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collaborations

Beauty, Body, Fashion, Hair, Makeup, Skin

#BeautyBookmarks: The News You Need to Know

There’s so much happening in the industry that I can’t possibly cover them all! But to keep you informed on what’s shaking, I’m serving up the biggest beauty and fashion headlines of the day right here!

Photos via Bustle and Glamour, respectively.

The Fenty Effect shows no signs of slowing down as new and established brands are bolstering their shade ranges. In fact, Revlon has partnered with Allure’s founding editor Linda Wells to launch Flesh, a new beauty brand with inclusivity at its core and foundation sticks that comes in 40 shades (Fenty’s magic number, which has now become industry standard for complexion products). The line is expected to hit Ulta stores exclusively on June 24th, so mark your calendars now, kittens! [Teen Vogue]

Another brand following in Fenty’s footsteps: Tarte Cosmetics. After its latest foundation and concealer launches were criticized for having a limited shade ranges, the brand went back to the drawing board to expand the Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Foundation from 25 to 40 shades and the Creaseless Concealer from 14 to 30 shades that just hit shelves. And it’s not stopping there, as the brand plans to do the same for other formulas in the line, stating, “We are excited to share that our shape tape matte & hydrating foundations, shape tape concealer & Rainforest of the Sea water foundations will get shade extensions this year.” [Bustle]

If you’re already on the hunt for Father’s Day gifts (it’s June 17th, but it will be here before you know it), Lush has got you covered. Forget the ties and grilling gear, the brand is serving up a batch of bathtime and grooming goodies, including a solid beard oil and a handlebar mustache soap you might want to snap up for yourself. [Allure]

Sure, we might use Spotify to listen to some of our favorite podcasts (The Read, Unladylike, and Fat Mascara quickly come to mind), but Tidal is taking streaming to a different level. The platform announced on Wednesday that it will add beauty content with an entertainment alongside some of its music-related shows. The first to hit small screens is Get the Look (hmm, that sounds familiar) in which various beauty vloggers will channel stars like Nicki Minaj and Rihanna in some of their hottest music videos., so if you don’t have an account, don’t forget to create another email account to score a free trial and check them out. [The Cut]

We’ve all been eagerly anticipating any new news on the upcoming Aaliyah x MAC collaboration, and we’ve finally got a better look at what’s expected to hit beauty counters this summer. The roster will include an orange-toned lipstick, a deep plum lip gloss, a bronzer embossed with the late singer’s signature as well as the nude lipstick and dark eyeshadow palette we’ve previously had a peek at —all housed in glossy, burgundy packaging. And we won’t have to wait much longer as the collection will become available online on June 20th before hitting stores the next day. Set your alarms because this one is sure to sell out ASAP! [Bustle]

But that’s not the only collaboration coming soon — far from it! L’Oreal is rocking the runway by linking up with Valentino to produce prestige beauty buys and fragrances for the brand that has already birthed a number of successful scents (I remember when Valentina and its second iteration first launched!). But if you’re looking for something with more sheen, Pinrose has partnered with Sephora to unleash a slew shimmery, holographic glosses, highlighters, and even a rainbow-hued brush set to ensure you can be seen from space all season long. [PopSugar, Elite Daily]

Since Memorial Day, everyone’s been looking to splash into summer. And it looks like mega model Hunter McGrady is making sure each beach body (because every body is a beach body) is ready with a line of sexy swimwear that budget babes will love in partnership with Playful Promises. With cute keyhole cutouts, little bits of lace, and a splash of sequins on a variety of sultry silhouettes, you can expect temperatures to rise (and pulses to race) as soon as you step onto the sand. [Glamour]

May 31, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Makeup

Proenza Schouler Links up With Lancôme for a Colorful Collection

Photo via Women’s Wear Daily.

After linking up with the likes of Jason Wu, Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz, Sonia Rykiel, and Anthony Vaccarello (and many more), the beauty brand is continuing its runway domination by partnering up with Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez.

