Celebrity Looks & Beauty

In an effort to help our readers avoid making mistakes in creating their own style, we are reviewing the looks of some of today's celebrities as they go out and about on the red carpet (and elsewhere). We discuss what works for them, and where they might have made better choices for hair, clothes, make-up and jewelry and why.

Celebrity Looks: Jennifer Finnigan

Jennifer Finnigan here is shown attending a fundraising party for Toys for Tots, sponsored by Motorola. She looks stylish and smart in her sweater/skirt/boots. The look brings to mind a brisk stroll across a campus commons while colorful leaves swirl in the air. The look is lovely, classy and fits in many situations. Let's break it down.

The Hair:

Tawny, blonde locks in a long-layered cut with soft razor texture � Jennifer's hair is a crown of glory. The color looks natural with lots and lots of subtle variation in shade and tone. The length is flattering and the long, gentle curves help to soften and elongate a squared face. The length also makes sure that the style is versatile, allowing for up-styling, braiding and numerous variations and combinations thereof. As seen, the look is casual, sexy and free. It's a perfect look for an afternoon function, or any daytime wear when you want to look carefree and stylish. Just make sure if you're going to try to emulate the style that you treat the hair like a valued accessory. Keep it well-trimmed, conditioned and healthy.

The Make-Up:

Ms. Finnigan's make-up as seen here is soft, and dewy and is a good match for her complexion and for daytime wear. The soft pink blusher is great compliment for the cheeks. The shimmer of the lip color for the lips leaves her lips looking plump and full. If I were to alter anything in the look overall, I would have gone with a slightly less bold eyeliner application and a shade of eye color that was less "orange". Even so, the look is solid and flattering.

The Clothes and Accessories:

You can rarely go wrong with a black and white ensemble � and the same is true for black and cream. The cream-colored turtleneck sweater-blouse is great for showing off the figure and hiding slight flaws (such as less than perfect muscle tone, etc.). The knee-length straight skirt in the satin finish keeps the lines vertical, emphasizing height and providing a nice hint of "glamour". The calf-length, high-heeled boots are not only very sexy, but again, add to the height and lengthen the look (not to mention making the legs look fantastic).
If there are any flaws in this ensemble as I see them, they fall under the accessories category. There are a couple of conflicting effects here. The cummerbund-style belt in the shiny fabric is meant to accent and emphasize the waist, but the color and finish tend to create a larger, not smaller, impression. Plus, the strip of cream-colored fabric created by the hem of the sweater-blouse gives a strong horizontal line at the waist as well, further breaking the hourglass silhouette. A better choice would have been a looser, thinner belt, such as a cord-type belt with ends that dangle off center to continue the emphasis on the vertical line.
Then, you add in the handbag. It's a great bag, but I've always hated it when women wear a bag with an elbow-strap over the shoulder. Doing this means that the widest portion of the bag (generally the bottom of the bag) usually falls at the waistline. This has the detrimental effect of widening the silhouette at the middle of the body, which is usually never desirable. The other tendency is to push the body of the bag back and create the impression of a "hump" or a hunchbacked appearance (depending on the size of the bag itself). A better option would be a long-handled bag designed to be worn over the shoulder and to continue the theme of vertical lines, in black to blend in to the skirt and if any width is added to the silhouette, then it will add to the hips, enforcing an hourglass appearance.

Celebrity Looks: Carmen Rasmussen

In an effort to help our readers avoid making mistakes in creating their own style, we are reviewing the looks of some of today's celebrities as they go out and about on the red carpet (and elsewhere). We discuss what works for them, and where they might have made better choices and why.
This time, we're taking a look at Ms. Carmen Rasmussen of American Idol fame. Shown here in her appearance for the taping of American Idol Rewind at the Spider Club in Hollywood, Carmen is wearing a tailored blouse in electric blue satin and a black a-line skirt with a wide belt and strappy high heeled shoes. Her hair is a mane of silky, golden waves in a softly layered style and she is sporting full make-up.

