DIY Bridal Makeup / Part Four Perfect Eyes

        Let's talk about your beautiful bridal eyes.
If you want your eye makeup to last a lid primer is an absolute must. Purchase a high quality one. Great eyes are done with high end products & brushes. Choose a look you love from a magazine or a website. Then go look for the shadows & try them in the store before you buy. Go a few times if you can; then practice until you achieve the effect that you want. If you are not used to eye makeup, keep your look soft. Remember that really good brushes will do the best job & Blend, Blend, Blend !
Invest in waterproof liner & mascara please. They will last all day & well into the evening.

Now for your brows. They are the frame for your eyes so make sure they are well shaped and clean. After applying your brow pencil or powder be sure to brush through with a brow brush. I prefer a combo of pencil & powder. I know this may sound like a lot of steps but it will be worth it when you receive compliments and see your Bridal photos.
That's all. Have fun shopping for your fabulous eyes !
Coming soon: Blush & Lips

DIY Bridal Makeup Tips Part Three / The Natural Bride

    I was going to write Part 3 about Eye Makeup
but I thought we should take a little detour. I hope this will benefit all the brides-to-be who want to make absolutely sure that they look completely like themselves & that their fiances are met at the alter by the "natural girl" that they proposed to.
   The advice in Part 2 should still apply. Some sort of foundation is really important. Then take the makeup you wear everyday & embellish it. Change it up
with a little bling ! It doesn't have to be DRAMATIC.
   Here are a few things you can do:
Get a delicate highlight for the area under your eyebrow like MAC Vanilla Pigment
Apply a little glow powder to the top of your cheekbones.  Purchase a new mascara that really brings out your lashes & take your time applying it.
Get a new wonderful glimmery lipgloss in a neutral or pale pink.  Any or all of these will make you feel more
bridal without compromising your comfort level.
Next ; Part Four / Brushes & Eye Makeup
   

Great Tips for Brides to Be: DIY Bridal Makeup Tips Part Two / Foundations

Great Tips for Brides to Be: DIY Bridal Makeup Tips Part Two / Foundations:   Happy Spring Everyone!                  We are having an unusually early Spring here in Chicago. Everything is green & in bloom...it's so...

DIY Bridal Makeup Tips Part One

Happy March !
         Spring is on the way & wedding dates approach more quickly than you can imagine. So if you are a future bride or bridesmaid and are planning to do your own makeup I have detailed, helpful tips for you.
Part One: Skin Care   Have fun with this...remember it's for your wedding!
          I know you are 20something and your skin feels fine so you don't think you have to moisturize. There is a moisturizer for every skin type...oily,combination or dry. You don't have to spend lots of money to get one. Drugstores now have a wide range of skincare products for all skin types. If you feel unsure or worried about allergic reactions see a friend recommended dermatologist.
          If you break out when under stress it's a good idea to see a dermatologist well ahead of time to ask about a product that will help.
Also if you want to have a facial before your wedding have one
at least one month before. This is really important, believe me.
Have a simple facial if you have not had one before and use an esthetician who is highly recommended.
                                                          Now for brides 30 & over ! All of the above applies plus eyecreams
are a real plus. The skin under the eyes are the first part of the face to lose moisture.If you are a regular makeup wearer regardless of age be sure to cleanse well. Your skin will thank you.
                          OK, here's the bottom line. You will feel great & look gorgeous on your very special day
in person & in your photos if you take good care of your skin.
        Part Two / Foundations is coming in a few days. Have a wonderful weekend, Wendy
                   
                     
       

LUCKY !

Hello All ! I know that you have not heard from me
in a long time. Life & work get in the way of blogging.
But I'm back !
        On Saturday we did a lovely wedding at
The Public Hotel in Chicago. This is the home of
The Pump Room, where every public figure since the
1930s has come to dine. What a great job they did renovating this beautiful landmark hotel, from head to toe.
         My wonderful bride Iris (to the left) was such a pleasure to work with. Her stepmom Peg, her sister
and bridesmaids were all terrific. They were fun to be with and were so loving to Iris. They took really good care of her and attended to every detail.
Plus regardless of timing pressure Iris was sooo patient & sweet and maintained her great sense of humor.
They are all very fortunate to have each other & we were very lucky to spend the day with them.
I hope all future brides will be blessed enough to have this sort of wedding day !
                                                                                  See you soon (REALLY !) , Wendy

Atha Sharod Bridal Event

    Sunday afternoons should be special and today was that indeed ! I went to Loft on Lake ,saw old friends and met new ones. The Bridal event was planned by
the warm & welcoming team from A La Moda Events .The lovely ladies to the left are
dressed in the gorgeous gowns of Atha Sharod Bridal. Susan Metropolis of The Left Bank was there with her fantastic jewelry & a pair of solid rhinestone pumps ! The food & sweets were fantastic,but best of all I was able to meet the incomparable Bridal photographer Tuan H. Bui and Sandra Smith Dohgmi
of Red Carpet Concierge.
   Everyone there was so kind ! It ended the weekend on a fabulous upnote.  Enjoy your week, Wendy

             The first time I saw Carla Reiter's Jewelry I was in awe. She literally
knits silver and gold to fashion her one of a kind, never seen before stunning
pieces. Her pink quartz collection (necklace on the right) is particularly well suited for bridal wear.
               I think that this quote from her website speaks volumes about
the artist and her work:
                       Carla began knitting metal in order to make a necklace she imagined and couldn’t make any other way. The possibilities of the technique captivated her, as did the way it felt to wear. “It’s surprisingly soft and caressing,” she says. “Very sensual.”
                     
Each piece in Carla’s limited-production and one-of-a-kind collection is made with a woman’s body in mind. “When I’m working, I’m constantly trying the piece on, tweaking the way the forms interact with my body – a collarbone, a wrist bone. When the piece is lying on a pad being photographed it’s flat. Something crucial is missing. It needs a body to complete it.”

“Someone once said to me that my jewelry only ‘wakes up’ when you put it on. That seems right to me.”   
                     If you would like to see more of Carla's amazing work,
Take a look at her website: carlareiter.com    I know you will enjoy it as much as I do.
                                              Have a beautiful wedding, Wendy from Visage Joli