Mad Men Returns to Banana Republic

Due to the overwhelming response Banana Republic got from their fall 2011 Mad Men collection, they’re rolling out another round of spring clothes inspired by the TV show. Although you can’t actually be Mrs. Don Draper (darn!), you can feel like Betty (and Joan and Peggy) in the retro, ’60s-cool clothes from this limited-edition collection. In addition to the feminine cuts and prints of the women’s clothes, I adore the styling in these promotional photographs. They really do feel like they were snapped in between takes on the MM set.

Click through to see more photos, release date, and price details.

Spring’s Bold Eye

Pastels and soft colors are great for spring, but one trend seen on the spring runways goes in the complete opposite direction. The smoky eye is back and bolder than ever (like on the model on the left in the photo above). Great for evenings, this eye takes a classic and turns it edgy, with the volume pumped way up.

Not for the faint of heart, this eye look is dramatic and striking. And since it’s so intense, eye primer is a must to keep it from sliding south and smearing all over your cheeks. A few I like: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($20), Benefit Stay! Don’t Stray ($26), Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($18), and MAC Paint Pot ($17.50) in any nude hue that matches your skin tone. I don’t recommend using Blackground, MAC’s black shade of Paint Pot, for this look, because you want the primer to be invisible. In case the makeup slips, you want a nude base underneath, so forgo adding another black layer with this primer.

Read on for more tips on how to recreate this super-smoky eye.

Beauty at the 2012 Academy Awards

Let’s get right into the best of the red carpet at last night’s Oscars…

Image via RCFA
Michelle Williams: Things I love about Michelle Williams: 1) She’s not only brave enough to rock a platinum blonde pixie cut, but she pulls it off effortlessly. 2) She has the guts to wear pink lipstick and carry a pink clutch with a coral Louis Vuitton gown. Everything about this screams daring, and I can’t get enough of it! Oh, and her skin? Glowing. Love it all, from head to toe.

Image via Celebuzz.com
Natalie Portman: She looked amazing because her makeup was classically beautiful. Elegant and sophisticated, she wasn’t over the top; she just looked like the best version of herself (which is the entire point of makeup). I’m dying over that lipcolor, which is so perfect against her skin. And the dress? Loved it! There’s something so chic and unexpected about polka dots at the Oscars.

Image credit: Frazier Harrison/Getty Images via ABC News
Meryl Streep: Let’s be honest: Meryl Streep could’ve arrived at the Oscars with a bag over her head and people still would’ve gone crazy for her cause she’s that good. And last night, her makeup matched her reputation. Her skin was absolutely radiant, and everything else was just so subtle and tasteful. Meryl even gave her makeup artist/hairstylist a shout-out in her acceptance speech…she must have been quite pleased with the results, too!

Image via Celebuzz.com
Jessica Chastain: Talk about playing up your assets and knowing what works for you! Jessica Chastain’s makeup looks like it was completely coordinated around her skin tone and hair color. The effect is wildly flattering, striking, and downright gorgeous. Everything about her from the neck up (and I say that because I wasn’t crazy about the gown) was ridiculously on point, from her flawless, creamy skin and soft, sophisticated eyes to her romantic loose waves and to-die-for lipcolor.

Image via Zimbio
Jennifer Lopez: While I wasn’t crazy about the tight topknot she sported, J.Lo’s makeup was great–as usual. Her skin glowed, her eyes smoldered in a subtle way, and of course, she rocked an amazing nude lip.

Image via National Confidential
Stacy Keibler: You know when you show up to Hollywood’s biggest night on the arm of George Clooney, you’ve gotta bring it. And what better way than to look like an actual Oscar? I thought Stacy nailed this head-to-toe gold look. Her gilded makeup, bronzed skin, and Old Hollywood finger waves complemented her shimming gold gown beautifully.

What were your favorite looks at the Oscars?

Estee Lauder x Mad Men

Just like everybody else on the planet, I love love love Mad Men. Love it. I wish I was married to Don Draper (despite the unabashed affairs, constant boozing, and the whole lying-about-his-identity thing). Jon Hamm as DD is quite possibly the best TV character ever. I can’t wait until the new season premieres on March 25!

The show has inspired cocktails, fashion lines, retro hairstyles, the return of the classically-dressed man, and the resurgence of ’60s style on the street (complete with a limited edition MM line by Banana Republic). But a MAD MEN beauty collection?! I can’t even handle this.

The Big Bang Theory

Image via Pinterest

Bangs are everywhere! And yes, I’m biased because I recently got some trimmed into my hair (again). Almost all my life, I’ve had some iteration of bangs — starting with the short ‘do and forehead-skimming thick bangs during my toddler years, the scary ’80s teased bangs of my childhood, and the half-teased, half-wispy ones I sported during my early high school years. I eventually progressed into a more sophisticated style, with sideswept bangs of varying lengths, and now full, blunt bangs for the second time in as many years. The only time I didn’t have some sort of a bang was in college, when I was too fed up with spending forever trying to tame them. But I never felt totally comfortable without them; I think my (very round) face just looks better with bangs.

