Milan's Boudoir Styles...

MILAN — Boudoir styles, once a trademark of Italian fashion, are back for spring/summer 2010. But rather than the sex pot numbers, which brought out the best in designers such as Dolce&Gabbana and Gianni Versace,this round the look is demure and yesteryear.

Corset tops worn over a jeans bubble skirt, panties peeping out of a pair of short shorts and bra tops veiled in silk chiffon all combine to create a romantic rather than raunchy mood. Many of the styles have a old-fashioned feel with heavy use of old-fashioned lace, knitting and cotton.
Culottes are pulled out of Grandma's trousseau to become contemporary shorts, worn over loose silk tops. There is also an enticing lightness and unfinished touch to these collections, with profuse use of chiffon and gauze, and shredded fabric as if cut but not stitched.

Layering is a big part of next summer's fashion and designers often lingerie items with shirts, vests, dusters or the latest coverall – the chiffon apron.

As this round of Milan fashion comes to a close – the five day preview showings end Monday – it is apparent that the designers, hard hit by the current economic crisis, are playing it safe. There have been no dictates this season but, rather, gentle hints, as seen in the soft core of the sexy styles.

DOLCE&GABBANA
In this season of lingerie looks, no one could feel more at home than Dolce&Gabbana, who first turned inner wear into outerwear on the Milan runway some 30 years ago.

For spring/summer 2010, the designing duo, who presented their latest collection Sunday, run the gamut from corsets to culottes in fetching lace, crochet and floral printed silk.
The transparent effect of lace is used on jackets, dresses, skirts and even shoes and bags. A three-piece tuxedo with cropped jacket and jodhpur pants serves as a reminder that you don't have to take your clothes off to be sexy.

"The idea was to provoke sensuality," Stefano Gabbana said of the collection, which in many ways was reminiscent of the duo's earliest 1980's styles when pop singer Madonna was their muse.


The grande finale of the much applauded show – a myriad of models "dressed" in bustiers, bras and panties – underlined the fact that the duo was not yet done with "dirty" designing.
However, there is a sweet, rather than sexy, feel to the collection, reflecting the romantic mood that has captured this round of Milan fashion.

Even the shoes, despite their towering heels, are wrapped, rather than strapped, around the ankle in a lace bow. Colors are mainly black and white, interspersed with demureChina porcelain prints. A new Dolce&Gabbana animal print in red or light blue is proof that there is still lots of tiger in that fashion tank.

FENDI
There is a feel of yesteryear at Fendi, as if someone had opened Grandma's trousseau trunk and wrapped each item in light gauze for protection.
Everything from the old-fashioned bras and panties to bubble skirts, shorts and even the high-heeled shoes is covered in a thin veil lending an ethereal effect to the new spring/summer collection designed by Karl Lagerfeld and presented Sunday.

Moreover many of the outfits have a frayed look, with unfinished seaming and off-white or black colors which add to the "once upon a time" feel of the clothes. And yet the collection is also ultra modern with a brand new shirtwaist made up of shorts and a shirttail back, leather worked to look softer than fabric and the latest Fendi bag with its exchangeable surfaces.The many-bags-in-one, designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, inventor of the popular Baguette bag, is sure to be a success in these times of tight purse strings. The simple leather bag comes with little "aprons" ranging from linen to intricately embroidered fabric, in various colors.

For nighttime, the bag has a satin cover reminiscent of the pouches Grandma used for putting away her silk stockings.

MARNI
Marni makes dressing up look easy. From the layered styles held together by a striped knitted belt with matching striped leggings to the upbeat flowers, checks and polka dots of the prints, Marni's latest collection presented in Milan on Sunday is all about a laid-back summer 2010.

Like many collections presented during the current Milan fashion week, the outfits are feather light, and each piece can be worn individually from the sporty shorts to the shirt-dresses to the dustcoats.
True to designer Consuelo Castiglione's style the clothes take on the personality of the woman who wears them whether they are casual jersey trousers or elegant silk jackets.

Shoes for next season, worn on the runway with ankle socks, include suede sandals with a small heel, loafers, and wedges made out of light resin.

Huge petal earrings, wraparound sun glasses and a printed silk head scarf complete the seemingly effortless look.

