Head Turning Prom Accessories & Shoes at BCBGMAXAZRIA!

I hit BCBGMAXAZRIA for inspiration on how you can glam up your prom look with head turning shoes and accessories.

The Estie High Heel Sandal features a striking cutout cuff detail at the ankle. This style can really offset a short prom dress or hi-lo style. It also comes in gold.

Comes in gold and silver

The Phoenix  style also features gorgeous cuff detail at the ankle!

Artistic cuff style with a T-Strap

Check out the bling on the  gold toned heel of the Ramsey platform pump peep-toe!

Touch of  Sparkle

Add a simple, yet sophisticated finish to your long or short gown with a style like the one below, featuring clean lines and just the right amount of shine!  The Senna sandal comes in both pewter and silver.

Simple & Sophisticated

Now, time to talk jewelry. BCBGMAXAZRIA has you covered in that department too!  You’ll find the kinds of pieces that won’t just be one night hits. You’ll have them for years of special occasions to come. This statement cuff gives off a similar vibe to the cutout style of the shoes.

Eye Candy for your Arm!

Consider going for a bold pair of earrings like the chandelier style below  if you want your earrings to be the focal point when it comes to your accessories. Or, if you’re adding on a statement necklace, think about a more understated earring.

Necklaces are a way to really inject your personality into your look. Each of these necklaces creates an entirely different style.

Find a necklace that speaks to your style….

You can add a touch of sparkle to your up-do or pull back a few strands and secure them with a hair piece.

Don’t forget some bling for your tresses…

Think about your clutch as a piece of jewelry as well. Here are a few standouts I saw at BCBGMAXAZRIA.

Are you still looking for the perfect dress? I featured dresses in two recents posts, including ones from BCBGMAXAZRIA. Here are the links: 12 Sizzling Styles and Sparkle at the Prom.

Looking for a prom makeup look?  Get ideas here.  Plus, you can check out more prom accessories finds here.

Sparkling Prom Accessories at TEMPTATION!

There’s always SPARKLE when you walk into Temptation (Level 3), but come prom season, it’s amped up to a whole new high!  You’ll find major bling that won’t break the bank.

Many of the necklaces are under $20!

Statement Sparkle!

You’ll also find statement necklaces featuring colored stones.  A standout piece like this one would pair well with a simple, elegant prom gown in silver, cobalt, or even a contrasting color.

Necklaces can really offset a dress but can also be overpowering at times. For prom dresses that may not pair well with a necklace, you can add on some sparkle with a bracelet or a grouping of them. At Temptation, you’ll find both bold and more delicate styles.

You can tie in your bracelet with a pair of statement earrings. Check out this wall of choices!

And, don’t forget a clutch. Temptation has you covered in that department too.

Complete your look with a clutch!

Coming up this afternoon, I’ll be back with more accessory ideas from BCBGMAXAZRIA! Here are two links to posts on prom dresses: 12 Sizzling Styles and Sparkle at the Prom. Looking for a prom makeup look?  Get ideas here.

Creating your Prom Makeup Look at Sephora!

Did you know that you can lavish in the luxury of sitting in a makeup chair and having a professional makeup artist spend an hour creating a a customized look that flatters your style, skin tone and will have you photo ready for all of prom night?  Now, for the part you may not expect….

At Sephora, there is no charge for a complete makeup session, with a minimum $50 product spend! Reservations are required.

I recently brought 17-year-old Carolina Gomez to Sephora for a prom makeup session, so that I can show you how it all works. I met Carolina while shooting pictures of prom dresses for yesterday’s post. She was looking for a dress for her junior prom.

Meet Carolina

Carolina’s prom is this coming weekend.  Makeup artist, Jason Williams, who I worked with on my post about Emerald makeup looks, begins the session by asking Carolina some questions about her general makeup routine as well as her prom  dress. She is wearing a long black dress with lace detailing at the top from Macy’s and planning on pairing it with silver shoes. Carolina shared this photo of her dress with us from her phone.

Carolina’s dress

Sephora recommends that you do bring your actual dress with you to the session. When it comes to colors other than black, they don’t always translate correctly in a picture and may be a shade or more off.  Your makeup artist will take the color and style of your dress into consideration in creating your look.

With a black dress, you can go in many different makeup directions.  Jason and Carolina decide on a smokey-eyed look in blue.  Jason points out that with a black dress, a blue smokey eye will keep the look brighter. He adds that too dark of a smoky look can make the eyes look smaller.  If  someone is wearing a bright colored dress or a pastel and wants the same look, Jason may suggest doing a more subtle smokey eye in a shimmery grey.

