Fashion show-off

Hey Hey Hey,
It’s me! I’m back! Thank you from the bottom of my hot pink heart (hot pink being the lipcolor du jour at the shows) for all of your sweet well wishes. In case you’re wondering, my migraine fog has finally cleared and I am officially back in the building! And actively gnawing my nails to a nub wondering who’s going to win Project Runway. I just love Michael to death—and no, not just because FINALLY we have a good-natured, level-headed, sweet-as-all-get-out young black man starring on a reality show (he’s the anti-Flavor Flav, is he not?)—but because he’s actually extraordinarily talented. Can I please wear his white cocktail dress with the black leather cinch-waist every day of my life until it becomes tattered and concealer-smudged (yep, herein lies the problem with applying makeup with your fingers…it gets everywhere)?

So, speaking of Project Runway, let’s get into New York City’s Olympus Fashion Week! As always, the people-watching was much more exciting than the actual shows. Take Zac Posen’s after-party at the Soho Grand. It was such an exclusive, chi chi affair that some celebs actually lost their sartorial sense. Exhibit A: Guess what brilliant, megalomaniacal hip-hop star-slash-producer swanned into the soiree wearing a smoke-grey Louis Vuitton MINK STOLE?! Kanye, of course. It was haphazardly flung across your boy’s shoulders like he was Diahann Carrol. And the lovely Mischa Barton—whose fashion choices I usually enthusiastically co-sign—was wearing a fluffy, lacy white headband that gave her a distinct ten-maids-a-milking vibe. And girls, Kate Bosworth was so emaciated that a shocked hush fell over the crowd upon her shaky entrance. On a non-celebrity note, however, I looked sorta cute in my off-the-shoulder Tracy Feith black mindress…


But the week wasn’t all about the parties, obviously. It was the Spring 2007 Collections, and everywhere you turned a new trend was being hatched. Judging from the turbans at Prada, the Out of Africa-style safari thingies at Ralph Lauren and a host of other fedoras, beanies, and messenger caps at Armani, DKNY and Marni—hats are the big thing. This is inconvenient for me, because I have a disproportionately huge head and can’t even successfully rock a baseball cap without feeling like I’ve stuck my head in a vice. In terms of shoes, it’s still all about the platform pump! You know those darling Christian Louboutins all the stars are rocking, with the wooden platforms? I just bought a super-cute knockoff at Urban Outfitters—the Oh Deer! Rounded Wooden Platforms ($58) even have Louboutin’s telltale red sole. Oh and girls, if you’re so over boho everything, you’ll DIE over Spring’s return to flouncy, flirty, ladylike dresses! Think Whitley Gilbert at a cotillion—in a good way. My favorite was this little red corvette from Ferragamo (above, left). I found a totally affordable version at Anthropologie—their lipstick red Hourglass Dress ($188) has the same kicky skirt and corset-like bodice. Yum.

And now, onto our favorite part!! Ladies, during the shows, your eagle-eyed beauty leader zeroed in on the four biggest beauty trends of the Spring 2007 Collections. Enjoy, and try not to wear them all at once…

Sick to death with love for you,
Your Tia

TIA’S TOP FOUR FASHION WEEK BEAUTY TRENDS:

1.) LUMINOUS SKIN
This might seem obvious, like when is perfect skin NOT a trend? But, let me tell you, at shows like Calvin Klein, Jill Stuart, Max Azria and Bottega Veneta (left) the models had such radiant, dewy, “I-just-had-the-best-sex-of-my-life” skin that they upstaged the clothes! Here's how to do it: Instead of heavy foundation, simply blend a creamy concealer under eyes and over blemishes. Then—and here’s the magic—using an oversized brush, dust a translucent shimmer powder allover to set the concealer. Kimora Lee Simmons’ KLS Beauty Powder Highlighter ($20) has light-reflecting particles that somehow camouflage uneven skin tones and discoloration…it’s simply gorgeous. Choose one of the four darkest shades—Honeycomb, Butter Pecan, Juicy Java or Chocolate Soufflé.


2.) BABY PINK LIPS
Faithful SYB readers are well-aware of the fact that I favor a bronzey lip. My mind has officially changed. At Michael Kors, Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta (left), the models' lips were painted the sweetest shade of princess-pink, ever. Oh, that whole “Who me, sexy?” thing is just so irresistible, isn't it? And yes, brown girls can most definitely go there—as evidenced by cutie-pie model-of-the-moment Jaunel. After the shows, I ran out and bought Revlon Superlustrous Lip Gloss in Glossy Rose ($6.19)--this sheer, shimmery shade looks adorable alone or layered over brown lip pencil for more depth.


3.) GOLD EYES
Ooooh, my favorite!! You know I LIVE for a bit o'gold around the eyes. No matter how intense your night was, a smudge of this sunny metallic shade instantly makes you look awake, refreshed and impossibly sexy. Which was not lost on the beauty squad at shows like Donna Karan and Anna Sui (left). And gold just happens to be stunning on brown skin. Blend a gilded shadow like Clinique Touch Tint for Eyes Shimmer Formula in Gold Glimmer ($14.50) just along the upper lashline, and then, using the pad of your pinky finger, dab it on the inside corners of your eyes (you know, around the tear duct area). Smokin!’


4.) GLOSSY, BOUNCY, SIDE-PARTED HAIR (please ignore the crazy lips)
For many seasons, we’ve all been rocking the heavily flatironed, center-parted locks, because it’s the proper Beyonce thing to do. But at Catherine Malandrino (“Angela, you look ridiculous”), Zac Posen and especially Nanette Lepore (left), I was so taken with the unapologetic glamorousness of the super-bouncy, swooped-to-the-side style! And how about that glossiness? On a beauty counter backstage, I squealed when I saw the product that my Dominican hairstylist uses on me every Sunday— Olive Oil Nourishing Sheen Spray ($4.49)! Spritz this vitamin E and olive oil-blended shine spray on wet hair before you blowdry, and then again on dry hair before you flatiron or use the curling iron—and you’ll have Barbie-hair-level glossiness that you wouldn’t believe.