Wardrobe Styling and Makeup for JLH Photoshoot

A few months ago, I was contacted by a very talented photographer (Malae Talley) and a very talented hair stylist (Jessica Halladay) and asked to be the wardrobe stylist and makeup artist for a photoshoot that would be used to showcase Jessica's new line of hair extensions. 

I jumped at the opportunity, and was given complete freedom in terms of how I wanted to style this shoot. Um, hello. That's a wardrobe stylists dream. So, the angle I took was to find out and study each model's personal style and vamp it up just a notch or two for the shoot. We pulled items from either the model's own closet or my own closet (in almost every case, a beautiful mixture of both!) and created looks that each model felt proud to wear, and that helped showcase Jessica's talent as a hair stylist.

It was a blast! Without further ado, here are some of the shots!

We had a very limited amount of time to get these models from bare face, sweatpants, and undone hair to dressed, styled and ready to rock the shoot. But, we made it happen!

Makeup on Miss Jocelyn!

Another shot with Jocelyn

Lips for Olivia

Poor Jocelyn-enduring the application of false lashes!

This model, Jocelyn, was just great. This dress is her own, just upped a few notches with a few pieces from my closet. Jocelyn was so easy to work with, and with someone so naturally pretty, she was so easy to style. I love Jocelyn's features and it was a blast to be able to play them up.

Jocelyn's navy blue dress really brings out her gorgeous hair and skin tone. I paired it with some light grey (almost white) textured tights from my own closet, sky high nude pumps borrowed from the photographer, a paisley scarf and turquoise jewelry both from my own closet, and when Jocelyn asked me pre-pictures if she should take off her rings, I said, "NO WAY!" 

Jocelyn's makeup consisted of a neutral eye with a pop of green in her outer "v" and lower lash line, false lashes by Ardell, a full contour and highlight with just a sweep of a berry blush and a berry lip. I absolutely adore the way that the berry lip compliments both her dress and her strawberry blonde hair. This girl is so beautiful!

This model, Julie, was an absolute pleasure to work with. Don't you love it when beautiful people are actually kind?! 

Julie's top and pumps are from her own closet and I paired them with my own lace tights, and animal print pencil skirt by Agnes and Dora. Julie wears skirts or dresses daily to work, and it was fun to add a pop of something different for her with  textured tights and an animal print. I also put Julie in one of my favorite large cocktail rings and an oversized pearl bracelet. Her makeup was very neutral on the eye with a peach blush and coral/peach lip. She pulled off that peach lip so beautifully! I added some depth to her brows and together, Julie and I conquered her fear of eyelash curlers! 

This next model, Shyanne, was fun to style. Though you can't see her whole outfit in this picture, her style is one of self proclaimed "ease, and lots of t-shirts and jeans". So, we rolled with it! I put her in a dark wash skinny jean and crisp button up and loaded her up with gold jewelry and bold makeup.

Shyanne's look was a very typical red lip, softer contour, and bold eye colors. A silver liner was used and feathered out in Shyanne's tear duct, and a very strong outer "v" and a cranberry color under her lower lash line.

Olivia was my next model and she was definitely the most daring of the group! During my initial interview with her, she told me how much she loved "different" kinds of clothing and that her style consisted of lots of texture and patterns. We originally had a different outfit for Olivia but then I asked her if she was willing to be a little bit more daring for me, and she was definitely game!

Olivia is wearing her own strappy heels (not pictured) and black top paired with my jewelry and aztec printed harem pants by Agnes and Dora. She pulls the outfit off excellently. I wanted to have Olivia intentionally overdo it with gold bangles in different textures as well as wear layers upon layers of necklaces in different metals and lengths. 

Olivia's makeup was much more dramatic than some, consisting of a sharp black crease, gold lid, and full liner. Her lip color was a mixture of a ruby red liner, Rebel lipstick by Mac (a red/berry color) and a berry gloss. I wanted harsh lines in Olivia's makeup and since we had such harsh lines in her eye look and a dark lip, I went with a very neutral peach blush.

