Dark Spring

 

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” -Marilyn Monroe

ChrisRandallPhotography

Since the moment I decided to do this blog and started collecting inspirational photos, I have been chomping at the bit to recreate a Marilyn Monroe photo. Reluctantly, I held off, because 1) I didn't want to be too predictable by kicking it off with the vintage sex symbol  and fashion icon 2) It takes serious  guts to put your photo side-by-side with someone who has been called "The Most Beautiful Woman of All Time", regardless of it being in the name of art, fashion, or complete insanity… It took me some time to build my confidence after starting this blog before I felt Monroe-worthy, and 3) There are probably more photos of Marilyn Monroe floating around than there are of all the actresses I've done so far combined… It was too darn hard to choose just one! And believe me, this won't be the last Marilyn post... but I will try to restrain myself and limit it to one per season:)

I remember being 11 years old, sitting on the couch  with my mom and sisters watching Marilyn Monroe’s E! True Hollywood Story. I was fascinated by her beauty, dazzled by her romantic escapades with important men, and heartbroken by the sadness and inner demons that were her eventual demise. But the thing about her story that truly struck a chord with me was how she had transformed herself- it was like magic. One day she was plain old Norma Jean, and the next she was Marilyn, the most iconic sex symbol the world has ever seen.

There are a few classic images that have become embedded in America's consciousness- the scandalous breezy white halter dress, for example. These are the pictures that come to mind when we hear the name Marilyn Monroe. But unlike many other silver screen actresses, it is difficult to pinpoint her signature style. She could be naturally sexy in slacks and a loose sweater, with very little makeup, or a stunning bombshell, pouring out of a form-fitting dress in a way that would make Charles Manson blush. Her signature style may very well be that she was a true chameleon, changing herself into whatever the world wanted her to be. Her only true flaw, I think, was the emptiness inside her that caused an insatiable need to be wanted and loved by all. As someone who has struggled my entire life with insecurity and being someone that I love and accept, I can relate…Maybe that's why I am so drawn to her. So this post, more so than any other, is a true homage. Marilyn, wherever you are, we love you!

 

I can't say for sure why I chose this photo out of the hundreds I looked through. There is something so stark and honest about it. She is wearing a Mona Lisa smile- is she happy? Sad? Does she look coy? Or maybe daring? Her expression, like the actress herself, is whatever you want it to be. 

Another thing that appealed to me about this photo was the fact that she's wearing a hat. I didn't have to dye my hair platinum blonde to achieve the look! To get those wispy, loose curls you see peaking out, I worked in a styling cream to fight frizz while my hair was wet, and allowed it to dry naturally. Then I used a generous amount of salt water styling spray to give it a matte, beachy texture, combing it through with my hands. I have naturally curly hair, but if you're hair is straight, you can get the same effect by braiding your hair, drying naturally, and pressing the braid with a flat iron a few times before unbraiding. Before using the salt water spray, use a curling iron to add a few scattered curls wherever you want more texture. For this look, I just rolled up the back of my hair without using an elastic, and tucked it under the hat, allowing a few loose tendrils to peek out.

For the eyes, I used a soft golden-beige shadow on my lower lids, then blended a glimmery gunmetal gray shade in the crease and along the upper and lower lash line. To create a bit of sheen, I used a pearly white pigment crayon under my brow bone (check out the product list below, this is one of my absolute makeup essentials). I used black liquid liner above my upper lash line only, extending out just beyond the corners of my eye. Finish by using an eyelash curling, pressing hard 3 or 4 times to cause a pronounced upward angle, and apply mascara to lengthen the lashes.

I had a hard time deciding on a lip color, because the black and white picture made it tricky to get a sense of the shade Marilyn is wearing. To me, she looked like she was wearing a fairly neutral color, maybe a few shades brighter than a true nude. The lipstick I chose, in real life, was a light pinkish-copper color...Far from the bright pink you see in my photo! Something about the lighting and the filter Chris The Photographer used brightened up my lips like crazy. The final look is not totally true to the inspirational photo, but I thought it looked pretty cool nontheless, so I used it. (I am still going to list the brand and shade of lipstick I used, because in reality it is very close to what comes across in Marilyn's photo. I think it's a universally flattering color that gives just the right amount of dewiness without being shiny.)

