A beauty splurge for New Year's Eve.

New Year’s Eve is one night where venturing into over-the-top territory is perfectly acceptable, dare we say encouraged. Beyond the dress, the shoes, the jewellery (oh, god and the hair, the manicure, and new stockings, we need to make a list, we’re not ready), we’re also adding to our want list Guerlain’s limited edition La Nuit en Rose makeup kit ($230, guerlain.com).

Designed by creative director Olivier Échaudemaison to celebrate his ten-year anniversary with the French luxury cosmetic company, it contains a lipstick pan of bright fuchsia, a more subtle shade of pink for cheeks and a round brush all adorned in black pearls and crystals and housed in a simple pewter-hued pouchette. Only 410 sets are available worldwide, with 16 in Canadian boutiques–at Guerlain in Montreal and Toronto, and Holt Renfrew in Calgary–so you know you won’t see anyone else at the party wearing your makeup.

Vancouver: Banana Republic’s concept shop comes to Metrotown

A new Banana Republic store alone might not be reason enough on it’s own to hit the mall, but when it’s a new concept store, think again. The latest opening at Metropolis at Metrotown (4700 Kingsway, Burnaby, 604-438-7900, bananarepublic.com) is a 9,000-square-foot space that features shop-in-shops for each of the different Banana departments, each opening up to a wide, central boulevard. The store has a comfortable, slightly-residential feel, designed to feel like walk-in closets that you might enter depending on what you’re dressing for: There’s a closet for Sunday brunch outfits, one for fancy dinners…you get the idea. Like we didn’t already love shopping for the company’s clothing collections and accessories—seriously, the necklaces are always to die for!—now, we love it even more.

Michelle Jank:fashion

- Michelle Jank

Confidence reigned supremet in 2008 as many established labels returned tro show theri collections at fashion week.

Amounsgt them was Perth born designer Michelle Jank, who after being absed for seven years presented a collection of etherial goddess gowns adorned with bird applique and bold gold jewellery all set against a background of an atmospheris short film. It prompted vogue.com.au to write that the show "built to a creshendo with a dress scattered with a flock fiiving flashbacks of Tippi Hedren in an Alfred Hitchcocks thriller".

Alex Perry:fashion

Alex Perry

Designer Alex Perry had been showing his personal brand of glamour since Fashion Week began and in 2006 as Harpers Bazaar put it his 'Sugar-sweet micro-frocks, embellished with beads and sequins' dazzled the celebrity-heavy front row.

This year Simon Lock, the visionary event organiser who founded fashion week sold his idea to IMG Fashion Asia-Pacific and was in turn appointed to mange the event. Lock explained the sale, saying "It's been difficult for us as an independent organisation ... to cashflow the growth on the event ... This is going to give us the resources for the growth and development that the industry really deserves."

Willow: fashion

- Willow

This year saw the change of event venues from Fox Studios to the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney's The Rocks.

Designer Kit Willow debuted her lingerie line in the smallest of the venues available at the show, but despite the size of room the response was massive, generating orders from both London and New York.

Two years later Willow was invited to show at New York fashion week as part of a showcase of young designers. Today her label is one of Australia's most commercially successful, being sold in over 80 stores worldwide. When asked about Fashion Week by the Sydney Morning Herald, she said "It launched Willow - I couldn't have done with out it"

Australian Fashion

This year Australian Fashion was all about the theatrics of the show.

Melbourne based designer Gwendolynne Burkin dazzled crowds with her second collection. Melbourne’s the Age newspaper commented on how the models walked a "long, rippling catwalk path between torn and stripped tree branches' dressed in 'swaggered, bustle-backed skirts thin jersey draped tops, long-sleeved blouses with an Edwardian puff at the shoulders".

As if that wasn't enough, designer Terry Biviano launched her new shoe range with a troop of pom-pom dancing girls performing a 'dream sequence' and Paablo Nevada recrated a rugby field on the runway, complete with mock commentary from Roy and H G Nelson

HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST in Fashion City!

HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST in Fashion City! Only 3 days! October 30, 31 and November 1! The number of Halloween costumes is limited!Not only will the winners of the Contest get Points and Diamonds, they will also receive a unique prize especially designed for their Condo! Good luck and have fun!

Karen Walker:fashion

Karen Walker

Actor and Australian darling Cate Blanchett was front row in 2000 as guest editor for Harper's Bazaar this year. One of here favourite shows was that of the New

Zealand designer Karen Walker who collection was a quirky take on society dress and who send her models down the runway in silence, instead giving each of the

audience a Discman loaded with a choice of tracks.

After the show Blanchett was quoted as saying, "I watched to the sounds of trucks outside and the universal orgasms taking place beside me. These provoked the first real laughs of Fashion Week. I loved it form the very first second.

This year was also notable for the designer Peter Morrissey's use of bold prints in collaboration with indigenous designer Jacinta Numuna Waugh which captured the
mood leading up to the Sydney Olympics

Akira Isogawa:

 Akira Isogawa:

Having debued in at the 'New Generation' group show in 1996 and had his first solo show in 1998 expectations were high for designer Akira Isogawa show the following season, delivering in spectacular astyle

Vogue Australia wrote, "Faces came alive at the Isogawa show ... [which] closed with a pinafore of rustic peasant simplicity fused with the extraordinary opulence of Balinese beading".

For the international press and buyers who had made the long journey to Sydney in search of the unique signature of Australian fashion, Vogue concluded that  "Isogawa, in only his second show, has saved Sydney".

Imports were big the second year of Australian fashion week.

Imports were big the second year of Australian fashion week.

International supermodel Linda Evangelista walked for designer Charlie Brown, starting the show by climbing out of a bed on the catwalk, a cheeky nod to the rumour that she was a girl who wouldn't get our of bed for less than $10,000

The other big name that year was the English journalist Marion Hume, who had just bee appointed to the role of editor of Australian Vogue. While her criticism of some ruffled feathers she had nothing but praise for Rosemary Armstrong's label Tea Rose, describing the outfits as 'flighty chiffon pieces created with a light touch...picture perfect".

take it easy , let's drink and smoke.....

Fashion Know It All: Silk

Spring’s newest looks borrow from breezy California styles of the ’80s; ELLE’s Fashion Know It All Anne Slowey says it’s time to kick back and relax.

Dear FKIA,
After all the body-con stuff of the past few seasons, what’s with the floaty silks for spring?

When one thinks of cliché California fashion, what comes to mind are silicone-enhanced DDs in bra tops, paired with microshorts or sweats in sweet-tart colors. Throw in a pair of cowboy boots or Uggs, and you’ve got the picture.

But there was a golden era in the ’70s and ’80s when producers’ wives lolled about in flowing, natural-dyed silks in Malibu beach houses amid clouds of hash smoke, killing time until their philandering husbands returned home with cast and crew for an all-night orgy. Notwithstanding the waste of human potential inherent in that version of Hollywood wifedom, the lean ladies of the canyon and beyond had a great look. The flowing silhouette was in part reminiscent of the see-through shifts of the ’20s but had its true origins in the East: in Thailand, whose slippery, sensuous fabrics were imported by people such as Go Silk founder Jerry Hirsch; and perhaps more famously, in Japan, the native land of Issey Miyake, who committed his entire design team to reinventing elegant leisure wear with a modern, arch sensibility.

When the look caught fire on the East Coast in the early ’90s, urbanites lent it a worker-wear vibe, adding utility pockets, reinforced seaming, and wrap-tie details from skydiver and hazmat jumpsuits. I fondly remember the store Parachute in SoHo; its long wrapdresses, drawstring pants, and halterdresses in crumpled silks were an affordable alternative for hip intellectuals and anyone who didn’t want to look like she was married to a junk bond trader.

