Backtage Beauty Spring 2011 at Carolina Herrera

The Carolina Herrera Collection:

For Spring 2011 colors, prints, and floral appliqués were taken from botanical plates collected in the 18th Century.  The cut and details of this collection were inspired by traditional clothes from Korea. The hat, customarily worn by men, and the wrapped belts complete the silhouette.

The Hair Look:

Orlando Pita created unique, intricate looks with bold graphic details inspired by Korean design. “I love this hairstyle,” said Orlando. “When Korean women dress, nothing is out of place and everything is beautifully thought out.  My hairstyle is precise and graphic, with no loose or separate pieces. Moroccanoil products give hair hold, smoothness and shine and everything is attached and held together only by custom-made Hair barrettes that match the exact color of the model’s hair. They’re strategically placed to make sure they completely hold every part of the look in place.”

How To Create the Looks:

Orlando first applied argan oil-infused Moroccanoil Light throughout dry hair to create a healthy looking frizz-free shine, and smooth, healthy-look ends.

Next, he applied Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream mid way from the back of hair to the ends, then blow dried the hair smooth and straight with a round brush.

Once finished, Orlando created a deep side part, pulled hair back, and sprayed it with Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray.  He then combed the hair again with a wide tooth comb, sprayed with Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray and pulled right side of hair diagonally over left, and pinned the hair above the nape of the neck with a creative cluster of custom made “Hair-Barrettes” that matched the color of model’s hair.  These were pinned either horizontally or vertically to create dramatic graphic patterns. The finished looks were sprayed once again with Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray for added hold, and finished with a misting of Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray.

Orlando created two variations of the style, an updo as well as a longer pony-tailed effect.

For the longer look, Orlando combed the hair into a ponytail, sprayed once again with Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray, and added additional horizontal hair-clips to accent the graphic effect. To create the dramatic chignon, Orlando took finished ponytails, looped them around, and pinned with diagonal, horizontal, and vertical hair-clips. He finished with Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray.

Moroccanoil products used to achieve the Carolina Herrera’s Spring 2011 collection’s runway hairstyles:

Moroccanoil® Light provides the same transformative benefits as the original Moroccanoil Treatment, but in a lighter consistency, specially formulated for fine and fair colored hair. (100ml / $40.80)

Moroccanoil® Hydrating Styling Cream This proprietary argan oil-infused formula gives beautifully hydrating and natural-looking hold while eliminating frizz, and adding definition and shine. (300ml / $31.80)

Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray is argan oil-infused for lasting, healthy and natural-looking hold with shine. (330ml / $21.00)

About Moroccanoil®

Since its debut over three years ago Moroccanoil®, the pioneer and originator of luxury argan-oil infused products has become a runaway hit among fashion and beauty insiders and has generated a cult following among editorial, fashion celebrity film and television stylists and their A-list celebrity clients. Moroccanoil®’s proprietary formulas are famed for their weightless quality and are rich in vitamins and natural elements that fortify and strengthen the hair and protect against environmental stressors.

Available in salons only, there are now twelve Moroccanoil products including the original Moroccanoil Treatment ($40.80), Moroccanoil Light ($40.80), Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream ($31.80)) Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream ($31.80), Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray ($25.80), Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask ($32.80), Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask ($40.80), Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo ($20.60), and Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner ($21.60), Moroccanoil Luminous Hair Spray ($21.00), Moroccanoil Curl Control Cream ($31.00) and Moroccanoil Dry-No-More Scalp Treatment ($45.00).

Moroccanoil® is sold exclusively in salons and spas. www.moroccanoil.com.

Highlight of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week NY -- QVC LIVE!

What more could a girl want? Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, new designers, beautiful clothes and now QVC! What more could we ask for! 

On Saturday, September 11th we will gather at Rockefeller Center with Kourtney Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Kelly Rutherford, Jessica Szohr, Hilary Rhoda, Katie Cassidy, Cornelia Guest. Along with designers Dennis Basso, Julie Chaiken, Isaac Mizrahi, and Rachel Zoe for QVC Live at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City. 

