Blog

The Mad Men Effect

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:02:00 -0400

Unless you've been living in a cave for the past few years, you have been influenced by the presence of the hit show, Mad Men, on AMC. The show features old school ad men swigging scotch in their offices and buxom beauties from the secretary pool holding court over the more administrative tasks while looking for suitable husbands. The show is a throwback to the Rat Pack era of manly men and womanly women and the effects can be seen in fashion and beauty across the world.

For women, the well-coifed, structured hair and the dominant red lips pervade. Liquid liner on the top of the eyes accompanies a feminine sashay into any room, usually liner accompanying false lashes and a well-tailored dress. It's sexy to the nth degree. It's mysterious. It's the air of someone who is all-too- aware of her gender and knows how to use everything she's got to her benefit.

So how do you rock this look without looking like you're going to a costume party?

Although I am going to spend most of my time here explaining the makeup, the hair and dress are also important. Calvin Klein makes inexpensive feminine dresses with structure that lend themselves to this look and hot rollers and some glossy hairspray can give you an easy modern take.

For makeup, aim for a matte red and depending on your skin tone, the red could have blue or orange undertones...you could even use a deep pink in many cases that would read red on film or in a photograph.

Matte is the overarching hero in this look, so powder blushes and eyeshadows will work better for you. Using a neutral pallet, you can apply an all over ivory/beige eyeshadow to your lid and then using a rounded shadow brush, you could apply a slightly deeper tone to the outer corners of your lid.

Next, if you are 25 years old or younger you can use a liquid eyeliner to line your eyes starting with a thin line and building out to your comfort level. If you are over 25 years old, using a gel/cream eyeliner with an angled eyeliner brush is your best bet for that deep, intense, sexy eyeliner. The liquid liner will bleed into cracks, but the cream/gel liner is smooth and will glide with your brush and stay put once applied as you desire.

The false lashes are next and for most people Ardell's #53s are a safe bet for an inexpensive full set. You can also choose partials for just the outer edges of your eyes and you can use the cosmetic brush tips or pencils by the eraser ends, to help hold down one side of the lash as you hold down the other side. You apply the adhesive in a thin line to the lash itself making sure the linger end is the end facing the outer corner of your eye.

Not much liner goes on the bottom of the eye for most people, but you may wish to use a small smudge brush to place a hint of dark along the bottom of the eye to widen the eye, if that is an issue for the balance of your face.

Once the adhesive on the lashes are dry, you should apply mascara to your lashes and the fake ones to help them blend into one another.

Blush should be very light...a dusting of slight rose or apricot is enough and then you apply a deeper shade to your lips, blotting once when it is applied.

This is a look that is also appealing for brides with a desire for a more classic or vintage look. Below is the picture of a beautiful bride, Julie DeTomo, who allowed me to use this look on her for her wedding.

I am a 2009 Bride's Choice Awards Winner!

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:55:00 -0500

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that DC Makeup Artist KiKi L'Italien has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means KiKi L'Italien has been recognized as one of the region's very best makeup artists!

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

From KiKi...

I would like to thank past clients for speaking on my behalf and helping me win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

Wedding Photography Chat with Michael Bennett Kress

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:27:40 -0500

This was taken from the Washington Post Chat Session onThursday, December 4 at 11 AM... very helpful! - KiKi

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Michael Bennett Kress?s first camera came as a bar mitzvah gift from his father. He started taking pictures immediately?and got hooked on the gym floor at school. ?My first memorable experience came in junior high when I realized I could get out of class and be closer to a cute girl I liked if I was taking photos of the gymnastics team,? he says. More than 30 years later, he?s still shooting away.

With a degree in photographic sciences from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Kress started his career as a commercial and advertising photographer before switching to social events. He and his team at Michael Bennett Kress & Associates (4710 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda; 301-654-0909) are life-cycle photographers, covering everything from bar and bat mitzvahs for children of past wedding clients to weddings of previous bar and bat mitzvah clients.

Kress, a native Washingtonian, has photographed weddings at venues all around Washington and all the way to the Four Seasons in Nevis. Just as important as loving a photographer?s portfolio, he says, is clicking with the photographer. ?We?re very intimately involved with the family on a very emotional day, so it?s crucial to have a good rapport,? Kress says. ?You want someone who is good at what they do but also someone with a good bedside manner who communicates well and makes you feel comfortable.?

Questions:

Alexandria, VA:
What are your thoughts on hiring a makeup artist for the big day and what kind of price range should one expect? Also, do you like to work with the makeup artist or does the bride work with each person independently?