According to an exclusive with Women’s Wear Daily, the designers were given carte blanche when customizing the collection, which is slated to hit shelves in July. “Lancôme has always represented the epitome of luxury beauty products, so it is like a dream come true to be able to collaborate with such an iconic and historic brand,” the designers shared in a statement to WWD.

The designers were inspired by painters like Carmen Herrera and Ellsworth Kelly, who both loved working with bold color, but there might also be a few additional editorial touches pulled from the line’s Fall 2018 collection. While there’s no word yet on what products will be included in the collection, Vogue Runway noted that featured designs inspired by the handicrafts from the early ’70s like tie-dye, macramé, woven leather, prints, and Western patchwork that could work incredibly well with the pops of sunset orange, marigold, goldenrod, olive, and sandstone red seen throughout the pieces. I mean, the pair have previously released an ombré blush, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a tie-dye printed face palette amongst the many upcoming makeup musts.

Proenza Schouler has seriously stepped up its beauty game in recent years. Back in 2013, the company first dipped its toe into cosmetics with a vibrant, surf and skate-inspired collection of limited-edition beauty buys with MAC Cosmetics that even came housed in a hazy gradient rainbow hues. And just last year, the brand added fragrance to its repertoire with Arizona, a light, floral aroma of white cactus flower inspired by the spirit of discovery. And with the dynamic duo’s track record, the collection will likely be a kaleidoscopic close to summer that we’ll want to wear well into the next season. I’ll be keeping an eye out for a sneak peek of what we can expect!

May 14, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Fashion, Makeup

Jessica Milagros Adds Her Stylish Touch to JCPenney’s New Swim Line

Photo: Courtesy of JCPenney.

When it comes to shopping for swimwear, most plus-size fashionistas have to look online to search for a style we’d like. Then we have to wait for it to arrive in order to try it on. And if it doesn’t fit, it can take weeks to exchange it for a better fit. But JCPenney is eliminating that back and forth by introducing Boutique+’s first swimwear collection online and in store! It was a standout moment for Jessica Milagros, the first plus-size Latina model to land a national campaign with JCPenney (and for Ashley Nell Tipton’s debut collection, no less) and the designer of the collection, who was excited about the chance for shoppers to get that instant gratification.

“We have a good number of brands coming out with [plus-size lines] but everything is online,” Milagros told me in the midst of the brand’s pool party celebrating the launch of the line at the Parker Hotel Thursday night where guests splashed in the indoor pool in select styles from the collection. “This is the launch of their very first swim collection that they’re available in store. And that’s a big thing because not every plus-size body is the same! We might be the same 18, size 20, but I carry it differently than other people. “

Photo: Courtesy of JCPenney.

That’s what Milagros kept in mind as she crafted the over 20-piece collection with a range of mix and match pieces for whatever style suits the shoppers’ aesthetic, bringing a balance of sexy and conservative. The results include trendy tankinis, chic one-pieces, and bold bikinis in vibrant prints and even a few pieces of what Milagros called “little black swim” — with even more fresh styles hitting stores next month!

“Not every woman has the same type of style when it comes to swim,” she explained. “I feel like I wanted the collection to kind of come to the middle of what was lacking, so it’s not a super cohesive collection — it’s very spread out to cater to every different type of woman.”

Aside from the fashion-forward look of these pieces, the model made it a priority to make every strap adjustable, every swim bottom came up high enough to cinch in waists, and every inch of power mesh used was strong enough to support without ripping or snagging. By working closely with the design team, Milagros ensured that no matter their body type, shoppers could find a silhouette that flatters their figure and make them comfortable and confident.

“I know that when a swimsuit fits well, they feel amazing and confident in themselves because it fits and not because of their size or anything. They just feel like they’re supported and ready to conquer!” Milagros said, who noted that owning your differences is what makes you special and that every body deserves to show off their style.

