GLAM OR SHAM?: Estelle's Long Red Weave

Okay, before we start the Rihanna comparisons, let me get this out of the way:

(1) I like long hair on Estelle. It softens up her features and gives her a pretty, feminine look.

(2) The red is darker at the roots, which strays away from Rihanna's blinding bright hue.

(3) The couple of times I've met her she seemed like a generally sweet girl. LOL.

Now, that I've said that, Rihanna has successfully sparked another hair trend (with both Trina and Estelle rocking crimson coifs) but I can't say this one is particularly becoming on any of them.  

Estelle debuted this look during her show at the Key Club in Los Angeles last night and tweeted: “Newww haiirrrr don’t care (winter weave pt 2) yessss."

I'm all about a winter weave and a new hairstyle, but does this look work for her? You be the judge. Glam or Sham?

Kisses,

Coutura

Lipstick Of The Moment: This Bright Red Shade Worn By Estelle

Remember when I told you that one of the best lipstick shades for you to rock this holiday season would be a red or perhaps even a pastel pink such as MAC + Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday!?

Well, here's a fantastic example of the exact type of red that I think you should be rocking. Estelle hit the red carpet of a recent event rocking this sumptous shade of what looks to me like a matte cherry red. What's so great about it? It pops perfectly against her dark skin and brightens up her entire look. LOVE. (Because no one wants to kiss a sour-faced looking lady underneath the mistletoe! Ew.)

What do you think, Glamazons? Are you in love with this shade of red on Estelle just as much as I am?!

xo

Ferocia

Try This: Hair Rules Blow-Out Stylers

Hair Rules creator and kinky hair stylist extraordinaire Dickey finally has products for us girls that like to wear our hair straight! (No offense to you natural gals out there, but much like my good friend Tasha Turner says, I prefer my hair "fried, dyed and laid to the side" meaning that heat stylers are my best friend hahaha)

So, for those that aren't familiar with Dickey and Hair Rules, here's a quick rundown: he's a hairstylist (obvs!) that specializes in styling curly, kinky, wavy hair. He even has his own product line (click here to check 'em out!) but what most people don't know is that he can blow your hair out just as beautifully as he can style those curls. I mean, just check out my girl Elaine from EBONY Magazine's mane below. Yes, he straightened out all that mass of curl on her head..gorge, right?!

On a particularly rainy evening, I hustled over to Dickey's Hair Rules Salon to hear all about this new heat styling greatness he concocted. Not only was I pleasantly surprised to receive a complimentary blow-out with the new product (um, the hairstylists there have magic fingers) but I also loved running into Estelle on my way in. (She goes there all the time, you know.)

Alright, so on to the products: there's the Blow Out Your Kinks; Blow Out Your Curls and Blow Out Your Waves.

Blow Out Your Kinks

Because kinky hair is extremely fragile, Dickey made sure to come up with a gentle mix that contains Hawaiin White Ginger and scalp-soothing hops. The best part of this stuff is that it also contains a new macromolecule called Styleze W which latches onto the hair surface to help fight high levels of humidity.

"A lot of women with kinky hair complain that their hair lacks shine and looks dull, but it's completely possible to get beautiful luster and sheen if it's healthy," Dickey said.

Blow Out Your Curls

Dickey explains that "flattening the cuticle is key to achieving straight strands" regardless of whether you have fine, medium, or coarse curls. This product contains extracts of coconut oil, Abyssinia oil, jojoba oil and shea butter to help seal the cuticle's surface while increasing gloss and manageability.

Blow Out Your Waves

Wavy hair is the easiest to straighten due to its flattened cuticle, but Dickey said that he's found that women with wavy hair still search far and wide to find the right straightening products. Much like the ingredient mix found in Blow Out Your Curls, this product also contains lemongrass and hydrolyzed wheat protein to repair and strengthen fragile hair for an additional layer of protection against the heat of blow dryers and flat irons.

Each retails for $20 ($9.50 for 2 oz sizes) and is available for purchase at ULTA.com and hairrules.com.

xo

Ferocia

GLAM OR SHAM?: Estelle Rocks Short Shorts

Now, this is one singer that we don't usually see show too much skin, but Estelle had no problem showing off her gams (and bosom!) while performing onstage with Kelly Rowland and Cyndi Lauper at Thursday night's amfAR New York Gala. I personally think it's a good look for her! (Alright, maybe minus all that shimmer sparkly action going on.)