Let me just tell you about this next model. This beauty queen shocked and amazed me when she told me she is just 14 years old! This is Paige and she was more than a pleasure to work with. Paige had beautiful skin and hardly needed a lick of makeup at all to look like a movie star.

Paige wore her own aztec top and black jeans and I put her in my accessories, scarf and boots (not pictured). I loved the floral scarf as a contrast against her aztec print in her top and added a pink pop in her earrings. Paige has phenomenally gorgeous skin and with a skin tone like hers, I wanted to let the natural glow show more than makeup. I added just a peach blush over a very thin layer of BB cream and then filled in and sculpted her brows and paired her neutral eye makeup with a darker nude lip liner. Over the liner I put a very light lavender lipstick and the combo was this perfect lip color. Paige's lip color was one of my favorite moments of this shoot!! 

And last but not least I completely enjoyed my time working with Sarah. Sarah also has gorgeous skin, and wore very little makeup in this shoot. I loved the natural look she (and Paige) brought to the shoot in contrast with the ways that the other models were very glammed up. Both concepts are equally gorgeous. It was so fun to be able to experience both in one shoot!

Sarah's top, jeans and shoes were her own and I brought her a statement necklace to help pull it all together. I loved the way Sarah's outfit looked so glam yet so wearable. She was put together without being over the top

Sarah's makeup was a darker pink blush against a smoked out eye. I used a nude lipstick and liner on her lip and topped it with a light pink gloss. I kept telling her that her look was just begging me for a nude lip! She pulled it off so well. I thinks she looks gorgeous and effortless. 

Working with these women was a pleasure. They all looked so beautiful but more than that, they all FELT so beautiful. It was an honor to be able to tap into their own personal styles and interests and add my own twist to it. Each of these ladies let me into their closets and personalities and that's not easy for everyone to do. I appreciate that they would allow me into their lives so that together we could create some incredible looks that showcased each woman's style, Jessica's skill with hair and Malae's talent behind the camera. It was my pleasure to be asked to be a part of this project and work with these beautiful women. 

Mother/Son Photoshoot: Styling Madi and Maxwell

I had a blast styling my good friend Madi and her sweet baby Maxwell for a shoot a few weeks ago! It was great to dress these two, and great for Madi to have some phenomenal post-pregnancy pictures as well as pictures with her new baby, without worrying about any of the logistics. All the fun of a photoshoot without any of the anxiety or stress.

I could go on and on about their gorgeousness, but they say a picture is worth a thousand words! And though she wore several outfits, I kept the same lip color and hair for each. I was thrilled to be able to utilize one of my very favorite lip colors right now and show how it can be used in so many settings, with so many colors and during EVERY SEASON. And no, it's not a nude or neutral lip! Keep reading to see Madi and Max in all their glory and to see how Madi can pull off a dark purple lip color against so many outfit choices.

For baby Max, I put him in a studly little outfit and the photographer (Malae Talley) couldn't help but snap a few pics of baby with mom!

Khakis, White Button up and Woven Cardigan: The Children's Place

Next, I put Madi in a paisley Maxi dress and pulled the less promenant colors from the dress using her accessories, lip color and shoes. I purposely utilized a bold lip with very neutral makeup and pin straight hair. Her lip color pulls the purple from the dress and also ties together nicely with her shoes, pulling the whole look together, quite literally, from top to bottom. I'm all about contrast and with such a pastel/bright necklace so close to her face, a bold plum colored lip was the perfect contrast and also helps the necklace and dress pull the blue out of her eyes.

Dress: Alloy; Necklace: My Sister's Closet; Purple Pumps: Justfab; Makeup: Lipstick-Heroine by MAC cosmetics with Vision in Violet Lipgloss by Maybelline Elixir over the top.

For Madi's second look, I put her in a plaid/flannel shirt and black pants. I decided to make it more feminine with a pointed toe pump and scarf. The contrast of the prints in her scarf and top are one of my absolute favorite parts of this look. Without that, it wouldn't have been anything special but mixing patterns makes a boring or predictable look more interesting. It also just goes to show you that nothing in you (or your man's) closet is off limits! I kept the same lip color throughout her different looks but the reason I loved it here was because of the dark, vampy look it gives her as a contrast against such a masculine top. It's the same idea as the mixing of the patterns. We play up the "girlyness" in her look with her accessories and makeup (vampy lip, leopard print scarf, stiletto pumps) and then the skeleton of the look is very masculine and maybe even haphazard. Plus the purple and red combo are unexpected and yet...they work! This is my favorite look I put Madi in that day.