And the pieces are not solely meant to be worn poolside or at the beach. Milagros encouraged the plus-size set to incorporate the splashy pieces into their wardrobes, suggesting they rock their swimsuit with a button-down shirt and jeans an as easy everyday ensemble. “It’s all about accessorizing your swim with a sarong, a cute coverup, hats, jewelry — the bigger the earring, the better,” she explained. “Accessorize it with a good shoe! I think that swim can be so fun, and a lot of people don’t understand that they can make it an outfit.”

Photo: Courtesy of JCPenney.

Another amazing accessory for your swimwear, according to the mega model: highlighter. Milagros loves Fenty‘s and Becca‘s brand of shimmer and says that there’s nothing quite like the glow of a good bronzing oil to make every inch of skin you decide to show look incredible. “I like to highlight all over the body,” she said. “Highlight, to me, is meant for all over the body: on your legs, your arms.”

But no matter how your style your swim, Milagros ensures there will be much more to work with as the line moves forward. Though she admits she’s a bit indecisive on the direction, she hopes to incorporate strappier pieces as well as monokinis that create the look of a bold bikini in a rainbow of hues and prints. But one thing at the top of her agenda is more sporty swimwear, pointing out a black and white crop top bikini featuring small cutouts in the top that’s expected to part of the April arrivals as an example. “Something that keeps the girls in check, something that plus-size women can wear and play volleyball, you can go out and wear it while running on the beach,” she explained. “We are active in our swimwear too just like any other girl.”

The Boutique+ Swim collection is available right now in store and online at JCPenney with more styles hitting shelves in April!

March 9, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Body

Madeline Poole Finally Scores A Sally Hansen Nail Color Collection

Photo: Sally Hanse via The Cut.

To call Madeline Poole a mani maven would be a complete understatement. The Insta-famous nail artist stepped into the spotlight on the platform, and it led to becoming Sally Hansen‘s global ambassador. Throughout her tenure, she’s not only shared her insight during the brand’s color curation process but has also crafted eye-catching manicures that have rocked the runways at New York Fashion Week. She’s even helped beauty editors (like myself) customize their own colors. But she’s never had a collection to call her own…until now.

The Complete Salon Manicure Madeline Poole Collection features six shades inspired from Poole’s own childhood during the late ’80s and early ’90s, with each bottle topped off with Poole’s MP Instagram logo wrapped around the silver cap. Color cues in the collection range from Say It Lycra You Mean It, pulled from the reddish-orange plush velvet interior of the family Dodge Aries to the metallic pink sheen of her mother’s aerobic leggings that to sparked the shade Material Pearl to even an electric lime, aptly called Slime Scene, inspired by the era’s obsession with the green-hued goo (which you can thank Ghostbusters and everything on Nickelodeon’s The Splat for). Plus, there are a few subtler shades you can rock no matter the atmosphere, including Vinyl Tap, a pale blue-gray; Mallratz, a hunter green hue, and Call Me On My Shellphone, a bisque with a mauve undertone (whose name goes well with this phone case from Valfré).

But regardless of which shades you decide to snap up, you won’t have to worry about your mani getting messed up. The Complete Salon Manicure boasts a wide brush for a streak-free application that won’t breed any air bubble and a formula that stays put for up to 10 days — as long most gel manicures but without the danger of UV lamps or the acetone-soaked removal process.

I’ve already got my eye on Mallratz, Say It Lycra Mean It, Slime Scene, and Vinyl Tap — all awesome shades as we (slowly but surely) transition to spring. Want to get a closer look at the colors? Check them all out below and let me know which ones are your faves in the comments!

March 7, 2018 by Val

Fashion

Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James Line Is Now Dressing Plus Sizes

Photo: Draper James for Eloquii via Bustle.com

Eloquii is well known for stocking its online shelves with chic and trendy pieces that work from desk to drinks and beyond. But now the brand’s signature city-savvy is getting a sweet Southern twist by partnering up with Reese Witherspoon’s brand, Draper James.

