Light Spring palette: Best lipstick colours

The Light Spring palette is soft and delicate, so they should avoid dusty and dark shades. They should also avoid contrast in their makeup, as they run the risk of disappearing altogether behind it. The idea is to combine softly their best shades in harmony.
Light Spring best lipstick shades:

1. Soft purples.
2. Warm pinks (never fuchsia and the like).
3. Soft reds like watermelon and clear red (i.e. not as far as medium red, less saturated).
4. Clear salmon and coral.
5. Powder pink.

MORE?

• Light Spring palette: Looks.
• Light Spring palettes: Best colours.
• Red lipsticks for the warm palettes.

Lipstick colours for Deep Autumns

The Deep Autumn palette of lipsticks is full of shades with warm undertones, not pale or muted, but strong and vivid, in contrast with the rest of Autumn palettes.

Deep Autumn best lipstick shades:

1. Red browns: terracotta, mahogany, rust.
2. True (medium) red, tomato red.
3. Aubergine.
4. Peach and salmon shades of orange.
5. Metallic shades like gold, bronze, copper...
6. Nudes: camel, coffee, toast (anything with golden undertones).

Lipstick colours for Deep Autumns by Caroline Grant.

MORE?

• Deep Autumn palette looks.
• Deep Autumn palettes: Best colours.
• Red lipsticks for the warm palettes.

Light Spring palette: Looks

What do Light Springs look like?

• General appearance: soft and delicate.
• Natural hair: blonde or golden gray.
• Eyes: blue, blue green, light green.

Light Spring: Favourite characters by Caroline Grant.

MORE?

• Warm Spring palettes: Best colours.
• Warm Spring palette: Best lipstick colours.
• Red lipsticks for the warm palettes.

Light Spring palette: Best colours

About their colours

Light Spring's complexion is very delicate, so the idea is to enhance it and take care not to overwhelm it. That means they should avoid both very dark (black, navy, or coffee brown) or muted, dusty colours, as they would look tired, pale, and even sick if they wear them. They should also avoid strong contrasts between colours in the patterns or garments they wear, as they will disappear altogether.

Best neutrals:

• Camel.
• Khaki and taupe.
• Stone.
• Light navy and medium blue.

Other colours:

• Warm and pastel rose pinks, from powder to view rose pink.
• Blue greens that are light, like aqua, or emerald turquoise.
• Yellow greens like moss or pastel green.
• Vibrant blues like violet (for night) and periwinkle.
• Soft reds like watermelon.

Colour combinations:

• Periwinkle and powder blue.
• Khaki or taupe with coral.
• Camel and powder pink.

Light Spring palette: Greens and blues by Caroline Grant.

Light Spring palette: Purples, reds, and pinks by Caroline Grant.

Light Spring palette: Brown, gray, and beige by Caroline Grant.

MORE?

• Light Spring palette: Looks.
• Light Spring palette: Best lipstick colours.
• Red lipsticks for the warm palettes.

Deep Autumn palette looks

What do Deep Autumns look like?

• General appearance: strong and rich.
• Natural hair: deep brown, chestnut or brown, often with (natural) red highlights.
• Eyes: strong hazel, golden brown, black-brown, or green.

MORE?

• Deep Autumn best lipstick colours.
• Deep Autumn palettes: Best colours.
• Red lipsticks for the warm palettes.

Soft Autumn palettes: Best Colours

About their colours

Soft Autumns' colours have mostly rich, warm undertones, although there are some cooler shades, and they are muted. Soft Autumns, like the Warm palette, cannot wear black near their faces, or other very dark colours like navy or charcoal. In contrast with both the Warm and the Deep Autumn palettes, they cannot wear oranges either, except salmon (if we consider it a kind of very very soft orange). Soft Autumn's colours can mix them boldly, too, pairing green turquoise with coffee brown, for instance.

Best neutrals:

• Coffee brown (the darkest colour they should wear near their faces).
• Light navy.
• Gray greens like olive and khaki.
• Stone and camel.

