Runway To Real Life

Newport Beach’s style and beauty experts share how they’re taking Fall 2018 Fashion Week trends to Southern California streets.

Leopard

“I consider leopard a neutral,” says Mary Adams (@theeditbymary), a Newport Beach fashion stylist who shaped her career working for designers as Donna Karan, Pamela Dennis and Mark Eisen. “And it’s everywhere this fall—from coats to sweaters to footwear—and can be worn day and night.” For daytime, Mary pairs a leopard mohair blend sweater with black high-waisted L’Agence jeans (Nordstrom, Fashion Island) and a pair of black Alexander McQueen sneakers (Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island). Her nighttime look is a Veronica Beard leopard blazer with Acler black pants (Atelier 7918) and sky-high Zoe pumps from Yves St. Laurent (at Bloomingdales, Fashion Island).

 

 

Three more to try: Leopard-print Tiaret coat at Joie, Fashion island; Gioseppo Leopard Booties at Anthropologie, Fashion Island; Leopard Print Midi Skirt, at No Rest for Bridget

Floral

Reminiscent of the 1990s, the floral dress is everywhere—“and in every style and length,” says Newport Beach stylist Heather Snow, whose boho-meets-classic style also has a touch of masculine. She likes Ganni’s floral frocks (like the “Nolana,” at Nordstrom) worn under a slouchy menswear blazer and paired with cowboy boots (“also super in right now!”) or platform white sneakers (check out kicks by both Vince and Christian Louboutin at Neiman Marcus).

Three more to try: High-low floral Alithea B Dress at Joie; Ellamo Embroidered Kimono by Johnny Was at Fashion Island; Kunchen Olaya Dress by Roberta Roller Rabbit at Fashion Island

Checks

Fashion Week runways looked like the set of the 1995 flick “Clueless” as plaids and checks in different sizes and silhouettes strutted by. “A checked pant is a staple for fall,” says Mary. She squares off the look with Philip Lim Crosby 10 checked pants with a crisp white poplin shirt (Atelier 7918 or Laguna Supply, Corona del Mar). White booties or classic black suede Monolo pumps complete the ensemble (find both at Neiman Marcus). “A plaid oversize blazer is a must for me this season,” says Heather, and she’s not afraid to mix it up—layered over a dress, with a white tee and denim, or paired with a pencil skirt. Depending on her mood, she’ll slip on a classic Monolo heel or wild red cowboy boots (try Swellegant Vintage or burnscowboyshop.com)

Three more to try: Glenn Plaid Trousers at Anthropologie; Highland Park Pant by Trina Turk at Fashion Island; Classic Plaid Blazer at No Rest for Bridget

Wide-leg pants

This style makes a comeback in lots of colors this season, says Heather, and can look chic, sporty or fun. Tuck a white button-down into cropped denim wide-leg pants (like Cloth & Stone’s, at Anthropologie) for a classic approach, or go bold with Trina Turk’s wine Vivir pant and a cropped wide-arm pullover sweater in an equally vibrant color like red or orange. “With a wide-leg pant, shoes should be high, high, high—whether a platform sneaker, stiletto or boot,” says Heather.

Three more to try: Color-blocked Mara Hoffman Colette Pants at Anthropologie; Eric high-waist wide-leg pants in Ruby by Alice + Olivia at Bloomingdales; Wide-leg belted wool pants by Diane von Furstenberg at Neiman Marcus

Musical bags

This season’s cool styles will have you rotating your handbags on the regular. “Guitars straps are the biggest new trend for handbags,” says Mary. Brands like Fendi (Nordstrom) have designed straps with details like studs, leather daisies and snakeskin for a brilliant way to update a classic bag. Also rolling into style this season is the “lunchbag,” like Simon Miller’s Lunchbag Leather Roll Top clutch in red (Nordstrom). From classic black to blue suede, the fanny pack is back, says Heather, and can belt a flowy floral dress, or accessorize denim paired with a basic tee or cropped sweater. Also hanging around for yet another season is the bucket bag, carried by labels like Mansur Gavriel, Chloe and Saint Laurent (all at Neiman Marcus).

Three more to try: Modern Weaving Mini Die Cut Bordeaux Bucket Bag at Alchemy Works; Floral Leather Guitar Handbag Strap by Rebecca Minkoff at Bloomingdales; Moe Mini Vida leather fannypack/clutch by Rais Case, at www.raiscase.com

BEAUTY GOES DEEP

“Jewel tones are huge for fall,” says Michelle Blumerick, professional makeup artist at Cos Bar in Newport Beach. “And they’re surprisingly wearable for almost all skin tones.” Think deep plum, burgundy, bordeaux and other warm colors. “It’s a very rich and romantic color palette,” Michelle says.

