Spring/Summer 2012 Hair Trends

Hey everyone!
So Spring is finally here and Summer is (slowly) on its way. And what better way to celebrate then by telling you all about the hairstyles you'll be seeing everywhere! The hair trends this season are super edgy and over-the-top but you can deffinitely find a way to make them work for you. Let me show you how you can recreate my favorites in your everyday life.

The Wet Look

Yes yes I know..you're all cringing at this. But this is totally in style this season and believe it or not you CAN rock it in everyday life! It's super easy to pull off on your own (not much expertise required here) and looks totally cute for a hot summer day. Not to mention the amount of work it would take out of styling your hair. I actually love the way they show you how to recreate this look in the April 2012 issue of Seventeen magazine. One of my favorite youtube beauty gurus, Macbarbie07, shows you on p.80 how to easily pull off this look with gel and a comb. I love it! Honestly I was not a big fan of this trend at first but I am totally digging it now. Slicked back is the way to go this season!

Dip-Dyed and Bright, Bold Color

Crazy colors are still going strong! I have to admit I don't think I will be trying this look out personally (I'm an actress and have to keep my hair a natural color) but that doesn't mean I woulden't want to! There are ways you can get around this to without permanently dying your hair a wild color. For example, there's this product called the KevinMurphy ColorBug which offers a few different colors and you literally just slap it onto your hair like chalk. It gives you a funky color during the day and you can wash it off at night! It would look totally cute from the middle of your hair down to your ends. Don't do anything permanent that you will regret once this trend DYES out (hahaha pun intended)!

The Perfect Center Part

The center part is back from the 70s in a big way! For so long we were all rocking side parts and other edgy variations but the precise middle part is back. I am really loving this trend because I think it looks so clean and sophisticated. Its a nice change from what we see on everyone these days!

Funky Retro Hair

Precise controlled retro waves were crazy big on the runways for Spring/Summer and I love it! I've always wanted to do something totally retro with my hair and now I have the excuse to do it. Hugely teased bouffants were also everywhere and I think that it is a little easier to do then the retro waves. Love love love this trend!

Braids, Braids and More Braids!

Braids are deffinitely huge right now (in case you haven't already noticed!). I especially noticed alot of braided updos on the runway but there were also some very intricate ponytails done with braids. This is the perfect trend for everyone because it is easy to do and you can have so much fun with it. I really love the big braid going across the front of the hair right above the forehead (the sort of halo-braid updo shown on the first picture). I will for sure be rocking this on lazy beach days and fun roadtrips!

So what's your favorite hair trend for Spring and Summer?

Tweet me @canadianbeautyg and let me know!

xox

- Gen

My favorite fashionable follows

Hey guys!
So twitter is HUGE in the social media world and there are some amazing people and brands on there that I love! Some magazines post pictures and tips right from the runway, designers post their thoughts and inspirations, etc.
Twitter is a great place to get stylish inspiration and I am addicted to it!
So today I thought I would show you my favorite fashion people/brands to follow!
Happy tweeting!!

Flare Magazine (@FLAREfashion)
I love their tweets! They are constantly posting pictures straight from the runway and I'm addicted to them. They recently posted a ton of twitpics from the various fashion weeks such as this one of the Giambattista Valli finale at Paris Fashion Week: https://twitter.com/#!/FLAREfashion/status/176672794963214336/photo/1. I love the magazine itself and their twitter deffinitely reflects it perfectly. They are one of my favorite magazine tweeters.

Refinery 29 (@refinery29)
Refinery 29 is one of my favorite fashion websites and their twitter is just as great. They post links to all their new posts which is great cause you don't have to keep on checking their website! I love this recent post of theirs on what to wear in the spring of 2012: http://www.refinery29.com/spring-shopping-essentials. I love their pictures of street style and how they post pictures on all the latest must-have items on their twitter. They also post recent deals for shopping and a lot more fun stuff!

FashionWeekNYC (@fashionweeknyc)
I really like this one because it posts all the latest runway shows that you can watch through live-streaming online. I also really like the fun inspirational quotes that are always tweeted. And, of course, the live updates during fashion week are the best! I am constantly re-tweeting their tweets!!

