Elsy Jane

Recently, I have loved wearing lip stick more and so thought I'd right a guide to lipstick; the colours to wear, how to apply it and make it last. Lip colour can look good on anyone, the key to making it work is finding the right colour, and then it all depends on how you wear it.

Choosing the right colour: 

When choosing the right lipstick colour you have to think about a few things; If you want to go natural Bobbi Brown always says to find a lipstick near to your natural lip colour then go up a notch. So if you have pale lips, then wear a beige, pale pink or sandy lip coloure. For a medium colour lip, go for a rose colour and for dark lips go a purply colour, raisin, chocolate or blackberry. 

Another factor to take into account when choosing lipstick is the warmth of your skin tone (rather than skin colour), you either are warm or cool toned, when looking at the veins on your arm, if they look bright blue you are cool toned where as if they are more of a green colour you are warm toned.  Warm tones look best in browns and orange undertoned reds or for paler warm shades go for champagne colours. Cool tones look best with classic beiges, blue undertoned reds or sheer pinks. 

How to apply lipstick:

To apply lipstick you want to start with a lip liner, as close to the lipstick colour as you can get and line your lips, for a bolder and longer lasting colour you can fill in your whole lips first. Start with the bottom and go from one corner to the other, then rub against your top lip to spread colour and blot. Next fill in the top lip with your lipstick, start in the middle of the top lips and move out to the corner and then repeat on the other half. You can now add a lip gloss or if you need to, blott with a tissue. To make your lipstick last longer, after applying a coat, apply translucent powder and then a second coat of lipstick.

How to make lips look fuller:

When making lips look bigger, you don't want to risk drawing them in and making them look fake, instead make lip gloss your best friend. The shimmer will reflect the light, creating the illusion of bigger lips. Dab on the middle of your top and bottom lip a shimmery gloss or pearlised lipstick.

M.A.C 'Pink Plaid' lipstick and M.A.C. 'in anticipation' pro long wear lip pencil Lip Linerreview:

For Christmas this year I got a M.A.C lipstick which was £15.50 and a matching lip liner for £15, after finally bringing myself to take off the packaging I tried it and it gave a good strong colour. It lasted a long time and the colour was beautiful. The lip liner gave such a strong colour that it could be used as a lip colour by itself. Will defiantly be buying more as although they are expensive they are worth it.

Lipstick Wishlist: 

My lipstick wish list I'd love to try, from top left to top right, bottom left to bottom right:  

Bobbi Brown Lipgloss in the colour 'rose' (£18.50)

Chanel Lipstick in the shade 'craquante' (£25) 

NARS Semi Matte lipstick in the colour 'Pagalle' (£19.50)

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colour in the shade 'rosy' (£19.50)

Yves Saint Laurent 'rouge pur couture vernis a levres glossy stain (£25)

M.A.C lipstick in the shade 'Ruby woo' (£15.50) 

Parisian designers are known for their milimilistic approach to fashion trends, however they know how to incorporate a statement piece to this simplicity (a bold necklace, a brocade coat or a tailored blazer for example) that always perfectly completes their look. So they always look carelessly great.

A new favourite style icon of mine at the moment is Clemence Poesy, she is the sort of Parisian chic that manifests a unique unpolished beauty, an almost bohemium versitile look alternating from red carpet ready to Paris street style, it's all very casual outfits with a certain glamour.

For an affordable similiar outfit:

Grey Jumper from misguided (£21.99) 

Black Joni Jeans from Topshop  (£36) 

Black Shoes from Dune London (£79) 

Black Classic Fedore Hat from Topshop (£25) 

Moss Boss Beige Scarf (£15)

Other Parisian Street Style Garments:

River Island black blazer (£40)

Zara Black Blouse (£29.99)

Zara Dark Green Blouse (£39.99)

Zara Studio Herringbone coat (£109)

Coated Tuck Midi-skirt from Topshop (£55)

So as you can see Parisian Street Style is all very neutral colours, sleek, simple and refined. I love the thrown together look, alternatives to the french high street shops, I found Zara do simple and neutral clothing just like the French, their clothing also incorperates simple patterns which is equivalent to thir bold necklace or tailored blazer that we spoke about earlier that style give the sophisticated elegence that the French are aiming for.

Okay So it can't just be me who's instagram is spammed with Balmain pictures by Mario Sorrenti of Kim and Kanye West? (If you haven't either Kim's or Oliver Rousteing's page is worth a quick stalk.) These beautiful pictures inspired me to write a whole post to be dedicated to the ins and outs of Pierre Balmain's and co.breathtaking work.

