she is beautiful! As is Paul Bettany's forehead and eyebrow. Looking good Paul.

http://www.justjared.com/

Hello eyebrows *sigh*. Perhaps it was her eyebrows that caught Paul's attention at first. I hear he likes a good brow. Well dressed gentlemen normally do. Perhaps it was that she looks stunning in a dress. And a very bright one at that. Or maybe it was a combination of the two. Men are fairly deep, you know. Don't worry, next time they're in Australia I'll invite them over for cannelloni and will ask them their story. I have trustworthy eyes. They'll spill.

http://www.harpersbazaar.com/

And hello side part *sigh*. This is what I hope my hair will look like when I blow dry it in the morning. Unfortunately I don't have a hair and makeup team nor an industrial fan hiding in my bathroom, and as such, generally end up looking like I've stuck my finger in an electrical socket and walked backwards through the shrubbery. My friends love me for who I am on the inside. I would think it's fairly safe to assume though that being on the cover of Harper's would be pretty exciting, especially if it had 'What's sexy now' scribbled across the front. 'Hey Jen, which Harper's are you on the cover of?', 'The SEXY issue! HELL yeah!'. Well. She may have been a little more refined. But the excitement is there. You can see it in her eyes...

http://www.people.com./

Hair up! Coral lip! Rosy cheeks! Awesome dress (if you're clever enough you'll be able to picture it in your mind. Clever?)! So Mrs Bettany looks pretty super no matter what she's wearing. I choose to love her. This means one day (after we have our cannelloni dinner), we'll totally be able to be friends. We'll discuss eyebrows. Paul. Eyebrows and Paul. Paul. Paul and eyebrows. It'll be awesome.

http://www.theinsider.com/

Top movie. I quoted a line from it the other day and received not a look of admiration for being witty and sharp enough to quote almost an entire movie, but one of pity and, dare I say, concern. Psh. I love this movie. Even though what it sets out to say is proved incorrect in the end. A giant loveable contradiction. Brilliant! But the best part? Look at the cast! All so different and all so beautiful and all called Jennifer! Well, almost. When they were casting I'm sure eyebrows were an important factor. Yes siree. Eyebrows. Eyebrows and Paul.

Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty spot...on Monday!

http://www.labelleetlaitgirl.wordpress.com

Perhaps this post should be renamed 'this is the kind of style I try to pull of everyday, but when Alexa Chung ends up looking all cool and nonchalant and well, hot, I end up looking either like a drunken sailor or like I forgot to put my pants on, which is just not ideal'. And let's face it, that wouldn't be very catchy. So I'm on the hunt for a skirt like this, not in a Twilight hunting way, GOODness no, but more in a 'now that I'm looking for it I'm sure I won't find it' kind of way. Lot's of apostrophy's. Awesome.

And I'm not sure about you, but I was always of the opinion that says chunky heels like these ones above would always look terrible. Doesn't matter who's wearing them, just. Don't. Go. There. And then what does Miss Alexa do? She makes them look all cool and normal. My goodness she's good. I imagine having a limitless supply of lovely handbags would make your day a pinch more fun too. Mine is literally falling apart at the seams. It's embarrassing. Quite embarrassing. And see now, how much more fun I would have if I leapt out of bed looking all lovely like (I'm sure she does, I can see it in her eyes...), and instead of figuring which way to carry my bag so the worst bit is under my arm, I could simple say 'Chanel!' or 'Chloe!', and little bluebirds would flit over and place the chosen bag on my arm. I'm sure that's how it happens...

http://blog.pricegrabber.com/

And seeing as how this is supposed to be a beauty post (you may or may not be picking up on this, but I'm not a beauty editor. Shocking, I know...), I thought I would point out (helpful!) that in every photo here Al has worn her hair differently. And still looks incredible in every one! I think my fav is the short hair, blunt fringe combo. If I try to wear my hair in a centre part I tend to look like a man, so it's generally something I steer clear of. And as I am growing out my fringe for Summer in the effort to steer clear of a little something I like to call 'wonky beach fringe', it seems only right that I would be bombarded with images of good looking fringes right when mine is at it's difficult stage. You know, won't put it's dishes away. That kind of thing.

Um, yeah, I don't really have much to say here. If I could pull of a dress like that I would get 15 made and wear them constantly. Somewhat like that chicky that's wearing the same tunic for a year with different accessories. Except this may be a little more exxy. Meh. If I looked like that? Totally worth it.

And just so that we can relax knowing that something was said about beauty in the er, beauty post, here is a lovely little close up! Weeeee! This people, this right here is the exact lip colour/stain/whatever that I have been looking for. I heart it. And thrown in with her rosy cheeks, flawless complexion, goldy brown and black eyes, it looks amazing. Very 'I had fifteen minutes to get ready and I'm looking HOT because I did not try one smidge'. Why is it that the no makeup look uses lots of makeup to achieve? What kind of cruel game are the makeup folk playing!? And I would like to know if it involves chocolate. The chocolate game was never cruel to me...

Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty spot!

