Images via JustJared and Pinterest.
Earlier this month I was inspired by Kate Winslet for V Magazine where the actress paid tribute to Dame Elizabeth Taylor. I was especially captivated by the make-up of the photoshoot, and I wanted to try my hand at recreating it. I certainly couldn’t recreate the actual feel of Kate’s photoshoot, nor did I try; for one thing, I’m not an actress. And for another thing, I’m not a model. So there you have it. I definitely don’t have Elizabeth’s grace (or Kate’s, for that matter) and there’s an attitude in Liz that I don’t think any of us could really recreate if we tried, me being perhaps the most unlikely of anyone. But one thing I think I am capable of is working with make-up, so I wasn’t too intimidated to give that part a try. Here’s what I came up with…
Rather than draw on the iconic Liz beauty mark I decided to uncover one I usually hide with make-up. Why not work with what you’ve got, right? Overall I like how it turned out – I don’t see the resemblance in it at all anymore, but when I was first going through the pictures that last one actually surprised me a bit. I had a “That’s me?” moment. When I started out I really doubted that I’d even blog about the experience because I figured I wouldn’t get anywhere near what I was hoping for, but the process didn’t turn out to be so difficult after all. My eyes are a bit wide, very different in shape from both Liz and Kate, but I think this look comes down to how you work with your cosmetics.
URBAN DECAY EYESHADOW PRIMER POTION IN ‘SIN’ | URBAN DECAY EYESHADOW IN ‘FOXY’ AND ‘BLACKOUT’ | MAYBELLINE ILLEGAL LENGTH FIBER EXTENSIONS MASCARA IN ‘VERY BLACK’ | URBAN DECAY 24/7 GLINE-ON EYELINER IN ‘PERVERSION’ | URBAN DECAY URBAN LASH KIT
ULTA LIPSTICK IN ‘PINK CHOCOLATE’
Here’s a quick rundown of how I got the look. Start with your basics – primer, foundation, powder, the works. Don’t skip on the eyeshadow primer if you don’t have to, it’s really a marvelous aid. Use a base shadow that’s a few shades brighter than your skin tone, for a bit of extra contrast against the black. Cover your lid with the base tone, then begin drawing with your eye pencil. I’m mad about Urban Decay’s “Perversion” shade, which is their ultimate blackest-black. You can always wet the tip of their pencils for an even stronger color (that goes for the eyeshadows, too) and while you really don’t need to with “Perversion”, it doesn’t hurt. This is where you work with the pencil and shape your eyes as you like. In the corner of the crease I went back and forth with black eyeshadow and the pencil, drawing a stubby line and smudging it with my finger. I was going for something less uniform, but a little more texturized than a simple smoky eye. Be generous with your mascara, or use false lashes (I didn’t, but you’d get an even better cat eye with them). Fill in your eyebrows – again, generously. I usually wet my angled brush before applying dark brown eyeshadow to the brows, but this time I went strictly for black shadow and used both a wet and dry brush for a lot more depth. Finish off with undereye concealer, a bit of blush and a soft shade of lipstick. You can always use a bit of make-up remover to clean up any drops of dark shadow or pencil marks, too (I definitely did) and reapply your foundation/powder as needed.
Some of the shades in the graphic aren’t precisely what I used, but they’re close matches of the same products.
Spring as a season of change and renewal makes for a suitable metaphor for style. With the shift of the weather and a reinvigorated attitude always comes my desire to change up my beauty routine, and that especially goes for my hairstyle. Lately the ‘do I’ve been admiring from afar has been the bob. It’s always been a favorite, but this year what really has me considering the cut is the hidden versatility of it. I used to think that a bob was a bit constricting because it had to be worn the same way every day, but after a bit of consideration and some time spent seeking inspiration online I started entertaining a few ways I could style a bob with a flat iron. A flat iron is a fantastic investment if you don’t already have one, and ghd flat irons are tremendously well-respected within the industry. My bob of choice would be one with lots of layers to accommodate the thickness and volume of my hair, and with that in mind the options really grow.
Straightening hair at the roots visibly lengthens your hair, especially if you’re prone to natural waves like me. Keeping some light long layers in the bob will amplify that effect.
I’ve never been able to get results I want with a curling iron, but I’ve gotten curls like these with my flat iron before. Taking the technique on the bob would be adorable!
Go retro with a simple inward-curled bob. Make it all the more sleek with a flat iron and anti-frizz serum.
A center part and a generous amount of straightening will get you a very sharp, very eye-catching long bob. It’s a perfect recipe for summer as well as spring!
A wavy bob can be achieved with a flat iron by applying the same technique you would use to curl, then brushing the curls into waves. Working with pieces at a time will give you more control.
See what magic a flat iron can do? Visit ghd hair for more inspiration and to shop for a flat iron of your own!
This article was sponsored by ghd. Content and opinions expressed in the article have not been affected by the compensation received.
Image credit: JustJared
I really don’t know what rock I was living under last September when Kate Winslet portrayed Elizabeth Taylor for V Magazine, but I only just saw these pictures last week – and by complete incident, no less! They just popped right up on a Pinterest search and caused one seriously inspiring kerfuffle. Normally, I wouldn’t have jumped to blog about the photos. I wouldn’t have even entertained it. They’re from a season ago: a cardinal rule for most bloggers is to post what’s current, and definitely don’t let on to what a clueless bird you can be by waiting six months to post about something. But, you know…I really love these photos. I really love Kate Winslet, I really love this tribute to Elizabeth Taylor. And I really love putting inspiring things on my blog. So there you have me, defying the rules of bloggerdom.
Besides, who would really complain about seeing these photos again? I’m beguiled. She so effortlessly captured a certain grace that just perfectly reflects so much of what made Elizabeth Taylor who she was as a style icon. And yet nobody could ever really be Liz perfectly, not for the magnitude of her persona and the greatness of her individuality, but if anyone will understand that – the beauty of one’s own originality – I can’t think of anyone more appropriate to take that consideration into a tribute than Kate Winslet. Styled by Carine Roitfeld, and photographed by Mario Testino.
I’d love to know who did the make-up, but I don’t have a clue. If anyone wants to enlighten me, that would be wonderful! [Edit: Linda Cantello - thanks, Courtney!] And yes, I’m already thinking about giving the look a try myself…