Although I am clearly no Marilyn Monroe, it was so much fun paying homage to my idol through this photo shoot. If you had to pick one celebrity, past or present, to pay tribute to, who would it be? Is there an actress, singer, or performer, who you almost think of as a friend, even though you've never met them? Who is your Hollywood kindred spirit?

Product List

Makeup

Bare Minerals Ready 2.0 The Late Show Eyeshadow Duo in "Guest Star" (golden beige) and "Uncensored" (glimmery gunmetal gray), Ulta, 20$

Benefit Cosmetics High Brow, Birchbox 30$

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner, Ulta, 20$

Buxom Full-Bodied Lipstick in "Two Timer", Sephora 20$

Hair

Bumble and Bumble Styling Creme, Sephora 26$

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, Sephora 15$

Clothing

Woven Gardening Hat, Jo-Ann Fabric, 20$
 

Black Rain Coat, Vertigo Paris, TJ Maxx, 20$

Silver Lining

"Some women think if you don't expect too much you won't be let down. I always expect miracles. Sure, I'm let down. But they're near miracles."

-Claudette Colbert

ChrisRandallPhoto

I was so pumped about this post. For starters, as much as I love all vintage style, I  feel the 1920's and 30's were the most glamorous eras. I love the drama, the ornate details, and the slight edginess that came from women embracing some very new, hard-won equalities. I actually had a difficult time finding a photo of Claudette Colbert that was adaptable to modern fashion, because in so many of her films she wore beautiful but insane costumes. I considered posing half-naked in a bath of milk, `a la Signs of the Cross, but that wouldn't leave much for my Product List at the bottom. Kidding, Kidding:)

 When I found this photo, I knew it was perfect- a drapey black evening gown never goes out of style, and I think the metallic stars are surprisingly modern for a photo taken in the 1930's. I love how gracefully sad she looks in this photo, almost like a weeping willow tree. When I started researching Claudette, I found out she was obsessively particular about her appearance on film and screen, and allegedly never allowed the right side of her face to be photographed, due to an insecurity about a bump in her nose. (Perhaps that is the reason her head is down and cocked slightly to her left in this photo). After the Audrey Hepburn incident, hearing that such a beautiful woman struggled with her own insecurity brought me some solace.

I was also excited  about this post because it was the first time I got really dressed up and did an  evening wear look for the blog. I will tell you a little secret...

  Of all the parties and events I've ever been to, I almost always have more fun getting ready to go than I have once I'm actually there. 

Sure, I enjoy being social and getting my party on. But there is something so magical and hopeful about transforming yourself from whoever you are during the day (in my case, a sweaty, gym clothes wearing, mini-van driving Preparer of Snacks) into an elegant, mysterious belle of the ball. Chances are nothing particularly eventful will befall me on whatever night I happen to sit in front of the mirror, transforming myself, but as Claudette Colbert's quote encourages, I like to expect miracles.

That is the beautiful thing about doing this blog... I have a never-ending excuse to get dressed up for absolutely no reason whatsoever. I can't tell you how much fun I had, running around downtown New Haven with my close friend and photographer, Chris Randall, looking for the perfect doorway to achieve the placement of Claudette Colbert's arms in the inspiration photo. I should be ashamed of myself for not introducing Chris sooner... He creates what I can only envision, and this blog wouldn't be possible without him.

  On our mission to find the perfect shot, 

we accidentally crashed an uber-formal Alumi party at Yale University. After ducking out as gracefully as we could, we were swarmed by a mob of foreign tourists on Chapel Street. 

Apparently, the sight of a guy with a camera in jeans and a beat up sweatshirt, accompanied by an ornately made up woman in an evening gown, was so intriguing they started calling out to us and snapping pictures like crazy. I smiled, posed, and basked in the moment of my own, tiny, near-miracle.

Another reason this post was so much fun- I got in a little DIY action. I purchased a simple black maxi-dress, with a sort of drapey bib over the chest, and a can of metallic silver aerosol fabric paint.