Zac Posen Fall '09 (image from style.com)

So I've learnt orange is a little bit of a scary colour. I'm thinking it's pretty safe to say stay away from anything that resembles a highlighter mix pack from Officeworks, but from previous experience, if you stick to more of a Derwent Studio palette, it can go ok. I had a triumph (yes, a triumph) a few weeks back when I went to a wedding and decided to, wait for it, do something different with my eye makeup. Crazy, I know. But I had some eye colour from The Makeup Store (in ruby!) which was a wholly frightening colour purchased on a whim when I had decided I probably had enough gold-y neutral-y shadows to make up an entire model army from fashion week. Anyway, while I spent the night living on the edge with my ruby eyeshadow (the excitement never stops), I thought firmly to myself 'I should wear orange, or at least coloured makeup, much more often! More fun! More excitement! More canapes!'. I do enjoy a good canape. But as fervent as my mini soliloquy was I've not gone colour-rific since. SO! When I saw this piccy of the chicky above, I thought to myself, 'Why does she have what appear to be two nails sticking out the side of her head?', and also, 'I love her lippy!'. No idea what brand/label/colour it is, so really, am not being helpful at all, and am no closer to my dream of finding a lippy that actually suits. But helpful is not what we're on about here! GOSH no! Waffle. And top quality waffle at that!

January Jones

And if you read primped.com at all, you will know that they (and approximately 72.6% of women in the Sydney metropolitan area) are experiencing something akin to obsession over Mad Men and January Jones. So groomed and glamourous! So classic and elegant! It's quite handy for us too, as Jan here seems to love sticking with said groomed-ness in her every day (award ceremony) life! She's so nice like that, our Jan. Orange-y cheeks, orange-y lips, lovely liquid liner. It's almost as if she knew...

John Galliano Spring '09 (image from style.com)

Another wearable option. Thank goodness such classic styles are making a comeback. The best bit? They suit absolutely everyone! You should try it. It'll bring our your eyes.

Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty spot!

Carolina Herrera Spring '09

Happy Friday my lovely blog readers! Although I'm trapped inside doing accounts (blech), I can see the sun is shining and being all enticing like, and I hope you have at least a little toe enjoying the glowy warmth it provides. As we're quickly approaching shiny face season (woo!), and I know nothing about how to stop shiny face from appearing (nuts!), I'm not going to write about it. Except to tell you I am a new convert to Primer (I'm told it helps), and am considering, after a lengthy and detailed discussion last night over pizza (the good kind), to make the switcheroo to mineral foundation. I'll let you know how this life changing decision affects my day to day routine when it happens (excitement PLUS), but for now, will type freely about Heidi braids. Interestingly, in all the pictures I could find, Heidi did not have braids. The deceit begins to unravel...

Picture from www.marieclaire.co.uk

Now clearly, if you were a model, and getting ready for a show, and had minions running around and primping you within an inch of your life (never understood that expression. It's like 'keep your eyes peeled' which only leads to disturbing mental images. Grosso), you would look rather pretty. However, I have been told this kind of hair is something I as a pleb am able to pull of quite convincingly, mainly because as a pleb, my hair is already a bit mussed up and ready to go! Weeee! Picture the Princess Bride, if you will. Less dirt and pigs, more fresh water and hygiene.

Picture from www.bellasugar.com

Go nutso with the texturising paste (got a grand one free at the RSFF last week from Redken, I've no idea what it's called, but I'm thinking it's something along the lines of 'texturising paste'. Clever.), the hairspray and the teasing. Calm it back down with a paddle brush, and PLAIT my friends, PLAIT! As with the first pic, you can go all demure and pretty and groomed, you can go 'I've been rolling in a haystack and still manage to look hot' as per picture 2, or you can do more a bun style 'I'm a little bit high fashion, a little bit nonchalant' like pic three. You could do heapso more than these, I'm just sticking to my pictures ike a good blogger. Gold star to moi! Although it's never quite the same when self administered, is it.

And what's this?! Celebrities to enforce my plaiting is fun theme! It's like it was planned! Jen on left there is my fav, but then I'm pretty sure she could do no wrong. And yes. We're on a first name basis. Practically besties. AWESOME eyebrows. Kirsten's makeup is lovely, all dewy and fresh. What I strive to look like but generally end up resembling an overzealous 5 year old after her mums touche eclat and rosie blush has all but run out. Practice makes perfect, eh?! And in the meantime, there's always more helpful blogs than mine.

I'm off to plait. And eat. But that's fairly common...

Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty spot

Hello there! Today, we will look at how an incredibly good looking woman can be so versatile! Imagine David Attenborough, if you will. Except replace the wildlife with beauty talk, and the knowledgable er, wildlife man, with a twentysomething who doesn't even know if her skin tone is pink or yellow. What if it's BOTH DAMMIT?!


If you direct your eyes upwards (tricky, but stay with me) to the poor quality photo I found on google images, you'll find a piccy of Sienna Miller. Why? Because she's what I'm posting about! Weeeee! Now. To begin, I like the beehive. It's that whole 'bedhead/volume without being frizzy' thing. I can get volume, however it is always, without a doubt, partnered with frizz. I can get sleek and straight, however, it will always be flat and stringy. I've stared long and hard at my hairdresser while she blow dries, and I've yet to learn her secret. I should probably stop though, I think I'm freaking her out. I also like the smudgy eye makeup. Smudgy is good.

