Mode Maven
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Lacquered lips take us back to black
Posted by Kim Colvin on Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Which woman hasn’t already fallen to the justifiable exigency of seizing the perfect LBD? But who among us has heeded the gothic call to snag the LBL?
Lacquered black lips are the latest addition to a modern anti-beauty revolution. It’s all about daring to be different, and finding interest in a world of contouring and conformity.
Now, I can appreciate shock value. Black lips allow me to attempt to stand out among a sea of New Yorkers even for a moment, until the subway door closes and I'm sandwiched between an ambiguous hipster and a sadist with lips blacker than mine. So much for a fair competition.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Behind the scenes: Acafool music video shoot
Posted by Kim Colvin on Sun, Aug 9, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Production just wrapped on the set of local artist Acafool's music video "Let's Ride," a catchy hip-hop song featured in the movie Fast and Furious 4. As head makeup artist, I had exclusive access to every shot from the crew call at 8 p.m. to the 5 a.m. wrap. Check out the behind the scenes photos just below the break...
Friday, July 31, 2009
Trendspotting: What they're wearing right now in NYC
Posted by Kim Colvin on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 3:16 PM
What awaits at the end of of a two hour-long, cushy Jet Blue flight north; a 10-minute AirTrain ride west, a 55-minute subway ride uptown; and a climb up a particularly steep and stained flight of stairs? New York City! (In my best Pace Picante Sauce voice), and a bottle of Poland Spring water, of course. I just returned from the Big Apple last night, and in between shameless gawks at all the pretty buildings, I managed to survey the fashions of the hip and uninhibited.
See what they're wearing right now, or at least yesterday, in NYC — below the jump.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Project Runway's Christian Siriano creates "fierce" fashion for Payless
Posted by Kim Colvin on Tue, Jul 21, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Bravo network's Project Runway Season 4 winner, Christian Siriano, has blessed us lowly Payless Shoe Source scavengers with a new Egyptian-inspired shoe and handbag line. Equipped with spikes that resemble the horns on a baby rhino, Cuban-style heels and bronzy punk rock chains, the turquoise, brown and gold collection launches in September.
See Siriano's bargain beauties after the break:
Monday, May 18, 2009
Urban Decay uses naked men to sell lip gloss
Posted by Kim Colvin on Mon, May 18, 2009 at 4:37 PM
The raunchy cosmetics brand Urban Decay — which already sells highly pigmented eye shadows with grimy names like Baked, Roach and Asphyxia — has launched Pocket Rockets, a line of colorful lip glosses K.
Pocket Rockets come in eight colors; they're shiny and pretty and tastes good ... blah, blah, blah. What's so different about these creme-brulee-scented glosses is that they incorporate holographic images of sexy men in the packaging. Yes, the handle of your lip gloss has a picture of a buff man dressed in stylish clothes, from formal to preppy.
But wait! (In my best Billy Mayes voice) There's MORE!!!!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Tampa mom asks cosmetics victims, "WTF?" (audio interview)
Posted by Kim Colvin on Sat, May 9, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Tara Lee (above left) is a Tampa mom who dared to ask the question, "If my children's toys were recalled because of lead contamination in paint, why has lead not yet been banned from lipstick?" The question led Lee to co-found Best in Beauty, a company that informs consumers about the hazardous, and sometimes toxic, ingredients found in everyday cosmetics and toiletries.
Listen to my interview with Tara Lee after the jump...
Friday, April 24, 2009
Vegan beauty: No animals were harmed in the making of this lipstick
Posted by Kim Colvin on Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Common cosmetic ingredients such as cetyl alcohol (a wax derived from sperm whales) and carmine (a red pigment extracted from crushed insects) are found in your favorite crimson lipstick. So what cosmetics are out there for vegan vixens? Lots!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Three spring fashion trends for women on a budget
Posted by Kim Colvin on Fri, Apr 10, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Fashion/beauty contributor Kim Colvin hips you to some hot new looks:
Spring 2009 women's fashions have been to the rainbow and back in bold primary hues of Skittles. It's all about vibrancy and loose-fitting silhouettes. But who's really thinking about revamping their wardrobe during the worst economic slump in decades?
Uh, you are, of course. Or you should be.
Taking cues from designers to create affordable looks has never been easier.
I've always fancied clothing labels with the decimal points in their prices slid a bit more to the right than deemed necessary. Sometimes I could delve for some pathetic reason to buy the three-digit top, but then I'd suffer incredible buyers' remorse and resent my decision. Most of the time I would find something so disgustingly similar at a discount retailer that I'd just sigh with defeat and vow never to get the chiffon pulled over my eyes again.
I've kept this promise to myself for the most part. The three looks I'll discuss below all have affordable options.
They're like wearable smallpox, appearing every 20 years just to throw off your shopping chi, then disappearing until an emerging designer get infected and spurs a revival. I always pick one out while shopping, feel like a mechanic or flash dancer, then proceed to shamefully put it back.
I have to admit, though: I've seen this trend tweaked on the New York Fashion Week runways in surprisingly modern ways. A chic alternative to the full-length pant is a shorter Capri-length jumpsuit with pockets, a belted waist, peep-toe pumps.
Blue jumpsuit From Express, $79.50.
Friday, April 3, 2009
FDA-approved lash-growth product
Posted by Kim Colvin on Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 12:01 PM
For decades, women have answered "mascara!" when asked the proverbial "desert island" question. But what if there were a product that could transform your natural lashes to look like you've already slapped on the goop? That could free up your sole item for, um, fresh water, maybe...? Maybe not.
Now, what if that product started it's life as a treatment for glaucoma; still interested? In enters Latisse, the only FDA-approved natural-lash growth, thickening, and darkening treatment.
An interesting side-effect occurred when glaucoma patients used the eye drop Lumigan— long, dark, incredibly dramatic lash growth. Now, the main ingredient in Lumigan is in Latisse, a prescription treatment for sparse lashes. Latisse is applied much like a liquid eyeliner, at the very base of the eyelashes on the lid once a day. The results are incredible, and can be seen starting at four weeks with full results after 16 weeks.
So sorry ladies, you'll need a prescription to get your hands on this magic wand. But if you look anything like Tilda Swinton you might just get the M.D. go-ahead!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Purple Labs introduces weight loss lip gloss
Posted by Kim Colvin on Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 8:31 AM
New lipgloss boasts weight loss ingredient Hoodia, a South African appetite suppressant.
Huge Lips, Skinny Hips plumping lipgloss is the debut product from Purple Lab. Available in 6 fiendish colors including "No Panty Lines" and "Kitty Poledancer," HLSH has added vitamin B6 for some increased circulation and lip-plumping action.
With the unceremonious death of its discontinued predecessor, Too Faced Cosmetics' "Fuze Slenderize" appetite-curbing, energy-boosting gloss, I don't expect this product to have legs, thin or fat.
Huge Lips, Skinny Hips' competitor EAER (Exercise and Eat Right)'s withering stock took it's worst dive in 25 years this week. Where are you when we need you Richard Simmons?
MAVEN MUNCH! Have some...
Women ingest up to 6 pounds of lipstick/gloss in their lifetimes, so it kinda makes sense to go organic. Stick with natural lip products made with fruit pigments.
Insider's Pick: 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip Glosses. $13.