Jason advises starting with your eye makeup before applying foundation. That way, if some shadow cleanup is needed, you’re not wiping away the foundation.

He starts by filling in the shape of Carolina’s eyebrows to add definition to them. Then, Jason uses a concealer by Bare Minerals to highlight the area just under her eyebrows. I have only used concealer under my eyes and plan to try out this trick. “It’s really all about multi-use for your products to get the best value,” Jason explains.

The next step is primer to help prevent creasing and to boost eyeshadow staying power. “There is nothing worse than getting your makeup done and not having it last throughout the night,” he says.   Jason opted for Primer Potion from Urban Decay. Plus, he says that primer keeps shadow true to its color once applied.

Primer helps to prevent creasing and boosts staying power.

For Carolina’s eyes, Jason uses three shades of blue — a darker blue, a teal and an ice blue —  from the Sephora Artist Color Box, pictured below. The entire set is just $34 and comes with 24 eye shadows, 6 lip glosses and 5 eye pencils. According to Sephora, it has a $145 value.

A $34 set valued at $145

Jason uses the darkest of the blues first and takes his time to blend in the two lighter shades, dispensing makeup tips along the way. “Blend with strokes like a windshield wiper,” he says.  “Blending is really important, and you don’t want there to be a transition [of color]. You want it to be seamless.”

Creating the blue smokey-eye look

Jason adds that while he is applying more eye makeup than he would for a day look, “You don’t want it to be so smoked out that it takes away from her beautiful brown eyes.” He completes Carolina’s eyes with black eye liner on the upper and lower lids and later mascara.

Jason uses black liner on the upper and lower lids.

Jason chooses an HD foundation from Makeup Forever to keep Carolina’s look picture ready. He uses only a small amount to even out her skin tone. The result is natural and polished.

An HD foundation gets you picture ready

Cover Fx powder comes next to set the foundation. Jason explains that this pressed mineral powder offers a little more color without the weight and is gentle. He then adds blush in Candy Glow by Too Faced. Jason suggest that you smile when applying blush to find the apple of your cheek and then blend in an upward direction.

Blush in Candy Glow

Jason finishes Carolina’s look with a nude lip color, so not to take away from her eyes.  Here is her completed look!  Gorgeous!

Jason and Carolina

During your appointment, the makeup artist will include products that you can use all year long.  The idea isn’t to create a look with products you’ll never use again. While you may not apply as many eye shadow colors on a daily basis, you can use the same colors from your session in more subtle ways.

One more look at Carolina’s makeup!

Plus, I have one special event to tell you about before I sign off. On Saturday 4/20 from noon until 6 pm, you can walk into Sephora for a free mini spring makeover from a Dior makeup artist. This is a short 10 minute session. Walk-ins only; no appointments.

Special Makeup Event on 4/20

Please remember that when you do book your prom makeup appointment that reservations and a minimum $50 spend are required. You can also schedule an appointment for any other special occasion or “just because.”  Just call 410.337.7494 and ask for a manager.  The appointments last about an hour. The slots do fill up fast, so call as far ahead as possible.

Coming up tomorrow, we’ll check out prom accessories from Temptation and BCBGMAXAZRIA. Did you catch my prom dress posts? Here are the links: 12 Sizzling Styles and Sparkle at the Prom.

Sparkle at the PROM!

On the prowl for the perfect prom dress?

I’m excited to report that there isn’t a single IT style! I’m seeing short dresses, long gowns, hi-lo hemlines, single shoulder, strapless, high wattage sparkle and just about every color under the sun. The same goes for price points!

At dELiA*s (Level 1), you’ll find looks starting as low as $59.50.

Dresses start at $59.50

Here are just four of the looks you’ll see in store.  Each style gives off its own unique sparkle.

Four standouts!

Add definition at the waist with belted looks, as seen on the silver and aqua hi-lo dress, draw attention to the legs with a shorter  look, pair some timeless tulle with gold sparkle or go for a more understated glam style.

At Macy’s, you’ll find a wide range of styles and colors in a section dedicated to Prom 2013! The lavender gown features a ruffled hi-lo detail that will standout on the dance floor! Many of the prom dresses are already marked down.

At Macy’s, hi-lo hemlines, short looks and floor length gowns all share center stage!  The color options and cuts seem endless. With so many styles to scope out, you may want to start by honing in on a specific style or color.  Think about if you want major sequins? A single shoulder? A Hi-lo hemline? Lace?