Pretty daytime Sienna! Hair is blonder, less smudgy eye time, and pretty pink lips. I'm also having a bit of a crush on all things navy at the moment, it looks AMAYYZING next to peaches and pinks. Like here! Woo! I also believe she may be growing out her fringe...something I am going through at the mo. It's ok though, I have a support group.

Covergirl Sienna! And not the makeup 'Covergirl', just to clarify (*phew*), but one of the many many covers she's been on. I like it. It's very similar to the previous pic (my bad), but just goes to show she seems to be able to pull of just about any kind of blonde. What would you call this colour? Wheat? Honey? Caramel? How the hell are there so many words for blonde. Maybe this post should have been on hair colour. Damn. Fail.

Bendy Sienna! Now, I'm not really sure what is going on here. Perhaps the art director had a moment of brilliance and rapturously whispered, 'what if we try...wait for it! Bending. Over. Backwards. HEY??!?!'. I looove the makeup here though, so flawless, especially if you look at it upside down on a slight angle so that she's actually upright and your forehead is grazing the edge of your desk. It just looks amazing. And you do too.

And movie Sienna! When the Edge of Love came out with these two lovely muffins in it, I was so excited to see it! I still haven't. But! This picture has kept me somewhat enthralled. Is it just me, or are Kiera and Sienna (totes on a first name basis) making what my grandma wears look hot? That peach pleated skirt, I swear she has one just like it. I'm also a fan as I would very much like to bring back wellies into everyday wear. Comfy AND functional! Anyway, this post definately should have been about hair, because I think the thing I like the most here is their crazy curly locks. Must be the Irish countryside that does it naturally. Or is it Scottish? I MUST go and see it.

SO! To sum up, Sienna Miller is ridiculously good looking. I also like her clothes. And if you've just read all that, I fear I may have wasted your time...

Happy weekend!

Selma Blair. With parachute.

I've recently decided I love my brunette hair (having just swapped over from the blonde brigade), and have been looking for fun ways to play with the new look. This could work. I'm pretty sure this is what I would look like had I just landed on a distant beach from the sky in my heels.

Just saying.

Vanity Fair, October 2008, photo by Norman Jean Roy

http://www.vanityfair.com

Red lipstick looks weird on me, hot on pretty much everyone else...

So it's a Friday (thank GOODness...), it's raining, and although we've seen a few of miss Stephanie Williams photos, these ones have red lipstick in them which, coincidentally, has something to do with the title. Handy! Perhaps someone should do a study on how wearing red lipstick maketh a lady cheery. I do believe during a recession lipstick sales go through the roof (yep, I research), and I also believe this has something to do with the fact most recession's happen in winter, ergo, colour on our lips instead of our hips is a much easier way to brighten the day (research people, research), not to mention less scary. Fuschia pants, anyone?

I'm much more of an eye person rather than a lip person when it comes to le makeup, however! Matching lips to the bouquet? Love it. It's not something that will really translate into a Saturday night out (unless you do carry a bouquet with you on weekend social outings, in which case, someone may need to tell you all those winks you're getting from the group of guys over there in the back corner may have something more to do with them believing you to be a hen, and not your fabulous matching coral lippy), but a picture that has inspired me to perhaps try a 'coloured lip' next time a par-tay come along.

Now obviously Hils here does not have a red lip going on. Ignore that, and look at how pretty she is! Now, I do choose to believe that if you were in a shoot for Neiman Marcus your chances at looking all vintage-y and polished and lit with the natural sun that fills your grand living room would be slightly higher. Mainly I just have a bit of a crush on her, but she also looks very old world Hollywood beautiful, which, in turn, brings us here to...what's this over here!? A picture of Amy Adams...with red lipstick! The sense making returns! Hurrah!

I guess this one pretty much speaks for itself. And the side part and soft curls, gloves (bring back gloves I say), and the probably very expensive car are all helping her out here. But hey, if the Red's out there can pull of a red lipstick and look this amazing, it's getting more likely I'll give it a shot.

And lastly, but not leastly, Veronica Lake. Now. Clearly this is a black and white photo (I MUST plan these images better...), but I'm fairly sure by her minxy look right there, that the only thing that would inspire it would be a deep cherry lip colour, and perhaps a good looking studio guy who was a little excited he was involved in said photo taking, and had scored a date with Ronnie for next Tuesday night. But mainly the lipstick.

So. As I was deciding exactly what point I was making, and how to wrap it up with a witty and sharp final paragraph, I've decided from now on, we'll have a 'Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty spot'. Like the one on Marilyn Monroe's face, but, uh, here. Which means I shall try to be somewhat helpful and a little more technical in the next 'Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty spot', and include images that actually work together. Genius!

So feel free to get very excited, and perhaps ask Suze on reception if you can borrow her red lipstick, as you'll be going out tonight to make everyone fall in love with you, and your smashing red lips.

http://www.stephaniewilliamsphotography.com/