Other colours:

• Purple and aubergine (e.g. for night, instead of black).
• Mahogany and rust.
• Soft green turquoises (not harsh).

Colour combinations:

• Camel and aubergine, or buttermilk.
• Coffee brown and green turquoise or light moss.
• Teal and terracotta.

Soft Autumn palette: Greens and blues by Caroline Grant. [Background image: Apricot Rose, by Anna Knights].

Soft Autumn palette: Reds and pinks by Caroline Grant. [Background image: Apricot Rose, by Anna Knights].

Soft Autumn palette: Grays and browns by Caroline Grant. [Background image: Apricot Rose, by Anna Knights].

MORE?

• Soft Autumn best lipstick colours.
• Soft Autumn characters.
• Red lipsticks for the warm palettes.

Red lipsticks for Springs and Autumns

Spring and Autumn are warm palettes. That means their reds have mostly yellow undertones, although some Spring palettes are a bit cooler. Before choosing your lipstick (matte, crème, or stain/sheer), consider your season and your general complexion. You can click on each of the season's palettes to read about them.

• Strong and rich: Deep Autumn.
  
• Light and fair: Light Spring.
• Soft and muted: Soft Autumn. 
• Warm an Golden: Warm Autumn or Warm Spring.
• Clear and bright: Clear Spring.

Red lipsticks with yellow and brown undertones for the warm seasons: Autumns (Deep Autumn, Warm Autumn, and Soft Autumn) and Springs (Light Spring, Warm Spring, and Clear Spring).

MORE?
How to distinguish between shades of red.
Lipstick colours for the Spring palettes.
Lipstick colours for the Autumn palettes.

Deep Autumn palette: Best colours

About their colours

What Deep Autumns' colours have in common is that they all have warm undertones and that they are not pale or muted, but strong and vivid. Deep Autumns, like Winters, can carry a significant amount of black near their faces with success. Deep Autumn's colours, in contrast with the rest of Autumn's palettes, are strong. They can mix them boldly, too, pairing green turquoise with coffee brown, for instance.

Best neutrals:

• Coffee brown.
• Black.
• Navy.
• Medium gray.

Other colours:

• Tomato and true red.
• Egg yolk.
• Olive green.

Colour combinations:

• Camel and aubergine.
• Coffee brown and green turquoise or mustard.
• Teal and terracotta.

Deep autumn colours - Greens and blues by Caroline Grant. Strong, vivid blues and greens, some of them bright, which allows for great contrasts when choosing an outfit. [Background image: Magnolia x loebneri "Merrill", by Anna Knights].

Deep autumn colours - Reds, oranges, yellows by Caroline Grant. Reds, oranges and yellows for Deep Autumns.  The shades are as intense for Deep Autumns as for Deep Winters,  but with yellow undertones*. [Background image: Magnolia x loebneri "Merrill", by Anna Knights].

Deep autumn colours - Browns, metallics... by Caroline Grant. Metallics look great on Deep Autumns, also saturated shades of brown. Cream is the "white" for Deep Autumns. [Background image: Magnolia x loebneri "Merrill", by Anna Knights].

MORE?

• Deep Autumn palette looks.
• Deep Autumn best lipstick colours.
• Red lipsticks for the warm palettes.

Body type A

Dress for Your Body Type: Body Type A by Caroline Grant.

Definition

Body type As have shoulders and torso that are narrower than her hips.

More specifically:

• A small to medium frame (slim torso and narrow rib cage), and small to medium bust.
• Narrow or sloped shoulders.
• A small waist.
• Fuller lower hips and bottom.
• Full legs.

The advantage Body type As share is that tons of skirts look great on them (trousers are more tricky, I'm afraid, but then again they are for all but the slimmest, and Body type Cs). They can also wear most of the bells and whistles of any season on their tops.
When Body type As put on weight, it usually starts on their hips and thighs, and it is usually the last place where they lose it.

What's the ideal we will try to create?

