NY Fashion Week S/S 10
My Fashion Week NOTD Challenge Wrap-Up
After 7 long, tiring, fun-filled days in NYC, I returned home with one desire… to recoup!! Fashion Week takes a lot out of a girl. I have so many exciting things I want to share with you from my trip but let’s start off with the results of my NOTD Challenge (click to read part 1). In case you missed it, I challenged myself to wear a different nail color every day of NYFW. While I failed to change my color EVERY day, I did make a valiant effort.
Hear tales from my trip and see what colors I picked after the jump!
When we left off I was wearing Zoya Savita on the day of the Total Beauty Blogging Summit and Fashion’s Night Out. Wouldn’t you know it, I ended up being invited backstage to a show and seeing Deborah Lippmann while wearing another brand. The horror!!
The next day, Friday, I had a visit to the Chanel offices planned so naturally I wore Jade. It launched the night before at the Chanel SoHo Boutique for Fashion’s Night Out and I spotted it on many ladies backstage that day. Considering the torrential downpour outside, Jade brought a bit of sunshine and light to a very gloomy day. Can we say rain-soaked shoes and a ruined blowout? Good times!
I was running late on Saturday, no time for a change. Luckily Roxanne Valinoti from CND was there to freshen up my look. She added a coat of Jade Sparkle from the new Effects line to totally bling me out! And once Jan Arnold set her sights on the shade, they started layering different Colours trying to duplicate the hue. Using Green Scene as a base, they came very close but not dead on. I hope they’ll keep working to find a twin.
Saturday night I went to a fab blogger party hosted by Lianne from The Makeup Girl and Paul from Beyond Beauty Basics. I was running so late that I didn’t even realize it was THE Ted Gibson holding the door for me at the W Hotel until the next morning when he asked if I enjoyed the party. What a memory he has. But seriously, how oblivious can I be? The man is a tall drink of gorgeous! Though I did get to meet his brilliant partner and hair color genius, Jason Backe, who said to me, “YOU’RE All Lacquered Up?” as though I’m someone to know. I was beyond flattered, to say the least.
Anywhoodle, post party and late night diner run I did this slightly drunken mani with Barielle Slate of Affairs in preparation of seeing my pal and ALU collection collaborator, Elle, at the Reem Acra presentation. Reem contacted Elle after reading that Slate of Affairs was based on one of her Fall collection gowns and asked her to do the nails for her show. 
Monday was my uber-crazy seven show day and it started at 8am so as I’m sure you can guess, there was no color change. It wasn’t until I stopped by the CVS Beauty Lounge at Robert Verdi’s Luxe Lab on Tuesday that my nails got a much needed switch.
Not only did I get to do a little people watching, like Top Chef guest judge and former Queer Eye food guy Ted Allen and Miss J from ANTM but I got a little pampering too. Jake Bailey from CoverGirl, who is so adorable, was doing touch-ups and helped me find a foundation that doesn’t just sit on my skin (Simply Ageless) while Sally Hansen was giving manicures. I decided that for my last day in the city I wanted a little party on my nails so I went with a layering combo of Xtreme Wear Disco Ball over In The Navy. 
So that pretty much wraps up my own personal nail story at NYFW but not to fret there are many more updates to come. I spent the weekend processing everything I saw so I can bring you the best of the best in Fashion Week nails. Stay tuned!!
Backstage with Sally Hansen at Tracy Reese S/S ’10
 At every New York Fashion Week I’ve attended, one of the shows I most look forward to is Tracy Reese. I’ve been a fan of her colorful, feminine designs ever since I saw Lauren Ezersky interview her on Behind The Velvet Ropes. Oh how I pine over Style canceling that show.But it isn’t just the clothes that draw me in season after season. It’s her recurring partnership with Sally Hansen. For the past eight NYFW’s they’ve teamed up to bring runway ready colors to the masses and they’ve done it again with a brand new line called Complete Salon Manicure.