Models.com (@models)
I love this one because it keeps you up-to-date on all the latest runway shows, campaigns, and all of the lovely models walking and posing within them. This is a great one for live fashion show updates too!

Fashionista.com (@fashionista_com)
This one is exactly what it says in its description: "All the fashion news you need to know...and fast." Constant updates on what is new in the world of fashion on literally every subject you could possibly imagine! Love this one.

Allure Magazine (@allure_magazine)
I especially love that this magazine is focused on beauty and the products that go along with it. Their twitter reflects this because they are constantly talking about various makeup looks at runway shows, new products out on the market, tips and tricks when it comes to doing your makeup, etc. They are always updating and I love the articles that they link you to on their website. I love this recent post on 32 hair ideas for 2012: http://www.allure.com/hair-ideas/2012/32-hair-ideas-for-2012/

Elle Canada (@elle_canada) and Fashion Magazine (@FashionCanada)
I love that these are both CANADIAN magazine so they update you on things actually available here where you live! They also mention Canadian designers and models and talk about the fashion weeks within Canada as well as elsewhere. Both have great articles on their websites that they link to and give you up-to-date fashion news.

CelebrityStyleGuide (@celebstyleguide)
I really like this one because it posts pictures of what all the celebrities are wearing and whats on trend at the moment. They also write about fashion news and post fun little tidbits about celebrities (and what they are wearing of course!). Always some fun stuff coming from this tweeter.

Vogue (@voguemagazine)
Also known as the fashion bible and their twittter is no exception. Love all the high-end fashion tweets regarding fashion shows and the best dressed celebrities. Vogue is always on top of their game and always tweets the best of the best. This is one account you HAVE to follow!

Tone It Up (@toneitup)
These two ladies have amazing fitness and health tips! They have incredible youtube videos that give you the latest workouts and tips. They are constantly tweeting about staying in shape and are two very fashionable young ladies! One of my favorite follows.

Man Repeller (@manrepeller)
This is an awesome fashion site that posts some pretty stylish tweets! I love their website and their tweets are hilarious. They have great street style posts and some good tips as well as some fun fashion news.


There are so many others that I love but these are the ones that are my favorites!
So what are your favorite fashionable tweeters?
Let me know at genfaveblogger@hotmail.com or tweet me!
Don't forget to follow me on twitter @canadianbeautyg!
Tweet ya later!
xo Gen

Oscars 2012 Fashion!

Hello everyone,
I'm sorry that it's been forever but this blogger has been crazy busy! I have 3 exciting posts planned for this week though so lots of fun coming your way. I promise I haven't disappeared! I love blogging and I have developped a schedule now so that I can post more often.
That being said, the oscars were last night and the fashion was hot!
The stars always look their best for this huge awards show and this year was no exception.
I know you're dying to know what my top picks were for the night so here they are!!!

Gwyneth Paltrow

Oh my god...this look absolutely took my breath away. How stunning did she look in the gorgeous white Tom Ford gown?! I am in love with the long white cape and her simple yet dazzling cuff bracelet and ring.  Her hair was sleek and her makeup was simple yet perfectly feminine. Rosy cheeks and lips with a little bit of eyeliner go a long way! I love the shape of the dress and the way it hugged her curves in all the right places. Paltrow was deffinitely the one that stood out last night and I think all of us bloggers have agreed on this. Her look was soft and feminine and absolutely flawless.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina looked like a true red carpet star in this simple yet sexy Atelier Versace gown. The red lips are classic and I love her messy blowout. I like that the gown has that unexpected slit in the leg and I love the detail at the bust. This gown was fairly simple yet on Angelina it looks astounding. She pulled it off perfectly (even if it was a kind of usual black dress for her).

Michelle Williams

Michelle looked so cute yet sophisticated with this look. Love the puplum detailing and the cute clutch. I also love the cute train of the dress and the peplum detailing. This coral dress looked stunning against her fair skin and deffinitely brightened up the red carpet! Love it!