Once again they will brodcasting LIVE along with a runway show too! The two hour live broadcast starts at 10pm and will feature clothes from designers Dennis Basso, Julie Chaiken, K-DASH by Kardashian, Isaac Mizrahi, and Rachel Zoe. 

We promise to bring you all the coverage following the event and can't wait to see the new lines especially K-Dash. The Kardashian ladies - Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and their mom, Kris Jenner will be launching their line of clothing on QVC. The collection, called K-Dash, includes everything we need - belts, handbags, leggings, tunics and tops. Prices will range from $20-$240. Here is a sneak peek! 

Images courtesy of QVC

Una Luna: The Voie of Spring

When it comes to Spring 2010, look no further than Unaluna! Bold and vivacious, yet soft and feminine, their dresses are the voice of the season!

Intricate detailing and flattering cuts make it an incredibly sexy collection, rooted in luminous sophistication. Prints are flirtatious and vibrant, drawing upon the peacock for inspiration, as well as the sensuality of Spain’s famous flamenco dancers. Solids range from an always in style, little black dress, to an eye popping canary yellow sundress. Shop the site now!

the Vessel. by lois

the Vessel. by lois is a collection by designer and model Lois Samuels that consists of garments for women, that draw inspiration from traditional menswear as well as the uniform.

The debut presentation for Spring/Summer 2010 was featured in WWD, The New York Times, Essence and Italian Vogue amongst others. The Collection will be presented during New York’s Fall/Winter 2010 Fashion Week on Wednesday, February 10^th 2010 in Chelsea with collaborations and sponsors such as Timex Watches, Colasuonno Designs (Jewelry), Young Blood Cosmetics, Cutler Salon.The collection is a blend that creates a clothing that is absolutely comfortable and undeniably feminine.

What others are saying about the Vessel.

“...Lois Samuels is banking on basic, comfortable, classic pieces - with simple silhouettes such as overalls and shift dresses which smack of nineties minimalism...” - WWD 9/10/09

“Jamaican-born former model Lois Samuels put an English accent on her menswear and uniform inspirations, creating a prim, tailored collection with an emphasis on the jumpsuit”. - WWD 9/10/09

“Drawing inspiration from traditional menswear, the Vessel by lois is for the woman, who appreciates understated sophistication”. - Essence Magazine

“A sophisticated dialogue of menswear inspired garments, very proper in a way- that grown women would wear, not just willowy Gossip Girl types.” - Lyra Magazine

About Lois: With a love for fashion and design from her early years. Lois entered the world of fashion as a model and travelled the fashion capitals working for designers as Lacroix, Miyake, Rucci and Givenchy. Her fashion education came through these amazing experiences and through her search for clothing that collaborated with her spirit and identity. Her first Collection presented a clean, simple and basic slate which she believes is the foundation of what fashion should represent - A reserved, comfortable and graceful look for any woman.

Stay tuned for our coverage on the show to come in February.

This Holiday Season we are wishing for......Felix Rey! (Plus a Giveaway!)

Felix Rey has established itself as an ultra-feminine luxury brand that is sophisticated and chic. What's not to love about Felix Rey? From the handbags to the clutches to the ever so feminine trinkets -- it is hard to pick our faves from this line -- we want Santa Baby to bring them all.

However, we are obsessed with a package we got from Felix Rey, just a few weeks ago. We were sent the large Emma cosmetic case that has now become our BFF in the beauty world - it is perfect to carry all of your travel necessities in style too! Not only that but it can totally double as a clutch. We just die over the fuchsia water-resistant nylon lining and the bow that functions as an outside pocket with magnetic closure. The gold studs fit right in this season! Made from laminated cotton it is high quality and will take to all your travel and beauty needs. You would never know it was only $120 with all that fab detail.