Read on to view the chic, layered nails, get a peek at the new collection and see my first on-camera interview! |
 Tracy’s collection was all about contrast, embellishment and intense colors. Bringing together hard edges and soft shapes, layering opaque and sheer fabrics. It’s the layering that became the focus for the hair and nail teams. |
I spoke with Jeanie Syfu the hair stylist working with Tresemme (you may have seen her on Project Runway) who shared that she used Tracy’s concept of layering to create this sky high hair. Syfu explains, “There looks like there isn’t a lot happening but there is.” Using Tresemme 24 Hour Body Foaming Mousse and Finishing Spray, she created three stacked ponytails that she pulled into a loose bun to keep the sides sleek and avoid restricting the height.
For the at-home stylist, she recommends teasing the crown and gathering hair into a chignon. She added that teasing hair and then curling it with a 1″ iron creates fluffy volume.
Meanwhile, Charlotte Willer for Maybelline went for a modern 20s makeup look. She wanted edge and got it with exaggerated penciled-in brows, glossy lids and heavy under-eye liner juxtaposed with sweet, pink lips. She used Shiny-licious Lip Gloss on the lids, Eye Studio shadow palette (launching in January) under the eye, Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara, Mineral Power Naturally Luminous Blush in Fresh Plum and Color Sensational Lip Color in Make Me Pink.
Of course the nails are what really caught my eye. Using the new Complete Salon Manicure line, set to launch this Spring, Sally Hansen Nail Expert Dana Caruso and her team painted the models’ nails with a rich black (Midnight In New York) topped with a sheer glitter (Hidden Treasure) that when combined look like burning embers in a pitch black night.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Bill Boraczek, SVP of Marketing for Coty (Sally Hansen’s parent company), who told me that he often polls employees not connected to the line for their take on new shades. That when he asked about Hidden Treasure, his favorite description was that it looks like “crushed gems”.
Bill spoke of Tracy’s aversion to “frost” in creating the Spring collection. That she wanted to avoid the outdated look our mothers wore. So even though the vivid teal and bright yellow have been softened with a pearlescence to make them wearable, they’re still bold enough to be modern.
While backstage I was asked to do a quick interview about Sally Hansen and the nail trends I was seeing at Fashion Week. I was extremely nervous but flattered to have the opportunity. The footage has been used in a great recap of the show that includes interviews with Tracy Reese, Bill Boraczek, Dana Caruso and actress Gabrielle Union. Check it out!
image credit: Style.comand All Lacquered Up
NYFW Nail Watch – Nail Art, Glitters and CalGel, Oh My!
 My New York Fashion Week adventure is coming to close and I have so many exciting nail stories to share with you but today’s tale has nothing to do with the runway. Because some of the most outrageous and interesting nails are found behind the scenes on the manicurists, hair stylists, publicists, etc.
It’s all about standing out and taking risks when it comes to nails at Fashion Week. Yes, there are a ton of safe, sheer pinks running around on the socialites and celebs in the front row but it’s backstage where all the nail magic lies. I spotted everything from blinged out glittery tips, funky CalGel designs and futuristic sculptured nails. Check out the utter creativity after the jump! |
A highlight of every NYFW season is seeing CND’s Jan Arnold and checking out her latest nail concept. I can always expect something unique and innovative and this season was no exception. The clear tips remind me of the futuristic nails from the Barbie show last February. Very space age with an extremely feminine shape. And don’t you just LOVE that ring?
p.s. Check out Jan’s Fashion Week Blog and CND’s Facebook page for all the latest backstage scoop. There just might be a little something about ME mentioned there!
Fanatics, I was so excited to meet a new manicurist on the NYFW scene, Julie Kandalec. You see, I wrote about Julie way back in the day when I spotted her entry in the Nails Magazine 2008 Cover Tech Contest and realized she lived in my area. Now she’s taking on Fashion Week and rocking some glittering, sequined nails.