The Hair:

This petite blonde is the proud owner of absolutely beautiful hair. The color is a gorgeous blend of golden and warm tones in a very flattering layered style. The length and the asymmetrical fringe styling of the hair makes for a terrific balance to prevent her face from appearing too wide or round. The long loose waves are a perfect compliment to the tailored fit of the blouse and skirt combination. However, the blue of the blouse does tend to make the hair look more "yellow" than another color would.

Make-up:

Carmen Rasmussen is such a natural beauty it's hard to imagine her needing much in the way of make-up. Here we see her in a fully-executed and mostly-subdued look. The soft peachy tones of her blush and subdued pink of the lip color are perfect to enhance the look of her blue eyes. I would have carried the effect further, using a peachy/pinkish eye shadow to make the eye really pop, but the effect is still muted by the vibrance of her blouse.

The Clothes and Accessories:

With a well-filled-out figure on a petite frame, Carmen needs to pay heed to the vertical lines of her clothes in order to avoid emphasizing her small build. This tailored, semi-professional look is a good start, but gets a little side-tracked by the overbearing vibrance of the blue satin blouse. The shiny fabric pulled across her bosom makes her appear "busty" and the horizontal focus only serves to make her appear shorter. I would have suggested something in a softer color, or at the very least a matte finished fabric.
This would be an excellent situation for a monochromatic look, since the overall effect of the matte black skirt, separated by a darker black (and TOO-WIDE) belt, and topped with the overly bright blouse makes her look top-heavy. At the very least, a fitted jacket in the same black fabric would create a more vertical line in the ensemble and minimize the overpowering effect of the blue blouse.
Carmen's shoes… Well, they're just plain cute.

Celebrity Looks: Cameron Diaz

In an effort to help our readers avoid making mistakes in creating their own style, we are reviewing the looks of some of today's celebrities as they go out and about on the red carpet (and elsewhere). We discuss what works for them, and where they might have made better choices and why.
Let's take a look at Cameron Diaz (Charlie's Angels, Shrek, The Holiday) as she appears on the red carpet at a gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She's wearing a dark, richly pink gown of layered, overlapping bands, which form a cascade of ruffling and tiers. The look is accented by bright and bold turquoise jewelry (necklace and earrings). Ms. Diaz's hair is worn up, and she is in full make-up.

Hair:

Let's start with the hair. Cameron always has lovely silky hair, and I've seen her hair worn up and down in various events, and to look her best, Cameron should avoid styles that are too structured.
Here her hair is pulled back tight into a twist, with the exception of a lock at the fringe which is left to hang across her face.The look is intended to be sleek and sophisticated, but as you can see from the photos, the effect only works at certain angles. Most of the time, it just looks unkempt and fraying. My advice would be to loosen the twist and simply pull the hair back gently in a clasp at the nape of the neck and allow tendrils to frame the face softly.

Make-up:

As a former (and sometime) model, Cameron Diaz is accustomed to the makeup artists brush. Her makeup here at the Met Museum Gala is well executed and the colors are perfect for her skin tone and eyes. I do think her eyeliner is a bit dark and heavy (even for evening wear) given her pale eyes. She's wearing mostly neutral tones with a touch of pink to give her a soft, shimmery, dewy look.

The Dress & Jewels:

Cameron's dress is a shiny, layered, tiered cascade of femininity. The problem is it looks a little "off" on her very athletic, lightly-muscled form. The bulky garment is lovely on its own, but looks ill-fitted because of the multiple layers of fabric and all the odd angles. From certain angles it gives the impression that it is unraveling. A little less structure, and some smoother or cleaner lines in the garment and the effect would be much better. Cameron has such a great body, she doesn't need a dress to camouflage anything.
The biggest problem I see with her look overall is the color of the dress in comparison with her jewelry and make-up. The bright bold pink of the dress serves to make her subtle pink shades in makeup look pale and washed out. Both sets of pink shades only serve to make her choice of turquoise jewelry stand out more in contrast. The over all effect is imbalanced and Ms. Diaz seems to fade into the background behind these two competing forces.
I would have suggested something a little more subdued in color for either the jewelry or dress (or both). I also want to make a note that both the turquoise and the bring pink are good colors for Ms. Diaz (who is a Silver-type). My only complaint is that the colors don't work well together.