Top: Wal Mart (men's section); Leggings: Old Navy; Scarf: Nordstrom; Pumps: Charlotte Russe

Her last look was perfect for her. I put her in a very full skirt with a very fitted top. The look originally involved an oversized floral printed belt, but alas, it was left behind in the mass packing for the photoshoot. However, I think she pulled it off regardless. This is the same look she was wearing for the candid photos that were taken with her baby. The reason I stayed with this lip color for this look was because the contrast between the lip and her skin, and then her peach button up, was enough to make the look interesting without looking odd or out of place. Plus, the purple hue goes so well with the peach top, the same way that the navy skirt does. This is an outfit you'd typically see in the springtime or summer and it just goes to show you a bold lip is not taboo in the warmer months! And with such a full skirt, how could I NOT put her in t-strap pumps?!

Peach Button Up: Old Navy; Polka Dot A-Line Skirt: Cozy; T-Strap heels: Old (Store Unknown)

I had a blast dressing Madi and Maxwell! Don't they look great!?

Wardrobe Wednesday: From Sunday Best to Mechanic's Threads

Well hello, everyone!
First I just wanted to say thanks for the phenomenal turn out, I guess you could say, with respect to the giveaway last week for the Agnes and Dora leggings. It was so much fun, and the support from everyone meant a lot to me! Fashion is a huge passion for me (another post) and pulling these outfits will one day not just be what I do for fun on my blog or when collaborating with other designers or boutiques. IT WILL BE MY JOB, MARK MY WORDS.

Okay, onto some more fun stuff. Here are a few looks as of late. Happy Wardrobe Wednesday!

So this first look was just me and my babies before church one morning. We played with neutrals and a few pops of color. Ellie's whole outfit (minus her purse and shoes) was a Christmas gift from my Grandma Bonnie. She always does have great style. Especially when my Aunt Jill helps her pick things out. Thanks, ladies. Ellie looked beautiful. Though I couldn't get a full shot of my Landon (he's just so busy with very important things to do, ya know??) he felt nothing less than dapper that day, which he showed by telling everyone at church, "I look pretty great today." No lie.

Ellie-Dress: Children's Place; Cardigan: Children's Place; Heart Tights: Old Navy; Purse: Wal Mart; Bow: Children's Place; Shoes: Payless.

Landon-Pants (not pictured-Khaki slacks): Target; White Button-Up: Children's Place; Blue and Green Tie: Target

Me-Aztec Skirt: Old Navy (available in Tall, ladies!!); Chevron Tights: Target; Oxford Pumps: Sole Society; Chambray Top: Nordstrom; Nude Pullover Sweater: Old Navy; Jewelry: Old Navy

This second look was right before heading out to the concert that I blogged about here. Dan surprised me with a cute v-neck tee from Edelbrock, which is a company that he loves to buy car parts from. What can I say? I'm married to a mechanic. These jeans are the Rockstar line from Old Navy which they now sell in mid rise. (Ladies. Like, buy mid rise jeans. They don't look or feel like "mom jeans" but you hate your muffin top, I know you do because you're constantly grabbing the two belt loops closest to the button and doing the oh-so-flattering "up and over" routine. Please. Do this to help yourself and everyone behind you when you bend over to pick up your kids. Kthanks.) They also offer these in Tall and Long (not sure the difference...anyone want to enlighten me?) which I love because I love the slouchy look you can get from a great pair of skinnies and sneakers... but my legs are too long.UNTIL NOW!

TShirt: Gift from the hubby and Edelbrock; Jeans: Mid-rise Rockstar Skinnies from Old Navy; Shoes: Converse; Bracelet: Um. I forgot.

What did you all wear this week?! Link up!

-L

New York Fashion Week

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK STARTS NEXT MONTH.

