Holiday Beauty Series: Makeup and Hair

Party season is in high gear by now. With Christmas being a hop, skip, and jump away, I know that you are in dire need of fresh beauty ideas to up your party glam game. Don’t fret, I’ve found a ton of hair and makeup trends that are sure to give your new sparkly dress and that favorite LBD the extra kick of chic that it needs. Here are my top picks for the best in makeup and hair trends this holiday 2015:

High Ponytail

Sleek, wavy, or feminine, a high ponytail should be your hairdo of choice if your dress has low-cut back or intricate back detailing.

The Grown Up Sock Bun

Now, we all love a messy sock bun when we’re relaxing at home. Take your go-to hairdo to the next level by making your bun voluminous by teasing it a la Cara Delevingne. You can also take a cue and keep it sleek a la J. Lo or accent it with a full-on bang like Rihanna.

Accessorize It

You can always count on  floral or crystal embellishment to cure to a bland hair style. When in doubt, accessorize.

Braided Beauty

Braids have a had a strong showing for multiple seasons now. This holiday season, braids move away from the bohemian and into more romantic and sophisticated territory.

Making Waves

Whether you opt for tousled waves like Jessica Alba or old Hollywood glam like Kate Beckinsale or Blake Lively, or even some asymmetrical action like Allison Williams, your curling iron will be your best friend this party season.

Tease Me

Add a whole lot of drama when you add a little bit of volume to your holiday hair style. A little bit of undone glam never hurt.

Images from PopSugar, Harper’s Bazaar

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Bold Lips

Statement lips never go out of style. Classic red, girly pink, or edgy and bold dark berry like Kim Kardashian-West, let your lips do the talking this holiday party season.

Glow On

Enhance your skin’s natural beauty with understated stained lips, gold shimmer on the lids, and a sweep of bronzer.

Color Splash

This season be brave and experiment eyeshadow and liner in shades of blue, mauve and purple.

Smoke It Out

Smoky eyes are always a winner when it comes to nailing a sexy, party look. Deviate from the standard dark, black smoky eye, and try out a softer brown smoky eye.

Walk the Line

A dramatic cat eye is all you need to draw attention to your gorgeous eyes. Put a little mascara on, and you’re all set.

Images from Harper’s Bazaar and InStyle

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Which hair and makeup trend will you be trying on for your next party? I’m excited to try a brown smoky eye and a high ponytail. Happy holidays everyone!

Style Icon: Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez is proof that your style improves and gets better with age. This 40-something triple threat is showing no signs of slowing down, despite adding mother of twins to her resume. Oh, let’s not forget her American Idol judge stint too. This actress-singer-dancer can include style icon to her long list of credentials too. Her recent Oscars dress, that low cut nude glittering gown from Elie Saab, is a far cry from her now infamous Versace jungle dress.

Her style evolution is one to watch and here I give you a rundown of my favorite looks from J. Lo.

Fur has always been in J.Lo’s repertoire. It is right up her alley since fur has always been the perfect representation of glam, whether it is in a casual or formal setting. The fur-lined collar of her gray coat and her black and glittery silver pumps is the epitome of fall style with a glitzy upgrade, of course.

Jennifer Lopez certainly knows how to play up her assets, one of which is her incredible bronzed complexion. The dusty pink hue of this look complements her amazing tan and it shows that you don’t have to reveal a lot of skin to exude sex appeal. That little bit of decolletage goes a long way.

J. Lo breaks a fashion rule and establishes herself as a fashion renegade as she matches her eyeshadow with her rust-colored full shantung skirt. What would normall be a fashion no-no becomes a surprisingly chic element in this look. Perhaps because the rest of this outfit, from the classic black pumps, snakeskin box clutch, and white halter crop top are all understated.

Red is the go-to color for fashion vamps. It is the color that instantly grabs attention, oozes with mega confidence, and convey the maximum amount of sexy. This is exactly the formula for Lopez’s standout style. This red chiffon double slit number is one of her most memorable red carpet moments. Classic Hollywood glamour personified. 

Although sexy style is her bread and butter, Jennifer Lopez turns heads in this ladylike style. This outfit certainly speaks to how her style has evolved over the years, and has taken a more sophisticated turn. I personally love that peplum skirt detail and that delicate gold anklet adorning her right foot, such a charming little accessory.

