Style Within Means: March 2012

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

2nd/hand-made

Recently I've been noticing a lot of little "sales" going on around town. A couple of weeks ago I went to my first "Blogger Sale" at the Waldorf Hotel here in Vancouver. My friends and I were shocked to arrive to a line up that wrapped around the building! Once inside, it did seem it was worth the wait. I ended up purchasing black Converse for only $15 (now I match my 5 year old LOL) and a brand new sleeveless blazer vest for $25.

This past weekend, I decided to stop in at the "Beggars Banquet" (located in the Boneta space in Gastown). This sale is on-going and I can already say I will be back... I could have dropped a lot of cash in there I tell you.

There was a great mix of vendors, and as a vintage-lover, tons to choose from. I'm used to searching through huge second-hand shops for treasures and here, all the work was done for me. The prices were very reasonable too, definitely less that what I've paid in Vintage shops.

In addition, there was a gorgeous flower stand, a chocolatier, and hand-made body products that day. For more info, go to http://www.facebook.com/beggarsbanquetmonthly or their blog http://beggarsbanquetmonthly.tumblr.com/.

Here is some of what I saw (and bought):

Bought one of these necklaces, but with amethyst stone.
The vendor makes them herself.

Hats!

Jewelry

Pretty rings

Plants, flowers... anddd cacti

Bought that Vintage Harley T, sleeves are already cut off.
The Loverboy T was pretty sweet too!

Great vintage clothes everywhere!

Bought the Mexican flower embroidered blouse (top left).

Vintage hats, head scarves and hand mirror

View from the back

Saturday, 24 March 2012

pastel/neon hair

Last year, I was noticing some people wearing colourful, pastel streaks in their hair in fashion shows and street style photos. I tried to mimic the trend for an editorial shoot, by using blue, pink and purple Halloween hair sprays very lightly (to get a pastel look) on different sections of the models hair. Here is how it turned out (XO Spring/Summer '11 issue, Photographer Kelly Jill, Stylist Coreen Miller, Model Andrea Milner):

Later in the year, I found a video of Kevin Murphy demonstrating how he used pigments rubbed into the hair as is done in India. So I tried this technique on an Indian-inspired shoot a few months ago, using bags of coloured pigment I found in an East Indian shop on the ends of the models hair. (Magpie Darling Magazine, Photographer Matthew Burditt, Stylist Yvadney Davis, Model Tori Quales)

Recently, I was on another shoot, where hairstylist Ala Friesen used Kevin Murphy's colour bug for one of the looks and it works amazingly, without all of the mess. One side is plastic, which you hold on to, and the other side is like a cross between chalk and pressed pigments. It glides on and looks fantastic! (Aroha Silhouettes Campaign, Photographer Kale JF, Model Shereen Alex).

So these are just some of the ways you can easily and inexpensively try this trend with the option of washing it out. I have ombre hair where my ends are bleached out, so I've been finding it quite fun to rub pigment (such as MAC Neon pink) or use my Halloween hair spray to colour it. I've also heard that coloured chalk works like a charm, or you can always use clip-in inserts/coloured hair extensions...

If you are wanting something semi-permanent, you can try the line of fun colours from Manic Panic (which are sold at places like the Rock Shop on Granville or Hot Topic in the US). For permanent colour, go to a pro. In Vancouver, I highly recommend Award-Winning hairstylist Ala Friesen (at Space Salon) who I had the pleasure of working with for Aroha Silhouettes. She actually had the most amazing pink hair herself!

If you would like to give any of these options a try, here's some inspiration to get you going:

MAC Cosmetics matte eyeshadow
$20 - nordstrom.com

Manic Panic Semi-Permanent Hair Dye - Atomic Turquoise
$10 - punk.com

Manic Panic Semi-Permanent Hair Dye - Electric Banana
$10 - punk.com

Kevin Murphy COLOR.BUG Hair Color - Purple
kevinmurphy.com.au

Kevin Murphy COLOR BUG - £12.95
kevinmurphystore.com

Manic Panic hårfärg Hair colour amplified - Manic Panic | Shock, din...
shock.se

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

smokey-glow

I've been in the mood for a worn-in, glowing, smokey eye look these days. I just bought the Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes liner in Matte black (which one of my students Shirley highly recommended) and wow... am I ever impressed. It's so intense with a really nice matte finish that blends effortlessly!

Here is a quick way to try this look:

1. Apply foundation like one of my all-time faves, MAC Face & Body. Rub into hands and pat on your face. Apply a touch over your lips as well to tone the natural colour down.
2. Apply the MUFE, or any black eyeliner around your eyes. Smudge with a brush. Then wrap any shimmer shadow around the edges, such as a black-gold, bronze, olive, eggplant or burgundy.
3. Clean up any fall-out under your eyes, and apply a concealer. I've been using Clinique Airbrush concealer for this look, since the little brush makes application precise and easy.
4. Apply bronzer, like my fave Mark Pro-Bronze along cheekbones, forehead, nose and chin.
5. Dip your finger in a little Korres Lip butter, pat over foundation on your lips. You can also tap on the higher parts of your cheeks for a bit of natural colour and glow.