Our Met Gala 2014 Favorites

There's something about the Met Gala that gets us even more excited than any red carpet in Hollywood.  Fashion at it's finest, I suppose.  This year's homage to Charles James-- the greatest couturier to walk the planet (so they say)-- was a drastic leap from last year's punk theme, but it left us completely fulfilled-- maybe even thirsty for more!  

While it seems that Sarah Jessica Parker has overwhelmingly taken the MVP award, we found some other winning beauties who caught our eye!  

Best Hair: Dree Hemingway

In our humble opinion, Dree captured the Charles James era with her deep part and voluminous curls.  (They may not have worn plunging necklines back in his day, but she could've fooled us!)

Best Makeup: Beyonce
Soft eyes...covered by a (funeral?) veil...and a deep burgundy lip…She's done it again, ladies & gentlemen.  Super chic.

Best Complementary Accessories: Anne Hathaway

We're a bit tired of the pixie cut that's (still) sweeping Hollywood, but Anne's choice of dangly earrings add the length that we've been missing when it comes to her (admittedly lovely) locks.  (Great shade of lipstick, too.)

Best Overall: Cara Delevingne
From the hair accessory, to the curls, to her distinctly defined brows and flawless skin-- Cara takes the cake on achieving the "Best Overall" award.  Definitely something to replicate for your next Gatsby themed bash… probably with the help of a 'Stylisted pro!

Best Surprise Beauty Moment: Joan Smalls
Pairing a simple fishtail braid with those vibrant purple lips was the perfect complement for ultra super model, Joan Smalls.  Something tells us this isn't the last we'll see of the regal shade on models and Hollywood starlets, alike.  Dare we give it a try in the "real world"?

Photo's courtesy of nymag.com/thecut

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How To: Wear Makeup During Allergy Season

If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent the past week sneezing and sniffling and fighting the urge to wear sunglasses indoors to hide your red, teary eyes.  Allergy season can really take a toll on even the most glamorous gal.  By noon on Monday your eye makeup might be halfway down your cheeks.  By mid-week, your glasses are on and you’re completely reworking your beauty routine.  Since this is my current reality, I scoured the web to compile a list of the best tips for tweaking your beauty regimen during allergy season.

Grab your tissues and take a read!

1. Simple skincare is the way to go: Now is not the time to experiment with a new skincare routine or complex formulas.  While your skin is probably thirsty for moisturizer (more so than ever), don’t run out and try to buy quick-fix products.  Stick to the basics and use products with a short ingredient list.  This applies to face, eyes, and lips.
2. Waterproof your eye makeup-- it’s likely going to run: You’ll definitely want to transition to a waterproof mascara (budge proof liners and shadows won’t hurt either).  If you find that any makeup at all is irritating your eyes, try a light set of false lashes.  You won’t have to think twice about raccoon eyes. (Yes, please!)
3.  Clean your brushes- that’s a no brainer: All of your brushes and mascara wands should be kept incredibly sanitary.  If you’ve been waiting for that nudge to wash your brushes, now is the time.  Eliminate all risk of further irritation.
4. Embrace the blues: Certainly not telling you to be sad, although allergies can be a real buzz kill.  Instead, swipe on a blue mascara or liner to counteract any redness in your eyes.  Who doesn’t love an excuse to play with color!
5. When you just can’t imagine the thought of putting your contacts in- opt for glasses and change up your beauty routine:  Make sure your brows are freshly groomed and try filling them in with a pencil or powder so they frame your face and compliment your glasses.  Focus on applying a healthy amount of bronzer and contouring under your cheekbones to reduce puffiness.  Finally, walk into the nearest hipster coffee shop and count how many new friends you make…you might get an extra shot of espresso. 
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The geniuses behind your favorite looks: hair edition

What do your favorite celebrity hair and makeup looks have in common other than the fact that the women wearing them are all gorgeous? Some of these looks were created by the same stylist!

This blog is an ode to 3 hairstylists who are single-handedly responsible for some of the most memorable hair moments on the red carpet. Take a look and fantasize about who you would hire with unlimited funds and access...

Adir Abergel

Renato Campora

Mark Townsend

So who's your fave? Mull that over while you wait for our second installment... the makeup edition. 

Photo credit (top to bottom, left to right): Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Jessica Alba, Kate Winslet, January Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Lea Michele, January Jones, Diane Kruger

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Everyday Makeup Musts

Here at TheStylisted, we love helping women look their very best when it matters the most. I personally love getting dolled up and will allocate a lot of time for hair and makeup for special occasions. Every other day of the year is a completely different story. Most days I don’t have the time or the energy to go all out, but I do know that a little makeup can go a long way in how I look and feel. It is with this look good, feel good mantra in mind that I have perfected my morning routine. Give me just 4 minutes and I can go from I-hope-I-don’t-run-into-anyone-I-know to where-are-all-the-babes?

Before I get into what my 4 minutes look like, I’ll share what I found on celebrity everyday beauty routines. Some quick stats: Olivia Wilde, 10 minutes; Jessica Alba, 5 minutes; Katy Perry, 90 minutes!

An Everyday Von Teese

My favorite is Dita Von Teese’s routine – she’s mastered her hair and makeup and has some amazing tips. Here are the highlights from a great interview she did with XOJane (full interview here!).

Time: 20 minutes (includes hair and makeup)

Products Used: Miracle Skin Transformer, a touch of foundation or concealer where needed, a sweep of powder (favorite: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish), a touch of blush, a sweep of ivory eyeshadow, mascara on curled lashes, matte red lipstick

Advice: “I believe that the keys to maintaining glamour and not being late for things is to prioritize, focus, and practice…I advise every woman to learn and practice a chic, simple updo that you can do anytime, anyplace. I can do it without even looking in a mirror!”

