Short bangs look cute in a weird kinda way…

~ Emmie ~ Leave a comment

Bangs are really strange things.  Trimming them, and a shaping them and styling them can be a headache.  Which is why a lot of people outgrow their bangs at every opportunity they get.  But the reason I like them is that they actually prevent balding and thinning at that part of the scalp near the forehead where your hair naturally parts.  No bangs for some reason stresses out this point on your head.  Another bonus of bangs is that when you are tired of them, there are ways of concealing that you have bangs with hairspray and bobby pins so you still get to keep your styling options open.  It is much harder to fake bangs than it is to hide them.

Alyssa Milano. She looks the right balance between
Alyssa Milano. She looks the right balance between “polished, fun ‘do”, and “crazy girl who went too far with the scissors”.

I have been cutting my hair now for the past two years.  One of the simplest cuts that I have always found kind of quirky and cute was this really short, a bit chunky or uneven bangs cut that made one look as if you were a 4 year old child that was playing hairdresser with herself with the safety scissors she found in her kindergarten classroom.  It’s fun, unpretentious and youthful in a playful way.  This look is basically a regular bang cut, but what I do is aim to make it a little bit too short, in an awkward way.  If you happen to be like me, and do not work in a corporate office, I think this is something that you can try out.  And if it is too strange and unpolished for you, it’s just hair and it will always grow back.

On my recent bang trim, I was actually going for a bit of a longer, wispy bang length this time, but still ended up with shorter bangs than I wanted! 😦  So now I am still wearing the short bangs cut that I had sported the previous trim/cut.  But really experimenting with different shapes and lengths of bangs is super cool and easy to do.

Here is a video on Youtube that really helped me figure out how to trim/cut bangs.  Mind you this is on how to cut asymmetrical bangs but you can always modify the training of the video into any shape of bang that you may want!

Tips for cutting bangs:

1. Don’t cut them wet.  They will always dry a lot shorter than what you thought they would be.

2. Cut modestly…because it is actually super easy to over cut them in length when you add in the thinning and texturing process.

3. Experiment and try to visualize different bang lengths on your face.  If you see an edgy model with super short bangs, imagine them on your self and think about whether it would suit you.  Having a preset desired length and shape will definitely guarantee more success on achieving the amount of funky shortness or simple longness in your bangs you may want to show off…

This is my freshly cut slightly
This is my freshly cut slightly “too-short” bangs. That’s right Zoey Deschanel, I too can look “a-dork-able”

Spring make-up trends from Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar: Less is more

~ Emmie ~ Leave a comment

There is no greater fashion authority than Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, at least that is what I feel.  These giants are the leaders of the industry and always know what will look high-fashion, and what will look pedestrian. Their knowledge includes hair and make-up.  However, I still get annoyed an any fashion authority because of how trends come in and out at a snap of the finger.  Or seeing trends that seem to mirror the things us girls were doing all along, but all of a sudden, it is accepted as stylish!  Read this spring’s Vogue and Bazaar articles and you will know exactly what I mean.

Trend 1: Bare faced, no make-up, fresh and clean.

This is a really really hard look to pull off!  That is why this trend is annoying.  Most girls are not blessed with perfect, glowy, dewy faces.  Believe it or not, this look actually takes work.  My suggestion to get this?  Use a heavy moisturizer, then thinly sponge on bb cream or foundation. Use face powder sparingly.  This is how I used to do my make-up for errands day or groceries.  Turns out it is now high fashion…who knew?  I think bare faced and no make-up looks best with clean flawless skin, and undone, unruly hair.

See how this look is done. It is unpolished in the face, so the hair has to match this to pull off this undone look.
See how this look is done. It is unpolished in the face, so the hair has to match this to pull off this undone look.

Trend 2: Air dried, slightly wavy hair bordering on bedhead…

This is a trend I’ve been rocking all along and feeling quite bad about its lazy look until now, that is.  Apparently, because Vogue and other sources say so, it is stylish now.  This look is one of my favourites in that it is effortless, and celebrates how hair looks naturally (aka kinda weird). No curling irons, hair spray or straighteners necessary.  My tips for getting this look?  After washing and conditioning hair, let it air dry until almost dry.  Then twist it up into one or several buns.  Let it dry some more.  Undo, and then blow dry the rest of the moisture out on low heat.  You should be left with barely there waves.  Finish with a moisturizing pomade on the midshaft and ends of hair.  Effortless and a bit messy.

See how the hair is a bit frizzy like it was air dried? Also there is a barely there wave. Super cool and effortless is the feeling.
See how the hair is a bit frizzy like it was air dried? Also there is a barely-there wave. Super cool and effortless is the goal.

Trend 3:  Liquid liner, thin and barely there

This one ties into trend 1 of having a minimal make-up look. What will spoil any “no make-up look” fast would be overly thick liquid lined eyes.  Even if you’re a natural beaut, the graphic nature of boldly lined eyes makes a make-up look stylized, planned and over done.  Get away with wearing bold liquid liner while still looking “au naturale” by thinly, and I mean thinly painting on the lines as close to the lashes as possible.  This way your eyes still pop, but it still looks as if you’re wearing little to no make-up.  A nice addition to this would be to skip lining the lower lid liner but to use a light to medium eye shadow to line the bottom lid softly instead!