Then I printed out this cool star stencil from PrettyHandyGirl.com. I transferred it to a flat piece of cardstock by cutting out the star shapes and tracing them onto the cardstock with an
X-acto knife. I  laid the dress on a flat service, and inserted a garbage bag between the two layers to prevent fabric spray from soaking through to the back. Before beginning,  I smoothed any wrinkles in the fabric. Then I placed my stencil on the fabric like so...

...And carefully filled in the star with my fabric spray paint.

Tip: This project takes patience and precision. Allow just-painted areas to dry before moving on to another area, so you don't smudge the beautiful stars you just made Hold can 10-12 inches away from the fabric, and do not oversaturate. If you end up with an excess of paint on top of the stencil, blot it off with a paper towel so it doesn't drip when you lift it up.

Continue creating stars in whatever pattern or amount you choose. I decided on a diagonal cluster pattern of stars falling from one shoulder of the dress to the opposite bottom hem.

To emulate Claudette's dress, I  gathered the center of the bib and put in a few stitches by hand at the top with black thread, to create two distinct drapes of fabric. I also bought one and a half yards of black chiffon, gathering the fabric and hand-stitching it with black thread where the strap meets the dress, allowing about 8 inches of chiffon to come forward to the front of the dress, leaving the rest draped over the shoulder, trailing behind.

Claudette's look is all about drama. 

The key to the eye makeup is to create a look of depth. I used a dark brown shadow that had a hint of rose shimmer on my lower lids, applying it by pressing the pigment onto the lid, rather than brushing. I then used a black shadow pencil in the crease, blending out and up to create an almost triangular shape. Next, I applied an off-white shadow in the inner corners of the eyes, blending up to extend under my brow. I lined my upper and lower lids with black pencil that also had some shimmer. 

1930's makeup didn't have sparkle, but shiny eyelids were very en vogue- women used petroleum jelly over their eye makeup. A bit of sparkle and shimmer gives the same effect, without the gunky Vaseline. You want to mattify the skin with pressed powder, and you will use a matte lip color as well- this balances the shimmery eye.

An eyelash curler is an absolute must for this look- press your lashes firmly several times for a pronounced upward bend ( I know, it looks like a medieval torture device, but as long as you don't pull it doesn't hurt, I promise). Apply mascara, gently jiggling the brush from the lash line, extending up and out. Finally, use loose powder or cosmetic putty to mask your natural eyebrows, then create a thin, arched line with dark pencil over your natural brow. If you already have dark eyebrows like I do, you can use a brow pigment to simply accent the highest point of your natural brow, starting at the bottom of the inner corners and ending just below the outer corner.

For my lips, I used a wine-colored liner to make an "M" shape in the center of the upper lip, creating a strong beestung look, then I lined the rest. If you have full lips, you may want to line just inside your natural lip line, especially in the corners of your mouth. The result is the tiny, beestung pout that was so popular in Claudette Colbert's time. Fill in your lips with a similar deep red matte lip color- you can use just a touch of black eyeliner to deepen the shade, creating even more drama.

As important as it is to feel beautiful on the inside, every once in a while it's okay to take a "from the outside in" approach. 

After recreating Claudette's look, I truly felt like a movie star  star, if only for the evening. Most women have rituals they use when they want to feel beautiful, sexy, powerful. A simple swipe of lipstick can feel like a near-miracle. Tell me about your ritual… What is your go-to routine when you want to bring out your inner movie star?

 Product List

Makeup: 

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette, in "Blackheart" (deep brown) and "Strange" (off-white), UrbanDecay.com 54$ (By the way, this is an absolute staple on my vanity... Worth every penny!)

Pixi Lid & Line in "Smoky Black", Amazon.com, 18$ (This is a dual-sided liner and shadow pen, and comes with a handy built-in smudging tool.)

Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings, Ulta, 32$

Lipstick Queen Lip Liner in "Wine", Ulta, 18$

Lipstick Queen Lipstick in "Medieval", Ulta, 22$

Clothing

Black Maxi-Dress by Rolla Costa, TJ Maxx, 20$

Stencil Spray Opaque Fabric Paint in "Silver Glimmer", Jo-Ann Fabric, 6$

Black Chiffon, Jo-Ann Fabric, 8$/yd

Placid Petals

“Make-up can only make you look pretty on the outside, but it doesn't help if you're ugly on the inside. Unless you eat the make-up.”- Audrey Hepburn

ChrisRandallPhotography

I love that quote, it makes me snicker every time I scroll to the top of the page. Actually, one of my first childhood memories is getting yelled at by my teenage sister for eating her lipstick. I was maybe three or four, and it was one of those purpley-pink, swirly, peppermint flavored lipstick that is supposed to change color according to your mood. It must have been an 80's thing. I'm pretty sure I wasn't going for inner beauty... I just figured if it looks pretty and it smells good, it must taste pretty good too.

I'd be willing to wager that Audrey Hepburn didn't need to ingest any makeup to achieve inner beauty. When I began researching her for this shoot, I was impressed with her humanitarian track record. I had no idea she devoted so much of her life to UNICEF, volunteering in some of the most impoverished communities in the world. In fact, I didn't know much about her at all. Aside from watching Breakfast at Tiffany's years ago, all I knew of Audrey Hepburn was her impeccable style and flawless beauty. Her look has had such an impact on modern fashion that women all over the world recreate it, sometimes without really being aware of who they are channeling. When you pull your hair back, put on a simple dress, and let your eyes do the talking, that's Audrey. When you put on a pair of pearl studs and feel instantly elegant, that's Audrey. When you realize that showing just a hint of collarbone can be infinitely sexier than any miniskirt or push-up bra, that's Audrey. But she just may have been on to something with the whole inner beauty thing. Yes, she is insanely, naturally gorgeous, and has won countless awards for her acting talent. But perhaps part of her spark, that light in her eyes that makes it hard to stop looking at her, comes from the kind, generous soul within.

I am going to admit something to you.

I almost didn't publish this post, because I thought the picture made me look fat. 

Now, before I start getting hate e-mail for promoting anorexic ideals, allow me to clarify. I do not have body dysmorphic disorder- I know I'm far from fat. I'm not one of those skinny girls who stands there grasping a quarter inch of skin on her belly, going "Oh my god, look at this, I need to go on a diet!", just so her friends can ooze compliments all over her  and lament about how exceptionally thin she is. But I do have some low self-esteem days, and looking at myself next to the demure, waifey Audrey Hepburn made me feel like... a moose. But it wasn't just my body I picked apart... I was disappointed with the whole picture. The photographer had done a great job- the lighting was perfect, the angles and lines were beautiful and artistic... The problem was me.

My hair, which I had pulled back to emulate Audrey's neat, elegant hairstyle, just looked like a greasy ponytail. The black  liquid eyeliner I had painstakingly applied in perfect, bold lines extending just beyond the corners of my eyes, was virtually invisible in the picture. The nude lipstick, which served to draw attention from Audrey's lovely, tiny pout to her big brown eyes, just gave me a washed out look. And the red dress I had been over the moon when I found, because of how close the cut and floral print were to Audrey's dress, had come across garish and unflattering next to her beautiful black and white photo. I never deluded myself into thinking I could compete with Old Hollywood's icons, that wasn't my goal when I created this blog. But I did want to channel their immutable beauty, style, and grace into vibrant, living color photographs, and create a little silver screen glamour of my own.  I was so inspired when I came across this image of Audrey, but my vision just hadn't translated in the picture. I had failed.

I sat at my kitchen table, opened my laptop, and pulled up Audrey Hepburn's photo next to mine. With a sigh of despair, I began to study them... Where had I gone wrong? My gloomy thoughts were soon interrupted by the sound of the kitchen door opening, followed by the soft shuffle of footy pajamas across the floor. My little boy Max had gotten out of bed for a drink of water, but forgot about it when he saw me sitting at the table, and climbed up for an extra goodnight cuddle instead. He looked at the two pictures on the computer screen, and said "You look pretty in those pictures, Mommy." I thanked him, laughing to myself. A 6-year-old boy, at least, was convinced by my rendition of Audrey's photo. Before I could tell him that the lady in the black and white picture was an actress, he pointed to my picture and said in his squeaky, no front teeth way, "I like that one better." I had to smile. "Oh, is that so?" He snuggled closer, smooshing his cheek against mine. "Yea... that one is better. It looks warmer."

