My hairy boys of Joy...
Right, I have been harping on about my YouTube channel for some time now, however I only have my show-reel uploaded, so to be totally honest its a sparse view for you guys ... But do not worry as my lovely and extremely talented man has produced and is editing my first Vlog, which is all about essential brushes that if you don't own, you should own!
Now let me tell you about the whole 'lets do a brush vlog!'. Firstly I am not a natural in front of the camera as I am naturally an introvert, so this Vlogging jazz is pushing me wayyyyy outside my comfort zone. ( I heard along the grapevine that this is where the magic happens, so I've gone with that theory). The camera man however is a natural in front of the camera, (Professional actor, he is - Boreoff!) so in my shyness and bid to not look too stupid, I ordered him out the room and made him close the door. School girl error, I'm afraid!
Fast forward to my first cringe worthy viewing of my vlog, mid editing and he says 'oh wait here is the best bit!' as I removed the pillow from my raspberry coloured face and allowed my ears to hear past my seemingly thick scouse accent, there I am, no make up on and lovingly gazing at my synthetic haired brush and tenderly stroking its bristles, in a similitude to how a mother gazes at her child or how a lover looks before they pounce on their partner for a full on passionate snog!
Now I have never seen myself looking that way, and after melting into the sofa in a bid to camouflage and hide and a little snigger I realised that I do love my brushes and I actually don't care about how I look at them because as a make up artist, those hairy boys really do make me happy.
Love your brushes people.... but don't catch anyone looking!
I have listed 2 of my fave brush companies for you to go and purchase your essential brushes, or how I lovingly refer to them now; my 'hairy guys'.
Royal & Langnickel
Charles Fox
Wedding Dress Shopping? Find the shape to suit your shape!
Wedding dress shopping is one of the most memorable things a woman will do in her lifetime.... next to the wedding day and if your lucky becoming a mum. But how do we get it right, what shape will suit us if we have never tried on a wedding gown before. Here is a quick piece of info to look at so you have a little idea of what may work for you and your shape.
Apple Body Shape
These brides usually have excess tummy weight and thin legs.
- The cut is important
- Less fuss
- Draping should be asymmetrical
- Shape the body with the details of the dress - pattern/lines
- Consider using a belt to draw in the waist
Rectangle Body Shape
These brides should focus on pulling in the waist or creating volume around the hips.
- Straight, Boyish shape
- Use a belt or corset style to make a waist
- A deep neck line in order to further widen the shoulder line
- consider a off the shoulder dress to widen the upper portion of your body
- A large skirt in order to create shape in the bottom half of the body
Pear Body Shape
The classic pear shape. Smaller bust, larger hips.
- A-Line dresses will work to shows off small waist
- Emphasise shoulders and maybe try a strapless cress
- Conceal the hip area
- Consider a padded bra
Inverted Triangle Body Shape
Wide shoulder and small hips.
- Try a plunging neckline brings to give the illusion of narrowing the waist
- Add emphasis to the lower part of the body
- Keep the top of the dress simple
- most of the detail to the bottom of the dress to balance the shape
Hour Glass Body Shape
Perfect shape to pop into a dress, lucky you!
- Fitted dress to show shape
- Try on lots as the choice is yours
- If you are short consider a higher heel
- The cut is important
- Less fuss
- Draping should be asymmetrical
- Shape the body with the details of the dress - pattern/lines
- Consider using a belt to draw in the waist
- Straight, Boyish shape
- Use a belt or corset style to make a waist
- A deep neck line in order to further widen the shoulder line
- consider a off the shoulder dress to widen the upper portion of your body
- A large skirt in order to create shape in the bottom half of the body
- A-Line dresses will work to shows off small waist
- Emphasise shoulders and maybe try a strapless cress
- Conceal the hip area
- Consider a padded bra
Inverted Triangle Body Shape
- Try a plunging neckline brings to give the illusion of narrowing the waist
- Add emphasis to the lower part of the body
- Keep the top of the dress simple
- most of the detail to the bottom of the dress to balance the shape
Hour Glass Body Shape
Perfect shape to pop into a dress, lucky you!
- Fitted dress to show shape
- Try on lots as the choice is yours
- If you are short consider a higher heel
Wedding Season
Bridal Makeup
Okay, so wedding season is in our midst and as a freelance make up artist, its a busy time of the year for me. I must say though, brides for me can sometimes be a happy challenging. In one aspect its such a privilege being allowed to join the bride at the beginning of her journey but its also quite pressured making sure she looks totally, utterly beautiful whilst still feeling herself.
This Image to the right is one of my beautiful brides, who was lovely to work with. Click here to view my gallery
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| Bridal Makeup |
This Image to the right is one of my beautiful brides, who was lovely to work with. Click here to view my gallery
Getting to the point
So on the return of my bestest friend from her 8 years of living in Dubai, reminded me that at the golden age of 34 and three quarters and happily divorced I had still NEVER tried on a wedding dress,(full of cheer, she is!) whilst with my work I am surrounded by happy brides, she took it upon herself to cheer me up after she had made me feel awful about the real life situation and go out wedding dress shopping!!