Today’s approach is more like the California original: easy, simple, and without the proletarian details, though Alex Wang’s jumpsuit with its dropped-tie waist and visible pockets comes close to its utilitarian roots. Marc by Marc Jacobs went the color-block route—another huge trend for spring—to give his midcalf balloon dress a sporty riff, while Derek Lam and Max Azria for BCBG opted for the unadulterated flow of a simple dress and pantsuit.

The trick to wearing these silks is not to adorn them with anything other than a simple sandal or sporty lace-up, maybe a hemp belt or a few chunky ethnic bracelets. Less is more when going au naturel, drugs or no.

The dresses that defined Fashion Week....

The first ever Australian fashion week, offering local designers a chance to show off their work on a global stage.

Back then Zimmerman was only a small brand and after their show founder Nicky Zimmerman admitted "It cost us a fortune to do but we feel we have gotten that back
tenfold … we have an order from Harvey Nichols (London) for our swimwear. It's just fantastic."

But not everyone was so exuberant with one newspaper article dubbing the event 'Fashion weak', lamenting the low attendance of both media and overseas buyers and
calling into question the event continued viability

Let the Parties Begin!

Let the Parties Begin!

From office parties to neighborhood get-togethers, 'tis the season to get dressed up. I'm all about enjoying the holidays instead of getting stressed about what to wear, so that's why I recommend something versatile and easy like a cocktail dress, like this one pictured from Aidan Mattox

The cocktail dress -- which is really just a dressy, after-five, short (which means anything but floor-length) dress -- comes in all sorts of fabrics (silk, jersey, beaded) and colors (Little Black Dress, red, metallics, etc.) It goes to everything from actual cocktail parties to formal weddings. (Photo Credit: Nordstrom)

makeup:Neon Colors

The neon trend has been making a comeback over the past few years, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere soon. From 80’s inspired, bright colored leggings to pops of fuschia lipstick, these bright colors are making their way into makeup palettes and staying there.

Spring showed off colorful streaks of shadows on the runway from LAMB to Balenciaga, and fall collections continued on with the trend. From runway to real life, it looks like this punk rock, rainbow palette will be hanging on for at least a few more seasons.
Bright orange shadow and stained, dark lips are perfectly goth with color at Christian Dior (left). Balenciaga’s infamous aqua eyebrows made an unforgettable splash on the runways and with the press shown in Spring 2010 (right).

Silver and fuschia never looked so perfect on a pretty face, although we would expect nothing less from Chanel (left). Neon stripes on dreadlocks may not be a wearable trend, but it was sure unexpected and entertaining coming from Giorgio Armani (right).

A tangerine lip, tan skin and fresh face showed off this wearable trend on the runway at Twinkle by Wenlan.

Not for the timid, these neon shadows and glosses will certainly make a colorful splash next season. For real life, try a softer approach such as a colorful lip stain, unless you plan on going to a punk concert.

Italian Style : lip and eyes makeup

Let’s face it, the Italians have got it, and they show it off with confidence. When it comes to beauty, Italian woman have naturally beautiful skin and features that create the perfect palette for any make-up look. They take full advantage of this, and typically have a “more is better” attitude. From big, sculpted eyebrows, deep, red lips and smoky eyes, the Italian beauty is a force to be reckoned with. Rather than picking one strong beauty statement to run with, Italian women have a way of mixing several looks together and making them work. Definitely not a beauty look for a day at the beach, the Italian make-up style is a dark, dramatic way to bring your femininity out with passion. A bright, red lip, exaggerated eyebrows and slicked hair show off Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre’s gorgeous looks (left). Colorful, dramatic eyes, bright, cherry lips, and unfinished eyebrows were the look at D Squared (right).

Italian gems Dolce and Gabbana showed off slicked, black hair, berry lips and dark, sculpted brows on the runway (left). Deep, black lips, pulled back hair and thick, brushed brows are elegantly Italian at Missoni (right).