The screen star launched the lifestyle brand back in 2015 where it quickly found fans of its delightfully darling array of attire and home accents all across the South. In fact, according to Bustle, the brand has brandched out into brick in mortar with a flagship in Nashville and stores popping up in Dallas, Lexington, and Atlanta. But Refinery29 notes that while DJ has served sizes up to XXL (size 16) since its start, Witherspoon sought to fulfill customers’ requests for expanded sizing.

“We were determined to set out to find the right partner to better serve her, which led us to Eloquii, a brand whose fashion and fit we love,” Witherspoon shared in a press release as well as on Eloquii’s site. “It’s been such a fun and rewarding experience to work with Eloquii on this collaboration.”

The 23-piece collection hit the web on Tuesday, featuring charming takes on classic spring silhouettes, including denim, dresses, graphic tees, and even jumpsuits that would work in the boardroom or at a barbecue (depending on how you style them, of course). Not to mention a slew of accessories accented with cute phrases, like a canvas tout emblazoned with “This n’ That” and a “Totes Y’all” carryall. Plus there’s another collection from the collaboration called Hello Darlin’ that’s slated to hit shelves in April! Prices will range from $55 to $225. So while they might not be considered the most budget-friendly, there are plenty of solid investment pieces that you can rock for a few years, not just a single season.

And though many might know me as Jersey girl or a New Yorker (gotta love being part of the bridge-and-tunnel crowd!), very few know that I spent a significant part of my childhood living in Texas, and many of the pieces in the collection could easily assimilate into my aesthetic. Some of the statement pieces I’d add to cart would be the parrot embellished dress you can see on your right; the buttery yellow lace yoke shift dress that will have you looking sharp but sweet in mere seconds; the flirty and frilly red gingham skirt; the 3/4 sleeve wrap top that’s also available in gingham, allowing you to make a matching set with the skirt; and the parrot print jumpsuit that would look great at any spring or summer soiree on your schedule.

It’s another awesome move that the industry has taken in recent weeks to make fashion, regardless of your signature style, more open to all. And while there hasn’t been word that the collaboration will continue after the aforementioned April arrivals, I’ve got my fingers crossed that both brands will make it a permanent partnership.

Planning to pick up a few pieces for yourself? Let me know your favorites in the comments below!

March 6, 2018 by Val

Fashion

Rachel Antonoff Assembles Pretty Plus Size Picks for Gwynnie Bee

via Refinery 29

Rachel Antonoff is taking her penchant for fun and fresh prints and giving them a plus-size remix with Gwynnie Bee.

Antonoff’s collaboration is really something to celebrate, as it’s the latest in a line of designers who have linked up with the plus-size clothing subscription service. Antonoff’s signature aesthetic of quirky prints inspired by the every day and flattering silhouettes for women of different sizes and shapes has become the style blueprint for shows like Girls, even recruiting Lena Dunham herself to showcase the line in a short fashion film back in 2013. To see the line open itself up to a larger market—pun not intended—is amazing to see as Antonoff herself mentioned a plus size line is already in the works, creating a more inclusive space in an industry known for being straight and narrow (in many senses).

“Fashion has so many wonderful things about it, but there’s this aspect that it feels exclusionary, can be somewhat elitist, and make you feel like you’re supposed to look different than you do, or make you want to be something that you’re not,” she explained to Refinery29. “I’ve always felt like clothes should just be part of celebrating who you are and enhancing your day, whether it’s just because you’re more comfortable or you feel good in them, and I think the plus-size market is so important and not necessarily getting the attention it deserves yet. I think it’s starting to, but it’s not all the way there. But it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

And to celebrate the partnership, plus size fashionistas will be privy to some of the brand’s greatest hits in the seven pieces collection, including the dissected frog, florals, parrots, and a fruit salad prints. They arrived on Sunday, June 19th in the form of flowy tops and frocks fit for a summer filled with road trips, fun fêtes, and all-night excursions that will create memories to last a lifetime, regardless of your dress size. “I’m a fan of Gwynnie Bee, but in general, my approach to fashion has always been that it should be fun, it should be inclusive, and your clothing should be more of an accessory for an adventure or a good time than something that’s stressful.” Well, I’m always up for an adventure!