This is one trend that will be sticking around for quite some time; it may change shape, but any way you look at it, bangs will always be a part of American hair styles.

If you considering taking the plunge, go for a style you feel comfortable with and that fits your lifestyle. For example, if you’re a wash-and-go girl, bangs may not be best for you. I pulled together an inspiration gallery (after the jump) to get your ideas flowing!

Resources for Bangs

• If you already have them but are stumped on how to style them, check out this great illustrated tutorial from The Beauty Department.
• If you can’t make a trip to the salon, you can snip your own bangs at home without it ending in disaster. Check out this Instyle video with celeb stylist Ted Gibson and this video with Heidi Klum & her pro stylist Eric Gabriel for step-by-step instructions on trimming your own fringe.

And now, onto the photos….

MAC Spring ’12: Vera

MAC used the instantly-recognizable style of the late textile designer Vera Neumann as inspiration for their spring 2012 collection. Vera is a limited-edition round-up of makeup bursting with color. The cheery hues were translated from her signature designs, making your face the canvas for the next great work of art.

All items LE, though several are repromotes.

Crushed Metallic Pigments ($34): 4 stackable jars of crushed metal let you sculpt a complimentary eye look, or just add a bit of flash. (These look amazing when dabbed on the center of the eyelid; they make your eyes look bigger.)
Aloha shades (from top): Lantern Light, Campfire, Shifting Sands, Aloha.
Butterfly Party shades (from top): Butterfly Party, Desert Cloud, Rain Drop, Moss Garden.
Strawberry Patch shades (from top): Star Crystal, Rose Light, Moon Rose, Strawberry Patch.

Plushglass ($18) subtly plumps limps with a trace of vanilla flavor. From left: Pretty Plush, Fashion Fanatic, Confetti, On a Holiday, Butterfly Dream.

Pearlmatte Face Powder ($28) is embossed with Vera’s signature ladybug design. Each compact contains a mosaic of 3 complementary colors. Use a fluffy face brush to swirl the colors together for a customized flush, or sweep them on cheeks and eyes individually for a more specific finish. From top: Sunday Afternoon (bright pink, bright fuschia, soft pale pink with white pearl); Flower Fantasy (pale coral with gold pearl, blue-based pale pink, pale salmon).

Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner ($15): All shades have a pearly/metallic finish. From top: Lord It Up ( bronze); Industrial (periwinkle grey);  Designer Purple (violet); Undercurrent (teal); Petrol Blue (rich navy); Black Line (black with gold pearl); Black Swan (black);

Nail Lacquer ($16): Love these shades! They’d be perfect paired together in a multi-tonal mani, or for using one shade as an accent nail.

Available now online and at MAC counters and department stores.Images via MAC

Sneak Peek: Burberry Beauty Spring 2012

Just wanted to give you a sneak peek of the promo image from Burberry Beauty’s spring 2012 collection. Judging by the photo, it looks like a collection full of rosy, lush shades for lips and cheeks balanced by neutral for eyes and brows.

Image via Burberry

Borderline Obsessed with Tarte Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Gloss

One night when I couldn’t sleep a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon this video by Tarte. Ever since then, I cannot stop thinking about Tarte Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Gloss ($21). I love everything about how it looks: the smoothness of application; the bright, flattering colors; and the options (creamy, sheer, opaque). I cannot wait to get my hands on one!

Kicking Off Your Friday Afternoon…With a Cat

Image via 8tokyo.com
You’re going to pay a pretty penny for Paul & Joe Cat Collection Matte Pressed Face Powder ($42), but it’s so adorable! The powder, shown above in Cinnamon, features 2 shades of matte face powder with a cat’s silhouette embossed into the surface. And the included applicator sponge is in the shape of a paw print. I mean, really! Image via beautyhabit.com
And this compact is just as pretty on the outside, too. That’s it underneath the white cat’s paw! If you’re a fan of kittens (or a crazy cat lady like me), I guarantee you’ll smile every time you pull this gem out of your makeup bag.

Tracking this down is not going to be easy (it’s sold out almost everywhere), but try ASOS & Beautyhabit.com to see if they restock their supply of kitty beauty.

Alterna 1 Night Highlights

Girls who dye their hair using single-process color have it easy. Between at-home root touch-up kits and root sprays, you’re golden (or caramel, auburn, etc.) if you need a quick fix between salon appointments and you have single-process color. But what’s a girl with highlights to do when she needs a quick, temporary boost? I don’t trust at-home highlight kits (they’re way too easy to screw up), so do the next best thing and paint on your highlights. It doesn’t look as weird as it sounds.