Backstage at Charlotte Ronson, my pal Sarah from StyleIt and I couldn’t help but notice Avon hair stylist Tippi Shorter‘s fab curly locks and gorgeous smiling face. It was when we had the chance to interview her that her nails caught my eye.
Tippi blinged out her digits with a gold sparkler from KleanColor that she just happened to have in her bag for touch ups. Smart girl!
Of course you’ve heard all about my pal Heather Park the Sakura CalGel queen. Here’s an up close and personal look at her bejeweled design.
It was Heather who introduced me to another CalGel artist backstage at the Jeremy Laing show. Look how precise and crisp her lines are! The detail is amazing.
What do you think Fanatics? What kind of nails would you wear to Fashion Week?
Lancome & Chris Benz Unveil Their Pout-A-Porter Lipstick
The biggest news on the lipstick front is the collaboration between Lancome and designer Chris Benz. It’s the fifth installment of the Pout-A-Porter series and I’ve got the scoop. Following in the footsteps of innovative designers like Thakoon, Peter Som, Benhaz Sarafpour and Proenza Schouler, Chris worked with makeup artist Daniel Martin to create a gorgeous shade that does total justice to the P-A-P series.
In a true stroke of genius, Lancome and Chris Benz involved their fans in the launch with a Facebook contest on Chris’s fan page to name the shade. The winner receives five of the lipsticks and a $500 Lancome gift card!
You may remember that I broke the news of this collaboration in my review of Declaring Indigo. Now, thanks to my friends at Lancome, I have the privilege of sharing the name and first look of this amazing lippie with all of you before its debut at New York Fashion Week.
Chris & Tell is the name Chris chose for the opaque peach color. Isn’t that adorable? Such a fun play on words. They used the color for the first time last week during the hair and makeup test as shown on model Elettra wearing one of Chris’s Spring 2010 dresses.
If you want your own tube of Lancome Chris & Tell, and why wouldn’t you, you better hop to it. The waiting list opened last Thursday during Fashion’s Night Out. Call the Lancome Boutique at 212-362-4858 to make sure you don’t miss out!
My Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week NOTD Challenge
Hola from Fashion Week Fanatics!! I arrived in New York City on Wednesday and it’s been a whirlwind of activity ever since. Not only am I here to cover backstage nail, makeup and hair trends for a third season but I also had the pleasure of participating in some fun beauty blogger activities with Total Beauty. Between all of that and visiting some of my favorite brands, I’m one tired nail fanatic!
As if I don’t have enough things on my plate while I’m in town, I decided to tack one more to-do on the list. This season I challenged myself to wearing a different nail look each day. Take a peek at my Day 1 & 2 manicures after the jump!
You may remember that I visited the now famous Sakura last season to get a gel gradation manicure. It was great for a long week like this when I don’t have time to deal with chipping nails and tip wear. However this year I decided to switch it up on the daily.
You see I was inspired by my pal Heather from MAC. She initiated a NY Fashion Week Makeup Challenge to all us bloggers which is really fun but hard to pack for. My makeup bag can only carry so much. So while I’m doing something a little different each day I’m no wizard with a brush. BUT I can do something similar with nails. Enter the NOTD Challenge.
BT-dubs you MUST check out the FAB Sakura manicures my girls Heather, Dina and Sarah did for this week.
Day One – I flew in early Wednesday after being up all night, my usual pre-trip packing nightmare. Some time in the wee hours of the morning I did a quick mani with RBL Orbis Non Sufficit from The Blog Writer’s Colors collection. Since I’m wearing Mismas on my toes I wanted a strong green creme to pair with it and this one fit the bill.
Day Two – I received the new Zoya MatteVelvet Winter colors but didn’t have a chance to review them before leaving. Knowing I’d want to bring some matte looks to the party, I had to pack Savita. This is not my proudest photographic moment but it’s proof that I did the change.
Be sure to check back for more looks from my NYFW NOTD Challenge and stay tuned for lots of fun backstage coverage. It’s just getting started!
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