Over all, Ms. Diaz is always a stunning beauty, but in this case a little less would have meant a whole lot more.

Celebrity Looks: Cate Blanchett

In an effort to help our readers avoid making mistakes in creating their own style, we are reviewing the looks of some of today's celebrities as they go out and about on the red carpet (and elsewhere). We discuss what works for them, and where they might have made better choices and why.
Right now, let's have a look at one of Hollywood's premiere leading ladies and most classic beauty, Cate Blanchett. Ms. Blanchett is known all over the world for her delicate and classic beauty and seems to be the first name to come to mind when moviemakers need someone "regal" or "noble". (She has now portrayed Queen Elizabeth I twice in films and was cast as the Elf Queen Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings.) Shown here in photos taken at the premiere of "Babel" in Los Angeles, Cate is once again simply stunning.

The Hair:

Ms. Blanchett's pale blonde tresses are styled into a fall of lively waves, with one half of the head swept back into a twist at the nape/crown, creating an asymmetrical style that is soft, yet visually stirring. The curls are reminiscent of finger-waves (this may be the styling method used) and give the whole style a very classic look. Her pale golden locks are infused with subtle highlights and lowlights to give the hair wonderful depth and just a touch of warmth.

Make-Up:

Cate's makeup is, as usual, flawless for her. Her pale skin tone and ice-blue eyes are simply gilding on a face that is well proportioned, and elegantly beautiful. Note that her make-up is at once glamorous but not overpowering. The soft pinks and peachy tones give her a dewy appearance and add a little extra "oomph!" to her frosty blue eyes. The look is totally understated, but allows her to simply radiate. This is a perfect example for all women out there who have similar coloring on how to achieve a beautiful make-up application without looking overdone.



Dress and Accessories:

If there's any area of Ms. Blanchett's appearance in these photos that I can find any fault with, it would be in her dress. Even so, the faults are very minor. The dress is a tailored mimic of a blouse and skirt look, designed to give accent to the long, lean lines of Ms. Blanchett's body. The color is a shimmering metallic and muted so as to enhance without overshadowing Cate's natural glow. The buttoned upper section creates a deep "V" that is seductive, and enhances her long, graceful neck. The cuffed sleeves, cinched waist and tailored skirt enhance the lovely hourglass of her figure.
My only complaint with this garment is that I should like to have seen it in a slightly more structured or sturdy fabric. The lightweight, crepe-like texture of the fabric results in a rumpled look which seems counter-productive to the tailored details of the dress. If you are selecting a garment for yourself, keep in mind how the fabric will stand up to an evening's activities. Keep in mind that if you will be spending a lot of time seated, you want a fabric that won't wrinkle easily, or else a garment that is cut to account for that sort of thing.

Overall, this is a tremendous look for anyone who wants to define elegance and classic beauty. Soft and understated styling, combined with a subtle application of makeup to enhance her natural look make for a wonderful example of "How To…" Even the accessories are simple and understated, adding just a flash of jewels at the ears and a glittery clutch purse.

Celebrity Looks: Kirsten Dunst

In an effort to help our readers avoid making mistakes in creating their own style, we are reviewing the looks of some of today's celebrities as they go out and about on the red carpet (and elsewhere). We discuss what works for them, and where they might have made better choices and why.
Right now, let's have a look at Kirsten Dunst in her appearance at the New York Premiere for Spiderman 3. The look is most kindly described as "retro glam" with her silver tunic dress and black tights, black pumps and no-frills hair. Let's take the look a step at a time and see what can be said about it, and where it can be improved.