It's quite possible that the warm, red tones of my color photograph were simply more appealing to a child than the shades of gray in Audrey Hepburn's picture. His sleepy eyes hadn't differentiated  between the two fair-skinned, dark haired women in flowery dresses. But just maybe, his perception of warmth came from the familiarity of the lips that read him bedtime stories, the arms that hugged him goodnight, and the eyes that had looked upon him with love the moment he came into the world.

After seeing the picture through his eyes, it was beautiful to me, too. 

The styling details that are the meat and potatoes of a fashion and beauty blog didn't quite come across (but make sure you check out the product list below anyway, because I swear, in person I got it dead on!) I deemed this shoot blog-worthy, because I don't think I got the picture all wrong after all. I captured the most timeless, enduring quality of Audrey Hepburn's style legacy- inner beauty.

And I didn't even have to eat any makeup.

Being a woman in the age of Facebook is just plain hard sometimes. Technology has given us the ability to take unlimited selfies at will, and access to apps that allow you to airbrush at the touch of a button gives the illusion that it's not just celebrities who are flawless anymore, it's our friends and acquaintances as well.Tell me about a moment in your life when you were able to ditch all your insecurities and hangups, and just be you, and feel good about it. How do you get in touch with your inner beauty?

Product List

Makeup

 L'Oreal Lineur Intense in "Carbon Black", Drugstores 9$

Lipstick Queen Lipstick in "Butterfly Ball Trance", Ulta 24$


Clothing

White Elbow Length Gloves, Purchased at Fashionista Vintage and Variety in New Haven, CT (I could live at that store!),  5$

Red Daisy Dress, Manito U.S.A., Pretty Woman Outlet, 20$ (Pretty Woman is one of those cheap-o discount clothing stores here in CT. Most of their inventory has a very "lady of the night" look, but if you are willing to browse through every rack, you'll find some real treasures).

Blue Days

 "A person has to keep something to herself or your life is just a layout in a magazine."- Grace Kelly

                                                                                                                 ChrisRandallPhotography                                      

Grace Kelly- even her name embodies the classic, feminine, crisp and clean style that was her trademark. Her  movie star-turned royalty story seems almost a fairytale. In fact, there are rumors that a feature film about her, starring Nicole Kidman, is in the works. Although Grace Kelly retired from the film industry at the age of 26, and later died of an untimely stoke at just 50 years old, her sophisticated brand of beauty left a lasting impression that inspires women's fashion trends even today.

One thing I'm aiming to achieve with this blog is to demonstrate the enduring power of style. It amazes me that clothing from a photo taken 40 years before I was born can be seamlessly translated into 2014 fashion, and this picture of Grace Kelly gets the point across loud and clear. She looks sweet, youthful, elegant, and just a little bit sassy.

I've always appreciated and admired the "preppy" look, but my past attempts at pulling it off have always resulted in me feeling... well, kind of boring. But after taking notes on Ms. Kelly's look and pulling together a few pieces, I finally felt the spark that results from wearing simple, classic clothing. To me, the key was not just finding a pair of high-waisted dark jeans and a button down- the fit had to be flawless. We modern ladies have one thing going for us our iconic predecessors didn't- stretch fabric! Diamonds may have been a girl's best friend in Marilyn's time, but today, Spandex and Lycra are my BFF's. 

I have to admit, despite my love of vintage-inspired fashion, I hadn't yet jumped on the high-waist bandwagon. I'm not really sure why... maybe it's because tucking in my shirt just bothers me. Or perhaps it's that, with three children, I fear I will fail to look trendy, and just look like I'm wearing the dreaded Mom Jeans. But thanks to this awesome inspirational photo, I got over my hang-ups, and I am so glad I did. I didn't feel stiff and stuffy tucking in my button-down, I felt very chic and put together. The high-waisted jeans ended at the smallest part of my waist, unlike the ultra low cut style I usually wear, which can make even the most petite ladies feel muffin-toppish on a bad day.