To subtly widen the appearance of her upper body to balance it with her lower body.

How to achieve it?

Bottoms:

• Solid colours or subtle patterns that flatter her silhouette (the size will depend of her height and weight).
• Creating a straight line or an A-line.
• Made of fabrics that are fluid, not stiff.

Tops:

• Details that make them visually interesting.
• Creating the widest posible line for her shoulders, either through cut or pattern.

I am using in my blog Kendall Farr's Body Types A, B, C, D, E, F. She's a genius.
Other names for Body type As are: inverted triangle, pear shape, or A shape. I don't approve of these names, sorry: no one is a fruit or a thing.

How to wear Tangerine Tango makeup

Who looks good in Tangerine Tango?

Tangerine Tango is a deep reddish orange, so it has quite a lot of personality. Neither the Winter nor the Summer palettes look good in it, and neither does most of the Spring palette, with the notable exception of the Warm Springs.
The following palettes look good in Tangerine Tango lipstick:

• Warm Spring palette
• Deep Autumn palette
• Warm Autumn palette

As with any shade of red, if you go for Tangerine Tango lipstick, keep the rest of the makeup simple.

Who is doing Tangerine Tango lipsticks?

Lots of brands, but although there are plenty of colours out there that are called "Tangerine Tango" some of them are actually not that deep shade of red-orange, but may suit warm palettes also.
For instance:

• Estée Lauder - Lasting crème - Red Tango 337 is the perfect Tangerine Tango, and a lipstick that is really long lasting.

But:

• Sephora - Crème Lipstick Tangerine Tango Cream, is NOT Tangerine Tango, but an orange that could suit other palettes, if not faint-hearted.

Tangerine inspired makeup

If you look good in the orange family, but Tangerine Tango is too strong for you, here's a beautiful, elegant way of creating a Tangerine-inspired look. I just found Ms Jen's blog, "From Head to Toe".
Notice  how simple the eye makeup is, with just an echo of the orange in the eye shadow.

Most Asian and Latin women are Winters, but there are Deep Autumns too. Ms Jen is obviously an Autumn, she looks so nice in orange shades! She also has an easy to follow makeup tutorial that you can watch to get the look.

MORE?

• How to wear Tangerine Tango... if you don't look good in it.
• Own your style... and the colours that suit you.

Cool Summer Palettes: Best colours

Any blue or gray without warm undertones looks great on the Cool Summer. Cocoa, rose brown and rose beige all have cool undertones, so they are fine on them too.

Best neutrals:

• Navy.
• All cool grays
• Cocoa, rose brown, and rose beige.

Other colours:

• Soft pinks in the rose family.
• Blues with red inside: plum, purple, periwinkle, lavander.
• Green blues like soft teal, spruce, green turquoise, and aqua.

Colour combinations:
Try mixing strong colours with pastels instead of with other strong shades, that gives the most interesting options for Cool Summers.

• Taupe and rose.
• Navy and mint or aqua, or rose.
• Rose beige and cocoa or rose brown.

Makeup for the Summer palettes

Red lipsticks for the Summer palette: a shopping guide.
Best lipstick colours for the Summer palettes.

Cool Summer palette: Blues and greens by Caroline Grant.

Cool Summer palette: Purples, reds, and pinks by Caroline Grant.

Cool Summer palette: Brown, Gray, and Beige by Caroline Grant.

MORE?

• Cool Summer palette: Looks.
• Cool Summer: Best lipstick colours.
• Red lipsticks for the cool palettes.

Clear Winter Best Lipstick Colours

The Clear Winter palette has some very pale, icy shades in it, plus neutral reds, and a very dark red blues like aubergine.

Clear Winter best lipstick shades:

1. Soft reds like true red and light true red.
2. Deep blue pinks like raspberry, azalea, fuchsia and shocking pink.
3. Very dark, saturated red blues like aubergine.
4. Pale, frosty pinks.

Lipstick colours for Clear Winters by Caroline Grant.

MORE?