What do you think Glamazons? GLAM or SHAM?

xo

Ferocia

Boxing Kitten Resort 2010 Launch Party with Estelle and Ginger + Liz

Why do I love the Boxing Kitten brand? Let's count the reasons. For one, who couldn't adore the line's "ethnic rockabilly" motif? The one-of-a-kind pieces are an eclectic mix of vintage 50's silhouettes and modern, vibrant prints.

Secondly, my idol, Josephine Baker, is the primary muse for Boxing Kitten's latest collection. Each look in the new collection is named after one of Baker's films or lovers! Amazing. 


If that's not cool enough, Boxing Kitten has launched a new shoe collaboration with Osborn which features two styles: the "Haughty" and the "Cheeky." Each shoe is formed from eco-friendly, recycled tires found on the roads and peeled tire depot. And they each look super stylish. 

Given the style, inspiration and dedication to the environment, it's no wonder celebrities like Beyonce, Solange, Rihanna and Estelle share my love for Boxing Kitten. Here's what designer Maya Lake had to say about her fourth collection: 

“I’m so excited for the unveiling of our upcoming collection. The Osborn Company has been amazing to work with and Josephine Baker is one of my most influential muses,” said Maya. “She captures the strength, excitement and haughty attitude of the Boxing Kitten woman and I wanted to dedicate a collection to her amazing legacy.” 

To toast the launch of the new collection, a fashionable crowd of editors, celebs and trendsetters gathered on the Soho Rooftop in NYC for a 50's themed bash. While enjoying Belvedere cocktails, guests danced to eclectic tunes spun by Prince's DJ, DJ Rashida, and DJ Jahi Sundance. Fun times!


Fashion-forward songstress, Estelle, showed up to support the brand wearing the adorable Grace Dress. She posed with the beautiful models, which included Nia Mora (sister of ANTM winner Naima) and Friend of the Glamazons, Liz of the nail lacquer line Ginger + Liz. 


Check out the photos below and make sure to visit the site, www.boxingkitten.com, for info on the gorgeous new collection.

Estelle + Designer Maya Lake

Maya + her Models. LOVE the new collection! Silhouettes got sexier this season.

Nia Mora, Liz of Ginger + Liz and models 

Guests toasted delicious Belvedere Pink Grapefruit cocktails.

Loved the summery decor at the bar!

Here, the gorgeous Liz of Ginger + Liz models a beautiful dress I must own!

Glamazon favorites! Celeb make-up artist, A.J. Crimson, the Ginger + Liz girls wearing neon "Going Back to Cali" shade & Estelle wearing "Can You Keep a Secret?" shade. Pick up both lacquers online at Ginger + Liz.

Kisses,


Coutura


Photos: Jonathan Orenstein. Johnny Nunez.

2010 CEW Beauty Award Winners

Hey Glamazons! This one is for my hard-core beauty gals (and guys!) out there that want to see all of the winners from this year's CEW Beauty Awards that were announced Friday afternoon. And, just in case you're reading this and consider yourself to be a hard-core beauty gal or guy and have no clue as to what the heck the CEW Beauty Awards are, let me tell you:

CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) is like the Grammy's for beauty products. People enter their products and the finalists are determined by the CEW members. A select group of the CEW Board of Governors vote for the winners, which are announced at a yearly luncheon in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. (Said lunch usually consists of chicken (which is usually on the dry side), salad and a delectable dessert.)

Huge beauty brands and their public relations offices all purchase tables and invite beauty editors, directors and bloggers to come and sit at their table. This year, I sat at the VEET table (which was manned by the lovely ladies at Lippe Taylor. I think Kate Sklar is definitely the loveliest of them all! hahaha). The lovely Linda Wells (EIC of Allure magazine) is always present (btw I'm KIND of obsessed with her) and actor Mario Cantone is the host. (He's the cute, loud gay bestie of Charlotte York from Sex In The City.)

There are usually some celebrities present as well. This year, I noticed singer Estelle, model Selita Ebanks (could she possibly be any more gorge?!) and Kim Kardashian (who looked so pretty in a coral, one-shouldered dress and beige pumps. That's her and Mario pictured above).

The City's Whitney Port was also there looking oh so summer-chic in a flirty dress and cream colored jacket. Plus, I loved that hair!

