Oscar Favorites: Get the Look! Emma Stone, Michelle Williams, and Gwyneth Paltrow

Last night, we celebrated the 84th annual Academy Awards. With a lot of awards being passed out, I’m giving the best red-carpets looks to to Emma Stone, Michelle Williams, Rooney Mara and Gwyneth Paltrow! Although Octavia Spencer also deserves a shout out for glowing head-to-toe in Tadashi Shoji.  Here’s the inside scoop on the beauty looks and how-tos for some of my favorite leading ladies:

EMMA STONE (wearing Giambattista Valli):

HAIR: Emma had a fresh and modern bun with an elegant twist created by Mara Roszak for Couture Colour

“I wanted to keep Emma’s hair structured without feeling too stiff and the bun allowed for her look to be simple and elegant yet fresh,” said Roszak.

She began by using Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment on Emma’s wet hair working the product in from the ends and working up to keep her locks looking healthy and shiny. Roszak then blow-dried it straight keeping it sleek and simple in front. To create the bun, Mara pulled hair into a mid-height ponytail and began wrapping pieces of hair keeping it loose and wide and securing each piece with bobbypin. She then finished the look with Couture Colour’s Pequi Oil Finishing Polish to complete the look.

BODY GLOW: Emma basked in a pastel tan thanks to Rachel Goodwin for St. Tropez, who used their Rose Skin Illuminator on Emma’s arms, shoulders and collar bones to add a pink undertone to compliment her dress.

MICHELLE WILLIAMS (wearing Louis Vuitton):

HAIR: Michelle Williams was fashionably glamorous with her blonde pixie by Chris McMillan for Couture Colour and Wella Professionals.

Chris began by using Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment on Michelle’s short hair to keep it fresh and vibrant without weighing it down. Then applied Sebastian Professional Mousse Forte to wet hair, and let it to air dry. With a small round brush, he finished off with a blow dry to give the hair more height. Then used his hands to set the part and bangs and finish with Wella Professionals Stay Essential Finishing Spray to set in place.

Chris says, “The reason I love the Wella products is that they are light and don’t weigh the hair down as the night wears on.  Some stylers can actually make the hair look darker if they’re too heavy, but with the Wella hairspray hair is shiny and touchable.”

GWYNETH PALTROW (wearing Tom Ford):

TAN: Gwyneth Paltrow complemented her white gown (complete with cape) with a  flawless tan created by Leslie Lopez for St. Tropez; using their Gold Skin Illuminator on her cheek bones, brow bone, and collarbone.

MAKEUP: Gwyneth Paltrow then worked with celebrity makeup artist, Leslie Lopez using NARS Cosmetics to enhance her sun-kissed glow.

“It’s elegantly bronzed,” said celebrity makeup artist Leslie Lopez for NARS Cosmetics. “The dress makes such a statement, but it also has no color, so we needed to create a makeup look that complemented the dress and was still sophisticated enough for the red carpet. I really loved the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer because it gives a sun-kissed look to her skin, and perfect against a white dress!”

Here are the products Leslie used so you can recreate the look:

FACE – NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 PA +++, with Super Orgasm Illuminator patted onto the apples of the cheeks.

EYES – The champagne side of NARS Alhambra Duo Eyeshadow was applied on the eyelid for a pop of gold, followed by a Maybelline brown liquid eyeliner along the lashline. The look was then finished with NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara.

LIPS – NARS Odalisque Larger Than Life Lip Gloss

As for my other favorite look (and new girl crush), Rooney Mara, she wowed the crowd with her edgy bangs and bold lips; which perfectly contrasted her stunning Givenchy gown. I wish I had more details to offer as it’s now time for me to scour the internet in search of that red lipstick!

Who sported your red carpet look? Leave a comment below or tweet me @PrettyConnected

Backstage at Naeem Khan Fall/Winter RTW Collection

Backstage with Naeem Khan

If you haven’t checked out the pictures from the Naeem Khan Fall/Winter RTW Collection, you should! Inspired by Italian actress Monica Vitti, the designer wanted to do a collection that referenced Italy in the 1960s and capture the beauty of the era. Draped in floor-length dresses, with exotic prints and sparkles; the designs are based on a black, white, cream, and gold color scheme. (the collection can be viewed on style.com).

Minutes before sending his collection down the runway, I was backstage with the designer while the models got primped and primed. And unlike many of the over-the-top looks we’ve seen this fashion week, this is a very achievable hair, makeup and nail look for all of you at home looking to create the look.

HAIR: Bumble and Bumble

LEAD Stylist: Laurent Philippon for Bumble and Bumble

LOOK: Effortless French Twist. Made to look as if it were done in one try.

PRODUCTS USED: Bumble & Bumble’s Thickening Hairspray, Hair Powder, Spray De Mode, and Styling Wax

HOW-TO: Part the hair down the center and spray hair with B&B’s Thickening Hairspray. Blowdry, combing down the sides and spraying B&B’s Hair Powder at the roots. Section the back of the head and blowdry it very smooth in sections. Backcomb just the roots at the crown and mist with Spray De Mode. Pull B&B’s Styling Wax through the hair then mist their Hair Powder all over. Twist up into a French twist pulling at the front hairline to create softness.

MAKEUP: NARS Cosmetics

LEAD STYLIST: James Boehmer, NARS Director of Global Artistry

LOOK: “The look is all about the precision, sharpness, and blackness of the line,” said James Boehmer, NARS Director of Global Artistry. “Everything else has that ‘barely there’ feeling. The eye line has to be really sharp and pointed up towards the temple – it’s not a cat eye, and it’s not a wide eye. It draws the eyes up.”

PRODUCTS USED:

FACE

·         Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF30/PA+++

·         Concealer

·         Loose Powder

·         Sex Appeal Blush

EYES

·         Carpates Eyeliner Stylo (new for Fall 2012!)

·         Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara

LIPS

·         More Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (new for Fall 2012!)

·         Triple X Lip Gloss

NAILS: Creative Nail Design (CND)

LEAD STYLIST: Angi Wingle for CND

LOOK: A seductive blood-red manicure to pop against the black, white, cream, and gold color scheme of the collection.

PRODUCTS USED: CND Colour in Bloodline

More images from backstage

Hugo Boss Goes Home

Expanding beyond fashion, HUGO BOSS will be launching a new contemporary BOSS Home collection in March! Exclusive to Bloomingales’s (for the first three month) the collection will then go national throughout the US and Canada in additional department and specialty stores.

Drawing inspiration from the BOSS Black clothing line, the Spring/Summer 20012 Boss Home collection with feature unique detailing, mixing classic tailoring and contemporary designs to create an elegant modern home lifestyle. The collection with comprise of bedding, quilted sateen coverlet & Shams, leather boudoir and decorative pillows, unique duvets and barreta-stitch sheeting

BOSS Home launch party

There will be seven bedding ensembles, Galleria, Como, Cross Patch, Windsor, Water Lily, Pixel and Area mixing abstract Italian prints and jacquards. The color palette revolves around purples, grays, metallic neutrals and white. Boss Home will also have a line of plush bath towels in deep color tones as well as beach towels in bright, eye-popping colors and geometric patterns.

Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe performing

I caught a sneak peek of the home collection at the brand’s launch party which was hosted at the Hugo Boss showroom. And between the clothing on the manikins and the bed display, I could live a very happy life residing in that showroom. Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe performed their DJ/Violin ensemble. And how could I resist the photo booth?

EMU Australia Fall/Winter 2012 Presentation

From head to toe, EMU Australia displayed their Nordic inspired Fall/Winter 2012 collection filled with a mix of comfort and functional pieces, while still being fashionable (and very well styled).

Hosted at the Metropolitan Pavilion at Style 360, the brand also launched its first menswear collection since launching 15yrs ago.  As expected there was a grand showing of classic  Australian Merino sheepskin footwear items, as well as a variety of boots of all lengths made of soft leathers and suede in different styles. I thought the collection was well balanced with heavy jackets (that you just wanted to snuggle in!) mixed with mini skirts and tall boots; fitted leather jackets with hats and accessories –and since it appears they haven’t yet launched pants, I’d love to see a variety of fun tights next season! The richness of the layering as well as the color palette or cranberry to grays to black as also what stood out from the collection.

Leather has been all the rage this season at fashion week, and I for one want this entire black number:

Straight from the front row, check out the collection for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUYdPpUEPqE&list=UU9BX-x1D-YtJhGoX2vY1TVQ&index=2&feature=plcp