Designer Spotlight: Aria Frances

A couple weeks ago I had the honor of attending Marcelle Benedicte's annual charitable event. This year, the theme was "Stripes & Pins" - sending us into a  mobster casino venue at the St Brigid's Centre for the Arts. Alongside the delicious food and great entertainment, local designers showcased their latest looks. One designer that really stood out to me was Aria Frances. Their looks were stunning. Great detail, fantastic materials and pieces that I would die to have the chance to wear. They really to a fantastic job at blending punk rock with feminine details seamlessly. 

Here are my favorite looks of the night:

This caged top is so fun and versatile - the possibilities are endless.
Photo by Marc Dumontier

I am in love with his dainty top. It could also go so well with so many things.
Photo by Marc Dumontier

The purple and black combination is beautiful. This dress has such an elegant flow to it when the model walks.
Photo by Marc Dumontier

The lineup
Photo by Marc Dumontier

I definitely cannot wait to see what's in store next!

Aria Frances

http://www.ariafrances.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ariafranceselements

http://ariafrances.tumblr.com/

The Hottest Hair Trends for Spring 2014

The catwalks have spoken and it is GREAT news for us lazy girls. The trending styles for spring 2014 involve loose waves, low-key up-dos and sporty head-pieces. I don't know about you, but I'm all for effortless style.

Here's a recap of the most coveted hairstyles to pair with your spring pastels and orange lipstick:

Mermaid Waves

We all know this look isn't new to the fashion world, but loose waves are a timeless classic that work well with all face shapes which is why they appear on the runways again and again. This looks even better on the 2nd day - just rub in some dry shampoo and away you go! Perfect for busy mornings when time slips away on you.

Messy Braids

Another versatile look - this works at the office and at the gym. Especially good for one of those ever-so-often bad hair days. Glossy or matte, the key is to keep it messy. Spray some dry shampoo in your hair before styling to give your hair some hold and tease away! I'd recommend using Blax snag-free hair elastics.

Sleeked Back

Yet another handy look for day-old hair. If you're brave enough, this style works as a great contrast to feminine outfits and girly make-up by adding a fun edgy vibe. Use a soft wax on your roots and work with a deep side part or go all-out sleeked back.

The Low Pony

This is probably my favorite style of the bunch. The low pony can work well everywhere and is absolutely fuss-free. Make sure your hair is pin straight and wear with a fun hair-cuff to conceal your hair elastic. Also, make sure to use a great serum to keep hair shiny and sleek.

Accessories

Speaking of hair cuffs, designers were all about jazzing up hairstyles with head bands, cuffs, flowers and ribbons. It is all about bringing your own personality to it so be creative! Bows were paired with braids, headbands with the low pony and the flowers worked beautifully with loose up-dos.

The New Pixie

Something I wish I was brave enough to rock - blunt cuts peppered the runways and looked uber chic. Bobs have been a hit on the runways since the early 2000s but gone are the days of soft, wispy cuts. This year is all about going short and blunt with vibrant hues. You can always try this look out with a wig for a few days to get a feel for it, but if you are aching for a major style change this is definitely a fun place to start.

In for Spring - Makeup Edition

Now that spring weather is finally here in Ottawa (hallelujah), I can finally stow away my dull winter hues and dust off some fresh new colors for Spring. Being the makeup junkie that I am, I've perused the S/S2014 catwalks for some inspiring new trends to rock this season. Consistent theme here - brights and pastels done in such a way as to not look like Mimi from the Drew Carey Show.

Bright Lips

The bright orange lip trend has resurfaced and I couldn't be more excited! The bold hue brings a much needed pop to the in-trend sporty look that everybody will be rocking. I find that Yves Saint Laurent makes the best lipstick for bold colors like this. Their Rouge Volupté line comes on sheer, so you can control how bold you want to be. On the lower end of the spectrum, Rimmel just came out with a line of lipsticks by Kate Moss which includes an awesome orange hue.

Graphic Eyeliner

Sharpen your pencils, ladies. This is a trend I've already started to see people rocking. It is such a fun way to add some je ne sais quoi to your look. It will take some practice (for me at least) but you can really play up your eyes here with the addition of some strategic lines. I would recommend a felt tip liner for the most precise application. Try the one from Marc Jacobs' new line, the Magic Marc'er Precision Pen. It is my new favorite thing in the world.

Blue Eyes

The Spring/Summer catwalk definitely had the blues - models for almost every designer rocked a blue hue on their lids. This is great news for us brown-eyed girls. Blue naturally brings out brown tones, making your peepers really pop. The key to avoiding the dreaded Mimi look is to keep the rest of the face rather subdued, and to really blend the shadow properly. The cult favorite Naked Palette from Urban Decay features a set of lovely blues that works with virtually any skin tone.

Bold Brows

Probably the most important of them all - bold brows are an absolute MUST this season. Thicker, more defined brows really work wonders by framing your eyes and lifting your cheekbones. Gone are the days of the pencil-thin brows that MTV started in the early '00s. I love the Brow Zings kit from Benefit. It comes with all the tools needed for perfectly groomed strong brows, and the right hues to avoid looking like you have a couple caterpillars sleeping on your forehead.

Tune in later for a recap on the hot hairstyles featured on the runways for spring. What I'm most excited about are the low-key, loose styles that are going to be on-trend. I am not very skilled in the hair department so the simpler the better for me!