Yesterday I had the pleasure of reporting on the red carpet at the Billboard Women in Music Awards thanks to Crest 3D White, where Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj were honored. They were both incredible to talk to! Check out highlights from the event including video interviews with both songstresses after the jump!
Taylor Swift was named Billboard's Woman of the Year! As she stood up to accept her award she said, "Out of all of the day dreams I've had as a child, I keep taking a step back and saying, I guess this is what it looks like." She was so gracious and poised. She speaks about her New Years Eve look, love for Ralph Lauren Rugby and new bangs in the video below.
Taylor Swift Red Carpet Video:
Nicki Minaj was awarded Billboard's Rising Star and told me on the red carpet what her next beauty project is (video below). While accepting her award she said, "I'm no different than any other struggling artist that tried one last time." She was so honest and real. It was great to see this side of her. She also spoke about her wigs saying, "Hair changes my mood. It's not always about how I look, it's about how I feel. It does something to my brain, I can't stop!"
Nicki Minaj Red Carpet Video:
I bet you can't wait to watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show tonight on CBS! Neither can I, but since I saw it live, I caught a bit of the finale on video just for you! Enjoy after the jump!
This was incredible! As if watching the angels walk the runway wasn't enough, Kanye West begins performing "Stronger" and the models continued to strut wearing super hero inspired lingerie. Now picture this – the lights dim, models disappear and out comes Jay Z to perform "Niggas in Paris." Exhilarating! Need I say no more? I caught it all on camera!
Watch the video for yourself after the jump.
Yesterday I went backstage before the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which was held at the 69th Regiment Armory in NYC, and got the scoop on the secrets behind the Angel's glowing skin, bombshell waves and scored an interview with high fashion model, Liu Wen.
Check out the video interview I did backstage with Lead Makeup Artist, Tom Pecheux, and find out which products he used on the models after the jump!
Here's a shot of the main products used to create the look. Before applying foundation, Pecheux massaged each of the model's skin with 
It's that time of year again! While you can tune in on November 29th and watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, I'll be there tomorrow for the taping as the angels prep backstage and walk the runway. Of course, I'll be 
Last year I got to go into the spray tan tent to see exactly how the models bodies were sculpted with product (
Ladies, I'm really excited because I had the pleasure to interview Colombian Songstress, Shakira! She was kind enough to take some time out of her tour schedule to fill me in about her new fragrance, S by Shakira Eau Florale, which she says is, "a very simple fragrance with few accords and few notes, but which blended together manage to say a lot." Check out the interview after the jump:
The Naeem Khan Spring/Summer 2012 show was by far my favorite show of the season. The show opened to a grungy rock and roll version of Marilyn Manson's, Sweet Dreams, which was a beautiful contrast against the glamour of the high fashion gowns that owned the mirrored runway. The energy was electric and the audience, left in awe.
Red beaded gowns with intricate detail, black tulle dresses, printed floral ball gowns, lace off the shoulder gowns, high slit skirts with ruffles, low back beaded tops and an ostrich feather skirt were all part of the collection.
After the show I had the opportunity to speak with Naeem Khan in the American Express Skybox. "With my collection, it's all about the emotional connection," he said. "The moment a woman feels glamourous in my clothes is the connection."
The Blonds are amazing designers known for their eccentricity. This year, the look was all about Playboy. The clothes were magnificently intricate beaded corsets and the nails even moreso.
The New York Public Library isn't just for book worms - it's where Ports 1961 showcased their Spring 2012 collection. I think the library first received major fashion cred thanks to Sex and the City. Before I dish on the backstage beauty I wanted to say thank you to Jeannine for letting be in her shoes for a week! It was so great being a part of SS 2012 NYFW and most of all being able to share my experiences with you!
Tonight I ventured over to Milk Made Studios to catch the Wayne show at 7pm. Typically, shows start late, but this one didn't start until about 7:45 and after a long day running around between shows in 80 degree weather, I was a bit cranky. That is until I saw the first look – of course.
A silk white tuxedo dress effortlessly glided down the runway, (which the designer, Wayne Lee, told me was her favorite look of the show), and all of a sudden I was in a complete trance. This season, Lee collaborated with Benjamin Degen, a painter she always admired to created a blue and white rope print seen on various cotton and silk dresses and tops. Black, leather bomber jackets complimented girly flowy skirts and the color palette used was black, white, sand, bone and sky blue.
My favorite part was that the hair was roughly texturized and mattified into a series of braids that created an updo that created a nice contrast against the beautiful silks and gentle cottons.
I had been told earlier by Jeannine that backstage at Betsey Johnson was one big party and I was not disappointed. The day finally came for me to cover her show and I was ecstatic! There were colorful signs everywhere made by the designer herself, champagne flowed and mini cupcakes by Baked By Melissa were abundant. Models and makeup artists alike were almost too busy dancing to the bumping music to get ready for the show. Somehow they managed.
Sarah Lucero was the lead on makeup for Stila Cosmetics and the watchword for the show was "glam" (sexy and bombshell were also thrown around). The skin was kept very simple using Stila's Perfect + Correct, Brighten + Correct, and Sheer Pressed Powder. The cheeks were contoured with Stila's Sun Bronzing Powder to create some vavavavoom! The eyes were kept fairly simple with a bold, black cat eye (which stayed put thanks to Stila's Prime Pot and Smudge Pot in black) and loooong jet black lashes. (Sarah's tip for those at home is to apply the mascara and then make the cat eye.)