Ok, so enough of that! On to the winners:

BATH AND BODY

-Body Treatment/Mass

Vaseline Sheer Infusion with Stratys-3

-Body Treatment/Prestige

Origins Dr. Weil for Origins Night Health Bedtime Spray

-Bath/Shower Product/Mass

Olay Body Wash Plus Tone Enriching Ribbons

-Bath/Shower Product/Prestige

Fresh Sugar Acai Body Scrub

FACIAL SKINCARE

-Acne Treatment

La Roche Posay Effaclar Al Intensive Acne Spot Treatment

-Anti-Aging/Mass

Olay Professional Pro-X Deep Wrinkle Treatment

-Anti-Aging/Prestige

Lancome Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate

-Cleanser & Scrub/Mass

Visine Total Eye Soothing Wipes

-Cleanser & Scrub/Prestige

Shiseido Future Solutions LX Extra Rich Cleansing Foam

-Eye Treatment/Mass

Olay Regenerist Anti-Aging Eye Roller

-Eye Treatment/Prestige

Shiseido Benefiance NutriPerfect Eye Serum

-Moisturizer/Mass

Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Awakening Face Massager

-Moisturizer/Prestige

Shiseido Future Solution Total Regenerating Cream

HAIR

-Hair Care Product/Mass

L'Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Color Care Moisture Shampoo

-Hair Care Product/Prestige

Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo

-Hair Coloring Product/Prestige

ColorMetrics TouchBack by ColorMark

-Hair Styling Product/Mass

Klorane No Rinse Care With Papyrus Milk

-Hair Styling Product/Prestige

Living Proof Full Thickening Cream

MAKEUP

-Eye Product/Mass

CoverGirl Smoky ShadowBlast

-Eye Product/Prestige

Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster Vibrating Amplifying Primer

-Face Product/Mass

CoverGirl Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush

-Face Product/Prestige

Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder

-Lip Product/Mass

Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipcolor

-Lip Product/Prestige

Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain

MEN'S GROOMING

-Men's Grooming

American Crew Trichology Hair Recovery Patch

SCENT

-Men's Scent

John Varvatos Artisan

-Women's Scent

(P&G Prestige) Avril Lavigne Black Star

SUN

-Sun Product/Mass

Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion SPF 60+ With PureScreen

-Sun Product/Prestige

Bare Escentuals BareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen

INDIE BEAUTY AWARD

-Living Proof

xo

Ferocia

*images from Getty

A Day in the Life: Estelle and Rachel Roy's In-Store Event Plus Estelle Performance Video!

Hey Glamazons!

There's no hiding the love I have for Estelle and Rachel Roy's jewelry line (and by the way, they love the Glamazons back!). So as you can imagine, I was first in line to attend their in-store Macy's event to check out the new Rachel Rachel Roy pieces and meet the lovely ladies behind the collection.

Little did I know, Estelle was going to give an intimate performance of her hottest records and I'd be right in front of the stage! Estelle sang her hit songs, Freak and American Boy for the crowd in a fashionable pair of green heels and a gorgeous necklace from the Rachel Rachel Roy and Estelle jewelry collection. Check out video of her performance below!



The only thing that gets me more excited than live music? Fabulous, affordable clothes. Rachel Rachel Roy's newest collection includes bright hues, safari-style jackets, tye-dye denim, painterly prints, studded blazers, leopard print dresses, jeweled sandals, buckled booties and more.

I DIED for this ring! Stunning.

And I spotted a clutch from Rachel Roy's charitable collaboration with Fairwinds Trading that was even more beautiful in person. What better way to give back in style?

And of course, the performer, Miss Estelle, and DJ brought the glamour. Love!

Pick up Rachel's amazing pieces available now in your local Macy's store.

Kisses,

Coutura

10 Minutes with A.J. Crimson, Celebrity Makeup Artist

Working at The Magazine, Ferocia and I come face-to-face with some of the smartest, brightest stars in the Fashion and Beauty industry. Once they inevitably succeed, you have the pleasure of having been a witness to their triumphant journey to the top. A.J. Crimson is one of those people. 


At a young age, he's already accomplished what beauty industry-hopefuls dream of: He's a makeup artist for celebrities like Estelle, Fergie, Amerie and Letoya Luckett. He's worked on Vogue photo shoots like "A Brief Encounter," the fashion spread featuring Diddy. He is the co-founder of lip gloss line, Kissable Couture, with Forest Whitaker's wife, Keisha. And he recently directed his first video, Letoya Luckett's "Good To You." Oh and he can tear up a dance floor better than any man I've ever met!