• Clear Winter palette looks.
• Clear Winter palettes: Best colours.
• Red lipsticks for the cool palettes.

The Bouffant: Hairstyles from the 1960s

Hairstyles Trends 2012

Mad Men, probably the best TV series in history, has entered in its fifth season (2012) the "Swinging Sixties" era, and has contributed to the revival of all things 1960s.
The Bouffant, one of the most popular styles then, has actually become a true classic. After it was created by Raymond Bessone, probably the first celebrity hairstylist, the bouffant went on to become a true classic, and can be part of many different styles, like a 1960s ponytail or a French twist.

How to do a Bouffant: the tools and products to get it right

Tools you will need:

1. A tease comb or tease brush. These have multiples bristles that will make teasing your hair that much easier than using a regular comb or brush.
2. Optional, but very useful, 3-4 big rollers (2" at least) to prepare the crown of your head, Velcro, hot or otherwise.
3. A hair iron, hot curlers or your preferred method for curling your hair. 
4. Bobby pins in your hair colour (black, brown, blond... there's a plethora of colours to choose from).
5. Hair clips to help during preparation.

Products you will need:

1. A volumising mousse or your preferred product.
2. Hairspray.

 Brigitte Bardot is the inspiration behind these photos (from www.fashionishing.com).

How to do a perfect Bouffant in 7 easy steps:

1. Curl most of your hair (Photo 1). Use and iron curler or any other preferred method, brushing out the curls to give them a not-so-finished, natural look. This does not apply, of course, if you a already have this look.
2. Prepare the crown (Photo 2).  Separate a circular section at the top of the crown and apply volumising mousse to it. Optional, but useful, is to lift the roots of the hair by using big curlers and letting dry (if you have fine or very straight hair, or both, it will help to keep the volume afterwards, but if you have wavy or curly hair you can skip this step).
3. Back-comb hair (Photo 3). Take a parting of the crown at the very back of the crown, holding it not too tense and start teasing. Use three rapid, curved movements of your teasing comb/brush to back-comb, starting a couple of inches from the scalp. Push teased hair with a fourth movement to the scalp. Repeat with each parting of hair, working your way forwards towards the forehead, building on volume and height. Your hair will look messy at this stage, but back-combing done right doesn't damage your hair (although, let's face it, it's not something you should be doing on a regular basis).
4. Smooth over (Photo 4). Brush softly the very top layer of hair back, smoothing it over the back-combed (and still messy) section, with the height and shape you want it to have.
5. Pull back and hold (Photo 5). Pull back all crown hair and use bobby pins (in your hair colour) to hold it in place at the back of your hair. You can modulate the height and shape you want it to have at this moment.
6. Separate two smaller sections of hair (Photo 6). This it not irrelevant: it does change the overall look greatly.
7. Pin the two side sections in place (Photo 7), lightly twisting each one into the centre as you pin it. This will help to create balance and a smoother finish. Finally, hairspray to keep everything in place using a firm hold hairspray.

MORE 1960 STYLES?

• 1960s Makeup: The winged eye.
• 1960s Hairstyles: The Ponytail.
• Full skirts: How to wear a full skirt: Trends 2012  and How to wear a full skirt: Styling tips.

Light Summer Palettes: Best colours

About their colours

The palette for Light Summers is mostly soft: soft blue grays, rose colours (from light to deep), watermelon red and other soft blue reds, and blue-greens. The general impression is very elegant.

Best neutrals:

• Gray-blue.
• Medium blue.
• Rose brown.
• NOT black.

Colour combinations:
There is not a lot of contrast in it. Shades of similar intensity create an unbroken line, harmonious.

• Gray-blue and lavender or powder pink.
• Blue-greens: soft teal, spruce, and aqua.
• Medium blues and clear aqua.

Makeup for the Summer palettes

Red lipsticks for the Summer palette: a shopping guide.
Best lipstick colours for the Summer palettes.

