A Walk on the Wilde Side

A Walk on the Wilde Side..

Is it just me or is pregnancy really working for Olivia Wilde? Positively glowing at the 86th annual Academy Awards, she proved, along with fellow actress Kerry Washington that a baby bump was the most coveted accessory on the red carpet. Wearing a black Valentino Pre-Fall 2014 halter neck gown, complimented by a tousled chignon and simple statement jewellery, she looked like a modern day Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

A REVLON Global Brand Ambassador, even Wilde's 60's-inspired makeup was reminiscent of Hepburn's, down to the glowing skin, sculpted brows, kitten flick eyeliner and peach-hued nude lip. Vintage Hollywood glamour never dates, like the old adage states "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". 

Celebrity Makeup Artist, Melanie Inglessis created a classic French look for Wilde with a sharp cat eye and dewy skin.

"We wanted the look to be simple and classic, says Inglessis, "I created a very precise eye that makes a statement but still works well with her fresh skin and light peach lips."

Inglessis used the following products for Olivia's red carpet look:

Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer

Revlon PhotoReady Makeup in Nude

Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Illuminator in Bare Light

Revlon ColorStay Shadow Links in Taupe (NEW March 2014)

Revlon PhotoReady Kajal Eyeliner in Cleopatra

- This product wasn't actually listed by Revlon but if you look closely at the photo of Olivia, you'll see that there is some subtle highlighting happening underneath her feline flick, where a subtle white line has been drawn to create a beautiful graphic effect. I suggest using the black end of this double-ended eyeliner to tight-line the upper lash line, gently filling in between the lashes to add depth. Use the white end to draw a fine line underneath the outer edge of the feline flick.

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner in Blackest Black

Revlon Lash Potion Mascara

- Olivia looks like she might be wearing falsies. I suggest curling lashes and either applying a set of flared false lashes or applying individual false lashes at the outer edges to enhance the feline shape, finishing with a coat or two of mascara to finish the look. Eyelure and MAC offer a great selection.

Revlon Brow Fantasy (NEW March 2014)

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Complex

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink Cognito

Revlon suggests Revlon Nail Enamel in Pink Nude to complete the look

Products:

Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer - £11.99

Revlon PhotoReady Makeup in Nude - £12.99

Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Illuminator in Bare Light - £11.99

Revlon ColorStay Shadow Links in Taupe (NEW March 2014) - £2.99

Revlon PhotoReady Kajal Eyeliner in Cleopatra - £5.99

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner in Blackest Black - £6.99

Revlon Lash Potion Mascara - £9.99

Revlon Brow Fantasy (NEW March 2014) - £6.99

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Complex - £7.99

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink Cognito - £7.49

Revlon Nail Enamel in Pink Nude - £6.49

Stockists:

www.boots.com

The Lady Varnishes

The Lady Varnishes..

Nail art has been trending for sometime. Pat McGrath, Creative Director of Dolce&Gabanna The Make-Up was promoting the "Fashion French" back in 2008 (and let's face it, when it comes to beauty, what Pat says goes in the world of maquillage). Now, everywhere you look, from Barry M, Revlon, Rimmel and Max Factor on the high street to Essie, OPI, Ciate, Chanel, Illamasqua, Dolce&Gabbana and YSL, self expression through the accessorising of one's nails is de rigeur.

Minx captured the market for foil nails and wraps, launching a huge ongoing trend. Ghetto chic has slowly filtered into mainstream fashion with Wah! Nails outposts cropping up throughout the UK. It seems that if you haven't had your nails did at Wah!, or your barnet dip dyed at Bleach, then you clearly hit the "snooze" button on your fashion alarm.

Nail Artist du jour Sophy Robson came onto my radar via Illamasqua's nail tutorials (trust Alex Box to be ahead of the curve, she also brought Mike Pocock to my attention). Marian Newman was Sophy's predecessor as the "It Manicurist".

Leighton Denny was the first big editorial manicurist that I was aware of. I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times at QVC and he is such a lovely chap, a wealth of friendly advice and so down to earth. I told him I loved Dita Von Teese's nails and he said that she's his client and that he still does her nails when she's in town. He often does a crescent moon manicure for her, which inspired the one I created for my mother on Sunday, though I opted for a nude pink base and a raspberry pink tip rather than the crescent design.

I had prepped mum's nails the day before. I soaked her hands in a bowl of comfortably hot water laced with Neom Organics bath oil. I exfoliated her hands with a mixture of brown sugar and almond oil then gently towel dried them. I filed her nails then massaged Leighton Denny manicure oil into her nails, hands and arms. I wrapped the tip of an orange stick with cotton wool soaked in almond oil and gently pushed back mum's cuticles. I finished with a generous layer of Creme De La Mer hand cream. I used a tissue to remove any excess moisture from her nails then applied one coat of Illamasqua base coat.

The next day I applied two coats of Dolce&Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquer in Petal (a nude ballet slipper pink) as a base colour. Once it had dried, I applied the Shocking shade (a vibrant raspberry pink) as a Fashion French tip. I finished with the NARS Top Coat to seal the design and add a glossy finish. I have to say I love the Dolce varnishes, they have some gorgeous colours and a very high end glassy finish.

I was really pleased with the result, I'm definitely going to experiment with different designs and colour combinations (beware all female friends and family members).

Dolce&Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquer in Petal - £18

Dolce&Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquer in Shocking - £18

www.harrods.com