A quick background Pierre Balmain was born in 1914, and the French couturier founded his fashion house in 1945. Christian Dior, Cristóbal Balenciaga and him were the fashion kings responsible for the  lavish fashion trends after World War II which became a favourite to many European Royals. And Most recently, in 2011 Oliver Rousteing took over as creative director of Balmain Fashion House.

In the most recent Balmain Fashion show of their spring/summer 2015 show at Paris Fashion Week models such as Kendall Jenner, Joan Smalls and Rosie Huntingdon-Whitley were given the 'fresh out the pool' hair look and 90's era sun kissed fake tan. Note this is different from Oliver Rousteings typical matte and messy hair looks for the runways. The designer built on his initial signature style with his typical rich embellished rock and roll garments however added skin tight bodices and the odd bare waistline, flared trousers and striped primary coloures for more forgiving garments, highlighting the models figures. When interviewed Oliver said his designs were about 'really being fierce and structured, following the line of the body but still being strong'. I loved looking at the clothing line because it was bold with the cutting colours but the silhouette shaped clothing kept it elegant as well. 

In recent Balmain news, Kimye took over the new campaign with a kiss, the Spring/Summer 2015 ad was posted on Kim's social media  on the 22nd December, Kim and Kanye are no stranger to the fashion house and call Oliver a family friend. Also, recently Kylie Jenner announced her hair extension line with Balmain Hair.

There are few things I like more than discussing red carpet trends and other occasions fashion, and as we come to an end of another year, I thought I'd compile a short list of 2014's best dressed celebrities. I've thought long and hard over my choices, and hope you agree they deserve a space on the list.

 Olivia Palmero has a fantastic style including an array of patterned dresses and beautiful clutches. I love her skirt paired with the top in this outfit and the subbtle green goes well with her skin and hair colour. I think the patterned shoes compliment the top half perfectly. Her style is both unique and fresh and I've loved it this year.

Jessica Alba's outfit was very elegent without being a dress. The detailing on the outsides of the jacket which where patched leather added a feminie toughness to the suit and the actor/models shoes complimented it all well.

I can't quite put my finger on why I love Kierra Knitleys look for the Film Festival so much, I guess it's the choice of colour and pattern of this Valentino piece paired with a perfect belt and heels. Even though Kierra has been in several new releases this year she is fairly under the radar, it seems. The twenty-nine year old has switched between Valentino, Chanel, Michael Van der Ham and Erdem and never looked better, it seems good taste doesn't guarantee newspaper headlines.

Zooey Deschanel's patterned dress for the Vanity Fairs Oscars Party honestly took my breath away when I saw the picture, I loved the way it has tiered waterfall ruffles touching the floor and the simple bag goes well with such an eye-catching dress. Many of her other dress' caught on camera are breath taking also. 

Embellishment made a big return in the evening Academy Awards, Cate Blanchett turned out especially well in this nude strapless dress with swarovski crystals, which made her stand out but the colour wasn't in your face. I thought this dress was beautifully pulled off.

Camilla Alves (plus her husband Mathew McConaughy) have walked every notable red carpet this year and never failed to wear something lovely, I believe this is because she isn't afraid to take risks and has the confidence to pull it off. My favourite being her George Hobeika suit and matching cape, pictured above which she wore to the Instrellar Premiere in London. The model and designer's outfit here is simple yet stunning, the subbtle colour paired with the green toned heels work well not to be to plain or in your face. 

Lea Michelle wore the Oscar de la Renta dress pictured above to the the Hollywood Reporter Powerful Women Luncheon which was a favourite of mine, as I've always believed few can go wrong with a Navy, the puffed bottom added something to the patterned dress and her choice of purse brought out the flowers even more, the nail colour matched the buds and the way the dress looked on her not only complimented her skin making her look radiant but her figure also.

Ah, Black Lively, she has done well these past years with Gossip Girl under her belt she is now focusing on several othe projects including being the prettiest pregnant women (her baby is due January 8th!!!) and several adverts. None the less the fashion icon never fails to impress, her red carpet outfits are always my favourite. For example in this dress worn on the red carpet- stunning. 

Haley Bennet in this grey Valentino dress which she wore to Valentino's Sala Blanca's Couture Show stunned everyone with the elgent sillohette and seafoam shade, there are little ruffles on the bottom, I love how the plunged V neck line doesn't take away any class from the look. 

Claire Danes in Givenchy was always going to be first on my list, the red dress paired with matching lips worked well with her skin tone and the detailing on the dress was stunning. The neckline, elongated her neck and made her look very elegant and the lace from the waistline went onto the top of her back as well. The outfit was worn to the Emmy awards.