Mother's Day special

Mother's Day is around the corner (May 8th), and for this day when we should all honor the women who sacrifice so much for their children, I am offering a very special Mother's Day Makeover Package.

Instead of buying your mum that pretty scarf or sweater, why not go that extra mile and do something really special?  Mother's are notorious for always putting themselves last on the list, always tending to other's needs before their own.  So why not get her this very special gift so that she gets to put herself first for a change?

Most mums don't have the time for shopping or pampering, so let me do it for them!  This package is the perfect way to make your mum feel special and loved for Mother's Day, so don't hesitate and call me now to get your gift for mum!

Package Includes:

Style Consultation
Current Wardrobe Review
Color Analysis
Personal Styling with current closet items
Personal Shopping Day
Accessorizing & Style Tips

This package is usually $300 but I am offering it for just $200 especially for Mother's Day!  Call me now to get your Gift Certificate for mum.  I promise you she will love the experience of putting herself first for once!

Call 412-996 5200 for more details

How to get perfectly bronzed & contoured skin...

One thing that most of us seem to want in the summer months is that "healthy" glow that we see a lot of the celebs have.  But bronzing your skin isn't just about creating a healthy complexion without the sun. Bronzer is also essential for one of my favorite  makeup tricks: contouring.  How to do it right? Well I'm here to tell you it's easier than you think.  Here are some do's and don'ts that will have your skin looking luminous, dewy and kissed by the sun, and your bone structure on display.

Do Stick to Your Shade

The desire for deep dark color you could never get on your own can be strong - please resist!  Don't go more than three shades darker than your natural skin tone when you're picking out your bronzer palette. Check out the underside of your wrists.  If the veins are green, you're warm-toned.  If your veins look purple or blue, you're cool toned.  Pick warm and cool bronzers accordingly.  Comparing two or three side-by-side will make their cool or warm qualities easier to determine.  Warm will have a terracotta (touch of red or orange) look.  Cool bronzers don't.



Don't Forget to Account for Skin Type

There are so many bronzers on the market these days, you'll have more to consider than just the color.  For example, there are cream bronzers and powder, as well as shimmery (those with sparkle) and matte (those without).  If your skin is dry, a cream bronzer will give you a dewy glow.  If your skin is oily, best to stick to a mineral powder.  If you want some shimmer, best to use it at night, on special occasions, and leave it off your forhead, no matter when you wear it.



Do Count on the Recession

When it comes to application, realize that whatever part of your face you apply bronzer with is going to recede visually, making the area next to it pop out.  So you want to apply under your cheekbones (never on top), around your hairline and the outermost edge of your face, on either side of your nose (never the bridge), just under your nose (above the center part of your top lip) and just under the center of your bottom lip.  Do not veer from these areas of application and you'll be contouring just right.



Don't Stop Till You Get Enough

Start with a light touch, tapping the brush to remove excess bronzer if you're using powder, and build up from there.  Too little and you've wasted your time.  Be patient.  With practice you'll be able to get it right in no time.



Don't Forget Bared Shoulders and Chest

A bronzed face might look amazing, until you get down to a pasty shoulder and decolletage.  Lightly brush or tap bronzer on the outside of your shoulders, in between your breasts, and on the inside of your clavicle bones.  Think of where the sun would naturally hit.




Do Be Careful of your Brush Size

There's no perfect set of brushes to do this with, and you can certainly use your fingers to tap and blend if you wish.  Just be aware that you want to use a medium to large brush for your cheek bones and facial perimeter and then switch to a small brush for the nose and mouth area.  Use your bigger brush for any bronzer that goes below your jawline.




Don't cake on Extras

By applying primer and/or foundation and then bronzer, you run the risk of a cakey "Real Housewives" look by applying much more on top of it.  So keep it light.  If you feel the need to use blush, a light cream or mineral tap will do you.  A little liquid illuminator on top of your cheekbones will add to the glow, but skip it if you've gone with that shimmery bronzer for an occasion.