In a monochromatic blush/nude look, this athleisure look is Jenny from the block all grown up. The urban style that J. Lo started out in the industry with, became a lot more refined as the years passed. The result? This ensemble that is equal parts casual, polished, and alluring.

Wow! Look at those toned gams! Lopez certainly isn’t one to shy away from short hemlines and a whole lot of snakeskin. She makes this head-to-toe snakeskin look work, by keeping things straightforward and letting the print be the focus. I am loving the 60s vibe of this look too.

Making a romper look glamorous is a tall order, Jennifer Lopez is certainly up to the task. She instantly ups the chicness of this navy romper with nude pumps, leather studded cuffs, and her signature aviators. This look certainly spells superstar.

 All Images from InStyle and WhoWhatWear

Aren’t you just envious of her killer legs and tan? Oh how I love J. Lo. She is undoubtedly an inspiration and living proof that you can do it all–career, family, and style. A modern icon indeed.

2015 Oscars Red Carpet Report

The Oscars is the most awaited and prestigious event of the awards season. For fashion lovers, celeb watchers, and style enthusiasts, the red carpet at the Oscars is the best time to spot the best beauty looks and most glamourous gowns. In an effort to be the best dressed star of the night, celebs pull out all the stops for the Oscars red carpet. This year was no exception. As most of Hollywood sashayed down the red carpet, us at home swooned over all the stunning (and some not-so-stunning) looks. Here are my picks for the best and worst dressed celebs at the 2015 Academy Awards.

BEST DRESSED

My top pick for best dressed of the whole night has got to be Jennifer Lopez. Jaws dropped and the crowd ooh-ed and aah-ed as La Lopez strode into the venue in this blush Elie Saab creation. The delicate embellishment and voluminous ball skirt contrasted perfectly with the low cut of the front of the gown.  The color works perfectly with J.Lo’s skin. This is modern elegance personified. 
Jamie Chung’s soft makeup look and luscious tressed with bouncy curls complemented the starburst adornment of her gown. The dark tulle overlay with the nude frock underneath is a great way to add dimension to an evening look. Choosing not to accessorize was a wise choice, as it let the gown design and sparkle take center stage.

Keira Knightley’s fairytale frock was a fashion risk, for sure, but it was one that paid off for her. With embroidery and delicate calligraphy all over her dress, Keira truly embodied a modern kind of romance. This look was certainly a step above your typical styled look for awards shows. Bravo.

Now, you can’t expect musical duo Tegan and Sara to stroll in clad in matching ball gowns, do you? Of course not. The pair stayed true to their indie and edgy roots by opting to go the more tailored route. Leather details, crisp silhouettes, and subtle and sleek metallic accessories, both their looks are proof that you can tailor your evening looks to your personality. Gowns are great, but they are definitely not your only sartorial option for red carpets and black tie events.

Jenna Dewan-Tatum has my vote in this luminescent and immaculate white number. She looks positively radiant in this column gown that is perfectly accented with some bling and a well-placed Art Deco inspired waist cincher. The simple yet elegant shape and cut of the gown makes her diamond cuff and earrings stand out even more. The red orange lip is a bold beauty move that makes her look a cut above the rest. 

Faith Hill’s short pixie cut looks even more regal in this soft yet impactful wrap column dress. The long diamond lariat is the perfect accessory to go with the low cut front of the down. A simple smoky eye and dewy skin finish off this look nicely. Zoe Saldana shows off her amazing post-baby bod in this stunning rosy blush gown. The beautiful draping combined with the fashion forward ruching and just the right touch of sparkle from her diamond necklace makes this an A plus red carpet look.

WORST DRESSED

Although Chloe Grace Moretz’s beauty look is on point (look at those brows), her dress is unfortunately left out in the cold. The fabric and cut just doesn’t do anything for her, and makes her look older than she actually is.

This robe/gown hybrid on Margot Robbie is proof that event the hottest bod can’t make a bad dress work. The length and the drape make this dress look more like a housecoat than a red carpet design. You can do better next time, Margot.

Who are you picks for best and worst dressed? Let me know!