A couple of weeks ago (yes, I am THAT far behind), LesleyKat and I headed to SoHo for a preview of the new Make Up For Ever Boutique in Sephora SoHo, which officially makes that location my favorite.

The new boutiques (SoHo was the first to open, with locations at The Venetian in Las Vegas and South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA following) not only allow MUFE to create beautiful, branded experiences for customers, but it allows all 1200 of MUFE's SKUs to be carried in one location. This is especially important for makeup pros who may not have previously had access to freestanding locations (which until now are the only locations to carry every product in the line).  

Make Up For Ever's vast pro-friendly product assortment and pigmented colors can be intimidating to the average consumer, however the new technology-focused boutiques are staffed with the friendliest makeup pros (like the adorable Rusty, kindly posing with me at the event) to make navigating the sea of shades as easy as possible.

In fact, these pros can teach you nearly anything related to looking your best, with classes ranking from novice to pro, available in the studio space at the back of store. Match up with an artist and they will create the look on half of your face while guiding you through the process on the remaining half. While these mini classes aren't "free" - $40 per lesson - the cost is redeemable in product.

In addition to carrying all 1200 SKUs - to give you a frame of reference, most Sephora locations carry 300-600 from MUFE - the store is equipped with iPads pre-loaded with stunning face charts to inspire you or you can create your own look via an especially fancy smart board.  Plus, these charts are shareable via email, so you can take your digital creation with you anywhere.

The amazingly talented LesleyKat snapped (and swatched) her way through the boutique - check out her shots in the gallery below.

Make Up For Ever boutique in Sephora SoHo

555 Broadway

Between Prince & Spring

New York, NY

For Spring 2011, Spanish designer Tony Francesc took us on a journey through an Urban Forest.

"Urban Forest" is a collection that is just as versatile as wood itself. In this respect, depending on its treatment, wood can present its most natural dimension, as witnessed in tree bark, or its most elaborate side, including carved and molded wooden forms. The collection's clothing items present a series of rough and enveloping forms combined with other cleaner volumes and straight, milder lines.

The range of colors derives from natural landscapes, based on a predominant use of neutral shades such as beige white, and grey, tones that contrast with flashes of light in the form of yellow, turquoise, and coral.

The collection was stunning - a gorgeous mix of neutrals with pops of luscious greens and corals. Some of the looks were flowing and feminine, while others embraced more sculptural elements brought to life by strong construction.

Accenting the Urban Forest theme, Nashelle Jewelry collaborated with Francesc to create the recycled wooden jewelry that punctuated the looks. The pieces will be available for purchase beginning October 5th.

Photos by Lesley Forrester

Style IT's Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week coverage is proudly sponsored by Torrid:

There are some moments during NYFW that stay with you from season to season, regardless of how many different shows you see. I remember my first Betsey Johnson show, where the designer and Pat Field danced together at the end of the runway. I remember standing in the upper balcony of the Hammerstein Ballroom and watching in awe as G-Star sent models down not one, not two, but three runways simultaneously. It was a feast for the eyes!

Of course I will never forget Diego Binetti's Spring/Summer 2011 presentation, due in large part to the astonishingly beautiful "cocktail ring nails" that CND's co-founder Jan Arnold and team created for the show. Under the direction of lead nail artist Roxanne Valinoti, the team created unique nails for every model, based on vintage jewelry pieces. When Jan Arnold visited Binetti's studio four weeks prior to the presentation, the collection was already completed. From this meeting, Arnold was able to take away fabric swatches and return to her team of nail artists with a challenge: each of them were tasked with creating unique pieces of art, with the best pieces being included in the show. As a result, the team returned with one of a kind statement nails, each more exquisite than the last. Most viewing the presentation didn't even realize that the "jewelry" was actually a part of the nail!

In addition to the cocktail nails, Roxanne Valinoti created a nude shimmering nail on the rest of the model's fingers to accent the jeweled nails, using Perfectly Bare Shimmer from CND's Spring Colour & Effect Duo (available March 2011).

The makeup, created by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' David Klasfeld, was designed to enhance the model's natural beauty with natural (yet flawless) skin, a soft brown eye, sculpted cheek, and a balmy lip.

The hair, created by Cutler, was the finishing touch the models needed to be turned into full-blown princesses. Cutler's team of stylists performed another beauty miracle backstage at Binetti (it was a miraculous Saturday) - nearly every model featured in the presentation received extensions to polish her goddess-like look.

The energy backstage was electric - everyone seemed to realize that they were taking part in something magical, and I'm very lucky to have witnessed it.

Photos by Lesley Forrester

Style IT's Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week coverage is proudly sponsored by Torrid:

You may remember that on a hot summer's day, not too long ago, I headed out to a remote part of Queens to help George McCracken & team shoot his Spring 2011 lookbook. Those looks have finally come to life, presented poolside (and some in the actual pool) during Fashion Week at the Thompson LES Hotel.

For Spring 2011, designer George McCracken said:

"I wanted to move away from the strict academic approach of my previous collections, which were rigorously about tailoring construction and the fabric. I wanted to make it more personal, make it my interpretation of Americana growing up in northern California - watching Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, listening to Primus and Ween - "dude" American culture from the West Coast. I wanted to deflate that academic quality and use colors like sage, military colors and faded neons that I relate to. I also wanted to combine some vintage pieces that I've repurposed in collaborating with What Comes Around Goes Around. Vintage surfer tees that have been changed and manipulated in my silhouette, mixing them together with really well crafted pieces."

Photos by Lesley Forrester

Style IT's Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week coverage is proudly sponsored by Torrid: