How To: Contouring For The Clueless

Bienvenue! Welcome back! I can tell you it feels fabulous to be bringing you the best in beauty once again. Let's jump straight into it - today, I'm going to delve into the art of contouring.

I’m crazy for contouring and its truly epic power to instantly add drama, depth and length to your face.

We’ve all tried our hand at it, but chiseling those cheekbones can prove tricky even for the skilled.

But this beauty is not just for the make-up artists and those armed with a plethora of brushes, creams and powders.

Use these steps to fast-track your way to flawlessly finessed features.



Dolce & Gabbana Fall 11

Get your cheekbones seriously sculpted with these steps:

Step 1: Prep and prime your face with a foundation like Revlon Photo Ready Compact Make-up in Medium Beige, $34.95 that mimics your natural skin tone.

Step 2: Imagine a line from the top of your ear to the corner of your lip and then find a powder or bronzer two shades darker than your natural skin colour like Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder, $105. Stick to this line and shade an inch-and-a-half width inwards under the cheekbone and right in to the hollows to create a subtle shadow.

Step 3: To really bring out the structure; highlight and blend the top of the cheekbone and underneath your shading with an illuminator or highlighting palette. We love Napoleon Perdis Mosaic Gleamer, $60.

Step 4: Finish off by sweeping blush from the apple of your cheek up to the highest end of your cheekbone. Try Rimmel London Mono Blush in Santa Rose, $9.95.

What We've Learnt: Ponytails

Long lengths are well and truly back with perfected ponytails a hit on the runway for Fall 2011.

Guido Palau worked a flawless mid-height pony for Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton while Luigi Murenu contrasted sleek with a teased tail at Gucci.


Marc Jacobs from Style.com

Louis Vuitton from Style.com

Gucci from Style.com

Low-slung and simple emanated from Ralph Lauren while Prada's heights and wispy sides kept the look soft and innocent.


Ralph Lauren from Style.com

Prada from Style.com

My absolute favourite was Valentino with their headbands and slight height oozing darling prep.


Valentino from Style.com


HOW-TO RE-CREATE VALENTINO'S LOOK

The Transcribery caught up with upcoming fashion and hair stylist Alicia Edwards who gave us the low down on how to re-create Valenitno's look.

Step One. Start by parting your hair down the centre or on the side. Follow by straightening your lengths to create a sleek finish.

Step Two. Using a comb, tie your hair back bump-free leaving a small section of hair out either side of the face.

Step Three. With everything in place, take a section of hair from underneath the ponytail and wrap it around the base using bobby pins to secure.

Step Four. Lightly run a straightener through the side sections by the face using a turning motion to create a soft wave.

Step Five. Pop a ribbon or headband around your head and secure.

Step Six. Finish with hairspray and a touch of shine mist.


Alicia recommends Sebastian Halo Mist, $37

What We've Learnt: My Favourites From Fall 2011

Without a doubt, Fall 2011 has showcased an abundance of sheer talent.

The reasoning behind my own personal favourites varies from wearability to a great spectacle.

Beginning with the mod revival at a psychedelic Alberta Ferretti and Alexander McQueen's Ice Queens with their organza trains and plush fur trim.


Alberta Ferretti (Marcus Tondo)


Alexander McQueen (Yannis Vlamos)

Not to mention Valentino's ultra-feminine preppy infusion and Burberry Prorsum's bright coats, capes and flared pants all encapsulating British style.


Valentino (Yannis Vlamos)


Burberry (Yannis Vlamos)

Mary Katrantzou perfectly balanced an array of her prolific clashing imagery and prints on high necks and wide stiffened rskirts while Viktor & Rolf, yet again, executed monochrome crisp, infallible lines and pleats over thick knits.


Mary Katrantzou (Yannis Vlamos)


Viktor & Rolf (Yannis Vlamos)

I loved Celine's covetable classics including heeled loafers, turtlenecks and longer length coats as well as Fendi's use of saffron, cobalt and mustard on exaggerated silhouettes, cable-knit tights and mary-janes.


Celine (Monica Feudi)


Fendi (Yannis Vlamos)

My Top Three
Three

I'm really pleased to say I was impressed by Australian designer Collette Dinnigan's collection. Much to the contrary of critics alike, I found the sophisticated prints, modest hemlines, fur necks and cinched waistlines to be tres feminine and very wearable.






Collette Dinnigan (Filippo Fior)

Two

Bottega Veneta's Tomas Maier harnessed the 40s and 50s with polished T-bars, texture, white tights and twin sets. Moving into the 20s, the collection then brought flapper-style dresses with intricate detail using lace and fringed hemlines.




Bottega Veneta (Yannis Vlamos)

One

Bally's cape coats, mini dresses and oversized platform buckle-up boots created a sophisticated look while the darker palette gave this Little Red Riding Hood style an extra edge.




Bally (Bally)

What We’ve Learnt: Side Plays The Perfect Part

Fall 2011 has reaffirmed last season’s side part to be one of the biggest hair trends to come.

It comes as a natural progression from the polished and perfected look we’ve been seeing this past year or so.

However, this season the side part came with some slight twists.

We saw Celine move closer to a sweeping forward-pulling combover and Jil Sander take the part to the extreme by wrapping the lengths around to create an open beehive.


Celine model by Monica Feudi


Jil Sander model by Luca Cannonieri

Alberta Ferretti reignited the mod movement with a psychedelic colour palette and a side-parted fringe curved loosely across the face.


Alberta Ferretti model by Marcus Tondo

Yves Saint Laurent’s long side part was drawn even further from the center and pulled slick across before tying into a perfect low slung bun.



Yves Saint Laurent model by Luca Cannonieri

What We’ve Learnt: A Pale of Perfection

While we’re still yet to see the entirety of Paris Fashion Week, there are a few key trends we can safely take away from Fall 2011.

One look is a flawless alabaster complexion which consistently comes hand-in-hand with autumn/winter fashion.


Carolina Herrera by Luca Cannonieri


Calvin Klein by Luca Cannonieri

Forget the summer glow, matte-perfected skin creates the ideal canvas for simple refined beauty or the best in bold lips.


Jil Sander by Luca Cannonieri