Category Archives: Fashion

Bring Back The Sun

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Sharon Snowden-Hake

Make-up or bronzer won’t go on well without good skin care and especially moisturizer. You want to create a beautiful canvas in which to add make-up.

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During the winter months, I start to look pale and my skin feels very dry from the elements. I was on a modeling shoot the other day and the makeup artist, Lisa, used bronzer on my face to give me some color. It was just enough to give me a healthy glow. I have used bronzer in the past, but wasn’t quite sure how to apply it. I always seemed to look a little muddy or blotchy. Lisa suggested that I make a 3 on both sides of my face. She started at my temple, came down under my blush and then finished on my jaw line. This added some contour and warmth to my makeup. It is amazing how a little bit of color can make you feel healthier. Nars has a fabulous bronzer in two different shades.

Since I like outdoor activities, I have a problem with dry skin. The winter months can be brutal. It’s hard to keep skin hydrated. Make-up or bronzer won’t go on well without good skin care and especially moisturizer. You want to create a beautiful canvas in which to add makeup. I start off by cleansing my skin. Next I apply a good toner, serum, and moisturizer. I use a lighter facial cream during the day and heavier at night. Lately, I’ve been trying Flawless perfection as my night cream by Laura Mercier. There are a lot of good skin care lines out on the market. It’s important to choose a line and stick with a routine. It’s easy to try various products, but the hard part is keeping up your skin regiment twice a day.

It’s not just my face that is dry, but also my entire body. I like to use a very natural body lotion with a light scent of grapefruit or vanilla. I can always tell a good moisturizer by the way it absorbs into my skin. After applying a light base of lotion, I add color to my skin by applying Loreal’s Sublime Glow, a moisturizer and skin tone enhancer. I find that if I add body lotion first, it goes on more evenly.

As a model, I will show up for a speaking or a spokesperson job and I will be required to bring my own clothes. I’m responsible for clean skin and a stylist will apply my make-up. However, on a photo shoot or a fashion show, I’m not sure what I will be wearing. I want to be sure my skin looks and feels healthy from head to toe.

For more modeling and acting tips go to n2modeling.com.

Posted in Buzz, Fashion, Sharon Snowden | Leave a comment

Color Splash!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by January Carter

If you’re anything like me, by February, I’m sick and tired of my winter wardrobe. I stand in my closet and gaze at my clothes imagining ways to “jazz up” those sweaters and boots. The itch for change is in the air … I go back to September when I couldn’t wait to wear my leggings, boots and sweaters! Flash forward, and back to reality. This deep into the season I can only find myself longing for sundresses and strappy sandals. Ahhh … the good ‘ol days of summer.

Well, we still have a ways to go before my closet is full of summer duds again. What’s a girl to do during these cold, gray, rainy days of February and March? Let me show you!

This is the perfect time to begin introducing a few spring and summer pieces back into your wardrobe. Take a plunge back into your summer stash and rob a few blouses and dresses. This spring and summer, it’s all about color! The runways were packed with everything from neon to pastels. Prints are all the rage as well! Floral prints are strong this season as the “men’s look” fades and a softer more feminine vibe rings loud.

Mixing spring and winter wardrobes is easier than you may think! Because it IS still cold outside, it’s still all about layering. You will want to keep all but one of your pieces from your winter wardrobe, then just add in one article from your spring collection.

For the office, add excitement to your black trousers with a brightly colored wispy blouse! Add a little sweater or blazer over the top and voila! You’re super chic, perfectly put together and seasonally on target! It’s a perfect way to transition into the new season.

I love a soft, flowing, colorful summer dress paired with knee-high winter boots. Don a big fur vest or a long winter sweater over the top to make it seasonally appropriate. The look is cool and functional. Ankle boots could easily be swapped in for a flirty mod look.
Brightly colored jeans have resurfaced. Go bold and bright in orange, red, or pink! Or choose a pair in plum or deep green. It’s a trend that not everyone will jump on, but could be fun if you’re up for it! Since jeans are warm to wear, now would be a great time to sport them. Play up the color of your jeans with a printed top, or go subdued and pair with black. Layer a long tunic or a dress over the top of your jeans instead of leggings. Any way you work it, you will get the comfort of denim and a splash of fun with any hue you choose. It’s another opportunity to make an old outfit new by swapping out just one piece!

Sequins and sparkles aren’t going anywhere anytime soon! With Valentine’s Day just around the bend, what better way to get your guy’s attention than wearing something sequined. Just remember to keep the rest of your outfit simple. You only need sparkles in one piece. Make it your focal point and pair with a neutral, black or gray.

Make-up is another fun way to add a splash of color. Brighten up your winter skin with a wash of bright blue, pink, green or even orange on your eyes. Mascara and nude lip gloss are all you need to polish this look. Bright eye make-up not your thing? Bright, and I mean BRIGHT lipstick is making a strong comeback! For the bold fearless female, go for neon pink or purple. All shades of red were seen on the runways. I love a peachy pout. Any way you like it, it’s a fun way to wake up a pale winter face. Make it classic with bold eyeliner and just a touch of blush.

Don’t forget your digits! No, not your phone number! Your nails! Be sure to ask your manicurist for some fun bright polishes! Anything goes this season. From mint green to orange, play up your nails and have some fun with a brightly colored mani.

There are so many ways to add a pop of color to your wardrobe this spring, there’s no excuse to be bored with your look. Why not have some fun with it!

