theNotice: a beauty blog

I don’t typically… have feelings about clothes. Or like, lots of things, I suppose, but clothes in particular. I’ll go through phases, drowning myself in the theory behind structure for months and then bumming around in tees for the rest of the year.

These pieces, though? Feelings. Lots of them.

(And alright, so the emotions probably stem in part from the gorgeous wall colour rather than the clothes themselves, but all the same – they’re structurally gorgeous. I believe you’d find yourself hard-pressed to deny it, even if you’re the roll-out-of-bed-and-go type.)

(Though if you are, isn’t theNotice kind of a strange place for you to be?)

images via style.com

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how head-over-heels I am for this collection? Because – I’m not usually a Kate Spade fan. Actually, I’m not really a clothing or accessories fan. But give me a couple ribbons, throw in some gold, and I’m as good as gone.

Sometimes I feel like Kate Spade is the Deborah Lipmann of accessories – there’s no such thing as too much glitter, and it is so possible to be whimsical and chic at the same time.

(The detail on her Curling Ribbon Bow headband; how cute is that?! God, I’m such a ridiculous sucker for folded metals.)

If you’re going to emulate just one look this Fashion Week, let it be this one! I’m loving this low-maintenance (but high-impact) look created by José Rivera and the rest of the Sephora PRO Team for Callula Lillibelle.

Unlike a lot of the looks that grace the runway (hello, Chris Benz), this one’s totally street-ready, and I’m hoping to see more of it as Spring rolls around. (We do have to get through Autumn and Winter first, but really: that’s just semantics). The look included glowing, bronzed skin, a naturally glossy eye, and a brilliantly vibrant orange-fuchsia lip.

The Face

For a seamless, glowing base, the artists used MAKE UP FOR EVER Mist & Fix to prep the skin, layered on Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 and MUFE HD Invisible Cover Concealer for a perfect base, and set the look with a dusting of Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder.

Then, to really “wake up” the models’ complexions, they added Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder under the eyes to reflect light, Laura’s Bronzer Veil around the perimeter of the face and under the cheekbones, and Lorac Blush in Peach to add a bit of colour.

(The bronzer is featured in Laura’s Bonne Mine palette, which I believe is limited edition but currently available. For a similar creme bronzer, try something like the NARS Laguna Multiple or Too Faced Aqua Bunny Bronzer.)

The Eyes

To create depth, the PRO Team used layered the deepest shade in the No. 4 MUFE 5 Camouflage Cream Palette with Birthday Suit from the Too Faced Naked Eye Palette in the crease. Then, tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss in Donutella was applied to the lids to create a glossy eye.

The eyes were finished with Lancome Definicils Mascara and Anastasia Brow Gel in Clear.

The Lips

And finally, the star of the look! Rivera and team used shade #005, Fuchsia Pink, from the MAKE UP FOR EVER 12 Flash Color Palette to create a rich base colour. (If you don’t want to buy the whole palette, try Rouge Artist Intense in 36, a satin fuchsia, or Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil in Fuschia 16C, a bright fuschia pink, instead.)

To complete the lip look, the artists mixed together two shades of Stila Long Wear Lip Color and applied them on top: Exhilarating, a bright matte fuchsia, and Outrageous, a deep matte orange. Ridiculously gorgeous, right?

What was your favourite NYFW Spring 2012 makeup look?

Fun fact of the day: if I’m on the fence about whether or not to accept a PR request and you tell me the brand’s Canadian, I will fold like a cheap suit. Seriously, it gets me every. time. The crazy Canadian in me kicks into high gear and starts shouting nonsense like “all Canadians are awesome people!” and “it is your civic duty!” and “maybe they will pay you with maple syrup!”

Okay, so perhaps I was joking about one or three of those. But my point is-

What was my point, again?

Oh, right:

The product: Soul Beautiful Strap Solution

About the company: Canucks can find the Soul Beautiful line online, Walmart, and Mureale. A strange array of shops, if you ask me (Murale and Walmart, in the same list!?) but I’m not going to complain: the more easily accessible the better, if you ask me! Just keep an eye out for their signature turquoise packaging, which – in case you couldn’t guess – I totally adore.

About the product: The Strap Solutions come in a three-pack, so you can change the one you’re using based on what colour bra you happen to be wearing. Designed to change any bra into a racerback, they’re great for keeping your bra straps hidden (especially in the sleeveless summer), without having to buy a new bra altogether.

Now, I happen to think that all bras should come with this kind of hook on the straps, but these are definitely the next best thing!

The bottom line

Surprisingly, these plastic thingamabobs aren’t any more uncomfortable than your regular racerback bra. I thought I’d be able to feel them poking into my shoulder blades and just generally getting in my way, but even on my 5’2″ frame, they’re not too large or ungainly. As an added bonus, they’re easy to clean (just wipe down or rinse) and small enough to throw into your handbag as a just-in-case, which is always nice!

P.S. I forgot to include another item for scale, but these are about 6 x 4 cm large.

(For all you Americans, that’s 2 1/2 by 1 1/2 inches, give or take :P)

How and when did you get so fantastic + please can I be you?!

Please?

(P.S. I’m in love with your shoes.)

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