Today at Milk Made Studios I discovered Ohne Titel, which by far was one of my favorite shows of the season to date. Anna Wintour watched without her sunglasses and occasionally gave nods of approval and I sat front row directly across from Anna Dello Russo. The collection was full of strong colors and graphics, all together a feeling of optimism.
I arrived early for the show and hung out at the American Express VIP Lounge where Kenneth Tepper of the Ric Pipino Salon threw some curls in my hair. I swear it was the curls that landed me the front row seat!
Pistachio and buff hues were complimented with bright red, cobalt blue and yellow colors and each look that came out was more jaw dropping than the next. This was the first season the designers, Alexa and Flora showcased prints and really embraced evening wear. My favorite look was a red gown with a winged back worn with red gladiator flats.
Post show I was able to talk to the designers about the collection and they were super excited that they had such a good turn out. Two words: Anna Wintour. "We're going to Paris next," they exclaimed. Turns out, this fashion show was just a preview of what's to come. Vogue and the CFDA is sponsoring Ohne Titel and sending them to Paris for the months of September and October to showcase their collection. Lucky ladies!
Bright colors mixed with pastels and eclectic hairstyles were part of the beauty scene for Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet's Spring 2012 collection. The theme: walking through a secret garden during the 60's.
I was lucky enough to check out the Spring 2012 collection of Carlos Miele which had long flowy dresses, vibrant prints and bold gold accents. Miele wanted to create an artificial paradise filled with fluid lines and sculptural forms.
Before we get started I wanted to take a moment to thank the NYPD and FDNY as they are the true heros and that we will never forget 9/11. With that being said, the L.A.M.B. collection was dedicated to the people of New York on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.
The Tracy Reese collection for Spring/Summer 2012 is full of flowers, pastels, and ladylike skirts. The nails, hair, and makeup enhanced the clothes, giving it all a polished look.
The makeup was done by Mally Roncal, the creator of Mally Beauty. She wanted the look to be fresh and youthful (which worked great with Tracy's pretty play suits). She gave all the model's skin a satin finish, "No translucent powder!" she repeated twice. She then set the skin with Mally's Face Defender. Keeping the brows strong, Roncal went kept to a natural arch. She made the eyes very special. She described the style of eyeliner as that customized style that the coolest girl in class could pull off, but you couldn't, thin with a small kick up at the end. (Everyone nodded in agreement and nostalgia when she said that). The lids were kept naked and the lashes long and spiky. The blush, in 24/7 medium, was placed high and strong, well above the apples of the cheeks. The lips were the most interesting of the entire look. They were very glossy and in two different shades. The top lip was a color called Life is Fuchsia pink and the bottom was Be a Peach orange. The models were instructed very carefully not to roll their lips, but to marry the two colors by going "MA MA MA". Mally's advice to those wanting to try the look at home, "Just go for it!"
Models are sort of like live mannequins and Custo Barcelona took that literally! As he had models in minimal makeup and über glossy side ponytails for his Spring 2012 show. Maybelline Makeup Artist Gato wanted to create a modernistic appeal with a full eyebrows, porcelain skin and juicy coral lips. Quick tip from the pro himself, use an eyebrow pencil to fill in the gaps between hair following the shape of the brow and comb with brush in an upward direction for perfect brows.
My first time at Milk Made Studios this season was for the Simon Spurr show, which I was really excited about seeing because there's nothing better than seeing a man in a sophisticatedly tailored.
Before the show I was sitting in the American Express VIP Lounge and in walks none other than Ed Westwick. Yes, Gossip Girl's own, Chuck Bass. We were just sitting there alone for a little until his escort for the show (a gorgeous tall brunette with a sequin jacket and mini skirt who worked at MADE) joined him. He sat front row at the show looking quite dapper appropriately dressed in a Simon Spurr suit, but I was completely thrown off by his two pinky rings. Yes, two. One on each pinky and they were huge!
Well tailored three piece suits, pin stripes, quilted leather jackets and well groomed male models graced the runway. After the show I got to speak with the designer for a quick second. He explained the collection was an extension of fall, reinforcing that the brand is known for sharp, precise tailoring, but also taking a modern slant on country dressing.
One of my favorite things about ADAM is that everything I saw on the runway today will be made and sold. Most designers use the catwalk as their playground creating high fashion looks to showcase their creativity, which are later used as inspiration for the next season. Adam Lippes prides himself on creating collections that the everyday woman can actually wear. I attended the show in the American Express Skybox with my friend Sydne Summer of 
"I'm inspired by the High Line in the Meat Packing District," Lippes commented. "I love watching how people who walk around the runway in the sky dress and wanted to make clothes for them"
Watching the show from the skybox today and looking down onto the runway watching the crowd snap pictures and look at the clothing in awe as models walked by them made me take a step back for a minute and realize how lucky I am to be a fashion insider. Everyday I'm reminded in one way or another and at this moment, I really appreciated the fashion and beauty industry and my job. Normally, I watch the shows from inside the tents and looking down at those people, it's such an honor.