Posted in Brad Austin, Buzz, Entertainment, Fashion, January Carter | 1 Comment

Fashion Expedition:
A Visual Fashion Trip Around The Globe

Posted on November 28, 2011 by January Carter

Home In The Northland From Jingles Bells to Auld Lang Syne, the holiday season is officially upon us. The days are colder and shorter, and you may find yourself digging through your closet looking for something warm but still stylish to wear. You will not find another season with so many reasons to shine! It’s a great time to play up your winter fashion. We dove into the snow globe and went around the world to capture inspiration from all
other cultures.

From the North Pole to Africa, from Paris to China, and from Spain to London, we collected inspirational pieces to add a little spice and glamour to your festive holiday wear. It’s easy to see how exotic and effortless any great style can be. With trends rotating from past generations, the “new” fashion is hip and chic. Wearing the latest fashions, you can be the first to flaunt your style.

Winter naturally lends itself to lots of layers to keep us warm and cozy. This makes it very simple to embellish the top layer of your outfit and keep it basic underneath. A beautiful black trouser and blouse can be the best place to start. The trouser can be replaced by a skirt with tights or leggings and paired with stylish boots or pumps. Layer up with a gorgeous knee length coat, a flirty girly trench, or a sparkly jacket. By topping your outfit with one of a kind jewelry, shoes, and a spice of color with your handbag, you’re sure to stop traffic and at any age, look perfectly put together.

Leggings are still a wardrobe staple this season and should be taken advantage of. Being comfortable and finding things that easily fit is important. You can sub leggings for skinny jeans for a more casual look. All you need is a great pair of boots and a tunic length sweater, which come in several different options. Add that sultry vibe with a symmetrical, off the shoulder, or one-shoulder tunic style. You are sure to find the right one with just enough flair for any holiday sioree.

Before you stow away those dressy shorts not worn long ago on those hot summer nights, consider repurposing them. Shorts can be quite fabulous when worn with tights and boots. Best done all in black, you can complete the look with a sweater and stylish belt. I prefer a turtleneck to balance out proportions. “Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t flash your gams.”

Nothing says “glamour” this holiday season more than sparkly gems! All you need is a statement piece, like a Texas sized cocktail ring or a darling encrusted jeweled cuff that will add drama and flash to any outfit. Layer on several necklaces in gold, silver, or even a pendant with lots of BLING. The more the merrier. Take your business look from drab to fab by adding a splash of color with an over-sized colored handbag or dress it up with an evening clutch. It’s truly effortless to pack a punch into any look.

Now you’re looking fabulous! Ready to step out the door, when the dreaded winter static comes in full effect when you pull your sweater over your head. What’s a girl to do? Either run a dryer sheet over that hair or grab a fun fedora hat! Worn with a slight tilt to the side, it’s a stunning finish. A little bit sassy and a lot less worrying about the locks underneath. Add your own touch by adding a broach fully stoned or a flower to your hat. A sure guarantee no one else will have the same one.

Perhaps, the easiest way to jazz up your look is with make up. According to Jill R. Ferguson, make up artist, the “DISCO” effect is all the rage. Rather than choosing just one feature to highlight, you can make several features bold at once! Pair a bold or bright lip color with a bold eye. Not comfortable with that? Just step up the lips! Anything from purple to red or even orange, now is the time to step out in bold color. As the summer tan begins to fade a brighter lip can add so much color to your face.

With so many options to choose from, let your inner beast shine! Nothing can make your style more exotic and more you than adding your own personal touch with hair, make up, accessories and just the right shoe. Your holidays are sure to be a fashion success, so get out there and SHINE!

Posted in Brad Austin, Buzz, Fashion, January Carter | 4 Comments

Exotic Beauty: Bring that vacation feeling home

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Sharon Snowden-Hake

Relax Make a reservation at a unique place you’ve never tried before and pretend you’re on vacation.

At this time of the year it’s easy to fantasize about getting away on an exotic vacation. However, even if you can’t get away, you can look and feel exotic while pampering yourself at the same time.

It’s been rumored that a new trend for many top celebrities is going back to the past and following ancient beauty secrets from Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile, and the beautiful ancient Egyptians. Of course, the stars are spending thousands on milk baths and Dead Sea salt scrubs, but you can replicate these therapeutic spa treatments in your own home.
You might start with a simple milk bath using whole milk or milk powder and adding some honey. Goat’s milk is also a good choice as it contains a capric and caprylic triglyceride which helps to moisturize. This is very beneficial because your skin can be so dry during the winter months.

Sea salts, especially from the Dead Sea, were prized. A great body scrub includes one part honey, one part natron (baking soda in today’s jargon), and one part Lower Egyptian salt (bath salts or sea salts). You should grind to a paste. For a beautiful scent, try a drop of frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense is a key ingredient in various anti-wrinkle solutions. Rub the paste onto your body, sit for a few minutes, and relax or meditate, then rinse.

As far as looking sexy and exotic, bold eyeliner is back! Again we reference Cleopatra and her almond-shaped black kohl-lined eyes, a trademark that transcends many eras. The trend is very popular today and can be achieved by simply using a black kohl eyeliner pencil. If you add some smoky eye shadow, you have a hot look for any evening soiree. You can even try green eye shadow. Green malachite was popular for eyelids in Cleopatra’s time. We see a resurgence of green eye shadow. It is featured on the popular show Pan Am which is a reflection of pop culture from the 1960s. Although the application is lighter, the green eye shadow is also popular today.

After a day of beauty and pampering yourself, you will feel refreshed and have a beautiful canvas in which to add make up and final touches. Make a reservation at a unique place you’ve never tried before and pretend you’re on vacation.

For more modeling and beauty tips go to n2modeling.com and see professionals in action.

Posted in Brad Austin, Buzz, Fashion, Sharon Snowden | Leave a comment