Caché (Level 4) also has an entire section dedicated to prom and other special occasion styles. Today (4/8) is the final day of a special promotion on regular priced dresses and gowns.  Spend $125, get $25 off. Spend $200 and save $50. Spend $300 and get $75 off your purchase, and if you spend $400, enjoy $100 off.

Caché is located on Level 4

 Note the rhinestone knotted embellishment on this single shoulder dress. It comes in coral or white.

Single Shoulder with a touch of Sparkle!

Coral makes another appearance on this lace, peplum style dress,  finished with a satin belt.

Lace & Peplum: A Perfect Pairing

Black and white paired together isn’t just creating a stir in daytime looks. It’s also a winning combo for the prom. The Ying & Yang Gown, is enunciated with single shoulder detail, a curved rhinestone seam down the front and flattering ruching.

The Ying & Yang Gown

Accessories, such as this necklace and bracelet combo, can really shape the overall look. This silver, lace number would give off a completely different vibe if paired with a bright colored statement necklace.

Accessories add Drama

Cobalt is another color that’s getting play this prom season!

Cobalt and Silver Styles

Here’s a link to the prom dresses I featured last month.  Coming up tomorrow, I’ll show you what’s trending in prom makeup. Then on Wednesday, we’ll talk accessories!

Finding the PERFECT Prom Dress! See 12 sizzling styles!

Have you noticed all the sparkles, sequins and shiny gowns popping up around the mall?

Prom season is HERE!

I had planned to wait until next month to start featuring prom looks, but then heard that many girls are already on the prowl for the perfect dress. I hit BCBGMAXAZRIA, Caché and dELiA*s to get a sense of the styles!

I saw nearly as many colors out there as dresses! You can go for a bold jewel tone dress, a pastel look or a classic black. I spotted more long gowns but found many cute, short ones too!  Hi-Lo hemlines and single shoulder styles continue to be hot trends!

Here are four standout looks from Caché (Level 4).  From top to bottom row, meet the Gemstone One Shoulder Gown with Slit, the Sequin Waist One Shoulder Gown, the Deco Beaded Blouson Gown and the Chiffon & Sequin Hi-Low Hem Gown.

Plus, Caché has an exciting promotion happening right now. You can save $20 off  EVERY dress through Monday 3/18.

Next stop, BCBGMAXAZRIA (Level 2), where the color story also features standout shades in a seemingly infinite palette and glam styles!

From left to right: this is the Janus One-Shoulder Gown, the Florence Long-Tiered Dress and the Alicia Silk Charmeuse Sash Gown.

Want to go for a short look? BCBGMAXAZRIA has you covered. The Lillie dress, with it’s banded detail, makes for a flattering finish!

Black and white dresses are also trending!  Here’s a different take on a prom look. You can add some bling to the Yuliana silk maxi dress with a belt. You can also use a belt to pop in a color!

dELiA*s (Level 1) is another hit prom shopping destination! You can find high wattage sparkle there, such as the Black Sequin Mesh Dress and go easy on the budget. Dresses there start at $59.95. Prom dresses are just beginning to arrive at dELiA*s.  This dress is also available in gold.

Here are two more prom dresses that have just arrived at dELiA*s: the Glitter Mint Hi-Lo and the Sequin Strapless Dress. 

GURU Tip: If you have a black tie summer or fall wedding coming up on the calendar, it’s a great time to find a gown!  Many of the dresses out there are sophisticated enough to be worn to other events too.  In fact, some are from “special occasion” collections and not just for the prom.

I’ll be back again soon with part two of prom looks.  Stay tuned.

So, for a little prom fun, I want to hear what everyone wore to the prom!

Mine was strapless with a black and white sequined bodice and solid black knee length skirted bottom.  I have no idea where it is stowed away today. It was a Jessica McClintock. I hope my mom has it somewhere…

Prom Makeup at Sephora! Plus the new Sephora + Pantone Universe Collection has arrived!

I have an amazing deal to share with you!  You can get your makeup done for the prom or any occasion at Sephora (level 2) on the house if you make a minimum $50 purchase.

An appointment is required for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and strongly suggested the rest of the week. 

A certified Sephora makeup artist will not only spend time to create the kind of look you want but can also share application tips and tricks of the trade that you can make part of your regular routine. While you are limited to what’s in your makeup bag or medicine cabinet at home, the makeup artist has access to the entire store!

I recently brought 17-year-old Saskia, a high school senior, to Sephora to give you some ideas for a prom look and a sense of what you can expect during a makeup application session.

Saskia at the start of her session

I wanted to incorporate the just released Sephora + Pantone Universe Collection in Tangerine Tango into Saskia’s look. This limited edition collection is making its debut in Pantone’s color of 2012. The line includes shades in the tangerine family to match every skin tone.

