Dec 19, 2012

Holiday Gift Ideas by Stila

'Tis the season! Christmas is right around the corner and there's no better present to give a beauty junkie  than a fabulous holiday palette by Stila.

Stila's Luxe Eye Shadow Palette ($45.00, Nordstrom) comes with six cream-to-powder eyeshadows and three matte shades.  The shades are perfect for a soft pearly or deep and dramatic smokey eye. The palette also comes with smudge-stick waterproof eyeliner in a versatile brown-purple hue. I love the range of colors in this palette and can't think of a better present to gift your loved ones this season! Happy holidays to you and yours!





Dec 4, 2012

The Guggenheim

Photo by A. Wagle

Kafe Leopold

Amazing, authentic Austrian cuisine from a truly charming, tasty, trendy Georgetown spot. Check out all the yummy food I encountered during my delicious day at Kafe Leopold.









Photo Shoot Makeup for Wild and Crazy Pearl and the Washington Post!

Photograph and makeup by Avantika Wagle

I recently caught up with my old friend from high school Emily Goodstein. Emily is truly one of the most creative and unique people I know and on the day we met she had asked me to do her makeup for a photo shoot. The Washington Post was interviewing her and doing a profile and spread in their magazine edition. The article focuses on millennial women in the work place and how different and more well rounded women's life and career balance is than in past generations. Emily is a Client Relations Manager at Blackbaud, a software supplier for nonprofit organizations. Not only is she a successful Manager in her tech-centric job, but she is also a photographer, blogger, social media maven, crafter and all around lover of life. 

Emily Goodstein photographed by Matt McClain for the Washington Post featured at her desk during the photo shoot for the profile on her career and life.
Photo by Watkins Hamlett
It was a pleasure to do her makeup for this special and amazing profile of her. Emily is warm, funny, intelligent and incredibly special. It was a delight to catch up with an old friend and see what amazing things they are doing. Check out the article here and follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wildandcrazypearl and check out her charming, quirky and always entertaining blog, Wild and Crazy Pearl here or at emilygoodstein.com. Emily wrote an honest, charming and fun post here about head shot how-to's. Check out the article and my shout-out here: http://www.wildandcrazypearl.com/2012/10/heashot-how-to.html.

As the amazing food blogger and photographer, Emily also photographed images for her first book written by Beth Kanter called the Washington D.C. Chef's Table. The pictures are mouth watering and beautiful and the book is a delight to read. Check out her amazing work and click here to purchase the book. It has incredible photos of artfully crafted dishes from all around the city and makes a great present for the holidays!








Oct 15, 2012

Makeup Trial-Deb H.

Did a makeup trial last week with my college friend Deb who is getting married next week in DC. So fun to see her after so long and catch up! She looked gorgeous as always. Loved how Old Hollywood glam she looked with the fluttery lashes and bold red lips. For this look we used a false eye lash strip and lots of neutral, shimmery champagne tones on the eyes with just a hint of light brown in the crease. We did a peach blush with some sparkle to highlight her cheekbones and added a raspberry red lip with lots of gloss to make her lips pop! Can't wait to share her wedding day look with all of you!


Happy Halloween from Sprinkles!

Yummy in my tummy! Delicious Halloween cupcakes from Sprinkles delivered to the office bright and early Monday morning! Just what we all needed.... Well apparently it was because they were devoured!  The cupcakes were soo divine and the frosting (which I'm very concerned about was light, sweet and fluffy. I approve! Great to be reminded how fun and festive Halloween is! So glad it's around the corner. Keep the yummy treats coming!! 



 
Flavors from left to right: Milk Chocolate (Belgian dark chocolate with fudgy milk chocolate cream cheese frosting), Red Velvet (light chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting), Black and White (Belgian dark chocolate with cream cheese frosting), and Caramel Apple (Spiced apple cake with Granny Smith apples topped with caramel cream cheese frosting).


Favorite Outfit of the Week!

How amazing does Kerri Russell look in this simple yet totally chic outfit? I am obsessed with the small yet significant details that make up this ensemble. I love the collar and subtle pleats of this well tailored shirt. I also adore the tiny slits on the bottom of her pants. Everything works! Russell is and always has been gorgeous, but in the beautiful creation she looks like a total movie star!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Oct 14, 2012

Best DC-Area Wedding Vendors: Retrospect Band


Photo by Retrospect Band
As a new bride, it's my moral obligation to share my post wedding knowledge with the masses and hopefully reassure or guide even just one bride-to-be down a stress-alleviating path when it comes to at least one or two different vendor options. No matter what, the planning process can be and usually is incredibly stressful and at times frustrating. There are so many options available these days and so much  time and emotional energy is put into finding the perfect fill-in-the-blank vendor who understands who you are, what you want, and of course, what you can afford. Unfortunately, there are always going to be vendors that end up making your life even more stressful and ultimately aren't on the same page or wavelength as you at all. 

With that said, there are and were a few vendors that truly made our wedding the best day ever and also made the process leading up to the big event as easy and calming as possible. These vendors not only delivered the highest quality work, but made it exciting and wonderful to plan with them along the way. 

One of the best and arguably most important vendors we had was our band. Retrospect Band, was one of the first vendors I booked and one of the easiest and quickest decisions I made. Hiring this band is a no-brainer. We had booked them for my sister's wedding five years ago and got to know Larry Elliot, their band leader during that process. Larry and the band always deliver and are always consistent in their work and style. They are extremely accommodating, professional, and talented. They also have an amazing sense of how to gauge a crowd and play music to suite the mood.

Photo by Retrospect Band
The nine-piece band plays a wide-range of songs across several genres and knows how to excite and energize young and older people alike. The band consists of one male and two female lead vocalists, a three-piece rhythm sections and three-piece horn section. The entire room was dancing all evening and at the end of the evening every guest was feverishly chanting to the band to play just one more song. They played a fantastic mix of pop, rock, and soul music. The vocals and acoustics were perfect and the band members had the crowd going wild when they came out and performed in the middle of the dance floor.

There are plenty of talented bands out there that know how to play great music but Retrospect takes it an important step further. They know how to play great music that always has a universally-appealing beat that's easy, effortless, and fun for everyone to dance to. They have a great ability to choose music that is not just popular but has a consistent beat. They also know how to create an energetic set list that doesn't feel repetitive or stuck in one genre. Larry is also a fantastic MC and knows how to guide the evening with purpose and confidence. He always knows the what to say and when to say it and really helped set and move the pace of the evening along. These are crucial elements that help make a large scale event run smoothly.

They are truly worth every penny and a sure bet. We have worked with them in the past and have seen them before at many other weddings and are never disappointed and always impressed. 

So, if you are a bride-to-be or know one, let them know about this amazing vendor choice. They will make your wedding unforgettable and endlessly fun. Best of all, you will enjoy working with them and enjoy the peace of mind you will feel after booking them. They will help you create a perfect reception timeline and deliver everything they promise.

Thank you again to Larry Elliot and Retrospect for helping to create such a memorable evening.

Check them out on their Facebook page to learn more.






Got Hitched!

Yup, it's official I'm a married lady and it truly was the happiest day of my life!

This little beauty buff and her prince charming got married last August in Washington, D.C. in front of family and friends. The ceremony was a little traditional, a little unconventional and a lot of fun. The groom looked dashing in a sleek, slim fitted tuxedo and the bride wore the most beautiful champagne-colored lengha she had ever seen. The evening was filled with dancing, joyful toasts and lots of spirited revelry! The bride's father even played the guitar with the band for the couple's first song. Delicious food, divine music, and a room full of amazing people made the night a fairy tale.   

So there you have it. Our wedding was everything I had hoped it would be and much much more!





Sep 9, 2012

Fall 2012 Fashion Trends-Vivienne Tam




Fall is here friends! With the new season upon us, it's time to switch up your summer wardrobe and get acquainted  with what's in this season.

I got the scoop on the hottest Fall 2012 shows from my sartorially gifted friend Nakima Benjamin. Benjamin is a New York based fashion stylist and creative consultant. She has a knack for describing the look and feel of the slinky clothes that saunter down the runway. Ms. Benjamin was on hand at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week  last season and lent me her expert eye while attending several fab. shows. Check out Nakima's reviews of Rachel Roy's Fall 2012 collection! 



This season Vivienne Tam's collection combined many noteworthy elements.  First, she used intensely rich colors such as burnt oranges and wine; the ombre coat shown in Look 1 is a perfect example.  Then, she often used layering to add visual interest and depth.  I really liked the skirt over pants looks even though it's a styling technique that isn't universally flattering.  I also loved her pairing of texture with texture and pattern with pattern.  Lastly, I appreciated that the hair was styled down and slicked back with intentionally (albeit slightly) frizzy ends.  All these elements came together to create a not-too-perfect-she's-come-undone look that made Tam's collection captivating. 


