Move over October, it's time for Movember

By Laura Medina

Banana Republic's Leather Jackets-Bomber & Blazer.

With October aka "Women's Health Care/Breast Cancer" Month and Halloween passing on, it is time for the guys, specifically, Men's Health Care Month..."Movember."

Banana Republic arrived just in time to attire the natty gents for Autumn.

Shot at Medlock Ames Winery in Healdsburg, California, the breathtaking environment set the ideal scene for a season that’s beloved for its simple pleasures—changing leaves, abundant harvest, and cinematic landscapes. Placing versatile signatures against the season’s soulful backdrop, the result is a new crop of polished, tactile separates tailor-made for the modern hero.

The foundation is the layering of necktie, button-down shirt, and pullover or v-neck sweater. A new white shirt is the reset button for your wardrobe. It's the most essential of the essentials and few things look better right out of the package. This Fall, as always, Banana Republic offers a range of white shirts to choose from. Soft washed textured white for him. The pattern that the Scottish call tartan and American call plaid has become the most classic item to incorporate into the your menswear look. Whether it's a touch of plaid with a tie or making a bigger statement with a shirt, it's just that simple jolt of pattern and color that can freshen up your Fall look.

Chunky camel sweaters and iconic camel peacoat coat for the gents.

For Fall, Banana Republic's Creative Director, Simon Kneen did variations on the tried-and-true blazer. There's the Safari Blazer and there's a blazer with a shawl lapel. A tweak here and there.

Tweed is a trend that will never leave us. Men can wear it as a blazer, separate pants, together or wear with a plaid shirt or herringbones-it goes with just about everything. Women will be swooning over our tweed wide legged cuff pants-paired with our range of harvest colored cable sweaters to add that pop of color to your Fall wardrobe.

For most gents, it is far simpler and more subtle to accesorize with shoes.

Sperry Topsiders teamed with All-American Penfield for a tweed-worthy collaboration.

High tops, sneakers, and deck shoes in cozy herringbone and camoflauge loafers for the "Prep-neck," Southern preppies who are proud of their Southern heritage by marrying their love for classic shoes and hunting-mixing fashion with functionality.

Very manly.

Get "Cirque" for Halloween then open up your "Iris" to new ideas

By Laura Medina

The Praxinoscope Girl & Ze Hybride Cameraman then makeup technique.

Want to put some extra "oommphh" to your Halloween costume?

Tired of the Hollywood, mass-manufactured "tramp" in that shrink-wrapped package?

Or, your kid is one of many "princesses" because you and your family friends bought the same costume at the same chain store?

Inspired by a recent outing to Cirque du Soliel's "Iris" and Los Angeles County Museum of Arts' Tim Burton Exhibition, let the artsty "Arriviste" help you out.

Take a cue from Cirque costume designer, Philippe Guillotel, in whipping up some breathtaking costumes.

Zoetrope Tutu Girl & Ze Hybride Cameraman.

The celluloid skirt or the "Zoetrope Skirt" is, in fact, a Praxinoscope tutu to represent the early Twenties' beginning of the movie industry. Basically, he turned film strip into a skirt...but this "Zoetrope Skirt" spins like a movie reel as the stills animates or moves.

Mr. Guillotel built it from carbon fiber and metal covered in lightweight foam. This cage skirt enables the performer to control how and when the skirt spins, the same way a movie projector reel controls the speed of a film spool as the images move. Of course, Mr. Guillotel does not go into deep details about the machinery or the motor but you can use hoola-hoops and some celluloid film to form your own Zoetrope Tutu.

Simpler but no less intriguing is the "Ze Hybride Cameraman." It consists of a corset, harness, and a large wooden treasure/cigar box as the movie camera headpiece over black turtleneck and trousers.

But no costume is complete until you paint on the right makeup. Actually makeup is the easiest and cheapest part of Halloween or any "fancy dress"/costume party. You can buy basic foundations and brushes from the neighborhood drugstore or chain store for under $10; or if you really want to take care of your skin, you can go all out with M.A.C.'s light and breatheable but protective and durable Styledriven foundations in three shades:one light, one medium, and one dark.

Cirque's Makeup Concept Designer, Nathalie Gagne breakdowns Ze Hybride Cameraman's makeup into steps. Originally, early film or Twenties makeup is all about light and shadows to highlight and sculpture the face for black and white movies.

Simply, paint your whole face matching foundation. Then, you sculpt out the cheekbones, jaw, nostrils with one shade darker foundation. To bring out the drama, highlight the peaks of your cheekbones, the nose bridge, the chin, and forehead with one shade lighter foundation.

Simple as that...black and white makeup base.

Cover the entire eye area with matching eyeshadow or foundation to your skin. Shape the crease with either dark gray, purple, smudged black or blue. Smear white eyeshadow over the brow bone. Color the lid with beige, brown, medium gray or purple or blue. Then, line and blend everything together with black, dark brown, gray, purple, or blue eyeliner to tie the eyes all together. Top them off with mascara.

To make it last well into the night, set the base with clear powder. Add hot flashes of color over the highlighted cheeks and lips to bring them to life.

If painting on the face is hard enough work and you just don't have the energy or all thumbs to sew, you simply go to http://www.heavyred.com/ for your Tim Burtonsque/Victorian/Twenties Goth get-up. If you want something special yet simple, Heavyred.com provides you with fishnet and naughty stockings and devilish masquerade masks that will carry you for New Year's Eve soirees and other fancy dress parties.

They even have laced-up corsets for those fabulously club kids, who top them off with black leather jeans and boots.

Better than pulling out a stale, medicore costume from shrink wrap.

LA Fashion Weekend makes Halloween colors chic.

By Laura Medina

Anthony Franco dress on the red carpet with Mikey Koffman.

To commerate the bigger, better, and more efficient Los Angeles Fashion Weekend under The Gallery LA's Mikey Koffman with Redlight Public Relations, the veteran Angeleno fashion designer, Anthony Franco launched it with an unconscious nod to the upcoming Halloween holiday, a collection drench in evening purple and autumn pumpkin.

He took the jack-o-lantern out of the squash then made this shade of orange chic in both womenswear and menswear.

Pumpkin is no longer a vegetable or a pie filling or an Halloween decoration, it is fashion.

Inquiring about how he came about for his sixth and final Los Angeles showing before splitting for Mexico City or Vancouver, Mr. Franco and his partner took a break in Mexico to recharge and refresh their batteries. They were welcomed by the perfect sunset.

The color palette and the patterns came from the ombre of colors of pink, red, and orange from the sky and the ocean blue...and the inky night.

The ocean waves also influence the textiles and the construction-a lot of flowing fabrics and ease of movement.

For the women, the gowns are built everything on corsets. That is the foundation and in keeping with the history of haute couture.

He is really into tailoring. Since he is has combined both womenswear and menswear into this collection, Anthony wants a cohesion to tie them together.

For the men's blazers, he used silk nubby or double-spun silk.

On the catwalk, Mr. Franco incorporated crystal bodice or jewel-encrusted wide, clinched-waists to deflate the puffiness of the billowing chiffon gown, giving them shape. For the men, he kept the nubbiness of double-spun silk for that neccessary roughness for Fall but kept the weight light and crisp due to silk's nature.

The pumpkin was balanced out with the bewitching violet from the Mexican sunset and evening sky. The best example was this stunning chiffon dress with the ruffled collar and the plunging V neck. The chiffon breezes with the wind, just like the ocean waves. This dress was outstanding enough to be profiled on the red carpet...with Mikey trying to take a bite out of it.

Without him knowing it, Mr. Franco took the kitsch out of Halloween Night's colors then subdue them down into a sultry palette, resembling a Van Gogh painting.

Thanks to The Gallery LA's operating the tent and the catwalk and Redlight PR managing the red carpet, Mr. Franco's last Los Angeles show was as elegant and smooth-rolling as the ocean waves. This is the respect and unfortunately, the final good-bye before he moves onto new markets.

Mr. Franco may move onto wider horizons but do keep your eyes on Los Angeles Fashion Weekend. With cooperation from Hollywood's top fashion agencies, it morphs and improves each and every time. A contender to IMG's long-ago LA Fashion Week?

Can't forget Women's Health Month-October

By Laura Medina

Mandi Lodge & Emma Powell of "Busting Out."

Thank goodness, the majority of folks will and do always remember the month of October as Breast Cancer Month.

Which has come to encompass Women's Health Month...and the fine ladies from Down Under, Mandi Lodge and Emma Powell of "Busting Out," are here to take away the titilation from breasts and the sad victimization of cancer and satirize the appeal, the imagery, and the functions of the mammary gland.

As "Busting Out" ridicules the sexualization and functions of breasts, the production has raised $50,000 for breast cancer research and care, especially when they did a skit on mammograms.

Broadway veteran, Emma Powell, sets out to demystify them then shows what real breasts are like underneath. By peeling off the sexual appeal, she hopes people will feel comfortable about them and take better care of their health.

If you want to see real-life, middle-aged women making hoots over their hooters, "Busting Out" is at the Hayworth Theatre on 2511 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057.

After making fun of your breasts then being at peace with them, Spreegirl's pink-0f course-Relaxed Modern Collection Lounge/Sleep Wear will donate 25% to Pink Envelope, a non-profit organization raising funds fof the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. Check out the full collection at: http://spreegirl.com/Product_MainPage.aspx?collectionID=178 . For more information on the Pink Envelope Project visit www.pinkenvelopeproject.org.

Shazam! Foxy Disco Suits with Fierce Seventies Makeup

By Laura Medina

Tracy Reese's Fall 2011 bold, mixed stripes pants suit, hot now.

This Fall is going to be a foxy and fierce mama. She is bold enough to strut directly into Spring 2012...in all white at the Diane Von Furstenburg show.

Tracy Reese detoured from her usually demure self and went bold and hot, reaching back into the Seventies, mining Glam Rock and Disco for fake furs, sultry wrap dresses (homage to DVF), and tunics.

MAC did the coordinating eye makeup for these fashion shows for a year now, bolding stating this trend, "Discotheque."

Thanks to collaborating with Lady Gaga's stylist, Nicola Formichetti and her makeup artist, Bill Brasfield on their sizzling latest limited edition collection, "Posh Paradise," David Bowie's aka Ziggy Stardust's lightning bolt of an eyeshadow strikes back.

Lady Gaga's theatrical makeup brings back the zany fun of playful cosmetics and paint, but this is intricate makeup painting that can be a little daunting for most. All right, it can be time and money consuming for those on the go.

MAC is here to simplify the "lightning bolt" to accessorize your "fierce" self.

Using the Mod Sixties' "The Modernist" nude and sculptured face as the base, MAC jazzes it up by builing "columns" in darky, moody colors. One column inside the inner eye lid corner then another column on the outer corner to the temple.

With a stiff eyeshadow brush, you can design the outer shadows of a empty "zigzag" center where the iris is located.

Using an iridescent eyeshadow from the glittering, gem-inspired Posh Paradise Collection, you paint in the lightning bolt, zigzagging across the center of the eyelid. Recreate the similar effect on the lower lids, line the inner and outer corners with the same smoky color then line the center lower lid with that same neon eyeshadow.

Shazam! This creates a special effects of "strobing"-popping out the eyes and flashing a bolt of color while blinking those peepers.

Keeping the cheeks bare and easier for you, move onto the lips.

Balance the look with a bold lipstick from the Posh Paradise Collection for that feminist Disco Diva look.

If you go a little wilder with these techniques and the makeup, you already have your Halloween makeup, either as a cross-dressing Glam Rocker or as an "Mad Men" extra.

A dramatically cost-saving holiday look. Now, get on with your fierce self!

Mod Clothes & Makeup thanks to Space Age Technology...Oh so '60's.

By Laura Medina

In an ode to "Mad Men," "The Playboy Club," and "Pan Am," set in the early to mid-Sixties, Pink Tartan and MAC paid homage in Mod clothes with Space Age technology.


Kimberly Newport's Pink Tartan Spring 2012 Collection was buoyed by bouffant hair and nude and smooth makeup and complexion.


According to NPR's "All Things Considered," this is Girl Power in a Girdle, controlled, polished, and focused. Perfection as a shield.


The crisp, swingy A-Line trapeze dresses, the silver pailette sheath dresses, and curveous and streamlined cocktail dress with cut-outs in shiny satin and mod polka dots proudly flashed the mid-Sixties. The silver was influenced by the Space Age and Race. The naughty cut-outs signals the upcoming Feminist Movement, beauty and sex as strenght and liberation.


In keeping with the Mod Sixties' yearn for Spage Age technology, MAC implemented state-of-art chemistry in concocting durable and adjustable but lightweight products for that ideal suede skin with sculptured features that could never be achieved in the Sixties but was idealized then.


MAC's senior makeup artist, Ms. Callahan discovered that one of the prevailing trends on the runways of New York, Paris, Milan, and London was the natural face refined back to the Sixties' more matte and sculptured appearance, a matured take on the natural face.



Ms. Callahan coined this Mod Sixties' makeup, "The Modernist."


Perfekt Beauty's founder and CEO, Richard Anderson, taught this holistic fashionista this classic technique of using three foundations to bring out the cheekbones. The middle range foundation matches the all-over skin. One shade darker contours the cheekbones. One shade lighter to bring out theose cheekbones.

MAC brought this trick back for it's long-lasting Styledriven, a new permanent line for fashionistas on the go and MatchMaster, their Space Age foundation that's light and adjustable for all sorts of skintones.

With the basic of products from Styledriven and MatchMaster, "The Modernist" look is attainable and easy. Essentially, "The Modernist" is built on using those 3 related skintone foundations from MatchMaster and using Styledriven cream eyeshadows and lipstick for a semi-matte but durable color.

Technology is always the consistent trend in makeup.

MAC is the only one with the patent for the MatchMaster Foundation. It is a smart foundation that all the work for you. It looks like skin. There is no need to powder. The demi-matte texture stays on, even on oily complexion such as Ms. Callahan's makeup model, Sylvia.

Using the MatchMaster Foundation on the face is like painting foundation on glass. It still covers the face but you will still see the skin. This SPF 15, Ph ++, and vitamin E and C infused formula has 1/3 clear particles. When the light hits the skin, the skin still shows through as the foundation reflects the light. It is true to the skin without the heaviness of a tinted moisturizer. This is the most natural foundation in MAC's foundation line. It is two steps above a tinted moisturizer.

MAC calls MatchMaster, "shade intelligence." An invisible foundation with coverage influenced by your own skin tone.

On the makeup model's face, Ms. Callahan used a MatchMaster one shade lighter than the model's skin tone, in the center of the face to emphasize the cheekbones, nose bridge, and eyebrow bridge. To add definition, sculpture, and shape, an one shade darker MatchMaster to hollow in the cheekbones and temples to bring out the cheekbone.

Using foundation a shade lighter and darker is simpler to remember for most people, as this also harkens back to the flesh-toned Mod Sixties and old black and white movie makeup. This replaces the complicated issue for using too dark and too light blushes which gets confusing.

Another technological trend is durability. This another request from MAC's customers, long-wearing makeup that are standing and versatile for the busy fashionista on the go.

Ms. Callahan, the senior MAC artist is also a mom on the go. She doesn't have the time to reapply and touch up her makeup.

Their new permanent makeup edition, Styledriven compose of long-wearing cream shadows, liners, and lipsticks, lasting six to eight hours.

Another demand from time-pressed customers, versatile products for simpler, quicker application and a lighter load, Styledriver lipstick and blush are interchangeable. Both can be used for cheeks and lips.

Four products for a prim and proper look without the caked-on powder: two MatchMaster foundations, one shade dark and one shade light. Maybe, one or two products to add a touch of color to the cheeks or lips.

There, a soft, polished Modernist Look in Space Age flat minute.

LA's true answer to NY Fashion Week, Macy's Passport Fashion Show 2011

By Laura Medina

Videos courtesy of Macy's & Showbiz Networks

In a quick breather immediately following New York Fashion Week and the Emmys, Macy's Passport Presents Glamorama charity fashion show sprint out of the gate, fresh on their fashionable high heels.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor originated this true blue Los Angeleno society tradition, with Macy's help, as a fun fundraiser to support AIDS research and awareness.

Now, in its 29th year running, it is Hollywood's not-to-be missed tradition. Every invitee say it is an honor to be invited, participate, and watch the latest of this year's Fall fashion being paraded firsthand, happily provided by Macy's.

Many of the celebrities being interviewed on the red carpet, feel like as though they are carrying Ms. Taylor's torch for AIDS support, awareness, and education while upholding this local-only tradition of the City of Angels doing an Hollywood-worthy fashion production.

From the left: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sara Rue, Nick Verreos, & the Far East Movement.

Red carpet videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPefwmoRkWk, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st4Q74UuBxw&feature=related, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeQKOBw9Wso&feature=related

Jennifer Love Hewitt attended as a promise to a dear friend who had passed away a long time ago to AIDS. If there is anything she can do for the cause, she will do it. Plus, she is really excited to see Cee Lo Green perform. She is a big fan. Ms. Hewitt call this a great night for a great cause.

Sara Rue is thrilled to follow Elizabeth Taylor's footsteps...

"When I think about Elizabeth Taylor, I first think about her beauty, her talent, and her works in AIDS Awareness. She was one of the pioneers. She was one of the first actors, one of the first celebrities to say have to do something in the community."

For Nick Verreos, it is another form of awareness..."There's education to let people know about the Fall Fashion trends...the entertainment...all the high fashion...the models. Los Angeles is the biggest red carpet and the biggest catwalk in the world. In this historical theater, the Orpheum Theatre, Macy's is the place to be."

For Far East Movement, this is the best of both worlds. Not only do they find it a great honor to be invited to perform at the city's best fashion production, they live a few mere blocks away from the Orpheum Theater. After being on tour for three to four months, they find it a relief to be able to roll out and rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBlHu297we4

This year's theme for Macy's Passport Glamorama is ARTrageous where each designer or brand is paired with an artist that best suits the brand's or the designer's mentality.

The show opens with models in life-sized picture boxes and the models, obviously, are life-sized dolls strutting in Tommy Hilfilger's current varsity/collegiate pullovers, sweaters, caps, scarves, and knits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBlHu297we4

Nevertheless, the dominating theme on the stage is the "Foxy Femme Fatale," best strutted out by Rachel Roy and Tracy Reese.

Rachel Roy sexed up the early to mid-Sixities "Mad Men" factor by jazzing up sheath dresses in today's sequins and tweed trimmed with (hopefully faux) fox fur. Most of the outfits are topped by pill box hats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGDTQK519PM&feature=related

Tracy Reese amped up the foxiness factor by spotlighting on what was fierce about the Seventies and the Women's Liberation Movement-strong, sultry, and sexy.

Again with the fur trim, but the powerful leopard prints brings out the Diva from the Disco Era.

Far East Movement provided the much needed break between the fashion marathon but Mr. Cee Lo Green brought down the house as the finale. Macy's saved the best for last.

Cee Lo Green's "Big City, Big Lights," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW89OKUqS9Y & "Forget You/Smells Like Teen Spirit," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_g2zbvnyu0.

A children's dance troupe, decked in Day-Glo Keith Haring graffiti-squiggled sweats, accompanied Cee Lo belting "Forget You" then rocked the house with his version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

This spectacular night was tied up with a bow of an after-fete and much-needed refreshment and food. There is only so much a dashing fashionista can go on an empty stomach. Glory be! Stations of gourmet Americana hamburgers and crispy straw french fries and Japanese barbecue of grilled steak and wheat noodles fueled the party late into the night.

Macy's Passport Glamorama fed the heart, the soul, the eye balls, and the tummy. A night to remember.