For our ten-minute interview column, the beauty God opened up to me about working for Pat McGrath, partying at the Armani club in Milan and what it takes to get ahead in this business. 

Coutura: First, thank you so much for speaking with us! You have the dream job every make-up artist wishes they had. Walk us through a typical workday in the life of the fabulous A.J. Crimson.

A.J.: I normally wake up at about 6am, begin sending and checking emails, and organize my thoughts for the day. Especially if it’s a day where I know I’ll be on set. It’s staying in touch with my office all day through my crackberry. Lol!  My laptop is always on standby for use when I’m on breaks. I try to take a meeting about my projects at least once or twice a week.


Coutura: Busy bee. Working in beauty is not easy, but it certainly is rewarding. When did you realize you wanted to work in this industry?  How did you get your start?

A.J.: I think I have always had an eye for beautiful things, so my entry into the industry was effortless.  It wasn't until I landed in Los Angeles that I really began to carve a niche for myself.

Coutura: Eventually you landed a job working with the legendary Pat McGrath! What was it like working for her?

A.J.: It was a surreal moment.  The time spent wasn't long enough. I recall it was my first trip to Paris. I was living in Vienna when I got the call from my American agent asking if I could get there, Pat had a space for me. I didn't think I would make it on time so I almost didn't go.  But I couldn't stand to think "what if"... so I just went with the mindset that on time or late I will get there.  I will do a great job and will not be turned away.  I ended up getting to Paris early, worked the Christian Dior fashion show, and got booked for 6 other shows that week.

Coutura: I commend how you were able to seize the moment! That mindset paid off. What advice would you give to up-and-coming beauty industry hopefuls on breaking in the business?

A.J.: Make your own breaks; never let your expendables get in the way of your dreams. Be careful how you use the word “reality.” Reality is what you make it!

Coutura: You've certainly made your dreams a reality. You are the youngest founder and designer of a luxury cosmetics line EVER with Kissable Couture, your lip gloss line with Keisha Whitaker.  That's a huge accomplishment.  Do you see any other beauty product lines in the future? Makeup?  Lotion? Etc.

A.J.: Thank you. And yes, I'm currently developing [BeautyStatements]by ajcrimson.

Coutura: Keep us posted. I'm sure [BeautyStatements] will be as phenomenal as Kissable Couture. By the way, my fave shade is ELUSIVE, so sexy! What lip gloss colors from Kissable Couture will be hot for Spring?

A.J.: Our new shade GLAMOUR which is an exclusive for QVC.  Available on Friday April 16th at 7pm!

Coutura: What are a few of your favorite beauty trends from the Fall 2010 runway?

A.J.: Color, Color, Color!  The liner and definitely the bold lips.

Coutura: Name three beauty products you can't live without.


A.J.: Nutura Bisse - The Cure, Nivea- body lotion, Embryolisse. I love moisturizers!!

Coutura:  What are three beauty tricks of the trade you can share with us?

A.J.: 1) I love to add moisturizer to foundation for a great light spring summer foundation.

2)   Use a wedge sponge placed behind the eye lash against the lid when applying mascara.     This helps prevent ruining eye makeup.

3)  Give dull eye shadow more pop!  Lightly wet the tip of your brush swirl in eye shadow and apply!

Coutura: Great tips! Besides taking over the beauty industry, you recently directed your first music video, "Good to Me" by Letoya Luckett. Congrats!  What was that experience like? [Ed Note: Scroll down to see the video.]

A.J.: Thank you!  OMG I loved directing Letoya in this video.  I thought I would be nervous but I wasn't.  It’s just like working on one of my photo shoots that I produce. I know what I want when I see it. I have to get the shot in a certain time frame so the pressure is always on. The editing process was longer, but I loved seeing the possibilities. It was awesome! I love Letoya and everyone at MBK for giving me the opportunity. I'm really happy that Letoya’s fans LOVED IT!

Coutura: I am a huge Letoya fan and thought the video was so cool! What is your favorite music video of all time?

A.J.: Well I don’t know that I have a favorite video of ALL time, but I really liked Madonna’s – “Vogue.”This was just a great video in the 90's.  It was just a different video.  The quality was crisp and I loved the black and white concept.  The song was so alluring!