Omorovicza Lifting Serum and Gold Rescue Cream

We discovered the Cleansing Balm (I just got my second jar-- this stuff is addictive) from Hungarian cult fave skincare Omorovicza last spring at Neiman Marcus and have been obsessed with the entire line ever since. I love standing at cosmetic counters playing with different creams and asking for samples-- it's the best way to test and learn about new products!  What's even better than hanging out at the counters?  Having the samples sent to your door to test :)  Besides the Cleansing Balm (which all three of us love!) there are two products from Omorovicza that I just sampled-- the Gold Rescue Cream ($300) and the Rose Lifting Serum ($180).  There are a lot of products out there that address sagging skin and this one is mighty impressive.   I don't recommend it for our younger snob readers but if you feel like you need a boost, this is worthy of a try.

Rose Lifting serum:  Like its name suggests, the lightweight serum has a subtle scent of roses that I love.  I massaged it upwards from my chest to the top of my forehead-- it is lightweight and goes into the skin smoothly (no peeling and does not have the sticky texture that many lifting products have).  For use under make up during the day.

Gold Rescue Cream- An amazingly rich and hydrating cream with real gold, Omega 6 ceramide and other powerful ingredients that make even the most dehydrated and wrinkled skin youthful.  This is very rich and is best warmed in the palm of your hand before pressing into the  decolletage, neck and face.  It is too heavy for me during the day but at night it will be a nice cream to switch to during seasonal changes or while traveling.  Best for mature skin.

Supernatural: Supermodels Without Makeup

Fashion's most recognizable women strip off their makeup for the camera and bare their secrets to looking beautiful. 

Having graced more than a thousand magazine covers, Crawford, 43, knows a few beauty tricks.

Antiaging tip: "Women forget to take care of their décolletage, and it shows their age," says Crawford. She protects hers, as well as her complexion, with Meaningful Beauty, the skin-care line she created with Jean-Louis Sebagh, a Paris-based cosmetic doctor.

Must-have hair product: "Your hair texture changes as you age; mine used to be a lot more smooth. I use Moroccanoil Treatment [$39] to keep it hydrated."

Transitioning from modeling to acting isn't the only big change in Valletta's life these days. "My skin has become much more sensitive to products," says the 35-year-old mom. "I now have to be more diligent about what I use."

Skin tip: SPF is a must. "I live in California, so I wear sunscreen every day, even if it's cloudy."

Beauty indulgence: "I love products." Her current facial regimen includes items from Epicuren, Dermalogica, and LancerRX, a line by her Beverly Hills dermatologist, Harold Lancer.

Shalom Harlow

At 35, Harlow still fronts some of the biggest campaigns, including Chanel skin care.

At-home secret: "I love putting yogurt and egg whites on my face. It's so moisturizing and soothing."

Skin expert: After working under hot lights with layers of makeup on all day, she turns to facialist Elena Schell, owner of the Elena Schell Skin Care Clinic in New York City. "When she performs extractions, she doesn't leave a single mark."


Schiffer became a household name 20 years ago as the face of Guess, and now, at 39, the current L'Oréal Paris spokesmodel and face of D&G fragrance shows no signs of slowing down.

Antiaging tip: "What I eat affects my skin," she says. "Anything that's heavy, like dairy or sweets, breaks out my complexion, and it doesn't look as fresh. When I stopped eating dairy, my skin looked nicer."

Skin saver: "Fresh carrot or apple juice and water with lemon and ginger help give my skin a healthy look."

Helena Christensen

The Danish stunner, 40, may have made her mark in front of the camera, but now she's more likely to be seen behind it, having shot campaigns for Edun and Aveda.

Must-have product "Nude Miracle Mask [$70] really is miraculous. It makes your skin look tight and glowing."

Go-to facialist: She entrusts her luminous complexion to Christine Chin, owner of New York City's Christine Chin Spa. "After I get the microdermabrasion and a green-tea facial, my skin feels unbelievably soft and dewy."

Mad Men (AMC) and their Makeup

Can I just be transported to Mad Men world, please? I'd love to get dressed up like this daily-- the cinched in dresses, the hair, the make up and all. So glamorous and proper! Reminds me of my grandmother. She's almost 97 and up til she was 90 she made me put her in ridiculous girdles so she could fit in her handmade cheongsams and dresses-- yes, she's that vain (now you know where I get this from). I love the make up on Betty and Peggy and it's from none other than MAC Cosmetics. Lead artist Lana Horochowski gives us the scoop on their looks! (Jump to read Q & A!)

