Backstage at Bridal Fashion Week

Like Fashion Week, Manhattan is abuzz with designers and shows and parties during Bridal Fashion Week. This year I worked behind the scenes at the Wedding Trendspot Spring 2010 runway show as part of the MG Hair and Makeup (my agency!) beauty team. The look for the models was bronze-y with coppery eyes and a "bitten" mouth. Stainiac's hint of tint lip and cheek gel stain was applied to models' lips in the universally flattering color beauty queen (sheer berry pink) and topped with a dab of sheer melon gloss. Hair was casually smoothed half back with subtle twists on the side and loose cascading curls down the back. We were each assigned a model to help dress during the show. Never a dull moment behind the stage as models sprinted back from the runway over and over, unzipping their dresses and diving into the next one, all while wearing 5-inch heels! At times it seemed surreal with all of the taffeta, chiffon, and silk layers flying around with headpieces and bustles, tulle and jewelry. Fifteen designers' collections were showcased and the pace was fast. These girls rocked it! A very big thank you to Paul Newland at Solvara.com for sharing some of his great show photos with me.

Just One of the Guys? Not Tonight!

I love receiving messages like the one I got from Robyn recently. "I need to book you! I got this invitation and it says 'dress to impress!'". Special events are fun because it's a great excuse to do makeup and hair that's way more glamorous than you would normally wear. Robyn is not a big makeup wearer and dresses pretty casually. She hangs out with a lot of guys doing things like watching football. She decided this was the perfect event to remind them that she is, in fact, a woman. Channeling her inner Jessica Rabbit, she chose a slinky little black dress and super smoothed hair perfectly rounded in front and back. I told her I was feeling bold and that I really wanted to put a ton of black eyeliner and shadow on her. She had never worn black makeup in her life. "But it's a nighttime event and this will be makeup that looks good at night. Circle of trust! Circle of trust!" I said, making my case. She decided to go for it and couldn't believe it when I showed her the mirror. Even her trademark freckles were completely gone. "Woa!" she said. And apparently that's what the guys said too when they saw her. I got a two-word email the next day with these pics attached: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

A Perfect Mess

Erin is one of the biggest characters I've ever met! Larger than life would be a total understatement. Her Motown-themed wedding in the Harlem church where she is a gospel singer was as unique as she is. And just like how she knew her man was the one for her (he agreed to dress as a can of Raid to complement her sparkly cockroach costume for Halloween), she knew exactly how she wanted her makeup. "Not too matte!" she warned me. A nice glow with long lashes and a little melon colored shimmer on the eyes to match her delicious wedding colors of creamsickle and tangerine. "Satin finish on the lips please - I'm not really a gloss girl." No problem. Love a girl who knows what she wants. When it came to the hair, she knew she wanted some texture added and finger-raked back with a few pieces falling out. We played around with the back but it just seemed too curly and "done" for her taste. On the day of the wedding she watched in the mirror as I, under her orders, roughed up the waves in the back. She kept saying "Messier!" so I went for it until I heard the word "Perfect!". Yay! Many thanks to Convey Photography for the photos. Good luck Erin! I had so much fun getting to know you!