Coutura: Vogue is, and forever will be, a classic. Lol. What do you think of Madonna's heir, Lady Gaga video, Telephone? And by the way, I'm in love with Estelle's video, Freak!

A.J.: I love Gaga and the creativity of the video. I love that she pushes the boundaries, even if sometimes it is way overboard. But that’s why we keep watching and that’s what makes her great. I saw so many great references in this video. She raised the bar for music video quality, anticipation, and delivery. Everyone I know was waiting at 12:30am to see this video and was talking about it the next day.  Whether they liked her or not!

I had the best fun working on “Freak.”  I was able to paint Estelle in full on body paint.  Artists don’t usually have the opportunity to do that.  We did gold glitter lips and painted a mask on the dancers.  It was one of the most visual videos I have worked on with an artist.  We were able to have fun and get dirty!

Coutura: Speaking of having fun and getting dirty, I love that you're a bicoastal social butterfly, hanging out in NYC and LA.  What are your favorite restaurants/clubs in both cities?

A.J.: I love Soho house in New York in the summer. I also LOVE Juliet for dinner, Chef Kyle Williams is amazing!  For breakfast I can’t get enough of Mikes in Brooklyn. My favorite club in New York, I would have to say I spend many nights at GreenHouse. SL is going to be popping this summer! Maybe I’ll make a cameo when the weather is better. I really wish I could just fly to Milan every weekend and go to the Armani club. I have so much fun every time I go!



As for LA, brunch at the four seasons is a must and they have the best waffles.  For dinner, I would have to say Katsuya. I love their version of Chinese chicken salad clubs.  I have to be honest; I really don’t go to clubs in LA.  After you've been to a NY party or one in London, Paris, or Milan, there is no point.  LA is my place to relax, have fun with friends, and enjoy a private party in the hills, which are always invite only so start building those relationships.  Lol!

Coutura: LOL! So celebrity clients.  A music video.  A successful luxury cosmetic line... and it still feels like your career has just begun!  What's next for AJ Crimson?

A.J.: I'll be hosting makeup classes - April 24th in NYC, April 25th  in Philadelphia,  May 1st  in DC,  and May 2nd  in ATL.  I am also working on my book and will continue to work on my blog!


Coutura: Great! We'll be reading! 





Kisses,


Coutura

The Glamazons Get a Shout-out from Rachel Roy!

Hey Glamazons,

We just learned that the Rachel Roy website picked up a quote from your favorite fashion/beauty bloggers! Yes, The Glamazons are quoted speaking about the new Rachel Roy and Estelle jewelry collection on the official Rachel Roy website, underneath a header that reads "Coveted by Fashion Insiders for Months."

The quote reads: "breathless anticipation for the debut of their jewelry line has only mounted - and with good reason" from our First Look! post.

Why is this a big deal? Well, true Glamazon readers know that I, Coutura, have been obsessing, following, praising and critiquing Rachel Roy's work since the blog started back in 2008. (I adore Rachel Roy's fashions, seriously...it's really a hopeless addiction that costs me tons of money at sample sales).

That said, I'm so happy the great people at Rachel Roy read our blog, and shared our thoughts with the world! So unbelievably cool!

Now if only they could send over that gorgeous velvet skirt from Rachel's Fall collection (hey, a girl can dream!)

Kisses,

Coutura

FIRST LOOK! More Pics from Rachel Roy and Estelle's Jewelry Line

Yes, ladies. After months of waiting in anticipation (and a teaser pic of a flower ring), more pics have arrived of Rachel Roy's limited edition jewelry collection with singer, Estelle.


And the pieces are just as amazing as jewelry from Rachel Rachel Roy (her line for Macy's)...but this time, the jewels get an ubergirlie twist. The defining details? Purple and green crystals that jazz up hearts, angels, flowers and wings.


The verdict? A lot girlier than I'd expect from Rachel (after her edgy collection for Macy's) and Estelle, who loves pushing fashion boundaries. Yet the horn earrings and statement two-finger rings offer an edgy vibe while the "Feel Famous" necklace injects a dose of glamour. What do you think, Glamazons?

Shop the collection, which ranges from $32-$195 here.


Oh and though the new jewelry collection is sweet and innocent, Estelle's latest video and song, "Freak" is anything but. In the video, Estelle dances in blackface inside a flying crystal. Check it out below (it's totally my new summer workout song):



Kisses,


Coutura