Go bold with the eye or lip, but never both at the same time. For eyes, Michelle likes to sweep a velvety plum shadow over lids. “I blend a pigmented shadow like Tom Ford’s Eye Color Quad in Honeymoon over the entire eyelid, then dab a small highlight in the center of the lid to create dimension,” she says.

Fashion Week makeup artists also had a lot of fun with eyeliner, Michelle says. “It doesn’t have to be perfect—a sexy, smudged, slept-in look is easy to transition from day to night, with a few extra coats of mascara.” She picks a pencil that won’t budge after you blend it into the lash line, like Luster Glide Pencils. “My all-time favorite mascara to top off the look is Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noire Mascara,” she says.

A bold pout pairs best with a simple, lined eye and clean swipe of mascara. “We saw a ton of bordeaux and deep-toned lipsticks coming down the runway,” Michelle says. Her top pick this season is Chantecaille’s Matte Chic lip color in Dovima.

To make fall colors really pop, start with a glowing complexion and well-groomed brows. “Keeping your skin hydrated and healthy will make everything else look that much more seamless and radiant,” Michelle says. She applies a serum with hyaluronic acid to seal in moisture and recommends a primer for very oil skin. “It’ll help your makeup stay fresh for eight to ten hours.”

Base (foundation) is a personal preference. “However, concealer is a must,” says Michelle, who prefers the consistency of Cle de Peau concealer. “Always apply it with a brush, blending around the nose and under the eyes to even out skin tone. My favorite trick is to dab it into the corners of the eye for a bright awake look.”

Another must in Southern California is bronzer—if you want to “fake a little sun year-round,” says Michelle. In winter, avoid shimmery powders and opt for one that’s matte. “You want it to just warm up the skin and give a healthy glow,” she says. “It’s also a great base for your other makeup. With a fluffy Kabuki Brush, she dusts Laura Mercier’s Matte Radiance Baked Powder on “all the high points of the face where the sun naturally hits—the bridge of the nose, forehead, and high points of the cheeks.”

For a natural look, tame brows with a clear gel like Browfood Brow Enhancing Gelfix (at Bluemercury, Newport Beach). For more intensity, use a tinted gel that closely matches hair color.

And for a completely polished look, don’t neglect your digits. Lauren B. (available at Planet Beauty, Newport Beach) nontoxic nail polishes come in shades like Polynesian Plumeria and Laurel Canyon Lover that perfectly complement this season’s cool warm palettes. And since open-toe shoes never go out of season here, you’ll always be one step ahead of the trends.

Three more to try: 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Love Drug, at Urban Decay; Stila Color Balm Lipstick in Aubrey, at Ulta Beauty; NARS blush in Seduction, at Neiman Marcus

FALL’S BEST TRESSED

“The No. 1 trend I saw at this year’s shows was natural hair—wavy, curly, wild hair,” says Louis Orozco, owner of Madison Salon in Newport Beach and stylist for 13 different designer shows at Fashion Week. “At Nicole Miller, we even saw big, curly, 80s hair, reminiscent of the perm,” he says (hint hint). If your natural texture has some personality to it, here’s how to tame it just the right amount.

“Start with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner,” says Louis, who uses Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner for Moisture and Control (available at his salon and Bluemercury). Comb wet hair into four sections, either with fingers or a Wet Brush (CVS), then apply a product suited for your hair type. “Curl Gloss works well on fine hair, while those with thicker, more unruly girls will want to use Curl Control Silkening Crème,” Louis says. Spread product evenly through each section, then dry with a diffuser or let it air-dry.

“The No. 2 trend was hair accessories like we haven’t seen in a while—headwraps, bandanas, hair jewelry, you name it,” Louis says. To get the look, let hair hang loose behind a thick headwrap or scarf, or incorporate one into an up-’do. “Gather hair into a ponytail and then simply tie a scarf around it,” Louis says. “Or, throw hair into a topknot and wrap the entire knot under a scarf.”

Three to try: Hellenic Wrap Headband, at Anthropologie; Tory Burch Picnic Box Silk Head Wrap, at Nordstrom; Wild Poppies Hand-Painted Headband by Epona Valley, at Neiman Marcus

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Written By: Ashley Breeding