OK, back to my routine...

Time: 4 minutes

Products Used: Concealer/foundation only where I need it (Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow by Benefit), bronzer (Hoola by Benefit) applied with an Eco Tools brush, eyebrow pencil (Instant Brow Pencil by Benefit), a little color on the cheeks (Nars blush or Nars matte multiple), mascara (Maybelline Volum'Express)

Advice: Your goal should be to look makeup-less to an untrained eye. I apply just enough mascara to make my lashes darker, without looking like there’s goop on them.

How long does it take you and what are your essentials? Discuss!

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What We Love This Wednesday

1) Karl Lagerfeld's Anti-Selfie Statement

"They are this horrible thing where you are distorted. The chin is too big, the head is too small. No, this is electronic masturbation."

We have to go ahead and agree here (though we’re not totally sure what he means by electronic masturbation?).  Feels good to have the authority on cool back us up.  Yes, much of our selfie hatred stems from bitterness after a plethora of selfie-fails.  We’ve seen this video—we know it can be done.  Just not for us.
It starts when a friend asks to see your new haircut.  You’re walking home alone so you casually stretch that arm—everybody’s doing it—and snap what you just assume will be a gorgeous picture (because your hair is looking sharp, and let’s be honest, that’s usually the problem).  Upon review, you find that you look really tired, your face is asymmetrical, and when you smile, you look like a 6 year old pageant queen vying for the Grand Supreme.  (Just us?)   You hope it’s a onetime deal, but upon experimentation—lighting, angles, filters—you realize there’s no hope.

So thank you, Karl.  If you say they’re horrible, we say they’re horrible.  Let’s just all vow to stop trying.

2) Spring has sprung!  We’re going darker. (And we’re not talking about our tans)

Pastels abound, but when it comes to picking a spring shade, we love the element of surprise. When every other girl in the nail salon is laser focused on the spectrum of pinks and whites, we’re heading for black’s, blues, and dark purples.  
This applies to our lip shade, as well.  Before we all soak in some (much needed) vitamin D, pair your sunlight deprived winter skin with a deep sangria red (try NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Palais Royal) for a gorgeous contrast.
                                  

3) Crispy Green Freeze Dried Fruit

3pm snack time just got super fun.  Or maybe it’s been fun for a while and we’re just catching on. 
In a perfect world, we’d get the after school snack urge and grab an apple without fail.  But being the imperfect gals that we are, sometimes we’d much prefer a bag of chips (or a Handi-Snack, but we’re too old for that).  Crispy Green is helping solve this dilemma with individual servings of freeze dried fruit.  True story- I loved the treat so much, I looked into buying a freeze dryer…they’re expensive.

An individual bag is only 40 calories (and a little under $1.50 at Whole Foods) and won’t quite fill you up, but it’s a great hold-over ‘til dinner if you’re not wildly starving.  I intend to make my way through all the fruit options by next week.  Get on board, friends!  Swimsuit season is fast approaching.

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Daylight Savings Stole An Hour (and I need it back)

It’s never fun when someone tells you that you look tired.  I don’t care if you’re my best friend in the whole wide world.   You’re not doing anyone any favors by shedding light on how sleepy I look.  Want to know what’s even less fun?  When the plumber conveys the same message… at 11am…on a Monday morning.  This was my sad reality this past week.

Fortunately, there was something to blame it on.  While we all love the extra hour of sunlight, losing an hour of sleep is cruel. Fact. (And a weekend full of Irish libations isn’t going to help the cause… should you partake.)

This unfortunate start to my week got me poking around the Internet (on quite a few Mommy websites…because comparing myself to a woman with a newborn felt fair) for some easy tips and tricks to solve my problem.

Some helpful tidbits that I thought I'd share:

•  Wear light gemstone or pearl earrings: An excuse to wear diamond earrings? OK!  This was perhaps the most surprising fun fact.  Light colored gemstones and pearl earring help brighten the face and make you appear less tired.  Word on the street is that earrings in general draw attention away from sleepy eyes, but light stones and studs seem to be the fan favorite by women across the board.

• Keep spoons in your freezer: “Sue Ellen, every girl over twenty-five should have a cucumber in the house.”- Rose Lindsey (Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead)  I truly thought this was the golden rule for growing up.  Here I am just a few monthsyearsdaysweeks over twenty-five and I can barely keep a bag of baby carrots alive in my fridge.  So let’s skip the produce and get right down to it.  Frozen spoons wake you up and eliminate puffiness-- and they have no expiration date.  Sure you can splash some cold water on your face, but a few minutes with these metal popsicles and your puffy eyes will be instantly rejuvenated.

• Curl your lashes:  I saw some tremendous before and after photos with JUST a lash curler.  No mascara, no eyeliner, no concealer.  It’s actually quite remarkable.  Your eyes will instantly open up and you’ll look more alert and significantly better rested.  Invest in a quality curler, friends.  This is a total game changer!

• Bronze: Tons of sights give makeup tips for waking up the face, but the minute I start playing with eye shadow angles and highlighter (below your eyes, in the inner corner, on the brow bone… so you’re saying I just put it everywhere?) is the minute I come out looking worse than before.  Bronzer is something I can handle.  Everyone looks a bit healthier and livelier with a sun-kissed glow so for that, I say, pass the bronzing brush!

• Grab your sunnies:  Longer days means there are more hours to acceptably wear huge sunglasses.  When all else fails, put on your biggest pair and wave the white flag.  Make sure the lenses are super dark so if you happen to doze off at an inopportune time, it’s really anyone’s guess if you’re just deep in thought or napping.
  

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