Backstage at yesterday’s Giambattista Valli haute couture F/W 2011 show in Paris.
Summer beauty looks are undeniably my favorite. A fresh face is so youthful and pretty, and not to mention easy to achieve. Despite the fact that it was the autumn/winter collection, yesterday’s Giambattista Valli haute couture show in Paris has me inspired to try a new warm-weather style: using the same color on my cheeks and lids. This image of the lovely Melissa Tammerijin backstage showcases just how well a soft apricot shade can work as both a blush and a shadow—and effortless warm-weather beauty is all about paring down your products and asking them to do double duty. While not all hues of blush will work, steer clear of anything red or too dark, light tangerine and pink colors are perfect to create this feminine and vibrant aesthetic. The two products I’ll be using to get this look will be Laura Geller’s Baked Blush-n-Brighten in Pink Grapefruit as well as Benefit’s Dandelion.
Would you wear your blush as a shadow?
—Meredith
Love coral makeup as much as we do? Check out our Peachy Keen editorial.
Looks from the Alexis Mabille Spring 2011 Haute Couture show. Photo: Stylelist
Couture isn’t just about beautiful ball gowns—it’s about taking everything to that ultimate, showstopping level, including makeup and hair. Yesterday we talked about our fascination with the flame-red uber-dramatic eyebrows that models sported during John Galliano’s Dior show. Today, we’ve fallen in love with another over-the-top look: pretty plaits. At the Alexis Mabille show, hairstylist Odile Gilbert did long braids woven with faux-flowers and vines. The result was the most beautiful princess-worthy hair we’ve seen in a while. Who can resist loving such a romantic, Rapunzel-perfect look? Even though you can’t wear this hairstyle in real life, a girl can fantasize.
—Meredith
For lovely locks of your own, take a look at our favorite hair products in the Birchbox Shop.
John Galliano’s Flaming Couture
The couture shows are fully underway in Paris now and you can always count on John Galliano to bring the drama at the Dior Couture show. The clothes (and hats!) are gorgeous of course, but the makeup really caught our eyes. Check out the flame eye shadow, bold lips, and even bolder red eyebrows, which - get this- are made of paper, in the video above. The whole look is little bit Black Swan meets Gone in 60 Seconds.
While we wouldn’t necessarily recommend wearing such a bold look, (unless you actually happen to be Karlie Kloss, in which case, go for it), we do love each of the pieces on their own. Here are our tips for getting the perfect red lip. Next, perfect your winged liner and your arches before tackling red flames. We like Urban Decay eyeshadow in Gash for a dark brick red, or Mac eyeshadow in Passionate for a pinker tone. Would you be brave enough to wear flaming eyeshadow off the runway?
-Lorelei
For eye and lip colors that are a bit more in our comfort zone, check out the Birchbox Shop.