Q&A with Lana Horochowski Mad Men, Makeup Department Head

Q: You're the new department head at Mad Men for Season 3, will you be making any changes to any characters makeup?
A: Since we are moving a little forward into the future, we have changed up the color palette for each character to go along with the time period.

Q: When you were preparing for this season, did you do any research for inspiration? If so, what most inspired you?
A: Weeks and weeks of meetings and research. I love looking through the old magazines. They are a great reference and a huge source of inspiration; however, we do try to keep the characters looking like real people that do their own makeup and not like movie stars with a makeup artist standing by. Magazines and old movies are a great guideline for a basic look and color selection.

Q: How would you describe the looks of each one of the characters? How do they differ?
A: Joan Holloway- always put together, very sassy and sexy Betty Draper- although she is a housewife she is an ex model, so her makeup is clean but very current for the period Peggy Olson- Peggy is a young and fresh faced business woman of that period, she is a very clean natural makeup

Q: What are your key products for creating the makeup looks for the main female characters? A: Joan Holloway- We do a heavier eye on Christina, so the key products would be eyeliner and strip lashes. Betty Draper- Betty has 2 distinct looks, her at home look and her going out/evening look. For home she is very natural, basically a sheer foundation, think black eyeliner and mascara. Evening Betty goes a little thicker on the liner and a brighter lipstick, but aalways coordinated with her clothing. Peggy Olson- Since the key to Peggy's look is to appear as though she is wearing no makeup, a great foundation is super important. Also, a natural cheek and lip stain is applied to give her a little color.

Q: What are your favorite M•A•C products for each character?
A: Joan Holloway- Cream Colour Base in Virgin Isle, Fluidline in Blacktrack and Rich Ground, brown and black, and Eye Shadow in Soft Brown. Betty Draper- Cream Colour Base in Virgin Isle, Blushcreme in Posey, and Lipsticks in Vegas Volt, Lip Pencil in Redd and Cherry Peggy Olson- Eye Shadow in Orb, Vanilla, and Soft Brown and Blot Powder

Q: Everyone always notices the lips on the show, but brows seem to play a very important part to the look. Can you talk about the brows on the show?
A: Women of the 60's had a stricter code of style and etiquette, so people tended to follow the trends closer to the book. Nowadays, women have a variety of different brow styles so we are constantly tweezing, shaping, and filling the brows to recreate the look of the period.

Q: Each character has the most perfect lashes framing her eyes. What are your favorite lashes to use to get that perfectly plump line of lashes?
A: We love the M•A•C individual lashes as well as the traditional strip lashes.

Q: Do you collaborate with the hair and costume departments when coming up with a look?
A: Absolutely! We have at least 3 meetings per episode to create the look as a unit. I could not do this show without Lucia Mace (hair), Janie Bryant (costumes), and my fabulous key Ron Pipes!

Q: There seems to be a lot of making out on the show, how many times do you have to redo those red lips? Does it get messy?
A: We do what we can to seal the lip color, but we still have to go in every take to perform a minor clean up.

Q: What can real women take away from the show's look and incorporate into their everyday look?
A: Well, a great start would be lining the top lash line only with a gel liner like M•A•C Fluidline. We love this product for recreating the perfect 60's eye. Also, replacing gloss and sheer or shimmer lipsticks with matte reds, bright pinks, and corals help create a more retro look. Lastly, instead of a powder blush try using creme in pinks and corals to create a flushed looking cheek. For evening, strip lashes are always a bonus.

photo by Studio D

Instant Antiaging Makeovers

New injection techniques can help you look (naturally) younger. Read more on how to easily solve 10 common skin problems.

By Lauren Cohen

Good news for women searching for the fountain of youth: There are quick, highly effective in-office procedures that are kinder, gentler alternatives to going under the knife. As in, this won't take you six weeks plus to recover. In fact, according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, about 80 percent of board-certified facial plastic surgeons reported an increase in noninvasive cosmetic procedures in 2008. Yes, this means a lot more of the Botox injections and wrinkle fillers you already know about. But it also includes new antiaging injection techniques to lift your cheekbones, eliminate undereye bags and dark circles, and replicate the results of a nose job.

What do the procedures have in common? Replacing volume. "Nothing makes people look more youthful than filling in volume," says Fredric Brandt, a New York City and Coral Gables, Florida, dermatologist and founder of Dr. Brandt Skincare. "And as we get more and more experience with the newer injectables, it seems like we are able to achieve better results without surgery." Adds Patricia Wexler, a New York City dermatologist, "What I see most in my practice is a large amount of volume loss in the face, which tends to happen in your early 40s, and that is when you replace a surgical procedure with a nonsurgical one."