I cuffed the jeans to the signature Grace Kelly capri length, and donned the brown boat shoes I had detested when my husband gave them to me as a gift. He had a assured me they were super-trendy and all the fashionable young ladies coming into the salon were wearing them. At the time I thanked him, suppressed my gag reflex, and threw the shoes in the back of my closet. As much as I hate admitting he is ever right, I have to give him props for this one. Needless to say, my shoe collection did not contain a pair of loafers , but when I went searching for a pair of flats I could use to complete the Grace Kelly look, I came across the forgotten boat shoes and voila`, they worked perfectly. 

The tiny flash of skin created by the cuffed jeans and low cut shoes is surprisingly sexy in an understated way. Likewise, the rolled sleeves and one or two undone buttons add a playful, messy touch to the crisp  cotton shirt. I completed the look by using a sheer white sash I snagged off a straw I had purchased for a future shoot (stay tuned!) as a belt.

Similar to the clothing, Grace Kelly's makeup in the inspirational photo is simple and understated. To achieve the the same youthful exuberance, flawless skin was priority number one for this look. In keeping with the quote at the top of the page, I will not go into detail, but my natural skin is anything but flawless. Thank goodness for another modern  luxury Grace Kelly and her silver screen sisters had to do without- BB cream! The does-it-all miracle cream craze is one bandwagon I was more than happy to jump on (check out the product list below for my favorite creme-du-jour). If you do have naturally gorgeous skin, simply mattify the t-zone with a sheer pressed powder over the BB cream. If you are like me and need more coverage, use a kabuki brush to apply mineral foundation, starting with the area where most coverage is needed and blending to the rest of your face. I touched up the area under my eyes with a pearlescent pink-tinted concealer, which adds brightness instead of giving me a flat, reverse-raccoon look. Complete your perfect complexion with a  blush shade that matches your natural cheek color when you are slightly flushed. 

For the eyes, I used a golden brown eyeshadow on my lower lids, then added chocolatey brown shadow to the crease, and my upper and lower lash line, finishing with a pale iridescent peach shadow under my brows. If you have gorgeous baby blues like Grace, use a navy blue  or even indigo mascara to make them sparkle. For my brown eyes, I like to use a violet-tinted mascara for a subtle pop of color. I completed the look with a sheer lip color just a shade or two brighter than my natural lips.

For perfect 2-minute waves, I parted my naturally curly hair on the side, then combed it back into a ponytail while still wet. I inserted the pointed tail of a comb underneath the hair, a few inches back from my hairline, and gently pulled up, loosening the front to add volume. Spray with hairspray, and dry naturally. A few minutes before the picture was taken, I shook out the ponytail and reached underneath the hair to scrunch the roots- that's it! Ok, a perfectly timed gust of wind right before the shutter went off helped a little, too:)

Here's what I got out of this blogging experience- no matter how well-honed your personal style, there is always something to gain by taking a risk and trying on a look that doesn't feel like you. I want to hear about a fashion or beauty risk you've taken, and how it worked out- good or bad. So, how have you stepped outside your style comfort zone?

Products:

Peter Thomas Roth BB Blur, Ulta 48$

ELF Pressed Powder with Salicylic Acid, Target, 1$

Benefit Eye Bright Under Eye Brightener (sold in a combo compact with Boing Concealer), Ulta 12$

PUR Minerals 4-1 Pressed Foundation, Ulta, 27$

Bare Escentuals Blush in "Beauty", Bareescentuals.com, 19$

Benefit Greetings From Cabana Glama Eyeshadow Palette, Benefitcosmetics.com 36$
 (This is an awesome value set that comes with full-size eyeshadow in 3 shades, and generous trial sizes of cheek tint, matte bronzer, and cream foundation. It's my absolute favorite for achieving a glowy, natural look, and so easy to throw in your purse for vacation.)

Ulta Electric Mascara in Purple (travel size), Ulta 4$

The Balm How 'Bout Them Apples Lip Cream in "Pie", Birchbox.com 32$
 (comes in a palette with 5 other shades, can also be used as blush.)

Clothing
  

Shirt- Old Navy, 30$

Jeans- Almost Famous, 20$

Shoes- Sperry Top-Sider Gold A/O 2-Eye, purchased at Chou Chou Boutique in Wilton, CT, available at Zappos.com 150$