How To Get Flawless Runway Model Skin

How is it that runway models always have the most flawless skin in those backstage photos during fashion week, with not an imperfection in sight, and a dewy glow that radiates under the camera lights? Though many models have impeccable skin, there are also many who need to fight to keep their skin looking in tip top condition at all times. But with the help of light-reflecting products, we too can achieve that perfect runway perfect look via the magic of face serums and primers. Serums provide amazing benefits for your skin that a normal moisturizer cannot. Serums, which also moisturize, absorb deep into your skin and deposit potent nutrients into the pores. Serums also come in very specialized formulas so that you can choose one that targets a certain problem with your skin that you would like to fix, be it clarity, tone, dark spots, clogged pores, or even preventive care against the sun. Serums work to improve the overall appearance and smoothness of the skin, along with your normal wash and prep routine, and when your skin is healthy and radiating from the inside out, you will be one step closer to getting that supermodel skin you always dreamed of. Once you’ve got skincare down, it’s on to make-up. This is when primers come into the mix. Primers prep your skin before make-up application. They go on after moisturizer, and work by absorbing into the skin to smooth the surface so that make-up goes on more evenly, looks more natural, and stays on longer. Primers also absorb extra oil so you can stay shine-free throughout the day. Many also come with added benefits, like anti-aging properties and added moisturizers, to ensure skin health and radiance. Sounds too good to be true? Try it for yourself and you’ll see what we’re talking about. Primers are a newer addition the world of beauty, but they are now popping up in your local drugstore, so everybody can have a piece of the magic. Adding a serum and a primer to your beauty routine can make all the difference. So get ready to put your best face forward with these products known to work like a charm. Just don’t be alarmed if you get mistaken for a runway model on the streets. 1. Intensive Hydrating Complex from Cellnique - $61.00 2. Genifique Youth Activating Serum from Lancome - $84.00 3. Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector from Clinique - $49.50 4. Repair Serum from Burt’s Bees - $18.00 5. Oil of Olay Regenerating Micro-Sculpting Serum from Amazon - $23.57 1. Photo Finish Foundation Primer from Smashbox - $36.00 2. L’Oreal Studio Secrets Face Primer from Amazon - $10.99 3. Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer from Amazon - $12.99 4. Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer from Sephora - $32.00 5. Philosophy Never Let Them See You Shine Primer from Amazon - $20.00

Deep Purple Lips

There’s something a little dark going on for Fall 2010. Although the gothic trend slowed down a bit in ready-to-wear, beauty trends are picking up on the theme and coming up with some cool new options. Black and deep berry lips are hot, but what’s even fresher are the new deep, purple hues that, although they may sound grotesque, are quite wearable. Of course you have to be careful with your entire look to pull the lustrous, statement making color off. Keeping the face bare of color and the hair simple will ensure that you don’t look like a colorful clown. Also, it may be a color that you stick to wearing at night. Check out the looks from the runway to the red carpet for the hottest, cool color you’ll see this season. Peter Som’s Fall 2010 runway was not only a fashion hit but a beauty one as well. Mac Cosmetics created this deep hue that in real life was quite elegant and bold. Dolce and Gabbana chose Scarlett Johansen for her retro glam vibe but modernized the ad with this deep, purple lipstick. Ashley Olsen chose this deep berry to wear on the red carpet with her porcelain face and wispy chignon. Models always know what’s on trend, and usually know how to wear them best. Agnyess Deyn showed off this plum hue that stood out against her pale skin and platinum blonde locks.

ladyarab makeup: The Turquoise Eye

Whenever I hear that the turquoise eye look is back in style, I cringe with horror, and think back to the 80’s. Permed hair, purple lipstick, acid washed jeans and teal, blue eyeshadow were colorful, but not flattering. It’s a Barbie doll look I’m hoping the fashion industry would just leave in the past. However, leave it to the experts to make the turquoise eye fresh, modern and completely flattering. A solid blue shadow across the eye looks runway fabulous on a brunette, while a little blue liner on a top lid adds a gorgeous splash of color without being overbearing. Check out the looks from runways and celebrities to get a few new ideas on how to wear this pretty new trend.
Proenza Schouler was ahead of their time, showing off bold designers with even bolder blue eyeshadow last season (left). A dramatic look at Derek Lam showed models with copper lips and smoky turquoise eyeshadow (right).