Answer:
The makeup artist plays a very important part of the day. They can make or break the schedule that you may have needed to stick too. Usually i recommend doing a trial run with that person so that you have a specific plan and then the timing of the day has less chance of being screwed up. As to the cost they range in fees and I'm not sure of them because usually they are doing more than one person. But, I will say having someone on site is the best way to go because once the logistics kick in for travel back and forth it always requires extra time not planned for. I will recommend makeup artists if asked but, usually the bride has someone she already works with.

Bethesda, Md.:
How common is it for a photographer to give you all the digital images from your wedding? Is that usually part of a package you can buy? I'd like to have the files so that I could print them out for years to come. Thanks!

Answer:
With this digital generation photographers have gone through the transition and understand the clients needs.
It is pretty standard for a client to request the digital files. We as a standard policy give all high rez files with all packages that include albums. Having the files for safe keeping makes more sense than trying to find the photographer and the negs and where they were stored... I just want to stress that a photographer of any worth is going to give you better images than the ones you make yourself.

Washington, DC:
With so many families now being made up of step parents, etc., how do you deal with the family photos? Is there a less awkward way than having divorced parents in the same photo?

Answer:
Well great question, first thing I want to say is that is one of the main reasons why you want a professional photographer vs a friend. Being diplomatic and understanding is a necessary trait that is needed to handle stressful family moments and keep moving. Because, there are always lots of things that need to get done. The tension and drama of hurting a family members feelings could throw off the balance of the Bride and Groom having a great wedding day. I always believe that Everyone should put there own personal feelings on a shelf that day and be present and respectful to others for the Bride and Groom.

...read more from the chat here: http://www.washingtonian.com/chats/shopping/10163.html.

Peepers Power: Adding Flash to Your Eyes for the Holidays

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:47:19 -0500

We like things that sparkle.

Diamonds? Yes. Bathtubs? Yes. Teeth? Yes.

During the holidays season there are multiple parties and the lighting is almost always low and flattering...the perfect setting to add a little something extra to push your look over the top. What is your challenge this month (and next)? Add a little metallic sheen to your eyes!

How to do that? It is very easy...

What should you take into account when using metallic shades?

Here are some things to consider:

Metallic tones, especially the cool shades, are ideal for nighttime makeup. If you use them during the day, you should know that the makeup will be more obvious, since daylight reflects cool tones before warm ones. That?s why I always recommend brownish tones for daytime makeup.

That doesn?t mean that you can?t use metallic shades during the day. Instead of using intense silver or purple shades for daytime, it's better to opt for the pinks and violets.

Texture is very important. Some textures are excessively shiny. Shades that are pearlescent tend to be more flattering.

When applying these colors, be especially careful to leave the area under your eye very clean, or you will create your own undereye circles.

Choose quality eye shadows with high pigment concentration so they don?t smear or go on too lightly. MAC, Laura Mercier, and Bobbi Brown make good eye shadows.

Don?t use metallics if?

If you have dark undereye circles avoid using shades like purple, silver, or even pink, which will bring out your circles.

If you have very pink skin, warm tones will probably look much better on you than cool tones.

If you have expression lines on your eyelids or drooping eyelids, choose darker tones and matte tones, for example, gray instead of silver.

Step by step
Once you?ve applied foundation and concealer, follow these steps:

Apply blush before making up your eyes. That way you?ll quickly be able to see if you?re using too much color on your eyes or not.

I?d recommend that you use a warm blush when using cool, metallic eyeshadows. For this combination, my favorites are bronzing powders. Use bronzing powder on the apples of your cheeks and lightly over your nose to add a touch of color to your face.

Next, apply concealer (again) over your entire eyelid. This will give your eyeshadow staying power and make the result more intense. Make sure you don?t put on too much concealer or you?ll get creases. To get rid of excess product, simply open and shut your eyes and then use your fingertip to softly remove the excess from the creases.

The next step is to apply a white pearlescent shade over the entire lid, including your browbone. This will give your eyes extra intensity.

Next, apply the purple or silver shade to just your lid.

Choose a pink or violet shade that?s lighter than the other shades you've used and blend it into the crease.

Use a fine brush to draw a line with the white eyeshadow under your lower lashes. If you want to define your eyes even more, you can use a darker eyeshadow instead. But don?t forget that your goal with this look is to brighten up your eyes.