"For the past few years, the trend has been more natural looking lips," says Fardad Forouzanpour, founder of the Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgical Group, adding "injectables can give lips more volume and correct lines and wrinkles that form around the mouth." Brandt finds that Restylane and Perlane hyaluronic acid-based fillers tend to look more natural. But, Forouzanpour notes, more important than the kind of fillers is the physician's injection technique and the amount that is injected. Adds Wexler, "If you have cracks at the corner of your mouth or above the lip line, collagen works well to replace structure in the skin. People don’t think about collagen anymore because they are so into hyaluronic acid. Although I use Restylane to add volume, I need collagen to create a border around the lip [cupid's bow]." Results vary but Forouzanpour states they can last from four to six months and cost around $450.

So which fillers work best? It's hard to say. "Doctors pick certain ones and get proficient at using them," says Wexler. "In 2003, we had collagen — period. To do the right kind of filling now, one syringe of anything won't be complete," she explains. (According to the AAFPRS, there are currently close to 20 FDA-approved cosmetic injectable drugs on the market.) "Besides filling in volume, we need to think about surface irregularities. Even the most plump face won't be pretty if the skin isn't in good condition." And she warns, "If a 68-year-old woman who has never taken care of her skin and spent a lot of time in the sun comes to me, injectables won't give her enough of an improvement if she has loose skin and sun damage. There's a point when you have to start from a new baseline, and if the person is healthy, she would need a face-lift."

Before getting any procedure, even nonsurgical, do your homework. Check out your doctor's background and reputation before you get injected. "A lot of my work is fixing other people's work," notes Wexler.

Here's a primping primer on today's most popular injection makeover techniques.

The Liquid Face-Lift

It's no secret aging brings on a world of change: Cheeks and chins thin, fat pads droop, eyes hollow. "Restoring contours to the face, not eliminating every tiny line, is what makes you look young," says Brandt. Previously, the only option was multiple facial surgeries and weeks, if not months, of recovery, but now it can be done with just one visit to the doctor. "I resuspend the face with Botox, lifting up the brows, neck, jawline, and tip of the nose and then fill in and replace volume around the eyes and cheeks," explains Brandt.

Oscar Hevia, a dermatologist in Coral Gables and an associate of Brandt's, uses Radiesse, a calcium-based filler, injecting it under the eyes and into the cheeks and nasolabial folds. The effects last about eight months and it costs about $850. Here, the most commonly used injectables, which are often used in combination for best results.

Hyaluronic acid Also known as Restylane, Perlane, and Juvéderm. "I love Restylane and Perlane for the tear troughs, cheeks, and jawline because of the volume and lift they give to the face," says Wexler. And according to Brandt, who also uses Restylane and Perlane, they can have a cumulative effect. Backing up his claim is a recent study that showed Restylane can last up to 18 months with a single maintenance shot. Average cost is $750 per syringe.

Botox "There's no filler to take care of lines caused by movement," says Wexler, who uses Botox to freeze the mechanical lines between brows and deep crow's-feet, as well as to lift sagging jawlines and necks. "If you paralyze the muscles that pull the neck down, then the muscles that pull it up have nothing to oppose them." Even surgeons agree. Sam Rizk, a facial plastic surgeon in New York, says, "Botox is great for the brow. I don't like how unnatural brow lifts can look." Botox effects last about four months, and it costs around $400 per area injected.

Fat replacement "I've been doing this for 23 years," says Wexler of the procedure, which uses your own body fat (from, say, your hips or butt) and injects it into your face. It is generally done on cheeks and lips and along the jawline. "It also supplies stem cells, which change the texture of skin and make it luminous and firm." Unfortunately, this requires several monthly treatments so the fat can graft to its surrounding blood vessels. Cost: around $5,000 for liposuction and $500 per injection.

Sculptra If you're lipo leery or one of the lucky few with too little body fat for a fat replacement, there's Sculptra, a poly-L-lactic-acid filler. Wexler uses it on cheeks, jawline, temples, and forehead. "It's a fine particle that stimulates your own skin to grow," she explains. "It lasts several years and can be done in two to four treatments. But if it isn't massaged evenly, granules can form under the skin." Average cost: around $2,000 per treatment.