Yes, maybe a bit strange, so I thought I would turn it into a not so strange blog about wedding dressing for body types, wedding dress styles and then give you a wedding make up tutorial on my Youtube Channel. This way I would feel less single (not so) white female about the whole thing.
Firstly we visited a bridal shop, (Eternity Bridal, Cheshire) which was appointment only. It was slightly awkward being asked questions regarding when the wedding was taking place, as we booked in the appointment..... I stood there like a deer in headlights and my friend did all the talking, whilst I cooed over Jenny Packham dresses in the corner!
Yes, maybe a bit strange, so I thought I would turn it into a not so strange blog about wedding dressing for body types, wedding dress styles and then give you a wedding make up tutorial on my Youtube Channel. This way I would feel less single (not so) white female about the whole thing.
Firstly we visited a bridal shop, (Eternity Bridal, Cheshire) which was appointment only. It was slightly awkward being asked questions regarding when the wedding was taking place, as we booked in the appointment..... I stood there like a deer in headlights and my friend did all the talking, whilst I cooed over Jenny Packham dresses in the corner!
So here is the story we used (totally fictitious) there may be some similarities to an actual person, but this is perhaps very coincidental!?
I'm marrying a guy called Dan in May 2015. Dan is a music teacher and very arty, handsome and slightly scruffy. He proposed via a personalised book, with the proposal at the end of the story. (romantic I know.......Like I said totally fictitious!)
The service in both shops were amazing and I felt a tad guilty telling my 'love story' to these women so I kept making it all about the dresses, which in all fairness was the whole reason we were there.
Now as for my body shape, I am disclosing these measurement here almost unwillingly, however I know to get a better understanding of proportions as to how these may look on you, its a must. You can read my previous write up on body shapes here.
Okay here it is -
Bust 32F
Waist 24inch
Hips 36inch
Height 5ft 3.5inches (and yes half an inch does matter, ask any man!)
I wanted to try on various dresses, mainly vintage styled as that seems to be most current at the moment, therefore it makes sense to try on delightful vintage styles!
Now as for my body shape, I am disclosing these measurement here almost unwillingly, however I know to get a better understanding of proportions as to how these may look on you, its a must. You can read my previous write up on body shapes here.
Okay here it is -
Bust 32F
I wanted to try on various dresses, mainly vintage styled as that seems to be most current at the moment, therefore it makes sense to try on delightful vintage styles!
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| Cymbeline dress, Frisson |
I went to the shops with an open mind,as it is advisable you should. I made sure that I would be aware of retail services offered, the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff and the dresses that the shops had on offer for a potential bride.
I must say firstly that I do apologise for my fibs to the amazing ladies who helped us on the day, we were truly made to feel so special that at several points it did feel spookily very real and at 2 points I did get leaky eyes and in one shop, I nearly bought a wedding dress, without even a sniff of a groom! That is only down to the fab sales staff I guess, so thank you ladies!
One of the things that I have learnt from this experience when looking for your dress, is to be open minded, I cannot stress this enough.
I would never have tried on a strapless wedding gown if it wasn't for the purpose of this write up, and I was so pleasantly surprised at how they looked on me and my body shape..... I had a vaa vaa voom moment several times and loved the feminine shape that they gave me.
Prior to this I had a snobby attitude to the strapless wedding dress as 'everyone seems to have one!' Well now I know exactly why that could be, amazing invention to all woman kind!
Another thing that I figured out, was listen to the sales staff, they see women all day everyday popping in and out of these beautiful wedding dresses, they see all shapes and sizes so they probably have a better idea of what will flatter your shape, than you do.
Communication as ever is key, tell the staff what you are vaguely looking for, if you don't know, that's okay just tell them about the body parts you are wanting to make the best of or wanting to conceal.... these people know their stuff, utilise them in the best way possible.
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| Eternity Bridal shop, Cheshire |
Dress 1 was a Cymbeline dress, called Frisson, I tried this dress on as it had a romantic boho feel to it, with elements of vintage, with the lace trim and simple cut.
The size I was wearing here in the image is a size 8, however I felt that it would need taking in at the waist and it did fit at the hips, but I could not afford to gain a pound or three! This dress was very light and I could see that it would work very well as a beach wedding dress or summer wedding dress. The look it gives off is understated elegance with a free natural look.
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| Bridal Shopping, Cymbeline, Hombeline |
Dress 2,
Again its another Cymbeline dress called Hombeline, from Eternity Bridal. I tried this dress with a hoop underneath, and again in a size 8, yet again it would need adjusting at the waist.
Eternity Bridal did mention that they could do alterations, but they didn't give me any other information regarding time scales or prices, which was unfortunate considering ever dress that I tried on would need alterations and I assume it would be the same for most women wedding dress shopping. Although you cant see it very well in this picture, the square neckline balanced out the width of my hips, which were emphasised slightly by the lower waistline. I didn't mind look, in fact I rather liked it as it was 'different' in comparison to the other dresses in the shop.
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I adored this dress, it was totally me... elements of vintage with the lace and the square neck, which is reminiscent of the 1940's era and also the slight drop in the waist reminded me of the 1930's, totally making this dress fabulously quirky, with that vintage feel.
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