Introducing the Sephora + Pantone Universe Collection

A shade for all

After prepping Saskia’s skin with cleansing water to remove any makeup and applying a Sephora moisturizing cream, makeup artist Alexx started with a hydrating primer all over her face following by one designed for use on the eyelids. Primer, combined with a finishing spray at the end, is the key to long lasting makeup, especially for a night on the dance floor!

Alexx also used a Sephora roll-on gel with a metal ball applicator to add brightness under Saskia’s eyes. The metal balls are used to press out puffiness.

For Saskia’s eyes, Alexx created a smokey look, framing Saskia’s eyes in pale pink to make  the look pop. He dusted on a Tangerine Tango inspired eyeshadow in Apricot Brandy ($16) from the new Sephora + Pantone Universe Collection over the darker shadows to lighten up the  look.

A tangerine hued shadow lightens the smokey look.

When adding mascara, Alexx gently held a business card behind Saskia’s lashes. He explains that the card prevents excess mascara from landing on the eyelids. Brilliant!

A trick of the trade!

Another tip we learned —  When applying makeup, do your eyes before your foundation. I’ve always reached for the foundation first. By doing your eyes first, you can easily correct any mistakes with makeup remover without needing to reapply foundation.

Alexx used the Hello Flawless foundation from Benefit  ($34) followed by Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Peach Mosaic ($38) and the Sephora Collection Blush/Bronzer Duo in Sunset Dance ($22).  The blush adds color and the bronzer adds contour, to enhance the shape of your face.

Adding Contour

Alexx kept the color on Saskia’s lips subtle and soft to balance out her more dramatic eyes, using Tarte’s Maracuja Oil Lip Gloss in Tipsy ($21) over Sephora Collection’s Nano Lip Liner #6 ($5).

Now, to reveal Saskia’s final look!

Gorgeous!

 Here’s a closer look at Saskia’s eyes.

The Smokey Look

Alexx & Saskia

Alexx used an Urban Decay setting spray ($29) after completing Saskia’s look,which can hold makeup in place for up to 16 hours.

I only wish that lipstick could have such staying power! You will need to do lipstick touch-ups.  If you plan to do a makeup application session, I would make the the lipstick one of the items that you purchase as part of your $50 minimum.

Be sure to set your appointment as soon as possible, as they fill up fast during prom season. Allow about an hour for your session.  Each of the makeup artists at Sephora spend about 60 hours in training before getting certified to do full face makeup applications.  Sessions can also be reserved if you want a makeup lesson or want to try using different colors or products. All sessions have a $50 minimum purchase required.

When booking a session for your prom or special event, consider bringing your dress or a picture of it. While the goal isn’t to find an exact match, it can help your makeup artist find colors that will complement it.

Did you catch yesterday’s prom dress post?  Here is a link in case you missed it.

If you have any questions about prepping for your prom, let me know. I’m here to help!

This blog is hosted by Weinberg Harris & Associates, 623 W. 34th St., Baltimore MD, 21211

PROM DRESSES! So many great picks, it’s tough to choose just one!

Prom Season 2012 is Here!

The selection of gowns at the mall is amazing.

They are sophisticated, on trend and available at every price point.  I EVEN have one to show you that is under $50!

I remember shopping with my mom for my prom dress and struggling to find one that I loved.  I think the biggest challenge for those on the prowl for the right prom dress will be choosing JUST one.

You’ll find every color of the rainbow — with lots of bright cheery hues as well as pastels. The one shoulder look continues to be big. So are Hi-Lo hemlines.

Remember, when shopping for a prom dress, you can venture beyond what is marketed as “prom dresses!”

Here are some of the standout dresses that I found at Macy’s, BCBGMAXAZRIA and Caché.

Macy’s, $179

Macy’s, $46.99

Macy’s, $199

Macy’s, $54.99

Caché, $218

Caché, $228

Caché, $208

Caché, $238

BCBGMAXAZRIA, $428

BCBGMAXAZRIA, $258

BCBGMAXAZRIA, $298

BCBGMAXAZRIA, $368

So, if your prom was many moons ago, do you still have your dress? I have no idea what became of mine. I think I wore it once during college and again on a cruise.  I hope it turns up some day so I can show it to my daughter.  I figure I have about 12 years to track it down…

Anyone have prom dress advice for moms and daughters who are searching for a the perfect one! If you could do it all over again, what kind of dress would you pick?

 

This blog is hosted by Weinberg Harris & Associates, 623 W. 34th St., Baltimore MD, 21211