All Photos by Style.com

Fall 2012 Fashion Trends-Carlos Miele

Fall is here friends! With the new season upon us, it's time to switch up your summer wardrobe and get acquainted  with what's in this season.

I got the scoop on the hottest Fall 2012 shows from my sartorially gifted friend Nakima Benjamin. Benjamin is a New York based fashion stylist and creative consultant. She has a knack for describing the look and feel of the slinky clothes that saunter down the runway. Ms. Benjamin was on hand at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week  last season and lent me her expert eye while attending several fab. shows. Check out Nakima's reviews of Rachel Roy's Fall 2012 collection! 


Carlos Miele always puts on a fantastic show.  It's always fun, sexy, and energetic...just like his clothes.  This season there was a noticeable musicality to the show which helped enhance the clothes and added even more energy to each look.  Two DJs were mixing at the end of the runway and each girl had a great walk that matched the music perfectly.  On top of that, there was a bounce in the curls of each girl's long, glossy hair that synched to the music and made it seem as though they were dancing on their own.  Miele delivered his signature sexy dresses and gowns that celebrate the female form.  He never fails in that department.  However, I liked that this collection includes more separates, such as ponchos, blouson pants, boleros, and fur pieces.  Inspired by the culture of Southern Brazil and traditional gauchas, Miele taught us he's able to draw from history to make a wardrobe for the modern day woman.  There's no better lesson than that.


All photos from Style.com







Fall 2012 Fashion Trends Rachel Roy Fall 2012

Fall is here friends! With the new season upon us, it's time to switch up your summer wardrobe and get acquainted  with what's in this season.

I got the scoop on the hottest Fall 2012 shows from my sartorially gifted friend Nakima Benjamin. Benjamin is a New York based fashion stylist and creative consultant. She has a knack for describing the look and feel of the slinky clothes that saunter down the runway. Ms. Benjamin was on hand at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week  last season and lent me her expert eye while attending several fab. shows. Check out Nakima's reviews of Rachel Roy's Fall 2012 collection! 

RACHEL ROY
Clean.  Refined.  Sophisticated.  Three words synonymous with the clothing and accessories line by designer Rachel Roy.  I once had a colleague remark that Rachel Roy's samples are always very well-crafted and beautifully made.  That is not the least bit surprising.  You can tell that Roy cares about everything from the overall design down to the fabric and the stitching.  What I appreciate most about Roy is that she never skimps when it comes to fabrics.  She consistently chooses luxe fabrics and this collection made no exception.  Standout looks in the collection include the lemongrass monochromatic look and the tweed shift dress with embellishment at the bodice.  The family of purple looks ranging from eggplant to wine to orchid complemented each other perfectly and added a nice punch to the rest of the collection that was predominantly made up of moss and evergreen hues.

All photos from Style.com


Jun 30, 2012

Guest post: NYFW Fall 2012-Reem Acra

Nakima Benjamin is a New York based fashion stylist and creative consultant. She has a knack for describing the look and feel of the slinky clothes that saunter down the runway. Ms. Benjamin was on hand at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week and lent me her expert eye while attending several fab. shows. Check out Nakima's reviews of Reem Acra's Fall 2012 collection! 



The Reem Acra show was a delight.  Acra seamlessly delivered glamour, elegance, and chic in one collection.  I particularly loved the leather dresses shown in the beginning because they epitomize an unfussy, chic, and modern way of dressing.  The long, sleek, pin straight ponytail worn by each model was consistent with the theme.  Despite choosing a very limited color palette consisting mainly of neutrals (black, gunmetal, gray, brown, champagne), Acra kept the pieces interesting by using great textures.  There was lace and leather and bocle and silk charmeuse...oh my!  Acra is a smart woman because her texture-play prevented the collection from feeling boring and heavy.  The lace and leather look is a perfect example of the way in which texture can transform a potentially blah all-black look into something mesmerizing.  So, Acra had me at hello with the opening dresses and she managed to hold my attention the entire time.  Although, I must admit that I have a strong attraction to anything with sequins, glitter, sparkly embellishment or the like so it wasn't much of a challenge.  Even so, the dropped waist shift dresses, embellished mini dresses, and statement gowns made me wish it would never end and that I wouldn't have to say goodbye.








Photos from style.com


For further information on Nakima's fashion editorials and advertising campaigns and to view samples of her work, go to her website - www.nakimabenjamin.viewbook.com.