Head over to Refinery29 to check out the rest of the pretty, printed pieces that just hit shelves on Sunday to nab them now before they disappear!

June 20, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Makeup

What a Doll! Ariana Grande Teams Up with MAC Again

Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

Ariana Grande’s indulging her inner moppet for her second stint with MAC.

The songstress shared a snap of herself on Thursday posing alongside the vibrant pink ad that features the star in full babydoll mode, complete with a giant pink bow, matching streaks of hair color, ruffled socks in platform Mary Janes and an array of doll furniture and fixtures.

The Viva Glam ambassador’s first foray for the MAC counter unleashed a dangerous woman in the form of a matte plum lipstick and sheer pink shimmer LipGlass. This time around, Grande’s “playing nice and charming” with a matte deep bubblegum lip color and a more neutral pink LipGlass that will hit shelves in September. As always, every penny of the proceeds will benefit the MAC AIDS Fund, which funds programs to assist those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Talk about sugar, spice, and everything nice!

June 16, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Hair

Jen Atkin Adds Extra Shine to Your Summer Hairstyle

via Refinery29

Since fascinators went out of style, the beauty scene’s been a bit scant on the accessory front. Sure, Flash Tattoos added shimmer to those with straight strands last summer, but Jen Atkin set out to build a better-looking barrette and more with the help of jewelry brand Chloe + Isabel.

The collaboration resulted in 13 modern hair accessories that Atkin told Refinery29 suit “the hippie chick and the girl who’s very Céline, fashion-forward.” She worked with many of stylist friends to create a series of barrettes, pins, headbands, and the most eye-catching, a bun cuff (as seen on your right) that’s sure to sure to fly off shelves—seriously, I’m even nabbing one for myself. “[F]or me our bun cuff [pictured above] was a one-of-a-kind piece,” she explained to People. That’s what you want to carry in your purse and take with you to the gym so that when you’re going to meet friends for drinks, you throw it over your gym bun and all of a sudden you look perfect.”

Prices range between $18-$45, which Atkin made a point to keep the pieces affordable for her fans. “It’s either you find something at the mall that feels like a drugstore product or you find something you loved at like Celine or Colette or something that is super, super expensive,” the super stylist shared with the glossy. “So it was really amazing because I feel like our visions really met up and I got to really create something that was luxury but at an affordable price point for an everyday girl.”

This cool collab is just the icing on the cake for Atkin, as the celebrity hairstylist has already made serious waves in the past two years, not only did she launch the successful Mane Addicts blog but also her OUAI hair care line has become a favorite of editors alike.

Head over to Refinery29 to check out the rest of the stylish selections, and let me know which ones you’re planning to snap up for yourself.

June 9, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Makeup

Finally! A First Look at the #MACSelena Collaboration

via MAC’s Instagram

After a Change.org petition, countless requests from makeup mavens, and months of anticipation, we finally get to see what the highly coveted Selena for MAC lipstick will look like before it ends up on everyone’s vanities.

MAC and Selena’s official Instagram pages shared a snap red lipstick with a pink undertone named “Como La Flor” after one of her many hits. The new lippie is encased in purple—the same shade the singer sported on stage during her final performance at the Houston Astrodome. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as more products are expected to fill out the rest of the collection when it’s released in October.

Getty Images via Cosmopolitan

“I wanted the colors to be about her personally, what she wore on and offstage,” Suzette Quintanilla, the songstress’s sister and curator of the limited edition collection, explained in the caption. “She has been gone for 21 years already, and for this collaboration to happen, it’s pretty much incredible. It just shows the love her fan base has even though she’s gone; that her music still lives on and her legacy has grown tremendously since she’s passed. It’s a great honor to have MAC collaborate with Selena’s name and her fans—FOR her fans.”