Light Summer palette: Blues and greens by Caroline Grant. Plenty of blue-greens and soft red blues, plus medium intensity shades like true blue and teal. Spruce is the deepest green, a shade softer than forest or pine green and therefore more suitable for Light Summers.

Light Summer palette: Violet, reds, and pinks by Caroline Grant. Soft reds and pinks are best for the Light Summer.

Light Summer palette: Browns, grays, and beige by Caroline Grant. Very soft, creamy shades plues grays with a certain amount of blue inside. 

MORE?

• Light Summer palette looks.
• Light Summer best lipstick colours.
• Red lipsticks for the cool palettes.

Red Lipstick Basics 2: How to shop for the right red lipstick

The right shade for you

If you haven't read Red Lipstick Basics 1: How to distinguish reds, remember that, when choosing red lipstick, reds can be bluish (think red roses), or orange-ish (think geraniums). You can read a physical description of the people who look best in warm colours (Autumn and Spring palettes), and in cool colours (Winter and my Summer palettes).

Once you know what kind of reds are best for you: cool or warm ones, and your palette, go to a shop and do some testing.

Shopping for red lisptick

You will need to choose a department store or a big cosmetics shop. The idea is that you are able to compare a good number of brands, as you will probably be testing only two to four lipstick from each brand.

The name of the colour can be used as a starting point, as brands do not call a yellow red "scarlet". Unfortunately (that is, for this purpose only), brands are very imaginative when naming their reds, and it's easier to find something like Spanish Red or Passion red than anything actually meaningful, but if something in the name implies the shade, it can give you some clues.
Test different reds on your hand, trying to distinguish the amount of blue or yellow inside, and the depth of the colour (less pygment in glosses, more in satin lipsticks, and a lot more in matte ones). Once you have a few, you will be able to tell which ones are which and you decide among them.

Invest in the very best possible quality

Low-end brands (Maybelline, L'ôreal, Sephora...) are good for a lot of makeup items, but red lipstick is not one of them.
Red lipstick is VERY unforgiving , and by choosing a high-end one you will ensure permanence (so you don't have to worry about it all the time), and prevent bleeding.

Lipliner is crucial

1. Again, you have to choose a high-end brand, for permanence and to prevent bleeding. Invest in a good one,with a double tip: a brush on one end and the liner on the other. It will be easier to retouch your makeup when going out. I'm very happy with my Lancôme Le lipstique in red, as it has made my life easier when applying red lipstick, but I'm sure there are more out there.
2. It has to match the colour of the lipstick EXACTLY. Big big DON'T: any lipliner darker than the lipstick, it's SO SO tacky.

MORE RED LIPSTICK BASICS?

• Red Lipstick Basics 1: How to distinguish reds
• Red Lipstick Basics 3: How to apply and maintain red lipstick.

Additionally, you can follow the label Colour savvy to learn more about colours.

Red Lipstick Basics 1: How to distinguish reds

Types of red

Warm reds are for people who look best in warm tones. Common names for warm reds are "geranium red", "tomato red" or "brick red" (a dark version).

You can see a physical description of the people who look best in warm reds going to my Autumn and Spring palettes.

True red is a primary colour. It has an equal amount of blue and yellow inside. Another name for true red is medium red.

All seasons look good in this red, but the intensity of the colour (the saturation) is different depending on how strong the palette is (soft, clear, deep, cool...).

Cool reds are for people who look best in cool tones. Shades of red called "crimson", "scarlet", "cherry red" (or cerise), or any name of red that includes "berry" in it.

You can see a physical description of the people who look best in cool reds going to my Winter or Summer palettes.


The advice above applies to colours worn near the face (a top, a hat, a scarf...) or on the face (make up). If a colour is not good on you, it is best to avoid it altogether around your upper body, as nail polish or as shoes worn on the naked skin.

MORE RED LIPSTICK BASICS?

• Red Lipstick Basics 2: How to shop for the right red lipstick
• Red Lipstick Basics 3: How to apply and maintain red lipstick

Additionally, you can follow the label Colour savvy to learn more about colours.