The Hair:

Kirsten Dunst usually has lovely hair. It is normally a little fine in texture, and usually kind of thin in density, but it's usually looking well cared for and healthy. Here, her hair looks haggard. This is partly due to what I think is an unfortunate haircut. This asymmetrical razor cut is too soft in spite of its angles to be really flattering. It leaves Kirsten's face looking "round" from certain angles.

I would much prefer to see Kirsten with a more defined cut line and then added texturing and layers, rather than this wispy ragamuffin look. I'd also like to see her start moving back to a more natural looking honeyed-blonde tone Right now, between the cut and pale color, the hair looks to be a little over-processed and bordering on damaged.

Make-Up:

It's hard to imagine, given that Kirsten is a naturally fair-skinned individual, but her makeup seems to be a little too light for her complexion. Her lip and cheek color looks pretty good, but I would have preferred to see her go a little lighter on the eyeliner. Only a little, though. The biggest correction in my opinion should be with the foundation color. Something a little more beige with a bronzer would make for a more natural glow. As it stands, she looks too pale and pink.

Clothing and Accessories:

Here's where I have to say I think Kirsten has made a faux pas. While the intention may have been to create a look of glamour and glitz, this silver tunic dress looks more like an ill-fitting sack than a dress. It would be better if the dress were cut to be a spaghetti-strapped affair with a deep neckline, and lose the gathered waistline in favor of a more-fitted "slip" look.
Oh, and the tights are also a bad call here. Given the background and photo ops that were part of the evening's plans, she should have gone with nice "tan" hosiery to set off the look of her shapely legs. That is typically the point of the tunic dress, after all. If there's an issue with the legs being shown off, try a tailored pant under the tunic and go for shorter lengths on the top itself.
Finally, the outfit looks incomplete. Aside from the tunic dress, there's no glitter or sparkle. Why not go for some shoes with a little more sparkle � perhaps some high-heel sandals with rhinestone studs to balance the dress. Add a few bangle bracelets at the wrists and some sparkling, dangling earrings and the look would come together much more completely. While the added accessories wouldn't make the look perfect, it would make it better. (It couldn't make it worse.)

Celebrity Looks: Garcelle Beauvais

In an effort to help our readers avoid making mistakes in creating their own style, we are reviewing the looks of some of today's celebrities as they go out and about on the red carpet (and elsewhere). We discuss what works for them, and where they might have made better choices and why.
Here we take a look at Garcelle Beauvais at the LA premiere of "Disturbia" at the Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Ms. Beauvais shows off a "completely casual" look in jeans and a sheer silk blouse over a satin-finished chemise top. Her hair is worn down in long soft waves with lots of body.

The Hair:

Garcelle's hair is styled in a long blunt cut. Her hair is most likely relaxed to soften some of the natural wave and texture, and may contain extensions to give added length. Shown here, the hair is allowed to fall in soft waves that are blown straight.
(Ms. Beauvais has often been seen with her hair ironed straight and smooth.) The highlights add a warmth and depth to the color that plays well with her skin tone for a soft, warm look.

Make-Up:

For her make-up, the word really is "understated". The even mocha tone is warmed by soft pinks at the cheeks and lips. The eye makeup is done in a traditional look using creamy shades to add shimmer to the depth of the tones. A slightly darker shade to contour the crease between the lids and brow ridge allows the softer highlighting shade to bring the brow line forward and add depth to the eyes. Garcelle's lips are colored in a soft pink with a satin-finish lip color to give the lips a full, plump appearance.

The Clothes and Accessories:

Ms. Beauvais has a lovely, well-proportioned figure that is flattered easily by (and easily flatters) the clothes she wears. The simple, tailored jeans accentuate her long legs while the satin-finish camisole/chemise gives a touch of glamour to the casual look. The central figure in this look, however, is the sheer silk blouse, with its ruffled color and shirred sleeves. The tailoring in the bodice enhances Garcelle's natural curves, while the rhinestone stud-buttons along the placket add a little sparkle to the affair. The look is further accentuated by the glittering clutch-purse she's carrying.
The one flaw in Garcelle's look is her shoes. The open-toed heels are not the issue, but I would have expected something in a color/style to tie in somehow to the handbag; perhaps shoes with another touch of sparkle? As it stands, the overall effect is a little mismatched comparing top to bottom with the soft, shimmering textures in the upper body, and the flat, matte textures below.

