Medieval McQueen : The Final Collection

Samantha — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:00:48 +0000

Despite the collection being only 80% completed at the time of his death, Alexander McQueen’s final (and this time I’m sure) 16 pieces showcased a romantic and medieval inspired theme.

“He wanted to get back to the handcraft he loved, and the things that are being lost in the making of fashion. He was looking at the art of the Dark Ages, but finding light and beauty in it. He was coming in every day, draping and cutting pieces on the stand,” said Sarah Burton, his right-hand.

Sadly, the McQueen empire will not be taken over by Gareth Pugh as we had previously heard, states Pugh’s spokespeople. Sad days, my friends, sad days.

Demanding

NixonSixx — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:00:47 +0000

Obey My Demand, found via Kingdom of Style

Lustworthy lingerie that begs to be worn outside your clothes.

Lady Grey

Samantha — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:51 +0000

Lady Grey † Shot by Tim Walker for Vogue Italia March 2010

The Great Illusion

Samantha — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:43:19 +0000

The Great Illusion † Shot by Paolo Roversi for Vogue Italy Supplement March 2010

Blush Response: Über, In the Key of Yellow

zoetica — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:00:25 +0000

The rest of these photos by Lou O’Bedlam and an outfit breakdown can be found on Biorequiem, in the latest installment of Style Dispatch.

Gather ’round my spooklings, and I’ll tell you a tale. A tale of cosmetic miracles! As we’ve all noticed, black lipstick, the cornerstone of all things darque and goffic, has been actually in since fall. Yes, somehow the inky pigment, long-frowned-upon by almost everyone but some of us, can currently be found in several reputable make up lines. Whether Lady Gaga is to thank [or to blame] for this revival is yet to be determined, but we old fogies should probably prepare for a lot more of this in the near future. But I digress.

I actually recall having a discussion on the topic of black lipstick a year or so back, with our friend Courtney Riot, assuring her that it CAN be done, in the right context. For me, this means no heavy eye makeup and non-black hair and brows.It also means the right setting. In this case, the right setting turned out to be this beautiful stretch of rocky beach near Malibu, but, in all honestly, I probably wouldn’t do this in the daytime outside the context of a photo shoot. Read on, as I explain how I achieved this look and give a few pointers on more practical wear of the lipstick of Die Nacht.

Arsenal

Brows: MAC pressed eye shadow in “Contrast”
Eyes: Sugarpill pressed eye shadow in”Buttercupcake” and loose pigment in “Goldilux”, L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in “Carbon Black” on the lashes
Lips: Prestige black eyeliner and MAC LipGlass
Face: Bare Escentuals powder foundation
Cheeks: Sugarpill pressed eye shadow in “Flamepoint” and more “Goldilux”, used as a highlighter

Method

Apply foundation under the eyes and around the nose with concealer brush, than all over the face with a kabuki brush
With a wet angled brush, outline and fill in eyebrows with “Contrast”, without squaring off the inner corners
Line your water line [inside of lower lid, along the eyelases]
Apply “Buttercupcake” all over the lids, and along the underside of your eye, blending up and out
Highlight near the brow with powder foundation
With a wet brush or applicator, dab the inner corner of your eyes with “Goldilux”, then gently pull the pigment out
Dust the lids with a little more “Goldilux”
Apply “”with a blush brush to your cheeks, blending out all the way to the hairline
Highlight with even more “Goldilux”
Outline and fill in your lips with the black Prestige eyeliner [that's right], then brush on Lipglass. Be sure to use a brush for this, as applying too much will inevitably result in hideous running gloss, leaving you to look like a vampire drooling tar
If you intend to be out for a while, give yourself a good spritzing with finishing spray, et voila: an avant garde vixen is born.

Things to Remember

If you’re going out and intend on having more than a couple of drinks, skip the gloss and go for actual black lipstick to avoid the aforementioned tar drool.
If you have thin lips, all dark colors will make them look thinner. Whether you mind or not is up to you, however!
If you wear glasses, I suggest opting out for contacts when you go for this look, because with your mouth being the chief focal point glasses will make your face look crowded, just as heavy eye make up would.