Gucci highlights their resort collection with dramatic bright blue eye shadows and black, black lower liner (left).
Lovely in all shades, Scarlett Johansson poses for Dolce and Gabbana’s new ad campaign in  a updated Marilyn Monroe inspired look. (right)


A pretty turquoise eyeliner coral lipstick and clean face are the perfect summer look on Lily Donaldson (left). Perfect curled hair, porcelain skin, and blue eyeshadow with poppy red lipstick are a standout in the 50’s couture look at Christian Dior (right).

After review of these few looks, I think I can get on board with the turquoise eye again -  but the perm is going to have to stay in the 80’s.

ladyarab makeup:Bright Orange Lips

The designers behind Ohne Titel are pretty new to the fashion industry, appearing onto the scene only three years ago. But already the brand has proven to become a cult favorite with new collections being anticipated more and more with each release. This season, the brand stuck with a minimalist point of view, showing off clean lines, geometric shapes, sleek beach-inspired separates, and a boyish and restricted palette of navy, blue, and white. While Ohne Titel fans come for the brand’s straight to the point aesthetic that transcends any season or trend, the one factor that is getting us excited is the orange lip that brightened up the collection with its nearly neon tone. From a deeper orangey-red to a more pure intensity of orange, the colorful lip was a striking and refreshing turn from the classic reds and deep purples we have come to know too well. The highly pigmented orange hues brought a fun piece of summer beach party culture (think beach balls, inner tubes, and bright bikinis) to the collection’s dark and edgy personality. Enjoy this inspiration board and list of the best bright orange hues for your lips. 1. M.A.C. Lipstick in Morange (loudmouth orange) - $14.50 2. YSL Rouge Pure Shine Lipstick in Blood Orange - $30.00 3. Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in 24K Orange - $8.83 4. M.A.C. Lipstick in Hot Sass (bright orange) - $14.50

Get the Perfect Cat Eye

The swinging 50s trend has finally found its way back into the hearts of the high fashion world. From feminine housewife circle dresses at Louis Vuittton F/W 2010, to Isabel Marant’s rockabilly babes in skinny leather pants, we were surprised that we didn’t see any poodle skirts gracing the runways. But there was one thing we did see, and that was the famous cat eye. The cat eye is one make-up look that means business. A girl is tough, confident, and sexy with her flashy cat eye. A thick and sharp streak of eyeliner makes the eye look longer and heavily lidded, causing the boys to faint with just one blink. Some girls make the mistake of making their line too thick and harsh, or they make it too thin and long, as though they are channeling Cleopatra. Then there is also the problem of smearing the delicate curve of the outer eye during the day. Busy girls want a cat eye that stays put, because we have other things to worry about. The best trick is to prep your eye with a primer like Benefit’s Stay Don’t Stray Shadow Base ($24)  before applying anything. This keeps the eyelid from getting greasy during the day so color doesn’t slip off. Also, try to stay away from eye pencils - they tend to smudge too easily right after application. A liquid or gel liner has more pigment, and will stay on all day.  Bobbi Brown’s award-winning Long Wear Gel Eyeliner ($21) is a favorite in the industry because of its quick-drying, waterproof formula. When it comes to drawing the cat eye, use a slanted eyeliner brush like Bobbi Brown’s Eye Definer Brush ($28). Make sure the shorter end of the brush faces the outer corner of the eye when you make the swipe. This creates a perfect point. Your cat eye should be the shape of a thin scalene triangle, with the longest side pointing out towards the outer corners of the eye, ending only a few millimeters past the edge. Now wait for the liner to dry, add a swipe of mascara, and you’ve got yourself the season’s freshest look for your eyes. It couldn’t be any simpler.