I love the make-up on the top eyelid. So defined but delicate in the thinness of the black liner. Bottom liner is a bit harsh, though. Soften with barely there shadow.
I love the make-up on the top eyelid. So defined but delicate in the thinness of the black liner. Bottom liner is a bit harsh, though. Soften it by lining it with eye shadow instead.

 

In Summary:

Clean and fresh faced is in for this spring.  This is a hard look to rock, because too little make-up and a girl can end up looking slovenly, too much and the effect of being effortlessly pretty is gone.  What to do?  Take care of your skin, moisturize, and use your make-up sparingly.  This has been what I have been doing casually for a while now and it seems as if the fashion industry this spring is ironically jumping on this bandwagon of common sense.

This is my take on the spring trends. I try to keep it minimal with lighter eye shadows and soft thin eye definition. A nude lip pulls this all together.
This is my take on the spring trends. I try to keep it minimal with lighter eye shadows and soft thin eye definition. A nude lip pulls this all together.

An example of classic glamour: Gone with the Wind

~ Emmie ~ 2 Comments

I remember my mom was a fan of vintage Hollywood movies.  I watched all of them with her when I was a child.  Whenever they came on TV, she would tune in, and together we would watch them from beginning to end.  While I assume other children watched Disney films, I however, got to watch the original Bond movies, The Sound of Music, Hitchcock thrillers, and Gone with the Wind.  What did all these old classics have in common?  Incredibly beautiful iconic female characters, great fashion and romance and drama done in the most legendary way.  This post I will be focusing on the lush adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s 1937 novel Gone with the Wind.

Made in 1939, and so epic in its nearly 4 hour long story-telling, this movie was the big one. It had in it so many love stories and triangles that there was never a dull moment.  And the colours and costumes in this film were fantastically grand, beautiful and perfect.  Taking place in the Civil War era in the United States’ history, it showcased a very strong female character, Scarlett O’hara, played by the actress Vivienne Leigh.  My mother told me so many women loved her character portrayal so much that the most popular westernized name in Hong Kong given to baby girls at a time was “Vivien”.  (If that was the case, how did I end up with my modest name Emmie?)  Well, anyways, back onto track, Vivien Leigh played Scarlett, a “southern belle” who full of determination, pride and guts, was a victim of unrequited love, even with all of her beauty.  While watching the film, we don’t know weather to pity or admire her, for her dire circumstances; with not getting the beau of her dreams and for having to survive war, famine, and poverty during the worst of the civil war.  As we all know, the South loses, but Scarlet never lets that affect her.

One of the many marriages a siren like Scarlett would get. Look at her elegant gown, and oh so perfect hair and make-up. Classic.
One of the many marriages a siren like Scarlett would get. Look at her elegant gown, and oh so perfect hair and make-up. Classic.
In the most girly red piped top, perfect hair, and a the gorgeous ball gown skirt that most "southern bells" don.
In the most girly red piped top, perfect hair, and a the gorgeous ball gown skirt that most “southern bells” don.

 

look at her perfect hair and make-up. Even when she is being haughty, she is beautiful.
look at her perfect hair and make-up. Even when she is being haughty, she is beautiful.

One of my favourite things about Scarlett was that she was not ashamed of her attractiveness and was not afraid to use it to get ahead or for survival reasons.  She wasn’t able to land her love obsession Ashley Wilkes, a southern gentleman with honor, but she was sure able to beguile playboy, womanizer Brett Butler.  A skill that is not to be taken lightly.  He fell for her hard.

After she marries into weath with the famous Rhett Butler, Scarlett visits her family plantation in style.
After she marries into wealth with the famous Rhett Butler, Scarlett visits her family plantation in style.
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What woman looks this good after giving birth? Apparently Scarlett does, with her gorgeous sleep cape and hair so romantically curled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favourite outfits in the film. A green velvet house coat with gold embellishments. When I lounge around my place, I don't look like this!!
One of my favourite outfits in the film. A green velvet house coat with gold embellishments. When I lounge around my place, I don’t look like this!!
The perfect family, with tons of scandalous secrets, thanks of Scarlett, or course! Look at her striped dress. It is still current with today's fashion...
The perfect family, with tons of scandalous secrets, thanks of Scarlett, of course! Look at her striped dress. It is still current with today’s fashion…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only some women can pull off this amount of glamour. Scarlett does this admist gossip of her indiscretions.
Only some women can pull off this amount of glamour. Scarlett does this admist gossip of her indiscretions.
This is her famous red dress that gets her in trouble with Rhett. A bit Christmassy for me, but still loving it with the loose flowing hair curls.
This is her famous red dress that gets her in trouble with Rhett. A bit Christmassy for me, but still loving it with the loose flowing hair curls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think?  Can contemporary Hollywood actresses compete with Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett?  Or is even trying to out do this gal a hopeless venture?  I for one think this is a tall feat.  What do today’s Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Watson, or Emilia Clarke have on Scarlett O’Hara?  Apparently nothing, if you’ve been able to catch this classic gem of a film.