In spite of the slight miss with the balance of the look, Ms. Beauvais definitely makes the most of "casual" in this outfit. As usual, she looks lovely, and proves that you don't have to dress to the nines to look like a million dollars.

Celebrity Looks: Tori Spelling

In an effort to help our readers avoid making mistakes in creating their own style, we are reviewing the looks of some of today's celebrities as they go out and about on the red carpet (and elsewhere). We discuss what works for them, and where they might have made better choices and why.
Here we see Tori Spelling, who is most widely remembered as 'Donna' of "Beverly Hills 90210", the long-running originator of the tween-age nighttime drama. Tori is seen at her 2004 appearance as part of the WBs Winter Press Tour party in Hollywood. Her look is easily described as "classy casual" with a black silk blouse over her faded denims, a look that is literally tied-together by the addition of the black silk scarf at the waist. Her hair is a prominent feature of the look, styled in a fall of loose, sexy curls.

The Hair:

Tori is back to her classic blonde look these days in a golden blonde tone. Even the new growth looks natural, giving the overall look of sun-bleached blonde tresses. The cut is a simple, long-layered look, styled using a few mid-sized rollers to create a mass of loose tendrils. Roll the hair, allow it to dry, and comb the hair out using a wide-tooth comb. Follow it up with a light application of styling wax to give the curls some definition.

The Make-Up:

Where many celebrities tend to overdo it in the make-up department, Tori's look is understated and natural looking. Eye, cheek and lip color are all in soft neutral shades and peachy tones, giving the overall effect of having a sun-kissed glow, rather than a made-up look. Pay particular attention to the way the neutral eye color with the warm undertones bring out the depth of Tori's rich brown eyes.





Clothing and Accessories:

This combination of blouse and jeans defines the ideal of "casual", but still looks classy and upscale. The off-the-shoulder blouse and the side-tied scarf create competing angles to take away from the usually thin build Tori has. Actually, this is a useful trick for adding "curves" where there aren't any, and for camouflaging the occasional bulge.
The faded denim jeans are probably vintage, and definitely a great choice to balance the look, and make the legs look long, regardless of their shape. The whole look is made perfect by the accessories. The large, delicate pendant necklace adds sparkle, with an extra touch at the wrist with slim chain bracelet and the shimmer of silver in the pumps on herfeet.
All in all, this is a great look for Ms. Spelling. She looks comfortable, yet classy, and unlike many of today's celebrities, she looks like she makes an effort to look her best in any situation. I give this look a real A+.

Celebrity Looks: Erika Christensen

In an effort to help our readers avoid making mistakes in creating their own style, we are reviewing the looks of some of today's celebrities as they go out and about on the red carpet (and elsewhere). We discuss what works for them, and where they might have made better choices and why.
Now, let's take a look at the lovely young actress, Erika Christensen. Ms. Christensen is seen here at the premiere of "The Perfect Score" at the Cinerama Theatre in Hollywood. The look for the evening is both glamorous and elegant as Erika walks the red carpet in a soft blue tea-length gown. Her hair is simple and lovely, as is her make-up and accessories.

The Hair:

I am admittedly biased, in that I think Ms. Christensen is one of the loveliest actresses in the movie industry today. Even so, shown here with her hair worn pulled gently back into a partial ponytail and allowed to fall in cascading curls down her back, she looks especially stunning. Her face is round and this style helps to keep the bulk minimized at the sides of the face while the length creates a vertical line to give the illusion of a more oval appearance. The color and highlighting are subtle and very natural looking and compliments her skin tone very well.