The large measures 12"W x 8½"H x 3½"D - but there is also a small and medium available - we feel the large is just right and are giving YOU one!

*Giveaway* Leave a comment below telling us why you just have to have the Emma Cosmetic Case. Also, make sure to sign up for the Felix Rey newsletter for sales and special offers!

But, that isn't the only thing we are currently obsessed with from Felix Rey.

To coordinate with your Emma Cosmetic case you must grab an Emma Weekend Bag. Made of nylon with patent trim and of course the Felix Rey signature bow and studs - the Emma Weekend Bag is perfect for those easy living getaways. It is the perfect size for your weekend excursions and it is very lightweight and durable! Grab it up now - it's on sale for only $200!

And if you remember back during the presentation of the Spring 2010 collections we knew it was going to be all about sequins this season. Felix Rey has got them. The Marilyn clutch ($200) is the perfect way to fit the trend into your wardrobe and be an attention grabber just like Ms.Monroe. It is a perfect super sparkly sequined clutch for the holiday season!

Felix Ray has offered an exclusive offer code for Cupcake Mag readers to get these items and more on www.felixrey.com! Now until December 31, 2009 use code FRCUPCAKE20 to take 20% of your entire purchase. Tis the season!

*All comments must be received by Friday, December 4th, at 11:59 EST. The winner will be chosen randomly. Open to U.S. residents only.*

MBFWNY --- Whitney Port mixes prints, gives us office-chic & gets us ready for SPRING 2010

Text, Dwayne Knight

The darling fashionista from MTV’s “The City” showed us just how talented and focused she is on her true passion as she made her Mercedes Benz Fashion Week debut in New York on September 10th showing the “Whitney Eve” Spring/Summer 2010 collection.

The Promenade was jammed packed with excited attendees. Among those in the front row were R & B songstress Amerie, singer/song writer Tina Parol, and fellow “The City” cast mates Olivia Palermo and Erin Kaplan. Kelly Cutrone of both “The City” and power house of People’s Revolution was working behind the scenes supporting Port by making sure the show was orchestrated with perfection in true Cutrone form.

From the beginning, we could tell this was going to be a collection of youthful beauty. Port brought us an array of fabrics and textures. The color pallet ranged from metallic’s (the hot trend of the season) to neutrals to vibrant pinks, blues, greens, and yellows. Our mouths dropped as we watched the delectable dresses, suits, shorts, jumpsuits, vests, and blouses. One of our favorite items was the strapless rainbow dress with bow belt, which can be described as Park Avenue meets sunny California and the re-creating of the pant/short suit – making it very office chic. Getting us right in the mood for spring was the sequence ruffle dress which defined flirty and light as it was presented beautifully in a purple, orange, and slate blue pattern. The lace inset of the v-neck was the perfect accent to compliment the look.

The Whitney Eve collection brightened our day and has us seriously looking forward to the spring season. It may have been raining outside the tents at Bryant Park, but it was a blissful warm day inside with Whitney Port.

Photos by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images North America

Koi Suwannagate Hand Sculpted Spring 2010 collection

When: September 16th, 2009

What: Presentation of Spring 2010 Collection

Where: Gana Gallery, New York

TOP FIVE LOOKS

NUDE RECYCLED CASHMERE TOP PAIRED WITH PINK PRINT WRAP

SKIRT MADE OF THAI WEAVE “LOOK KEAW” SILK

ONE-SHOULDERED CASHMERE BLOUSE ACCENTED WITH SATIN

FOLDED LOTUSES. SILK PANTS WITH CUSTOM PAINTED LOTUS

PRINT COMPLETE THE LOOK

SHEER ORGANZA BLAZER WITH “THE LOVE OF KOI

SUWANNAGATE” HAND EMBODERED IN THAI WRITING ACROSS

THE SLEEVES AND BACK. A BLACK CRINKLE CHIFFON BRA WITH

GROSGRAIN ACCENTS IS UNDERNEATH. PAIRED WITH HANDDYED

LINEN TWEED TROUSERS

BLACK CASHMERE TOP WITH LOTUS EMBIDERY AND WHITE TRIM.