To say the collection was a long time in the making is an understatement. The collaboration initially got its start back in 2013 when Patty Rodriguez reached out to the beauty brand about it. “It was just me saying, ‘Hey, I’m a Latina consumer and as a demographic, we will purchase three times more beauty products than any other consumer in the country,'” she told Cosmopolitan.com. “‘We’re your biggest group and it would only make sense for a popular brand like MAC to create a line for Selena Quintanilla, a singer who means so much to us.’” MAC said they would take the idea into consideration, but nothing seemed to come of it.

The fan-fueled frenzy began building two years later, thanks to a photo manipulation by Jose Figueroa who superimposed the singer’s logo over a tube of the brand’s lipstick. Rodriguez was shocked to find out it was a fake, but the image sparked the ideas to get more voices involved with the cause via a Change.org petition (full disclosure: I supported this petition) in honor of the 20th anniversary of her passing. After scoring thousands of signatures in less than a week, Rodriguez passed the petition along to MAC, stating, “I hope you don’t hate me yet, but this is not the last you’re going to hear of me. It’s not just my voice anymore. Here’s 10,000 voices all asking the same thing.” MAC got the message loud and clear this time and connected with the Quintanilla family through Rodriguez, thus giving birth to one of the most anticipated collaborations of the year!

It’s no surprise, as Latinas have become a huge sector in the marketplace. According to a Nielsen consumer report, most households reduced spending on personal care, except for Latinos who increased their spending in the same time period. In fact, they made up 16% of total U.S. sales in beauty in 2014, including 13% of cosmetic sales.

And personally, I grew up listening to the Tejano star when I lived in Texas. While songs like “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom”, “Baila Esta Cumbia,” “Besitos,” and more became hits, it was her sense of glamor that appealed to her fans before and after her death. Or as Rodriguez explained to Cosmo, “Selena is important to me because she represents the Latina woman. Her Spanish wasn’t that great, which is like a lot of us. We might speak imperfect Spanish, but we can code-switch between American culture and Latino culture, and switch from English to Spanish. And she was representative of all the things that Latinas love about ourselves. We are the big lips, the thick hair, curves, so many different skin colors, and we’re proud of all of that.”

We certainly are!

April 12, 2016 by Val

Fashion

JCPenney Pumps Up Its Plus-Size Section with Project Runway’s Ashley Nell Tipton

Courtesy of JCPenney via USA Today

Full-figured fashionistas rejoiced when Ashley Nell Tipton won season 14 of Project Runway. Fans couldn’t get enough of her pretty pastel palette and sheer styles that showed how plus-size fashion has evolved in recent years. And to celebrate her big win, Tipton will ensure everyone can look as cute and colorful as she does with a new collaboration with JCPenney.

The lavender-locked designer will debut her line as the first brand ambassador of JCPenney’s new Boutique+, a new line specifically for plus-size, which will bow in May. Sizes will range between 0x-4x in 500 stores nationwide while sizes up to 5x will be offered online with prices set between $12.99-$60. According to USA Today, this is just the start for the retailer, as it will also create a shop within the shop to feature more brands in addition to Tipton’s this fall.

While trendy statement pieces and fresh hues are important for any line, the fit became the top priority for Tipton, even when playing with shapes you don’t usually spot in the plus-size section. “A lot of my inspiration is what straight size women wear — why is there a disconnect from what they wear and what we can wear?” she told the publication. “I don’t want them to be invisible anymore; I want to show personality.”

And after spotting some of the preview snaps on USA Today, I honestly can’t wait! Tipton’s cool Cali aesthetic and eye for color will guarantee each piece will become a seasonal staple for everyone—including this chic tee, moto vest, and pleated skirt combo that I need ASAP—regardless of size.

Head over to USA Today to check to get up close and personal with some of the looks that will hit shelves in May.

April 11, 2016 by Val