Make-up:

Erika is another of those lucky young women who seem to need very little in the way of make-up enhancement to look absolutely beautiful. The application here is perfect for her, since the soft pinks shades in the lip, cheek and eye color are not only subtle, but give her a "glow" and really bring out the blue of her eyes. The slightly darker shading around the eyes enhances the shape and contour of the eyes without being overpowering or heavy. Overall, it is a tremendous look for this lovely young lady.

The Clothes and Accessories:

This fitted dress has all the right elements to be both flattering and fashionable. The halter-style bodice with the high neckline creates an illusion on height, while the soft, sheer overlay of fabric and the swirl of the sequin and beading patterns help to enhance the natural curves of the body.
The fact is that Ms. Christensen may be perceived by some to have a little bit too much of a zaftig build, but the dress, with it's fitted lines and light sheer overlay helps to conceal any bulges or swells that could be seen as imperfections, while playing well on her smooth, slightly muscular shoulders and soft, smooth skin.
The dress manages to look elegant and sophisticated and at the same time gives a hint of "sexy" from various angles. It's a perfect way for Ms. Christensen to show off her voluptuous curves. Add to the fact that the accessories she has chosen couldn't be more perfect. The large jewels at the ears mimic the sparkling blue of her eyes, while her shoes are flattering but in a creamy neutral tone that doesn't detract from the sparkle and attraction of the upper body.

Celebrity Looks: Gail O'Grady

In an effort to help our readers avoid making mistakes in creating their own style, we are reviewing the looks of some of today's celebrities as they go out and about on the red carpet (and elsewhere). We discuss what works for them, and where they might have made better choices and why.
Here we see actress Gail O'Grady attending the NBC All-Star Party a few years ago at Universal Studios in Universal City, CA. Gail is sporting a dressed-down, casual look. Ms. O'Grady is best known for her many and various roles in television, including long-running stints on "NYPD Blue", and "American Dreams". This blonde, green-eyed actress has been a hit with fans and critics alike, Ms. O'Grady has received 3 Emmy nominations and additional recognition from the Screen Actors' Guild and The Golden Globes. Because usually all eyes are on her, Gail usually puts forth the effort to look fabulous… usually.

The Hair:

Gail's lovely blonde locks are usually styled to a fair-thee-well in the roles she plays, so it would seem natural for her to look for a more casual, free-wheeling style when she's being herself. This style is definitely natural-looking and casual. This razor-cut, mop-top style features a side parting and long, softened fringe. The problem here as I see it, is that the style looks mussed. This gives the overall effect that perhaps Ms. O'Grady was rushed as she tried to get ready, or that she didn't feel the need to give her hair more than a lick and a promise for more attention later.

Make-up:

Once again, Ms. O'Grady has played so many roles where she was dolled-up with more paint than a carnival sign, that perhaps it's nice to step back and cultivate a natural look. Fortunately, she succeeds here, with her subdued and completely neutral look. Nothing is over-done, or too heavy, and she finishes up with the lightest applications of mascara and liner to give her soft green eyes the right touch of definition. This is an excellent daytime look for those of you who like to see examples of such things.

The Clothes and Accessories:

The use of the dark blue satin shirt/blouse is meant to "dress-up" the look of her distressed jeans, creating a casual, somewhat-funky look. The trouble is, it doesn't quite work. When combined with the mussed hair, the worn-looking jeans just make the whole look shabby. Not even the matching satin purse and silver jewelry (and shoes) can doll up this look.
As you can see from the close-up photos, the real killer for this look is the jeans. What should have been a "comfortable, relaxed look" ends up looking like the right outfit for a celebrity yard sale. A better choice would have been a comfortable, cotton or linen pant in black or maybe a neutral shade (khaki, cream or beige) as opposed to this too-tired jeans look.
As it is, instead of looking dressed for a party, Ms. O'Grady looks like she just came back from an afternoon of shopping at the local supermarket.