Oh wait, I mean, *ahem*...

Hey guys!

No but really. Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion week is in February and I'm dying. I can't wait. I was just telling my husband (who was probably not listening because when it comes to this stuff, I ramble) that I love, love, LOVE fashion week. I can't wait to see all the looks, but I'm especially excited for designers like Rachel Zoe, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Charlotte Ronson, Zac Posen, J. Crew...OH MY. JUST ALL OF THEM. I don't typically start snooping around at the looks for 2014 until the New York fashion week is upon us. And now I've surpassed snoop and I'm onto full blown obsession.

Look, I know that most of the designs walking down the runway during Fashion Week aren't going to make it in my closet or ever adorn me while running my mommy errands or sitting at my desk at my "real" job. But that's not the point. (Well Lyss, what is the point?)

Yeah, I don't have time to get into that.

If you want to read about February's MB Fashion week in NYC, check it out here. They also have live streaming from the website. I watched Badgley Mischka for like 2 minutes and found myself actually crying. Has anyone else noticed how much her pieces seem to emulate the 50's. Kind of like lots of flowy shift pieces and even some that remind me of the early Chanel dress suit?
See what I mean:

And can we just take a second to die over Zac Posen's work? Like, why can't I have an excuse to wear a gown? 

It's also worth your time to follow @mbfashionweek on Instagram.

Here are my predictions: Lots of color on color (black on black, white on white, blue on blue, etc.) and lots of floral or feather inspired prints. Can't wait to see it all unfold. I'm trying to hold myself back from snooping too much so that I can fall in love with it all during NYFW. Tell me what your favorite designers being featured this year are???

One day I'll make it there, you guys. I will.

What do you think? Should we do a special giveaway on the 6th of February honoring Fashion Week?!

-L

Review and Giveaway-Agnes and Dora and Leggings, OH MY!

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Birchbox and Ipsy

So, I've been discussing BirchBox and Ipsy with a few of my friends lately, and then yesterday, after posting this picture on Instagram about how much I love that the universe (or UPS, whatever....) sent me my BirchBox and my InStyle on the same day, some of my other friends struck up a conversation on facebook with me about Ipsy and BirchBox.

I have some reviews to do (I'm a slacker and I think it's been since July that I've done an Ipsy vs. BirchBox post), but I wanted to take just a sec and talk about them in general first, and post some links for ya.

I'll start with Ipsy.

Ipsy is pretty great. It is more make up oriented (whereas BirchBox does send makeup but seems to be more hair and skin care oriented than Ipsy is), and I love that each month comes in its own makeup bag. I also feel like the sample sizes are most often not really sample sizes. For example, blush and/or lipgloss is usually full size. Nail polishes are always full size. Eye liner and brow pencils are full size. You get the idea.

Also, Ipsy has links to get discounts on full size items that are sent to you in your bag each month. So if you get something and love it, you can buy a full size at a discount that month!

Ipsy used to not really have much of a points program, but lately they've adopted a system much like BirchBox. You can review the items you get in your Ipsy bag, and you receive points for each item reviewed. After so many points, they send you products. I've received a bracelet (that I adore and wear all the time!!), some OPI nail polish and Urban Decay eye shadow. Right now their points are offering NYX eyeshadow, Benefit mascara and some hair accessories. So, that's pretty rad.

Here is the Ipsy link: http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-hfwytq3dyjp23na 

On to BirchBox.

I love that BirchBox has an amazing points system. For every $10 that you spend (i.e. each month or more if you order full size products), you receive 10 points. You also get 10 points every time you review a product (and each BirchBox has between 4-6 products a month....so that's anywhere from 50-60 points a month). After 100 points you get $10 credit to the BirchBox shop, and you can save up your points. I've got lots of free stuff, people.

Also, BirchBox gives you free shipping on any of the products that came in your package that month, and if you purchase a full size item, they often send you larger than average samples of really great products (like this Living Proof Style Extender. LOVE!!) and they last a long time. I love that their sample sizes are lots bigger than I'd expect.

Here is the BirchBox link: http://birch.ly/17ihbTX 

Both are just $10/month and I love them both!

_L