So what does an extensive procedure like a full liquid face-lift cost? It depends on what and how much your doctor injects, but expect to spend $3,000 to $5,000.

Eye Rejuvenation

"There's almost no reason for lower-eyelid cosmetic surgery when you can cover dark circles and treat sunken-in eyes or bags with Restylane," says Kenneth Steinsapir, a Los Angeles facial and eye plastic surgeon. "You get almost immediate results that are as good as, and in many cases better than, what can be accomplished with surgery." Another advantage? "Fillers allow a level of control that doesn't exist with other lower-eyelid procedures because it can be adjusted with an enzyme that erases the filler's effect."

Steinsapir does admit that fillers are expensive and need to be repeated about once a year, but he is very pleased by the results. "When you combine Botox with hyaluronic-acid fillers, you can walk out of the office looking 10 to 15 years younger."

Nose Reshaping

"Using fillers to reshape the contours of the nose is not a new idea, but what's different now is that they're safe and last a long time," says Alexander Rivkin. "I have used fillers to raise and define an underdeveloped bridge, camouflage a bump, lift a droopy tip, and correct postrhinoplasty defects." If you have an asymmetrical nose or a hook shape and you don't want surgery, fillers can instantly fix any hollows. "Even though this makes your nose slightly larger, it straightens it and creates the illusion of a smaller one," says Wexler. But she warns that the nose has a compromised blood supply, and if you block a blood vessel that feeds the area, the skin will die. The caveat: If your nose is too wide or bulbous, Brandt notes that surgery works best. If you do go the filler route, Rivkin suggests hyaluronic acids, which can last up to eight months in this facial area, or Radiesse, which can last a little more than a year and costs around $1,000.

Skin-Care Options

Still wary of injectables? Try one of these wrinkle-fighting products.

Dr. Brandt Time Arrest Crème ($100): This peptide-packed moisturizer gives skin a lifted look by promoting skin's production of collagen and elasticity.

NuFace Microcurrent Device ($325): Tighten your complexion at home. Microcurrents instantly lift skin, and studies show a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles when used over time.

Good Skin Tri-Aktiline Total Face Instant Line Reducing Moisturizer ($44.50): This hydrating cream contains proven smoothing, wrinkle-filling ingredients like Argireline.

Estée Lauder Time Zone Anti-Line/Wrinkle Eye Creme ($43.50): Immediately brightens eyes as hyaluronic acid helps plump lines.

Lipgloss from a Lipstick Queen?

Poppy King has been committed to making unique lipstick for almost two decades, and she personally is know for her Red Sinner lips!

She's taken her great use of pigments and, after much resistance, finally launched a line of lipgloss! The Fifteen Minutes of Fame Pop Art Gloss is all pigment without the glitter and shimmer. They were inspired by the Pop Art movement and Andy Warhol's famous quote, "In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes."

Each minute is represented with a rich, creamy color that ranges from the lightest shade at one minute all the way to the darkest shade at 15 minutes. We're loving the pure color without the shimmer! Minute Three and Eleven are our faves so far!

Beauty Tip: Mascaras

Boost short lashes into long, glossy ones with Maybelline New York Lash Stiletto Mascara or Lancome Oscillation, which vibrates to simulate the motion of a professional application. Believe us, both really work!

Paraben Free: Josie Maran Eyeshadow

Some products are now gladly boasting they're paraben free, but what's all the fuss?? Parabens are preservatives used in a range of beauty products and even food. What makes them questionable are their links to breast cancer and the fact that methylparabens can possibly increase UV-induced damage. While they're not going to instantly give you cancer and they've been deemed safe enough to be widely used, I'm still trying to lower my exposure to them.

My favorite eyeshadow of all time is Stila Kitten! I still love it, but I'm not crazy over the paraben factor - methlyparaben and propylparaben to be exact. I'm not going to throw it in the trash, but I definitely wanted to find a great paraben-free alternative.

I didn't think anything could match the shimmer or the creamy yet powdery texture. But I stumbled upon Josie Maran's eyeshadow in Sweetheart and I have to say it's not exact, but it's pretty damn close! The color is less pink, but I like the slight more beige color. As far as texture goes it's so velvety and glides on great and it blends with other colors so perfectly! It has that great radiant color and it's a makeup bag staple for me!

Stay tuned for more great beauty finds that are paraben free!

Beauty Tips: Bronzer

Dior Bronze Original Tan is an easy-to-use powder that leaves you radiant any time of year. The smooth texture blends well into your skin for an even, subtle glow. Use a fluffy brush to apply to cheeks, forehead, and chin.