It?s important to line your eyes with black liner. Make little dots in between your eyelashes and then blend so you can't see them. Your goal is to thicken your lash line, not to see the pencil.

Curl your lashes and then apply a double coat of mascara.

For lips, opt for a very shiny pink gloss (at least for this look). Lighter to go with your more dramatic eyes...

Don?t forget highlighting. Use a silver-based highlighter. If you don?t have one, you can use your white pearlescent shadow.

Enjoy!

How Will New Media Affect the Newly Unemployed?

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:33:59 -0400

Pardon the break from beauty news...(although everyone should check out shu uemura's line of false lashes for Halloween or a fun night out)... with all of the buzz about the troubled economy, I wanted to share some information with all of you.

My sister lost her job a week ago. The direct marketing company she started working for only four months ago lost two of their biggest clients and decided they couldn't afford their newest staff positions. My sister received the news and a small severance package on Monday of last week. The timing could have been better.

As the market searches for a place to settle so the world can herald a new beginning, people are losing their jobs and reports say it will only get worse. For my sister things weren't as bad as they could have been. She was able to pick up consultant work fairly quickly (by last Wednesday) for a previous employer in the DC Metro region. But for many others, who have families/overextended mortgages and who live in an area with fewer opportunities the results could be dire. This is a scenario many have predicted and warned about for years. Entire organizations have been built around the idea.

Here are four tips to set yourself up for success (courtesy of Yahoo! News):

1. Is the r�sum� pass�?

Not entirely. Of course, anyone looking for a job will need a r�sum�. As always, it should be strategically crafted, truthful and spelling-error free.

But relying on a r�sum� to get you a job, or even to get you noticed, is no longer realistic in this highly competitive environment, according to Jennifer Kushell, employment expert and CEO of Your Success Network.

"I don't really love the idea of relying on the r�sum� anymore," Kushell says. "I think it is an antiquated piece of technology because the idea that any of us express ourselves on a piece of paper is very old school."

You have to connect with people and present your self to the people that have those jobs to offer, she suggests.

2. Work your network

You have to get in front of and "wow!" the people responsible for making the hiring decisions. "If you're not networking you're crazy, because you are limiting your options and opportunities," says Kushell.

She advises clients to get out of their comfort zone and join industry organizations, go to parties and events and introduce themselves to new people. In this job environment, the good jobs are not listed in the newspaper and, they are not on job sites all the time. You hear about them by having a network of people who are well connected in the industry and willing to help you.

And people should be doing this type of preparation all the time and not just once they lose their job.

3. Manage your brand

Social networking may be all the rage but it can be a career killer if you are not careful. Potential employers often search potential job candidates on the Internet and any inappropriate pictures or postings will sink you in the applicant pool.

According to a recent study by YSN.com, a global work-force consulting firm, about 30% of young people surveyed said there is definitely or probably something online that they would be embarrassed for their employer to see. Take it down, clean it up, and protect your reputation like it's your job; Or it could end up costing you one.

4. Look beyond borders

If opportunities on the home front aren't materializing, Americans may want to turn their attention overseas. Some of the fastest growing economies -- Russia, China, India, Dubai and countries throughout Asia -- are eager to import American talent.

"Business is becoming very Americanized all over the world and talent is required that has training in America; they want people that have the work ethic and the DNA," says Michael Karp, CEO of executive search firm Options Group.

Multinational companies that are expanding overseas or international financial firms may be looking to snatch up newly unemployed American workers.

How else can you use social media to your benefit? Michael Port (who can be a little too over-the-top for my personal taste, but who has some sound advice) or William Aruda might help guide you into building your personal brand, if you haven't already.

What do you think?

Sell the Pig and Keep Your Lipstick

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:02:28 -0400

Hockey moms, pit bulls - Lipstick.
Pigs - Lipstick.
The stock market - ...lipstick?

I've been hearing many jokes, idioms, and remarks made lately involving lipstick (thank you so much Sarah Palin), but here is a cold, hard fact: when the stock market bottoms out, more lipstick is sold.

That means, with all the bad news about Wall Street going about today, people are going to need advice about this affordable luxury - and I am happy to oblige.

The Best Lipsticks of Fall 2008 (according to KiKi)

Lipfinity by Max Factor (I like "Passionate")
Cream Lipstick by Lorac (I like "Karma")
Mocktail gloss by Lorac ( I like "Caffeini Martini")
Lipgloss by Laura Mercier ("Bronzed Berry")
Lipstick by NARS ("Shanghai Express")
Lustre Lipstick by MAC ("Capricious")

If you are at all curious to try these little beauties out, please do so and feel free to post your thoughts here! You can also tell me what your favorites are...

