The streets of Paris are starting to look all summery: people on terraces, kids who have finished school and more tourists than usual look relaxed and all holiday-ish. So as I finish all my work for various September issues and I get ready for my own holiday (as far away from Paris as possible), I thought I'd bring you another hair & make-up guide for your summer trips. Last year's guide was one of my blog's most read subjects ever (
see here), so I've done the same with new exotic places and chic styles.
1. Antibes
The most elegant spot in the Côte d'Azur has more chic people and less tacky Ferraris than average. A Chanel look is mandatory: very neat make-up (why not try smoky black eyes to add some drama to the prim and proper French look) and a tight low ponytail suit most faces. Add a stone brooch to conceal the elastic band on the ponytail and extra long fringed earrings for a touch of ad lib.
2. Shanghai
A city holiday is the perfect occasion to be sophisticated when it comes to clothes and make-up. A walk along Shanghai's Bund district allows some 1930's darkly elegant elements. Vuitton's metallic eyes and burgundy luscious lips are perfect, and a twisted chignon covering one eye will give you the perfect femme fatale look.
3. Klaipeda
A little charming coastal city in Lithuania screams for some Baltic chic. A natural look, with not much makeup; loose, lean hair and some lipgloss can be completed with a gingham headscarf, as seen at D&G.
4. Istanbul
A grown-up ladylike style is the way to go when vacationing on this metropolis. To keep fresh, try a twisted chignon (just part a ponytail in two and twist both parts together with lots of hairspray). And to keep fabulous, go for ruby-red lipstick, Terracotta skin and golden earthy eyeshadow. As seen in Gucci.
5. New Orleans
Be a perfect Southern belle combining light chiffon dresses (aren't the Proenza Schouler ones just dreamy?) with a romantic and slightly chaotic hairstyle: use just hairpins to fix some backcombed locks on one side of your head. That, combined with a delicate touch of rosy lipstick, blusher and well-defined eyebrows will turn you into a Tennessee Williams heroine.
6. Kenya
A summer in the savanna is no excuse to stop being stylish; although, of course, you have to tone it down as much as you can. Natural hair with just a touch of wet effect and no makeup will do the trick. After all, you're going to be watching animals all day long, aren't you? If you still would like to pretty up for the giraffes, I recommend just a little orange blusher or some Terracotta (yes, Guerlain's Terracotta is the answer to everything during the summer months). Bottega Veneta's style gives you all the clues.
7. Granada
An exotic spot in Andalusia is full of magic and Spanish passion. So is Hermès's look (again, lots of Terracotta skin and Terracotta lips). All the fire and the charm is in the eyes here. Combined with hoop earrings and a Flamenco hat the look is impressive. And combined with a braid mixed with an Hermès Carré (just wrap the carré around your head and use the extra fabric with one of the locks to make an uneven braid) it is simply irresistible.
8. Waikiki
Hawaii is the spot for some 1940's pin-up reminiscence. Dior's sailing girl look is fantastic. Lots of matte red lipstick, a touch of bright colour in the eyes and 40's waves, topped with cat sunglasses and a tilted sailor hat... And everyone will go nuts about you.
9. Montevideo
It's all about an apparently strict ballerina chignon (as seen at Chloé) if you are holidaying in Uruguay's capital. A minimal look fit for culture, tango and seduction.
10. Kyoto
If you just feel like a zen holiday enjoying the wonders of total calm and Japan's excellent food, then your perfect spot should be Kyoto. But even if you are there for a spiritual break, you can be all Kawaii in Cacharel mixing a low key ponytail and pale pink lips with hot colour block sunglasses.
10. Bergen
A holiday in the Norwegian Fjords calls for some Scandinavian understated drama. Céline provides the answer with a pale complexion, barely marked eyes and a lovely backcombed low ponytail. Dare it!
Rummaging through my dressing room the other day, I came across an old discarded Benetton tye-dye rainbow-printed bikini I had bought ages ago (I think Oliviero Toscani was still shooting Benetton campaigns back then) and I came to a conclusion: rainbows are back in fashion! Rocking my new favourite bikini and seeing life through a new prism, I've come to realize rainbows are everywhere lately, mainly in Christopher Kane's ab fab cruise 2012 collection.
But rainbows have been a recurrent inspiration subject in fashion for a long time; I can think of the incredible, timeless Carmen Miranda wedges by Salvatore Ferragamo, designed back in 1936 but still super hot and covetable.
Or Alexander McQueen's milefeuille siren dresses. Breathtaking, n'est-ce pas?
Rainbows also make me think of Edie Sedgwick's post-60's style, when she went from minimal black-and-white to psychedelic multicolour with a fantastic long rainbow dress she wore in the last few scenes of Ciao! Manhattan, when she gets her electroshock therapy (I could not find any images of the dress, but you should watch the movie, it's quite something).
You can get great rainbow nails and rainbow hair at Wah Nails and Bleach London respectively for a really fashion forward look,
or Comme des Garçons perfume for a rainbow scent!
Or even rainbow decals for your keyboards (available at design-milk.com).
Now it's time to pump up the colour; will you be wearing the rainbow look this summer?