WHITE CASHMERE JACKET WITH LOTUS EMBODERY CUT AWAY TO

THE CRINKLED CHIFFON LINING. DETAILS INCLUDE HAND

EMBROIDERY AND HAND CROCHETED BUTTONS. PAIRED WITH A

BEADED SKIRT MADE OF RECYCLED THREAD FABRIC, EMBODERED

AND CUT-AWAY TO THE SILK ORGANZA LINING. GROSGRAIN

COVERS THE SKIRT’S HEM AND SIDE SEAMS

WHITE CASHMERE CARDIGAN WITH EMBROIDERY ON SLEEVES

CUT AWAY EXPOSING SILK CHIFFON LINING. APPLIQUED LOTUSES

ON FRONT, FINISHED WITH GROSGRAIN RIBBION AT HEM AND

OPENING. PAIRED WITH A BLACK AND WHITE CUSTOM PRINT

ORGANZA DRESS WITH BLACK TRIM

ERIN FETHERSTON SHOWS HER SPRING 2010 COLLECTION AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK AT MILK STUDIOS

Image of Erin, Getty Images, Astrid Stawiarz Runway Photo Credits: Thomas Kletecka

When: Sunday, September 13th
Where: Milk Studios

Erin Fetherston debuted her Spring/Summer 2010 collection during New York City Fashion Week on Sunday, September 13th at 6 p.m. at Milk Studios. Fetherston’s decidedly womanly aesthetic and flair for the dramatic was on full display with plunging v-necks, defined shoulders and attention-grabbing hemlines, softened by delicate accents of ruffles and lace.

Fetherston drew inspiration from memories of a childhood visit to Nara, Japan. The designer recalls the scene as a pink forest snowing cherry blossoms over herds of free roaming deer. The ode to Nara was captured in the piles of white rose petals that flanked the runway and long stem pink carnations which were placed on every seat, courtesy of floral designer Jeff Leatham. This imagery manifested in Fetherston's fabric and color direction as well, with watercolor cherry blossom prints in blush and midnight and an abstract fawn print on sequins. The palette of tans, blush and ivory, paired with black and navy further demonstrated the strong/soft dichotomy present in the design.

Hair and make-up were designed to reflect and compliment the feminine and romantics tones set in the collection. Hairstylist Lyndell Mansfield for Bumble & Bumble took the hair up with a classic chignon but gave twists, rolls and tucks for a younger, cooler feel. Lucia Pica for MAC Cosmetics showed dark eyes with clean skin, flushed cheeks and bare lips.

This season featured two accessories collaborations, a first for Fetherston. The Lulu Frost for Erin Fetherston collection, designed by Lisa Salzer was inspired by the opulence of the late 70’s and early 80’s: bold, heavily embellished rhinestone and chain bracelets drip down the wrist, draping like lavish shackles, while long dangling rhinestone earrings add a touch of sleek sophistication, glamour and high drama. The most prominent pieces of the collection are the rhinestone and crystal hand pieces. Designed to be worn over soft leather gloves or to adorn bare hands, these tough yet delicate garnishes complete a strong, feminine look, the leitmotif of the collection as a whole.

Cole Haan, for their end of the collaboration, provided belts and shoes – or more specifically, chic heels featuring Nike Air technology. Cinched belts adorned with gold-plated heart buckles echoed Fetherston’s blue, blush and black color palette while adding a whimsical, feminine flair.

And we loved the playlist - check it out below!

Where did all the love go? -Kasabian

Breaking Into Cars --The Raveonettes

I Can Thrill and Delight --In Flagranti

Nothing to Worry About --Peter Bjorn and John The Muzik --Ebony Bones Do You Want It All?

Little Secrets -Passion Pit