Jessica Chastain

In love with this Alexander Mcqueen number! Although I haven't seen it really be mentioned much in the fashion recaps, this is one of my favorites (Although, let's admit, I am slightly biased when it comes to gold and sequins!). Her hair and makeup didn't really stand out at all for me but she still looked breathtaking in this gown. I love the gorgeous detailed train of the dress and the beautiful hourglass shape that this dress gives her. The gold detailing is to die for and it is deffinitely what makes this an oscar-worthy dress.

Octavia Spencer

How glamorous does this super talented actress look?! The accesories were simple because all the focus was on this beautiful gown. It deffinitely suits her body type and I love how it comes together at the waist. Although it was another white dress, the sparkly sequins made the dress shine and it really reflected her personality and style. She totally deserves all the recognition she is getting!

Glenn Close

The color of this dress looked incredible on her! Such a beautiful forest green and deffinitely an unexpected choice compared to all the other gowns we were seeing. The color is beautiful and I love the jacket. So sophisticated and perfect for a woman her age. I also loved the bottom of the dress! So beautiful and so put together.

Stacy Keibler

What a glamorous dress! George Clooney is one lucky man because his girlfriend's look was to die for and certainly red-carpet worthy. I love the classic wavy one-shoulder hair and the glowy look of her skin. The gold tone of the dress is beautiful and yet it did not seem overpowering to me which I love. i love the one strap on the dress that looked beautiful draped across her shoulder. The dress has so much ruching and detail that you cannot help but love this dress. A plain dress with this color woulden't have been nice but this deffinitely does the trick! In love with her glamorous and bold look.

Other favorites included Rose Byrne, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Cameron Diaz and Emma Stone but they didn't quite make my absolute favorites! Deffinitely look up their outfits though if you missed them because all of these ladies looked beautiful.

See you at the next awards show! You know I always recap the outfits at them!

xox

- Gen

P.S Your fave blogger is nominated for "Ottawa's Most Fashionable" in the Faces Magazine 2012 SIG Awards! It would mean the world to me if you went and voted for me as of March 1st! You can vote at http://www.facesmagazine.ca/ottawa/awards. Thanks so much for all your love and support and thank you to all of you that nominated me!!!



My Top 5 Grammy Outfits

Hello hello!
So the 54th Grammy Awards recently happened and there were deffinitely some amazing outfits worn by celebs on the red carpet. I know you're all dying to hear my favorites so here they are!

My Top 5

ADELE

Oh my god. She looked terrific. This dress deffinitely flattered her curvy shape and looked stunning for the occasion. I love the hair and the makeup as well! Beautiful juicy red lips with bold black liner are classic and look so nice against her fair skin.

PARIS HILTON

eHonestly I am very suprised that her ensemble hasen't been mentioned much in other bloggers' Grammys fashion recaps. I think this dress is stunning. Revealing yet subtle with the lace and i love the gorgeous flow of the dress at the bottom. Also, I love how the belt really accentuates her waist and adds a metal pop to the feminine gown. Paris Hilton's outfit was one of my faves!

CARRIE UNDERWOOD

White was deffinitely a color that I noticed going around alot but Carrie Underwood pulled it off flawlessly. I love the crystal detailing of the dres and the curve-hugging silhouette of it. I love the subtle earrings and how she didn't add much jewelry to an already dazzling outfit. Her hair was up in a pretty effortless updo which I thought worked really well with the sophisticated dress since it was already formal enough. The black clutch is subtle but adds a cool edgyness to her outfit.

TAYLOR SWIFT

This dress is so unique and has some incredible detail to it! Reminds me of a kimono. Beautiful train and I love the way it goes around her neck. It had a slight opening right above the chest without being too revealing. I thought this was beautiful on Swift's fair skin and slim shape.

FERGIE

I find people are really loving or hating this one...and I am deffinitely one of the lovers! I love how Fergie just went for it and really rocked it! This is a unique Jean Paul Gaulthier gown that really stood out and Fergie pulled it off beautifully. I love the lace and of course the bright bold orange. I like that she chose to pair it with gold accesories that flatter the orange nicely. She looks so sophisticated despite the craziness of the dress which is what I loved so much about it all.

