winter 2011

Fall Make-Up: The New Eye

 in Beauty / General Fashion / Trends  tagged eye make-up / fall 2010 / runway trends / winter 2011 by

The new make-up styles for Fall 2010 bring a fresh, clean face to the Bay Area. The runways in Paris, Milan and New York showed varying colors of lipsticks and blush; yet the one common theme was the new eye. While smoky eyes and heavily made-up eyes were still present on the runways, the new, naked eye was the fresh stand out for Fall 2010. The one piece of make-up that was markedly absent from the new eye was eyeliner. Eyes were enhanced with mere mascara and light eye shadow while faces were either naked or fully made up.

Nina Ricci, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Thakoon, Peter Som, Celine and Christopher Kane sent models down the runway without eyeliner. The eyes were enhanced with mascara and pale eye shadow such as sheer gold and sheer orange. Cheeks were painted with everything from deep purple to pale pink. The lips were either bright red, bluish-pink, dark violet reminiscent of the movie Twilight or completely nude. Eyebrows were thick and enhanced with eyebrow pencil.  The nude eye is perfect for daytime and can be played up with any shade of blush. Lips can be nude, bright red or dark violet; according to your mood.

The smoky eye made an appearance at a few runway shows such as Zac Posen. Charcoal eye shadow was used over smudged black eyeliner and mixed together with a cutip to create an “I just woke up” look. Since the smokey eye has been around for several years, this may be it’s last hurrah as the new naked eye begins to take over the eyes of Fashionistas across the Bay Area.

The dark, dramatic eye was present on Etro’s and Derek Lam’s runways for Fall 2010. Dark shades of purple and charcoal painted the tops of the eyelids and reached all the way up to the eyebrow. The eyebrow was penciled in to be thick and squared off. Cheeks were varying shades of pink and purple with pale pink lips and no mascara. In order to take this look from the runway to reality, keep eyes dark and dramatic while keeping cheeks and lips light and neutral. This eye trend is best suited for evenings and parties.

Fashionistas in the San Francisco Bay Area may very well be bored with the smokey eye. The fresh nude eye for daytime and the dark, dramatic eye for evening; look to be the up and coming trends for this Fall. Try these looks out at home and see which ones flatter your face the best. Happy shopping and stay fabulous.

Messenger Bags for Fall 2010

 in General Fashion / Handbags / Trends  tagged cross body bags / fall 2010 / messenger bags / shoulder bags / winter 2011 by

Messenger bags in the San Francisco Bay Area have been associated with San Francisco bike messengers over the past few decades. The image of a frantic bike messenger, wearing an army green messenger bag frantically trying to avoid cars that are making last minute right turns in front of them; resonates in the minds of Fashionistas when the mention of messenger bags comes into conversation. Interestingly enough, celebrities have been spotted wearing messenger bags over the past couple of years. The fashion world took notice and the messenger bag took the runways by storm for Fall 2010.

The messenger bag is being shown for both men and women, who may each have their own use for them. Tod’s is showing a coated canvas messenger bag that comes in both dark brown and black. The Tod’s messenger bag can worn by both men and women; and since it is coated canvas, opponents to leather will flock to this bag. So very San Francisco! Prada is also showing a messenger bag for Fall made from their signature black nylon. The Prada nylon bag looks like it can double as a diaper bag for chic mommies since it features two side pockets for bottles; water or baby bottles. Juicy Couture is showing the perfect messenger bag for the teen set this Fall which features a delicate heart design with rock n’ roll flair. The Juicy Couture bag will definitely be the bookbag of choice around Bay Area high schools for fashion-savvy teens. Henry Beguelin created a more grown up messenger bag  with clean lines and shimmery black suede. The casual winner for Fall? Donan Karen  is showing a very casual, very bike messenger vibe, black crossbody bag with a large strap clasp and broken-in leather look. The most fabulous messenger bag that may very well end up across the bodies of Fashionistas around the Bay Area is the Tory Burch Carsen messenger bag. Tory Burch gave her bag chain details on the front with an easy to adjust strap that allows Fashionistas the flexibility of wearing the bag crossbody or over the shoulder giving it a 1970’s handbag silhouette . In these recessionary times, a two-for-one deal cannot be overlooked!

The messenger bag last made it’s appearance in fashion during the late 1990’s, during the height ofMinimalism. It is a practical, casual handbag style that may not be suited for everyone. This may or may not be a trend you wish to invest in. If you do invest, look for clean lines that will not date the bag in future decades. After this trend settles down, your messenger bag could end up in the back of your closet for another ten years. Happy shopping and stay fabulous.

The Lady Bag is the new handbag for Fall 2010

 in General Fashion / Handbags / Trends  tagged fall 2010 / runway trends / satchels / vintage styles / winter 2011 by

The Lady Bag is the new handbag style for Fall 2010. There are two versions of this handbag which Fashionistas in the Bay Area will be carrying this Fall. The small tote version and the shoulder bag version. The small tote version is similar in style to classics such as the Louis Vuitton Speedy, Hermes Kelly and the Gucci 1973 Tote which is the double top handle tote version of the 1973 shoulder bag. The shoulder bag version reminds Fashionistas of the popular handbags worn roughly five years ago. Handbag lines are simple with a flap closure, minimal hardware and a medium length strap which allows the handbag to hit at the top of the hipbone when hung on the shoulder.

Fendi has a fabulous handbag collection for Fall. The famous peek-a-boo tote satisfies The Lady Bag trend. There is one version of the peek-a-boo bag with leopard print interior. There is also a military green peek-a-boo tote  that is to die for! Fabulous! The classic Fendi baguette, in any size, is the right silhouette for The Lady Bag trend. If you have one from a past season, this is the time to shop your closet and wear it for Fall. With the money you save, you can buy a red clutch! Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs,Chanel, Gucci, Hermes, Prada, Proenza Schouler and Yves Saint Laurent have clean and classic Lady Bag styles for Fall 2010.

The Lady Bag this season is more structured than it has been in past seasons; even as recent as Spring 2010. There is a simple way to update your Lady Bag and take it from relaxed to the oh-so-of-the-moment structured. If you take a piece of cardboard and cut it to fit inside the walls of your handbag, it will instantly stand straight and appear just as structured as this Fall’s Lady Bag.

This is definitely a handbag trend to follow. The Lady Bag is a classic and clean handbag style that circulates in and out of fashion every few years. The best investment handbag in this style should be a neutral color that will withstand the test of time. Look for black, chocolate brown, khaki, tan, red, cream or white. If you are interested in mixing this trend with the military trend and picking up the Lady Bag in army green; proceed with caution. Army green handbags are not always en vogue and you could end up with a white elephant next year. If you plan to sell the handbag after wearing it for a couple of seasons then go ahead and Go Army. After all, fashion is all about what you feel, like and are drawn to. Try to be practical, but never deprive yourself of what you are in love with. Happy shopping and stay fabulous.