Prescriptives being shut down after 30 years....

In a long-anticipated move, the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc. said Thursday it will shut down wholesale distribution of its 30-year-old Prescriptives brand by Jan. 31. Products will continue to be available through the brand’s Web site for consumers needing replenishment, until supplies run out.

“A core component of the Estée Lauder Companies’ corporate strategy is to evaluate, and where possible, turn around underperforming brands with the goal of improving return on investment. After a thorough analysis of the Prescriptives brand, management concluded that the brand’s long-term business model is no longer viable given the current market environment. We believe that the difficult decision relating to Prescriptives will allow us to redirect our resources to key strategic imperatives where we see the highest growth potential,” said Freda.

Best Bet: Striking Oil

Photo: Courtesy of Shu Uemura

Few companies brilliantly fuse art and beauty like Shu Uemura. For its 2009 artist collaboration, the brand teamed up with manga artist Moyocco Anno to create a collection of cleansing oils and makeup tools called the Tokyo Kamon Girls. The packaging is adorned with cool manga drawings and looks groovy on any bathroom sink, but most important, the oils are lightweight and effective. Each of the five facial cleansing oils are named after a character (Sakurako, Tamaki, Tsuruha, Matsuno, and Katsura) and are specially formulated with everything from cherry extract (to help remove dead skin) to bitter orange peel (to help promote circulation) to green-tea extract (to help boost antioxidants). So whether you're acne-prone, wrinkly, or have dull skin, these gentle cleansers can handle it all.

$65 to $75 at Barneys New York, 660 Madison Ave., at 61st St.; 212-833-2007.

Balenciaga Full Fall 2009 Campaign, Featuring a Contortionist Jennifer Connelly, Finally Drops

Balenciaga has finally uploaded their entire dark, moody Fall 2009 campaign.  Marie Amelie Sauve styled and Steven Meisel snapped house muse Jennifer Connelly lounging on a precariously tilting chaise and contorting on a fallen over couch.

2009 Emmy Awards: Lindsay Price

Former Lipstick Jungle star and current Eastwick beauty Lindsay Price was one of the first celebrities to walk the red carpet at tonight's Primetime Emmy Awards.  For her look, Lindsay went relatively simple. Hair down, but not too messy; makeup clean while keeping soft smoky eyes, but not too outrageous. In fact, Lindsay really let's her dress do the talking.

2009 Emmy Awards: Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis usually looks like the girl next door, but tonight she had a serious case of sexyface. The waterlined eyes, her eyelids were traced with gold and bronze shadows and her cheeks carried a soft peach hue, and nude lip are classic sexpot, but instead of the bedhead you'd expect with this kind of look, she substituted an elegant, deeply side-parted ponytail.

Fall Trend (Brows!) And How To Get It (Video!)

We called it: BIG BOLD BROWS are in - and about to start gracing the faces of trendsetters this fall.

As a makeup artist to the stars (read: someone who professionally keeps up on trends), Carol Shaw of Lorac Cosmetics is also wow for brows. Armed with the brow kit she created for her red carpet clients, she shows you how to sculpt architecturally amazing arches in a flash.



Can't get enough big brow? Take a peek at our Fall guide to emboldened arches

2009 Emmy Awards: Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian hit up the red carpet at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards looking very much like her muse, Jennifer Lopez - circa Diddy years. Despite the gown troubles she had earlier in the day, she managed to pull it off very well considering the last minute emergency alterations she had to undergo right before the show.

Her hair was slicked back into glossy bun, lets her gorgeous skin and enviable features stand out, her white dress was matched with icy white, silver and soft blue eye shadows, letting her skip her signature smoky eye for a more frosted look. Her lashes were luscious and long, her cheeks were rosy and pink and her lips had a frosted touch to complete the look.

Should Kim have gone more original? Or did she nail the look? By the way, am I the only one having issues with all of these WHITE gowns, considering that its post Labor Day? Or is that a myth of the past now?

2009 Emmy Awards: Mariska Hargitay

I love Hayden’s classic look – the red lips with a slight opal sheen look fantastic on her and give her a little more maturity (but not making her look old).  . In addition to the sultry pout, Hayden went with a frosty white/pale gold shadow and some added lashes for a bright-eyed look. Her hair was tousled back into a chignon of gathered ringlets with more volume at the crown of her head making her overall face appear longer. A great look, however, I personally always say that red gowns call for nude lips -- at least that's my safety rule. While Hayden pulls it off quite well here, I still feel like it would've been a tad bit better had she gone with neutral lips. Her dress is already extravagant and because of it, simple makeup would've created the perfect balance.