I was also a big fan of Katy Perry, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Rihanna's outfits I just don't think they make it into my top 5.

Oh and can I just say...what in the world was Nicki Minaj thinking?!

That outfit was crazy but not in a good way. The only one that can pull off an outfit that extreme is Lady Gaga and that is my firm belief.

Thanks for reading guys!

Stay Tuned for more fun posts like this one coming your way.

xo

- Gen



My favorite NYC stores PART 1

Hey guys!
So I recently took a little January trip to NYC and I went to some really great stores. New York City is amazing for shopping and I swear it has every store you could possibly imagine! Since there were so many great stores, I had to try and narrow it down. That is why this will be in two parts. I just couldent choose a few! So here are some of my top stores to check out on your next trip to the big apple.

Century 21



Everyone told me to go check this one out! Everytime I'd ask people for recommendations for fashion shops to check out this is the first one that people said. It is a huge department store that is close to Ground Zero. It is so big and I swear it had every brand you could possibly imagine at a great price. There's something there for everyone. It's kind of like a Winners but 10x better! I promise you will love this store. The only thing I recommend is planning to be there for a long time because it is very crowded and you do need to search through a ton of racks to find stuff. Deffinitely check this one out!

Bookmarc

Yes that's rights, Marc Jacobs has his own book store! This is such a cute little store with all kinds of affortable and cute Marc Jacobs knicknacks (Think Marc Jacobs notebooks and pens!) and an amazing array of fashion and art-inspired books. This is such a cute store and I really think everyone would enjoy it.

Betsey Johnson

If you're into anything girly then you will absolutely love any of the Betsey Johnson shops! Her clothes are deffinitely affortable when it comes to designer duds and they really are the epitomy of femininity. Her dresses are the most popular thing you will find there but I deffinitely recommend checking out the super cute bags and jewelry to add that final touch to any outfit. Betsey Johnson is a must-see for any shopper in New York.

Victoria's Secret
(Herald Square location!)

This is the best Victoria's Secret I have ever been in. It is gigantic and has everything you could possibly want in stock. Although it is usually crowded and hard to get through, it has a ton of merchandise and some really friendly employees. I deffinitely recommend checking out their swimsuits. They are the best ones you could find and this store offers the largest selection. Also, I'm a sucker for their pink line because it is comfortable (but still cute!) and made well. And of course you have to check out their famous bras which offer a variety of styles and sizes. They have the most comfortable bras ever.

Macy's

This one is a given and it's right beside Victoria's Secret Herald Square! This store is filled with designer clothes as well as more affortable options. They're got everything from shoes to bags to makeup. They have it all! It's the ultimate destination in NYC and I swear you won't regret checking it out. Keep your eyes peeled for the great deals and the sale racks throughout this gigantic store. I found a gorgeous emerald-colored designer shirt for only 20$ on a reduced rack!

Topshop

Topshop is a trendy retailer from the UK that recently opened it's doors in the US as well as in Toronto! It's got high-end quality clothes at rather resonable prices and you can find everything trendy there. It's even got a Topman, which is just for guys and features some amazing pieces for the guy looking to get his style on. I love how clean and pretty the store is. Everything is so chic and makes you feel like you are truly shopping designer. I love the clothes here and you will too!

There are also a ton of incredible vintage shops in NYC. I deffinitely recommend checking those out because you will be amazed at what you can find there. Unique pieces that no one else will have! NYC is the best place to vintage shop.

Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed his and stick around for PART 2 which will feature some more of my favorites!!

xox

- Gen

Best Dressed at the Golden Globes

Hey everyone!
So the 2012 Golden Globe Awards recently aired on television and I have to say that there were some amazing fashion choices made by many of the top celebrities. Major trends on the red carpet included bold colors and patterns, nude dresses, metallic, and mermaid dresses. These are the ones that I noticed the most while watching it.
So without further ado, let's go over my top choices for style at this year's awards!

Reese Witherspoon

Wow is all I have to say. Reese Witherspoon looked effortlessly flawless in this beautiful red Zac Posen gown. The strapless style really flattered her figure and I loved the bold red color in comparison to all the nude colors that were constantly coming up on the red carpet. Her hair was so perfectly beachy and undone. I absolutely loved it. She had minimal makeup on but still seemed to have this beautiful bronze glow about her. Deffinitely a 5 star look in my book! This look suited her perfectly.