Latest Makeup Faves from the Drugstore - Sally Hansen and Max Factor

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:17:32 -0400

One of the most common questions I receive about doing makeup concerns which brands I prefer. Although I love to splurge on pricey cosmetics with unique ingredients, I get a total rush from finding amazing products on the cheap.

Recently I tried out a few products that I am in LOVE with. Max Factor Volume Couture mascara, Sally Hansen Luminizing Face Primer, and Max Factor Lip Infinity are definitely worth the money and I would encourage everyone to try it out.

Sally Hansen Luminizing Face Primer
This little beauty is amazing! A luminizer and a primer that glides on silky smooth and costs about $10. Compared to my other favorite primers that typically come in at closer to $35-$45 dollars, this isn't a bad deal!

Max Factor Volume Couture Mascara*
The bristles on the spoolie for this mascara are the same as a prestige brand (not naming names), but costs a fraction of the price. This mascara goes on and creates a thick, glossy black fringe for the eyes. I love, love, love this stuff and the price!

Max Factor Lip Infinity*
I'm not one to usually promote lip products like this - the kind that are sort of cemented on...reason being, when they do start to flake away, it much more difficult to get rid of than liner. I put Max Factor's Lip Infinity to the test and found it to be great for wearing at a convention and lasting most of the day. My rule? Stick to neutral shades so that when it does start to wear away, it won't be as noticeable. This particular brand has a lovely moisturizing "gloss" that coats over the lip stain product and I found it to be pleasant while wearing it.

*I work as a BzzAgent and receive items to test, try out, and to share with friends (if I like it) ...it is a cool program you may wish to check out. I received the Max factor bundle as part of a Bzz Campaign. If you would like more information about this (or a couple of leftover coupons for Max Factor cosmetics), just email me!

Ah, the things we do for validation!

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:04:24 -0400

2008 Gratitude Beauty Makeover Contest

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:59:27 -0400

Who wouldn?t love a makeover? Professional freelance makeup artist KiKi L?Italien is offering you the opportunity to thank someone in the DC Metro area who warms your heart by entering them into a makeover contest for Fall 2008!

The winner will receive a makeup and hair makeover done in a professional studio, two photos, and a special gift at the end of the day.

Submit your nominee?s name, photo, and a short paragraph on my website about why your nominee deserves a makeover by August 29th. Winners will be notified September 2nd and the makeover will be scheduled in September.

Good luck!

Top Five Tips for Wedding Day Beauty Prep from DC Freelance Makeup Artist KiKi L�?Italien

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:51:04 -0400

Hi everyone! Love is in the air and I have weddings booked through the end of the year as a result. Consequently, I have weddings and wedding-related beauty questions on my brain lately, so I thought I'd share my Top Five Tips for Wedding Day Beauty Prep. These are not the things you need to do the day of, but rather those things you need to start doing in advance of the wedding, so that your canvas is ready for the artistry of your bridal look on the day of your wedding.

# 1. Pay attention to your skin! Because it takes more than a day or even a week to make your skin replenish itself, you should start thinking about your skin care regimen as soon as you are engaged! It takes 21-28 days for new skin to completely restore itself so you will want to start taking care of your skin at least one month before your wedding day.

#2. Brush your teeth! One of the signs of youth, strong healthy teeth will do wonders for your overall appearance and will affect the way the rest of your face looks. Start using a teeth whitening agent at least a month before your wedding day.

#3. Beware of Sun and Irritants! Avoid facials or long days in the sun at least two weeks before your wedding day. Why? Facials can irritate the skin (before making it better) and nothing is worse for your makeup than having sunburn or peeling skin. As your skin repairs itself, it will create more oil to replenish what was lost from the sunburn. As a result, pictures will show you as being oily (no matter how much powder you try to use). Be careful!

#4. Bow to the Brows! See a qualified eyebrow specialist with a good reputation two months out from your wedding and then for subsequent visits for shaping. This is a wise investment because the eyebrows frame your facial features and can make a dramatic effect on your overall look.

#5. Practice Makes Perfect! Finally, you should make an appointment for a trial makeup run with your makeup artist a month before the wedding. You will want to discuss what your vision is and try a couple of different looks so that you will feel 100% confident when you are getting ready to walk down the aisle.

If you follow these tips you will definitely have the kind of start you want on the big day. Good luck!