2009 Emmy Awards: Blake Lively

Neither Blake Lively nor her character on Gossip Girl, Serena Van Der Woodsen, is one to shy away from a plunging neckline. Blake looks regally seductive in this crimson Versace dress that plunges down to here and is slit up to there. The back is especially amazing.

I especially like that Blake tied her hair back for the sake of this neckline, as I often find her gorgeously tousled curls a bit distracting.

Simple, understated makeup (heavily-lined lids are a definite trend) and a glittering diamond cuff by Lorraine Schwartz pull the look together.

2009 Emmy Awards: Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde of the popular medical drama House, M.D., arrived at the 2009 Emmy Awards looking simply beautiful.  Opting  for a dramatic overall look, Olivia Wilde has her signature look down pat. It includes dark liner along the waterlines, some smoky shadow and a pink gloss, her bold and beautiful makeup highlighted what we can expect to see all over for makeup looks in fall 2009. 

Here is how you can get the look worn by Olivia Wilde at the 2009 Emmy Awards:

1. Apply a foundation primer over the entirety of the face. 
2. Start with the eye makeup.  Whenever you are creating a dramatic eye, especially one with dark colors, doing the eye makeup before you apply foundation can save a lot of hassle.  Dark eye colors tend to "fall" and leave speckles all over the cheeks.  When this happens, simply wipe away the shadow without disrupting any other makeup.  Using a dark eyeshadow, such as Dior 2-Color Eyeshadow in Black Lookout, apply the isdarkest shad all over the lower lid of the eye.  This is the part of the eye that goes from the lash line to the crease, or the fold of the eye.
3. With an angled brush, extend the eyeshadow up and out, like a cat eye, to create a thick, dramatic upward sweep. 
4. Continuing with the angled brush and eyeshadow, line underneath the eye, to desired thickness. Oliva Wilde is sporting a rather thick look, that may or may not be comfortable for everyone.
5. With a waterproof or water-resistant eyeliner, line the inner rims of the both the upper and lower eye lids.  This helps to make the lash line appear thicker and fuller.  The trick to Olivia Wilde's dramatic Emmy look is not seeing any of the lid peeking through where eyeshadow and liner should be.  MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Eyes in Mat Black is perfect for this, or any other smokey eye look.
6. Curl the eyelashes and apply two coats of your favorite black masacara to complete the eyes.
7. Apply the right foundation for your skin type.  Olivia is wearing a sheer-to-medium foundation that provides subtle, even coverage without looking flakey or dry.  A liquid or cream moisturizer would provide the same look for most skin types.
8. Sweep a peachy-pink, natural looking blush, such as NARS Orgasm, across the cheeks, in and upward and outward motion.  Less is more when applying the blush in Olivia Wilde's Emmy makeup look.
9. Line the lips with a neutral lip pencil the matches the shade of your natural lip color.  Then, apply a soft pink lip color that matches your skin tone.  Viva Glam V, by MAC Cosmetics, is a choice for almost every skin tone and texture.
10. Fill in the eyebrows.
11. Apply a light translucent powder over the face with a large powder blush.

Because the eyes are the central part of the look worn by Olivia Wilde at the 2009 Emmy Awards, everything else is kept netural and soft.  When wearing a dramatic eye, it's important to let the other aspects of the overall makeup look enhance the focal point.  By choosing to accentuate only the eye, Olivia Wilde's makeup looks sexy and sultry without being overdone.

2009 Emmy Awards: Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay loves Carolina Herrera, and with good reason: she always looks amazing in it. The actress wore a shimmering silver creation with an intricate necklace.

I actually like the simple, center-parted hair with this classic look (which her late mother Jayne Mansfield totally would have worn in her day).

2009 Emmy Awards: Padma Lakshmi

I love that Padma Lakshmi wore something radiantly bright on the Emmy Awards red carpet. I always appreciate a dose of the exotic on the red carpet and Padma Lakshmi delivers. Her draped Badgley Mishka purple gown with red flower detail is gorgeous — the knotted, barely there sleeves are awesome. Her ruby earrings — no doubt from her jewelry collection — are fab-u-lous.