Read more: How To Get the Perfect Cat Eye | The Fashion Spot http://www.thefashionspot.com/beauty/news/106970-how-to-get-the-perfect-cat-eye#ixzz16geJvK3p

New Haircolor :Blondes , Brunettes , Redheads

Next to skin tone, your hair color makes a huge difference in the make-up shades and styles you can pull off.  It's similar to dressing to complement the weather of the seasons – the way the light plays off different hair colors can lead you to the best make-up color schemes to try.
Colors that look great on you as a brunette can give your face a muddy, low-watt tone as a blonde. The warm browns and corals that give Julia Roberts a glow when she's sporting dark locks would look out of place when she's wearing her hair on the lighter side.  

Redheads

Like spring, fiery redheads (especially those with fair skin and freckles) should try bright and airy shades.

Sheer greens on the eyes and dewy apricots for cheeks and lips are the perfect match. Make sure your make-up look is crisp so as not to 'muddy' up your sexy freckles!

Check out Clinique's Color Surge eye shadow trio in Rainforest, and Lorac's Baked Matte satin blush in Plush.  

Blondes

Summery golden blond locks surround your face with light.
Play up your golden highlights with iridescent, shimmery shades.
Look for a balance of color – blondes want to bring their face to life with make-up, but not overpower their lighter overall look.
A gorgeous highlighter for Charlize Theron blondes is Smashbox's Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion in Flash.

Brunettes

Gals with rich autumn brunette hair can pull off the most vibrant hues – think plums, burgundies, reds, and metallics!
Brunettes have a bit of free reign when it comes to colors - their hair frames the face, and most shades of make-up work well.
Try Benefit's Plum Mascara or Sephora's shimmery eyeliner in Golden Sand.
And like the dark shades we wear in winter, if you've dyed your hair a deep brown to black shade, amp up your inner vixen with smoky charcoal or navy eyes and pale pink lips and cheeks. 
Focus on one feature (like a smoky eye) and make it dramatic and noticeable, but keep the rest of your look sparse.
Benefit's PosieTint gives a slight lift of pink color and can be used on cheeks and lips.

Neutral Nail Polish

Dark nails are always a favorite, but the neutral trend for nail polish is taking a strong lead for Fall 2010. Nail polish trends take their cues from designer fashions, and it seems like this season we will be dressed in neutral from head to toe. From soft greys to pale nudes, and light browns to deeper chocolates, these nail colors are sure to hit your local salon soon. Depending on your skin tone, these nude shades will often blend in and elongate your fingers. With so many shades available, you'll be sure to find your perfect match. If you are too apprehensive to go without color, then grayish blue and purple shades might be the perfect compromise.

A colorful face and nude nail polish are the perfect combo at Derek Lam (left). A medium grey hue on pale skin adds some edge at Malandrino (right).

It’s all about texture! Grey, cream, and nude clothes are perfectly complimented by a textured clutch and soft brown nail polish at Marc Jacobs (left). Bronze, smoky eyes and tan skin are gorgeous with shiny, grey polish at L’Wren Scott (right).

Offered in both matte and sparkly finishes, neutral shades are in abundance as a fresh option to rival fall’s traditional darker shades.

Beauty Trend: Cat Eyes

Seductive, alluring, and just plain pretty, the cat eye remains a strong trend for Fall 2010.  A clean face paired with dramatic eyeliner makes a timeless, retro statement. It looks good on everyone, and the line can be double-drawn for even more drama. Adding fake lashes can add volume, but be sure to keep the lips nude for a daytime look, and save the red for night. Whether drawn in thin or thick, or winged a little or a lot, there are many options to make this look your own.
Gorgeous, tousled locks with a clean face and exaggerated black liner at Blumarine looks retro sexy (left). A tight chignon, pale face, and dark eyes with a double wing are a perfect dramatic “after 5” look, seen at Chado Ralph Rucci (right).

Lots of color, fake eyelashes, and a prominent wing are couture-appropriate at Christian Dior (left). It’s a Mad Men affair at Monique Lhullier, with pastel make-up, tan skin, a ponytail, and a 50s cat eye (right).

With so many inspirational beauty examples on how to wear the look, the cat eye is something to explore.