Bustiers for every occasion...

One of my great loves (apart from my husband of course!) is.....the bustier.  I've been having a love affair with this item of clothing for many years now, and over the course of time I've racked up approximately 15 of them!  You could argue that I have a bit of a bustier addiction, but the truth is that I think this piece is one of my favorites because you can do so much with it.

Bustiers are (usually) boned, and therefore pretty structured, which in turn means that they will only enhance a woman's shape.  I've made no secret of the fact that I have curves, but my (many) bustiers emphasize those curves and accentuate the feminine shape (which is meant to be hourglass!).

A bustier can be worn with jeans for a casual look, or dress pants or a slinky skirt and heels for an evening look.  Add a great statement necklace and you're good to go! You can add a cropped jacket or shrug during the day for a more conservative look, and then take that off in the evening when you're meeting the girls for happy hour and want to have a sexier look.  So it's a great transition piece from day to evening, office to cocktails!

Another way to wear this piece is to don a white button down shirt underneath it!  This look has been done many times by various celebs and is a fave look of mine.  I usually wear my white shirt with a solid black bustier and add several strings of pearls to make a statement!  Versatility is key here with this piece!

If you're not a fan of the more structured bustiers, you can go for the more stretchy-type ones, or as I like to call them (boob tube type) ones.  These are super comfy and won't make you feel restricted.

Most of my bustiers are from White House Black Market, who always seem to have a great selection.  You can get both the structured ones as well as the more casual ones from there.  Take a look at some of the great designs they have in bustiers, and you can also look online to see what they have there.

Don't be afraid to try this look - I promise you you'll look and feel great!

What Trends You Should Keep This Spring...

As we get ready to kick spring into full gear (at least I'm hoping so despite the changeable weather of late!), it's time to start packing pieces away, so here are some looks you should keep on wearing.  These trends have been here for a while, and this spring they will continue to be on trend!

Keep - Peter Pan collar.  This playful accent hasn't lost its appeal.  For spring, look for extra details like a floral print, eyelet fabric or lace inserts.




Keep - leather gear.  From feminine dresses to pleated skirts, leather is still a knockout come spring.  To give it a warmer vibe, look for softer hues that aren't as edgy or as bold as fall favorites black and oxblood.





Keep - printed jeans.  I'm relieved that this trend will continue into spring as I have several pairs of printed jeans and I love wearing them!  This trend has been going strong for almost a year, yet patterned denims still manage to look fresh and forward.  For a spring feel, look for prints with a lighter look or traditional blues with a faded print that have a bohemian flair.





Keep - Peplum.  Again, this is a relief for me as I have several peplum tops and love wearing them!  They are slimming and feminine and can come in many different variations from the colors to the assymetrical looks that I've seen a lot of lately.  The peplum is already a staple in almost every female's closet, but for a more modern take for spring, look for a peplum with sporty details.  Try a colorblock peplum to look fashion-forward, or a leather peplum to look super cool!

White Pumps! The New Look This Season...

Today I'm going to share a trend with you that you probably didn't see coming!  White pumps!  That's right ladies, you heard right, I said white pumps!  Usually associated with a less than classy look, white pumps have become the latest "it" thing to wear among celebs and well, just about everybody who knows about fashion!  But beware, there is a way to do this look.  Don't think you can just throw on any pair of white shoes and look fashionable.  There's a fine line between tasteful and tacky, so if you're going to try this look, make sure you do it right!

When it comes to pumps, white is the new nude.  Tapping their toes in the front rows of the shows at New York Fashion Week and strolling the red carpet, celebs are showing off their passion for white pumps.  Think of wearing white pumps as a more streamlined way to colorblock this season.  The footwear trend has been resurrected from the 80s (which I remember only too well!), and updated with modern shapes - finishing your look with a white pump is an instant way to give any outfit just a little more of a wow factor!

Check out how the celebs are wearing this new trend...