Sofia Vergara

My favorite take of the night on the mermaid dress trend! This dress is stunning and looked great against her pretty tan skin and long straight hair. I love the navy color and the beautiful detail at the bottom of the dress. The fabric is beautiful and gives off such a rich texture. Vera Wang never ceases to amaze me! The dress suited Sofia's curvy shape beautifully.

Nicole Richie

I have admired Nicole Richie's style for a while now and this gorgeous gown is no exception. I loved her hair and makeup with this outfit. Her half-up half-down hair is so pretty with full bangs. I also loved the little clutch from House of Harlow that she was carrying; it went perfectly with the dress without overpowering it. This dress is the perfect take on the metallic trend and I love it! Call me predictable but I was in love with this sequin-y metallic number.

Angelina Jolie

She looked so glamorous that I just had to add her to my best dressed list! I love the chic red lips and pulled back hair. The gown is form fitting and has a nice flow to it at the same time. I love the red detailing as well as the clutch she wore to go along with it. The silky material makes her look glamorous and very chic.

Claire Danes

What appeared to be a simple clean cut dress deffinitely wasen't. When Claire Danes turned around I gasped. I absolutely adored the back of her J. Mendel dress and the detailing on the shoulders of it. Her hair looked beautiful in a simple updo. She certainly made clean cut look good. Loving it!

Charlize Theron

Talk about rocking the Dior! I love the crazy detail on this dress. The low v-cut is classy and gives her a beautiful feminine look without looking like too much skin is showing. I loved the giant ribbon coming down from the waist and the slit at her leg which flowed eloquently off to the side in a gorgeous train. The shoes were pretty simple but that's really what you need with this statement making dress. Headbands were deffinitely a trend I noticed a lot on the red carpet and she manages to pull it off effortlessly with such a formal gown!

Ella Macpherson

Beautiful glowing skin seemed to be a huge thing on the red carpet and Ella Macpherson was deffinitely sporting it! I love her effortless bombshell blowout as far as her hair goes and her dress was just as eye catching. The ruffles are beautiful and I love the many layers that the dress has. The detailing on the bust is eye catching and this mermaid style really suited her. Loved the accessories as well!

Emma Stone

This girl certainly knows how to dress. She has had an amazing year of fashion and this dress to ring in the new year is proof that this year will be no different. I love the plum color and the cut of the shoulders on this gown. The color suits her fair complexion and hair so well. Her makeup was a little bold for my taste and I did not really like the way she did it in relation to the dress she was wearing (however that's the only negative comment I have to make!). The dress looks flawless on her and Emma Stone is deffinitely a style star of this generation.

A few other notable mentions:

Evan Rachel Wood
(Although I'm not a huge fan of the halter neck, this dress is breathtaking. So much detail!)

Kate Beckingsale
(Simple and classic, this dress is the perfect red carpet number!)

Jessica Alba
(I LOVE LOVE LOVE this dress!)

Salma Hayek

(Loving all the detail and pattern on the dress!)

Sarah Hyland

(Despite a wardrobe malfunction, this dress really stunned! Love the texture and the beautiful lace waist)

Lea Michele

(Sequins...need I say more? Although this dress is really revealing, I think she pulled it off really well and I have to admit that I am completely in love with all that metallic detailing around the bust and the waist)

As always, with the fabulous and the beautiful comes the not so great outfit choices. Here are a few of the celebrities who's outfit choices made me cringe a little. These guys are at the top of my list as far as worst dressed goes:

Zooey Deschanel, Natalie Portman (suprisingly!), Madonna, Jodie Foster, Amanda Peet, Kelly Osborne, and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Sorry ladies, but you all get a thumbs down in this blogger's books!

So what was your favorite look from The Golden Globes?
Which lady had the most beautiful gown?
What was your favorite hair and makeup look?
Let me know at genfaveblogger@hotmail.com
Love hearing from you guys!

xox

- Gen